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!

Mine has stopped having two naps a day when we're at home (sometimes he'll fall asleep in the car first thing, but not often). I think it's a bit early, but most babies drop the second nap at about a year or just after... I try to keep him awake until he can eat an early lunch at 11.30, and then he goes off like a lamb from 12 until 3. He just started refusing to go down in the mornings at all.

He's just started BITING as well, and thinks it's funny. Gah! Yesterday, poor DS1 was playing that our bed was a boat, and the sea was full of sharks - when he wouldn't let Arthur off the bed into the 'sea', Arthur promptly bit him. Arthur then got exiled to the floor with the rest of the sharks, and prowled around the bed shouting his head off while I tried to console a distraught DS1. (We're going to need a bigger boat.)

Tee hee Tamlin and your bigger boat. Although not about the biting. R has been biting me on the shoulder when she gets excited. Ouch! I yelp and she looks shocked. I also got a bite on the boob - this time I was !

Hope you're well enough for work tomorrow scarlotti. Work going well for me but we're having a bumpy ride with Rosa in nursery. She's up and down. Need to give it some more time I think but v sad to think of her upset there and not being around. Also difficult as she only goes 3x per week so difficult for her to see the routine that is obvious to us . We'll get there.

Had a big weekend of family reunions here in Ox with visitors from US and France and all over England. DH's mum's family so I knew no one. But sometimes that's liberating I find so I just went off and chatted to whomever. Babies are a great icebreaker too aren't they? Then this afternoon had an old London friend with her V handsome and lovely new boyfriend! I'm glad as she was rather cruelly dumped by her partner of 5 years about a year ago but she's much better off now I think!

Have been very domesticated and done lots of ironing of work clothes for next week, now must get head round what's happening tomorrow morning at school. Night all!

Oh yes, i am loving the image of the boat tamlin, sounds great! Sorry you are being bitten. The cub nips sometimes, i think to practice the little sharp razors that are his bottom teeth, as he then looks at me showing them, and touches with his fingers! I tell him off, or rather, try to! He is so gentle in his character though. i was thinking that today, he touches gently, he investigates gently and slow, picking things up, touching with fingers ever so carefully turning things over. He explores my face while feeding, really slowly and tenderly it almost makes me cry. He talks in this very tiny 'ttttt tttt tttt' voice, like he is talking to teeny tiny fairies! Oh I do love this age. DH said 'how could we possibly NOT have another one with two such wonderful children, we owe it to the universe!' .

Bear Cub also has the most amazing relationship with DH. He is visibly sad when he leaves the room and ecstatic when he comes in, his face lights up instantly. DH had a lie in this morning, and we went in to say good morning at 10am (lucky man, he owes me) and when DS saw his face, he put his arms up and out and leaned forward desperate for daddy cuddles, with the biggest happiest grin. I am almost jealous! But really, I am very pleased, of course they will have a close bond as DH cares for him every day, but it also reassures me as DS loves his dad so clearly and vice versa makes it easier when I am at work knowing they are fine without me (and again, almost jealous too!).

Yay we have teeth here! Two teeth on the bottom have appeared all of a sudden. Having a good day today as it is DH's Birthday, so got taken out for brunch and went shopping, now mum's got the kids for the evening so we get some time together, which is nice. Hope everyone else is having a good day.

sounds like a lovely day juicy and yey! on the teeth! We also have teeth today, after a horrendous couple of nights, last night being the worst, we have two splits in the gum, and two more about to pop out any time now. Poor little boy!

It is our wedding anniversary today so we went out for lunch by the sea, had smoked salmon bagels, very nice! Then, alas had to go to hosp for appt re my nose, not the best news in the world as its a bit screwed but heyho, it will all be sorted soon enough i guess (shan't think about that now!), and tonight DH has cooked his fab risotto, and we are drinking sancerre in our new crystal wine glasses (3rd wedding anniversary = crystal)

Happy anniversary Pav

Hooray for all the teeth!

Happy wedding anniversary Pavlov :) And aww at Bear Cub to DH, that's so adorable.

Hope your DH had a nice birthday Juicy.

Scarlotti hope you're feeling better.

Sorry I have been so rubbish at keeping up with you all. I miss having the time I did antenatally when it comes to these threads!

Bryn's Christening went really well on Sunday, though he was a bit disappointed not being allowed to splash in the water Peer supporter course is going well, am really enjoying it, and the creche workers are all members of the Bryn Fan Club

Really hope you're all well.

Happy anniversary Pavlov! Was to hear about your accident, hope you'll heal well.

Scarlotti haw is your hand?

SirBoob well done on the course, how long is it? The hv suggested it to me when she did Lucy's 8 month check up. Might give it some serious thought.

Yipee for all the teeth!

