JAN 06 - so what's THAT you're eating mummy?

[loomer]

Here we go then... I've also updated my album of photos on the \link{http://health.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/mumsnetpix/photos\Yahoo site}, it'd be great to see recent pics of all our angels on there!

hiya all!

v quik as gus on boob and 1 hand typing killing my shoulders. he v uncharacteristically grumpy too, wee sod

glad to hear u feelin better lisa. if u wntmy (unused) persona machine cat me and i'll send it to u. got pg b4 i got round to starting it last time and have coil now - taking no chances! would have to be immaculate conception anyway at mo!

baby gus doing v well. just about sitting up, wee monkey - desperate to be up and playing w his brothers. and theyre v cute w him. cant believe hes 5 months 2moro - where does time go?? be off to uni b4 u know it

who said theyre in bournemouth? we should meet up sometime. got my UV tent so im ready!

must go, back killing me xx

it's me again, didn't mean to leave it so long before posting again, thanks to everyone who welcomed me. Lizzie is still asleep so i'm actually catching up on reading this epic thread. she generally sleeps 8-8 still, but now with a 5.30am bf. she doesn't sleep much in the day though, maybe 2 quick naps (not enough time to really get much done).
after posting about worrying about her not rolling- she lifted her legs and rolled to her side the next day and this is now her main passtime.

ESHAY - i wasn't loosing hair when i read your post, but boy i am now - this week everytime i wash my hair i'm left with hands like a werewolf!! v alarming. no periods yet here, not much in way of 'relations' either although i am on mini pill
can't remember who said they had a mirena coil, but search it for messages on here - loads of people have had v severe side effects...
BARRELRIDER - lizzie loves me to get in the bath with her too - have you tried swimming? if Dom likes baths he'll love swimming with you i bet
GEORGIE - hope you had a good birthday and party
RACH - i'm due back to work sept and trying not to think too much about it, it feels like a count down to doom . when are you going / how are you feeling about it?
LISA - hope you are feeling ok
IRIS - feel a bit like i'm intruding, but just wanted to acknowledge your loss and give my sympathy

well, still no sign of movement from either child - will have to go make some noise!!
xxx amber

Hi Girls,
Am feeling better than I have since Lola was born. Have been able to eat normally for the first time and it's a joy! Got to be careful I don't regain all the 4st+ I've lost though before the surgery!!
NG - Have sent you a CAT thingy re buying your Persona. That'd be fab - they're great inventions - wouldn't have Lola without it, just wish I had hung onto mine. The doc reckons a coil wouldn't be suitable for me as they can cause weight gain (not sure how but I'm sure they know what they're talking about).
Lola and I went swimming with Eshay and baby Alex on Tuesday. We had such a lovely time. Alex is a wee doll. He was trying so hard to be sociable with Lola, smiling and reaching out to her, but she was being an anti-social little madam and was more interested in looking around her. Big thank you to Eshay for driving us and having more of a clue than me how to fit my car seat!

Last night I went to the first meeting of the Wives Club for the battalion Andy's now attached to (they just got posted here a couple of months ago). Met loads of really nice people, and have been invited to lots of social things. I'm really chuffed, coz I've been here almost 18 months and know almost no-one in the area - the regiment before them weren't very sociable. I also phoned up today about a Bumps & Babes drop in on Friday mornings that a mumsnetter gave me the number for and will be popping along tomorrow for the first time. It's good to have a reason to get me n Lola out of the house. She's napping in her bouncy chair now so am going to take the opportunity to go hang out a washing. Catch yas later xxx

hi gals just a quick catch up, one of my darlings is up (the biggest one) am sure the other one will follow soon.

Went on our toddler group day out to the seaside yesterday, as usual it was a lovely Scottish summers day (hurricane winds and driving rain) brought back fond memories of my childhood. Managed a brief walk with the two of them under the rain cover of the pram then it was into the soft play area. Trying to feed Talia whilst Abbie is running amok. Both of them behaved very well though.

Talia is still feeding twice in the night, am hoping the introduction of solids in a few weeks might change things.

I have an Ann Summers party to go to on Saturday night, have been pumping away so DP has a lot of milk ready for T, think he thinks his luck will be in if I buy some things as if!!! Asked him what would inject some life into our erm sex life and he said do Ann Summers sell babysitters?

