November 2014 - The one where they outrun us!

[MrsAukerman]

New thread ladies.

DS hasn't slept through again but is generally on great form and lots of fun to be around. We did a dinosaur themed day yesterday so wore dinosaur clothes, borrowed dinosaur books from the library and went to see the dinosaurs at the museum. Today is wheels / transport so bike ride to pub for lunch then after his nap we'll go to watch the planes at the airport. I'm such a geeky mum!

MrsA You sound like a very fun mum!

Dd has a stinker of a cold, I've kept her home today so me and DP are doing shifts off work. She's really grumpy and leaving a snot trail on everything (yum). Sleep isn't too bad though thankfully.

Volunteered at the NCT sale again on Saturday. I got a huge bag full of clothes, all top brands or hand knitted. I'm shopping right up to age 4 now so I can shop during sales and 2nd hand bargains. Also picked up a scuttlebug and one of those magnetic drawing boards, she LOVES it, best £1 I spent this week!

Had to take DD to A&E in the middle of the night last night. I was at work when DH phoned to ask me what he should do about how fast and hard she was breathing. He drove her to the hospital and I left my ward to take her in while he took DD1 back home to bed. The signs said there was a 7hr wait to see a dr but they took her straight through to the last empty space, which surprised me as I didn't think she was that poorly (it wasn't that I got to jump the queue because I work there, unfortunately it doesn't work like that!). They did a chest X-Ray and she has a chest infection but is otherwise well enough to come home with antibiotics. She spat out the antibiotics and then was sick though so that will be a fun week forcing them into her. She is now fast asleep after being awake most of the night.

Oh no happy that is all a bit scary :-( Glad she didn't need to be admitted. Good luck with the antibiotics :-(

I gave DD's hair a trim yesterday :-) Was so fed up of it sticking to her snotty nose. It just grows straight forward from her crown and was down to her mouth - should go behind her ears but just doesn't stay there, or in a combover! She won't keep clips or bunches in. I was determined that she wouldn't have a massive 80s fringe like I did, but in the end I went at it with my sewing scissors and it looks half decent. Major mullet now, as the sides are quite short still, and I didn't want to touch the back. Hopefully once it grows through a bit thicker we can grow it out more successfully and maybe in a few months she'll accept tying it back.

Hope everyone is enjoying the first taste of spring! We've had a few lovely days out over the weekend and yesterday. I just wish DD would walk a little more outside, she just sits down and cries! I long for the day we can have a short trip out without needing to take the buggy. I love my scootababy carrier but it does not work well when we both have coats on - we slide all over the place!

Oh wow happy how scary! Put the antibiotics into a spoon of yoghurt, ward style.

We're back from our travels and whilst DS was very good, I don't think it was worth all the hassle! Also we were staying with a 3 year old who didn't like to share her toys so we had to handle that situation on an hourly basis.

And we discovered that 3 year old and 16 month old really do not like to do the same things. 3 year old wanted to see the T Rex in the museum, whereas DS just wanted to climb the slippery marble death trap stairs. And then freak when not allowed. Museum meltdowns are embarrassing!

But he was mainly delightful and thank god for the reins as he just needed to be trotting about constantly. My friend said "Oh we never had to use reins" Well I'm happy for you that you didn't have a kamikaze baby like we do!

Hi all. Haven't hope those antibiotics are kicking in! We're back from a few days away in the Cotswolds. Would recommend the Cotswold wildlife park! We stayed at some cottages that had a lot of farm animals, which ds loved. Only downside was that I'm ill (again!) so was struggling about a bit in the cold. Anna, reins are fab!

Oh happy, how scary - really hope your DD is on the mend.

We've just finished our 5 day course of antibiotics and she's almost back to her normal self - although we had to practically pin her down for the 1st couple of days, by the end of it she was opening her mouth for more!!!!

Weather has been lovely here too - although I had a 24 hour sickness thing over the weekend which meant whilst DD and DH were outside in the sunshine, I was either puking up my guts or recovering in bed....oh well.

We did manage to buy DD's first pair of "proper" shoes over the weekend - as I think most of you have already experienced, they cost an absolute arm and a leg (for something so small), but I do think feet are important to look after....anyway, she wasn't too sure of them to begin with and subsequently spent the 1st afternoon crawling round the patio in them, scraping the toes etc etc.....oh well, I suppose they're only fit her for a few weeks anyway...

