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

[BigBadBear]

New thread!

It's more that DD has my leftovers

No, SB - you didn't sound patronising at all. I know it was the overtiredness but with MIL there, there wasn't much I could do.

As I said MIL wasn't as bad as I'd feared. The only thing she did was when I went to the loo in the museum. DS had a meltdown because I left the room - when I came back she was grasping him around his waist - with his back to her and shaking him up and down like a cocktail shaker. Why on earth she didn't think to cuddle him face to face I have no idea. We've told her about this before but anyway. She does love him but she seems utterly clueless as how to handle him. You wouldn't think she had two of her own.

PA I think you are a saint. I don't let my PILs take DS out without me, wouldn't even consider it. Can't believe yours had the gall to think they could soothe your DD better than you. Are you living very close to them now?

I am getting on ok with the cloth nappies. Had a bit of a poo leak this morning because DS's poo is a bit soft at the moment. DH is away and he's unsettled and pining for him so he is off his food a bit but wants boob all the time hence back to baby style stools. I'm sure once he's back on his normal diet it won't be an issue.

Scones It really doesn't matter what other ill-informed people think about you BFing past whatever arbitrary age they think is 'normal'. You know you're doing the best thing for your DD. I wouldn't even bother citing evidence to people, you don't need to justify what you're doing.

SB again - I like the Pediped trainers. www.pediped.com/boys-baby-toddler.aspx#filter=categoryFilter%3D40df4194-a511-43b0-ae08-1941d3157637 They stock them at John Lewis.

We luckily have a French bakery round the corner - it only opened a few months ago. They do the best almond croissants ever. The bread is a bit hit and miss. Some days it is too doughy.

Sometimes I eat his leftovers but they're always cold so not always that appetising. Couldn't stomach cold omlette.

He is worse than ever at the moment at eating veg. I think I made a rod for my own back by offering alternative meals when he refused something. I've stopped it now but I think it will take a while. Today for supper I did lamb chops, potato wedges (with a bit of mayo) and frozen petit pois. He normally always likes peas but I think he had about 2. He did scarf down the meat and two or three bit wedges and then half a peach - I guess that's ok but the lack of green stuff does worry me.

Was wondering how much your DCs walk... I walked DS up to a very nearby park the other day but he point blank refused to walk home again and I had to carry him but he is always fine walking for quite a distance in the woods or the museum - it's only on the pavement that he gives up quickly. I normally take the pushchair even if I'm just going to the corner shops.

bit wedges should have been big.

DD walks less than she used to, now she'll try and climb into the buggy if she is tired, but before she was more excited at walking. On the road trip she's do anywhere between 0.25-1 mile, but then again she napped a lot less so was more tired to start with.

DD had a pair of those shoes which were great until wet

When i was hear in Feb I wouldn't have been so relaxed and would have flipped at the fruitshoot, but then again we were here for longer. Now I can relax knowing it will just be a weekend once every 3 months so I can pick my battles.

Hey, Bc!
DD walks depending on her mood and motivation! I usually get her out the Connecta once we hit the park, sometimes as soon as we get reasonably inside, other times I wait until we get to the playpark. I often encourage DD to walk back as far as the road (prob about quarter of a mile or so), but it's rare she gets all the way - she either starts getting distracted and wandering in the wrong direction, while refusing to hold my hand, or starts sitting down on the ground and fiddling with minute bits of detritus she finds there. At which point, she goes back on my back. I don't tend to walk with her on the main street as she's not yet brilliant at hand-holding and it's also a strain on my back because she's so tiny!

I must say, many of the posts here make me really appreciate my PILs and my own mum and dad - they're all very good at not interfering and respecting DH and my parenting decisions. I'm amazed some of you keep your cool at times.
MIL is a Montessori nursery owner/teacher and comes up with some lovely ideas of activities to do with DD. DD is one lucky little girl with an entire nursery and its contents at her personal disposal when we go visiting

Another sleep-through last night, hoorah..!

