Jan 06 babies - no sleep til....!

[GeorginaP]

Hi there. Anyone feel up to joining me from Jan 06 ante-natal thread?

Going out of my mind with boredom tonight, theres only so much telly you can watch. Andy's out on a lads night out. His workshop won some kinda prize and they got £300 so they arranged a trip to the London Dungeons today (which he phoned to tell me was cr*p) followed by going out for a meal in Guildford. I could really do with a day out and a nice meal myself!

Iris - We've been really lucky so far in that since we got married in July 2004 he hasn't had to be away for more than a few weeks at a time. While we were dating he had 5 months in Iraq (while the war was still going on), I had a bit of a breakdown then and could hardly function. Every time I turned on the news there seemed to be another British soldier killed and I just lost it. I was off work for 2 months and on all kinds of anti-depressants just to get thru it. On the plus side, if he hadn't gone there we probably wouldn't be married yet, I think it gave us both the nudge we needed and made us each realise we couldn't live without the other. (It also enabled him to save all his salary to buy me the extravagant engagement ring I had my heart set on). He's expecting to be going to Afghanistan for 6 months next winter, thats going to be really hard.

My fasting BS test was a complete failure. They tried three sites and couldn't get a drop out. Apparently my veins are really deep (I think that's the phlebotomist's euphamism for really fat). They've made an appt for me to see one of the GPs a week tomorrow as she's more adept at getting hard to reach veins. Is it any wonder I'm terrified of needles. The GP put me back on all my diabetes pills last week anyway so hopefully they'll have a chance to show some benefits before the test.

Lilstarry - Your story with your dad sounds so incredibly like my own. I mad a decision years ago that I couldn't allow my dad to have any part in my life as he's just too toxic. It hurts coz I was once such a daddy's girl (even tho he left when I was 2) but he's let the drink turn him into a monster and I can't let him pollute my life any more. I'm sure my half brother has relayed the news of his first grandchild to him but he will not be seeing her. I'm sure if anything happened to him I'd be really upset, but more for what he could have been and what we could have had than for the decision I made to keep him out of my life. As far as I'm concerned he made that decision inevitable. I have no doubt I'll regret not seeing him and getting some things said but unfortunately I'm not a strong enough person to say to him the things I'd want to say, so there would be little point (I'm one of those who cries at the drop of a hat and can't talk about anthing emotionally charged). I think you've been incredibly brave going to visit him, good on you.

Rach - My wound has healed completely, which is a relief considering the infection I had soon afterwards, but I'm still really stiff and having difficulty doing some things. Keeping it dry was my problem, as my tummy alone probably weighs several stone. twice a day I had to lie on the bed and hold my tummy up so that DH could clean the wound with cooled boiled water then dry it with the hairdryer on cool, I then put a sterile dressing (kinda cotton - midwife gave me a load) on it (no need to secure it as the weight of my tummy held it in place!).

Goodness your LO's all sound so big compared to Lola! HV came again yesterday (thats her 4th visit I think, how long are they sposed to keep coming??) and Lola weighed 11lb 5oz (she's 10 weeks today), she's totally followed the same line on the chart since birth so the HV's happy with her. I have to say I'm surprised she's such a light-weight. We expected her to be big at birth coz of my diabetes but she wasn't.

Sleepwise, Lola seems to be getting in the habit of dropping her midnight feed. She has a big feed between 8pm and 9pm (following about a half hour to an hour of colicky crying which will only be settled by rocking in her carseat til she falls asleep for a wee while) then post-feed is tending to sleep til about 4am, then it's back to 4 hourly. I'll be really glad when the 4am one gets dropped but I know I shouldn't be complaining!

mornin all

another early one for me, been awake since 5 am and knew i wouldn't go back to sleep, so i thought i'd get on with preparing mum's mother's day present. i've sorted some photos for a boasting book for her, hope i manage to get them printed today. thanks lilstarry for your inspiration (i think it was you who gave me the idea, but not sure now, short term memory not what it was, so apologies if i've mis-remembered!).

alex slept through last night! it's getting slightly more frequent, apart from when he's having a feeding frenzy 24 hours. he's now 15lb 4oz and just incredibly tall. just about fitting in to size 6 - 9 months clothes, but some babygro's are too small.

