May 2010 - Drooling, smiling, cooing and nearly sleeping through (and that's just the mummies!)

[rachelfruitloop]

Hi Ladies,

I hope you don't mind, I started a new thread as our first one was quite full! I can't believe we're a quarter-way through the first year already!

Hello all

Homebirth, your nights are more like mine. I tell myself its "normal" but i am tired

Alex is such a lovely baby though, really straight forward. Feeds/looks about/sits or plays for a bit and then grumbles when near nap time, get him to sleep and so the cycle continues. Its lovely. DD screamed all day at that age

He goes to bed at 630pm ish too

Having real issues with DD again, only last few days though so hopefully a blip. Had huge row with DH about it tonight. He usually so placid but flung laptop across the room. basically DD is being awful but I tend to stand up for her when really she was out of order. She slapped him twice and weeed on the carpet but shes 2, upset blah blah blah. Anyway I am not popular right now.

Pamelat - sorry your DD is still playing up :(

SK - good luck with the iPhone! I got a smartphone for my birthday and I love it. Fantastic for BFing.

Pigley - :) that your DH is considering another as well! I don't know for sure if it will happen but just glad to know it's not a definite no yet. Hope your DH's return has gone well :)

oscar and virginia look like fine little people

rachel - Monday's aren't the best for me, but if that's the only day everyone can make I can probably rearrange some things.

pamelat - alex sounds much like our little boy, he's very easy going too so I guess that makes us lucky. He did cry for an hour on the evening of his jabs though - with a new special very loud cry. I don't know how I'd deal with it if he did that every night - it must be so hard to keep staying calm!

Question - I've just realised I have another unexpected post natal symptom - aching feet after resting. Does anyone else have that? It really hurts to put weight on my feet after I've been lying down. It's not that bad - just seems odd, and it doesn't make the night time nappy changes any easier. I suppose it must have something to do with Relaxin hormone?

Nice to hear from you again Wibble and Kateyjane. It's amazing how time flies.

We walked to the clinic today, cue one SOAKEDthroughlife! Darcey up to 12lb 7oz at 11 weeks. She's closer to the 50th centile line now after spending 8 weeks bang on 75th so I don't know what's happened there but the HV didn't seem at all concerned. They were more impressed with her sleeping 9 hours at night when she's exc bf.

Schipo - we had the new special very loud cry this week too, but for no reason that I can fathom Can't help with the feet thing, sorry.

Heffa - I'm desperate to get a laptop so I can internet while bfing! We just can't afford one at the moment, so I'll have to save hard when I go back to work.

Speaking of which - how long is everyone staying off work for? I go back in January and I'm already dreading it. If we could afford for me to be a SAHM I would do it in a flash. I always loved working, but it's all lost its appeal now Darcey's here.

Dancing, end of Feb or start of June for me.

I really like my job and will go back part time anyway, as before. 3 days, perfect for me.

I had 13 months off with DD and with childcare costs for 2, theres no big rush to get back.

Just marking my spot.
Going away for a few days next week so may be a while before I am back though!
Hope everyone is well and rested and calm.

Still on holiday but just marking my spot on the new thread...DH on a night out in Stockport whilst I stay with the girls at my parents...will be interesting whether he makes it back here tonight as I have a feeling he won't be able to tell the taxi driver how to get here from the station

Dancing..I went back to work 3 months ago

Hi All

Rachel - thanks for new thread. Impressive weight from Eric - I am getting DD weighed next week (haven't had her done for 5 weeks) and wondering what she will be. She is certainly a chunky monkey - me and DH don't make delicate children!

Have read all posts and will try to reply to as many as I can remember.

First1 - you must ask your solicitor if there is anything you don't understand. They are paid to explain the legal stuff to you, and they should always allow enough time in interview/tel call to make sure you're questions are answered. If they let you sign something which is binding and you don't understand then they can get into trouble, so please ask. Would it be worthwhile to keep a log of OH's behaviour on contact visits to use in the future in case there is any argument on contact?

ML - for you on your anniversary.

Pigley/20th - I am working on my DH, althought TBH it's the rest of the family that are horrified by the thought of another baby. Although DH said yesterday that he was wavering towards stopping at two because HE was tired - this is a man who has adult conversation most of the day and who sleeps all through the night!! I laughed in a hollow fashion when he said that!

