Feb 2010 They're all walking and talking....and some are even sleeping. The babies are doing okay too.

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Pull up a comfy chair, grab a cuppa and a piece of cake, switch the monitors on low and let's PARTY.....!!!

SB hope you feel better soon.

IC are you OK?

fc lovely to hear all your news!

PA you seem to be doing really well.

Re. beds, we have the little Ikea one. Really easy to put together, has a removable safety rail, looks nice, not too high in case they fall out, pretty cheap and it lasted nearly two years for DD1 and I hope to get the same out of it for DD2 before she goes into DD1's current bed (which has a bed that slides out from underneath - very useful for sleepovers) as DD1 will then have a cabin bed. Don't get the extendable Ikea bed as it means buying a mattress plus extension, which means there is a bump in it when you do extend it. This makes it uncomfortable and renders it useless.

Oh and if anyone comes to the Croydon Ikea, you must come and see me as I live very close to it!

we have the same bed (in natural wood) for DD1 it will be DD2's soon when DD1 upgrade to a big one. She still fits comfortably in it at 125 cm.
will catch up later I hope!

I've been signed off for 2 weeks!!! starting by an ECG this afternoon then a referal to check my blood circulation.

Where is my cross-stitching as I'll need to keep myself busy but rested.

Hi everyone, it looks like the only time I'll get to MN is Tuesdays when DD1 is at ILs

Thanks for the new thread IC! I was also wondering how you are feeling and whether the TTC was um bearing any fruit yet. Glad to hear you're doing ok

I'm so impressed at the big bed-sleeping and the potty-training. We are letting sleeping toddlers lie in bed terms, until DD2 needs to leave the moses basket and go in the cot, then I suppose we will put DD1 straight into a big bed (although we are also considering buying a cheap second-hand cot to use for a few months in case the bed doesn't work). As for the potty, she will sit on it (mainly fully clothed ) but won't perform. I don't have the energy now to be running round after a nappy-free toddler, anyway. And goodness knows we're doing enough washing already. (Two lots of nappies! I must be mad.)

fc welcome back and it's great to read all your news. Congratulations on your pg! I found pg with DD2 exhausting pretty much the whole way through. I would say I went from exhausted in 1T, to very tired in the 2T, back to completely exhausted in the 3T I do feel better now I've given birth, but that's probably because DH is still at home and I'm not getting out of bed before 10am every day Anyway it sounds that you have been through a lot the past few months so do be kind to yourself, and nap whenever you can (weekends?).

Also with you on the fussy eating, we have discovered that DD1 will eat potato waffles and now they feature most tea times

SB I'm very glad you've been signed off and what were you doing going back to work anyway? Take it easy this time, DS is still at nursery I suppose? So you can really rest You do not have to be baking every day

bethy I'm with you on finishing the family at 2 and will try to pass on all our baby stuff to my big sis who's having her 4th at 42 with her new DH I think she wants all new though. I will find it very emotional getting rid of it however I do, even though I know we only ever wanted 2, hormones are powerful things, I feel pretty broody atm (how on earth is that even possible with an 11-day old baby?!).

Bc oh no at the roots/house problem. Hope DS gets well soon. A little friend of DD1's had hfm, it didn't seem to bother her that much. I didn't feel DD2 move until about 22w, I was surprised as I thought you were meant to feel the second sooner (but once she got going boy did she move. I so thought she was a boy ).

PA how are you doing without help?

A big hello to everyone else. We were meant to be going to see friends' breand-new baby this afternoon but they're in waiting on the MW, hence we're both catching up on our laptops. No romantic lunches a trois here

Sorry for mammoth post.

fc is in france isn't she? If so, what I did isn't quite so relevant. I wanted a cotbed for maximum flexibility (and hadn't really decided to even put DD in bed but knew I needed something with DSs arrival). I went on gumtree and waited for a second hand one to come up with alright mattress. DD has second hand mattress and DS would/will have DDs old one (advice has changed that previously used by sibling mattresses are fine plus she's only used it for about 6 months). Got ours, a mamas and papas one in nice condition for 60 including loads of bedding. Having both set up has worked for us. Whenever she's tried to get in his moses basket we've said no, you have your own bed. We also brought her a chair to compliment his bouncer chair. We didn't want to be 'no, thats the babies' all the time and thought getting her equivalent items would help (brought out at roughly the same time). Thought it might lead to less resentment as well.

Sorry that was a waffle and a half. DD stayed in bed until 6am and is down for her nap now in the bed. Next step will be putting things back in the bedroom (its where we store the tandem)

sb i hope the tests don't reveal anything bad. Just how low is your bp?

scones it all depends on sleep (but really I'm only a few days in). The fact that getting up in the mornings takes ages is actually great. Kills some of the day for us and then we're busy until around 4, so it's the last 60/90mins that is the toughest. Although we don't have activities for every day yet.

