November 2014 - The one where they won't stay still.

[MrsAukerman]

New thread, new moves, new poo!

We're in size 4 here too.

Also ditto re the hair shedding, my hair was so unkempt & long it was starting to dread itself, and everytime I brushed my hair the brush would be full. Went to haidressers last week & she took about 4 inches off! I feel a lot more together as a result.

Unlike you BFers I still have a wobbly Mum Tum, but I don't care as we're going to TTC #2 in a couple of months. Eeek!

WRT skin, I adopted the Caroline Hirons technique (acid toners etc) when DS was about 4 mths old & I was sick of the old bag in the mirror. Its really brightened me up since. I was sceptical, but it does make you glow, no doubt. Highly recommend - I use really cheap stuff too.

(I also cheat & mix a splodge of illuminator with my moisturiser - I'm 40 and need to use all my artillery!)

Strawberry DS is another one predicted by all & sundry to walk first. No sign of anything remotely resembling a crawl but he can stand supported really easily & for good periods. Legs like a scrum half. He can even (I just noticed today) go from standing to crouching to peer at something on the ground back to standing again. Bit startling!

Today we managed to have 2.5 hrs over 2 naps. Will be interesting to see if it makes any difference to anything.

My ds1 was cruising n walking along holding our hands from 7.5mths and didn't crawl til 11mths or walk til 18mths after being told oh he will walk at 9mths do don't worry too much, ds2 seems to be following him really not much movement other than some shuffling round on back think will move earlier to get to his brother though.

Ooh, off to Google Caroline Hirons Anna That's cheered me up! Like you I'm 40, and looking every bit of my age since I had DS.

She slept!! She actually can sleep for longer than 2hrs!!! The night started terribly. I put her to bed at 8, and by 10 she had woken up twice and she would not go back down. She would fall asleep in my arms but as soon as I put her in the cot she would wake back up screaming. Eventually, some time after 11 DH noticed this and came to take over for a few minutes so I could get ready for bed. She finally fell asleep in our bed at about midnight, but I don't remember being woken up until after 6am, which was a great surprise. I'm not going to get my hopes up for a repeat though.

Hooray Happy! So pleased for you

I don't think dd2 will be an early walker, her legs don't seem particularly strong yet. I remember dd1 seemed more 'standy' at this age, but dd1 was a late and crap crawler and a slightly early walker (just before 11months).

They're such funny little things. I am really enjoying dd2 now, lots more so than the early screamy stressy days for sure. She's generally quite sunny now (although a bit clingy at the mo if I leave the room - separation anxiety). I was worried about how she'd get on at the CM but it's going really well, she gives the CM a big long cuddle every morning, so sweet :) We had been using the dummy on and off but touch wood I think we have kicked the habit now. I will keep an emergency one for car journeys though.

Not a bad night last night - bed at 7.45, fed at 11 and 3.30 and then up for the day just before 7. DH was not exactly being quiet going to bed last night or leaving for work this morning, so I think she would have stretched longer at those two times otherwise. Never mind.

Delighted for you happy - great to get such a nice long stretch of sleep. The night I get 6 hours in a row three years from now probably I won't know myself.

On the nappies - dd is tiny but long, no idea how much she weighs but size 3 was looking too snug on her so we upgraded to size 4. No leakage last night but might try pampers for night anyway. Happy with Aldi for daytimes.

Good trick about splodging illuminator with moisturiser Anna. I'm 31 but I just don't look good right now and still getting through much more coffee and sugary carbs than I should be. Not willing to part way with them until I'm getting decent sleep though!

Thats brilliant happy! We had a second night of sleeping 7 - 6.30. A few stirrings/grumblings for dummy, but no wakings. Its all a bit unpredictable, tbh but Feel hopeful he may not continue being a nightmare sleeper after all!

thisis she has a blog with Cheat Sheets down the side but its still a bit confusing at first. V simple when you get yr head round it though.

1. If wearing makeup, cleanse twice -- once with something unglamorous & heavy duty to get the make up off, then cleanse with a hot cloth cleanser to clean right into the pores. I use the soap & glory one which is lush.

1. Follow with a swipe of a toner that exfoliates with AHAs. If your spotty, use the Clearasil Superfruit pads, if you're not, use something with the word "Brightening" in it. I use a Boots Time Delay one. There's also a Botanics one.

