June 2013 Commando crawlers vs Baby slugs

[SunnyL]

Hi all - the old thread was about to run out so I started a new one.

Little Miss was up to mischief last night. Thankfully it's DHs day off today so he took her into bed with him while I slept in the spare room. She is just so excitable when she wakes up at night. It can can 90 minutes to scrape her off the ceiling.

Polly was a bit like that for nearly a week. I'm not PFB in the slightest and reluctantly took her to the doctors in the end. He told me she was fine, no crackles on her chest etc. Wish I hadn't bothered!

On the muffin front may I recommend making them with feta at some point. Lush lush lush:-) Also no idea why scones aren't in the book. Cheese scones are perfect finger food. 225g self raising flour, 55g butter. Rub that in. Stir in 100g cheese. Then 150 ml milk. Roll out and cut. Or just roll into fingers. Is ace! Bake at 220 degrees for 15 or so mins.

So we're on our fabulous spa break sans baby. I've just notched up 9.5hours sleep amd feel amazing.

Just clicked on Facebook and see a pic of Lily at her grandparents standing unassisted. Flipping STANDING!!!! I immediately freak out and start getting upset about how grownup shes getting and how I've missed her big development step by going away for one night. It's only then that they admit that my git of a BIL photoshopped it to wind me up .

Jesus ladies I about had a heart attack

I got given The Busy Mum's Cookbook for Christmas but I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, which I think is highly ironic

Sunny have to say that did make me chuckle! Families are lovely at times aren't they!

Was looking thru a catalogue earlier and suddenly realised this time last year I didn't know which variety of colours I'd be needing, what size they would be and starting to deny that labour had to happen.
I now have an almost 10 month old little lady, with a shocking amount of pink clothes and still slightly wince at the memory of birth.

Brilliant, Sunny!!! That made me laugh!

That's very funny Sunny

Bean, I think you're right about the gp. DS is still iffy but slightly better. All the dr would say is keep doing what you're doing. So I am.

Anyway, for possibly only the second time in his life, ds has gone to sleep in his cot. I wish I knew what I'd done but rather unhelpfully, I lay him down, came back 5mins later and he was asleep. He's still in a sleepsuit which maybe helps??

Sunny, that's rather mean of them!

so I'm feeling a little deflated, I had a meeting with work 2 weeks ago and made a few requests, I went off working 3 days a week in a job share, but my 'other half' went full time when I went on mat leave. She wants to continue with that. My HR manager was really open to discussions about where else I could go, and open to me taking some unpaid parental leave until September, as I explained until DC1 starts school (in september) I'll make a loss. I chased her up today for a response because she said she'd get back to me in a week, and it's no to starting back later, it's just a float role as they have no role for me to do.

Just feels a little like they were hoping I wouldn't come back. I find it hard to interpret it any other way when they made the other half of my job share's role full time without ensuring there was actually something for me to do.

And the refusing the extra time off hasnt been explained at all, just "you are due back on the week starting 26th May" - I can't help thinking that as they know I'll be making a loss, they are hoping I'll just quit.

Financially, we can cope without my wage. Really considering being a SAHM now, at least for a year or so, no point doing a job where I'm not wanted and not doing anything interesting with my time, particularly with childcare eating up the bulk of my money. We really would only be about £200 a month better off with me working than not (when you allow for school holiday cover costs). But then, I've always worked, other than mat leave. Feels a bit scary to have no job...

sorry, that was rather a brain dump!

Mary, is what they have done legal? Don't they have to keep your job open for you? How long have you been on mat leave? Will it be the full year?
I suppose its maybe fair enough that they aren't allowing more than 12 months off, but the role you go back to should def be at same level and t&c as your current role.
Poor you; sounds stressful.
I'm in a weird place too - was made redundant last month while on mat leave so nothing to go back to...

Well, officially, if you have more than 6 months off, theyhave to only give you an equivilant role - and they are claiming a float EA is the same as a dedicated EA role. Except, there's not enough work for true floating (as in, being an internal temp), possibly over July August, but not year round, so for the majority of the time, it'll be office junior work, except paid very well for the work, which always a risk if you know you are overpaid for what you do, you're the most obvious to go if they need to cut costs.

I think they are on very shaky ground legally.

I need to do some thinking to decide what I want to do/say.

Might be worth getting some legal advice from an employment lawyer. The part about your job share is definitely dodgy - it's neither here nor there if she 'wants' your half of the job. It's your job! When did they have this discussion with her and why are her preferences dictating what happens to you?

Mary, you need legal advice ASAP as the clock is now ticking if you need to do something about this (tribunal). I'm not convinced what they've done is legal at all, but I don't practise Employment law.

In other news, Amy is trying to pull herself up and is getting about on her one quite well. She can thereabouts stand unaided too! Looks like she'll be attempting walking soon.

My 20 week scan is tomorrow at 20+6...nervous! I'm seeing the consultant too, so will confirm I want an ELCS this time. Just hope everything is ok. Still can't believe I'm having number 2.

Oh, and we've got to move house. Our rented house was sold to a buy to let bloke who wanted us to stay here, but he's pulled out so it's back on the market. We can't risk staying and being given notice to leave after June really, so we are looking to go in May, probably. Frustrating.