i'm still totally besotted, i think it's because he's (almost definitely my last baby). i've decided to take a year's maternity leave, and sod the expense. it's only money, i'd rather have the time and make some lifestyle adjustments like less meals out, shop at aldi not tesco etc. remind me of this girls when we are planning a lean christmas....

needless to say my tits are killing me as alex hasn't fed for about 8 hours. i've just taken an ibuprofen to try to stave off the pain and possible blocked ducts. i don't want that nasty mastitis coming back.

lisa
what kind of workshop does andy work in? good on them for winning an award, but know what you mean about being stuck in, although i never seem to get time to watch tv. i think it's with having 2 older ones, by the time i've sorted them out, i'm ready for bed myself. actually i did get out in the evening, and left dh holding the baby. me and 3 nct friends went to see capote at the cinema, a fab film btw, completely compelling, just the thing to distract me from baby worries. not that i needed much distraction, the feeling of freedom driving towards the cinema was a bit like flying! scuse me, i'm waxing lyrical now, must be the sleep deprivation taking its toll...
things didn't go exactly smoothly for dh, i'd kept the baby awake all day hoping he'd sleep for dad, but he didn't sleep and refused the bottle, so i hope that hasn't put him off too much. when i got home i found alex lying in his cot in his snowsuit with a full nappy, almost asleep. when he saw me he gave this gorgeous tired smile of recognition, aww it was heart melting. he then proceded to feed like a famished water buffalo, clearing both sides very quickly.
have you left lola yet to have some time out?
about your experiences in iraq. i've also been through bad times emotionally and took ad's for about 2 years. i only came off them when i found out i was expecting alex, but so far so good. the ad's were a blessing though, i've sufferred with the black dog before and always hesitated about taking pills, but prozac really helped when i needed it, although i found it made me gain weight so i'm quite glad to be drug free atm. how long did you take your ad's for?
sorry to hear about the fasting fiasco, that vein hide and seek doesn't sound like much fun. good luck with your test today.
re. the health visitor, i think they'll visit for as long as you need them until your child starts school.

kids are stirring now, so i'll be off.

love to all x

hi all back to one handed typing! Talia is doing well still a complete milk guzzler will get her weighed next week I'm betting on 14lbs at 9 weeks will have to start washing the 3-6 month clothes. Generally we are having last feed at 9-10pm thats her until 3ish then till morning bot too bad but her sister has decided to start getting up at 6am - argh! Hope she settles when the clocks go forward this weekend either that it will be blackout blinds.

I'm having my first night out this Saturday - it's DPs and I's 11 year anniversary so we are off out for a meal. SIL and niece's are coming up to babysit, will leave a bottle for Talia we will only be out a few hours anyway. If T sleeps loads and my boobs are throbbing I express the milk and throw it in the freezer, biulds up a stock. Sunday we are going into Glasgow shopping, DP says he's going to treat me to some new clothes. Did I say I'm back to my pre pregnancy weight plus side to having a milk guzzler?

Lisa and Lyra - I too have suffered from depression since my teens, I think it's a lot more common than people think. I honestly don't think I could cope with a DH in the forces, you are really brave.

Lola sounds a wee sweety, Abbie was like that always on the 9th centile so dainty, she's just into her 12-18 month trousers and I'm turning them up for her (shes 20 months now) so to have a baby on the 91st centile has been a shock. She's saying loads more words now as well. Talia is Tee or baby.

Lyra - can't believe Alex is in 6-9 month clothes and so big bless him. He'll be a strapping 6 footer.

lilstarry - hope you are doing OK

Have a great weekend everyone x

Hi there

Just a quickie whilst Libs is having a snooze. Biggest bit of news is that she (seems) to be sleeping thru now . I'll give her a bottle at 10pm and she'll go thru until 6 or 6.30ish. Am feling so much better for getting some sleep. She's mainly on bottles now with a BF first and last thing of the day. Have decided to give up altogether in a couple of weeks. I BF Mollie until she was 12 weeks so I'll do the same for Libster.

