June 10 babies are growing apace, teething and crawling all over the place.

[CantSleepWontSleep]

Here we are ladies. Let's see if we can manage to chat a bit more on this one :).

You see, in a half-Spanish family, no ironing is not an option. I'd be shunned.

Back soon, I promise.

Sadly I quite enjoy ironing.... but then I treated myself to a steam generator when J was bored and it's now even quicker and easier than before!

Filly, will Mia be subdued by being being held by anyone other than you? Being summer hols, I am with J pretty constantly and he goes ballistic if I leave the room, even when Daddy is playing with him. A little distraction and he is generally fine. Not looking forward to september!!!

Where are you in Devon filly? You can come and dump her with me for a bit if you need a break, I'm sure Alice could show her a few tricks that might persuade her to get moving.

I've given in and gone for a stair gate at the bottom to keep Alice off the stairs. No chance of setting up something that DD1 can open as she's a bit slow at that sort of thing and can't even open her bedroom door yet (should I be worried about this at 2.7 do you think?). I think Alice would probably work out how to open it first.

Alice often eats crayons, her nappies are usually speckled with pieces of crayon or sand or glitter. Does this make me a bad mother?

I wouldn't worry about the door. DD can do some doors and not others at 3.7.

See, I am checking on you all, if not posting..

Funnily enough, Mia is much happier, and more likely to actually sit and play, if I'm nowhere around. So she's fine at nursery, and ok at home if I go out and leave her....the problem is only if I'm in the vicinity. Which is a shame, as I love her to bits but it makes it much harder to 'enjoy' her when every time I need to put her down for a moment she turns into nightmare-screaing-baby.

Greensnail - we're near Dartmouth....very tempted to drive over and drop her off for a bit :) :) :) Mia's nappies have been full of sand and some small pebbles this week after she spent a happy afternoon stuffing her face with sand on East Portlemouth beach on Monday I know I would be been bothered by this with dcs 1 & 2, now I just reckon it will all come out the other end.

Or, as someone said to me: when dc1 swallows a coin you try not to panic but end up going to A&E to make sure they're ok. when dc2 swallows a coin you don't panic, but do go through their nappies obsessively until you're sure it has come out the other end. when dc3 swallows a coin, you dock it from their pocket money....

Oh you're only about half an hour away then filly if you get desperate! Although I think if you came today you'd take one look and refuse to let even your neglected third born anywhere near. I me the error outlining it would be a good idea to wash my sofa cushions so now I am surrounded by semi dismantled bits of sofa and the girls have taken the opportunity to trash the rest of the rom for good measure

Did you get it all back together Greensnail? I made the silly mistake of having my cushions cleaned and had to get then to repeat it, then discovered the zips were broken. DH put them back on so I can't swear the company broke them. Boo. Mind you, they were a disgrace and now look good if you don't look at the back.

Barbeasty - how are you now? Isn't infant asthma something they can't diagnose until about two because it often just disappears? How's LO taking to the medecine?

Filly - I've no idea really except to ride it out and give her lots of cuddles as you are doing. I don't think you can train her to want you less, TBH. If DD is anything to go by (although different) they just are the way they are.

So, in-laws are here. I had to put my foot down this morning because I was just working like a dog and getting pretty resentful. For example, because of space restrictions and different timings, I'm cooking and serving up about six meals a day so I get a bit put out if I prepare breakfast, which anyone can do, while everyone else is sitting down chatting in the living room. Everyone is joining in now, so better. And I've done a mountain of ironing this afternoon while the others were watching the children

Am really having serious wobbles about potentially never buying baby clothes again. It's too cute!

No, LaT, it is still in bits all over the living room and is driving me mad. I had to wash the covers twice to try to get them clean so they weren't dry to put back on yesterday evening. It's a two-person job to get them back on as it is such a tight fit (never buy a self-assembly sofa - what were we thinking?) and DH has been out this evening so I haven't been able to do it. Am sat on hardboard and scatter cushions at the moment but the DD's think it is all a great climbing frame.

