March 2013 - by the time we finish this one we'll be shopping for elf outfits. Eek!

[ecofreckle]

Here we go again then ladies. Plenty more shiny new space to fill up with ramblings :-) Link to last thread

Happy New Year!

Stormy, I hope your DM recovers swiftly and the hospital treat her well (and she isn't stuck on AMU)!

Sorry it's taken me an age to post. I was working on New Years Day and Friday and before that it was a crazy busy few days. I've managed to clear the house of all things Christmas today and do a bit of a tidy and feel a lot calmer with it, it sounds like Yummy and Plonk are doing the same! DH bought us a family gym membership for Christmas and so I've managed a few evenings swimming alone plus a soak in the jacuzzi this week and taken the littlest madam swimming twice and I'm shattered with it. It does feel good to do some exercise again though!

Stormy, we've recently achieved sorry too, it's lovely but always seems to be followed by a request for a biscuit!

Worse, I hope you've managed a bit of rest if still no sleep. Fingers crossed for an early (and healthy of course) arrival from Babax.

Stormy best wishes to your poor mum. I hope she makes a speedy recovery.

Plonky DH is like, but not about houses, only garages. Drives me potty. He'll suddenly after years of ignoring them decide that the garages have to be cleared, now, immediately, without delay, and spend the entire of the next three days doing just that before filling them with junk again. Happy shelf selection! Do you have a criteria, or is it just shelves, generic?

Yummy Babax seems to be doing ok in there. Nothing untoward happening anyway. Quiet periods. Very active periods. All good I'd say.

Betty rest is happening, but sleep not so much. After another epic night of toddle wakefulness DH has in desperation been on the internet and is kicking off a new sleep routine tonight. I do not have high hopes! At least he's being proactive though, which is more than I am. I'm just hoping it gets better without actually doing anything about it.

Enjoy the swimming and the gym. I'm so envious. I'd love to have the time, energy, and ability to do either. Won't be happening for a while though. A long while!

Apologies? Wow! We don't get those. We get hitting, scratching and tantrums at times, but never a sorry afterwards. Must be storing those with her good sleep habits. In a box marked do not open

Betty your swims and spas sound lovely. It's something I really must get round to finding round here. I miss exercise! Never thought I'd say that.

Worse the frenetic cleaning habit drives me to distraction. He's in very real danger of turning into his dad, so I think I need to have a sensitive word sometime when he's in a good mood. We're after some shelves for the lounge. It's not a big lounge and has the traditional alcove-fireplace-alcove set up, perfect for books and films. Feels great to be able to bang a nail in the wall and not worry!
I would completely let dh handle the toddleworse's sleep. You know best how to feed her, so you can do that and he do the other. Hey pesto!

We've had a lovely two months of getting along famously with lots of mutual consideration of feelings, hugs and actual niceness. And by new years day it was like a switch had flipped and we were arguing like cat and dog over stupid things. I thought we went to bed having kind of made up/brushed over the problem and then this morning he's back to being ragey again. Not a coincidence that it is my turn for a lie in, and the cat woke ds at 6, as if he's the only one whose ever had to get up so early. Hard to have sympathy when 4 am starts were normal a few months ago.

Sorry for the rant! I think I needed it, DH's welfare depends on it.
Best get up. I'm going to be really annoying and have a shower immediately. He never sees why it might irritate me when he does it 6 days a week...

Plonky I'd say you've done pretty well to get as far as New Year without driving each other completely up the wall. The enforced togetherness of the festive season combined with the stress of a house purchase and move would be enough to fray even the most even temper. Sympathy on the cleaning fetish though. It'd annoy me too.

As for the sleeping routine, DH has my eternal gratitude as he made some progress yesterday. It took hours but he got her to settle without either cuddling her to sleep or co-seeping. A combination of PUPD, back rubbing, and a strict routine of bath, milk, stories, dim lights, and no coming downstairs in the evening beforehand. Meanwhile I got to drift about all evening, and not go to sleep bloody reflux. It was restful I guess if not restorative.