I too have suffered from depression and like you Lyra wouldn't wish the black dog on anyone. prozac did it for me as well. Found that it totally KO'd my sex drive though. Not that it matered cos I was with ex-h and I couldn't have had sex with him if you paid me . All the feelings had gone out the relationship by then.

Libs is geting into a secedule now. It's so nice because it fits around Moo's school times and tea time and we're all so much happier now. Libs is turning into a real chatterbox. We have lovely conversations together (DH thinks I'm barking ). She loves her big sister and will lay under the play gym and lsiten to Mollie making up stories using the animals off the play gym as characters.

Oh, I went to The Big Scream on Wed. It was a hoot. They showed the Pink Panter (pants by the way) and all the babes either, fed, slept or stared intently at the screen. Libby feel asleep on me so i had an hour off really. Next week its the new Sarah Jess Parker chick flick.

Am off out next Sat for first girls lunch since Libby was born. Am sure I'll be in peices by 2.30pm .

Opps, better dash as the Lo is stirring.

Loads of love to all, G xx

Hello!

One handed typing here too! Scarlett is 10 weeks today and doing much better with the colic. She's still not 100%, but much improved, now only having a crying fit about 15-30 minutes after she starts feeding... roll on the magic 12 week mark.

I can't get over how big some of the babies are already - Scarlett is 12lb 2 now, and seems like a right little chubster, but obviously not! She'll be OK in the 0-3 month stuff a bit longer, although the clothing sizes do vary a hell of a lot don't they?

Lilstarry, I'm glad you saw your dad, although the situation still sounds pretty difficult. I guess the most important thing now is for you to enjoy your little starlet to the full after such a difficult year.

I'm interested to hear about the varying sleep patterns. Scarlett seems to have developed a pattern of her own, going down of an evening any time between 8 and 11pm, and then sleeping through til 3-4am, at which point she comes into the bed with us for a feed, and another feed about 6am, and another about 8am. At least we get a chunk of sleep at the beginning of the night, that seems to be enough for me to function on.

Georgie, did none of the babes at the cinema cry? It sounds pretty amazing if not!

Rachey, yes the probiotics are a bugger to administer aren't they? We were advised to 'dust my nipples' with them before each feed, but TBH that's such a faff that we decided that it is easier to bung them straight in Scarlett's mouth. Which means breaking open the tiny capsule, and trying to sprinkle a small amount in whilst she's got it open for a full scream! And as you say half the time that doesn't happen because she's already latched on by the time I remember them... still, at least I don't have to keep mine in the fridge (I have them scattered around the house in strategic locations).

Just a quick question for those that express - what do you use to store the milk in the freezer? I don't have any containers, and am eyeing up the freezer bags that you can buy from Blooming Marvellous, but perhaps there is a cheaper option?

That's all folks - have a great weekend, and hope we all get spoiled on Sunday for our marvellous efforts!!

loomer I was never much of an expresser but what about sterilising an ice tray and pouring them in that. when they are set which isn't very long really extract them into a sterilised tuppaware container or suchlike. Probably the cheapest option, then you can say ok today she needs 4 cubes etc.

ds still a small poppet just into 3-6mth clothes mostly and bordering on the 11pound mark now. He is 3mth today.

He is like clockwork at night, 10pm bottle until 4 then wakes again at 6ish. Hopefully he'll drop that 4am one soon, dd was sleeping through at 6-8wks so this is a shock.

He is a different child now we have cracked this silent reflux, and he too loves to chat to you.

Have a great weekend everyone.

just a quickie (1 week down 2 to go - just about coping but soooo tired by the end of the day)

Loomer - Boots do boxes of storage bags (I think Lasinoh do too). I express of about 100ml each morning & bung it in the freezer to keep my milk supply up.

Dom's got his first party invitation (bless) so we're off out this afternoon. hope everyone's well - will try to catch up later xx

Hi ladies - only read the last couple of messages and can help on the expressing front (no pun intended) - you can store bmilk in the fridge (at the back, not in the door) for up to 8 days, so might not need to use bags and freeze - just use bottles.

I express as and when I need to - try to do a bit ever couple of days or so - but I produce buckets of the stuff and am used to doing it for DS1 when I went back to work.

I find the Lansinoh bags the best - no faffing about with clips and stickers as it just has a double ziplock seal and somewhere to write on the bag (not on the milk-storing part).

