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.

Mine tries to scale the headboard unless attached to boob.

Oh BC since stopping BF I no longer have boobs to distract her with. She has pulled herself up to standing whilst holding on to my nipple though. [ouch emoticon]

Remember when they were less than 10 weeks and less. You could just put them in the bed and they'd lie there. Randomly attach to your boob, sleep repeat. Now what do they do. Mine has worked out there's two boobs, so if we're laying and feeding and she's not happy with the one she has she yanks on the other one and pulls it down/up.

psst it's CC by the way. Don't know if this name change is permanent or not yet.

Thought we had a newbie for a moment!

Sorry to hear about another crap night, LBH - but good news the meeting was okay. How was last night?

We had our best night so far last night. DD fell asleep within ten mins of being put down (awake) in her cot (by 07.30), then didn't wake again until 04.10 - a new record!
She took a feed, unlatched herself and did her "I'm ready to be returned to my cot now, Mother," position. She fidgeted and tossed and turned for quite a while, but didn't call for me and eventually got herself back to sleep - until just after 07.00. Result

Quite a surprise after she had truncated naps yesterday, the second finishing a good half an hour earlier than usual and being half the usual length. Makes me wonder if she's getting too much daysleep - or the adjusted routine made a difference - or more likely, it was just a fluke.

Anyway, hoorah!

IC I think the longer wind down time is a good idea, but she may also be ready to have less daytime sleep..
Good news here - I have my smiley baby back. She is still snotty and coughing but no longer does her cat cry after every cough, and is much more alert. I'm glad she managed without antibiotics (I tried to avoid seeing one particular GP in the group practice who hands them out like smarties).
Hello PA, nice name.

Gaaaaahhhhhh!

You could be right, BG - DD's just woken after only 30mins of her first nap... if she's going to make a habit of sleeping in short bursts, I think I'll put her back in the cot for naps (if she'll let me)
Very pleased to hear your DD is perking up!

What's up, mamaloco??

dd2 is now refusing her morning sleep... I have had to bring forward her lunch to about half 11 because otherwise she'll fall asleep having it. Her only day time sleep is now 12 to about 2.40 (have to wake her then at the latest to collect dd1). It also means she is begging to go to bed by half 6 in the evening.
I noticed by chance earlier why she's been off her food (apart from her cold)... Her 8th tooth is through and she has a mouth full of little 'spikes' - at least four of her molars pushing up and the spikey bits clearly visible under the gum . She's going to be able to do some serious biting soon!
Cold here again and forecast apparently is snow... Just when we are planning a weekend away. Hmm.

I bet mamaloco did a massive post and her computer ate it.

I reckon you are right BC. Happened to me last night! I was a lot less restrained than Mamaloco and swore.

Morning all,

It's foggy here today, has one of you nicked our sun. I guess it's acclimatisation for when we come to the UK (we fly on Sunday)

Thanks for PM BC I changed my name for a joke on another thread, but then decided I liked it . Besides, I don't feel like much of a climber chick, although I have been going once a week for the past month - progress. Hopefully when the summer hits, I'll get outside again.

I feel like I'm managing atm. My boss is being a bit full on and guess it doesn't take much to take me over. My theory is I'm operating close to maximum just getting by, so no room for more. I have let on to DH a part of how I was feeling (I slipped a PND leaflet into my bag) and he's taken over half the night stuff until I start sleeping better. Just not at the stage where I can really talk properly yet. Though this post is a step.

Not quite BC!
DD2 is crying every time I sit down. She follows me around when I do chores, crying and complaining, hanging on my legs to be picked up, only napped on me today... (once during the school run and then fell asleep in her cot for midday nap and woke up crying after 15 min and fell asleep on me)
Hoping it is the teeth and not some 46 weeks thingy that IC was talking about. (I didn't have any of those with DD1, or it was the bliss of not knowing )
Gaaaahhhhh! need a break and a rant!
Both DDs are asleep though now, but I am tired (and alone, DH is on site. Not that it change anything as he rarely makes it on time for bedtime.)
Just wished I had a grand parent or some family or friends to dumped the girls sometimes...

DD2 can also open screw-tops, switch on the gas hob ( it is supposed to have child security), throw everything behind her...
She has just learn to push away thing she doesn't want and clap, she now prefer walking than crawling (even if very wobbly). May be there is such a thing as the 46 weeks leap then...

scones be careful what you wish for. A 10 months old baby shouldn't move too much, no need, no advantage for later development either (just plain hazard!)

Random people are giving some helpful advice too. "Put a hat on her" (she has one, I take it off when we enter the tropical microcosm of the subway ), "why don't you let her walk in the park, you are restraining her in the sling" (she IS 10 months only not 2 yo ), I don't count the angry look of "this mother is mistreating her DD by carrying her in that weather" (thanks she is toasty in her fleece and my coat, and I don't have a choice, I am alone and have the school run to do).
A funny one though. An old lady came to me "Is he sick, Is he sick, is he sick" me very her very worried. me "No she is fine" her "Oh it's a baby not a dog" and walked away disgusted, me
I know she is not very pretty, but a dog!

That's rubbish mamaloco, she is very pretty. I love her hair and eyes (and her very cheeky smile, but they all have that)

PA thanks! I think she genuinely saw a dog (not seeing very well) she didn't say that DD looks like a dog IYSWIM.
I hope you can talk soon hugs. It is so difficult sometimes (at least for me) I usually can't talk about feelings without having floods of tears and being completely incoherent. Hope you find the strength soon, and that your boss backs off. Good on your DH.

