Dec 08 Mums - Introducing our new joiners, TrudyV and Al Fresco...

[Beans33]

Hope this is ok? Thought it was subtle enough for the wider MN and not offensive!!

Beans - sorry to hear about your friend's little girl.

Good effort on the running DB. I can't wait to start running again once I get the all clear on the toe (hopefully tomorrow am).

V Glad that Obama Day lived up to your expectations, Arti.

I have fallen out with DS over lunch today as he has just shoved his plate away untouched for the umpteenth time. Honestly he just lives off his cereal for breakfast and then bananas. I'm normally quite relaxed about this but it really got to me today for some reason. Never mind, it could be a lot worse ...

Here is the link to DS2 in the [http://bountyinfo.net/go.asp?%2FbBOU001%2FmGEQGTJN1%2FuUCY0Z3N1%2Fx4YIHTJN1 Tommys ad campaign]]

Oh that didnt work try again. Tommys ad campaign

Ahhhh I've got no chance in catching up properly (very funny Lady) but might be able to pop in more regularly once I finish work this week, as I'll be on holidays! Got a meeting with the boss tomorrow about work next year too, cross your fingers for me that it goes well. Sorry no personals as yet, but sending a big blanket of love to you all! xx

Hi Bisou.

Knew I shouldnt have done it. Bought some F&B tester pots for revamping bedroom furniture. They look so much nicer than all the other colours. DH is not going to be HP when I tell him I want to spend 20 odd on a tin of paint. But hey its way cheaper than spending hundreds on actual new furniture. Thats my argument and Im sticking to it.

While I am on bedroom furnishing what do you all think? floor standing mirror and this chair

Am not sure what to do with the walls would love to paper them but worry that will mean I need very plain bedlinen. Or just do a sort of limewash colour then have lovely accent colours in the bedlinen. WOuld love to put shutters on the window too but DH thinks it would make a darkish rm with a not massive window look even darker.

05:40 Deids and a 2.5 hr nap today....
DD up all night with 2 more teeth coming through at the same time. She only gets them in pairs apparently.

Like em Jam.
If room is on the dark side I'd go for light walls and bed linen with accent on the bed linen

No Apprentice spoilers please. Haven't watched yet.
Need Summer holiday (prob July) 1 week idea. Not too far and hot preferrably. Idea's?

Rubes 5.40 thats a lie in DS2 up and ready to start his day at 4 fucking 15 this morning!

Go to the Sth France. If you can face a eurocamp type of place there is a great one near Nice. Fly to Nice hire a car, sorted.

Rubes thats sounds pretty crap. DS knackered today but just refused to nap, lets see if this morning was a one off or not!

Jam, I LOVE that mirror, sadly I have zero idea about interior design so I'll leave it there.

Sybs, how did things go today? Hope its good news (for you at least)

Crikey thats middle of the night!
Been thinking Sth of France or France somewhere. Prob take own car and bikes etc. Thinking about Vagola style Gite with pool but prob quite pricey in July
Hi Bisou

Deids, yeah I'm wondering if I should just perservere with the no nap thing as perhaps it takes a good few days of it to get him sleeping in later?

Yes they can beans. That's probably why dd doesn't sleep through nah I think she was on to it and then got more teeth hurting her so on it goes....

BEans very sorry to hear about your friend's refluxy baby. It's so tricky as there are various schools of thought as to what's best.
From a very basic mechanical point of view I keep B upright most of the day in the baby bjorn, and he sleeps at night in his cot at a 45 degree angle. He gets velcroed in with this .
In terms of meds, he is on omeprazole, domperidone and gaviscon and has hypoallergenic formula called Neocate.
Has your friend's baby had a PH test? Which hospital are they at? Am happy for you to give them my FB details or email if they'd like some more info or just a chat.
More later.

