Dec 08 Mums - Snot Beards, Farty Boos and Willy Milk (not how it sounds!) - let the fun continue!

[Beans33]

Here we are x

Hooray for new babies, and I love Katies little girls name esp the 2nd name (obv the first name is amazing too, Beans )

SL I first read about BLW in the green parent (of course) magazine when DS1 was about 18months old. I was racked with guilt that it was my fault for his eating ishoos because I'd used purees and spoon fed him. So determined not to make that mistake again I did BLW with DS2 (though I did use a spoon for porridge which I'm sure would have the purists tutting). I had a book on it but didn't actually read it as it all seemed.pretty self explanatory. Anyhoo, DS2 is a brilliant eater and I'm pleased I did BLW. However, since DS2 took his first tentative tastes (not), I have been completely convinced that DS1 would have been as adverse to food if I'd user BLW with him, his whole attitude to weaning was so different to DS2. It may be that he started too early, but really deep down I just think he is a choosey eater and as one doctor said, some kids have a smaller airway than others so bits of food can feel enormous too them so they prefer more mushy foods. I do like BLW but in the same way I like continuing to BF, I'm lazy.

We are in the new house, it is small but we love it. It has such a Snuggly cosy feel to it. Will feel even better when the boxes are unpacked.

Just to add my two pence worth re BLW. I did it with both of mine. Both used to eat fantastically well and now both of them have a very limited diet. So I dont think it is the magic solution to having good eaters.

When you go away SL I used to do the same as Arti, fruit, pitta and lots of eating off our plates I would ask for a bowl of steamed veggies. I also never really worried too much about the salt content as long as they were not chowing down on bacon and sausages every breakfast I figured they would be ok.

Lovely arvo with friend whose baby died today. She is doing amazingly well the drinking has slowed down and she is on some anti D's but she says they are helping her level out and deal with it. So pleased to see her begining to dig her way out of the horror of it all. The children had a whale of a time. Sunshine and muddy puddles what better way to spend an arvo.

Well, a massive set of congratulations to three beautiful new girls and their fabulous mummies! Such lovely, lovely news Have toasted the lot of them here on the Red Sea Riviera. Only skimmed but glad the move went smoothly, Vag. All good here but DD1 is being a little sod with the eating. SL, we did a combo of finger foods and spooning with DD1 - and I just don't believe it made her the dreadful eater she is today, and she really is being a little sod with it this holiday. I'm not at all against BLW but some of the extreme practioners on the wider board make me long to tell 'em to stick their carrot batons where the sun don't shine. Haven't weaned DD2 yet but it's quite obvious she is going to eat for Britain whatever we do, just as DD1 doesn't. Spot, you deserve a flipping medal, my love. So glad you are home. Rubes, v glad to hear you are all ok! DP is finding it quite challenging, coping with two kids all the time - and that's with me here! They aren't being naughty, they're super but clearly holidays aren't quite as they used to be but I am certainly not complaining. Really glad we came, it really is nice. Took girls down to the beach about 4 today to build sandcastles when sun cooled off, and we virtually had it to ourselves! Sorry to all those I've missed - I do miss you all!

Woohoo, it's a baby bonanza! Just like December 08 all over again. Some days just isn't enough - we need a champagne emoticon!

Ginormocongrats to JB, wg and katie on your beautiful bouncing baby girls. BabyBear sounds like a really good weight. wg hope the cs wasn't too traumatic. Can't wait to hear the names - has katie said the name on fb then Rubes? I'm not fb friends with her.

Flippin flip spot you are up against it at the mo. You sound as if you are holding it together really well though. Was there talk of a Brighton meet-up? Would love to see you & the littlies. The only date I can do is Fri 18th March though - let me know if you're up for a visit (or even a jaunt into London).

Vagtastic congrats on the new place - when are you having your virtual housewarming for us all? There is still a nasty-looking bottle of premixed mojito in my kitchen which is begging for just such a special occasion.

SL Hmm I've had a look in my Little Black Book under B for the-method-of-introducing-solids-that-dare-not-speak-its-name and under S for summer but no dice. Therefore you're off the hook for whatever it was you undoubtedly said to outrage me. But can I say something ever-so-slightly controversial about BLW (in that any fecking thing you say about it is considered controversial by somebody)? When LadyT went to the nutritionist for advice about DD1's eating I couldn't help thinking that a lot of the advice she passed on sounded a bit like ... well, you know... V impressed you are on DC2 and still give a monkey's about salt by the way - you are clearly a far far better mother than I!

