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 saw another thread on babies and firework displays and the consensus seemed to be that they'd need some sort of ear protectors. I love firework night and am gutted that we can't go to a display this year. I'll have to make do with looking at them through the window!

Is anybody doing anything to prepare for the clocks going back? P has taken to starting the day at 5:45/6ish (nights are much improved of late, so am putting up with the early start) but I can't stand the thought of this becoming 5am! She always goes to bed at 7pm. Do you think it's worth me trying to push this back to 7:30pm on Friday and Saturday in preparation?

Arch Quite frankly, your Stepmum sounds like a loon!

9 teeth Ali! Still haven't got any here, although the amount of chewing and drooling that's going on, one must be just round the corner!

Yes, your step mum sounds rather unhinged Arch. There's nowt as queer as folk!

Fireworks - they will do one of two things. Sleep through it or hate it and cry - a lot.

I think I know what camp I will be in. We went to the theatre yesterday (to see Katy from I Can Cook) and evrytime the audience clapped/sang etc, baby I's bottom lip came out and he was inconsolable.

We will probably do some fireworks at home and I will stay inside with I.

I don't do anything about the clock's changing. The boys have always seemed to be ok with it.

Thanks for the advice. Baby ear protectors sound a good option so will look into that.

Pink baby ear protectors ordered-can't wait to see her in them!

No, I'm not doing anything about the clocks changing either. Like ILTMI, my DS has always been ok with it too. I'm out with the girls on Sat night , so hopefully will get an extra hour in bed to recover.

I don't do anything about the clocks either, DS1 is pretty flexible about bedtimes anyway.

We are taking the boys to a big fireworks and we'll get some ear defenders for T. He will just have to be fine, DS1 adores fireworks so I don't want him to miss out.

Better night here - we tried a sleeping bag for the first time in several months and it was a big success. Fingers crossed!

Decent night after nap refusal yesterday afternoon.

H is now rolling on the floor after a frustrating four attempts at the back cross carry hold with my Amazonas sling. We nearly got it but H is just soooo wriggly

I didn't want to push it as if he hates the process we'll never get it right. He seemed to like the position and I think he'll be happier if he's able to look around more. We tried the hip carry but it was uncomfy for me and he didn't lie it.

Ali amazon had the best deals on the ear defenders.

Cycle have you tried a secure high back carry (SHBC)? i found it easier to master than BWCC, this was an easy video to follow

Sassy, the pink ear defenders sound fab!

Arch, your step mum sounds like a loon from loonsville!

Frak it's interesting that the lipase thing is linked to the oversupply.

On the milk front it seems the most recent is still palatable if not frozen. (though like a numpty i've left todays at work so will have to dump it!)

The nursery have been great and S's key worker has sat and tried loads of cups a bottle teats and FINALLY found one he'd take. So today he had aprox 7oz, thats as much as he's had in all his other days combined! Fingers crossed he keeps it up because i was really starting to worry, plus the reverse cycling at nigh is killing me! Last night he was up from 2.30am, with just a couple of 20min catnaps between the and 7am. >bleugh

Aww the ear defenders are cute!! I love firework displays too but not going to go this year as doubt R would like it, ear defenders or not. We also have MILs partners 50th on bonfire night so couldn't even if we wanted to.

I was worrying about the clocks too but hopeful that R won't be disrupted too much by it. She gets up anytime between 7 and 9 so she should sort herself out through out the course of the day.

Dairy The reverse cycling sounds like a killer!

Well R finally rolled over again today, just the once and was lured with the propspect of playing with daddys mobile!

Aargh, small 3am rant:

Leaky nappy = full change. F-ing "super dry" my arse. Having done extensive research this only happens with huggies. Shame this was nappy 1 in a new box of 69. Money back, please.

L loves flashing/moving lights so think she'll be fascinated by the fireworks. Just going to a display in my parents village so if she starts crying will make a swift return home. I'll pop a pic on of her in her pink ear protectors when they arrive!!!

Hmmm, may well try the high back carry Dairy.

Sounds like a plan Sassy, we've just had the third consecutive night of huge fireworks. We live very close to Southall and they take Diwali seriously down our way H slot right through them.

H slept well, from 7.15-5am but then decided to be awake. At 8.15ish he started getting a bit screamy tired so I got him down for a nap. I went back to bed as I was tired and woke at 10 in a panic. He slept til 10.15!

