It's the Christmas party at Mugabe nights, pull up a bar stool and order your shots! August 2015

[FattyNinjaOwl]

New thread for all the regulars at the bar, and the not so regulars too.

Morning all! Well, here I am sat at my desk on day three of my return to work (full time!). I am absolutely exhausted, emotional and just need a hug.

How is everyone? I've missed so much again!

Oh my god DS went to bed. At 8:15 and slept for about 3 hours. He was up and down and in bed with us from 11:30 to about 5am but at 5am I needed to toilet do popped into his cot and he slept for 2 and half hours. These two stretches are the longest he has done for so long. Please god let this be the end of sleep regression. Please.

Tindel Ive just been really snappy DH this morning. Asked to take DS for a bit (he'd spent night in spare room) Couldn't because he had to get dressed. How the hell he thinks I manage every morning I don't know.

Dozy DS naps much better in the push chair bit too. Am sure if I could get it upstairs he would stay asleep in it. But can't so end up walking for hours. Still good for my fitness right?

Siani I miss the lie in too. We are on day 3 of wake ups. Never thought I'd set an alarm to wake a sleeping baby!!!

Omc missed your post. well done getting back to work. All I can say is everyone I know says it gets easier.

Brilliant article, slow. And brilliant advice too.

We're at the pointy end of no sleep too. My only advantage is that I had 18 months of no sleep so I'm a ninja at sleeping. I can fall asleep instantly absolutely anywhere at any time. I don't torture myself with blame anymore. Be there, done that. There's nothing I can do different. Just need to ride it out. It will get better.

We're watching season one of The Bridge. It's so good! The best thing about being a late adopter is you can totally gorge on it. Fil bought his wife all three seasons for Christmas so we can watch two and three when we're done!

Dd1 is back to nursery today thanks be! Dd2 and I are going to get the chance to chill out together. She's going to help me do a massive clear out of clothes.

OMC you poor soul. That's so hard. Look after yourself. Relentless self care. No guilt or blame or anything. You have to do what you have to do and it will all be fine in the end. Focus on the positives like drinking hot beverages at the time of their making and going to the loo by yourself. Big hug.

Morning! I can't even begin to tell you how much better I feel for a 4 hour stretch, despite waking every hour after that. I was sooo fed up and miserable yesterday. Today's mission is to be more positive. We're going to clinic to get weighed later on - fingers crossed all these night feeds have helped him gain. He's rocking a bit of a double chin at the moment, which must be a good sign.

So sorry so many of us were at the bar again last night.

Ds naps beautifully in the pram as well dozy.

Big hugs OMC. I hope you're getting some sleep if you have to work.

The sun is out!! Shocking! Better take the dog out quickly before it's gone again
Halpu wednesday mugabeans!

and for all those suffering shit nights, and a massive high five for you Kbro, you were massively owed a stretch or two, hope it's a sign of more to come.

Virtual hug for you OMC... I'm back full time Feb 1st and while I'm looking forward to the work aspect, I'm dreading the huge lifestyle change. Coffee, coffee and more coffee is the answer I reckon.

Thanks for the childcare tips Slow, we think (everything crossed) that we may have found a nursery. I'm confirming on Tuesday. If not it'll be back to trawling childcare.co.uk, not sure if I'm being too picky but I just want to leave DS with someone who I feel is similar to DP and I.

Good luck with the clothes clear out Joskar - I need a whole new wardrobe for work so if you've got anything suitable, send it my way

Have a good day Mugabeans x

Happy lunchtime!

I don't usually get to post at this time but grumpy 2 is asleep IN HER COT! Praise Be! It's a twelfth night miracle. She yawned, I saw it. I took her upstairs popped her in her grobag dropped the blind and left her. 5 minutes of chattering on the baby monitor followed by the tell tale slurp, slurp of the thumb going in and off she went. I am going to revel in this never-to-be repeated moment !!!

