October 2011 - my, oh my, how the first years flew by!! It's birthday season!!

[MummyDuckAndDuckling]

So excited that the first birthdays are upon us! Will try get a copy of the stats..

Fx the meds help Annie

I've had the best day with C we've ever had! He cried with dp whilst I was in the bath, and played with me all evening. I feel all loved up

Cheshire that is an impressive amount of food!!! C has 1/3-1/2 of that and he's between 75-91st percentile! But I know P is tiny so maybe she's catching up.

I've decided it still feels right to give c a morning bottle so I'm going with gut instinct. It's served me well with his food thus far.

Today was a bit slapdash as we were out of food so I had to make do, but C had

5oz formula
3 tbsps (not nearly enough) baby porridge with 3oz cows milk and 1/4 my almond croissant from Costa!
Handful raspberries
Small amount tomato/basil pasta (couldn't get him to have much before he started chucking it round in the swanky cafe we were in)
3 big dollops natural yoghurt with handful blueberries
The rest of his lunch plus some chicken and cheese for dinner
Homemade rice pudding and strawberries
7oz formula

He usually has a ton of oats for breakfast but I had to feed him put so could only take baby porridge with me

I guess food wise, S is about the same as the others. She's ate dinner no problem the past 2 nights, so was maybe just my lasagne she had the problem with

Next questions, naps! S is normally still on a morning and afternoon although they have shortened from an hr average each time to maybe 40 mins. She's still sleeping an average of 7.30-7 ish so I'm def not complaining! Today she was with my mum and never went down till after lunch at 12.20 then woke at 1.35pm. She done well rest of the day but by 6.30pm she was finished . Was sleeping by 7 which no doubt means an early start tomorrow. Anyone else on the longer nap after lunch? Remember in the nursery thus not really happening with the kids till roughly 15 months.

annie glad scan went well and that dh is getting the help needed

Cs naps a bit all over, but he's down to one roughly middayish. The trouble I'm having is that of he's not had one by lunchtime he's too tired for lunch, and sleeps till 2ish.

Climbing how is L's sleep overnight going, is it getting better with your DH going in?

I can't remember who initially called it "Nappy Wrestling" but yes it's definitely that in our house. I HATE doing evening bath time, that's when P really kicks off. Honestly you'd think she was shouting to the neighbours "they've got a knife" (very old comedy sketch).

I am glad DH wen to the Dr's Annie. Hopefully now you know something is being done even that in itself should help a bit.

We might venture to Toys R Us tomorrow so P can pick her Birthday present for Friday, we were thinking of getting her a tunnel < goes off to prepare oneself for such a hideous store >

(maybe I will feel different about it now I have a small person, we will see!

If I don't get chance I hope S has a lovely day tomorrow Duck

A's naps are all over the show duck - we can't plan anything around them now. He tends to have one long one in the middle of the day or two shorter ones, but there seems to be no pattern at all!

W's naps vary depending on who he is with duck he naps fine for me (about 40mins- 1hr) morning and afternoon and same at nursery but refuses to nap for DH unless he in car! Think it's cos he sees daddy time as playtime!

W's learnt to drink through a straw! He loves it and has been having small cartons of fruit juice that way

Seb's naps are all over the place too. He only tends to have one during the week at the childminders as he wants to keep up with the older kids and doesn't want to be left out so he carries on until he's knackered and then has a lovely long nap after lunch. If he's with us if we go out he has a nap in the car and then needs another one later. We just go with whatever, which is better than some of my friends who can't go out at certain points of the day as it's nap time

Also, we get reports from the childminder that he eats really well but I think it is mostly copying others as at home he's not great and has a habit of spitting food out if he's had enough. Nice.

Missed our local NCT nearly new sale last week as I was working overtime so we went to Bath this morning for theirs. My thinking was that the quality of items would be better in Bath... . It was a bit of a free-for-all but still got some barginous clothes. Also got Seb's In the Night Garden musical mat in the post from e-bay!

Cheshire Seb is OK after his bath (we just have to chase him round the bathroom drying him bit at a time! And he once poo'd on the bath mat!) it's the non-bath nights that are a nightmare.

Oh, sorry, bit of a me post there. Hope all OK

Musical Mat sounds cool Tally might have to have a look at that later.

Naps have always been a bit random here anyway

I need to ask peoples opinions please - I am wondering whether to get our friends, who have a late October baby, an activity table. P has the VTech one and loves it but their baby kind of just lies on the floor on his back and only has soft toys - the type they have when newborn. He doesn't seem to move much (hence why I was thinking a table might be interesting for him) and they have a huge lounge so space is not the issue.

My concerns are - the Parents will hate it (because of the current type of toys he has) and is it one of those toys that you would hate someone to buy for your baby? e.g. I would HATE someone to buy P a drum kit because it would drive my crazy or a doll (they give me the creeps).

Opinions appreciated please :)

Bunt how is DS2 now? Is he better?

< wonders is Duck is frantically decorating cake >

chesh I wouldn't mind if someone got W an activity table he'd love it! my concern with it would be where to put it but if they have the space I don't see the problem. I agree about Dolls too - very creepy!

Cheshire are they close enough to you that you could ask them round and see if he likes P's table? Perhaps you could then subtly suggest getting him one. Although, if I were them I would be a bit concerned if my nearly one year old was still lying on the floor and not making any attempt to move about or sit up. Could it be that there is something wrong and they don't want it highlighted? Oo, now I feel awful for saying that. He's probably just taking his time!