The containers for storing bmilk just take up too much room in the freezer, IME. But I don't have a very big freezer!

DS2 doing well - not sure how much he weighs, but he's so chubby! Might get him weighed this week.

Had loads of sleep last night (7 uninterrupted hours!) because DH did the night shift - but did wake up with boobs like watermelons and expressed 9oz at 7am!

Hope all are well - will try to read this thread more often, but keep forgetting!

Hi everyone, thought you'd all disappeared for a moment there! I haven't expressed at all! I am too lazy and just take Finn everywhere wwith me. When I had ds1 I expressed a bottle full everyday from 10 wks to 6 months and I guess it's just another chore to me. I really must get him used to a bottle again. Our routine now is that he has a nap around lunchtime then a big sleep late afternoon. This suits us as it gives me time with the other kids to attend to homework/clubs/dinner etc until they're in bed at 9. Dp's shifts are either 5am-2 or 2-11 so he has a last feed 11ish and then sleeps till 5/6am to avoid us all waking up too much. He then sleeps till 9am and the house is empty! Once he shows he can sleep till 6-7am I will put him down earlier.

Lyra, Finn is long too (well dad is 6'5''!) but I don't think as big as Alex! He is filling his 3-6 month sleepsuits, thank god for ebay! I think it's a rare person these days who hasn't had some sort of depression, at least the stigma is lessening too. I took effexor for a couple of months but I hated the effect it had on my brain, frightened me how powerful it was. I had a lot of difficult things happen all at once and was on the verge of losing it completely. It gave me such a dry mouth I lost my appetite and weight which actually cheered me up a bit!

Lyra - how lovely for you to have the extra time off, I wish I could take the extra 4 months on top of holiday etc but it would cost me about £5000 even without the childcare and as the breadwinner I just can't do it. :( this would be the first time I have put a baby in nursery (dd was 2 1/2 and the boys were looked after by my ex MIL) and I just don't want to do it. One of dd's friends has a mum who is a childminder and I think I would rather leave him with her in a family environment. I don't want to think about it! Dp's shifts can be so unpredictable that we can't plan ahead, in theory he should be able to have him a lot.

Lilstarry - hope you are doing ok?

Lisa - I am only now (9 weeks later) beginning to physically feel myself again after the section. I can't wait for the outside bit to heal, I don't know why they do it on your bikini line, I don't think I'll be wearing one again! Poor you being away from dh, my sister and her husband were in the forces (during the gulf war) and it must be so hard. Dp and I spent 9 months apart when he was in NZ (planned before we met). I was ok till I visited him 4 months in, after I came home I missed him terribly and he wasn't exactly in a war zone!

We are off to buy shoes for the kids - I have bought 2 pairs of boots (in the sale), 2 pairs of flat pumps and 2 pairs of flipflops/sandals since Finn was born! I think it;s because I can't find any clothes to fit properly! V.jealous of you Sweetkitty, I need Spring to come and inspire me!

Take care all! :)

Lyra - He's part of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and they're attached to a regiment for whom they maintain all vehicles and generators etc (currently Royal Welch Fusiliers but soon to be Irish Guards). Andy's a Vehicle Electricial Corporal. I've had to take ADs many times over the years, starting when I was 18, doing my a'levels and living with my emotionally abusive alcoholic dad. I was put on them then just to get me thru my a'levels as they were my route out of his house, to university. I came off them soon after starting uni. That last time I was on them from while he was in Iraq until I found out I was pregnant, so almost 18 mths. I haven't really taken time away from the house and left Lola yet, but on Friday nights Andy generally does the night shift with her and they sleep downstairs so that I can go up to bed and sleep right thru the night undisturbed, which is a godsend. He didn't do last night tho as I've been on anti-biotics and finished them yesterday, so he's doing tonight instead so I can have a few drinks.

We've started trying to get Lola to drop the 4am feed instead of the midnight one, and it's worked for 2 nights so far. We've woken her for a feed around midnight and when she's stirred around 4 or 5 am just rocked the moses basket a little til she doses off again. This morning she went thru til 8.15am (altho we hadn't been able to get her settled after the midnight feed til 1.40am). Having lots of problems settling her in the evening. From 8pm or so she gets really unsettled and the only way to calm her is in her carseat. Have tried changing formula, dentinox, etc but to no avail.

