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

996 replies

ecofreckle · 28/09/2014 14:04

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

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
StormyBrid · 05/10/2014 09:11

Talk to us about the potential job when you get back? And give DH a flick round the earhole from me.

Plonkysaurus · 05/10/2014 10:19

Consider his ear well and truly flicked!

So, job. It's for a Project Officer at a local uni. Salary is the full time equivalent of what I'm currently on, the job sounds challenging but do-able, very satisfying and with clear progression. There are a few things to consider so it boils down to a pro vs con list.

Pros:
work in a team, which I've not done since this time last year, when I returned to Shit Job.
Be out of the house most of the week, feeling productive.
Put me and dh on an even footing in terms of hours and pay (these things shouldn't matter, but they clearly affect our relationship so they matter very much).
Actual career progression and security.

Cons:
DS in nursery full time.
Dh and I would both have to streamline our time and probably get a clear for a few hours a week.
Same money over all but working more.
Would probably effect out decision to buy.
We would hold off trying for dc2 until I'd been in the job awhile.

So the run was mentally quite productive, but I'm no closer to a decision.

worserevived · 05/10/2014 11:55

If I was your age Plonky I'd go for the job, as although tough at the start it would open up so many more options in the future. Good luck with the decision, as ultimately it's a personal one, so what I or anyone else would do in the same circumstances is largely irrelevant.

Shatteredmamma1 · 05/10/2014 19:42

Thanks for the invites. I will have to join just to prove to yummy that I'm a real person Grin

Tough one plonk. What does your gut say? I have lots to say to you (!) hope tomorrow goes as well as possible for starters. How is DSis doing?
How do you manage to do so much baking?! I'm in awe. By the time I've done washing/cleaning/cooking for DS I can't be bothered to think about baking. I used to do a lot though.
I also wanted to ask you/others about night time nappies. Bearing in mind I've got a DS who sleeps on his front, he has started leaking through his nighttime nappy in spectacular style . I'm keen to avoid more washing but also it just can't be comfy for him. Any suggestions? We moved from 4+ to 5+ pampers but the bigger ones just leak round the legs instead of just out the top. Confused

Anyway enough about me. something how is the hair? Sounds nice, and seasonal. betty I hope the toe is ok! worse sounds sensible on the project front. Renovation sounds a nightmare with two littlies. wotta how are you this weekend?
Happy Sundays everyone Wine

WottaMess · 05/10/2014 21:31

Hi shattered, I'm ok. Head full of stuff. Have had three valuations of our house this week (bloody stupid stamp duty threshold black hole Hmm) viewed a potential property with annexe which is lovely but weird and has no garden to speak of Hmm, had a consult to see if I could have laser eye surgery (I can) and have a further 4 viewings of properties coming up for Thursday. I don't know if I want to move (not really in many ways) but it could put us on a sounder financial footing which would be nice. And we'd have my mum on hand which would be nice but we'd have my mum on hand and it might be awful. Confused

Conflicted?! Oh yes. Bleach.

yummychocolate · 05/10/2014 21:31

shattered we have a big problem with wetting through. We are trying 5+ tonight so will report back tomorrow. He leaks from the top so I think the problem is his willy being in an awkward position.haha. By the way are any of the toddlegirls leaking through regularly?

betty sorry to hear about your toe. Sounds painful.

plonky my pros and cons list is very similar to yours. Hence,I am still working part time. My motto is that ds will not be a small child forever and I have (unfortunately) many working years ahead of me so I am sacrificing some things to spend more time with ds. However, that is my view. You need to do what is right for your family.

Thank you all for your well wishes. You are right Eid is about food, family, friends and fun time. I had a lovely time. If we have a meet up I will be armed with yummy Turkish food.

WottaMess · 05/10/2014 21:32

Bleach? Bleugh!

Anypants · 06/10/2014 09:55

Thinking of you and yours today Plonky I hope it is a peaceful day xxx (sorry MN)

WottaMess · 06/10/2014 13:45
Thanks
worserevived · 06/10/2014 14:12

Plonky Flowers. My thoughts are with you all, especially Dsis and her DH.

