June 08 - 42 days til Christmas, and Deb is coming home!!

[KnittingisbetterthanTherapy]

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Hello

Have been lurking on and off. It's been a busy and quite stressful Autumn, with DH's redundancy and my near-redundancy but DH starts work on 5 Jan and I'm fine.

It was lovely to read about everyone's adventures in the snow - particularly all the Scottish ladies. That must have been quite something. Are you all girding your loins for Thursday?

Ktpie - LOL at J falling down the loo. So glad it hasn't put him off! We started potty training Dorothy a couple of weeks ago too and she fell down the loo on Sunday. She's such a tiny thing, but views the potty and kiddie loo seats as rather infra dig. I caught her trying to stand up facing the loo like her big brother yesterday too!

Spider William - I think you're very snesible not to worry about anything until it's actually an issue. They tend to refer babies to rule out things. Squints are completely normal at 5 weeks. Dorothy still has what looks like a squint now (Duane's syndrome) but it won't cause her any problems (unless she wants to be an airline pilot or ping-pong player)!

Keep calm - am so with you on meal times. I think sometimes they need to get stuff out of their system. I like the 'Santa's watching idea' - I should defintely use that with DS1 (aged 5)!

Systems - at your nativity. We've had three, with DS1 as an elf and sun, and Dorothy as a little red pixie. I completely agree about finding it all quite emotional - I bawled my way through the whole of Friday morning (including racing from Dorothy's that ended at 10.25 to DS1's that started at 10.30!)

Neenz - pride in poos! Dorothy lays an enormous yule log about once every three days. I think she sees them as her offspring as is very proud of them.

loving the hidden cauliflower.

What are you all doing about the midday nap?

Hello UDC, lovely to see you

I like the Santa's Watching You thing, but it reminds me of the Calvin & Hobbes cartoon (Santa: friendly elf or CIA spook?) .

T v rarely has a daytime nap - all mine dropped them v early.

Having a horrible time with DD1 at the moment. I don't like her, and therefore like myself even less .

UDC glad to hear from you and that your DH is starting work after the hols - that must be lovely to look forward to - I hope the job is one he's excited about. How is your office? Is the general mood ok?

No nap here since June, which is tough sometimes and he's in bed for a good 12 hours each night now but he's much happier.

rolf sorry DD1 and you are having a rough time at the moment.

Waves to everyone - I'm fighting a cold so I've cancelled a night out and I'm off to bed early. I can't afford to be sick at the moment.

Hi guys, just a quick post to share this if you haven't seen it on FB.

It's a personal vid from Santa and is absolutely gorgeous. A couple of friends have done it already and say it really has the kids amazed!

Hope all well x

Another one marking spot.

knitting we do that every year, the kids really love it! They especially liked it last year when grandad got one and he got told off for being a naughty boy and leaving his clothes all over the floor! Luckily my dad took it in good spirits!

Rolf don't be too hard on yourself. It is so difficult sometimes and none of us are the perfect parent. You obviously love her completely, and she knows that.

OMG Knitting - I am bawling at Luke's one! Not good for an over emotional pregnant woman!

PS Had a scan yesteray and now know why I can hardly walk/sleep etc twin 1 5.12 twin 2 6.2 - I am not even 34 weeks yet!

Dropped off my threads I'm on, I have clearly been slacking!

Naps:I am very tempted to drop Caitlin's nap over Christmas, she is not going to sleep in the evening till after 9 and I have no evenings left ... she has a tendency to crash out around 4.30 though if she stays awake, though, which makes bedtime even worse. Buggering transitional times, very complicated! I will be relieved when we are through this one.

Rolf: no words of wisdom but sympathy, I know how you feel, am sitting here writing this with two bloody scratches in my neck from ds resisting getting dressed, and have spent much of the past week full of resentment at him and not feeling much like a proper mother. Had his nativity play this morning though which has helped a lot; his teacher sat 6 inches away from him throughout; I was partly pleased that they are giving him this level of support, partly sad that it is necessary. But he was so thrilled we were there.

Didn't think of doing one for Grandpa - great idea .

We are bloody lucky with naps - A still has 2 1/2 - 3 hrs every lunchtime and goes down by 7.30/8pm. No intention of changing that! Having said that, we have yet to move him out of his cot so think that could all change in the NY!

We really need to get her out of her cot, she climbed out woozily the other night and fell on her head - which was absolutely terrifying - she has been extremely careful since then though and each time explains to me 'Look Mummy, I am holding on, I won't bang my head any more'.

Hello! Knitting glad I'm not the only one - Iestyn is still in his cot too. (And Systems!) I mean, he always was (still is) miniature so I could, in theory, keep him in there until he's 5. But I guess I'm going to have to do something about it after Christmas.
Naps - Iestyn still has one most days. He's resistant; I'm not - I hope he keeps having his nap until he's in school!