Lisa - great to hear you are doing a bit better, long may it continue

Iris - sending you some hugs

Rach - I don't know what to do about going back to work, would like to at some point but it would involve DDs going to nursery. Also haven't a clue what I am going to do career wise.

Nappies - good to hear from you, Gus sounds like an angel too.

Amber - nice to hear from you again too

Well best be off time to play dollies with Abbie

Ladies. How the devil are you?

Been a hectic couple of weeks for us. Wimbledon starts on Monday so the entire village and town is swamped with tennis nuts. You can't park anywhere and all the shops have gone tennis mad. Anyhoo, can't grumble as it makes celeb spotting easy peasy lemon sqeezy.

The 80's house party was a hoot. Managed to find the same lipstick that I wore in 1984 (Sweet Sizzle by Boots 17) and some lush blue eyeshadow and eye liner. Scrunched hair and a big red Maddonna-esq bow in hair really set off the white mini skirt, black footless tights, white stillys and white lacy top (with black bra). God I looked a treat!The 2 bartenders were both born in 1987... . Bless them they were total poppets and kept us well lubricated all night. And the DJ was class. Just kept on playing classic track after classic track until the weee small hours. Stumbled to bed at 3am and have been trying to get over the hangover ever since .

Have been house hunting frantically as ours is on the market now. Am getting a little peeved at people poking their noses in all my cupboards but all part and parcel of trying to sell the house.

We're off on hols next Thurs. Two weeks in the Algarve. Can't flippin wait. Mollie off to kids club and Libs into creche for at 23 hours a day . Actually we are going to put them in for a couple of hours a day as we desperately need to catch up on some sleep and adult time.

You'll have to excuse power post (thanks for that Iris).

SK - Woo hoo. Ann Summer party. bet its all chips, dips, chains and whips..... if you're lucky

Lise - so glad you're doing better. Lets hope you get a couple of weeks of pain free eating.

Amber - hello again. Don't be a stranger. Jump on in with the rest of us.

Eshay - wasn't losing my hair until you mentioned it and now keep finding strands of it everywhere.... including Lib's nappy (ugh)

Iris - hope you're OK lovely.

Rach - not going back to work yet. PR young girls game and have had enough for whoring myself out to ungrateful clients. Will re-train at some point. Don't envy you my love. Hope F OK with nursery. Although if DD has been then at least you know its OK.

Lyra - long time no post. How's it going hon? Am worried about you.

Tickle - bet you're up to your eyes in it. Just wanted to say hi and hope everything OK. Are you in mad tourist season now?

Nappies - I went to Uni in Bournemouth. Well, actually I started in 89 so it was Dorest College for the Mentally Retarded (that's what we called it any way). By time I left in 93 it was Bournemouth Uni. Have v fond memories of the place.

Sorry if missed anyone. Need to tear DH away from wine bottle and get some grub down him.

Loads of love to everyone. Catch up with you when we're back from hols.

G xx

Hi everyone
First, can I say a big thank you to NG for her incredibly generous gift, and to Eshay for getting Lola and I out of the house for the first time in ages this week. This group has been a real godsend in so many ways, and not least of those is the lovely people I'm getting to know.

Lola and I ventured out to our first baby group today. It's called Bumps & Babes (altho there were no bumps in evidence) and is a free drop-in session every Friday morning at Park Children's Centre in Aldershot, which thanks to a fellow mumsnetter pointing me in its direction I have found to be a mine of wonderful baby activities. On Monday we'll be going to Baby Music there. Then in September they're running free Baby Massage, Baby PEEP , and a Pram to Primary School Parenting Course with Free Creche provided. All of this (with the exception of baby music which has a nominal charge) is provided free of charge.
The playleader at Bumps & Babes was very friendly as were the other mums. Next week they're doing "messy play" with Jelly for the babas to crawl around in! Unfortunately I'll be giving next week a miss as the session co-incides with the battalion wives weekly coffee morning, so I figure I'll alternate weeks at each. I also found out they've started doing swimming classes from 6 months at Aldershot Pool so by the time we get back from visiting the rels in Glasgow we'll be of age to start those too. At this rate we'll go from rarely leaving the house except to shop, to having something to do almost every day of the week!