Strangely lonesome day today. DH and the toddle went out for lunch without me. I figured I'd enjoy the break. I didn't I was lonely. He sent me lots of really cute pictures of the toddle being angelic in pizza express and I was really quite jealous. Next time, I'm going too! Apparently she loved the veg sticks and pasta, but he had to eat her brownie as that was an unauthorised unapproved suspicious possibly poisonous food stuff. Allegedly. At least that's what he told me

Yummy hello and yes, I'm now feeling better. I may have a glass of wine tonight lord knows I need it Your tales and Betty's of getting the tree down encouraged me and I've now taken ours down with Santa's little helper alongside.

Worse was it a case of too much time to contemplate your navel? I remember the last days and weeks of pregnancy being a bit like that. Sounds like a good daddy daughter date though I took ecotod out for tea and scone today and it was hell. She's a different being these last three or four days. My mum's friend says it's teeth and I do hope she's correct. Those blasted molars at the back perhaps. It's not manifesting itself as teething though, more behavioural are the impacts! Sigh!

Plonky it's a miracle you stayed civil throughout your move. I'm wondering if this is a case of all that stress catching up with him mixed in with 'start of term' blues? Has today been any better?

I'm sat in bath with a lush hair mask on. I'm fairly sure MN would not approve of lush but it's nice to be sat amid swirling wafts of lovely stuff. It's been a weird few days. When we were away our car electrics went haywire meaning we couldn't open toddle door, passenger door, boot or petrol cap which is rather inconvenient when you're on the south coast faced with the krypton factor challenge of how to transport half of toys r us back home. Anyhow, we duly booked it in for fixing. On the appointed day I rose from my sick bed to travel in convoy with dh to drop his car off. Whilst waiting at lights behind him a, for want of a better word, man with a four by four drove straight into the back of me, ramming me into dh! Ha ha! Bad luck eh? So my car is probably a write off and dh's has more to worry about that doors that won't unlock. Spending our holiday on the toilet or on the line to insurers has been such a pleasure

Stormy, we have 'sorry mummy' but it's reserved for when she's taken a bauble off of the tree rather than when she's beaten me up. Lots to learn here. We can however sing 'shake' and she goes on to sing 'your baby down' from a disco classic whose name currently escapes me. Great skills what?

Woah eco what an eventful Christmas! If you need a cheap new run around the fiat Panda comes highly recommended. I take it all parties are well post crash?
The Lush hair mask sounds lush. I have a sneezing fit just walking past that shop, but I do like a bit of online delivery. Glad to hear you are recovered.

Worse I loooove ds having time alone with dh. I really miss having me time. Parenthood has shown me that I'm rather introspective, and need quite a lot of cave time to function. It sounds like you're managing it but a bit of pizza wouldn't go amiss very pleased your dh has not only found the plate but happily stepped up to it!

So we didn't buy our shelves. Turns out the shopping trip was a recce, but we did source many other household necessities, like an uncracked bathroom mirror and a doorbell. We've splodged some tester paints on the wall I've sanded and waxed the kitchen worktops. Dh is on about buying treated timber and making the shelves himself. This worries me greatly. My inner voice tells me history graduates have no place going near saws and sanders.

We don't have sorry. We don't even have the concept of sorry. We only just have please ("pee"). So that's "cock cock pee". And excuse me just comes out as "moo meeee".

Sorry for the moany post but I've been up since 2am with a very awake DS and it's actually brought me to tears. First day back at work for both me and DP tomorrow after 2 and 3 weeks off, and this happens. He woke up, I assumed hungry, so brought him toast and water, when he settled back down, DP worried that he was choking so I checked on him twice - all fine, then DP checked and BAM awake. I'm so miserable, DP has buggered off to the spare room for a final hour of sleep and I'm being trampled on and poked. Feel like shit.

Will catch up with all you've all said when I'm dying at work tomorrow.

