March 2013 time for shoes!

[Plonkysaurus]

New thread ladies...

Worse I like your approach to weddings! Unfortunately as it's a garden party were going for the DIY approach so eeeeeverything requires my attention. I think I have the seating plan nailed - a must as it could very easily be cliquey. My mums making the cakes so there's a bit of fun tasting there - we've opted for an orange drizzle, a chocolate death one, and, my choice is a pistachio and rose water one.

Happy birthday to the wean!

Thank you for the birthday wishes . The birthday girl has worn herself out so much she has just gone to bed... before 7.30pm... which is utterly amazing and completely unheard off. She has never ever in her entire if short existence gone to bed before 9pm. The secret... less than 1 hour total naps today. It seems there are upsides to dedicated nap refusing.

Plonky your mum sounds like she could give Mary Berry a run for her money. Your cake selection sound really lovely. I decreed we weren't going to have a cake at mine, because... well no idea really, I just didn't want one. I'm kind of grateful to MIL though for rolling her eyes and getting her friend to make one for us. Contrary to my long held belief people do actually like fruit cake, and they can find room for it after a big meal.

I have a whole child free evening ahead of me. I haven't had one of those for a year. I'm at a loss. What do people do with this luxury other than surf MN

plonk you're not awful, it's your wedding and, whoever is paying, you are entitled to steer the day as you wish. Sounds like you have pushed on through and resolved some stuff though. My mum was still with us for the first two months of wedding planning so I know how enthusiastic they can be! si guess it's a prettm big deal your daughter getting married and they want things to be great for you and to help make it special. That's probably where she's coming from right? Fun times plonk, your cake sounds so good I'm going to gate crash.

Rainbow how exciting that you're pushing on with adoption thinking. Good for you.

Stormy how has today been? Stuff getting any less heavy?

happy birthday mini alDan, Betty and worse. Worse I expected a pork pie with a candle in it or a peanut butter sandwich iced with jam.....

Cantturn you're still very much in my thoughts. I guess you'll be considering ways forward round about now.

So, ecoland is ok. Totally fed up with house hunting, the market is too fast for us at present. Ecobaby has slept through for last 11 nights. That's great. My husband and I seem to have a new lease of life. I am however driven potty by fecking routine though. Does anyone else try and do stuff at the same time every day? How do you ever get anything away from house done? I'm turning into a recluse. That's the downside. But dd is very happy, well rested and sweet so it is suiting her I guess. Three more months and we'll be down to one nap so I'll hang tight til then. But anyhow, sleep consultant is the best 200 pounds I've ever spent. I properly love her.

In other news (this is a secret to all else in real life so not facebookable) dh sent me a text yesterday in reply to a photo I'd sent him of ecobaby. It said 'you make nice babies, make another?' I assumed he was mostly joking but when I chatted to him about it asking what percentage was jest he said 0%

Oh, and I made the cocoon for pass the cocoon at the party today. It looks a bit lame

Sit in the bath with a glass of Vouvray reading Worse! In the blissful peace and quiet whilst your dh makes your dinner. Highly recommended!

Eco a pork pie you say? Now why didn't I think of that! Next year...
As for routine, don't be a victim of one. That's my mantra anyway. We do have a routine, but it flexes around other stuff. To be honest the other stuff is what tires her out, so she often sleeps better on days when we've been out and about and everything has gone to pot.

Your DH is right. Now we know what the sleep training has been about

Worse! I'd describe that as more of a by product than the actual aim!

But anyhow, trying before the first is one is CRAZY. Two full stop is CRAZY. IMO! But I'll see whether he works his charms. He must be already because I've actually spent time considering it and the reality of it rather than point blank saying no. That's dangerous talk!

I quite like our routine, but it's very loose. The only thing we do the same each day is bedtime, which is always at 7, after a bath and a bottle. But the babysaurus has a worsening rash on his wee belly, so the bath has to change. I get to have a go at it on my own tomorrow night. Yay!

Oof, a pork pie wi a candle. What a marvellous suggestion!

Worse my mum is loads better than Mary Berry. Seriously, I was a fat kid.

Anyway Eco your baby is so gorgeous, you'd be doing a service to humanity to have another. I love your dh's approach, it's romantic! We've been doing a bit of baby maths lately. Maybe with a view to trying in a year. Although my BFF is currently living the 'stuck all day under a grumpy newborn and stitches aren't healing' phase. Bit off putting but I found myself telling er to make the most of it?! Clearly I've forgotten how hard the beginning is.

