March 2005 part 6 - Toddling towards summer!

[leogaela]

And her it is!

Hi all,

Alexandra, Niklas was also waking up regularly in the night for a feed, but we were bottle feeding by that time. On advice from Busy we reduced the amount in the bottle every night - checking he wasn't really hungry. Finally we watered the milk down - he was still going back to sleep easily so then when he woke we would pick him up and cuddle him a bit before putting him down to go to sleep and eventually just left him to cry himself back to sleep. He usually sleeps 10 -11 hours a night now which is bliss :) eveb with the early mornings.

Bonym, persevere with the gym. It is so important that you have time for yourself and also for Grace to be in social situations without oyu. The more often you go the easier it will be for her as she won't forget it and will be familiar with it.

Niklas is completely fixated on dh at the moment , strange for me that he wants to jump out of my arms into dh's - I just think he is happy and well and finds dh is more fun than me :(, however, I have to be grateful as I have pulled my shoulder from carrying him and it isn't getting better so its giving me some relief not to be the main focus.

Well, I'm off to bed, but first apologies if anything I've said doesn't make sense, I've just had quite a bit more than normal wine to drink :o!

Leo - they get fickle in their affections but I'm sure you'll be no.1 again soon enough.

I'll be offline for the next few days. I'm going out with some friends tonight, then camping tomorrow and coming back Monday.

Have a nice weekend all.

Leo - totally agree with Cristina - they vary who they fancy being their big buddy! Particularly after Iris was born dd1 got really close to my dp and rather ratty with me. Currently I would say the reverse is true. And Iris, who has been REALLY clingy towards me until recently, has just this week shown signs of wandering off in search of dp rather than hanging out with me!

Had a lovely day with both girls - went to story-telling and music at a local museum, which they both got stuck into in their own little way. Then a session at the softplay with a friend with two kids the same age.

This evening though, overshadowed by bittersweet news from friends, who have a new baby boy, but his twin sister was stillborn.

Pidge so very sorry to hear your friends news. The same hapened to a friend I work with and now his litte boy is a gorgeous and adorable four year old. Every milestone is filled with happiness at the joy of having him but tinged with sadness as they remember it should have been two children. I hope your friends have lots of love and support during this time.

Hello everyone. Have had a nightmare few days as Harrison has two teeth just cutting through the gum and has morphed into the child from hell. He's turned from a very happy, easy-going little lad into one who cries inconsolably every time things aren't just right. He's also been very unsettled at night, I've had quite a few 2am calpol sessions and has taken to waking between 5 and 6am. Yesterday we went to a children's petting farm, which Hannah loved but Harrison cried everytime an animal so much as looked at him, so we came home in the end with Hannah most unimpressed that she didn't get to ride on the tractor. Today he seems a bit more cheerful, slept through the night and woke at 7am so hopefully we're over the worst.

On top of that, I've hurt my knee running and haven't been able to walk very easily. Trust it to happen at the same time as Harrison decides to be a monster

Has everyone had a good Bank Holiday weekend.

Busy - Lauren went through almost the same thing about 3 weeks back. Wingy as all hell, waking in the night, very clingy etc. Luckily it only lasted about 5 days. Back to her usual sunny self now.
Hope your knee heels quickly.
Christina - how did the Ergo work out on your camping trip?
Been very cold and rainy here. Been using Lauren's fab new waterproof suit to go out, as she starts going mad in the house after a while. The suit is great. She can do what she wants and no wet clothes.

Thanks Jambot for the encouraging words. He's usually so easy so it's been an absolute nightmare having to deal with him kicking off every few minutes. He's definately much better today and has just gone down for a nap.

It's Hannah who's being a pain today as we can't go out as I can't walk very well and none of her friends are around to play with. So far this morning we've done drawing, painting, had a skipping competition (I counted whilst she skipped), made cakes, decorated them and made an egg-carton caterpillar so if she tells me she's boooooooooooooooored one more time, I'll scream.

