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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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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
InmaculadaConcepcion · 08/01/2011 11:40

LBH, glad you're back, I was worrying about you. With some justification, it seems.
What a crappy thing for your DP to say. Angry
The first year is almost always the toughest and if your baby is one of the more challenging varieties (if I can put it that way!) then it's no wonder you and your relationship feel the strain. Sounds like your DP needs to be more understanding, after all, he had no problem playing his part when it came to creating your LO, so it's totally NOT ON to then damn the first year of her life so casually.

I'm loving the stories of how you and your OH's met!

My DH was putting on a gig of the real ear-bleeding variety in a (much-loved) toilet dive and I went to review it for the radio. I got addicted to our local music scene and kept on going to gigs and DH was almost always at them.

I had to extricate myself from my XP - we had been together for 11 years, but had run out of steam. We parted amicably, then both married other people less than two years after the split.

DH was 25, I was 36 when we met, so starting a family had to happen pretty quickly. We both quit our jobs and spent several months roaming around Europe in our camper van, before getting TEFL qualifications and moving to Spain.

And here we are!

Gorillaz, Abs, that's bloody impressive! Especially given the scale and technical complexity of their shows.
A mate who's a soundman says festivals are very hard work and usually pay s**t, but I don't think he ever did the really big, well-organised ones...

I think your DS just has a warped sense of humour about getting-up times SB Grin

Last night was a new PB for DD. Went down with very little grimbling (thanks for the word, "grimble", BC, it's perfect!) then only woke once after about 8 hours and after a short feed, resettled quickly and didn't wake again until 07.00 Shock

Ironically, DH had a major insomnia attack. He reckoned he was overstimulated by reading Toddler Taming.
Good job he didn't insist on hours of being resettled with my breasts Wink

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InmaculadaConcepcion · 08/01/2011 11:41

Sounds like a great party, BG!

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BabyGiraffes · 08/01/2011 12:40

IC Grin Grin at the idea of having to resettle your dh... Keep forgetting to say I loved your description of your christmas on your blog and the photos. Talk about idyllic!!!

InmaculadaConcepcion · 08/01/2011 13:47

Aw, thanks BG! It was idyllic, we really lucked in on that one.

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mamaloco · 08/01/2011 14:28

LBH In no way you wasted a year, sorry it has been so hard though. That was tactless to say.

Sorry about the quick post this morning, Dh was lurking over my shoulder. Wink

BG good luck with your highchair party. I am trying to think what to do for DD1 in 10 days Confused what she wants is too expensive!

I can inform you (TMI) that lipsticks comes out completely unchanged at the other end Grin took me a while to figure what was staining the cloth though Hmm.

Still tired, even if DD2 sleeps through now (3 nights in a row! just jinxed myself haven't I?).
She does sleep much better without the dummy, may be you should try, LBH?

She spits her food too, mainly the first spoon (trying the texture I think), and them to inspect it in her hand Hmm during the meal.
Still can't drink on her own or spoonfeed herself (DD1 could much earlier). She pretends feed with the empty spoon but picks up the food that is in the spoon with her other hand to lick it Confused. She can also drink her bath water in a cup which I try to discourage Hmm. She is totally fine with finger food.
What are yours doing? Was DD1 the exception or is it DD2?

BabyGiraffes · 08/01/2011 15:33

mamaloco I think your dd1 was an exception to eat with a spoon so early. dd2 is very good at 'feeding' me with her spoon while I spoon her lunch into her mouth Grin.
As for birthdays, dd1 is already planning her fourth birthday party for the summer Confused. First thing I heard from her this morning was her singing happy birthday to herself in bed Grin

StoneBaby · 08/01/2011 16:07

DS can drink by himself from his beaker and can take a few sips from a cup but pour the rest on him (so he uses the cup in his bath to drink tap or bath Blush water). He has understood that he can feed himself with the spoon and that the spoon needs to go in the plate but will only want to do it once the dish/yogurt is finished Confused He is fine with finger food and he will either eat it cleanly or smudge everything on the tray before picking piece to put in his mouth.

BabyGiraffes · 08/01/2011 16:36

Completely random thought... just realised 16 years with dh translates into rather a lot of activity Grin Blush

Stangirl · 08/01/2011 16:37

As of today my DD:

  • refuses to be spoonfed
  • refuses to eat from a bowl

We just had to put a selection of foodstuff (cooked veg chunks, bit of chicken, sundried toms, balls of mash) on her tray and hope for the best. V v messy. Oh, and if you look at her whilst she's eating she spits it out. We just left her to it and hosed her down for dessert (banana and raisins).

Bearcrumble · 08/01/2011 18:23

I remember what it was I was going to say. DS managed to do a really stinky puke on his bunny.

Today I washed it in the machine on 30 degrees in a delicates wash and it came out fine so if anyone's worried about washing a jellycat toy they don't need to.

More later just putting him to bed.

InmaculadaConcepcion · 08/01/2011 18:58

Thanks for the reassurance, Bc!

mamaloco, DD can now drink from her sippy cup unassisted. A spoon is for waving around or using as a drum-stick, though...
Yay at your DD2 sleeping through!!

I wonder if my DD will be able to pull off that trick even once by the time she hits one....? Somehow, I doubt it.
Still, if she continues with nights like last night, that'll do for the time being.

Very pleased to hear there's been plenty of activity, BG!!

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StoneBaby · 08/01/2011 19:20

I have just done some mini chicken burgers for DS, now I just need to think what to serve with them Hmm WE're going out for lunch tomorrow to a thai buffet and I'm getting ready to feed DS as I don't think he'll be able to eat a lot from there.

