August 2015 - Jaffa cake wars and many Mugabe greetings to you!

[mzzzf]

New thread ladies - praying for a decent sleep tonight!!

Just back from a 1 1/2 hour walk with the pram and dog. The longest post c-section. We went along the harbour, beach and through a nature reserve. The dog loved it and the baby slept. I hope I don't have to pay for it tomorrow.

Frolicdog is indeed petrified of frolicbaby mzzf! Whenever I put him near her she runs to bed. There were quite a few dog biscuits involved in the making of the photo. I'm glad I got one, even if the perspective is completely off and the dog looks giant and the baby appears to have shrunk!
Spaniels are great. Mental, but great

Frolicbaby is very lucky to have a granny who is a kniting and crocheting genius siani. He is rocking his hippy baby look today

I hope everyone has had a nice afternoon. I'm wiped out after the walk so it's oven chips for dinner. Mugabe!

Hiya Tindel, Ruby and slowwife! Nice to see some new faces!

I have been reading all day but haven't had chance to post as DS has been being a mardy bum ALL day! Having had a good 2-3 hours nap the last few days the day I plan to take advantage of it and have a shower etc then not only does he decide not to do it but he has regressed to the newborn can't put him down phase!! He's literally screamed all day with the exception of the hour I spent this morning trying to get him to nap where he was laughing and partying, eventually falling asleep for......a whole 8 minutes! He's also had half an hour on his play mat but apart from that screamed blue murder! Crap night last night too I'm knackered!! He finally went to sleep at 3.45 and is still asleep now thank god I was about to lose the plot!! I'm sure someone has swapped him with an identical child of the devil himself!

Had a trip to lidl myself today and managed to avoid all the beautiful goodies you are all chatting about, I'm determined to be good now! You have literally all mentioned my faves- the knock of kinder bars, choc twists, little choc squares and one you missed the knock off buenos!! When I was bf I literally could eat a pack a day!

Is it weird I'm slightly jealous of those with periods returning? As I've not bf since week 6 and he is turning 12 weeks on Sunday I'm starting to get a bit concerned! I want a second child eventually so they better show up!

Clstow- being a planner and control freak I paid the deposit to secure DS nursery place when I was 35 weeks pregnant! It's literally round the corner and caters to shifts so I didn't want to miss out! Haha!

Giggle wise DS hasn't done yet- lots of massive gummy smiles and high pitched shrieks (with the exception of today's grump) but no giggles!

DS has a bath every night and has from week 2- I know they say it's not necessary but he loves it sooooo much! If he's been screaming or grumbling we put him on and he instantly calms and smiles! As a result though he hates getting out and often screams when we do! This varies though! We are trying to make it part of bedtime routine but the 'bed' bit varies depending on the day! Some nights he goes straight to sleep after a bath and bottle and others he has a bath around 7ish and is still up at 10pm!!

Sat in all afternoon as broadband was supposed to be being fitted finally- hasn't sodding turned up though! FFS!!! Means I could have gone out with DS and avoided the hours of grumps!

Right I'll read the rest now! My my you've been a chatty lot today!

Just realised I might have sounded a bit sniffy there, clstow, just meant that I have by no means succeeded with project nap. In fact today's attempted naps have involved ds drifting off in my arms with the dummy, only to wake up inconsolably screaming after a couple of mins and the only thing I can do is feed him, even though he'd only fed an hour before...

Gorgeous sleepy baby mzzzf. And frolicdog looks like he's trying very hard to be a Good Dog. Dog and baby both beauts.

High five for the long sleep kbro! We had a couple of 5 hour stretches a few days ago. And now I've tasted that, I want more, dammit!

It's hard not to get into tired top trumps. DH said he was too tired to bath ds last week. Oh yeah, so I'll do it then, cos I'm not tired at all eh? Tough shit if you're tired, we just have to do stuff, tired or not I'm afraid.

Your dog and baby pic is so cute frolic - the giant and tiny look made me smile

I can't believe people would keep a baby in a car seat all night - gosh I know you would do anything for a sleep but that's being extreme - still feel bad about DD being in hers for half the morning. She hasn't settled the rest of the day - other DCs won't leave her alone - still not over the novelty of having her!!