Spot - you are very lovely - if it's ok with you, will offer you up to her if she wants your details - then can I private message you for email or something? Thank you so much for your tips. xx

Just been to a 2nd bday party. DD1 won a Peppa Pig cup. So excited. Love pass the parcel. Little girl born here is just gorgeous. Has jaundice, but is teeny weeny. I've already forgotten how small they are!! She is very sweet and I had loads of lovely holds of her. While my two tucked into cake!

DD2 in bed already after 45 mins sleep at lunchtime. DD1 about to go after no sleep. Bathtime was hell with screaming. DD1 not being too bad as yet. She's a good kind little girl. But sometimes I feel like screaming at her. And sometimes I do. Feel terrible.

Hi Bisou - hope all well and chat re next year's work goes well.

How are all the sleepless nights going, Jump, Waiting et al? I do hope there were some decent stretches of sleep. And yuck at those hideously early mornings, we are so fortunate that DD is quite a lazy bones and waking before 7 is quite a rarity

I love the idea of laminated lists with post it notes Trudy, I'm such a list lover and anything that can be coloured is just heaven. I hope the new system works for DD, sounds good so far

That is lovely that your DS' picture is being used Jam. I'm still keen to hear if a summer picnic is on the cards, as I may be able to make it down

Well done on your CBT achievements Asp/Arti, that is brill. Who would've thought Mr O is a shorty? What about the beautiful Michelle? Please tell ms she's a short arse too, thus giving me hope that short and elegant are not mutually exclusive. Your post made me chuckle, because I read it as you'd be meeting Barak as a reward for beating your phobia, which got me wondering which world leader Trudy was awarded for conquering her fear of needles

Any change of heart on the weekend from your sis Invis? I think it sounds rather like an excuse, could she be feeling overwhelmed with the move and the thought of packing a zillion things (I know I felt like it was never going end, when I packed for DDs first night away). I hope she comes to her senses, not least for your DCs

Rubes I have an excellent slow cooker book from Lakeland, called Slow Cooker (clever title, that one!) It has a loads of tips and a variety of recipes, meaning it's quite easy to find something similar to your favourite recipes and adapt it for a slow cooker. My top tip is always heat any liquid before adding it, otherwise the cooker will spend all day trying to bring it to the boil and won't get round to actually cooking. On leaving our LOs, DD is incapable of entertaining herself for more than 20 seconds, which drives me insane quite a lot of the time, so I don't get the opportunity as she is constantly shadowing me and saying 'what Mummy doing? what Mummy doing now? now what Mummy doing?' AARRGGHHH

How was P's appointment with the ENT Trace?

at Alan and Yvonne! at div'horsed!! We have a horse next door called Dude, but Alan and Yvonne are miles better!

Jolly it's lovely that J is smiling

Hey Bisou

Not good about redundancies Sybs, and whatever the outcome the atmosphere in the office won't be good. Poor you

100 days annual leave Jump

Beans your friend who gave birth at your house is right, you are amazing, you gave her your JL towel for goodness sakes. Not many ladies get that sort of treatment. Lovely to hear they're doing well. and White light to your other friend's little one

I know you've shown us that Velcro sleepy thing before Spot, but still I love it! Can't get over how ingenious it is

Have been looking at holiday property porn for the 2nd night in a row, but need sleep. Not least because it is the 1st anniversary of our new work premises tomorrow and we have a big cake from Bettys, yum yum yummy. No brekkie for me so I have room for lots of slices!

Hello Bisou - lovely to see you on here!

Sybs - hope you're OK

Arti - sounds like that was superbly exciting! So who was the most engaging small talker??

ZJ - unfortunately my sis is not seeing sense. I am finding it very frustrating as I think if she actually came they would all feel better for it. Ho hum. Was last day at work today though and am off to the Chelsea flower show with DH before we set off to Cornwall on Sat. So I refuse to get too grumpy about it!

Beans - you are a lovely friend!

LadyT - those horse names are brilliant. FIL is Alan, its such a fantastically 30s name.

Jam - supercute pic!

OK now sleep.

