Dec 2008 - Hello 2011 the Year of the Toddler!

[DeidreBarlow]

Totally unispired but hope you all find it...

Hello ladies just popping this link on here its a friend of a friends company, not much use to me as I'm not in the UK but its looks good. link its craft packs sent to your home each week.

Will try to come back later - if not, tomorrow! But just a quickie to Kiwi: I was using the Clearblue fertility monitor - not as an aid to conception, but the reverse! Anyway, it didn't have me at anything other than low fertility! Even in the month when I ovulated twice and conceived DD2 Er...so I am not sure they are foolproof...so don't give up hope!

Hi everyone

Not read much, but Rubes could you do Thurs 10th Feb? If so I'll book a baby sitter? If anyone else wants to join we can go for a mutually convenient place but otherwise let's go CJ as it's near(ish) us both,....

Am trying to read a story so will be good mummy and get off t'internet.

Hello all,
Sorry not been on, phone playing up and no internet at home, nightmare. Internet back on but got to get my phone fixed/get a new one so no nightfeed browsing.

Bloody DD sleep still crap. Good night was a one off, now waking every 2 hrs and sometimes won't resettle. Trying formula tonight to see if it helps as I am knackered. She also seems a bit more keen on food so may try weaning next week or so.

Rubes, yes put the link to the bike on! LadyT not sure how much you would get for your DH's bike, as don't really know the models, but if it's quite old even if it's a good bike it won't be worth that much. Still worth selling if it's not precious to you and is costing to store. i did laugh at the Scarlett Johansson story.

I would be up for a meet up. jam where do you live? Would also be up for evening meet up maybe, but would have to be central london as CJ too far, and DH away week of 10th Feb anyway.

njan how exciting about coast to coast, not done it but I have done long distance bike ride carrying all my stuff. My tips would be, travel v light, but make sure you have stuff to repair bikes between you, use panniers not a backpack as a heavy backpack will make you unstable. Erm....take it easy as if you ride too hard when you are not used to it you will get tired/injured. Are you plannign on camping or B&Bing. Oh and probably waterproof panniers and good waterproofs too, nothing worse than all your stuff being soaked.

Rubes you pisstaker re spreadsheet. However, this site is v good for arranging good dates for meetups - it figures out which dates best for most people.
Very simple.

Am very chuffed as I have lost 5lbs since starting dieting/exercise at beginning of year. V pleased as is difficult when so knackered. I feel thinner too which is nice.

I had other stuff to say but going to bed now!! Oh zj sorry to hear about your friends baby...but totally agree that the birth of a baby is to be celebrated still in this case.

Jolly sorry about your gloomy AN appointment. How do you feel in yourself? Hopefully its just an over cautious midwife and nothing more

WG I know exactly what you mean about loving the wriggling and missing it when its gone. After DD was born I was still patting my tummy for about a week, expecting a nudge back, and each time I didn?t I felt a little pang. I love Connie, and tried hard to persuade DH of that with DD, but failed. What a nightmare about the food last weekend, but like you say, at least you had a lovely place to recover in. Did you complain about it?

LadyT we?ve got a potty too, as DD has taken to standing next to me when I use the loo and then wiping my bum (or more often my thigh or back) with loo roll and then saying ?Weeze?s turn? We?re not encouraging her to use it yet, but she?s just quite proud she has one and can put ripped up loo roll in it

Justin sounds lovely Kiwi, I'm pleased he is, I didn't want my illusions shattered

Jam will you be back from your trip for your friend?s baby?s funeral? Has she ever had periods of heaving drinking in the past, or is this completely new to her?

Indith I think Whitby is lovely, and nowt wrong about holidaying close to home ? last summer we went to Richmond purely because we knew we could leave work and still be there in time for DDs tea, and at the end of the trip get up and be back at work on time that morning, giving us full days in between to enjoy the whole holiday and not waste it travelling

Lovely to hear from you NJAN, I was thinking about you last weekend, as I made that yummy microwave sponge pud ? I?m sure it was you who shared the recipe and it always makes me think of you (I hope it was you, now I?ve written it I?m doubting myself and thinking that Sybs or another master baker deserve the credit and have now struck me off their Christmas card list for not giving them credit where it's due)

