Late Jan 2011 (some very, very late!) - here we go!!!

[ThreeBubbasAndManyBumps]

Graduated
JJKM - Twin Girls
Stars - Baby Boy
FloraPost - 6th Jan - Baby Boy
Mimou - 14th Jan - Baby Boy - 7.3lb
Zippy - 14th Jan - Baby Boy - 7lb
LadyBuzz - 18th Jan - Kali Margaret Briany 6lb 1oz
Scuba - 22nd Jan - Baby Girl - 6lb 13oz
AmIGoingMad - 25th Jan - Baby Boy - 7lb 5oz
Gallicgirl - 26th Jan - Alys May - 7lb 2.5oz
BubbaAndBumps - 27th Jan - Lachlan Robert - 12lb 3oz
Travispickles - 27th Jan - Saskia Faye
Fuzzy - 28th Jan - Evan James - 8lb 8.5oz
*Saltnvinigar - 28th Jan - Henry David
Ryuk - 28th Jan - Ezra - 7lb 4oz
TheBreastMilksOnMe - 30th Jan - Amelia Rose - 8lbs 9.5ozs
SaraL77 - 31st Jan - Reuben Mark - 7lb 2
Pootle - 2nd Feb - Jacob - 8lb 9oz
cyberfairy - 4th Feb - Rowan - 7lbs 7oz
RockLover - 5th Feb - George Christopher - 8lbs 4oz
RunningKatie - 5th Feb - Isobel Millie
CupcakesHay - 5th Feb - Jesse William - 7lbs 1oz
Crystylline - 8th Feb - Xavier Louis - 8lbs 11oz

Count: 8 girls, 15 boys

Still Huffing and a Puffing..?
Shanster: 30/01 Boy (1DD)
Faraway Trees: 22/01
RobynLou: 24/01 ?? (1DD)
Loopylu: due 31/01 (1st?)

Here we go, down the slippery slope of parenthood. Slippery thanks to the poos, wees, leaky boobs and goodness knows what else :o :o

We'll be here to hold each other's virtual hands through the tough nights and delightful days, and to laugh at each other's stories of comedy nappy changes , and the fear (or not?) of getting back in the saddle, and coating some cervixes just for the fun of it again!! :o

Thanks everyone for encouraging words. After my mega moan this morning I now have settled sleepy baby who has been asleep now since 2! Very happy. Think the fresh air did him some good. I was seriously tempted to take his great grans advice and wrap him up warm and leave him in the pram at the bottom of garden for the morning!! Apparently this was the done thing in the 1940s/50s! Just as well I don't have a garden.

I have also sorted out my diet plan for the next 2 weeks so feeling more motivated. HOnastly I have piled on the weight sitting on sofa b-feeding and eating chocolate so think my self-esteem is at a low ebb too but I'm determined to lose it before our holiday in May .

Also for all teachers on this thread, when are you planning on returning to work out of interest? I have already had a letter from my head enquiring about my return!

Pete is naughty!! He's not allowed to do that you know! I'm taking the full year I think - partly because DD1 will be starting school half-days only from September, so I'd have to sort out childcare for the remainder of the half day and I think it's a bit mean on her for me to go back to work, for her to start school and start with new childcare all at once.

It should be assumed by your employer that you are taking a year off and you only have to give 8 weeks notice if you're returning earlier than that. I can understand how that is difficult with teaching though.

Think I'll go back around September as that's when the pay runs out.:(

DP would like to stay at home (fat chance!!) or change jobs but that's likely to involve a pay cut initially as he'd have to change industry sector, so it makes most sense for me to return to work full time but I'll get pay roll to work out some figures in case I want to return part time.

Luckily don't have to worry about work until next next sept - although will be asking teachers advice next dec when i have to do my final placement eek already panicked about that.

I'm with you on the diet front salt - going to have 2 last weeks in UK and then planning to have lots of veggies and noodles and houmous... and been told that DS will have weak teeth cos of the cleft, so DH and I are going to do our best to avoid fizzy drinks etc, so I'm hoping i drink more water.

We put DS outside 2 days last week and the air did seem to knock him out!

Ds awake now - in Grandad's arms - although my dad said I have to do dinner - not sure that's a fair swap - getting cuddles for cooking!!!!

