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.

Talking of jobs, I feel a bit cross with my impatience after not getting an offer yet on the basis of three interviews (7 applications, 5 times shortlisted, I declined one interview and one is outstanding)... But in the past I only ever went to one or two before getting a job. Times change. dh was told just before christmas that his job no longer exists from this spring... They call it restructuring, clever, so he has to reapply for an ever dwindling pool of posts. This year could be quite interesting! We could both be unemployed or I could be the main earner and he'd be at home .

IC I have started putting a hair clip in dd2's fringe but have to remind myself to take it out when she has a nap. Haven't considered cutting it yet but then my 'haircuts'are legend....

Hair clip...that's an idea! Doesn't she try to pull it out, BG?

IC she doesn't seem aware of it yet. Once she does pull it out I will probably have to cut her hair, too.

I think if you start them with hair clips etc quite young, they don't notice and just aren't bothered. DD1 had them at a year and she's always been as good as gold with them.

Had a dreadful night with DD2 - I think she was in pain or something, as she was trying to sleep but kept jerking her legs and crying. It was very hard work for about three hours.

I took her to the GP today about her constipation and she's got glycerin suppositories and some nappy rash cream (not sure why - it's a tiny bit pink but nothing that Sudocrem won't sort out). But she's also got a bit of a temp so maybe it's a cold (we've all had a nasty one) or teething. I have no idea. Still, she did take some ibuprofen (for the first time - every other time she has spat it out and been sick) so hopefully will feel better soon.

Meant to say to chinook that your post about wanting to lose weight etc could have been written by me. I know exactly what you mean!

Happy New Year everyone! Just popping in very quickly as DD is due to wake any second, in fact I'm surprised I haven't heard her chirrup already.

I've used all three naps today to catch up on MN instead of get the house in order after the Christmas chaos . DD is still taking three short naps per day, and to be honest I'm dreading her dropping the third as I have no idea how to extend the others.

Her sleep has been DREADFUL the past two nights. We've been tearing our hair out and it has made us realise that we should not have been moaning before. She is unsettled all evening, and all night, and just SCREAMS and won't be pacified.

There she goes. Sorry for the me me me post. I have read all yours and there is loads I want to comment on. No time!

DS slept much better last night as he only cried for 5 mn twice. So a great improvement.

IC my DS hair are getting long too but I don't think I can use a hair clip

BG poor you and DH on the job front.

Need to go and wake up DS from his late afternoon nap or if not it'll mess the nighttime routine and bedtime.

Bad luck with the broken sleep, CS and MP... I hope you all get more rest tonight. Likewise, I hope whatever's ailing your DD2 passes ASAP, CS...

Ahem, on the hair clip front, what sort do you use? The type that bend and click shut? I suppose I worry that DD may pull it out and try to eat it. Having said that, she's usually quite good about leaving hats/ear-defenders in place, so she'd probably be alright...

I'm glad to hear you had a better time of it last night, SB.

DD woke twice and resettled fairly quickly both times, then woke again at 05.45 but was content to lie, suckle and snooze in bed with me for a couple of hours...thankfully.

Aargh! One of my cousin phoned just when I was putting DS to bed, so DH answered the phone, Gave it to me, he tried to deal with Ds and now I have a tantruming baby who is not settling and who refused his bottle. She should have called 2 mn earlier and DS who'd not have been in bed yet...

Rant over... Sorry

Sorry to hear about the jobs BG hope it sorts itself out quickly.

Broken sleep, I have been sleeping in the spare bedroom leaving DH and his snoring with DD2 .
I even close the doors in between, I need to sleep and be less grumpy .
So to all who are having troubles. Minces Is she in pain? gases or teething? calpol?

DD2 has been quite good without her dummy (less waking up) she settles quite well. Cries for a bit, then complains and chats and falls asleep.
I had to time it though I thought I was leaving her for at least 20 min to cry especially at night. I barely make it to 2 min [pathetic emoticon] she is usually quiet before 5 min.
Patting on her back and leaving the hand there seems to be enough for night time resettling. I think DH can't actually hear her so she might be crying/moaning a bit and self settles now.