How long are the in-laws there for? I do a lot of takeaways when mine are here as I find cooking for them too stressful alongside generally entertaining them. At least you got the ironing done though.

Oh I know what you mean about the baby clothes wobbles though. There seemed to be hundreds of newborns at soft play today, made me feel a bit wibbly.

Sorry it's been a while since I last posted. I don't know why really, as I look at the thread almost every day .

I did have a week away in the Isle of Wight with just iPad and phone connection though. Was a good place to holiday, although not great sunny beach weather. I might consider taking them all abroad next year if I can find somewhere good to go.

J still likes to be held an awful lot too filly, although I sense not quite as much as Mia. He does weigh about 1000 times more than her though, so is really killing my arm! I would tend to take the line of she'll grow out of it, so run with it for now to make her feel reassured. And why do you put her down to go to the toilet? I've barely been to the toilet alone for 5.5 years . I have even been known to bf on the loo . Did you sort yourself out a carrier so that you can plonk her on your back or hip?

There is finally a bit of tooth visible under J's gum which has nearly come through, so he might actually get his first one before he turns 14 months .

I don't iron, but don't have much that needs it. Dh will do a bit under duress from time to time (we also have steam gen iron), and failing that I pay a lady to do it for me - it's money well spent if it means that I don't have to do it!

lol at your coin scenario filly!

Bravegirl - what teeny tiny feet your J has. Mine has 4.5H clodhoppers! Actually they are waaaay wider than a H, but that's obv the biggest they do, so they had to rule out some styles.

Hope poorly dc and mummies are all brighter v soon.

stair safety - we have 4 of those roller type gates on our stairs (more than one set), but use them mostly to contain children on a particular level. Dd tends to climb over them if they are in her way .

In the midst of potty training ds1 at the moment. He seems to have it pretty much sorted at home, so fingers crossed he copes ok with going out places over the next 3 days.

LaT- yes, the Dr said they aren't allowed to diagnose asthma this young, but the same symptoms in a 3 or 4 year old would be asthma, so hopefully she'll be one who grows out of it! And I suppose that at least she'll be monitored for it now, so if it doesn't go away we aren't left struggling for a diagnosis until she has a full -blown attack or something.

As for taking the inhaler.... She loves the pictures of teddies on the side of the spacer; loves playing with it, including putting the face mask over her face properly; she laughs when we pretend to treat a teddy; she laughs when she watches me use my inhaler. She screams and goes absolutely into a tantrum when we "puff" the inhaler. I thunk she hates the taste- and I gave to say I don't blame her. At the moment it's either DH forcing her to use it through the screams, or we do it when she's asleep (much easier). Not sure either is ideal tbh, but it'll have to do!

I'm feeling better though, thanks. The inhaler has stopped the sheer exhaustion. In fact it helped straight from the 1st puff, so goodness knows how much oxygen I wasn't getting! But the cough is still here. Worst at night and if I do too much physically. I'll just have to wait and see if the x-ray shows anything. Results due in Wednesday.

Ironing is something I have always refused to do....almost everything I own is wearable straight out of the tumbledrier, and I told dh very early on that if we got together for the long term, his shirts would be his problem. But of course he works stupidly long hours, and wants to spend time with the dcs (and me when he is home, so these days our very lovely cleaner spends an hour a week doing the shirts (and increasingly some of my things too) when she is here. But its money well spent, imo, as I would be enormously resentful if I had to do it...and wouldn't do it half as well or anywhere near as fast.....

Does that make me a total slattern??

Thanks for the support in dealing with Mia. I'm at my wits end, but trying to get her to sit/stand on the ground a bit, while staying right next to her and being really happy and chatty - it really is driving me mad. Then randomly this afternoon she crawled off to explore the other side of the room for 20 mins. Hey ho...

Gosh barbeasty that does sound tricky and v difficult for you - well done for finding a way to actually get her to take a bit, I am sure it will be having some effect. Good to hear you're feeling better too, good luck with x-rays tomorrow.

filly - that's a good sign with Mia, maybe things are about to take a turn for the better? As with most of these things in a month or so you'll be dealing with the next issue! Sounds like you've handled it brilliantly though, she will be a very secure little girl.

