November 09, new skills are fun - look what I can do now, Mum!

[DontWorryBaby]

New thread for our little handfuls!

Ursi -C was measured at his 8 month check and on the 75th percentile but that could have well changed. He is very long legged, slim but solid and looks the right size for him. My ds1 was always on the 75th percentile but slimmed out when he dropped his formula and went on soya milk (bad excema as a baby) and was running around all the time. He is now 5 and very tall and slim but a good healthy weight. I'm not worried as C will fill out and has been very poorly lately so needs time to build back up again. I will be adding more fat to his meals to help him along. Well done for giving up the night feeding. I'm sure with the help of your DH, Paula will adjust really well.

Ursi You make a good point - her head circumference and height are in the bottom percentile as well (and always have been) so her weight now matches those. She still looks like a chubby little baby to me and is very happy and active so I've no real reason to be worried. Have to agree with your intuition about not wanting to carry Paula around - M got used to that very quickly. After a few nights of DH or I sitting with her for over an hour each, we had to let her cry it out to break her of the habit - I hope you find a better way!

Fruit Thanks for the reassurances.

Oy, boobs are quite firm today. Not painfully so but tempted to bf before M's nap... will just have to see how I feel when that rolls around.

Lurking here and not managing to post..

Illnesses seem to be abating slowly so am hoping we're all on the mend now.

All of my dc's have been on low percentiles but then I'm quite short so no real surprise. I think if they're eating (ish) ok and seem bright and alert then there's nothing to worry about.

We're back to having to try and phase out night feeds - went back to that when he was ill as he wasn't eating anything much. Just seems to be one huge yo-yo! He did cruise along the sofa yesterday though so am hoping walking isn't far off and then the inevitable burning more energy and thus eating more kicks in.

Hope everyone is keeping well x

Lurking here, too...

Ursi, I didn't even realise there were more threads for September, thanks for the tip. Sounds like you have Paula sorted out very well for the night.

Longway, do I remember correctly you were thinking of moving back over here? Are things with jobs and housing OK now? Sorry if I'm not remembering things right.

Still struggling with sleep here... I think it looks like teeth (Calpol helped twice last night), but to be honest I am at a loss a bit as to this is right, and if not whatever else it could be. I'm currently reading both the no-cry sleep books and not finding any answers. I've shortened the daytime naps, then lengthened them, brought the bedtime back, then forward, tried to leave her to cry for a bit... That was interesting, she seemed to develop a cot phobia within a very short time and I had to get DH to calm her. As you can tell, clutching at straws is the norm around here at the moment. I wish I could somehow wipe the slate clean and start again.

Last night went really well, Paula asked again for milk but no problem that she didn't get it. In the end I had to rock her to sleep, and at some point she cried for 30sec, but I thought it was quite ok.
Mind you, all these positive recent developments don't mean that she would sleep through. We do get longer stretches though.

skorpion, I really hope, your sleep problems will soon be sorted.

Ursi You might be having sleeping problems but goodness me, Paula is communicating very well! Is it signing or is she saying these words?

DWB, you are right, she is really very advanced in her communication skills. She has an incredible vocabulary (I guess she gets enough time to study it during her frequent night wakings), but to be fair, most of them are also incredibly far from the real word ("ga" for water). So maybe it's not her the clever girl but me because I understand her . And if she wants to be breastfed she says very enthousiastically "yes, yes, yes" and tries to pull up my top. It's so funny. And at the moment the only thing where she actually uses the word yes. Her standard answer to any question is no at the moment.

'No' is Ethan's standard answer as well - even if I offer him something he wants he will initially shake his head and walk in the opposite direction and occasionally do a quick about-turn when he has realised that he meant 'yes'!

Ursi and DWB Another baby who's standard answer is 'no' even if they mean yes. Her words are coming along quite well, I think she is going to be quite outspoken.

