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.

Can you get 4OD from abroad. I get all nostalgic over one born every minute as well. Thank god that showed me how long labours could be. DH couldn't watch them after DD was born.

Just one more hour of work and then I pick up the car for our trip :)

Hope you all have a good day. We never got DD any presents in the end (had assumed GPs would do it). Though I may have to nip out and get her a xmas outfit.

PA as far as I'm aware yes you can get it.

Sleep training will restart for us from Tuesady when DH is back to work and my mum back in France.

Have a merry Christmas all.

aargh.. MIL not talking to me for another of her ridiculous reasons so looks like a merry Christmas (and up till about March if previous examples are anything to go by!) However, I'm feeling very nauseous at the mo so wondering for the first time ever whether having a tummy bug wouldn't be that bad

Hope yours is better than mine seems likely to be!!

Kick her in the .

Merry Christmas everyone. Thinking of you all x

Merry xmas everyone. I blooming love christmas now I have children. Today has been fab even though dd woke us at 4am to scream at us that santa had been

keep thinking back to last christmas and getting all nostalgic for my pregnant bump.

Love to all x

Happy Boxing Day!

Sorry to hear about MIL and sickness, bethy... hope both pass(!) soon.

Here's hoping you all had a fun Yule and the babies all enjoyed it (possibly in a slightly bemused way)!

DD seemed to enjoy herself and had fun investigating her various presents, most of which were clothes. She got some darling little outfits!

First couple of nights at Mum's were a tad challenging, what with DD waking 2 hours after bedtime, then taking an hour and lots of protesting before she went back to sleep in her cot. Then once more in the night, then early in the morning.

However, Last night, she did a six hour stretch before her long resettle, so that was better. And I've taken to bringing her into our bed with us when she wakes at 05.00 onwards. She seems content to suckle for a while then snooze until 07.30+ (08.00 on Xmas Day - enjoy THAT while it lasts...!) and I can get a bit more sleep in too.

She's also been taking all her naps in the sling (in sub zero temperatures) rather successfully, so what with the co-sleeping and baby-wearing, we've suddenly gone all attachment - the Sears would be giving us the thumbs up!!!

Boxing Day thingies to all (not sure what Boxing Day's about really... recovery??)

Also Happy Boxing day from me . I hope everyone is recovering well from the festivities...

IC I wouldn't worry about the co-sleeping first thing in the morning. Clearly I am no expert but I have always taken mine into bed with me if they woke much before 7. In a way it taught them that 5 or 6 or whatever is NOT the start of the day, and they both now sleep to at least 7 (and more like 8 at the moment which is a lovely Christmas gift).
What does your dd think of the snow?

We've had a nice and quiet time over Christmas (no PIL and mine abroad - makes Christmas simpler). dd2 is in love with her new shoes and reaches for them as soon as I get her dressed. She also liked her other presents although dd1 has confiscated most things to play with first!! dd1 has thrown a few tantrums due to over-excitement but overall it has been very pleasant with a near permanent log/coal fire (very very cold outside).

Aw, that's good to hear BG - about your DDs having a lovely Xmas AND the morning co-sleeping.

I couldn't co-sleep all night - too uncomfortable etc. But I'm really enjoying those couple of hours or so in the morning. After all, I would probably stay awake if I persisted in getting DD back in her cot, so at least I can doze this way. And the snuggling is lovely. And yes, DD definitely tolerates being in bed longer like that, so it's all good, really.

We've got quite a cute wee clip of DD touching the snow and not quite knowing what to make of it. I expect we'll stick it up on the blog in due course...!

dd2 was being affectionate earlier but misjudged her 'kiss' and left toothmarks on my cheek... Ouch. She's also very happy with her new molars and likes to test them out on raisins, apple, and over christmas sprouts, stuffing and roast potatos
I'm feeling soppy today and think my two are just too cute to bear. Even wondered earlier whether to put 'another baby please Santa' on my wishlist for next Christmas

I hope you all had a good christmas and boxing day.

DS really enjoyed his presents and the food. Family was fine with him.

I unfortunately can't co=sleep in the morning as when DS awakes he will not stay in bed

Tooth 7 came out which I hope will mean sleep will come back to normal.

I love the idea of the other baby on the christmas list. I may use this one for my birthday present (in February)

I am feeling quite mellow. Have had half a bottle of champagne and DS went down quietly at 6.45pm.

I did a duck with a honey and oyster sauce glaze (sort of Chinese style - it's a Jamie Oliver recipe) and brilliant roast potatoes but I was getting really agitated trying to sort out the gravy which wouldn't thicken and stir fry some Chinese leaves at the same time while DS was screaming and DH was in the bath. It all came right in the end but there was a little bit of shouting.

We had my mum and her friend (he is an ex-boyfriend of hers from years back but now they are platonic friends and he is like an uncle to me - he is also one of DS's Godfathers) over from 4-7 on Christmas day. I had to miss quite a bit of Dr Who because of trying to settle DS.

He loved his presents - he got this from his other Godfather www.worldwideshoppingmall.co.uk/toys/images/products/30474001.gif It is really lovely.

DH got me (on my request) a cup holder for the pram, some knitted slipper socks and some books that I wanted.

