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 been reading but haven't had a chance to post for a few days either. DH is off work for a week and seeing as I'm always telling him to get off the internet when we're together I think he'd find it hypocritical if I were on MN all the time. Damn my moaning.

I think we have a teeny tiny corner of the first tooth emerging. Hoorah! 9 Ali, that has to be a record! Impressive! S is also pushing up onto her knees and then onto her arms but not both at the same time. I thinking crawling is only around the corner. If I were to taunt her with the Sky remote I'm sure she'd do it.

I had an IUD fitted today. First fanjo rummaging since the birth and can say I have not missed the invasiveness. No excuse now not to DTD. Oh except sleep deprivation and hardly sleeping in the same bed due to DH's snoring waking S, which wakes me.

Those earmuffs are very cute! I want to take S to a fireworks display now just to have an excuse to buy some. I think she'd hate it though, like I, ILTMIMI, S did not enjoy her first trip to the theatre. What was Katy like in RL? Just as chirpy?

Ok panic over, on further investigation, it appears that KIT days are paid in a lie month! Phew. Pity they didn't tell me that at the time!!
As for DP, he has found another job, at least for the time being, who knows how long for though. I wish he could move into a different industry but he's only ever done this job since he was 16 and not sure what else he could do. He had thought about going offshore but these days you need to have done all your survival courses etc before anyone will even look at you and we simply can't afford to pay for them just now. And anyway it would mean him probably having to work on an ad hoc basis to begin with, meaning I'd be home alone a lot and also he'd start on the lowest pay, which would be a lot less than he earns just now!!

Caramello - yes Katy is just as chirpy in real life. She was really good actually. The show was a bit naff but that was to do with the writing rather than Katy. We saw Chris and Pui last year, as you would expect Chris was ga and Pui was a bit blar. I reckon Katy and Chris should get together and do something, it would be cracking! Am I actually having a (non sexual) fantasy scenario about kids tv presenters? I need to get out more .......

I hate to say it Kitty, but for the first few winters it does seem like they get cold after cold. It is a complete pita. I swear by the karvol plug-ins.

{hugs JKS and Ali} it gets tough doesn't it? I know what you mean about too many things at once JKS. It is the anniversary of ds1 death next week so this time of year is pretty shit , our previous tenant is taking us to the small claims court (tbh I don't really care about this, but it is something else that is taking up some much needed head space), and I am sick to death of our extension taking forever.

How was ds's sleeping today Ali?

I had a cracking nights sleep last night. We tweaked how we deal with his wakings and it seemed to make a difference. He has a dream feed at 10ish and was waking at 2. I would feed him at 2 but he never really feeds much. So we decided dh would go in and see him and shush pat him to sleep. It worked and he slept until 7 . of course I kept waking up all through the night as my sleep pattern is normally disturbed and also my boobs were soooooo painful.

ILike - what a tough time of year for you & DH :(

DD decided to sleep a ridiculous 14hours last night [hshock]
I was in agony this morning!!!
And went to bed easily tonight, though only a shortish nap today as we were out all day. She had a go in a kiddie swing today and loved it, aww getting so grown up already!

The 2 cats are playing in a cardboard box - lots of Christmas presents arriving now [hsmile]

ILike - :( gosh this must be so hard, no wonder you are feeling the weight of all the day to day grind as well. ((hugs))

JKS -

T's sleeping was shit, just utterly, utterly shit. I apologise for my language but at one point today I was stretched out on my living room floor weeping with DS1 patting my head and saying 'Mummy shall I put on some nice music for you?' - cue more weeping.
T woke at 6.30 and then didn't go back to sleep, and then he had about 45 minutes of naps in total throughout the day. He went down at 8 though and is still asleep which is normal, it is just the days that are killing me.
Poor DS1 is bearing the brunt of my grumpiness, which is not fair on him at all but I just have no reserves of patience :(

MrsW - good news that your DH has another job, fingers crossed :) And good news on the KIT days!

The hugs are much appreciated

Sounds tough Ali. I know exactly what you mean about the reserves of patience (or lack of). Mostly I can take a breath and not overreact at a situation, but sometimes just the tiniest thing can be the straw that breaks the camels back and I snap. Ds2 usually cops it as I often expect him to be able to be more mature than he his capable of. I think I do this because he's not the baby anymore. poor bugger.

I find the frustration of looking after two grinds me down. I never seem to stop all day, yet I never seem to achieve anything either. Of course there is something to show for it (hopefully two happy, well fed and cared for children), but it's not tangible and you get no thanks or praise.