Broody? Not me. I sent a friend a list of baby stuff they could have or buy off us today!

Weddings.. Hmmm. Another small quiet not very typical one here so def on the do what you want scale ...

Cantturn hope oncology hospital are coming up with more info and plans. Many good vibes to you all.

Happy birthday mini Aldon too .

Worse happy birthday to Worselet. Glad you're happier again. As a working mum I can attest that last week when DS got a gunky eye and nursery suggested he went to the docs we took him next morning and only went to nursery once got all clear. Conjunctivitis would have been a no no.

Colds on the other hand seem to be derigeur. I have another (still on abs from last one!) and today bought half of boots - special immunity vit supplements, echinacea, some other thing... I am so bored of feeling rubbish!

Happy Birthday Worselet.

I'm bloody knackered so I'll be back when I'm more sociable!

Night all.

Thinking of you still here too cantturn

Happy birthday toddleworse!

DH and I have decided that we will start ttc in the summer. Dd took two years to conceive and whilst I know it may all be super quick this time, we'd both rather a small gap than a big one so the sooner the better really.

Routine wise, we do have one, but timings are a little unpredictable as dd wakes up any time between 6 and 8.30, so on my work days I usually have to get her up. But I aim to usually let her have at least one decent nap in cot a day. If the other is on the move then so be it. Also, if I know she's had a particularly tiring few days then we stay in for as long as she needs to sleep it all off. Having said that, things do change a lot because she is in 3 different houses with 3 different caregivers a week, (me, mum, cm) so probably not much of a routine after all! I do find it restrictive sometimes. Today I wanted to go into town this afternoon. Dd wanted to sleep from 12.30 til 3.15. Usually I would have got her up but she won't sleep much for the next few days, then it's birthday excitement, so I was happy to let her snooze.

One thing I will say, for us, the idea that sleep breeds sleep has always been at the forefront, and has always made the difference. I make sure that, if possible, she gets as much sleep in the day as she wants. I don't know if that's why she sleeps so well at night, but I'm not prepared to change it to find out!! I have a a friend whose little boy doesn't sleep at all. She's just reduced his morning nap to 10 minutes, and allows him only 25 minutes in the afternoon. He's still not sleeping at night though, and I just want to beg her to let him sleep as much as he wants in the day, just for a fortnight, and see if it makes a difference. He always looks exhausted!

A chronically over tired baby is an upsetting thing Gerry :( it's a hard mindset to change. DS is so easily overstimulated that some days we only manage an hour, but if we stay in for a long nap followed by a long walk and big-ish dinner he can probably get 11 straight hours overnight.

Until the last week, at least

Oooh I hope the ttc works quickly for you! Do you feel more confident about it this time? Looking back I can't believe how easily we made the decision to ttc. Now I can't wait to ttc again but it feels so different knowing what it's like to bring home a baby.

Eco have you started ttc yet?

Two wake ups so far tonight. That's a big improvement on last night so I'm crossing everything and I'm off for a quickie with Sir Pratchett. Night all.

Many happy returns worselet!

And talk of another eco? Not for me

Belated happy birthday worse let !

Cantturn how are you doing?

Eco and gerry number two?! we aren't there yet!!

I may be in the minority here but i am not thinking about no 2 yet. Dh isn't either. We don't even have the time and energy to practice. How on earth does someone cope with a clingy toddler and a forever feeding newborn. Saying thay its good that both can grow up together and you get all the baby stages out of the way.

We are a victim to the routine eco ds won't nap elsewhere but his cot. So i would tend to go out in the morning. If he does not have a good nap then we are both in trouble.

Dh has learnt something new. I say jump and he jumps.i admit i have taught him to jump on our bed.

Any walkers yet? It is a whole other stage challenge

Number 2?? I'm a long way off that if I ever make it there, I've got a very strong feeling my family is complete but we'll see what the next few years bring! My cousin's baby was 1 in Jan & her next is due in July, they're thrilled but I would have been horrified!

Plonky we're with you at night, we've been staying with friends for a few nights but the sleep was hideous from the night before we went and it's continuing at home! Excellent timing as I'm back at work for the first time Fri/Sat/Sun for looong days.

Any am I mistaken or was it your rainbow layer cake I saw a pic of on FB? Very impressive!!

DH is off this week and we've found an American diner to go to for lunch and clog our arteries beyond belief....I'm excited!