I also cannot co-sleep usually as DS gets very hyper as soon as he's stopped feeding and tries to do his mountaineer act on the headboard. Occasionally he will sleep in my arms or snuggled up beside me and it is a real treat.

He is being very, very sweet at the moment. He's copying more things and I think he called me Mamma properly today. He instigates peek-a-boo and he will stop a ball with his hands if I roll it towards him. He's also less fussy and quicker over meals than he has been for a while.

dd2 will co sleep if necessary (some naps when she was younger, or if waking very early and refusing to settle). If she does I lay her face down on my chest and (gently!) put my hand on her head and the other hand on her bottom, with my arms resting on her arms. Putting a blanket/duvet over us ie. her head briefly also seems to give her a sense of security and more often than not she will go back to sleep. It's happening less now as she only has one daytime sleep and I must also admit that she gets a tad heavy lying across me like a little monkey... I weighed/measured her the other day and she was 9.9kg (21lbs and a bit) and 75cm . (I like to grow them small - 6lbs 14 and 6lbs 6 respectively) and then fatten them up....

Hello everyone
Merry Christmas!
Our flight to Boston was cancelled this morning because of bad weather in the States. Unbelievable! DP arrived from NZ which was great so we had a wonderful Christmas day together... but now this flight thing is getting beyond the joke. I have been on hold with the airline for a total of eight hours over the last few days! Unfortunately DP is in a queue of about 200 people at Heathrow now trying to get DDs paper ticket reissued for BA so that we can get straight to Terminal 5 tomorrow. For some reason infants can't have e-tickets

And, our upgrade was also cancelled so if we do go, I won't be able to sleep in business after all.

Anyway, sorry I can't answer individually but very ME focused at the moment. I wish all of you a happy New Year with your DCs and look forward to picking up again in the New Year... hopefully when we get back from our much needed holiday!

Oh, Abs...!

Well, thank goodness you managed to spend Xmas Day together, that's the main thing.

Fingers crossed for your getaway plans...

Oh Abs you will certainly never forget this xmas will you?! Was just watching the news about the snow on the US eastern seaboard. Will be lovely when you get there. I work from Terminal 5 and while it is quite lovely, and has some fabulous shops, I have heard lots of people say there isn't much to occupy little ones, though there is a small padded/crawling area round the corner from World Duty Free. Have a fabulous holiday.

I am having a lovely xmas, and ds is being adorable at the moment. He is eating much better which is such a relief. Though he is unpredictable in that some days he wants me to spoon feed him and others he wants finger foods only. I have to prepare both just in case. We still co sleep as he sleeps much better that way. In the evening he wakes at least every hour still and can't re settle in his cot without a feed from me. Then when I go to bed I bring him in with me and he usually only wakes once after that. Such a mummy's boy .

Dp is going back to work tomorrow so it's back down to earth with a bump for me. The extra pair of hands really helps and I will miss it.

Hope everyone is having a lovely xmas. Dreading new year as on Jan 1st I will be able to say I am 40 next year.

our xmas will do the blog tonight

Hello everybody,

I can't wait to put DS on the right tracks of sleeping.

pix of DS opening his pressies on Christmas day.

And another one with a festive sleepsuit

PA great pictures.

Thanks GF that santa costume is too cute.

I've been very surprised at how un-christmassy it is over here. Thought I'd be able to get a cuter outfit for DD. I got hers in a size 3-6months in the end and you can see it's a bit loose on her.

Abs As others have said, the important thing was that you were together as a family this Christmas

DD's sleep has completely gone to pot and she's being quite fussy at feeding as well. Think we're in a for a tough few days (well DH days, me nights).

She completely stole the show at Disneyland and the hotel with all her walking. I reckon at least 100 (OK maybe closer to 50) asked us how old she was. I felt a bit bad like I was attention seeking, but I really feel it was the best thing for her to just be put down and wander around as she liked, especially with the waiting and queuing. She is not a baby you can keep still if you want a happy baby.

Hope everyone's had a good bout of gluttony and are suitably recovered from said over indulgence. I've told my mum she has to make me some mince pies when I'm over in Feb (because I'm just a spoilt kid at heart)

PA don't worry about your DD stealing the show. My DS is also only happy when left free to roam. I think people much prefer a happy moving around baby than a immobile screaming/crying one.

Lovely pix, PA and GF!!

I'm glad you've been enjoying Christmas - but sorry about the sleep, PA - you have my sympathies.

DD only woke twice last night and went back into her cot both times (second time it took a little while and a couple of attempts, but hey...) and only came into bed with us for morning cuddles and a feed when she woke at 07.30.

We're heading home tomorrow, fingers crossed DD is as similarly mellow for the journey back as she was on the way here.

The snow is melting so all being well, we should have okay weather conditions for the drive, too.

Nice to hear from you chinook!

Sooners x

Just had time to lurk..am stuffed,shattered and been visiting people! My best friend is on the verge of iminent labour..baby was due Boxing day.So excited.

Be back with some pics when I get time.

Loving the ones so far.

PA Disneylands looks amazing.

Back on sleep training. It's hard but I'll be the winner... hopefully...