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!!

Hooray Mom! THat's great news. I know how the goalposts shift sleep-wise and what would have been a disastrous night a year ago is now a result.
How did you settle him when he woke up? I suspect B is a bit dummy dependent and would love to go cold turkey but any slight yelling wakes T and then I have two to settle. Does your DS1 wake up when DS2 does?

Hooray Mom! I hope it continues!

Had a good night here too, as well as getting DD to have a long nap in her cot yesterday, first time EVER. I think she's finally getting used to being there with me spending a lot of time talking to her and shushing her in there, hopefully also not beginners luck. Am also hoping DH can replicate too so i can get a break sometimes.

I am really lucky that DS never wakes due to DD, well actually he did yesterday but that's the first time in months. And he's easy to get back to sleep. Though for some reason he didn't want to go to sleep last night and woke DD.

Like you db DS won't go to bed early if he has a nap, fortunately he is still in cot and so he stays there and reads books and sometimes gets a bit shouty then goes to sleep.

rubes am doing the cabbage soup diet. Cabbage soup for lunch and tea yesterday (normal breakfast as hadn't made the cabbage soup!).
Can't face cabbage soup for brekkie (!) so just had an apple and coffee. Will have it for lunch and probably tea though. It's quite nice! (but I won't be saying that in a couple of days if I continue). And the name is a bit misleading as it isn't ALL cabbage is it!?

beans gross on the poo tale. YUK! Naughty you on the tipsy bed time, tee hee. Actually I wouldn't think twice about being a bit tipsy while tinies still awake though if I was on my own I might not as I find it hard enough at the moment. With the little one crawling and pulling up on everything, drives me a bit potty!

rubes I did giggle at your DH in airport security too. That's the sort of thing my DH would say on purpose to embarrass me too.

Oh zj I have stopped breastfeeding now. I am not feeling that melancholy about it actually, just a bit glad! I think I was definitely ready to give up. Also she will drink milk cold now so one of the remaining advantages was gone (that I don't need to find somewhere to heat up if out and about if breastfeeding) Will probably feel sad when I see my friends with new tiny babies breastfeeding though.

sL - result on the sleeping in cot! Hurrah!

And Mom, glad the sleep is getting a bit better. Things can only go up from that low point! Last night, I slept so heavily. DH didn't get in til midnight from a party and when DD2 was crying at 2am, I didn't even hear her, so DH did it. Then when she did it an hour later, I shot out of bed and sent my specs flying. By the time I'd found them, she'd shut up, so went straight back to sleep til 6.30, when I just lay her back down and she shushed til 7.15. Brilliant.

Quick example this morning of computer danger... I was looking at FB and good hear DD1 singing in the background, but didnt' really listen for a few minutes, then heard her words - "I riding Pru, I riding Pru, I riding Pru" and turned round to see her sitting firmly on DD2, who had mounted our foot stool. DD1 has just now approached me, having got static hair from a toy duck and she goes "I very fluffy! I can't see anything" as the static stuck to her chops. Brilliant!

SL are you not following the actual plan then? Sounds like you are just doing it my style it still works!
Spot That's my problem, ds wakes quite easily if DD starts crying loud so I was running into her fast and I'm sure that's why she's taking longer to sleep through. With DS he got left a lot more when he was grisling.
Mom that's great news. I went cold turkey with DS at 6 mths. the 3rd night is the worst, so don't worry if he regresses a bit but it works. Don't give in and by the 4th or 5th he'll be fine. Completely get rid of them (off the premises) otherwise on night 3 you'll be tempted to go through the kitchen bins looking for one in desperation So glad you got some sleep.
Deids that's a result. Not sure what to do about ds as now he's back napping it's been quite good. Napped from 3pm-5pm yest which I was thinking would cause me a night of horror, but he never woke and slept 8pm-620am. DD on the other hand is miserable. Teething hell for her and up a lot

beans PRICELESS!!!!

