September 2006 babies - smiles all round!

[clairemow]

New thread for us....

Hi all,

Thanks for all the advice re weaning.
Went to my mums yesterday for my sunday dinner. And what did she do? Try to give dd a piece of carrot! She looked so interested in this orange thing that was place in her hand. I almost flipped! Theres me trying to wait and do the weaning at the reccomended time.

DD has woken early twice in the last couple days which she never normally does, normally I wake her around 09:30 I love my sleep! Anyway she has woken and gobbled down her food at around 06:30 so im sure she's getting hungrier now. Maybe all that talking about it jinxed me.
Anyway tommorow im off to the shops to get her some SMA white, Im hoping that should do the trick.

And about this weight thing! I fit into my jeans but I have a jelly belly I dont know why Im even saying it cos I know the only person that can get rid of it is me, but im just too lazy! Well no im not lazy just busy! Oh heck Im lazy! I just cant be bothered. I did sit ups for about 3 weeks, 100 every morning and I did start to see a difference then I just stopped and all my hard work has dissapeard. Im just hoping when I start back work all the running around back and fourth the weight will drop off I hope.

What do you guys think is better, teething gel or powder? Everyone is telling me different things. Im thinking I should get some and put it down. Im sure dd will be needing some very soon.

xx

Redz, at your mum! It is your decision when to wean your child.

On the jeans front, I fit into all my pre-first-and-second-pregnancy clothes, but have the jelly belly thing going on too... I hate to say it, but I'm not convinced it ever goes completely. I used to have a lovely flat tummy and only worried about hip weight, but now my belly can 'hang out' for Great Britain - although my hips are the same as ever... It isn't fat that's there, it's just been stretched ridiculously far twice now, like an elastic band that's going a bit frayed. I've been doing sit ups when I remember, i.e. once a week at the gym, but it doesn't go down at all... Sigh, sigh, sigh for the death of the twenty-something waist... Got to go and get another glass of wine to cope.

Sorry, got a bit carried away there...

A tooth! how exciting...still waiting for them to come through here, just lots of drool!

Redz - can't believe your mum! I am sure your dd is interested, but that doesn't mjean she's ready! at your 9.30am lie ins!!!! a 6.30am start is pretty normal for us.

Started yoga last night, I really enjoyed it, i am determined to sort out this jelly belly - all my tops the previously fitted me, just ride up. I hope you it isn't the case that I am stuck with it forever!

My DD was waking up for an early morning feed for a few days there too( I also get a lovely lie in so a feed at 6 was not good) But she has stopped in now and is again sleeping through to about 9ish.
I am expecting a few more of those before I put her onto solids.
She is not really showing any real signs of interest in food though so I think I am ok for a while yet.
Also she is only 19 weeks, so a bit early yet?

I wanna go to a yoga class too, but the closest I can find is a pilates class in the evening. So that is no good cos DH never knows when he will finish work and anyway, I am Far too lazy to actually use my muscles!!!

Hi All, haven't been on for ages for one reason and another - we all went down with a horrid vomiting bug last week (I never want to be ill again while we have children in the house, as there is none of this sitting around feeling sorry for yourself). In hindsight can laugh, but I was chucking my guts up from 9pm (sorry if tmi) and DH was not ill, so dealt with LO when he woke in night and was also ill - so glad he is on bottles as well as bf, as there is no way I could have fed him myself - and admittedly didn't get much sleep, as I was so ill, but then I was up by 7am the next morning, to help deal with DS and phone docs. Midday, DH goes to bed to get some rest (fair enough), 2pm he wakes and is now really ill - proceeded to spend next 23 hours in bed!!! Me, looking after LO, not able to eat anything myself and looking after DH. Men, eh?! I did tell him that it was fine, but he should remember this when/if we have another baby and I get morning sickness again - he will be looking after DS lots!

