March 2013 - still too sleep deprived to think of a funky title

[StormyBrid]

Old thread here.

We seemed to be running out of space (again) so I made us a new thread.

Last night was officially the night from hell & I turned into a crazy, angry horrible wife and mother. We were both up with her for 4hrs & I was just so tired. At least DH understood & was just there. I just hope it's better tonight or at least I can think of some better solutions & keep my head if not. I was even embarrassed to post on here this morning because all I seem to be doing at the moment is talking about bad nights. Hopefully I'll have some better chat soon.

On the plus side, I've got ham, egg & chips with branston pickle to look forward to if I can persuade this bubba to sleep.

Oh Soyo. Hugs and sleepy vibes heading your way - hope the ham egg and chips were good (one of my faves that).

Sorry to hear that Soyo , broken / lack of sleep is almost akin to illness in how physically and mentally shit it makes you feel. We're all here to listen so never be embarrassed!

No food here yet Stormy, feels a bit too early I think. DS seems in good spirits generally and goes off to sleep nicely in his big bed but then wants three full feeds in the night and of the absolutely 'I'm starving to death here!' howling variety. During the day I'm trying to force him to eat and he's not bothered... Pud maybe you're right about a wonder week, although I still don't know what they are

Registered with a new gp yesterday and was told that we have to go to baby clinic to get his second rotavirus dose, and get weighed etc too by HVs, which I feel mildly annoyed about because I'm sure they'll want to know why he hasn't been weighed officially since week 2 . I'm pretty sure they do that because there was mostly social housing here before they started bulldozing it to build the development we live in (we're still surrounded by some of the most horrifically run down housing I've ever seen which is either boarded up or still has the last stragglers moving out). I'm of the private-appt-with-the-nurse-with-no-HV-please ilk of mother, so I'm not relishing the idea of going to a drop in to share germs with a load of other babies. I know that's horribly MC of me, but I'm very anti anyone interfering! Also worried that it's the kind of thing that gets flagged up to SS if a baby's not been seeing HVs every five minutes...

Morning all!

Hope last night was a bit better SoYo. It must be exhausting ...

Congrats on the move Leni. Exciting times!!! I wonder if ds is just adjusting to everything being different. I have no idea really, but dd has days when she's an inexplicable creature and I have no clue. Others she is lovely and easy. All a bit random at this age.

How's your friend Eco? I popped in to see a neighbour's 2 week old at the weekend. Was the worselet ever that small? Surely she can't have been! Sooooo tiny, and wrinkled, and dependent. Time flies doesn't it. I can't even imagine her at that size, but of course she was. I think new mum was struggling a bit with it all, as she was wanting to now why noone tells you the first 2 weeks are hell. Didn't know what to say really as from my experience it gets a whole lot worse before it gets better as the first two weeks are (relatively speaking) quite a sleepy period. So I just made sympathetic noises and said nothing. Which was a cop out.

Weird day yesterday as the tiddler got herself up 2 hours early, downed a bottle in 10 minutes (unheard of), then slept in her moses basket for 2 hours (doubly unheard of), meaning I actually got some housework done. Eco you'd be proud of me.... I actually ironed sheets ok pillow cases and duvet covers! I haven't ironed sheets for as long as I can remember, but with what felt like half a day free time I was hit by a sudden wave of stepford wife like enthusiasm for an ordered house it won't last

Other than that am officially knackered. Yesterday I didn't leave the house/garden. Roll on Thurs, I just want to feel like me again.

Leni glad your move has gone well. I think wrt to HVs, I agree with you. The Babysaurus is piling it on and growing steadily lengthways, so why would I take him to a germ infested clinic? (Same reason we'll hopefully never have to endure soft play) Last time we were there a potty training toddler wet herself on the scales. I always feel like I'm wasting their time when there's prem babies, those with failure to thrive etc. you won't get ss banging your door down, it's your choice to drop in at the clinic.

Worse woohoo for housework. I spent naptime yesterday making a card for my friend who's getting married this weekend. I love nap time but it does rather turn me into Kirstie Allsopp. I know I did a lot of crying and moaninge at the time but I think I've already forgotten how hard the early days are. It's all such a haze now, I'd have probably just made lots of sympathetic noises too.