Rubes & LadyT you intrepid explorers you - pleased to hear you're safe & sound and enjoying your hols. Be sure to bring some sunshine back with you.

MoM good to hear from you. Those last few days before the baby are lovely aren't they but not so much fun when you've got another pesky DC to look after at the same time I found.

Effie can't remember if you said you were busy this weekend but my sis is not coming down now so am free if you fancy meeting up.

V jealous of all the potty training action. I put DD in knickers a couple of weeks ago and she had 3 accidents in about half an hour. So girding myself to try again at some point. Can't wait to get her out of nappies but also can't be arsed to put in the effort. Wish DP would just bloody get on with it instead of leaving it to me.

sl sorry if my using the term blw was a bad idea - all I meant really was not to worry if she isn't swallowing much, that goes for any kind of food be it pureed carrot or a slice of roast beef. We took S on a weekend away fairly early on in her solids stage and one thing that worked remarkably well was (very surprisingly) from a motorwat service station caff, they had packages of crackers and little bits of cheese, and a pot of fingers of melon. Mostly she had bits of veg off our plates, plus of course take breadsticks :)

Didn't mean to call DD1 a sod twice (couldn't really see what I'd typed) but these hunger strikes are so worrying/frustrating. Thought she'd really benefit from us all sitting down for meals three times a day. 'Tis quite the opposite! Glad your friend is crawling her way through the grief, Jam.

Wow what a babytastic day. Huge congrats to WG, Jolly and Katie. I'm so glad Jolly's baby was a good weight. Lovely news all round. And so many girls! Is Billy our only male post Dec 08 baby. He'll be mobbed at meet-ups!

I'm off to bed. This SAHM single mum malarkey is exhausting. I had a lovely day with my girls but every night this week I've been beat by 7pm. Working is much less tiring.

Lady and SL I'm not promising anything but I did see some improvement with DS1's eating DS2 started eating regular substantial meals. I think eating together (the 2 of them) helped.

Aaargh DS2 still isn't asleep, I think he is unsettled due to molars and new house but its so frustrating, Im so hungry and wanted to get some packing done

I have a big glass of to celebrate our girls, both the new little ones, and the wonderful Mummies who have done such a brilliant job. So it's breaking my rule not to drink on a work night, but it is well worth it today. I'm not fb friends with Katie for some reason, please can someone tempt her on here to reveal the beautiful name and to share her birth story. Was her baby born today, or Tuesday? Has anyone got to the bottom of that?

And cheers to Vag for a successful moving day. Is DS2 asleep yet?

Summer at ?fuck off zj? I thought similar as I was writing about the sheep last night. But for all that sheep made it look easy, at least we don?t have to lick the after birth and the amniotic fluid off our babies [yucky emoticon]. On the food, we started with purees but discovered E quite liked the finger food so I did a bit of both at all meals, which sounds like H. On the days when she didn?t want the puree I?d lovingly prepared scooped from a jar, I often just spread it on a piece of toast or a cream cracker and she?d happily tuck into it then ? quite an easy option for taking away with you; a pack of crackers, a few jars and a knife

Your day sounds so lovely Arti, with that special picnic treat I?m sure you?ve given your girls a day to remember for a long time. I think you?re right, Mom is the last of the clackers, gosh. Kiwi and I will have to get a move on (I?d suggest a race Kiwi, but suspect with progress so far it?ll be more of a marathon than a sprint)

Sybs I think Jolly?s DD1 was early in December, I can?t remember that exact date though. That would have been too much of a coincidence if both their girls shared a birthday. And Jump, I don?t have Jolly?s address I?m afraid. Maybe Trace will have it, but wasn?t there talk of a move sometime soon. If anyone has Jolly or WG?s address can they PM me please?

That is lovely to hear that your friend is doing well Jam, I can?t imagine what strength it would take to carry on after such a loss

PD I love the idea of your Little Black Book, and would love to be notorious enough to be in there

Must stop with the now, 2 glasses is plenty, and take myself to bed before I end up working through a hangover tomorrow. Hurrah again for the wonderful day of babies

zj you would be surprised how easy it is to get into my Little Black Book (just ask DP). If I flick to D for example I have a long list of offenders who pronounce the word drawing as drawring. So that's everyone in Essex for a start. Being a northerner though your pronunciation will obviously be impeccable just like mine .

I've just finished my second glass too but hurrah! not a work night for me.

Night - hope the lovely new babies and their mums are sleeping peacefully.