DH and I have decided that when we go to Glasgow in a little over a week we'll ask my mum to keep Lola overnight and book into a hotel (nuthin fancy, just a cheapo travelinn room or sumthin). We figure that's the most likely way for relations to be resumed - with no baba to listen out for or be afraid of waking.

My mum was telling me on the phone tonight how much my Papa (her dad) is deteriorating with Alzheimers. He's been hospitalized for a few weeks now since he had a small stroke, but every time she goes to see him he just talks a load of nonsense. Today he was in a state because he said a childhood friend of his (who seems to be a recurring player in his delusions) took him to someone's house, and they had a photo on the wall of him and "Lula" (which is what he calls Lola!). He was ranting about wtf they're playing at having Lula's photo on their wall. Mum had a really hard time trying to calm him down and explain to him he was getting confused coz I'd sent him a fathers day card with the photo inside it. I'm so glad he was at least lucid long enough to see her and understand who she was a couple of weeks after her birth.

Georgie - 2 weeks away, how wonderful! Have a fabulous time! My mum's offered to take Lola and I away sometime this summer, which will be lovely, but poor hubby will be left at home working!

Sweetkitty - which seaside did you go to? I have fond memories of summer trips with Sunday School to Ayr, Arbroath and Largs.

Iris - How are you bearing up chicka? We're all thinking of you.

First tennis celeb spot of Wimbeldon.....

In Elys (department store in Wimbeldon) and Steffi Graff walks past with her two children (one in a clapped out Maclaren buggy) and starts trying on shoes.

Kudos to her for a) not having silly posh celeb stroller and b) for getting down and dirty with the masses

Big up The Graf

hey peeps
1 handed power post again as gus on boob again - been meaning to start writing down when he doesstuff, like sleep and eat, so i can start to shape a routine out of it...am unable to retain such information in my head apparently, so notebook only way to know. he'll be at school b4 i get round to it at this rate tho.
think routine and (flexible) schedule of some sort would be a welcome/useful addition to my life. starting 2moro in fact (childcare starts 2moro. mothers help type person. not sure how i feel about it, how its gonna work, if im gonna trust her w kids, if im gonna actually make use of her and do some work, if im actually using the kids as an excuse not to do anything else... what is wrong with me? im sure this is chemical.

anyhoo!

what on earth was i saying??

sk - hi!
georgie - party sounds fab. enjoy your hols
lisa - glad ur feeling so much better and more sociable too. hope the hotel on hol makes u both v happy! (btw - persona in the post 2moro.)

must be off. better start the gus/notebook thing
xx

Hello again, I keep forgetting/running out of time, so my posts always seem to be mammoth. Oops. Well, this time I shall power post!

All here is well, I continue to suffer with migraine type headaches, which are proving to be a nuisance. Doctor reckons I might be 'stressed'. Don't particularly feel stressed but apparantly all the stuff with my dad, the birth, so on may be causing me to feel ill as I've not particularly dealt with it. I think she's talking a lot of old arse, might get an appointment with a masseuse tho' think that'd be helpful/fantastic.

Very at those of you off on holiday, we're going to my mum's for a few days at the end of this week, not exactly a lovely location, but will be a break.

Glad Lisa is feeling a bit better, long may it continue! Also, Anne-summers part-ay ay? sounds like fun! My hair loss seems to have slowed, ik at finding hair in a nappy! I've found random long blonde hairs on Bee's body before, (we're both dark with short hair), kinda creepy!!

The 80's party sounds wonderful, sadly I was a little too young to have enjoyed the 80's in all its glory. Realised that I don't really know how old everyone else is? DP asked me the other day if I was the youngest one on here, I wasn't sure!! I was 22 this year!

How lovely to have so many different things to do! we've got our last class of baby-massage today will hopefully keep in touch with the other mums! Oh, and the little girl I was supposed to be looking after, might not need my help for a while longer as her mum doesn't want to go back to work! Booo.. again, was really looking forward to that!

