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

[BigBadBear]

New thread!

snap here BG yesterday she only napped for maybe 30mins and the day before 45mins. She did sleep through the night though :)

To amuse myself and warm the house up a bit I'm going to make mince pie snails when dd1 is back from school... I have some leftover puff pastry, a snail biscuit cutter and a jar of mince, so the idea is to cut out snails and put a dollop of mince where the snail's shell is. Should be interesting.... Orders being taken now for and

oooh yum

DD is now up so I better get dressed Off to the park this afternoon. I first noticed it at ICs but DD is thickening up. She turning into a chunkey monkey (well by her standards anyway).

It's all muscle, PA ;-)

Hmm, thought I was on FB for a moment.

That's better!

DD woke shortly after 23.00 last night after 8 nights of no interruptions. She yelled a bit, but went quiet as soon as DH popped her back in her cot. I reckon it must have been a bad dream or something equally random.

I got into a slight altercation with another mum at toddler group yesterday. Her little boy was trying to snatch a toy from my friend's little boy who was getting mighty cross. I stepped in and separated them, then offered the first little boy another toy to play with. He wasn't best pleased and yelled. His mum came up and I said, "Oh, he just got into a bit of a tug of war over a toy." She said, "I saw you push him last week and all." and stalked off. I think I had been involved in stopping him getting into argy bargy with another child the previous week - although I've never been rough, just trying to prevent fights.
Right away one of the other mums, who'd seen what happened and a playgroup organiser came over to me and said things like "Well, if she won't teach her child how to share....."
I'd already spotted this boy had a rather aggressive attitude - can't think where he got it from

signs of fat are always welcome in this house

well you know you were doing the right thing. I find these mothers also tend to be the most vocal in their judgements because they have to justify their own lazy parenting to themselves

Reminds me of a Steiner playgroup I went to only once because there was a mother who seemed to interpret the Steiner philosophy as never ever disciplining your child or even heaven forbid say No to him....

Well done for stepping in IC - children do need to be taught. His mum sounds like a silly cow.

There is one kid at Baby Gym who is always shoving and hitting other children whilst his mother sits there beaming beatifically. I just make sure to keep Alex away from him now. When we were at a soft play place recently some woman had let her child take a bag of mini cheddars into the play area (food not allowed in there) A did his cheeky begging thing - just going up to the little girl and standing close to her and smiling and she started properly slapping him. I removed A, went and told her mother and she said she'd say something. I really don't understand why some people ignore behaviour that needs to be kept in check.

I had a mw appt today. My blood pressure was quite a bit higher than at my consultant appointment 2 weeks ago but still in the normal range. I can't help worrying though. Last time it was 104/62 and this time 118/78. The babycentre website says it is meant to fall over the first two trimesters, hitting its lowest at 18-20 weeks. I am only 14+5.

A has slept through for about the last fortnight! He did 8 until 6.45 last night. He was a bit grumbly about going to sleep tonight but usually he just turns over and hugs his teddy as soon as I've zipped him in his sleeping bag.

Has anybody saw fc latest status on FB? It mention been pregnant! I wonder if it is related to her??

was it quite different times of the day?

At ours there is mother who goes on about other mothers following their kids around too much yet it is her kid I have to tell to stop hitting DD. I follow DD mainly to stop her damaging other kids (mainly by running her buggy into them)

Evening all. Quick post before bed tonight after pilates.

Sorry to hear about DH Mous.

Scones re the dummy - DS2 goes through short stages of this when he is either teething or has a cold and is snuffly. I suspect that pain/lack of breath stops him keeping the dummy in like he usually does. I despair for a few days and just as I'm about to put him on ebay, he recovers and keeps the dummy in! Stick with it would be my opinion in the circumstances and good luck if I'm not back on here before you go into labour.

BBB Happy belated birthday to DD1.

PA you sound like you are doing brilliantly and glad to hear you are getting lots of support. Very jealous of the cafe visit - even when I had DS1 this was a no no due to the reflux .

DS1 is now quite poorly 4 weeks into the gluten challenge. The paediatrician has agreed to refer him to BCH without waiting for the blood test results but it's horrible feeding him foods that are making him feel ill, especially as I know that we've got to take them away again in a few weeks as he's definitely intolerant, if not coeliac.

In addition, my brother's wife's mum died suddenly on Thursday night in her 50s. She was a lovely lady and my sister in law had her 30th brithday yesterday so it's been a weird few days here. Feeling very helpless and desperately sorry for her. Has also stirred up the feelings of losing my dad suddenly 8 years ago next week. .