Oh yes yummy I completely forgot, we have walking!! Madam took her first steps the day after her birthday. It's only 4 or 5 between DH and me but it's definitely the start of things to come!

betty sorry to hear of your disrupted sleep. Do you think the bad nights affects how you feel about another? I know that it does for me. I am so conflicted about it. DH really wants more and I would quite like DD to have a living sibling but just feel like I'm getting some of my life back and can't imagine it all being turned upside down again! American diner plans sounds fun - we have been a few time to one that does food challenges - some people's food capacity is seriously impressive! Yay to first steps too!

Just a to you all today. Happy for those of you considering baby number two, it's just making me feel a little sad that there's no dc2 on the horizon here. On the plus side, I'm still young, and I'm obviously not hideous (if the receptionist bloke at the hospital checking me out on Friday is anything to go by). So who knows what the future may hold?

Rainbow the disturbed nights definitely have a bearing on it. I just can't imagine ever choosing to go through this again despite every second being worth it. It's a strange one. The diner was amazing in that it was very very American & had a full size yellow school bus inside, great service and good milkshakes but the food didn't love up to the surroundings I don't think. We may have to try the desserts one day though just to make sure!

Stormy I would be very surprised if you don't end up having another one day. You have intelligence, integrity and a great sense of humour, there's no way you'll be alone any longer than you want to be. It's sad that this relationship doesn't work but as long as you're doing the right thing for you & DD & keeping things civil (which you're doing with such dignity) you'll be fine.

DD has just gone down for a nap so we're off for a snuggle with the dog under a blanket on the sofa with a few episodes of the West Wing.

Why have they messed with MN? What's all this sign in with google or facebook rubbish. I don't want to page to the top to login normally. Neither do I want to log in through some other channel. Techie people just have to meddle don't they.

Stormy and Rainbow you've years yet to add (or not) to your families, so you've got time to enjoy your dds now, and maybe have another later. Me I have neither time nor helpful biology on my side, which is kind of nice in a way as it equates to zero angst over decisions. If a miracle arrived it would be just that, a miracle, and very welcome... but if it doesn't I might feel a teeny bit relieved not to have to do the toddler/baby combo thing . All credit to those that do, but the sleep deprivation must be a killer.

Speaking of sleep, last night wasn't at all bad considering. After her fantastically early settle she woke at 1am for water, and a cry, and then coughed and coughed for what felt like forever before settling back down and sleeping through to 7am. The sleep has done her good though as she seems a lot better today, and has napped normally.... for once. I'm choosing to ignore the week 55 wonder week threat as it feels like we are just getting back on an even keel after 6 months of sleep regression.

Eco I'm taking your absence as an indication of a very good night

Betty steps! Yay!!! We had step, singular, does that count? . I suspect not but I'm fairly sure DH will be telling people in years to come that the toddleworse (thank you Gerry for your excellent renaming choice) walked well before her 1st birthday....

Just found out today DH has another week away with work and a stag weekend coming up. Pants. WIBU to book myself on a week away on his return so that he really gets the reality of 24/7 sole responsibility

There's a post in Site Stuff about the new log in, worse. As for the week off, do it! It'll do you a world of good.

The man's decided not to come and see DD as he's been throwing up. So I'm enforcing the 48 hour d&v rule. Based on past experience he's unlikely to have a bug, he'll just have coughed so hard he threw up. Maybe should've bothered to take his antibiotics during the three weeks off work that lost him his job?

Oh dear. Looks like I've got a poorly baby on my hands. He was a bit croaky this morning but ate his breakfast nicely and seemed happy. But after fetching him from nursery tonight he was quite clearly ready for an early bedtime so he's been asleep since 6.

I'm bushed! Early night for me too I think.

Snap Plonky. Got a call from nursery at half four to say his temp was 39.2 and I'd need to collect which I did while dh arranged docs visit. Calpol and a watching brief for now thankfully, poor poppet.

Must be something in the water, temperature of 39 this afternoon here too and a very miserable little girl. Luckily calpol and nurofen are coming to the rescue, just hoping she sleeps now as I'm sure she needs the rest after a day of rubbish naps.

I've not tried the doctors. He was ok at nursery, a bit quiet but seemed happy to play on his own. Fifteen minutes after we got home he had a rather heartwrenching meltdown - Pud, I now know what it's like to witness a baby cry when they have no voice. I gave him a quick wash and his rash has spread further, so I think we'll be seeing a doctor tomorrow.

I couldn't find our thermometer in such haste. Bad mummy points amundo in this house.