Right, well that wasn't exactly a power post. I do read and smile/laugh at everyone else's posts, I will try and get on more to address people individually! In the meantime, have a good Monday m'dears
xxx

Hi all just a quick one

I'm in Bournemouth - if anyone fancies a meet up I'm always up for a trip to the beach

I'm back at work!! started on 2 days a week and going up to 3 in July. D is at on site nursery - subsidised because I work there - 26 per day, average here around 35 I think. he loves it - I was nervous on first day but he was his usual chilled out self so no probs there. He's eating all his meals too (purees). As the youngest baby (and the biggest) he gets a lot of attention, which he seems to love!

Work also making me feel tons more 'normal' again. Great having something other than baby's weight/state of my marriage to analyse! has definitely improved state of affairs at home! Also cherish the time I spend with both my boys more now!

Hope you're all well and enjoying the lovely summer we're having xxx

hi there

just a quickie as i should be in bed.

things are definitely improving on the mood front, more good days than bad i think, but it's been a long haul.

georgie

thanks for your concern, don't worry, i'm still here! don't get chance to get on the comp that much however.

alex is doing great, eating purees and some finger food, well gumming and dropping the finger food actually. he's allergic to aptamil however, so not sure how to proceed there... maybe keep him on boob, or find a better formula. just wanted to supplement really for busy times like tea time etc.

off to bed now, will try to catch up soon.

lotsalove xxxxx

ps georgie, at the whole wimbleedon tennis scene, get you, down at the mall with steffi.

Hi all, sorry this is going to be a ramble, still haven?t got the hang of power posting! Must retrain brain before I start back at work.

Lyra ? Lovely to hear from you, this is me, Rach btw ? have also texted you back. Poor Alex, is it just formula or all cows milk products? Have you tried a soya milk instead? Finn has his 6 month appointment with the paediatrician for the probiotic study and I?m going to let them skin prick test/RAST (blood test) him for potential allergies especially as I?m keen to crack on with weaning now. He has now fully gummed a chip , a yellow pepper , cucumber, lots of rice cakes and banana in our new fab baby feeder which is great for slippery fruit etc.

babyfeeder here

(I got mine from ebay for £5, a bit more colourful and the handle is a good teether too - someone imports them from Munchkins in the US)

He was crinkling a packet of rice cakes in sainsburys yesterday and this interfering old bag came up to me in the queue and said ?isn?t he a bit young for crisps?? it was so nice to look her straight in the eye and say even louder ? actually they are organic rice cakes you interfering old bag?? (ok, so I made the last bit up!)

Nappiesgalore ? your posts always make me laugh, you remind me of myself when I had 3 kids under 5. It does pass

Sweetkitty ? come on, you can tell us - what did you buy?!

Georgie ? your party sounds fab! I?m going to be a little more restrained, me, dp and Finney-Bob are off to rock Cheltenham for the weekend before my bday.

Lilstarry ? you are a babe at 22! I was 24 when I had ds1 and am now approaching 37 next Tuesday! Have you thought of keeping a migraine diary to try and pinpoint what?s causing them? I have been told its common to get them when you are actually relaxing if they are caused by stress, also that they can be triggered by drops in caffeine levels and also teeth grinding!

Lisa ? hope you are having a good break, hope your mum is coping well with her dad ? my dad is 80 this year and has had stroke-induced vascular dementia and been hospitalised for 7 years now (he has no recognition of us or control over his faculties), it?s so awful to lose the person they were.

Amber ? hi there! I had a mirena coil for a year before conceiving Finn and found it great after the initial heavy bleeding. In theory, any side-effects should be less than those you would get on a progesterone only (mini) pill as there is less of the same hormone in the mirena.

Barrelrider ? glad you have settled back into work, I will be paying £28+ I?m starting to get emails informing me of future training dates which is both frightening and exciting so I know what you mean! We must have won a big contract with Liverpool council because they are all up there!

Iris ? thinking of you, hope you?re ok

My poor sister has to have a lumpectomy soon (they are almost certain its not malignant thank god) but it?s a nasty blow on top of her marriage breakdown

Hope everyone else is ok and write soon!

Hiya girls
Just a VERY quick post as I'm just off round to a fellow mumsnetter's for a cuppa (first meeting). She has a 4 mth old little girl.

