March '13 - The One With The Babax

[Plonkysaurus]

New thread , and I can assure you all, it'll be a corker.

Congratulation to you and DH worse and what a fabulous weight. Speaking from my own experience and memory of being birthed, it's a tremendous weight to be born I hope you're managing to get some rest

DS does all that potty training list too, and has on occasional requested the potty or toilet seat. I might start leaving it more accessible and see what he does.

We had a nice conversation earlier. I'm wearing my hair a different way and as I put him in the car -
DS: nice hair
Me: did you just say 'nice hair'?
DS: yeah

I fully accept that he probably didn't say or mean that but it was very cute!

I'll try and condense the rest of the book later then. It's quite a,daunting prospect though, this potty training lark.

So, worse. Is it too soon to ask for the gory details? Extra points if you can make us all wince and cross our legs.

This is my second attempt at a message Worse. I see my earlier one failed. It was along the lines of CONGRATULATIONS! I was so pleased to hear your news. After all the waiting you fast tracked there didn't you! Brilliant. Welcome to this world babax! Will worselet be meeting him today? Have you found out if you can stay? Other than bloody tired, how are you feeling yourself? When you get back home might you be able to hint at names as well as share a photo? He'll always be babax to us marchers though Enjoy you special times together.

And thanks stormy for your potty chat. Ecotod can do most of those most of the time too. We'll see what occurs.

worse congratulations! so glad it went so smoothly and quickly for you! I may have to finally join facebook so I can enjoy the photos :)

stormy what made me cross my legs and wince today was the sight of an exhausted mum trying to breastfeed and change her 9 week old in the library while her 18 month old kept running away and screaming every time she bought him back to her. We went over to chat and help but made me glad that we are all way past such a tiny an age gap! The extra 6 months maturity for our nearly two year olds makes such a big difference I think.

As for potty training I can report that despite our early success we are not fully potty trained because it was too hard to be consistent when she was tiny and I was working full time and the nanny didn't commit enough either. So we get some days of potty trained success but more with nappies. We are planning on giving pants and new toilet seat as part of birthday presents and see how it goes. Our long stop for making the switch to pants is easter bank holiday weekend when the nappies will be disappearing for good (apart from at night).

Hmmm. Potty training. We finally have a potty. DS can say sit on potty beautifully. He does, sometimes, but only with his clothes on . He is still unreliable on telling us if he's done a poo. Despite being the only one left in cloth (?) which in theory they say can make them more aware of wetness etc - goes to show its entirety down to the individual!

Not in any way stressing about it though. He moves up a room at nursery on his birthday (coincidence, it's a Monday) and is already on his settling in schedule. So we will let all that bed in before we even think about it.

Agree that his understanding of instructions is excellent but obedience is shocking . Also, he can easily play by himself for ages, but only when he's moving and when he's chosen it. Not good at being told what to do and doing it. And generally proving a law of perpetual motion. So I think we are a way off yet!

Worse, we're thinking of you but get that you need to sleep whenever you can and even posting on here can waste precious minutes . I had a couple of days in the maternity unit and it was fab, we had feeding issues and everyone was so helpful and kept us going. I'd recommend if you can. Much love to you all.

Potty training?! We are definitely a way off here. DD comes and tells me when she's done a poo about 80% of the time and sometimes tells me when she needs to but not with weeing at all. She's got a potty that she sits on before her bath, pretends to wee, wipes herself and flushes the paper down the loo and then the second her feet hit the bath she stands up and has a massive wee.

She moved rooms at nursery in December and they go to the loo in groups with some having nappies changed, some using the potty and some using the loo so she's seeing it in action a lot and I'm hoping one day she'll just turn around and tell me she doesn't want nappies anymore! That's my master plan anyway but just in case she doesn't I think I'll book a week off at the end of summer and try and do it then with a bare bum week in the garden!

DD has impetigo so we're quarantined from nursery and I've taken the day off work, but it's the mildest case ever. She was feeling grim yesterday but today it's pretty much all crusted over and she's very chirpy but unfortunately still has another 4 days of antibiotics and isn't allowed back in nursery for at least 48hrs and until every spot is crusty with no weeping. We're fine today but I can't take tomorrow off because there's nobody to cover my theatre list and DH doesn't finish his on call until 8am tomorrow but if he's out somewhere else in the country he might be back much later. We've got no alternative childcare so we're on a wing and a prayer hoping that he doesn't get called out overnight!!!

