FEB 2010 Teeth, nosh and smelly bums - it's all go, six months on!!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Where did the last half a year go??!

I really ought to be on early bedtimes but never make it before 11pm and then suffer for it!

Abs I hope the situation improves really soon. If not, call on help from someone before the situation makes you poorly too. Big hugs.

We've had an interesting day today. I went to meet a friend at a new playgroup, was running late (having started my Christmas shopping in a toy sale ), and ended up at the wrong playgroup 100 yards away - what were the chances of that?!! Cue me trying to haul the baby and a screaming toddler up the road, leaving a playgroup of bemused mothers in our wake!! [hblush]

Then, to top that off, DS1 swallowed a jagged chicken bone in his lunch and we ended up at A and E on NHS Direct's advice! (He's fine).

Have eaten chocolate and hope to do better tomorrow! Christmas shopping is cool though.

On that note, what on earth are you/Father Christmas going to put in the DCs stockings? As mum of two boys this is especially problematic as there is nothing that DS2 needs that DS1 hasn't already got. Help! Ideas please! (and I need bulky items to fill a pillow case!)

Hello all, it's been a while. Sounds like sleep regression is the order of the day (night?) at the moment. DD waking up between 4-6 times a night between 7/8 - 7/8, though sometimes we have some better nights where she wakes up less after 11pm. Somehow it after I decided not to track or stress about how she's not sleeping through, it doesn't seem to bug me much anymore.

If it helps reading these 2 books were also a factor!
Continuum Concept
Three in a Bed

Plus with co-sleeping I've found I was able to catch DD before she woke up too much, meaning she slept back again once she fed (and I get to sleep while she helps herself!) [hgrin]

DS slept well last night but started his day at... 4.45am so I went to see him, gave his his dummy and soft toy and left him. He winged a bit but managed to self-settle! [hsmile] I'm so pleased

Full moon tomorrow, let's hope our LO won't be to distrub by it

DS spent the first night in his own room last night. He went down at 7.45 and I fed him again around 10.30 when I went to bed. I've been trying to get him to drop night feeds but the last week he's needed one around 4 or 5 am. I let him moan (not distressed crying or screaming) for an hour at 4am with me going in regularly and patting him/turning on the white noise machine but after an hour I couldn't let it go on, had to feed him and then he slept from 5 til 8am. So if it happens again tonight I'm just going to feed him straight away.

Even though I've been using the cream since Tuesday the rash is worse. I am sure it is nothing to worry about but I just don't like seeing red circles on his cheeks...

GP said to try the cream for a week and then go back so will wait until Tuesday then will of course have to queue up in the morning for an on-the-day appt as they are always fully booked for at least a week.

Today we are off to Cambridge to see DH's parents. They actually live in Norfolk but we're meeting half way between London and Norwich.

Bethy What a day! Those DSs like to keep you on your toes! Hope you had a good night.

I usually aim to get to bed for 9 and manage to go around 10. Never later than 11 though.

Oh and do you compare your own baby photos against your DCs? DS is almost the spit of his dad at this age, all except for the mouth and chin which are definitely mine.

Blimey, bethylou, sounds like you had a bit of a mad one! Glad DS is okay.

bc - good luck with the own room move! DD is now in her own room, but I often end up in there with her (on a mattress on the floor) to save trekking up and down the corridor once she starts waking up. Also, the floor is dead creaky so once I've put her back in her cot, it's horribly easy to wake her up again when I try and creep out, so often I just stay in there. Gives me the option not to be in the same room though - especially next time I have a cold, for example (coughing ALWAYS wakes her up)

Good news on the self-settle, GF - especially at that time in the morning!!

I gave DD paracetamol when she wouldn't resettle after waking up three hours after bedtime last night. Figured it was her teeth bothering her. Certainly, she managed to fall asleep soon after, so I guess it must have helped somehow. Didn't stop her waking up a few more times later on, though...

She didn't get her nappy off, however! [hgrin]

Yep, bc, DD's the spit of DH as a baby - but with my eyes!
Hope that rash gets sorted out soon...

bc hope the rash disapears soon

DS is the spiting image of DH at the same age (long eyelashes,brown eyes and facial expressions) but he has my nose and chin.

