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

[DontWorryBaby]

New thread for our little handfuls!

MsI thinking of you x

Pav - Camping. I'm sold.

Wedding was fab. Can't believe it went so fast. Now enjoying being married (not so enjoying being in debt but bahhh! it was worth it).

oooh I can now move on from dp to dh. Yay.
(although I am now Ms maiden name and not Mrs dh - been known by my name for too long and ds1 has my name too) (also can't quite cope with having the same name as mil and gran-il )

Ninja the older folk in my family still send me mail to 'Mrs DH first name DH surname' despite the fact I kept my maiden name- be careful they don't do it on any birthday cheques they may want to send you- banks need this explained to them many times in my experience!! (And they'll ask to see your birth certificate and wedding certificate before they'll hand over the cash!)
What music did you have in the end?

Is H entirely crazed or are all babies of this age entirely crazed? The only thing that will cheer her up is 'do de rubber duck' or a quick blast of 'Elmo's song' The rest of the time she is on the rampage. And wow, defiant! At dinner time -
me: eat your peas now H.
H: (shakes head) 'No'
me: (smiling) yes H, come on
H: looks me square in eyes, picks up plate, turns it upside down so peas go on floor
me: oh no (bends down to pick up peas)
H: chucks fork down onto my head for good measure then gives me 'the look' when I straighten up.

But then she'll be so sweet at other times- she has a doll and pushes it around in its buggy- she calls it 'babygirl!' and rampages around shouting 'BABYGIRL!BABYGIRL!' when her big brother hides it.
And she has learnt to say 'oh YEAH!' with great enthusiasm so for example, Elmo comes on the laptop screen 'oh YEAH!' There's a petit filous for pud 'oh YEAH!'

I love her soooo much but I am quite sure her brother was not like this! She's a full on toddler alright.

MsI fingers crossed you and Roo are out of hosp soon

Wook - I just nod and smile when the older ones say "ah the new Mrs dh" (as instructed by dh when I asked what I should tell his rellies when it arose). We have a joint account and the same initial so hopefully it won't be too hard for them to understand - this is the coop though so will remember to take a deep breath, talk very slowly and if in desperation wail, cry and gnash teeth.

Music:
Walked down aisle (together) to: Donovan, Catch a Wind
Signed reg to: Doobie Brothers, Long Train Running
First Dance: Elvis, Love Me Tender (David Lynch fans might get that one)
(During our first dance a curtain was opened behind us and in the pulpit was Elvis in person. It almost killed me to keep it secret but we managed it. He was fab).

Elvis??? In Person??? Incredible !!!
Sounds a fab ceremony all round and you and your dh looked positively joyous in photos.

Me and dh's ten year anniversary is coming up and we both are rather viewing it as we did when Thatcher said 'ten more years! ten more years!' (fear and apprehension emoticon)

Ninja, congratulations!! Was thinking about you and weddings a few days ago, off to have a looksee at fb.

Wook, oh, it's not only H... We have the stroppyness and the defiance and the cheek. I already mentioned the fact that she hits us and doesn't seem to get the 'no' message. 'No' is a favourite word now, I really thought this all came a bit later on. She's also incredibly easily frustrated by inanimate objects... hard not to laugh sometimes really.

We also have the 'uh-oh' when she or anyone else drops something and just recently she goes 'ta-daaaaa' when she manages to do something right.

She starts a day with kisses - one for mama one for dad and again - and then there's a whole ritual of pointing out all our three noses, with ears sometimes thrown in, too. So cute!

MsI thinking of you.

Just dropping in.

Congrats Ninja!

MsI thinking of you all.

Hello Butterpie! Have you changed your name slightly?

DWB how are you feeling?

Hello everyone! I have been very slack recently and apologise for not posting for so long, sorry!

Msi So sorry to hear about Rosa, it must be a horrible time for you all. How is she doing now? I hope the infection clears up soon and she starts to feel better, poor little thing. Big hugs to you and little Roo...

Ninja congrats on getting married, love your post about Elvis singing at the wedding, it sounds like such fun!