Have read lots of posts, but can't remember all. Bristols, sorry to hear about wedding stress, I think people can be so inconsiderate sometimes. Cruise and Myrtle, good luck with introducing bottles, hope it is going well.
Clairemow - a tooth, how exciting! DS is just shoving everything in sight in his mouth and I am using teething gel as his gums feel really sharp now and he has had a v. red cheek on occasion, but people keep telling me it's far too early, so am glad to hear someone who knows it's not.
Liquid - my DS is on nutramigen, which is on prescription from docs (although as documented, this was only to ensure I would give him formula apparently!!). It is hypoallergenic - no dairy, soya or lactose, so if eczema is caused by intolerance/allergy, it would probably be a good one, but it costs £11.51 per tin (400g) over counter, so you definitely need a prescription. I would speak to doc about it, but I know there are other hypoallergenic formula too.
Right, have loads to do this evening, not least answering some questionnaire for my little sis on health services for new mums as part of her clinical psychology studies - ooh, how exciting to be a guinea pig, so to speak.
Am v. of all you with sleeping through LOs, DS has now settled into pattern of sleeping by 7pm, then waking ca. 1pm for 1/2 hour and then at ca. 5am to start the day (grrrr). Could cope with 5am start if he wasn't waking in between too, need to work on that in next two weeks. Now counting down 8.5 weeks to go til I go back to work and I need him to sleep better by then. Maybe solids will help, but I will not introduce them just for that reason - plus, he's still wetting through, which I think probably contributes to his waking. Am going to try doing a 10.30pm feed and changing nappy at same time, to see if I can then get him to go for 6 hours after that, but last time I tried, he still woke during night. Keep fingers crossed for us.
Right, turned into a long post, must go.
Love all your profiles, will try to figure out how to do mine at some point.

DD rolled from her back to her tummy tonight!
With the help of a good grip on Grannies finger, but it was all her!
Just got home now and am still smiling
And we think we may have a tooth on the way too? Possibly? A long way from being visible to the eye though.
ha ha, I am just trying to catch up clairemow

Hi all ... have been lurking, also posting to a sleep thread and a weight loss thread; 4 lbs to go ...
Mabel - I don't do diets either!! Re stomach - body's practically bikini-ready except that [grr] v frustrating, I agree ... had a talk w/the Pilates instructor today; she said it's just too soon, give myself a break, check it again in 3 months & it'll have gone down. Hope so. Also DH (former personal trainer) says to try to walk around w/stomach muscles tightened when I can think about it - might help to "train" them back ... well, I'll do whatever ... sigh
Scuba diving in May & all I own are bikinis, so I'm motivated.

JingleBelle- Same w/us on sleeping pattern;just glad DH handling it & not me ... setting my alarm at 5:30 every day to take the baby though, and even that's getting very old.

Re weaning, we'll be doing formula the full year - anyone else? Just supplementing it with food whenever he's ready, which is sounding like it should be at about 6 months ... 6 months seems be a major turning point, doesn't it?

Switching to soy formula It was Bodily Fluids Day here today, with Jameson not able to keep anything down, and DS1 fully potty training now. Never done so much laundry ... Dr. appt. tomorrow for J. re the excessive spit-up.

Liquid - How was your (probably long ago) event? How was the dress?

Cori, Redz & Liquid - congrats on not-pg status; glad to know it wasn't just me (after letting pill lapse in Oct)

Bristols - yuk about the wedding. Sorry.

Last Sat. we went to dinner with a couple who just moved here, a kind of welcome; he works with DH & their first baby is due in May. I was pathetically excited about getting dressed up and going out So we're getting a sitter again for this Sat - because obviously we need to get out more

Jingle - so sorry to hear about your sickness - it is dreadful, we had a similar incident when we just had DS1, we all got sick including both sets of grandparents, it is the pits coping with sick children when you feel rotten yourself ....and the amount of laundry it creates from sicky bedding and clothes yuk! hope you feel better now.

Marls - bikini ready???!!! not sure if i'll ever subject the world to my saggy stomach again! Interesting what your pilates teacher said about giving it another 3 months, if I keep the yoga up I am hoping i'll see some improvement. We have a holiday in wales in may, but I doubt it'll be bikini weather, so am aiming for july when we go to cornwall!

Fairysnuff - congrats on the rolling. Think we have a tooth just under the gum as well, feels like the bottom left, it feels slightly rasied compared to the right side.

Had a good night with both, my goal is to get to 22 weeks with the weaning and anything beyond that is a bonus. Ds2 was trying to grab my crumpet with marmite on this morning! The boys got taste!

Jingle - thanks, we're seeing the doctor tomorrow so I'll mention it. Though, sod's law, the eczema is going through a mild spot! typical!

Marls - bikinis?! ! I dared to wear on when DS1 was 8 months but not so sure this time we'll see! The 'big' event, my best friend's wedding, is at the end of march and I've still got 7 punds to lose! I'll put sme piccies on when it's over

Claire - a tooth! how exciting, means he's growing up though...

On the powder/gel debate, I've tried both and reckon my anbesol gel works best but I have friends who swear by the powder.

