November 09 - Autumnal times are drawing near, soon our babes will be one year!

[MsInterpret]

Hello ladies, hope no one minds me taking the liberty of creating a new thread and approves of the name choice. We've been moving a bit slower than antenatal so though we'd most certainly have some year-olds by the time we finished this one!

DWB you look amazing, so does your DH and love the page boy! Glad you had a fab day and congratulations

Congrats DWB sounds like you had a lovely day you looked gorgeous, as did your little boy! So pleased for you!

Oh, and Happy birthday Issac (bit late sorry!)

Feeling a bit fed up at the mo and a bit homesick. My ds has turned into the child from hell, pushing and hitting other children and Millie, last week he pushed Millie over and she cut her mouth. I went mental at him and he was very remorseful but did it again a few days later. If we tell him off he says 'don't shout at me you silly little fella' no idea where he got that from! He has just turned 3 and I'm sure I heard somewhere that boys get a surge of testosterone then, I know some of my friends boys this age are acting the same, but I am still finding it very wearing.

My in-laws are over tomorrow for 3 weeks so that will be a big help, plus we are going to Bali for a week on Sunday so very much looking forward to that!

Hope everyone else is ok and had a good weekend!

Ms - no tea in the staffroom?? What an outrage. I got into work at TEN TO SEVEN on Friday, didn't want to disturb a (finally) sleeping baby, so took my packet of porridge - to find the only milk went off in September!!! WHat is wrong with these schools!??!?!

Lemontop well done you for taking some action. I hope things continue to improve. You did the right thing.

Helips I have a friend with a little boy who turned three at the end of September and he is currently a total nightmare. She's at the end of her tether too, cheeky and stropping at the slightest thing. I am sure it (must) pass. I am not particularly looking forward to it though.... I don't know if it would be any good, but my mum has just ordered me a book called Taming Toddlers (0 - 4) as apparently it has an amazing section on sleep tips for 6 month plus's so maybe it could be worth a look?

COngratulations DWB!!! How are you feeling pg-wise? Did any of the guests know? Will have a look at the pics!!

Re naps - S tends to now have one giant nap end-of-morning until around 1 ish. It is when I do my best sleeping! I think one big one is better than a few silly half hour ones. He can usually last until bedtime then although sometimes has a brief 20 minutes at around 4pm if we go out.

helips I did find that at around three they do get like this, ds has calmed down now he is four and is lovely for the most part, obv all children can push buttons at times tho. Think its cos they understand things a bit better at four so dont need to strop and be bolshy so much.

helips it does pass so hang on in there!

I am having the days/nights from hell DS1 was sick everywhere last night and then again this morning so he's off school. I've finally battled with him to get him to nap so hopefully he'll sleep now for a bit.
Ioan is still under the weather, although not a temp of 38.2 anymore, but a funny rash appeared last night. Went to docs today and it's probably german measles nothing that can be done for it and most people are immune. Rash is the last of the symptoms so it's the tail end.
In a way it's good it's all happened now whilst DH is still here, but it's made me wonder how I'll cope when he's moved out if we have something like this again.
Tiredness isn't helping though as I've been up every night now for at least a week... zzz

Congrats DWB!!

helips Sorry to hear about the homesickness, and ds's misbehaviour. Maybe he's homesick too :( I hope that the ILs help out and that Bali provides some respite!

scarlotti ugh ugh ugh! I hope there's some sleep in your future. Same for you, wook.

Anyone else experiencing period weirdness? Mine came back about 6-7 weeks ago, after I stopped nursing M overnight. It was very short and I haven't had one since but I've been feeling pre-menstrual for the last two weeks! Arghh and until it comes I'm going to worry that I'm pg again (against all odds).

On a brighter note, I left M with DH all afternoon yesterday and went clothes shopping with a friend And my parents babysat last Friday while we went out with friends - all in all a brilliant weekend!

Hi all,

Sorry to hear about all the poorly babies and Scarlotti I hope you can get some sleep soon.

DWB Congratulations (have also posted on fb) your pictures look fab and what a lovely gift from your mum.

Well I have had a strange weekend, Dh's brother and girlfriend have been to stay along with Bil's daughter and her 2 year old ds! It was a bit of a squash as we live in a 3 bed semi and have 3 children of our own! Anyway her ds spent the whole time screaming and crying and throwing himself on the floor, he ate nothing but crisps all weekend and if he wanted a toy that any of my ds s had he got it! They left this morning having eaten us out of house and home and have been waited on hand and foot, we've had to pay for everything: coffee out, takeaway, all food, drinks etc and we've not even had a thank you!