My DD is constantly in the bath - I am a crazy clean freak - bathed morning and night and sometimes during the day too if she does a poonami. She loves it In the water and doesn't want to come out - if I wrap her in towel and cuddle straight away she is calm but without a nappy she sometimes wees so just try to get nappy and clothes on as quickly as possible.

DH had taken 4 DC to swim club leaving me with baby and toddler so quite peaceful - toddler watching Peppa Pig and baby sleeping in Moses basket - I am very greedily going to eat a custard choux bun from m&s that I hid at back of fridge before others come home - bliss

Oh my God ds just won't stop screaming. No idea what to do. He's fed, dry. I've cuddled and winded him. Might leave him outside for the wolves. At my wits end.

effin pop him down and take a breather. Just let him cry for five minutes. When you go back a bit calmer, he should hopefully calm himself. we've all been there

Forgot to say in my last post - nice tits baby mzzf!

Solidarity effin, I hope he settles soon

Custard choux bun sounds like heaven loves. I love, love, love anything cudtardy.

So, we're having a practice for when I go for a haircut on Saturday and dh is settling ds for his nap and will give him a bottle when he wakes. Wish him luck?!

Effin would a bath settle him? Skin to skin cuddling in bed? Walk around the block? I've definitely been there, it will pass even if it doesn't feel like it!!

You've been a chatty lot today. Mugabe to one and all.

Welcome newbies :)

All this yummy food talk is doing my diet cravings no good. I now want to go shop at lid for all the afore mentioned goodies. You guys are a bad influence lol. Especially the camembert and bread suggestion. Mmmmm. I hate dieting but I hate big fat so I need to be strong a little longer. It's not coming off very easily at the moment which us very disappointing when I'm following it properly but I suppose a loss is a loss. I just thought the initial weight would fly off because I'd cut so much crap out of my diet already.

Loveandsmiles don't feel bad about the car seat. A one off is fine and u should enjoy the peace. Im even worse. Dd fell asleep in hers and normally she wakes up as soon as I walk through the door but she stayed asleep so I settled down onto the couch for a nap thinking she'd wake me up soon but then we both slept for 1hour 45 mins!! And she'd already been asleep for awhile.

She's done a lot of sleeping today even though she slept all night. It might be because of her cold. Who knows. She's not mega snotty or anything. She seems happy enough. I worry that I don't get enough feeds it her if she sleeps so much but I don't actually know how much they are meant to eat once they get older.

Frolic that picture is gorgeous. Frolic dog is amazing and that outfit on ds is lovely.

Mzzf and fatty also have very cute baby photos.

Sorry for the millionth post of the day. I'm hiding upstairs while dh gives ds an expressed bottle. I can't hear crying, so things must be going ok.

I've just remembered that every time I posted a picture of frolicdog on the ttc thread someone got a bfp! Use your contraception tonight ladies

Can you tell I've not met any friends today? I hate having no one to chat to, so am bombarding you lot instead.

I second ruby's suggestion of skin to skin (if you've not already tried it of course) effin. It's the only thing that works for cranky ds.

Not sniffy at all Effin! When I'm feeling blue about DS's sleep I think of your project nap and it gives me hope. Hope your DS has settled now, nothing like the stress induced by a non stop screaming baby. Also I know exactly what you mean about being bewildered by people who have more than one child... After these first few weeks I just can't get my head round doing it again.

Welcome slowife - great to have you along.

Soo after today's nursery visits it looks like the earliest we can get DS in to a (good local) nursery is January 2017. I kid you not. Childminder it is then...

Love the baby and dog pics - keep 'em coming ladies.

I was worried about surviving Wednesday without Bake Off but DP has just reminded me that the Apprentice starts tonight. Phew.

This is DS after his bath. I try to time it for just before a bottle, then I can get him bathed, dry, dressed and then feed him to stop the crying

X-post Frolic... Glad your DH is doing ok flying solo. Never apologise for being chatty - i don't know what I'd do without the entertainment on this thread. Mugabe!

and for you Effin having experienced that most of the day! I still don't know what was up with hi although he ended up staying asleep for nearly 3 hours so was most likely overtired! I know we've all said it before but why don't they sleep when they are tired instead of screaming?!!? I don't get it!! I'm tired and want to scream but that's because I CANT sleep! Good job they're cute these babies!

