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

I have been out alone but I just try to do short trips between feeds. I'm a bit of a boy scout and like to be prepared for any eventuality so it takes me ages to get together all the gear I think I might need and by the time I've done that, it's almost time for the next feed and I think I might as well not bother going out. DP on the other hand, just gets out and is then surprised when DD starts screaming in the car because she's hungry.

I usually head for Mothercare as they have nice areas to sit and feed the baby. The reflux really doesn't help as I know she's bound to throw up loads wherever we go. I thought the staydown milk was helping but the last couple of days haven't been as good. Trouble is, to use the infant gaviscon, I have to change milk again and I don't think chopping and changing will help her.

You really must live in the middle of nowhere Crysty if you don't have village shops at least. Can you at least take baby out in a sling when the weather's good? There's a nursery down the road from us who take their little ones out for a walk in a wagon. They stroll past with 5 or 6 kiddies strapped into the cart. It's lovely to watch. :)

oh gallic the reflux sounds like a nightmare, poor DD. do you have a pre-packed bag? or you could be as slovenly organised as me and leave a bag, blanket etc in the car. i tend to feed and wind ds just before we go out the door.

agree about mothercare. coffee shops tend to be good too.

only thing near me is fields and no footpaths, so have to go by car to a park/the woods/village etc. it's a shame as the village is only 30 min walk away, but the only route is on a busy road with no pavement. i love the wagon!! i want one!! maybe i could convinve the stables to hitch up the horses for me?

aahh, I'm probably making it sound worse than it is. She certainly doesn't have any of the horrific wind/colic issues that some babies have.

I have a pre-packed change bag that gets renewed each trip IYKWIM. I just have to get bottles ready and make sure there's plenty of muslins around.

Your house sounds idyllic in some ways but I can imagine how it must be a bit isolating too. I live on a main trunk road which is the principle route to the hospital so we see lots of blue lights. Luckily the other side of the road has a fabulous view down to the Thames. I can unfortunately even see Kent on a good day.

Horse and wagon sounds like a plan. I love those little carts that can be strapped to bicycles. Kids always look so happy in them.

I think I've been pretty good on my own so far. I've been on a bus and generally get out for a stroll everyday either to the park or tescos or meeting a friend. I've also done the tube several times but not on my own as scared there won't be anyone nice to help me up/down the stairs. DH thinks i'm being silly but you never know. I wouldn't want to be stranded on a platform ! However I still don't drive so have no choice but to use public transport.

Ooh, I have a really nice game to play to dc before they fall asleep at bedtime which I've been doing for the past 3 nights now so thought I would share with everyone. Unfortunately I can't take the credit with coming up with it myself but got it from babycentre website. Basically turn out the lights and use a torch to create a spectacular light show. DS loves tracking it and it's just nice quality time. You can talk about the solar system ? Okay screaming baby so have to go...

Gallic are you sure we're not the same person?! At 10.30 this morning I decided I couldn't go out til after his next feed at 12 and finally made it out the door at 2, an hour before his next feed! But on Thursday I need to be super organised as heading 30 miles away to have his hand and feet cast, then meeting friends for lunch then heading to a new baby group for babys under 4 months, I'll be out the house for about 7 hours so will be a do or die moment! I too have bought one of those mirrors today from Argos so I'll be able to see what he's up to!

Has anyone had their jabs yet? And how did they react? We have ours on Friday morning.

No flattening of clothes happening here, but then I never have! THink I'll keep quiet on the sleep though Jacob has been going for 10 hours, but in my defence he doesn't sleep during the day!

Well I'm often in two minds but I'm fairly sure I'm me.

Most of the time anyway.

Alys had her jabs last week and she was fine. Bloody pissed off in the surgery but she soon quietened down. I wanted a decent night's sleep She felt a bit hot later so I gave her a spoonful of calpol before bed. Hope it all goes well for you Pootle.

Progress made tonight as managed to get DD in bed asleep after 9pm feed. She is of course awake now and daddy is just changing her nappy but at least it's a start. > oh bugger. She didn't last long at all. :(

pootle my ds had his jabs last week and did develop a temperature but was fine with calpol. He was upset in the doctors but fine afterwards although did get little lumps where the injections had been (perfectly normal) and redness. I read somewhere that you should only give calpol if they get a temperature otherwise it can lessen the impact of the immunisation. No idea if that is true but read it online.

