March 2013 time for shoes!

[Plonkysaurus]

New thread ladies...

What is this madness about going away overnight with a toddler? Not something I've tried, as I doubt she'd sleep (and I can't afford trips away anyway). Daytime visits, we go to my dad's. Reasonably babyproof because she hasn't figured out cupboard doors yet. She still resist the idea that Grandad's table is verboten (so many snuff boxes to play with, and ashtrays and tiny silver spoons and his Nexus). Other people tend to visit me cos it's easier.

RIP Sue Townsend.

stormy keep her away from figuring out cupboards for as long as possible. DS adores cupboards. And has figured out exactly where in one of the cupboards the chocolate biscuits are kept. I also looked down to see him playing with a potatoe. Nothing is safe.
Also, you've reminded me about dentists!! Thank you. I'm going to ring them soon. DS has nearly 17 teeth so it probably is about time.

gerry chocolate cake is totally ok and should definitely be consumed over green tea because you go to the gym anyway so it doesn't count. And please don't tell me otherwise because that is my logic and I need to believe it's true

A lot of you were asking about our crazy nappy off time. Towels on the floor are the answer. And my thinking is, it's only baby wee. It cleans pretty easily. Also, the past couple of times we've had naked running around for about half an hour, we've had no accidents so that's probably why I'm so blase about it. I say 'we', I don't mean 'we', just DS. I remain fully clothed.

eco I've not done a lone overnighter either. Am I right in remembering that you went camping with 12 week old DD?

It's another glorious sunny day here and I'm really enjoying being stuck indoors at work. It's the best.

*potato. Dammit.

Hi everyone, sorry for the radio silence! I was on call yesterday & about halfway through the shift lost my voice and started feeling grotty. I stopped twice on the way home for power naps & I've called in sick today so it's a duvet day. It's my first ever duvet day without the mini one to look after and it would be so much more relaxing if the bloody dog would shut up barking!

Eco I'm starting to fear the away days too, it's so much harder with a mobile baby that empties everyone's cupboards and tried to tie herself up in any wires she comes across! Hope you're ok, big hugs, hopefully once you've found yourselves a place you'll feel a bit more settled and secure. I think you're mega brave in all areas of your life

Gerry great work on the gym, I'm a mixture of impressed and jealous, I've started fantasising about being able to do some exercise!

Wors the babysitting pool sounds like a great idea, why don't we all live a bit closer together?!!

I'm off to kick the dog and make another cup of tea. I'll check back in later and try to figure out who I've forgotten to name check and grovel!!!

My goodness what a lovely day! And we're going to a shopping centre, albeit to fetch the rings.

I've done lone overnight stays but only with family. The last I did was to my sisters two hours away. But we visit Tom's parents a lot, so DS has had plenty of time to get used to the travel cot.

But my god, my sister's house could not be less babyproof. Wood burning stove, slate floor, table with a glass top and sharp edges...the actual overnight was fine but I could have done with tramadol for my nerves. Shot to pieces they were.

Stormy we have lots of cupboard joy here. It's a massive pain in the bum. He spills cat food everywhere and likes to pull the pyrex dishes out. I'm buying more cupboard locks as the only cupboard that's currently babyproof is the cleaning cupboard. suddenly realises the cupboard would actually clean

Worse girdle sounds schexy. Does DH approve? But hey, if it works it works.

Gerry I have made a white chocolate and apricot cake in your honour. I shall think of you whilst devouring it.

Send me some of that cake, Plonk, it sounds excellent.

Another lovely day here too. Sky the colour of a beer garden... DD had to go for her nap a bit early, she's tired herself out pottering round the garden this morning. There's a small hole in the fence between our gardens and the school car park for the cats to go through. DD has yet to notice this hole. And a bloody good thing too, because I'm not sure whether she'd fit through it but I really don't want to see her try.

I need locks for the cupboard under the sink (contains cleaning products, bins, old newspapers, and mouse poo). Also the corner cupboard (pans, tupperware, cheese grater, etc). And the tins, cat food, and cereal cupboard, although I suppose if she were to break into any of them, that one would be best. And drawers too. The cats only get fed meat once she's gone to bed, as she will happily eat it.

