April 2011 - Food Glorious Food, Sleep Glorious Sleep <subtle key change> They're our babies, we'll obsess if we want to!

[fraktious]

Thread 4 - that's one a month!

Ugh hourly wakeups. Ugh teaching now...

Shite night. s is bunged up and wheezy so waking every 45ins to an hour. At 445 I took him downstairs and we slept in the armchair but it's cold so I'm sitting up in bed feeding him now.

Hmmm. Well after an inauspicious start, we actually had a really good night. DH finally settled her around 8:30, she had a dreamfeed before I went to bed and the slept through until 6:45!!

It can happen people! I love it when a good night comes out of nowhere! Fingers crossed that all of you who suffered last night have a good one later.

I think we are back on track for sleeping through the night. Fed B at 11 last night, had to get up at 4 to move him away from the monitor as he keps kicking it! Then he slept until 8. fed him and he fell asleep so I put him back down and he's still sleeping!

Are any Aprilites in or from Manchester? I need some advice on hotels and public transport for our big trip to see the Mighty Man U! Did I mention I got tickets :o

It's moaning time...

So yesterday I had a fab day, got H down in the cot without having to feed him to sleep for a nap, conquered making cheese sauce from a roux (my cooking unicorn) to make DP's favourite dinner, got loads of washing done, then it all went to shit.

H refused to go down until 9pm, woke at 12 and it took DP and I until 1.45 to get him back to sleep with DP insisting that he be the one to spend the night on the sofa with him as it was impossible to get him to sleep any other way. I went off to bed but had to get up at 3 for water when H's crying woke me and I was mega thirsty. I then got up at 6 when DP called me as he needed to get up and H was up, again.

Managed to feed him to sleep for half an hour while DP did a bit of work and then he got ready to go. I tripped over the cat, the cat begs continually and it gets very annoying, he also trips me up a lot. I swore at the cat. DP then said 'the whole point of last night was so you'd be less grumpy' before tutting and getting in the shower.

Not only did I start to cry, I actually sobbed (think undignified, heaving, snotty) and could barely catch my breathe for about 10 minutes. Luckily DP had got in the shower as I feel completely embarrassed by myself. What the hell is wrong with me?!

Cycle you poor thing! Will you have a chance to have a nap today at all?

kitty I hope you've been able to go back to bed!

We had a pretty awful night here too. T was awake and feeding or being rocked from about 3-5, and then again at 6.30. Bleugh.

Oh Cycle ((hugs)). Theres nothing wrong with you, we all get days like that. Lulled in to a false sense of security that things are going well then BOOM, the cat trips you up! I like a good sob fest sometimes, it gets it all out of your system. Like everyone said to Arch yesterday, talk to your DP. Tell him how you feel when he makes flippant comments like that. He probably doesn't even realise how much that would hurt you. I am an emotional spiller, so DH always knows how I'm feeling, but I know not everyone is like me.

Vent here, we are all in the same boat.

Nothing wring with you cycle that was me the other night. Dh said 'you have got to be kidding me' at the time. Not helpful. It's not us it's them!

Aww cycle hope you've managed a bit of a nap today and feeling a bit better. I'm so thankful M does tend to go back to sleep within half an hour with a feed when she wakes in the night. That said, she was awake about 6am today but we just put the mobile on quietly and assume she went back to sleep (like DH and I did).

Fizz I'm originally from near Manchester and we've been to lots of gigs there so have tried a few of hotels. Do you want a city centre one? I think you can then get the tram out to Old Trafford (not sure about the football ground but I got it to the cricket ground which I think is next door). If you want to push the boat out or have had a lottery win I think the Midland would be fab, but sadly I've never stayed there (though did go to a conference dinner there where librarians were dancing on tables :o) There's also the tram stop you'd need just across the road. I stayed here a number of years ago, was OK. I think we also stayed here. If you stay around Piccadilly Gardens you're in the city centre, so it could be noisy, but good for trams, anywhere around St Peter's Square would be good for trams too, again within walking distance of city centre shops. There are also a couple of Ibis and Premier Inn's etc in the city centre but these might be more likely to be noisier with stag and hen dos. Late rooms or last minute might be useful (and you can sometimes work out the Top Secret Hotels by looking at the reviews and distance from city centre)
Let me know if you want any drinking or eating recommendations