Oh something! At least back to work will have a degree of break to it - unlikely to be poked and trampled there? I am very about it but doing better than you so must and away! Best of luck to all returning today...

Oh no Something! If there's anything I can do to help please let me know! I'd happily have him all day so you can sleep before work.

Oh thank you plonk I didn't see your offer but we managed. As soon as he got up (too early at 9am, imo), we went to Morrisons, collected a missed parcel, then took him to the childminder an hour early. It gave me chance to not relax at all come home, walk the dog, wash the pots and tidy up before work, but I'm here now and I'm using my time wisely...by wedding planning

eco I can totally sympathise with you, as I think teething is causing behavioral problems here. He's being really grumpy and disobedient and I'm sure it's those pesky second molars. Your car issues don't sound like they help matters either, I hope all are ok?

worse your DH sounds like a saint taking over bedtime. I must give credit to DP for last night actually, as he powered through with me until 5am, then came back at 5:30am to put Cars 2 on for DS before going back to bed, which DS ended up engrossed in before slowly falling back to sleep at 5:50am grumble.

betty the best part about the gym are the spa-ry bits! I've treated myself to a workout dvd which I plan to do every night. Every bloody night I'm determined to fit into a smaller wedding dress!

Our "sorry"s here are accompanied by an impressive bottom lip. Gets that from his mother

Oh something sorry you had a shit night. How was your first day back?

Don't take me the wrong way but I am glad I am not alone in dealing behaviour issues that may be related to molars.

I had first day back blues but I am ok now with my hot chocolate watching in the night garden hoping for ds to sleep early. He just emptied a box of toys so that ain't happening.

eco well what can I say about the car situations. You were due for an adventure though weren't you?!

betty your new fitness regime sounds good.

Something you poor thing. Sleep deprivation is a killer, so here's hoping for a better night tonight. Glad your DP pulled his weight too, it does make a difference.

Interesting what everyone is saying about molars, as there has been a lot of dribbling and funny faces round here lately as well. Could explain some of the night wakings as well, as there have been a lot of those. DH was up with her again for 2 hours last night, but he wouldn't let me help. It's not like I was asleep. I haven't slept for more than an hour or 2 in weeks. I think he's scared I'll drop her, I'm that zombied out. Getting a bit worried to be honest, as this reflux problem is preventing me from eating properly. My bmi is 20.3. That's not good is it, for an 8 month pregnant person? I look awful. Not a clue how I'm going to get through labour in this state, but please someone tell me the body is an amazing thing and will cope whatever.

Eco omg, you couldn't make that up. Of all the one in a million couldn't possibly happen in real life bits of bad luck to befall anyone that has got to pretty high up there. Commiserations. Hope the insurance shells out.

Looking forward to tomorrow - lunch out with a friend I haven't seen in ages. She only lives two door up, but commutes, so is never around. I feel bad actually, apparently she split with her DH 3 months ago, and I had no clue. Another neighbour told me last week. Feel like a bit of a cr*p friend to be honest as when DH and I separated she was the person who took me out to the pub several times a week and made me laugh til I practically wet myself. Forget therapists. Laughter is so much better. I must be one of the few who actually enjoyed my (almost) divorce .

Night all, fingers crossed everyone big and small sleeps.

Worse Id give you a bit of my BMI if I could, I've got some excess...
The last bit of pregnancy is really shit. I recommend cornettos, preferably consumed while relaxing in the bath. I blame my 14stone delivery weight (yes I really did gain 4 stone, though that included ds) on ice cream and custard creams. And actual cream.

Though Betty probably has some real advice for you, I'd still imagine that having two so close together can only speed up labour....

Enjoy lunch with your friend. Nothing so good as a grown up meal out! And a true friend (which it sounds like she is) will understand why you've not been as present in her life as you'd like. So that's one less thing to worry about.

I'm tired and having a nasty period and there's football on telly. Bed, I think.

