Dec 08 Ladies - Waiting for BabyLady & the usual grumpy tots with stinky bots

[DeidreBarlow]

Hope this is ok...

My poor dd has leprosy! Well, actually just insect bites that have got infected :( but poor love, she looks awful and keeps scratching. In Italy she got bitten quite a bit (despite the bug repellent) but while we were there they didn't seem to bother her. Now they've all gone red and (sorry look away ifyou're having breakfast) kind of weepy and have grown to the size of her nipples. I took her to the doc yesterday and got some antihistamine and steroid cream, but today she's got several more on her face :( and DH reckons it's going to have to be a return trip for anti-bs. Any ideas for how to stop a toddler scratching bites now that she's too big for scratch mitts??

NJAN, if you and SL arrange a date I may be able to make a Friday if it's not too busy a day at work, and in fact I have the afternoon of the 1st Oct off after the scan anyway if you were thinking of that day - would be lovely to meet up :)

Jump buy some porridge oats. Then get a mug full and wrap them in a muslin pop in the bath swoosh it around the muslin poultice will get sort of slimy this is perfect then use it to to rub gently over her skin. Works a treat, great for excema chicken pox and other skin complaints.

Hey all - how are you doing?

DD1 took 1.5 hours to go to sleep yesterday lunchtime. And then only had an hour as I woke her or she wouldn't have gone to sleep in the evening. More fool me. She didn't go to sleep til 9pm, despite going down at 6.45. So, today, I am..... DROPPING HER DAYTIME SLEEP! Am I nuts to do that? I just so want her to go down well in the evening or it's a nightmare. I think will see how it goes for a couple of days, but suspect it might be awful for her and she will go back to a daytime sleep. Or I could drop it every other day. I just worry that she will be hideous from about 5 onwards this evening... Ho hum. Worth a go I suppose. Sorry, dribbling on.

DD2 just had her 12 weeks jabs. Fun. Not. DD1 due her MMR booster in October. Treat.

I'm afraid I'm a bit tired to do personals at moment as was up 3 times in the night with either of them!

Beans I'm there with you. Jordi has refused to go down and even if he goes down now I would have to wake him in an hour & a half to go pick up DS1. So I'm experimenting with no sleep. Yesterday he had s late sleep and didn't go to sleep until nearly 9. My plan is early tea & early bath then let DS1 watch some tele while I put DS2 to sleep early. DH is home late tonight so DS1 will have to chill out on his own. Here's hoping DS2 doesn't have a meltdown. I'm going to stuff him with food all afternoon so if he's too tired to eat it won't matter.

Sorry can't post more at the moment as DS2 going s little mental as I'm not giving him enough attention.

So glad it's not just us! Yes, doing bath at about 5.30 tonight for both of them. And they should both be in bed by 6.30 with any luck. Expecting total meltdown though...

Jam thanks for the idea, we have oats so will try that tonight. Sounds kinda fun!
Am pleased to say she's not at all unwell, has just brought the kitchen pedal bin into the living room for me and is happily rolling it about?!

Right going to try to properly post while I have coffee number 3 & DS2 goes mental around me.

Hello to NJAN, and Lady I am feeling better, I think it was a light cold, just felt a bit heady and achy for a few days. I think DS1 may have it now as he has a moist cough but he's off at school.

Rubes & SL I have finally sent your LO2's presents they should arrive by next Monday.

JJ sorry about the bites. DS1 has some midge bites on his face but luckily hasn't found them itchy.

Oh gotta go, DS2 has his nappy off & is trying to stick a pen into his willy.

beans another one here with a LO that doesn't want to nap. DS only had 1/2 an hour or so yesterday after he fell asleep on my knee. He spent 40 mins screaming in his cot prior to that. In fact one day last week he had no nap at all, and just about made it through the day. Although he was in bed about 6.15pm instead of his usual 7pm.

DD was about this age when we reduced the amount of nap time to about 45 mins and even then she would only have a nap 3/4 times a week. Any more and it was impossible to get her to go to sleep. By the time DS was born she was 2.4 and had dropped her daytime nap about a month earlier, exactly the same time I went on Mat Leave. She really was too kind

He's ok now, cheeky begger.

Now I can't remember where I was up to.

DS1 & I were the toast of the school gate yesterday. It seems I have gained some street cred with the mums & dads for taking on that many children for the birthday party. I think they may think I took them through the sea life centre by myself? It's quite nice now as they are becoming a bit more approachable and chatty. I've never been much for gaining my social circle from the school gate but it's nice to see friendly faces and know people.

How are things going with you Beans? I'm off to pick up DS1 soon. If he's tired DS2 will fall asleep in his bike seat on the front of my bike. He gonna be cross when I don't take him upstairs to his bed.

Hi DB, DS1 dropped his nap at around 19 months and only ever slept 1.5 hrs at the most. DS2 naps around 2.3-3 hours so if he goes to bed late for a nap hecwakes too late. How was DD1 when you woke her after 45mins? Was she cranky? DS2 is not a great waker, like his mother! He's starting to get tired now. Hew got that look in his eye.