SoYo oh you poor love. You've had a hell of a time of it with the lack of sleep, you're completely allowed to go nuts on here - no one will judge you. You're doing incredibly well, go easy on yourself.

Did anyone see horizon last night? I highly doubt I'm managing the recommended 10000 steps a day. It's really made me think I ought to get out more and keep active. Bastard telly.

Glad you're all moved Leni, just a bit of unpacking then you'll be fully settled in!

No chance of getting this devil-baby to bed last night. 3hrs of feeds, songs, shush/pat, walk in pram, 1hr PUPD and I gave in, kicked DH out into the spare room and co-slept. Best sleep I've had in a week! Needs must! I did feel much calmer last night though so that's a positive, I just keep telling myself it can't last forever!

Wors I was thinking of you in the middle of the night, I really hope Thursday provides some answers and some improvement.

As for HVs they are completely useless around here too. I'm not so worried about the sharing of germs (mini-yo gets regular doggy licks when were not looking and very little gets sterilised here so can't be too fussy) but I don't see the need to weigh in and get made up useless advice when it's obvious my baby is thriving. Glad I'm not the only one!

Oh dear SoYo, looks like you've got a mummy's girl there . My mum had a similar experience (I didn't sleep properly until I was two), and she's adamant that you get what you can cope with. I think I pushed her to her limit more than once though. Remember, it all passes.

And enjoy those chips!

I decided to sack off the hv halfway through her last visit. She'd done the whole 'he's a greedy boy' gambit because he brings up dribbles of milk throughout the day and has gone from 50th to 91st centime for weight, and in the next breath told me to feed on demand (which I had been doing). She then told me off for weaning, eyed up the highchair and said he was too small for it (bollocks), asked about rolling (still not doing it, told her he was though mins) and said he should be babbling lots of 'mama dada baba' type words. I just glazed over and agreed with everything she said, I'm sure she would have put my normal happy baby on a pathway had I told the truth. She won't be coming in my house again!

Pud, worse, plonky?.still no news which is maddening. But probably more maddening for my dearest friend. I am keeping out of the way but may give in and call her mum later.

We have sucked on pear and strawberry here. In those mesh lolly bag things as DD not yet 5 months and still a bit floppy. We can?t figure out how to adjust the seat in our stoke tripp crapp either so she?s a bit encumbered by the rail being in the wrong place!

Naps here have changed too these last few days. They are preceded by 10-15 minutes of babbling and only last for 40 mins. It?s all change in the baby world isn?t it?

We?re still weighing every 4 to 4 weeks here but I quite like going to the clinic probably why we both have colds right now but figure that?s all helping the immune system as a bit of an alternative diversion for the day. I also like to see the other babies especially the newborns even though I am still NOT broody; if I say it enough times I?ll believe it

soyo My very wise Mum used to say ?a little bit of what you fancy does you no harm? and whilst probably not directly applicable to the co-sleeping I think the general sentiment is: co-sleep = sleepy Mummy and sleepy baby = happy faces. No problem. Maybe have a spell of that to recharge your batteries and then try again with some more tactics further down the line? As we all observe, you deserve the ?best mother? for stoically getting on with it all. And, never be embarrassed to share otherwise we?ll all start moderating our moans and that won?t be any fun!

My moan is that I have injured my shoulder and neck (in the bloody gym on Sunday). As I lay in bed at 0530 this morning still not having slept I was bargaining with myself in that delirious way you do. I would rather have gone through labour again that have this constant pain so proximate to my head. I can?t lay down in any way that doesn?t aggravate it. It?s pretty shitty. The osteopath yesterday hasn?t helped and the crap the GP gave me didn?t touch it. Been to doc again today and they admit to having given me inappropriate drugs and have given me oral diclofenac now so hopefully as soon as DH home from pharmacy I can pop a pill and this fog will lift a little. DH is off work this week and we were supposed to be having all sorts of exciting adventures as a threesome

plonky skimmed past that horizon programme because the bit I saw was talking about monitoring social isolation through an app i.e. looking at how often people check their phones and that being an indication of insecurity and other ?bad stuff?. I was checking my phone at the time and thought I?d switch over.

worse did the sheets feel extra specially delicious when you slipped into them? I love the bath and into new sheets feeling. DH doesn?t get that. No man in my life ever has.

leni happy housewarming! Exciting times. Greenwich is where I saw the dressage during Olympics last year whilst fighting horrid morning sickness I think and very nice it was too. Enjoy!

soyo and pud can we get together for ham, egg and chips soon please?

