November 2012 - Babies going trick or treating

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/1870430-November-2012-Babies-are-getting-busy-busy-busy

Urrrr vq could you put your shopping list on fb please. I can not get my bill down under £125. If you knock off wine and beer that is about £100. I could mostly from scratch I buy most of my meat at the butcher in a weekly family pack which is £20 but lasts us 2 weeks, (I might buy one joint or pack of chicken thighs in with the shop) howwwwwww doooo homous do itttt. I do meal plan, but maybe not enough.

No vq I think you might find something in your hr stuff about time off to look after a dependent. Xx

I like the food chat too!! artificial sweeteners are really bad for us so worse for our little ones. Sugar of any kind is bad so I would definitely try and avoid it. The little ones don't need it and we are still shaping their palates. They will get the sugar their body needs from from fruits.
Valium how do you feed a family of 5 for £50?

Our food bills are £100 for the 4 of us and that doesn't include lunch and maybe a bit more if e need nappies

To put it in to perspective, the babies won't die if given a bit of sugar, but it's just not the healthiest option.

M'eh a 9.15am lie in two days in a row was too much to hope for - shouldn't complain at 7.45 though.

We avoid low sugar and any 'diet' foods as they're addictive, artificial, expensive and have god knows what long term consequences. When I want to lose weight I just don't eat or at least cut down on 'bad' stuff - historically this meant cheese, goodies, bread products and fried foods. That still gives you loads of options without resorting to diet foods.

Jonas has sugary stuff like bourbon biscuits (Tesco value are dairy free in fact loads of value food is - hence we've not found dairy free too extortionate) probably once every couple of days. But there isn't much fatty stuff he can have to put weight on given he's off cheese etc so I don't begrudge him the odd 'naughty' treat. His taste is pretty eclectic - at the wedding yesterday he went nuts for crab claws and home made sushi!

No diet or sugar free stuff here either. LO eats balanced meals and snacks at nursery so in the evenings eats very little now: some pasta and sauce, or a veg/cheese omelette, or even just a hamwidge.

At breakfast she eats things like brioche or croissants. They're sugary but I need her to enjoy breakfast as DD1 just refuses to eat in the mornings.

DD1 was sick twice yesterday. She drank some lemonade from my glass, got the burps then vommed. Vommed later on too, in my bed, just as my sleeping pill was kicking in my fresh made bed is about as mismatched as you could find. She seems well in herself, so have let them know to call me today if there is any sign she is off colour. I think she might have been stressed, though I took her out for some long walks to clear her head a few times.

Yesterday was horrible. I think DH is going through a 'flight' reaction to the stress. We have only ever had one big row before and that was back in January after the hospital stress. The last few months we have both been dealing with our issues and unable to support each other. I think there has been an aspect of power games the last week or so and my refusal to play didn't go down well. Out of charachter behaviour for him.

I think by evening he was regretting being such a git, and I have slapped some conditions down for the future. I think once my situation is resolved, which it will be one way or the other today, it will be a weight off our minds.

I don't know what will happen tbh. Rows are so rare they are always a shock. I do need to put a plan in place I think.

Today I just feel shaken up. I am also v upset that DD1 got so worried. I never want her to worry again. I used to get sick when things were bad at home and she will not get the childhood I had.

Anyway, I was strong, didn't back down, and would love for some of the stress and pressure from both jobs to be gone. So we can see where the real problems are, if there are any.

Stunt, got my fingers crossed for you today!

PR I think your situation is similar (in ways) to ours. Neither of us deal with stress well and when we both couldnt support each other over summer, that is when we clashed. This actually thinking about it, mirrors all previous big rows too. Now stress has been alleviated on one/both sides things are fine. Indeed he has been charming recently.

I hope you and stuntand anyone else waiting for news gets to hear what they want today.

YW we got an 8.15am lie in. Pants after her midnight "I slept the whole way home from Glasgow; I'm not tired" antics!!

