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!!

Thanks for your wishes. FX tonight will be better (go and rub touch some wood).

stan I'm impressed, take it easy if you can.

BBB good to have some time with your DH.

IC glad to hear you're adapting well and have found a spanish playgroup.

I hope you're getting ready to start a new threat?

scones poor you, hopefully, you'll manage to get some rest. DS has been on 1 nap since April. He normally naps anything between 30 and 50mn.

What is happening to the weather!? Today could have been November as we had fog, rain and cold... I hope it'll improve as we're due to go on another island Sunday for DH's birthday.

I might just tease it out a few posts longer, SB
Herm - ooh how lovely. I went there for a visit many years ago, it was idyllic.

Hah, yes, I agree about needing a reaon BBB!

Oh crap. I just typed a long post with responses to lots of you, only for it to vanish when I tried to post it. Why does MN keep doing that to me?

Back again and after only a few days to say I'm now officially on 'holiday' . My thoughs will probably have changed by about 9a.m when both boys are fighting to the death, DS2 has pooed wice and DS1 is refusing to leave the house withou 3 trains and a helicopter in tow!! (which of course I do not allow and just have to wait out the tantrum that follows..)

LBH I hear myself in a lot of the things you are saying (and I don' have to get up 'til 6a.m though am rarely asleep before 11:30p.m - stupid as we are). It gets easier. I'm not sure when or how and I still have days when I just think I'm not cut out to do this mix of work and mum but it does and I hope it will for you soon. I think DS1 started sleeping roudn about when I got pregnant with DS2 (about the age this lot are now). I got DH to do alternate nights to save my sanity.

Scones I'm not sure if it's just me but I am much calmer this time round. My opportunity to worry about sleep/eating just isn't the same and consequently DS2 has to get on with it. I'm hoping he will end up a little less high maintenance than DS1, rather than scarred for life!! I hope you will feel the same once your DC2 arrives. I'm not saying it'll all be easy, but it just happens and you just manage. I've laughed, I've cried and I've threatened to leave but I'm still here (at least until tomorrow ).

SC Glad you reported the incident and were taken seriously. Hope the pox doesn't affect your trip.

IC Spotted the 'lover' too . Glad you are finding your feet. My two generally have coughs because of the reflux etc.. and it has gone on for months at a time (and has taken me closer than anything to needing anti-depressants in the past). We have inhalers for both now, tilt the cot/bed, use Karvel capsules and drink more wine than usual. Hope Rosie is better soon.

Stan I am in awe but I'd like you to sit down at least every now and then .

Hi to all others too.

Had a crap time at work this week as one of my Headteachers has finally requested I be replaced in his school. He is completely bonkers and this has been coming for while, despite me being especially careful to get everything right. However, it doesn't make it any easier to handle. I have been well supported by my bosses but I wish it hadn't come to this and still have to go back in September anyway . Also, have nowhere near finished my work. I have a couple of Friday afternoons in August lined up to go in and get work done but it's not nice coming home without finishing up. However, the sea is calling and I should really be packing. Think it will sooth my work worries away. Have a good week y'all.

Hello! fancy seeing you here - I just couldn't keep up with MN after DD was born, after a post-partum haemorrage and 13 months of barely sleeping, but i often wondered if you were all still going with the postnatal thread! And you are. I'm now on the Feb 2012 antenatal thread :) Due date exactly the same as the last time.

Hope all the 17 month olds are still beautiful. xx

Hi all,

Been just about keeping up, sorry so many are having rough nights. At least knowing it's in store when we hit the UK will make me feel less guilty and it's not my fault her sleep messes up again. More than often than not she needs a resettle around 3-5 and most morning we get through until 6am. It's not always easy with her on the road trip but I remind myself that she's just as tired and grumpy (if not more so) at home. Once she wakes from her afternoon nap she spends the whole time tired, but at least on the road trip there are plenty of distractions for her.

Today we had a tired plus rubbing sun cream in eyes incident which saw her quite distressed :( but she then went on to sleep for her longest yet in the car seat.

