Graduated Elderberries

[HazleNutt]

It's time to move to Post-Natal clubs.

[janey1234]

He's not as good when we've been away... Him and I went away whilst DP was skiing and he was ok, but not great. He was waking twice a night, rather than the once he wakes at home. Not disturbed enough to put me off going away though!

[janey1234]

Oh and I know... But want to be able to drink at my wedding? Plus don't you show more quickly the second time around?
I think I should start trying in August. Hopefully it won't take too long, but I will be nearly 40 so who knows....

I think you're going to be the first to try for #2 though hazle?

[HazleNutt]

We would like to, but I haven't got my AF back, so it's not likely anything will happen. V still refuses to drink more than a couple of oz milk from any bottle or cup (won't take formula either) , so I don't think I can stop breastfeeding any time soon.

He likes his water and will drink that from both sippy and bottle. But I swear that he actually closely examines the bottles when we give them to him, to see if it's milk or water. That kid knows what he wants.

Yes I have also heard you show sooner, but should still be fine for the first couple of months.

[Cavort]

Annoyingly still no sign of AF here yet, despite BFN I still want it to turn up ASAP. Phone app says it was due yesterday so not quite panicking yet.

And as much as it pains me to admit it, I do feel some pangs of broodiness now. I think it's because E is at a super-cute age now and I am really enjoying playing with her and making her laugh. Any potential TTC is off the cards until we've moved house though, and based on the fact we can't find any houses we even want to view then I think there's a fair chance of the menopause turning up before we manage to move.

Hazle I have a very good eater who takes lots of solids and also BF's during the day and it has made zero difference to her crap sleeping. Admittedly she does only wake once or twice per night, which is fine, but with one of those wake ups usually being 1-2 hours it just seems so much worse.

[HazleNutt]

so cav might be our first with DC2

You're buying or renting?

[CatsCantFlyFast]

Place marking

[Cavort]

We're hoping to buy our first house together Hazle. DH moved in with me after we met so we haven't bought anywhere together yet. I think he's fed up of me refering to him as my lodger.

[HazleNutt]

Ah yes, buying is different. Some years ago, in the spring, we were thinking that in principle, in a couple of years or so, would be nice to have a house. But not any time soon, busy with wedding, DH starting his own company etc. I was just casually browsing the real estate sites - to see what's there, price ranges etc, no intention of even seeing anything any time soon.

Saw the house. Said to DH that this is ours. Went to see it - first house we saw (and pretty much the only one, checked out another just because it was in the same village). Bought the house. Was the same time as our wedding, so were signing and faxing last mortgage papers from our honeymoon.
Still love the house though, so I agree that you have to find the one.

[BraveLilBear]

Afternoon all!

Anyone else finding the night disturbances harder now than way back at the beginning?

H isn't waking up anywhere near as much as he used to - averaging twice a night - but since New Year I've been finding it harder and harder to deal with. I'm so run down that I'm aching all over and feel scratchy-eye tired pretty much all the time.

Just trying to work out if this is a 'thing' or not. Heading to the docs tomorrow to no doubt be greeted with eyerolls and 'you have a 6 month old, what did you expect? ' but we'll see.

Upside, my mum's shouted me an aroma massage this Saturday so that'll be lush :)

Talk of ttcing again is quite exciting :) I think AFs tend to return once baby is night weaned, which health visitors said usually happens around 8-9 months when baby is on 3 proper meals a day... hopefully as V ups his day intakes (and overcomes his pickiness!) AF might make an appearance?

[HazleNutt]

brave actually no, I find it easier to deal with, kind of used to all the wakings. So it might indeed be a thing.
Are you also cold all the time and maybe gaining weight? Could be thyroid then. Or iron deficiency would also make you tired.

[BraveLilBear]

Did think about thyroid but have been losing weight - easily back to pre-preg weight.

Could be anaemic I guess tho didn't lose a lot of blood during birth, only had 2 weeks of lochia and no AF so don't know how I'd have become so.