Perils at my dad's house include: many cupboards; drawers; beer fridge; recycling box; toilet; hard floors; ashtrays everywhere; old sort of earthenware beer bottles; the tv plus remotes; the aforementioned verboten table; Mum's table (covered in crap again now she's home); and of course Mum herself. I suspect visits over the summer will mostly take place in the garden!

Sure I had more to say, but it's all fallen out of my creaking brain. Oh well.

Dentists, something - I registered us both at one up the road yesterday, and I have to have an initial checkup in a couple of weeks too. The receptionist said bring DD too and the dentist will have a quick and gentle check of her mouth just to get her used to the idea. And congratulations - you only have four more baby teeth to get through! Is it the second molars? They may be a bit horrific.

17 teeth?!? SEVENTEEN??? We have two.

Have discovered that when craving cake, a spoonful of peanut butter (a la worse) and a green tea (which I do actually quite like), does at the very least take my mind off the craving. something your logic totally works if you're not still 18lbs away from a target that has to be reached in 10 weeks time. For me, at the moment, cake is a total no no, even the tiniest slice. My dad is running a beer festival in 2 weeks time and I've just had to accept the fact that I won't even be able to drink beer... Vodka diet coke anyone? :(

Vodka's got calories in, Gerry, sorry. Eighteen pounds in ten weeks is doable though. Difficult when you've already been on the healthy wagon for a while, but doable. If you get to one week to go and still haven't managed it, might I suggest laxatives? You can be carrying a surprisingly large amount of poo around, and that stuff has to weigh a bit. Also diuretics could help. Failing that, borrow an axe. You don't really need both legs, right?

Ooh, or you could shave your head, hair's heavy, right?

And, thinking about it, I always found I'd lost a few pounds overnight after a heavy drinking session and the associated constant weeing. So tell your dad to save some of that beer!

Plonk am I your sister? You've just described our house!

Spoke too soon. DD has figured out cupboards.

Yep you're right eco - I am one of those two things. Guess which!! Just don't want to out myself. Sorry you're feeling blue -can we help?

gerry you've lost loads already then? 18lbs is only just over a stone..right? Good luck but sounds like your willpower is pretty good.

Hay fever has kicked in here- love the sun but it makes me feel miserably unwell at the same time.

betty hope you're feeling better. Did you get some sleep in in the end?

It's the weekend what I wouldn't give for a lie in. Oh ok I'd settle for right hours straight sleep...just jinxed that I'm sure! happy over familiar Friday loves

Eight hours not right!

Well I am tireder than a very tired thing. Ds' sniffle seems to have been coupled with a good old bout of teething, so he's been an utter delight today as you might imagine. All he ate at dinner was a few mouthfuls of risotto, some bread and a petit filous. I feel great about that.

Gerry just 18lbs to go? That's incredible! Seriously well done. I've about 9 pounds to go in 15 weeks, but all my discipline has just facked orf.

Stormy the cake is delicious. See above note to Gerry! It's a Jack Monroe recipe. I might have fallen ever so slightly in love with her.

Pud that house is a bloody death trap! I just couldn't cope with it!

Eco I forgot to reply properly. Our house hunt is in limbo. I said the other day that our landlord's call to say they wanted to sell tore the foundations from under our feet. It feels like they'll be up in the air for a long time to come. I'm sure you understand. How's your hunting going?

I was going to dye my hair tonight and have a glass of prosecco but I think it's a cuppa and early bed for me.

Oh! Big smooches to all on overfamiliar Friday. Mwah!

Hello! How are we all? I am 1ic the baby til later when I get a haircut and a trip to the office. Hope you are all having lovely adventures and that's why it's so quiet...

Finally on the laptop rather than my phone so will take the opportunity to ask a few questions I have been meaning to for a while.

• toothbrushing: we have one of those chewable jobs and he does chew it... not sure its a very thorough clean but trying anything more proactive is not well received and I don't want to traumatise the experience. He only has 4... is this ok?

• car seats: I know lots of you did this a while back. I am finally looking at next stage. Will be erf, but just wondered if anyone had any pros/cons having lived with any brands which would be useful. Particularly looking at Besafe Izi Plus and Axkid mini kid. Poss maxi cos mobi. Rainbow - if you're there, hope all well :) - which was it you went for and how are you finding it?