Musical mat is cool. Think I got a bit of a bargain, only paid £4.44 (inc. post). One website said from 12 months but another from 18m but Seb seemed interested in it.

Just a quick check in before I collapse in a heap

I'm bloody knackered. Who knew a 1st birthday would be this much hard work!!! Honestly thought I was as prepared as I could be, but that's enough for one night. Guests not coming till 1pm tomorrow so there will be time before hand to finish anything off. Pretty please with how we have decorated my parents house. They have a much bigger place than me so was perfect for party. Cakes are all decorated, nibbles and sandwiches all plated up, just the hot food to be made in the morning.
Really really happy with her cake. Thought I was setting myself up to fail trying to make a '1' but it worked and looks pretty good if I do say so myself

This time last year I was at my mums trying to get some sleep while the contractions were bearable. Don't think I did sleep much though as they were every 3 mins right from the word go!
I'm just about to write out her card before I head to bed. I'm so proud to say that I've managed this first year all on my own with her. She really is my everything now, can't imagine her not here and I'm secretly glad I don't have to share her with her dad
Thanks for all comments on naps. Seems about same as us really. I'm learning just to go by her which is much easier.

Hope everyone is well. I'll post a few pics in fb and ill catch up with you all soon

Xxx

A slightly early 'happy birthday' to S duck hope you both have a fab time at her party x

Happy birthday S! Love the photo collage on fb. I've going to order Ms cake this week (am too lazy to make it myself) and start getting balloons and things tomorrow (have had a letter from power company saying they're working on our electric between 10 and 2 tomorrow so no power...eek! Thought I may as well head out then).

Happy birthday S!

Happy birthday S :)

Hope you and S are having a lovely day duck!

I blew up a balloon as a trial run last weekend to see how A would like it (he did but tried to bite it, am worried it will pop in his face!) Am back to work today after a week off. Sad. Had forgotten how much I liked being home!

Happy birthday S!

We took A to the zoo for the first time yesterday. He got a lot from it and enjoyed pointing at the animals, esp the Meerkats. Although, the one thing that excited him the most was a duck ...

Pene he was obviously thinking of S!

We were at a 1st birthday party today and Seb burst a balloon, I went over thinking he was going to erupt but he was fine and just sat there looking at all the people waiting for him to start crying!

What a day

Thank you for all birthday messages for S. she had a wonderful time and has only just went to bed 10 mins ago (11.30pm!!) . She's been on the go, non stop since 7am! Had 2 short naps through the day but I think was just so excited by everything!

We had a lovely afternoon with family and friends. She got lots of lovely gifts

I'm off to bed as well. Start training for my new job tomorrow so my dad has S for few hours in the morning till my mum finishes work. Think he is worrying how to keep her entertained, then he remembers the living room is like a toy shop explosion! Haha, they will have a great time.

I'll be back to catch up properly tomorrow.

Can't believe my baby is now 1

Glad to hear you had a great party duck Good luck with job training today.

You have inspired me to get off my arse and organise M's birthday properly. We're having 2 parties - one for family and one for friends as DH says he can't cope with everyone on the same day (fair enough), though obv family means DH's family as mine are far away across the sea Next time we'll see my family will be at my sister's wedding in a few weeks.

Ordered M a T-short yesterday with a birthday cake and 1 on it (and his name). Ordered up so hope it's not TOO big for him as he will be wearig it to both his birthday parties and on his birthday and nursery the day after his birthday (think some quick washing and drying will be required!). Out today to get balloons and bunting, and card to steal duck's photo collage idea. Going to order a cake as well, was thinking a photo one but DH says he finds the idea of cutting into M's face creepy! My mum's voice when I told her I was going to buy a cake - you'd think I was suggesting murder!

Actually heading out to avoid power cut. Only have another 30 mins before they switch the power off and my laptop will only last for about 20mins off the mains!

M has injections at 11.30 and then going to trundle into town but annoyingly in Holland a lot of shops don't open till 1pm on a Monday so will be wandering round the town centre, maybe will take M to look at the ducks and deer in the park.

Great zoo pic pen! We're going to take M on his birthday. last time he went he wasn't that interested in the animals (a fair few months ago now, think it was in May) but maybe now he's a bit older he'll be checking them out a bit more.

duck glad you and S had a great day. Her cake looked amazing, i'm v impressed and I am now inspired to attempt to bake M's cake with a shop bought spare in case of disaster

i was still waiting on baby shop calling to say M's coat was in and thought i'd check on ebay again and found the same one well last years but almost the same for £28.50 inc P&P i have won and am totally chuffed -and £30 richer--

Next Birthdays are Fleecy and Ips now then :)

Glad S had a good day, can't believe what time she went to bed, what'll she be like on Christmas Eve

My sponge cakes are in the freezer and I did a spare one for nursery for P to take on and found DH eating a bloody piece of it yesterday! God knows if the ones in the freezer will end up looking like a No1. I was going to do cut out butterflies, which will clearly not look anything as good as Ducks. I think I might go for the "more is more" option and randomly overload the cake with cut out teddies and butterflies and icing and colours and everything . We are just having a tea party on Saturday for 2 hours with Family - then I'm kicking them all out at 2pm.

Great news on the coat Ed, the baby shop lost their sale there!

I have order P a top from Olive&Moss which says "1" on it too Engels, I expect it to probably still fit her when she is 2.

Pene If A likes ducks, have you tried chickens, they are hilarious "apparently".

Good luck with the job Duck

Am going to order the activity table so thank you for your comments and will report back if they hate it.

Tally they live 90 minutes away so can't really test the table first. Will just take a chance.