Leo, Harrison definately veers on the side of preferring DH and I'm absolutely delighted Hannah has always been a mummy's girl and DH will do only if I'm physically away from the house and even then, it's a big drama. Her threat at bedtime if she ever plays up is that DH will give her a bath and put her to bed - that usually shifts her pretty pronto

It's lovely that she's so attached to me and I probably encouraged it when I didn't know better, but I have to say I'm really glad it seems to be a bit more evenly spread this time

Lauren is very much a Mummy's girl at the moment. Will let DH do his bedtime night night routine with her, but won't go to him at all if I'm around. He did get his first kiss from her the other evening, which made his day, but he says he's not worried about it. She'll probably become Daddy's girl one of these days. Think I must go away for a few days and leave them to it. But as DH has never changed a nappy in his life, he's slightly nervous!! Keep threatening to go to the health spa for a few days, and he says fine. But knowing him he'll be on the phone to my mother within the hour!

Sorry to hear about your friend, Pidge. What a devastating thing to happen.

Leo, hope your shoulder is feeling better.

Busy - sounds like Harrison is over the worst now. It's horrible when they're in pain and you can't do much for them.

Grace seems to share her affections fairly evenly between dh and me. Sometimes she ony wants me, and other times, only dh. Sometimes if we are both around and she is being held by one of us, she will reach out for the other one, and as soon as she is in their arms, reach back! This can carry on a few times before she decides who she wants . Dh is very hands-on though - the only thing he doesn't do is put her to bed, but that is because I am still breastfeeding her before she goes to sleep.

Is anyone else still breastfeeding? I had originally thought I would probably stop at about 12mths, but am still feeding early morning and just before bed (night-time), and can see myself continuing for as long as Grace wants to. Have it in my mind though that I probably wouldn't want to go past 2, but who knows how I'll feel if we get there and she doesn't want to give up?

Phoebe flew off to Greece this morning - not sure if I have mentioned it previously, but she is going to be bridesmaid at her (birth) father's wedding, so will be away all week. Dh and I really hate it when she's not here and we wonder if Grace is missing her as she been a little unsettled a couple of times today. Who knows what they're thinking at this age?

Cristina is right! THey are fickle with their affection. One day I'm favourite and the next dh is and another day he will go from one to the other!
He is calling both me and dh mummy at the moment, although he does know that dh is daddy.

Jambot, your dh hasn't changed Lauren's nappy at all yet ? I guess though as he was renovating the house and not living with you in the beginning he didn't get involved so much. Dh is also very hands on, the only thing he doesn't really do is plan and prepare food. If I'm not around he will pretty much only get pasta, bananas and apples from dh.

Niklas seemed to be well for a few days, but then he got a cold again and his breathing got bad so we are giving him the ventalin and cortisone again ):. His getting ill seems to be linked to his teething, he has his corner teeth coming through already and we think it could be part of the problem. He has almost all his teeth now , so hopefully the last ones will either come quickly so we can put the teething in the past or not come for a long time so he can have an easier time.

Bonym - I guess you are missing Phoebe more than anyone , I hope she has a lovely time though.
Well done for still breastfeeding, its really nice that its still going well and you are enjoying it.

Busy, how is the knee? Such a pity when you had just started getting really fit.

I know Dh is pathetic about nappies, but he is extremely squeemish about things, especially a lot of foods. He saw me changing a poo nappy the other day and had to literally run gagging from the room! He would do it if he had no choice, but he's never been put in that situation. Sure it'll be different when we have number two and he has no choice but to do more than he does now.
He's very good around the house otherwise, so I let him off the hook.
Leo - Sorry that Niklas is still not 100%. Hopefully it's something he'll outgrow. Both my nieces were very chesty and even in hospital with infections until they were about three. Now they're fine.
A friend of mine with a DD a bit younger than Lauren and a two year old is moving to Geneva. She's very nervous about the change, but apparently Geneva is really nice. Do you know much about it and how does she go about getting the two year old into a nursery? Is it a formal process or do you just have a look around in the area?

BoneyM - hope Phoebe has a great time in Greece and that you don't pine for her too much . On the breastfeeding front - I still breastfeed Iris 2-3 times per day, and am happy carrying on that way for a while yet. I fed dd1 till she was 2 when she self-weaned. I'll just see how it pans out with Iris.

Busy - hope your knee is on the mend soon.