Thank you all for your suggestions on how best to react to my friends news ? it was what I was sort of thinking, but worrying it was horribly wrong and I?d offend them inadvertently. So I?ve written the card exactly what I?d planned to write in it anyway and have posted it, I thought the same as Trace, how nice it is to reread all the birth cards ? and I'll going to give them a couple of days to receive it and then email with an offer of practical stuff while they are shuttling back and forth between home and SBCU. DH got it spot on we had Mr Tumble on this morning and there was a little girl with downs and he just said ?look how happy she is, that?s all friends want for their little one and all we want for E too, the rest is unimportant next to that?. That is the most heartfelt thing I?ve ever heard him say, he?s a farmer for gawds sake. Anyway I am desperately sorry that my friends have the worry of a newborn who can?t be at home with them, when the first weeks should be all cosy and in a bubble of family, and I?m sorry that they are going to have to deals with ignoramus? like me who don?t know how to react, but for everything else I am thrilled and can?t wait to meet the newbie

Jolly I?d forgotten you worked with people with learning difficulties, but now you mention I can even remember exactly where we were when we were talking about your job

I?m another with a fibber, DD is always making stuff up ? especially what happened at nursery. Last week she went on a woodland walk, so on the way home I asked her what she saw in the wood. I got the answers ?trees, birdies, godmother and godfather? ? they live more than 50 miles away, work full time and haven?t seen her for 2 months, so I know full well they weren?t loitering in the woods ? but she was adamant they were there. She?s an oddbod! She had her first haircut today, and looks very cute now

Right, which one of you has eaten my bar of G&Bs? The wrapper is empty, so someone ate it, tut

I've been lurking and now can't remember anything I've read over the last day. All I can remember is

Kiwi, we had this spate of a crazy grumpy DS2 a month or so ago. He was sleeping really badly grumpy a lot during the day. In the end just tried to get through it. Waking at 5am was difficult but I tried to keep us occupied during the day and in a way when it past it was nice to have the proper DS2 back.

On the toilet thing, DS1 almost always sits down to his dinner and then suddenly needs to wee. So he will suddenly run off to the toilet shouting, "i need to wee, I need to wee". DS2 now thinks this is something that you do when you sit down to eat so when he and I sit down to lunch he'll do the same even running as far as the toilet. He made us giggle yesterday he had finished his dinner and wanted to sit on my lap at the table while everyone finished their dinner. He was sitting with me happily then suddenly jumped off my lap saying "poos coming" and grabbed the edge of my chair to brace himself while he did all the pushy faces while he got it out.

SL sorry about the sleep, DS1 did a similar thing ay around the same time. It did settle but came and went. Starting weaning didn't help but unlike DD he didn't show the signs of wanting to eat like she is, I was just told to start by a HV. Not sure if this helps but when I started weaning DS2 I didn't go in for doing anything separate for him I just took bits of DS1's food which was low salt and low sugar for DS2 to have a go at, like rice, polenta or soup (made with barely any stock). Then he could have a go at them but I didn't get annoyed that I'd put extra effort in and it wasn't eaten. Also I waited til he could grab stuff so most of it hr was eating himself. He made a mess but so did DS1 and I spoon fed him.

ZJ, your friends have a lot of battles ahead of them but they also have a lot to celebrate, she does have a bright future, and in todays UK education, a lot of support. What your DH said is lovely, and so true. There are so many horrible disabilities in children that cause a lot of pain and discomfort to the child. Hopefully this initial health difficulty will not be something longterm,and she can be a little light in their life. Do they have other kids.

hello all, so my plan to catch up was stymied by being sent back to hospital on Thurs as dd was borderline jaundiced (the two paeds who examined her in the post-natal ward didn't think she was... ) and had to stay with her under the lights until yesterday afternoon. A very minor thing really compared to what ZJ's friends have to deal with but still, we could have done without it. So we're at home now for good, she's much more lively when awake, and getting a hang of the feeding at last - my poor nips are certainly aware of her presence, also I think that the hospital electric milking machines aren't the most gentle but mean that she didn't have to have any more formula and boobs are used to being called upon so hopefully the milk will come at the right times.

(NB on day 5, lawks, I really wish we'd taken a photo of my enormocleavage, it truly was something out of a porno, they were sticking right out and having measured, they were up to a G cup )

Thanks for the lovely cards everyone, and also Rubes further up you offered some teeny baby clothes, we'd be very grateful as she's swimming around in the 0-3s and of course will pass on to the next one that needs them.

