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!

Hi all, will try to keep it short! We have all had snotty colds and are totally caught up in end of term fun and frolics. Looking forward to the hols but I'm sure as soon as they start I'll want them back in school!

Thanks for the birthday wishes (did I tell you my consultant said my ankle tendonitis was 'very common in middle-aged women...!'? )

Hunker - well done you for donating milk, my mum used to do it 40 years ago, I wish Finn could have had some instead of formula when he was born

Eshay - Happy Birthday to Alex and I do exactly the same thing with a cloth! All of my babies like to sleep with something rubbing their faces (in F's case - face down!) I use the cloth I use to stem one boob while the other is feeding. Sorry to hear about the pox spots, ds1 had it at 10 months and was plastered, he was left with a really nasty one where it rubbed on the back of his nappy, I've spent years having to explain that it's not a cigarette burn! (and nor is his BCG!).

Iris - glad to hear you are all well.

Tickle - Poor Theo, hope they sort it out.

Lisa - Poor Andy!

Lilstarry - I love sleeping bags, had a few as presents and definitely prefer the velour type rather than padded, even if the same tog. TKMaxx has lovely ones for about £10 or you can get grobags from their site.

Love to everyone else - NG - will put my twopenneth on your potty training thread! Remember - no-one starts school in nappies!

Hi all, can I be really silly and tell you all about how much I have enjoyed doing 5 loads of washing today? We bought a new rotary washing line so i can finally hang everything. I love it when something as boring as washing can make me happy.

Lisa, we might go to the Army show as well so we might bump into you there. Look for the tall Kiwi bloke with not much hair ;) And me and the little boys of course. Alex can roll over as well. Up until last week his arm kept stopping him from making a complete turn but now he's got it figured out. no roling back here yet. i do catchhim sleeping onhis side now and again these days. So cute.

Lilstarry, great you had a better night. Definitely get a tog 1 bag. Both my boys have one and they wear nothing else so it's not too hot. if it is extra hot, we have their fans on all night (not blowing straight at them obviously). If you ever go on holiday to the continent, have a look in shops there for great sleeping bags. They have been popular for ages and can be much cheaper than in the UK. RE bedtimes: I don't think 7pm is early. Both Thomas and Alex go to bed at 7. It is a great time because you have a lot of evening to yourself. T is now 2 and it still works well for him. 7pm is also the time recommended by Gina Ford and she has babies wake up at 7am, which is what they both do, most of the time. Do what works well for your family, that's always the right way BTW - stage 1 teats? We are on (Avent) number 4! Alex is fully bottle fed so he's had a lot more practice at it than Bee. He wouldn't know what to do with a boob anymore, except maybe bite it.

WWTAA, how long did it take for most spots to fade? It's such a shame that the worst ones are in his face. Luckily they're nothing like cigarette burns

Have a lovely evening. xxx

Eshay - I get a real kick out of seeing washing (especially pristine nappies!) flapping on a washing line. Although I have to say I'm a purist and prefer a long line [sigh] in my fairy bio fantasy (we do have a rotary though due to lack of poles...). And I am the least domesticated person in the world! (reminder to self - must get out more!)

Re: chickenpox scars, I can't remember exactly with the kids but their skin heals so quickly I'm sure it wasn't long. I had it myself at the age of 22 and was very ill and absolutely covered including every orifice , I didn't have any lasting scars though, I think they are only a problem if you pick them or they get infected then you can end up with distinct pockmarks ds2 has one above his eyebrow.

Hi all - hope everyone's ok (not envying the potty training but at least it's summer - everything dries quickly) A brief post as just about to leave to go to stay with mum for 2 weeks (may dip his nibbs' toes in the sand/sea whilst we're there!)