Just wanted to say thanks again to NG for the Persona machine. I wondered why the new young postie (wheres my usual old geezer when I need him!)gave me a funny grin this morning when he handed it to me. Wasn't til I (with hair like I'd just been dragged thru a hedge, baby on one arm and wearing my old dressing gown) saw that it was addressed to "Lisa the babe Pearson" that I realised why!!

More later, must dash as am running late.
xxx

hi girlies just catching up on you all. I'm suffering from severe tiredness right now, Abbie has decided not to go to sleep until 10pm then Talia has also decided not to go down until 11pm! Today I am trying something new to try and get them to bed at a decent time.

re: Ann Summers party, it was a hoot and I didn't get home until gone 2am (paid for that the next day) boobs were bursting too. Let's just say I bought a rabbit but it won't be needing a hutch DP wasn't best pleased I hadn't bought anything for him although I did say the peephole bras would make great BFing tops!

Gave T some banana mixed with breastmilk for the past few days, more for her to get used to the spoon and new textures than anything else, she wasn't that impressed though.

Oops will need to go Abbis is devouring a blue crayon!

Hello ladies,

So the hairloss problem has moved on! I seem to have reached the end of it. However, every time I think that, it starts back up again. My poor toddler kept being covered in hair every time he decided to sit/crawl/lie on the bathroom floor straight after his bath. What sort of first memories would those be? Of always being covered in hair?

As Lisa said, she and I went swimming with the babies last week and we all enjoyed it. I did feel as if a few eyes were staring at me and Alex a bit too long. DH tells me I'm imagining things. I have the feeling people stare at Alex because of his post chickenpox spots on his face and body. They are just red marks that will fade, but I often feel the need to explain to people what they are. How silly is that? I guess I am very sensitive when it comes to people admiring my baby and think too much of it if someone doesn't mention how gorgeous he is. And that's just red marks. Imagine what I would be like if he had anything else!

What else is new? We are doing a few cubes of sweet potato each day and Alex loves it. Haven't done much else yet, am taking it quite slowly. Oh, and we have two teeth! One appeared last week and the other one yesterday! They're not that easy to see yet but they sure are noticeable when he has a go on your finger!

Barrelrider, well done for being back at work. I was due to go back next week but I have postponed it until January. I do miss going to work and having other things on my mind besides babies but it just worked out better this way for many reasons. I do now face putting alex in nursery when he's nearly 1, which can be quite difficult because they are so much more aware of Mum dumping them with a stranger at that age.

I have a question: How many of you use the handicapped toilet when out and about with baby in the pram? I do, as there is no way to fit the pram into a small cubicle and there is no way I would leave my baby, shopping and all other stuff packed onto the pram up for grabs outside the loos. The only loos big enough are the handicapped ones. I ask because yesterday an old lady had a go at me for using the handicapped facilities. She had to wait all of 10 seconds as I was nearly done anyway. I apologised and explained about the space issue and then she said I should not have bought such a big pram. WTF? As if you can squeeze into a normal cubicle with more than a small backpack... I told her i was sorry but there was nothing I could do. I felt well within my rights to have used it - I had even checked out the baby change before to see if they had toilets in there. So, what do you say? Leave the baby outside the normal loos or apply for a handicapped sticker on my buggy?

Have a nice day!

I have just added some pics to the Yahoo site in my second album, including one of poor Alex when he had chickenpox. Great to see some other new pics too. i hadn't had a look in a while. Thanks for keeping it up to date.

hey lyra my baby also didn't like aptamil (made her vom) and is fine on cow and gate organic. hth

I was re-aquainted with the blue crayon this morning!

Eshay - I don't care I use the handicapped toilet with the 2 of them. If anyone said anything I would say "oh you want me to leave my babies out there to be stolen - would you leave your handbag well I'm not leaving something far more precious!"

Eshay - I would (and do) do exactly the same - in fact in Sainsburys the other day I took my whole (packed) trolley with Finn sitting in it, into the loo! Once, I used the end cubicle in a row and left the door open so I could see the pram

By the way, I have been stockpiling winter clothes I have discovered the best time to buy them on ebay is clearly in the height of summer when everyone else is looking for shorts! Have some mega bargains including 6 (different sizes) really nice NEXT coats for 99p each.

Have a good weekend all, I'm off to the Cotswolds!