Wotta DS sounds exactly like DD, understands every word but happily disobedient and happily plays independently when it suits her but only then! These last few days she's mostly been playing at being Thomas the Tank Engine and choo-choosing around the house while I have to be a carriage chugging along behind! Very cute but I tire of it a lot sooner than she does!

We're still young yet for potty training. Sure, older generations will tell you their kids were potty trainee at six weeks or whatever bollocks. There's a difference between being properly trained and being sat on the potty at regular intervals though. And aside from Wotta we don't have the hassle of nappy washing to make us want to train too early. There's honestly no rush!

As for us, Fartypants usually tells me when she needs a poo, but not a wee. But she's perfectly capable of holding wees in; I've witnessed her doing it. If she's not decided to go for it beforehand then hopefully some running around naked in the summer will help. And I told her she's allowed to wee in the bath!

Shhhh! We need to stop making our babies grow up. Potty training is another milestone into pre-schoolhood. I don't want ds to grow up too quickly. Soon he won't want mummy cuddles because he is too old.

Ds sometimes tells me he does a poo. He certainly is not uncomfortable with a dirty nappy. He carries on playing after a squeeze.

I am waiting for the oven man to come and repair my oven. The day dh came from abroad my oven broke. Thankfully I cooked the dinner in time. If it gets fixed today it will be the highlight of my day.

I got my first and probably my only one a valentines day card from ds, he did at nursery. It is very sweet.

worse I take it Babax is a good sleeper and that he lets you sleep too. I was half expecting a post from you last night. I remember when we were all posting at silly o'clock feeding our newborns.

betty get well soon to dd. Hope you can wing it tomorrow.

How is everyone today?

Ha yummy yes potty training is yet another stage in the process of our babies becoming grown adults with jobs and cars. I think we'll do the same as Betty for now and make him aware of the potty but no pressure. He's had a few nights of waking with a dry nappy despite drinking like a fish, which suggests he can hold it. But in other respects I think I'd be wholly ineffective to force potty training now, not to mention cruel.

Yes Worse, do let us know how you're all getting on when you have a mo.

Betty your dd just sounds like the cutest little thing. I hope everything goes smoothly tomorrow and not too much a case of a wing and a prayer. I understand that impetigo is highly contagious, but what exactly is it? It sounds very exotic!

I'm plodding on through work and house boredom and generally feeling very bored. DS is so cute at the moment but I'm finding entertaining him exhausting so I've bought some toddler friendly baking stuff for him to have a go with. other than that there's very little going on here.

It's really not exotic Plonky, it's a bacterial skin infection, often around the nose and mouth which is where DD has it. It sometimes starts out as spots or blisters which then form a very attractive yellow crust. It commonly comes when little ones are a bit run down. In DD it's probably that she's a carrier of a certain bacteria in her nose and has had a very runny nose for ages so it's spread the bugs to her face.

Uh oh. Ds has broken our TV. He was mega hyper tonight. He threw a toy car at the TV and cracked it. First the oven now the TV. They say it comes in three.

Another day in the big room, another maniac toddler when she got home! After a ridiculous week at work, I really wish the timing had been better. Half term tomorrow though, and next week I'm off on a 3 night girls only city break to Krakow. Can't wait!
It also appears to be that time of year again when I agree to do crazy things. Have just said yes to doing the swimming part of a triathlon relay in July, and rather terrifyingly, a half marathon in October. God only knows when I think I'm going to train for any of this. 55+ hour weeks and a toddler do not make for a strict training schedule.
Worse how are you and that gorgeous boy doing? Did you get your frankly blissful sounding couple of nights in the birthing centre? What does the worselet think of her little brother? Assuming male midwives aren't ten a penny, I'm guessing you had the same guy that signed me in when I arrived. I rather unreasonably decided I didn't like him because he offered me a wheelchair them reneged, deciding without asking that I was probably ok to walk to the delivery suite. Which makes mea bitch, I'm glad he was great!

Uh oh Yummy. I think temperance is one of the hardest things for little kids to learn. Did you do a time out or anything after? I only ask because I'm not sure what I'd do!

Gerry girls piss up mini break sounds fab. I've heard good things about Krakow. And blimey you don't do things by half do you? but hey maybe if ttc goes well you can just defer for a couple of years

I feel like ds is making big mountain sized strides now. He regularly stays in his own bed till 6 (and won't settle with us at that time ), eats meals with veggies in, and had just done a wee on the potty. Someone's obviously told him he's two soon.

We're making cake pops today, a trial run for his birthday. I don't have high hopes but expect it to be utterly stress inducing lots of fun. I think.

