August 2005 - The One With All The Birthdays!!!

[kate100]

Here we are everyone, a new thread, as promised ready for all these little ones to turn one.

Here's the link to the old thread

Miaou, I was just thinking of doing the exact same thing the other day, so much better than a baby book, as it really does record all of the milestones as they happen.

Another milestone today, ds2's first visit to the dentist. He was ever so good he let the dentist look at his teeth, which his brother never did. In fact the dentist got his first look at ds1's teeth ever today and it was his fourth visit!

We're all set for his birthday tomorrow, but I'm tired, it's hard work having 2 birthdays in a week and DH is thirty 2 weeks today, TOO MANY BIRTHDAYS!!!!! We're having friends round for an afternoon barbecue (DH will be getting in touch with his inner caveman over an open fire ) and people are dropping in as and when. Just hope that his cake is OK when it's delivered tonight.

Let you all know how things went after the party.

What a lovely idea Azure, especially with wooden Noahs Ark figures.

After complaining about ds' behaviour over the last few weeks he has been as good as gold today and yesterday. Feel really quilty now for saying such things

hi all happy birthday to all the los and to queenrollo

I know what you mean about them seeming like teenagers dd has the temper from hell but has done since birth (im going to need armor for her hitting her teens i think!!)

DD got her 1st hair cut yesterday she has a lovely wee bob and fringe now she sat as good as gold but my hairdresser had her son 5 days after dd was born and he was in the shop with his daddy so he was keeping her entertained

Still have a week to go till dds birthday and im so unorganised apart from ordering a cake

some friends had ds for an hour the other day......they have never known such a hyper child. he climbs EVERYTHING!!! and while he's an adorable ray of sunshine, i feel a bit down about it.....i'm surrounded by people who don't understand how i get NO housework done during the day, but now at least these friends understand. they just leave their daughter to play in her playroom while they tidy, and they left ds with her for about 45 seconds and when they went back in he had climbed onto the windowsill.
i have to be near him literally every minute of the day, because he just climbs. yesterday morning i suddenly realised his head was poking over the top of the sofa and he was standing on the tray of his baby walker!!!
because i'm with him every day it's just normal for me, but this has made me realise how much hard work he really is. he's just gone down for a nap and so i've just managed to brush my hair and have a cuppa.
i am worn out..........

Happy Birthday for yesterday QueenRollo I know what you mean, your own birthday is a bit of a non-event when you have children.

I'm having this weekend off, DH is taking the boys to his parents for the weekend and I'm staying home. I feel a bit guilty about it, but I'm so tired, I'm still not properly over my throat infection and I need to rest my voice which isn't really possible with a 3 year old who needs to be told 10 times every morning to put his pants on. Anyway, on Sunday I'm having a manicure and apart from that I have no plans. I know what will happen though, I'll end up doing all the jobs I can't do when the boys are around annd end up more tired than I was before.

I hope the weather improves as we're going on our first family camping trip next week. It won't be much fun if it carries on raining the way it has been, still at least the pegs will go in easily.

DS2 has discovered he can turn the TV on and off, much to the disgust of ds1 who had his Thomas viewing interrupted. He has a real fascination with switches, he loves turning the dimmer switch by his changing table and then turning to see if the light has gone on or off.

Queenrollo, I completely empathise with you. DS is such hard work, though he can do no wrong in my eyes! He immediately goes to the most dangerous thing in any room and I have to be with him the whole time. We are trying to completely childproof one room in the house so that when I am (hopefully )breastfeeding the new baby, DS can get to no harm staying in the same room with me.

Can anyone recommend some cupboard or drawer locks that are stick on rather than screw? We are reluctant to screw locks into all our furniture.

Feeling really nauseous today. DS is away with his grandparents at the moment with chickenpox which is giving me a bit of a rest. 6 weeks to go until due date so believe it or not, the next few weeks will be our peaceful period before those sleepless nights etc - as if a 1 year old son is the slightest bit restful...!

QR you have my sympathies. Although my DS isn't much of a climber yet (althought he tries but is too short!) he's into everything. He's fast and wild and won't let me do things without him. I can't empty the dishwasher without him getting in and biting on my trouser leg as we go along. Or wanting to get picked up. He won't let me hoover and just cries if I try...

Yet... with my MIL he is fine. She hoovers for me and does the ironing and he just sits and plays away happily by himself. Makes me feel like a complete failure!

Tigerlion, only 6 wks left that's gone fast (for me anyway lol!). I'd love to know how the breastfeeding goes with a toddler in the house. it's my biggest worry about this little ones arrival. I'm hell bent on breastfeeding - I fed DS until last month and would hope to do the same at least for the new one. But since DS won't give me a moments peace I'm not sure how it'll go! Someone did advise me to ban all TV a few weeks before baby 2 was due. that way it would be a novelty for DS!

Tigerlion I am completely in awe of you having a new baby in 6 weeks. Do you know whether it's a boy or a girl? It's time for that old cliche - try to rest. As if you can! DS2 is also a climber. When we open the stairgate downstairs he almost squeals with delight as he races to climb the stairs. He's taken about 6 or so steps in one go, so not long until he's walking.

