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!

I've given up trying to show DH the "correct" way to hang out washing. At least he's hanging it out. But he may just do it better now he has mis-shapen his new cashmere tank top.

This mornign I had a lie in for an hour. Dh took B downstairs and I could hear them playing. Then it sounded like the tv volume went up and the living room door opened. I thought DH was passive agressivly telling me to get up, so I waddled down stairs to no TV on. The loudness was coming from the farmers tractor in the field behind our house!!

I'm feeling really crap today. My throat and ears have that yukky feeling you get beofre a cold. DH has taken B to his swimming lesson and I'm all warm under my slanket on the sofa watching F1!

Afternoon all, hope you've had a good weekend.

Glad to hear people have had an improvement with sleep.

I love Ali's comment about 'Luxury Milk', it was exactly what I thought when I read about your DH, cycle!

We had a lovely long walk along the river through the woods with the sling yesterday. The ergo baby is as comfy as I'd hoped

F didn't sleep brilliantly last night. DH took him this morning before work so I could have a lie in. It was great! In fact, DH has really stepped up since I've gone back to work. He's got F two days of the week, and is doing really well. He's even doing laundry & cleaning of his own accord now!

F's still coughing, although it's tickly rather than mucusy now. He's back to a poo in every nappy (and a wet one at that), but I think it's due to all the snot & dribble (4th tooth just cutting). Really wet nappies too, we've had a lot of pj/sheet changes, and even ran out of clean sleepsuits at one point.

I weighed him on the bathroom scales today (not accurate, I know), and he hasn't put on.weight since I went back to work. I'm not surprised, what with the bottle refusal, loads of new milestones reached, etc. But I'm sure he's got longer - none of his trousers/dungarees fit!

I am a bit concerned about my milk supply though.

Well, milk should be fine now. I've lost count of how many times I've fed him since we started trying to put him to bed at about 6:30. I'm surprised I don't resemble a shriveled up raisin by now.

I wrote more, but I'm so ashamed of my frustration and lack of maternal instinct I've deleted it. I am shit at this. Simple as that.

And now I feel guilty for looking forward to work tomorrow. Normal people aren't like this, are they. Aargh.

Buck do not beat yourself up. I love being a SAHM but there are definitely days when I would love to walk out of the door for 8 hours.
This is actually a really tough patch. There is so much going on developmentally that I think it makes them really wakeful and unsettled.

Oh Buck, please don't beat yourself up. We honestly all have moments like that- i've been having one since last night if it's any consolation.

I've lost count of the times that I've wished I could swop with DH and pootle off to work in the morning, coming home just in time for cuddles and bathtime. Obviously it isn't like that for you (and wouldn't be for me) because you're up all night feeding on top of the day job. It must be so tiring. You're doing a brilliant job- even if you don't feel like it all the time.

P is currently fighting sleep here. She slept 7-10 but has been awake since then. She had a big feed while I watched Downton and TOWIE (guilty pleasure!) but is now fussing and wiggling in the bedroom while DH tries without success to settle her. I can't face the awfulness of another night like last night but can see it's on the cards. Urrrgh.

Is it wrong to wish I was mega rich and could afford a night nanny?!?!

X post with Ali but I see our sentiments are exactly the same!

Star I'll share the night nanny. I'll do an ad now..

Thanks both.

buck if I didn't work I'd go crazy. Simples. And I used to do this for a living. It's so different when it's your own and this part is hard. It's when parents think they can't do it any more, they're running on empty, they think they've got into bad habits, it's all too much and they just need a hand.

Night nannies, btw, will often work for free (for a reference) or a greatly reduced rate when just starting out. Put an ad on the netmums childcare board or Gumtree saying that you want a couple of nights, are willing to do a reference if they're up to scratch but you can only afford to pay X. Or if you PM me your area I shall sift through my network of contacts and see if anyone is near you.

We are having shit nights as well. DH has 3 days holiday coming (he was going to go to a stag do but now can't because it's in the UK and he couldn't get enough holiday to make it worthwhile to go) so I've unilaterally decided we're using that to crack sleeping in his cot.

Oh Buck, I so look forward to Saturdays because I work the morning then have DP's mum and sister playing with H while DP plays rugby. I depend the afternoon chatting with a pint of lager shandy, it's bliss!