Sweetkitty - Happy Anniversary, have a fab time on your night out! I've probably asked you before but where do you live? Andy and I are originally from Baillieston and Rutherglen, on the outskirts of Glasgow. Congrats on the weight loss! I've made it back to pre-pregnancy weight too, unfortunately without a milk guzzler to help, pure abstinence here!

Hi all - catching up too - it takes a while when you have been away for a week. So {{{hugs}}} to everyone - especially those not having a good time of it. lilstarry i hope you are doing ok.

Theo is doing the gurgling & laughing - such a fab time :) Sleeping pretty well still, altho I think he is having a growth spurt, cos he is waking more often and feeding a lot!

The trip back to England was lovely - almost twelve hours of travelling each way was knackering, but Clemmie & Theo were pretty angelic. My mum loved seeing us, and we saw lots of old friends.

I (of course) bought way too much stuff, and my cousin's lovely wife gave me all sorts of clothes her boys had grown out of, so I came back with 2 extra bags and a toy guitar as hand luggage .

So now it's back to start cake baking for the new season at the nature centre. Tried parkin, and a cinnamon (sp?) oaty apricot crunch thing today, but not impressed by either. Might tinker before giving up though!

Will try to post more regularly now we're back.
lots of love
T xx
p.s. Wouldn't say no to Johnny Depp

Happy Mothers Day to all you lovely scrummy yummy mummies.

Have had a lovely lovely day. DH spoilt me with flowers and chocs (from the girls of course!). Ma and Pa and my bro came up for lunch at a lovely pub. And we've all just been playing 'pass the baby' for the afternoon

Next time I start getting smug about Libby sleeping thru, please feel free to punch me . Of course after I told you this we've had a couple of shocking nights! Quelle suprise. baby's are just so unpredicatable.

Lyra and Lisa - am so in awe of your blokes. They are truely brave brave men. And you are brave brave women for marrying them. Can't even imagine what it must be like when they are away.

Iris - how's the first week been? You must be knackered my love. Is DD helping you? How's Dom sleeping? Are you managing OK?

Rach - Finn sounds like a wonder babe. And a big lad as well! I don't envy you putting him into child care. It's such a hard decision, but a neccessary evil unfortunately. I hated putting Mollie into nursery (full time from 9 - 6pm) when I got divorced. it broke my heart. She was only 2 and so so tired by the end of the week. Poor lamb. Still makes me sad thinking about it now.

Sweetkit - How was the aniversary meal? Where did you go and what did you eat?

Tickle - nice to hear from you. Glad the trip was good. LOVE the name Clemmie. Is she Clementine? if we have another then that's on my list. Although our surname is Postlethwaite, so maybe Clementine is too long. Poor kid will still be learning to spell her name when she's 6 .

Chuffed - How's things in NZ? Make me with reports of the weather please. Just need to imagine the feeling of warm sun on my skin.

Lilstarry - you OK? Hope you're feeling OK after seeing your dad.

Barrelrider/Claire - long time no speak. You OK?

Loomer - babes did cry but really didn't seem to be too loud or for too long. Think their mums distracted them with boobs/bottles or dummies!

Hey ho, seem to have written another novel.

Am off to Sainsburys with Miss Mollie and Libster on Tues morning - gulp. Wish me luck, it'll be the first time I've gone grocery shopping with both of them. Could all go beautifully or I could be that women that throws a strop on the supermarket floor (you must have seen the ad, it's a corker )

G xx

Hi all - just a quickie (again - still haven't caught up properly but just fancied saying hi) I'm off to bed in a mo - such a lightweight but have to get the hours in early as Dom doesn't really do sleep beyond 4am!!

