FEB 2010 Tottering into our second year...!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

A few first birthdays left, then we're full tilt into walking/talking and a mountain of mischief

hi all. typing on overhead tying in the dark. ds1 doing well. they sedated him straight away in the end-probahly saw how l8vely he was in the playroom! then he became an aggressive drunk which was very tricky as kept lurching around with tube pack dangling! currently havd ward to ourselves so will try to sleep soon, although ds1 very unsettlrd-as i would be. thahks for all warm thoughts.

ds2 is affectionately known as sumo or monster! he says mummy, daddy, ta-taught by minder, grandma, nana for banana, yeh, no-so argues with ds1-and answers ys and no questions. shows that boys can be good talkers too :-) oh yes, and he loves to walk round shouting 'oh wow!' which is my rsponse to their achievements

my boys are: full of energy, go getters, cheeky, articulate, very smiley, climbers, runners, have a mind of their own but know the rules--well ds1 does, very confident, friendly, er...did i mention the energy??!:-) does this not describe at least half of your girls tho, those of you w7th those pink ones?! i personally believe that if i had a girl she would also be a bit mad because i am and that pink and blue are determined more by that than by gender. i always wanted boys and feel very blessed, tho would have just got used to girls!

neck ache now so will doss down on my yellow plastic covered chair bed. oh, and v.jealous of wine bg. i nealy didn't even get tea to eat! sorry for typos-don't know how to go back!

bethy glad to hear from you. Hopefully you managed to get some sleep. I love your boys description.

Another odd night here with DS crying/whinging between 10 am 12.30am but he is still asleep at the moment!

Have a good weekend

Good morning all! Quite unusual for me to be up at this time on a Saturday - I've given DH a lie-in as he was out last night and looked like he needed it. Usually I'd crawl back into bed while DD naps but thought this morning I'd have some me-time instead.

Good to hear from you bethy. Very glad that DS1 is doing well.

SB DD has also been also crying around 10.30pm for the last few nights and I can't see a reason why. No such luck in the mornings, though. She woke at 5.45 today, I persuaded her to go back to sleep for another 45 mins but I've been awake since then I think an afternoon nap might be in order

PA which country are you applying for jobs in? I expect the money's much better in industry?

BG do tell about selling DH.

DD's poor bottom is no better 9am and two big poos already I think DH can do nappy duty for the rest of the day. I think I will have a pregnancy day

It should soon be over, shouldn't it, bethy? I'm very impressed that you managed to post last night! I agree, lovely description of the delights of boys
I hope you all get home soon and that DS1 will be none the worse for his medical ordeal.

Sounds like your DH owes you a pregnancy day, Scones! Enjoy your siesta...

Well, after all that monkeying around at bedtime and me getting stressed about letting DD get overtired, she then slept right through until 07.00 this morning. I reckon she owed me one after the last few nights!

She's sleeping in her trundler now after a bit of a fight getting her to chill out and stop kicking off her covers. Three slowish renditions of The Israeli Boat Song got her off to sleep in the end. That or Twinkle, Twinkle, little star usually does the trick. Anyone else use lullabies for a sleep aid?

Anyway, I think I'll let her have an hourish this morning (assuming she doesn't wake up sooner) and hopefully we can then fit a 30min recharge in later on. I don't wake her up as such, Shro - but she wakes up pretty much as soon as the trundler stops, so I tend to leave that to run its course if I reckon I need to get her up before she wakes up naturally.

PS Bc congrats on making the MN Hot Threads on the mail-out!

Small warning for those planning/baking a second dc... They never do things together eg if one has a lie in (or what counts as a lie in once you have children ) the other decides that 6 o'clock is the new 7.30... Or one sleeps through very soundly and the other wanders over in the small hours asking random questions (Why does Papa have no breasts?)

Scones didn't sell dh after all and will keep him . I have sold a few other baby items though but only those I am very sure I won't need again.

scones I see your two and raise you to 4, all before 8am. A 5am get up, even though she was clearly tired. We seem to struggle with her getting up an hour before she's ready but because it's quite close to getting up time she can't seem to go back off.

Also the book arrived yesterday, but I'm still reading politics of BF. Didn't stop me starting though . Only read the intro which is a bit waffly so far, but I've forgiven it, on account of being an intro.

Am now at work and am shattered already and still 12 hours to go, but at least I've two consecutive days off starting tomorrow.

DS has spent his afternoon nappy free and launching himself walking

scones I too don't know why he's doing that but I think I saw a new tooth coming through so fingers crossed this is the reason!

I've just had news that DD has a 3 hour nap and DH even got an hour. Though apparently no-one has told her she's just had a massive nap so should be happy.

SB we need a video

3 hours, PA

Ooh, another walker, SB, yay!

Now that's a random question to wake up to, BG

DD is so close to standing unaided and taking a few steps....but not quite...

I made sure DD had two naps today, first one an hour, second one 30mins. She fidgeted a bit at bedtime (and was ridiculously hyper just beforehand) so I stayed in the room for ten mins and did some shushing and put my hand on her to try and discourage her from sitting up. It seemed to help, when I did walk out, a couple of "sleepy time"s through the crack in the door quelled her again and then all went quiet.
What's the betting she'll get me up tonight, though?!

