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.

BC my GP gives morning appts on the day if you call at 8.30, and they always see poorly babies. Hope you at least get to speak to someone! It really doesn't sound like teething to me! . I took dd2 to the GP this morning and luckily her chest is fine so far but she is clearly very unwell. Temperature was up to 39 again when GP checked despite me giving her nurofen at breakfast. Agree with mamaloco that fever usually serves a purpose, but I tend to get careful with over 39 in babies and 40 in toddlers (mainly because some babies get convulsions which would scare me to death!)... GP suggested to alternate calpol and nurofen and keep an eye on her breathing (it was quite heavy in the night). Poor little sweetie.

stoof keep warm, I'm complaining because it was 5C yesterday evening

DS is a bit better today but you can see that he's tired (black bags under his eyes) but he is back to be cheeky.

CC hope you are oaky. I agree with the others, moving country and having a baby plus a new job all in one year is a lot to deal with.

Went to one of the 3 toys shops on the island and they run out of duplo, so I'll be on a mission tomorrow to see if the others shops have some.

I found this website and will order a hat for my friend's baby. They're so different!

Aw, bc, your DS does sound like he's got a tummy upset. Poor wee mite.

Likewise, Get Well Soon to your DD, BG. It's so awful when they're poorly...

I shiver in sympathy with you, stoof!! god, that sounds cold....

Sorry if I sounded a it defensive on the subject of naps, Abs! I didn't mean to.
For your info, LBH, DD needs a nap after about 3 hours or so of awake time (much less and she either takes ages to drop off, or only sleeps for 15mins) So her first nap is usually from 10/10.30ish (she mostly awakes around 07.00) and her second starts between 14.30/15.00 and ends around 16.00 - if all goes according to plan.
In fact, I already follow the stoof plan - sod the cot, if she'll nap okay in the buggy, then that's the way it'll have to be for now. She sleeps in it static, but again, only for half an hour or so at a time.
I'll try the cot again at some point....

Ace hats, GF - I think you'll find if you check CC's blog that her DD is wearing one...

CC....are you okay?? Worried about you

bc, I did indeed Google "heuristic play" and it's answered my question about what to give DD for Christmas - so I'm starting to collect jar-lids and other bits and bobs that seem to fit the bill. Thanks for the tip!

On that note, I gave DD a couple of brightly coloured fruit and veg-shaped placky storage containers to play with today and she LOVED them - kept her busy for half an hour without me having to intervene at all. Bliss!

Also, DH and I have now re-arranged our long, thin lounge so that DD has a lot more floor space to play in - basically, we shoved the coffee table out the way. She's immediately become more adventurous and rewarded us by doing a few short bursts of crawling and then pulling herself up for a spot of cruising along the sofa!

I've ordered some extra eyes to put in the back of my head from Amazon.

Out of interest bethylou, what have you been e-baying?

What an evening! DS went to bed at 6pm with 39.5C and when I checked on him at 8.30pm he was sleeping but he vomited at some point and was in it/ covered. So DH cleaned the bed and I cleaned DS. He then slept relatively well.

This morning less fever but he still has 38.4C.

Very me post today.

IC BC I googled heuristic play too. I have been doing it without knowing. Just because I am a cheap stake and a lazy bum I don't see the point of paying so much for baby toys, and when both DDs play by themselves I just let them to it because I can rest .
At the moment DD2 loves emptying drawers and cupboards (safe one) and open and close doors at last 20 times in a row (very heuristic )!

We have plenty of free floor space, because most of the time it is where I actually sit (my parents always thought I had some gypsies genes in me, and the stay in Japan didn't help my westernisation! )

CC worried too. [hugs]

BC hope the DDs are better. 39 and 40 C are scary especially in children not used to it. I am a bit blase with DD1 who goes up to 39.5 in a wink. But if DD2 had over 39C I would go to hospital, as even with measles she only had 38C.

Get well wishes to all those who needs it.

Mother Xmas has to go shopping in stealth under the snow on her own because father Xmas is useless grrr... She also has "commands" from all the GP
("by them something they want" ; tell me what to buy, I am running out of idea, they are all divorced too so double bill!!!). And I will have to do it all in a few weeks again (2 january Bday).
put her basket on her back her hood and the baby under the arm.... I wish I had a reindeer!

GF hugs and courage! (I hate the vomit in the middle of the night part!) Hope he gets better soon. When they vomit it is better to use suppository for the fever (can you get some prescribed from france, may be for next time?)

IC wow on your LO making full use of the space!!

I can see a fever competition coming up... dd2's stubbornly stays at 38.7 whatever I do but she seems cheerful enough right now. She very politely made breadcrumbs of her toast at breakfast but accepted a few spoonfuls of porridge. Makes me chuckle when the GPs reassure me that it's okay for her not to eat for a few days because she's 'got some padding'/ is 'sturdy' (their words!). Polite doctor talk for saying I have a tubby baby??

