October 05 - First Birthdays

[Yokefleet]

Happy Birthday to Joey!

Aww, poor Evelyn. Do you let her sit on your knee or is the journey not long enough to get her out of the buggy? We do the buses quite a lot and Johnny is too busy looking out of the window to bother about mummy!! We often go upstairs as he's in the backpack, and he sits there on the seat next to me quite the thing. The clinginess is fine this morning, but I have also been looking after his two cousins today, and he always has a whale of a time with them. We went to the city farm which they all loved. I have previously taken Johnny in the buggy and his younger cousin in the backpack, but today, we did it without the buggy and Johnny managed fine all the way round the farm.

There are more words coming out by the minute here. He is starting to have a really good attempt at many of the words that he hears but isn't joining them up yet. The HV said last week that he should have 50 words, so I jotted them all down to see how many he actually does have, and it's more like 25 but I'm not going to worry about it for a second as he is doing great. If I were to add on all the signs and sound effects that he does, there would be hundreds!!

Its not worth taking her out the pram to be honest. We only go three stops so by the time I've folded the buggy, sorted out the bags, sat us down, its time to get off again. It is only three stops but takes us about 20 mins to walk so much easier on the bus otherwise I'd be up at the crack of dawn (whatever time dawn is, seeing as I'm up at six every morning, despite the fact Evelyn would sleep til half eight!)

Its my birthday tomorrow & one of the busiest days at work, just my luck!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELF! HAVE A LOVELY DAY (HOPE WORK ISN'T TOO BAD FOR YOU) XXX

Happy birthday Elf. Hope you have a nice day, despite being at work!

Poor Johnny's bum still is a bit sore. We had our tea out the other night and allergy wise there wasn't much on the menu that he could have so I chose baked potato with haggis for him. He loved it and wolfed it down, but I think the spices have burned his bum as he lay in a dirty nappy for goodness knows how long during the night. He's been running around with no nappy on which has helped but the wee mite gets really upset if he pees or poops with no nappy on. I have told him that if he needs to go, then he's just to sit on the potty, but as I said in earlier posts, he's nowhere near ready for it, so he's not managed at all. It's not bad going though, we have done bare bum time at bathtime ever since he was born (only for a few mins though) and this is the first time I have ever had to pick up poop from the floor.

We are going to brave a new toddler group this morning. We are just going to turn up and we don't know anybody there, so I will have to try hard not to just be the shy one in the corner.

Happy Birthday Elf, Have a great day

How is Johnny this morning MB? and how did the toddler group go?

I was looking back on our first post natal board last night and was amazed to see me saying (when Thomas was a month old) that we were planning on ttc again 6 months later!!!! OMG I can't believe that was me!

I suppose 6 months seemed a long way away at the time YF . I am in my monthly "am I amn't I" phase just now just waiting to see if I need my mooncup or not. Have been reading Toni Weschler's book "Taking charge of your fertility" and feel hopeful that I can conceive without weaning Johnny as all the signs that I am ovulating are there after all, even though I was convinced that I wasn't.

Johnny's ok now thanks. He still has one sore bit on his bum, but it's way better than it was. He is currently in bed shouting at the top of his voice and shaking the whole house with his kicking of the cot bars. He is exhausted so will drop off soon. He's shouting in a fun way rather than distress so I will just leave him to it while I drink tea and MN. Toddler group was ok, but I only talked to the two organiser ladies, but will go back again and try to be a bit more outgoing. Johnny had fun but he ends up really hyper after these groups. Unusually he came to me for a feed shortly before we left, so probably nobody will speak to the wierdy mum who was breastfeeding a nearly two year old.

Did you enjoy your birthday Elf?

I was breastfeeding my first child when I fell pregnant with my 2nd child and continued to do so for 3 months, the only reason I stopped is because she didn't want it anymore (independent girls) I stopped BF my youngest DD at 20 months she wasn't really interested anymore and after being pregnant for 3.5 years & BF for 6 years I thought I could do with a break. The girls were really easy to stop, but I had real trouble with the boys, they really didn't want to give up.

I think I'm going to have trouble getting Johnny to stop Jane. He is addicted, although saying that, if he's busy, he's not interested unless he falls over or something. Today has been a good day, he's only fed morning, after naptime, just before bathtime when he banged his nose and then right before bedtime. Anyway, we aren't in a hurry and if wants to keep feeding then it's fine by me.