We've been in touch with our friends (who lost one of their twins) by email and card, and will give them some time before we actually give them a call.

Meanwhile, we were host last night to SIL and her kids, who were involved in a car crash on their way back to London. Fortunately all are ok, though car is a write-off and dp's brother spent the night in hospital being observed. Dp had to go and pick up the rest of the family, getting back from the hospital around 1am. So not a lot of sleep in our place last night. So relieved that they weren't hurt beyond cuts and bruises.

Leo - Iris also had a mummy / daddy confusion, but if you correct her she laughs, and generally now she gets it right. Dp claims she is saying her first sentence, because if someone leaves the room she says e.g. "Mama ...... gone". I've pointed out that where there's a 5-10 second pause between the two words that doesn't really count as a single utterance! Her "gone" word is funny - more like a gulping, swallowing sound than a word.

Hello everyone. Pleased to report I'm walking better today although trying to stand from sitting and walking up and down stairs are still proving difficult. Thanks for all the well-wishes

Leo, so sorry Niklas is poorly again. I can't believe he has so many teeth Harrison cut six before Xmas and since then, nothing until last week. He's now got one more just cut through at the bottom and another that will come through any day now. So 8 in total. Just as well really as I'm rubbish at remembering to brush them

BonyM, I bet it's really strange not to have Phoebe around. I just can't imagine our house without Hannah ................ hmmm, now I think about it though, quite a pleasant thought

Very impressed as always by all the words your babies say. Harrison still says virtually nothing, except 'Ta' whenever he wants something, 'Uh Oh' when he drops something and 'No' to everything else which he now accompanies with vigourous shaking of his head. No mama or dada. He's also started putting things to his ear (remote control, toothbrush, spoon etc) and saying 'Hiya' or something close to that. Very, very cute

Pidge, sorry to hear about the accident but as you say, thank goodness it was nothing more serious.

Jambot, you're quite right about second babies. DH did very little with Hannah but with Harrison, he's like a completely different dad. Still doesn't do baths and putting to bed unless I'm not there but nappies are no problem and hey, I know which I prefer him doing

Hope everyone else is well.

jambot - I think I was the reverse of your dh - I quite literally didn't change a single nappy for the first 5 weeks of dd1's life! Dp was on summer hols and just 'took charge'. No such luck with dd2 though . But he still does at least half, plus I NEVER do baths, and now I'm back at work he generally deals with the revolting bucket of soaking real nappies.

Jambot, lol at your dh being squeamish about baby poo!

I haven't spent much time in Geneva but I think its a good place to live, very good quality of life, nice weather, close to skiing, beautiful clean lake. There is another mumsnetter (forget her name who lives near Geneva). I think there should be quite a good choice of nurseries in Geneva for a 2 year old but the best ones probably have waiting lists so its worth your friend looking into it asap. They are not state funded and cost about 100-120 CHF a day.
If your friend is interested I can email you with some more info, websites, and can look up nurseries and other info in the english speaking parenting magazine.
Switzerland is a wonderful place to live.

Pidge, very sad to hear about your friends twin :). My thoughts go out to them.

Busy, Niklas chatters away, but his only words are mummy, mama and dada or variations of it. And I think Niklas's teeth have come through really, really early which in my mind just means they have to stay healthy for longer, my teeth aren't very good so I am really anxious he will get holes in them, however I did read that you get your teeth from your father and dh's are very good :)! Niklas likes to clean them himself but we are very insistent that he does it twice a day and every few days I almost hold him down to make sure they are done properly.

Tx Leo - any info you could let me have would be great for Tansy I'm sure. My e-mail is [email protected]. Gulp at the price you pay for nursery. Nursery here costs about R800 for the month. About 75 pounds. A cleaner for the day will cost you 10 pounds! Seems like slave labour I know, but that's a good rate. A lot get paid less than this.
Lauren has just cut her 11th tooth. She's in bed already. Wouldn't eat her dinner and winging like mad, so straight in the bath and bed by 6. Didn't even want our normal 'turn the lights off' routine thing we normally do. Just wanted her bed, blankie, thumb, in that order.
We have the most fabulous botanical gardens on our doorstep. Kirstenbosh gardens are massive and set at the foot of the Table Mountain range. Breathtaking views. Just bought an annual membership because I often meet friends there and the kids love it.