Pamela - we are still up at 2.30 and 5am but it is 10 mins and then straight back to sleep. She only has one boob at 2.30 because the suckling puts her back to sleep so she doesn't get a full feed and so doesn't go 4 hours. I thought about trying to wake her for a dream feed to see if that helped but TBH because the night feeds are so easy (jinxing myself) I am loath to change anything. She will sleep through eventually. DS took a proper swipe at DD today - i really lost it and shouted at him properly and his little face just crumpled up. Hopefully that will solve it. Haven't had the weeing or pooing incidents though - yet...

SK - on the Iphone. Dh has just agreed he will get rid of XBox to get a Wii instead - really looking forward to it esp Wii fit!

Hollyoaks - hope Grace is OK and nothing to worry about.

Aargh I had loads to reply to and can't remember anything else! Sorry to anyone I have missed.

Been packing up house veeerrry slowly. Was doing photo albums today and had a really walk down memory lane - wedding album, honeymoon, uni photos, even back to 6th form photos. I was amazed by how thin I was - I spent my life worrying I was too fat, and now I look back and realise I was actually fine - feels like such a waste! I have resolved to get back to pre-preg weight and then start enjoying myself!

Schipo. I get that same thing with my feet! Have no idea what it is or what to do about it. Did think about seeing GP but I am one of those who only goes when it is desperate or DH forces it.

My oldest 3 are goinng on holiday with their dad tonight leaving me with just DH and Virginia. I will really miss them and really worry as ex is far from responsible,
Last year he left them on their own in the camp club whilst he went to sleep in the car! He also bought them an inflatable for use on Newquay beach. Maybe I am a panicky mum but they
Are my beautiful precious daughters, full of life, love and potential and I just couldn't bear anything to happen to them.
Last year I cried at least twice every day despite redecorating in order to eep my mind busy.

ML and kateyjane, so jealous, not just about you meeting up, but about you going to Tatton, I LOVE tatton. Must go whilst girls away.

Just a quick one about your feet Schipo and HBMummy, it sounds like maybe Plantar Fasciitis (more info here). I have that on one foot, it's most painful in the morning after I've been off my feet. Mine was caused by carrying a heavy baby (DS1) and trying to walk too fast, causing the strain. Sadly, I've had to stop carrying Eric in the sling now as it's flaring up again. I wear insoles in my shoes to help with support, and as long as I don't carry anything too heavy it subsides. You can do some gentle stretches for the Achilles tendon and your toes to help it, too!

hi all. Sorry, am not very good at keeping up. Bit hectic here really.

Dancing I really appreciate your support and emails. Thank you.

Truth be known, I'm not really coping too well right now. I'm fine with the kids, just the mental draining of all that's been happening with (not so D)H

Been trying to keep busy, been taking the kids out as much as possible. Then the evenings are hard at the moment when the kids are all in bed and we are sat here in silence....

Willow tends to go to bed aout 9-10pm. Sleeps til 5 usually, though the other day she slept til 7.45!! I nearly had a heart attack!! I only BF 2-3 feeds a day at the mo. Better than nothing I suppose.

My laptop keeps overheating and turning itself off on me. Not sure how much longer it will last!!!.....

Schipo - I get that with my feet too! It's really painful, especially in the morning. So glad it's not just me. Thanks for the info on it Rachel :)

Tomlin - Wiis are fantastic, I love ours, especially the WiiFit.

Dancing - I'm technically going back in November but my job is only 12 hours a month and I suspect it's going to be cut anyway (frontline public sector holiday/illness cover!) which I'd be glad about. Otherwise I'm hoping to switch on to a different contract where I don't have to do a set amount of hours.

We took the DCs to the Eden Project today which was fab but v.busy! We love it there but haven't been for a while.

today i breast fed in public, well, in a mothercare baby room, but there were estarnagers...., only 2 bottles so far, and is nearly bed time...

Angel hope you ok. I am not sure if you have posted on these 'happenings', is it anything specific? I do think these newborn days are stressful on a relationship, we are still in separate rooms and I dont really want to go back together together until I am getting more sleep. At least the sleep I am getting is good quality, no snoring

Last night dream feed 930 (he woke "starving") used hungry baby. Woke 130am to feed (only 15 mins one side)

2am DD woke up crying that did love us afterall and didnt want new mummy. Cute but still up with her at 430am about it.

Then Alex woke 440am but DH did that feed.

Then up 630am with Alex so I woek out that I got 5 hours sleep in total but broken, felt rotten this am but then had lovely afternoon and feel very proud to be their mummy today

still bloody hard though!!

