Brooking no argument for babies who sleep, eat, smile and behave perfectly at all times. Yeah right!

[scarletfingernail]

New thread, here we go...

I've voted for smegs

Boob update- miles better after 3 lots of antibiotics. Phew.

S has howled blue murder on being put in his cot tonight. After two months of self settling. I despair, I really do... 45 min of rocking and jigging it took.

Forgotten the rest, except :( :( scarlet I'm still Brooking No Argument they'll turn up...

Attempting to catch up and respond to all the messages, but bear with me if I forget something!

Firstly - I've voted for Smegs! Fantastic nc! I still haven't thought of one myself :(

Biscuits sounds like a good hair appointment with a gorgeous outcome! How did your DH get on with looking after DS2 in the end? Hope you're feeling positive about the end of bfing - you've done so amazingly well!

Hugs to Scarlet for the ongoing rings nightmare. I still think you'll find them soon, when you least expect it. Don't beat yourself up over it though, it was an honest mistake and you've done everything you possibly can to get them back.

So glad Dream's feeling better after some anti b's. I hope little S surprises you by sleeping through tonight!

Musical I hope all Iz's trouble sleeping is caused by the teething, which will be over pronto! Unless of course she can't sleep because you have that brass band playing in her room every night, have you thought about getting rid of the band? Hooray for Iz's raisins, zooming and terrorising of cats! She sounds so cute, and clever!

Pomme grr for useless DHs! I feel your pain! Tonight (while I was out at Taste of Christmas - yum) DH took 2 1/2 hours to feed little A one pouch of puree plus some broccoli, then give her a 5 min bath, and then put on her pjs. 2.5 hours. That's 150 minutes. The mind boggles...! I do the same thing every night, always in less than an hour.

By the way, thanks for recommending the Quest Pomme, it looks perfect! Will have to check one out in RL soon.

Right, now I have to be sensible and get some sleep, before little A starts her new favourite routine of hourly wailing to make certain Mummy isn't sleeping on the job

O.M.G. I didn't realise I'd made the short list! Thanks so much for voting for me, you're all lovely

DD2 is currently a dream baby, eating and sleeping well ang just generally adorable. Pooing like a machine too . We're going to sort the last of our online Christmas shopping today and meet up with friends. I'm shattered though, feel tired despite about 9 hours sleep all in. Is that normal? I don't remember from DD1.

I'm on my phone but will be back later to catch up with you all properly.

I appear to have a hangover. went out last night with some friends from ds's old nursery. shots, cocktails and wine equals headache.
I would like to post replies to everyone but I don't think I can

[sob sob sob]

I don't know whether I am more upset by the fact I have to pay £300-£400 for new brake discs and pads back and front on my car, or the fact that this means I've been driving an unsafe car with my two beautiful children and DH in it

Thank god DH's car is a company car as that is in for some sort of yet-to-be-determined clutch / gearbox issue! At least he gets a courtesy car otherwise we'd be car-less.

Wow smegs day 5 and you're feeling sociable? I spent day 5 in floods of tears with both of mine. It's so good to hear everything's going so well and you're getting sleep. Don't overdo it though, of course you're still tired, you're recovering from being pregnant and the sneeze birth.

Yay for a hangover Ninja . Are you all settled in at home now?

Biscuits don't beat yourself up with what ifs. You know about it now and you're getting it sorted. The cost part is nasty though, especially this time of year.