WTWTA/Eshay - I'm lucky enough to have a long washing line and also love seeing it full of sparkly white nappies ( - am becoming washing obsessed - was on a thread about getting nets white the other day ) if DD was here she'd be muttering "OCD" in the background

Had Dom tested by my homeopath yesterday as food intolerances run in the family - athma, eczema, IBS etc.It confirmed some intolerances (dairy & strawberries - if I eat them he gets all itchy & rashy - tries to gauge(sp?) his eyes out, it's awful) but also some new ones! wheat, eggs, bananas & red meat!!!. So I'm on an exclusion diet for a month & have been advised to keep him off them until he's one by which time his bowels may be developed enough to cope & he may have grown out of them. Am pining for cream cakes already!! and - sods law with my saying what a lazy not-regularly-expressing mare I am - looks like I'll be expressing now for when he goes into childcare (was going to get him onto formula but don't think soya would be good for him now) hey ho - me and my big gob

WTWA - have you had Finn done yet?
APPARENTLY...... a friend of mine who works in RAF recruitment said that even if you have a suspected allergy on your med records (including inhaler/nebuliser as a baby -for however brief the period) it preculdes you from joining? don't know if that's the same for the other 2 services but how daft is that ???!!! There's clearly a lot to be said for doing things privately!!!

love you & leave you for now take care all XX

Good morning!

What a lovely morning - my first night completely on my own last night, as DH is away for the weekend at a stag do... and all went well, Scarlett only woke twice, which is normal. Phew - I was quite worried about having a bad one and losing the plot at 3am, with no-one there to take over or give a bit of perspective!

I'll get my own back next weekend when I go on the hen do - pampering afternoon followed by a mexican meal and drinking and dancing with feather boas apparently, can't wait.

Other news here is that Scarlett has cut her first tooth. You can hardly see it yet, but you can certainly feel it. I don't know what inspired me to run a finger around her gums as I don't usually bother with that, but sure enough there is a little sharp (!) ridge at the front.

Oh, and we tried giving her some formula in her Topmmy Tippee cup - having totally failed to convince her to drink EBM from a bottle. And she didn't bat an eye - FAB news for me as it means she isn't tied to my boobs (metaphorically) any more!!!

Lilstarry Scarlett's bedtime is around 7pm too. This is the time advocated by the Baby Whisperer. She reckons any later and they get overtired (although I guess it really depends when they've slept during the day)...
Also, Scarlett's been in a 0.5 tog bag for the past month or so, with only her nappy on. Then I just stick a blanket on top of her draw sheet if it turns a bit chilly (hasn't happened very often!). The grobag is the only way to keep her from wriggling out of the sheets!

Iris I think I might get Scarlett checked by a homeopath for intolerances - seems like a good idea to find out in advance, otherwise I could be giving her the wrong stuff for months before I work it out. Is that something that any homeopath can offer?

hat's all I've time for, but love to you all - hope everyone is having a good weekend.

Hi there. Got back from hols and have been trying to catch up with whats been going on. Am armpit deep in laundry (us 3 girls make a LOT of washing and poor DH has only got 1 pair of clean pants left!). Had a great time. Libby has cut her first tooth and can sit up on her own and stand up whilst holding onto side of sofa. Still won't roll over though, think her chubby tummy gets in the way . She loves her food and will happily chow down on anything put in front of her. Mollie is 4 3/4 going on 14! Every morning on hols she had to do her hair, put on holiday necklace and apply lippy before going down for breakfast. Good grief! Gav and I managed to catch up on some sleep and I even got a bit of a tan!

Rach - happy belated birthday.

SK - Blue crayon? Ohh, bet that was interesting when you changed her nappy.

Lise - fingers crossed for yours and DH's ops. Hope all goes well.

Tickle - poor Theo. Hope it wasn't too traumatic for him.

NG - Good luck with potty training and the move. HATE moving house (have done it 4 times in last 5 years..... ugh). Mollie used to get 1 gummy bear for a wee and 2 for a poo . Seemed to work for her.

Iris - hey chick. Good to see you back and glad funeral was as nice as it could be in the circumstance.

Lyra - you still out there chick? Everything ok?

Have I missed anyone? Sorry if I have.

We're gearing up for 6 weeks of summer hols. Have been trying to arrange play dates and days out so Moo doesn't get bored. Any one got good ideas for how to keep them interested that doesn't cost a fortune? So far have come up with swimming, picnics, farm visits, ummmmm, that's it!

