March '13 - packing up our troubles and getting excited about the new babies

[ecofreckle]

It's that time again. This thread is going to explode with squishy babies. Which is nice.

yummy congratulations on the job offer!!! I'm also really apprehensive of returning to full time work after over 2 years of part time. The other morning though, I woke up early to shower and get ready then DS woke at 7:30am and we had a really lovely hour together before we left to go out, and it made me realise that's what we'll have when he goes to the childminder full time. It might not be as much time together as we have now, but it will be really special time. And with finishing earlier and working closer to home, we'll be able to do things in the afternoon as a family instead of me rushing home to do bathtime. It's important to focus on the positives so think about the extra income you'll have, how special time with DS will be and how much you as a family will benefit you can tell I've thought about this a lot!!

worse the school sounds lovely. I'm sure worselet will thrive there. Especially considering she has the most stylish mummy

shattered gorgeous picture of DS2. He's blooming adorable!

ooh yummy amazing weight loss too. I called up my local SW lady yesterday wanting to ask about joining and she was so weird that I've decided not to go. She seemed really put out that I called her, even though her number is on the website. So DP and I are going to buy some scales and do it online with weekly weigh-ins. That'll learn her!!

I had a very productive morning of painting a fence in pretty colours. I feel like such a grown up

yummy congratulations on the job offer!!! I'm also really apprehensive of returning to full time work after over 2 years of part time. The other morning though, I woke up early to shower and get ready then DS woke at 7:30am and we had a really lovely hour together before we left to go out, and it made me realise that's what we'll have when he goes to the childminder full time. It might not be as much time together as we have now, but it will be really special time. And with finishing earlier and working closer to home, we'll be able to do things in the afternoon as a family instead of me rushing home to do bathtime. It's important to focus on the positives so think about the extra income you'll have, how special time with DS will be and how much you as a family will benefit you can tell I've thought about this a lot!!

worse the school sounds lovely. I'm sure worselet will thrive there. Especially considering she has the most stylish mummy

shattered gorgeous picture of DS2. He's blooming adorable!

ooh yummy amazing weight loss too. I called up my local SW lady yesterday wanting to ask about joining and she was so weird that I've decided not to go. She seemed really put out that I called her, even though her number is on the website. So DP and I are going to buy some scales and do it online with weekly weigh-ins. That'll learn her!!

I had a very productive morning of painting a fence in pretty colours. I feel like such a grown up

Just popping in with a comedy mispronunciation. Fartypants told me repeatedly and loudly that, "I want dicks, Mummy. Dicks for tea." While we were walking round the supermarket. I really really wish she'd get the hang of st sounds...

Then we played, "If you can read it I'll buy it," which resulted in twixes. So not entirely a disaster of a trip.

Mm yummy dicks.

Yummy well done! Don't fret, it'll all be fine. Hold on to the excitement.

I'm listening to ds assert himself in his room. He knows it is bedtime, he has a bath and milk, and Calpol in case his behaviour today is anything to do with feeling crappy. He's not crying or creating but I can hear him taking the linen off his bedding and tickling his own feet. Am on standby just in case.

Oh and today I said one of those sentences I never imagined I'd have to: "please remove the elephant from your mouth".

Oh dear he's crying now. Would happen when dh isn't here!

I'm currently listening to a rather mangled rendition of The Wheels on the Bus. I'm not getting involved. She can sing, sleep, read, scream, whatever she likes, but I'm off duty unless she shits or catches fire, and she knows it. This knowledge has dramatically improved bedtimes.

Stormy I like your style . Last night I sat holding dd's hand until 2.30am because I haven't managed to achieve that level of independence in her. It is entirely possible I may have fallen asleep myself as I'm sure it didn't take her 3 hours to drop off.

That's quite an achievement, worse! I haven't the patience for such things, unfortunately. That's how we got to our current bedtime routine, actually. A few weeks back it became apparent that naps will no longer work, because as little as twenty minutes of sleeping during the day means up to two hours of evening sleep lost. Dropped the nap, but she started complaining about going to bed and generally kicking off about being left in her room. After several days I'd had enough. Quietly told her: sleep or scream, your call; I'm not getting involved in any more games of silly buggers. Goes to sleep fine again now, sometimes straight away, sometimes after a bit of singing. And the baby monitor really does come in handy - if she starts howling, I've heard what came beforehand, which makes it easy to tell if there's anything wrong or if she's just trying a new method of dragging me back upstairs.

yummy congrats on both the weight loss and the job offer. Double celebrations
something thank you I think so too!!
eco hi! like you I now have a shattered phone screen courtesy of the toddle. Pants. I've had it fixed once before but think I might need a new phone this time. I actually can only MN from my phone so this could be disastrous (forgotten password so can't log in elsewhere!)
plonk hope DS is ok lovey.
worse I reckon the worselet might respond to bribery for bedtime? What does she really want? You could use that as motivation? I am planning on using choc buttons stickers or similar for potty training when we get to that stage.,.