Sorry rant over and Hen is now crying so off to bed for me.

Good evening! I'm another one that doesn't seem to be able to keep up. Weeks just slip past.

So nice to see people coming back to the thread, and our list is back!

Katster - huge congratulations!

DWB - congratulations also. You looked beautiful and what a lovely tradition with the gift from your Mum.

Scarlotti - hope the boys get better and you get some rest soon. I was very sorry to read about the cash going missing from your fund raiser - has there been any progress with the investigation?

Tigger - what a weekend.

The countdown has begun. Week 3 before going back to work is on. I am feeling a bit wobbly even thinking about it... I managed to reduce my hours a bit but still have to do 4 long days every week. It will be such a shock I think, I will really miss her

Been revelling in my favourite time of the year: mushroom picking in the Forest of Dean, making preserves and chutnyes. I am even seriously considering making Xmas puddings this year. Does anybody make their own? I think it's a wonderful tradition.

lemontop - Isaac 30/9
Fruit - C 31/10
Helips - Amelia 1/11
thewook - Hedy 9/11
SirBoob - Bryn 11/11
tigger32 - Henry 11/11
JuicyLips/Trikken - Annabelle 14/11
BeckyBendyLegs - Toby 14/11
Weston - Lexi 16/11
GreaterFence - Lottie 19/11
Hobnob57 - Isla 22/11
Katster - Sam - 24/11
longwayaway - Maeve 25/11
Pavlov - Reuben 28/11
DWB - Ethan 29/11
MsInterpret - Rosa 3/12
Ninjacat - Alfred 4/12
skorpion - Lucy 9/12

Thanks everyone for your words of support re my terrible toddler! katster I will order that book, sounds like it is just what i need

Scarlotti hope the boys are feeling better, you must be exhausted with it too. Hope you get some sleep soon...

longwayaway sounds like you've had a lovely weekend, I'm hoping the in-laws will do some babysitting so that I can get a few shopping trips in!

Tigger bet you're glad to be rid of your guests from hell, how rude to expect you to pay for everything and not even say thanks! Unbelievable!

skorpion you are putting us all to shame with your preserve/pudding making, where do you get the time! Agree it's a lovely tradition...I love Christmas pudding!

DH makes Christmas cake and Christmas pudding every year during October half term. He usually does it with DS1 and DS2 but I'm taking them on holiday next week: me, three other mummy friends, and eleven children aged between nine and 11 months (DS3). Wish me luck guys!!!! We're going to north Wales. I really, really hope we have good weather.

PS great soother for teething, just discovered by Toby, a roll of sellotape!

hey just ducking in, after a morning from hell. I had an assessment centre/interview to facilitate a domestic abuse programme for male perpetrators, including a 10 min presentation and 12 horrid horrid questions. I found, the more important the question and the more obvious I should know the answer clearly, the further the answers dug themselves into my brain and refused to come out. I think I flunked it. presentation was fine, but the rest, not good, i was too vague. I saw it in their faces.

Roo is not settling, not at night, or day, he is waking for no apparnt reason, not wanting milk, not wanting DH, only me. Not always wanting boob, just me. Last night he was awake for hours, singing to his music, and being cuddled by me. Put him down, he screamed the place down (DH calls him the angry imp as he acts just like that, bouncing up and down in the cot with face like thunder), in my arms, on in his cot with my holding both his hands he was sweet as you like. He woke twice and this was the same, could not leave the room. He won't nap, and he will not let us, either me or DH, put him down. At All. If I even look like I am going to put him down, he cries, he basically will only be settled if he is on my hip, one arm clinging to my shoulder and one hand clutching my big black chunky bead necklace, like it is reigns or something. Or, if he is on the boob. He won't eat his lunch as that means putting him down, and will only eat if he is being held.

Could it be seperation anxiety? Anyone else having this? DD never experienced anything other than very mild SA so i have no idea if it is.

Sounds like SA to me. Boys are 'supposed' to get it worse than girls. DS3 has it bad at the mo. He is resisting naps really badly and in the early evening he won't let me put him down at all just when I need to cook tea, etc. As soon as DH comes home he calms down and is happy to go watch Dr Who with him though.

I'm beaming with happiness as just found out DS1 and DS2 are both on the gifted and talented register now. DS2 is just about to enter reception in January so how on earth they can tell is beyond me but who cares? He's a clever sausage!

helips, I hope your homesick will pass. Having family over (and help) will certainly help you.

