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

Love the descriptions of what your LOs can do DD doesn't seem to have learnt any new tricks lately. She points and says "dah" and that gets her everything she wants. It has crossed my mind to pretend not to understand her a bit too, rainbow. But whenever she point at her cup and I ask her to say cup, or even to hold it herself, she has a screaming fit

We've had a bad few nights. Then yesterday I noticed tooth no. 9 poking through - a pre-molar?! - I have no idea but it looks a big'un and painful to get through the gum. Last night was the worst for months, DH even got up twice which is unheard-of (once would be unheard-of, twice is a cataclysmic night). Pretty tired today, thought little pickle was having a good long morning nap but I've just heard her start murmering No rest for the wicked eh.

Oh and yy to DD not liking the grass. DH has just returfed our (teeny tiny) lawn which the dog had systematically destroyed, it is lush and green and long (can't cut it yet). DD seemed perplexed and a little scared when I put her on it and promptly climed right up onto me every time. Must fit in a few picnics while the grass-fear lasts!

Glad it's not just mine that is grass-phobic!

We have blown kisses too, and if you say "kiss" to DD2, she leans towards you with her lips pursed. So cute. She also loves pressing buttons, and while she doesn't shape sort or build towers, she loves putting things through other things (we have various wooden toys that do this) so her fine motor control is... well, fine!

Had an awful night with her last night. I spent an hour and a half trying to settle her, then realised that DH hadn't put the nappy on properly and she was soaked (I hadn't noticed before because of her sleepng bag). So I changed her nappy, clothes and sleeping bag, and she was asleep in 20 minutes. Then went and told off DH (who denied all knowledge, despite him being the one who got her dressed for bed last night - why do men do that?).

We also have friends (with kids) staying over so DD1 was up at 6am (she normally stays in bed until her clock says 7am) chatting loudly to her friend who was in the trundle bed next to her. So I think I got four hours sleep last night. I feel dreadful, but at least I'm working from home today. Though this is because I have a huge amount of copy on - wait for it - chemistry that needs editing.

CS scones I wish mine was grass phobic !
SC be thankful about the animals, DD2 wants anything which moves, she runs after dogs, cats, squirrels, birds .... doing "ooh wooh"

Cs sorry about the awful night. Your DH sounds like mine .

Since I switched to cow's milk DD2 is having more than double what she had in formula , any advice? similar experience
That is a huge amount of milk

well after a good night he had a bad one to remind us of what they're like

every 2 hours until 3 (with the resettles taking quite some effort). Awake until 4:30 where we let her CIO. She only cried in total for 10 mins (so only a few mins at full volume). Slept for an hour. Repeated the same at 6:30 with same results. Maybe the other tooth is coming through, I haven't had a chance to check it.

dd2 just said a new word :'heiss' (hot) after an encounter with the oven...

PA

Sorry your night was so bad as well chestnut Thanks soc :)

I just feel so emotional about it today. I think it's because it was the first time we really left her to CIO, as opposed to just grumbling. Thankfully it didn't tkae long otherwise I don't know what I would have done.

Sorry to hear you had a bad night cs and PA (PA sorry to hear you're emotional about the CIO)

DS likes the grass, or at least it doesn't disturb him. He was more than happy to walk across the park to go and see the ducks.

How are the ttc ladies doing? (sorry I'm too curious) And hope our pregnant ladies are feeling fine.

Waves to everybody else

to be fair, I think it's also because me and DH agreed last night that he would apply for jobs and I would not work for the next year. I feel quite guilty about it. I realised that while I feel guilty about a few things, I don't feel guilty for working, just wish my working conditions felt different. I keep telling myself that if I had a job in the UK I would be allowed a year off, can't work out exactly what my issue with it is. This is the only way I would get more than 3 months off. I'm also aware that DH loves being a SAHD so feel like I'm making him work, yet I know it's fair that this way we've both had a year at home. Of course now I've made the decision I'm not sure if I want to be a SAHM but that's because I think I'll be lazy and bad at it.

Ah, don't be too hard on yourself, PA. Sometimes they need to have a shout before they settle. And she has to learn to do it without your help. I'm not a big fan of CC for small babies, but once they get to the age ours are, sometimes you have to take a tougher line with your parenting. You're allowing her to learn a valuable skill.
But I know what you mean, it is heart-wrenching to have to listen to it and not do anything. But if you know they are dry, comfortable and not teething or sickening for something, then you're not being cruel by leaving be for a while.

Oh, CS, how infuriating for you (the nappy debacle) and how uncomfortable for your poor DD2! Never mind the telling off, if your DH does it again, give him a major pummeling with a handy implement.

I'm no expert Shro, but having just rechecked Dr Green's Toddler Taming I would say provided the milk intake isn't interfering with her intake of other foods, at this age I wouldn't worry about it. And she's a big busy lass, your DD2, so needs her calories!

Love the disco baby idea, Bc!

Scones, rainbow, DD's word is "dyim" plus pointing. She is attempting a few more words ("prunes", "cheese" and "snooze") but "dyim" achieves most of what she wants. I imagine a lot of them go through this phase!

Ah, a gentle toddler, Soc - lucky you!