Hope everyone's mothers days were fab! and congrats to those of you for whom it was the first!! - mine was wonderful. DD made me breakfast in bed before she went off to work (kitchen porter at the local golf club)& as Dom was still asleep I was able to munch away in peace. It was such a treat. She'd made me a card as well and had written such lovely words it brought a lump to my throat. DH had done a card from Dominic so I had one from each of my children (I still can't get used to saying I have "children" after so many years.....excuse me whilst I practise....."I have two children" "my children are wonderful" - humour me please - I'm clearly going stir crazy!!) I feel so loved up by them both tonight. Missing DH desparately though(but I'm comforted that he's missing us too - he called earlier) but still 2 weeks to go
Big hugs to you all x

Hello all, thanks for the thoughtful messages! I have so much to comment on, but a complete lack of time! Hope you are all well!
Happy Anniversary to Sweet Kitty, hope you had a fab time!
Also, lots of respect to those of you coping alone, my mum raised the three of us mostly single-handedly and only now can I appreciate what an amazing job she did!
Hope everyone had a beautiful mothers day! Mine was a little bittersweet, couldn't be with my own mum due to distance.. and I spent the day feeling a little emotional! Have been feeling slightly claustrophobic of late (if that makes sense!) I just wanted things to remain simple, but they never do... My father is still in hospital, he's taken a turn for the worse but no one's willing to say what happens next, very infuriating :(

Georgie Girl - Good luck with the shopping trip! Remember, find your happy place.. and if that fails, raid the drink/chocolate aisle (whichever is likely to bring you greater happiness) hehehe!

Rach69 - expressing can be so annoying! Now that Bee is beginning to settle into a routine I'm trying to express whilst she's asleep at about 9, unfortunately that's often the time we're watching something on TV! Last nights "Planet Earth" had the added soundtrack bonus of me maniacally trying to express! My sisters both found it hilarious when I was back home! I guess it must look a little odd!

Right, I best be off... Bee's got her first lot of immunisations this afternoon, I'm truly dreading it! She's been so wonderful and happy recently (and she's started sleeping from 7-1:30, 2-6!) I just have a hideous feeling this nasty trip will throw that into chaos :( How did other mums cope.. Am I insane to be feeling guilty? I know it's for the best, but still.. Will let you know how it goes!

Lots of love and rainbows to you all
x

hi all hope you all had lovely mothers days mine was nice but we cancelled going out as Abbie and DP both have stinking colds so they were both feeling lousy, got some chocs and a card from the girls. I am still in shock too I cannot believe I have 2 children now as well, still cannot believe I have one TBH. Been for the weeks food shop with them both this morning, feel like supermum DP was impressed. Talia has an appt for her jabs this afternoon not looking forward to that. She slept through on Saturday night too from 11pm until I woke her at 8.30am as my boobs were heaving. She was back to her usual 3am feed last night though.

Iris - aww your day yesterday sounds lovely and your DH will be home before you know and driving you mad as only men can sometimes with their weird little habits

Georgie - I know what you mean about babies being so unpredictable adds to their charm though. Anniversary meal was a bit of a letdown food was very average but it was nice to have a bit of time together.

Lisa - well done on getting back to your pre-pregnancy weight too, I tend to eat now only when very hungry and eat very quickly on the hoof (part and parcel of having 2 under 2 I think). I'm originally from Ayrshire, lived in Partick for a few years, then moved to Cambs and London before we came back last year. We are very close to where you are from then, we are in Motherwell.

Rach - I'm sure Finn will be fine in nursery it's so so hard though. I'm lucky in that I am a SAHM now but we had to move away from London to Scotland where house prices are cheaper to be able to afford it. I do miss work, I miss the money and the independence but I don't think I would have coped with anyone else looking after Abbie to be honest. I've totally screwed my career now though (I was a food microbiologist)and will probably have to retrain sometime in the future.

Tickle - glad you had a lovely time in England I know what you mean about the clothes I sorted out Talia's 3-6 month ones yesterday and she has so many, loads of Abbie's plus most of her presents were 3-6 months too, I have to admit I threw a load of the older ones out that were stained/worn/burnt with the iron

Anyway I hope everyone else is doing OK I need to go pick up DP in a bit he's off work this week so I will have an extra pair of hands when SIL looked after them for 3 hours on Saturday I think she was exhausted

just one question - where the flip do all the pens go in this house??? Can't find a single one - just plenty of blunt crayons

Are they with the socks somewhere???