Yay jj glad you are both home (again!). I remember when my milk came in I woke up and resembled Katie Price . I'm sure she'll thrive now she's home, Lansinoh(sp?) for your nips? Always helped me.

summer Bummer about the sleep issues. I hope that she improves soon. Sleep deprevation is the worst.

Hi all - just a quicky as I'm having a busy weekend but Vag, I have FB-ed you.
JJ - the really really small stuff I passed to LadyT and I think she said will forward them all to you (it's like the travelling baby clothes!) I still have some other small things that I will put in the post tomorrow for you though as well which no longer fit either of them.
Late night last night plus ds up and kicking off as he knew G'ma was having a sleepover! Off to lunch today for dh's b'day and a bit of an outing so muct go and will catch up later tonight maybe.

JJ I love that during the first few days you managed to measure your boobs. Class.

We took photos of mine after DS1, they were truely ginormous and needed no support to hold them up. We really wanted to show someone but I felt a bit wrong showing a boy, so I showed a lesbian friend of mine. Who did agree they were mahoosive. I was barely a b cup so it was a great day for me.

Pubie, I love you.

JJ glad your all out and relatively unscathed. How is she? Beautiful? How is Sarah? Has DH been able to get off work? Did he have parental leave booked for a months time?

excellent lunch today but now I can't move. Went to Ping Pong's all you can eat Lazy Sunday's and dear God you should have seen how much dh we ate. To put it into perspective. LadyT and I went there and had 4 orders of dim sum each. I counted, and dh and I went through 30! THIRTY They are only small to be fair and come 3 lil dim sum to an order so he had 2 and I had one on each plate, but that still means I ate 30 individual dim sum to myself 7 day Cabbage soup diet starts for me tomorrow (I'm serious) It was fab though, and dh kept updating me between orders arriving "we are now cost neutral" we ended up eating over £100 worth for £37! Brilliant.

I think I'm the only one who cleans after mil leaves! I've just vaccumed - she can be quite messy but I'm not complaining.

Vaggie - you are very welcome.

I keep running and then not posting properly, but JJ, I will send you a parcel tomorrow full of teeny tiny togs. There were some other bits and pieces I wanted to send you anyway - I also need to send Spot something too!

Oh, on the subject of sending things - I still haven't received my secret Santa. I say this not to chase, if it's someone who is busy pleeeeeezzze don't fret, but I am ONLY putting it out there in case someone has sent something and it has got lost, and is wondering why I have been rude and not said thank you!

Rubes, please tell me you aren't doing the cabbage soup diet

I must go my loves as I am shattered. Jam, I will endeavour to make it over to yours.

Lady - I am. it's not as bad as it sounds - ie not ONLY soup! But I def am doing it, as I've just polished off a piece of chocolate cake that mil made and brought over

Sybs - I just realised I didn't reply to your post. I will check with dh about what his day on the 10th looks like. Is anyone else able to make a night time do?

jam are you def doing the 11th at yours?

oooh, dim sum! must remember to pack in a dim sum lunch before number 2 arrives. basically my favourite food in the world.

glad you are out, JJ - long may the ginormoboobs continue (without pain, that is)

Mmmm....dim sum. DH and I have found our fav dim sum restaurant here finally. It did take some time. It's proper old skool dim sum with rude staff and all.

Mmmm....I also want choccy cake. Can't go to the gym tomorrow as DH not working from home, so meeting the girls at a cafe which is actually an afternoon creche that they have installed an awesome coffee maker into so that in the morning its a mums cafe. They have help yourself cakes and pastries which is not good. Will have to resist.

Rubes don't do cabbage soup diet!!! There was a TV programme on last week about 3 women doing extreme diets. One was that maple Syrup one, the cabbage soup and another one....anyhows the woman on the cabbage soup PUT ON 3lb in her first week. How gutted would you be???

Back later

Morning all. Working from home today so plenty of time for MNing will get lots done.

Vag How long did the hideously grumpy phase last!? DD has been utterly horrendous this weekend. CONSTANT tantrums or sort of whingey crying, nothing is right - she goes mental if you turn a LIGHT on for god's sake. Then this morning she was all happy to be going to nursery, but the minute I got into the breakfast room she starting clinging to me and howling. . I've not been very patient with her becuase it's totally doing my head in - even DH who usually is incredibly patient has got quite cross with her a few times. I don't know what you are supposed to do - there were times over the weekend when she'd be crying but wouldn't let us cuddle her, insisted on lying on the floor reversing into things and whacking her head... aghhh!

