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

998 replies

InmaculadaConcepcion · 06/01/2011 09:21

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!!!

Smile
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BabyGiraffes · 04/02/2011 18:57

Just wondered to myself (while making pizza - here's to multi-tasking!) what kind of childhood my girls will have... There is no way they will have the freedom I had Grin. I walked to Kindergarten on my own at the age of 4 (my mum saw me over the main road and I walked the rest, about 5 minutes). I walked to school at 6 on my own (no child is taken to school by a parent beyond the first week in Germany - very uncool. I guess it's safety in numbers because all children walk/cycle). At 10 I cycled several miles to riding stables across very dark country lanes, about twice a week (I remember always cycling VERY fast on one particlularly dodgy stretch)... At 17 I travelled around Zimbabwe on my own for a few months etc.
There is NO WAY my girls will be allowed to do this Confused Grin

Stangirl · 04/02/2011 19:11

BG I was never allowed to do any of those things! My Mum never even let me learn how to ride a bike because she thought it was too dangerous. I've still never been on a bike (except one time on a friend's handlebars, drunk, the wrong way down a oneway system in central London and on the back of a boyfriend's moped on Matrha's Vineyard). My Mum is lovely but way over-protective - my DC will have it easy in comparison. On the upside she did let me get drunk from the age of 14 and used to pick me up from pubs at weekends.

LittlebearH · 04/02/2011 19:14

Happy birthday BabyStoneBaby!

My DP is a right toss pot. Angry

LittlebearH · 04/02/2011 19:18

He is pissed and asleep on the sofa. I have been at work since 6.45am and done everything since I walked through the door after collecting DD at 5pm. He has had the fucking day off. Last sat night and today he has spent £120 in total on enjoying himself. We have not paid gas or elec this quarter....

InmaculadaConcepcion · 04/02/2011 19:35

You said it, LBH Angry

Ah, yes BG, I have memories of romping around the countryside with my friends from a very young age, walking to school etc. etc....

In my early 20s I used to hitch-hike as well - often alone. Never had any problems (but lots of well-meaning lectures!)

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SconesForTea · 04/02/2011 19:50

LBH Shock Angry Angry at your DP. He must do the morning shift tomorrow, surely. Leave out some saucepans for DD to play with...

BG that does sound an exceptionally free childhood. I walked to school - 5 min walk - with my older sister (2 years older) when I was 7, I think. And I took my younger brother when I was 11 and he was 7. But I expect I wouldn't send DD off on her own at those ages now. Is it still like that in Germany?

SB 2 1/2 cupcakes is good going Grin Glad Ds enjoyed his birthday. I can't believe they're all one.....!

Abs I think you're bang (ahem) on the money if you shag tonight. More likely to be a boy, perhaps... (or is that a load of rubbish)

BC's DS get well soon, and BC fingers crossed you're not coming down too.

Thank you for the Wine Schro Smile Don't think I'll do any baking tonight...

BabyGiraffes · 04/02/2011 20:21

schrodinger gratefully accepted the Wine to go with the pizza (pesto, potato slices, lots of garlic, lots of mature cheese... yummy). Not sure how the cake I still have to bake tonight will turn out now... Grin

IC I also spent days roaming the countryside staying with my nan and only came in for meals Grin. I also clearly remember being asked to stand in the bath to undress in the evening due to hay/mud/sand/grass stains... Grin I was a bit of a tomboy...

LBH Angry on your behalf

Stan Sad you were a bit more protected than me, but then I guess you have less stitches and scars Smile. We were a little too well known to the local hospital Grin. I am sure these days they'd informed social services...

Scones yes it's still the same in Germany now. My nephew has walked to school from the age of 6 and his walk is 40 minutes and he has to cross three major roads, two of which have not even a zebra crossing. Even I was a bit Shock that my sister would allow him to go on his own!

Abs good luck!! Smile With both mine I think I conceived a few days before I thought I was likely to... Oh, and apparently you are more likely to have girls if you are over 30 (ishhhh), vegetarian, and have had a girl before... or something.

Wondering how stoof is doing... and if PA's flight went okay...

Oh, and who is Beth on FB? Confused

StoneBaby · 04/02/2011 20:42

bG beth on FB is I think bethylou

BabyGiraffes · 04/02/2011 20:51

Oh lovely, [waves at beth]. How silly of me.

well, almond cake is in the oven... to be covered in white chocolate for dd2's baby highchair party tomorrow.

I'm reading 'The time traveller's guide to medieval England' at the moment and just learnt that the perceived wisdom at the time was that women's wombs are cold and need to be kept warm very regularly by men's hot sperm Grin. Just told dh and he gave me a Hmm look...