We're skint this Christmas. December is also the month for my car to be serviced and MOTd and DS's birthday as well as Christmas. Christmas Day is being paid for with Nectar points and DH and I shan't bother buying for each other. DS is desperate for new toys so he's not going without but we've cut back on adult relatives and DD isn't having too much. She's already got all of DS's baby toys which are as good as new so apart from a couple of bits I think she might like I've asked people to buy her clothes

DH and I are going out for a meal with friends tonight but I am driving as they live a few miles away so we take it in turns. Shame as I could really do with drowning my sorrows. The house is being turned upside down today in one last ditch attempt to find my rings and then I shall have to admit defeat

Aargh just read back my last post and feel bad about the "skint" thing. I should have said we're finding it harder this year, not skint. I know there's kids who get nothing etc and people who really are skint

for what its worth scarlet we're skint too. October has about a million birthdays, we moved i n november and now its christmas. No chance to catch up especially as its maternity pay. I am about to ebay some stuff that hasn't been used for ages so hopefully if I can make sure I ebay a few things per month it will help. Got some handbags going on this week, one of the perks of when I used to have a career!

hi all.

I'm so rubbish at brooking updates since I've been back at work, i was wondering if i should just give up at it and leave you in peace. :(

I've only read the last few posts as that's what's displaying on my phone. I've tried to not go on mumsnet at work, i am shit enough at concentrating as it is! will try to get on pc for catch up. maybe if i get up in the middle of the night I'll have time...

sorry for lack of congratulations smegs, i have fallen asleep sitting up every night for the last week I'm so tired. i keep waking up and having to hunt for my phone in the bed. glad to hear you're getting on well with DD2 :)

I've just done day 6 of a 7 day stint and it's been a long week already!

DS2 has top teeth nearly through and hasn't slept more than a couple of hours in a row at night since he started with the cough and cold. he's stopped coughing himself awake now, but is a bit unsettled and driving his dad nuts while I'm at work.

brooking for everyone and everything

[handcuffs Jaggy to the sofa]

You will do no such thing as leaving us!

[sits on jaggy to further emphasise the point]

[gets off when jaggy struggles to breath - sorry ]

Sorry, would type more but I'm starving and my tea is ready!

ok, ok I'm staying. :)

i can't get up from the sofa in rl actually with twitchy DS2 asleep on my knee. should really put him to bed, but DS1 in a noisy mood so will just enjoy baby cuddles till big bro is asleep.

DS1 has his first visit to nursery next week, his key worker came to visit a few days ago. he then gets a first hour on his own in January. I'm stupidly nervous about my wee pfb off out without me or DH in tow. I think we're so used to all his wee ways and how he talks i just wonder how he'll get on at nursery, even though that's their job! also worried how he'll get on going to the toilet, he's been great at sometimes going all by himself, but gets distracted and has a lot of small accidents when tired. virtual stop being pf
b smack with wet fish please.

Scarlet, hope you were successful in your hunt

Scream, the brass band?! Why didn't I think of that! I thought her thunderous tones would help her sleep... Hope A is less trouble tonight..!

Dream glad you're feeling a bit better! Blocked duct here too today, argh. Think it's clearing so holding off the anti bs for now..

Smegs, glad you're doing so wonderfully, and so soon too! You're bound to be tired - be easy on yourself

Three very bad nights in a row here, resulting in Iz being chucked in bed with us. She also had a very grumpy turn earlier at a friends' house, so hoping that that might be teething related and that they'll be through soon...

She's just picked up a habit of crying whenever something's taken away from her, such as the phone, or food (normally breadsticks, often after having being licked by a cat after she dangled them off of the high chair). She tends to get very upset and angry - hoping they're not the start of temper tantrums?!

Also not much money here for Christmas. Will be seriously budgeting here as of Jan. We started a few months ago, but have relaxed it for Christmas (DH is so miserable about budgeting). He doesn't want me to go back to work, but whines every time I tell him he can't take any more money out or whatever. Argh! He thinks he should be able to go out and buy anything, while I end up hunting in charity shops. Currently feeding Iz before bed, but think I'll impose a limit on his money to spend on the sales (and mine too), and maybe that'll make him realise he can't just go mad. We're off to a concert tomorrow that he claims will be boring, so he'll wander around the market at some point... but is making a fuss about not having any money to spend. Argh!