I've done that too, using the last one and leaving the door open. same when trying on clothes in shops, although a very friendly lady at BHs the other day ushered me to the handicapped changing room.

I just bought some winter clothes yesterday too, for my 2 yr old. We have some great charity shops near here so I get most children's things there. As good as new Adams trousers for £1.

Enjoy today's sunshine and football. xx

Just a quick hello - hope everyone's coping OK with the heatwave, and not melting, or floating away in a flash flood.

I haven't posted for a while as we've been having a bit of a time of it with Scarlett - trying to get the night wakings under control. After introducing a dreamfeed to complement her daytime baby whisperer routine, I stopped it after a week as it really didn't suit her (seemed to throw her out for the rest of the night). But that didn't solve the problem either, and she regressed to waking up every couple of hours during the night.

Anyhow, through perseverance and probably just the passage of time she has now finally settled back into her old routine of waking once for a feed, with a couple of little grizzles either side, which only take five minutes to settle down. Thank goodness. It's strange how with a newborn you can cope with seemingly endless disturbed nights, but once they've started sleeping for longer stretches it only takes a couple of bad nights to totally wipe you out!

Other news is we are now on day four of weaning. I held out for week 24, but she'd been showing an interest in my food for probably a couple of weeks before. Thankfully she seems very keen on her purees, and has scoffed sweet potato, pear, apple and banana so far. I'm also keen on the BLW idea of her feeding herself with sticks of food - does anyone know if you can combine this with the traditional purees, or does it have to be one or the other exclusively??

Rach - interesting about the migraines, I'd no idea that they could occur when you're relaxed - AFTER you have been stressed I guess... that makes perfect sense for mine certainly.

Lilstarry - wow you are a youngster, I turned 34 just after having Scarlett. Mind you you sound very mature for your age. I certainly couldn't have coped with starting a family when I was 22, although I really wish I had started younger because I hate the idea of being an old crone when Scarlett is enjoying the full flush of her life!
Did you get your massage booked? I have been meaning to get one too, but I don't know of a good place locally.

Eshay - Thanks for the tip off with toilets... it hadn't even occurred to me to use a disabled loo, what a numpty! I can't believe somebody had a go at you for using it, especially when you took the trouble to explain your reasons, mind you I have found that often moany old folks don't actually want to be reasoned with - they just want to vent their spleen!

Oh god, this was supposed to be a power post.

Signing off before the 'ink' runs out... enjoy the sunshine, or rather the shade!

Wow.. Isn't it HOT Hope all of you are fairing well, how are the littlies coping? Bee doesn't seem to bothered by it, although she's had the grumps today, she was also very tired and off her food, so I know she wasn't well! Poor thing! Aside from that all here is well, we've just returned from a trip to see my mum, short but wonderful! Really appreciate having some company, am I the only one who finds motherhood slightly lonely day to day?
Anywho, I mustn't dwell on such negative things! Especially when we've just been told we're going on holiday! Yipeeeee! 1 week in Gran-canaria with the In-laws in September! Came as a complete surprise, am nervous and excited! Can't you tell? I've completely over-punctuating everything, heehee! I also have another piece of exciting news - Bee's going to be on TV, someone I know works for a casting agency, who are involved in the new Stephen Fry drama "Kingdom", Bee has just been cast as an extra, it'll only be a small appearance, but I might get to meet Mr. Fry, SO exciting

Barrelrider - how is work going? How is Dominic finding the nursery? Glad to hear he's getting lots of attention, teheehee!

Lyra - How are you feeling now? Really happy to hear that things seem to be calming, I think a great deal is affected by our post-natal emotions, I'm only beginning to feel 'normal' again, and I know that'll all go out of the window when AF returns, I hope you continue to feel fab!

Rach/Wild thing - Glad you told that old woman where to stick it! I am so fed up with people passing judgement, same with the disable toilet situation - what on earth? I say use where is baby friendly! I once changed Bee's very dirty bum on a Mcdonalds table, I told them if they'd have had the appropriate baby changing facilities (which were supposedly on offer!) I wouldn't have had to do so, that shut them up! Thanks for the info on migraines, how are yours? I don't think this muggy weather helps much, although mine haven't been as bad. Still haven't booked a massage, really really must!