When it comes to food, my rule is that DD can have as much plain, Greek yoghurt and fresh fruit as she likes as we tend to offer that as a second course anyway and if she's sufficiently hungry because she refused her first course, I figure she can fill herself up healthily on that. But I won't give in to requests for a "biccy" if she hasn't eaten up her main course/s.
The only way I can get veg into DD at the moment is by making into soup, which she then mops up with bread, or by hiding it in cheesy pasta sauces or by giving her tricolour pasta/potato gnocchi. She will at least usually try something before deciding if she wants to eat it or not - but it's been a while since she's surprised me by actually consuming an undisguised piece of vegetable matter...!
You never can tell, though - I apparently ate anything and everything at aged two. By the age of five I was as fussy as hell. (I mostly grew out of that, luckily!)

BC I looked at those shoes, but DD1 has already outgrown their range and DD2 is already in their flex system which I don't think is suitable for toddlers. She had another growth spurt in france and is now a massive 6.5/7, 24 EU size ; she will never be cinderella, sniff! .

I am like IC I don't let DD walk in the streets yet, same issues.
But she can go for very long in the park, she never asked for the pram back yet, I get tired before her , we staid for 3 h yesterday. I had many confirmations by RL people that she is insane very athletic.

BG stay cool.

IC envy at your MIL, your DD must have fun.

SB I do eat leftovers too (2 plates to finish, greedy).

Talking about the park craziness, DD2 can know climbed on the rope ladders designed for the 5 to 12 yo kids, worse she loves it and all the dangerous things that come afterward. DH who is a bit more relaxed than me in watching her, just caught her while she was falling through a gap from 2m high [trying not to panic emoticon]. Not sure if I have to banned her from the park and let her run in the woods instead . Not fair on DD1, I supposed.

SB about potty training. I was talking to a friend about it and she had advice from expert (french, it it helps with your mum), if they can't jump which both feet together, and can't walk up and downstair with alternative feet (like an adult IYSWIM), there is no point trying potty training, it is the same nerves and muscles involved. If they poo at the same time everyday and sit still, you can play catch poo in the potty though to get them use to the idea.

IC about food there is a normal fussy stage between 2 and 7, when they refused anything new (and most of the usual food IME). In my house you have to taste before refusing, and you are not obliged to finish your plate. If nothing has been eaten, you go hungry. Another disagreement with my family as you have to eat what is in front of you.
Both DDs loved rice/spinach/tuna mixed with grated cheese and a bit of pesto. DD1 love spinach but DD2 won't eat it otherwise. I also hide broccoli, spinach,... in bolognaise.

hear here

DD also goes a lot longer in the park or other open areas. I guess they can have those little stops here and there while they investigate things whereas when you're going from A to B you don't have the luxury of as much time (even when there isn't a rush - there's just something about path walking)

DD slept from 8-6 last night :). I'm also getting OK nights of sleep but still haven't managed 8 hours since I've been back.

DH has now left, he was a bit tearful. Must be hard going from being with me and DD 24/7 to not seeing each other for potentially 3 weeks.

apparently throwing oneself from the window ledge to the sofa head first is a un thing to do. Think I've got her to backwards now but then again she started OK and then got confident and impatient

Morning everyone! Monday morning which is chores morning for me, I have two loads of washing to get on the line, the dishwasher to empty and last night's washing up to do (which is DH's job ) and yet here I am...

I'm a little shamefaced at all the walking your DCs do. I take DD everywhere in the buggy (no car, about 25 min walk to town) and I haven't yet given her the option of walking any of the way because I'm generally in a hurry to get there, or get back. I suppose I should be...

dd2 likes to tease me. She is still within the possible incubation time for chickenpox and will develop a spot or two every few days which look 'promising' and then nothing else happens...

scones I freeze lots of my courgettes. They do get soggy when defrosted but they can be used in gratins (I did this one 2 twice last week) or soups.

DS does like to walk and will hold my hand so we do walk to town at least every weekend, when not bothered or tired he'll ask to be lifted in my arms or climb into the pushchair.