G xx

just a quicky about an idea to keep kids happy for a little while in the garden. i have been saving up all sorts of carboard boxes (big and small) and one day I will tape them all into box shapes again so T can use them as big building bricks in the garden. He's a bit youg to be building things but i am sure he will love knocking over a huge tower or run through a wall.

Libby just rolled over for first time . She won't stop now

Lola's just been on telly!! My mum is an avid viewer of shopping channels and phoned me a wee while ago to tell me to turn on Gems TV. They had asked for people to email in pictures to put up on the big tv screen behind the presenter throughout the sale of an item. My mum emailed in a picture of Lola so for about 15 minutes she was large as life behing the presenter, who said she was gorgeous!

hallo peeps!

ok, everyones in bed, and i should be too, but wanted to have a quick gander at MN and then to say ta to you all for sending me potty training good wishes.

am still doing it really half heartedly at the mo, as theres still so much to do with the impending start of the building work on the house (we havnt moved addresses BTW Lisa, just moved into our own cottage accross the courtyard (ooh, get me! lady muck ) which itself has only just been vacated by the builders. is much smaller than the house, but still 2 bedrooms so we're fine. a damn fine opportunity to de-clutter actually! its amazing how much crap you just save and keep if theres room to stick it in a cupboard somewhere! literally boxes full of bathroom stuff... madness.

anyway, yes, think the two potty training at once may actually be a good thing, as someone pointed out. let you know how it goes.

baby Gus doing fabulously, despite my scatter brained approach to a routine. turning over, sitting up, even moving about, albeit only backwards. lots of giggling and playing. loves tickles. Archie and Max are playing with him more too now. and he eats some mushy food, as well as breastfeeding several times a day - and that 'safe feeder' thing someone linked to on here is fab, he loves that.

anyhoo - i must put the choc ice cream away, brush my teeth and go to bed. best wishes to you all (wish i could remember who said what so i could say personal things to each, but can hardly keep eyes open )

xxx

Hi all, no teeth here yet (nor hair)! Some better sleeping, Finn seems to doing 6 hrs at least now (all I need to do is make it the same 6 hrs I'm asleep!). This heat doesn't help. He is currently swivelling his rocking car seat round in a 360 degree circle by kicking his legs and cackling! The next time I look up I expect he will be off down the corridor!

A close friend of mine has had a little baby girl (ahhh) Finn is 6 months tomorrow and looks like a mini Grant Mitchell next to her! (she has loads of hair, he has none!)

Iris - you probably won't read this now but he had his skin prick tests and had no reaction to grass, cats, pollen, milk, egg or dust which is a relief. Of course intolerances are something completely different but I think the key is to offer a wide range of small amounts of food.

I have older kids of course but our plan for the holidays (I have them the first 3 weeks, their dad the last 3 weeks) is intensive swimming lessons for ds2 and dd, lots of visits to our lovely Gower beaches. Also a trip to my mums in Brighton incorporating the pier and the sealife centre, and days out to Bristol Zoo, Chessington and London. Then I shall be back in work! Watch out for lactating woman on a first great western train to Reading! (mind you, a chance to read the paper from cover to cover... )

James six months old tomorrow as well, WTWTA - had forgotten Finn was the same age exactly!

Still no food for James - he's massive and happy on just milk, so will keep it that way till the weekend at least, I think. Then I'm just going to give him table scraps and what we're having anyway so should be relatively straightforward.

No teeth yet, but think his first one's nearly through.

He's incredibly smiley - he loves having under his arms and his chin dried after a bath - sends him into hysterics! Still not used any soap on his skin, though he has a bit of shampoo on his hair sometimes.

Have started expressing for the milk bank - James thinks it's funny to kick the pump, but I get the best letdown when I'm feeding him so I just have to keep moving it! Have expressed for the last three days and got 2oz, 4oz and 7oz respectively. All bottled up in the freezer, ready to go to the milk bank in a few weeks.