Rachel - thanks for the link it certainly does sound like what I've got. Funny it feels much worse today now I've got a name for it. HBMummy/Heffa - glad its not just me but also sorry you've got this too.

I do really hope the cure is not not using slings. I really don't know how we'd manage that. Where did you get your insoles Rachel? I suppose this means another trip to GP. The receptionists there are beginning to feel like old friends.

Dancing I'm already doing some work part time from home. I'd like to keep it like that for a year at least but there's a lot of negotiation to be done around that!

Angel - fingers crossed for your laptop!

SK - I can recommend a google phone (less expensive than iphone). Don't know how i'd get through night feeds without something like that anyway.

Hope everyone's having a good weekend.

Hello all

DH returned home last night and DD1 was soooo excited bless her! She hasnt left his side since!

Today I did the baby photo shoot for Jamies work colleague. Her baby is soooo tiny. His due date was last tuesday but he was born 5.5 weeks early. He now weighs 6lbs, so pretty diddy. Lucy looks mammouth against him!
He wasnt too impressed at the shoot but ive been editing the photos this evening and im petty pleased with them :)
She had already offered to pay me and I declined but she gave me £30 NEXT vouchers instead, which was nice. Just hope she likes what ive done.

Kateyjane and ML- Glad you enjoyed meeting up. Lovely photos :)

Pamlet- glad things are happier today. Its easy to forget that they are still only young themselves but equally annoying when they know better.

SK- I love my iphone :)

Dancing- No return for as I left work with DD1 so SAHM/unpaid slave for me! Childcare costs for 2 would mean id be working for nothing which is pointless.

Tomlin- Love that fact your poor DH is tired

Homebirth- Hope the kids holiday goes well and you dont get too upset with them being away.

Angel- :( sorry things are getting you down.
Feel free to offload here :)

Childcare costs for 2 mean that after tax I would be working for £14 a day , fortunately I only live 6 miles from work and really like my job, plus it keeps it open for me when I do want to go back when pogs at school

Also, my DD will qualify for the 15 hours free childcare around about the time I go back so it will kind of work.

I find being a SAHM so hard. DH says I am a nicer person when at work (part time)!

pamelat, husband has been having (at the very least) an emotional affair with a woman he met at work. I have posted a separate thread in relationships but I don't like to post about it on this thread as it will drag everything down.

Trying to manage on 2 hours sleep today!! DD decided she wasn't going to bed til gone 10. Then as I had to deal with MIL unexpectedly turning up (interfering as usual) yesterday I hadn't had time to wash my hair or have a bath. So by the time I had done that and ordered a new buggy (shh!!) it was gone midnight. I fell asleep about 1, then dd woke up at 3!! Need crow bars to prop up my eyes today !! Oh well. Boys sheets are all off and in the wash. Looks like the sun might stay out today so might just drag them all to the park in a bit with butties for lunch.

Pigley yes new babies look so small compared to our little ones now !!

wouldliketoknow, well done you!! I still can't bring myself to BF in public

Hi everyone - hope you're all having a good weekend so far!

Wibblela - Nice to hear from you, and I'm glad you're okay. I would love to meet up, we're so close to each other. You would be very welcome to come to my house, or a cafe maybe in HX or Hudds???

Dancing - technically I am jobless at the moment because my contract finished, but because I am an English teacher jobs are fairly easy to come by. Don't think I want to go back to teaching though, the marking and planning take over your homelife, which was just about doable with 3 - but I just don't want to do it with 4! Have started looking though, because, despite loving my DCs enormously I am definately not cut out to be a SAHM

Pamelat - I agree with you on the prohibitive costs of 2 in nursery We've been there before and you do end up working for not very much! My DS1 gets his 15 hours free during termtime, but it actually only makes £100 difference per month - so still costs £1400 p/month. I do thank my lucky stars that we don't like in the South though, as I know nursery costs there are astronomical!! Like your DH says though, I am much nicer when I'm working - and for some bizarre reason I seem to get much more done the less time I have

SK - Hope you get your iphone! I would love one too, but don't think I will be getting one anytime soon. Hope your DD2 has a great first day a school (and not too many tears for you )

Homebirth - Hope you're okay. It must be so hard to have to let the girls go, I really feel for you, but I am sure they will be okay and have a good time. Anytime you fancy going to Tatton, I would be up for it - as I'm sure would ML and anyone else near enough. It was way to waspy to have a comfortable picnic though

WLTK - Well done on the BF, sounds like you're doing a great job.