StoneBaby · 04/02/2011 20:52

Angry at LBH husband. I agree with letting him do the morning shift, make sure you leave any apparatus that can be used to make noise if banged, launched, thrown... Grin

I like the Wine I actually had some champagne to celebrate my birth boy! Smile

BabyGiraffes · 04/02/2011 21:01

Hmm, wondering to myself why MN have added a Wine... Grin They know us too well!!

PenguinArmy · 05/02/2011 03:49

DD was amazing, both on the flight and last night (well technically tonight). She went down at 6pm and is still in bed (nearly 4am). I on the other hand am up and it shouldn't be jet lag as I've not had that much sleep.

Sorry I have read the back posts, but have forgotten all my replies.

InmaculadaConcepcion · 05/02/2011 07:53

How are you Bc - you and your DS? How rotten to have another sickness bug to contend with so soon after the last one. I hope it's over very quickly...

How's your DD doing today, Stangirl?

Thanks for the Wine, but I seldom drink it - I'll go for a cider if you're offering, though!

Ooh, and count me in for a slice of your cake, BG - sounds delicious!! I hope you have a great party.

Great news that it all went so smoothly, PA! Welcome back to Blighty. It's not as if you aren't experienced in the matter of disrupted sleep, eh? Wink

DD was awake at 05.50 this morning... . I hope she gets out of the habit of these pre 06.30 wake-ups. It's not as if she's stopped waking over night..! (Two last night, 25 mins, 20 mins). She still cuddled up with me in bed for an hour, but fidgeted too much to allow me to doze (or indeed, herself)
Ah well. It means we can do earlier naps, which actually fits in well with our social arrangements (we're having a late Spanish lunch with some friends, so DD having napped by 15.30 will be ideal).

I've now discovered that a great way to get veggies down DD is to mix with egg and fry... So I've been busy cooking up batches of different types of pancakes, fritters, frittata, omelettes etc. etc.
They're proving very popular with DD. Today I'm going to do some cheesy broccoli potato cakes....

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Stangirl · 05/02/2011 08:31

LBH I'd do more than make him do the early shift - I'd get up and go out for the day and not answer my phone. I'd feel a spa coming on.

PA Glad the flight went well. Where are you staying in the UK?

IC Your cooking sounds lovely - I adore eggs.

DD is still poorly but the doctor said her tonsils looked fine and her temp was ok so we are just giving her paracetomol regularly and offering bits of food and water to see if she can keep them down. OK so far this morning.

BabyGiraffes · 05/02/2011 08:58

How do babies know it's the weekend? dd2 slept until 8 all week but today started shouting for mama at before 6... Urgh.

InmaculadaConcepcion · 05/02/2011 09:47

Sympathies, BG - that probably explains my DD's early rising too....

Thanks, Stangirl! Super easy and quick to cook and as we use only olive oil, 'tis all good healthy stuff. And they freeze well!
(Oh god, I'm starting to sound like Nigella...sorry!)
I'm glad to hear your DD is on the mend. Smile

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BabyGiraffes · 05/02/2011 10:07

Many tears here this morning... dd2 simply can't accept that she cannot walk yet and keeps crashing quite spectacularly when she lets go of things Hmm. I guess she has the right idea to keep practising but I wish we didn't have floorboards and tiles everywhere.
Well, cake is decorated (looking far from professional... cursing myself for choosing long first names that don't fit!! Picture later..)... let the party begin! (well, this afternoon)

Bearcrumble · 05/02/2011 14:14

Rubbish here. I was sick and crampy yesterday. DH pulled an all nighter working to get an interview transcribed and finished so DS spent some time in his pram with him downstairs. Otherwise with me in bed. He has been sick once today. Since then he had a tiny bit of toast and water which has I hope stayed down.

My mum came about an hour ago to take him out for a walk and let me rest but I can't.

She questioned my hygiene and made me furious. It's a virus, we all caught it and my friend and her little girl who live locally have it too. I use antibac washing up liquid and hand wash. What else can I do? I mean babies crawl around on the floor - I'm not going to dettox the carpet. TSSSSK.

PA Glad the flight went well.

BG Cake sounds lush.

LBH Your husband needs a good kick up the backside.

Although I grew up in London I was allowed to go and play out in the street from a young age, I went to school on the bus on my own from age 8 or 9 and when we went on holidays to Devon I used to walk for miles with the other kids staying at the farm over fields and stuff. I hope that DS will have time to explore on his own, if we're living where we live now, I'd like him to be able to go to Sydenham Hill Woods on his own when he's 9 or 10 (maybe with his dog if we get one). Don't know if I'd have the nerve though.