I'm going to sleep well for the next 5 nights as my mum is over and she sleeps in the same room as DS so she's taking care of the night shift. ( hopefully DS is going to be a little angel for his grand mother )

DS can 'crawl' but only with his arms not using his legs. He has been lenghting our living room today as soon as he discovered it!
OMG, he is mobile now [scared]

I hope everybody had a good night, good day

Commandoing, it sounds like GF!! Uh-oh...

I went to a sale at our Anglo playgroup today and picked up a big bag of child-proofing equipment for less than a euro! Bargain. Also some clothes, some toys and a baby hair-brush (plus two bits of millionaire's shortbread and a cup of coffee) - I spent less than 15 Euros for the lot. Fantastic! Especially as baby stuff tends to be SO expensive here...

The October weather is just lovely at the moment - chilly in the morning, but mild and sunny in the afternoons. I really enjoyed the pram naps today! Not looking forward to when the winter sets in....

I hope everyone's having a splendid weekend [hsmile]

Not going to need a hairbrush anytime soon round here!!

Calmer end to the week, evening out last night with lovely friends and DH and then two pass outs tot he gym over the weekend to get me through the next week of no childminding.

Oh yes, and it's a good thing that we have a female postperson otherwise DH might be questioning where the hell DS2 has come from, as he looks very different to the rest of us!!

Off to create photocalendars for old relatives! Night all.

I would not describe his crawling as commando as he lifts his upper body with his arms and then pull the bottom part forward. Or is it commando style? Anyway it has tired him out!

IC well done on the bargains. LO do cost a lot but hopefully the stuff get used twice or more or it can be sold for a few quids.

Good night all

We went to the library today, and DD was busy crawling around everywhere and socialising. She crawled up to and pulled herself up to the book box then "chose" a book to borrow (she'd seen all the other kids going to the box and getting a book out), then went up to a baby about her age who got upset when she got too close, then pulled a 2 year old girl's hair who cried (it was the first baby's sister), then went up to and tried to take the glasses off a lady who turned out to be from my country (!) so we made a new friend there, then went and stared at and interacted for a long time with an Indian man who was there with his daughter. Must have been wondering why his skin was dark, she kept on staring at his hands and face.... [hgrin] and that was just in the first 20 mins.

6:10a.m. this morning - still seems wrong on a Sunday, even after 2.5 years of practise and DH was very grumpy which makes it much worse! DS2 has decided that he doesn't want milk from a bottle anymore and is moving himself on to cups! At least we now have a way forward as he's been drinking less and less form his bottles all week. This morning refused the bottle completely but had 5oz from his cup! Also starting to stand against stuff- cue more bruises!

Caterpillar crawling, GF?

[hgrin] RW!!

Oh, bethylou, lord preserve us from grumpy DHs - it's the last thing we need on top of the DCs' moods, huh?!

Happy Sunday all.

Friday night was terrible! DS has a cold so it is to be expected but he was up and down constantly between 11 and 4. I'd get up, settle him, put him back down asleep (which takes about half an hour) and then 10 mins later he'd be up again. I was really at the end of my tether. He finally slept in my bed for a couple of hours 5-7ish and DH went on the sofa for a few hours. So yesterday was a bit of struggle. Luckily DH didn't have any really pressing work so he went to Sainsbury's and cooked us a lovely roast chicken and roast potatoes and kale. DS ate some with his hands and some we pureed roughly with a bit of stewed apple but he seemed to prefer to feed himself. I went to bed half way through the X Factor.

He started waking frequently again so DH kindly took him downstairs into the living room and put him in his pram and they slept down here together from 1 til 8.30 so I am feeling very refreshed.

The rash... I think perhaps the cream was too strong for his skin so I've stopped using it until I see the doc. Trying to get an appt tomorrow. Have put sudocrem on this morning as it is looking more like eczma (sp?) than ringworm.

Even though I was knackered yesterday I had a mad burst of energy in the morning and finished moving our stuff out of the baby's room and arranging his things in there. It is a tiny room so couldn't do much with it but I am pleased with the finished effect. Pics here for those interested www.flickr.com/photos/26339121@N00/sets/72157625098029661/

Today we are going to drive to Wilderness Island and have a walk with DS in the mei tai on DH lwt.elmbrook.eu/NatureReserves/WildernessIsland/tabid/146/Default.aspx

IC Very of your bargains. I bought a lindam playpen and then 2 days later someone offered me a second hand one.

Bethy Sorry about moody DH. Drinking from cups is great, much better for baby's teeth, isn't it?