I have noticed that getting I to sleep downstairs on me is getting harder and harder as he is so interested in what is going on. So I am probably going to have to start settling him in his cot for all his naps - I hate to think what ds2 will get up to while I am doing it though

Is there anything you think you can do to improve T's daytime sleep? Your ds1 sounds lovely though, full of empathy.

ILike this is exactly the issue. T is a nosy little wotsit and won't settle downstairs. Even rocking him to sleep in his buggy in the kitchen is becoming hit and miss because he just sits up and peers out to see and hear whatever is going on.
So I take him upstairs for a BF on the bed, he drops off for perhaps 5-10 minutes and then he wakes up roaring because of his teeth, or because he's trying to stand up in his sleep or something. In the meantime DS1 is rampaging around the rest of the house, weeing in the general vicinity of the toilet and generally creating mayhem. And then he starts up with the 'Muuummmmmmmyyyyyyyy' - at the top of his voice, which also often wakes T up.
I cannot wait for Monday and preschool - and I feel like a horrible, meany Mummy for saying that :(

This
I find the frustration of looking after two grinds me down. I never seem to stop all day, yet I never seem to achieve anything either. Of course there is something to show for it (hopefully two happy, well fed and cared for children), but it's not tangible and you get no thanks or praise. Hell yes.

DS1 is a lovely boy, and we are being too hard on him atm. His verbal communication is really good, and DH and I have been talking this evening about how we attribute older emotional understanding to him than he actually has, because he is so articulate.
I'm crying now typing this, because I feel like I'm letting him down but I'm at my wits end to know how to make things better. :(

that was quite cathartic typing it all out, thank you :)

I'm no good at real life hugs, but (((((internet hugs))))) for you guys!

You two (& many others here) are legends in my eyes. I'm amazed at your strength, wisdom and endless capacity for remote support for idiots like me with only one little monkey to keep track of.

Cut yourselves some slack - this is a hard, relentless business, and you've been doing it for a long time. You are amazing. You are doing a fantastic job. The children will understand and appreciate it eventually!

I think we need an April Club Night Off - leave the dads in charge, we'll go to the cinema and then sleep for 12 hours in a travelodge!

And everyone now stand in a circle, hold hands, and repeat the mantra...

I'll join you in the horrible crap mummy club today.
I screamed like a banshee shouted really loudly at DS today. He just laughed at me.

He'd already woken up P whenever she nodded off (which isn't very often) I won't go into full details but the straw that broke the camels back involved his paints and he ended up wearing most of them.

I could feel myself getting really so took P into the kitchen, shut the kitchen door (which DS can't open as it sticks, he was knocking on the door saying "Let me in Mummy") I strapped P in her high chair so I could clean up the mess then she started screaming.
I went outside to hose down the playmat/apron/myself and calm down.

I'm feeling guilty that I'm looking forward to work tomorrow afternoon.

x-posts Buck, excellent idea.

I'm out with the April mums tomorrow night (the ones from April 2008 that I met at PN class). Think there will be lots of consumed.

This thread is nearly full, have we got the new thread name sorted yet?

Aww thanks Buck

GGF - yes, noses to the grindstone or similar.
((hugs)) back

T is still asleep, I'm in bed. Fingers crossed for a good night!

Morning!

ILTMIMI thinking of you and your family.

I have my sleeping baby back! we had 2 mega maps the last 2 days. I've caught up on my sleep too. I feel like the fog has lifted. I was beginning to worry about pnd because I've never felt let that before. I never quite understood how much we need sleep to function.

Weaning is still going strong. we have discovered if we just let b "help" us put the spoon in his mouth he'll eat.

Now that he has the tooth the drool is in tsunami mode. he's constantly chewing something. I got some of those buckle pegs which seem to be doing the trick. at least he doesn't fling then away every 2minutes.

I've got a night out tonight in Edinburgh! Fancy dress, meh ....... but ill go and have fir everyone here! Just need to make sure strictly and factor are taping!! Saddo :o

Hugs, and for those suffering. I can't imagine life with more than one and coping with bereavement must make life even more difficult.

We had a good night last night but I think we've all hit that 'i've achieved nothing aaaargh!' point more than once.

Xx

Our sleep is utterly shit too. I don't know how to solve it. Well I do but I don't have the patience or the willpower. Much sympathy Ali because at least I don't have another to entertain.

ILTMI special hugs to you.

Posting from app to say someone please start the new thread! 'hello grindstone, nose reporting for duty' was what I suggested.

New thread, www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1331153-April-2011-Hello-Grindstone-Nose-here-reporting-for-duty