Mrs A, you've got so much imagination! - well, loads more than me at least! Your days sound great fun - may be nicking those ideas

Oh happy how awful! Hope DD is on the mend now?

Sicky babies all round it seems. DD has had a cold for over a week now, really downhill over the weekend and yesterday me and DP had to do a half day each, I packed her off to the childminder this morning but I really didn't think she was well enough and the guilt kicked in by lunchtime and I went to get her. She then slept for 2 hours this afternoon so I still got plenty of work done. Hoping she'll feel better tomorrow but have enjoyed the extra cuddles :)

Oh happy that's really scary, the fact they let her go home must be a good sign, right? When we took DD for checkup with the fever and she kicked a big strop every time the doctor tried to do any checkups, doc said that it's a good sign, she was still a fighter although bit ill. Spitting out the antibiotics must be from the same series even it's a pain in the bum. Hope she is soon well.

In the nursery they have started to transition DD out of the baby room into the 18months+ room. She has been there today for most of the day and apparently loved it, has been really chatty all day. So that's it the babyhood is officially over!
Unlike me - grumpy old woman - she seems to be very sociable, she keeps waving to every single person on the way out. I was taking her home in a pram tonight about 20 mins walk. She was giving a massive grin to every person taking over us; whenever we were taking over somebody she was snaking to both sides as if saying "hey you, move out of the way, can't see the lovely people!"

Does anyone else feel like their at a communication milestone at the moment? DD is obsessed with a sing and sign song 'stamp your feet and nod your head' and today insisted 'stamp your feet!' when we weren't singing the song - 3 word sentences! Along with 'come on now' 'come on city' (her dad's influence) and while we were watching Cbeebies 'bye bye Clangers'. She seems so grown up.... and yet the mythical sleep through still eludes us :)

Well DS is still no nearer any verbal communication, tbh.

My friend said over the weekend "He's very......quiet, isnt he?"

Today I got incredibly excited though as he was doing his latest game of shoving things up against my ear for me to "answer the phone" and I was doing the usual thing of going "HELLO??" and I swear he muttered he-oh?.

Of course then I bellowed HELLO? HELLO?? HELLO?!?! at him like a lunatic but the little so-and-so just giggled and refused to utter a sound.

Happy hope dd is OK.

Ds2 has decided that he can no longer self settle is up a number times dh tries to settle sometimes it works others not he does this lpoud throat screaming as if in mega pain but am sure a lot of its temper and tiredness but bung dose medicine down in case pain who knows with teeth and only resort to boob as last ditch attempt.

We still just have a few words here now and they are almost unintelligible to anyone apart from me and DH. The latest one is bee-bee which is baby - she points at the photos of herself on the wall and says it. I've got to say the difference in them at this stage in terms of communication is staggering. But they all get there in the end. DD has a friend who is light years ahead of her in talking but is only just standing up (at 16 months) and can't pull herself up yet.

Anna I wish DD walked like your DS! I feel bad feeling this way bas she's only small still but I get so frustrated sometimes that she will not walk outside 99% of the time, just sits down and cries. My friends babies of the same age can't wait to get out of the buggy when we are out together but DD just won't. I'd love to stop hauling her around, my arms are killing me!

anna you inspired me with your comment about antibiotics and yoghurt, so last night I had syringe of antibiotic in one hand and spoon of yoghurt in the other and quickly alternated giving her one then the other. Would it be wrong to give her 3 yoghurts a day?!

Her breathing isn't much better and her cough is worse, but I don't think there is anything else to be done for her, just wait for the antibiotics to kick in. She has been sleeping with me, but only sleeps for 2hrs at most before waking up screaming. I am insanely tired and have to be up at 6am for work for the next 2 days. I don't work on Fridays but the manager decided everyone has to do a study day that is only on Friday which has been a bit of a childcare issue.

posmork where did you stay in the Cotswolds? I really like the Wildlife Park but haven't taken the DDs.

strawberry DD is moving up to the next room at nursery after Easter, but she is missing most of her visits to it because she is too poorly. I am sad about that because she has a great relationship with her current keyworker and is happy to go to her when DH drops her off, but she won't really know the staff in the new room and we will be leaving her with virtual strangers.

Right, better go and get dressed and start cleaning up . My Friday childcare issue was solved by my mum staying tomorrow night, but she will have to sleep in DD1's bed. DD1's room is a tip, and DD1 doesn't want grandma to sleep in her room "because she snores too much!" DD2 is not very conducive to cleaning the house or anything that means she isn't physically attached to me most of the time although she is currently watching CBeebies and destroying a pack of tissues.

