March 2005 part 5 - Can't believe they're almost 1!

[busywizzy]

This time last year, we were all enormous, waiting for them to arrive - now they're almost 1

Well done Busy for getting through your first week at work!

Yesterday we only managed to pick Niklas up at 3, the grandparents and dh's sister and husband were supposed to be coming at 4 to play with him, open presents etc, they didn't arrive until 5 (typical of his sister ) and Niklas was already starting to get tired by then, however he loved being centre of attention and he had a birthday dinner with us which was lovely , but he had to go to bed before his cakes and candles! We have the children's party on Sunday so he will have cake and candles then anyway!

The presents we got him were a great success, its been much easier to entertain him today than usual(I pat myself on the back for that !) and he just about managed to get the idea of opening them!

Busy, you asked about memories from the last year, the things that stick in my mind are behaviours he had over periods of time rather than single events, for example his obsession with socks which went on for months, he always had a sock in his hand (sometimes one in each hand), he would crawl around on his fists with them in his hands and he tried to do everything else with just thumb and finger so he didn't drop the sock! We ended up wiht loads of single socks as the others would get dropped somewhere else and would turn up weeks later!
Also his obsession wiht putting things in his mouth is quite memorable - he has a house thing, you put the ball in the chimney and it rolls down, the balls are just the right size to fit in his mouth, he always had to put the ball in his mouth before he put it in the chimney! Looked hilarious wiht the ball in his mouth!

The big challenge at the moment is when we go shopping, he is not happy to sit in the buggy or the trolley anymore and insists on walking, not only is this very slow, but he insists on pulling things off shelves and disappearing around corners! Thing that I don't understand is that all the other children seem to sit quite happily in their buggy looking around, sucking a dummy! Not my boy!
He is trying really, really hard at the moment to master eating with a spoon or fork himself, he usually gives up and ends up holding it in one hand and eating with the other hand!

Leo, sounds like you've had a lovely few days and I'm so glad Niklas liked his kitchen utensils Hope the party on Sunday goes well. It made me really smile thinking of Niklas crawling round with socks in his hands - how cute is that And walking around the supermarket If I took Harrison out of the trolley he'd just sit on the floor clapping his hands and touching his head, smiling at everyone and waiting for someone to pick him up - he's a lazy, lazy boy

I've had a lovely day with Harrison and with DD after school, although I've felt completely shattered all day. Did anyone else feel like that when they first went back to work? Harrison went for a sleep after lunch and I was going to do some exercising. Genuinely didn't have the energy so just crawled into bed myself and woke up an hour and a half later

Hope everyone is OK and enjoy the weekend

Belated happy birthday to Niklas . Sorry I missed the day Leo - have been laid low with a nasty bug since Wednesday night and only just starting to feel human again today.

Sounds as though you all had a lovely day.

Sylvia is next to turn one.

You must be relieved to have your first week back at work over with Busy. Really glad that Harrison seems settled with the childminder, and good that you are starting to enjoy being back. It will get even easier as the weeks go by.

Have a good weekend everyone.

We had a nice, easy weekend. We went swimming on Saturday and for a walk on the Common today. We are on a bit of an economy drive at the moment, so nothing too extravagant.

I didn't get the job i went for on Friday but i feel fine about it as i realised it wasn't the right one for me. Good interview experience, though.

Sylvia's two middle top teeth are coming through and she's taking particular pleasure in biting me when breastfeeding. She even looks up at me to see my reaction, giggles and goes "Ahh". She's walking longer and longer distances, 2-4 metres at a time. A few days ago she ate some Sudocreme. Today she went through the coals in the fireplace (cold and not real).

Tomorrow morning I'm taking Sylvia for a settling in session at the nursery and afterwards to another girl's first birthday party.

We too had a great weekend, and also went swimming on Sat. DS1 has his lesson at 10.30, and then we get in and have a play about with him and Freya afterwards. It was good fun, and we don't seem to have done it for a while what with ear infections, holidays etc.
I then went for a long run on Sunday (17 miles) in my bid to stagger round the London Marathon. It really hurt!

Freya is now standing really well and is charging around with the push along baby walker. Watch those ankles as she comes dashing by! Seems like walking is still a way off, just hope she is mobile by the summer so we can all go to the park together without her wanting to crawl round on the floor.