Just came back from another baby group which just started in neighbouring village (third week running - very good as for babies up to 12 months old). Had to leave early and in a bit of a shameful manner as LO's nappy leaked... all over the duvet the babies were sharing. This hasn't happened in months now! I didn't even bring spare clothes for her as it's not something I needed in a long time. Just when you get this sense of knowing what you're doing, eh...?

Beautiful day in Oxfordshire, must make the most of it. Hope all are well. xxx

thank you ladies for my anniversary wishes. We had a great chilled out evening, watched star trek film, and both in bed asleep by 10:30pm! I don't think DH has ever been in bed that early before, but the long nights with bear cub teething are taking its toll on him! He is normally a gone midnight man and said 'pavlov 3 years and i am turning into you ffs, before you know it i will be heading to bed at 8:30pm' (which i do sometimes! ).

I have nose op on monday. general anaesthetic not sure what will have to happen re breastfeeding, need to talk to them about for how long but should think it will be 24-48 hours. Worried it might be the end of breastfeeding but i guess at least bear cub takes a bottle from DH now so while he might be a bit grumpy, at least he will take it. Logistics are a bit of a nightmare and it is times like this we really keenly feel the lack of family presence. I don't want just anyone picking me up from hospital seeing me a jibbering state (likely home that afternoon/evening) . Bear cub will be fine with it all in the grand scheme of things, a bit more concerned about how DD will manage as i will have black eyes, again.

scarlotti how is your hand now? healing ok? make sure you don't rush back into using it too quickly for too long.

Bear cub's two teeth are almost through with white, the other two, literally about to burst out of the skin. He has been a bit sicky today, not vomit, but a bit more spitup than normal, and horrendous nappies, so it all fits! (good boy, nappies filled, up the back the works, while I was at work ). I even managed 4 hours straight sleep last night which is a novelty.

Hope everyone is well and not working too hard x

The hand is healing well thanks, have most movement back now and it's just bruising that's stopping me using it fully.
Pav know how you feel re the op, luckily my Mum came up to stay for the weekend but it's tough not having anyone around at these times. Hope it all goes well.

skorpion at your leaking incident!! Hope the next time you go is better!

SirB glad the christening went well, so sorry I had to miss it. How are you feeling now? Saw on fb you were feeling a bit rough..

What are those that are still bf planning to do? Are you carrying on for as long as you can, or is anyone thinking of stopping soon? I'm not sure, can't decide what to do! DH is still here at the moment, and probably won't get a flat until end of October so I'm thinking that maybe then would be a good point to stop. Only do morning and night now, but then Ioan will be staying over there 2 nights a week so it might just be easier if it was bottles all round. Might even go straight to sippy cups, he does great with one of those at mealtimes so maybe that's an option!

Pav I have totally missed about your accident, I hope you're okay! Here is some info on BFing and aesthetic. Hope the op goes okay.

Skorpion its nine weeks. I'm doing the NHS one, though the LLL do one as well, I think. Fact I learnt this week: the little bumpy bits on the areola? They're called Montgomery's Tubercles

Scarlotti glad you're feeling okay. Sorry to hear there is a delay on the flat front for DH, I hope things aren't too stressful. Am okay thanks - just very fed up. I fell over again yesterday and it was just very much a "For Gods Sake Why Can't I Have A Working Body And Brain" day. Ah well. Coffee soon?

Breastfeeding: Well Bryn is still a milk monster. I think we're going to be keeping going for a while yet. Got me a feeling we might get to around the 18 month mark.

SirB did you get my text? Am in town tomorrow if you fancy a coffee?

I'm not sure when I'm going to stop feeding this time around - I definitely feel that I went on too long with DS1, but he would only nap if I fed him to sleep, and oh, how I needed him to nap when I was pregnant... Arthur seems to be less of a comfort-feeder, and he's far more keen on real food than DS1 was at this age (as he doesn't have the same reflux problems), so I have high hopes that he'll drop his bosom habit naturally between fourteen and eighteen months or so. We'll see.

I am so ready for the teething misery to end, though. He was up three times last night.

How nice to hear about those anniversaries and christenings and how well they went.
I hope recovering for you scarlotti and pavlov goes well.

breastfeeding, I still feed at night once or twice, try to cut that down now, then in the morning with breakfast, nothing the whole day and then again with dinner and to sleep. I think I'll replace the two "drinks" for breakfast and dinner when she turned one, I'll try to end the night feeds depending on how I feel and I'll keep one when she wakes up or, if she continues like now to go back to sleep after a feed around 5, I'll keep that one and the one at bedtime for a while. At least over winter time.

I'd rather keep bf whilst there is the 5am feed as I can't be faffed wandering downstairs at that point! If it stretches out to 6:30 again and is consistent then I'll think of a bottle then, but not before! Am too lazy!!

