December 2012: Now they're all 1

[Barbeasty]

We needed a new thread!

I cuddled him to sleep again in my bed. He usually just stays with DP once a week but with me being away for work it was 3 days this week and then with a friend's birthday he also stayed at my mum's one night, which has really upset him. I'll spend lots of time with him this week and DP has agreed that next time I'm away with work (for 5 days unfortunately) he'll stay here with him so there is some stability for him.

I feel like such a shit for going away on top of all the other stuff.

willyou please don't beat yourself up - none of this is your fault. You are doing the very best you can for him, and maintaining a decent job is part of that. Change and uncertainty is difficult for everyone but inevitable. He may be upset about it but you are reassuring him that you are there now and love him, and he will get used to you being away sometimes. It's good that dp is agreeing to stay at yours. Does ds have any kind of comfort toy? If not, it might be worth trying to introduce one which acts as a permanent and portable piece of comfort and reassurance. Choose something and sleep with it between you for a few nights so it acquires a special blend aroma!

No he doesn't we have one of those teddy with a blanket things that I put in bed with him every night, but he's really not arsed about it. He's never been into cuddly toys/muslins/dummies.

Shame. If it's any comfort to you, my dad left when I was 1 and we had no further contact. My mum was on her own with no family support, a full time job and 3 dc so she was spread pretty thinly. There were times she worked long hours and I was sad and I missed her but I always knew that she was doing it all for us and she was my hero for such a long time. We've always been very very close and I'm sure that the 'grit' my brothers and I have is all down to her providing a hard working, sacrificing for the greater good type role model. Hugs, wine and Easter eggs for you my love.

I have had , now it is time for sleep. I'm not even going to shift DS to his bed. He can stay with me and snuggle. I wouldn't swap my life for the world because he's in it. Not even at the minute when it's a bit shit.

Poor you WillYou I was going to suggest dp stating at yours when you're away, glad he's going to. It will get better. Ds is the same re comforter the nurse was really shocked he didn't have one when he had his op, I've been trying to give him a monkey but he just pushes it away

It's chucking it down here and I have to leave at six with both dc. I hate rain.

Willyou WL is right you can't blame yourself for everything that has happened/ is happening. If you have to go away with work that's a bit shit but it's work you're not exactly off on hols without DS!

It's just change for DS but kids always adapt!

My DS has a taggie blanket- and he now likes blankets with the satin trim- he likes to rub labels. And his sleeping bags are his sleep cues- does DS have one?

Thank you for all your comments. its turns out H has somehow got a blister on her foot. It has popped now and she is back walking normally. I'm taking her back to get her feet remeasured now though. I can't see how it would be her shoes though as she seems to have plenty of space in them.

Willyou I hope your okay and that you got some sleep. I can't imagine how hard it is for you and DS. I know it's hard now but soon you will both be settled into new routines. And as for feeling guilty for going to work I think one day he will truly respect the fact you did.

Stacks do I have the female version of T? I think it's down to teething at the moment though. I cannot wait for these last 4 teeth to come through.

willyou I hope you managed a decent rest in the end.
hales it could be from the seam of a sock or tights that just sat awkwardly and rubbed. Glad it's popped and feeling better now though.
How could I have been so stupid as to say Ts sleep was settling down? We had the dreaded awake for 2 hours for no reason in the night last night. She would lay down and seemingly settle but 10 mins later shout out again. Not crying unless I didn't go to her, just shouting out.
She's fast asleep now having done some major puddle wading with dd2 - both required full outfit changes, including knickers!

Hales glad that the cause of the limp has been discovered, if not the cause of the cause iyswim..

willyou I don't have much advice but wanted to say we're thinking of you.

Feeling utterly grim today - ds went down happily for his nap so I got an hour's work done, but when he woke up was just sitting in the cot crying, which is unlike him. Gave some milk and he's fallen back asleep in my arms and I don't have the heart to put him down and feel awful anyway, so we're having cuddles on the sofa and I'll have to work late tonight...

Hales does she always wear socks/tights with her shoes, and are they tight enough? It could be that they were a bit loose and so rubbed.

WillYou nor sure that I've any real advice, but I hope things settle down for you.

We went to Wookey Hole today. A loved their mirror maze. He got the hang of it really quickly and instead of bumping into a mirror he stumbled over thinking one would stop him.

Hales I too get blisters if I wear tights with shoes that are a tiny bit big.. A good way to stop them, for me is to put 8hour cream on my toes/ heels as the shoes then slide on the 'greasy' skin- no friction so no blisters.

