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

Feeling strangely proud of my dd1 that she'd rather play with cars than with barbie dolls

Thanks IC. Don't know how you cope!

Mostly fine - luckily DD is a reasonably good-natured soul. The problem is if we hit a crisis, I'm less able to cope without a bit of a teary melt-down. But luckily, we don't have too many crises, so generally things bob along okay.

Impressed with your DD's gender-blind toy favouring!

Well... I may possibly be guilty of a small amount of social engineering. I was a tomboy myself and dd1 has always had a fair few cars (to the extent that her boy friends like to come and play because she has more than them...). I am keen to avoid treating my two as little princesses... Mind you, she is very keen on anything pink etc. so social norms as they are won't pass her by.

We had another bad night last night too. The night before last was ok 7-6 with a half hour wake + feed at three but last night he started crying (screaming) around midnight and nothing would calm him so DH who was still working took him downstairs and put him in the pram to rock him back to sleep. Apparently it took an hour and a half and then he woke up at 5. I went down to get him (DH had slept on sofa with pram next to him) and took him back to bed with me. He dozed fitfully and nursed until 7-ish then I got up with him and DH had an extra hour in our bed.

I hate playing musical beds. I was in such a good mood and got so much done yesterday - today I'm not too bad as got my minimum for being functional (5-ish hours and in one chunk) but I'm worried that this seems to be a trend.

There is a sleep regression round about this time that could last up to another 5 weeks. Sigh.

Oh DS weighs 8.6 kilos (19 lb) and is on the 25th centile for weight. For length he's pretty consistently been on the 50th but haven't had him measured since 8m check.

Scones Poor little DD with the jabs. It's a horrible job to do it but we know it's for their own good.

PA Hope the second meeting went ok. How did he react?

Bethy Hope your chest starts to improve soon. So sorry about your neighbour.

Chinook Amazing about the Robbie thing. Well done on the weight loss. I think I really need to address my cake/biscuit habit now that I'm BFing a lot less.

Someone I know went to interview Robbie once and he propositioned her - she turned him down (she's married for a start) and he said, in a mournful voice "Just as well really, I've got a tiny cock" - so it sounds like you didn't miss much!

at Robbie propositions!!

Bad luck, Bc.
That's my minimum sleep total too (5 hours)...haven't hit it much lately, though.

BG wait a bit the barbies/little poneys will come your DD1 is a bit too young yet. DD1 has cars, legos, construction sites things and DH bought her a hammer but still a princess (princess tomboy to be fair! raspunzel or fiona ) turn around 4 yo.

Hope the trip goes well. When I travel alone with DD1 I write my mobile number on her arm and she has a note in her pocket saying where we are going name and age and who to contact.

Xpost
BC at robbie doesn't really surprise me.
sorry about the sleep.

schro I like your idea of writing your mobile number on DD1's arm. It could be her 1st tattoo ?

IC she can do it now, so she'll do it again. DS slept through for a few weeks then went back on waking up again for a week or so then went back to sleep through.

chinook well done on the weight lost.

I am now lighter than I was before I got pregnant and can fit in my size 10 jeans (go and hide before people throw stuff at me).

bethy sorry to hear that your DS2 is unwell and about your blackeye. I use arnica too for me and DS.

Stonebaby you'd better duck!

SB duck! I have a closet full of size 10 that still don't fit

5 hours minimum sleep bc and IC ...

DD went through to 5.30am last night, then complained heartily when I didn't feed her. She resettled eventually and woke at 7 on the dot. Of course I couldn't get back to sleep Don't know whether to blame pregnancy, DH's loud breathing or just my stupid overactive brain.

I am also lalalaing about the...

IC you've made DoD!

I know, Scones!

I've finally arrived!

Bad luck on the job, Scones. Good luck for the next attempt.

Thanks for the reassurance on the sleep, SB. Yes, I knew the sleeping through would be intermittent to start with, so I'm, ah, not losing any sleep about that..er...???!!!

As for the 13moSR, it may not affect your LOs too badly, Scones and Shro. My DD slept better through the 9moSR and as we get closer to the 55 weeks, the trend is once again an improving one. So you may find it's no big deal. And it's not meant to be as much of a killer as the 4 and 9moSRs....

Good for you at the meeting, PA. Your boss... sheesh.

I must confess, I'm still getting into my size 10 stuff (although my belly's already starting to bloat out...second pg shows quicker, I guess). DD's continuing enjoyment of BF plus her bloody buggy naps are what I put that down to.
I have a biggish chocolate habit (up to one large bar per day), but apart from the occasional bit of cake made by DH, I have very little sugary stuff in general, I don't even drink fruit juice, for example.
This pg I'm craving dairy products, especially cheese, so I expect to see my rear end swelling mightily pretty soon...

Oh yes well done on getting on Discussions of the Day, IC. I wonder what you'll have this time round - will you (or any of you other pregnant ones) find out at the 20 week scan or will you wait for a surprise?

