FEB 2010 First birthdays beckon and toddlerdom approacheth...uh-oh!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

It's humbling to look back at the last year and see how our LO's have gone from helpless newborns to action-packed pre-toddlers.

BRING IT ON!!!

DD2 is already asleep (fell sitting on my knees). She has been incredibly clumsy all morning. walked straight in the table 3 times, in a door twice, fell from the bed, from a box (she can climb herself and usually can climb down herself feet 1st), and fell walking at least 4 times

who is winter? Happy birthday anyway.
Happy birthday SG's DD.

More sleep doesn't seem to help my brain cells, may be it is already old age...

Any London mums want to come to this? It looks brilliant and it's free. We are going on the Tuesday. www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/literature-spoken-word/tickets/bookworm-babies-56140

That sounds great BC
Here nothing before 3 yo. Although it is not frown upon to take babies to children theater and opera (the kids make such a B**@#%^ noise anyway).

mamaloco does your dd have an ear infection that may affect her balance?

stangirl happy birthday to your dd... know you've had your party but still ;-)

LBH sorry you had such a rough night and your LO is poorly.

Re. cow's milk, I am currently mixing it half and half with formula, but that's really to finish the formula as DD2 seems to prefer the cow's milk. Some LOs don't seem to notice the difference, but most people I know mix it with formula for a week or so to soften the transition (it means they can get used to the change in flavour) and also ease the effect the change may have on the body.

As for the cleaner, I was really struggling when I went back to work after DD1. She was walking and into everything, so doing things like cleaning the bathroom and doing the floors was getting really difficult. It was DH's idea as I think he was worried I was getting so stressed about it (and he used to do his own shirts, so the ironing was his idea too!). We advertised for one in a local shop and the girl we have is lovely. She's got kids of her own and is practically part of the family now!

Loving the FB thing, by the way! IC where are you on there?

CS I have a cleaner too, I booked her because I knew I was going to have CS, so she was highly needed. When DH lost his job I said I am not getting rid of her if you go on buying beers (not cheap here the budget for the cleaner is cheaper than the monthly bill in beers ).
Well she is still there and does the ironing. I could probably spend the money on clothes instead (she is going to run out of things too iron), but she is a huge help and babysit DD2 too so I can have a bit of time with DD1.

I am still on formula. I went straight with DD2. she still like milk. My DN never had a drop of milk since they stopped the FF. So be aware that some children will never take it.

Right - was only able to read and make hit-and-run posts while inlaws were here. Now they've gone and DS is having his morning nap I can have a proper catch-up.

Abs and Scones good luck with TTC.

Happy birthday to Winter, Stan.

Bethy Hope your (and DS's) black eye is healing. Those bruises do seem to linger forever though, don't they? I remember when DS gave himself one with over-eager maraca shaking and it hung about over a week (and it had to be a time we were visiting the PiLs).

IC How is your sleep, now you've nearly finished the overcoming insomnia course? How funny that I was in your dream.

CS Good luck with returning to work. I can see how one would feel a bit un-confident at first, I think it is natural. Think about all the new skills (transferable ones too) that you've gained from your experience as a mum of two though.

ML I have to disagree, your DD2 wasn't an ugly baby!

PA Good work on the running. Hope your UTI is better and that AF has turned up or turns up soon.

I am another non-ironer.

Nice to hear from you, Chinook - good luck back at work.

IC Polarn O Pyret socks are good for staying on. Or you can get sock-ons www.sockons.co.uk/ (ah - Scones has already mentioned them).

Scones That must be quite hurtful, your PiLs talking like that about DD's cousin. Sod them. She's amazing.

AbsB Am [sngry] about your DP's BFing comments. As you know about half of us lot still are. Wish it was seen as more normal to do it beyond 6m. No judgement on those who don't though.

at your perforated appendix.

LBH Hope DD's sleep improves.

Mamaloco Sorry DD is off colour. Hope it doesn't develop into anything nasty. Winter is Stangirl 's DD.

We have a cleaner for three hours once a fortnight. I don't really do a lot of housework but I do mostly cook our meals from scratch. I do hoover maybe once in between her visits and I wipe the kitchen floor where DS chucks his food. And I do the clothes washing and I keep the place fairly tidy. Although clothes tend to pile up on the chair in our bedroom - and DH always leaves magazines around the loo!

Right time to get dressed, rouse DS and catch the last 45mins of baby gym.

Oh, he hated swimming again on Monday so I haven't renewed the course. The teacher said to go at 11 next week - it's a more advanced session but there's only a couple of mums and babies in it, and we can stick to the basic stuff. She thought (very sensibly) that if he gets a nap first and then gets into the pool wide-awake and rested he might take it better.