Hi all just a quick one - Dominic is sleeping for once! We had our first projectile vomit yesterday - he was lying in his pram in the lounge and it came over the top like a fountain and splattered the carpet! Needless to say I was terrified, especially as he'd also done his 2nd 'number 2' of the day.. but I phoned NHS direct and they calmed me down! I'm not a practical person so I'm finding things quite difficult at the moment - I don't even really know what to look for - how do I know if he's ill??

Anyway, we went to a baby clinic and he was the youngest AND the biggest! Some of them were 4+ months too!! He weighed 13lb 9 at 8 weeks and was 61 cm. Very cute despite being so big!! Lovely little face, aaaaah.

Am not loving my husband at the moment!! As I'm still lowering myself gently into seats and avoiding long walks, sex is totally off the agenda - but I don't want to go near him in any case. Left for work this morning without feeding or changing the baby and I'd had about 2 hours sleep. Keeps going to work earlier and earlier. Mothers day was distinctly mediocre - he spent a long time on a work related phone call, no flowers or chocs and no romantic dinner. Got me a card and a ring but didn't really make a fuss of me, it was pretty much a chore for him. Is it me being selfish I wonder.

Hope everyone's ok, can't beleive some babies sleeping through!! SK glad Talia also 91st percentile, nice to have another one out there! And well done to those back at pre preg weight!! I'm a stone and a half over and have no intention of dieting yet!!

Lilstarry how did the jabs go? I hated it too, felt like leading a lamb to the slaughter but it has to be done and they won't remember it!

hi all

welcome to the house of vom!
the dreaded tummy bug came to visit last night and is still very much here.
dd was up all night being sick, and dh is also ill with it. thankfully i'm ok, just tired, but i think alex may be sufferring as he has been very unsettled today and has had a couple of explosive nappies. ds1 is ok too, hopefully he'll make tea tonight while i get on with the washing.....

lo has finally fallen asleep, which is great. he's just wanted to be attached at the hip all day. my mum was due to come over to take him out in the pram so that i could have a nap, but she phoned to say that she's started being sick too!

i so hope that alex doesn't start vomiting. how would i be able to lay him down? last night josie just couldn't stop, poor lamb. i suppose i could wedge him on his side, anyway, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

on a totally different subject, i have 2 new cotton bottoms wraps for sale, size medium (15 - 30lb) if anyone's interested. i think i prefer the motherese wraps.

Hi all
I've discovered the joys of Dom having a third nap in the afternoon - a) he's much happier in the evenings b) he seems to be sleeping better at night (had a full 6 hour stretch last night!), and c) this results in a significantly less frazzled me!
I'm under no illusions that this will last though but it's lovely for the time being.

I've been trying to keep busy whilst DH is away (amazing how quickly you can slip back into single parent mode) and we've been trundling along to absolutely everything - it's great fun and we're meeting loads of other new mums and their babes!!! It's particularly good as time seems to be flying as a result. We went to the parent & baby group today & enrolled on a baby massage class. Tomorrow we're going on a mooch to the local creche to put Dom's name down for a couple of mornings a week (once he's 6 months old - to help me get back to work) we're off to the village hall coffee morning on Thursday adn on Friday I'm hoping to get his name down for baby signing (woohoo!) What a social whirl

Lyra - nightmare just what you don't need at the moment. Touch wood you & Alex will be spared.

Barrelrider - trust me, you do know if something's not right with your child. I've always been told that if they're feeding well they're probably ok. Have you got a thermometer? Don't feel daft ringing your doctor/NHS direct if you're really worried - that's what they're there for.
A ring for mothers day - how lovely!! My DH used to have real trouble understanding how important birthdays/valentines day etc are to me (mainly because they're not to him - must be a man thing). I had to spell it out that I needed him to make an extra effort on those days. He does now - bless him - but I still have to steel myself a little bit & remember that it's my expectations that hurt my feelings rather than anything he's not done.

Tickle - yes - along with spare keys, the christmas cards you buy in the sales (but they miraculously reappear in about May) and all the rolls of sellotape

Sweetkitty - Happy Anniversary (belatedly) Hope the colds clear soon so you can have your night out.

Georgie - respect at the shopping trip! - I struggle with just one!

