July 2005 babies - we are one!

[mrsdarcy]

Hooray for the next year!

And a happy birthday to all our readers

fingers crossed daf .

i too am in no position to offer sleep advice. i've bought dd a dummy which she seems to find good fun to play with but doesn't encourage her to sleep any better. grrrr. she looks quite sweet with it in her mouth though! she's also started twisting her whole body round to say no, it's hilarious. oh, & is into grown up lego big time.

Well we've just had a horrible fright. I heard a big crash and screaming from DS2. He had decided to carry DD down the stairs, and had fallen . She was absolutely fine, just a little shaken. DS2 had a bloody nose and was very upset. It could have happened even if we had a stair gate as the boys charge up and downstairs all day long.

how scary for all of you mrsd. poor ds2, he must feel dreadful. glad everyone is ok.

my dad managed to trip over dd whilst she was sitting on the kitchen floor this morning... he definitely felt worse than she did though she screamed the loudest!

Your poor ds Mrs D. That's something that worries me with ds2 with the other two being so much older they are always carrying him around. dd somehow managed to climb into the cot when ds2 was just days old and carry him out of it and half way down the stairs before I realised!

Hub - if you are around - how was your party? Ours was brilliant - 55 people altogether - got oceans of champagne as presents Weather stayed good for BBQ and the kids ran around and amused each other. dd had a fairy outfit on which got totally grubby but I got it from eBay very cheap Next party is at the end of the month - my dad's 80th.

Glad your party went well Eulalia, and hope you had fun too, Hub

DD has taken to biting me when I am bfeeding her, and today she drew blood . Just a little bit, but enough to put me off. I haven't bfed her since. I offered her a cup of cow milk at bedtime and again when she woke up at about 9pm. I don't know if I'll feed her when she wakes up in the night.

Apart from not looking forward to the night ahead, I feel really sad that we might be looking at the end of bfeeding. It's been so nice feeding her. I don't know if I'll be able to pursuade DH to have any more children, and if we don't, this is the end of bfeeding for ever for me

mrsd. dd nips me occasionally when i'm feeding her, but it's more playful, no blood so far.... hope you're ok.

ds started school yesterday, not a backward glance. so it's just dd & i at home now. weird. but quite nice!

Hello. I have kept meaning to get in touch with you all again. I am sorry I don't seem to be able to be a very regular contributer here but I would still like to be able to drop in when I can if that's ok.

Mrs D - I remember being nervous of bfeeding ds after he had biten me a couple of times shortly after his teeth began to come through. Then he stopped doing it. I know they are all so different and I hope the night is not too long for you.

Also late congratulations Daf on your pregnancy and good luck with your plans to move the country.

We have been having some house renovations, which have included rewiring, new kitchen and bathroom. Far, far too much to take on with two small ones in the house and it has been stressful at times. However, we are nearly finished and it does all look good. The plan now is to put the house on the market (three months later than planned) but I think I'd rather enjoy the house for a bit and postpone the upheaval until the spring.

Dd who was 1 on the 18 July (very belated happy birthdays to all the July babies!) is doing well. She did not really develop much of an appetite until the last few weeks and has gone from sucking on a bit of apple or rice cake to eating pretty much the same food as us. We did offer her food before but she would purse her lips tightly shut and look the other way! She has recently discovered that she loves peppermint tea and was making it impossible for me to drink mine at a friend's house today as she was trying to climb up me to reach the mug.

Final note on dd is that she has been on a mission to walk for several weeks now and is almost there . She is always trying to get us to walk around with her and leads us straight to the front or back door.

Hope you all have a sunny weekend.

Hello latearrival - good to hear your news.

HC - great to hear your ds likes school.

MrsD - this may just be a one off. Don't lose faith! As you may know I've breastfed all of mine in terms of years and biting seems to be something they try at some point although I must admit not to the extent you've described. I think they are doing it for the reaction. Best not to scream and make a fuss otherwise you will put her off it. One solution I've heard is to pinch their nose so that they have to let go and its more gentle for both of you (no ripping her off the boob - ouch!). Anyway let us know how it goes - there are threads on Mumsnet about it.

Had a couple of glasses of wine so this maybe all over the place... We've just come back from 15 days in Montenegro and I'm feeling super relaxed. Lots of catching up to though.

MrsD, I totally and utterly sympathise with you and your bfeeding and biting dilemas. At about 11 months dd2 started biting me and gave me terrible cracked nipples. I stopped for 48 hours and then started again. No more biting for a few weeks. But, I stopped enjoying the feeds as I was so tense. I carried on until she was just over 12 months when she started again. It got so that I was dreading feeds (I was only doing 2 a day due to work) and I eventually gave up when she was 13 months. But, I felt awful about it. I'm pretty sure that she's my last baby and I have loved feeding her. I fed dd1 until she was 16 months (when she then self weaned) and felt awful about giving up. But, I soon realised that getting up to do an early morning feed could be a shared responsiblity and I stopped feeling so bad. I'm going on a bit here aren't I? To sum up, don't feel guilty about any decision you make.