Ah frolic dog is so good! I've neglected our 2 since DS came along I have to be honest but they are such a pain in the bum! One is quite good and calm but the other is naughty and winds up the other so that he gets arsey with her! Can't take them out on my own with pram as the naughty one ends up getting run over by the wheels and I wouldn't trust them not to pull me/ pram over if we saw other dogs! Took them out once with DS in carrier but naughty dog this time got under my feet pulling at 2 happy dogs behind a gate and I nearly fell on DS!!? They aren't allowed on the couch but as soon as I go upstairs that's where they are! They bark if they see someone pass the window (all the time as we are on new build building site!) and if they see anyone at their bedroom windows out the back of ours! It's my own fault I was never strict enough with training as it never mattered when it was the 2 of us but now DS is here I'm finding them such hard work! Life would be a million times easier without them but I won't give them up to dogs home etc- I took them on, a dog is for life and all that. I do wish I knew someone who would have them that I knew would treat them well sometimes though. I probably sound like the horriblest person ever, my dogs used to be my life but I just don't seem to have the time or patience for them now DS is here and I feel so guilty for that and for thinking it would be easier without them . Sorry to go on ladies just needed to vent DH gets annoyed when I even mention how hard work I find them home all day with them!

Off to try and put DS to bed he's currently fast asleep in my arms but I'd bet my house he won't be the minute I put him down!!

Can I recommend the Mousse Au Chocolat. In with the bars of chocolate. Very delicious. Good job I bought more JCs because when I was out Joskardog ate the half pack I had left by the bed! Fecker!

Dd2 and I nap together in bed. Mostly everything else I can do with her in the sling. For showers I just stick her in the bouncer and make faces at her.

I can't even begin to say how much easier I find two. I. Suspect this is because I give zero fucks about her sleep/feeds/poops/clothes etc. I spent so many hours weeping and obsessing and agonising and reading blogs/books last time that this time I don't have to do any of it. Hurrah! It will work out. If it eventually worked out for dd1 it will with this baby. Dd1 never slept more than 2 hrs until she was 16 weeks old. Dd2 regularly does 3 or 4 hr stretches and she's 6 weeks. It is down to the baby not the mummy.

Also another reason for two is today dd1 said "I luff oo, Cola" and gave Cora a kiss and a cuddle. Must have had summat in my eye or hay fever or some such...

I think Fergus must be the only one who doesn't cry after a bath! He used to, but I increased the bath temperature to 38 degrees from 37, and chucked away his stupid teeny baby towels. Now I scoop him out all slippery and naked and bundle him into a grownup towel on the changing mat on the floor and wrap him all up and then just make a fuss over him and try to dry off one appendage at a time. I doubt that it's particularly calming, but he definitely enjoys it.
effinIneffable sometimes Fergus gets like that and putting him down actually seems to help. I think he actually wants to practice using his limbs, if I put him on the floor he'll lie there for about 10 minutes or so just waving them about and gurgling. I've added that to my list of things to try when he just won't stop crying now.

Not the best photo but got a cat photobomb while trying to capture piper smiling.

Well you've made me all hungry and I've DEMOLISHED a Chinese tonight. We were supposed to go out for dinner to celebrate our engagement anniversary (any excuse!) but DH got stuck at work - silver lining meant I didn't have to change out of my joggers!!

You have been a busy lot today, chatter chatter Mugabe Mugabe!

Joskar - a load of my friends have also been utter shite, it's always those unexpected ones who pull the stops out! my bridesmaid who lives only 20mins away by bus (very close in London terms!) still hasn't bothered to come and meet Molly...

Welcome ruby!! Am I the only one who doesn't mind being napped on during the day? I quite enjoy the cuddles and a chance to sit there and do bugger all without feeling guilty

Magrat - I haven't had a double decker in YEARS, I need one, right.now.please.

Loveandsmiles you are so not a bad mother! I totally don't blame you! It has made me think though, do the swing chairs also count as car seat time?! She doesn't spend more than half an hour in it atm but just wondering if she was to fall asleep in it!

Welcome slow life!!!!!! Lovely to have you join us!!

Hope you had a lovely time at home Kbro!!very jell of your unbroken 6 hours (unless you kept waking out of practise!)