Rach - I had to go back to work when DD was 5 months old and wasn't at home again regularly for her until she was 13. She went to a childminder (well, a number as it happened) and she still loves me Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do...

Lilstarry1 - hope Bee is ok after her jab

Rightyho - I'm going to push off and treat myself to a long hot bath then bed.

Take care all x

Well jabs went OK (well as much as these things can) Talia is a whopping 13lbs 15 ozs to put into persepective Abbie took 20 weeks to reach that weight! It's her love affair with the boob. Scored 11 on the Edinburgh scale for PND, HV started giving it all "well if you need to talk and you seem to have lost the spring in your step" the thing is some of the questions were like "Do you feel less able to cope now?" well of course I'm coping less I have 2 children under 2 as I said to her I expected it to be very difficult and it is mostly. What's the HV going to do offer to babysit one evening, come and hoover upstairs for me??? Sorry rant over.

On a lighter note I seem to be getting the cold now - thought I had avoided it so far. Abbie is still suffering all I seem to do is to chase after her with a hankie. Good having DP here to help out though, he also now thinks I am superwoman!

barrelrider - sorry to hear you are still feeling lousy downstairs. I had lavender baths every night for 2 weeks after birth they seemed to really help my stitches after Abbie also it's an excuse to relax and get away for a little while. Maybe try some arnica too?

Lyra - hope the tummy bug has gome after it's visit, it's awful when you all have it.

Iris - wow what a social life! I'm kind of restricted in what we can do no lovely baby massage classes this time with a mad toddler in tow.

Hello - just finished baking a batch of ginger cake (adding lemon icing tomorrow) and some chocolate cookies. How am I ever going to lose my wibbly tum if I have to test all these recipes for the cafe???

Trying to get a bit more organised now with the older ones in their respective day-places from 8.30 til 3pm... so Theo gets dragged to work up at the farm (tomorrow I am painting a soon to be assembled picket fence!) Of course this means that the house looks a state and I haven't had time for a bath for days :( However, as Iris says, keeping busy makes the time fly by...

Luckily Theo is being a bit of a star - just grouchy in the evenings. Tonight I started baking when he went to bed at 9.30 :)

NOT looking forward to jabs, so sympathies with anyone who has been. Not til 3mths here.

Georgie - she is Clementine - our surname is Fabricius, which is a bit of a mouthful too! But she is Clemmie most of the time :)

Speaking of Clemmie - thinking of getting a playpen, as she seems to want to 'overhug' Theo and lie on him. Anyone else getting that with a toddler?

Bit of a long post, so will shut up now!

Hey all, ds is now 3mths old and a whopping 10.7pounds and 61cm tall. He is soooo much better now with the drugs for his silent reflux.
We have hit that horrible 3mth growth spurt so feeding has got worse as has waking in the night, but I'm hoping it will improve soon or we are going to have to start solids early, he is watching intently when we put food in our mouths in front of him and is licking his lips in anticipation?
Barrelrider I am still keeping away from dh but he is being very understanding, sorry if tmi but I feel like I'm going to rip inside when we start bd'ing even using lube etc. Hopefully time will be kind.
I'm putting off jabs for ds, he still seems so small and helpless am getting reminders from the dr but I have seen a homeopath to increase his immune system and hopefully that will help, so probably in about a month.
I'm also back to pre-preg weight but a bit over size if that makes sense as I was more toned and muscly before. Tickle I have such a sweet tooth I'd be the size of a house if i was testing yummy food all the time. My spinning bike arrives in 2 wks so I should be able to keep fit at home on that, really looking forward to it, I miss exercise sooo much. I'm sure it is why I just don't feel like myself.
dd is 2 today, we got her a little kitchen set and she loves it. dh took her to the aquarium this morning. My goodness has the time gone fast.
Take care everyone.

happy birthday chuffed's dd! Clemmie will be 2 next week too - it has flown by

theo feeding as i type, and he is grinning & chuckling so much the milk is running down his chin & he has hiccups

Happy birthday chuffeds DD!

Tickle - I have a travel cot in the lounge which doubles as a playpen, nice to put Talia in it when I need to go to the loo etc away from Abbie. Talia will sleep in it but doesn't like lying in it too much we have a playgym in it too.

Still snotsville here - hope everyone else well