December 2011: Smiles and giggles and coffee and truffles.....

[aethelfleda]

Voila, a new positive thinking thread for us!

Onward and upward, ladies. Do come on and post if you're a lurker or want to join our merry band, all welcome!!

A retrospective for your DP's sister, northern!
(can haddocks travel back in time? Maybe one of us should invent a teeny tiny Delorean for this purpose...)

It annoys me when people use a particular method of anything and then try to chastise everyone else into doing the same. Cloth Nazis are particularly irritating as they can sound very self-righteous and I have no desire to join them: you use what works for you, and that's that. For me a huge factor in using cloth is that it looks cute, feels comfy for baby, and most importantly it saves me money once I've made the initial outlay, for lo, I am a tight-fisted parent! But I really don't have any desire to evangelise at all, which is why I try to chat off-thread about cloth so I don't sound too obsessive.
If you get given a hard time by a cloth-using-mama on the eco front, the easiest and most effective put-down I've found is below. (I was once heckled by one for admitting that I used disposables while on holiday!!!)
Simply remind them that the most eco-friendly baby is a non existant one and the fact that they chose to have x number of children to enter our consumer society is what will screw the planet. Ideally they should have no kids, train as a surgeon, and sterilise as many people as possible to reduce the worlds population to a more sustainable level. Or move to the middle of nowhere, live in a bivouwac and stop bothering you.

Both dcs go to bed between half 7 and 8 so we have every evening free which keeps us sane! Dd has always been a great sleeper and ds seems to be following in her footsteps (5.45am feed this morning, no night feed) so hopefully that won't change!

Northern my dp can be a bit messy, you quite often see up to 4 pairs of footwear strewn around the lounge/dining room!! He does help around the house but not to my standard. Case in point, he will wash up but doesn't wipe the sides down or empty the dirty dish water!

We used disposables but if it helps, I do feel a bit guilty :0o I'm sure they would better at catching poos so would prob save on the huge amounts of washing I'm having to do!

Today's plans include popping into work to show Asa off for the first time. They have moved since I left for mat leave so have no idea where to park, don't know who's office is where and have no fobs to get in so could be interesting! This afternoon, I need to ring the photographer to arrange a session, ring Virgin to request an upgrade and book a baby yoga course. I really should do some hoovering and dusting too meh

Talking of Mothering Sunday, dp was saying his sister was taking him mum out for a meal so the pressure was off but he told her we'd treat her to a trip on the steam railway with us and the kids. I said ok, I'll take that as my treat too then and dp said, I keep forgetting you're a mum!! Dingbat. I never feel anything but!! He then said (tongue in cheek) that it wasn't his job to treat me, it was the kids! Haha snot sandwich and poo facemask it is then...

Have a good day y'all

Forgot...

Was it mmm with the critical mum? Anyhoo, hope you enjoy your break and your mum refrains from commenting ... No need!! My mum (I've 2 mums but referring to the one who brought me up) doesn't criticise per se, but does like to big everyone else up. Ooh isn't so and so pretty/thin/rich/clever ...you get the picture! I think what's wrong with me? I like me and my life thank you very much!

Let's fuel the haddock-transporting delorean with disposable nappies, and blast away any guilty thoughts.

My main issue with cloth nappies is that I clean up enough poo anyway thankyouverymuch without having to WASH the nappies. Plus I have a weak stomach for that sort of thing. The cloth ones are VERY cute though!

Have had such a mixed week here, on Wed squeaky man was totally adorable all day, playing nicely and smiling and giggling at the light fittings (so the kid isn't going to be a genius, at least he's cute as a button!) and then he slept from 9 - 4 that night. When he got up it was like someone replaced him with a grumpy, demon baby. He cried and moaned and wouldn't be put down (evil cowbag that I am I totally left him to cry for 10 minutes so I could have a shower) and thrashed. I suspected wind but nothing I did (jiggling, rubbing, bouncing, putting him on the washing machine) helped. Husband comes home from work (late, I might add) and squeaker gives him a huge grin, then farts solidly for 10 minutes and does a huge poo. So my husband is clearly some kind of poo magician.

Anyway, he's a happier chappy today. I think, judging from the eating, he's been having a bit of a growth spurt this week. Will get him weighed next week as we've got 12 week jabs on Wednesday. He was 13lbs 13oz last week, definitely a chunker!

My parents are up this weekend (will be here in an hour or so so I should maybe get dressed?) and we're off out for some shopping tomorrow and I'm going to cook on Sunday.

Hope everyone has a lovely Mother's Day! My present is a full night's sleep (putting in ear plugs and handing all squeaker duty to the OH)!

Sorry can't meet up on the 23rd, but we're off up to Scotland to show off the baby to all my husband's extended family.