OMC hope its all going well at work we are definitely still here if you need us so please keep in touch and send us updates from the far side of mat leave xx

clstow great news about the nursery, I shall keep my fingers crossed for you. There is nothing picky about wanting to leave your child somewhere you feel has the same ethos to childcare as you do. Definitely hold out until you find somewhere you are really happy with as it will make such a difference to how you feel once you are both back at work.

frolic I read somewhere when grumpy 1 was a baby that 4 consecutive hours sleep is actually all the human body needs to feel refreshed. More than that is obviously optimal (and desirable!!), but 4 hours will do it if needs be. I am very, very glad that you got those magic 4 hours and it has helped you regain your equilibrium How did DS perform at the weigh-in clinic today?

joskar I am very jealous of you getting to watch The Bridge from start to finish for the first time. It is one of my all-time favourite television shows. We are just finishing 'Witnesses' and I feel almost brave enough for 'Luther' after that.

kbro and tindel sometimes being snappy is justified!

fanby check out Molly and her milestone cards! So cute! Grumpy 2 flopped from her front to her back today chasing after a toy and just looked so pissed off it was hilarious. Other than that no rolling here yet.

lily glad that the article was useful for you, sometimes you just read the right thing at the right time and its brilliant. Hope tanking DS up over night got you more sleep.

Re: naps. I do the opposite and let grumpy 2 sleep a bit later. I find a 15-20 minute power snooze while we are all having dinner around 6pm is enough to see her through bath time and bedtime without too many tears. She reliably goes down between 7-7:30pm until around 1-2am. Maybe those of you suffering with screamy evenings could try a later nap?

Hi augmoms,

I've been in Mugabe with you but too tired to post. LO seems to do a max of 3 hours sleep at a time, I hear you frolic about 4 hours being a luxury!! Enjoy it :)

Last night she went down at 8ish, up at 11.30, then 3.30 and then just as I'd fallen back asleep, up again at 4. Then up at 7. Then 8.45 feed... I'm so so tired.

Omc - big hugs to you! Hope all is going ok at work and your colleagues are being supportive x

Kbro - excellent news on sleep - it must be near the end!! Hold on in there matey xx

Frolic - hope the weigh in went well

Slowwife - EXCELLENT news on nappage, I'm trying to reinstate ours after going to pot for Christmas. Still one thing a time, we're still mastering night sleeping

We're the same molly has been loving a 5pm post feed nap and she still 'happily' goes down at 8ish

Fairly chilled day today practising our dinosaur noises and rolling. Also went to storytime at the library today, she was the youngest by far but met another really nice mum who gave me a heads up on swimming lessons at the local pool - I thought she was too young/pool too cold - it's usually 28.5degrees but apparently there are other babies there...we start in a warmer pool on Saturdays in a couple of weeks, DH is taking her, perhaps when They've finished I'll give it a whirl? Still think the pool might be a bit too cold though??

Evening all! G&t's all round?
Ds had gained well and has crept up to just over the 25th again. I knew he was fine, but it's nice to have it confirmed. And it kind of justifies all the food I've had over Christmas, right? 😉

Has anyone done any kit days for work? I've been offered some really good training in March & April and might arrange to do it that way. The money would come in pretty handy.

Hooray for finding childcare clstow. Nothing wrong at all with wanting the right fit. I'm viewing a nursery tomorrow. I have no idea what to look for / ask, so any tips welcome.

Well done grumpy2 on cot napping! I'm very pleased for you slow. I've not even tried Ds in his crib recently.
Refreshed might be pushing it, but I do definitely feel better for the 4 hours. Fingers crossed for a repeat performance tonight. His old trick of 7 hours would be even better 🙂

I hope it gets better soon grok.

We're doing swimming lessons at our local council pool fanby. Loads of my friends said it would be too cold, but it's perfectly fine. And they're loads cheaper than the ones at private pools.

I hope you've all had a good day. Fingers crossed I don't see any of you at the bar later on!