The timing of the events in my life seems really inappropriate, but I thought I'd share that SIL had her little boy in the early hours of this morning by EMCS as he was breech. I feel I can relax a bit now, until Feb.

Wotta I sympathise on the stamp duty issue.... do the policy makers not think about what they do to what should be a free market with these random limits? I personally think every politician should do a compulsory 2 year university course in economics before they are let loose.

As for having DM on site... that's a tough one. If we go for the big move I can pretty much guarantee PILs and probably SIL and her family will end up moving in with us. I kind of dread that. I love them all, and while everyone is fit, healthy, solvent and independent I'd probably enjoy it. Once PILs get to the age where they need carers, now that would be harder, as I can be fairly sure it would be me doing the caring. Am I a bad person for not wanting that responsibility? Probably.

Have you decided on the eye surgery? My DM had it done a while back, and although it has largely been a success she has found her near vision is now terrible. It's so bad I've banned her from washing up when she is here as she just can't see dirt, and will happily stack a load of filthy plates in the cupboard.

Yummy I have no idea what Turkish food is like, I've never tried it. Always smells lovely though!

It's pouring here today, and freezing, so sadly we're going to have to close the pool. I'll miss it, but can't really inflict the cold water shock on babax any more. It sets off some really quite impressive braxton hicks!

rainbowtoddle · 06/10/2014 14:18

plonky thinking of you all today.

BettyOff · 06/10/2014 17:31

Plonky I hope today was a day of love, support and peace for you all. Xxx

Plonkysaurus · 06/10/2014 20:00

Thanks everyone Thanks, you lot rock. Today was full of love and support, and I'll never listen to Nightswimming again in the same way.

Worse congratulations on the new addition to your family. These little critters burst onto the scene and it's never inappropriate to celebrate them.

I am going to apply for the job.

Too emoted out to think properly. Have stuffed self with tasty delicious steaming hot pasta (for the first time in 10 months), and have a cuppa on the go.

worserevived · 06/10/2014 20:37

Oh Plonky neither will I. I've just cried my heart out for you. Pregnancy hormones perhaps. Your poor Dsis. It's not fair.

Good luck with the job

x

yummychocolate · 06/10/2014 20:37

plonky I have been thinking about your sister and the family today.

worse congratulations on being an auntie.

wotta if you are buying a place with annex it may not be too bad. At least everyone will have their own space still.

plonky I have been meaning to ask how is ds in the toddler bed? Is he still oblivious to it?

It is 8.30pm and ds is in bed asleep. He put up a fight though but I won. Mummy 1-0 toddle.

ecofreckle · 06/10/2014 22:31

Plonky just back from working in Norfolk (and my first night away from Ecotod) so bit frazzled for screen stuff but just wanted to say a big hello. If I were there in person I'd look you squarely in the eye and tell you how strong you're being and how bloody unfair this all is. I'd give you a massive hug and let you wipe your tears and snot on my shoulder. I'd ask you about the service and how everyone is. I'd reiterate how marvellous you all are and yowl at the moon again about the unfairness. And then I'd share my éclairs. And to hell with the wheat. Been thinking of you all Thanks

OP posts:
Plonkysaurus · 07/10/2014 06:37

Ds has a cold so we had a disturbed night. Nothing major but his snuffling kept us all awake, he looks so piggy eyed this morning I'm tempted to keep him off nursery. He's currently drinking a very milky hot choc and watching Pingu. Some guys have all the luck, eh?

Eco and Worse your posts are the epitome exactly why I love this thread. You know just what to say to get me blubbing! The level of empathy I have found here has helped me through so many shitty events, and every time life ramps up so do you lot.
Worse in other circs I'd tell you not to cry. You have so much to be happy about, not least your fully functioning emotions! And Eco that would be a big snot trail on your shoulder. I'll talk about the service a bit later, I think. It was beautiful.

Yummy ds is still oblivious to the change, so I'm glad we did it now. If we left it until he was already climbing out of the cot I'd have just bought a single bed and left the cot mattress on the floor beside it - the bedguard is just another obstacle, and a pretty flimsy one at that.

Any chance you could post us a hearty portion of Turkish food?