Haha happy when I want a few minute's peace I give DD a toilet roll and leave her to it... easily cleaned up and she has so much fun with it! Favourite trick is ripping up lots of bits and stuffing them into the middle of the roll and proudly bring it to me to inspect.
Glad she is taking the antibiotics. That's the most important thing don't worry about yoghurt intake!

Happy, we stayed at a place called river wood cottages. It was pretty nice, but missing a few essentials (the pool wasn't turned on yet), but ds loved the animals on the farm. I'd really recommend it, especially for summer and when our little ones get a bit bigger.

I'm beginning to wonder about trying to find a job. I quit my old job because it was in London, and it would have required both me and dh to commute 5 days a week, meaning ds would have been in nursery from 7-7 every day. I used to find it exhausting and stressful even without ds, so I wouldn't have coped at all well. Now I'm getting such brain drain, and almost at the point of chronic loneliness when I'm at home, so maybe forking out for nursery for a couple of days a week would be no bad thing. I've totally lost my confidence about what I'm capable of doing, so even filling out an application form seems pretty daunting!

I had 2 consecutive nights of DS sleeping through again at which point you naturally think you've cracked it but alas, it was not to be.
I have had a double promotion at work and am finding the increased workload difficult and the stress eating and wine consumption have increased!

MrsA congratulations on your double promotion! ! Hope the workload and stress get less though.

Quick sense check: I know I have one of the youngest DCs (born 29th Nov), but at almost 16 mo, does anyone else around this age still have 2 naps a day? And they're both decent length naps of at least 40-60 mins...

Also, is it just me, or has the font changed on this website?! If it's not just me, I don't like it! If it is just me, god knows how I managed to do that!

My ds is 28th November and still very much on 2 naps a day.

He's up about 6.30/7, back to bed at 9 (1.5hrs) then has another 1.5 hours at 2 pm. Bed about 7.30. He sleeps the most out of rl babies I know of the same age, but he never fights the naps, so I figure we're OK. He can go without them, on special occasions like holidays or meals out, but if it's just us at home then I put him down. I think it's good for him to have that quiet time, and I definitely notice him get more belligerent and over excited if he hasn't had a nap.

Font has changed!

Thanks porsmork - I'm not going mad then - re font changing!

Yeah, DD definitely needs her 2 naps still - she's awake (and up) around 6 (which is fine as DH and I are awake and need to get up around 6.15 anyway); 1st nap around 9.45ish for about 45 mins; 2nd nap around 2.30 for anything up to 1.5 hours. Bed by 7. Currently, she's not fighting any sleeps and falls asleep almost as soon as her head hits the mattress....so not that bothered, but was kind of expecting her to drop to one nap by now.

Well DS is on one nap but has never EVER been a "nappy" baby, so maybe thats the reason he dropped down to one so quick. Even with 2, it was just 40 mins each, and now its 60 mins only. AND we bring him upstairs at 7 but he still messes about the cot till 7.30, by which time he's been awake about 8 hrs!

I think some kids are nappier than others tbh. My friends kid never napped at all so she tells me I'm lucky, lol!

porsmork maybe think about agency work. Temping etc, to get confidence back. Its pretty flexible with kids.

Posmork I don't know how anyone does the commuting thing! Agree with anna freelancing could be the way to go.

Congrats MrsA, hope it all balances out soon as you settle into new responsibilities.

I had a 2nd job interview yesterday, the package would be great (incl better mat leave) but the job isn't as 'nice' as my current one. If they offer I think I'll stick with what I have for now.

DD has 2 naps with me, a short morning one of 30-60 mins then a longer afternoon one of 1-2hrs. But with the childminder she only has one around lunchtime. With being ill this week she did 2 hours morning and afternoon so I could just about catch up on work. She sleeps 7-6.15ish with one wake up for a bottle. Compared to the horrific times of a few months ago I can cope with that.

Good idea about temping guys, I'll have a look into it. I used to run a little department and gave presentations to hundreds of people, but feel like I can barely string a sentence together these days!

How much time do you spend actively playing with your little ones? I'm not sure I get the balance right. At the moment, ds is happy playing with his trucks and trains, while I quietly mumsnet, but I'm feeling guilty for not sitting chatting with him....we read a lot together, and chat about the day, but I'm quite quiet naturally. I think there's guilt because he isn't talking yet, and I feel like it's my fault. If he had words I'd be happier enjoying these quiet moments.