Mzzf- that's a good point about is be offering it if bfeeding so offer it anyway, I've bever thought of it like that! I managed to manipulate the feeds today by giving him a smaller bottle at 4 so he was ready for a full one at 7 then in the bath, story and in bed asleep for 8- 2 quick dummy replacements at 8.30 and been asleep since- hopefully a success! Hopefully bed will be more like 7.30 in future when I'm not a terrible mummy and clip his thumb nail too close and it bleeds!!!! he didn't even notice thankfully but it took ages to clean up as it wouldn't stop!

Everything and peachy- sorry the night brought sicky babies last night and here's to better ones tonight!

Kbb- we found the 3rd lot the worst too- hope things have settled more today!

Dozy- I'm going to do blw with DS too- he's 3 weeks off 6 months and I can't wait to be able to get going- remind me of that when I'm complaining about cleaning banana out my hair and tomato off the walls yeh!? The way he stares at us eating makes me feel mean and he's only started showing an interest in the last week really! Ordered a high chair today in prepRation- exactly the same as the £80 mamas and papas one he uses at ILs but by mothercare and reduced to £34.99 and I had a £10 voucher for Xmas- result!!

Fanby- your children's centre sounds great! Ours seems to do the same stuff all the time- I fancy a bit of zumbini!

Siani- I've had the same thought about needing to get used to getting up earlier- back to work in 7.5 weeks! Had to get up at 7am on Monday to get up and out to take car for MOT at 0830 and it nearly killed me and yet work mornings will be at least a 6am alarm if not 0530!! What the hell am I going to do if DS continues not to sleep- Fanby if you get to that sleep workshop please please pass on any tips!! I was exhausted all day and my job will be dangerous if I'm not switched on

Talking of work OMC nice to hear from you and at being back to work already- how are you finding leaving LO? Hope it's going ok and definately think of the positives- wee in peace anyone?

Frolic- thanks for the reminder- council pool lessons here too and they resume on saturday- DS hasn't been in a good few weeks due to Xmas and illness and teacher being off so need to check if he needs the next size up in swim nappies. Glad you got your 4 hours- still a dream for me! No KIT days here but I'm going to pop in this month to arrange going in in feb for a shadow day to get up to date with changes, a training day and a few hours for my fitness test- won't get paid for them as I'm on annual leave for all of Feb but will get to cancel those days leave. Also need to arrange my annual leave for this year and new uniform as they have kindly forgotten all about me whilst I've been off and not sorted me out with any! I have a nasty feeling I'm going to have a fight on my hands to get the same leave as DH but it's their fault for not informing me to book so I will win!

Right we've had good naps today- on our bed as DS doesn't have blinds in his room yet and I've found having them drawn in the day really helps extend his naps and he has gone down (dare I say it) well tonight surely it's my turn for some good sleep tonight?! Please please please!!

No one at the bar at all last night?? Hope this means that everyone slept?

Unusually good night!! Babyface was asleep by 21:30 and stayed asleep until 1:30, then did 2:00 until 6:30, and is currently asleep again, but stirring quite a lot. I think that the magic bullet was being out in the sunshine all day yesterday. Unfortunately, we live in England and it is winter, so that's not exactly repeatable.

I want to curl up and die/sleep. As ever DD isn't playing the stay asleep game! She goes down beautifully now but won't sleep consistently 😕

Well done to all who did have good sleeps. I hate you!! 😁

A night of 2 halves here. First half was terrible - he was desperate for bed at 7:30, but woke every 1/2 hour until 11. But then did 5 hours and 2 hours- wooo hooo!
Please let this be the start of things changing.

Coffee inhaled so feel better. I have a prolonged headache bubbling along which I'm just managing to contain with drugs but worried it'll roll over in a full migraine. Fingers crossed the drugs keep it at bay!