Hello Butterpie, lovely to hear from you, hope you are all ok

Been very busy here, first I had my parents to stay for two weeks which was very hard work. I can't be bothered to go into too much detail as it gets me riled just thinking about it but in a nut shell my parents seemed to be more interested in reading books than playing with their grandchildren and I wonder why they bothered coming out to visit us at all, oh well. However, then we went on holiday for a week to the Maldives which was fanbloodytastic! The kids had a great time and dh and I got to go diving which was brilliant, can't wait to go again.

Millie has been suffering with separation anxiety lately and seems to dislike anyone she doesn't know. When we are out and about if anyone says hello or coo's at her (which is often in Singapore as they love a blond haired blue eyed baby!) she screams no and then blows a raspberry in their face (she learnt how to do raspberries from her big brother!) It can be quite embarrassing and she does it to everyone, even children! Im starting to wonder if I have a little monster on my hands! She has also become obsessed with my boobs, grabs them at every opportunity and says 'milk'. I was only feeding at morning and last thing at night but she has started asking for it during the day so I have relented a few times, especially nap times. I really don't want to start feeding in the day again and am hoping this is just a phase, possibly to do with the separation anxiety?

Anyway, I have waffled on for too long, hope everyone is well and I promise to try and get on more. Ooh, I'm coming home in less than 3 weeks for a fortnight, can't wait, woo hoo!!!!

Hi Helips and Butterpie, nice to see you again.

Helips, your hols sound nice. I read on here that SA peaks at about 18 months, so hopefully she will be over it soon. Isn't it funny how their little personalities develop right there in front of your eyes? All the things that they like and dislike, and the way they show how they feel... We have the 'no' and the 'look', lots of people keep commenting especially on the latter. Sort of 'I'm watching you veeeeery carefully here, mate'.

I have just started to cycle to work with Lucy in a seat at the back. So good to be back on a bike, but damn cold in the mornings.

Feel very weird today, though, might be the fact that I am so unfit and this cycling is a mega-shock to the system. All full of stitch in the upper body, quite breathless and achey. Just hoping it will go away overnight...

20 weeks today. Scan on Friday. Ursi, DWB, how are you both feeling?

Pardon the language but I'm f*ing exhausted!!

37+1. If it's Wednesday today? Baby v low, pelvic pain but wasn't engaged last fri, just head perched on the brim. Lots of exercise-balling. The plan was to work full time until next fri but DMIL has been unwell so due to childcare issues, I'll be finishing next Wed. Now that it's here, I suppose I'd better get my head around the mum of two new baby thing. Still seems surreal.

Skorpion Are you finding out the sex? You're doing well to keep up the cycling, well done!

MsI Hope Roo is well and home again x

Ninja congrats - I loved your dress.

Waves to everyone else - sorry if I've missed anything. I read regularly just don't seem to have energy to turn the computer on and reply! Loving this age, Ethan is a delight. Although possibly not so much at 5:30am.

DWB not long now. I hope you'll get some time to rest properly before LO Number2 arrives. I have a feeling that may be a different level of exhausted yet...

We are going to find out what it is, can't wait.

I also have a consultant appt next Thu, as Lucy arrived by an emergency cs. Not sure what to expect, I think we'll just discuss options for this one. I am going to go for VBAC, does anyone have any experiences of that?

Good luck with the scan Skorpion are you going to tell people (especially us!) if it's a boy or girl? I had an emergency cs with ds and Millie was a home vbac. I went with an independent midwife though and didn't see a consultant, I wonder if the NHS would have been as happy with me VBACing at home?! Anyway, it was fine, very quick and lovely to be at home. A very different experience as ds was a 38 hour labour resulting in cs and Millie was just over 5 hours and born in the pool!

DWB sorry you are so knackered, not long now though eh?! Then you've the sleepless nights to look forward to

Talking of sleepless nights, Millie is teething AGAIN, last night was awful and she just would not go to sleep, even when I brought her into bed with me. Dh is away so I had to deal with her on my own and I think I got about 3 hours sleep in the end and that was 3 broken hours, so tired today. Dh is back tomorrow and I can't wait, have dosed M up with calpol so hopefully that will do the trick. At dinner time she wasn't eating so I got her a bowl of ice cubes which she chomped on happily and then finally eat something, poor love!