James has been rolling since the end of June, but only goes one way so far - though he can now get back. He's massively strong - it's hard to hold onto him sometimes - and his favourite thing to do is stand on my lap just holding my hands. DS1 never wanted to stand up like that and walked quite late at 17m so it'll be interesting to see if James walks any earlier. He's bigger than DS1 was at the same age - think I'll get him weighed again on Wednesday for his half birthday.

Haven't read the thread - am just having an indulgent post about James(!) - so hope everyone's OK and not too hot - I loathe this weather - can't wait for autumn! (miserable, aren't I?!)

(it's amber, trying out a new name. what do we think?)

LOOMER - how's scarlett doing with sleeping n weaning? lizzie is back to only waking once in the night, but has lost the routine of it, so she now wakes anytime rather than predictably at 5.30am. we've just started on two meals today as she's like a little bird with her mouth open whenever she sees a spoon now!!

LILSTARRY - are you taking bee to a regular swimming session? lizzie also loves swimming, although we've only been a couple of times. keep meaning to go more...

NAPPIES - hope the nappy training en masse is going ok. we did training v loosely based on GF . it worked really well for ds (now 3.5y). i had a single sweet in an eggcup as a reward which was for going to the toilet and washing hands etc, not just toilet. was a bit worried that this would stick and he'd end up eating far too many sweets, but it gradually died off as he got used to going to the loo and the novelty wore off.
i had a 'run away' moment yesterday morning. took the dog for her morning walk by myself, leaving dh with both los. got to where i usually turn around but just kept walking and was gone an extra hour. felt pretty wierd and was most unlike me. i think sometimes these things just creep up on you. i came back when i knew lizzie would be ready for a bf and oh well i never intended not coming back really...

GEORGIE - STANDING?? wow is lizzie the only one still not moving AT ALL??
ideas for Mollie and family; are you near any museums etc?, might sound too grown up, but they are often free to enter and some have good play areas (we live near yorkshire mining museum and it's got the best outdoor playground for miles!); are you near the seaside?, again it's free of course and if you take a picnic n bucket and spade lo will play for hours; my dh looks on a 'days out' website for our area adn finds some really unusual weekend days - recently we've been to a hot air balloon festival and a hell's angels motorbike show!; for days at home have you got a paddling pool? and i've found v v cheap outdoor toys (bat and ball kinda stuff) from asda, morrisons etc.; and of course there's always MN MEET-UPS!!!

lizzie and i went to a taster session for 'sing and sign' on saturday and she really enjoyed it. we've been using some of the signs and singing the songs we did ever since and i'm in two minds about the class. really just because it's quite expensive- £4.50 per session, term of 12 sessions. this prob sounds really tight, but i've just got my payslip in the post and my income has dropped this month to a little under half (3/10th to be precise). it's not like it'll break the bank, but i want the money to last so i don't have to go back to work just yet... what do we think??
xxx amber

Hey there StinkyPete.... great ideas. Ta ever so. Is the name from Toy Story? Have been in garden this arvo with both of them in paddling pool. Bit of a fag having to fill the damn thing up with watering cans as we've got hosepipe ban here (quelle surpise)

Rach - let me know when you're going to be in London as it's only a hop, skip and jump for me to get in. Would be lovely to meet. And anyone else that's coming into the Big Smoke this summer.

Right, better get some tea into the girls. So hot though that I'm dreaming of putting them to bed and cracking open ice cold vino and giving DH a big snog to welocome him home from first day back at work.

G xx

hi everyone we are even sweltering up here in Scotland now, we are so not used to seeing the sun up here as well, red skin is the norm right now!

Talia is rolling like mad now only stops when she bangs into something, Abbie has started copying her and rolling too so both of them are all over the floor. She's getting the hang of purees but I'm switching to BLW and finger foods very shortly but will keep the spoon for the messier things. Still waking once in the night but I figure she needs it and it's not for ever. She's sleeping with just a nappy on right now and she's so much like a toddler, she also wants to be standing on me.