Congrats Yummy! Fantastic news!

Eco thanks for asking after me, I feel like I've lost track recently. There's been various high stress goings on and I've regressed into myself a bit but I'll make a big effort to be back!

Your holiday sounds fab Eco, I'm very jealous. A family holiday would be wonderful here but we're looking at October at the earliest.

I realised driving home today that this is the first age that I've enjoyed so very much. DD is a bossy madam and is bloody hilarious and hard work but it's the first time in her life that I actively look forward to seeing her and spending time with her. I know in hindsight I was fairly horribly depressed until she was one but I hadn't really realised it was only just getting back to 'normal' now! I'd quite like another one but only if I could have them handed to me age 2!!!

Stormy I have bedtime envy. Worse I'm also in handholding hell. Every bloody night. She's a manipulative minx! Every night she says "mummy, you hold my hand and I close my eyes, you leave and I cry". What a monkey!

Shattered worselet is not easy to bribe as she has no favourite thing. She has lots of things that become her favourite thing the second I want to put them away, but nothing that would really grab her attention. Other than maybe a cracker. She does have a strange liking for the driest, most tasteless crackers on the market.

On the potty training front, we haven't started but the potty is left out where she can play with it, and today, unprompted she came to tell me she needed to do a poopy and spent a while sitting on it. That's a good start .

I'm going to bed. My 2.30 hour sleep last night wasn't enough. I need more tonight. I am hoping no one wakes for at least 4 hours.

So looks like new arrivals at house of plonk, does that mean you've had your scan? Hope all good.

Hope sleep was better for those with tinies.

Ah no sorry Wotta, we got the car earlier than promised. DH is most put out that it's been getting rained on all night.

Stormy I'm not sure if FP gets the ultimatum or if she is a sensible sort who realises that sleeping is far preferable to wailing and whining, but well done all the same. After our brief early stint with letting him cry for 3-4 mins here and there we've found that he's generally the sort to chatter away for ten minutes, then sleep. On the nights he won't do that there's usually something else going on.

Betty and Worse the handholding sounds very wearing, and very cute.

Betty I love this age too. I maintain that I'm more of a toddler person. They're very rewarding, they give so much back and so interested in the world around them. But so tiring! I'm not surprised you prefer this age too, the lack of sleep you went through sounds absolutely torturous.

Ugh I should put my face on. My sister's due here in 45 minutes and DH is adamant we need to take the car for a spin first I just want to eat pumpernickel toast and watch Disney movies til then! It feels like batten down the hatches kind of weather.

Happy Saturday all!

Betty I must admit my face went when I read your post. She's totally playing you, and you know it, and you're letting her! Which just goes to show they really are all different, and what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another, because I'm pretty sure you wouldn't be holding her hand half the night if there were a viable alternative.

Ugh, thirty really is the beginning of the end. Mentally as well as physically. I just had to go back and correct the subjunctive up there. What is happening to my words?

The trouble with bribes:
Parent: If you do X you can have Y
Child: Y is an option?
Parent: Yes, if you do X.
Child: I want Y!
Parent: Then do X, and you can have Y.
Child: I want Y! I want it I want it I want it please please please please please I want it!
Parent:

Have to admit the toddler stage is not my favourite. It's the inability to reason with them, and the way if they don't like your answer to a question or request they just ask again and again and again and again and again, because they don't understand that you can't actually reverse the laws of physics or times or whatever so that they can do or have precisely what it is just at that moment that they'll die without. This stage is still better than the newborn hell though.

We cuddle and feed to sleep and stay with DD as long as she wants every evening not because there isn't a viable alternative but because we all love this routine as a family - it works so well for us and we love the extra time with her (although of course neither of us look after her fulltime). Actually we have found that DD is actually for some alone time during a sleep routine occasionally - exciting to watch her developing her independence on her own initiative! She also asks us to leave her to it while on the toilet and to shut the door, calling us only when done - makes me realised she is such a confident and independent grown up little person!