Happy birthday Winter! What a lovely name.

Abs that's that your DP isn't supportive of you continuing to BF. Of course you should as long as you and DD want to. And, yes, WHO recommends until 2 at least. I must admit that I used to think that people who BF after a year were a bit wierd. But now that DD is practically a year, I can see no reason to stop at all. She loves it, I love it, and if I weren't BF her I'd have to buy her cows milk - it's a no-brainer for me. Can you use that angle...? Some kids drink an awful lot of milk! Or how about the weight-loss angle - I'm pretty much eating whatever I like (and what I like is a lot of cake and chocolate) and my weight is fairly stable, I'm sure that's to do with the BF. A pretty major reason not to stop in my book

I feed DD four times a day (well in theory, when she's not having extra night feeds): first feed 6ish, mid-morning 10ish, mid-afternoon 2ish, last feed 6ish. I see no reason to cut down in the near future tbh.

Last night we had only one resettle at 1am!!! Then up for a feed at 6, and even back to sleep for another hour. My god I feel better today. Still shattered, but able to cope with even a nasty dentist were it necessary .

I want a cleaner. No ironing necessary. But oh, not to have to clean up incessantly after DH, DD and dog!

LBH commiserations on the bad night. Teething...? In my own sleep despair I've bought yet another book, so if it has any super-tips I'll pass them on. (We didn't do anything differntly last night, but had a much better night, so I'm not sure what I do makes much difference anyway.)

mama hope DD2 stops falling over.

BC how warm is the pool? Our local pool is freezing and not many babies seemed to like it. I'm not surprised, I hated it, hate being cold. But I take DD to a lovely private, warm pool (31 degrees) and she just LOVES it. Very expensive though.

Mammoth post by the way BC! Phew!

Thanks for the birthday wishes for Winter. We are having a lousy day.

She had a cold begin yesterday - no major drama. DP gave her some milk at 7am this morning when she woke and left her to have a final snooze. At 7:30 we both went in with her birthday presents and singing Happy B'day - to find she had thrown up all her milk. She then threw up her breakfast. She hasn't thrown up since the early possetting. She was down to do her Nursery settling today so i phoned them. they said to bring her in. I did - though she did thrown up again on the bus after some milk. Was fine for a bit at nursery, then cried, fed milk, threw up. We are now at home and I'm waiting for the GP to ring. She keeps nodding off, when awake she is either crying or looking woozy. She's never normally ill.

I just can't get the FB thing to work for me. If someone can invite to join the group I would be very grateful - I am Hannah Saunders in RL and the pic is of me in a sailor/captain hat.

Stan hope the GP got back to you! That sounds like a very poorly baby

So sorry about your day Stangirl I meant to say ages ago what a beautiful name I thought your DD had.

We had a four hour stretch last night followed by very much sub hour wakings, but I still good for having had that stretch. She didn't feed off me before I left for work today :( Hope this isn't the start of a nursing strike and she was just full and occupied.

Also it appears she reacts to celery, so that joins the kiwi list. Her mouth and bum have reacted exactly the same way as last time.

Stangirl I think I've sent you a friend request

PA I've accepted your request.

DD has been snoozing most of the afternoon on the sofa - she's never done that before. She's now keeping water down so things are getting better.

Stangirl I hope you heard back from the GP. How is she this evening?

Oh Stangirl that is really too bad. Poor Winter! Happy Birthday to her from me.

On the bf front, I don't know why he is suddenly being so negative about it. He was really keen and I thought he and I both thought the longer the better. I don't know if he is also dealing with 'comments' his end. I do remember that I was bfing and talking to my sister on Skype (She lives in the States) and she said "that baby is far too big, you shouldn't be breast feeding her anymore, it's WRONG!" (uh, she is a doctor )... And my DP looked awkward and said muttered something about "not long..." and I thought that was odd at the time.

Oh no, rest in peace Alexander Sutherland! Have you seen the news? Poor, poor baby. I just cannot stomach child abuse stories at all. It is just AWFUL. How can this country fail its children... HOW?

Poor little mite, Stangirl, I'm glad she's taking some fluids now. It's incredible how they can start to bounce back so quickly. What a shame she had to be ill on her birthday of all days.
Get well soon, little Winter!

I don't think I can bear to read the details, Abs - since becoming a mum I've become so raw emotionally...

Thanks for the sock advice, everyone! The stay-ons sound like a good idea! The main problem is that DD loves pulling them off, so even the most resistant sock is unlikely to stay on in that situation! She mostly wears dresses and tights, but my Dad got her some adorable baby jeans for her birthday and I wanted to see her in them. By the time she's grown into them properly, it'll be warm enough not to need socks anyway, I should think.