WottaMess · 07/10/2014 08:44

Hey plonk. It's rubbish that I have no time to post properly and it's hard doing it while walking with phone which is the only way I 'see' you lot at all. But more Thanks and Brew (that's hot choc btw) and more sorry it's shit but you're all amazing . Hmm

Worse lovely happy news. Congrats to sil. And glad you survived the run up to your conference Eco. It won't be the first time again.

worserevived · 07/10/2014 15:34

Plonky I can empathise with the rotten night. I had one here too. Not the toddle this time, no she slept like, well a baby. Me this time. Horrible fever, which has turned out to be HFM. I thought I was going down with it, and it looks like I was right. Horrible bug, don't for one minute believe anyone who tells you it is mild in adults. I've spent the day in bed, and I haven't done that in years. DH has had to stay at home and has been rather put out to discover that the answer to 'can you just mind her for an hour whilst I do a conference call' has been 'No'. I have never said no before. He's also just complained that he hasn't had any exercise all day and is feeling a bit cabin fevered. Really? You don't say! I'm tempted to be ill for days so that he will stop going on about how he'd love to be at home all day, and how much he'd get done Grin!!!

Disclaimer: Much as I think he has the better life at the moment I'd probably change my mind after a couple of days of commuting. All those people. Ugh.

Eco well done. How'd it go? How'd you feel? Liberated? Refreshed? I hope so Smile

Not much else to report, given I've done nothing worth reporting. The toddle on the other hand has made a few big leaps of late that I have forgotten to mention. She's suddenly 'got' feeding herself, and will use a spoon (the right way up), even scooping up food herself, and loves nothing more than to be given a grown up sized piece of bread or toast all to herself. Slightly less impressively she has developed a passion for baked beans. If baked beans appear on the plate she does a 19 month old equivalent of a big cheer, bangs her spoon, and clears the plate. The upside of this is she is so enthused by their mere presence she will also clear everything else on the plate. Good way of getting an omelette down her.

Plonkysaurus · 08/10/2014 06:42

Ugh, today started with a 5. I blame these stupid canine teeth. They're causing all kinds of bother but have yet to reveal themselves.

Wotta hope you don't feel I was playing favourites? Realised after I posted that what I wrote could've come across the wrong way. I very much value all everyone on this thread, and I'm grateful for your kind words these last few weeks. It sounds like you're rather swept off your feet at the moment, so I hope you're still finding time to having time for restorative cuddles with your man and boy.

Worse HFM! Has dh decided that working can be preferable to sahp-ness then? ;) hope you're feeling better today.

So you know when you spend too long thinking about life and all the big things, and you think you've got it Sussed, then something stops you in your tracks? That. I've been feeling all set to find a good ft job, and if that doesn't work out to pour my time into actually getting a photo business off the ground.

And then a friend from school goes posts newborn pictures on her fb. And that's all I want to do.

WottaMess · 08/10/2014 06:58

God no Plonk! Sorry if that's how my post came across! All I meant was that at a time when I'd like to be posting sage and considered words, I am always rushing and relying on autocorrect which means I can't manage to say what I mean. (Perhaps I rather proved my point Blush). Seems I've got foot in mouth... Talking of which...

Worse, how you doing? Hfm sounds grim never mind when up duffed! ThanksBrew And sympathy (though not for dh who could do with a dose of family reality before he decides how easy it'd be to get through a project with dcs. Not that you shouldn't do it, but he should understand what it'd really mean!

Thanks for the thoughts on our current madness too. Head in a whirl! And so much on at work there are about half the number of hours in a day that I need. Ugh. This too shall pass.

But DS is magic. He's getting words all the time. A recent one was star (which has to be whispered really carefully Grin) and he sees them everywhere! There are stars I never knew about. Who knew everything by tomee tippee has one? He did. And dats (cats) - he found one in a bath time book about pirates the other day that we've had for over a year. I'm no trained observer! Grin

StormyBrid · 08/10/2014 08:42

Wotta magic is definitely the word for it. Grin And I'm glad Fartypants isn't the only one steadfastly mispronouncing cat. My current favourite is long streams of gibberish with a few real words thrown in. Like this morning, when the gibberish included mummy nice bitch DD please. Which sort of makes sense when you realise a bitch is a biscuit.