I'm not too scared about having another baby as that seems easy compared to a toddler (shame DD isn't in nursery) it's when Nigel gets to DD's age and she's still an older toddler herself [whimper] She starting to understand and listen a lot more, the no concept has finally gone in over the last few weeks. I also hold that I was a VERY hard baby and toddler (no sleeping, eating or talking) and look how I've turned out We're just getting it all now ladies

woowa congrats

to all that need it

Blast from the past, woowa! And what brilliant news! Lovely to hear from you, may it all go swimmingly...

bethy that's crap about that headteacher. A prize eejit, I'm guessing. But yes, I don't imagine that would make it easier to swallow for you.

Have an ace holiday!

Soc, how infuriating. Report it to MN - it's been happening to quite a lot of other people recently too, I think they've got a general glitch.

PA I'm in awe of your road trip. Next week I'm hoping to get up to Cardiff to visit Soc and DDs, then a trip to Cirencester, then off to WOMAD at the weekend and they all seem like major excursions.... What an amazing thing you're doing!

We had another good night last night, although DD woke a bit earlier than usual. She also didn't nap for terribly long, so I'm wondering if this is the beginning of the sleep regression. Mind you, if this is as bad as it gets, I'm okay with it
DD loved the cream of carrot and quinoa soup with sun-dried tomato and olive bread I served her this evening, it was a refreshing change for her not to throw a wobbler about a non-pasta dish. I can relate to your meal-time anxiety, LBH...

Hmm have an organic soup in the fridge, too scared (yes scared )to try it with DD in case most ends up on floor and wakes up hungry........opened a tin of Heinz macaroni cheese. How crap am i??

Short post as work has been keeping me rather busy, not even time to lurk!

Sending hugs to those having a rough time. Wanted to share this link I found on positive parenting Has some good tips on dealing with tantrums!

DS is at nursery, and I'm at home - took a sickie- off to bed.

We're going to GP this afternoon as his nappy rash rash (if I can call it that) is getting worse. Lots of big blisters are now on his 'bits' and it looks so sore. It may be what keep him awake at night.

Good night

SB good for you! (the sickie) I wish I could call in sick Hope the doc can help DS' nappy rash. It could certainly be contributing to his nighttime waking.

Well we had another night of it last night. We are starting to despair. The previous night we'd resettled DD constantly between 1am and 4am and were determined not to do it again. So after 4 resettles and calpol, we left her to cry it out She was still crying an hour later, I said this is rediculous, it just doesn't work with her. Went in and resettled her and that time she went off. By which time it was 5am. I am just a bit in despair. I don't know how to deal with it. If we resettle her she cries 15 mins later, if we leave her she cries and cries and cries. I am so tired. I don't really give a monkeys about any developmental leaps, it seems to me she just wants company in the middle of the night for some reason and she has to learn that nighttime is for sleeping. But how?

woowa hello and congratulations! Do you know the flavour?

Thanks for the link rainbow it looks interesting.

LBH I think we have to accept that dinner will sometimes end up on the floor I am a bit of a control freak understatement of the century but I am learning to live even with DD chucking yoghurt about occasionally. Although that is the end of the meal there and then.

IC hoping you can avoid any fully-fledged sleep regression!

PA I'm in awe of you too! Hope you're still enjoying it, sure you are. When are you back to the UK now?

bethy that sounds an utterly horrible situation. and for you. Have a great time on holiday.

Soc boo hiss to the MN glitch.

Happy Friday all. Roll on bedtime...!

Just had a nice sleep, I feel so much better (sorry scones and LBH hand to you)

I had a small argument with my mum before going to sleep this morning. She's adamant I should give DS his dummy at night in order for all of us to sleep but he has done without it for eight months so I'm not going to give in.

Hopefully the GP this afternoon may be able to advise on why he's not sleeping.

Sorry very me post.

Waves to all

Scones that sounds shite, really shite. Have you though about a consultation with a night nanny or somesuch? They might be able to suggest a method you haven't tried. What about rapid return CC? Is that worth a go? Poor you, you really need your sleep.

DD was up for 2 hours last night - too hot initially, then who knows? I gave her ibuprofen in the end and she nodded off ten mins after that. Could be the sleep regression thing. She's usually unsettled the couple of weeks or so before the WW it's associated with then tends to get better again. FX.

