FEB 2010 Coming on in leaps and bounds and little steps

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Where did our babies go?!
Anywhere and everywhere, the moments our backs are turned!!

DD2 is on her 2nd night of 40C. The doc suspect it might be Roseola as she doesn't have any other symptoms; roseola is 3 days of scary temperatures and then a rash so we are waiting to see. The good news is that DD1 already had it. It is like having a newborn again, waking every 2 h to give either calpol or nurofen or water, and cuddling back to sleep. At night her temp doesn't go below 39 c and something, poor baby. She is better during the day though .
I had to let her cry this morning ( around 4) as she wanted to get up and I was too tired. She is still sleeping at 8.30 and I had to checked if she was still breathing. I just called DD1 school that she is not going today as I would rather not wake DD2.

bethy good news on your son! I am a middle age drunkard , I hate robbie, (and jim carrey) I have shivers just writing his name. Glad you had fun.
I would go to the park and not expect to talk too much. (far less stressful to be outside than inside with my 2) When DD1 reach 4 yo I could trust her enough to just sit on a bench and let her loose. Hang on!

BBB It is good news that the base is there for your DD2. Anything muscular can be sorted. I had to massage DD2's legs which were turned inward at birth, one very badly, it took 4 months of daily massages and they are now straight.
I also had problem as a kid (9 cm gap between my ankles when I closed my knee), after 2 years of gym and special boots I was walking straight again. The gym was fun, I learnt how to walked on balls and cylinders, and I had to climb on stuffs (I was 4 so my memory is quite hazy). Good luck with the other consultant.

PA cool!

mous :( poor DD and poor you

good night

Oh dear mous hoping your dd gets better soon

Mous as a glass half full kind of girl, if it is roseola, at least it isn't anything more scary. Fingers crossed she's better soon.

PA enjoy the last few days of work!

We're actually seeing the biomechanics people tomorrow - I think they are specialist podiatrists, rather than a consultant. I will be on my own with DD2 so will be more assertive than I was on Monday with DH. And I believe much more in the NHS than private healthcare, so am determined to get as much out of it as possible.

Horrible rainy day here. From my desk in central London, all I can see is rain. Even the Tate Modern tower and St Pauls look bleak...

mous DS had roseola a few months ago (10?), 4 days of high temp (39C +) and on the 5th day, no more temperature but the rash appeared which lasted 2 days.

BBB good luck for tomorrow, hopefully you'll get the answer you need/want.

Wave to bethy , IC and PA

A French mum at nursery wants to create a group of French mums and toddlers/babies in order to create links and also to show the kids that they are not the only one with a bilingual family. I need to answer her back to say that I'm interested.

Mous sorry to hear DD2 is poorly - those high temperatures are scary and horrible to deal with. I hope she's all better again soon.

bethy - good to hear from you! I'm glad Take That didn't disappoint.
Also, excellent news on DS1's weight gain.
Yup, I'm under no illusions about DH's workload when he's a teacher (and during the PGCE year) - I just hope he'll have time to unwind during half terms and holidays.
Canine problems here too, as you probably saw. Although (FX) they seem to have eased off for the moment, although I don't think the bottom two have broken the surface yet. Still, DD doesn't seem troubled by them today, so that's a relief.

BBB I'm assuming if DD2's bones are all as they should be, then any problems she may have will be easier to fix...?
I do hope you and your DH manage to sort things out.

Yay, PA!! Three days and you can stick two fingers up at your nob-head boss!
DH finishes his work today, then we've got a week until we travel. So far, so good. I started a thread in Living Overseas asking for advice on getting a young toddler to sleep in a ferry cabin. Despite being told the cots aren't suitable for over 1s (which is when you need them more, arguably) we've booked one because we figure DD is so small, she'll probably fit in it just fine. Whether she will actually sleep much is another matter.