Cast came off today,(we have to go back in three months just to make sure it is fine) and we walked down to the school to get big brother and she thoroughly enjoyed that.

skorpion Sorry to hear about the sleep problems. As long as they're teething it seems that any kind of routine is out of the question. I did apply for some positions in the UK but just heard back this morning about the last pending application and it was not successful. Boo. Still need a job, so money is really tight at the moment. I think it will be easier for me to move forward with my job search here, now that I know I won't be going back to the UK any time soon. Thanks for asking.

"No" is a popular word here too

Had an awful night last night, don't think it was teething pain tho as M just cut a bunch of teeth and returned to normal sleep patterns in the last week. Afraid I underestimated how much milk she was getting from my when I went to replace her bedtime feed with cow's milk. Ended up giving her a bottle at 4:30 after 2 hours (why'd we wait that long?!) of crying and now we're all knackered. Where's the knackered emoticon?

Juicy That's good news :)

longwayaway I did the same the other night, waited through 1.5 hours of upset before giving a bottle! I have now decided that he will get a bottle at bedtime and then I will just leave him sleep and give him a bottle when he wakes. This can be anytime from 2am until 5am depending on teeth, illness, jabs (although those are now done thankfully), the phase of the moon ... you get my drift...
skorpion as you can see from above, you are not alone. I have just decided now to go with the flow as it is only me getting stressed and walking around like a zombie. I go on the basis that he goes down to sleep ok (mostly) and in his cot, and then sleeps until he wakes hungry. At the moment it's during the night but at some point this will lengthen and one day (soon?? ha ha ha ha!) this will end up being at some reasonable hour. In the meantime, I will give a bottle when he wakes as then he will go back down to sleep without any fuss and I am less zombie like.

I am still clinging to the hope that once he's walking and running about then he will tire himself out more, and eat more during the day as he'll need the energy and then the sleep will come.

Communication wise he's doing really well - we have a few words that are really clear (others have understood them) like mummy, daddy, socks and then others that mainly I just understand. He definitely makes himself understood now!

juicy, that's really good news!

skorpion and scarlotti, I think you are right to just go with the flow, especially if they are ill or teething.
Paula's many teeth have tought me that lesson. If you try to change things when they are not well, it is just a waste of energy, you will never get what you want, are stressed and worried. And then the problem is gone and all of a sudden, the sleep improves all by itself.

communication, I had to learn today that Paula is very sure about her language skills. She actually corrected me! She pointed at a small green animal in one of her books, I said "frog", she said "no"! and then something which I have forgotten already, similar to "guaff". Please tell me that I was right, not her

Can I ask how much yours drink during the day? I think Paula is really far from drinking enough, especially now that we are down to one bf. On some days it is almost nothing, on others 200-300ml, I really think never more than that.
She is only drinking water, whenever I offer her juice (or cows milk), she seems to enjoy it but will still only drink a couple of sips before she refuses it.
She pees several times a day, so that is actually a good sign but she has very dry skin and it got really worse over the last couple of days. I think it is linked to the lack of liquids.
And it leads to my second question. Does anyone have a good recommendation for a moisturizer / bodylotion for babies?
The pharmacist recommended oilatum, but I was close to being sick just by the smell of it.

Hi all, been lurking again! My pils have been staying for the past two weeks but went home yesterday. I was actually quite sad to see them go as they are brilliant with the children and I got a lot of help! Millie was especially sad to see them go, I think at her age she can't quite understand how they are here for so long and then gone. She was looking around for them all day yesterday :-(

Millie also loves the word no and says it for everything. She has even started saying it to strangers and other children when they come up to say hello, she can be quite aggressive with her no's too!

Juicy hope Annabelle is on the mend now, have the doctors given her the all clear?

Ursi glad your ms has gone, sorry but I can't answer regarding the drink as Millie is still breastfeeding twice a day and am not sure how much water she drinks.

Scarlotti you must be getting excited about your trip!