Quickly on iPhone from hospital. Thx for all msgs and well done jolly and Katie (what names?). Our name tba tomorrow when we've slept on it. Will post whole story on proper computer later, but basically lovely labour with doula at home, then cranked up on way to hospital. Screamed for epidural at hospital, got it, and didn't progress beyond 6cm, baby suddenly in distress, then a tricky em cs which took forever. All that worry about not wanting to be strapped to continuous monitoring in hospital, and I was actually screaming for it when I got there... Typical. The staff have all been AMAZING. Cannot fault anyone, doula a dream, and dd2 delightful. Feeding well so far, and is out like a light next to me now on postnatal ward. Am not recovering with super quick speed of last time-have really been through the mill this time and am needing all the win relief I can get. Ouch. Must try to sleep more while this gorgeous girl lets me. Dh loves her so much. It is great to see him looking so relaxed with her. Madam coming to meet her tomorrow. I miss her and can't wait to see her. Night night all. x

Gosh, WG, that sounds like a bit of a drama, glad you are both OK now. Are you in the Whittington? Will you be allowed out tomorrow? It's so lovely when your littlies get to see the new baby. Look forward to the name.

How are JOlly and Katie doing? Hope both babies are doing well too.

Beans, I bought this just to float round in, www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Dresses/Above-Knee-Dresses/WH271/Womens-Sicily-Spot-Dress.htmlthis and www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Knitwear/Cardigans/WK646/Womens-Tuscany-Cardigan.htmlthis to wear to work and www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Accessories/Bags/AM142/Womens-Peony-Shopper.htmlthis to tote all my bits and bobs round in. I used a buy 4 get cheapest for a £1 deal, so it wasn't too hideous once I'd used some vouchers. I am a bit about dresses as I have big knockers but a smaller bottom half so suspect that a lot of it will go back.

We have ballet this morning then friends for lunch. L is gunning for some satin ballet shoes for her exam, as is her teacher. They are £14, to be worn once for about 15 mins. Please tell me if I am being Mrs Mean by saying she can wear her (perfectly OK and not knackered) leather ones. She is not yet 6 and this is pre primary. OR Black Swan

Happy Friday everyone

SOrry girls, the links are this, this and this

Lovely to hear from you WG. Hope you had a good night. Please make sure you get plenty of rest!

Sybs: you are making me v happy that I won't be doing the ballet thing. Hideous. Though I suppose I'll be spending more time in the freezing cold watching the boys muck about in a field. Unless they defy gender expectations that is.

Another early morning here. Both girls were awake and shouting for me at 6am so I called down to them that it was too early to get up. Then I heard DD1 climb into DD2's cot and they played 'til 6.40. Result.

WG you sound very up eat which is great. I can't wait to hear the name. For those not on FB, Katie named her girl Isabe l Frey a Evely n (spaces inserted in case Katie doesn't want it to be google-able). I think she was 9lb 3oz which, while big, is much smaller than her first two!

Sybs, you are being v sensible about the ballet shoes. DD1 has to wear gold sprayed leather ballet pumps to her class. They used to be pink but I sprayed them to go with her bridesmaids dress last summer and she really, really wants pink ones like everyone else. I am evil mum personified. She also has to wear a purple leotard she inherited from her cousin. Everyone else is baby pink with tutu. Cue evil cackle... I will traumatise her out of ballet yet.

We move a week today! Veg, how stressful was it yesterday for you? How do the boys feel after the move?

How lovely to hear from you WG, despite not getting your VBAC you sound blissfully happy about it all. I bet it will be so lovely when Madam meets mini Madam

I love that spotty dress Sybs

Ballet - my goddaughter (age 3) and she has to have pink leotard, tutu and wrap round cardi, White tights and satin shoes, with hair in a bun . the lessons are in the draughtiest village hall ever with holes in the floor

Pd I definitely won't come under D then, but if I said your were smelly could I go under M for mean and L for liar?

Continental Market in York today, going to buy a ton of stinky cheese at lunchtime, yum

ZJ - think you will now also merit a place in PD's book under H for hypocrite with the smelly cheeses!

I dreamt about all the new babies this morning. Such excitement in one day!

Sybs - that first dress you showed was my dream one on the website, although I wanted to go for it in blue for various weddings this summer. And the brown shoes to match. Heaven. I'd feel reet posh.

This time next week, I'll be on a marathon driving session dropping off one DD at each grandparent, prior to our trip to Barcelona for the weekend - childfree - yeeeeehah! I can't wait for a lie in as am so bored of this getting up at night. Asking DH to do it tonight. Little does he know. Mwah hahahahaha!

I'm not sure we're going to do ballet for these two - DD1's feet are flat enough without doing it and DD2 won't be allowed to do it DD1 hasn't... Hmm, but am I depriving them??!