As to stairgates, we had them fitted for dd1 by our local Surestart. We only tend to use them to restrain the children though . Dd2 is exellent at going down the stairs backwards. Quite frightenign to watch as she goes at such a fast pace.

Good to hear from you again Latearrival. Good luck with the house moving process. DaF, have you started looking for places yet?

HC, I hope you're feeling more positive. Diabetes can't be easy to live with.

Time to get a top up of wine. Hope all are well. xxx

Forgot to say, dd2 had her MMR a week before we went on holiday. A week into the holiday she came out in the most horrible rash. Head to foot. It lasted for about 3 days. No other symptoms. We presumed it was down to her MMR.

Ouch. Ouchouchouch MrsD. I hope you are feeling better about the situation. I didn't like giving up (at 8 months, going back to work, failed at expressing, supply dried up quickly for early and late feeds). Haven't really looked back, except for having pangs of memory when I see someone else bf'ing. I do hope to have another and BF again, so don't have to work through those 'last time ever' feelings.

It's a lovely weekend here. I wrecked my Saturday though by having an almoghty hangover from a work's night out on Friday. Really can't do the demon drink nowadays.

Belo, any chance of a photo of Montenegro? DS is suppoed to have his MMR on Thursday, but will cancel now as my mum coming for a logish visit with trips to other rellies lined up over the weekend. Will try to do it the week after.

DS has started headbanging in his cot prior to sleep. I worry that I don't worry, as it is methodical, quite light and he's not crying but quickly goes off to sleep. I'm assuming it helps him somehow. Am I way off the mark?

Hello latearrival. My boy insists on a glug of my sparkling water, he then belches theatrically and giggles like a madman. xx

Hello latearrival. Nice to see you. Very sweet about your dd liking peppermint tea. DD gets very excited when she sees my cup of coffee in the morning and screams madly until she gets to hold the (empty) mug. It's not quite as wholesome as peppermint tea though!

After a night of not bfeeding her, we are now back to normal. She stopped biting for about a day and has just started doing little nips again. I have very mixed feelings about whether I want to carry on bfeeding or not so at the moment I'm just going to chicken out and not make a decision either way. This time of year is v difficult for me so not really the time to be making baby-related decision. Thanks for all the support.

MB, I wouldnt worry about the headbanging, certainly whilst it is gentle. DD sometimes thumps her head on the floor. I view it as an extension of the less endearing face-grabbing - finding boundaries and looking for a reaction.

Hi all,
on the headbanging/ face pinching thing- I am getting slapped around the face, lips pinched, eyes poked and all sorts! I just thought it was my rather inquisitive baby- but she's so strong that it really hurts sometimes. What's that all about?!

I am finding your b feeding discussions really fascinating, I hope you don't mind. As you may know I failed miserably after my c-section and missed the moment somewhat. I have now been asked by the midwife whether I intend to bfeed this one- and I am really stumped! I am ashamed to admit that I think it will be really odd and won't feel natural at all- even though in theory, I am 100% behind bfeeding. It just feels like it's just meant to be for me. Does that sound weird?

ds-to-be is having his say right now by thumping me in the ribs- I have a feeling he's going to be just as lively as dd, in fact, it feels like he's not sleeping at all, just kicking me all day and all night! Oh well, only 3 months left in my final ever pregnancy (feel free to shoot me if I ever get knocked up again- this is IT! honestly!!!)
I'm still waiting for a verdict on my homeworking proposal, it's horrible being in this state of limbo at the moment as I really want to just get on and move and start my new country life.
Oh well, must get back to work! x

DD had her first session with the childminder today and she was great. A few tears at the beginning but then she was really chilled. I went out for quiet coffee and read my book - it was heaven!

DaF, my SiL was devastated when bfeeding her DS didn't work out. It really blighted her first few weeks of motherhood. She decided during her pregnancy with her DD that she wouldn't even try and has been so much happier and relaxed. I guess what I'm trying to say is that whilst you know the benefits of bfeeding (...blah blah...) I really think there is so much more you and your baby can give each other, if that's how it works out.

DH thought it would be wierd seeing me bfeed a girl but we both got used to it pretty quickly! If the "wierd" thing is all that's holding you back, I think it's worth giving it a go as I bet that feeling wouldn't last for long. You might feel totally different this time round anyway. You had such a horrible experience last time that it's hardly surprising the bfeeding didn't work out.

