November 2014 - the one where they answer back.

[MrsAukerman]

New thread.
Hop aboard.

I miss reading. I went to the hairdressers this morning and the time to read a magazine was priceless. And just being alone, I am never alone - save the 20 minute drive to work.

Chart in the red book puts her between 50th and 35th centile so she has dropped, but still think she looks (and eats) well enough.

Those with fussy eaters- what do you do when dinner is flat out refused/thrown on the floor? DD is getting fussier. She won't even eat cheese which was her favourite food for months. She eats fruit, porridge, toast/any form of bread, sometimes beans/hoops, sometimes plain omlette, yoghurt, sometimes ham, fish fingers and sometimes plain rice. She'll happily eat biscuits or crisps given half the chance, little git. She won't even try new foods, she just throws it or gets upset. I don't know whether to just give her what I know she likes so I know she's got something in her belly (even if that means she lives on toast) or stand my ground offering the same foods that me and DS (9 months) are eating. I hoped that seeing her brother polish off anything that's put in front of him would spur her on to try more things but it hasn't made a difference, except that she occasionally passes him her leftovers.

Dd1 was about 2.5 or 3 when she started kicking off about clothes, she's not the worst but I do have to distract to get her into something she doesn't want to wear. She's just started school (whole new world for us but I won't derail!) so has a uniform now. Probably easier.

Dd 2 Has Already Started with the clothes preference thing she just sees her sister having preferences so takes her cue. Again we just distract. Preference for particular bowls or cups are harder to get by. She wants what she wants (usually the blue one as it's the only colour she definitively knows) and really kicks off if she doesn't get it.

Hmm, I love driving on my own - as in not just to do nursery pick up but when I'm truly on a solo mission.
Going away for a night with dh. In almost 5 years we've only been away on our own for the night twice, both for weddings and not since dd 2 was born.

annantha I don't have a fussy eater but we always give her a banana right before bed so if she does reject dinner she still has food before sleep and the hope is she doesn't associate the two and think 'I won'the eat dinner because I'd rather have the banana. Also I read if they are in a fussy phase to give them one thing they definitely like and one or 2 'new' or previously rejected foods and let them eat what they like without pressure or fuss. Who knows if it works but sounds like it could avoid drama at mealtimes. Doesn't avoid wasted food though.....

annatha we definitely give in so there's something in the belly.

We do as many tricks as possible, like covering things with gravy, despite the salt content. Sausages are popular so we buy the best quality we can.

DS will eat pesto pasta 365 days a year and tonight I whizzed up a ton of veggies down to literally microscopic size and coated the pasta with what was basically "veggie dust". (And half a jar of pesto!)

We try to experiment with buying various sandwich spreads as well, cos toast is pretty reliable. We've had some success with chicken and stuffing very thinly. But it's hit or miss.

Our biggest trick is if there's a meltdown and something previously popular is thrown on the floor, I whip out a Frube. He gets very excited about Frubes! Usually that placates and distracts and feeds him enough that afterwards he starts picking at the dinner.

Oh, just googled Frube, been completely oblivious to its existence. At the moment it is fish fingers, cheese sticks and yogurt she can eat every day (chocolate and biscuits go without saying). As she apparently eats almost everything in the nursery I am not too bothered about fish fingers atm. The other day DD caught me eating marzipan in chocolate... Had to give her some to shush the screams. I've never seen her stuff the mouth so full; when some of it was threatening to fall out, she would just push it back in with whole of her hand. It's definitely the very top on her list....

Part of the appeal of Frubes is that they realise they can squeeze them! Huge concentration required. Obliterates all other concerns!

Anna guess what I'll be doing tomorrow?! where do you learn about all these things??? I've been reading toddler taming recently, it does explain few things what's going on at home (or outside it really).

Thanks all, bananas and frubes at the ready! Something just before bed is a good idea, my worry was that if I give in she'll think that chucking dinner on the floor = yoghurt and biscotti for dinner, but that way she'll work up an appetite.