PA glad to know that you're getting over jet lag and hope you'll cope without your DH.

BG FX chickenpox will avoid your DD2.

mous I have been told about the climbing of the stairs like an adult. DS does it most of the time. I'm not rushing him, but I get him use to sit on it when I know he normally pees (ie before bath).

Hello again.

I just did a positive pregnancy test but I've just finished a 3 and a half day period.

I took the test because I was feeling sick and even throwing up mouthfuls of bile in the park this afternoon. I was sure it wouldn't be positive - don't know why I did it even but now I don't know if I had an early mc or if it was bleeding and I'm still pregnant (which would be brilliant).

Anyway it's good news either way because it means DH and I can conceive a baby without IVF which is something we've never managed before.

I'm going to go to the GP and ask for a beta hcg blood test tomorrow.

bc such a great news if it is a +

BC FX

Wow, Bc - a BFP!! Congrats!

Did your period have red blood in it? If not, it may have been an implantation bleed - they are often mistaken for light periods (I did that with my first pg) - also, it's very possible to have a sort of "phantom" period when you're pg - your womb sheds a bit of lining etc. as if it was a period, but actually you are pregnant.

Coo, how exciting - let us know how your test goes!

Well, DD didn't touch much of her dinner tonight - ate a small cheese scone with unsalted butter (made with quinoa flour, for extra protein), refused to touch her pasta and just had a couple of mouthfuls of veg/protein/fruit puree.
This time, I didn't give her fruit and yoghurt as I suspect she's now relying on that and therefore not inclined to give her savoury course much of a chance. Plus she had a reasonable lunch and breakfast (plus a snack or two) so she won't starve. But I think I'm going to take a tougher line from now on as I'm getting fed up of the shrinking nature of DD's food preferences. We shall see.

Aw, PA, how sad not to have DH around for a few weeks. I imagine it will go quickly. I hope you don't get too worn out without him there to do his part.

You gave up your job, BBB...? How do you feel about that? It sounded like you had a lot on your plate with that and your DDs.....and DH....

How did I miss that you gave up your job BBB?

FX for you Bc let us know how you get on! I had implantation bleeds with both pregnancies, and the second time round it really resembled a period - lots of red blood, and lasted for three days. Hope it's the case for you

BBB mentioned it on FB, Scones - unless I massively misinterpreted what she said (please clarify, BBB!)

bear !!! Whichever way it goes, as you say it is good news all round!!! Keeping my fingers very firmly crossed! x

BBB hugs... tell us more

IC It was dark red and gloopy like a normal period but lighter than I've been used to lately (since they came back around 14m pp they've been really heavy). No big clots.

I did test last week a few days before I was due on and it was negative but I half thought I saw a second line if I tilted it a certain way but then it was so very very hardly there I kept staring and thought I imagined it.

Also DS's nappies have been a lot runnier since my period started and he's been much more demanding of boob (I thought for comfort because DH was away from Thursday until today but maybe hormonal changes have dried up my milk a bit???). Maybe I am overthinking things.

Thanks all for crossed fingers and well wishes.

DS ate a bit better today. I have found that when we eat as a family he gets a lot more distracted and tries to grab adult sized cutlery and then gets pissed of when he can't use it or if we say no. He also wants to drink from proper glasses but if we give him one he spills it everywhere but he won't take no for an answer. So I have been doing the 'bad' thing of sitting him in his high chair in front of cbeebies and just putting a little on the tray at a time for him to help himself to with his hands. It works.

BBB I didn't know you'd given up work either. Hope it all goes well and looking forward to hearing more.

PA Hope the three weeks pass quickly. Can you skype? I know it's not the same...

BG Hoping it's not chickenpox.

I'm fine with the idea of DH being away but I have siblings to order around and a mum keem to help but not overstep. he's the sentimental one

BC fantastic news for you and lots of things crossed for you

my mum learnt how fast DD is today when I forgot the buggy so she walked all around town.

BC i can post my tandem feeding book if you want a gander?