That sounds very positive PA. I second BBB's opinion on the clothes - check the top will go over the BF breasts beforehand - I had a shock when I went for an inernal interview when DS1 was 11 weeks and I couldn't do up the top I had intended to wear!!
SB good news on the singing bear, not so much on the lack of nap!
Someone upthread asked about dummies. We have only ever used it for sleeping (day and night, and DS2 has a comedic way of spitting it out into my hand first thing in the morning!!) DS2 still has it then and had got in a habit of dropping it out of the cot so that DH would go back in to return it at bedtime a night. This finished last week when I went up, told him if he dropped it out he would not get it back - and it hasn't happened since!! Our plan is to get rid of it when he is 2 and a bit - pretty much as soon as we think he is ready to understand the concept of exchanging it for a present from the dummy fairy (as told to DS1 by a friendly neighbour, so now have to follow it..) I'm not sure we're quite there yet. I can certainly remember DS1 being up in the night and DH and I lying in bed wishing we had not done away with the dummy as it took longer for him to resettle (though he gave it up at 5 months himself). My most experienced friend threw them all out and used bedmats in layers as her DS3 cried until he was sick repeatedly for the first 3 nights. That was at about 17 months, hence us leaving it until DS2 understands the exchange idea in the hope of avoiding the technicolour yawns!!
To be honest, I'm really not overly concerned by DS2's behaviour at the moment - he is generally gorgeous, just using his physical strengths to outwit his 'bigger' brother. I keep a close eye on him when we are out and about and he's only used a little hit with anyone else. I think if either of mine were on the receiving end of a bite I would expect the other parent to deal firmly with it and remove the child from the situation for a bit. As a teacher of children with SEN, I am a master at using time out in the way that Supernanny suggests - I can't afford to get it wrong professionally! DH values my patience and calmness in dealing with our two above many of my other traits I think. I do regularly reming him that the DS are only 1 and 3 - when they are good communicators it is very easy to forget their chronological ages and developmetal stages and expect too much.
DS2 is currently waking 3-5 times again in the night. He's not properly awake, but crying and it sounds like a pain cry. I'm not sure if he might be getting the big bad back teeth early (as DS1 did at this age) or whether it is reflux-related. Either way, we're shagged! Did get a sleep through for once on Christmas Day night which was bliss and very well timed! I can't imagine life with consistent unbroken nights - I might be about as energetic as supergran from the 1980s for the first few weeks!! Mostly, I don't think about it much, as it makes it easier, but it doesn't set DH and I off for harmonious mornings afer a run of really bad ones like this week's. (Don't need sympathy here, just late night musing really..)
And lastly..a rant alert! Any suggestions on the following please: We've got to go to a wedding on March 3rd with both DS (after DH has had a weekend off to attend a stag do, obviously). DH found out at midnight on NYE that he is to be the best man. Hoorah for him! This leaves me with both DS, a host of food intolerances to try and deal with at a wedding feast while DH grins at me from the top table and runs round being all important; and the choice of driving LOs home for the evening alone, while DH drinks the night away and kips on someone's floor (while I tend to the DS alone at home all night), or sharing a hotel room (and sitting in it during the evening) in which neither DS is likely to sleep and DH snores contentedly - after packing enough kit to supply a small army for a long tour etc.. You can all imagine it, I'm sure, and it's making me very grumpy. (Mous as far as I can tell, I have two male equivalents of your lovely, lively DD2-they scared my DB off the idea of having kids the other day!!)
The inlaws will be there (with supply of dairy free chocolate buttons to give to DS1 in the middle of dinner, as usual
) with all their friends, who I would be mortified if the DC didn't behave in front of.. SIL will also be there and she will be of some help, but will need lots of support to be useful. We can't decide what the best plan is and have no options on the leaving them at home front (unless I lock them in a cupboard
) and MIL has said she will cry if the LOs don't go anyway - more
-even though I have explained that I might actually enjoy the day more in that scenario.
At the moment, I can't see past both DS hiding under the table, biting an ancient aunt on the ankle, and them (and I) lying on the floor having really loud screaming tantrums. Then there's the whole trying to wear a dress and heels thing whilst running elegantly after the boys before they hit the main road/throw precious ornaments/knock over open bottles of wine, requiring my fine line in goalkeeping-type poses to rescue the situation. (If I don't wear an 'appropriate' wedding oufit there will be comments from the MIL and SIL so can't really go for the trouser option, and don't own anything on those lines anyway, apart from jeans). Any ideas gratefully received as I don't want it to play on my mind for the next 7 weeks. I think I will just suggest that the happy couple won't need to buy in any other form of entertainment as we will gladly provide it
.
(I took DS2 to watch DS1's swimming lesson for the first time today, having spoken about his craziness a few times to the mums I see there each week. They just laughed and watched in amazement as he quite successfully scaled the glass barrier to get to the water from the viewing area ("I want go swimming now Mummy!"), pushed his way through the heavy fire door to escape(x10), went flying down the steps backwards onto the hard floor, climbed and walked/ran along the benches etc.. all with me trying to control him. He looked about a year older than the other sibling there who is only 8 weeks younger than him). A whole day of it at a wedding and I might just sleep through any noises in the night!!
Sorry, once again, that got long, but I really would appreciate some lateral thinking and you are a creative lot. I don't want LOs or I to ruin DH's big moment.
Have a good weekend and lots of
for those that can and
< where's that emoticon gone?> for those that can't.