SK - blue crayon Oh dear! What won't they eat? How are you feeling at the moment? How are your two littlies handling this heat? You had be laughing with your Anne Summers experience, never really considered Peep-hole bras, but anything must be better than these blooming sensible breast feeding bras, yuk!

Eshay - teeth!!! How did Alex handle those? Bee is teething, she's mostly ok although gets grumpy every now and again. Lots of wonderfully humorous gurning faces! I bet you're pleased to not have to go back to work, I go back to Uni in January - it is nice to have that first year, such a luxury.. although I'd still love to find an evening job, but there just isn't anything particularly suitable! How are Alex's chicken pox scares healing? I don't think you're being silly, so many people judge mums and babies, it really is competitive - but I bet he's as gorgeous as ever!

Loomer - sorry to hear that you've had a bit of a hard time with it, although major kudos (how 80's) that you persevered! I completely agree, I've no idea how I once coped with 3 hour blocks of sleep (if that).. When Bee wakes once or twice in the night now I feel like sobbing . She's very good tho', so I can't really complain, although it'd be good if she'd stop waking for no real reason!! How is the weaning going? Isn't it funny to watch them chomp on new things, they pull the best faces! Thanks for viewing me as mature, not sure how true that is, but yes I've often thought I was a little bit more grown up than many of my friends. I think if things would have gone to plan I wouldn't have had Bee until I was at least 25, but cest-la-vie!

Well, I best sign off now, it's almost lunchtime! Hope all is well for everyone, lots of air kisses and other fancy things that mothers don't get so much any more!
xxx

Hi all! It's my birthday! Can't believe it was a year ago I posted that last on here - just as hot then too. I am 37, there, said it! Had a fab weekend with dp n Finn in the Hotel Kandinsky in Cheltenham (really recommend it for a funky/shopping/romantic/great food break). There was a huge party of women having a 40th celebration, dp kept calling them 'the old dears' - that will be me in 3 years [crying emoticon] Took babe swimming - he loved it, he also loved eating bits of ripe avocado off the end of my fork during dinner and some ice-cream in my defence, it was homemade by chef in posh restaurant. We had our 6 month check with consultant paediatrican for the allergy/probiotics study - Finn passed developmental check and skin prick tests with flying colours so at least I know he's safe with egg, milk, grass, cats and dust! I suppose it is really his 6 month birthday today as the 4th Jan was his due date!

Loomer - I'm going to combine finger food with a bit of spoon feeding, some things just don't lend themselves to self feeding and are meant to be sloppy - I don't see how they can eat yoghurt/porridge etc without getting really frustrated, I've never known a baby to refuse either off a spoon - also I need nursery/MIl to feed him happily.

Lilstarry - fab news about the holiday and the filmstar!

Ok, hope this is a quicker post - am off to prepare for beach visit later when dp is home, hope to find deserted cove to pitch our uv tent! Another nice meal later, no wonder I cannot lose weight as my whole friends/family social life revolves around eating!

Hey ladies

Hate this heat.

DSs don't seem too bothered by it, but I'm just marking time till bedtime!

DS2 is chubby and chuckly - he was 17lbs last week but he looks bigger somehow. Think it's his chubby cheeks. There's a pic of him in member profiles atm if anyone wants a look.

He's still not tasted food (are we the last ones? Or are there still milk-only babies on this thread?) and I'm in no hurry!

We're co-sleeping atm as DS1 won't get out of the cot (says "DS1 sleep cot" - think we'll get him a bed rail that makes the bed feel more cot-like as I want the cot for DS2 - he's started to crawl backwards today, having learnt to roll last week). I do like co-sleeping though so maybe we'll rethink things. Oh, who knows - I'm very much go with the flow and cannot be arsed to get stressed out about anything these days

Going to see about donating bmilk to the milk bank later this week. I've got the forms to fill in and I need to have blood tests done, but I think it's such a worthwhile thing to do - wish I'd got myself organised enough to do it with DS1, but I went back to work when he was a bit older than James is now and needed every drop of EBM for him!

Haven't had a chance to read the thread properly so sorry if I've missed anything major - hope everyone is well. Iris, I am so sorry to hear about your dad - I did pick that much up Hope things are getting less raw for you now xxx

Dammit - knew there was something I meant to say - happy birthday, Rach!