Helips, thanks, you're right NHS say home VBAC is a big no-no. Not that bothered about where it is, but am starting to think about this one more now. I think deep down I still feel a bit off about what happened with Lucy... I know it's irrational, no medals for birth, most important thing is the result, yada-yada, but can't help it. I'm thinking this time forget the books, forget the yoga, forget the thinking I am well prepared, just go with the flow and hopefully not lose control. We'll see. Oh, we'll tell people what it is, just won't reveal the name until it's here.

So sorry to hear about Millie, all this teeth business is so unfair, isn't it? Last time it was Nurofen that did the trick for us and allowed Lucy (and us) a few hours unbroken sleep.

MsI, hope things with Rosa are getting better?

Good luck with the scan Skorpion.

Helips The holiday sounds lovely. We have family members like that too, I find it annoying when they're like that.

I have a grump monster here at the moment. Usually she is very affectionate with kissing and cuddling us, but wont go to anyone unfamiliar (Or even look at) She is also very clingy and will now cry when she knows I'm going to work of an evening, unless her Daddy is here as she is definitely a bit of a daddy's girl at the moment which is lovely to watch. She is now sleeping in a bed rather than a cot as of wednesday and so far its gone well. I did find her asleep on the floor earlier at nap time, but she seemed fine so I think she had been playing and fallen asleep. Also she has discovered that she can take her nappy off now, and does so whever she decides she doesnt want to be in the playpen any more/done a poo. I dont often put her in it now but sometimes have to when cooking etc.

DWB you poor thing. Hope this baby arrives on time like his big bro!

Separation anxiety here also. Has been a tough few days. He is happy to go to anyone when I'm not around but as soon as I enter the room/house he cries for mamma all the time. Teething too . Hope you get a better night Helips.

C had a haircut today. He has such curly hair and it grows so quickly, I think this was cut no.4. Most of his curls were chopped and he looks so grown up and even cuter, if that's at all possible

skorpion, I'm thinking of your scan today! Can't wait for your report.

DWB, I hope you can find some energy for the last couple of weeks.
Is there an option for you to get a nice pregnancy massage or something similar?

fruit, haircut no 4? I'm in awe. You can still see a lot of skin through Paula's "hair". There are a couple (honestly only between 3 and 5) which are at least 3 cm long though so it can't be long to the first haircut

I'm sorry to hear about those with teething problems. I hope they will feel soon better.

Separation anxiety here too but not as strong as it has already been. I guess because she is quite well and happy otherwise.
But we have started with a football class (overambitious daddy) and although she seems to enjoy it, she is only running up and down the field when holding my hand.

I am loving all those stories about our cute babies (are they still babies?) and how their personality is developping. I'm always wondering if a certain behaviour or interest is something that will play a big part in her future life or if it is just a phase.

Oh, and Ninja, congratulations! It sounds as if you had a great day and party.

Thanks, all is well. Looks like Lucy has a little sister in the making. She's developing well. I have to admit to being a bit nervous beforehand, I remember Lucy moving about three or four weeks before the 20wk scan and this one I only felt last week and not very strong or often, but apparently I have an anterior placenta (at the front of the uterus), so it can mask early movement. She was wriggling plenty during the scan.

Lucy is joining the teething misery club. Again. Hihg temp, clingy, can't put her down... Any ideas how I can bring her temp down without resorting to drugs, please? Thanks.

Congratulations Skorpion! I had an anterior placenta at 20wk scan as well, the movement should pick up over the next few weeks anyway.

