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!!!

IC dd2 has a cup with full fat cows milk at breakfast and then one at bedtime. She also has milk on cereal and yoghurt/cheese during the day. I don't give her milk alongside lunch and dinner because I read somewhere that it can interfere with iron absorption. The 1+ formula did not agree with her (she kept bringing some up) and she actually prefers UHT! (Fine with me, easier). Not sure about the milk you can get in Madrid with things added - they may be adult levels of 'good' things?
As for sleeping, she is slightly odd in that she wants to be roasting hot... At the moment she has a short sleeve vest on, a sleepsuit, a sleeping bag (fairly warm, M&S one, not sure about tog but def more than 2.5). Before I go to bed I put a fleece on her to keep her arms warm (with hood tucked in of course).

well,I hope dd2 has learnt her lesson and leaves things she finds on the floor well alone. She had quite an upset tummy this afternoon with the most revolting smelly nappies I have ever seen. With hindsight maybe I should have made her be sick?
It's ironic really because we deep cleaned the house yesterday because we had guests in the afternoon, so it was much cleaner than usual, and then she finds something disgusting to eat! I can't think of anything other than a baby slug that she found (we used to have problems with slugs in the kitchen but not since some major renovation work, so if one got through it was pretty small). I still feel a bit nauseous thinking of the chewed mess I pulled from her mouth...

BG that is totally, totally revolting [yeuch emoticon] Hopefully she has learned her lesson. Grim!

IC D sleeps in a 2.5 tog sleeping bag, with short sleeved vest, long sleeved sleepsuit and also a fleecy sleepsuit. We don't have heating on all night but it's set to come on if the temp. drops below a certain level - around 12c (a lot colder than most people keep thier babies' rooms, I think).

Your insomnia course sounds rough.

Just watched One Born Every Minute and feeling both broody and very scared. Not that I'm pregnant - the MN jinx passed me by this month.

Hope everyone's had a lovely V Day.

I was wondering about milk too. Is it necessary to give cows milk in addition to BM for example? I'm assuming not as DD's still having 4 feeds per day.

Happy Birthday Alex

scones, if she's having 4 feeds a day then I wouldn't worry. If you want to eventually introduce milk though, you could probably start introducing here and there. Treat it just like any other food source.

DD has had her two hour nap today, but is back to waking every 2 hours or less in the night. Now that she can't be settled its quite exhausting as I just feed her each time. I don't see the point of working on anything until we get back. Also she's a bit stuffy so may work itself out a bit.

Happy Birthday Alex!!

One more lost post (MN what are you doing?)

IC UHT is very high temperature for very little time, in the UK pasteurising is longer time at lower temperatures (but still boiling!). They used to claim that UHT keeps more of its goodness and vitamins (I am not sure). The only difference is the caramelised taste of the UHT that british people don't like.

I would go straight to cow milk full fat if she eats well and of everything (my MW recommends that). If she has some deficiency (fussy or diets) I would give her formula (stage 2).
My pead. recommends follow on milks, but I found that they either contains corn syrop or vanilline which me deeply.

scones I wouldn't bother with cow milk if you are happy to BF. If you want to stop one feed you could try a bit of milk. may be in cereals to get use to the taste?

BC Most of the mothers who don't open the presents straight away keep them for recycling not only the wrappings but the gifts too (that is why they like to have a card to avoid mishaps ). I know some who open the presents without the child there .

Schrodinger agree on the follow on milk. The one I bought smells/tastes of vanilla and neither myself (smell) or dd2 were keen. I was quite cynical about it and thought they are trying to get babies hooked on the vanilla taste and they will then refuse normal cows milk...

Hadn't thought of the recycling present business... . I am also completely against those huge parties where parents hire a hall and entertainers. Friend had a disco for her 4 year old with laser lights and everything . What next? Bungee jumping parties at 9? dh said a colleague at work has introduced a collection of a pound each, for those parties where 20+ guests are coming. Seems quite sensible rather than ending up with 20+ gifts, often duplicates. And most people's houses are already toy danger zones without a truck load of new presents...

Anyway, must finish my lunch (thai curry, yummy) and then put suitcases in my car for later... [Waves bye bye]

Happy Birthday, Alex!!

people should use firefox, it caches all your messages for you

Happy Birthday Alex!

I give DD2 full fat cow's milk in the morning and at bedtime. She seems to like it and I've also given up sterilising (hurrah!).

At night she sleeps in a short sleeved vest, a sleepsuit and a 2.5tog growbag. I've just switched from a long sleeved to a short sleeved vest as she seemed to be getting a bit sweaty. She also has a blanket but that's more of a comforter and enables me to get her back into the cot easily if she wakes up (less cold on her skin than the sheet).

Just a quickie - just wanted to wish Happy Birthday to those I've missed.

Work/baby/pregnancy balance is proving interesting. Both DD and I love the nursery though - I wonder if they'll take her 24hrs? They feed her sooo much better than I do and if I ask them to change her nappy just before she leaves I only have to do one nappy change a day - first thing in the morning. Result!