Oh no Yummy! That's a disaster! Did he throw it on purpose as madam does a at anything and everything when she's pissed off or was it just a random coincidence that it hit the TV? I'd be gutted!

Gerry that sounds like a lovely break next week and then a hell of a lot of hard work for the rest of the year! What are you fundraising for?

DD is still quaratined but DH didn't get called out last night so I'm off to work and then off out with my lovely mate this afternoon evening to drink cocktails and gossip. I've got a hideous sore throat and feel crappy but not I chance in hell I'm missing this for that!

DH has just found out he failed part of his exam and is gutted and I'm completely gutted for him and for me because now I have to pick up all the slack around here for another 4 months while he revises again. He worked his arse off for it but managed to argue with a couple of the examiners on the day and got caught out with a couple of questions outside of his specialty. At least he knows what he needs to do for next time now but I'll be dealing with a very bruised ego for a few weeks and I do really feel for him. Not only is he gutted and embarrassed because everyone just assumed he'd walk it but he feels like he's let us down because we sacrificed as a family for it and it was bloody expensive. Poor DH.

Right that's me off to work so happy Friday you sexy bitches!

Worse, hope you're having restful snuggles rather than sleepless feeding battles and that Babax is a chilled little one.

God I didn't want to get up today. Two snoozes on the alarm. I was so entwined in a random dream nothing exciting sadly that I couldn't persuade my brain that it wasn't real and what I actually had to do was get up.

Sorry Worse. That's prob not the sort of thing you want to hear right now . Like Betty, I hope you're tucked up in a lovely unit with midwives running round after you and a sleepy delicious Babax who gets eating. Hope you've found time for the odd shower (and a go with their special body temp water hoses on the bidet - worth it just for that facility ).

Fog lifts on memory slightly: yes, hope you've survived all the ahem 'milestones' which seem rather scarier than the birth I seem to recall! Make sure dh keeps up the supplies of doorstops maternity pads and you have a jug handy to the loo when you return home.

betty that's harsh. What speciality is he? Fx for next time but as you say a total pain he has to do it again. I've had friends fail the written ones several times but you're just more on the spot for clinicals aren't you. for you both.

yummy oh no!! That also sounds expensive!! Unless you're insured against toddler damage??

gerry I'm actually a bit jealous of your sporting events!! I still exercise but it is not the same when you have a big stomach and a extra stone or so in the way!! Next year...
assuming my pelvic floor will allow
We are definitely a way off potty training. Like others I'm aiming for the summer so we can be out in the garden!! It's another step out of babyhood
worse hope you're ok and getting some rest. Hi to everyone else.

Betty, sounds like you and dh are on a more even keel though. Gutting for both of you for various reasons, but somehow sounds like could keep bringing you together. I hope so. Silver linings etc.

monster ds purposefully threw the car at the tv. Obviously he didn't know it would break. He was playing up before he did that and our patience was wearing thin. I must admit I shouted 'no' at him. I said look Tv is broken. Picked him up and plonked him on the sofa. He knew he did wrong and started crying and we ignored him until he calmed down. I don't know if that was the right thing to do or not it was in the heat of the moment and I felt really bad when he cried. After this incident I will be definitely insuring the new TV. Me and dh have cancelled our valentines day meal plans to get the tv. We know what our priorities are.lol.

gerry go you on the new sporty challenges. Good luck with the ttc plans.

betty your poor dh. Hopefully he will get through the being gutted phase and use that to spur him on to pass the next exam.

We're in a throwing things phase too, yummy. Worst was the fork in the face at point blank range (thank god for glasses). So the rule now is: you throw it, I take it away. Then it goes on top of the fridge until tomorrow. Too early days to say if it's really working though. And not much use for the throwing in temper, because she needs to learn better ways to deal with frustration and rage.

I'll try and catch up with everyone soon - been at the birthing unit without internet and have just arrived home. PIL, and DH have all been really sick with bad colds/bronchitis and conjunctivitis, and the toddle is just getting over the same. The house is chaos, and DH didn't take the toddle to nursery so my plans of getting babax home in relative calm have been scuppered. Quite stressed actually!!! Shattered when you bring baby2 home, best to do it when the older one is out. That's my biggest toppest tip ever. Oh, and your milk comes in super fast with number two. Who knew. At least a day earlier.

Right, phew, everyone is fed, the washing machine is running, the toddle is in the other room singing 'bye bye bye' instead of napping, and babax is in his sling. Sanity rules!