Having a JJ night waking nightmare. She will only go to sleep with boob In gob and I can't sleep like that. Have been sobbing for a while. Have now sent dh next door, hoping I can persuade her to sleep next tome. Ugh

Dd2 asleep next to me in bed, dh next door, dd1 asleep in her room, I'm awake and can't sleep. Typical. Did I mention dd1 is refusing to nap which turns her into devil child all afternoon? am finding it increasingly difficult not to lose my temper with her. Which I am doing with increasing regularity and now in front of people. Had someone round today with her dd who was perfectly behaved while dd1 screamed, snatched, pushed and ran around calling me "mummy bum bum poo head" lots. Luckily tomorrow we are in the car at nap time but am dreading the next naptime when we're at home. What do I do? Shut the door on her and let her scream until she sleeps? She can do the odd day without one but not day after day. But she starts saying no nap mummy when I pick her up from her childminder and it is a constant battle from there. Oh no dd2 stirring. F*

Still here. Have found myself saying over and over again "shut up go to sleep" to a screaming baby. Can't imagi e why that hasn't worked.

Really hating this children thing at the moment. Furious with dd1 all day, dd2 all night. Fucking rubbish

Sorry to unload on you guys.

running on in mad morning rush, but wanted to give a big hug to WG. You poor poor thing. That is horrible and I do hope you managed to get a bit of sleep in. Don't berate yourself for feeling furious - it's entirely understandable and we all do it, and don't apologize for unloading. This basket is tough as old boots. Can your dad's lady friend come over for a while and help you out? Perhaps take the LOs for a drive while you get some rest? Even if you can't sleep it will be of some benefit to rest your body. Really thinking of you. You are doing amazingly well, so don't be hard on yourself. xxx

Oh WG what a blooming awful night, you poor love. Is Dd1 at the CM today? Make sure you have an easy day with lots of rest for you. Is there anyone who could take R swimming or to soft play or something energetic some mornings, to wear her out and then maybe she'll be more likely to nap? Lots of love xx

Enjoy Chelsea Invis , what a bummer about your sis. I agree with you, that she'd enjoy it when she got there, but ho hum, her loss

WG you poor thing. No need to feel guilty for being angry, sometimes I take the entire worlds woes out on my boys when I am in a arse ache. Can you feed DD2 lying down. I used to do this with DS1 and would nod off while he was still feeding and often wake up a couple of hours later and he would still sort of be latched on.

Invis very very at Chelsea you lucky thing. Sorry your sis is being a bit overly PFB. Hope you enjoy your break anyway.

Ugh sorry WG.
ZJ, thanks so much! Knew I could count on one of the Northern ladies for some tips We always had a big American fridge freezer until we moved here and it's doing my head in with this tiny thing so I have a new chest freezer coming today, and we are going to go to Costco like we used to for all our bulk stuff and the farm shop for the rest. I really like the slow cooker. So much easier to avoid the mad cooking rush at dinner/bath/bed time. have a few recipes from online too.
0540 for DS again but much better night for dd. 1030pm milk loaded with Neurofen and slept till 5 so def her teeth. If she wasn't ill back then or ever got teeth I reckon she'd have slept through about 5 months ago!!
Right, toddler group then taking kidlets out for lunch then waiting for freezer

Oh WG - I feel for you, I really do. Am in similarly frustrated state today - and my DD2 is nearly 1!

DH was meant to go on his cycling holiday yesterday and had to work til 12.30am and got home at 1am last night, so is meeting them in Bath this morning - hopped on his bike at 8am and went to Paddington.

DD2 was up every hour last night from 10.30pm, which is when I went to bed. All it requires is me going in and stroking her a bit and giving her back her Ducky comforter, which she usually loses somewhere in her cot. So, I'm only out of bed for 2 mins or so. BUT then I lie awake (not always, but some of the ups) for a while as I try to get back to sleep. Last night was regular as clockwork at half past the hour. She skipped 3.30am, but was up at 4 instead. And to make up for that, she woke at 4.30am to get her half hourly timings back on track again.