So she goes down at 7.30ish, is normally asleep by 8.15 and I'm downstairs with a coffee by 8.30. Lovely! She then woke at 11 then I fed her at 12.30. Then up again at 2.30, 3.15 then 5.15, 6.15 then we lay holding hands through the cot bars until 6.45 until we got up. Gawd id love that 4hr stretch again that I had the other day!
Can't remember who said it but yes to 4hrs being the minimum you can function on, that lets one full cycle of sleep stages 1-4 happen. The thing is if you sleep deprived and have a chance to sleep you end up dropping straight into deeper sleep to try and get what you need. But that's also why it feels shit if you keep getting woken as you have to drag your brain back from deep sleep again and again. The body adapts though. Can you imagine telling your 20yo self that 6hrs sleep once or twice a week would feel like a magic potion?! 😁

DHs last day of leave before work again on Friday. We're going to mooch around the necropolis - maybe a bit morbid but it's meant to be fascinating and I think the fresh air will help my head, well it'll have to since I can't knock myself out with meds and sleep for 10hrs!

Lily - what do you do that you need a fitness test for work? If you don't mind me asking that is!

Well done frolic!

I think I just don't have a sleeper. Ah well. Can't be sad about it as I can't change it. Will just have to invest in some super eye cream!

We were in and out the bar loads last night. I did manage to get him down for bed again though. So this is improvement. And nice for DH and I have some time to ourselves. Hopefully over time it will get faster. Took 2 hours last night. Just go to preserve.

Something seems to happen at 1am and he just can't sleep.

Had a bit of a melt down on Dh last night. Getting all stressed about his weight gain. Rationally I think it's fine and don't need to stress but the tiredness plays games and makes lose all sense of perspective.

Mzzzf hope the headache clears. And yes. Never mind telling my 20 old self, just telling my pre DS self all I would want would be 4 hours in a row once or twice a week.

Things not good here, but pretty much as they have been. Went to bed at 9 and woke at 10, 10.30, 1.15, 3.40, and 5.30 but took an hour to get back down as had leaked through nappy.

I forgot to say I has mastitis last week and got antibiotics. Yesterday I started to feel fluey/achy again but without the sore red boob. Have a bit of a temp but imagine it is just a virus. I'm sure I'm run down because of lack of sleep.

As an aside, when I took DS to get weighed yesterday I said about sleep and. Was told to offer him waterin the night, does that sound odd to you? He's gained well although not back to th centile he was on before hospital. I thought you shouldn't give a BF baby water?

Coffee and Xmas chocs to all those who also had bad nights. Congrats and slight jealousy to those who got more than 2h consec sleep!

Much better night last night, despite ominous start. I fell asleep on the sofa and woke up just before 6pm and J had been asleep too. Fed and then waited until next feed to take him upstairs. 10 minutes of dummy application combined with patiently stroking forehead (new tactic) and J was asleep by just after 9. Quick trip up 20 minutes later for a short resettle and he slept through til 5am! Ecstatically happy about this and hoping we can have the quiet calm settling going forward if nothing else.

Am being a good DIL and taking J over to ILs this morning. Hoping MIL will be in a good mood and not on nitpicking form. She is obsessed that we put J in too-small clothes and his feet are getting squashed, so am going to put him in the next size up to avoid that.

Hi all and happy new year! Sorry I've not been on but just caught up with everyone's news!

omc hope you're settling in ok! I do think that babies can be easier to settle in childcare the sooner you start, so that's a real positive of going back at this stage I can't remember whether you're using nursery or childminder/nanny?

Sorry for all the baby sleep issues. I can certainly say that all babies are different and if yours doesn't sleep well or nap well then it's not anything you're doing wrong! Dd1 was a nightmare napper and had to be taken out in her pram/pushchair through rain or shine until she was about 18 months people used to laugh at me walking so much, but it was the only way I could get her to nap and I did get very fit and healthy so no harm done. She sleeps well now, aged 4.

Dd2 is very different, afterthought experience with dd1 I really don't have any expectations for her sleep but she seems easier to settle, it's nothing I've done just luck of the draw. Nighttime sleep here is good but only because I co sleep so baby feeds and I don't wake up. I don't mind baby feeding at night but I know co sleeping isn't for everyone.