Potty training... tips from my second time mum NCT group: don't start until they are completely up to speed with telling you when they need to go. If you wait you can have the whole thing dusted in 10-14 days. Any earlier will take months. 2. Wait until summer, especially if you are going away or have a garden as you have fewer clothes to contend with, or can even let them run nappy free outside.

Yummy your poor tv ! i consider myself warned. Accidents may be accidents by I can fully understand your feeling a bit cross. I'd have yelled in shock, pretty sure of it.

Betty, sorry about the exams. It always happens when you kind of expect to walk it, possibly exactly because you expect to. A bit of fear always helps. Gutting though, and hard having to do the work again. Fingers crossed for next time.

Gerry Good luck ttc! Enjoy . Now theres an activity I won't be doing for a v long time. Stitches. Ow. But I digress. Thing that helped me with PCOS was definitely low GI eating, and regular exercise. Namely swimming. Both times I've fallen pregnant pretty much as soon as I've started the daily out door swim.

Everyone else, I'll have to wave as my poor sleep deprived brain hasn't the capacity for anything else. Babax is not a sleeper. I haven't actually had more than a 30 min nap at a time since sunday. It's destroying me. Thankfully my milk is in now, as colustrum was frustrating him, so now he is able to fill his boots he might actually sleep. He fed every single individual hour last night. I could have cried. The midwives tried to settle him, but no joy, so he's been in with me every night so I have been able to close my eyes at least.

Now, for Stormy the birth . A bit surreal, as going into a delivery room, not in labour, is, well, surreal. Contractions started within minutes of them breaking my waters, and ramped up so fast I had to rely heavily on gas and air. Transition nearly killed me. Honest to god wanted to die. Pushing a hell of a lot better. Ring of fire... oh my god.... they should have cut me, I've torn terribly, then a quick shoulder wiggle and he was on my chest. Wonderful experience, but one I won't repeat. I'm done at two. To be honest I knew that before the labour, but I have sure as hell have it confirmed in my mind after

As the hospital was rammed, I had a pretty raw postnatal deal. Shower broken, so a cold shower post labour (I really do mean cold), over night in a freezing cold room so babax couldn't settle, midwifes too busy with back to back deliveries to help me much in the night, and DH had to get home, so he couldn't help either. You can see why I went to the birth unit!

Babax is a proper little boy. Not pretty, just boy. Kind of glad for stereotypical reasons worselet got my the pretty genes! He also never stops eating, or pooing. I have never seen so much poo. The first batch all over the bed at the birthing unit I was is BIG trouble.

Oh no, another phone call. Why does everyone ring the second you get home. oh I know, because they are nice.... I am being ungrateful!

Thank you all you lovely ladies for all your support all the way (you were the first people I told, before the stick was even dry!), all your advice, and Betty and others your medical expertise. Where would I be without the Marchers! Much poorer in many ways xxx

Glad you're home Worse. Sorry to hear that everyone's been poorly but hoping that they're over the worst of it so that you and Babax aren't susceptible.

The house may be chaos but at least you have a very valid reason to retreat and just concentrate on feeding your boy and dozing off together. I hope dd is thrilled with her little brother.

How are you finding it this time? I know it's probably too soon to all really but just curious to know if it's any different to the shell shock of a first baby.

Betty very pleased you're able to go out tonight. Alcohol kills gems so you'll be fresh as a daisy by tomorrow and you're right, impetigo sounds potentially very miserable and not at all like a warm sunny Greek island

Excellent cross post Worse. So happy for you. Postnatal care seems like such a lottery, those poor overworked midwives just have no time. But home safe and sound, and it seems like everyone is happy and healthy (and a bit knackered too!). The complete family feeling must be pretty lus, no?

"Oh my god, they should have cut me ... wonderful experience."

Going to chalk that one up to the hormones! But a marvellously gory picture created in my mind, so thank you worse. And agreed with your NCT people re waiting to train. My dad's been a bugger for going on about DD being ready to train, and I've been going on about her not being totally ready yet. Then my cousin's boy (five months older) cracked it in a weekend and now my dad is going on and on about how amazingly quick and easy it is if you wait. I do my best to restrain my eyebrow.

In other news, I have the plague. Woke up this morning feeling like every orifice in my skull was stuffed with soggy cotton wool. Then I thought, if the man woke up feeling like this, that'd mean at least three days lounging in bed feeling sorry for himself. If I did that I'd get done for neglect.

Glad home safe and sound worse. Hope lurgy passes you and Babax by and leaves everyone else well alone pdq. Hope undercarriage mends swiftly.