And agree - sorry buzz I don't want to hear anymore til you have big bags under your eyes like mine

Yes - thought we needed a lovely picture of George, Xavi and Jesse from tomorrow!

Where are you holidaying in may salt?

Hope pootle is ok. Haven't heard from her for ages.

Does Jesse just have a cleft lip or does it affect his palate too?

I know a kid who had quite a bad cleft lip and palate and even the tip of her nose missing but the docs have done an amazing job fixing it all up. I hope Jesse won't have to have too many operations.

Fresh air always knocks out DD although we live near to the sea so it's a standing joke about breathing in the sea air deep so you'll sleep well.

Am a teacher - just found out I can put 22nd July to get full pay in hols :)

oooh... i have a snoring baby on my lap and it's only 7.20pm. maybe i'll need to go join ladyb in the sin bin! (wishful thinking)

very much looking forward to tommorrow. even bought waitrose goodies as it's an MN meet up. sadly i'm lacking a boden wardrobe. should i pin a greggs pasty to my lapel or be clutching a packet of pombear so as to be recognised?

we'll have to try and have a bigger meet up with everyone in the future, though heck knows where as i think we're pretty well spread out around the country... maybe we should all go to Syria for our hols!

am just thinking about work... it's a really tough call and not sure whether i'll be better off as sahm or working mental hours to pay for childcare. am trying to do my sums, but also considering teacher training, as was previously (before current job) a uni lecturer on and off. are 11-16 yr olds really that evil?

"are 11-16 yr olds really that evil?"

Yes.

Teaching is a lot of hard work. My sis taught year 1 and was often up til midnight preparing lessons and materials.

child care costs are evil. If the government really wants to help working mums they should provide more affordable childcare. I'll have to pay almost two thirds of my take home pay and the other third goes on bills :(

Agree that teaching is hard work - but then if you enjoy it it's better than other jobs IMO.

Dreading the whole childcare issue. I realise every day how luck i'm going to be to spend the first 18 months of Jesse's life as a stay at home mum.

gallic DS just has a cleft lip and we're dead lucky as it's pretty tiny, but we're still getting it done as can develop - and just not worth not doing. The team, in bristol, have been amazing though and we've had such support already.

Ok - link to some pics for you (sorry to be baby bore!) but you can see DS's face and tiny cleft lip.
Baby Photos

And love the idea of you all coming to syria - but def a bigger meet up - I'm back for DS's operation at some stage... if not, I know i'm going to be here in Sept time.

crysty you're the one who's managed to lose your babyy weight so even if you turned up in a Lada Gaga dress, and I turned up in a Chanel number, you'd still look 100 times better than me. For the record -, i'll probably be wearing my green top and maybe sick down my clevage... depending on DS and how much i have to hurry tomorrow

sorry ladies

Gallic Kali is 8 weeks and weighed 9lb 5 last week.
I do think it was a fluke last night but in general she has been ok (touch wood).
I will make sure she texts everyone back to tell them sleep is definately the way forward

salt I too am now officially on a health kick, I'm doing Zumba one night a week and the gym for half an hour 2 nights. Its been good few years since I have done anything at all so it will be hard but I am determined to get 3 stone off and I like my food far too much to just do it through diet!

Lovely pix cupcakes!! Such a cutie, love the bath ones.
Crysty - I teach 11-16. It's hard work but rewarding if you like teenagers! But yes they can be evil and it can be tough!
Am I fooling myself to think a long walk with pram every day will help fight the flab? (One of my colleagues shouted " Hi Chubby" today. I had to ask her to repeat it....

I love teaching and love the vast majority of the 11-18yr olds I teach, although, as with adults, there are lots of exceptions!

LadyB , sooooooo pleased for you that Kali's sleeping well , but really you're now pushing your membership here on this thread with doing zumba as well (whatever the fuck that is?! :o)

Sweet pics of Jesse cupcakes - he's so small - I keep forgetting how mahoosive my fat lumper is! :)

L very unsettled tonight; we are Waiting For A Mahoosive Poo (can you tell that mahoosive is one of my fave words of the moment? ) :o

awww Jesse is so sweet. He looks tiny!

