Feb 2010 - turning two and turning heads

[BigBadBear]

dd2 just fell over her own feet and came howling to me saying 'dd1 pushed me!' Nice try, except her sister is obviously at school.
mour your dd2 makes me laugh but I am not so sure I'd think it is so funny if I had to look after her!

Mous

BG ooh, isn't your DD2 cheeky to try and dob her sister in when she's at school...!!

Well, I had the half-expected call from the midwife this morning - screening gives the fetus a 1 in 47 chance of having Down Syndrome. Slightly higher than the risk we had for DD, but still only just over 2% so still much more chance it's normal than not. However, in medical terms it's high risk again, so we've been offered amniocentesis, which I've taken up. I'll have the procedure in a couple of weeks time (they usually do it at around 16 weeks).

I actually feel okay about it this time - probably because it's not a big shock like it was with DD. I did have a strong feeling it was going to be another high risk, so I think I was mentally prepared for it. Also, I know what to expect with the amnio so I'm not too worried about that. The risk of miscarriage brought on by the procedure is 0.5 - 1% - so lower than the risk of Down Syndrome in our case. Hey ho.

On the plus side, if all the chromosomes are normal, it means I will know there are no chromosomal problems whatsoever AND we will get a definitive answer on the sex of the fetus (I'm not one for waiting, me!) And we get the chance of another look at the fetus free on the NHS AND they can check for some of the anomalies before the 20 week scan, so that's good too. Every cloud, etc.

IC Ah well. The ratio is a tricky one at the best of times. At least with the amnio you get a definite answer. I'm sure the little wriggler is fine . By the way, from the way dd2 behaved at her scans I could have sworn she was a boy - she treated us to some really quite impressive somersaults! My dd1 was quite laid back and had to be nudged to move when they tried to measure her at her scans.

IC sorry to hear about the screening results but you sound as if you are dealing with it very well. As you say, the results are overwhelmingly in favour of no Downs. A friend who is in her early twenties had a very high screening result for both of her DCs, refused amnio for both of them, and they are both absoutely fine. (I only mention her age because it was really unusual for a 22 or 24 yo to have the results she did.) Best of luck with the amnio, at least it is only 3 weeks away?

And your DD's haircut is just adorable. I went to a children's hairdresser last Friday to get something similar for DD1 but it didn't turn out quite right; poor DD1 wept the whole way through and perhaps the young lady hairdresser didn't know what I meant by a 70s bowl haircut Maybe I should take a picture of your DD with me next time....?

going OK generally thanks scones DH helped a lot at the weekend, very much needed a bit of DS free time. He's still growth spurting so was fed every 60-90 mins last night (every 90 mins the night before and two hourly the night before that).

Took DD to playgroup and singing which has meant a late nap so hoping I've passed most of the day with her I'm starting to fret a bit about DDs party on Sunday now though

good luck with the move

all you can do is give the nursery a few weeks. 90 mins is still better than nothing

IC Your DD looks very cute with her bob. I am so sorry to hear you have the extra worry of the increased risk and the amnio to go through. I hope you get to have it quickly and of course it is far more likely that you'll get a reassuring result. We'll be here to hold your virtual hand.

Mous Haha - she is amazing. At least urine is sterile.

Scones I hope that DD1 settles at nursery soon. It's quite normal for them to react the way she is at first (especially if they start around the 2 year mark - a few nurseries round here don't like to take them if they aren't used to it at this point because it is a bit more of a struggle). She will be fine though, she understands the concept of object permanence and a bit about the passing of time. She knows you haven't abandoned her - and she'll soon form attachments to her key worker(s). Maybe let her keep having dummies for a bit until you're settled in your new place. It's not your DH who has to be at home with her.

PA Good luck with the party.

