March 2013 - we're gonna need a bigger wine rack

[Plonkysaurus]

Ta da!

Morning ladies. Just saying hi and will catch up properly later. I went to Brussels for a couple of days.Ds had his first holiday abroad. He loved it but it was very tiring. Ds still decided to wake at 6 this morning.

Now I have to get ready for work. Have a nice day.

We had a 6am wake up call this morning too - and I didn't sleep at all last night, despite DD sleeping like the proverbial.

Feel like a zombie but have to go shopping with the MIL - if I don't leave her stranded in town, it'll take every lasy piece of restraint...

eco I came across this article about full term breastfeeding and breastfeeding culture in Mongolia and thought you might be interested in it www.momzelle.com/blog/2009/12/breastfeeding-in-mongolia/

How do these 6am wake up calls go then? Fartypants often wakes up around then. I ignore her. She chats to herself and plays with her toys for a while, then she goes back to sleep. Do Anytoddle and Yummy Junior not do that?

So far for my birthday, I have four cards (three birthday, one graphics), a framed picture of me and DD when she was tiny, and the curse. Also some peace and quiet, which is not to be sneezed at!

stormy I leave ds to play in his cot and he chats to himself too. The issue is I can't go into a deep sleep knowing he is awake. It is the anxious parent in me. I lay in bed for about 20mins before he decides he is bored.

Happy birthday stormy!

The curse, Stormy? I'm trying to imagine what that could be but all I can think of that you're either on your period or you've woken up as a pirate.

For now I'm happily imagining you with a peg leg and a parrot on your shoulder.

Happy birthday, all the same!!

6 am here usually means getting up. If he's already slept 11 hours there's no chance of him going back to sleep.much like me, ds is a lark and will not be settled by ignoring, milk or toys in the cot. Ideally we get up at 7. I keep dreaming on 7-7 sleeps.

I ran for 1 mile straight today without stopping so I'm feeling rather full of myself . Now the trick is to not venture into the bakery when I go to fetch ds.

DD wakes at six, latches on and then we cuddle and snooze till 7-7:30am when she starts to stroke my face, beep my nose and put her face to mine grinning. The best alarm clock ever!

Happy birthday stormy!

Happy birthday stormy The curse sounds frightening. I also hope it's pirate-related.

eco It feels like you asked me this years ago but, we did get a puppy. A beautiful, little springer spaniel. He'll be coming home in 4 weeks when he's 12 weeks old. He's so squishy and perfect

As far as words go here, we used to have row, row but he's now decided to stop that in favour of "rerrrrrrrr". He says "no" while shaking his head so that must apparently be something we do a lot here. He knows how to get what he wants though. We too had an early start here which meant that DS and I had to share a shower/bath; he made it very clear that he wanted the plug in so, once I'd unhooked it from the tap, he put it in, then pointed to his toothbrush while saying "uh uh uh." At least I know what he means. I usually leave him to play in his cot until it's mummy's wake up time but I was up today anyway.

No childminder today because of the pox. I say the pox, what I mean is, the pretend pox. 5 days ago, DS got a total of 6-8 spots and no more but CM wouldn't take him today "just in case".

I am now completely redundant at meal times. DS takes the spoon and fork and smears food all over his face, and if I try to help by trying to put some in his mouth, he has a meltdown. So, meals are very messy now.

Hope dolitoddle's heart scan went well doli and enjoy the wedding!

Happy birthday Stormy!

Happy birthday Stormy and hello Doli how'd it go?

Happy Birthday Stormy . What do you mean toddlestorm wakes up and chats to herself before going back to sleep again??? This is a concept I do not understand. I understand: wakes up, chats a bit... chats a bit louder... tries an introductory yell, and then screams for attention.

Dolitoddle's scan went really well, which is a relief. She has two small holes in her heart, but these will not affect her health or life in any way, and do not require any treatment. Other than annual scans, there is nothing we need to do about them. I guess that means it's back to the dreaded nursery soon! Well not too soon. I kind of like having her toddling about the place. Most days.

Having a slight crisis of conscience today as I have seen a job I'd really like, and am actually qualified for. Just a temp contract, but the pay is fab and it would be a great way of kick starting my CV. It would mean putting the tiddler in full time child care, which given I would be at work at nursery drop off and pick up times, and do not have any family to help out would realistically mean a nanny. I've always said I'd never get a nanny. I would also miss her terribly. DH would like me to stay at home but knows better than to have an opinion on this iykwim. I would love to get back out into the world, but.... Hmmmmm

doli we have a nanny and she is brilliant. Follows my instructions to the letter and as a result basically parents DD the way I would. I would definitely recommend it as a childcare option. Having said that I am always in the house working from home and I think I would feel differently if I was going out to work everyday so it really is a tricky one. Really pleased to hear the heard scan went well - must be great to have that weight off your mind.

something I recommend embracing the mess of mealtimes and occasionally having non-messy food for a break! DD finally seems to be learning to use her fork and spoon properly so things are getting less and less messy which I am grateful for although anything containing tomato or berries is always messy whether utensils are used or not! We still have a massive oilcloth slashmat on the floor which is saving my beautiful floors!

Great news then Doli. So glad to hear it, you must be so happy!

