FEB 2010 Longer out than in and first Christmases around the corner...we're 9 months on.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Shiny new thread, as promised fellow FEBers!

Figured we would start another new one to mark first birthdays, bethlou, so I've held fire on referencing that landmark in this thread title - hope that's okay with y'all!

Anyway, welcome everybody, pull up a comfy chair, someone get the wine out and I'll open a huge box of chocolates for us all to share.

The night was much better with one waking up at 2am for about 15mn and then the day started at 5.40am.

DS can now get up by himself while holding on his walker or I has discovered this morning his bed.

I'm crossing my fingers that nursery will keep him today as the bean jar of yesterday has given him loose bowel movement (TMI sorry).

Have a good day

Ouch, chinook, that sounds hard... Not sure what to suggest as your DS sounds like a tension-increaser when left to cry for a bit, so doing what I did with my DD (basically, let her protest for a while so long as it didn't sound like she was getting truly upset) probably wouldn't work for him. I would copy what you've written above and start a thread in Sleep to see if anyone has any suggestions.

Out of interest, can we do a straw poll on how our babies are sleeping now?

Sleeping through??

YES: watercress DD

NO: IC DD (wakes twice); CC DD; GF DS; chinook DS; bc DS

Please copy and add detail / amend as you want!

DD is also a veggie baby and luckily tends to like lentil and chickpea concoctions... They don't make her windy that I've noticed...

Sorry to hear about the skin and chest complaints... hope the LOs get better soon...

Chinook I am so sorry about the sleep issues. I feel very similar but the past few evenings I have let him cry when I put him in his cot (I know this isn't for everyone, and I would prefer not to but when it has been impacting so badly on my daytime parenting it feels like the lesser of two evils). Like you if we stay he thinks it is playtime or he gets madly frustratred. So last night and the night before he cried for less than ten mins before falling asleep - there were a few short wakings last night but he either settled himself or DH went in and sat there for a few mins quietly ignoring him until about 3am when I gave him his one feed of the night and then he slept until 5.

We had about an hour of partying then he slept until 8.

This 5am thing has been going on for a while now and I would very much like it to stop. I don't mind getting up at 7. I don't want to wake up for an hour between 5 and 6 and then have another two hours. Although I guess it is better than rising for the day at 5. Brr.

GF Maybe tell nursery its nothing to worry about to pre-empt them sending him back? Or maybe that will make them refuse to take him at all. Anyway, I hope he stays for the day.

IC We love the video of Rosie with things on her head. She's so cute. I should post a video of Alex watching Rosie on the laptop. He has this cute rapt, open mouthed expression.

I am going to try to get out for a walk before the morning nap to make the most of the daylight hours. It gets dark so early now.

I had a nice day yesterday, went over to my NCT friend's house (walking distance) - there were three mums and babies, and we had lunch and went for a walk in the park. There were loads of toys but all three preferred to attempt scaling the sofas, pulling wires and grabbing the cats. It makes everything so much better, a little bit of socialising/bonding/sharing experiences. Oh, and nice soup and cake and not having to cook doesn't hurt either.

Last night I cooked in preparation for MIL visit. Made a giant cottage pie. She's coming this afternoon and staying the night and going home around lunchtime tomorrow I think.

Scones How annoying about the pointless meeting. Let us know what you're offered tomorrow - fingers crossed it isn't just statutory.

Ah x-post IC. I don't think I will risk puitting any other details for our sleeping in case it makes it worse. Maybe just that we are down to one feed a night whatever happens.

There was a lady posting on Chat who was very sad with her 8 and a half month old son's sleep problems. I guessed he must have been born in Feb so I said to join us here if she wanted to - her mumsnet nickname is LittlebearH (despite the similar name, she's not me under an alias, honest).

Thread here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1076629-I-am-shit-need-to-get-this-off-my-chest - It is a bit old but I just remembered and I think she would appreciate some support.

Chinook is your LO having problems staying asleep at night or for naps during the day? Sorry if you've already said this, but I'd do different things for each which is why I'm asking.

scones how frustrating. Good luck with the offer.