Amber And also, just to make you feel even more awful, twin 2 is already bigger than Iestyn was at birth. (ok, ok, it's only 1oz bigger, but I had to say it!)

I had my scan today. Baby was asleep but there was a heartbeat (I kind of panicked on my way in that I was a fraud and not pg at all and would look really stupid.). I was all because it wasn't moving and Iestyn didn't stop moving at the first scan, but Iestyn doesn't stop moving now either so maybe I'll have a more restful baby this time!
EDD is 8th July. That, however, means that I was pg two months in a row. And after the early m/c, I ovulated on day 16, clockwork, bounced back. Like some cavewoman. Or a rat.

Rolf you're very brave posting what you did, and I think Sybil's post is perfect. I don't like Iestyn all of the time (it's that low-level annoying thing I've mentioned before ) but I always love him and would fight tigers for him. Also, he's too little to have developed the (adult) character traits I seriously dislike. But he could do.
I worry about this second one, though. What if I don't like it as much as Iestyn? Also (I think Spider asked about this, bravely) what if it's a girl and I don't like it as much?

(I didn't like Iestyn much at first. Well, I did, but I worried that I wasn't getting an overwhelming rush of love thing that people talk about. But I'm not an impulsive person, I hate surprises, and I have to get to know people before I can be definite about anything. So it makes sense.)

Oh how exciting that you've had your scan Dewin!! and I remember that feeling of 'but what if I'm not pregnant?' walking in FWIW I was so 'used' to having a boy that I could not work out how on earth I would mother a girl, and I remember feeling, even in the early days after having her, that I was so close to ds while the baby was a little stranger to me. It's a very normal thing to worry about I think; and has all evened out now!

My period came within 12 hours of my last post so now I quite like her again . Thanks for the kind words everyone. We saw her nativity play this afternoon and it was lovely. SA v sorry you're going through this too but it is nice to have someone on here who understands .

Dewin so pleased your scan went well. I was freaked out about having a girl but everyone else is right - it's fine! When you decide to get pregnant your body is pretty focussed isn't it

Bloody hell Amber. You're carrying 12lb of baby . No wonder you feel so crap. Both your babies weigh more than I did when I was born.

T is the only one of children to like using a potty. The others went straight to using the loo (probably because they were so old that their huge arses wouldn't fit on a potty). All I can say is ...GROSS! Because of all the horrible constipation problems she had I'm delighted that things are better for her, so lots of cheering etc, but she likes to bring her potty into the kitchen (more gross) so she can show everyone what she's working on. And then cleaning them out...

Rolf when you say 12lb of baby it really brings it home. Amber can't they take them out earlier? I'm not being funny here, but really, once you're 35 weeks everything is fine isn't it? They're all cooked and everything. They probably are even now!

I'm dying of curiosity now because I want to know whether I'm having a boy or a girl! I'm so impatient! In the scan there was one photo of it with its legs in the air and there was nothing obvious between. But I'm not great on knowing which angle I'm looking at on them scan pictures...

Rolf saw this thread and thought of you!

Thanks Dewin. I've put in on my watched threads list. It's definitely moving up the list of things I plan to do!

Hello. Too tired to post anything coherent. All good though. P's Carol concert yesterday was so lovely. W is now spotting and balding but so lovely.

Yes I did ask about how people felt when their second was the other sex. Did it feel strange if you had identified yourself as being a mother of boys. As it turns out not an issue for me this time

That's all for now...

Oops, clearly I meant spotty

Evening all. Rolf I'm glad you're feeling better today. Sounds like a lot of the May/June/July 08 toddlers are being very hard work at the moment.

I ended up being very shouty on Monday which was horrible for S and for me. Mind you, he did run away from me in a busy car park and could have put his head through a glass window, so I felt mildly justified.

Naps - S is starting to drop it. He still has it at nursery, but it's getting harder at home. For a while now, I've been settling him on the sofa with a blanket after lunch to watch at dvd and he was quite regularly falling asleep, but that's not happening so often now. He will sit and watch the dvd still so I get some respite. If I can, I'll try and work in a reasonable length drive in the car after lunch because he will definitely fall asleep and it avoids the later afternoon meltdown.

System - going to sleep late at night - S went through a stage of this a while ago for weeks. We cut his nap from 2 hours to 1 hours and eventually things did settle down again. We were at the end of our tether though - he would be up till 10/11pm. Bless C's cotton socks though at holding tight.

Abdn - how are you feeling today?

Dewin - congrats on the scan!

Amber - at how much baby you're carrying around. When you booked into the Portland?

Knitting - thanks for the link. A friend sent it to me but I'd completely forgot about it.

Bed beckons I think - night all!