Thought DD was being good as she slept after last feed.....for about an hour :(

She's been really grizzly so now we're killing time to the next feed. Wouldn't mind but trying to pack for a pilgrimage up north to the right side of the Pennines.

Did someone mention 2 types of exercise in one post??? I think we might have to get the pointy stick out.

Actually scratch my texting plan, I much prefer LadyB's idea to get everyone some sleep!
E did 2 mahoosive poos yesterday, both of which leaked onto his clothes. Particularly great as I have no washing machine.
Right E finished feeding, now to get him to stay asleep

ladyb my diet starts today and it is a good one. It is Rosemary Conley's Gi diet and I always find I drop a good few pounds in the first 2 weeks. I recommend it as you can still eat potatoes and that for me is key.
Well Henry is sleeping soundly now.
Does anyone else have a baby who has a routine of farting before waking in the morning. Seems like he is really straining poor thing as his little face goes all red as he pushes his little trumps out (not even poo!)
He is so adorable. I will have to put up some more pictures but too time restrained and have a list as long as my arm of things to do. Already done 2 so far this morning I am on fire
Ooh also cupcakes what part of London are you coming to next week? I was just thinking if you were west side it would be nice to meet as of all you devon people meeting up this week.

Oh yes, second that -whereabouts in London are you going to be cupcakes?

Hope the Devon ladies are having a good meetup

DD has to have 2 burps before I dare put her down, she does really loud burps too! Think she had an upset tum yesterday as she was fussing then farting all evening.

DP is away now, she had her usual screaming/feeding session last night but then slept for a few hours so I don't think we're doing too badly flying solo thus far.

People are exercising? Dearie me. I'm pleased when I go out for a walk with the pram nevermind doing a zumba class!

Loving the pics of Saskia & Jesse. :)

L only weighs 13lbs 2ozs:( MW said not to worry too much and to weigh him again in a couple of weeks, but can't help worrying as he's not staying on the centile track he was on :(

Sorry you're feeling :( bubba . If the mw said to come back in a couple of weeks she can't be too worried otherwise they would make you come back next week wouldn't they? As long as L is happy and healthy I'm sure he is doing fine. Have you had your 6 week check up with him yet?

Also my hv said it was okay for babies to drop one percentile but not two?

He was on 99th a couple of weeks after birth and is now somewhere between 75th and 91st :(

I have the 8-week appt on 30th and will get him weighed om 28th

Made cupcakes with the girls today but forgot to add the butter :( - weighed it out but stuck it in microwave to soften and forgot to add it. Not a good day :( I need sleep.

Poor Bubba. . I'm sure he is fine, as salt said, the HV would be stressing if it was an issue. L was unfeasibly big at birth so maybe his growth slows so he doesn't end up like Giant Haystacks as an adult??!
I too am really tired, went out with some other mums and felt braindead. But it will all pass...

ooh, what a lovely day! very nice to finally meet the other devon mummies!

is it being greedy to say that i'm in west london on monday and tuesday next week, so could do another meet up?

bubba sorry L's weight gain is worrying you, but agree with salt and travis - he's a big lad and i'm sure he's just slowed a little to let all of the other babies catch him up!

salt yes to the stressed out farting - same routine every morning. when he starts farting i know he's waking up. don't think he's in pain, just gets confused by it.

p.s exercise is banned, unless it's lifting babies or pushing buggies.

Thank you ladies - will try not to stress about it for the time being. Did cry on DH when he came home and asked how my day was.

Hey cupcakes, salt and I are in West London and my girls are in nursery on Mondays and Tuesdays, so perfick for me to meet up on those days. I'm in Hampton Hill but can travel. Whereabouts are you going to be? PM me if that makes it easier (and less boring for others!!)...

Ooh crysty west london meet up sounds good. I'm in Ealing but don't drive unfortunately so somewhat limited. The thought of getting tube with pram is a bit stressful as no elevators in west london tube stations (how do people in wheelchairs get about?) but I might be persuaded to brave it out . Right, now for my healthy turkey stroganoff

salt do you not have a sling/baby bjorn thingamy? If not, I would highly recommend one to you, much, much easier than a buggy on the tube/buses etc. Also gives you free hands (particularly useful if you have two DDs to drag around help along