I've bought some Ella's porridge to try with ebm when baby gets to nearly 6 months, she seems curious about food so I'm looking forward to starting solids.

Mugabe Mugabe.

Oh slow I wish my abscence at the bar meant I had lots of sleep! Sadly not! Like you Mzzf DS now seems to go down at night a treat but then won't stay asleep!! He slept from 8 till 23.30 even managing to have a small moan at 23.00 and send him self back off before I got to him- my little grin to myself that maybe he had finally learnt to self settle was short lived as he woke at 23.30- I sat holding his chest/ stroking face etc etc till 00.10 when he ramped up the moaning and I figured I'd try to feed him despite his first night feed having been at 0200 for months! He gobbled it down and slept till 0230- when I thought he couldn't possibly be hungry so again tried to settle him eventually getting him out his cot and sitting bouncing/ rocking him in my arms in the chair, only for him to fall asleep completely and wake the second I lay him down again!! I gave up at this point and went to get DH who has been doing the 5/0530 feed thinking it was about 0400 so he'd be annoyed- it wasn't it was 5 and somehow I'd been trying to settle DS for 2.5 hours!!! Anyway I got a couple more hours after that befor he was up for the day and he is now napping and has been since 1040!! I officially give up!

Mzzf- I'm usually very wary of sharing my job but as we have all been chatting for so long and are enjoying relative anonymity I will share, I'm a Prison Officer. Thankfully the fitness test is actually quite easy so even with the extra lard I should manage it!!

Frolic and Tindel yay for good nights even though I'm green with jealousy!

Happy new year giraffes!

giraffe I am with you on the co-sleeping - babyloves just lies on me and feeds every couple of hours at the moment. I feel more rested if I don't have to get out of the bed. It won't be forever so treasure the cuddles. All my DCs have slept through the night from about 12-18 months so trusting babyloves is going to be no different. She has been sleeping from 9.30am in her Moses basket - why can't this happen at night?? Still, lets me get things done in the house.

omc hope it's not too tough being back at work? When I had DD1 I went back to work when she was just 3 months - circumstances at that time didn't give me much choice - DD1 was absolutely fine, it was me who struggled to cope but having a lunch hour uninterrupted was a treat!

clstow really important to get childcare you are comfortable with - I sent DD1 to a nursery after interviewing for a nanny, seeing childminders and every nursery in the area - when I found the 'right' place / people I just knew DD would be happy - it's a big weight of your mind when you are happy with your childcare choice.

The weather is so miserable here - feel like it's been raining forever. DDs age 6 and nearly 8 have persuaded me to take them to a new dance class tonight - fitting it in between dropping DS at football and DD1 at swimming - poor babyloves and toddlerloves seem to spend every evening getting in and out of the car - DH always strolls in from work once all the rushing around is complete wondering what's for his dinner - got the rage already and my evening hasn't even started

I am so flaming tired! DD isnt well and DS2 finally had his 3rd lot of jabs today so I've got them both grumping at me. My head hurts.

I've just been to visit our first choice nursery. It was lovely 🙂 And they have spaces for the days we want, so that's sorted. I was a bit 😢 Just at the thought! God knows what I'll be like come may.

I hope you're feeling better mzzf. I suffer migraines and find that a good old dose of fresh air can sometimes see them off.
So sorry you had another shit night. I wish I knew the answer, but will send you lots of virtual hugs, booze and chocs instead. It will pass.

I hear you on the midnight weight worries kbro. His and mine! If only I could do a fat transfer!

I hope you're feeling ok rrra. It's very easy to get run down. Take care of yourself.
I have heard the thing about giving them water at night. Apparently it stops them waking for milk. I think it's a bit of an old wives thing, but who knows?

Yay for a really good stretch tindel! Hoping for a repeat for you tonight and every night.

I co sleep as well giraffes and loves. I dread to think what sleep would be like if I didn't!

I hope you're ok fatty and that your dp is holding up.