Grim, aren't they? Combined with an evil snotfest of a cold that had DD coughing so hard she threw up at one in the morning is grimmer still. She looks rough and she's feeling rougher, if the incessant whinge that lasted all day with barely a thirty second break is anything to go by. If anyone needs me I'll be collapsed in a frazzled heap hoping to catch a bit of sleep before the next coughing fit.

Eco, that's proper pants and I speak as someone whose dh had been on the end of some crap car related luck over the years .

Poor molar impacted toddles. We have the same problem and yes, it comes with behavioural issues. For the first time we have biting. I have a set of teeth imprinted in each forearm after bedtime tonight. Doing cross voice and timeouts but it's hard and I just want it to stop.

And work made me want to collapse in a boneless heap in the floor and wail that i didn't want to today .

Ds is on his third night waking since 9pm. Its going to be a long night.

My best wishes to sleep deprived parents and snotty/teething babies. Hope we have a good night.

wotta big hugs to you. I know the feeling well.

Anyone else up or is it just the yummy household? Ds has hardly slept tonight. It always happens when I have to go work the next day. Hope you are all sleeping soundly.

Oh no Yummy! We're all having various teethy issues aren't we?!

We were up at 5.20 for crying, cuddles and calpol. Then she went back to sleep until 9am, so I suppose I can't really complain too much.

Oh gosh, second molars sound horrific if all this broken sleep is anything to go by. A quick google tells me that they come through between 20 and 28 months and the pain can be like that of adult wisdom teeth. I have no wisdom teeth [insert unwise joke here] but I can't imagine it's much fun.

We're still awaiting the bottom canines. If the upper ones are anything to go by we're in for a loooong stretch of crankiness...

In other news I had to drop the toddle off at nursery today for the first time in about 3 weeks. To say he hated it would be an understatement.

Worse you are having a horrifically shit time of it but you really will be fine in labour. The body is indeed an amazing thing. I've seen many people with BMIs under 19 and over 50 labour and both are in a worse state of malnutrition than your current BMI. Is it worth popping to the GP again about your reflux? A higher dose of PPI might help or that plus ranitidine. What foods aren't triggering your reflux? Eating very tiny amounts but very often, every hour or two, will help a little. Better than trying to cram something bigger down against your will once or twice a day. I'm sure you know that but what the hell. In labour your digestive tract shuts down pretty much and hormones take over and it's the balance of adrenaline versus oxytocin that takes you through labour (plus occasional glucose tablets to keep your sugar levels up). The hormones will take you through labour, hopefully early labour will be swift because your body has done it before and it'll be afterwards you'll be knackered but by then the reflux will be on the way out and DH will be stepping up!

We aren't having teeth problems but we are having some behavioural stretches. She's a monkey madam! Pushing boundaries is the current state and she's naughty and when caught out or told no the tantrums are epic. I swing between finding it hilarious and very cute and so frustrating I could cry! On the plus side, she's sleeping so I'm definitely doing better than most which I thought for a year or so there I might never say I hope everyone gets a chance for a coffee and 10 minutes to relax today.

Betty really? She sleeps?! This calls for a celebration!

It's about bloody time, after all! Do you feel like a new woman yet?

Betty we also had a good night, the best in weeks, so everyone is in a good mood today.

Thanks so much for the reassurance, that along with the fact I went to sleep before 5am last night has put me in a very good mood. I've identified the worst relux foods. Milk and bread. Odd really, I'd have thought those would be ok. I'm steering clear of both from now on, and shall look forward to a doorstep sandwich and milk shake as my first post birth meal

Had a lovely lunch with my friend, who is looking worn out, but dare I say it happier now she's single. Her H isn't a bad bloke, he's just not her Mr right, which is sad, as he's gutted.

Ah the toddle returns from her foray in the garden with DH. She's hilarious, just learnt how to say 'oh no', but it comes out as 'Ew Nuw' in a vair posh accent

V jealous, worse. We have "errr nerrr". Where is she picking up such a broad Hull accent from?