CC I also think it's difficult having a social life and children. You sound as though you are doing brilliantly, but sound a bit blue. Are you OK?

IC thanks for the new thread. You're a star!

GF how are the poos?

stoof how's the job hunting?

Hope everyone else is OK?

All OK here. DD2 seems to finally be over her bug, which is a massive relief. She's still a little whingey (not like her) and isn't eating very well, but I think she may be teething. Finally. I think she's the only one on here who hasn't got any yet! We had a rare wake-up the other night, but I think she was hungry as she hadn't really been eating that day, and she's gone back to normal now.

I've done quite a bit of my Christmas shopping (grocery order placed online) but do pretty much all of it from Nigella's Feast, so there seems little point in sharing recipes! Lovely day here, glorious sunshine. Beautiful.

I've been over bc and reiterated your invite. She sounds very down, but I think we can all relate to how that feels, eh?

Yes, I'd love to see your DS reacting to my DD on video, bc!! It sounds similar to how she reacts when she watches herself - she's terribly vain already...

watercress, you are SO organised!! Blimey...

Sleep: depends which way the wind is blowing. Has been back to every 2 hrs plus one extra, then last night she went every 4 hours from 6-6. Though this has been her best night in months, so is not typical. Lately we've had the 'let's get up for a bit' in the middle as well.

I'm fine thanks watercress, just struggling with people at work (which is the reason I'm down a bit). I should be grateful, I enjoy my work and the town, just not my colleagues. (two out of three and all that). I've also been thinking that when DD turns 1, I would like a party with friends and family, but that's not really possible out here.

Abs hope your return to work is going OK.

We're getting the GPs one of those frames with 12 little photos, and a big one in the middle. We'll fill up the little ones with a photo from each month. That is all we're doing for xmas, (considering how much we're paying just to come and visit everyone)

bc I actually did that. I went into nursery and told them that because of what they fed him yesterday, his poos were very loose. They apologised for giving him the bean jar and admitted the cock up as they knew he isn't suppose to eat it. Good to make them feel guilty

watercress they are back to normal now (fingers crossed)

IC DS can be in both category as once a month (ish) he does sleep through! That's what's frustrating as I know he can do it but doesn't

I've bought all DH Christmas presents but got no clue for my parents or DS

CC back in the UK for Christmas?

Okay so first things first... on the sleep issue... Sleeping through:

YES: watercress DD

NO: IC DD (wakes twice); CC DD; GF DS; chinook DS; bc DS ; AbsB DD (goes to bed well at 6.45, wakes once between 12.30 and 4.30 and co-sleeps from wake up until 7am)

CC I am not going back to work, made the decision to look after DD full-time as DP travels so much, we decided one of us needed to be a constant in her life. I have however found a very nice nanny who comes two mornings a week so that I can paint, and I can announce [proud emoticon] that I painted for three hours yesterday for the first time in eight months!!!!

Oh and CC it's always worth making new friends even if you are only going to be there for two years (I have lived in many countries and have friends that I visit all over the place)... it sounds like you've made a climbing friend which is great news, and will make you feel better about not getting on with your colleagues.

BC went on the thread, poor Littlebear... she should definitely join us on here!

Hello everyone well DP has been and gone, it was FABULOUS and all my hard work was worth it! He was very impressed that I'd managed to cope with DD and the dogs. While he was away we had a gas leak (long story but haven't had a cooker for two weeks! )... and it was discovered by the dogs, they were twitching and running in circles which alerted me to the leak so nearly killed us all...

On the nap front, there has been a huge improvement since deciding to come home and put DD in her cot after the dog walk as opposed to walking for hours on end waiting for her to drop off. It means that I can now get on and paint go on mum's net while she's asleep. Yesterday she slept for 2 and half hours!!! And today an hour and a half so it's definitely much better than the twenty minutes in the pram before.