DS2 is also a climber, so I taught him to do the stairs safely. Now he knows what to do and wiggles himself around to come down backwards, saves my back too as he weighs a ton!!

I can't believe you'll have a new baby in 6 weeks Tigerlion, ds1 was just 2 when ds2 was born and I thought that was hard work. At least you're getting a bit of a rest at the moment. My boys has chickenpox last winter and they took it pretty well and came out of it unscathed. Hope your ds feels better soon.

Found some sticky cabinet/ cupboard locks and they are fantastic. They are by Safety 1st and I am so pleased that I will no longer have to worry about DS's fingers being slammed into cupboards etc!

We found out that we are having a baby girl which we are delighted with. She will no doubt be bullied by DS but I am sure that he will look after her as well! He does not have a clue as to what is about to happen and it will be amazing to see how he reacts when his little 'playmate' arrives! It is very strange getting all his baby clothes out of the loft so soon after he has worn them and I can't believe how small those newborb babygrows appear!

I had pre eclampsia with DS and am keeping my fingers crossed that it will not happen with the next birth. I have put off thinking about birth plans etc for a while but will need to scribble something down soon. Out of interest, how did everyone who used TENS machines feel about them? Did they helkp at all?

Hope you all have a fun bank holiday weekend

I have a TENS machine (used it for back pain before baby) and put it on last time. But with me, I was having painful BHs for 3 days and was told I was nowhere near labour. At some point they turned into labour. Anyway, my TENS was on at a few points during that and didn't do any good. You really have to use it from the start of labour to get the benefit I believe. And for me I kept thinking I was and I wasn't so I never knew when to use it!

Personally I wouldn't go out of your way to get one. If you can borrow one or buy one cheap then fine. But I wouldn't spend a fortune hiring or buying one.

Birth plans... I'm getting mine worked out already lol! Hopefully a homebirth so I'm having to think a few things through that will be different from last time. Biggest thing I would emphasise in mine this time would be "wait until I ask for pain relief - don't offer". Last time I was offered gas and air at 7ish cm which I gladly took. I was offered morphine at transition after things slowed down and I took it. Thing was, neither worked well for me and both made me sick. And looking back although I was screaming and exhausted (no sleep for 3 days!) I was coping.

Think about what you didn't like last time and change it this time I say. I'm so excited for you! I went to see a friend in hospital last week with her 3 day old and it was a good thing I was pg when I went in... I was so broody seeing all those babies! So tiny and helpless. So far away from my (albeit small) boisterous DS!

Hi all, hope you had a nice birthday afterall, Queenrollo! Where ds isn't as ambitious as yours he certainly does need observing 24/7, he's in to everything, but his way is very carefully and purposefully, he's a thinker. He loves to remove the sky card but I've made it a novelty for him to try to put it back in ! He loves to pull the pump tubes from the fish tank, if I've left the cat's dish out he heads straight for that, and last week also conquered the stairs ! I just followed him and showed him how to come down. At the top of ours though is just a door in to what will be the upstairs when we get round to developing it, so atm it's very boring for ds, I'm hoping the novelty will wear off soon! After dh being away for 6 days I really look forward to him coming home just so I can do a full hour of housework without any interruptions!

Tigerlion, what wonderful news for you! Do you know what you will call your little girl? I woke with established labour at 1am, went to hospital at 4am, was 3cm, and after using the birthing ball was offered the TENS at aound 6/7am and I decided to give it a go. At 10am I was 7am so I progressed very well, and other than the TENS I just used gas and air, began with that at around midday. I didn't find I got any pain relief from the TENS at all, for me it was a good distraction. I used the boost with each contraction and it just gave me something else to think about to be honest! I think it was quite uncomfortable, so made the contractions appear not so bad! When ds was really making an appearance the mw asked if she could take it off me (I guess the wires were in the way as I was hanging over the back of the bed) and I said no! They managed to whip it off when I was even more distracted with ds's delivery! I hope you manage to avoid the pre eclampsia, and good luck with the breastfeeding.
Ds now only has a morning feed, and I'm so when I think it'll end soon. I didn't think it would affect me this much, losing the evening one was quite wierd.

I'm tring to avoid the cupboard locks...do you think I'm mad? Stupid? Ds likes to haul out the baking trays, which I don't mind, I hand him a wooden spoon and he bangs away, I just wonder will he ever find the cupboard full of Denby? H smashed one of my chrystal wine glasses last week, I had left the sideboard door open, which he couldn't have opened. His favourite toy just now? The kitchen broom! We take our life in our hands if we even try to help him through a doorway with it! The first birthday certainly came with a free temper!
My cousin and her dd came last week, we had a wonderful time, it certainly made me aware of what's to come, she's 2.9- wow I actually have it quite easy just now!

Ds is going to need a 6th haircut before our holiday, I can't believe how quickly it grows thick, he must get it from his dad, I am so thin!