L hated his injections - shouted initially then fell asleep but was Grizzly McGrizzly with temps all day despite calpol (advised by doctor and nurse) - and I was naughty and gave him a 3rd dose early the next morning too but figured the dose advice was based on weight and L is a substantial weight. Having said that, both DDs were absolutely fine with theirs.

Ev wasn't too bad with his injections, screamed suitably loudly at the time and a bit hot later but he had a cold and cough as well so might have been that.
How's the sleeping Bubba? We're back to 2.5/ 3 hours pretty much all day, though we do get maybe one or two 4 hour stints in the day/ evening. I'm in the process of reading the baby whisperer again (read it with DD) so starting to get into a daily and bedtime routine. Trying to read really quickly to get to the 'how to get them to sleep longer at night bit!

How are people doing with expressing? I've got a hen do then a weekend away with my mum in May so need to build up a stockpile but finding the time to do it is proving impossible. May have to give him formula then which I'd rather not do as it might put him off breast feeding for good. Hopefully if we can get into a routine then I can plan some time in for it.

Weather is fab here today so planning a long walk and some gardening, what's everyone else up to?

apologies for the me me me post - DP is working in france this week, he's just rung to say under the company restructuring his job has disappeared. :( no idea what we'll do as I'd not planned on going back to work and the company I work for is apparently in severe financial difficulties too. :(

flip

on a positive note, the sun is shining, and DD and I have NCT coffee to go to this afternoon to distract us, I've even put my fit flops on!

Hi all! Feel like I have been away a lifetime but is in fact only 4 days! The 60th party in Southwold went ok, although the 5 7 hour drive was suitably horrific and although she did very well, she screamed blue murder for the last hour. Understandably. Don't know what I'd have done on my own as I had to get DP to put her back in the seat as she screamed as soon as she went near it (we were standing at the side of a country road in the pitch black at this time). Anyway, stopped in Bedford at DDad's on the way back, so it broke the journey up into bearable chunks.
You soon realise as well that noone else factors in small baby stuff, so they expect you to be able to leave the house on time/ stroll about with nairy a thought for feeding/ changing etc. Was quite wearing trying to point out that small person is not a doll just brought along for some heart-warming photo opportunities but a very demanding person who cannot wait until the end of the meal to be fed as mummy too busy getting ready to feed before due to feeding on demand. Managed a weray smile at great aunt's "making a rod" BS and listened to great grandma telling all and sundry what a perfect baby Saskia is (the pressure, the pressure... )
Hope you all well. Off to enjoy 33rd 21st birthday today

Sorry to hear that Running - rubbish news. Try and stay positive.
Can I also apologise for me me me post - haven't hadf chance to catch up on news but will do and will engage soonest.

Hi everyone, I apologise again for rubbish updating from me but i have had a busy week so far.

Sorry to hear about your's and your DP's work situation Running hope it all turns out ok.

Ok, so Monday George (like the other LOs on here) had his first jabs, being a complete boy he screamed the place down even the nurse was impressed with the volume his managed to reach! DD was much calmer when she had hers done, so I'm wondering if it is a boy thing lol. He was a bit grizzly for the rest of the day, but he didn't get a temp and slept normally that night too.

Yesterday we went off to the hospital for an unltrasound scan on his hips, he had to have this done as i was born with dislocated hips and apparently this is standard procedure now (wasn't with DD, she just had a physical exam). Anyway, he was good as gold and even smiled and gurgled at the sonographer which was really cute and he was given the all clear, yay!

So, this morning George and I went to see DD perfom in her spring concert which was lovely and I got all teary seeing all the littlies doing their songs (ok, so she's 6 but she's still my little baby). George was superb and decided not to cry until the concert had finished and the kids were filing out of the hall so I got to tell DD how fab she was before we left.

George is still sleeping well (as long as we are in the room), he will sleep through from 11pm/12am to 5/6am, then will have another 2-3 hours after the morning feed. He's not so great at napping through the day and during the evening, but he's not crying so much anymore, so we can cope with that.

I am due to be taking DD and George to see my parents in Oxfordshire this weekend and staying for the week. The thought of driving two kids nearly 200 miles (at least a four hour journey) on my own is filling me with terror. Please tell me I'll survive!!! .

