November 2014 - the one where they answer back.

[MrsAukerman]

New thread.
Hop aboard.

DS is still only at about 6 words spoken. But he is absorbing the meaning of words like a sponge. So he can point to about 5 colours and can point to a lot of things in the garden and can point to various parts of his body. So I'm happy enough with that. I figure as long as he understands things, he'll start saying the words eventually.

The nursery are putting him up into the next room next week which has a few 20 month olds and a couple who have just turned 2, and there are a few tiny little girls in there who are frighteningly verbal and kinda bossy so I expect he'll learn a lot from them.

Yesterday we were travelling and we had car trouble so all our plans of getting to grandma's by nap time were thwarted and he only dozed for 20 mins in the car. So then he had a hysterical overtired meltdown by 4pm. I got him down for a nap by 4.30 but he woke at 5pm ratty. Cue a couple of hours of sheer hell trying to stretch him to bedtime. The screaming! The thrashing! Grandma kept making things worse by waving various toys in front of him, bless her.

But he had a "good" night (these days since he's been at nursery a good night is 3 wake ups, how sad are we) so hopefully he's "reset" today.

Travelling/visiting - is it worth it? As I read here once: same shit, different bucket!

As with everything child related it seems to be luck of the draw. Dd has always been pretty good in the car and on hols sleep was unaffected, probably because she was so knackered, but on Monday we visited my sister an hour and half away, fine on the way there but no nap in the car, only 10 mins nap all day while we were there, but seemed chipper enough until we left at 3.30 and then she cried all the way home bar 20 mins that she fell asleep. I think it was triggered by the little suitcase my dad had given her being out of reach but she didn't say that and she's got very good at articulating what she wants. She's got really hooked on saying 'I like' for thing she wants and 'I don't like' when she doesn't want to do something. She likes to name or define things, 'cow, baby, plane, wet, loud, hot' etc but she doesn't say any colours and looks at me like I'm mad when I've tried!

After a week off with me she cried her eys out at drop off this morning, clinging to me, broke my heart. :(

strawberry Is it a daytime thing? Dd eats loads all day but at dinner she just picks at it.

I was all geared up for potty training at end of august when cm is on holiday but now I have to work and dp is on his own with her I've decided to wait until next spring unless dd makes it really clear she can't wait.

Hi all, fell off the thread a bit as visiting my parents this week. Ds has been up 2-4 times each night with a cough/ needing to be re-settled, so I'm very grateful to be here as they take him when he's up for the day at 6, and I get a lie-in until 7.30/8ish (who would have thought pre-baby that that counted as a lie in!)

Having trouble with food at the moment, he's really reluctant to chew anything, so most stuff seems to be nibbled, chewed, and then spat back out again. It's really frustrating. Only beans, toast, grapes and breadsticks seem to stay down, everything else is attempted, then refused. Don't know if it's taste/texture. Sigh.

Think I'll be upping the potty training too soon. He stayed dry for 3 hours this morning while we were out, had a wee before we left, and one when we got home. He drank lots of water too. So think I'll start popping him on the toilet at a few regular times throughout the day and go from there. Just glad we have poo's cracked already!

Language wise, he's doing much better, almost too many to count (though not very clear) and he is starting to count by pointing at things as we count up the scale, though he doesn't say the words. No interest in colours or shapes.

We have noticed some real development in speech in lasdlasdt 2 weeks stringing together 2-3 words and everything is "me".

Been to cinema with ds1 this morning to kids am saw angry birds he chose it I wanted tarzan then he says on way daddy took me to it last holidays when it came out so I could have seen Tarzan!

For those who have been camping with little ones, best tips please! We are going away for a couple of nights with our nct friends, and the thought of trying to get any sleep is filling me with dread...

Ds woke at 12.30, 2 and was up for the day at 4 this morning. What's he going to be like in a bright tent?!?!