Plus H hit his head hard on the changing table again yesterday, so I win most rubbish mum

It feels like I've not been here much recently, not sure why because, despite being busy, I don't seem to have got much done!

The big development for us was that S has now decided that actually he does quite like the bouncy chair but will only nap in it for DH.

S is also rolling all over where as he was rolling once then stopping. Trouble is he will roll onto his tummy then decide he can't roll back so just screams in frustration! Annoyingly I know he can roll back, he could do it last week!

Buck I have two weeks until I go back to work. Part of me wishes I was there already so that I can go back to being me rather than S's mum for a least part of the day. However I'm also feeling sick at the prospect of leaving him at nursery followed by full scale guilt at wanting to go back. Poor DH is getting used to me dissolving into tears at the moment!

Other things:
JKS still no AF here, and I'm hoping it stays that way a bit longer!
Fizz I am very of your slanket, it sounds like just what I need for my own F1 sofa days
Star hope you had a better night.
Ali I've banned DH from doing any washing, it's more hassle than just doing it myself! (He doesn't peg the washing, he just throws it over the line, and don't get me started or the mess he leaves the clothes airer in )
Kitty Your mum sounds like a total star! Hope the magic lasted.
Cycle You've got me remembering all sorts of Peep Show quotes now...unfortunately S isn't quite ready for such humour just yet! And you better be keeping that trophy nice and shiney, I'm sure it'll will be back here by the end of the day!

So many heading back to work soon. How about 'hello grindstone, nose here, missed me?' as the next title? It will be fine

buck I meant to ask how much milk you count per day for F? M has an annoying habit of drinking from the bottle in drubs and drabs. Any ideas to encourage him to take more anyone?

DH is banned from laundry here too.

I'm not if I said it or not but from waaaay back - congrats on ring!!!

I missed the ring too, congratulations :)

Well we are going with naptimes in the cot as of yesterday. Mostly Dh's idea, think he was getting fed up with DD going to bed in our bed so he had to creep around getting dressed, etc. Yesterday involved me having a strop at him as I was convinced she wasn't settling, only for her to nap for ages!

Today, she was up 2 hours earlier than her usual though, 5 feeds & 2 tiny naps later i'm wondering if it's the best plan...hey ho, will persevere for now.

Well, we only had one nighttime wake up last night but it lasted for over two hours again, so I feel like crap again today.

On top of that, P has had a two tiny cat naps since 7am and even they've take hours of crying and rocking to achieve. Absolutely nothing is making her happy .

I feel like the most hopeless parent in the world ever and am getting so frustrated with her, even though I know it won't help things at all.

God, I can't wait for DH to get home this evening so that he can take her off my hands for a bit!

Oh Star - here have a , we all have days like that.

Thought mine was going the same way, up early, 2 tiny naps (in her cot at least), and then woke & cried as soon as I put her down last time, i was ready to pull me hair out, then had a brainwave - got her a dummy from emergency-in-car-bag and whoosh, off she went! Cannot believe i didn't think of it before. Going to get a few dummies ready in her room from now on.

(not a huge dummy fan but hey whatever works)

My parents are here. They have taken T out in the pram and are going to pick DS1 up from preschool. I am in bed and going to have a nap - bliss!

Ali - wish i had a 'like' button for that post :)

Oh Star it does get so frustrating sometimes. I admit I will put B in his cot some days and leave him (never fore long) and just sit on the back door step until he falls asleep. If P is warm, safe, clean and has a full tummy put her down and go and make a cuppa or something. I've just done that with B, he's been whinging since 12 but wouldn't sleep, lie on his mat sit in his bouncer, be carried. I seriously tried everything. Put him in his cot and he was asleep by the time the chimes stopped on the mobile. He screamed though as soon as I put him down, but I knew he was tired.

Its DHs birthday today :) he opened his cards last night before B went to bed (Naughty I know, but he's up so early I couldn't keep the secret much longer). He's really chuffed, no running round the room like a child on christmas morning, but I didn't expect that, he's one of these level headed guys. We call it the custard slice of emotions. Only really major things get a reaction (the pastry bits) like B being born or his dad and the rest is the custard which are neither up nor down. I on the other hand am like a jam sponge, I get excited about tiny things and get up set by the RSPCA adverts with the stray dogs and only have a thin spreading of jam in the middle. God that sounds mental when i write it down! Thanks for all the hotel suggestions, I'm having a bit of a wobble about leaving B for 2 nights and us being a good 5 hours away, so I'll see about a serviced appartment and if mum and dad want to come with us. If they can't manage my sister said she would come. And we'd only be leaving B for the time we are at the game. Is that a bit PFB?