BG good news

hugs and waves at the rest, can't remember much as I've just opened a bottle of red and having a small bit (for now ) in a cristal glass ( to make it last).

good night!

IC Hooray on a good night!!

Last night was better, woke at 8.30pm and then not a peep until 5.05am and went back off until 5.45am. Hooray!

Fingers crossed tonight. You cannot second guess them. Just when you think you have cracked it again...bang!.. it all goes wrong!!

Work went well. When I took her coat off I discovered she had pockets and a flower on the back of her pretty woollen dress. Daddy had put it on back to front!! He said I thought buttons went on the front? Bless him. I was greatful her tights were on properly though!!
Everyone loved DD she was on top form, chatting, pulling faces screwing her eyes shut, waving, smiling and clapping.
They were amazed at how well she eats too. (my one saving grace) They are working on letting me come back p/t too.

Mamaloco I sympathise. Hard to get things done sometimes and you yet you have two DDs. People and their helpful advice....eh?!

PA Well done..one step at a time. I had a good cry on Monday..felt better for it. It felt like a release. Work sounds like a lot of stress. Maybe the xmas break will give you a rest of sorts. Big hug.

Got the tree up now. DD is learning the word no...it is still standing.

Oh and got weigh in clinic tomorrow. Last one cancelled due to the snow. Last time she had lost half a pound. Hoping she has made up for the loss.

Admitting there's a problem is a BIG first step towards sorting it out, PA - good for you. It's especially hard if you're a capable type who's always been able to keep on top of things. Great to hear your DH is stepping up to help you. Thinking of you

mamaloco, that old lady sounds like she needs her eyes or her head examined (or both) - a dog, whatever next?!!
Sounds like you've had a war of attrition going on against your nerves at the moment, what with your DD/s being so full on and the various other sources of aggravation you describe....
I must confess, one of the main reasons why DH and I are planning a return to the UK next summer is so we will be closer to family etc. who can hopefully help a bit with childcare, assuming our efforts ttc are successful. I'm full of admiration that you manage so well without that kind of back up. Not surprised it feels a bit much at times.

Blimey, BG, that's a veritable mouthful of teeth!! Eek!

On the subject of the 46 week leap - it's a neurological one, but tends to hit sleep and/or cause many babies to become particularly unsettled because it tends to be mixed in with physical developmental milestones (crawling/standing/walking) and things like teething. Some babies just cruise though it, but a significant proportion are affected in some way while it's all going on.

Well, DD slept for almost 1.5hrs on her second nap, so that was better. She still went down okay at bedtime though (tonight's story: The Very Hungry Caterpillar). Fingers crossed for the rest of the night.

Wishing everyone else health and sleepy dust...

mamaloco that woman sounds mad! Reminds me of a nutter old man who walks around here pushing an old dog around in an even older pram... I always think that could be my dad if he didn't have my mum to look after him...

PA good luck with the flight on Sunday! I think your gorgeous LO will entertain everyone with her walking! I can just hear the chorus of 'Awwwwwwwww'

I gave dd2 some teething gel earlier and took the opportunity to feel her gums (she won't let me look). If I counted right she has at least six bumps where the molars are coming through, with four of them having distinct sharp edges just under the gums. I now understand why she will sometimes burst into tears while eating . I thought she had a sore throat but it must be very very sore gums.

LBH don't worry too much about weighing your little one. She looks perfectly healthy and LOs usually catch up soon when they have lost weight due to illness. Oh, and I have done the back to front thing a few times . Good news on the work situation, keeping my fingers crossed for you! 3 days is probably the best solution (random straw poll among friends... full time is too much, 4 days means you are expected to work full time but get paid less, 3 days has the right balance of work 3x and home 4x... )

mamaloco I'll join you on the red if I may...

Sorry, X-posted LBH...
Glad to hear you had a much better night! Yep, my DH has had a few female clothes confusions, too....love it!
Good luck with the weigh in...

IC x post... good luck for tonight! You are right about having family near being a good thing. I have the same situation as mamaloco/PA (we are not abroad though, well technically I am, but you know what I mean) in that we have no family and sometimes I do wish I could just pop over to have a coffee and a chat with my mum...

BG I forgot to say, DD is almost giving up on morning nap too. The days she wakes so early she needs it and if she wakes about 6am or after she struggles to go off.

If we drop it out she will fall asleep at lunch too.

Aaargh. If they slept till 7am then it wouldn't be a problem.

I'm on the beer Hard day at work, I love what I do but sometimes it can't understand people and legislation!

IC good news on the sleep. DS instead of having 2 x 20mn in the afternoon now has 1 x 1 hour one

BG that's a lot of teeth coming at once

LBH chart are just there as a random indicator, as long as your LO is healthy and happy there's no issues.

mama I can understand what you mean about missing family.

I think a 3 days work 4 days at home is a great idea and would love doing this if we could afford it

PA love the name. Good luck for the trip. Good that you managed to give a hint on your DH. Hopefully the bad home trip will do you good too.

Sorry should be I can't understand...

GF I always found I was happy with the law but it did not fit the people (I've done an LLM in medical law in case you are asking)

Lovely. Just read the local news and a school very closely associated with dd1's (ie many parents have a child in each as one is a girls school) has had 120 cases of flu/swine flu in the past two weeks. That's just what I need on my wish list for Christmas, a dose of flu... [scared emoticon]