Had a BIG SCARE this evening with DD while I was making her dinner. I was steaming some carrots and she was in her play area next door when I heard a choking sound. I came running in and she was coughing but still breathing. I picked her up, turned her on her front and slapped her between her shoulder blades several times. I couldn't see anything in her mouth but there was definitely something in there. She continued to gag (I started to panic I admit) and eventually caught sight of something stuck to the top of her palette. I carried on trying to dislodge it but there was no way it was going to budge. I ended up sitting her on my lap (she was now crying), stuck my fingers in her mouth (which I don't think you're supposed to do) and managed to pull out a large plastic circular sticker which is used to close the baby wipe packet which had stuck to the back of her throat. HORRIFIC It must have fallen on the floor, stuck to a sock and got into her play area... anyway, she is absolutely fine and I am hugely relieved....

I am going to post this now as I am so crap at posting... I will continue later with this very ME post.

Hello Bearcrumble and ImmaculadaC!!

Thank you for your support.

I am over my vomiting bug now and come to accept your invitation!!

I am still struggling with DD and DP and I are going to try CC this weekend. We are a bit scared but after the weekend of me laid in bed with a bowl and DP having to take over he has finally got an idea of what I have been doing whilst he is fast asleep!!

After 2 nights of him getting up he said right I will take Monday off work and give it a go.

Before he refused to take a day off work for this!!

I hate the idea of CC but it is last resort as life is so shite at the moment.

On the plus side, down to the bug, I am now at my prepreg weight!

Welcome Littlebear

I have done some cc and it for us it worked a bit (not fully but we had a great improvement). It is hard so get lot of courage. DH normally gives me a hug while cc is on.

Forgot to say, the 'rules' of this thread: we give hugs to each others, love to rant, have a go at our DH/DP but are very supportive of each others!

Think I can rant and hug with the best of them thank you!

All DD wants to do is climb up me to standing position at the mo, and shouts when I leave the room, anyone else's doing the same???

Bloody hell AbsB, just read your post, that was scary well done!

Big welcome littlebear! This thread really is very supportive and friendly

BG how are things

Abs very scary! Good that you had a good time with your DH, how was Paris?

Welcome Littlebear, glad you are joining us... I was sleep deprived like you for the first seven months so know exactly how you feel. It is so hard, and very difficult to explain to people who haven't experienced it. It sounds like your bug has snapped your DP into action! Hooray! Good luck with the CC... I hope it works for you (I know it does for some). I have resorted to co-sleeping with my DD when she wakes up in the middle of the night. TBH, I was completely sleep deprived and the only way I managed to get ANY sleep was to put her in bed with me, some say it's a cop out but SOD it, it works for me!

Yes, GF it was scary... I had a great time with DP (not married as DD came first!), Paris is in a couple of weeks time (22nd to the 24th) so will keep you posted. He has started the European leg of his tour so it's the only way we get to see him! And I love Paris... not that I have ever been there with a baby, have any of you been to Paris with your LOs? I know the metro doesn't have escalators or lifts so might be tricky!

Oh and GF well done for making the nursery feel guilty. It sounds like you need to keep them on their toes!

Oh yes, where are we on our meet up in the SE? Did I ruin it for everyone by saying that Virginia Waters suited me better! Oops.... what is the latest plan??? How about a pre-Christmas knees up?

Normal late night dash in..

Hi Littlebear and welcome to our little space for hugs, the occasional moan (mostly me!) and advice, reassurance and cute pics and videos (from those more technically minded than me!)

Have been selling stuff on Ebay this week to help towards Christmas, hence not being around for a few days. Have made £70 so far so not a bad start. Might disagree when I have to queue at the post office tomorrow though!

Abs that sounds remarkably similar to what happened to me the other week at a children's centre of all places. . He choked on a large piece of sellotape that must have been on the floor or on a toy - it was very scarey, so I know how you feel. I was in the car park with just the two DS for company which freaked me out more than anything else! Hope you mamanged better than me - I cried and rang DH for reassurance!

Even the merest mention of sleep on here has sent us into a downwards spiral - DS2 is teething and up for two hours in the night needing me for reassurance (as well as Nurofen and some dentinox gel!) DH is great but DS2 is voting with his lungs! After 3 nights of two 2.5 hour sleeps, I'm knackered again! (and should now be in bed ) We're off to Cornwall with the boys for a friend's wedding on friday morning - I can't believe I've got to pack everything again tomorrow. The sooner we can move there (in about a decade) the better!