Oh and before I go, is anyone else having problems starting a diet? I just can't seem to relinquish my pregnancy eating and i'm just eating what I want (i.e crap) and can't seem to discipline myself. My double chin is getting bigger, how can I get into the healthy eating zone? Grrr!

Oh dear Running I really hope the work situation resolves itself favourably. DP could be in similar situation as the parent company in the US is about to be sold and they don't know if the company will be liquidated or the profitable bits sold off as a going concern. Luckily the UK side of the company is profitable but I think the uncertainty is concerning and I keep nagging advising DP to update his CV.

So glad you enjoyed your wedding in travis. Southwold is lurvley and weddings are agreat opportunity to show off your baby to the whole family.
We've been invited to a family birthday in May but it's in Yorkshire so the cost of petrol just makes it prohibitive. As much as I'd like to go, I can think of better things to spend £100 on than petrol. :(

ooops, sorry travis it was a birthday you went to, not a wedding! Blame the baby brain!

Hi all - gorgeously sunny day here and got our tickets for Jools Holland in Kew in the summer - hurrah!! :)

gallic your baby brain is definitely in (or is it out of ?) gear; "So glad you enjoyed your wedding in travis" hehehe!

Oh, shit news running. Hope you can sort something out.

4hr journey alone won't not too bad as long as you break it up at a time that suits baby. I drove from London to Cumbria on my own with DD1 and DD2 when DD2 was just a baby and DD2 wasn't quite 2 - and had bikes on the back of the car which bounced off the bike rack mid-M40!!!! Apart from that slight hiccup (!), it was fine but I made sure I stopped well in advance of needs of feeding, and had spares of everthing at the ready. I even managed to change them both into their PJs in the services' loos without putting DD2 down (and DD1 was too young to dress herself). Military planning helps though :o

We got caught in traffic jams heading back from Cambridge on Sunday and had to pull over for me to haul L into the front of the car so I could feed him at the side of the road while trying to entertain the other two as they were knackered and it was way past their bed time. Went to a drive-thru MaccyDs as a reward for me and DH when the kiddies all zonked out again though! Naughty secret eating in the front of the car while DCs are asleep is the way forward :o

Right, children calling. Catch up later.

Hello, may I join you all please? My DS was born by emcs on the 29th January. Hope you and your DCs are all doing well :)

welcome kirisox

pls excuse the typing one handed whilst winding a very grizzly baby who had his jabs today. poor little mite has had calpol and two naps and still he's grumpy.

sounds like everyone's travelling atm!

katie sorry to hear about your DP's job. fingers crossed that the company turn things around and his job is safe.

bubba jools holland is chuffing lovely and hope you have a great time. His guest artists are always brilliant too.

rock such fab news about George's sleeping/waking patterns. what agood boy!

running crap news about DPs job, hope it works out for you.

bubba DH will be of your Jools tickets.

sorry the babies are suffering with their imms, Kali was most upset by hers and fairly grumpy for the rest od the day, Boys never bothered at all with theirs.

We have had a lovely day here today too, and I went for lunch with the girls and one of them is pg after trying for 5 years - Im so so pleased for her she is a lovely person.

We are off travelling too! We are going to Worcester on Easter Monday to visit by DB and SIL and their lovely new baby girl. Can't wait for a cuddle.

ooh Welcome kirisox and congratulations

Hi, welcome kirisox and homebound and congrats on your babies. Whereabouts are you from? How are you finding things? Do you like ironing?

:o

Welcome kirisox and homebound, how's it all going? What do you have DS's or DD's?
As you may have guessed we don't do ironing, we do do chocolate the odd or more. Some of the babies are very well behaved, others not so much so don't mention sleeping to me and Bubba .
Right Masterchef on so catch you later

Welcome homebound and kirisox. Do you have ds or dd? Also are you first timers or experienced mums?

Sorry to hear about dp job running. Will he get a redundancy package that might take the pressure off a little?

Is anyone else wathcing 'Jamie's Dream School' HOnastly those kids need a slap. Keep thinking of ds and what he will be like at that age. Perfect of course!!

Travis I too have a 6 or 7 hour journey on Saturday so also worried about lenght of time ds will have in car seat but will make sure we stop for breaks although tbh I'm hoping ds will sleep most of the way.

Anyone heard from cupcakes? Hope you are doing alright wherever you are x