DWB, congratulations! I've seen only a couple of pictures but you looked gorgeous and it seemed as if you had a great day.

pavlov, I think we have a bit of SA here as well. Paula will play on her own when she is only with her dad but as soon as I enter the room she follows me like a puppy on all 4, with her head hanging down, crying and eventually holding on to my knees. Somehow cute but somehow annoying. I can't wait until she gets a bit more independent. And she suddenly seems to be really addicted to my breast. Bf takes ages and now she wants it every time she wakes up. (That's probably my fault as I bf her every time when she woke up last week as she had a cold.)

oh i am glad I am not the only one, was getting a bit worried. Shame that he has found yet another reason to not sleep through though, i feel like i shall never sleep for a good solid amount of time again .

Oh well, a good size glass of wine to commiserate the not passing the assessment centre/job interview on a fucking technicality but nevermind. So tomorrow, when they announce formally the 500,000 or so public sector jobs to go, i shall be preparing for severe redundancies in my area of work as this would have given me an 'edge' over some other colleagues in terms of being indispensable, now, my job is as insecure as everyone else's now. Gone are the days of my type of job being a job for life. Sorry, moaning, don't mean to bring you down.

Roo has now eaten a ton. An absolute ton. He has decided he is fine to be put down, as long as he is allowed to pick up a bit of breadstick/bread/nan in both fits and sit there/stand and bounce while chomping on them. But we can't give them to him. He must take them himself. He has this strong sense of the need to 'hunt/gather' his own food, must be primal eh?

Hi all, thanks for the welcome back, after which I promptly went awol again - will try harder this time.

DWB Had a look at your pictures - you look stunning and it sounds like the day went perfectly. Congratulations {smile]

BBL Congrats to DS2!

Lemontop Happy Birthday Isaac! Can't believe he is 1 already. Hasn't this year just flown?
I don't know about teaching, but I've definitely been feeling like having a baby has made me go all soft. My job requires me to be critical and sharp - I feel the total opposite. Luckily I very rarely have to meet real people.

Pav Sorry to hear about the assessment centre. Waiting to hear of cuts too - DH is public sector and I'm not working much at all...

Scarlotti / Helips All this talk of babies is making me broody too, which I never thought would happen. I actually did a pregnancy test yesterday as I still haven't had a period (or I think I had a tiny one about 5 months ago). Has anyone else not? I'm not feeding much in the day now but still am at night. Obviously for me to have actually been pregnant would have required divine intervention, but you talk yourself into these things...

Ninja How exciting about the feature film - any hints what it might be?

lemontop - Isaac 30/9
Fruit - C 31/10
Helips - Amelia 1/11
thewook - Hedy 9/11
SirBoob - Bryn 11/11
tigger32 - Henry 11/11
JuicyLips/Trikken - Annabelle 14/11
BeckyBendyLegs - Toby 14/11
Weston - Lexi 16/11
GreaterFence - Lottie 19/11
Hobnob57 - Isla 22/11
Katster - Sam - 24/11
longwayaway - Maeve 25/11
Pavlov - Reuben 28/11
DWB - Ethan 29/11
MsInterpret - Rosa 3/12
Ninjacat - Alfred 4/12
Laugs - James 4/12
skorpion - Lucy 9/12

Hi all,

We have SA too. It was awful at around 6-7-8 months, seemed to improve but I am wondering if that is why he's so awful at night. He's far worse with me than DH and I have more or less stopped BFing him at night. Just takes ages to settle him and he is not sleeping longer than 1.5 hrs so Pavlov you have my sympathies.

Ursi how is the walking progressing? S is doing no more than 5 steps at once. He prefers crawling really, as it's faster but he is very pleased with himself when he does a little walk!

Laugs how's the sleeping going at your end?

Tigger at your guests!!! I woudn't invite them back any time soon! I hope you've recovered now!

WE are trying to move to the other end of the country before baby arrives... It is stressful! Am not sure we'll ever be settled and ready!

but i guess should not be really. 20% cut in my profession, and given that 80% of our finances are staff wages, thats a LOT of jobs to go, estimated as 1 in 5 probation officers. Already had a team breifing on the back of it, morale is very low right now.

Grim news today, eh Pav? I couldn't believe all the cheering and jeering that was going on when hundreds of thousands of people will be losing their jobs. They have no shame.