Are you going to try a VBAC or are you having another c-section?

Hows it going Mrs D - your time alone sounds heaven. Reading is one of the things I miss the most.

DaF - you never know how you will feel when you've had your ds - every baby is different and he may just take to breastfeeding really easily. Always worth a try just to see how it goes - you can always change your mind but its not easy doing it the other way round.

ds bit me really hard on the leg last night and I've got a lovely red mark. He's terrible for clinging onto my legs (stillnot walking) and was tired and just went chomp!

Good advice there, thanks. You've made me feel a lot better about it all.
Poor Eulalia's leg! What have we given birth to?!
I am just biding my time until I have to go and pick up dd- I am supposed to be writing a piece about myself to go with a photo on our company website- how embarrassing! I asked the photographer not to photograph my bump otherwise I'll just be pregnant forever on the website! So if it's not too horrendous I'll post the link and then you can all have a good laugh at me!
OK, time sufficiently wasted, must go and get my bus! x

Hi all, long time no post.

My picnic didn't happen as the weather was cold and a little wet which would have made for a miserable day. We just had a few friends round instead, but it was nice.

dd learnt to roll over just a few days ago (IIRC all the books say babies roll WAY earlier than this normally)... anyhow, she thinks it is jolly good fun and she can roll onto her tummy and then sit up all by herself. This is very impressive, but unfortunately she does this at night when we put her to sleep and screams when we try to settle her on her back / side. Left alone, she falls asleep sitting up ! LOL.

She has also started climbing stairs, in a very impressive put-foot-on-stair fashion (rather than put knee on stairs) which I reckon is dead flash.

I have some photos I might upload soonish of the last few months.

Hope everyone else is hanging on in there...

Hi Hub - my ds1 never rolled over at all.

ds2 is now taking steps - he can manage about 4 still prefers to crawl and pull himself up onto legs (and take a chunk if he fancies it!) also does a half bottom shuffle on one cheek.

It's interesting how they're all so different.

It is becoming v. difficult to get her to settle in the cot though as she prefers to sit than lie down even if it means falling asleep on her tush ! Maybe we should just let her sleep liek that but tbh it doesn't look very comfortable and can't be good for her digestion etc.

Mine never really rolled over, until they were so mobile anyway that you didn't really notice it, iyswim.

I got DD her first shoes yesterday! Size 3.5! They are so sweet and she looks so grown up.

lovely to hear how well all our little (or not so little any more) ones are doing.

dd has a super-cute new bedtime routine, toddles off to give dp a kiss, then onto ds then heads for the stairs with me in hot pursuit. i must try & video it one day. she says a few words now, mummy, daddy, maxi (ds), didi (milk), bubble, apple & mine .

my dd has just completed her first week of sleeping through from 7pm-7am. I am so pleased that I could throw a party, if I wasn't so busy catching up on lost sleep! It takes a while to get her off, she thinks it's great to sit up after I lie her down, then stand up and bounce up and down on the cot. Then we go through the whole process again until she gives up and falls asleep! I am trying to get her to sleep on her own before ds comes along, but every time I leave the room when she's going off to sleep she stands up and howls. I am losing hope of it working before I drop.
Also- any other babies screaming really loud, just for fun? Or is it just lucky old me?!!! She's not upset, just seems to really enjoy screaming at full volume. I didn't realise that something only 80cm tall could make that much noise!
Still no news on my move- work are really dragging things out and I am losing the will to live- or work, hence this nice long browse on mn!
x

great vocab, hc !

daf - dd doing v. similar sitting / standing in cot in pref to being flat. Real struggle of wills. This afternoon I left her sitting as she wouldn't lie down... I came back later to find her slumped flat over herself - STILL SITTING !!!! Looked pretty funny.

Erm - Can I ask an oddish question... baby girls and buggy harnesses... and baby chairs with crotch supports... and erm, you get my gist... dd continually gives these everyday objects a good rub for quite impressive periods of time... I take it this is v. common, erm, right ? LOL. She's starting to get the odd look when she's out and about. Not sure if we should just be happy for her and ignore the behaviour or attempt to distract etc. Any comments appreciated. I couldn't face starting a thread on it LOL.

, Hub . Errr...can't say I've come across this but when the DSs were this age they ecstatically discovered their "favourite toy" and played with it at every opportunity. At least winter's coming and she can hide it under the cosytoes

I let DD out of the pushchair in the school playground today and she was SO excited. She ran up to everyone she knows and gave them her funny phoney laugh - hahahahahahaha - like that

She's having yet another bad sleeping spell. She has more teeth coming through. I know that really she is a dreadful sleeper who has the odd good night, but it helps me to pretend that it's the other way round.