IC he's not walking yet, just finding his feet. I hope you'll get a good night sleep and that she'll stay put.

Home here and very relieved to be back with my gorgeous boys as a family of four once more. We're tired and a little worn out but pretty good really. DS1 has cried a lot today but had only had 7 hours sleep in 36 which is not enough for a poorly nearly 3 year old. We await the results but, from my sneaky peaks, I think they are good.

Your snoring posts made me giggle last night as I was kept awake till 3 a.m by a daddy snoring in another bay. I wondered if I could apply the same techniques to a man I didn't know!! Slept form 3-5.15a.m. and now need to eat my takeaway curry (treat) and crawl into bed.

Back once we've recovered!! Love to all.

Hellllooooo!
I have been 2 weeks without my pc at home. Work had to do some stuf on it regarding me connecting remotely when I work from home. I missed you guys!

So much has happened, DD had a shocking virus, two weeks ago today. Mainly d and v, temp of 38.6. We had hospital visits as she was dehydated and she slept constantly all day and night, with me waking her every 2 hours or so through the nights to force rehydration solution. She has only just got back to her self on Monday this week. She is eating like a horse, but her sleeping is awful. She has a cold and another bad cough. Was up for 2 and half hrs with her last night. Its becoming a pattern.
I can hear her coughing now...poor mite. Have raised mattress and given her baby meltus, not working.

Me and DP are drifting apart. He has been quiet for a week and last night says he is not sure if he wants to be with me anymore as we never do anything just us. In 13 months we have never been out. Due to her poor sleep. I just cant face it-what with work and her wake ups I am in bed by 9pm still to cope and stay off the meds. He is feeling neglected and I am resentful due to what I have been through. I am not even sure I care...my priority is DD and trying to keep it together at work.

So second Sat night in a row, I am home alone listening to the baby monitor.

So good news: After the virus, DDs walking took a back step, but the last few days she is practising her steps more and more. Loves to climb up to me and let go, arms out to the side with a big grin as if to say "TA DAA!"
This morning I took her to have her feet measured and she has her first pair of Clarks shoes. They are so cute and she loves them. Held one out to me earlier and stuck her feet out for me to put them on!!

She iscommunicating loads, she shakes her head for no and puts her arms out to be lifted for yes and points to where she wants to go.

Loving the fact she is eating so well, but since the virus, she now hates her tippy cup and now she will drink from my glass or cup, so she is a tad constipated. Hoping prune juice starts to work its magic soon.

Right, thats me. Hope you are all well (especially the pregnant ones) off to read all your posts!!

xx

Welcome back LBH we were worried. to hear about you and DP but glad your DD is getting better.

bethy yepee! enjoy your curry and go quickly to bed (and sleep)

LH :( and at your DP. I completly understand why you feel that way. It sounds like DP is he expecting you to sort everything, baby, work and relationship.

BUT your DD sounds amazing. Mine doesn't really communicate except for being grumpy atm. I hope you both continue to recover and you do what needed for you.

too tired to do anything else ,weak wave to everybody else>

Bethy So glad you are all at home together. Well done to DS1 for coping with hospital, not surprised he's tearful. Give him a hug from me. Fingers crossed for good results.

LBH It's great to hear from you but so sorry you've had such a shitty time (and DD of course). Your husband sounds as if he doesn't want to acknowledge that life changes after children and doesn't want to take on any of the extra responsibility - and then resents you for being tired because the burden is all on your shoulders. Arsehole.

IC I'm glad you got a good night's sleep. DS slept from 7.30 until 3 and then I bought him into bed with me for a snoozy feed for about 40 mins then he went back to sleep until nearly 6am (in fact 7am but I'd forgotten about the clocks - I'm hoping if we put him to bed at 7ish tonight that he won't re-set his inner clock and we'll get to wake up at 7 tomorrow as well). He did two 1 and a half hour naps yesterday. 9.30-11 and 2.30-4.

PA Hope you enjoy your days off.

dh has taken the girls to the park to give me time to clean the house... I'd rather have the time to do absolutely nothing at all, sit on the sofa and read yesterday's paper (and last weekend's and the weekend before that...) Ah well, better get the ironing board out...

BG Out of interest, what would you rather be doing, in the park with the DDs or cleaning? Maybe it sounds mad but these days I like DH to take DD off my hands for a couple of hours and get stuck into the cleaning. I mean sometimes I'd rather that than be out with her myself. Of course in an ideal world I'd have a cleaner, and spend a couple of hours catching up with those papers. Listen make sure you give yourself at least 15 minutes with your feet up, you hear?

LBH great to hear from you! So sorry that DD's been ill it sounds awful, but great that she's on the mend. The bad sleep will get better as she recovers.

at your DP. I agree completely with bc. Having a baby changes your life so completely, it still takes me by surprise. You really need his support, not him demanding more of you than you're able to give. Tell him he sounds like a spoilt child and to man up and shoulder some responsibility. And that abandoning you every weekend is certainly not going to help.