• feeding: ds now is eating well, as long as it is pretty mushy! But he doesn't like having to use his own spoon, that's what parents are for! Should I be trying to force the issue encourage this more or should i just be grateful that he eats like a horse as long as you shovel it in?

• can I teach him to sit down? just that really - he can't manage it yet form standing, so just cries instead. Sure he'll get there, it's been a big few weeks on the development front here, but it's driving me bonkers!

*Milk: when and how now? We do a bottle morning and night, and I am trying to move to milk with snacks morning and afternoon in a sippy cup, and water with main meals. Sound about right?

Milk sounds fine. Food - don't push it. It's far too easy to create food issues. Give him opportunity to feed himself, and eventually he'll give it a go himself.

He will figure out sitting down soon enough, don't panic. As for teeth, I will ask my sister the dental nurse tomorrow, but I'd be inclined not to fret too much, because it's milk teeth, if they knackered there'll be a replacement along in a few years. DD resists a bit when she's in the bath, but I've found if I sit her on my knee, the angle's better and she's much more amenable. Let him see you brushing your teeth too, and just persist without making a big deal of it.

I have a question too. What the hell is the point of a nicotine patch that won't bloody stay on?!

Plonky you're one of those people who can just cook, lovely things, without effort aren't you?! I used to be. Now I cook scrambled eggs. Very good scrambled eggs I'll have you know, but even I'm getting sick of the monotony.

As for the girdle, DH approves. He has after much coaching learnt to approve of whatever I do. He doesn't often understand but he knows he has to approve

Pud Teeth cleaning is a v quick flick top and bottom here as any more bores her. If it's quick she thinks it's funny. Your method sounds just fine to me.

Car seats we've got the Besafe Izi combi here, and it's massive. I am actually selling my car because it won't fit! It's also a bit of a fiddle being rear facing you have less room to fiddle about, and fiddle about as we all know is something that goes hand in hand with getting a resisting toddler into any form of seat. That said it is very safe, which is why we got it. I can live with the inconvenience if toddleworse is more likely to come out of a bad situation intact.

Feeding: we mix it about here. The tiddler likes her food soft, but will take lumps if it is all lumpy, rather than the occasional unexpected lump in an another wise mashed meal. I feed her the main part with a spoon and give her bits of finger food on the side to eat/play with/throw on the floor and basically do with as she pleases. She enjoys meals now, zero stress, and that matters more to me than her understanding the correct use of a fork and appreciating broccoli.

Sitting - no idea, but instinct tells me he'll get it eventually. There are very few 18 year olds stuck forever in a standing position. Well one assumes so anyway.

Milk is morning, bed time, and with snacks but not meals here. To be honest toddleworse dictates what milk she wants herself and I just go with the flow. I haven't got her to take it from a cup yet which the health visitor assures me is terrible parenting. So I don't tell her any more . Again, I'd rather do things a bit more slowly without stressing dd over it.

As for us, well toddleworse is so well I have completely stopped stressing about her heart, and my lunch out yesterday was the best. You know sometimes you find a friend who just 'gets you' warts and all. My friend is one of those. Found her next door 8 years ago, and hope to still know her when I'm 90. Because I will still be here when I'm 90. Obviously!

Stormy just to add the point of said nicotine patch is to wean you off nicotine extra fast. Is it working?

Pud I'm on my phone so may have to answer in bits as I remember!

We've got the britax max fix ERF seat and I really like it. I actually find it easy to get DD in & out of and she's much happier in it than her previous one. It's isofix and it's easy to move about (although fairly heavy to carry). I tried the izi one that Wors has got but it was massive and even in our huge family wagon I couldn't get my seat far enough back with it in but I am a giant My only regret is that they also do one that rotates and reclines a bit more which was a tad more expensive so I didn't buy it but a friend has it and loves it and I have seat envy. I'll find the name for you. I got it from mothercare when they had 20% of everything so it saved quite a bit.

As for eating you're doing much better than us so I think you're fine. It's not like he won't figure out how to feed himself given time!

I'm still BFing and if I can't stop soon I run the risk of still doing it in the school playground but just morning and night and once overnight and she has water and snacks during the day.