Josey have you heard fo Great Feil Maree? (I think I've got that right) It's a street fayre in Dingwall this Saturday, for kids. It starts at 10am, apparently being opened by Cameron Stout, the Big Brother winner from Orkney! We'll be there as we're through for a wedding dance on the Friday night in Inverness. I'm kind of off the drink atm, my cousin & I drank enough last week to sink a ship...
Have a good week everyone .

Bramblina, I too have an ambition to do housework in peace! We lock just two cupboards. One with the food in it (if it's unlocked DS helps himself to dried noodles ) and the other one has all the fancy china and glass in it. Luckily, most of our kitchen is deep drawers so even though DS can open them, he struggles to get stuff out. Mind you, I still seem to spend a lot of the day putting tupperware, DVDs, plates etc back in!

Can't believe you're onto 6th haircut! DS only has about half an inch all over and still looks bald as it's very fair. I was bald until I was 2 and DH wasn't exactly a hairy baby though.

Hi all
Well some good news at last we have a house!! its just about to start being build so will be moving the turn of the year. Suzi2 we are going to Oldmeldrum did you say thats where you were from?if so any tips on the place would be greatfully received from our hunt about it does look lovely. DD was terribly car sick when we took her there though hope its not a bad sign!

Brambalina i have heard of it though im typically not going to be around this weekend as its my grans 80th and we are taking her away for a suprise family get together.

one thing DD isnt into is opening cupboard doors so im not going to bother just now she has tried to put things down the toilet though so might get the lock for that and ds had a habbit of having picnics to himself out the fridge so may protect the shopping also!!

Thanks for that suzi I will certainly avoid the bloke with the cowboy hat!!! it seems to have kept the village feel, they have just built a by pass which is good as it will cut down on the traffic we are going to be next to the Academy up the hill, hopefully with there being an Academy it will cut some of the cabin fever down when the kids reach there teens-fingers crossed anyway, we had lunch at that activity centre place i cant remember what it is called you can go fishing golfing do archery so on so on-well hopefully it will all be ok and we will settle in well apparently there are alot of newcomers in the estate. oh and i wont find out any scare stories and sell them on mums net

Tigerlion - can't believe you'll have another one in 6 weeks time! And a little girl too, how exciting! (And yes, lots of hard work no doubt!)
Must admit through I'm beginning to seriously think about trying for another now that ds is 1.

It was ds's birthday on Sunday and he had a lovely day. We had a BBQ/teaparty and managed to fit about 35 people into the back garden plus all the babies. The weather remained fine and ds was thoroughly spoilt. He was really well behaved too.

I'm back to work on Monday and have spent the day in school today sorting out the classroom and preparing for the start of term. I was looking forward to it, but after spending the day there today, I'm beginning to dread it and can't see me being there beyond Christmas.

Glad DS had a nice birthday PanicPants, and hope it goes ok back at work. I was dreading going back but it wasn't as bad once I got back there. Having said that, I would love a get-out clause (winning lottery springs to mind). We had a lovely weekend at my parents - it was DS1's 5th birthday on Sunday and we had a nice day at Marwell zoo. DS2 is now walking for about 40% of the time, crawling the rest. He looks like he's drunk when he does walk, and there's a big bump when he lands on his bottom.

Hiya everyone. I am just wondering how you are all getting on with weaning your LO's off of the bottle? I have recently tried swapping one of Missy's bottles during the day with a beaker but she was having none of it! She takes a slurp and then throws it away. It is odd as she has been drinking water and squash from a beaker since she was about 5 months old. Yesterday she got herself into such a state I ended up giving in and giving her a bottle, bad I know!

What would you advise? Keep going with the beaker and if she doesnt drink from it, tough she doesnt get her milk?

Thx in advance x

Ds is now succesfully off his bottles and is now drinking cows milk from a cup all the time.

This is how I did it. (MInd you I had the extra incentive of wanting him off bottles by the time I went back to work)

I replaced his 3pm bottle of formula with a cup of cows milk. The first day he wasn't impressed but I didn't offer anything else at all. I did this for a week. By the third day he took the cows milk from the cup and drank it all.

The 2nd week I replaced his breakfast bottle with cows milk in cup and then last week I did the same with the bedtime bottle.

I was really mean and didn't give in, if he didn't want it then he didn't get anything else at all. It only took him a day or two of grumbling and now he drinks all his cups of milk without any fuss.

I'd stick at it and perservere. They son learn there's nothing else coming so they'd better drink the cows milk while they can!! (Mean Mummy emoticon!)

Oh should have said that Ds has been drinking water out of a cup since 6 months, so I knew he was capable of taking the milk.

I changed DS2's teat to a spout about 2 months ago, so it still looked like a bottle to him. This week I've started him on a beaker with soft spout - after his initial surprise he's getting used to it. He's still on formula at the moment, though.

Thats brilliant thanks PP. Missy has been having cows milk since a week before her birthday and she has always been completely fine with this.

So my problem at the moment is getting rid of the bottle, although I must admit I did give in pretty easily the other day, which is unlike me. I will stick with it and only offer her the beaker. Thanks again

Be mean and just throw them away!!!!!!!!!

(Well actually I put mine all up in the attic, so I couldn't be tempted to give in )

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Suzi, have you been drinking?!?