Sorry for 'me' post but really must dash to bed. I am reading about the rest of you and send big hugs.

welcome Littlebear we were almost doing CC, but only because nothing worked. Then one day PU/PD (well our modified version worked) seemed to work. She's never been a great napper, still a lot of 30mins ones, more 1 hr ones are coming now. Night times, until recently she only woke to feed, but still every 2-3 hours.

It's weird not liking colleagues, but I guess that's normal. Just I was good friends with so many other people at my old place. I hate how one confrontational knobhead can bring you down.

Going for another run tonight, so that should be cleansing for the mind

Sorry to crash your thread (although given DD put in an appearance over two weeks early, this should have been my thread and not March 2010. But I digress.) I'd be grateful, if you have a minute, for any feedback you havde

Sorry those posts were very self involved. The fuckwit at work just made me cry (luckily I got away first, had to express anyway)

Those choking incidents sound very scary, luckily you had presence of mind to deal with it. Must have been shocking for you afterwards

Oh CC poor you. Sending you lots of hugs and chocolate.

Abs sorry for the DH/DP confusion, I didn't remember. I've never been to Paris with a LO but I guess that if your pushchair is light and you are 2 (either your DP or mum if I recall correctly) you should be able to lift the chair up and down the stairs. Or maybe the solution is a sling?

bethy good luck with the sleeping and teething.

Today DS woke up at... 5.15am but after going to check he was okay (he often wedges himself in the width of his cot ) I left him cry for a bit (actually it was 30mn but with the doors pushes I can hear him but not in full volume) he resettled and he is now sleeping. I'm going to be the bad mummy as I'll have to go and wake him up soon.

Weather over here is crap. Loads of rain and stormy winds (some are gale force. I don't like winter over here

Have a good day

Hi Littlebear! Glad you could join us! Very pleased to hear you're over the vomiting now, as if you needed that on top of everything else...!
I didn't exactly do CC with DD, but did leave her to protest intermittently after putting her down awake at bedtime. Luckily she's a "tension-decreaser", so went off to sleep after 20 mins or so. Did the same overnight for a couple of nights. Since then, she's been loads better, only waking a couple of times per night (usually with one long-ish resettle, so still not ideal) - but although I'm still not getting my old idea of a good night's sleep, I feel a lot better!.
Naps, though... A moving pram is the only thing that will get more than half an hour at a time out of her.
Sadly, Abs, your idea wouldn't work with DD, though I'm chuffed you're getting a bit of free time to paint etc. Any pics we can see of your stuff??

The other rule of the thread (which is broken all the time!!) is NOT to apologise for "me" posts - after all, as mums, we spend so much of the time tending to other people's needs, a bit of "me, me, me" is essential for what remains of our sanity.

Crash away, ValiummyMummy!! Sadly I can't help because my ante natal classes etc. were all in Spain (in Spanish, so I only understood a fraction of what was said in each one, anyway )

Oh, Abs and bethylou, how scary!

bethylou, when you do get down to Cornwall, let me know 'cos we go down there regularly to catch up with family and friends.

Glad the DP visit went well Abs! I second GF - have you got a sling? Either that, or go to Paris armed with a bus timetable...

Hi BG, you've been a bit quiet lately!

Sorry to hear about knobhead colleagues, CC. More unmumsnetty hugs heading your way.

Ah, bethylou, ugh on the sleep-front - sorry if I jinxed it!! I hope you get more tonight. You're amazing, managing with the two DS' AND getting Ebay and Christmas etc. stuff underway. Enjoy the wedding! Fingers crossed DS2 doesn't vom all over his best suit!!

And as for sleeping, Abs, cot/co-sleep/CC/etc. etc..... whatever works best for Mum and Baby and everyone's different. I love the idea of co-sleeping, but am rubbish at the reality (as is DD) so at the moment I usually end up sleeping on a mattress on the floor in her room after her first wake-up. I like it because it's reassuring to be able to hear her and I don't have far to go if I need to resettle her. Also, it gets me away from poor DH's coughing

Blimey, that was long, even for me! Ahem, sorry.

Now now, IC, you know the rules...

Emoticon-tastic