Ts speech is coming on now and she's making a recognisable (to me!) sound for dd1&2 - they are so thrilled. Dd1 was excited to see her after school and played with her for ages - I guess she missed her being back at school! To the amusement of everyone I asked T tonight 'who's a toad face? (Term of endearment I promise!) obv meaning T for last nights shenanigans and she answered man-mar (her word for grandma!)

Ds still doesn't say anything at all

arghhhhhhhh this child is the devil reincarnate! I have never shouted so much the as I have the last few days. I feel like every sentence starts with No, H, don't headbutt your cousin or slap her or pull her hair and definitely don't pin her down and hurt her. No don't hurt me either. No don't pull the neighbours cats tail it will cry and no it can't Man Up! No H, don't throw that glass which quickly swopped to No H, do not stand in the broken glass. H, keep away from the poo which has just exploded out of your nappy. Stop snatching, Stop screaming. Stop bouncing off every wall in the house. No don't pull all the tins out of the cupboards.

My sister is convinced she's going through a growth spurt and that's what's causing her to misbehave. I hope it ends soon for all of our sanity.

Beasty your Dd is hilarious

WL, yay for T, learning new words.

Utopian I hope your not working to late tonight.

Maryland it could be the tights, as they always sag down.

Hales it sounds like a developmental thing to me- rule breaking and testing boundaries etc- seeing how she can get your attention! Do you have the wonder weeks app? I find it helpful to see what's coming in terms of new behaviours and how they fit in for their next bit of development :)

Oh and "everything is a phase" and repeat. This is the only thing that saves my sanity I think knowing it won't last forever!!!

I'm with you Hales, stop hitting the telly, stop punching me, let go of my hair, no, No, NO, NOOOOOOOO! I'm fed up of the sound of my own voice!

DS said mumma today to me in context. Normally he says mummy to me or "D"P for a cuddle when he is upset and daddy to either one of us when he's happy. It's like he knows when I'm at the end of my tether and reins it in a bit! He also went to bed at 7:45, yippee!

He had 3 nose bleeds in 2 hours at nursery this morning and wouldn't eat anything at all for them. But he ate a full fish cake, mash and broccoli for me so I'm not worried. Think he's just got a cold.

Could be a growth spurt hales - physical or mental. She's just testing cause and effect etcetera rather than trying to hurt people but I know it can be so so tough. Dd2 is still alternating between heart meltingly lovely and ear split tingly rage inducingly awful. Def repeat the phase phrase! I know it is utterly exhausting though.
spotty try not to worry about speech just yet. T is physically much more advanced than dd1&2 were at this age but her speech is slower. However, she is very very good at making her wishes known - perhaps more so than dd1&2 were. His understanding is all there which is the biggest thing.

Hoorah for 'mumma' willyou

Maryland, I haven't got it, is it something you would recommend? I'm mostly laid back about what's coming but stressed out when it arrives ha.

FX everyone gets a good sleep but H has been up twice so far so not looking good here.

DS is burning up so not looking great here either!

Ohwillyou, you just can't catch a break. i don't know what to say either, but I hope things get better for you soon. It sounds like you're doing everything right.

Another challenging baby here. She also alternates between 'what a gorgeous child!' and 'what a ratbag!' She's had a cold which means she hasn't napped well (wakes up coughing) and looks pretty groggy poor thing, plus her canines are on their way. What joy! She has developed an affection for the television which worries me, but we only watch about 20 mins per day (if that) so I shouldn't be too concerned. I just wish I could put it away so it doesn't tempt her!

Scraped my car getting into the carpark today. So furious with myself. I bloody hate that car. We test-drove another on the weekend which does that amazing self-parking business. I want that one!

Spotty, don't worry about speech. My friend's son is 19 months and not talking, but he's a great communicator. And a great runner. I did, however, quite enjoy C grabbing at her nappy the other day and saying 'poo!', albeit with the weird French accent she adopts to say it. 'peuuuh!'

Hope j is ok WillYou.

Dd has only just got up which is nice. Dd's back at nursery today after three weeks so I'm going to make a big batch of bolognese in the slow cooker.

Ds doesn't really try my patience unlike dd he's quite easily distract able and isn't rough or anything. He does like to pull hair but he's usually extremely happy just pottering around in girls shoes

Willyou I hope J is ok.

I've just got back from doing a summer clothes shop, I brought all size 2-3 as my DD is huge and I'm hoping they last abit.