Rant over, sorry. He's lovely really... just gets fed up with me limiting him. Maybe I should let him spend what he wants then take it out of the food budget, and see how he reacts when we're down to basic rations

Scarlet I hope you found your rings? A night out with friends sounds like just what the doctor ordered, shame about being the designated driver though! I'm sure it'll still take your mind off things.

Jaggy your poor little DS2 (and poor you and your DH as well!) No Brooking for an swift end to both the teething and the cold! I hope DS1's nursery transition goes well!

Musical hugs to you for your particularly difficult nights! Hopefully, given how much poor little Iz has suffered with teething already, perhaps this means she'll get a whole load of teeth all at once (very soon!) I'm keeping my fingers crossed that both you and Iz will get some relief soon! Perhaps then she'll also regain her good humour? I'm absolutely terrified at the prospect of the inevitable toddler tantrums. I have no idea how I'll deal with them!

Biscuits I hope you're feeling better about the car situation. Don't feel guilty! You spotted the problem before anything dangerous happened, and you're dealing with it despite the Christmas crunch on your wallet That makes you a fantastically safe Mum!

to everyone feeling skint over the hols. I should probably be in your camp, considering I imagine the paid period of my mat leave has probably run out. However so far I've been following the ostrich budget (burying my head) and therefore I haven't a clue as to how broke I probably already am!

Hooray for miniSmeg being extremely good while her Mum recovers! What a little angel.

Little A is already tossing and turning in her cot, so I think we're in for a fun night, sigh.

I have been such an absent poster - apologies! I haven't name checked everyone for yonks! And I don't even have the very reasonable excuse of having been at work like Jaggy

Soooo, just a quick one to say I am reading and rest assured I am brooking that teeth pop through in all relevant quarters ASAP!

Hope everyone had a complete night's sleep half decent night.

scarlet hope your night out was lovely.

We're having to budget too, but I suppose we've been used to having to budget a bit more since I stopped working (which is nearly 2 years now ). So we're not on any less money because I don't get any Maternity pay iyswim. But I only gave up because we couldn't make both our jobs work with where we wanted to liv. Very complicated but we're lucky to be able to make that choice. I hate being budgeted though - I do miss the freedom of being able to spend (within reason) and afford pretty much what we wanted.

Of course no bloody budget could cope with having to buy a new washing machine, a new toaster, a new microwave, 4x new brake discs and pads etc all of which has happened to us in the last 2 months . And the tumble dryer is looking a bit iffy. I hardly dare look at the dishwasher or the boiler just in case.....

At least with the car thing (since we're reliant on DH's courtesy car) they gave him an Astra this time rather than a fiat 500. We literally couldn't have fitted 4 of us in one of those I shouldn't have thought. Is it illegal to put children in a roof box?

Right, ds2 waking up, better make him some milk. I've still failed on my name checking but will endeavour to keep up better now.....

scarlet good luck. My sil lost a ring and found it 4 months later when she was tidying the toy box but she had had everything out of it before but this Tim she tipped it out and out popped her ring. Fingers crossed and brooking tat they turn up.

Christmas tree up here and much excitement from both ds' we've put it on a blanket box so it looks much bigger than the smallest one in the shop it is out if the way of little fingers pulling it over

Oooh yes we put our tree up yesterday too. Ds2 a bit curious and wondering what it is there for if it isn't for chewing or pulling up to standing . Ds1 v v excited We've stood it in the corner protected by the sofa and a side table and then we've stood the toy box in front of it. I suppose we're lucky that he can't rely sand up or cruise yet otherwise we'd have just made steps up to it for him

really stand up I meant of course

Were in an odd position moneywise as we've been paid upfront for next year! I want a blow out, dh points out it has to last us 12 months...

However we have major major issues with a flat roof we had done this summer. Since we had the new one we've had major leaks on and off in the room it's above. really needs sorting out before we go. Fear I will be having a massive argument with a builder on Monday am...

Seriously, renting, such a better option than owning a house!