DH has requested macaroni cheese for dinner tonight too! So thats simple enough. I was going to bake a cake, but I've no eggs so I'll stick a candle in his dinner! I'd only eat the whole thing anyway!

My crinkle cutter and BLW cook book arriver today . I really think B is almost ready. No tongue thrust, sitting unaided, he's trying to grab our food when we are eating. I'm just not organised enough yet. Must read the book and buy in baby friendly food (more veg )!!

Baby grou tomorrow, wonder what delights AM will come away with! :o

Well M joined in the the awful sleep last night. She went to sleep fine but woke and cried as soon as DH put her into the crib, she eventually settled but then kept waking every 2 hours and repeating the same thing. At some point during the night while feeding her I realised it was really hurting and that's continued today - like she's sucking needles out of me :( talking to some of the other mums and a breastfeeding peer supporter I think it's thrush. Somehow managed to get a GP appointment at lunchtime and now have treatment for M but have to wait til tomorrow for the chemist to get stuff in for me. I can't beleive we've got to 6 months and now got thrush - I thought the risk passed after this long
However M has been gorgeous today - all smiles and happy gurgles and chatting. I just hope she has a better night tonight, and a decent nap soon.

Oh Star, we all have days like you describe, honest.

There have been times with all of the boys when I have put them crying in their cot. Closed the door behind me, turned the monitor off and had a cup of tea. Invariably they havnt fallen asleep, but that five minutes has been enough for me to gather myself. It doesn't mean you are a shite mum, it means you are human.

I really need to start settling I in his cot for daytime naps. It would give me some free time to do 'stuff', I just can't face the short term pain for the long term gain.

ILike - i felt the same, her naps were too precious to mess about with by putting her down in the cot but yesterday afternoon & today this afternoon she has managed a decent 1.5hrs in there! The dummy was inspired.

Yet somehow i didn't manage to do anything in that nap time

'researched' some Christmas presents for boys & ate food

anyone else starving atm? honestly i can't seem to eat enough to get full at all, and often wake up in the morning ravenous, it's ridiculous, but i'm guessing linked to M's feedathon this morning.

LOOK LOOK LOOK and thank you emoticon

Ooooh for the moral support and confidence boost guys. It's always good to know that I'm not the only one who has rubbish days sometimes.

DH is home now and is entertaining P. She's had a couple of 30 minute naps this afternoon (her maximum daytime snooze time at the moment) in the pram, so hopefully she'll have a decent feed and sleep later. She's really snotty though, so suspect that's why we've had a rubbish few nights.

JKS I'm starving all the time and am eating ridiculous amounts of chocolate and cake. I'm back to slightly below my pre P weight (god knows how) but am really going to have to watch it when I stop BF. I'm going to be the size of a small country if I carry on eating every calorific snack in sight!

Oh, and no sign of AF here yet either. Can't say I'm looking forward to its return much!

Fizz Much as I'd love a break from P for a couple of nights, I'm not sure how much I'd actually enjoy it at the moment when push comes to shove. Think I'd just be worrying about how she was sleeping/feeding the whole time rather than actually enjoying myself. If I knew she was a better sleeper and would take a bottle, then I'd be a bit more relaxed about it all. Five hours is quite a long way from home though, so understand why you're worrying about it. I'm sure you'll have a fab time with or without B though.

Fizz I don't think that is PFBish at all. I wouldn't want to be that far away from T for 2 nights.

Star I hope you get an ok night. It really is fine to leave P for a few minutes to make a cuppa and get your head straight if she just won't stop screaming or settle.
T has so far been the most chilled baby ever, it has a lot to do with having a bug brother as a constant source of entertainment I am sure! DS1 went through screamy and unsettled phases though, and I used to think well he is fed, changed, I've given teething gel, it isn't a pain cry, he will be fine while I sort myself out.
I think cycle said a few posts back, you must look after yourself first else you are in no condition to look after anyone else.

you guys!

Coughy McCougherson is back in our room tonight after some particularly scary coughing fits. And I'm planned till Wednesday.

We are surviving.

Hope you're doing well too.