We had a nice weekend - fairly quiet. Saturday the weather was lovely and I met up with a friend from my postnatal group who I don't get to see so often now she's back at work and her little girl. A and she played together really nicely - he played for ages with diggers in a sandpit and we made sandcastles and they smashed them. Sunday again was lovely weather so DH and I took DS to a park we don't usually go to as it's a short drive away rather than a walk - there's a lovely playground on the top of a hill with views over the city, they have a train climbing frame and a boat one and a big sandpit on 2 levels with buckets on chains and a raised level with a pipe to chuck sand down - also they made a ring of standing stones up there a few years ago. Then in the afternoon we went to a small party at our neighbours' house - they had a little boy last week. We had helium and balloons left over from DS's party so we took some balloons on string over for the kids. DS took his in the garden and it blew away - we told him it had gone to China and pandas were going to play with it. He keeps talking about his balloon that went to china - he was telling all his cuddly toys about it before he fell asleep or his nap today. "Balloon go way. Up high. CHINA. CHINA. INNA CHINA. Happened." Today NCT playgroup in the morning and his first ever pee in a potty when we got home. I told him to pretend he was doing a fart and actually left the room (to have a wee myself) - when he started shouting I thought "oh God, he's shat on the floor" but it was a magical wee! I gave him 3 chocolate buttons and lots of excited praise.

scones stick with the no dummy rule. She'll get use to no having one soon. (Ds first night without one was hell but the 2nd night was much better and the 3rd night was like a dream). I think your DD1 will get used to nursery, she's been with you for 2 years so she needs to get use to this new environment. Is there a clock where she goes? You could try to explain to her that mummy is coming back when the big arm is there... just in case s it may help with the separation anxiety.

mous

IC fx it'll be fine.

DS can now say pease (please) and merci (thank you) when he want something or he's given an item. I'm well proud!

bc great news on the potty use.

IC sorry about you needing to have an amnio, but it sounds like you have your head round it all. We're all here if you have a wobble about it. Love your DD's haircut. DD2 could probably do with one herself, as her hair is halfway down her back (but only when wet due to the curls).

BG and mous I'm loving your tales of your DD2s!

scones I'd be inclined to not tackle the dummy, what with trying to settle your DD1 at nursery and moving house. I think you're very brave to do it all at once. Do try to not worry about the nursery, it does take them a while to settle (and DD2 is being a bit mutinous about at the moment, despite going there for over a year).

PA I'm impressed as ever at your chilled out approach to parenting. Every 60-90 minutes last night? I'd be wailing!

Very impressed at all the toilet training that is going on. DD2 now tells me that she has done a wee or poo, but is still suspicious of the potty and toilet seat. I'm not in any hurry as it features in my top ten things I hate most about parenting. It may even be in the top two, along with childbirth.

BC which park did you go to?

We had a pretty chilled out weekend with some friends staying over with their two DCs (aged 5 and 3). All the kids behaved really well, but I'm still exhausted. Last big work week for me (and a PTA meeting tonight - I'm secretary), but after that I'm hoping things will get a bit easier. DH is being a bit better, which is good.

It's quite something to encounter a 2 year old coming down the landing singing Karma Cameleon... and then asking for Club Tropicana . I blame dh of course and utube and in his defence there were some fab videos in the 80s...

IC thinking of you but don't know what to say, hope you take that the way it's meant.

chilled I'm alright as in battle mode atm My plan to really tire DD worked but as a result I'm also really tired . We played with next door this afternoon and they ended up in our house when it started raining. DD really came out of herself and was laughing, hugging and having a great time (but only when all three were in her bedroom).

Although she does have a limp after a fall from earlier. It doesn't seem to be causing her any pain but it is quite pronounced.

I was struggling at the weekend but DH dealt with DS (all his putting to sleep and some play) as just needed two hands to myself for a while.

at your DD2 BG I still can't get over how still some of these children sound but your DD2 impresses with her vocab. DD very confidently counts to ten, only she misses out seven. I don't know where it went.

mous your DD2 sounds lovely but also a handful, you must be alternating between tearing your hair out and thinking she'll be fine what can you do.

Our neighbour is lovely but a bit too lovely. She's brought dinner around a few times and little food treats for DD (Cakes, fruit) but today she presented to us two outfits brand new, one each for the DCs. I feel bad that she is putting herself out like this and she's also said she's getting DD a scooter for her birthday. I need a polite way of...

BBB It was Hillyfields.

BG My DS is into Al Green and The Eagles!

PA That's very sweet of your neighbour but I see what you mean. A scooter is a bit too generous. Slightly uncomfortable. She hasn't started copying your haircut and buying the same clothes you wear?

Thanks for all your support, lovely Feb-ers!
I still feel okay about the amnio thing. I think I was so convinced I was going to have another high risk factor, that I had already adjusted to the idea. DH is very calm about it, too. The amnio is booked for two weeks tomorrow.