RW Hahaha at library antics.

GF My DS crawls in the same way. He's do a couple of 'steps' of proper crawling then the legs will slip back. When I describe it to people I keep accidentally saying his 'back legs' as if he had a front pair as well - must remember the differences between baby and cat.

Oh! How do you get the smileys with witches hats on?

Quick wave from abroad [hwink]

bear beautiful room! as for 8 mths late, dd1 lived out of a suitcase for 9 months, and dd2 still doesn't have a chest of drawers for her clothes either... [hgrin]

Lovely room, bc!

If you want the Halloween emoticons, just bung an "h" in front of the usual instruction in the brackets (doesn't seem to be one for confused, though...) [hwink]

See below the usual emoticons for clarification.

Lovely room BC. Our DS2's room has only just been finished and it had already been in use for DS1 so no excuses - we'd just turned it into a junk room! Sorry to hear that your DS is poorly. Hope he is soon better and you can get some sleep.

I have entered DS1 into the baby competition on the Next facebook page. If you want to see him, me thinks this is an easy way for you to spot him. I entered him yesterday into the 19-36 month category (you can search by date or name) and he's Sam, in a blue coat with blond hair. If you haven't got someone else to vote for, feel free to vote for him while you're there!! I will enter DS2 too, but you have to have a photo from the last 28 days and he's asleep in all of them or looking too snotty so need to take a new pic first!!

RW I know how you feel when the LOs start behaving like that in public - it's just I have two to keep an eye on and they are both equally bonkers!! I should have grown an extra pair of hands before having a second DS!!

I had a very fortuitous random meeting yesterday. I bumped into a lady in Mothercare that I saw about 3 times at Bumps and Babies when DS1 was a newborn. I said, "Hi," etc.. and asked whether she was the lady whose baby stopped breathing. I was right and she has a monitor from the hospital (the type that we've been trying to get hold of) that she's been trying to return to them for ages. She is going to lend it to us now which is fantastic - surely the consultant will have to listen to us when we are using one of his own machines?!!

Aw, your DS1's gorgeous, bethylou! Good luck in the competition!

Good news about the monitor - let's hope you get some answers soon.

bethy he's lovely. I've tried to enter DS into that competition but the page froze when it was loading the picture I may take a new picture of him now...

RW how funny

Now that Ds knows how to crawl, he's not bothered by doing it. He much prefers to walk holding on our hands. I've gone to have his feet measured this morning to get him a pair of proper shoes. He's 3 but the shop I was don't do any proper shoes before a size 4. I have another shop in the island to visit and if not, I'll ask my mum to get me some from France (less expensive and more size choice).

hello!

positive messages from most of us the last few days - which is nice!

i've got an interview on bonfire night? really want the job? off to do some research!

any thoughts on involving young people in service delivery at a new foyer gratefully received!!

DS all over the place at the mo - slept til 7am a couple of days ago - the first time since he was about 6 weeks!

must think about getting DD's birthday prezzies sorted, and then there's christmas to suss too? am having a ratch around to see what i can find to ebay to pay for stuff!!!

We are all very quiet, probably busy chasing our LO around (I am anyway).

Autumn/winter is definitely over here as it is cold, grey, damp and windy. DS now wears layers of clothes to keep him warm.

stoof good luck for the job interview

Hi. Congrats for the movements and for the sleeps. Hugs to ereybody.
I didn't have time to catch up with everybody in details.
Congratulations scones!
My computer broke down and is still out. . I am a bit cut off from the world in general . might need to rethink my way of communicating with freinds (at least have an updated dial book!)

DD2 is sleeping a tiny bit better now that tooth number 8 came through (it tooks almost 2 weeks!). She is trying to climb now, the sofa is still too high but some armchairs are low enough, thankfully we don't have stairs!
she is also standing on her own and have been saying mama, maman and mum for a few days (depending on her moods), she also tried "pomme" very clearly. But I know by experience that words can pop out clearly and in context and then nothing for months.
She goes to the door and call for a shortenned version of her sister (soooo cuuute).

We are trying to fight for DD1 tonsils and adenoids to stay in place , the adenoids seems saved for now, but the treatment for the tonsils doesn't seem to work finger crossed, we are on salty water gurgling now (desesperate measures)

It is getting close to my bedtime (21h 22h) like IC and GF, so good night.
hope it goes well for the interview!