PA Glad to hear the meeting went ok. How do you feel yourself now about whether you want to stay or not?

Anyone reading anything good at the moment (apart from parenting books)? I just started Wolf Hall, it is living up to the hype so far, I love it.

I am back in the Uk in one piece and the journey was pretty okay. Most importantly dd2 was totally unfazed by the flight and showed no sign of earache (Phew!). She wasn't best pleased about the car journeys to the airport and then from Stansted to the Midlands, but it could have been worse.

IC most impressed by the DOD . Mine were similar except craving apricots and tomatos first going off sweets with dd1 but then craving dark chocolate, and craving first salty things and later sweet things with dd2... No help there but yes I did show quicker but didn't get bigger overall if that makes sense.
PAhope you told him 'entitlement' is the appropriate word!
Scones so sorry you didn't get the job!
bear I've been reading 'One day' which has had brilliant reviews but I haven't been totally taken with it. Starts off well enough but gets a bit too wordy for my liking when all I want to know is what happens (if anything..) next. Afraid I skim read ahead a little and have pretty much spoiled the rest of the book for myself...

I am also a size 8/10 (depending on make)but wish I wasn't because I am technically underweight for my height. Always been skinny and tall and always wished I had some curves! The only curve I have now is a small but perfectly formed muffin top

Welcome back, BG!

Ooh, book recommendations...did you get that on your Kindle, Bc?
I've got a Kindle too (Valentines present from DH), but have only downloaded a few classics so far. We've actually got a stack of books here which I must try and read before we relocate back to the UK - we don't want to be carting any more stuff than we have to...

I'm struggling to keep up!

Just popped in to tell you something funny Dp said to me this morning. DD has a cough at the moment and woke us twice during the night with coughing fits - once at 1 and once at 4. The first time DP got up and gave her some milk and calpol and she went back to sleep. At 4 he got up and gave her milk. When we both woke this morning he said he waited patiently at the 4am wake thinking I was bound to get up and see to her as it was my turn - to no avail. I laughed like a drain at the idea that he thought I'd get up. I am soooo lazy. Now I'm back at work, ain't ever gonna happen.

Currently reading Apartment 16 - i tend to only read horror books as i find them relaxing.

PA - your boss.

I loved One Day! Perfect holiday reading, I thought. But I was reading it at home and so everything else suffered, and I stayed up reading it late at night instead of getting precious sleep

I don't really read books any more. We get a daily paper and I just about manage to read the weekend supplements throughout the week

How many weeks are you IC?

at those who can read even more of those with a kindle. DH is denying me one .

I was a size 4 when I arrived in the UK. Clearly underweight and couldn't find any clothes my size (I am not petite)
I am a 12 now, still in a healthy weight (I am 5'8").
So no complaint technically I am fine being the size I am, it is just that I bought new clothes a month before conceiving DD2, I wish I could wear them . I also hate shopping and might have to do it again for summer clothes soon.
I thought it went down quicker the 1st time around .
BG muffin top seems better than my overhanging belly. both DDs were massive and all in front. Need to try yoga again.

PA Ignore him. Easier said than done, I know. DH has some problems with his bosses too. He should ignore his too, but can't! not healthy.

Scones, by my own calculations I'm 8+4. I haven't had any official dating yet, but the first day of my last period was (memorably) on Jan 1st. I had a funny feeling I was going to get pg straight away because I remember thinking, "well, that's an easy date to remember for due date calculations...!"

Stangirl at your ability to sleep through stuff like that! I wish I wasn't such a light sleeper...

Size 4 at 5'8", Schro! Blimey! Yes, sounds like you are a healthier weight now!!

Last night DD slept through, hoorah! And I didn't have too much insomnia to contend with either, so a better night all round. Phew.

I have my campaigning hat on today as I heard that the council are closing down our baby gym. It's only a couple of hours on a Wednesday morning but it's really one of the highlights of Alex's week. It's just a hall full of squishy shapes, trampolines, ball pit etc. for the under 3s to romp around in.

What makes it great is that everyone is really friendly and it's total mix of socio-economic types. It's not taken over by middle class mums and the lady who runs it is really warm and the babies love her (she's probably going to lose her job ).

I can afford to take Alex to soft play if I want to but a lot of the mums who go can't. It's only £1 to go to baby gym - so if it wasn't there their kids wouldn't get the opportunity at all. And they love it.

So am contacting the council to see who we write to - first step is to get a petition and kick up a stink to try and save it (and the nice lady). To be honest I don't think it will do any good so second step is to try and set up an affordable alternative, find a venue and get fundraising. I'm quite angry about this. As soon as I have my facts and a committee together we'll be contacting the south london press and other local media and organising fundraising events etc.

If any of you have ever done anything like this and have any advice I'd be really grateful.