Plonk if ever anyone tells you we've achieved equality, you will be able to point to your current situation and dole out more earhole flicks. It's a tough one, with no easy answer. But I'd be inclined to go for the job. You can always TTC when you've only been there a week if needed, but the job is more of a one off deal.

worserevived · 08/10/2014 10:40

Well today I have actually got up, which is progress! I don't feel to bad if truth be told, just a bit wobbly, but the blisters are all down my throat so I sound terrible. Kind if handy that, as if you are going to be properly ill it helps if it is completely obvious.

Plonky the whole pregnancy with a toddler thing.... it's actually quite tough, and I say this as someone whom breezed through pregnancy number one, loving every minute of it. You've been through so much recently, it might be a good idea to give yourself a little bit of time to recover emotionally before you step onto the ttc roller coaster and first trimester misery.

I've down played a lot of it on here as I've not wanted to put people off, but I've been so exhausted and depressed at one point I seriously thought I might have antenatal depression. As for DH, he's had one hell of a time. I threw him out, and threatened to reopen the divorce one day last week, and that's just the tip of the iceberg. He's been nothing but supportive, but when you're struggling with hormones, exhaustion, and a toddler everything gets magnified out of proportion. I've even stayed up all night crying, over big things and small things. I'm not trying to be all misery me, as it is just hormones, I'm just trying to illustrate how second pregnancies can be very different to first. How about you apply for the job, you don't have to take it, and keep your options open for now? Sometimes you just have to give yourself a bit of love and healing.

Wotta I think DH gets it. He's now talking along the lines of not moving initially, and looking at other lower stress options. He has his faults does him indoors/outdoors but I'll say this about him, when it comes to business he knows his stuff. I console myself with the fact he really can't cook, and I can slaughter him in a cross country run or long distance swim Grin

Aw the talking, sooo cute. The toddle has a new language. It's beyond adorable. It kind of goes along the lines of 'doidy doidy doidy..... errrrrrr-wah!', and cats (and dogs Confused) are a Kah (whispered). The tantrums are less adorable. I never mentioned the weekend trip to Clarks for winter shoes. I think I was too traumatised. She screamed, and screamed, battled the sales assistant, refused to have her feet measured, lay down on the floor, kicked and punched, and screamed some more. We were those parents.... the ones other parents look at and think 'thank god that's not me'. It was horrendous. To add insult to injury they only had two pairs of shoes in the shop that fitted her, both boys, both ugly, so we settled on the blue ugly ones, the luminous green being a step too far.

Right, I had better go and drape myself over the sofa and look frail. DH and the toddle will be back from their walk in the rain to the shops to buy bread. V useful this DH of mine. Toddle minding and grocery shopping all at the same time. Gold star that man Wink

Plonkysaurus · 08/10/2014 11:24

Worse you're a hero. You know that, right? You know you can come on here anytime and talk to us about how shitty it can be. I cannot imagine having a 19 month old and a wriggly baby in my tummy. I know it'd be too much at once for me, and I admire you so much for doing it and dipping your toe into the business world to boot.

You've actually gone and voiced all the concerns I've had. There is no way I'd start ttc until I'd been in the job for about 6 months, minimum. No way could I cope with new job stress in what is not an office job, plus house move, plus life, plus toddler. I've said before that in moments of stress I tend to pile more on rather than deal with what's actually causing me stress. I think it's probably healthier to face the music this time though and accept what's going on and decide which bits I want to change.

There is the opportunity to make my current job full time. No thank you.
We had originally planned to wait to ttc number 2 when ds turned 3.
I had no plans for my own future beyond ds anyway. I wanted to be a SAHM then a WAHM then I decided labels are shit. It's all up in the air but at least I have the luxury of choice! When I'm cooking and it all gets too stressful, the peas have accidentally been put on before I've taken the meat out the oven to rest and the sautéed veg is burnt rather than browned, I turn everything off for 5 seconds, take a deep breath and make a mental list of what id like to happen.

I think it's mental list time.

Plonkysaurus · 08/10/2014 16:49

Job applied for