Fussy eater here. I offer him something new, he'll have a few bites, then say no. No other option, but I give him a slice of toast with it, so he'll at least have that. Also He'll eat anything if it has baked beans, or raisins, mixed in. I try so hard not to get upset when I have to throw food away, or if he refuses, but it's hard. Have to trust that he'll do ok and won't starve.

Tried frubes today and they went down a storm. The entertaining function of them is massive! DD splattered some of it all over herself, but she clearly enjoyed the process.

Frozen frubes make great ice creams too - yeo valley and m&s versions have less sugar than Frubes neither of mine will eat yogurt ds1 used to but not until 2yrs and stopped about yr ago, ds2 currently on milk ladder has refused all yogurt until yesterday got bit of a yogurt and fruit pouch in him. I actually dont like yogurt it's the texture other than proper full fat Greek yogurt.

Went to an event today at a forest place an hr away and a peppa mascot was there ds2 was not impressed although know lots kids don't do these great big character things.

Has any of the other little monsters gotten LOUD!!?

Just in the last couple of weeks (it's from crèche I imagine) DS has started shouting his head off 24/7. Everything is at TOP volume.

Hard going at bloody 7am. DH and I are old and sedate and omg the noise!

Right now he's in the kitchen roaring "CAR! CAR! RED CAR! AAAAAHHHH!!!" Calm down, love it ain't that exciting.

We really do have a proper toddler these days.

posmork is it today you're starting nursery?

moggle thinking of you.

Thanks Anna :-) Mostly back to normal here, I have got back into my hobbies and life is busy so my mind is distracted! I am really into sewing at the moment and making lots of clothes for DD and I. It's really addictive...
Clinic has confirmed that we can have another cycle after my period so that's good. I'm using the ovulation sticks again so we can have one bash at it naturally this month! (DH is enjoying the practice after months of me not feeling like it... I remember the same as DD - the drugs really turned me off sex - funny to think that she was born in Nov 2014 but we didn't actually have sex between Dec and April 2014 I think! haha!) I've got to say I was kind of shocked how tired I was even just in that one week of pregnancy. And how once it was over I felt so much more normal! I didn't really make allowances for myself - wasn't going to bed early or anything. Next time I will be forewarned and be a bit lazier!

Great to see you in good spirits moggle! I actually know a family where after having the first child they struggled to get pregnant with Nr2, went through countless rounds of IVF until they had DC2. So obviously they didn't bother with contraception when they went on child-free holiday when DC2 was about 8 months old. Guess what?! They are now proud parents of three. So you never know... :)

I read an interview with a midwife who has worked with home/natural births. She was saying that over the years she had seen a number of couples were none of the couple had any reason why they shouldn't have children, but they just wouldn't fall pregnant. The only explanation she could muster up was that they wanted it too bad because as soon as they gave up on the idea, they were expecting. The mysteries of babies... I have always been quite amazed about the women falling pregnant after one night stand because of all the things that need to fall in place in that one time... It definitely took me some time till I worked out all the ovulation etc stuff. But then there was one day when I knew if we had sex that day I would definitely get pregnant. And so we did and now I spend my free time moaning about DD

Ah, and I have ordered Ikea play kitchen for DDs birthday. So now it's the waiting game till it gets delivered and I can start the makeover project. Excited times!

Fallen off the thread!
I was going to get DS a balance bike for his birthday then DH brought one home from worl (handmedown from his boss) and DS loves it already.
No space for the play kitchen i don't think. Might get him a scooter as he can use his 4 yr old cousin's fine. Not feeling it though. Any other ideas? Maybe more train stuff?

Ds starts nursery on 21st, we're off to Devon on holiday today! Stopping off at the Haynes motor museum on the way. Ds won't know what's hit him!