DP is now doing most of the cooking, well assembling, of dinners so now all i have to do if find an alcohol i can stomach (last pregnancy strong cider was the only thing i found palatable) and life will be grand.

Happy birthday Alex.

CS I gave up sterilising in April last year! (oups!)

I agree with 1+ formula, more money to be saved by using normal milk. I don't use full fat one as the Gsy full fat milk is very rich and doesn't agree with DS so use the half fat one.

Thanks for the birthday wishes.

We had a lovely afternoon, everone I invited turned up so it was a bit chaotic at times. Alex went for the cake like a wild beast. He did get a little overstimulated so Joe took him out for a walk for half hour to have a nap.

Even though he's better from the tummy bug he is still super-super clingy. Really going crazy crying if I move a few inches from him sometimes, let alone leave the room. I'm hoping it is just a stage but he isn't the happy chap he usually is and I find the crying a bit exasperating. Then I feel like a cow for getting pissed off with him - not that I show the pissed-offness outwardly but, you know.

IC as regards what he sleeps in it is either a short sleeved vest and a thickish sleepsuit (velour or thick cotton) or a long sleeved vest and a thinner cotton sleepsuit depending what's to hand. Then he sleeps in a 2.5 tog gro-bag and sometimes I put a crochet blanket over that if it's a bit cold. The temperature in his room is usually around 17 degrees.

I have used full fat milk in his food since he was about 8 months. I don't give him milk in a cup but I guess I could now.

Sleep was bad again last night - after two and a half hours of shouting starting at half past midnight (didn't matter if we were in his room with him or not, and I tried feeding him but he just started up again as soon as he'd finished) we gave up and put him in his pram downstairs with DH on the sofa - then he slept until 6am.

It's so frustrating when you know they can do it - and also before it was frequent wakings but they didn't last long, I'd just have to feed and put him down again. These long, long wakeful periods in the middle of the night (sometimes just as I fall asleep myself) are pretty much torture.

And now I feel guilty for moaning about him on his birthday.

He got lots of lovely presents - his favourite one I think was a hammer-in-the-pegs thingy.

I'm also still nervous about the 12m injections. Our neighbours little girl got blisters and a high temp for three days - but it didn't come on until a week after the jabs. I know he's be fine but I keep panicking.

Aw, Bc, sounds like a rough patch. I'm sure he'll settle down again soon. I imagine the extra clingyness is a consequence of the recent illness and likewise the crappy sleep.
I'm totally with you on those long, wakeful periods.
Sounds like he had a cracking birthday, though! I love the pic of him opening his present from you

DD woke three times last night and took well over an hour to settle after one of those. Not as bad as it can be, but even so. I think she was still a bit cold, so I've upgraded again to a long-sleeve body. It's hard to judge because she's fine at the start of the night, but gets chilly in the early hours. But her other sleeping bag is just TOO warm, it seems.

Anyway, tonight I've got a light fleece blanket to hand as well and will throw that over DD if/when she wakes up. She's a hell of a fidget, so I don't know how long it'll stay in place, but it's worth a go!
THANKS all for sharing your accounts of bedroom clothing with me. Very useful.

Also thanks for the thoughts re milk. I reckon I'll go with the ordinary full-fat UHT (which DD already has in her porridge, bechemel sauces etc.) I actually prefer the flavour of UHT milk myself because it's slightly sweeter and reminds me of camping holidays (!) I will press on and start offering it as a drink for DD.

Re sterilising - I thought it wasn't necessary after six months? Unless you want to be especially cautious, which is fair enough...

Yes, I'm dreading the next batch of jabs as well, Bc. They do 'em at 15 months here and there are four of the buggers.

I meant to say, CS, I love your birthday letter idea. I think I'll steal it. In the future when DD's being a Smiths-listening Everybody Hates Me teenager, I'll be able to dig them out to embarrass her remind her how much she's always been loved....

think of you lots but just haven't had time to post (or read, come to that) ? hope all well and birthdays going well?. really hope to catch up properly soon!

STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOF! Come back! Wassup!? How is work going? How are the DCs? Hope everything's good?

Happy birthday Alex (although he will be tucked up in bed by now, and sleeping well for his mummy). Looking forward to checking out the photos when I get a minute. Fingers crossed for a better night.

I love the birthday letter idea too CS! I was thinking what a beautiful idea it is, and how your DDs will love reading them when they are older, and how very, very unlikely it is that I'll motivate myself to do it when I haven't even filled in my PFB's baby book .

The fleece part-way through the night is a good idea IC. DD generally isn't cold when we go bed but can be in the middle of the night I find. She throws off her blanket now, though

Well, the MN pregnancy jinx strikes again I must have tested too early. One day late today, and hey presto! Another October due date here. I'm trying not to get too excited as clearly it's very very early days yet - I didn't even find out last time until I was 6.5 weeks so it felt a lot more established. DH is under strict instructions not to tell his family (although I'm allowed to tell mine - well it's my body).