Frolic-that is literally the cutest pic, wish we had a pet....well done on your epic trek

Oh lily, that is not a fun day, you deserve a lovely night tonight xx and yes you are mad wanting periods back so soon!

Molly loves a bath but doesn't like getting out, I think it's because her hair looks like a bad perm afterwards....

God I love the apprentice...£9 for a takeaway salad???!

Mugabe!

Thank you all for your kind words. Made me quite emotional! What a lovely bunch you all are. Am feeling much better today after a fun morning at the park and bowling. DS is also getting more alert in the day now too so can be involved. He seemed to really enjoy all the hubbub at the bowling alley!

Love, that is such a sad thing to hear. I am so sorry for your friend. Thank you for sharing though. I think it might be better to only go when DH can come too. I'd never forgive myself if anything happened.

Tindel, welcome and I hope you are over the shock of your early arrival.

Dozy, wow! That's amazing and does go to show that these babies are all going to follow their own patterns whatever we do!

Mzzzf, that's a pretty shitty combination! You need a nice bath and a hot toddy tonight. Am sure tampons are fine by now.

Fatty, your post made me laugh. Hope you feel better soon and aren't pregnant!

Ruby, welcome! Nope no idea how to get naps in a crib in the day. Bouncer, car seat, sling and pram here only!

Frolic, my DS had the exact same number night waking as yours! Although I couldn't lie in with him as DD wanted Peppa on at 7.30. I hate Peppa!

Kbro, enjoy being home. Nice work with the sleep too. We are all clearly hilare so no idea why the babies seem to prefer crying to laughing!

Slow, welcome and congratulations on the vbac. Was it hard not to be pushed into a elcs or did you have a supportive consultant?

Frolic, you are so good getting out for such long walks with the dog after a c-section. My fitbit just taunts me with how I never manage my 10,000 steps!

Love, you are amazing! I moan about juggling 2 but 6 must be a circus. What a woman you are.

I started this post this afternoon and now there are so many new posts since so apologies for missing so much.

Just watching the Apprentice too! Both kids asleep and a glass of wine in hand...bliss!

I think I've missed a load of posts too, had to go back and re read, awful for your friend love, that is just so sad, I can't even comprehend it :(

So glad you're feeling better nolonger, what a rollercoaster this all is!!!! Enjoy your wine, you bloody deserve it x

Lily - just wanted to write this for you. I know EXACTLY how you feel about having two dogs and a new baby. It's bloody overwhelming! One dog I could cope with easily but two is hard. Thankfully my two are very well behaved in the house and when walking if they're off lead, they're not good at walking with the pram but hey ho. So I can't imagine how tough it is and the weird pet emotional blackmail thing they do to us when we can't love their furry arses off. To make it worse they usually go to work with DH but can't at his new job so they're left with me. My sanity has been saved by having a dog/walker twice a week. It takes the pressure off hugely!! And so worth it for £30/week! Is there anyone locally who can help exercise them? Maybe sign them up to 'borrow my doggy' so that you get a break?!
You are not horrible for wanting an easier less stressful life AT ALL! I bloody love my dogs but I hate that I can't love/look after them like before, so I get it. Have a and a and find a solution that works for you x

Thank you Fanby. I might be having another glass now .

Nolonger my fitbit does the same thing lol. I had a good week of going on lots of walks a couple of weeks ago but I've slipped up and not bothered recently. Every day I want to but I get busy with seeing people and then she needs feeding so no chance of walking. I'd planned on trying to get 10000 every day. Like that's happened lol.

Mugabe evening!

Dh's solo time went really well. Ds napped I his pram for 20 mins then drank 2oz of expressed milk, which was all I'd done. So it looks like I won't have to take him to the hairdressers on Saturday.
He was so cute when I came down after hiding upstairs. Gave me a massive smile then stuck himself to my boob for 20 mins. He was stroking it like a long lost friend.

You don't sound horrible at all lily. Frolicdog is an old girl now and pretty laid back for a spaniel. I would never have coped if we'd had a baby a few years back when we had her and her sister. 2 dogs are a lot of work as is a baby. Hopefully things will settle down as ds gets older. I second everything mzzf said about finding a solution that works for you all, whatever that is.

What an adorable moment jockstar. I bet cola sticks as a nickname.

Loving the adorable pictures *