Off pushchair shopping today. M has almost outgrown the bb frog and it doesnt fit in the new car

Hoping for good days for stunt and pr

On the sugar thing I have to say I don't worry too much. We eat quite healthy fresh home cooked food and sometimes I back and make puddings with sugar and the kids have them. I let the big kids have a little cordial with lunch but not tea. No fizzy drinks, but then we don't have them anyway. My philosophy is that they are aloud sugary things like puddings or baking treats in moderation as part of a balanced diet and it is not banned.

The reason behind my philiosphy is....when DD1 was a tiny baby we went to some friends house who had two young daughters. They never aloud any sugar or cordial or anything. Then, at Christmas they brought out the Quality Street. I have never seen anything like it. They were mad for them and really rude and naughty and kept trying to steal them. So I vowed not to make it out of bounds and as such none of mine are actually particularly bothered about sugary stuff. Tbh a lot of the time they refuse it.

Now crisps on the other hand...............

I really do mean allowed. That was not the iPad. That was me being stupid and typing too quickly.

Also, this is my mammoth morning post....

I think it must have been the full moon, we had a ding dong yesterday. Over stupid stuff. I had worked really hard last week to get the house back in order after the work had been done and had omitted to do two small things DH had asked me to do. He was really grumpy with me all day Sat and didn't say anything about what I had done, which was loads.

When we discussed it he said he felt like he was bottom of my list, and I felt crap because all I had done had gone unnoticed. I think was the first time I have actually told him I am totally devoted to him. Lots of tears and sorries on both sides.

Like everyone else. Think was the stress bubbling over. We had a nice day in the end.

Other stuff too, he always feels tired on a Sat and I interpret it as grumpiness. So I have suggested we swap over the lie ins and I take the boys out on Sat and he does Sun.

Lots of it misunderstandings really. I always bang on about how important it is to communicate maybe I should be doing more myself.

VQ I buy a mix. 2/3rds non brand and value. 1/3 branded.

The branded stuff is simply because the non branded or value isn't 'free' on SW. For example muller lights. I buy 8 on offer in Asda but that is still £4. We probably don't eat all 8 in a week however. Fry light - at £1.98 or £2.19 when not on offer. There isn't an alternative in Aldi or store brand.

Same for super low fat noodles which I sometimes use for work or a lunch when busy. There are syns in all other types of packet noodles.

Can't think what else I buy branded. Oh, squash and Pepsi max as I'm afraid I don't like the cheaper alternatives.

Yes mm stress is a relationship killer. When one person is stressed the other can step up and pick up the slack, but when both have major (to them) issues communication tends to break down.

But yes things are very straight in my head. I have shed far too many tears for men, and have lived in miserable relationships for too many years. In this one I have been happy. But if it isn't working out then we both need to move on. So we will see how things improve or not. My girls deserve happy parents.

I had the crappiest nights sleep. And DP has annoyed me.

I couldn't sleep. Was awake til after 4. O woke at 6.30 and as DP had said he would be getting up with him, I woke him up.

Fuck knows what he was doing because O was screaming like a banshee.

In the end I stormed in and asked him what he was doing. Putting him back to sleep. I asked why. He said what do you mean. I said its almost 7 am and clearly he didn't want to go the fuck back to sleep.

DP said he didn't know it was that time. Wtf? Why? Does he not check the time? Fucking weird.

Then he had the cheek to say that he had got up at 2am when O woke. O didn't wake. He slept all night. DP swore he did wake. No. I think I would know given I'd just told him I'd been awake til after 4.

Sometimes, he gets on my nerves. What planet is he on?

I've given up on any idea of sleep. Too much in my head yet I'm exhausted.

Obviously I may have that wrong it might not be a full moon but it was a pretty spectacular moon here reflecting off the clouds and the sea.

Am shamelessly stealing meal ideas from people's posts. Omelettes, cheese on toast, pitta pizza, beans or scrambled egg on toast, all with veggie sticks follows by fruit or yoghurt are standard lunches here.

DC have (mainly) what we do for supper. So things like spag Bol, lamb tagine, chilli, pie, lots of roast meat meals, curry etc. all with loads of veg and by and large cooked from scratch. We do have once or twice a week a more convenience type meal but we both work FT hours so that does have an impact. Need to stop having crap in the house though as DD's ability to sniff out goodies is already a finely honed skill.