1. Spritz with something hydrating. I use La Roche Posay Serozinc as its got zinc in which is healing/reduces redness.

1. Serum/eye cream. I actually don't bother with either at the mo.

1. Moisturiser/spf.

If you're not wearing make up you only cleanse once though - with the hot cloth cleansing balm.

And she usually swears by a retinol night cream or similar. You just have to be vigilant about the SPF then.

Thats it!

Brilliant stuff happy

Hearing all your stories about successful nights make me a bit more hopeful that one day it will come. We are teething like a beast here so not yet but one day....

DS has started going to give kisses though which is adorable. More like a head butt and he heads towards you with his mouth wide open but definitely aiming for kisses.

All friends not at work are busy today and no groups to go to (missed the library this morning). Day is looking a bit long so I am going to head to the park after lunch to feed the ducks. What do you guys do on the days where it feels a bit long?

I am also back in the swing on some kind of skincare which is starting to make me look less haggard. My skin is super dry from breast feeding so lots of moisturiser and an attempt to drink more water is making a difference.

cat I bought a sun tent from Aldi & am having great success plonking DS in it on the lawn. He just looks about at everything for an hour.

Greenstone definitely more rewarding and enjoyable than first 6 weeks! But if I could sellotape that load mouth at 5am, it would be picture perfect .

Cat yesterday was one of those longish days and weather not that great as to plonk DD in the garden either. So I made strawberry jam for the winter, Morrisons at the moment have 400g box for £1,47, so it actually works out cheaper making your own than buying a good quality one. And never mind the smug face you can put on . This morning DD had ricotta with little dab of that jam for breakfast. Cleared off 30ml pot very quickly. Now in the pipeline is to try strawberry and basil jam and strawberry, balsamico and black pepper jam. Got saved for later also recipe of apricot and lavender jam and some savory preserves. If you enjoy making strange things foodwise that can kill loads of free time.
Otherwise, good old Netflix or catching up on the magazines I subscribe online. Or getting on train and going somewhere close with DD is another option if she doesn't agree on playing by herself that day.

Urgh, I'm struggling ladies. DD continues to wake lots, up at 10, 11, 2-4, 6 and brought to bed and then fed for an hour. She will only go to sleep on the boob or in the pushchair. Naps are getting shorter, only 30 minutes. But awake times are full on as well. She's so fast at crawling now I can't leave her for a second and she needs such a lot of stimulation and this new screaming is a killer, it's so loud and she does it as soon as she's even slightly miffed or bored. So she's tired due to crap naps and won't eat her lunch or dinner. I need the trust techniques book to arrive asap!! I'm pleased she's doing well on crawling but life was much easier before! She stands so well supported, she has done since about 4 months, she stands leaning against the sofa but I think walking is a long way off, she never moves her feet no matter how much encouragement.

When I left the flat earlier I bumped into my neighbour who has a 4 yr old and a 1 yr old who said 'you can't tell you're not sleeping, you always look immaculate, I don't know how you do it' - perhaps I should spend less time putting on make up and more time cleaning the bathroom!! I can't get rid of the mum tum and the last 5lbs of preggo weight but I'm saved by eyelash extensions so I never look like ultimate crap. My hair never got that lovely thickness during pregnancy so it's not falling out now. But I did get gorgeous long nails which I watched grow out and back to my weak stubby ones at about 4 months post baby. I got some smashbox primer for Xmas and at the very least whack that on in the morning, hides a multitude of sins.

So we don't often have a long empty day ahead!! I find it easier to entertain her when we're out, I'm a total baby group whore, I'm not shy so just go to new ones if there is a day we're looking for something new. I have a friend I 'picked up' at one of them who doesn't drive so if we're looking for something to do we go to the park or swimming. We've done a few shopping trips to different areas, a supermarket a little further away, a charity shop spree in a funky part of town or a farm shop.

Oh and size 4 aldi, they're a little big on the tum but her massive thighs needed some space, she was 17.06 at her last weigh in 3 weeks ago.

Will try to come back less moany next post!

ladydolly aren't we all allowed a "moan" once in a while? - absolutely nothing wrong with that and isn't that the beauty of our November group: we're all in the same boat and have been there / will continue to be there....