It's Abbie's 2nd birthday on Thursday feel quite emotional my big baby is going to be 2. She's the total opposite to Talia so petite and dainty. Not a spare bit of fat on her, huge blue eyes and wild blonde curly hair. A proper little madam too, everything is "Abbie's" apparently. I wonder if Talia will be like her personality wise, they are very alike and you know they are sisters. Talia is just a bigger version of Abbie at that age.

I've introduced the potty but am not pushing it, she doesn't have much of a lag time between knowing she needs to go and going (roughly 5 seconds).

Well better be off sorry for not replying personally have ran out of time. Hope everyone and their little munchkins are doing well and not sweltering too much in this heat.

yeah georgie, the name's from toy story. it's matthew's favourite film, we watch it all the time. he's not my favourite character at all, but the name just really stuck and everyone's called it in this house!!

Happy Birthday to Abbie and half Birthday to James!

Great name Amber - I remember queuing one xmas for a buzz lightyear, my ds1 is now 12 1/2 and prefers his psp!

The kids are going mad here for their trampoline (which is sometimes turning into a WWF ring ) and dp has bought a 12ft padding/swimming pool which he is surreptitiously filling with gallons of water (he now works for Welsh Water but we don't have a hosepipe ban so it's just a bit of guilty concern) Our labrador particularly likes swimming in it I will have to wear t- shirts all summer as I now have annoying farmers tan that stops half way up my arms.

Many happy returns to all the kiddle-winks that have birthdays soon.

Libby got 2nd front tooth

Too hot here to even think straight.....

Happy half birthday to all those who've turned 6 months. Lola was on 12th (but her gest b'day would be 27th if I hadn't had to be induced early - am going with 12th tho as I don't think 2 weeks should make a difference by 6 months)

Hunker: Well done you for expressing for the milk bank. Wish there had been something like that available when Lola was in Special Care (if there was no one told me about it).

Stinkypete/Amber: I can totally relate on the finances. As I'd had to go on unpaid leave when we got posted here because it was too far to commute, I wasn't entitled to a penny in Mat Pay or any Mat Benefits. Really annoying after 7 years working for the government (especially when it was the government in the form of the army who moved us here causing me to have to take the leave). Can you tell I'm slightly bitter about it?? lol. It's made things exceptionally tight in our house, as I earned more than DH so getting by on his wage and the pittance from CTC/CB has been tough. Don't know what we would have done if it wasn't for extremely generous friends and family (NG that includes you!), freecycle, and ebay. I'm determined tho not to let the finances force me back to work before I'm ready. We just have to tighten our belts.

WTWTA: Those pools are fab, we've got a 15ft one and Lola absolutely loves it on a hot day. I've still got a brand new Buzz Lightyear costume in the cupboard I bought from the Disney Store years ago for my kid brother but it didn't fit him (age 8 yrs I think if anyone wants it, happy to send it if you cat me with your address)

Georgie: 2 teeth? wow. Lola hasn't even got one yet.

Lola's rolling both ways now, and standing up at every opportunity. She now hangs onto whatever is in reach (my leg, the sofa) to stand for as long as possible. Food-wise, she's doing so well. She has porridge for breakfast, a yogurt/fromage frais for lunch, and one of my home-made concoctions for dinner (recipes here in weaning thread in case anyone's interested). She's still having at least 4 bottles as well, but only 4-5 oz during the day and an 8oz at bedtime (as well as some water now and then). Sleeping thru 8 til 8 still, which is such a joy. Have posted some new piccies on the yahoo piccies group here

Hello all.. Loving the sunshine, have gone all golden (sorry, I know I sound smug!) It is hot tho', fortunately Bee doesn't seem too flustered by it.. Although she is teething like a mad thing. Still no teeth tho', waiting for those to appear!
Happy to hear everyone is doing well, isn't it crazy how much they've grown? Bee won't be 6 months for another two weeks (is she the youngest? She was born 28/01).. She's now almost crawling , she's always been desperate to move, was standing with assistance from 3 months.. everyone has always commented on her leg strength. It's hilarious to watch, she does this weird thing where she looks like an athlete starting a race, very odd. I'm hoping for a few more weeks before she becomes properly mobile, haven't exactly got a baby-friendly house .