Scones I tend to agree with SB on the dummy thing - you've done the first night, you're almost there, so why not see it through and save having to go through it all again. If your DD1's chewing through her dummies, I would say it's time to get rid of them. Good luck, but I reckon you've already got through the worst of it
My MIL owns and runs a nursery and she says the just-turned-2 year-olds are the toughest when it comes to settling them in. But they all do in the end, with lots of coaxing and reassurance. But, as you say, there are always other options you can investigate too.

Bc that park sounds wonderful!

PA urgh, that's some growth spurt..! I hope your DS lets you have a longer break between feeds tonight.

BBB good to hear your DH is being a bit better at the moment. Let's hope he keeps up the improvement, eh?!

BG arf at your DD2's Culture Club leanings!

Not really on here tonight, but sending hugs to IC. Back on Wednesday (dinner out with DH tomorrow) to catch up - haven't even read fully tonight.

DD still has her limp

DD1 had a limp for a few days as a toddler. I took her to the minor injury unit, do you have one next to you?
Turn out to be nothing.

PA Oh dear, your poor dd. I'd have her checked over tomorrow if she is still limping. They are a bit too young to put it on for effect (mind you, my dd2 is quite good at playing the sympathy card ) but like mous said, she's probably fine.
IC dd1 is the culture club fan (but refuses to accept that Boy George is male... the name obviously hasn't given her a clue yet... but she finds the outfits and hairdo fantastic! ). dd2 is very keen on Wham

at BC although she did buy her DD the same dress as mine

Do you think it warrants a GP visit then? I'll get DH to ring as I'm too chicken from the few calls I've done with DS. She's clearly not putting it on and is running around (albeit slightly wonky). We have a minor injuries thing but it will be a 4 hour wait.

Think she's teething as well. Although she woke and came out her room few times in the night, she did sleep until 7:30 so the tiring plan worked (although maybe too well as she was quite tired today).

Anyone got party food ideas? So far have planned as I haven't brought or made anything

cake, fruit, veggies (carrots etc.), few sarnies, breadsticks. I'll make squash if parents ask.

Don't want crisps but feel it needs a stodge. In an ideal world I'd make mini onion bhaji's but in reality I can't be bothered to make them fresh that morning.

guess should get a few plastic beakers/bowls? or ask people to bring a few?

PA your party food ideas sound spot on In my experience toddlers are so excited by a party they eat very little and just run around like loons. I have always made too much food... (Can recommend the cupcake recipe back to you! Made it twice now and it's really yummy ).

Oh, and I usually got juice cartons with straws rather than beakers... less flooding

BG at your DDs favourite music bands.

DS had a poo explosion this afternoon leaking everywhere so he ended up in the bath to wash it off. He seems okay but I am suprised as he eats a lot of bananas (if I remember correctly they can cause constipation ). Let fx it was a one off as I can't be off eork tomorrow as I have several meetings and DH is on day shift.

How long does the phase of night terrors last?

waves to everybody

I am hoping that

(i) the weather is nice so they can go outside and
(ii) they are not ill

there are many children coming (will be 5 toddlers) but a fair few adults so it feels a bit weird. Just that's what happens when 3 siblings, two sets of a parents and a grandparent are in attendance.

I may make that one, although I did chocolate last year . OTOH who doesn't like chocolate?

Arf at your '80s throwbacks BG!!

PA I would just keep an eye on it and if it doesn't appear to be clearing up in the next day or so, or it looks like it's giving your DD discomfort, take her in to have it checked. A four-hour wait is no fun and worth avoiding unless it's necessary...
Do you remember me mentioning when DD was about ten or 11 months that she stopped using her right arm one day? I was concerned she'd dislocated it or at the very least pulled a muscle, but then she suddenly started using both arms again . Could be just one of those things.
Food sounds fine - I offered juice (diluted) or water for the tots. You can get little plastic plates and bowls very cheaply in the Boots baby section if you've got a big one near you. £1.50 for 6. I've found them hugely useful since I bought some and probably use them everyday for various things. Poundland may well do something similar and Ikea definitely do. Or yes, see if someone can lend some to save you spending any money or trekking into town!

Thanks for the hugs Survival! I hope you're having a lovely meal out tonight

BG I seem to remember I ate most of the food you made

Aw SB, poor old DS - poosplosion and night terrors.

PA your brother's clearly a bit strange