Drool.

I object to being forced to go to the baby clinic for vaccinations - why can't I just book in with the nurse?!

I have a moan... My sofa wouldn't fit through the foyer so still nothing to sit on until a medium one comes on Saturday. I'm more than a little peed off.

Reckon I made ten thousand steps today. Went to parents', took Mum to the shops in the wheelchair, came home to find the nap schedule had gone to hell, so went out for a couple of laps round the park with the baby. Now fairly certain my feet are going to fall off and my spine's disintegrating.

In baby development news, we now have sitting up straight with no hands on the floor! No babbling though. She says "ehhh" a lot though. Got to start somewhere, I suppose.

Ooh Leni a foyer? Posh. Funny how its done differently in different places, we go to the nurse for vaccines. Are you going to a new gp now? You may find it changes.

Stormy sounds like your dogs are barking. We have achieved full sit up on the same day. He was lounging on me, pretty much horizontal, I got my phone out and hey presto, he sat himself up and reached for it. He's not really babbling, but says something that sounds like 'muuuuuuum' whenever he wants a good moan.

Nap time has been thoroughly shunned today so I'm completely knackered. The effort of being a baby entertainment centre is too great sometimes, and I think I'm going to have an evening if spag bol and a hot bath.

Oh and it turns out apple and pear purée is a big hit. Two ice cubes worth down the hatch, none spat back out. And this from a baby who wouldn't entertain a spoon only a week ago.

Plonko. Apple and pear with a bit of baby rice is now a big hot here too! Getting the hang of it now!

Er. I don't have dogs...?

So how does this pureed ice cube thing work? I'm put off pureeing at the moment, because there'd be more mush stuck to the blender than would make it into a tummy.

I'm interpreting foyer to mean porch, ie the space between the inner and outer front doors. And they're definitely not posh, cos I've got one.

PS plonko I uploaded a photo of the amazing hippy coat, check it out.

And it's bedtime again....try come around quickly don't they?!

Stormy that coat is amazing and your DD is mega cute!

Leni, gutted about the sofa. In our old place it once took me 3 attempts to get a fridge that fitted through the kitchen door, despite measuring each time

Eco I think you might be right, if we have bedtime fail again tonight I'm going strait for another night of cosleeping, much less stressful for all involved until this spurt that better be what this is is over.

I did have a nice day today though, yummy lunch and shopping with my lovely friend, plus two bargainous pairs of shoes and my guilty pleasure of a pair of Primark jeans!

I really fancy some biscuits, anyone got anything nice?

Oops there I go saying things my dad says and presuming everyone knows what they mean (whilst outing myself as a hideous midlander). Dogs barking = achey feet. I would say your cats are miaowing but it doesn't have the same ring (despite being far cuter).

The jacket is awesome! She's a little stunner. As for purées and ice cube trays... I simmer a fruit/veg in a small amount of water (so I don't have to drain it off), and once fairly mushy I just stick the hand blender in and wazz it up. Leave it to cool for a few mins, pour into an ice cube tray and freeze. Pop the cubes out and bag em up with a label on so I know when they were made.

SoYo ooh I may have to treat myself to some primark jeans. It's been awhile, and I've a birthday coming up. I've been meaning to check out their baby range.
Totally agree with eco on the cosleeping. Do whatever gets you some rest. I can't offer a biscuit but I do have homemade flapjacks

I got some double choc maryland cookies today

DD's attempting to sit up in a head up, legs up (with ankles crossed and pointy toes) kind of way. Or she's been to a pilates class behind my back.

soyo - I admire your spirit and urge you to keep up with what allows you to get a good stretch of sleep as the only way to tackle the sleep 'training' is with a clear, well slept head. I found shouting 'why won't you f*cking sleep' at DD didn't make anyone feel better, let alone get them to sleep. Muuuuch better if you can calmly put up with the wingeing by saying 'shhhhhhhhh' a lot.

leni congrats on the move and embrace the sofaless space.