Sorry for the long absence from the thread - between holiday, work and birthdays we have been so busy! Will try stay on top better but in the meantime wishing everyone lots of fun in the sun now that summer has arrived at last!

Hi rainbow
I don't know stormy, I don't think the promise of a choc button or whatever is any different from you putting pudding in front of DD and saying she can have it if she eats her main. Call it an incentive if that's better. Anyway worse sorry not to suggest anything more helpful for bedtime.

wotta/worse do I need a double pump in my life? Expressing plus BF is a total PITA, I try and express as early as possible but today I'm just starting now! not ideal. eco send me some BF vibes- it's hard work. Kudos to you and rainbow for persevering for so long . Do come and see me if you are down this way!
Glad you are starting to feel better betty. I think often with feeling ill you don't necessarily realise until you feel better. I must admit this isn't the easiest stage for me but I'm glad you're enjoying it! I think the best stage for me was about 10-18 months. Good sleep and fewer tantrums!!
Turning 30 for me has led to marriage, a decent job, and two gorgeous children. Can't complain. Tbh my 20s were spent studying, taking endless exams, and working all hours. Think my work/ life balance is much better these days. I need some 'me' time back but aware that that will come as DS2 gets older and sleeps more!

Stormy you just made me laugh out loud. Thank you. Hilarious, and absolutely spot on

Yeah, pudding as a reward for main course consumption was a pretty brief thing. Does anyone else find themselves mentally thinking ahead and rearranging sentences so as not to have to mention things their small person likes, even going so far as spelling out or pig Latin to avoid words like "biscuit"? Oddly doglike, which is odd, as Fartypants normally models het behaviour after the cats'.

If you'd asked me about FP's clothing removal skills this morning I'd have said she can manage socks and wellies and that's about it. This evening after tea, I'm having a smoke while the bath runs, she's watching Abney and Teal and playing with her belly button (newly available for exploration as we've finally given up on vests). Next thing I know she's stark naked. Trousers and pull-up abandoned with ease, t-shirt sleeve fought back but she beat it into submission. Dunno who was more proud, me or her.

I know Stormy, she's completely playing me! In reality though, it's about 10-30 minutes every evening, it makes her very happy, I just lie down and read a book on my kindle and my current thoughts are that she's growing up so fast that it won't be forever and when she's a hideous stroppy monster of a teenager I'll give my right arm to be contorting myself through the cot bars to hold her hand again. I'm fairly sure I only feel like this because I'm really enjoying this stage. Give it a couple of months and I'll be plotting ways to whip her into shape and escape!

Well done FP on the undressing! That's a serious skill. Madam still comes to me presenting the offending limb to remove whichever item of clothing is currently upsetting her.

Shattered I'm sending you lots of milky thoughts! You're doing a fine job battling on but it does sound a bit brutal expressing all the time and feeding. Poor you!

Rainbow how was your holiday? Facebook pics looked fab. There's nothing quite like holiday ice cream is there?

Yummy well done on the mega weight loss. Sounds like you've really taken to WW. I need to get my bum in gear and do something as I'm decidedly flabby around the middle again and having to wear elasticated waistbands more than I would like! I'm going to the gym but then ofTen coming home and treating myself to a couple of bars of chocolate before a mammoth dinner and the odd scoop of ice cream. . My name is Betty and I am a junkfoodaholic.

So long as it works for you, Betty. It does sound rather lovely when you describe it that way.

I'm frequently not allowed to assist with clothes, or anything else, at the moment. The phrase, "It's MY turn now," is heard dozens of times a day. Mummy's turn only comes round when she gets seriously frustrated and gives up.

We have "Ds help. No mummy ds do it" before spilling his drink/throwing food on the floor/undressing himself. He can manage zip up hoodies and jeans but gets thoroughly mardy with tee shirts.

We've just been to a steam rally with the Somethings. They've tired me out! I think a sleepy cuddle with ds in front of a film is the order of the day.

Uhoh, I think I broke it again....

Yummy how are the career negotiations going? Did you get a package you're happy with?

Shattered how's life with two? Wondering how the expressing is going. Sounds a hard slog, hopefully this is a short hill to climb.

Worse is this your week oop north or are you solo? Hope all is well.

Wotta give us a wave chicken!