La, la, la. I can't hear you all talking about naps being dropped. I refuse to accept that might happen here soon. DD2 still sleeps for 2 hours and I NEED that time. I am owed that time as DD1 never really napped in her cot. Please, please, please let DD2 be one of those who naps until they start school!

Looking forward to tomorrow LadyT. I will text you tonight for your address and stuff. I hope you are having fun with the family Rubes.

Did anyone watch "My Family's Crazy Gap Year" last night? Its a series on Channel 4 that follows families as they take time out and travel to remote places. I would love to do something like that. I spent all night waking DH up suggesting destinations but he did not seem convinced.

Giggling about pen up willy. Hee hee. New meaning to lead in his pencil.

I have got to post a picture of DD1 I just took. I'd put on her crocodile wellies, which she loves and she had found my winter beret and put it on and was pushing her chair round the room with a bit of apple hanging off her chin. Nice. V funny. Plus she had eaten the whole bottom half of an apple, just leaving the stalk for me. HEe hee. Giggling to self.

I have just put her down and am going to give her half an hour max. All quiet on the western front so far. Reckon she does still need a bit of sleep...

I can't load the picture, annoyingly. Will put it on FB.

Tell me about it Avo a week ago I was counting my blessings at having a boy who sleeps so long in his bed, compared the previous model who had to push around the block everyday. Thinking about it due to school run it would have been better other way around. Bloody design flaws!

Beans I would love to see that photo. DS2 has taken to wandering around the house on the phone laughing and veggiebaby yabbering. He also sits in my rocking chair with a tea cup from their tea set and sips very loudly. Clearly I talk too much on the phone and drink my coffee too loudly.

Veggie: DS2 spends a lot of the time with a towel/jumper/hat over his head pretending to be a monster. I'm not sure what that says about our domestic life!

Avo: you are clearly a more tolerant woman than me. I saw one of those gap year progs and had to do the washing up to avoid shouting at the telly.

LadyT and Rubes: I hope you are sitting with your feet up while the men do important stuff with power tools.

NJAN: lovely to see you. How are you feeling?

Avo I saw the first bit of My Family's Crazy Gap Year last night and I thought they were totally irresponsible. How could the bloke expect his wife to sail the boat single-handed and keep an eye on two children?

LadyT DD is still enjoying school very much, but I'm finding the early start a bit of a struggle. She used to start pre-school at 9.15 but starts school at 8.30.

Sorry not been on much and only lurking sporadically as feeling very, very tired but am sleeping at night so it's a bit weird.

Today is the 15th anniversary of my 1st date with DH. Coincidentally, I wore one of those click under groin body thingies .

Congrats, Nolda. Obviously you looked great in your body suit ensemble as you bagged the boy!

I remember having a grey long sleeve body suit thingy which I wore to a very hot 'wonder stuff concert in Sydney. When we came outside it was a little chilly. So when cool air met sweat soaked tight bodysuit, the headlights turned on and I was on highbeam mode. Hello boys!

Well after a few mild melt downs DS2 is starting to settle and is nearly asleep. He actually did quite well at dinner, apart from launching himself across the table once to try to grab his brothers chicken saté. He lost it once when I was putting pudding out & he wanted his bath, but I gave him a cup of water that I'd laced with enough pulsitilla to make Victor Meldrew brighten up & he seemed to calm right down. The boys had quite a fun bath as I'd bought them some soap foam so they went a but mental with that. He got a but grumpy out of the bath & has a bit of nappy rash (due to teeth, he popes 6 times yesterday & 3 today!) so I've lathered him up, given him more pulsitilla & some calpol for good measure. So let's seer how tonight pans out. Poor DS2 is downstairs alone with a hot chocolate & the alphablocks. Lucky he knows how to use a mouse and iplayer!

Sorry he didn't pop he poo'ed 6 times yesterday.

Oh god bodies they were the worst invention ever. I spotte some in Topshop recently. shudder.

Veggie, Beans, DB we too are having daytie nap issues.As you all know he is rubbish at sleeping but I used to be able to guarentee 2hrs at lunch but it is taking me an hr to get him to sleep then he often only sleeps for 30 mins. Whereas DS1 god love him will still sleep for 2 hrs over lunch. Nightimes are up shit creek at the mo. He came into us at midnight last night. DH went to the spare room. sigh] Last week he did 7-7 every night. Why is he such a conundrum with sleeping?

Rubes, Lady MrLady & MrRubes hope you are having a productive but lovely day. Avo hope oyu r day tom is lovely too.

Oh and Rubes I would pick option B.

2 more sleeps until our holiday cannot wait. So need to get out of the rain and in the sunshine. Studiously ignoring the tropical storm warnings for FLorida.

ok, so after only 20 mins sleep at lunchtime, we had a lovely afternoon, she ate the biggest supper I've seen for weeks - 1 homemade beef burger (they're big), a mini milk, a yoghurt, some blackberries and a brioche (in that slightly odd order!). Then had a lovely bath with both of them. DD1 went out like a light at 6.30 - partly due to jabs and calpol, I suspect. DD2 just gone down now and all quiet upstairs - but that usually doesn't mean anything! Fingers crossed, though. She was on cracking form all the way til bedtime - no whinging. Amazing. BUT hoping she still does want her sleep a bit!