So, stormy you get an ice cube tray and a few apples and pears. You peel and steam the apples and pears then blend a big lot, then dollop into the ice cube trays. Take one or two out for every feeding, defrost. If you are doing apple or apple and pear it's fine on its one. Pear is a bit runny on its own and if you want to thinker it up a bit make up a bit of baby rice and mix in. I have realised as I type this you may have been being sarcastic but 5 months of no sleep means I can't detect that so have written up anyway!! Fingers crossed we all have good nights. Thursday we all go to see my great aunt and great granny in Belfast so dd gets first plane ride ( omg! ) scared!!

Typing on the iPhone and too many mistakes to correct but you get the gist!!

Soyo I have banana and cardomen cake that I'll share. ONe of the lovely nct ladies dropped it on my doorstep when she heard of the neck injury and resulting gloom.
Dh collected a Phil and Teds buggy today. We got it for forty five pounds on gumtree ready for our USA road trip.
In bath drinking cherry cola at present. rock and roll.

Soyo, I was about to come on here and suggest cosleeping. Even though dd is pretty good it's still my go-to if I want a guaranteed couple of hours. Others have said it but I'll repeat, you will win the sleep battle eventually, but you'll find it so much easier when sufficiently rested.

I ambitiously tried dropping the dream feed for the last couple of nights, because she really doesn't seem hungry in the morning and doesn't finish a bottle til the 3pm one. Last time she did this it was a sign she was about to drop 3am feed. Experiment failed, first night 3am, second night bloody 1am!

If nappies are anything to go by, very small amounts of food are actually being swallowed now. We had about 5 banana squiggles last night.

DH is away this week. Is it a terrible terrible thing to say I'm enjoying it? Things stay where I left them, the house is presentable, and me and dd just get on with things in a nice routiney sort of way without some oaf messing it all up! I'm sure I'll be desperate for him to come back by the end of the week, but the peace and quiet is lovely

Bedtime attempt number 2. Madam decided she wanted to scream just as DH served my dinner so she came down & watched some masterchef & pointless but is eye rubbing again. I think it's just a trick!!!

Eco tell us more about a USA road trip. Sounds great!

I'll have some of all sweet offerings thanks, washed down with a can of Eco's cherry coke.

We had another fail, another trip downstairs, lots of screams but get her down in the cot at 10.30, she woke up again at just gone 11 and had another big feed and went down again, woke up at 12.15 for some moaning but took herself back to sleep and did the same again a few times overnight but is just up for another feed now so that's a definite improvement. She's been back in our room tonight for ease of access for me and DH is in the spare room again for ease of co sleeping if necessary. Parents are staying tonight so he'll be back with us but I think we'll plan to do the same as tonight for the next week or so or until things settle a bit again. These babies hey!

Hi Soyo. We've been creeping backwards for the first feed (hence here I am). Tried ignoring him from 4:30 on basis it was just grumbles but got more insistent and making a good fist of a feed now so guess he was hungry. Shame, felt like we nearly had it cracked! However, glad you've found a way to cope - think that really is the most important thing. As others have said this wont last forever, even if it feels like it does!

Where in the states are you going Eco? We did a few awesome road trips when I was little, Vancouver to San Diego was pretty awesome. Until we hit desert . What are your plans for taking the tiny on a plane?

Also Eig when do you go? We're flying to Madeira at the end of the month and I'm trying to figure out the logistics of ff and flying. I can order milk and baby pouches to collect at boots airside, so my plan is just to take two sterile bottles and lots of dummies, and a few toys. Perhaps I'm being optimistic?

SoYo do you think she's teething? Ds wakes up just to grizzle a lot at the moment. I wish he was still little enough to be in a Moses basket to save me from running across the landing at 3 am in just my pants.