Oh WG - I Missed your post - you do sound upbeat. Well done you. Can't wait to hear the name.

And forgot to say what happened this morning. Quite grim, so don't read while having breakfast! DD1 still has this horrible cough (as do I, damn it!) and went to get her as she was coughing at 7.30. DH had already left for work as he was running in. She was a bit floppy still, so popped her into DH's side of the bed and she lay there sucking her thumb and snuggling Sheepy. She started coughing, so I went round to stroke her head. As she coughed, she started puking and the most enormous ball of phlegm came out. Quite disgusting and I am heaving thinking about it. Luckily it only went on DH's pillow a bit (although am washing the case as we speak, I'm not that mean!), but I had to then bath her and wash her hair. Poor little mite! Vile, though. Bleugh.

Hello,
wg you sound v happy! Glad you don't seem to bothered about the cs, though not good to hear that it was non-straightforward. Sounds quite similar to my labour with DD apart from that, I got stuck around there too, plus DD was in distress. Hope you can be up and about soon, and get out of hospital.
beans ooh lovely to Barcelona. That's the only place we have been together childfree since DS for overnight and it was bliss. Not ditched DD overnight yet! Sorry they are not sleeping well, is it illness that's causing it and is it both of them? My DD is sleeping well now and sometimes sleeps through! No doubt she will start teething soon though.
pd glad I am not in your black book. Though I tend to think of a black book as somewhere a bloke writes all his pull/female contacts! Oh don't know why I was getting so wound up about the weaning/BLW thing anyway! Partly cos I have had disagreements with MIL/DH about DS's eating AGAIN. And I am bored of it. Would be so much less stressed about it if DH butted out, but then I do want him to help out sometimes so I have to let him have his complete bollocks opinions. DH and MIL had a big argument in FRONT of DS about his eating. And I went mental at them, ffs the more of a big deal you make about it the worse it will get!

Blimey will not be encouraging DD to like ballet. Had not thought of that. Am dreading her want to ride horses too. Too expensive!

Right gotta go, ignoring DS too much!

Last day in my cottage boo hoo. Still I fell down the stairs last night (before the wine) and have a sore foot and back today. So will only muster a gentle limp about.

Still so lovely thinking about all our new babies. WG sounds like it got a little hairy there for a while. But great that it all worked out okay. I hope you get lots of lovely rest in the next few days.

Ladyt holiday sounds lovely. Just wanted to say that when we went to minorca last year DS ate practically nothing for 11 days. But the minute the plane touched down he ate masses! I guess he just wasn't confident in the food.

Vag hope the unpacking goes well.

DD doesn't do ballet. Although she asked since she started school so am going to have to give in.

Beans you will think I am uber disgusting as I quite like balls of phlegm (sounds like a pop group). In the same way as I like scabs, blackheads and tartar build up. I am truly foul. Poor little DD1 though, is she ok in herself? Your Barcelona trip sounds fab, despite complicated logistics beforehand.

WG I am so glad things improved for you on the ward in the night. Can't wait to hear the name and read the birth story.

Am fed up with not having had more than 3 hours broken sleep per night for this whole week, and today I have a piece of work to do. Luckily DP back from Amst this eve so I will demand he does overnight so I can claw back a smidgen of sanity.

We all have coughs and colds here too, which is particularly sad coming from Billy as his laryngo malacia makes it sound like he's a very rattly old man.

On the ballet front, T supposedly does ballet on Weds afternoon, but seeing as how he is capable of falling over thin air I doubt there's much actual dancing going on. Though he does love bobbing about to Ice Ice Baby and can hold a tune surprisingly well. Small mercies for the most malcoordinated child in the country.

PD 18th March for a Brighton meet up sounds fab. Could anyone else make that date?

It's Georgia Emily. Don't say anything on fb-have yet to work out how to upload photo and announce it that way. Thx

. Beautiful

Ah. Gorgeous name! Spot. Your poor little boy. It's tough he's got a cold on top of everything else.
My two are ok. Just full of snot and coughing loads. But par for the course this time of year!!
Lady, your hol sounds amazing. I think the eating thing is fairly common with a change of scene. I've heard my sisters bemoaning it in theirs.
DH and I planning family trip to Brussels. We've got 2 free return tickets to anywhere in Europe. So taking girls on our laps, staying in cheapie hotel and doing just one night. Can't wait! First weekend in April.
Dad has his operation on 12th, so want to be around for that.
He's only got a few more days of radiotherapy left. Tumour has stopped growing but hasn't shrunk.