Have fond memories of DH helping me to try and get through my breastfeeding nightmare. Well, shouldn't say there are fond as my breastfeeding ordeal was quite traumatic. He would swaddle Lauren, I would haul out my boobs and he would then go '1, 2, 3 and pop Lauren onto my breast, and then she'd fall off and he would try again and then she'd fall off!!!! Eventually she'd latch. Just couldn't get her to latch on my own. It was awful. Only lasted 5 days but they weren't happy ones. And most of you were naturals. Weird how it works for some and not others.

Jambot, breastfeeding definately didn't come naturally to me with either of mine I lasted 10 days with Hannah and couldn't stand the pain anymore. I was more determined with Harrison and stuck with it for 6 weeks but he never really learnt how to latch on and still wasn't back to his birth weight by the time he was 5 weeks old. HV 'advised' me to top him up with formula and I was so worried about his weight that I did and there was no turning back from that point. Tried carrying on for another 2 weeks but he got to the point where he screamed his head off if I tried to latch him on. I was absolutely gutted when I gave up and it's the one thing I wish could have been different

I'd like to have another just to crack this breastfeeing thing and I think I'd make a much better job of it now as I've seen so much good advice here on MN. Don't think that would wash with DH though as a real reason to have a third

Oh how could I forget - Harrison took a few steps at the weekend Now I know it's old hat to most of you (particularly Niklas who seems to have been walking for ages) but I'm very excited by this major achievement. Having said that, it hasn't been repeated since Saturday and was only performed with huge amounts of encouragement from me and DH but hey, it's a start

Gosh, only the first day of half term and I am shattered! Been out most of the day cos decorator has started and it was really noisy today with him bashing holes in the ceiling and removing all of the artexed coving. Looking better already though with the 1970s fireplace removed and the orange carpet taken up. Ethan had a great time at trampoling, though it was hard to keep Freya amused without her causing loads of trouble. Ended up bribing her with biscuits in order to get her to sit happily in her buggy

Talking not great here either. Freya does hold the phone to her ear and says 'Yeah, yeah', but that is about it, other than mama and dada. Just reminds me of exactly how I must sound on the phone, I really must improve my diction!

Pidge - very sorry to hear about your friend. A difficult and very emotional time for them.

BW - Sorry to hear about your knee. Do you know what has caused it? Such a pain to be injured.

Not sure if anyone else around London area is considering it, but I am thinking of doing the Sport Relief mile with Ethan on the 15th July. Looks like it could be a good event, and his training is going well!

I keep thinking Freya must be teething, but we have been stuck on 8 teeth for ages. Another 12 to go before we can say goodbye to teething!

Jambot - Freya is a thumb sucker too. At bedtime it's straight in her grobag and then thumb in, no usually a complaint from her after that!

Hooray for Harrison's walking! He'll soon be doing it full time

I stopped b/f Freya at about 11 months. Kinda miss it sometimes, but things change and it's worked well for us.

Sorry to hear that Niklas is still poorly Leo - let's hope he does improve once he has all his teeth.

Grace's 8th tooth has just popped through, wondering though if there is another one on its way as she has had a couple of crying bouts today. Find it a real struggle to clean them - try twice a day, most days, but she tends to either clamp her mouth shut, or just chew the toothbrush.

No real words from her yet. A week or so ago she was saying "hiya" and "ta", but seems to have forgotten these now. Doesn't really say "mama" or "dada" either - well she will say them but usually there doesn't seem to be much meaning behind it! She understands loads though and if you ask her where something is, or to bring you something she will point or go off and get it.

She has started using a couple of signs now - the bed/tired one is particularly useful as she will tell us now when she wants to go to bed.

She has a bit of a book obsession and spends large parts of the day bringing me (or, in the evenings, dh) various books to read, one after another, settling herself comfortably on my lap each time .

Have added my Moonwalk photo to the March babies photobucket. Check out the lovely sequined bra!

Drat - have new laptop so don't have the site address of the photobucket. Could someone link please?