10 hours of sleep last night so I'm much better - but stayed up late tonight as DH was out playing volleyball - I'm frantically knitting him a man-snood (apparently they are called buffs) for his special Christmas eve gift (Fraser's getting one too and DS1 is getting a scarf). It's a surprise (sort of - I suspect he's trying not to suspect iyswim) so there's limited time i can work on it. I've done about 10-15 cm so around half way now...

rolf there's enough knitters on this thread that you should be able to get help - which brings me to a quick questions - binding off with a stretchy stitch - anyone know how? Fraser's neck tube thing bound off so tightly I couldn't get it over his head (tried it when he was sleeping) so i had to unpick three rows and bind it off as loose as I could. It's still very tight compared with the rest of the fabric though and I'm worried about DH's rather large noggin. Any help?

dewin glad the scan went well - I'm not sure you can see the gender this early on though!

Amber 12 lbs of baby is more than enough of a reason to be exhausted and feeling rough. You're a star!

F's been okay lately but I think it's easier at the moment as we're not together 24/7 - DH is spending a lot more time with him too which means that the time I'm with him, I'm more patient and he's more appreciative. The being taken for granted thing is very hard...

Oh lord I feel so awful today. I have a terrible cold which has blocked me up cmpletely and also a weird ear thing which sounds like I have fireworks going off in my ear. I never get more than 4 hours sleep anyway these days but last night I think it was more like 2. Got very emotional this morning with it all. Dewin I can't have the babie out any earlier than 7 Jan as that's already only 37 weeks.

Dewin - glad the scan went well - are you going to find out the sex then? Do you wnt another boy?

Naps - Luke still has his at nursery and is resistant at weekends but does eventually have it at home. 1.5 hours at nursery and 2 at home. Thing is he is still waking at 5.30 - is there anything I can do about it? He's full of beans and won't go back to bed

Spider - what's the spot thing? Is that milk spots or something else? Luke had them and went bald just on top like Winston Churchill!

Amber just wanted to send you some getting-through-the-day vibes, your posts are taking me back to how dreadful I felt at the end of pregnancy with Liam, just from carrying the weight around, and he was only 9 lbs 15 (and that's the first time I have ever written 'only 9 lbs 15' in that context!!)

On the 5.30 waking by this stage to be honest I would just do whatever is easiest for you, if that is setting him up in front of the TV with a packet of chocolate buttons so be it. Your priority right now needs to be just survival. Is it possible with them being big that you might go into labour earlier anyway? (And are they sure of dates?)

systems I am mega sure of the dates as it was all assisted with drugs and scans etc. They might come earlier but may then need time in SCBU. I just want to get through Xmas and NY and then it'll all be over with. 9.15lb? Blimey that's humungous! I think they always over egg these scan weights but I'm gklad, even with all the pain, they are big as they should be more settled when they are born. (actually they say that but luke was 8.12lb and was not settled in the slightest!). Thanks for the vibes! I think with the waking thing, I know most people with newborns will feed them at 5ish and then go back to sleep again for a couple of hours. I will be feeding them at 5ish and then getting up with Luke to watch blimmin Peppa Pig! My sis doesn;t get out of bed until 9.30! They don;t know they're born these first time mums!!

Amber just baby acne with the odd milk spot. All perfectly normal, Peter went through a bald and spotty phase too. I think Deb posted a photo of a spotty Ethan at the time. Just in time for meeting the family over Xmas though.

I also have a toddler with vile behaviour at the moment. I think he is exhausted. I feel better knowing we aren't alone though. Thank goodness for this thread.

Just had the audiology appointment. W has been referred on for more investigation, one ear passed, the other didn't.

5am, that's me at the moment Amber, H wakes up then, wants a feed and then generally falls asleep so sometimes I get half an hour or so more before DH's alarm goes off, but generally I don't. Once the alarm goes off that is it and I'm up. Last night he woke at 11.30pm as well, just after I'd fallen asleep. Tiredness has really caught up with me this week.

Amber - I hope your day has improved, I felt blooming awful this time last year when I was pregnant, and I was only carrying around one.

Same here with a naughty toddler.
Mince pies - I've become shouty too, I over reacted and shouted at him this morning when I found him trying to gouge holes in the wall with a stick, I think he thought he was doing DIY.

Abdn - does this help? Can you stretch it out a bit when you block it, or then will that make it too big?
I really should do some more knitting/crochet. I've been too tired in the evenings and have loads of unfinished projects.

It's snowing here again, rubbish.

Dewin - great news about the scan.

J still has an afternoon nap, although he tends to do a lot of faffing about before he settles down, but once he sleeps he is asleep for a fair while and is reluctant to get up. I am keen to keep the nap as long as possible, of course!

J liked the Santa video, although I think he was most excited about his beard