I have been using the clips too IC they don't hold very well on my DD hairs and she does pick them to suck.
I used to cut DD1 hairs but she started growing them like a combover (I find it horrible!) IYSWIM. DD2 grows hairs equally everywhere and are more curly, not sure what to do yet. Here they shave the babies' heads

Shaving babies' heads Talk about cultural differences....

BG You have all my sympathies about jobs. My DP was made redundant when I was just a few weeks pregnant with DD - he found a job after a 6 month search. Now I may lose mine as I am public sector and noone is safe.

On a much happier note I had my 12 week scan yesterday and can formally announce that DC2 will be joining us in July (am very excited). Haven't even returned from maternity leave yet so am not sure how work is going to take it.........

Stan congratulations!!!
BG My DH too lost his job last year a week before DD2 was born. It took a few months to find a new one. Easier to do if already employ so your DH might want to search now just in case?

First one on the thread to get another bun in!!! Congrats, Stangirl - good luck!

stangirl congratulations!

Another bad night here. DD2 has a horrible cold as have DH and DD1 so I'm pretty much doing it all on my own (despite recovering from the same nasty cold myself). But DD2 has spent the last 20 minutes very happily opening and closing the door in very cute, excited fashion, so how can I mind?!

Stangirl Congratulations!!!!! So so happy for you! How did you cope with early pregnancy?
I've had a few opportunities to cuddle my friend's newborn, so has dh and we have both admitted that we'd love a 3rd... At the moment too realistic, practical, poor etc though but I'll never say never...

Thanks everyone for the good wishes.
BG I'm lucky enough to still be on maternity leave so didn't have the extra exhaustion working brings. I was very poorly with morning sickness for about 10 days and shipped my Mum in to take care of DD and for a few days went to stay with my Dad and Stepmum who took care of her whilst I flopped about moaning.

ChestnutSoup it may make you feel better to know it was IVF - so no sex involved!

Congratulations Stangirl! Are you going to find out the flavour? (Sorry for the obvious question, I'm sure you'll get used to it...)

I was just having the second-baby conversation with a mum-friend today (not sure when she becomes just a 'friend'. Anyway) and although I really want one, and in fact am trying (or letting nature take its course) in fact I am absolutely terrified. I just don't know how I will cope with two. And the blimmin neurotic dog. Those with two... tell me it's easy peasy...

We had a MUCH better night last night Thank goodness. Fingers crossed this is the start of a sustained improvement.

Now that I have five minutes I can't remember everything I wanted to comment on Or anything in fact. Baby brain!

It's horrible weather here. Pouring with rain. I was just wondering, as I stomped along getting soaked, whether I like this less or snow. Snow is less wet, but does muck up travel etc. But this is very, very wet and set to stay for the week apparently. I have decided I need a raincoat and galoshes. Something along the lines of IC's DH's get-up...

Quick question, do you all clean your baby DCs' teeth and when in the day? I have just bought a toothbrush today [bad mummy emoticon] so an sighingly resigned to starting but am not sure when is the best time. Not after bedtime milk, as it would wake her up again...?

Get well CS's DD and anyone else suffering.

Mince I 'brush' DS teeth in the evening during bath. He then takes hold of the brush and chews it. I guess it also massages his gums.

Stan congratulations!!!

DS night wasn't too bad, he woke up once for a while but managed to resettle himself after 30mn of crying / whinging. He now has a 2 naps, one of 1 hour late morning and a 20mn one by 4.30pm but I think the long morning one may be linked to been awake during the night.

Mince Yes I will find out the flavour - halves the name debate with OH. Everyone seems to think I'm a little bit mad to go for such a small gap but at nearly 42 I figured if I was going to have more than one I better just get on with it.