RE house cleaning, I tend to just do the bare minimum, and have been known to just give all surfaces a wipe with a baby wipe when I'm feeling particularly. Makes things look cleaner instantly. But then inevitable the cat comes in and puts muddy paw prints everywhere. Also like to think that the baby is still young enough that I can get away with a 'sorry my house is a tip, but I've just had a baby and now I spend all my time on the internet instead of cleaning while he sleeps

Suppose I should go and get myself sorted, squeaker has tuckered himself out flailing on his play mat, and fallen asleep.

OH, knew there was something else; he can roll on to his side now! Definitely need to stop leaving him on the changing table now!

Have also sorted out fb stuff and sent friend requests to those that pmd me.

This is it aethel - there are so many choices around parenting, and it's so annoying when people criticise from their evangelical high horse. His sister is a bit nuts to be fair, and I quietly point out in my head that unlike her, we don't have an enormous house for a small family, two cars, two American-sized fridges and freezers filled with crap that never gets eaten food, and two rooms dedicated solely to their brats' darling children's RIDICULOUS number of plastic toys.
In fact, channelling Harry Enfield's brummie character, I am considerably more eco than yaw!

But yes, time travelling haddock on the way, love it!

It's great having the evenings isn't is rashka? Only been the past week for us, but I'm slowly getting used to the fact, and not permanently looking in the Moses to see where he's gone...

That made me laugh EB, your OH being a poo magician! And you're now a cowbag, showers are important. We're now careful not to leave him on the changemat, but I'm just waiting for the time he rolls off that/the bed/the sofa, etc, as it will happen.

Off to buy paper, then lunch whilst DS sleeps, then off to post my Mum's Mother's Day stuff!

mopsy that's a good point but I'm feeling v lazy today and not sure I can handle the hassle of drs if it comes to nothing. I expressed after an earlier feed, didn't get much out but felt a bit better and they domt ache any more. Looked up NHS advice and following that (express, drink lots, rest).

Yes it is me with critical mum. She has such high standards for everything and everyone, including herself. She is 64 and a size 8 with no cellulite, no stretch marks etc but still worries and critiques her body all the time. I'm tall athletic looking size 10-12 but have few extra rolls of mummy tummy, thighs a bit chubby etc and she always makes some comment about how what I'm eating is fattening or says how hungry I am etc. And I eat really healthily - she just eats stuff like nuts and dried fruit and really small portions of othetr stuff. I don't want to be like that, I LOVE my food and eat a really varied and balanced diet. A bit too many sweet things but who cares, I'm brreastfeeding!

Its silly how a little comment from my munm can affect me so much even though I know I am the normal one and she's nnnot!

Sympathy mmmm, I know someone who lives on a bowl of All-Bran and some dried fruit and nuts all day: she's tiny and exercises loads and do you know what? In 100 years she'll have karked it just like the rest of us, but without the experiences of years of lucious meals. (I looove food myself, my worst thing about being pg was losing my enjoyment of food).

Oh and someone pointed out on another thread that Gillian mcKeith (the nutritionist with a fake doctorate) who's scrawny and tanned, is the same age as Nigella Lawson. I know who I'd rather look like!

Carpet now cleaned and drying out, it's not spotless but has received a LOT of punishment and it's better than it was, at least I know the poo is now cleaned out as best as it could ever be. His machine water looked suitably grimy at the end!!!

With you all on the love of good food, i can't diet its no fun, luckily I also love exercise so when i'm motivated I manage to stay sort of in shape! On that note went back to the gym this week and it was an absolute killer but felt good after. Took LO swimming after and a really cute little boy tried to give Jack some of the toys he was playing with in the pool, he was very sweet and Jack just stared at him really solemnly made me and the little boys mum laugh!

EB Could do with a poo magician for DS today! He's grumpy and i'm pretty sure its due to lack of poo, have tried to give him water but he dribbles it back out and looks at me like i'm trying to posion him.

My parents are coming up to visit for the weekend and they are going to babysit Saturday evening for me and DP to go out for dinner, I can't wait it will be my first night out since DS was born. I'm looking forward to Mother's day I've dropped a few hints so that DP remembers to spoil me, it was last year on Mothers day that we found out I was pregnant so has nice memories for me :)

aaarrrggghhh...multiple poo explosions, baby and cat. Baby through two layers of clothes, cat all over living room carpet. Guess what I'll be doing this afternoon?

Feeling absolutely pants today heating on, dressing gown on & still cold. Feel like i've been punched in the face by my left eye.

kitty if you're in Surrey I have the number of a good carpet cleaner....

Oops, the epic rumble of another monster poo beckons....

Small child in new outfit folling quick dunk in bath, carpet scrubbed and covered in carpet cleaner.

Thanks aethel but we're in Manchester. We move out in 3 weeks and already have a carpet cleaner booked thank god!

DSM hope your feeling better.