Oh, and I have done my back in. Not too badly but quite ouchy when I move. Ow. And to make matters worse, guess how the injury was sustained? In, err, bed. Inflicted entirely by DH.

ps Rubs don't do cabbage soup diet! It's not even a proper diet, it's designed entirely for short term loss. Sort of thing crazy Hollywood celebrities do before the Oscars. So unless you are going to the Oscars (in which case, can I dress you please?) then hands off the cabbage, lady!!

Isn't the cabbage soup diet for severally overweight people who need to lose weight for heart operations. I think it only works if you are quite obese. Otherwise it works in the reverse and your body thinks your starving and actually stores even more fat because it will slow your metabolism down etc.

So um DB what was this maple syrup diet then??

Kiwi I can't remember how long but it was a couple of weeks at least. However, with the bloody annoying wanting to do something then changing their mind type behaviour, someone on here suggested reverse psychology. So if she wants to do something then suddenly changes her mind just say the opposite of what you want her to do so for the breakfast room at nursery, "oh don't go in there then, you definitely don't want to go in there". We announce DS2's meals now with "don't go to the table and eat DS2", without fail he will race up to his chair as quickly as possible. We don't have to do it with everything, he will happily go brush his teeth on request and will sit down to have his shoes put on but certain things we have to say not to do it and he suddenly wants to do it.

Spot how is DS2's stridor?

Hello everyone,

zoe That is a very sweet thing that your DH said, and very true. Don't think you are silly for not knowing how to react! Asking people on MN about what to do shows that you are a lovely caring friend.

veggie You asked about my work... my PhD was in Health Resaerch and mainly about coping mechanisms and adjustment to the birth of a child with learning disabilities for parents with a religious faith. I've since gone into more general health and am currently working for, will I out myself if I do a link? . If you google i m p r o v i n g health and lives - it contains loads of information relating to health and people with learning disabilities if you are interested!

kiwi I never used a fertility monitor but I did temp when trying for DD. I found that really useful for knowing that I'd ovulated but it is hard to get to grips with at first. I'd have lent you the book myself but I loaned it to a friend - she is now pregnant, it is a lucky book!

JJ Really good to hear that DD2 is getting the hang of feeding. That should help clear the jaundice too.

trace Thanks for sharing your pre-eclampsia story, it wasn't gloomy at all. You and L came out of it all fine which is wonderfully reassuring. You didn't mention your consulant appointment? Is it this week?

I got the all clear on the GTT, hurrah. However, I had a community midwife appointment this morning and based on my blood pressure, which she took lots of times and presence of protein in my urine, she has referred me to the hospital this afternoon for blood pressure monitoring and some blood tests to check for other pre-eclampsia signs. As it happens I was going to the hospital anyway for the first of the steroid injections to help mature the baby's lungs. They should give me my own car parking space . I'm not sure whether I should be trying to get things in order in case the baby is delivered early or just bury my head in the sand. Somehow by not packing a hospital bag or sorting out the baby clothes, it feels less real and might not happen. That sounds even odder written down .

Ladies, ladies relax..... I did the CS diet after ds was born and I'd stopped BF - worked fab, I lost the weight and I never gained it back, so perhaps it depends on your individual self!
I saw that program too Deids, which was what reminded me how I did the CSD last time! I thought it was the Cambridge diet they said put on the 3lbs first week? Anyway I only have about 5kg to lose and it worked before so I'll take my chances. It's not only soup -It's just certain foods in a certain pattern but a whole lot of soup too. I'll report back on the progress in a week

Kiwi- I'm not going to the Oscars but if I go to that wedding, unless I can get away with my stretch jeans, I need to sort the spare tyre out to get into one of my dresses I used to fit without looking like I've squeezed myself into someting way too tight!
Sorry bout all the tantrums - DS has settled a lot recently although just kicked off at toddler group with the singing again. had some lunch and now he's fine though so perhaps just hungry. Hoping she eases up on you.

Back later, got some eBay goods to ship off, my trainer to check in with and soup to make

Jolly great news on the all clear [thumbs up]

Oh also, when I finished the diet, I came off it slowly - it's when you go back to normal that it cocks up and you gain it back... Alot of loss is water initiall, but you have to drink LOADS to counteract that.

JOlly super news on all clear but bummer about the hospital this arvo.

Yes am serious about having everyone over the 11th would be fab. Will go start a thread in meet ups then if you are interested pm me and I will give you postcode info and train info so can can figure out if its feasable.