Teeth cleaning - no need as DD doesn't have a tooth in her head yet. I was told by a visiting dental expert that the "specifically formulated" toothpaste for children is not recommended by dentists as it doesn't have enough chloride - you should use just a normal family toothpaste.

How advice differs..!

Our pharmacist told us not to use any toothpaste yet, children's or adult's.
We have a couple of "teething" toothbrushes and encourage DD to use them after each meal. I sometimes try to manipulate the toothbrush, but it's an uphill struggle...! She usually chews on them a fair bit and often even manages to use the right end (!)

Those Cath Kidston/Eurohike rain ponchos are the biz for wet buggy walks, MincePies! All you need plus a pair of wellies and some thick socks. Sorted! Dry as a bone.

On the toothpaste advice I described - it was given by the dental nurse from Kings College Hospital who visits children's centres in Southwark/Lambeth teaching about good dental health. It comes from the DoH apparently. She also showed us some really disgusting pictures of 18month olds with entirely rotten teeth - very disturbing. Poor mites have to have all their teeth removed under anaesthetic which screws up their speech development and their adult teeth won't grow through properly because the baby teeth weren't there to set the holes in place properly. Just horrible. She said they had about 3 cases a week at Kings.

DS has invented a new trick! He now creates a fuss when put to bed . He refuses his bottles and starts a tantrum. Hopefully this shall pass! (okay it's only the second evenings but he used to go down quietly, drink, turned around and sleep!)

Our HV told us to use Little Teeth toothpaste as it is enriched with fluoride (something which is not found in Guernsey water). We've been brushing his teeth since he's 8 months old.

Stangirl Congratulations! So chuffed for you. Did you have a fresh round of IVF or were there frozen embryos left over from your last go? My DS was a frostie, after an unsuccessful fresh go.

You must be quite near me - I had my antenatal care at King's.

SB Sorry about the difficut bedtimes, I'm sure he won't make a habit of it.

Re toothbrushing, we were told to brush twice a day as soon as the first tooth appeared. I only normally remember to do it at bedtime now though and then I BF after he's had his teeth cleaned. I know I'm doing it all wrong.

BG I hope things work out for you and your DH job-wise. I am rubbish with any kind of insecurity so I hope you are not panicking too much.

We went out today for my mum's 64th birthday, it was lovely. She does my head in sometimes but we got on really well today. She loved her presents (which DH bought when up in town yesterday bless him) and I made sure to get her a present and a card "from" DS. I took some photos of her and him together and in one of them he has one red pupil and one white. I am sure it isn't retinoblastoma but I freaked out and rang the GP and they are going to have a look tomorrow. I hope they don't label me a neurotic mum.

Nothing wrong with getting something checked out, BC, if it puts your mind at rest. I expect all mums are neurotic from time to time - I know I am!

Thanks for that, Stangirl - I guess the advice is different here in Spain. Useful to know, though.

Although DD's teeth-cleaning is hit and miss, I'm not too worried at this stage. We don't give her fruit juice or anything with added sugar and her mouth is always swilled out with water at the end of each meal. As for cleaning after BF, no, I'm not worrying about that either.

As she gets older (and acquires more teeth!) I'll instill a proper teeth-brushing routine. It's not something I take lightly, mind you - I've still got a perfect set of teeth at age 40 and I'm keen for DD to have the same!

Anyone noticing how their LO's development seems to be accelerating at the moment? It seems like DD noticeably learns a new skill or enhances her understanding of the world every day and is changing in front of our eyes. It's really exciting! Especially now it's clear she's starting to understand some of the things we say to her and reacts accordingly. She's growing up!!

IC I agree they are growing so fast at the moment!

DS is now doing kisses from a distance, dances to music, says 'na' and shakes his head when he doesn't want anymore food.

BC don't worry about going to the gp if you're worried about your DS. I've got a seat with our name on it at my surgery as we go every 10 days (ish) for various health problems.

DS has his bath and teeth brushed before dinner

mama how his your DD nappy rash doing?