Angel - Sorry you're having a hard time

Tomlin - Good luck with the packing. I'm going to get Tom weighed this week too. I have no idea what he will weigh now - he is also of the chunky variety

carikube - Hope you're having a nice break

schipo and rachel - Hope your feet are okay! As if the 9 months wasn't bad enough. Post natal symptoms are just downright unfair!!!

ML - Hope you're okay and not working too hard!

pigley - glad the photoshoot went well, I bet you're relieved to have your Dh home. I hate it when mine's away.

Hollyoaks - Hope Grace is doing ok

Sorry if I've missed anyone - have a lovely sunday

Lovely sunny day here today! Yay!

Just marking thread then out to the sun.

Dancing I feel same as you about return to work. Didn't think I would feel like that but big change now wee sammy here. I'm the big earner in the family so have to go back, but hoping to make the pennies last till 1st March then I have 38 days holiday to take, so could stay off till end April. Depends on my budgeting, but I am a banker so should be able to work my finances! Hoping to go back part time, but will need to review costs nearer time. Websites here say £25 a day childcare, but apparently that's nonsense and it is £37 a day.

Not sure work will be too pleased. New job on mat leave, taking almost a year off then request to go part time. Hmm.

Big hugs to the sore feet and sleep deprived mummies!

WLTK - congratulations on the BFing in public, it can feel quite hard.

Schipo - hope you manage to find a cure for the feet thing that doesn't mean giving up the sling. Corin doesn't like his wrap sling much anymore - he likes it if he's sleeping but if he's awake he hates it :( Hopefully he'll prefer it again when he can be outward facing. My phone's a google phone too - love it :)

Angel - hope you're OK and manage more sleep tonight. How are you coping with MIL atm? Must be very tough.

We had an old school friend and his fiancee visit today. We see him regularly but haven't met his fiancee yet so was lovely to meet her. They're getting married in 4 weeks time so looking forward to the wedding which is apparently v.child friendly so that will be nice! We were going to leave DD behind but so glad we can take her with us.

thank you all for supporrt bf

childcare here is around £40/day, my friends say, i want to get back to work, but if doesn't make financial sense, will think again

sorry no personals today, very grumpy baby, thank goodness we both slept 4 h the afternoon, dh did housework and dinner in peace...

Wrote a long post and pc crashed

Will attempt to recreate!

By the way, those of you who say you've 'fallen off the thread' or 'marking your place'...do you know that if you click 'watch this thread' it stays under 'threads I'm watching' all the time & doesn't drop off your active convos? You prob do all know but just checking.

Jude slept 10 straight hours last night 7.30pm-5.30am. Have tried dream feeding to see if he goes through to 7ish but he still wakes up at 4 or 5

wltk great stuff feeding! I find it depends where I am whether I find it awkward to feed in public or not. When I meet my NCT mums we all happily get our boobs out but it's different if we're with lots of men for example.

heff J hates the Close sling now if he's awake too :( feel so sad that he's getting bigger! He fits into one of his 3-6month outfits now and he's only 10 weeks!

re work, it's looking like I won't be going back just yet. Just not feasible for us with childcare costs. Hoping to get more freelance writing work to earn a few pennies though.

pigley fab about the photos; sure they'll love them. Hope you get to pursue it more too. By the way a Mars bar was the first thing I ate after having J too (at about 6am!) and it was the best thing I've ever tasted!!

angel hope you're ok. Please don't feel you'd be bringing us down here by talking about your (d)h. We're here to listen :)

Am v of all the meetup talk...nobody else is in Wales are they? Or Bristol/Wiltshire area?

Angel- Hope you manage to get more sleep tonight!

Heffa- Glad you had a nice time. Glad the wedding id going to be child-friendly. It makes all the difference doesnt it!

What a scary thought, thinking about returning to work. Where does the time go!

Well I think ive found a way to earn some 'ME' money
The mum who I did the photo shoot for, LOVED the sample shots I emailed her today. Shes collecting the finals on Wed. Im soo pleased as its the first none family one ive done. Anyway her sister now wants some done of her 6mth old and ive had 4 friends all ask about photos of their kids in the past few days. Looks like im gonna be busy :)

Hope everyones had a good weekend. Im hoping DD is good tomorrow as she has been glued to DH all weekend since his week away!

We will be heading to the fish shop as little Bob died on friday and poor Fred is looking abit lonely now :(