Have ILs arriving on Thurs for two days to 'help'. Actually I think it will be OK as all they'll want to do is spend time with DD. Even MILs mother had to remind them we have another baby now . Friday they can take her out until her nap and I'll enjoy a coffee shop excursion, bliss.

PA my blood pressure was 72/90

scones nice to hear from you. Don't worry I don't bake every day and if I bake I do easy things (like put all the ingredients in the breadmaker = I bake a loaf today ). Yes thanksfully DS is at nursery, which mean that I can actually take it easy.

Had my ECG and everything is fine. I'm still amazed the GP hasn't prescribed a blood test just to check my iron level

SB Blimey, do look after yourself! In fact, would you like some of my blood pressure? Mine's usually around 95/160 and they want me to go for a blood test to exclude underlying causes....

i'm confused, doesn't the high number normally come first. My average is 90/60, highest with DS was 110/72. BG I assume it's not just because you're really tall

another good day though, despite DD trying to tantrum for the last hour (they both slept together so I had enough energy to see the funny side of it and she napped in the cot rather than the floor today). Found a new local play group today at a church community centre. It was staffed/volunteered by old people which I found really nice.

PA Oops.
When you say 'really old' people, would that be anyone over 40? Only joking, just envious of your youth....

no, most certainly retired BG.

I'm watching The Choir on BBC iplayer. Do not watch if you're full of hormones and cry easily. It's quite poignant (in my opinion).

PA the second number is the dyolistic (sp) which is how many your heart beat within a certain time (as far as I remember) but I don't know more.

I am possibly welling up a bit at OBEM on 4OD, although DSs crying means most of it is subtitled viewing which is helping keep the emotions in check.

Gah, having eating troubles here.

So we decided to get strict with DD. She apparantly eats fine with her cm but not with us. She hasn't been using her high chair for a while as she refused to stay in it, so we let her sit on a normal chair - except she now won't stay sitting and refuses to eat. She instead climbs down and climbs onto our laps and sometimes (not always) eats what's on our plates (usually but not always the same as hers).

So this evening I gave her fishfingers and carrots (tasty French carrots cooked in butter and sugar ) and called her to the table (à table). She came running as always but decided that she didn't like the look of supper so got down and asked DH for some of the saucisson he had already given her (gggrrrr). We all sat down to eat and she still refused to look at her plate so I put her in her highchair and explained that we were all having supper and we would all sit at the table until we had finished.

Cue massive meltdown. She pushed her food away, didn't want anything to pass her lips. I let her cry until DH and I had finished (wanting to cry and cuddle her myself). Eventually when we had finished our main course I took her down (still not a morsel having passed her lips). DH ate a yoghurt which she pleaded for, but I said no - explaining all the time why. Cue more tears and eventually she said "tetine" and "dodo" and ran to the door to go to bed. So I put her down without any supper

She didn't go straight to sleep so I have her a bottle of milk about half an hour later which she mostly drank before going to sleep.

I feel like I am doing this all wrong and don't know what to do. It's not so much fussiness (she will eat anything given the right environment) it's more that she doesn't want to sit still long enough to eat it. Well she has worked out too that she has been allowed fruit/yoghurt by us if she skips her proper meal.

Apologies for the mammoth post - had one of those evenings.

fc it's so hard, the food power struggle, isn't it?
I found Toddler Taming to be very good when it came to suggestions about food and toddlers being picky. I more or less do what he suggests with DD and it's definitely brought about big improvements in her eating. Not miracles, but she usually eats at least some of her main course and will usually at least try things before deciding she doesn't want to eat them. I blogged about what I did here in case it's of any use to you.

SB I hope you feel better soon. Go easy on yourself.

Thanks for all the concern, everyone! I've found this time of year to be fine, former EDD or not (I'm not even sure exactly when it was - October sometime, I think) and I'm perfectly happy hearing about other people's pregnancies/births etc., so no need to hold back anyone, honest

Ah, second child syndrome PA (with the ILs) - classic! As long as they give you plenty of time to chill out/feed DS etc.

Yep, Scones, I fully intend to leave DD in her cot for as long as possible and fortunately, as she is both tiny and not much of a climber, it looks like she'll be in her cot for a good while yet. Likewise apart from encouraging DD to get the idea of using a pot for her doings, I'm not intending to start potty training in earnest until sometime next year.
Supernanny suggests checking their nappy after their nap and if it's dry (assuming a new one went on before they went down!), then they're probably ready for potty training.

fc could she be eating too much at cm or having a big gouter? My DS gets second of lunch most day, plus a gouter and some nights will not eat as I think he's too full. Also if she refuses to sit on the highchair, have you try a booster seat (like this one ) as she will feel more grown up. Alternatively when DS was younger, diversion whe nfeeding / eating worked well (a book, beer can holder ...)

awww fc it's so tough when those moments happen and you have to remind yourself as horrible as you feel its better in the long run. We had similar when we left DD to CIO but everything else made her worse. I think it felt so bad as it wasn't a planned when calm measure but felt more like giving up. We also get DD to stay there until we've eaten regardless of whether she's eating or not. I don't mind that she eats mostly at the start of the day until lunch (whoch actually makes sense) but imagine if that time was on CMs watch I would feel differently.