Oh yes, and she has starting kissing with tongues - yuck! If she goes to give you a kiss she opens her mouth really wide, sticks her tongue out and slobbers all over you - such a delighful young lady!

BW - Hope your 2nd week at work is ok and that Harrison is enjoying the childminder.

LOL at Freya kissing. Another 14 years and she won't have any trouble having boyfriends :)

Sylvia had another settling in session at nursery today. This time it was for 2h, all on her own. She didn't cry until they changed her nappy. DH picked her up (i went in to work) and she's asleep now. He says she looked for me all over the flat but was OK and didn't cry. Didn't eat either, just slept 2 h mid-morning and she's been asleep for another hour now.

DS is at a pancake party. I'll pick him up later and go and get a cake for Silvia's birthday tomorrow.

Today wasn't too bad at work, in fact it went really well. I focused well, surprising how the idea that I work in an office rather than from home changed the way I could concentrate. Hmm, maybe having to share an office and not being able to wander freely on the internet has something to do with it...

I've added a few photos to the photbucket and had a good look at all the babies. How cute they all are. Really sweet. I caught a glimpse of Leo too - different to how I imagined you, Leo.

Cristina, Sylvia is just so lovely and Dominic is sooooo like his dad Like a little mini-me. You don't look like I expected at all but I always think that's a dumb thing to say as I don't know what I thought you'd be like Glad your first day back went well (thought it was tomorrow so sorry I didn't post good luck wishes)

Jo, loved the thought of Freya's sloppy kisses. It's amazing how much you come to love such yucky things. If DH tried to kiss me like Harrison does he'd be in serious trouble

Second week back for me and it's all much easier now. It's still quite hectic getting us all out the house in the morning and I haven't quite got us out as early as I want yet, but each day I get a few minutes closer

Harrison is doing really well at the CM and I can't believe how well he's settled. That's definately as a result of the good advice you all gave about doing as much phase-ins as possible. Today he cried when I left but was fine within a few minutes and has been happy all day. The CM says he's really starting to come out of himself now and is very 'chatty' and smiley.

DD is poorly (again) and DH had to leave work at lunchtime to pick her up from school. She has the same flu-type thing Harrison had the week before I started back at work so tomorrow I'm working from home to look after her. Harrison will be going to the CM so this will be the first time DD and I have been alone together in the house since he came along.

Our planned meet-up is in 2 weeks on March 11th. Are we still on for this (me, Cristina, Jo, Pidge and BonyM) as I'll CAT you all the details of where the place is. If anyone wants to come to my house first or afterwards, you'll be more than welcome

Hope everyone is well and happy.

happy birthday to sylvia for tomorrow :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEAR SYLVIA
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

So Cristina, best memories of her first year?

Happy Birthday Sylvia !

Lovely photos Christina.

Grace decided that 4.45am was a good time to wake up this morning. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I finally managed to get her back to sleep at 6.30am. Needless to say, I didn't get back to sleep.

Oh - we have snow this morning . Dd1 has gone off to school in a rugby shirt - it's St David's Day today, and she's decided she's too old to wear Welsh lady's costume...

BonyM, Harrison's sleeping is pretty rubbish at the moment too. Since he's been poorly, I've only had one night where he's slept through until sometime later than 6.30am the following morning. Most nights, he wakes somewhere between 3-4.30am and he often stays awake for ages. Not crying, just a combination of chatting, whinging and moaning (which keeps me awake even if I don't have to get up to him). If he sleeps later, he's been waking at about 5.30am and not wanting to go back to sleep again. I feel shattered but not sure what to do as it's not like I feed him or spend anytime with him and he's not crying. Think it's a phase he must be going through so let's hope it passes quickly

LOL at DD being 'too old' for Welsh girl costume. That's exactly what my DD would say. She won't even wear a vest in this freezing weather if she's got to change at school in case anyone see's it !!!!

Jo, meant to say how seriously impressed I was at you running 17 miles I ran a mile and a half with DD at the weekend and had to have a very long rest afterwards to recover

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SYLVIA!!!!!
:):):):):):):):):):)

I hope my boss disappears later so I can check out the photos :o!!!!

After a week or two of very good sleeping Niklas also didn't sleep well last night! I was in and out of bed for 2 hours trying to settle him!