So, my moan......MIL is over for a few days (lives in Europe) with the idea of "helping out"...(we don't have any family near by who are able to help us so until now I've been doing all the looking after DD all day, everyday until DH is home from work)...anyway, I really am NOT finding it at all easy letting someone else look after MY daughter. Am very aware of comments like "isn't she cold without a jacket on?" (no, it's 23 degrees); "isn't that too big for her to eat?" (no, it's a 1/4 piece of a hard boiled egg); "aren't you afraid she'll choke on solid food?" (NO!). I know that it will benefit my DD to spend time with someone else other than me, but it's not easy...

oh havent I guess on the flip side at least you havent got someone questioning your parenting every 5 mins for most of the time. I remember one time we were out for a family meal & mil commented on ds' dinner not being cut up small enough, I said i've done it & its fine but she completely ignored me, grabbed her cutlery & chopped it up & said 'there thats better'. It followed a long line of similar incidents & I felt completely undermined & was so mad I went & cried in the loos! She is mostly lovely & meant well but grrrr!

we are still in size 3 pampers baby dry nappies here, dd is 16lb 4oz.

nowhere near crawling & she's not standing supported yet either - her legs buckle after a few seconds. She has started rolling over in the night though & wakes crying when she gets stuck on her tummy. I was up a good 10 times with her last night for this reason!

Otherwise nights arent too bad, she's doing 7pm - 7.30am (and we usually have to wake her) with a quick feed at around 5am. She has 2 naps in the day, morning one is usually around 1.5hrs & afternoon one anything from 30mins-1.5hrs. She sleeps so much better in her cot than when we're out so I prefer to stay at home for her naps. She sleeps more soundly at night when she's napped well in the day.

Unfortunately this means we're not getting out to groups/activities much. Feel a bit guilty as did more with ds but by time I've done the school run & dd's napped, we have a 2hr window over lunch where we can do something before its back for a nap then school run again. I had so much more time when it was just me & ds!

Gave DD mashed potato tonight and she cried! I offered it and she kept tasting it and then bursting into tears! Bad mummy but it was so funny!

Trying to keep up with the thread... I feel and look old atm too. Lost my pregnancy weight a while ago which I'm very grateful for but actually think it hasn't helped the haggard look! And I have tons of new grey hairs :-(

Camping with a baby is interesting to say the least! He struggles to get to sleep because the tent isn't dark but it's easiest to go with the flow. I just hope he goes back to normal when we're home.

moggle my DD cried at her dinner last night too, I didn't find that funny, because I had literally nearly set the kitchen on fire cooking it! Fortunately neither DD was in the kitchen at the time. I gave DD some fruit when she cried at her cauliflower tortilla omelette thing, and after eating the fruit she started eating the dinner.
I didn't get another 6 hour stretch of sleep but she only woke up twice overnight, which is still a big improvement

ladydolly do you have a jumperoo or similar? We find that sometimes its the only thing to burn off energy.

WRT naps we literally have to sit by DS at around the 30 min mark - the book says to basically do every damn thing you can think off to get them back to sleep after 30 mins. So far here pressing cheek to cheek and heavy paw on babys shoulder and doing lots of shhhhhing works. I have a personal theory that Mums face on babys face helps them go back to sleep but only cos my Mum did it to me!

My Mum is shocking as well with the "Won't he be cold?" shite. He's living in shorts and bare feet at the mo and she thinks this is appalling. Surely he should be wearing a nice thermal vest!!!

And she saw him sucking on a crust of bread yesterday and almost had a heart attack. Its getting boring now. He's FINE.

Oh and omama I haven't done ONE SINGLE baby group. Granted I've been a bit busy, but not one single fuck is given! He doesn't seem to care so I don't either!

Anna I think your mum's face theory might be right. Have been few times DD would struggle to go sleep and after trying all sorts, she would go when I lean in her cot and put my forehead to hers. She also get's lot of comfort if I put my hand on her cheek, she literally buries her face in it.