On which note, DD woke up a bit hot last night, seemed to resettle quickly, but was calling out again 15 mins later. This time I gave her a precautionary dose of paracetamol, in case it was her teeth, a glug of water then put her back in her cot. She protested loudly, but I kept saying quietly "Lie down, it's sleepy time..." and after a couple of minutes she did so and went quiet (although fidgeting). I stood in the doorway for another 5 mins, then left her to it. I was quite surprised it worked as easily as it did! What was very cute was when DD woke for the day at 06.40, when I went in she took one look at me and meekly lay back down in her cot. My heart melted, but I let her get up and she was very pleased when I asked if she wanted to get out and have a cuddle with Mama.

SB that French playgroup sounds like a good idea! We're hoping to find something similar in Spanish when we get back to the UK. It would be great for DD and me to practice our Spanish.

IC just saw your FB DD was giving us imaginary stuff of her skin this morning, thankfully no bogies yet. Yes we've had interest in the nappy/floor contents as well .

IC if you go on the bilingual board you can post regarding Spanish group in or nearby Bristol

hello everyone.

mous Hope DD ok.

BBB good luck tomorrow.

IC Well done on re settle. Why is it easy sometimes and horrendous others??!

PA Love the imaginary stuff.

DD is walking backwards and can twirl in circles holding my finger above her head. She can do it on her own but makes herself too dizzy.

The most impressive thing is how much she knows...I can ask her to point at various things in her books and she will get 9 of 10 right. Can you point to wellies/butterflies/fire engine/car/tiger/zebra/panda etc.

I am 34 tomorrow, DP has just asked have "we" got any wrapping paper.
He has had only a year to get organised. (he panic bought yesterday)
I am sure I will love what he has chosen....

DD has raised money for Dr Banardos today. My CM entered her in the "Big Toddle" and made her a monkey mask yesterday as it was a jungle theme.
She got a medal I put it on her when we got home and she went off in the direction of my bedroom and was admiring herself in the mirror. (she didnt know I was watching her!)

Ha ha, glad you liked the FB update, PA!

In answer, LBH, it's easy because DH is doing most of the packing (!)
Happy Birthday for tomorrow.
I'm very impressed with your DD's identification of things. And her sponsored toddling!

SB funnily enough, there's a message in Espanol to that effect in the bilingualism section right now...

I am a bad wife, DH just skpyed me this:

She threw poo in my face
My beautiful, beautiful face
is covered in poo
Smelly, smelly poo
:(

can't stop ing what am I in for when I stop work work

PA HAHAHA!!

dd2 is going through the terrible 2s early... I've had a lot of testing boundaries with her this past week but have tried to be fair but firm . She usually does not approve of my choice of cereal for her in the morning (one morning upending the bowl onto the floor before I could get to her, then pouring her milk on the table from an open cup...) but once I have taken it away she screams blue murder because she wants it after all, and how dare I take her breakfast away! At bedtime she is either like a little angel (a bit like BBB's ) or stomps around her cot in her sleeping bag, throwing her soft toys out, then crying huge tears because she can't sleep without her cuddly rabbit... One night I had to go back in to retrieve her rabbit and bear about 7 times before she was tired enough to stop throwing them out...

It probably does not help that I treat her as if she is much older, mainly because she is generally quite sensible and responsive for her age. Then she does something unexpected to remind me she's 16 months... Just now I interrupted her while she was concentrating hard on spooning her yoghurt from her bowl into the slipper she had taken off . My fault really to let her get on with dessert while I started tidying the kitchen.
She talks quite a lot now, probably partly due to dd1 constantly telling her to repeat things 'Say "summer time"!' with dd2 usually looking blank . Her latest new word is scooter. She likes to stand on dd1's old scooter (3 wheels so it stands up by itself) and then gets very very shouty because she can't understand why it won't go forward! She also likes her picture dictionary type book and will point at things on request if she is in the mood. She does like to joke though and will point at something different on the page, only to fall about giggling when I say 'What? That's not a lion!!' Her most impressive (well, only) sentence so far has been 'Raupe aua Bauch' (caterpillar sore tummy).