MrsA I'm afraid in DD's case her advancement in numbers and colours is directly related to the amount of time she spends in Youtube watching videos. There are awful lot of them counting and playing with colours. So yeah... This morning she carried from her room to our bedroom one by one her wooden puzzle numbers one to ten and made a case of naming each of them and insisting to put them in my hand. Apparently she knows them all . But not a huge diversity of words otherwise.

ladydolly DD usually is just snacking in the evening after the nursery, mainly cheese sticks, biscuits and fruit. On a weekend she would eat something else during the day but nothing like what she demolishes in the nursery.

porsmork we haven't been camping with DD (not yet), but what I have seen from traveling with her, I think kids have amazing ability to adapt to the situation and eventually there isn't even half of the problems expected. There will be other kids there, so DS will have fun, will be tired and will go down easier than at home. He might not want to do it at 7pm, but more like after 9pm when it starts to get darker. But that's not a bad thing, right? You will get "sleep in" till 7am following morning . Our parents took us camping in wild with tent every summer when me and DSis were kids and we loved it SO much. I'm sure it will all be fine.

It took 9hrs to get back from Cornwall on M5 today, 9hrs trapped in a car with 2 small children! Cornwall was nice though not particularly warm or sunny, so it's a shame it's so far away. DD2 loved the beach once she stopped putting sand in her mouth, the dinosaurs at Eden Project and all the animals we saw in various places. We stayed in a cottage on a farm, and each morning the children staying there got to help feed rabbits, ducks, chickens and goats. Unfortunately, I didn't get the job I interviewed for last week, and my in-laws, who were feeding the cats, accidentally let them out and one didn't come back. We assumed the worst, having previously lost cats to the main road so these ones aren't allowed out, but DH was out calling him for the 4th time since returning home and he found him :)

DD does not appear to know any numbers or colours. She refers to almost all animals only by the sound they make rather than their name e.g cat was one of her first words but now she says miaow miaow when referring to a cat. Strange child!
she has become mummy's girl again, crying and screaming if I left her with DH to go to the toilet or something. DH got fed up with it, especially at Eden Project when I went to get lunch, which was a long long queue, and she screamed at him in a busy area full of people for the whole time.

As well as losing our pets, MIL has been 'helping' us by doing jobs around the house while we were on holiday. DD1 loves how tidy her bedroom is and is apparently going to keep it like that. It will be interesting to see how long that lasts for! But, I can't find anything in my kitchen now. Argh!

DD2 didn't go to sleep until nearly 10 last night because she had been in the car all day and we couldn't stop her falling asleep at about 5pm, but still woke up at 6am. I have a million piles of washing to do, and tomorrow I am back at work doing a 40+hr week despite being part-time. I miss my holiday!

Goodness, why do you have to do so many hours? Shame about that job. :(

We came back from MILs this morning. We have never been so glad to get back ever. DS did not thrive there. Too many strange faces (revolving door of neighbours wanting to pet him) and too many high spirited cousins. It was mayhem and he's not used to it and so dealt with it by having panicky meltdowns on the hour.

Oh and also it's the least baby proofed place on earth so he heard NO! far too many times which upset him. Not to mention the door onto a busy road constantly left open and he couldn't understand why we were being so cross. Lots of embarrassing screaming fits with well meaning people butting in saying"is it his teeth? Will I get you Calpol? Are you SUUUURE???"

Aaaarrgggh!

Back home to our lovely enclosed garden and lovely lovely stairgates and wonderful locks on cupboards. The front door firmly shut. And a cot bed rather than a travel cot he barely fit in. He's napping now and can nap all bloody day if he wants!

Anna why do I do 40+hrs in my 30hr a week job? Because the computer system says so! The off duty is worked out by a computer programme, and the 30hrs (or 37.5hrs if you are full-time) is allegedly averaged out over a 4 week period. However, I am working over 40hrs next week and the week after, so I am not quite which 4 weeks it is averaging, especially as this week I was on annual leave so that counts as exactly 30hrs. Your MIL's house sounds like a nightmare.

Oh and did I mention it was a bungalow?? So he was exploring all wardrobes/drawers/dangerous tool cupboards in the entire house.

So every time he slipped out of the room I had to haul my exhausted 8 month bulk after him quick smart just in time to see him playing with knives/bleach/cordless drills/MILs underwear.

MIL would just do this tinkly laugh and say "Oh I lost all the keys to everything YEARS ago! Ha ha ha! He keeps you on your toes, doesn't he? Ha ha ha!"

Ah well, at least the new baby is a good excuse for not visiting again till Christmas.

Btw I know all about the shitty averages crap. Be sure to keep it all added up and claim back hours at the end.