The mind is a very powerful thing. After reading that fertility book, I am now sure that everything was timed just right for conception and I have all the imaginary symptoms already!! But sore boobs could be feeding related, tiredness could be looking after toddler related, funny taste in mouth could be the cold I have just now, needing to pee could be all the tea I've drunk and so it goes on.

We have had a lovely weekend. DH is off work next week and we've decided to go into holiday mode, but stay home. So far we have been to the zoo, the beach, watching trains from a perspex bridge (all the drivers waved and a couple tooted much to Johnny's delight), watching planes at the airport and going for nice walks. DH will be worn out after all this activity and will be going back to work for a rest.

Hope everyone is well.

Hi Mawbroon, I found it really hard with my boys, it's true that boys are usually mummy's boys, the girls sort of decided on their own. I think BF is great, I'm so glad I was able to. My DP is Italian and it is unheard of to bottle feed at least for the first few months, I must admit I found it hard at first, my 4th was in fact the worst, the 2nd & 3rd fairly easy and the first obviously tricky, the MW's are no help, they just said to me if the baby is not latching on properly, give the baby a bottle, they don't explain it's tricky at first, but then gets better, I've managed to get a lot of my friends to BF by explaining the facts to them, which no one seems to tell you. My 4th child was very small and was not putting on any weight and my MW told me to bottle feed, I refused, so she kept on at me, but I knew that she was getting enough as she was such a contented baby and she has turned out to be petite, (like most of DP's family) but the DR's have said that she is perfectly healthy. But as a 4th time mother, I was able to stick up for myself, which most people are not able to do.
Good on you for doing what you feel is right for you and your baby, that in my opinion is the best thing, I have nothing against people who do not BF, it's personal choice, everyone must do what is right for them.
Sorry I got carried away, that was a bit long winded. LOL

Well, i must be mad, but we've started potty training Joey this morning!

I wasn't going to attempt it yet, but we went to sort out the finer details at his pre-school and it transpired that they have no facilities for nappy changing and disposal, so Joey will have to be in ordinary pants whilst he's there. As he's only going to be there initially one day a week for only 2.5 hours, i'm not going to be too strict about training (having just read a Certain Person's potty training book, frankly i'm terrified, let alone poor Joey), so we'll just see how thing go.

So far this morning, he's wet through 3 pairs of pants, and managed one proper wee on the potty. Hey, one out of 4 ain't bad He's starting pre-school on Tuesday the 9th October. 4 weeks potty training should be enough right?....

[stinkymalinki sadly contemplates the ever-frowing pile of washing]

Obviously that should be 'growing' - maybe frowing is a super breed of wet washing?!?

We seem to have turned a corner, the last 5 days Mia has done 90% on the toilet (she refuses to use the potty) Saturday was a bad day and I did the unthinkable and shouted at her, I got so fed up with these enormous puddles and her refusal to wear a nappy, I was ranting that she must do it in the toilet and NOT on the floor or wear a nappy, anyway I felt really bad but it worked, she hasn't made one mistake since then.
We are not a quiet family anyway Italians always shout, so my children are used to loud voices. When we go out though, I put a pull up on her (which I think confuses them) I will try at toddler group on Wednesday to take her without a nappy (I will go prepared with plenty of kitchen towel, wipes and spare clothes) so please think of me on Wednesday on my hands and Knees cleaning the floor LOL.
Mia fell bum first into the toilet the other day I quickly grabbed her and hauled her out, the look of terror on her face, I quickly burst out laughing, then she started laughing as well, so luckily there was no long term phycolological (can't spell this)damage LOL
I had the same with my first 2, their nursery would only take potty trained children, so that's why I had to train them early.

I wish we'd turned a corner - Joey got through 6 pairs of pants, only peed in the potty twice (nd one of them was a pure fluke!), and i gave up by 4pm as he just seems to have no comprehension that he's peeing.

Having had no experience in this before, i asked my friend and she is of the opinion that the pre-school is unreasonable in expecting an only-just 2 year old to be totally dry. Not sure?

Probably all depends on the child, they are all totally different, I have 4 and they have all been different in nearly every aspect (Just when I thought I knew it all LOL)
Most of it is about bladder control and that's something you can't teach.
Give it a little while, he may get the hang of it.
I took Mia out today for the 1st time without a nappy (for 1 hour) She went to wee before we left, after 20 minutes wanted to wee so I sat her on the potty (in the middle of the playground at DS2's school) she did a wee, 10 minutes later did another wee on the potty, then 5 minutes later did a wee in her pants & trousers, luckily I was prepared, but still, I thought I was getting there, obviously not LOL

Its nice to hear from someone who's 'been there done that', Jane

The thing is, i really thought Joey had good bladder control - for the last month at least, he'll go for a long stretch without wetting his nappy, and has been frequently waking up from his naps dry. However, i suppose pants are a different sensation, and all he's done all day is prod, poke, tug, and all the other things little boys do with their willies. Maybe he needs to get over this new fascination first before we can crack on with the potty training (hmm, only another 30+ years to go then). Also, he's been running around in the garden with just his pants on, and the fresh air always sets my bladder off too!