Chilli are you from near Manchester? Me too! Flixton. I left when i was 18. I do agree Midland would be lovely :) I used to sing in the Free Trade Hall but I see that's now a Radisson hotel. I loved that building and I expect it would be a lovely place to stay. www.radissonedwardian.co.uk/manchester.html
I was sincerely shocked to see what they had done to my beloved Piccadilly Gardens. Huge gulp.

Yesterday I made myself a nice cup of tea and just played as best I could with the children, no chores. It didn't improve at all in the evening DH wise but nevermind. I did say I wasn't too impressed.

I did get £60 from my grandad so I'm able to buy my dad a surprise hot air balloon ride in the Lakes for his combined birthday, retirement and birthday present. :)

Extends her hand to others to dance in the clarty houses with temporary acceptance.

Thanks Chilli. The Midland looks fabulous, but a bit £££ for lil' ole me!! I just want to be nearish to Old Trafford and maybe the Trafford Centre . I've found out Old Trafford is on the Bury-Altrinham Metrolink So I'm happy to be in the outskirts as long as I can get public transport. I had a look at the top secret hotel and its description rang bells of a hotel we stayed at in Rochdale. I won't be booking that just in case its the same hotel. It was a dive!

DH is home soon so the hotel search will have to go on hold. It's so hard keeping a secret, I've nearly let it all slip 100 times! I just have to get to monday!!!

You could have a look at the Castlefield hotel too, a bit out of the city centre so has a car park and maybe quieter, but still walkable to the metrolink stop you'd need and also to restaurants, etc. The room we had there was huge (plenty of room for a cot) but I've no idea if they're all big. Close to the Science and Industry Museum too if you're looking for other things to do.

Arch I'm originally from Macclesfield so a trip to Manchester was the big city :) and involved running down Oxford Road from gigs to get the last train home on occasion. I also spent a year or so in Levenshulme.

Sorry, can't help with anything closer to Old Trafford or the Trafford Centre (I prefer city centre shopping) but I'm sure there are plenty.

Fizz - if you want a hotel close to Old Trafford, try looking at those at Salford Quays.

Salford Quays is a five minutes walk to Old Trafford and about 15/20 minutes into the city centre on the tram. There are quite a few hotels there, including a couple of Premier Inn/Travel Lodge type places. Off the top of my head, I can't remember if there's actually a tram stop called 'Salford Quays' (don't think there is) but the Harbour City stop is definitely in the Quays area.

The Lowry art gallery and Imperial War Museum are at the Quays and there are various restaurants (Pizza Express type places) near the Lowry Shopping Centre. The shopping centre is pretty rubbish, so I would definitely recommend heading into town or the Trafford Centre if you want to hit the shops!

If you happen to have a lottery win over the weekend, I'd suggest booking this hotel in the city centre!

Are you bringing B with you? If so, it might be worth considering booking a serviced apartment with a bit more room. There's loads in the city centre, including The Place apartments near Piccadilly Station.

Hurrah, a better night last night. I feel almost human today!

Off to a BBQ later with about four other families. The adults will be scoffing, drinking and chatting while the children run feral, and the babies gurgle contentedly - ha ha, in my dreams, although I can but hope ..........

Nowt wrong with a good sob Cycle. Although dh and I talk through everything when we have a problem, we also know when to hold our tongues. Your dp was wrong to say that, and should have realised that a comment like that was only going to cause upset/offence.

ILIKE Enjoy your BBQ

Cycle Hope todays been a better day, we have all had our snotty crying moments, sometimes its good to just have a big release.

Well my pump went back and i must be a glutton for punishment i bought a Medela Pump In Style Double Pump for £55 on Ebay so the pumping is continuing, my Medela swing is to time consuming doing 1 boob at a time !