Re nanny...well I would bloody love a nanny! I think if you can afford one then it's probably the best form of childcare you can get. You don't have to worry about missing out on toddler groups etc because nanny can do it all. She can work to your hours. If dolitoddle is poorly nanny will still be there. If you are poorly nanny will be there. And no having to get dolitoddle up and dressed and raring to go at silly o'clock before a long work day.

Fwiw my mum basically got a nanny when I turned three and started school. Up til then I was at the childminder but she retired and mum was in the same conundrum you are. When DSis and I were at school during the day she ran errands for my mum and also helped out in their office, and did all school runs. She even tried to run in the parents race on sports day, but considering she would've only been 28 (and in fantastic shape) at the time it was considered cheating.

Good news about the scan doli. Glad to hear all is well.
If you can afford a nanny go for it. At least dd will be cared for in her home environment. Saying that every childcare option has negatives and positives. Do what you feel is right for your family.

something meals here are messy too. Ds is getting better at using the spoon but is determined to independantly use the spoon.

We now have a new phase. Anything ds gets hold of is thrown out of the window. I have a rebel on my hands.

Oh bugger.

Ds has been difficult to settle the last few nights, and fighting bedtime for a good hour each night. When we'd finally gotten him off to sleep I picked up my now cold dinner and thought 'poor teething baby', because teethings such a handy catch all. DP then asked if it could possibly be a wonder week.

So I looked in the book. And what did I find?

Doli you've made my day with the dolitoddle news. As for the job. It's a tricky one. I'm considering going full time from September, depending on whether I get my dream role which my insiders tell me is being advertised next week. I know I love working, I'd be going from 3 to 5 days as opposed to 0 to 5, and I get 13 weeks holiday a year. Yet I'm still terrified of the idea. I can't imagine how daunting the thought must be. When you say temporary, how temp? A few months? A year? Would your professional conscience stand up to quitting mid contract if it didn't work out for you?

I guess you've got to ask yourself what you would regret more- missing the opportunity to reignite your career, or missing the time with dolitoddle right now (am I right in assuming the plan is not to work full time forever, but as a stepping stone toward finding something part time?) what's the reason behind the no nanny thing? I think if we could afford it it would be my childcare of choice. Mainly for the reasons listed above, especially the one about not having to get us all up and out of the door for 7! Actually- spend the days with your beautiful daughter in your beautiful house? Do the dogs need walking too? Scrap my job, I'll do it! (I'm aware that's the second time in a week I've shamelessly begged for a job... Do you think I might be ready for a change?

Our day started at 4.50 today. FOUR FIFTY!!! Do I win? I have no idea what happened there, it's usually sometime between 6.15 and 6.45. It wasn't as tragic as it sounds, DH is up at 5 anyway and my alarm goes off at 5.30, but it didn't half make my morning complicated having her around. Then she only had an hour's sleep at granny's, and that was this morning, so you can imagine how much fun bedtime was here. Can't believe that only 3 months ago she was tending to sleep for 13 hours overnight and 3 hours in the day. Think it might be time to buy some thicker curtains...

Happy birthday stormy! Although I fear this might be too late, I hope you're at the pub and, if reading this, seeing it at least twice, if not thrice!

Off on a hen do this weekend. First nights away from dd, I'm excited and nervous in equal measures. She's at a funny stage at the moment where she seems to save all her whinging for me, and then is clingy and cross with me in equal measures. So it could be interesting for DH. Who, incidentally, has asked for written instructions. Is it just my beloved who still needs this after 14 fucking months?

Rainbow, welcome back!

A little late to the party but Happy Birthday Stormy! Hope you're not reading this at all and out somewhere supping a nice Prosecco
Gerry you are not alone with the instruction manual requesting DH - still have to prompt him with stuff as it's been so long since he last fucking did it and he always shouts 'where's the [insert item here]?' when said item is in the place it always is, but not necessarily where he puts it back.

Oh and excellent news Doli - glad dolitoddle is ok.

Still zombified (and didn't abandon MIL in high street) so off to bed with some wine Nytol

Where is everyone?

Hi, I hope you don't mind me stumbling in with a question! My baby is 5 months now and I've heard rumours of an awful 9/10 month regression. I THINK all of your babies will be past that point and was hoping to find out if you went through this and how long it lasted? I've got a holiday booked for then so am trying to prepare myself! Thanks

Nine slash ten months, eh? That'd be Christmas through into January. Right when DD decided she was dropping to one nap. Hadn't realised it's a known sleep regression moment.

How was she at night stormy? Did she seem happy enough in herself? Will I have a good holiday?

Alexandra I am not the person to ask I'm afraid!

Everyone else, 4am is not morning. That is mostly what I have to say this week.

In other news I've started The Shred and it hurts but I'm enjoying it plus I've dragged DH along for the ride but he'd kill me if he knew I told you

Doli I'm so pleased it was all ok. In terms of work, what is the likelihood of a similar opportunity coming along once Dolitoddle reaches school age and would you be happier doing it then? As Plonk said, do you think you'd be able to leave if you weren't enjoying the balance? Plus I don't think a nanny is that much of a disaster. If it wasn't both so expensive and so complicated it'd be my first choice too!

alex I remember that stage well. We had a sleep refusing baby and it stressed me out. Holiday may be different though as your baby may be too tired from the holiday to refuse naps. I think sleep regression or not going on holiday with a baby will be a bit hard. Hope you all have a lovely time.