Work continues to be utterly ridiculous and I'm very much looking forward to half term next week. They are failing in their duty of care to me at the mo and I have decided today, after another migraine, that I will have to take matters into my own hands and plan to visit the children in schools less often. Maybe then there will be trouble and the managers will start to do something about it. I have tried to see it out to do my best by the kids but someone pointed out today that if I'm off sick I'm not doing a good job for any of them.

Sorry for a moan. Time for bed, a new day and hopefully a little more sleep than last night in between!! Hi to those I haven't mentioned by name.

Ah, bethy sorry to hear you're having a sad and difficult time at the moment. Poor old DS1. Maybe he'll grow out of it in time? I have a friend whose son had awful, dangerous nut allergy as a baby and toddler, but now at the age of 8 she can be much more relaxed with him as his tolerance has improved. I hope your DS1 grows out of his problems too.

Likewise, sorry to hear you're getting concerned about your blood pressure, Bc. FX it'll settle down soon.
But great news on A's sleeping!!

And thanks for all the support wrt my moment of drama at toddler group. I'm afraid I tend to agree with your assessment of the other mum in question, Bc. I'm not especially judgmental of other people's styles of parenting, but I was wholly unimpressed by hers.

So much for good sleep, DD woke at 00.50 last night, took a couple of attempts to resettle, then woke again at 04.30 and didn't drop off again until 06.15. We haven't had anything like that since the sleep training! At one point, I gave her ibuprofen in case she was in some sort of pain, but on reflection, I think she was just a bit cold. Although she's in a 2.5 tog sleeping bag, a sleepy suit, a short-sleeved body and a cardigan over the top, it was down to 13-14 degrees in her room last night. I'm going to look for some thicker curtains in the charity shops, draft-proof the door into her ensuite bathroom and today the heating is going on.
Poor old DH didn't get back to sleep after the first resettle and he's teaching his first full class today. Poor begger.

dd2 had her sleeping bag, her duvet, and a fleece blanket last night!! She likes to be toasty warm and has done since she was a newborn. I wonder if it has anything to do with all those nights as a newborn snuggling up to me in front of a fire . Or maybe that's just me being sentimental. dd1 is the complete opposite and is currently dancing around in a t-shirt and summer skirt...

BG in case you don't see my FB message, pls can you text me your address and any tips for finding it easily x

(Sorry for one-to-one communication on the thread, everyone else!)

The heating is now on - on minimum, but it's making a tangible difference - and the door is draft-proofed, so hopefully we'll have a better night tonight. Poor DH is exhausted and grumpy (I so know that feeling...)

10C outside, 18C in DS's room. He is in short sleeves vest, a flanelle sleepsuit, a 2.5 tog sleeping bag. He fell asleep covered by a fanelle sheet but I'm not convinced it's still there. There's also a heater in his room set at the lowest temperature.

bethy take care of yourself and your family and don't bother to care about your work if they don't treat you well.

IC I hope you'll hsve a better night (and your grumpy DH will disapear by the morning )

Hi everyone thanks for your support on Tuesday. In retrospect I was having a really bad 'I cant' cope' kind of day, and as usual my mood rubbed off on DD and she played up. Bizarrely, she slept through Tuesday night and yesterday was such a better day - she ate breakfast, lunch and dinner and was in a happy and smiling mood all day. We had such a nice day. Then last night was back to one resettle, so not too bad, but her mood was much worse again today and she refused dinner almost completely (and it was yesterday's lunch so I know she is capable of guzzling it down). I have felt beyond exhauseted today so I suppose my mood is affecting her again. Poor thing. She has had the most boring day in the world today. We have done nothing except hang around the house and nap a lot. I'm off to bed shortly and hoping all the chocolate I've just eaten won't keep me awake

IC I love the dummy holder, must get round to ordering one

I witnessed something similar at a toddler group, an aggressive toddler twice hit my friend's DS, when the mother came up to see what was wrong she didn't like us saying that her DS had been aggressive and just said snappily "These things happen!" and soon left. I thought silly cow woman. Haven't seen her since actually.

bc you shouldn't worry about your BP, call your MW and discuss it with her, she should put your mind at rest. Did you have high BP last time? Is there a reason it's concerning you? Hurrah for the sleep-throughs (and also )

bethy I had no idea you had to feed your DS1 foods that you know will upset him. How awful for you all. How long do you have to continue? Very many commiserations to your SIL, and to you on the loss of your Dad I think you're quite right to take matters into your own hands at work. Good luck.