I'll wave to everyone else because my memory is appalling. So appalling that I nearly spelt that "appaulling". Sorry Stormy .
We're having a lazy day today. I bloomin need it! We had a busy weekend and loads of furniture is getting delivered tomorrow so we can finally get to work moving ds into the big room. Should probably whizz round before dh gets home because there's a fine sprinkling of duplo all over the lounge, but after that I'm not lifting a finger.
Turns out dh isn't 100% on the home birth thing which is less than ideal for having a fully supportive partner. He seems to have been a bit stunned by how quickly ds's birth changed from All Fine to Fuuuuuuck.

Plonky you're right, this is my week for playing grown ups and acting like I know what I'm doing. A lot of fun it is too... in a scary way. Fortunately the old brain cells haven't quite died yet, although they have required a little dusting down, but before I get too complacent let's see how my meeting with the bank manager goes later in the week

I can kind of see your DH's point of view on a home birth. Speaking personally I would far rather give birth than watch someone else go through it. From his perspective all he sees is someone he really cares about going through a slightly terrifying and very painful experience. My BIL summed it up quite well by saying he felt utterly powerless as he was unable to take the pain away, and he wanted so badly to be able to do just that. So, perhaps it makes him feel better to have you surrounded by doctors just in case. Obviously he needs to understand that it makes you feel better to be at home, but it may take a little while. You've a fair while yet to convince him.

I bumped into my older mum friend today, who still looks amazing, despite having a 3 week old bundle of mischief and a c-section to recover from. Whatever she's on... I want some.

Stormy Worselet's way of preventing unwanted intervention in how she is doing things is to get my hand, lead me to a nearest chair, and demand 'Mummy sit down'. The latest is refusing to wear any form of footwear other than her pink wellies, and always putting these on the wrong feet. I tend to go with the flow on this as life's too short to get precious about shoes.

Hello plonk petal.

I'm ok. Had a few days off which was great (pic in Facebook of evening in the garden which was just too cute).

Trying to get back into some exercise so have aquifit tomorrow and a pt session Thursday... my new Fitbit (that isnt) says I sit on my arse way too much and my calories in are hugely variable! (Turns out dinner wasn't kind today - nigellas meatballs, bloody lovely though).

Double pump, I found saved loads of time and got more milk shattered so worked for me. Good on you for keeping on if you're finding it a strain. Why are you pumping? Just for an expressed bottle or to boost supply? If the former, you could just do a ff feed. Your supply will adjust to miss one. I found a dream feed at 10ish that dh did invaluable in getting me through the night, but we had to mixed feed so it wasn't like I gave up ebf for it. Whatever gets you through (mostly kellymom it has to be said ).

Great to hear from you Betty, hope you can come up for air soon. And rainbow your holiday looked fab.

Ds is too too cute at the moment. He 'reads' guess how much I love you to himself and makes my heart melt. He also copies everything you say. An dat bed time I get asked to kiss fingers, kiss eyebrows, kiss mouth - all kissed, night night mummy. (Turn into a melty puddle for it every time).

Ah, wellies! In every toddler photo of me I am wearing my blue wellies. I loved those wellies. FP's getting the hang of left and right so I can verbally instruct when she gets stuck without actually getting within range of a flying welly, which is handy.

I'm sure once the old braincells got going it was just like riding a bike. I don't believe this myth that motherhood turns us all into Cath Kidston pinny wearing, arts and crafts doing, bumbling fools. We may do those things sometimes but getting back to work is fast easier than I had imagined. Two year olds require a LOT of imagination and planning. Your bank manager will be less well organised than you, fact! Ours is a young graduate type, still quite wet between the ears. Mum hates him, but still offers him cake in typical grandma fashion.

Wellies are fantastic. Big bright indestructible boots they can put on themselves! Ds loves his. I think he's beginning to need a dress up box now he's so god at getting dressed.

Wotta your bedtime kisses made me melt. I can just imagine those words coming from his gorgeous little face. Aww

And worse, well I think the home birth is truly scuppered. It's not fair on him. He loves the idea of afterwards, when we can climb into our own bed and he's not beholden to visiting hours. But he saw the whole ventouse affair and is worried about what would've happened if we'd had to transfer in. To me, the fact that this is not my first and I really have no plans on any heavy duty pain relief means that it probably won't happen that way again. I'm very scared of labour ward with all their opiates and instruments, but there's a new midwife led unit at the hospital that's more like a homebirth environment. I don't see a midwife now until the end of august (!!) But I definitely need to talk to them.

I agree that childbirth seems much worse for the person watching it. But this is my zen pregnancy and by God I'm going to do it my way!