Hello all, sorry I too have been distant this week!

Jaggy, don't you dare go anywhere!

M woke up 8, count 'em, 8 times last night starting at 11pm and going on to 6am. Then she suddenly zonked for 3 hours and didn't wake up until 9. Gaaah. All I want for Christmas is a good night's sleep.

Scarlet, hope your rings turned up!

We are also stoney broke, and yy, Musical, to DH hating it and wanting to keep spending. Luckily mat leave is now over and I get paid normally on the Friday before Christmas. Thank God for that - we just have to not spend it all before the next paycheque at the very end of January. We've borrowed money from both our parents and maxed out DH's credit card. My New Year's Resolution this year is not to have to borrow anything else for 12 months straight, plus pay off the credit card, plus hopefully maybe save a bit.

M is cruising up and down DH's legs - he's got them stretched out between the sofas and she's going up and down them and squeaking with glee. She also pulled herself up to standing for the first time yesterday using my hair and dressing-gown as handholds - it was v cute!

Eek at the Christmas tree and standing babies talk. We're getting ours on Fri, but hadn't thought about the fact Iz is pulling herself up on everything, and how best to protect it... that's my project for the week then!

Glad to hear about others' budgeting, IYKWIM, to know it's not just us! Just found out that our dining table is about to fall apart (top was completely loose, the bits it screwed into have crumbled to bits) so may have to get another before Christmas. DH currently attacking it with No More Nails to see if he can do a bodge job, but it's not looking hopeful :-(

TBH I don't mind budgeting too much - I'm quite happy to window shop or raid charity shops- but DH will pop to town and pick up things we don't need. Like today, when he picked up water filters for our Britta jug that we just use as a jug as we couldn't be bothered with the filters... hmm. Anyway, if he really doesn't want me to go back to work, he's going to have to be more disciplined..! Jan is the trial!

While we're talking money... why are stamps now so bluming expensive?! We vowed to email most of ours this yr, but we still have to buy lots of stamps to send them to elderly relatives/family who would be offended if we didn't send it through the post

I have a piling of ironing that I reaaaally don't want to have to tackle tonight.. :-(

On a completely different note, people are so generous when it comes to babies aren't they?! So far Iz has 5 presents to our 1. :-) (it does help that she's the first baby in my family/group of friends for ages!).

I know musical, my stamps cost more than the cards themselves . We've said we shan't bother next year, but it's a tough one because my family live a long way away and I like to send a couple of photos of the kids in their Christmas cards as they're not on FB.
We're a bit the opposite. DH likes to budget and I like to spend . I'm learning to reign it in then. I don't buy stuff for us, I just like getting things for the DC and other people.

No rings here. I flit from feeling sick and devastated at the thought of someone picking it up and keeping it or selling it, to thinking that there's no way it would have fell off while out. It's surely somewhere in the house. But we've looked everywhere!

We had a good time out last night and we've had a lovely day today. We took DS to see Santa at a garden centre, he loved it. His little happy excited face really cheered me up. DS's not Santa's.

Sooooo, quick question for those that have stopped bf.....

We did two weeks of only 1 feed a day (at bedtime).

I stopped that, last feed on Friday night. So I haven't fed sat or sun night and of course my boobs are feeling a bit full. Normally it takes them say 2-3 days to adjust to a change in requirements (ie increase during growth spurt or dropping a feed). Should I do anything different for actually totally stopping? As I say they're feeling pretty full at the moment but will that just pass?

Thanks

I think it just goes away... Can't really remember although you could always get some cabbage if its too uncomfortable

I dropped all feeds (3 ish) at once! I had about a week of uncomfortableness (not constant though) and then fine.

Biscuits for the last 3 weeks of BFing I just did one night time feed and that was it. I was shocked when 3 weeks after stopping completely I still had milk. It's been 4 weeks now and just about stopped. I left it alone. It was a little uncomfortable at times but it passed.