Mom - I went cold turkey with DD2 at 3 months. It was tough and her little face was so scratched by the end of it, all self-inflicted. But for us it only took 2 nights and days of screaming and me being hard-hearted (and weeping) and not going into her and she hasn't looked back since. Although she now sucks her thumb and is almost as addicted to Dr Quack as DD1 is to Sheepy. This is Dr Quack.

I meant to post that MN was eating my well thought-out and comprehensive posts. Then it got eaten! Wah! Have given up on trying to post at any length on phone, so hurrah for the good nights and boo for any bad ones. DS2 gas taken to rolling out of bed, so need to dig out the bed guard.

Aarrgghhh. I have the day off work, to head down south later for wedding no 2, and took DD to nursery as she'll need to be there this afternoon anyway. My plan was to go for a long swim and then do a bit of decorating, but have got to the pool and discovered I didn't put my swimming bag in the car. Huff.

Hurrah those who had a good nights sleep

Hi. Have just had a quick scan through the posts and saw Lady's comments that I've gone quiet - I know, I just haven't had time to keep up. I fear if I sit and read through to catch up I'll never get time to post. I spotted good news about a house, people off for the weekend and good news about sleeping - hurrah all round.

I had to laugh, a friend said in an email this morning that she envies my energy - ha! You can tell she lives at the other end of the country and has only the haziest memory of my energy levels! I feel like a damp rag most of the time atm and people's opening salvo when they see me now is a 'poor you'-sounding "you look tired". I was yawning my head off in the playground yesterday afternoon, it's a bit embarrassing. Anyway, nothing terribly exciting happening, just galloping to stand still. DS has been quite a pain this week. A friend with a three year old said in portentious tones earlier "I remember when DS turned two and a half..." and I thought oh god, you mean this is it for good now?? He's been hard work - contrary, running away from me and generally a little bugger, which he hasn't been so much til now. On the upside he's slept through more, though not last night.

Blurgh. Will attempt to catch up slowly now I have finally reappeared

Oh yes and fruitcakery - the doc is happy with the Mindfulness programme I'm following so I don't need to go back for routine visits to her, but she's referring me to a course in Hereford that will help too. It's free and it's there so why not, was her take on it, and I agreed. Have been more up and down in the last couple of days but I know tiredness and DS being a sod are contributing to that.

Ahh, have now caught up.

Lady that overnighter sounds lovely. Nothing like a bit of culture to raise the spirits. We were invited to a garden party at Hay (ie festival) this year but we didn't make it - it was at 6.30, completely impossible time of day.

Beans I was tempted to do sthing similar when I had a boyfriend who shared a flat with a guy who disappeared into the only bathroom for hours. Am quite with you on the alcohol thing. I had a huge Pimms the other night while DH was out collecting the skids and I sailed through supper and DS' bathtime far more smiley and relaxed than usual, was great

spot I sort of know Plumpton and that part of the world as I grew up in Burgess Hill, and used to watch the big bonfire parades, they're a big childhood memory. Oh dear, comma splicing-tastic We've lived rurally for 10 yrs now, in three different villages in Hfds, and I wouldn't change it. Our first village was a tiny hamlet really and had a good community. We had heaven-sent neighbours and still see some of them now. Our last place was a washout for that (and so much else) but this new place is better. I can walk to GP, PO and two pubs and it has a school (DD goes to Brownies there), a church (obv) and one or two other interesting things. The shop is closing but I can't tut about that as I never use it for anything real. Msons and Aldi are 5 mins away and the shop, sadly, just can't compete. The ppl we know in the village are ppl we knew already, we just haven't had time to get involved. Honestly, between dealing with four children and running a business (which is just hideously stressful atm) we just don't have any inclination to get involved in anything else. I don't think I've even made a PTA meeting all year. I'm feeling terribly boring and stressy and dull these days. Still, am off to Brum tomorrow (for the first time ever) to meet up with my uni friend (yes, just the one!) who's over from Australia for a few weeks. We'll be without the children which is a mixed thing as I'd love to see her 6m old daughter whom I've never met and she has a little boy 3m younger than M, but we'll have a much better natter without them.