Will see if I get help or eyerolls in the morning. The best irony is that the appt is at 9. It's a 35min walk. Good job I love a challenge! :)

[Cavort]

Hazle wow, I get stressed just thinking about organising a wedding and buying a house at the same time! But yes, if you spot 'the one' then you just have to go for it. I am just sceptical of finding 'the one' for us in our likely price range I need about a million to spend then I can find tons of houses I like. I think we will have to make some compromises, but moving house is such a PITA so I want to make sure when we do move it is to somewhere we will be happy to live for several years. Schools are also a big factor as we won't know until closer to the time whether we can afford an Independent school so we need to live in the catchment for a decent state school just in case, which narrows our potential search areas quite substantially.

Thinking about it makes my brain hurt so I keep burying my head back in the sand.

[janey1234]

You're so right to be thinking about schools cavort. A really good friend of mine and Alex is having a nightmare trying to move now that her daughter has begun school. I need to figure out our chances of getting M into one of the decent schools near us, and if not, where to move to (and when). Also need to decide whether to put his name down for the amazing independent school my nephew goes to. It's just brilliant and on my way to work. Very expensive but worryingly cheaper than full time childcare.

[janey1234]

Oh and saw Alex and S earlier. A is beautiful and behaved like and angel the whole time whilst M got over tired and moaned a lot

[janey1234]

Damn a and s being next to each other on the keyboard! S was beautiful and behaved like an angel. Alex looked rough and played up the whole time, obv

[CatsCantFlyFast]

I did wonder why you were sounding so appreciative of Alex's beauty!!

[Alexandra6]

really making me laugh! I was a total terror and as for beauty - not with these black bags and puke stained clothes

Would you really go for private school janey? I told DH I'd rather take them to the Maldives than expensive schools - messed up priorities?! The schools thing worries me as primary schools are good in my area but really not so sure about secondary. So I'm burying my head in the sand debating the best time to think about that and plan ahead.

[Cavort]

Alex I was reading the other day that lots of parents these days find it much cheaper to pay a premium on a property in the catchment for an Ofsted Outstanding State School and top up with tuition rather than paying extortionate private school fees.

[janey1234]

I wouldn't do private instead of holidays, no. But was thinking maybe doing both... Although if we do have two that would be bloody impossible expensive...

Realistically I think state primary, then move or pay for private secondary?

Gosh. That all feels very grown up. Think I need to drink wine, eat haribo and watch CBB to feel more myself.

[HazleNutt]

V will go to our local village primary. I personally don't think the academic level of a primary school is that important (although I believe the school is fine) - more important that he makes friends in the village at that age.

[BlearyeyedLol]

How long does the shit stage last in their room???? L was up every bloody hour wanting feeds, cuddles or whatever she could get. This has been going on for a week now and I'm knackered .
All this talk of second babies makes me sad. I am def broody but dh doesn't want another one and at 40 I don't have time to convince him. I guess I should count my blessings!
L will hopefully go to the local catholic school which is one of the best in the country. Only 30 spaces though so there is a lot of competition. Another excellent school - also catholic - about 3 miles away and that will be my second choice. Scary to think of all this!!

[Cavort]

It might not be anything to do with her room Lol, it could just be separation anxiety which apparently develops around 6-8 months. We definitely have some going on here... E keeps bursting into tears when I go out of view. It's lovely to feel wanted but I can't get anything done!

2 days late but AF has finally arrived. I was starting to get a bit worried! So I can feel a celebratory coming on tonight, especially in light of this fantastic revelation. Oh, if I must have another , it's good for my health dontchaknow. What next? Chocolate helps you live past 100?

[Alexandra6]

Love that study! Has made me fancy a nice glass of Rioja!

[janey1234]

M doing the same. Broke his little heart when I went for a pee yesterday...

Loving that article cavort. Hurry on home DP so I can drink wine!

[BraveLilBear]

Am dreading the onset of separation anxiety - especially as it's due to hit around the time I go back to work. Eek!

Got some sympathy at docs this morning and blood tests ordered for next week.

Google suggests it might be a vitamin d deficiency. We shall see!