I so wish he'd do his 12 hours in one go but I feel better for lying down. Wish I'd got some housework done but hey ho.

Gaaaaah, will someone please give me a break, freaking out about dropping down to SMP 8 weeks before xmas and NOT getting paid for KIT days and now DP has been made redundant once again :(:( 5th time in the last year and a half, guess I should really be used to it by now!
Sorry just needed to vent!!

Oh no MrsW Why aren't you getting paid for KIT?! Hope your DH finds a new job soon and that this one sticks.

Cycle we double hammock. BWCC tends to not hold him in securely enough.

I think we were thinking 'hello grindstone! Nose reporting for duty' or somesuch.

Mrs W Rubbish news . How demoralising for your DH. Fingers crossed that he finds something permanent soon. As Frak said, why on earth aren't you getting paid for your KIT days? I though that was part of the deal?

Really sorry to hear about your dh MrsW, not what you need. I thought we got paid for kit days as part of maternity-they can't expect you to go in and work for few surely?!

Grrrr bloody predictive text - free not few!!!

MrsW this is what direct gov has to say about KIT days:-
Keeping in touch

^During your leave it is often helpful to keep in touch with your employer.

Your employer is entitled to make reasonable contact with you during Statutory Maternity Leave. This might be to update you on any significant changes in the workplace, including any opportunities for promotion or job vacancies.

You can work up to ten days' during your Statutory Maternity Leave without losing your Statutory Maternity Pay, Maternity Allowance or ending your leave. These are called keeping in touch days - and may only be worked if both you and your employer agree. You cannot work during compulsory maternity leave which is the two weeks immediately after your child is born.

Although particularly useful for things such as training or team events, keeping in touch days may be used for any form of work. They should make it easier for you to return to work after your leave.

You will need to agree with your employer what work is to be done on keeping in touch days and how much pay you will receive.

In my works Mat policy it says I should get full pay for KIT days. I'm guessing yours doesn't, which is shit. And its also shit about your DP :(. I'm sorry

So sorry to hear about dh's job MrsW. It must be really stressful for you both.

I like the grindstone comment Frakk, it very much reflects how I'm feeling at the moment. DH took a day off work today so that I could have a few hours to myself. I went and done a bit of Christmas shopping - I was being organised and having some retail therapy at the sametime!

I just needed a break from the boys and the same old same old. I think it stems from I's unpredictable sleeping. I have well and truly hit the wall. DH is worried that I have a touch of PND but I don't think it's that. This too shall pass and all that ......

Interesting ILike - I was wondering if I had a touch of PND but think it's more a combination of too many stresses all at once. (issues with DS1's school, DS2 being unpredicatable & DD not sleeping brilliantly (relatively)).

MrsW - oh no! what awful news x 2 :(

MrsW how awful :( Can your DH do anything to move into a more stable industry or is he stuck?
Re. the KIT days - is it a temporary fuck up, or are they really saying they won't pay you?

ILike - I'm in the same place as you, T's sleeping is awful, he won't nap in the day and this week with no preschool for DS1 has been horrendous.
I'm worried about PND too, I had it after DS1 and it got bad at this stage and I was diagnosed when he was 8 months. I don't think I'm going down that route, it is just tiredness and never getting a moment to myself, but it does worry me.

Took the boys to the zoo today, I am knackered but we had fun :)

Oh no MrsW, that's awful. Big hugs and

Big hugs mrsw not what you need at all.

S has a cough and cold again. I know it builds up there immunity but seriously... I was out wed so s went to his grandparents. Good practice for when I go back to work in a fortnight . He was great for them but a monkey for his daddy. Then I had fun trying to get him to bed last night and dh was out. I had a massive tantrum bordering a panic attack. To be fair dh came home bit I'd gone to bed. S woke a couple of times but got himself back to sleep, and again at 630 when I thought he'd be hungry as last fed at 8pm, but he went quiet while I made his bottle and the next thing I knew it was 850 am!! Whoop. Sorry to those of you having a time of it x

Had a few days of reading but not posting. Sleep is getting better again each night and I'm thinking M might have been reading the No Cry Sleep Solution as she's occasionally self settling without any fuss!

Mrs W that's rubbish about DH job and no pay for KIT days - I assume you're not going to do any more.

We've been to a halloween party at the Children's Centre today and have our first 1st birthday party tomorrow [hgrin]