Potty training start of summer is our rough plan.

Now I really fancy a beer

Hug to all of you who have picky eaters. They usually get better with age (says dh who must have given his poor mum a real headache when he was little).

As for potty training, I'd prefer to skip the potty completely like dd1 did, and like PA, won't really bother until at least Easter.

Dh has 'discovered' dd2 again... being off work ill meant he was home in the day and realised how very quiet the house is just with dd2, who played happily without being bossed around by dd1 and objecting loudly .

Dd2 had me in stitches again today though. She does the funniest facial expression when she doesn't quite believe what you are telling her (and she is not one to be fooled easily!). I read her 'The tiger who came to tea' earlier and she sat on my lap listening intently, then at the end gave me a look as if to say 'You don't actually believe me to buy this Mama, do you?' .
dd1 got 'the look' on Sunday when she tried to teach her sister to raise her hand first if she wanted to say something!!! dd2 thought that was very silly and even at less than 2 years old seems to know she'd never get a word in if she waited for her turn, because dd2 rarely shuts up (even when asleep!)

Thanks all, yes IC I read Toddler Taming last night after posting and it reassured me a lot.

SB I wondered about that, but she often asks for something when I pick her up from the cm, I think part of the problem is that we are never home before 6.30pm and by the time she's had her bath etc she's exhausted and it's not a good remedy for sitting correctly at the table.

PA yes DH usually reacts by grabbing a cool beer from the fridge and I am sure alcohol will take on a whole new importance in my life next year with two children and toddler tantrums. I could have done with a prop last night!

BG your dd2 seems like such a bright little button.

Have a good day everyone.

fc what about dinner then a short bath? Bath does relax DS so if he's tired before it, he sometimes becomes over-tired (especially if the bath is too long). I'm sure you can have one drink if needed

FC It just appears that way because she has learned so much from her older sister (either that or her sister was particularly thick at this age )

Would also suggest a quick dinner before bath. Might also be worth trying a light dinner eg sandwiches and maybe soup? There is no way I could get mine to sit down for a proper dinner later than about 5.30 because she is just too tired and worn out by then .

FC congratulations, good to hear from you again. I was exhausted all my pregnancy and after with DD2, but the MW said it was luck of the draw rather than DC2 or my age. I won't tell you when I started feeling better though.
We also do bath after dinner. It is needed DD2 has been eating alone for ages (very messy) and DD1 is starving after school. DD2 has been going to bed without dinner a fair few time too, don't feel bad. Your DD is probably not hungry if she does sleep afterwards.
DD2 is very fussy too at the moment and can't sit still, she HAS to have her chair and exactly the same as us including cutlery. If she doesn't eat we let her do her own things and we will focus about sitting at the table when she is much older (still have troubles with DD1, she is not french enough for my family )

SB I don't think low iron can cause low BP but it might not help you feel anything else than exhausted. Hope you get better soon.

PA you do seem to be doing really well.

IC thinking of you.

BC good luck with the house. I wished I had been strong enough to resist the english part of the family and not buy!

I was worried by that thread, still a bit by it and its answers. But DD2 is finally pointing, saying some beginning of words and is definitely communicative in her own way. Also I do think that copying life for play is a good sign not bad (hence my confusion). DD2 is definitely playing a lot, pushchairs and handbags, washing dishes, organising pens/cutlery..., feeding teddies, pushing cars, driving... May be I don't understand what "imaginative play" is?
It is not help by the fact that nearly everyday in the subway, somebody asks me "what is wrong with her?". "nothing, she is only 21 months". "oh, sorry I thought she was 3, 4 or even 5 ".
She is big but there is no way she looks remotely like a 5 yo.
Anyway, I talked with MIL and DH didn't speak before 2 and a bit. The multillinguism mustn't help either (she is being talked to in french, english, romanian, danish, turkish when she was a baby, and she regularly hear hungarian, greek, spanish and german, no wonder she is ).
Also I never really realised how ahead DD1 was until now.

Thanks BG I think you are on to something. I need a snacky idea for her supper and will make sandwiches tonight.

I think her routine is exhausting and it really stresses me out. I wake her up at 7.30 but often hover outside her door until at least 8 (meaning we are rushing and breakfast is a bit on the hoof, another bad habit) - because I can't bear to wake her up. She is a very active little toddler and I am sure wears herself out daily at the childminder's before being picked up at 6pm and never home before 6.30pm.

Of course for most children of working parents I am sure this is normal?