Katster Sleep is actually a bit better here . He's feeding about 2-3 times a night, so miles better than the 6x I've had up to now. DH is sometimes able to get him back to sleep without milk, but I think I really need him to do a few nights on his own (with me hiding in another room) to crack it. Don't know when we're ever going to find those nights though as he is under so much pressure at work I don't feel I can ask him. You've done really well to cut the feeding at night - I'm sure that is the answer but I am too lazy in the dead of night to try and rock him back to sleep.

laugs its horrendous. A huge culture of fear is brewing, in most sectors. Unions said those in the boat, with an oar in each hand (operational staff) will stay, those without an oar, or those getting a free ride on the outside while shouting orders (management) will go first I like the analogy, but we all know when a ship is sinking, people get thrown overboard to lighten the load, and sometimes, people who should not be on it in the first place clamber aboard at the expense of those being thrown over. So, everyone is watching their backs. horrid environment to work in right now.

But, on the plus side...Roo has just discovered himself! It is amazing and totally fits in with the SA that he is displaying. This evening, he was in his cot and he pointed to the door, then bounced, then pointed to the door, then bounced, laughing. I took this to mean he wanted to go into our bedroom for his usual game of bed bouncing before sleep. And he bounced and squealed with delight at being heard and understood! But, the discovering himself bit, he has realised, with this new pointing, proper pointing he has not done before, that that hand pointing, it is him. He was bouncing, then stretching out his arm, pointing out his finger, then stopping the bounce so he could stare, and try to touch with his other hand, then bounce and do it all over again. With this fascination of the hand that he is making move all by himself. He is realising it is his hand, so, sense of self and realisation he is not part of me, physically, means happiness and independence, and fear of being on his own. Makes sense and its amazing to be able to understand it! (earlier today, he cried when he woke from nap in his bedroom, when he had fallen asleep in the car, and when i went in to see him he had his fingers in his mouth and he looked terrified, so his sense of seperation is strong). Just amazing.

Sorry, its been a long day so I rambled there!

How can it be Wednesday evening already!!?? I swear somebody is stealing hours from my days this week!

Pavlov, Laugs - yes, half a million jobs to go is awful news. I don't know anything about economics but get nervous thinking about the future... It will be a bad winter I fear.

Laugs - no periods here yet. I did a test two weeks ago just to be sure although immaculate conception would probably have to be the explanation here as well... Very strange all this, I didn't expect not to have it back yet. Lucy feeds before bed and then early morning (granted, this might mean 2 am on some nights... ) and has done for some time now.

Helips - I wish all this preserve making was just a cherry on top of my domestic goddess cake - unfortunately it is done at the expense of everything else. I really ought to hoover around here sometime, as Lucy takes interest in all the fluff and debris on the floors... yummy...

DWB lovely pics, big congrats.
Pav- also shocked by cuts, dh job very dicy.
Half a million more on benefits is a saving???? How so?
Periods- have had two, but no rhyme or reason to them!

Hi all,

No periods here yet either, still bf 4 x a day and occasionally one at night if Millie wakes up. With ds they returned when he was 10 months so not sure what is going on this time around.

pav sorry to hear about your stresses at work, one of the reasons we headed over here was because dh had been made redundant twice in 18 months. It is a horrible feeling and like you say, not good for morale.

Thanks for the good wishes everyone!

And with regards to periods, I am proof that you are superfertile around now so if you don't want another just yet make sure you're taking precautions! (sorry!)

Pav the economic outlook is very bleak. Hopefully around now the libdem supporters have realised they've completely lost the party they voted for. I really think the LibDems have behaved disgustingly. They pledged no public spending cuts pre-election... Ah well, I suppose that's politics!

We've had some good news, DP has been offered a full time teaching position for the rest of the school year so, provided his current school are happy to release him from his 2.5 day contract, that takes a lot of pressure off me. I'm starting my 9mth contract on Monday but when I confirm my pregnancy, that might be looking shaky!

Katster I think my milk had started to dry up. Either way, Ethan was only feeding for a minute or so before bed & in the morning and doesn't seem to be missing the feeds since I cut them out a few days ago. Still got nausea but haven't actually been sick yet. The hospital I delivered in last time closed at the start of this year and the replacement has a huge backlog so, despite an urgent scan request from my gp on 1st October, I still haven't heard from the hospital despite phoning a few times to chase it up. Not impressed at all and thinking about changing to another hospital but I'll give them til Friday then speak to my gp and see what she would recommend. Hope you are keeping well. What are you planning pram-wise?

Hope everyone else is well. scarlotti how are things at home?