Didn't google heuristic play but sounds like I am doing that anyway. The other day both girls helped me empty the dishwasher with dd2 passing me the cutlery and dd1 putting away pots and pans and plates... dd2's other favourite toy is our sock drawer and she happily 'sorts' them, pulls them all out and puts them back (I find it less funny if dd1 gets involved and throws them all over the bedroom )

forgot to say her favorite "toys" is a half empty box of tictac. It does make a nice sound when shaken .

My DD likes only the tv remote, our mobile phones,laptop and our cat...does that count as heuristic??!!! Tried pots,pans spoon etc...nope.

Just likes the above and climbing up me and the table.

Nor is she interested in the big canvas bag of plastic crap toys, with the exception of the odd rattle.

Ah, GF, how worrying for you - although it's good he got some decent rest. Hopefully he'll be feeling better again soon.
Ditto your DD, BG

Yes, half-empty box of tictacs, mamaloco - fantastic rattle! Thanks for reminding me (I rarely eat those kind of sweets, being a committed chocoholic)...

Sounds like your LO is going to be a technophile, if she isn't already, LBH! Good news, it's the future (!)

Jan 26th birthday here, mamaloco - at least we get a few weeks respite! My sister's DD3 is a Dec 24th baby....(although not such a baby nowadays, she's almost five)

I feel like a new woman today - an okay night's sleep, a new hairdo, the lift's been fixed and it's a lovely sunny day
I also managed to rattle away in Spanish with my hair-stylist, which felt good. She's 7 months pregnant, so we were right in my vocabulary comfort zone!!

CC, CC, CC...???
Speak to us, please!

BG I guess your DD has the same bug as my DS. At the moment he's gone down to 37.8C, the lowest since Wednesday night. But the fever has damage his apetite or energy levels [fhmm} I always think the doc think Im mad when I say that he's unwell.

mama I have got some already. The next stuff my mum is bringing next week is another dose of Vitamin D.

My DS loves cables. We had to hide most of them but he still find them and pull them away

CC we all start to be worried about you

CC xx (don't care if it's not the done thing blah - hope you're ok lovely)

positively tropical here today - 3.5!! boiler has finally defrosted. have finished work early cos its the christmas party, but i've headed into town for shopping, and am now home, eating a bagel for lunch before fettling the house ahead of MIL arriving for the night?.

hope those of you with poorly LO's get a decent nights kip

TFI friday

I'm here and fine, thanks for the concern. Just feel like lurking for now if you don't mind.

DD is also fine, in fact she's walking loads atm. It's predicted to be 24 today :)

Lurk away, CC - just check in once in a while so we know you're OK!

Oh my word, DD has just had her 9 month check up and she weighs 13lbs 10oz (6.2kg). That means she's put on 14oz in 3 months.

She's healthy and she doesn't look skinny though, CC?
And as she was such an early crawler and walker, she's probably burning a lot of the baby fat she would probably otherwise be carrying if she was more sedentary.

Sure, she's tiny - but some people are naturally petite. Your DD may have a spurt and "catch up" at some point. Or she may always be bijou. But as long as she's happy and healthy, right?

Does the paed think there's any reason to worry?

I sure it's okay.

CC well, she is still on the chart so I wouldn't worry too much!

CC I know how it feels. My DD was born a whopping 9lb1oz. But has followed below or on the 25th centile since.

She has still not doubled her birth weight and last weigh in had lost weight.

She used to fuss when I was BF still does occasionally even now FF.
I freak out every time she drops her afternoon bottle/throws up/only drinks 3oz before bed. I can count on one hand the number of times she has emptied a 7oz bottle.

I have had HVs banging on because she gained so slowly and not slept well on to give her formula, start solids before 6 months blah blah and to put it bluntly it has made fuck all difference. She is a high needs baby who NEVER keeps still. She is dinky but HEALTHY.

Same as yours. Look at her...she look fine to you? Yes? She is bloody blooming clever, active girl. Unless the Dr thinks there is a problem try not to worry.

I have been giving DD organic biscuits between meals and lots of cheese,pasta and the odd bit of ice cream.
Just maybe do as I am and try and get a few more calories in where you can. Because she is active.

I know this may sound odd coming from me..Miss Anxiety (I wish I could take my own advice) but try not to let this get you down.

I hope this reassures you a bit.

DD is laying on her back right now, hands behind her head, dummy in, snoring like a bear. I have had to turn the monitor down!!

(daddy's girl alright)

LB laughted out loud at your description of your LO sleeping. So cute! (..Just hoping your dp has ditched the dummy though!!)

oops, spelling wonky... It's been a long day.

She woke herself up with her snoring ten mins ago. Have turned her on her side and dummy out now. "Baby Bear" is now quietly sleeping.

Hoping no more wake ups!

LB have you filmed her yet when she sleeps like that? Or taken a picture . I have lots of mine sleeping in strange positions... the bottom in the air ones are best because to me it looks so uncomfortable.
Talking of videos, IC the one on your blog of your LO being cuddled by your friend is absolutely adorable!