My DS seems to have finally choose a soother in the shape of a cuddly turtle (my DH thinks it's an hippopotamus! Hmm

Fingers crossed mama and IC for the night (go and get the piece of wood for mama to rub)

PenguinArmy · 08/01/2011 19:27

Well there you go SB DH's know nothing Grin

DD can eat from a spoon if we guide her hand to it. Porridge is really her only spoon meal and it's sticky enough to handle a few maneuvers. She can clear it. We have a two spooned approach While she's eating one, we load up the other. When she see's a new full spoon, this causes her to drop the first one. She turns the spoon upside down after the first gulp to get the final bit of porridge off. We've started giving her it either with oat milk, or just water with jam. The oats are always pre-soaked in water anyway.

She's been waving loads today :)

We still have varying success with the open cup. She's normally gets a good bit out and then it gets tipped as she then just starts to play with it.

Still waking every 2 hours, but we're alternating settling and feeding. Naps (fingers crossed) still going well. We're off to the park when she wakes

Have a good day all

LBH keep coming on and hopefully you'll be reassuring your DD's behaviour is completely normal.

I'm still fainting at the idea of being pregnant and all it entails standgirl

InmaculadaConcepcion · 08/01/2011 19:44

Thanks for the advice, SB, I'll go and rub some wood.
DH will be pleased to assist.

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LittlebearH · 08/01/2011 19:58

Thanks for your support. Means a lot.

DD still wakes a lot but settling is far better, takes seconds now.
Well have had some success with CC on naps...I put her down and she turns on her side and I can walk out the room without her crying and standing up. Shock

Today's lunchtime nap she went off at 12.45 woke at 1.35 and let me lay her back down and I walked out the room and she slept until 2.35pm Shock Shock
The perseverance is key...everytime she stood, I laid her back down and walked out the room. Suprised I didn't wear the carpet out.

Her eating was rubbish today...managed approx 1 fish finger and 6 spoons of spaghetti bolognaise for tea. Threw up when winding her bedtime milk though. :( Think she has been sucking bath water out her rubber ducks that has caused this.....So scared of her losing weight again.

(I still haven't had sex since May 23rd 2009 when DD was conceived...is it just me?? I just cannot face it. Think that is why DP is grumpy)

StoneBaby · 08/01/2011 20:08

LBH my last time was April 2010, U'm up for it but tired and DH is too.

mamaloco · 08/01/2011 20:09

LBH last time for me was 9th of may 2009 when DD2 was conceived if it can make you feel better. I had a "hot" spot after that but DH was away on sites so missed it completely, then I was too tired/pregnant/scare of having DC3 to do anything. Actually libido still not back Confused.
Good going on perseverance.

StoneBaby · 08/01/2011 20:11

Oups posted too quickly!

Can your DD be teething or suffer from a cold? Just wondering as this does affect feeding sometimes. Also have you tried giving her a piece of bread/rice cake to eat while you spoonfeed her? DS eats more this way as it gives him a distraction. Well done on the sleeping, you see, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Don't let your DP push you down.

mamaloco · 08/01/2011 20:12

XX posts I do have to give some finger food along the soup/mush to get it down.

mamaloco · 08/01/2011 20:16

Shampoo bottles (can be replaced quickly) and IKEA plates , cups & bowls for playing in the bath (can be washed) are great. Baby bath toys become mucky and horrible and you can't get them clean enough (throw and renew) (even in dry countries, I thought it was due to the UK weather but it is still bad here)

LittlebearH · 08/01/2011 20:39

Love you guys. Thank you soooo much.
Had to resist the urge to shout at DP SEE?? NOT JUST ME!!!!

Feel like a freak...never had a libido EVER. Unless I have been at the vodka bottle.

I normally give her some bread/toast or organic carrot wotsit thingy. The only finger food I can get her to eat. Tried all manner of veg. Fruit ok ish.
I am just concerned that she eats more of this than the good food. Reassuring to know that DD is not the only one spitting. She has been very windy the last two days and her poos loose..wholemeal bread?
Gah..I am hopeless at this.

StoneBaby · 08/01/2011 20:43

LBH YOU ARE NOT HOPELESS!!! Stop doing this. Maybe she has a tummy upset and therefore not fancy eating. Try some banana either mushed or give her a chunk to bite.

BabyGiraffes · 08/01/2011 21:02

LBH I was advised once to see my LO's intake on a weekly basis rather than daily and realised she was eating much better than I thought! Don't be too hard on yourself. As long as she doesn't live on crisps, chips and biscuits she's going to be fine Smile. LO's can go through picky phases due to feeling unwell, teething etc. and it does not mean they will grow up to be picky eaters either. I am sure your dd is doing just fine!
Also, she will probably need a few weeks to adjust to being with the childminder so don't get too upset if she is upset. It is quite a change for her and it sounds like she reacts to stress by being sick. It will settle down and it sounds like your child minder has plenty of experience to make her feel comfortable. Sending you hugs, things will get better! (I had PND and anxiety after dd1 myself, so very much feel for you and know where you are right now)

BabyGiraffes · 08/01/2011 21:06

mamaloco agree with you on the bath toys. We now have bath ducks which are for playing only and never see water, and more general bath toys which are open shapes (boats etc) which go in the dishwasher regularly. Can't get the picture out of my head of dd2 sucking gunk out of a rubber duck!! Shock

BabyGiraffes · 08/01/2011 21:10

PA just being nosy, are you giving your dd a vegan diet? I find that quite brave (mainly because I could never live without cheese myself...)