That's all I can remember so I'll have another bash in a bit!

pud we have a Cybex Sirona car seat and it's wonderful. Swivels so can be rear or forward facing but also faces towards door so loading and unloading little one is super easy even if she is not being cooperative. It's also super safe which was my top priority when choosing! Highly recommend it although very expensive.

Don't have any advice on food as did only blw so DD has never seen anything mushed or been fed anything. She is currently in the phase of only wanting things whole though - so has to have all fruit in the original uncut state! Love seeing her with a huge watermelon slice! She also refuses to eat or drink from anything that is different from us so we have moved on to proper plates, shot glasses and espresso cups. Lots of fun and makes eating out really easy now as don't have to take anything with us although have got a few funny looks asking for a shot glass at 9am while out for breakfast!

As for milk still ebf on demand so amount and frequency still varies daily.

We have issues sitting down too - DD thinks she has to climb onto her chair before sitting - gets very perilous!

hope all are well - I have been lurking but life is super busy at the moment!

Rainbow I loved that car seat too but DD is super tall and it's a bit shorter than the britax one so I was going for the swivel britax one and then the skinflint in me took over! Oops.

Pud the britax swivel one is called the dual fix.

DD is the same with drinks as yours, she's now refusing her sippy cup and wants a glass or cup so at the moment we both drink from plastic cups with a straw! Probably not a bad idea though as I'm rather clumsy!

Toothbrushing - we do a quick proper brush with paste in the bath, it's about 3 seconds of brushing and 30 seconds of chewing and then I use the chewable brush in the mornings when I remember which I don't very often

DH and I are off out on our first meal together since DD was born tonight. We're going for cocktails first too and I was mega excited but he's got conjunctivitis and I've got a stinking cold and we're only forcing ourselves out because we don't know when the opportunity will return!

Have fun tonight Betty. Ds has just gone through a phase of refusing to drink unless it's through a straw. Tommee Tippee do a great straw cup, though now he's back to drinking from anything.

He mostly feeds himself so we're enjoying blw at the moment. Yoghurt and cereal are given on a spoon though.

Pud don't worry about teeth, they'll come. He already has two and I think I'm right in saying dentists don't worry until they're two. And the same with sitting, he'll figure it out. Ds is still struggling with the concept and we had a few days of him knocking his face as he went down but he's quickly learnt!

And we have a forward facing Britax car seat, so I'll expect I'll become the pariah of the thread . Truth is I'd have loved a rear facing one, but I was strapped for cash when he needed it and they all pass the same safety test.

Worse I do love to cook. My grandad was a cook in the army and instilled it in me from a young age - he even gave me my first meal, so no doubt it would have been mash and gravy. He used to tell me about the street food he enjoyed when stationed in Korea, particularly the kimchee. Not sure if I'm any good but I give it a good bash and I'm usually preoccupied thinking about food.

So glad dd is well and you're not worried about her heart. Are you still waiting to see a consultant?

Ds has been very off colour for a few days now with a slight temp. I think it's just a cold but I suspect teeth too - when applying bonjela earlier he bit me and I felt the shape of a tooth. Bastard molars. We brush at bedtime but it's a very quick scrub as there's only six. I should really remember to brush after breakfast too!

Right, ds is already in bed so I've got a glass of prosecco and am waiting for the bloody football to finish.

Did you have a good evening out betty? Did you find something non baby related to chat about?!!! Hope you managed to enjoy it despite not bring 100%. We are bug city again here- one after the other it seems!! Lovely DH has done the last two nights though, and got up super early with our little lark!!!

We also have a forward facing seat....we had to get two so couldn't justify £900. Also it came highly recommended and DS loves being able to see us!! (Not that we are a distraction from napping oh no..)

Plonk your cooking sounds lush. Including that cake the other day!!

Have a good day ladies, we are off to the swings this morning!!

Shattered we both felt pretty crummy but despite that it was lovely! We did talk about madam but lots of other stuff too and it was so nice being out together. I can completely see why everyone says you need to spend some proper quality time together. That's the new plan! The little devil must have known we were out though because she woke up all the time and was a starfish in our bed by 2am. Lovely DH got up with her at 6 & I've just sent him back off to bed now.

Plonk I'm coming to yours for dinner, sounds delish!

We're going to get a forward facing for our second car seat because it'll be used for 2 minutes 3 times a week and we can't really afford another £300+.