Oh and [ducks for cover] I have two girls who will happily sit and be absorbed in an activity for ages (they do exist). Then can also run around like loons but are generally happy to stay put. I don't allow running around during meals - maybe that's helped, I don't know.

No poo incidents here thankfully.

LBH Happy Birthday!!

Thank you SC
Your DDs sound adorable!!

DD is a bit shouty atm too.

Poor Ruby...DD grabbed her by the tail and pulled her off the window ledge this morning. When I said No! I was confronted with tears. She also made herself dizzy showing nanny how she can spin round, she fell and bumped into the end of the bed. Big lump on her forehead and more tears. She didnt like mummy putting frozen sweecorn on her lump either.

Phew what a lot to catchp up on! DD and I have been staying at mum's for a few days, it has been fantastic having long daytime naps (me, not DD). Mind you I needed them, DD chose the nights I'm on bedtime duty to wake at 5 or 5.30 every day I don't let her get up at that time, but it means I'm awake and just waiting for the next disturbance. Then, as she's at the other end of my mum's house, I have to dash like a mad thing before she wakes up the rest of the household.

She is trying to speak more, saying "noo" for nose and "aah" for eye when she points at them. Also "bumby" for bunny which is incredibly cute and "bamba" for Grandma. Funny how she won't attempt certain sounds, like F or S or C. I wonder if they're too difficult to make, or if she can't hear the difference yet.

Happy birthday LBH! We're almost the same age, I'm 34 in October (hoping I can have my birthday before Number 2 makes its appearance). Did you like your present from DH?

The weather here is awful I'm at a bit of a loss to know what to do with all my washing. Be careful what you wish for IC.

PA how are the last days of work going?

Mous how is DD2?

BBB good news on the consultant's opinion. What about the biomechanics people?

IC you should definitely join a bilingual group when in the UK. My friend lived in Colombia for a year and became fully bilingual, but let it lapse, and now can hardly speak Spanish at all any more.

bethy great news on DS1's weight. How did you hurt your arm? Sounds painful. You should definitely go to the park. That's if it ever stops raining. Fab news on your DH's pay rise.

SB your holiday sounds lovely, especially the child-free bit (sorry but taking a child away with me doesn't seem like a holiday to me having done it once with disastrous results).

Soc your DD2 sounds very cute. We had our first proper tantrum yesterday morning when I wouldn't let DD have something. I was impressed how long she could keep up the screaming tbh, I let her get on with it.

Right we bought a second-hand travel cot the other day really cheaply and it's quite dirty, I should be off cleaning it. Toodle pip.

happy birthday LBH

DD2 still had 39+ C when she woke up today, she is very tired and sleepy. But hadn't had any nurofen or fever since this morning. So I am hoping it is indeed roseloa, even if no rash yet. I had to take a urine sample ( I have been trying all day!) and she needs a blood test tomorrow if she still has fever.

Soc sorry to shatter your dreams, mine aren't allowed to run around at meal time, it doesn't make any difference. Amazed at all that your DD can say and do.
Actually, that is for all of you. Mine is a little dumb in comparison. She can say "non, non" really well though (she doesn't seem to think that she need anything else either!).

scone good for you. you need your rest! You are right about the sounds some won't come properly before they are 5 or 7. Tongue and throat have muscles that need to be trained.