I am about to have a beer. Yummy.

Do you think this matters?... DD1 fell over in the playground today and I picked her up. She was sort of dusty/muddy and some of it went down my front. When DD2 was feeding later, I think she may have swallowed some of it as it was on/around my nips. Do you think it'll damage her? I suspect maybe not, but perhaps a bit of squits? I don't think it really matters though!

I can't believe bodies are back in fashion. Gone are the days when I used to wear one with my wonderbra on underneath. And I had no back fat round the bra, or pokey-out tummy. I was so slim. And I NEVER made the most of it! Just assumed I would always be! Bugger.

SL - how are you coping? Are you ok? Can't believe we've all had girls this time round - and Lady to have another one!

lady and pubes - hope you've had a smashing day with your fellas and the work. Well done you two! And Avo - are you going up tomorrow?

I have changed 4 poos from DD1 and 5 from DD2 today. Feel like a regular poo factory! Now going to tuck into a beer. Heavenly. Considering asking DH if we can have a curry tonight. Cannot be assed with cooking!

ooh, ooh, Jam - lucky duck going to Florida! I went to Sanibel Island when I was 11. Man oh man, I was an ugly little duckling! My parents had given me those go dark in the light specs. But they were grim wire-rimmed natty health ones. Massive gappy teeth, big baggy jumper and pattern denim jeans. Tasty.

It was a great holiday, though. Loved it. Although had flu and when we went to Sea World, my temperature got too high for us to see Shark World. I was gutted. It was set to be the highlight of my trip! Still haven't been back to see it. One day. sigh.

Beans that sounds like a lovely day (poos aside)... and ending with a beer too re muck, I wouldn't worry - given how much dust and mud etc they eat as soon as they're moving, a little bit now is unlikely to hurt. Part of the grand immunization from within! I've told this story before but I'll tell it again, one of my most vivid memories from being tiny was dropping my lunchbox in the queue outside the primary school dining hall, my sarnie fell apart and god some grit in it but I put it back in the box. Some bigguns* said Yuck that's disgusting, but I said very firmly "My mum says a bit of dirt never hurt anyone"

• bigguns and littluns, isn't that what everyone calls them at primary school?!

Nolda happy first date anniversary! Were you wearing a body owing to hoping to get lucky, you little minx?

am terrified at all these nippers dropping their naps, dd bless her may have taken a good year to get the hang of sleep but (touch wood) she's now pretty expert, usually a good couple of hours at lunch and then a decent night. It really shows how much crapper you feel without sleep, when suddenly you do get some and it's like a minor miracle. DB you poor thing, that sounds like the worst of all worlds re naps and giving them up :(

Jam thanks for the oats trick, dd looked at me like some kind of loon as I rubbed sticky white stuff on her, hopefully she's rinsed off enough and won't chemically bond to her sleeping bag in the same way that porridge does to a bowl :) Have a fabby holiday, the storms will stay away!

wahhhh veggie to ds2 and his willy! THe things boys get up to... DD was climbing up dh in a chair just before tea and he suddenly yelped, she'd reached up and grabbed his willy (through his jeans I hasten to add, we're not a naturist family) and tried to pull herself up using that as a handhold! teee hee.

at the willy talk.
Having a mare with bedtime too, am wondering whether I need to cut the lunchtime nap short (currently 1h45) as he tends not to sleep before 9 but is still up at 7 (and several times in the night ). Actually, maybe the fact that the weather's been bad and he's not charging round a park like a loon might have something to do with it.

JJ hope your poor lil DD heals nicely. I haven't commented on your holiday yet (sorry) but it sounded like hard work, albeit enjoyable!

Beans, hope you're enjoying your beer. That is actually v sweet about your 11 year-old appearance, I think we would have been geeky twins then! I hope the nap dropping works.

Veggie, I'm glad your cold is a bit better and I feel exhausted just reading about your bathtime with the boys, let alone the whole day! Hope DS2 sleeps well.

Nolda, congratulations (and well remembered!). Are you wearing a bodysuit today to celebrate?

Jam have a fab holiday, what great timing jetting off when it's getting grim again here. Good call .

Took T swimming today for first time in ages, he dipped a toe in but was really quite frightened of the water. I took him a fair bit as a baby and he enjoyed it, but haven't in ages and am feeling a bit guilty as he's clearly not comfortable. Will try ad go weekly (though it's getting uncomfortable with my big belly) and hope he starts to enjoy it a bit more.

I have to admit to finding things quite tricky at the moment, he is getting v angry and frustrated very quickly and I keep having to remind myself that he's just tiny and working out what boundaries are but it does make me angry when he is so deliberately naughty.