Still holding tight and not even considering the potty training yet although Johnny has now started pretending to be a dog doing a poop any time we are out walking. He squats down, makes a pooping face and goes woof woof. It's hilarious, but it's one of these situations where you just can't laugh. Funnier still was when we had sausages the other night, he started woofing and pointing at them. DH thought it was cute until I pointed out that he probably thought they were dog turds!!

Mia is fascinated with wiping herself after a wee, so I think it is all a game for her, but I will persevere for a little longer, that is until I have a nervous breakdown.

Mawbroon - I have those moments as well it's really hard to keep a straight face, I will never be able to look at a sausage in the same way again

Stinky - PMSL at "only 30+ years to go then"

Good luck to those starting potty training. We aren't going to try for a fair while yet.
Thomas only yesterday came to me aware that he had poo'd in his nappy so that is a step forward but still along way to go for us I think.

Thomas had his 2 year check with the HV and all was well she said if I was concerned about his speech in any way to give her a call. She said it will come all at once, he is ready to talk and I am sure he will give me a right mouthfull when he does!
She asked if we had thought about schools and I hadn't given it any thought at all! HV now won't see him (unless we call them) until he is 3.5yrs old.

we have got Thomas's birthday pressies sorted now and are just going to have a small family tea party on the day. We have bought him a Fisher Price garage & some thomas tank engine stuff as that is his fave thing.

Hi all. Wow I've missed alot.

YF - Ds is another one who isn't talking much. Or rather, he is talking, he will chat along for ages telling someone a tale and pointing and gesticulating to get his point across, it is just not in any language comprehensible to anyone else. I do wonder if he'll just wake up morning and it will all just come out at once. "Mother dear, I think i would prefer Cornflakes this morning Thank you. Oh and a strawberry smoothie too if it's not too much trouble." instead of pointing and going "eh, eh, eh" as he does at the moment.

SM - Sorry to hear the news about your claim
Good luck with the potty training. I need to think about getting ds sorted soon before no.2 arrives but I just haven't got the energy at the moment.

Jane4 - Hello and welcome. I have one ds born on 4th October and am currently 13+3weeks pg with no.2.

MB - Ooo when do you test? Sounds promising?? I am still trying to decide what to do about bf'ing ds. Part of me is hoping he decides to wean himself sometime over the next couple of months but it's not looking likely.
Is Johnny still obsessed with his salad spinner . Ds's obsession is cars, it's practically all he plays with, he points at every single car when we are out walking , FIL bought a new car recently and bought loads of cars magazines which he gave to dh. Dh not really interested but ds has gone mad. If I need to get anything done I just dump him in the cot with a couple and can leave him for ages. He recognises dh's car and one day I found 4 of the magazines lined up on the settee all on the page showing dh's car, and ds looking very pleased with himself lol

I had my scan last week. Everything looks okay and there's only one in there Even so, I still can't quite believe I'm pg sometimes. Better get used to it soon, I'm not really showing yet but I am running out of clothes that fit. There are 3 of us in my RL postnatal group who are pg, there were 4 but one lost her baby at 13 weeks .

Anyway better be off. I'm usually in bed by this time these days.

dlamis glad all went well at the scan and I think our little ones will suprise us when they do start talking better and it will all come at once!
Thomas loves Thomas the tank engine at the moment and also playing with cars (he still likes his pink pram though! does Joey still like the pram SM?)

Yes, Joey still likes the girly pink push chair Mind you, he definitely prefers his Thomas the Tank Engine stuff these days (probably much to DH's relief!!)

I know what you mean SM when Thomas started loving Thomas tank Paul went out and bought loads of it! He likes it almost as much as Thomas I think!

Feeling broody again - saw my friend earlier, and she's 34 weeks PG with her second. Very

Took Joey blackberrying at the local park this morning - he looked so sweet picking berries off the bush and munching more than he was putting in my collection bowl

I used to be terribly broody, but after I had my 4th, I no longer feel like that, (I always wanted 4) now I give other peoples children a cuddle then happily hand them back, thinking about the lovely nights sleep I'm going to get