SB I hope you're feeling better now. Yes, the nappy rash may well be the culprit in your DS' night-waking. Poor mite. I hope the GP can help.

LBH if I'm trying something new on DD, I usually have a trusted favourite (pasta) ready in case she refuses the new item. Then I don't have to stress about her being hungry etc. if she doesn't want to eat the unfamiliar thing. I often give her meals with small bits of this and that for her to try, that way I don't have to rely on one thing to fill her up.
It's stressful, though. I feel your pain.

Nice (if guilt-inducing) site, rainbow - thanks for the link! Very interesting.

scones Same here. I have next two weeks off and considering revisiting controlled crying. DD cries and screams so hard she makes herself sick and too will cry for hours so have put it off. At least maybe if I try again, she can have a morning nap if she is tired rather than be packed off to the CM. It is a nightmare isnt it. CC helped last time as far as fewer wakes and less time on the resettles, but never stopped the wakes, she was younger then and didnt stand up and chuck her bear and dummy out or bang the bars.
Just need to gain the strength. ATM DP sleeps on sofa or one of us on her floor.

I almost am dreading this next two weeks as I will have to cope with DD on my own again. I have fun with her but am scared of any difficult situations as my anxiety is back with a vengeance. No panic attacks, but crippling nerves.

My CM has got the go ahead from Ofsted to have an extra child (DD) on a Thursday (my soon to be former working from home day) I suppose it is good news, but know I will be even more tired. Boss has made colleague redundant and I am getting most of her workload. So I will get a payrise (good in this current situ) but not exactly thrilled about it.

IC I do have a back up for DD at meal times, but part of my problem is that I am scared of teaching her "bad habits" in that if she doesnt eat something she will get something else..IYSWIM. So then I feel guilty.

Have second councelling session tomorrow. She thinks I have a lot of issues and need weekly sessions rather than usual fortnightly. At least for a short while. She thinks I need CBT to help with my obsessive planning/worrying "what ifs" and for "just in case" I cried the whole way through it. Will see what happens tomorrow.

Sorry for the me post. (as per usual) I am reading you all though. Hugs to all.

LBH good luck for tonight and tomorrow

DS has a nasty nappy rash (that what the gp wrote on his notes)and a thrush which explain the ulcers. So got cream to put after every nappy change and it should clear within 2 weeks. One of the reasons it goes so bad is apparemtly due to his eczema and very dry skin.

I don't do Plan B for food, if he doesn't want it, I'll give him a banana, some cheese and more milk.

Let's hope that tonight brings more sleep to us all

Ah, LBH, I know what you mean about the "bad habits" bit. I've read plenty of things about how toddlers won't starve and should be trained into eating whatever they're given, so I also worry a bit about that. Having said that, I've also read things about introducing unfamiliar foods alongside the familiar stuff as a way of encouraging them to gradually include more variety in their diet, so I guess there are more ways than one to skin a cat (or get a toddler to eat!) Toddler Taming is quite good on eating, I've used a few ideas from their with reasonable success. Also Positive Discipline 0-3

I try and sneak different foods into DD by varying the pasta sauces and stirring different things in with them. My vague theory is to try and get her accustomed to other flavours, even in a subtle way....

They're so unpredictable though, aren't they? Sometimes DD eats something quite surprising (to me!) with enthusiasm, but the next time I give it to her she won't touch it and makes a fuss about the fact I even offered it

Good luck with the counselling.

Hopefully a fungicide will help sort things out then, SB! Yep, here's to everyone having a more restful night.....

Thanks all

DD still hardly ever eats dinner but she does have a yogurt afterwards. Know what you mean about the worry about enforcing bad habits, but figure if it happens I'll make it when she's older. If she refuses banana or yogurt then I know she's just not hungry.

SB I agree giving a dummy now makes little sense. Hope his rash recovers soon, how about disposables for a few days?

IC where's your blog gone?