Super jealous of those of you with large paddling pools, I keep meaning to buy one for us, but don't know that Bee would enjoy it very much (although I would !!)

Wildthing - Aww, I love it when babies are completely bald, Bee has so much hair, it makes her really hot at the moment!

NG - your cottage/house sounds gorgeous! I agree with the declutter, our loft has enough stuff in it to start a shop , really must set up a picture-rail site thing and sell some stuff! Could definitely use the extra £££ for our holiday!

StinkyPete - Love the name, love the movie, although I think I still prefer The Little Mermaid (did I just admit that in public?!) I was tempted by the Sing and Sign but was put off after speaking to a lady who went, she said they only do 1/2 an hour, and the other 1/2 an hour is tea and socialising.. I thought it was far too expensive for 1/2 an hour!! She also said the older children tore around and upset her lil'en! There are some good 'sign with baby' books if you have a local library, I know it isn't the same, but I'm giving it a go to start with!!

Oops, Bee is getting grumpy under her playmat, she ends up rolling away from it.. then trying to crawl back and gets frustrated because she can't, heehee.
Hope you're all well, sorry to those I missed - I read and enjoy hearing how everyone is doing!!

xxx

Lilstarry - dp took Finn in the pool despite it being freezing and he loved it, kicking away, mind you - you could get a little £5 one for Bee?

I've just come to say that my bf has just had her 20 wk scan and all is well! (you may remember she was the same EDD as me before and lost her baby late on due to awful abnormalities. She's going to have a little girlie

Hi all just a quick one

Lovely to hear how everyone getting on. Sounds like things are settling down for us all. Not loving this hot summer any more, but Dominic coping OK with it (as he does with everything). He's HUGE now, not 6 months until 27th but is bigger than 9 month old cousin.. not fat but very very broad shouldered and pretty tall. Have to squeeze him into the car seat. He's been rolling for a while but not interested in standing. Trying really hard to crawl but I guess he's not strong enough yet. Very very laid back and contented - I can't believe he's mine! Sleeps 7 til 7, sometimes as late as 9 and I'm usually up first!

I'm back at work and loving it.

NG - When are you coming to Bournemouth?!

SK - good to hear from you, the girls sound lovely.

WTWTA - congratulations to your bf Brilliant !!

Stinkypete- I'm going to try Sing and Sign as I get quite lonely at home and it sounds like a laugh. Will let you know what happens!

Big kisses to allxxx

hi all - another quickie! sounds like all the lo's are having great adventures... Theo rolling and trying to motor around on his belly. Also v strong, and v heavy, so my back has gone for the 2nd time since having him luckily my stepmum has been staying, and now some dutch friends are here with their 3 children (so that's seven in one house!) so there is always someone to carry the little heffalump. I have been off work a bit, but still baking for the cafe, but back in harness tomorrow.

Our tenants have just left our cottage in Cornwall, so if anyone knows anyone who fancies a place with no neighbours, 3/4 mile up a farm track... stream, wood, water meadow... then get in touch
Seriously, does anyone know anywhere on the net to advertise rentals? So far I have put it the classifieds in the London Review of Books, as I can see it as a writer's retreat - but can't think of anywhere else.

Will now take my sore back off to bed, before I freeze in this position for the night

hi all

Well firstly Talia has sprouted 2 teeth! Bottom front two bless her. Another little strong wriggly one here. Everyone comments on it she hates being held would rather be on the floor rolling. Although she now rolls in her sleep and ends up banging herself off the cot bars and waking herself up.

Abbie had a great birthday yesterday, she got a dressing up box amongst her presents and I spent most of yesterday putting outfits on and off her. Typical of Scottish weather it rained a bit yesterday morning we took her to a themepark that is nearby but she was a bit scared on the rides. On Sunday we are having a BBQ for family, not looking forward to it as we don't really get on with them, both sets of parents have seen the girls 3 times in 6 months!

sk - happy birthday to Abbie

Theo is really trying to crawl!! So much earlier than the others - or maybe time is just going more quickly now!!

Got Clementine in the bath - better run
t
xx