Talking of which, I am ever so slightly worried about ds1 who is now 3.10, he was Mr Sociable from the minute he was born - always wanted more stimulation than just me and was always the kid running off to make chums at playgroups/playgrounds etc, no problem settling in at nursery etc. etc. However since Seb was born he seems to really have lost some of this confidence and sticks pretty close to myself or dh in social situations unless with friends/family he knows extremely well. The main thing is he really doesn't want to do anything with myself or dh, it's a nightmare dropping him at nursery although I know for sure he has a good time there, yesterday his good chums' mother offered to take him to the lido in the afternoon as he's been going crazy stuck at home with me & chicken pox Seb but he point blank refused to go without me. I suppose I am sad for him that he's not the confident boy he once was and I am wondering how I can make him feel more secure & get his confidence back - any tips/ideas? Sorry for long ramble.

Meanwhile Seb is really suffering with the pox, he is v unsightly! I thought piriton was going to be my saviour but he's still very unsettled at night and literally unputdownable in the day - argh!!!

Well, I have pneumonia! That's another 2 weeks of antibiotics, and more of MIL trying to persuade me not to go into work. I know she means well, but it's still the same cough and wheeze I had before I went to the doctor this morning, and I don't see that much difference between sitting in front of a computer all day and sitting in front of the tv!

Ruth is finally accepting her inhaler. Not happy, but not screaming and writhing- resigned probably describes it best!

Glad Mia is being a little less clingy. No idea what to suggest for an older one!

Still not ironing, even if I am working from home so have more time. Actually, I think pneumonia will make a pretty good housework excuse...

Hi all not been on for ages sorry. Have just caught up on all the news, amazing how much happens when you forget to log on. Totally knackered here as Fergus still not sleeping. Am I the only one left with such a bad sleeper? We have been trying so hard to get him in on bed and to go to sleep on his own but he still screams most nights, sometimes just for a little bit, sometimes for ages and we have to stay with him holding his hand too. No matter how well or badly he goes down he will still be up at least 3 times on a good night and will at some point towards the morning get in with us. All he seems to want is to be in beside us but then he wakes more and wants milk more. Really not sure what to do next. Wish there was a magic pill. Cant stand the crying much more. Are the summer holidays over now. Ours finished over a week ago as I am in Scotland.

Hello goodname - we are not getting much sleep here either. Zoe is DC3 and none of mine have slept through the night until 18 months. It has happened quite naturally at that point for some reason - so I'm not expecting things to improve here until Christmas.
Still another 2 full weeks before my 2 DSs go back to preschool. It isn't so bad at the moment with all 3 at home as we've fallen into a good rhythm of having fun and getting chores done, but I'm looking forward to the structure of school term again..

Gosh Barbeasty, it doesn't sound like you've been having a great time :( Hope you start recovering soon - maybe this dose of antibiotics will help you shake the cough for good? Well done on getting R to take some of the inhaler....that can't be much fun either...

Minimoo - not sure if this helps, but I think that developmentally a lot of kids get a bit clingier around the 3yr mark - its the same point they start thinking of other people as being 'real' (ie not just extensions of their own universe) but as a result can also start worrying a bit about what you might do when they're not around...I wonder if there's just a bit of wanting to make sure you aren't having too much fun with Seb? I think the best thing you can do is to relax and be reassuring that you enjoy ds1s company....the more he feels 'pushed out', the harder he might cling?

Goodname - would it help if Fergus was in a different room? Sorry, I can't remember if he is already....

Thanks for the support with Mia. I'm sure it will pass by the time she's 15...the shame is that it is really affecting my enjoyment and time with her. But she seems to be settling down to play nicely when I'm not there, so I suppose its not so bad....I just wish I could get to enjoy her being happy but as soon as I'm around, all she wants to do is cling to me...[aarrghhh]

On the plus side dh and I decided to celebrate our 10th anniversary with a child-free mini-break....my lovely MIL has moved in to help our aupair with the dcs and we've run away to Brighton for 3 days . Bliss!!