However I do think that couple time is very important if you are going to keep a relationship going. It doesn't have to be at night though. Could you hand DD to a relative or friend for a Saturday afternoon (for example) and do something together, go to cinema, have lunch or just go and have coffee? Any mum friends you could call on, and could then do the same for them? (I'm attempting to build a babysitting circle by offering to babysit for my mum friends atm [devious emoticon])

bethy hope your whole family caught up on sleep.

bc we were hoping to use the clock change to encourage DD to sleep to 7am (usually it's 6am). This morning she woke at 6am, i.e. 5am GMT. Little minx. So she has reset her own routine to exactly what it was GMT but BST. And that's after a truly terrible night with hourly wake-ups. I think it's her bottom - it is really bad, may take her back to doc tomorrow.

IC how was your night?

I really never thought I'd be a mum who is obsessed by sleep. I just thought DD would sleep through, I really did. I'm afraid poor number 2 is going to have some fairly tough love from the start. I truly cannot go through this again.

scones neither I want to be idle... Well, I have been good, so time for

BG I completely understand.

Today DS woke up at 7.10am (old 6.10am) but lasted until 6.40pm (old 5.40pm) to go to bed so with only one nap this morning he has done too bad.

DH thinks DS is changing everyday, I have to admit I see he does new things but don't get over excited by it

DS eats camembert and likes it!!! He however doesn't see the pint in eating fruits others than bananas.

This summer DH and I are going to escape for a few days without DS (my mum has offered to baby sit for a few days) like we did last year. I agree that time without LO are important but as CS says it doesn't have to be at night.

LBH, what a relief to hear from you, we were starting to worry.
Sorry you've been having such a torrid time with your DD being ill, but very pleased to hear she's much better now. And impressed with the the standing, too!
Oh dear, things don't sound good with your DP. Do you think you can salvage the relationship? Have you thought about trying Relate?
I'm afraid I'm not very impressed with the lack of support he seems to be showing you. Granted, he hasn't been having much fun lately, but did he really think having a baby was going to be a walk in the park? And given the sleep issues, it sounds to me like he really needs to cut you some slack. Unfortunately, crappy sleep often comes with the package and he needs to understand that it will get better and so will you, but these things need time, sympathy and empathy.
Anyway, I'm for you, LBH and I hope things will take a turn for the better for you soon.

bethy, hoorah the family's back home again now and poor DS1 can recover from his medical experience, as can the rest of you. I hope you managed to pull back a bit of sleep last night. In my experience, the only time it's possible to get a decent bit of kip in a hospital is if they put you under anaesthetic...!

Good naps, bc! Wow! 1.5hours for one nap is about the best we can hope for here, but even that is often more than DD actually manages.

Yes, scones, me too (sleep obsession) - I wasn't expecting DD to sleep though super early, but I thought she would have managed it a bit earlier than she did! I'd love to think I'll be more laid back regarding sleep with DC2, but who knows?

Last night was magic, actually. DD woke about 21.30 very briefly, but DH did a good job of ssh/patting her back to sleep and after that, nothing until 06.30/07.30. And I got more than 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep!! It's a new PB.
DD has been a bit fidgety getting off to sleep this evening, not surprisingly, although we did curtail naps with the aim of getting her bedtime to fit in with the clock change....

Bah, and we seem to have caught the nappy rash outbreak after DD being free of it for gawd-knows-how-long. She's had a red bum for the last couple of days and two of the patches look a bit close to breaking the skin. We're administering Bepanthen and giving her nappy-free time where we can. I suppose it could be related to the advent of her new molars, but who knows?

Blimey, this has become quite an essay!

Wow 7 hrs of sleep in one go.

I know I've had more than 3 hours in one go since she's been born, but it has been a while

LBH please please feel free to keep venting on here, or posting a thread elsewhere. Hope your Sunday was good.

beth well done on surviving. When do you get the results?

LBH sorry about your DH. It is hard to be a wife as well as a mother when things are difficult with the LOs (and sleep deprivation is high on the list of difficulties), but I agree that nice time can be generated just by having a nice meal (not necessarily home-cooked, a meal deal from M&S will do) and curling up in front of a DVD box set. But you will find your way, and it will turn out the way it is meant to.

Sorry some of you are having nap/sleep issues. I'm not a huge advocate of waking from naps, but I will get DD2 out of the car or pushchair if she's fallen asleep and we have gone somewhere (or vice versa), when she always wakes up. She's never too grumpy about it, and it never seems to affect her nighttime sleep, but I think we're lucky.

I've just come back from a weekend with my sister. We had a lovely time shopping, eating, drinking and sleeping. But it was wonderful to come home and see my girls. DH says he has had a really nice time with them, and it has certainly strengthened his bond with DD2 (who he sometimes doesn't see for a few days at a time if he is working long hours).

DD2 is not talking as DD1 was at this age (she probably had 100 words by now, but was a bit freaky like that), but she is definitely communicating with waving, headshaking for no, clapping in appreciation... she certainly makes her feelings and intentions very clear!

bethy hope you had a good day back home today. When is your DS2 in hospital?

CS good to know that our DH can deal with the LO without us

IC good news on the night