I can't remember who talked about a running schedule ages ago (I think it was when the babies were born!) but I have finally given it a go! I downloaded the app on my phone and have been doing it for the past couple of weeks. For someone who hates running i am actually quite enjoying it! Hopefully now my mummy tummy will disappear

Hope everyone else is ok, lot's of lurking seems to be going on it seems, I guess we are all so busy now the little ones are running around!

Helips They said that it definitely seemed better, but to keep an eye out in case she seems to be in pain, not using it or dragging it again and to bring her back in if that happens, but as long as that doesnt happen we just need to go back for another check up in three months to make sure that is is still ok. Glad you had a good time with the Pils, must have been nice to have that support there for you. How are you finding it there now?

Just got A's first pair of proper shoes, We did buy Clarke's, we dont always buy from them but was being sentimental and like the first pair to be from Clarke's and cos they take the picture for their first pair. She adores them, wanted to wear them straight away. They are white, but I know they wont be for long. I did go for cuteness over practicality in the end!

Ursi very little is drunk here too so don't worry too much. Doc told me a lot of fluid comes from their food. He will take about 5oz milk at bedtime then another 6oz in the morning, then drinks water as and when through the day. Some days more, some less.
Aqueous cream is brilliant for their skin, and water based so very natural.

Well, I went with the flow and he's settled back down to sleeping through and waking at 5 for a bottle. That will teach me not to stress!!

helips what app did you get? Want to start a good exercise regime when I'm back - going to do boxercise a few times a week as I enjoy it but also need to do a little running I think..

Juicy glad A is better, she sounds a very brave little girl! Millie loves her shoes too, I bought her some pink crocs the other day and she loves them, I think it's because she can put them on herself. I am trying to limit how often she wears them though as not sure how good they are for support etc.

Scarlotti the running app is called 'Get Running' and it's aim is to get you off the couch and running for 30 mins in 8 weeks. At the moment I am running for 1.5 mins and walking briskly for 2 mins alternately with a 5 min warm up and down. Every week the running increases until you can run for 30 mins without stopping. I'm hoping that doing this 3 times a week plus my Pilates class will sort out my wobbly tum! I should think that after your trip you will be very fit and might find the app to easy but see how you go.

I see from Facebook we have a new addition to the tread

OMG my spelling is terrible (I blame lack of sleep but thats another story that I'm too tired to write about!) I meant thread not tread obviously and too easy not to!

helips you tease!

ursi I haven't measured but M drinks quite a lot of cow's milk - probably close to 10 oz a day? (She's totally weaned, now.) She still has dry skin. I drop a splash of mineral oil in her bath, which leaves her feeling nice and soft all over, no greasiness. If she has a really dry spot I'll use petroleum jelly (vaseline? not sure what it's called in the UK).

Friday started dreadfully here... Maeve managed to bash herself against the edge of the changing table and cut her bottom lip on her teeth, badly :( Had to go to the ER as it happened an hour before her doctor's office opens. Of course by then M was in good spirits and we were still waiting to be seen Eventually they looked at her and determined no stitches were necessary. So tired, hope to sleep in tomorrow.

Just a gentle lurk as A is ill and relatively still and dp is at work.

I see from fb that one of you has had a baby but I just can't connect the names with the nick names but congrats ;-D

Scarlotti hope your trek goes well and things are still on the up with or without dp.

Glad to hear babies are out of plaster casts, talking and wearing shoes.

A is getting pretty good at communicating and can fetch objects such as shoes, socks, his drum etc when asked. It's nice to know they are beginning to understand. He has some words (Mumma, Dadda, More, Door, Nose, Ears are a few and he can ask "What's that"? and "Whose that"?).

And the sun is shinning so all must be good :-D

helips will take a look at that app - wish I could say I was super fit but alas it's not true. Am hoping the trek kick starts it all and I carry on afterwards as I do need to lose some weight.

longwayaway glad M is better now, I remember DD banging her teeth when she was small and we went to A&E - so much blood but nothing major wrong!