We DI has now had 2 swimming classes and it was great, we have decided she is going to be an Olympic swimmer and a surfer, she loves the water ! Which is good as im from the beach in OZ so thats where we will be going back to in a couple of years. The teacher thought she was 12 weeks old and was gobsmacked when i said no she is 21 weeks just little, she also kept calling her "he" which irratated me, once or twice i dont mind, most question it when they hear her name but everytime !!

Well ive been very active this week, i decided ive been to housebound and need to make an effort to get out more, so Monday i went to a local NCT meet up in this nice cafe with lovely cakes !! Everyone was super nice and all the babies were similar age and it was really nice, they meet every fortnight and this was the 1st meet up so everyone was new.

Tuesday i went to a Movers & Shakers thing and they did signing and singing and puppets it was really fun actually and DI loved all the visuals.

Wed - Out with DP for family lunch out.

Thur - swimming class

Fri - chilled day and got DI's australian citizenship papers completed

Today - finally went to see the final Harry Potter, it was wicked !!! Im so sad its all over, DI was great, i fed her at beginning for about 30 mins and then she conked out for 45 mins and then i slung her and she watched movie and didnt cry once, i was very proud !!!

Ive started practising her sitting up, she lasts about 3 seconds before going backwards, sidewads, or literally bending in half forward, but its a start !

She has has a couple of off nights going to sleep a bit later but she has been so smiley i cant get annoyed, its so funny when i look down and she just gives a big grin up.

We are moving her into her own room next week when the sofa bed is sold on ebay !! im not looking forward to it !!

Hope everyones having a good weekend

Clearly H realised my distress. Last night he went 7.45-4.15, then 4.45-7.30!!!!!!!!

I woke twice panicking but my God what a difference. DP and I feel soooo much better for it!

Thanks you so much for the kind words everyone, I was just at the edge I think. Fingers crossed for tonight...

Urgh. I told you P is unpredictable. After a run of decent nights, we're having a shocker. She's fed at 10:45, 1:10 and then again at 3ish. She's been awake since then and I'm currently trying to feed her back to sleep again with limited success. I want to sleep!

Cycle Your night sounds like bliss. Hope you're getting a repeat performance tonight!

Morning Star, not quite a repeat o the amazing Friday night but H slept a lot yesterday in the day as well so his 9-2.30 3-5.45 and now awake for the day isn't too bad.

Hope you're able to get a nap in a bit.

Whoop. My mum is officially the baby whisperer. She babysat last night. Hot sam in his cot and he only woke for feeds. I went to bed at 1230, fed at 222 and 520 and he woke up at 750. Yay. Best night in three weeks.

Better night here. 8pm-7.30am with feeds at midnight and 6am which he went straight back to sleep after.
I got him to have two decent naps yesterday, which always gives us a better night!

I decided to stop faffing with fruit and veg and give T some proper food last night, he doesn't seem to like things which are sweet.
So he had pork marinated in olive oil and thyme, jacket potato and cabbage - and he loved it! Lamb and parsnip this evening.

He is 6 months tomorrow, where on earth has the time gone!

Ah kitty that is brilliant. Well done S's grandma!

Wow Kitty, hurray for mummy love. We had a semi decent night again too again. Hooray!

I was still a bit cross though as DP was being annoying. We ran out of milk so he innocently enquired how I'd made scrambled eggs as he was tucking in with glee. I replied 'luxury milk'*, the horror crept across his features and I had to admit I was joking as I thought he was going to throw up cheered me right up.

*Luxury milk is the code word for breast milk in Peep Show.

cycle that is funny. I always wonder why men think it is so weird though, yet will drink milk from a cow's boob that has been hanging in shit, rather than from their lovely clean and fragrant wife.

DH and I have had a major barney his morning because I shouted at him for pegging the washing out badly. All sorted now but we need more sleep in this house, and some sex wouldn't go amiss either

PMSL Ali - the 2 cure-alls

Cycle - lol at your dh, i agree blokes seem ti freak unneccessarily about coming into contact with luxury milk.

Has anyone BF had AF back yet? can't remember anyone mentioning it. Keep half hoping it's coming as that would explain/justify? the bad moods

sure it had restarted by now with the boys.