Well - DH and I went to the docs ... and he backed out! I couldn't believe it, though I'm quite pleased. He decided that actually he wasn't quite ready to make the decision so we've put it off until DS2 is 12 months.. watch this space!

Mabel I'm with you on the gettting to 22 weeks Re powder / gel we swear by Nelson's teething granules....they worked brilliantly with DD & now Jack opens his mouth in anticipation whenever I go near him with a sachet at the ready!

DH is on the warpath about me not spending any money etc etc. Seeing as I have 6 weeks unpaid leave & then will hopefully change my hours & / or job he's seen fit to ask me for my credit card & to cancel various subscriptions etc !!! I'm feeling rather miserable about it really as whilst I know he's probably right (!) I just hate losing more of my independance & facing up to life without the job I've held for 7 years & I suppose the lifestyle it brings - in as much as having treats (Waitrose..!!!!)& knowing that with my yearly bonus (not that it was huge)we could make a few home improvements / holidays etc. Ideally I'd love to retrain...but in what I have no bloody idea. I am really at a loss right now!!
Jack is starting nursery on the 12th! He was booked up & paid from last year when I thought I'd be going back on the 13th. Although that's been pushed back to the 2nd April still think it'll be good for him to try it out! It's only 3 mornings a week so let's see

LOL I think I spoke too soon ... my bikini is beach shorts & matching Oakley sports top, not too revealing - used to have a string Burberry bikini but those days are over I just remember it took a full 6 months to get "back" 1st time, so if takes me 9 or 12 mos this time that's okay too.

Liquid - can't wait to hear abt it!

Claire -is it really a tooth?

We have a full blown stomach virus in this house. It's really going around; possibly all of us will catch it. Hope not.

My car has a "Houston It's Worth It" bumper sticker, which will make a great photo b/c it's stuck in the snow down the street right now. Was trying to take Jameson to Dr.; otherwise wouldn't have even attempted it ... was okay on the way there but not on the way home ... sigh.

Wow, a tooth!!!
Dd was really grotty before bed and after reading about the 1st tooth on here i had to have a quick check but couldn't see anything.
Dd was born on the 14th and i've lost track of the weeks but 22 weeks sounds great to me for weaning as well!

Cori - I know exactly how you feel about the loss of independence. I'm about to start six months unpaid leave from work. I have always contributed to the running of the house/holidays etc and paid for my own 'treats' like hair, car tax and insurance. It was nice to be able to spend my money on whatever I chose. I'm finding it much harder than DH to get used to. I feel as though I should ask him before I spend any money on anything. I suppose I'll get used to it but it certainly feels wierd at the moment.

On the subject of weaning, I'm still hoping to get to six months. DS is still having 7oz bottles so there's a bit of scope there. Don't see any point in starting to wean until he's not satisfied on 8oz bottles. Having said that, he was trying very hard to get hold of my cheese and beetroot sandwich at lunchtime. My boy's got taste, too, Mabel! I hope he likes Marmite as well because I Love it!

Hi everyone, had an exhausting day. DS had his jabs this morning and was a vey brave boy
Went to breast clinic this afternoon cos I'd found a little lump under my nipple about a month ago, went to the dr and she referred me to clinic. Thankfully, they said its ok and is just ridged tissue (phew!) I feel so relieved. Plan to start trying to put some weight on now as I'd lost a bit from all the worry so had steak for dinner
I hope everyone has a good night. DS seems to have taken to the formula so I have dropped the mid afternoon feed and plan to drop the mid morning feed next week.

I suppose being an occupational therapist I've over-analysed the work thing completely but I really do believe it's all about how you value each role. I didn't have 'PND' from DS1 but I did get very down and miserable after I'd had him because I'd lost my 'work' role and all that went with it. When I got my job and I had my financial independence back as well as non-baby responsibilities I cheered up no end! This time, having been a mum for longer and facing the prospect of being unemployed in April, I'm not bothered at all. I've come to value the role of SAHM so much more than I did and I now have a social life that goes with it - my week's pretty busy really.

Cori - what do you enjoy doing/expect to earn? Is there anything you could do from home?

Just for anyone else in a similar position to me, even though we're at home looking after kids we still qualify for jobseekers on top of the tax credits. As I understand it I'll have to negoiate what kinds of job I'll 'seek' for (OT/research for me) and then provide proof I'm 'seking' once every two weeks. However, they won't be able to make me take a job that wouldn't break even on the child care or a job that's full time if I want part time etc etc - which suits me as if a job did come up I would want it! I think the basic rate works out aroun £240 per month which is way better than a kick in the teeth as they say! (It's actually about equivalent to what I get now when I minus my travel & childcare for 2 kids - crazy!).