PR good luck today.

I am going to try and make a spinach and mushroom omelette for O today. Do you think it will be okay to put half in the fridge for tomorrow?!

Good luck PR and stunt and anyone else who needs it today.

Have dropped boy at nursery. He got hysterical before I left so god knows how long he will last.

I'm trying to have a mass clear out before work starts. No idea how we have sooooo much crap.

We've recently started budgeting and doing meal plans and was horrified to find how much we actually spent on food so you're not the only one detective. Our weekly online shop come to around £60-£80 a week and then I probably spend another £30-£50 on top of that. I'm really making an effort to cut it down. I must say I do buy a fair bit branded. Always buy Heinz beans, ketchup etc and branded cereal. Meal planning has certainly helped and I really noticed the difference from a week where we haven't done a plan. You've all inspired me to try and knock further off my bills.

stunt I really hope you hear of a moving date. It brings it all back of my disastrous attempt to move last year. We got our homebuyer report back on Friday from the next house we are trying to buy. Loads of stuff has been flagged up so now got to work out how much repairs will be, try and get the price reduced (the valuation values it 5k lower than our offer so shouldn't be too hard) and also got to figure out if it will be worth proceeding at all. Sends shivers down my spine whenever I think of moving!

pr I hope whatever happens that it's for the best and that you are happy. You deserve to be. And your girls of course.

I'm helping out at DD1's school autumn fete today. Sounds weird but I'm a bit nervous about it. I used to do hiring and firing, manage a team of 20+, presentations were a walk in the park and I'm now nervous about helping at a fete. What has happened to me!

det We used to spend well over £100 per week on food but really cut back and now spend around £70. When I meal plan though I can get it down even less to about £50. That includes toiletries, nappies and wipes. Our food bill has come down a lot since we stopped buying different food for C but I guess it's harder for you with allergies. He usually has porridge or toast for breakfast, ham sandwich for lunch and whatever we have for dinner. Snacks are yogurts, fruit or little cubes of cheese. He has been unwell for the last week or so and I'm not sure if it's due to the increase in dairy or if he's teething (he won't let me feel his gums). His lactose free formula prescription is up for review next month so I will ask them to check him again and see if he still has an intolerance. I suspect he does and I should be buying lactose free foods for him.

Feeling like shite today but don't really want to go into details.

Our shopping comes to about £90 a week, I do it online because if I go to the supermarket I get tempted too much
It amazes me when it comes though, I honestly don't know what that £90 goes on, there's hardy anything there. I'd love to be able to cut it down but don't seem to be able to?!

Had yet another rotten night with S, she woke at 2 and didn't go back to sleep until 4, I was quite proud of myself for not caving and bringing her in our bed though, last night was the first night of not doing it.

Just done our shop - ingredients for the next five days - no booze, wipes, nappies or cleaning stuff but including birthday cake ingredients and some party stuff (candles, jelly, cake decs) and it came to £45. Meals (all from scratch) are beef and tattie pie; courgette, prawn and tomato pasta; dairy free pesto chicken wrapped in parma ham with salad and cous cous; sage and apple pork chops with brandy 'cream' (oat milk gunk) and roasted veggies and an easy tea of fish fingers, beans and baked tatties for Friday when I can't be arsed. I wasn't really bargain shopping as I got one of those Tesco 'you could have saved £1.70 somewhere else coupons'. The only snacks were multi grain crackers and fruit. We do however have a well stocked pantry so most carbs, herbs etc were already at home. I'll probably pick up another £10-20 later in the week if we're low.

Wah!!! Jonas has just had his hand in the loo grabbing the squidgy gel toilet block - am 99% certain none went near his mouth as I ran for him as soon as he started doing it. Loo seats are now officially kept down!

I agree on the stress / rows correlation. We always squabble more when tired too. Anyone in a rocky relationship who has a baby to fix things needs their head read!

MM good luck on the buggy shopping - its a good thing that your new car has reduced your car insurance .