(God, not looking forward to going back!)

anna I would let him play with MILs undies unless they are some very kinky ones poor child can hung himself.
Visiting in laws can be exhausting in most of times never mind with a small child in tow. My MIL used to ask us very specific and detailed questions about our daily life every time we were visiting. I couldn't work it out what she would do with a piece of info about who leaves the house first in the morning, who's back first, who makes breakfast etc. Her idea of small talk, I guess... Last few years she seems to have relaxed with the questionnaire though. Anyway, next time you come back from visiting her you'll be allowed the biggest glass of vino

Getting a tad stressed about this upcoming festival. We're going to be away from him for 5 days. I'm not normally very sentimental but I am actually going to miss his whining and tantrums! Tell me to woman up please!

MrsA braver than me I didn't leave ds1 until he was 3.5yrs to go away for 3 nights was my first time flying alone too had left him to do a night for night nannying but not 24hrs and even then left with dh, if I am honest we waited to have children and have to have them in childcare to work so don't tend to leave them otherwise but that's our choice and obviously lots people do.

Well at this age he'd probably be more fine than at a later age tbh! They have the memory of goldfish.

I also think that if he has a great time with his GPs that it could be brilliant fun for him. Are they going to be minding him in your house?

Since all GPs here are dead bar MIL who lives hours away, the chances of us EVER spending a night away from the kids are slim to none!

I have to say if I had a competent unflappable person who knew DS well, I'd bite their hand off! What I really miss is being able to go up to big stadium concerts with DH and stay the night in a hotel etc. (It killed me to miss Beyonce!)

But on the other hand when you've no options you just automatically build your life around the constraints and accept them. I am glad I'm in my 40s though cos I suspect if I were younger I'd be feeling a bit hard done by from time to time.

They're having him at their house but he's stayed there several times before.
Oh and please just tell me to woman up!

Oh, come on woman! Woman up!! :)

MrsA your DS enjoyed staying with your parents, so he will be just fine. And all the kisses and cuddles to follow once you are reunited!! I have taken DD away on my own few times now and there is always lots of bubbling and hugging between DH and DD following days. My mum has offered to look after DD overnight, but so far I have come back even if it was very late in the evening. The way DD gets clingy when staying with my family, I think she might see them as strangers because she has seen them very few times since I went back to work. But as soon as DD is in stage I can explain her that she will stay with GPs and I will be back following day, I will take advantage. Take an opportunity while you can, you are blooming lucky!

Thanks for the woman up! I am very lucky to have such a keen mil. She's not too overbearing or precious either.

Another 'woman up!' from me! I've probably left dd the longest here at 4 nights but she was with dp. We haven't left without one of us yet, we talk about weekends away but I doubt we'll do it, we both work full time so weekend time with her is precious.

Took her to a festival this weekend, great set up of me going with my mates fri and sat then sunday I take her during the day and dp collects her at 5. She had great time, its very family friendly and dd lives meeting new people and seeing new things. She wasn't keen on the kids entertainment but made me hold her up so she could see the bands over the crowds and led me quite a way to go back to the music stall to play with the ukeleles again (which I eventually bought her like a sucker).

New job starts tomorrow, must get my game face on!

Good luck with the new job ladydolly!

Good luck today ladydolly!
Had one of those weeks where everything just goes wrong. But all first world problems so can't complain too much... deliveries being cocked up spectacularly (£1000 of wood ordered to make garden raised bed, I did enjoy moaning at the guy about that one and got 20% refund, woo!)... MOT and service being cancelled by garage last minute (actually a real pain as it meant I had to juggle nursery drop off and pick up and getting to work without a car). DH and I have both got horrible colds too.
Good stuff is that we are halfway through our frozen embryo ivf cycle - I had an embryo put back in on Monday. Will find out end of next week if I am pg.
DD has been an absolute angel the past week compared to the one before where I was tearing my hair out. She's so happy and cute. We're off on holiday to the IOW next week with lots of my aunts, uncles, cousins, etc which is going to be really fun - there will be loads of toddlers and kids for DD to play with and also lots of willing babysitters! Best of all the weather is looking lovely. Just have to slog through this week first!!

Oh mogle good luck with ivf

The Mullet is getting longer and longer......

Any of you play hairdressers yet? Or do you get a professional to do it?

Moggle so exciting! Fingers crossed!

Good luck moggle!
Anna my mum and I have both played hairdresser on ds and all I can say is don't tie it in a ponytail then cut above the band!