Naps are becoming interesting, it's just taken me 3/4 hour to 'encourage' him to sleep! I think it's because we've been out this morning around town, so he's been in the pushchair. If he's playing and moving around he's more tired. I can see the nap dropping stage happening - not looking forward to that as I remember a period of rattiness whilst they adjust to one nap!!

Yes, with you scarlotti on keeping the morning feed. We have been very lucky recently with Rosa waking through the night but settling herself back to sleep and then I get her at 6.15ish (when she's often babbling away to her toys - bless! or other than that, crying )for a boob in our bed before we are all up and showering. Routine! Never thought we'd find one but it's happened!

Other than that, only comfort boob or bedtime if DH isn't around. Recently he's wanted to do bedtime so she has a bottle and I gave her one the other night at a family party so I could have a drink . I really thought I'd definitely still be feeding at a year but it seems to be dwindling away naturally here, rather than us making the decision. That's good I suppose.

pav good luck for your op

SirB congrats on your bfer course!

MsI that's interesting that you only seem to be doing the morning feed. That's what I was thinking I'd do, and make the evening one ad hoc depending on what was going on, but I was worried my milk supply would dry up. Have you noticed it dropping at all?

Sat here on mn whilst DS1 watches tv and DS2 shuffles around the floor playing with pots and his brother's plastic garage - I feel guilty for not doing something with them - what's that all about?!

Naps are almost non-existent here now - today since 7am, Bryn has had two ten minute naps, and those only because he's been in the buggy. Was kind of prepared for it because my brother dropped his by 11 months, but still - naps equal MN housework time, so no idea where I'm going to squeeze that in now

sirboob keep perservering with the naps. DD started going down the route of not napping at about 18 months? can't remember the time exactly, and I said 'Not A Chance' I rode through it and it re-started again, for a good 6 months longer, maybe more. Not saying it will definitely work, but it is worth trying as 10/11 months is very early to stop naps completely. have a search through MN history, there were some good threads with better advice about it than I can give, one was from me about said topic!!

DS seems to want to drop down to one from two, and again we are bucking, but might have to give in and try one longer one middle of the day, bring lunch forward. logistically a nightmare but we will work it. There is No Way he is going to stop napping completely I will put my Foot Down

Just popping in for a quick catch up as have no time for anything now I'm back at work.

pavlov ow ow ow. That sounds awful. Hope you're OK.

Isaac's one on Thursday. I can't believe this year has gone so quickly. Hope you're all well. x

lemontop, I have been thinking of you and was hoping you would come back here for Isaac's first birthday. So congratulations to him and you :)

sirboob, I agree with Pavlov, you should try to keep him napping for a while. Not that I would have any experience but that sounds early and it would be at least nice for you
I'm at the moment working on the one nap instead of two. I try to keep her entertained as long as I can and then usually around 11.30 she is just incredibly tired. Then she sleeps for about an hour, hopefully a bit longer. At the moment I'm doing everything to make it as long as possible. Yesterday she was in the cot and woke up after 50min (at that time is was already waiting in front of the bedroom. I took her quickly and let her sleep on me for another half an hour. I'm hoping to get her used to the new rhythm and then she can hopefully do it by herself.
TBH, it's going better as I would have thought. She is in general in a good mood and not getting too tired in the evening but she gets crazy if the slightest thing happens. Like yesterday when her finger got caught between two pieces of paper!!!! She cried as if she was terribly hurt.

Boo! I haven't been here for a while - busy, busy, busy.

For what it is worth I agree on the nap front. In my experience sleep begets sleep and naps are the best thing ever invented (so long as they do it though - it's horrible when they resist sleep!). Toby has two sleeps a day - 10amish and 1.30pmish. I need him to sleep as that is when I do most of my work. At the moment we have builders in working on our bathroom and two bedrooms so house is in total chaos and Toby is having to sleep amidst much banging and shouting. He is a star. He's managed to sleep fine so far (touch wood). Having said that all babies are different. DS1 gave up naps at 2 years and DS2 at nearly 4 years (and he still sleeps if we go in the car).

PS Happy birthday Isaac! Wow a year!!!!!! This time last year we were all moaning about indigestion, being huge, waddling around, etc.

Interesting to hear about the naps, I think given the option Ioan would drop too. He is still on two naps but the second one is getting shorter.
Ursi do you give Paula her lunch before her nap? If you bring lunch forward to 11:30 then she might well keep going until 12 and then will sleep longer on a full tummy. DS had lunch at nursery at 11:30 up until he went to school.

Another day of a human dustbin here today, he's been eating everything in sight - he grabbed a nectarine out of the fruit bowl earlier as we walked past and tucked in!

and Happy Birthday Isaac