We have only just got a room thermometer for DD's room (after 20 months!) and it has really surprised me, her room stays a constant 18 at night and 20 in the day. I was sure it would be colder. We have had the heating on for a while though

Sorry for massive post. I'm off to bed now, night all.

IC sorry I can't work out how to PM you [very pathetic and tired emoticon] My email is [email protected] though!

Sleep tight scones i'm not surprised you're exhausted. I hope you both get some well deserved rest

Scones I hope you've had a reasonably restful night. No wonder you're so tired, being so far one with the pg.
Tell you what, I'll do the recipe the easy way - and everyone else can find it too, if desired:

Here it is

Yep, DD slept through last night. Phew. Her room was positively cosy.

scones saw on FB, congratulations on your better sleep. I hope you're okay nad not too fed up.

DS has once again refused his dinner. I think that once he can speak it'll get easier as I'll be able to ask him what he wants to eat (knowing him he'll say biscuits or grapes or cheese or apple or bread and butter ). I may try the stir fry idea with veg and noodles tomorrow (go into the freezer to see if I have tofu)

DD obviously read scones post and has decided she's off the foods that were good, including sandwiches.

Her sleep has been pretty good, but I think the development spurt is still alive and kicking. From the moment she wakes she is tired and quite grumpy. However every day she's picking up new actions to the songs we've learnt at that class we started, can string two words together e.g. it's a baby etc. She liked the falafel, but it was brought pre-made and quite sweet. It's lovely seeing her pick up new things but is very hands on (especially as she's made a game of trying to turn all the plug switches on and off).

bethylou you always seem to have so much to cope with :(

Thank you all, once again. Have been out for dinner with DH and have the prospect of a whole week to enjoy my boys ahead, so I'm in a very chipper mood tonight!

We have to do 6 weeks back on gluten, plus however long it takes for the NHS to get their arses into gear and book DS1 in for a biopsy. Think I may have said above, we are going to wait an extra few weeks and after that go privately because we can't bear to see him suffering for the sake of some waiting list. We are also really keen to get it sorted by Christmas in the hope that 2012 is a better one health-wise (which is probably a really supid thing to say and will come back to bite me on the bum by mid-January!!)

Talking of health, GP has referred me to neurology as a priority re the different migraines I've been getting (and vertigo, which is far more difficult to cope with than a normal migraine - probably stress-related, but better to get checked me thinks) and to gynae for the internal post-childbirth stuff. Unfortunately she thinks there may be two areas to repair, but I shall bury my head in the sand on that one until I know what I'm dealing with.

Scones DS2 is now sleeping in long sleeved vest, pyjamas, 2.5tog sleeping bag and one of Ds1's fleecy jumpers as he was waking us up cold. He's now getting a cold so bound to end up with more dummy spitting out, but I know it will return to normal once he's recovered. Vaguely thinking of putting him into a cot bed without the side this week (as he can climb/fall out of the cot now and is desperate to have DS1's bed!) We can't go straight into a bed (due to the essential mattress monitor) but have a friend who can lend a cot bed until he's too big/medically sorted and signed off. Will let you know how it goes. It was a 3 week nightmare with DS1 at this age which I was hoping to avoid, but can't cope with the jumping out of the cot onto his head!!

Had my first poo-seiving experience at bathtime last night. In fairness, DS2 did say, "Poo!" and I whipped him out onto the toilet (seat). He strained, nothing went in the toilet so I put him back in the bath. What a mistake that was!! DS1 suddenly went, "Mummy..is that poo in my bath?!" Er.. yes..

PA the talking is great isn't it? Favourite phrases this week have been, "Daddy, where cushion gone?", even if it was 5:45 a.m when he realised that we'd moved his pillow afer he'd been sick on it three days previously, and "Sam naughty!" Poor DS1 is not impressed with being ratted on regularly

Anyway, bedtime. Boys gave me a little lie in this morning so bound to be up early tomorrow ready for the weekend. Enjoy the weekend all (and please provide us with another baby Scones - like hearing about the new additions )

We've brought a cotbed of ebay, that we'll try and start her in once my mums visit is over.

beth that post sounded full of cheer and was lovely to read. Hope the gluten stuff doesn't drag out too long for you.

ebay!! not ebay at all, but gumtree (I'm currently watching the phil and ted cosytoes on ebay because not having done a winter with DD we didn't think to get one - we still don't have a winter hat for her either )