Feb 2010 - we're stroppy, sassy and splendid (and that's just the mums!)

[BigBadBear]

New thread!

BG I might have had a very similar thought to your sister

DD is a bit rough, but is so far quite keen. We don't have electric toothbrushes but I saw LOs on the telly the other day and thought that's probably a good idea.

The childrens centres here have at least one session a week spread over quite a few hours, but otherwise most groups seem to be at 11. This clashed with two nap days but should be great for 1 nap days. Not that we really go to any except for singing which is at 12:45 (so not 11 at all).

Tooth cleaning is a battle here too. DD1 always let me do hers if I asked, DD2 shouts at me then firmly closes her mouth. Grr. In her defence, she is obsessed with brushing her teeth, so spends a lot of time with her toothbrush in her mouth so I am hopeful it isn't too bad in there. And she still only has ten teeth.

Most playgroups are 9:30-11:30am where I am, though the soft okay places are often open all day so you can go when you want to.

PA how are you doing? Has your milk come in or is that a very rude question?

scones hope your tiredness lifts. When is your due date?

I am wondering what ot give to DS as dinner now as most night he doesn't want to eat what's in his plate... So tonight as he refused the mash potatoes he ate a fried egg (not fried but made in a dry pan) and bread soldiers.
In fact I don't know if it's the food or the fact that he's eating by himself, so tomorrow I'll eat with him (only issue s that dinner is 5.30pm for him! ) and will try something new if I can cook the chickpeas on time.

BBB I do also suffer from low BP but I never fainted during the night, I normally do it while in the shower! Try to take your time standing up (easier said than done I know)

PA good to hear your DD is fine with her DLB. How did your night went?

scones take care, how gone are you?

I have never understood why activities for babies and toddler are at such odd times eg 11.45, 12.30 or 1.30. My two have always slept after lunch, with lunch coming in between 11 and 12 and then sleep from around 12ish to anything up to 3 pm. Having a sane rested toddler was always more important to me than singing, swimming or a library session or whatever. [hsad] Even now I only take dd2 to one toddler playgroup which is conveniently from 9.45 to 11.15 and includes a small snack.

I did read somewhere that electric toothbrushes are not really recommended until the age of 3 because it's easy to press too hard. I have a deal with my dds that they are allowed to eat the toothpaste brush on their own in the morning but I am in charge in the evening and there is no negotiation (cruel mummy emoticon) [hwink]

DD lets me brush her teeth with my toothbrush if I run it under the tap between every brush She is given her toothbrush morning (when I brush mine) and evening (in her bath) and goes through phases of sucking the water and attempting to brush them.

The night went well, he's still largely sleepy. Still haven't quite cracked the latch yet but doing loads better than this point with DD. Milk coming in already as well and he seems to taking in a fair amount. We went to the shops and a BF cafe today. In fact I think DH is doing worse than me, he did too much lifting yesterday and paying the price.

PA glad it's going okay.

Re teeth brushing: DS loves eating the toothpaste but he's not very happy/willing to get his teeth brushed. He knows what to do but can't be bothered doesn't enjoyed me brushing, resulting in screams.

I was like you PA and just carried on as normal after having dd2 . And my dh found the whole thing of having a second dc quite traumatic [hgrin]. Sounds like you are doing brilliantly but try to pace yourself, ok?

Yes PA take it easy - you have only just given birth! Fantastic that you are able to get out and about so quickly, but do rest too... I meant to ask how your DH's wrist is?

I had a vague idea that elec toothbrushes aren't recommended before age 3 but wasn't sure why. Hmm, might try one anyway. It is a twice-daily battle at the moment, and the plaque is still building up, and it worries me, especially as I'm not even allowed to make her an appt at the dentist until she's 2 (I could make another one for myself and take her along - I've only just been though but I suppose that doesn't really matter).

DD loves sucking the toothpaste off her toothbrush herself but it's when it's mummy's turn that the screaming and writhing starts

We go to various morning groups three times a week, but it's the long afternoons I find hard to fill - once DD's up from a nap usually 2ish, and there are 3 hours til teatime - that's when I wish there were afternoon groups that didn't start at 1pm I usually take her for a walk into town and back but I'm getting tired of walking back up the hill now.

SB we have a battle over tea (dinner) more nights than not. Sometimes DD goes to bed with no tea as she refuses to eat something I know she does eat I feel so bad for doing it but I don't want her to get the message she can just refuse food willy nilly.

I sound like a horrible mum.

I'm due on 22 Oct so 9 days to go in theory. In fact I'm sure I'll go over like last time. Although I've had some very wierd feelings in my cervix this evening, they have stopped now though. Nothing like contractions but very painful.

Scones you are not a horrible mum! And how exciting you'll have your own new baby soon! Must admit I got very broody seeing the pictures of Stan's and PA's new additions on FB. Soooo cute! Keeping my fingers crossed all goes really well

scones you're not an horrible mum if she doesn't eat it's because she isn't hungry (I should remember this one for my DS). She won't stare don't worry. Exciting news about the twinges, I guess bsby scones 2 is looking for the exit

Starve! Oops

I guess I am a very cruel mummy when it comes to brushing teeth properly at least once a day. When I say no negotiation it does literally mean that teeth get brushed no matter how much they squirm and squeal. If necessary I will hold them firmly and lightly press against the sides of their cheek to allow me access. Sounds rough but they have both learned very quickly that resistance is totally futile and will now usually let me brush in the evenings. Oh, and dd2 can be bribed by letting her stand on a stool at the bathroom sink and I run some water in while I brush and she is then allowed to carry on brushing, holding her toothbrush under the tap and then sucking the water off

I am not so keen for her to stick her toothbrush down the plug hole though [revolted face emoticon]

Took dd2 to a toddler group this week and on leaving a staff member blew her a kiss to say goodbye. dd2 thought this was totally hilarious and keeps saying 'bye bye mwah!' several times a day now while doing the blowing kiss hand movement . Really quite cute. She is such a little character now that I have to remind myself sometimes to notice her as a real person because dd1 still steals the limelight when not at school. Not sure that last sentence made sense... [hconfused] (should stick to my own language but then few of you would understand...

