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.

We're on the red wine too.

Will reply more soon but just wanted to give PA (nice name) a friendly squeeze and to say I also feel the 'just about coping until something sends me over the edge' thing. Last night DH used up too many of the Christmas cards I had bought and I was irrationally cross about the fact he hadn't considered that I needed some too! We call it 'when my buckets are full'- i.e. the tiniest little thing, though insignificant in itself, can tip me over the edge.

Very brief post, tired eyes here after a long day. Best coping wishes to all those in need of them.

DD kicked off again last night after an hr. She didnt throw up but pooed instead.

Took an hr and a half before she gave up.

I was nearly in tears myself but DP gave me a big hug.

On the upside, didn't hear a peep until 05.38am.
Have just got her down for a nap.

IC Glad you had a half decent sleep.

Back later!

Hi all, thanks for sharing the bottle! still 3/4 left hope Dh doesn't get too upset about it...

DD2 woke at 4.30 (after 4/5 re-settlings), I awfully let her cry till 5.30 when my day started... . I have been crying about it too (or rather because DD1 made me feel mean).
Finger crossed she is a bit better today, but napped on me during the school run and now won't go in bed.
it seems I have lost my ability to read her

We had two big hour long wakings from 12-1 and from 5-6. He did sleep until 7.15 though after the second waking.

DH came home pissed from Christmas drinks for one of the things he writes for last night.

I gave DS wooden spoons and saucepans to bang this morning. [innocent emoticon]

Aw, to LBH and mamaloco....

Just when we think we've cracked it.....how lovely of our LOs to keep us constantly on our toes (not)?!

at bc and helpful hangover hell!!

Our upstairs neighbours banged on the floor on Sunday morning because DD was being a little over-enthusiastic with the wooden spoon I'd given her while she was having her breakfast. To be fair, it was after 08.30. But that's very early on Spanish Sundays!!

DH commented "Pay-back time" when I told him - their creaky bed often wakes me up, not to mention their surround-sound home cinema system blaring out at 03.30....

Gaaaahhhhhh!
still not napping!
she has just learnt to climb on the chairs, sofa and beds. Regaaaaaahhhh. Very please with herself too

Thanks IC

Is it too early for G&T? (should be OK in Japan?)

Went to have dd2's feet measured to see if she has a shoe size yet . To my surprise she's a size 3 (18 for those in Europe)and then I couldn't resist some seriously cute cruising shoes which were 10 pounds rather than 22... Awwwww, first shoes. May wrap them up and give them to her for Christmas .
No complaints about sleep here for a change although she was up just about on the wrong side of 7 (by 15 minutes)... But she's started going rigid if I try to put her into her car seat or pushchair. Not so keen on that because it's difficult enough to strap her in wearing a snowsuit even without her refusing to bend in the middle!!!

Finally napping! (hope it is not her new pattern it doesn't fit with most school run )

BG how cute! I still have DD1, 3 first pairs (may be 4 ).
I had that helpful comment too "your daughter is not wearing shoes???" No, she is 10 months! Now 21 (was 20 a month and a half ago), and shoes of that size are not design for soft baby feet... I won't let her walk outside before spring either (snow boots are really bad first shoes IMO )

Sounds like we are all having "fun" with our little ones!!

Well just a quick post before lunch...

Had DD weighed, she went down from 17lb 4 to 16lb 14 four weeks ago.

Today she is 18lb 2!! Hooray back following her original pattern on the 25th centile.

I know the bloody graphs are just a guide and I try not to get worked up, but nice to know she is gaining as before. Peace of mind she is a good eater makes me feel better that she is a shite sleeper.

DD wears shoes..for 5 mins.

mamaloco I also still have dd1's first two sets of shoes... I have a little treasure box for both girls (pregnancy test (! well, it took me long enough!), scan pictures, hospital name tag, first shoes...)

Do your LOs like any particular music? dd2 dances to Nina Simone...

I'm busy wrapping presents with dd2 'helping'... Just had the bright idea to remove the bullet proof plastic casing from a few things to make unwrapping actual fun for dd1, rather than having to rely on Papa to get scissors, screwdrivers, ax, blowtorch... . Why are things packed in such a way??? I remember dd1's 2nd birthday when she got a baby born doll. It took us nearly an hour to get it out of the box and undo all the wires etc. Honestly, it's a doll!