Right, washing needs to go on the line. DH thoughtfully brought in my washing earlier while I was at playgroup, as it started to rain. Sweet, but we don't have a dryer and I can't get the stuff dry in the house so I don't know what he thought I was going to do with it. For 10 yrs I have explained to him that stuff stays on the line until it's dry, I never bring it in because of rain, and generally it works fine, but he never accepts it

Evening all off out with DH soon for drinks and a meal. DC's at mums for the night Hooray!
I spent most of my day trying to find a dress for my cousins wedding. Failed miserably but did get some gorgeous shoes and a new sports bra that cost the earth. But by heck it keeps my hooters in place. Managed a 4 mile run without them moving.

SL great news on the sleep front.

Hey Trudy, glad you're back, I missed you, you're such an integral part of the gang. Good news on managing the fruitcakery

Talking of missing people, I wonder how Kiwi and Pingu are getting on with their pregnancies?

at 'I'm very fluffy' Beans, so funny!

DDs bedtime is getting quite late these days, because she's still napping. But I can't handle the grumpy tea time and evening if she doesn't nap, and I love my hour or so of peace in the afternoon, so late bedtime seems a small price to pay

DD has turned into a proper grumpy madam recently, like your DS Trudy. DH and I wondered if there's a terrible two and a half phase! But I think it's probably due to us abandoning her every weekend at the moment. Whenever one of us tries to do anything at the moment she screams for the other and won't cooperate. But last night when I was giving her a cuddle she said 'Weezy come with Mummy tomorrow, Weezy want to see the princess (bride) and Auntie B, Daddy stay with Grandma, not Weezy' I felt awful, poor lamb

Enjoy your date Deids

Hello everyone,

Sorry I'm not keeping up properly.

beans Another cracking poo story from you . My friend once got back to his shared bathroom in halls (a few cubicles, sinks, shower) and found the main door locked, which was never done. Eventually one of his flatmates came out and they found he'd been sick in the toilet and done a poo in the sink! He had had a few beers but still. ...

spot Hurray for the house. Sounds fantastic!

SL Glad you are happy with the end of BF and that DD will take cold milk! That's ace! DD1 was forced to at 5 months when we were in Berlin and the flask broke. It was MUCH easier after that.

ZJ Sorry those weekends are catching up a bit. DD will just be pushing your buttons as she knows you feel guilty. I let DD1 miss her nap today as I thought getting her to bed early would be better. AWFUL idea.

I've been struggling with her all day. Stamping on the floor to wake up DD2, bringing plants into the kitchen, pulling the heads off flowers, stamping on the cat's tail, drawing on her table (actual table). My discipline technique was echoed back at me by DD who came into the kitchen with my slippers and shouted at the top of her voice 'put your slippers on right now mummy or else you will not be watching night garden, one, two, THREE'. I have no other technique .

Anyway DD2 went to the Paedriatrician (sp?) on Monday and is now 10lb 8. Still tiny but doing well! She is such a happy soul, all smiles and cheerful noises. She slept from 7.30 to 4.30 one day last week. I wish I'd have gone to bed at 7.30 and made the most of it. Just a one off though, boo.

I'm one handed typing now, J does like to snack in the evening. I've a wedding in a few weeks, anyone got any bf accessible outfit ideas?

10lb 8 is fab Jolly, J sounds adorable. E took 10 weeks to reach 11lb, so J isn't far behind. Sorry that L is pushing, but she has a good sense of humour . I often get told to 'walk properly' or 'eat nicely'

I may have consumed too much Pimms.

