Now they are two! (new thread for the April 2004 lot)

[hewlettsdaughter]

So - dolbear, you said you were starting to get broody? Not me - I took my pram and a load of baby stuff to a local charity shop the other day (did get a bit sad when I handed over the pram though - the woman in the shop didn't help when she said "think of all those walks you did with that!"). Hope you are all doing ok.

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YG - good to hear from you (I am sure I am not the only one who has thought about you a lot since we heard your news). Hope you are feeling supported by family and friends.

How does dd1 feel about starting school? It's not the same, I know, but my ds started school the day after dd was born - I was worried about him having to cope with two big things at once but he was ok. Hope your dd1 is too.

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That sounds a good plan. Have you been able to contact the school to let them know what's happened? (if so, have they been helpful?)

Hi Girls.

Congratulations Lunavix! Although I'm sure your are too busy to look at this thread

Yorkiegirl - I do hope you are okay.

I'm back to work next week. Both children went to nursery today and I had a self-indulgent day in town. Oh the bliss.

Goodluck with the move Fennel.

Hi HD - Hope all is okay in old Oxy!!

I hope things go well with the new school etc Yorkiegirl. I don't know if it's relevant for you as your dd1 hasn't started at school yet but dd1 has a friend at school whose father died last year (cancer) and the friend, who's 6, talked about it in Show and Tell session. all the children seem to talk about it quite openly, apparently the school brought in a counsellor to talk to the children about it.

I'm rambling a bit but the school seems to be dealing with it very well, hope your school can too.

house move going well - house and village lovely but it's very stressful. no internet or phone at home. mess and dust everywhere, hamster lost for 24 hours (luckily the cats didn't eat her).

Wow you did well to find the hamster again! How are you feeling about going back to work MrsD? Is it spring there Chuffed?

Went to a fantastic kids' activity at a museum today - ds made a saxophone with a cardboard tube, a plastic cup, a balloon and a straw and dd (well, I) made a drum.

YG - if you're reading this - look after yourself.

Hi, me again. Just wanted to tell somebody that dd has finally stopped breastfeeding. While on holiday we dropped the morning feed and I've forgotten/managed to avoid the evening one for the last week. I'm really pleased because it's not been the struggle I thought it would be. She must have been finally ready

Hope dd's first day at school went ok YG.

Thanks everyone Kiera is a total beauty, I'm absolutely besotted with her. I don't envy the lot of you with a smaller age gap though, two under 3 is challenging enough!

I do have a question though - how on earth are you meant to cope breastfeeding, and entertaining a toddler? My day is full of feeding and expressing and I'm dreading dh returning to work!

lunavix, I have read elsewhere on mn about having a special shoe box or similar, which only comes out when you are bf'ing and has toys, books etc in to amuse the toddler - worth a try?

I've posted a pic of dd in the members bit

hd, not a bad idea that. Will try and sort something out as I'm panicking a bit that he'll feel left out.

Another tip - might you be able to help your ds feel more involved, by asking him to fetch breastpads or whatever?

lunavix, stories, songs, dancing for you while you sit and watch.
You can resort to playing a recording of ds's favourite programs and only for bf time

That was the one really good thing about living with inlaws when ds was born, always 2 adults home during day never had this problem.

Well weather is getting a bit nicer but we have all been stuck inside with never ending colds and coughs, hoping it'll pass soon.

Can't believe it is over a year now since we left UK to go travelling this time last year I was in Vilnius Lithuania. Seems like an age ago that we were travelling. Can't wait to get going again.

Well better go and get those nappies on the line so they whiten abit, talk about infant food stains

Take care all

glad to hear you are enjoying Kiera, Lunavix.

am trying to remember about bf while entertaining toddler. we did go to lots of toddler groups, then you can feed the baby while toddler is happy playing. also we spent a lot of time with other people with children, which distracted the toddler.

and they do just get used to you being less available, whether they watch cbeebies or play wholesomely with toys or whatever.

or you can read books to them. or if you get desperate you can sing to them (if no audience around, i am very tuneless but the dds don't mind).

Hi Lunavix
I remember your scenario so well. Biggest shock of my life. A demanding newborn, tantrumming toddler used to full-time nursery and very inexperienced 'mummy' all together and I felt I was losing it completely.
I never did toddler groups, I think once I became depressed I wouldn't go out and found my screaming newborn a good excuse. You DO need to go out though. I think that was a part of my problem.

I bought dd a 'magna doodle' recently. She loves colouring, it's something I should have got months ago. She sits at the table and she'll draw on it for ages.

I do sympathise with you Lunavix. I found myself thinking everyone else who did this must be supermum. Or I was just supercrap!!

Hello ladies - nice to see so many names I recognise! Have been lurking a bit, but posting on Jan 06 post natal thread, cos like Chuffed we have a toddler from this thread & now ds who is 8 mths old (today in fact). Clemmie is gorgeous, with a sparkly smile and a mind of her own(!), and Theo seems to be fitting in to our big family like a pea in a pod

Just thought I would drop back in and say hello. Congrats Lunavix on your little girl And nice to hear school is going ok for dd1 YG.

Fennel our house is dust and mess and we haven't even moved

But I am breathing a bit easier after a hectic first summer season with our new business - we've been running a nature centre/cafe on this small island, and I baked every cake (usually at midnight...) ds2 came with me to work every day, and learned how to make cappuccinos from the comfort of the backpack Now we have closed for the winter i have more time for MN

In fact, Chuffed, we are thinking of driving down to Eastern Europe for a couple of weeks - did you go to Poland when you were travelling?? Reccommendations welcome

Take care everyone
T
xx

My beautiful boy

hi Tickle. am impressed at you setting up a business with 4 young children in tow. (and I love the name Clemmie, that was an option for dd3)

mrs D he is gorgeous. redheads all the way in your family I take it?

Tickle I went to Torun in Poland last autumn, I loved it. beautiful medieval city on a river.

Hi all. Tickle - am also impressed at your get up and go. MrsD - lovely pics (as always). He looks so alert. How are you doing?

Thank you so much ladies.

I surprised you say redhead Fennel, we aren't sure.
I am the only redhead in my family and dh is dark.
Both children have dark brown eyes whereas I am classicly a redhead with green eyes. Dd's hair always draws alot of attention. I see ds as blond.

How is the house now Fennel? When did you stop bf?

HD I was wondering about you breast feeding the other day. I am so impressed you managed to go so long You must look like a stick insect!

Ds is now at nursery and having formula during the day, I just haven't the patience to express. I am feeding him still morning and evening, he is 7 months now. This time has gone so quickly.

I love the sound of your business Tickle. That's the kind of thing I would love to do in my dreams The closest I have got to it this summer is my flock of 14 hens

Lunavix - I'm thinking of you and hoping that you are okay. Please get in contact if you feel you would like someone to talk to.

Chuffed - I guess you are looking forward to summer now. Are you finding the pressure easing off a little now?

Strawberry blond, I think, looking again at the photos.

MrsD - I was thin for a year or so but have been regaining my belly for a while now (in fact someone asked me if I was having a baby the other day! (I'm not, before you ask!)

Mrs D I stopped bf dd3 at 15 months, which is ages ago now. I tried going cold turkey at 13 months and it was a bit sudden so we carried on for 2 more months and then stopped a bit gently.

haven't missed it!
but then I also don't miss pregnancy, childbirth etc. am looking forward to not missing nappies and buggies, one day not too far off.

Yes, strawberry blonde I would say (that's just from the pics tho', obviously)

same for me Fennel (looking forward rather than back!)