Ninja nice to see you and glad to hear A is doing well despite being ill. Hope all is going well with you and your wedding plans. Things for me are up some days then down others, but am looking forward to some recharge time whilst in Peru and a chance to get my head sorted out. DH and I are still talking but we still have a long way to go.

Went to my brother's today as it was my nephew's 2nd birthday and had a lovely time. Being a bit of an old fart this evening though as was supposed to go to a friend's 40th but am just so tired am not in the mood so I've cried off. I think I'll be going up to my bed soon!

Hi everyone, lovely to hear lots of people's news who've not been around for a bit. Busy mummies we are, eh?

I might be about to get busier. I am thinking about jobs for this September as my current contract (5 mornings) ends. A job has come up in a nice school teaching Y1. It's FT but I am thinking of going for it, something I think I would not have considered even a few weeks ago. I wondered what you guys are all feeling about the amount you currently work and how well it work for you.

I know we are in the fortunate position of me not having to work FT, although it has not been brilliant on a lower income, we have survived and still could (assuming another PT job comes up). But part of the draw of this job (and any other FT that comes up) is that it is permanent and means that I would have that cushion for the future, esp re having future DCs and future career development. The fact that we moved just before Rosa was born has really made things unstable in that regard. Evidence: I am out of a job in September!

However, do I really want to be away from Rosa that much? Or am I being PFB about that?! It's hard not to be when you have no other experience! I am really in a tangle and would so appreciate you wise ladies' thoughts on what has worked and not worked for you, especially other teachers (I know there are a few of us) re. workload and tiredness and amount of (quality) time spent with DCs...

MsI I've been working full time since October, only because DH is in a temporary teaching contract and we weren't able to rely on his income. Bear in mind that I mean 9-5 in the office so I leave around 7:45am and get home around 6ish - missing the majority of Ethan's day. It has been difficult but at least I knew there was an end in sight with maternity leave and if DH has a permanent job next year, I'll be working 3 days a week at most.

But your situation would be different in terms of time away from Rosa, wouldn't it? Think about how long you'd see her for each day. If school finishes at 3 - you'd have maybe 3/4 hours each afternoon/evening? I've found doing things like online shopping helps and means we can make the most of our family time. Our situation has been helped massively knowing DH collects Ethan around 3:30 most days and has dinner ready for me coming home. If the roles were reversed in our situation, that might be enough for me, I'm not sure.

It's a difficult choice but you would still have quality time with her each day, if I'm right about your hours, and the job security and maternity benefits are also a big factor.

PS How could I forget... Ethan spends one day a week with my mum and they go to gymboree together. He has two days a week with my in laws who regularly take him swimming and out to the park etc, and two days a week with one of my brothers and his family, which includes three children, and Ethan loves his time with them and benefits from the different approaches/activities/discipline. This is another factor which helps me cope with not being there more, knowing he is with family who cherish the time they spend with him. Would Rosa be going to nursery five days? I don't have any experience of using a nursery or childminder so I'm no help with advice in that respect!

Thanks so much for your thoughts DWB, I thought you were FT but I wasn't sure.

I guess I would have a bit more time each day with Rosa than you and Ethan. But I know that for me it's not been realistic to leave school right after the children do (in this case that would mean 3.30). When does your DH get all his planning, prep and assessment done if he picks up Ethan at 3.30 most days? Does he have to work a lot in the evenings?

As for Rosa, I'm sure she'd be fine, really! We luckily have grandparents very close who would be overjoyed to look after her more than the 2 mornings they currently do. I don't think I'd like her doing full days at her current nursery as it's 8-6 but when she's two she can move to a more local one which is more flexible on hours. DH could do an afternoon or so too.

You're right about the benefits. And holidays! I think I just need to get 'in' somewhere so that we can take it from there. As cynical as that makes me sound, I'm not really, I love teaching and give it my all at all times... maybe that's part of the problem!

Sorry for clogging up the thread with me-me-me but I knew some of you would have good advice. More to think about! Thanks DWB x