PS, Myrtle - poor you, hope you're feeling better - I had a lump a few years ago and it's such a worry while you wait - enjoy your steak!

That's interesting LC. I only work Saturdays at the moment and earn a lot less than 240 a month!! Do you have to go to the job centre to sign on?

liquid - wasn't aware of that jobseelers thing...my only income is tax creits and child benefit, although for tax purposes i 'work' 16 hours a week for DH's photography business as a self employed person. I can only assume that working for a photography busines involves changing nappies and cooking, as i cewrtainly don't take any pictures!! It is so difficult to work out what you're entitled to, I wasn't sure if i was entitled to working tax credits, as I am 'working' for the business, but not sure if you have to have your children in childcare for this?
Tbh i am used to not having my own money any more, and didn't really bother me when i gave it up, DH worries so much about me going from the main earner to earning nothing at all, that he is always treating me - bless him.

Myrtle - good news the lump was nothing serious, but at you having to put weight ON!!!

Marls - I think I am going to get myself a tankini for my holiday, the full bikini look is not something i want to inflict on the beaches of cornwall

Compo - yes I think you have to go to the job centre once every 2 weeks to discuss what you've been doing to find a job. But tbh, if I 'earn'() £240 a month doing that then I'm sure I can manage that!

DH and I just had (well, I suppose still having) a massive row . Basically DS2 threw up over my laptop's keyboard and all he could do was the washing up - so there's vomit on my keyboard soaking into the circuits, DS2 in hysterics, DS1 having a tantrum because he wants his milk and DH, calmly carrying on the washing up. Suppose I should give him credit for washing up. He just doesn't see that it would have been helpful to pick DS2 up and calm him down, or deal with DS1's tantrum. Oh, and then he called me childish for banging the cellar door on my way to find the manual - and there were'nt any tips for cleaning the keyboard! Thank God I've got accidental damage cover!

Arrghh! I hate arguing! I usually back down on most things we disagree about and let him have his way when it's not important but not this time - he should have done something, if only to ask if there was anything he could do!

Ah well, fun evening here tonight

liquid - take a deep breath! If there's one thing I've learned about men is they have no initiative and have to be told to do ANYTHING helpful. I hope you have made it up by now.
I have had a lovely relaxing day, DS1 at MIL's, so just pottering about getting stuff done.
I have a evening wedding reception to go to at the end of this month and have just tried on my tightest black trousers and they fit !!!! Am so happy! bit tight on the tum, but that's to be expected!! Have just beem scouring ASOS.com for a pair of cool cheap shoes to wear with them!

Liquid, hope all is well again in the Liquid household?!

We had a water leak on Weds night - water pouring through the ceiling in upstairs landing from a pipe in the loft. It was cascading down, I kid you not. Anyway, I finally managed to turn the water off, catch some in the baby bath, and drain the system while DH was blocking the hole with his finger - like the Dutch boy and the dyke..!! Luckily no damage apart from a bit wet on the ceiling! I say luckily, since yesterday we discovered we didn't actually have any buildings insurance current, and hadn't for 2 years!! Cue panic taking out of insurance.... Thank god our house didn't burn down over the last 2 years, or the leak didn't happen while we were away....

havent had a chance to catch up on all posts. been hanging out on sleep threads .
But.......anyone having trouble bathing their 5 month olds?! Can you belive they are coming up for 5 months?!
My ds doesn't want to lie flat anymore but tries to lift his head adn sit up which I cannot do yet! It makes bathing quite a feat. What age do they go on their bath seats? Seem to recall dd going in hers about 7mths or so. Anyone.....

sorry, not which I cannot do yet, which he cannot do yet!

Well neither of us said sorry but we seem to have moved on!

Claire - I have the 'why do we need insurance' conversation every year with DH - pehaps next year I shall refer him to you! Hope it's all ok now.

Cruise - we put DS1 in the 'sitting up' seat around 5 months - not that he could sit up but because he wanted to so much it was easier to support him with the help of the seat than to try and convince him to lie down. After bathing DS2 tonight I think we'll be doing it again.

DS's baptism this weekend... all the relatives on their way... wish me luck!

liquid - maybe I'll give the seat a go tomorrow night. Defo preferable to clinging onto my aquatic ds!