Oh ZJ, thank-you, I feel all humbled and silly. Hope you have a good weekend, but poor DD, I would have felt such a heel! DS doesn't have the excuse of abandonment. He has lots of Daddy today as I'm out all day, DD has a play rehearsal at school and the skids are at work. I expect to come home to a shadow of the man I left this morning! DH is a great dad and useful in the house, but I think the sheer relentlessness of looking after a toddler alone all day always takes him by surprise.

JB glad to hear DD is piling it on and is a sunny little soul

Vag that sounds blissful.

I'm off to choose something flattering, up to the minute and well-cut from my extensive wardrobe for meeting my friend in Birmingham today. I'm aware that however I look today will be her mental pic of me for the next few years (she lives in Australia) so I'd like to look reasonably together, but she has tinies too so she'll understand!

Hope everyone has a good weekend and enough sleep

Trudy have a lovely day I'm sure you'll look super what ever you wear.

Had brilliant evening with DH and am now sat here (wide awake with no kids) enjoying coffee, toast and the news! No CBeebies, love it.

Vag do you have a hangover?? I was too inibriated last night to even type, so well done on that front at least

Aahhh Deids, the bliss of the news, I am doing the same in my b&b, but without DH as he couldn't take the time off work for this wedding. So DD isn't completely abandoned as she has him in the afternoons this weekend. I've come down with my sis, and she has had to do so much preparation for leaving her horse, dogs, cats, lambs and fish than I've had to for one small toddler, and she gets up much earlier than me everyday to deal with them. Childcare is a breeze compared to all that!

Have a lovely day Trudy, you'll probably look far more elegant and pulled together than anyone who has a 6 month old AND has travelled half way round the world whatever you wear. I'm just jealous that your wardrobe contains a choice of items that fulfill this brief

Mmm Pimms Vaj, I hope they'll be serving lots of it at the English country wedding today, it'd be rude not to!

Can smell my full English cooking, I love a good b&b!

Oh god, my undies are still on the washing line at home. I only have the (black) ones I was wearing yesterday. My dress is pale blue and white. Oh no, oh no

One word ZJ commando

But DB if she goes commando won't her...um...map of tasmania....um...be visible by its darkness. ZJ how dark are you down there. Can you pop to a shop for some new nickers?

The beauty of Pimms is there is no hangover, felt fine this morning.

DS1 has head lice, Bugger, and I'm sure I now have them. So far DS2 doesn't. DH has taken DS1 to swimming and it going to the dutch version of Boots to look for the equivalent of Hedrin to douse DS1 with this afternoon. He is armed with the active ingredients name and instructions not to get anything but a shampoo with Demiticone in it. The last time DS1 caught lice, when he was 2.5 it too forever to get rid of them and Hedrin was the only thing that worked. Wish we'd tried it first. Stupid Boots people kept selling me other stuff, it was actually a women in the check out line at Boots who told me about it.

Hopefully the dress is lined...Vag you make me laugh with your map of tasmania!

Oh no ZJ! Commando would be my favoured option, assuming dress is short enough. My map is regularly zzzzzed so I'd be fine in that particular scenario, should it ever happen! Here's me grumbling about mucking out three hens (it was four but one pegged it midweek) - that zoo sounds like a full time job.

Obviously the dripping sarcasm about the state of my wardrobe didn't travel well across cyberspace I'm actually wearing SD's cast-off jeans (though I'm secretly rather pleased that I can wear my 17 yo SD's jeans ), falling apart but adored blue sequinned Skechers and a nice flowery shirt I got for my birthday. My wardrobe is working blinking hard these days. I'm delighted to say my friend looked fantastic - not fair. She's one of those lucky people who's looking better and better as she gets older. I put it down to being married to a man 10 years her junior, the minx

Gneek Vag - lice. DD had a real spate of them and I caught them from her once, the only time I've ever had them. All that worked for her was endless combing.

Bleeurgh, train now moving and I'm feeling green using the laptop so will read instead. Little Gods by Anna Richards, really really good and original.