Sorry for the moan the other day. We are making monumental effort to keep him in his own bed now and we will see how it goes. Sadly he is very clingy at night (fine during the day) and currently have to keep his bed right next to ours to have any hope of him sleeping in it. Thanks DIMB, 18 months isnt too long away, gives me some hope :)
Greensnail cant stop laughing at your descriptions of your two very different kids. My dad says Fergus is going to be a health and safety officer as he is quite cautious and if you go o touch anything he knows he is not allowed he gets quite upsets and goes ah ah ah to you.

Filly Fergus was pretty cling until he could walk and in the last few weeks i so much more indepenent. As lons as I am in the same vicinity and he knows he can come and get me he will play away happily. Hopeful mia will learn to walk very soon.
Fergus is talking loads now, his new word is baby because my wee sister has just had one and he is fascinated by her. My favourite words just now are book and duck and stuck though as they all sound so cute. My least favourite is in the middle of the night when he says aaah for a drink.
Hope your feeling better barbeasty

Ahh it seems I may be pregnant.

Oh hurrah! Congratulations!!

Wow

Have not told anyone in reallife yet as DH wont answer his phone! Think I am due begining of May and think I am happy about it. Not sure though as I am getting little enough sleep as it is!

Barbeasty - hope you are better, i have asthma & yesterday lauren picked up my inhaler & puffed into it. I was really surprised as don't take it that often so perhaps once she is used to you having yours she will be a bit better with it.

Goodname - huge sleeping problems here. I have a travel cot with a proper mattress in dd1's room as they will have to share. At 7 she goes to sleep there, am still patting her off to sleep most of the time. She still wakes every few hours but usually after 11 will not settle down again. She screams & cries seems full of wind, can hear her tummy gurgling & lots of trumping going on. I end up takin g her into our room, she is worse in her cot in our room as think she gets frustrated as she's in our room but not the bed. She's not happy even in our bed though, screams, arches her back & writhes arround frequently. I hardly get any sleep, she never seems properly awake, she wants to bf but it's more of a comfort thing. I am at my wits end too & so so tired. Don't want to leave her in with dd1 when she's that unsettled as don't want her to hate sharing. - sorry - moan over!!!

Filly - am so jealous, enjoy your break! Regarding cling Mia, Lauren is very clingy too but only in the house, it is wearing isn't it. When we are out she will go off with anyone & is a bit of a charmer with her smiles & hiya's to everyone

Ridiculously small feet here, Startrite size 2E fitting & they are a bit big so Clarks are no good, Need some wellies too but I know a normal size 3 are going to be ridiculously big.

Anyway best go & sort lunch

roundabout - you know that a clarks 2 is smaller than a startrite 2 don't you?

hi everyone, just trying to catch up. will embark on a series of random responses to your posts, excuse me if I say wrong thing to wrong person IYSWIM

goodname that is very exciting about pg possibility. As far as your sleepless one is concerned, I bet Alice can trump him. My inability to sort her out has got so embarrassing that I daren't even post on sleep section, let alone fess up on this thread, but basically it's still a night-long booby fest as far as she's concerned. There are tiny signs of hope- she does occasionally stir and resettle without the breast and this morning went back to sleep for 2 hours snuggled against DH, but it doesn't feel like great progress

barbeasty hope you feel a bit better soon, I know you may feel that you might as well be at work, but maybe some tlc would be an idea

filly Alice is very clingy a lot of the time, it's improved slightly over the last few months but she does she to have been separation anxiety for, sigh, around 7 months. She has finally settled at nursery though, hurrah

I was 44 last week and appear to be having a mid-life crisis. It's taken the rather dull form of career anxiety, and unusually for me, a sudden urge to move out of London. Added to which, seems I may have entered what's known as the peri-menopause, which as far as I can tell is up to 10 years of warm-up for the real thing. Anyway, nothing that a large chunk of Green and Blacks and a glass of red wine can't resolve.