Stan I wish I went off booze when pregnant. Last time I craved a proper drink (by which I mean a drink, followed by another one, followed by a couple more...) the whole way through. Really hoping I go off it this time, it would make it a lot easier.

Night all

Hey Scones I was about to leave after just a lurk, but how can I now with that news?! Congratulations! Hope you will keep feeling well and are being well looked after.

Stoof glad to see you are still with us as I was wondering how you were doing only yesterday.

Thomas had a lovely birthday, despite being a little under the weather (the high temps in the night carried on and he was off his food - maybe from the introduction of cake the day before?!!) Thank you for all his lovely messages. I will send a couple of pics to IC in the coming days. Tonight has been about catching up on normal chores - like mushing food still for when Thomas is still a bit icky - and going to the supermarket. At least I remembered to take some photos though - as a second child poor Thomas' album is about half the thickness of Sam's!

BG I think you should still get a present, no matter if yourbirthday happens to fall too close to Christmas for your DH's liking!!

Really have to go to bed. Get well soon and good sleeping vibes to those still in need.

And yeuccchhh! to BG's DD2 - let's hope there's no jinx regarding slugs!

Congrats Scones!

Abs I hope you are next x

Bethy Glad Thomas had a lovely birthday, looking forward to pictures.

We had a much better night he slept 7-3 and 4-6.30.

Ooh, Scones how exciting! Great news!
Fingers crossed and everything.
I notice there's already a VERY busy October Bus in the Pregnancy section and its companion stats thread in the ante natal clubs bit has already got a very long list indeed. Cripes.
I'm going to leave it for a bit until joining, but am enjoying lurking in the meantime.

A great improvement, Bc, you must feel so much better today!

DD also had a better night. I crept in and popped a blanket over her, which may or may not have helped a bit. She woke at 01.30, but went back after a short feed and five mins or so of my hand on her tummy. She then woke again at 05.30 and although she went back in her cot without protest, she kept fidgeting and I don't think she went back to sleep until she gave up and wailed at 06.30. I brought her in with me and much to my surprise, we both fell asleep until 07.30. She was latched on the whole time which meant I had all these weird perverse dreams involving lesbianism Bizarre.

Hi stoof

Sorry to hear your DS2 has been a bit under the weather since his birthday, bethy

I went right off alcohol last pg. Also coffee and very dark chocolate (which I usually adore). Quite helpful, though. The only thing I missed was soft cheese, but then I realised you can get versions made with pasteurised milk, so that was alright.

scones Hey, congratulations! [Running away and hiding so the jinx doesn't get me...]

Feeling tired... had a very long journey to the Midlands last night in really quite awful driving conditions, then dd2 wouldn't settle for ages. She had her jabs yesterday - one in each arm and one in her thigh, which meant she just could not get comfortable. I gave her a spare pillowcase to stuff under her so she lay on a bit of a mount. It worked for a bit but she cried on and off for about two hours until I took her in with me and she fell asleep totally exhausted, lying on top of me with her arms and legs free. Poor little thing. She is full of beans this morning so hopefully okay now. I just hope I can convince dd1 to have a snooze this lunchtime (so I can sleep) because it's going to be a long journey today and we won't be at my parents until nearly midnight...
Sorry, feeling sorry for myself...

Waving at stoof

scones congratulations! I'm a bit scared about catching the pg lurgy so I'm typing this at armslength

Oh, and thinking of all those doing jabs (hope your journey goes well BG). We've got them tomorrow. I steel myself for them by reminding myself that they are the most important public health intervention since clean water (spot the scientist)...

scones congratulations. were you trying (although it's a personal q so feel free to ignore)? I was assuming all those with 1 DC were (except me and poss LBH)

I've got a sore throat, am guessing DD has it too which would explain her poor night sleep. She does have a croaky voice, but weren't sure if it was from the crying. A lovely B'day present to wake up to . I've booked a hair appointment for tomorrow, first time since moving to the states. Might even splash out and have some colours, but then I think I probably can't be bothered to keep it up and I'll have terrible roots in no time

Plus Happy B'day to Chinooks LO!!!

IC Hope your sleep is doing OK. I'm always thinking of you when I have a bad night. Don't know how you cope.

Think I'll have a third... but aiming for another Feb birth, or next year October [shoos away the jinx...]. Dh seems unusually broody and played 'third baby' with dd1 at the weekend by letting the baby doll join us at the table all weekend, to see what it would be like . Must say I felt a little outnumbered....

Go BG! Can't bear the thought of being outnumbered myself, and barely keep my head above the parapet as it is.

Example: MIL here this morning says "When did DD2 get all those teeth?"
Me: "She's only got one. I hope she's not planning to only get one a year."
MIL: "She's ahead of you already, she has another at the bottom and two at the top. Feel."
Me: