July 2010: Drool it, maul it, crawl over it - that's how our threadbabes would eat a creme egg. But why the Creme Egg?!

[CakeandRoses]

Will that do us?

/panic

Ooh I like it cake!

How long have you managed to extricate yourself from your baby's clutches for (during their waking hours)?
Only about 4-5 hours. Need to do a couple of KIT days before J starts at nursery to get used to being apart for a whole day!

Have you managed a baby-free overnighter?
No, and probably won't till I stop BFing (and hoping to carry on morning and evening until maybe 2)

Are you reading actual real books again (Clue: If the title begins 'That's not my...' then it's NOT an actual real book)
Not so much now as I was in the early days when there were loooong feeds. But yes.

Are you back in all your pre-baby clothes?
Yes.

Have you achieved anything (non-baby), e.g. created something; done something brilliant at work; found time to help someone else?
er, no, don't think so!

Have you got anything which could be described as a hobby or interest?
I sing in a choir so that involves an evening once a week and regular concerts.

Have you got an actual social life (note: Stay 'n' Play doesn't count)?
Yes, I'd say so - regular nights out with the NCT mums and also seeing plenty of my friends who also have small children.

Are you and dh/dp managing to talk about anything other than whose turn it is to change the poopernova which just erupted/have a lie-in/get up in the night/clean up after Hurricane Mealtime?
Hmm. Sometimes.

Have you done any of your pre-baby favourite activities, e.g. go to a gig; watch a play; cinema with dh/dp; rock-climbing; dogging
Not really, though we manage a few meals out.

Have you got your actual sex-mojo back?
yup.

stac yes, we're all getting a much better night's sleep. Four nights so far, each better than the last, he slept through till 6am today. i recommend it if you possibly can.

How long have you managed to extricate yourself from your baby's clutches for (during their waking hours)?

• 4 hours, once! Like woodlands I really need to do some practice days (sod kit with work, I'm going to the spa!) Tbh I still don't feel ready to leave her for a whole day but hopefully it'll be ok when I do it.

Have you managed a baby-free overnighter?
Nope. Don't think I'll feel ready for a while yet altho was 'forced' to do it at 11m with F so dh and I could have our wedding night without him! (Woodlands - so nice to know you guys still bf as I'm starting to feel slightl freakish in RL now)

Are you reading actual real books again (Clue: If the title begins 'That's not my...' then it's NOT an actual real book)
Ish. I'm taking forever to get thru a book tho, I used to fly thru them. Think mumsnet and fb are partially to blame tho too.

Are you back in all your pre-baby clothes?
Yep altho I still have a few extra pounds that would be nice to see the back of.

Have you achieved anything (non-baby), e.g. created something; done something brilliant at work; found time to help someone else?
It's not a biggie but I was pleased with decorating the sitting room and also how well I managed the meeting with the director at work. I help dh with presentations and work issues ALL the time so I have achieved some things by proxy too!

Have you got anything which could be described as a hobby or interest?
Just photography at the month but I would like to go back to martial arts soon.

Have you got an actual social life (note: Stay 'n' Play doesn't count)?
Yes, it's not that rock n roll but I'm getting out with friends for meals/cinema etc. I'm not really a pub person so haven't gone out for drinks.

Are you and dh/dp managing to talk about anything other than whose turn it is to change the poopernova which just erupted/have a lie-in/get up in the night/clean up after Hurricane Mealtime?
We spend our whole time talking about houses/lodges and viksam's requirement/holiday/his work, the 'delegation of baby chores' is just squeezed in between all that.

Have you done any of your pre-baby favourite activities, e.g. go to a gig; watch a play; cinema with dh/dp; rock-climbing; dogging
We've gone to a couple of gigs, the cinema/out for meals a few time so we're getting there.

Have you got your actual sex-mojo back?
Yes, finally over the past month. Before then the willingness was there but the bed wasn't free/one of us was too tired.

Survey-time: How back to your pre-baby self are you now (aka have you got your 'non-sex mojo' back?)

How long have you managed to extricate yourself from your baby's clutches for (during their waking hours)?
From about 7:30am to 5:30pm every week day...

Have you managed a baby-free overnighter?
Not yet, but DH and I have a romantic weekend away booked in two weeks time! 48 hours away from M. Meanwhile she's going to be spoilt rotten by my parents...

Are you reading actual real books again (Clue: If the title begins 'That's not my...' then it's NOT an actual real book)
If you count manga, then yes I was reading one yesterday evening. I was also reading the rulebook for a tabletop roleplaying game called Shadowrun last week.

Are you back in all your pre-baby clothes?
Yes... But my bigger set. I have clothes ranging across two sizes and I'm currently still in the larger of the two. But my weight is slowly going down now.

Have you achieved anything (non-baby), e.g. created something; done something brilliant at work; found time to help someone else?
You mean something like this? :) Not my latest one, but I can't get on DeviantArt at work.

Have you got anything which could be described as a hobby or interest?
Lots... Roleplaying, computer gaming, reading, drawing, baking. I spontaniously made a chocolate cake the other day to test my new food processor... Lemon drizzle actually works really well on chocolate cake too!

Have you got an actual social life (note: Stay 'n' Play doesn't count)?
To a certain degree. I'm not really a going out kind of person, but DH and I have friends over in the evenings for board gaming and roleplaying while M reliably sleeps.

Are you and dh/dp managing to talk about anything other than whose turn it is to change the poopernova which just erupted/have a lie-in/get up in the night/clean up after Hurricane Mealtime?
We had a deep discussion at 11pm last night about the religious meanings and mental health issues as portrayed in Neon Genesis Evangelion. [geek]

Have you done any of your pre-baby favourite activities, e.g. go to a gig; watch a play; cinema with dh/dp; rock-climbing; dogging
The only thing I haven't been able to do yet that I'd like to is go to the theatre with DH. But hopefully we'll manage at some point. :)

Have you got your actual sex-mojo back?
Pretty much yeah. (Though I didn't have much to start with!)

Haha at the survey. Am on phone so can't copy and paste questions. No to pre-pg clothes and no to pretty much everything else! Def no sex mojo here! Poor dh will be looking elsewhere soon :(

Have managed 5 hrs in the day but not sure how going to manage when I go back to work as i'll be away from L for over 9 hours and he's still feeding in the day. Oh well.
Not managed an overnight as still having night feeds (and mire than normal at mo as ill and not eating or feeding well in the day)
Have been to the cinema once with dh but L wasn't happy when we got back

Survey-time: How back to your pre-baby self are you now (aka have you got your 'non-sex mojo' back?)

How long have you managed to extricate yourself from your baby's clutches for (during their waking hours)? Most was when we went to the wedding had 24hrs

Have you managed a baby-free overnighter? Yeah a few because she is the only baby for the past 12years

Are you reading actual real books again (Clue: If the title begins 'That's not my...' then it's NOT an actual real book) nope lucky if I get to read the paper, can't concentrate

Are you back in all your pre-baby clothes?
Yip I was a fatty before and I'm a fatty now

Have you achieved anything (non-baby), e.g. created something; done something brilliant at work; found time to help someone else? Getting mil out, mainly family stuff and applying for jobs

Have you got anything which could be described as a hobby or interest? Zumba

Have you got an actual social life (note: Stay 'n' Play doesn't count)? Yes still see friends regularly we tend to visit each other so kids come too.

Are you and dh/dp managing to talk about anything other than whose turn it is to change the poopernova which just erupted/have a lie-in/get up in the night/clean up after Hurricane Mealtime?
We try but most of the time is focused round the boys R and the house.

Have you done any of your pre-baby favourite activities, e.g. go to a gig; watch a play; cinema with dh/dp; rock-climbing; dogging
Not really, been to a wedding and a nightclub once. Haven't been to the pics or anything in ages.

Have you got your actual sex-mojo back?
Sometimes but the mini pill hasn't settled down yet. So not as often as we would like

Feel free to add a question (and answer) of your own.

Survey-time: I dont think Ill ever be.

How long have you managed to extricate yourself from your baby's clutches for (during their waking hours)?
5 hours at the most, left him with DP when I had my dress fitting.

Have you managed a baby-free overnighter?
No, and even though we were going to for the wedding night I dont think we will now as hes just too shit. We'll have a second wedding night when hes older.

Are you reading actual real books again: only in the car when D falls asleep (obv Im not driving at the time!)

Are you back in all your pre-baby clothes?
Yes, some are too big

Have you achieved anything (non-baby), e.g. created something; done something brilliant at work; found time to help someone else?
Umm..wedding planning?

Have you got anything which could be described as a hobby or interest?
I dont have time for any, I didnt have any before I had D anyway (saddo)

Have you got an actual social life (note: Stay 'n' Play doesn't count)?
Yeah I go out every day, see friends all the time. D comes with me of course.

Are you and dh/dp managing to talk about anything other than whose turn it is to change the poopernova which just erupted/have a lie-in/get up in the night/clean up after Hurricane Mealtime?
We talk about his work, money, the wedding, friends, our holiday, family so yes we're quite good like that.

Have you done any of your pre-baby favourite activities, e.g. go to a gig; watch a play; cinema with dh/dp; rock-climbing; dogging
LOL at dogging. We've been to the cinema and bingo and had a couple of meals out.

Have you got your actual sex-mojo back?
It was a lot higher before D so Id say its gone down but thats due to tiredness.

Actually I HAVE created something, I made spaghetti and meatballs from scratch last night (I didnt actually make the spaghetti) and I felt darn proud!

How long have you managed to extricate yourself from your baby's clutches for (during their waking hours)?fron 6.30am til 5.30pm on the day I work

Have you managed a baby-free overnighter?
we have an overnighter without L about once a month, at 1st it was hard but it was something we decided to do while I was pg and im glad we started it when he was tiny.

Are you reading actual real books again: just finished a book I started whil in labour!!!

Are you back in all your pre-baby clothes?
most of them, top is smaller now but I now have a wibbly muffin top but.it.will.go

Have you achieved anything (non-baby), e.g. created something; done something brilliant at work; found time to help someone else? no, cant think of anything new but I still help my grandparents on a weekly basis

Have you got anything which could be described as a hobby or interest? I now go to flabelos and I walk with L for a few miles daily

Have you got an actual social life (note: Stay 'n' Play doesn't count)? yes, actually going out tonight to drink my bodyweight in champers!!!!

Are you and dh/dp managing to talk about anything other than whose turn it is to change the poopernova which just erupted/have a lie-in/get up in the night/clean up after Hurricane Mealtime?
yes when he is here and not asleep, we have a lot of common interests with the bike and being out and about

Have you done any of your pre-baby favourite activities, e.g. go to a gig; watch a play; cinema with dh/dp; rock-climbing; dogging
we go to the cinema quite a lot, go for meals, but we usually take L as he sits so wel at the table and he loves people watching!!

Have you got your actual sex-mojo back?
No, having real issues with this at the moment, I used to have a high sex drive, it used to piss dh off as I was always pawing at him but only had it twice since xmas, I fear it will end us as a couple but feel it may have gone to far to go back to how we were plus you cant exactly talk about it in RL

Oooh this is nice. In a garden of a country pub, sun is shining shinily, dh is currently cuddling A and watching F on a bouncy castle whilst I just chill. Bliss.

I deserve it tho having spent most of the day sorting floods/waste blockage in the kitchen :(

Dylan is in his cot, screaming for me. He's actually saying 'mum mum'.

He had milk at 6 and dinner after that, then a bath then into the cot. I hate this so much, I hate hearing him cry. He'll just cry and cry for hours but I feel I cant give up because it'll confuse him and make him worse.

Yeah, well I decided it just after he had his bath. It was because when I was feeding him to sleep last night he kept coming off the boob so Id feed him back to sleep.

Then he projectile vomited all of me and the sofa. So I thought no more feeding to sleep. He was obv having way too much milk.

Thank you :) thats why Im so stressed cos its so easy to give in. It prob wasnt the best weekend to start, its DPs stag do tomorrow, hes going go karting.

The trouble is because he's bf he really screams when he sees me because he thinks im going to feed him.

DP is stroking his face, hes not crying.

mlic can I ask what you do when W naps during the day? Do you do the same as night time?

i agree with mlic re the consistency but it might be easier to do it when your dp is around dh as i think those first couple of days are easier for the man to do if you're bf. but it's not impossible either so if you've already started and you think you've got the staying power then go for it!

also, is there no-one that can cope with D for your wedding night? he might not be as bad as you think. we left F with close friends and i was dreading it as he was a terrible sleeper and was still waking up once or twice a night and wouldn't take a bottle. but they all managed fine, we didn't pick him up til lunch time the next day and dh and i had wicked time in a glorious hotel

memph give yourself a break, girl. you've had such a shit time health-wise this year, it's quite understandable for you not to want to get your groove on, baby or no baby. hopefully your mojo will start to come back now your tooth pain is gone and when the docs can get on top of your pnd and health issues.

do try talk to dp about it - it might not be as big an issue as you think and you might find a way forward together.

curry here soon too mlic hope yours is yum

oh and have had 3 slices of cake for two days in a row

cake if D is sleeping ok by then I will, I dont know. I feel really stressed at the mo.