My boss must have heard me writing that :o!!!!

Thank you for the birthday wishes. Sylvia is off at nursery today and I'm at home (started yesterday so I can take today off instead). She's there for 3 hours.

Best memories? Seeing her after she was born, seeing her recover in SCBY, taking her home, cuddling with her in bed every night, seeing just how easy-going and smiley she is, watching her play with Dominic, laughing at her funny faces. Oh, lots of lovely things, I'm crying with happinnes now.

Cristina, hope you all have a lovely day.

I have to repeat again what has already been said - we really do have a very beautiful bunch of babies between us!

Cristina - Sylvia and Dominic are both very beautiful children :)!

They are all so beautiful, aren't they? :)

I've got another job interview, for the 17th. It's for a half-time post, close to home. Funny how I applied for places like Lyon and Geneva and i might end up working just up the road! (That sounds a bit like i'd be kerb-crawling)

Happy Birthday to Sylvia.

Lots of slobbery kisses from Freya!

Happy Birthday Sylvia .... just looked at your pictures in the photobucket and have gone all gooey over my computer in the office. What a cutie!

I see the last one I put up of Iris is about 6 months ago ... hopeless!

JoPG ... WOW at your 17 mile run! Very very impressed. I have finally joined a local running club - I went out with them for the first time last night and am SO pleased with myself. I managed 5.5 miles without totally embarrassing myself. Plus then ran back to my friends house. Am determined to take inspiration from you and at least get myself entered for a half marathon this year. Sounds like you are well on course for London.

Now I have a confession - I have boobed totally on the meetup front. I had it in my head it was on the Sunday, and we have organised Iris' birthday party for the Saturday. So I'm out I'm afraid. Promise to put up a new piccie of her in the photobucket as compensation.

Right ... must get on with some work!

Thank you for the birthday wishes.

We can still come to the meet-up.

Silvia's third day at nursery went fine. A few tears when I left her. They called me half-way through to say she's fine. She ate all her food, played outside in the garden, made a pot of yoghurt and fruit (i.e. mixed the fruit inside) which she'll eat later, did a painting which hadn't dried yet so we'll get it next time, had a little birthday party and got a present. Phew! No wonder she's exhausted and sleeping now.

Jo & the other runners, well done for finding the time and motivation.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SILVIA.

LOVE FROM LAUREN AND JAMBOT

Dropped Harrison off at the CM's this morning and he didn't even shed a tear I'm really chuffed that he's settled so well and so quickly.

Hmmmmmmm - wonder what that say's about my parenting skills

busywizzy - that says that you are brilliant mum who has produced a confident and happy child.

Mind you - not that I'm taking the blame for Iris hollering her head off to start with at our childminders . These days, according to dp, she too just wriggles in his arms, wanting to get down and play with the toys. And gives him a little wave.

I do find when I get home though that she is very clingy and doesn't want me to put her down, let alone leave the room.

Pidge, Harrison can be a bit like that too when we get home unless DD is around and then he couldn't care less where I am

I find that he's really tired by the time we get home and no wonder as it's only an hour until his bedtime. So usually, it's straight upto the bath for us, a bit of nappy-less playtime, milk and bed.

How is your new project going?

Yup - with Iris it's a case of hanging in there for an hour till it's her bedtime too. She is just exhausted at the end of the day. But otherwise, really happy at the CM. So I'm pretty pleased with things.

The new project is great. Bit of a crazy commute - an hour and twenty each way, 35 minutes of which is on my bike! I'm not being given anything particularly fascinating to do, and I'm sure that's because I'm only here 3 days a week. One of my male full time colleagues was implying that maybe I should feel bored. But to be honest I'm quite happy with some fairly low-level tasks. It's quite challenging enough for my little brain. And there's no way I want to take on more responsibility and end up working longer hours. Funny to think how my focus has changed from wanting demanding fascinating work, to just wanting something that fits round the kids.

Main challenge for the afternoon - do not eat my chocolate bar until at least 3pm ....

How about re-arranging the meet-up so that Pidge can make it? Tbh, March is turning into a really busy month for me so it would suit me if re-arranged (although not saying I won't come if it's not re-arranged!).

Would be good to have Pidge and Iris there though.