How about ice lollies?

congratulations skorpion! I have an anterior placenta too. Had been wondering as well why this one is moving less. But now I feel him very well too.
As for temperature: You can take some wet (not cold though) mini towels (I cut a muslin square in half) and wrap them around her calves. And then maybe another big towel around the whole thing so you don't get everything wet. You keep it on for 10-20 min. It works amazingly well. But obviously only when they keep still. So maybe while watching TV together or just cuddling on the couch.
Oh and you should only use the method if the limbs are actually warm too (not for fever with cold limbs, according to some more serious websites)
And I suppose together with DWB 's ice lollies that should work very well. (I suddenly feel like I have temperature too. I should probably quickly eat some ice cream)

Thank you!

And thanks for the advice. She only has hot head and under her arms, but it's a good tip. Poor thing just flopped asleep after paracetamol. I'll keep the ice lollies idea in mind, thanks. Just hoping that she'll sleep OK.

Hope other poorly babies get well soon. And mums get lots of rest over the weekend (looking at you, DWB) xx

Belated congrats to you and DH on the wedding, Ninja!

Fruit Four haircuts?? M still gets mistaken for a boy unless she's in a flowery or pink dress because she is really lacking in the hair dept. I get unbridled hair envy when I see little kids her age (or younger) with long hair :)

Skorpion Glad to hear the scan went well and DD2 is happy and active in there, even if you can't feel her. Sorry Lucy isn't feeling well, hope the teeth misery ends soon. Rooting for your VBAC - I had an EMCS with M and am afraid it will be impossible to convince anyone over here in the states to let me try for one on the next go round.

DWB You're so close! Take it easy (as much as you can) and enjoy the last few weeks of Ethan as an only child.

helips Very exciting that you get to come home soon for a bit - I forget, will it be your first time back since you moved?

Hi Butterpie, nice to see you :)

Well my interviews in NY went as well as they could, I think. I'll find out in the next week whether they want to contact my references, and if they do that it will be another two weeks for them to come to a final decision. Fine with me - it's all been moving very quickly so far and I could use the time to process things. I missed M but it was good to have the time apart. She apparently asked for me several times but didn't get upset when I wasn't there. I'm fine with that.

Skorpion lovely news! Hope your DD is feeling much better.

Longway fingers crossed for you.

Helips hope the teething has eased.

MsI how is your little one doing?

Yes. 4 haircuts and counting! C has curly hair and lots of it. My DH and I were born with masses of hair and DS1 had a full on mop of hair when born and still does. The problem with DS1's hair when he was a toddler he hated it washed or cut. He looked very scruffy and had a few dodgy haircuts made by me for a couple of years. Trying to get C used to hair maintenance very early on.

Hi everyone

Well, we're still in hospital, officially, but I am having a night off and DH is sleeping there tonight. First night in my own bed for best part of a month since we were in Scotland for ten days before these two weeks in hospital. PArtly so glad to be home and partly missing Rosa already and worried DH will have a rocky night - she is understandably very clingy towards me atm.

Anyway, the good news is she is improving and we hope we will get out next week. She had another op on Thursday eve after a CT scan to find out exactly where/if there was more infection and they think they have drained it all now. Her temperature has stopped spiking which is the big indicator and her face is gradually returning to a more normal and less inflated size. She is brighter too. But we were here last week and she got worse over the weekend, so I'm not holding my breath.

Congrats skorp on another lovely wee girl on the way, good luck longway and take it easy DWB and all you pregnant ladies in fact

I hope you will forgive me for not commenting much more as I am ready to drop but I have read all your news and thank you so much for your well-wishes for RooRoo X

Oh, MsI, I really hope you see Rosa back home this week. What a time you've all had!

Fruit, am very impressed with all that hair! I chopped Lucy's fringe off a few weeks ago, very amateur, don't think I'll attempt it again.

Longway, good luck! How exciting for you. Do they not encourage VBAC in the US, then?

Lucy has her first pair of shoes. Went to Clarks on Sat, she threw another strop, scared of the assistant, wouldn't let her measure her feet. Got a picture with her looking really grumpy. Sigh. I hope this is not a permanent feature of her character... Very proud of her shoes, though, and looking pleased with herself walking in them :)

MsI you poor things. What a terrible time. I hope Rosa is home with you very soon.x