I let DS brush his teeth himself first then I take the brush and finish off the hard to reach places for him. Sometimes this involves pinning down/sticking finger in mouth/peeling back lips to get the gumline but as I do probably let him have more sweet things than I strictly should, I am very strict on tooth brushing.

How's it going, PA?

Tooth brushing isn't usually too traumatic here
We usually let DD fiddle a bit with her toothbrush in her mouth before finishing off for her. DH does them in the bath in the evening and I do them in front of the bathroom sink in the morning. She likes watching herself in the mirror while doing them. I usually have to haul her onto my lap for a minute, pin her hands out the way and do them under protest - but because DD opens her mouth to whinge, I can get at the teeth! She usually recovers the instant I've finished and cheerfully washes her brush under the tap and puts it back. It helps that she loves the taste of the fennel toothpaste she's got.

I guess we're pretty lucky with our local toddler groups. The all seem to start between 09.00 and 10.00 and finish at some point from 11.00 - 13.00. The ones that finish a bit later, I try and give DD her lunch on the way back so when we get in, I don't have to do much more than put her straight into the buggy for her nap after a nappy change. Mind you, it occasionally backfires if DD is so sleepy she starts to nod off before we make it home. Cue monumental tantrum....

PA you seems to be doing great!
Stan and PA, they are really cute babies!

Teeth, DD2 LOVES brushing hers eating toothpaste , I just do the back and front properly in the bath (I pretend to let her do mine in compensation)

DD2 has 20 teeth and DD1 24. Yeah! I am done for about 5 years! (except for the tooth fairy ones... far less trouble IME)

Can I boast about DD1? [proud mum emoticon] [relief emoticon]
She is doing really well and catching up so fast. I knew she needed a "new" challenge. She is competing with her peers to try to be faster (I wouldn't encourage that as I think she will never be happy this way ) but for the moment it is making her reading improved so quickly that I am in owe.
(or may be you should wait till they are around 7 to teach them to read ). They have a "harry potter" houses thing going on at her school, and she loves it (she is in shakespeare house).

mous couldn't agree with you more. I am quite seeing dd1 struggle with reading (she asked to change school because she thought she might get away with not having to learn to read...). She is barely 4 fgs!
Anyway... deep breath.

mous sorry, meant to say as well that I am really pleased your dd1 has settled in so well

BG. Sorry your DD doesn't have the choice. But we didn't either really, it was really expensive to put her in the english system early .
We are all doing the best we can and can afford. We can tweak it better because of the private choice, but DH is going to be made redundant (again!)
Aaargh! when is that crisis and self absorb/harassing/arrogant bosses are going to end? What can a university researcher do to earn proper money (me not DH)?

mous oh no, on your dh . I am still fuming about my redundancy two years on (well, I was pregnant, so how was I to get another job?). Hope it all works out okay for you though, As for you question what a university researcher can do... sadly nothing, it's really tough market out there (I went for a 6 mths maternity cover and they had 50+ applicants! When I went on maternity with dd1 we had to beg someone to do my cover!)

mous sorry to hear about your DH.

DS and I are watching the Wales v France game (rugby) and DS knows to cheer for France {last week he was cheering for Argentina, the New Zealanders supporters were not impressed )

mous hope you and DH are doing OK. I shall find out in 6 months what my own academia/industry research job prospects are.

Went to the coffee shop meet-up yesterday leaving DH and DD at home. I had forgotten the joys of being able to sit and relax in the coffee shop without fetching a toddler or stopping her stealing other peoples drinks/handbags. Also went to a few shops and didn't have a impatient toddler in buggy outraged at my stopping to browse or one trying to take things off the shelves. Very relaxing :)
Had my mum and DSis today. DSis took DD swimming and was therefore the best person in the whole world (my daughters affections are easily brought) and then they helped do a load of housework for us ready for the ILs visit tomorrow.

Hope your all having a good weekend.

It seems that DS is trying to drop his nap. He fell asleep in the car at 2pm (he normally sleeps at 11.30am weekends and 1pm weekdays) and it only lasted 20mn (instead of 40mn / 90mn). Nursery also had problems for the last week getting him to go to sleep for his nap.
My problem is not the dropping of the nap but the fact that without one he's overtired comes bedtime

PA good to hear that you and your DH are getting help with DD and chores.

I was in Boots today and forgot to look at the electric toothbrushes [Doh emoticon] DD is now screaming as badly for DH as she does for me when we're brushing her teeth which is a shame. We carry on regardless, it's just really not a pleasant experience for anyone.

Mous that is great news about DD1 and BG I am still in shock that your DD1 is in FT school at just-4. It seems all wrong to me. Mous so sorry to hear that your DH will be made redundant Will you repatriate?

PA great to hear you're getting help from your family. I remember those days, sitting in cafes for hours with a feeding/sleeping baby - bliss! Make the most of them, I certainly will if I can find anyone to relieve me of DD for an hour or two.

SB commiserations on the nap-dropping, that is my worst nightmare, I LOVE nap times. DD has happily taken two for the past week, I've got my FX long may it continue...

Still pregnant, still fed up!