DD has learned how to spit....oh joy.

Lunchtime was hell interesting.

We've got some second hand shoes, but they're all too big at the moment. S'pose I should think about that, seeing as DD is just starting to pull up on furniture.

Having observed her this morning, I've decided she is officially crawling now - just chooses not to do it all that often (yet!)

I agree on the packaging thing, BG - so bad for the environment, too - just ends up in landfill

I'm enjoying sorting DD's Xmas present - a drawstring bag containing bits of old crap heuristic-play suitable toys - I expect she'll have more fun with them than any shop-bought stuff [stingy emoticon]

Mind you, I don't think we'll be able to resist a darling little xylophone they're selling at the Feria Navidad.... Start her developing any nascent musical talents early!!

I remember DD first starting to do that not so long ago, LBH - the first time she actually got me quite cross with something she was doing (apart from not going to sleep...).

Thankfully she realised I'm not a fan of her doing that, so mostly does it now when she REALLY doesn't like something, rather than to mess around (apart from with water, but I don't mind that so much...)

She has only spat water out until today. Didn't do it with her pudding though. Funny that.

What makes it worse she refuses to wear a bib. Rips them off and throws them on the floor. Can even take off ones with sleeves.
Tries to strangle herself with overhead ones too!

Nap time now. More joy...:)

IC you are not stingy, just sensible . Besides, you LO will probably get quite a few things from family. My dd2 only gets proper wrapped presents because dd1 would be very upset of the baby got nothing (she's surprisingly protective of her baby sister). I have even wrapped up dd2's first shoes... . She will adore the box they come in .

mamaloco I wonder why complete strangers think they are entitled to comment/criticise/advise on our dcs... I've had comments/nasty looks from people when out with dd1. She's tall for her age and has a lot of thick long hair, so looks more like 5 or 6 than 3. I could do without being interrogated why my child occasionally behaves like a toddler (because she is...). Maybe you should put a sticky label on her saying yes, she is big for her age but she's only 11 months, so back off!!

IC I bought nothing for DD1 1st Xmas, she had her present for her first Bday instead. Family provided enough.
I might have bought her a book but she was into them if I try to seat with DD2 and a book, she tries to eat it . By one DD1 was already bored of the picture and pointing at the letters, very different baby this time. As BG said she will enjoy the boxes and the wrapping paper (she already enjoyed "making" the wraps).
The nap was short! Hope it doesn't spell for the night...
*LH good with the weight!

BG - DS has just started doing that going rigid thing when I try to put him in the buggy too! He arches his back and I can't 'fold' him in.

I was struggling to do it at the park after he'd been on the swing (he was screaming too) and I was feeling really self conscious - thinking everyone was looking at me unable to do a simple thing like get a baby to sit down.

BC it's incredible how strong they are, isn't it . Don't worry about other people. Anyone with children is well used to the going rigid thing. That is followed by toddlers going floppy and a dead weight and somehow managing to be twice as heavy as before and impossible to pick up

Yes, I figure if you can't get away with getting your LO hardly any presents for Christmas before they're one, when can you?!!

Blimey, I hope DD doesn't cotton on to the going rigid thing - the twice daily buggy naps would become a major drear if so. She often protests a bit when we put her in, but not much and once we're on the move, she's fine - thankfully.

She only just discovered proper splashing in the bath tonight... uh-oh

Ahhh IC I end up soaked!!

Have put her in her new snowsuit today...went ridgid big time!!!

DD has been a joy today, apart from spitting out her food. She has napped well and was very funny playing and babbling. I got kisses and cuddles too. (normally flinches and wriggles to get down to play) I can't beleive how much I love her.

DS also does the rigid body thing, even to be seated on the floor.

DS has already got a pair of proper shoes as if not he walks on the tip of his toes. There's size 3 (19).

LBH good news on the weight.

We only bought one present for him for Christmas (in fact it was bought by DH who didn't wanted to get him (or family) any present just money ) but we know that he'll have 4 coming from France.

Since 6.30pm that DS is asleep, I have made gingerbread dough (which will be transformed into gingerbread men tomorrow) and a stollen which is resting and will go in the oven when I finish with MN in a few minutes. We're doing a fundraising christmas cakes sale at work on Friday and I volunteered to do some baking. And I know that I'll have some left over for home.