How cool is the FB group?! It's ace to put names and faces to MN nicknames! The IM thing is a laugh too - PA, Bc and I just had a quick chat... Love it!

I'm only in Week Two of the insomnia course, Bc but I'm already seeing some improvements. I'll let you know how it goes, never fear!

Well, I just had a half-hour battle with DD to get her to sleep. Bed-times have been very easy lately, not sure what the problem was tonight. She's been a bit clingy all day. I do hope she's not coming down with anything (paracetamol on standby again, just in case).

Also, her gums are suspiciously lumpy in the molar area, which makes me wonder if we're going to see some more teeth action soon...

Happy birthday to Stan DD. I hope she's better

[Angry] at Abs DP for his comments. I FF but I admire people who can BF.

Happy birthday for tomorrow BG DD2

Hey Stan Hope the birthday girl is on the mend now. I feel for you and her.

I had to come home early from work, CM said DD was very under the weather and only mummy can make cheer her up. Feeling sorry for herself, lots of tears and red teething cheeks on top of her cold and cough.
She was better for being at home.
No sick tonight.

I am off to bed now as very tired.

Love FB too.

Night night

Stangirl I hope Winter's feeling better. Your DD too, LBH.

Sleep well everyone.

Abs at your sis comments, especially as she's a doctor! What is wrong with people!

Hi all. Happy birthday Winter and sorry to hear she's poorly. I find that giving milk after sickness creates more sick and keep DS off it for up to a week afterwards otherwise he starts being sick again. However, have since discovered that he is lactose-intlerant, so not surprising really!

Happy birthday to BG's DD2 for tomorrow (afraid she shares with my MIL!!)

I can't do anything other than post on the FB site. Anyone tell me why? My privacy settings or just FB having an off night? I'm almost at crying tired tonight - think I'm coming down with the virus that both boys now have, as I shouldn't really be this tired. I'll have another look on here if I survive the dentist tomorrow! My Mum was supposed to have both byos while I go (as dentist is up a flight of stairs-not fun with two boys and a buggy to strap them in to while I get drilled!) and has randomly decided to visit a friend instead. I've got a lovely friend who will step in if the boys are well, but I may have to cancel if not and then pay in a couple of weeks (as my exemption runs out on the 17th). Sorry for the moan!

Cleaning? I have 2 hours of time from my cleaner once a fortnight and try to hoover/do bathrooms weekly in between. I seem to be the only one who irons and do that for two hours each Sunday evening while DH clears up the kitchen/packs bags etc.. (and yes, I know I need to get over it and give it up!!) Kitchen gets a proper wipe down every night after my crazy gluten and dairy-free epic cooking efforts where I make lots of mess! Now making cakes and biscuits too to save money as can be more than £2 for 4 bits of gluten and dairy free cake.. I'm not a great homemaker, but the new family dietary requirements have really developed my culinary skills-not much choice really.

Crawling into bed now and depserately hoping for some sleep. Love to all I've forgotten adn hope to be able to post some pics on FB soon!

Abs too at your DH and sister. My pead. was happy when I stopped BF because she thought DD2 was gloutonous (sp?) and we would be able to control what she ate with FF . I think some people really don't know what they are talking about.

LBH Stan I hope the DC are better.stan sorry for the mix up with your DD's name

bethy I think I have try to answer you on FB. I don't think you can upload picture from a FB account to another you Have to choose a file from your computer or an internet address (with no security)

DD2 clumsiness is due to experimentation, I think . walking on tip toes, running really fast, walking looking at the ceiling, behind....

BG happy birthday to your DD2.

Oh! it is mamaloco BTW, probably the last time I post because I won't be able to type my new name properly again . Might change again, it doesn't really reflect my craziness or may be it does?

Goshhh! I was going to do some shopping, it says it is - 14 outside
I might wait till it warms up a bit, I have to go get DD1 at some stage

Happy Birthday to BG's DD2! I hope you all have a lovely day x

Aw, lots of poorly people at the moment. Get well soon, LBH's DD, Stangirl's DD and fingers crossed you're not coming down with anything, bethy.

Likewise good luck with the dentist, bethy - either today or if you have to reschedule.

I thought you couldn't overfeed a breastfed baby, Shroedingers?! My niece was definitely gluttonous and got really fat on breast milk - then lost it all again when she started moving around.

After the fussy bedtime, DD slept until 02.15...then was awake for almost 2 hours. I was really cheesed off with it towards the end. I was so wide awake and wound up that it took me a further 40mins or so to go back to sleep myself (not helped by DD snoring!!).
Meh. I hope tonight will be better. She's not ill (doesn't seem to be anyway). I think it was maybe separation anxiety.