I woke up this morning and said to DH that it was a terrible night. And he said, "Gosh, there's a surprise". Now, I know I whinge about my sleep, but frankly, I've had about three full night's sleep in about 6 months now and I am TIRED. I try not to complain about it, but I'd like to think I can complain to my DH, as he's supposedly my best friend. But he just tells me I'm whinging. Which I am. But unsurprisingly. I really just would love a bit of sympathy, but I don't get it. He's back Sunday night and I'm going to go and sleep in the attic and he can deal with the girls. However tired he is. His point is that he does a full day's work, so I should do the nights. Which I always used to agree with. But having 2 children is a damn sight harder than any work I've done.

I spent this morning's breakfast with the girls crying. I've taken to giving DD1 her breakfast on the sofa in front of Channel 5, which is probably slovenly, but I don't really care! This morning, though, I didn't even feel like I love DD2 much. Just sat there feeding her weeping gently! Feel a bit silly saying that now. Usually I cope really well. ANyway, kick up the arse for me and plaster the smile on and try to have a lovely day with DDs, who are gorgeous and I should be grateful for them.
Sorry this is so entirely selfish. Just feeling almost at end of tether!

Invis - your sister is a nit. Missing out on a holiday with lovely you!

Morning ladies, I made no posts last night because I was asleep. I went to put the LOs to bed last night and fell asleep, I woke at 9.30 transferred to my own bed and slept until 5, when I was rudely awoke by our slut of a cat flirting with the boy cat next door, cue child like howling noises. Anyway at least the boys slept so once I'd thrown the cat out of our room (twice she somehow opened the door and snuck back in, apparently her best vantage point for seeing her beau is from our window. Sorry I shouldn't be discussing getting sleep when so many aren't but gosh it feels good, I didn't realise how tired I was until I woke this morning feeling awake.

WG thanks for posting as you went along, I know it helps to be honest and it helps us feel a teeny bit like we are helping somehow. DS2 is the same with the sleeps if he doesn't get one he is a pure devil by 4 pm & doesn't sleep well overnight but my problem is if he does sleep he won't go to sleep at night until 8.30. I was thinking seeing she is at the childminder could you just leave her with the childminder until she has had her nap, would it cost much more? With the sleeping on boob thing have you tried the 'no cry sleep solution' style gob removal just as she is dropping off to sleep? It's the one where just as she is going to sleep you put your pink into her mouth in-between her gums towards where her molars will be then turn your pink so her jaw releases. She will probably fuss and want the boob which is fine, let her go back on, but when she settles and is sucking less & seems to be sleeping almost, do it again & just repeat until she doesn't fuss for the boob and then will just settle to sleep. Eventually after doing this for a few nights she will come off the boob on her own when she is ready to fall asleep. It worked for both my boys you just need to persist.

Invis, if I was your sister I would want to go away because there is going to people to help share the load of her bub and cousins to entertain. That at that stage would have been a drean come true for me.

Jam I like both the chair & mirror, my boys would have that window over in seconds though.

right gotta go we are off for a walk to the library.

WG I have done the same over and over - it's got to the point that S now shouts "shut up E" What Vag says has worked for us - the gentle removal of nip from mouth. Also if you then press up under her chin so she starts kind of suckling her own tongue IYSWIM seems to help her not realise nip is gone. Def feed her lying down so you can nod off too.

and beans, come and complain away, makes me feel less guilty! Your DH is a cheeky beggar, he's not the one having to get up all night, and then he sods off for his events leaving you to deal alone. Can you get any time off yourself?

well we had an interesting one, she wouldn't settle til 11 and it involved me lying down next to her and (ahem) falling asleep, but she then went til 3 which was great. I missed my dinner as a result so am eating last night's curry for breakfast :)

early mornings! lordy, not sure if that's worse than the night wakings tbh, the day really shouldn't start that early.