Ugh Mary, sounds frustrating. I hope you can sort something out that works for you.

Mrsbri hope all goes well at the scan and appt. Amy and Violet could have a furniture surfing contest - although it gets a bit shaky when Violet lets go to clap.
Rubbish timing for the move, but like you say, better now than at seven months. Do you think you'll be able to stay local to where you are? How's work going?

I've done something to my shoulder, which really isn't helpful for carrying, picking up etc. the pain literally feels like my shoulder is ripping apart. Not sure if it's worth a trip to the docs if all they say is rest it...

Hmmm Mary I'd be v concerned with that option too. There are some helplines you can ring to get some advice. Are you part of a union too? I think they often give you legal cover too.

Yep Lily learnt to crawl on Friday but has already decided that it is not quick enough so is trying to stand and walk. I've a horrible feeling my house is going to be destroyed in the next few weeks.

Good luck with your scan Mrsbri. ooh it fair takes me back to that time. It was lovely to see them. Just don't drink too much water if there are lots of potholes round your way. I just about wet myself at my scan.

Good luck today, MrsBri! Doesn't seem long since last Feb, and the 20-week scans for our babes!

I think I do need to get some advice...

Good luck MrsBri - I can't believe you're going through all that again so soon!

Mary, firstly I would ask for an explanation of the no to unpaid leave. You are certainly entitled to unpaid parental leave unless a good reason is given though that's only four weeks. I would then ask for details of the exact role they anticipate you undertaking. Make your point about there not being enough work over the summer to back up your repeated request for unpaid leave. Ask who you would need to escalate your request to and emphasise you are unhappy.

As to being a SAHM, is this for you? It wouldn't be for me, but it's all personal choice, and not necessarily linked to what you will earn. If you SAHM now how will you get back in etc? Is it a career job or something you don't really care about?

MrsBri hope the scan went well.
We have our 12 wk scan next wk.
Sorry I've not been on for a while, pretty manic this end. Ds has been pretty poorly, bad sickness bug that has lasted what seems like forever. He's still pretty poorly tbh but much better than he was.

Some more advice ladies. I seem to recall one of you was a bit mental enthusiastic for dogs and had 7. How do you stop baby from chewing the dog toys?? I've got a horrible feeling she is using the dog as a role model at the moment. She keeps fixating on the dogs toys, sticks them in her gob and crawls around the floor looking strangely canine like. I don't want to hide the dogs toys as she's already had enough disruption the last 9 months.

What do I do??

Glad the scan went well Mrsbri. So exciting, but so very very scary too!!

Sunny, you make me laugh. I have no helpful words of wisdom but am just chuckling at the thought of your lo following the dog round. Here we just have issues with E eating any shoes she can lay her hands on, and the dirtier the better.

Right hoping for a better night tonight. 2 hours last night awake coughing (me not the baby) and this evening she seems to be coughing quite a lot. At this rate we'll all be up all night...

Fabulous mental image, Sunny! Was it maybe Pinkbear or Pinkapples who had multiple dogs?
No advice to offer but if anyone can advise on how to get the kid to stop bothering the cat 24 hours a day then let me know.

Only two dogs here! mental enough already we too have the same issue. Especially the chews. Both dogs look quite confused when dd beats them to it. No helpful advice I'm afraid, I do try to put them outside with toys so they can have 'free play' rather than having a little one to be careful of or having to hide their toys.

They are however wonderful hovers when the food lands on the floor

Our cat has taken to high places, and only goes near the child if she's feeling brave. She's very patient considering the ear pulling that happens.

And shoes, slippers, laces all get a good tasting here as well.

If I'd known all the above would have provided sufficient entertainment I'd have far less plastic, musical toys for her!!

Yes I'm considering telling relatives to give up on Toys r Us for her bday and send them to Pets at Home instead. Two birds with one stone and all that.

I am quite glad though our cat met his demise just before she was born. He was a bad tempered little shite bag who would have mauled the baby given half the chance.

We've had a fabulous couple of days here. DH and I are on holiday this week but since we're already paying for nursery we've continued to take her up. Yesterday we went skiing for the day and it was glorious sunshine and great snow. Today we've been kayaking and although it was drizzling there were some lovely rainbows. No nursery tomorrow so we think we might go to the zoo.

That sounds nice Sunny. Am enjoying a quiet hour here will E sleeps and S is at nursery. Mostly tidying/packing as off to stay with my parents tomorrow while DH is still off on his work trip.

So, is 9 months too early to be a fussy eater? With DS it was easy, he ate absolutely everything. E seems to be a bit choosy. Wolfed down a whole bowl of cubed squash last week, today, would not touch it. Loved strawberries till she tasted a blueberry and now rejects all other fruit. Gave her a selection of things to try today and all rejected, but she sees my sister eating peanut butter on toast and tries to grab that, then given cubes of that will just eat that. It drives me insane. Do I keep just offering her random differnent things in the hope she eats something or let her exist on her chosen diet of blueberries and toast?

Aloha I just keep offering random things (whatever we are having). Some goes in and some goes on the floor but I'm sure in time it will improve. Dd definitely has favourite things but I don't give her these every meal even if it means she has eaten very little!