They are repeating thirtysomething on Sky Atlantic. I never watched it or 'got' it the first time round but the episode I saw the other day about the in-laws visting a couple with a baby really rang lots of bells for me.

StoneBaby · 05/02/2011 16:30

BC TSSSSK? There's so much you can do!

BG The cupcake recipe I use meant that I made 33 cupcakes! So I had far more than enough to write his name Grin My DS is like your DD2 as he thinks he can stand by himself so he let's go and obviously fall!

My DS also knows when it's the weekend as for the last 2 he wakes up at 7 - 7.30am instead of 6.30am during the week!

SchrodingersCatFliesToOz · 05/02/2011 17:28

BC Angry on your behalf. Actually, you should ditch the antibacterial (that is one of my battle they are not good for you Blush) and use proper soap (old fashion).
DD2 played in the toilet while DH and I were having a nap today (in different rooms so we both thought someone was looking after the kids Blush. Will see what happen next, not much we can do now she definitely put the water in her mouth.
Your mum is wrong anyway, kids use to dirt are less sick than kids wrap in a bubble. There is not much you can do against a virus anyway. Only bleach and extreme cold will do but it is not really practical to put your DS in the freezer with an bleach lollipop Wink.
Sorry had to much Wine
With DD1 I found she kept catching everything when crawling (it is part of their development I guess). DD2 skipped it by walking so early but I am sure she will catch up one way or another.

LBH Angry for you too against your DH. It strikes a cord close to home too.

No week-end here! Both DDs don't get it!

IC stan abs may be they should have a ginger ale emoticon too Grin

ChestnutSoup · 05/02/2011 19:31

BC sorry you're poorly and sorry your mum is being a pain. Like Schro I let my girls roll around on the floor (and eat dropped food at home). But then have you seen some soft play places? They can be filthy! You can't wrap them up...

PA well done on the travels.

IC good work on the cooking.

LBH hope you gave your DH a rollocking.

I'm a bit sad as I've started exercising a bit again (only on the Wii, but I really want to try and lose my mummy tummy and I love my food too much to diet) and my SPD is nagging me again. Will it ever go?

BabyGiraffes · 05/02/2011 20:05

Our baby highchair party (plus toddler siblings) went well Smile. Dd2 seemed a little surprised but quite happy (pictures)

Sorry to hear of sickness bugs etc. Agree with the others that there is nothing you can do to prevent viral infections... Hope everyone gets better soon!!

InmaculadaConcepcion · 05/02/2011 20:15

Bc, that is a less than helpful comment from your mum. The others are right. Going overboard on the cleanliness will only lead to allergies anyway and there's only so much you can do to avoid viruses (avoid contact with all other people, or enclose yourselves in plastic while out and about...??!)
Sure, ordinary, regular hand-washing cuts the risk down a fair bit, but when babies are crawling and into EVERYTHING?! As soon as you've washed their hands, they're straight back on the floor, into anything they can reach and in their mouths. OCD is NOT the answer...!
Bloody Nora viruses are extremely contagious and rife at this time of year. It's just bad luck you and DS got hit twice in quick succession. Get well soon, both of you.

Aw, CS, that's too bad. Would something like yoga be worth doing? Not exactly cardio-vascular, but may help tone up your tummy in a gentle way (providing you don't attempt some of the more ambitious stretches....)

Mmm, ginger ale Shro, now there's a thought...!

Poor old DH has gone off to hospital to try and get something done about his tooth. He's not expecting emergency dental work, but he may be able to get some stronger painkillers on prescription. Also, his face is swelling up, which means he's now got an infection as well, so he needs some antibiotics.
He says he never imagined he'd look forward to having root canal work done with such longing....

That aside, we had a very convivial lunch with our friends - home-made veggie paella, yum. DD enjoyed herself, but was overtired at bedtime and although knackered, refused to unlatch and go into her cot without a fuss. I had to rock her then stroke her head once she was lying down until she'd calmed down. Luckily, that didn't take too long - which just goes to show how knackered she was. I just hope tonight won't see a repeat performance in the wee hours.... Hmm

Looking forward to those pix, BG!

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 05/02/2011 20:17

Aw, love those photos BG!
The cake looked fab - I think I even salivated a bit.
As for your DD2, just ADORABLE!!!

I'm pleased to see she's got the same sippy cup as my DD too Smile

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BabyGiraffes · 05/02/2011 20:30

Thanks IC. I made far too much food again because I based my estimate on the amount my girls eat... (enough said Grin).
Oh, could have kicked dh though... I was lovingly making tiny heart shaped cheese sandwiches with a biscuit cutter when he shook out a rug right behind me! Apparently he didn't see I was busy laying all the food out for the babies... Angry