Will not be a popularly adopted practice I know, but to get more food into DD, for dinner especially, she will have her dinner in a highchair first usually while watching cbeebies on the laptop. Show me, show me is a favourite. In the meantime we prepare our dinner. Then when she's finished with hers, we have ours sitting round the low coffee table - yes on the floor! DD then has her 2nd dinner which she likes as she gets to walk about and pick food she wants to eat. :). And of course she has it with us and is not in highchair. Can be a little messy.... . . We always have small flannel towel to hand, and luckily floor is wipeable.

We slept through!!! Now I feel bad that I left DS nappy rash going for so long without going to the gp. But it can just be a coincidence

Ooh, sorry PA and anyone else who's been reading the blog. We changed the name.
Here it is

That sounds like fun, rainbow!

Good news, SB! It's impossible to say if the nappy rash was causing the sleep problem or not, so don't give yourself too hard a time. It's good to hear he's had a more comfortable night (and you have too).

...on which note, DD was awake again last night, for about an hour and a half, which is some improvement anyhow. This time I think she was initially too cold. I stuck a cardigan on her and a folded over muslin over the lower half of her body rather than get her out of her sleeping bag and put her in another one. Then I literally held her down in her cot (she wasn't fighting, just protesting and she stopped very quickly - I think my hand gently but firmly on her back was actually quite comforting) and waited until she dropped back off to sleep about 20 mins or so later.
Once again the temperature is proving to be a problem. She's getting too hot in the 2.5 tog sleeping bag, but too cold in the 1.0 tog one. If she wasn't such a fidgeter, I'd rather have her in sheets and blankets, at least it would be easier to add or remove them than changing sleeping bags at 2am.... And of course, she's fine at the start of the night, just gets too hot or too cold in the small hours. Meh.

Bethy I cannot believe that head has asked for you to be replaced! You are so dedicated and I'm sure you are great at your job. Grrr.

Those having awful nights, we joined you last night. No idea why - but he woke three times really crying and cried out in his sleep other times. After the second waking (2.30) he fell asleep in with us until about 4.30 when I woke up and found him sprawled on the outside of the covers, head downwards to the foot of the bed and decided to take him back to his room. He slept in there for an hour then at 5.30 DH took him downstairs and rocked him in his pram and he slept until nearly 8.

Still, my mum has just taken him out for a few hours so we're going to eat and then have a sleep.

I nearly killed my mum. She's allergic to lemongrass, it sends her into anaphylactic shock. I told her to try a bit of DS's thai curry then I remembered after she'd put it in her mouth and I had a screaming fit and made DS cry.

Isn't it awful about Norway? I can't believe something like that happened somewhere like there. DH was just speaking to a friend out there - it's such a small population, less than that of London so nerly everyone knows someone affected.

Oh the other thing I was going to ask - do any of you use cloth nappies? I was thinking now that DS doesn't need changing so often it would be good to change over. Also if he can feel that he's wet it might help with toilet training? If anyone has any recommendations, I'd be grateful. Was looking at the tots bots easifit ones. Would I still need to buy liners with them? They are on offer at Tesco at the moment direct.tesco.com/q/R.210-1978.aspx

Oh, Bc, sorry to hear you've had a night of it too. And had a panic about your Mum, eek. Lemongrass?! Blimey, that's a random one to be allergic to! (At least, I've never heard of it being an allergen before, but I guess anything can be...)
Yes, dreadful about Norway. Just dreadful. And the work of one psychopath, by the looks of it. I try not to think about things like that. The horrifying randomness is too terrifying to contemplate.
We use Pop-ins, which are okay - pretty convenient, you just popper them together. They could probably be used as pull-ups too, although I haven't experimented with that yet. We also use fleece liners, which are very cheap and available from various places online.
Try looking at the MN Nappy board you may get some thoughts on Totbots there...

Oh she spat it out and she's fine - I think 'nearly killed' was a bit of an exaggeration. Yes, it is a weird thing to be allergic to - she's also allergic to celery. She's supposed to carry an epi-pen but she never does.

I think the tots bots easy fit are the least scary as they're an all in one - I get very confused and switch off when people start talking about liners and booster and what-not. They say it's the one that's most like a disposable so I went ahead and ordered a 5-pack and some paper liners. I watched the how-to video on their site and it looks straightforward.