Havent would you consider taking advantage of MIL "help"? If she wants to help so much, book yourself for massage or both with DH have a night out? We don't have family close by either and all the care for DD is down to us two. My mum was the 1st one to meet DD, she was 3,5 months at the time and other family members have met her just recently. My mum was trying to give me instructions over the email, had to tell her off with a simple reason - you are not around so you cannot know better. When she came over I was worried she would go on about advices and was all ready to point out that if DD has been fine and thriving all those months with our care, there is no reason to jump in now for the rescue. But somehow when she actually saw DD all happy, she admitted she was impressed how well she was and that maybe her views haven't been the only right ones. We used DM to baby sit while we went out few nights with DH. The first time I initially felt anxious about leaving DD with somebody who isn't DH, but then relaxed. I think because since being pregnant I was constantly thinking if what I did would do good for DD, I had become very protective of her and DM babysitting was like letting it go, accepting that DD will have other people in her life and they are not obligatory to harm her. When your MIL starts to go on with her questioner just tell her "Btw, if you really want to help with the baby, why don't you baby sit one night while we go out?". You deserve a little break after all these months dealing with it all on your own! At least with myself I found that having a short break from childcare and some time of the adult life made me appreciate the time with DD more, as I was pulled out of the usual routine.

It's so funny how LOs react to the food they like or not. DD would open her mouth at least once for anything, but then if she doesn't like it, next time I offer it, she would turn her head to right, zip her lips, bury her eyes into floor and wouldn't even look at me until I take it away.

haven't I find it really hard leaving DS with anyone as we don't have local family. We left DS with PIL for 3 hours while we went for long walk on holiday. It felt like one step at a time and I might even get some time to myself one day!

moggle doing BLW here and when he doesn't like something it gets destroyed in his hands and then dropped off the edge of the highchair.

Thanks you for your tips on long days. We spent about an hour in the garden yesterday in the shade on a picnic mat playing with bubbles and grass. Swimming today that will break the day up.

Yesterday was pancakes and fruit puree for breakfast, savoury flapjack and melon for lunch and dinner was pea fritters, broccoli, pork chop with greek yogurt and fruit puree for pudding. x

We're in size 4 lidl during the day and size 4 pampers at night, she's about 20 pounds now.

DH suggested that I have an early night last night after I cried when my dinner fell out the fridge face down on the floor! DD woke at 10, then at 12.30, when I woke up lying on my back (which I never do as I snore) with the light on, I was dreaming that she was crawling around on the bed but she was safely in her cot. Then she woke again from 5-6am and we both went back to sleep until 8.30. I know this isn't as bad as some, but I'm really feeling the effects of 6 months of sleep deprivation now. Still trying to get it together this morning. You know it's getting bad when you start seeing things. I thought there were mountains outside last night, that's when I decided I should go to bed!

We also don't have any family close to help, appart from DHs 16 year old daughter but she's in the middle of her gcses so hasn't been around much. Bf ing hasn't done much for my wobbly tum. Just tried on the dress I was going to wear to my nephews christening but I don't want people asking me if I'm pregnant again so I'm going to have to find something else!

Omama school runs really screw up any other plans we go to a breastfeeding group on a Wed morning but otherwise not alot else I went to something everyday with ds1 but then children centre was new well funded with lots free groups now nothing is offered.

Last night only one waking at 4am n up for day at 5.45.

We generally get 3 lots 45min naps in car seat or pram as 2 are on school run, does not nap in cot.at 6mths they should have 3-3.5hrs over 2 naps but guess my baby didn't read that book :)

Yesterday was weetabix, lunch roast pork n veg followed by some organix crisp things, dinner was chicken stew n a fruit pot and then with us green beans and some chicken. I upped portion sizes yesterday and he now eats a whole tommee tippee storage pot I need to buy some more nuby one's as they are bigger aldi didn't have them on this baby event and usually do them for £1 I think for 4.

Today breakfast was weetabix with fruit (must try ready brek doesn't like porridge) and lunch will be roast chicken and dinner bbq sausage casserole prob having fruit pot for dessert.

I am going to try him on alpro soya children yogurts they are £2 though for 4 so waiting on some money off coupons I asked alpro for. Our co OP does the big pot of alpro soya natural for £1 but when I checked it I noticed it has a fair bit of salt in it so wasn't sure if ok or not.

Caz I had a lightbulb moment recently when I realised I had to be looking for "shift dresses" to cover the tummy. I type it into search boxes on clothes websites and see what pops up. I do most of my shopping on ASOS these days, tbh.