dd2 also likes to boss me around. Earlier she took me by the hand to take me to a certain spot in the kitchen where she wanted me to stand. Then she got her ball and pointed at my feet and the ball. She wanted me to kick it so she could run after it and bring it back . Just now she sat on one of her new little chairs and pointed for me to sit on the other, so she could pour pretend tea and pretend eat plastic cakes... I love the way she can get things across with few words. But she is also very cheeky. 'No' only counts for her if I look directly at her, so as soon as my back is turned she carries right on . And often she will start doing something she knows she is not meant to do (eg empty cupboards) and say 'No, no, no' to herself while doing it! Oh, and she will start climbing the stairs and then wait for me a few steps up to come and tell her off

mous hope your dd can avoid the blood test - dd1 has only had one and it was too horrible for words.
Your dd is not dumb! [wagging finger to even suggest it] Does your dd1 talk for her a lot? I have the opposite where dd1 is quite lazy and has reverted to pointing and saying one or two words, because the baby gets away with it!!
Well, summer in the UK meant the most enormous hail shower when I went to pick dd1 up from nursery. Luckily I had not liked the look of the dark cloud approaching and had taken the car...

Happy B'day LBH how's it going?

I got to sleep around midnight so am feeling human again. First time this week it's been before 2am. :)

LBH Happy birthday. What did you get?

mous I hope your DD gets better and manages to avoid the test

BBB how was the consultant?

PA nearly there.

scones glad to hear you manage to rest.

DS can now climb on the window sill once he is on the futon in the conservatory He also has inherited of my dislike of cooked carrots - after several tries I am finally giving up on cooking dishes with carrots. But he eats them raw. So tomorrow I'll try him with broad beans.

Happy Birthday LBH

mous hope your dd is on the mend. I find the most stressful part of motherhood is when the dc are ill. I feel helpless, and find myself in a real dilemma over not wanting to make too much of a fuss and not making enough of one. My ds is also only saying a couple of words. Though he says them a lot!

BBB how did you get on today?

Well the sleeping continues to be much improved. Most nights he sleeps through or wakes briefly before we go to bed. Hurray! I am seriously feeling more exhausted than I was when he woke in the night. I have been having little power naps to get me through the day. I guess my body is catching up on 18 months of broken nights but it is a little disappointing. I expected to be full of the joys of spring. Or at least the joys of a cold wet summer... Isn't it awful. I have a house full of washing I can't get dry and am running out of indoor entertainment for ds. I have even resorted to local playgroups which I avoided like the plague with dd. They have been a revelation actually. Nice toys, books etc and a cup of tea and a biscuit all for £1.50. I wish I had gone earlier.

Thank you to everyone who suggested I give ds daal a few weeks ago. He loved it, though I don't think my recipe was up to much. I was very disappointed with the lack of flavour in the tarka bit, so if anyone has a delicious recipe would they mind sharing it please?

IC we did an overnight ferry crossing with dd when she was about 2.5. The cot they provided was extremely bizarre. The only thing I could liken it to is those trolleys you see in hospitals full of dirty bedding. I am not selling it very well am I?! Anyhow it did the job fine. Dd is extremely tall and she fitted into it just fine.

I fold in the daal into the tarka bit and give it a bit more of cook there

There's a really good + easy recipe in the Baby Led Weaning cookbook for cheesey lentil wedges - no good to you, PA I realise, but could maybe adapt with vegan cheese and no egg - but for those whose DCs like lentils it could be a nice change from daal.

They're really tasty - DH polished most of it off when we were at the park

225g red lentils rinsed and drained
450ml water
oil or butter for frying
1 large onion finely chopped
100g grated cheese
1 tsp dried mixed herbs
1 egg beaten
25g fresh breadcrumbs
freshly ground black pepper to taste
(I also added a pinch of mild chili powder)

Put the lentils in a pan with the water.Bring to the boil then coverand simmer for 10-15 mins until lentils are soft and liquid absorbed. Check from time to time and skim off any froth. Meanwhile heat oil/butterin afrying pan, add onion and fry until soft.

Preheat oven to 190 centigrade/375 f/gas mark 5 and lightly grease a 23cm cake tin. Drain lentils and onion and put in a mixing bowl. Add other ingredients and mix well. Press into prepared tin using back of a spoon. Oven bake for about 30 mins (I needed quite a bit longer as my cake tin was smaller so the 'cake' was thicker). Allow to cool slightly then cut into wedges. Serve warm or cold.