I have the galexy ace with o2. Im watching paranormal activity 3 and scaring myself silly. Air in nursary and hope sleeping after big feed.
I also have coffee and cake.

My LO is asleep in the car - I should feel guilty about leaving him there but I know as soon as I touch his carseat, he'll wake up and won't go back off. I have both doors open and keep going out to look through the window like a loon so know he's perfectly safe.

Dp made me a sausage and egg sandwich before he went to work so healthy eating going great! I'm thinking of taking up jogging when the nights get a bit lighter as we have a nature reserve surrounding the estate but I'll have to wear a disguise in case people see me because I have to control my boobs with my elbows (and that's when I'm not breastfeeding!) Dp keeps banging on about me starting back at the gym as I'm currently on a free freeze but I'm waiting until ds is 16 weeks then will introduce formula for babysitting purposes only because I hate expressing.

DSM hope you feel better soon. Sounds like your sinuses are blocked, I often get faceache when I get a bug and it feels lousy.

Kitty poor you with the multiple poop! I'm still waiting for ds' daily poo, makes me nervous when he doesn't poo first thing!

BJR have a lovely evening out :) we've been lucky with babysitters as have multiple grandparents but all we've done is go to the cinema because we love it. We really should do dinner and conversation next time!

aethel I agree re Gillian McWotsit, she looks absolutely vile! And anyone that is that interested in Tupperware pots of poo can't be right in the head says she who studies the contents of LOs nappy almost obsessively

Northern 2 American size fridge freezers? Blimey...

Easily I hate leaving ds crying to shower but needs must! I think they have a sensor of sorts because if I get up to do anything, ds senses it and starts kicking off!

Might have to disturb ds, house is getting cold

Thanks ladies. I want to sleep! however, being subjected to more F1...sigh.

Oooh, don't start my DP on 'Dr' Gillian McKeith, he hates here with a passion. I just think she's a waste of space.

Glad all the carpets are now clean-ish kitty and aethel- this parenting lark's all glamma, ain't it?!

Hope you have a lovely time BJR, and that there's somewhere nice for you to go out. I think you said that you were relatively new to the area, so if you want some pointers on restaurants locally do PM me.

Mother's Day present sent off, and OBEM watched, so a good day in all. And soon it will be time for my Friday glass of wine and Skype, oh joy!

and the reason I always preview messages...

'her', not 'here', sigh.

I can't watch OBEM any more Northern it makes me too broody! We really can't afford another for a few years yet... especially as we need to move in the next couple of years.

Urgh DIY is beckoning. We desperately need to put a new bathroom in and have saved a sufficient amount. It's for resale purposes so it will be a very basic suite with White tiles and Lino floor. I'm just dreading the dust, dirt and commotion that goes with it As my washing machine is in the bathroom I need to be able to still do washing too. It's going to be a logistical nightmare!

Hi all-advance warning, this is a me me me post. Was out for a walk in the valley with minimopsy in baby bjorn, tripped on bramble (after just having discussion about how careful we had to be walking in fields/woods with baby born but in my defence the bramble was hidden in the grass) and fell onto knees but put my hands out to stop myself automatically. Minimopsy was asleep and she got a right jolt, woke up screaming. I was petrified I'd injured or hurt her so started bawling. But she stopped crying after five minutes and went back to sleep. We were a few miles away from home so had to walk back. She slept all the way! Then when we got back she seemed fine, I was worried about her neck cos her head snapped back when I fell. But she can hold her head up fine and was quite happy on the play mat and cooing at me & she's currently guzzling a bottle. So I guess I don't need to worry unless she starts acting out of character, right? Urrgh was horrible. Was so worried :(

Oh Mopsy how frightening for you glad to hear minimopsy seems to not be too bothered but it but I would just keep an eye on her.

Oh no mopsy That sick are-they-all-right feeling is horrible. Glad she seems OK anyway.

I am shattered: DS has been waking at 1-ish for the last few nights and today decided not to nap at all since 9 am, apart from the odd ten minutes. Result: increasingly ratty babyand of course NOW he's conked out and will never sleep properly tonight as well. I think i'm going to have to change his nappy in half an hour to try to get some more milk in him in the hope he'll give me some sleep later. Aaaargh....

Mopsy, poor you! Bet you feel really shook up. Must admit, I often worry about that happening when carrying the dcs but I'm sure minimopsy is none the wiser. Probably the shock and sudden wake up made her cry. Dd rolled off the bed when a few months old, I was mortified but after a cry and a feed, she was fine

Thanks guys. Think was just the shock, she seems totally grand now and was having a proper coo/leg kick/arm wave at her playmat earlier. When I changed her clothes she was totally fine too and that involves moving most of her body. If she does anything put if the ordinary I'll be taking her straight down to the childrens but I think she's totally fine. She's behaving exactly the same as normal! I, on the other hand, have a really sore neck and shoulders. I guess I wrenched them when I fell.