Well, DD actually had a properish cuddle with me today! ie she leaned against me and put her head against my chest after asking to be picked up. Usually she squirms and fidgets (although asks to be picked up again the moment you try and put her down).
All you with cuddly kissy babies might not realise what a breakthrough that was!!

Sorry, X-posted!

PA, you won't be able to be lazy with a baby and a toddler to look after! And from what you tell us here I think it's highly unlikely you'll be bad at it! Try not to give yourself such a hard time, you really don't deserve it.

Hi SB! Well, in answer to your question, lots of marital relations going on, but it's a bit early to tell whether we've had any success yet. Because I haven't had a period post mc I don't even know if I've ovulated. Time will tell!

PA everything will be fine. I agree with IC on CC, I did it at 8 months as I knew DS was ready for it but it is stressful but for us a few nights of training where enough. I was also back to work and knackered every morning because I was up from 2am for 30mn or more and then up at 6.30am. It had to be a success (and it was/it) for my sanity iyswim. Good luck which ever way you go.

Way to go IC even if it's not successful yet, practice makes perfect

Have finished term today for 13 days - hooray! Have had two bad teething nights with DS2 and have been out of bed 9 times or more on each night - have been sponsored by the evil CocaCola today to get through a day in the office when I was trying to write important reports. Not sure that the holiday is going to be any less mad than term time as my two are into fighting at the mo and DH and I spend half our time refereeing. DS2 has suddenly decided to become a budding footballer and dribbles a ball around the house non-stop. DS1, meanwhile, has developed an obsession with the movie Cars and insists that I keep pushing cars around the floor on my hands and knees - I hate it-hurts my knees!

PA Your DD sounds very similar to DS2 with the bridge thing and the running around stuff. Hope the CC goes okay.

My pelvis is rubbish at the mo so I've got to go and lie on the floor to do my exercises as they do help. have been too busy lately to do them well. Hope life will calm down a bit again for the next two weeks and will get back on here more.

p.s. do ask me to be friends on FB too cos I can see that from my phone when eating lunch in a field between school visits - can't see mumsnet.

Hi bethy have a rest and enjoy you well deserve it

Ah, bethy, sounds like you deserve a rest. I hope someone can help you have it at some point soon!

DD's latest fashion exploits if anyone's interested....

IC priceless! dd2 most impressed

Schrodinger, re milk intake, just lock the fridge if she helps herself . Sorry, feeling flippant... Simply give her 150ml in the morning and evening and yoghurt etc in the day, and be done with it. She only drinks too much milk if you give it to her, no?

dd2 reminded me again last night that she listens and understands more than I think. I casually remarked to dd1 that dh was back when I heard the front door. dd2 had been half asleep on my lap reading a book and she sat up, flung her book away and starting crying for Papa! So he had to do more books and she had a tantrum when he tried to put her to bed...(by this point she was hugely overtired).

SC not helping! So when your DD2 finish her 150 ml and cries real tears, you just ignore her and go around getting ready for the school run or put her to bed like that, in tears? It is not a tantrum I have many to compare with during the day.
DD2 does try to help herself during the day but I don't let her.

IC .
I love everybody's pictures on FB.

Small boast if I may? When I hand dd2 a wet wipe after her meal she very delicately wipes her mouth and hands and the table in front of her .
She's also doing lots of walking today after a bit of a setback when she started two weeks ago and then got very poorly. For nearly two weeks she would do two steps and sink to her knees in tears . Just too ill to walk!

Schrodinger sorry, didn't mean to upset you. Do you think she is genuinely hungry or thirsty or just likes to drink milk? Is she drinking from a bottle (babies drink more from bottles, as you know). Would she accept a cup? Does she need more food- she's very tall for her age? Does she drink water? I don't think there is any harm in her having lots of milk as long as she eats well, too.
PS. I have the opposite problem at the moment and dd2 drinks very little milk (and I wish she would drink more!). She's refused bottles from a year old and doesn't drink much from a cup either.

not so happy about dh's horizontal parenting... Just found four unravelled tampons in my washbag . dd2 must have done an inventory.

SC your DD2's post-meal wipe-down is very impressive!

IC love the clip Our DD is also not a cuddly bunny. The only cuddle-time I get is just prior to putting her down for a nap or the night, so long as she has her snuggly (bunny) she will submit to a short cuddle. Other than that, it's wriggle away sharpish. As for kisses... no chance.

bethy I second your needing a rest. Doesn't sound like you're going to get it at home... Really hope someone can take over for the afternoon one day.

PA on the CC but really 10 minutes is not very long (even though it feels a lifetime). DD has properly cried for 40 mins before I've just been at the end of my tether and had to leave her. It hasn't really worked for us or maybe we did it wrong, she is still waking every three hours

Where is MrPA applying for jobs, in the States?

I had my dating scan today - all seems fine and they've put me at 12w5 which is one day further on than I think. It's moved me one day the wrong way, as I'm sure this one will be a fortnight late too and so it's one less day to be 'allowed' a home birth. Oh well. Lovely to see the little wriggler.

DD in a funny mood today - teething hurting I suppose.

Scones glad your scan went well today