Haven't had any correspondence from nursery to tell me what to bring with me (they said they had posted a letter, but I haven't received it...). So, I'll check at settling in session, but otherwise just use common sense. Hat, sunscreen, nappies, spare clothes, wipes. Anything else??

I'm thinking about a scooter for Ds, but they can go soooooo FAST on them, plus I wonder if he'd start hating the buggy... Balance bike might be a better option. Got him a wooden garage, a toy toaster and lots of books so far. That'll probably do for birthday, so just one thing for Christmas I think.

We've had two nights without the dummy for bed too! His grandparents took him for a night, and forgot it, so we tried last night and he was fine! Did his usual 2am wake up, but slept fine. So no more dummies, hurrah!

Think we're not going to get anything big for birthday. She has a scooter already which I can't get her to use - think really she needs to see others using theirs, there's only so much I can do to show her without breaking it! she loves going on my bike with me so maybe a balance bike would be more successful... No room for a play kitchen although my mum and dad might have other ideas. I'd like to get her a play tent or tipi I think. Think for Christmas it'll be a wooden train set. So my list is probably not much use for you Mrs!
Dressing up box with various outfits? I got some fairy wings in the charity shop which are going in the pile. I'm also planning to make her a superhero cape.

We did baking yesterday! Was a great success which I was very surprised about, thought it'd be a disaster! Used a ready mix and she had a great time- knew a lot of the steps so think they must do baking at nursery. They are even quite nice cakes despite the tiddler finger prints in the icing haha!

porsmork that's great about the dummy! I don't know how we'll ever get rid of ours although your story makes me think maybe I'll get my parents to do it!!
Garage is a good idea - just remembered DD loves playing with the one at my friends house.

Glad to hear you are keeping busy moggle. I used to love sewing, and think I'd do lots if Ds was a girl and I could make dresses, but not sure about what I'd do for home made boys clothes. Small trousers would be shockingly hard! Getting back into knitting now the evenings are getting a bit cooler, it never feels like a summer hobby.

DD seems to have suddenly learnt lots of words without me noticing, maybe I noticed today because it is the first day just the two of us while DD1 is back at school, but she seems to know so many words now. She keeps pointing at things, saying "look, look" too though I don't always know what I am supposed to be looking at. She is very sad that DD1 isn't here to play with her and keeps asking "where DD1?", but clearly doesn't want anyone else to play with her either. The cat went over to her toys and she shouted "No, Miaow, no, mine mine!" Poor cat!

The return to school runs has exhausted me. The combination of getting up and ready for school in time each morning, work shifts, broken sleep thanks to my persistent cough and the non-sleeping wonderchild's return to waking up for a hour or so in the middle of the night has made me feel like death today.

Re presents: wooden train track is very popular here. Ours is on a purpose-built table, but I don't recommend you spend that kind of crazy money (my DH is a fool and randomly buys ridiculously expensive things), just track laid out on the floor will be fine. DD2 loves to play 'choo-choos'. There was a thread in Chat recently about what to buy for second birthday presents where someone recommended dressing-up clothes, and I thought but DD2 hates getting dressed so she won't like that, but my parents bought some dressing-up dresses for DD1 that my goddaughter had grown out of and DD2 was clearly jealous and wanted to try some on too so I might get some in her size. We got a pop-up play tent last Christmas, which is fun for both DDs for all sorts of pretend games. I intended it to be an outside toy in the summer but it never made it out there. My parents are getting scooters for both DDs for Christmas. DH thinks they don't need scooters because they have bikes and we don't have anywhere to put them, so I am just going to pretend I don't know about my parents' plan until there is nothing he can do about it (these scooters fold up so are easy to store anyway)

We've had a sudden accumulation of words too, and he's trying to count now (and failing) which is cute. Cos he just says nonsense but in a very serious counting way when ever he sees numbers.

Latest word is "rain" and it's been pissing down here for 2 weeks so he gets very excited every time he looks out the window cos he has an opportunity to say his new word.

I am heartened by it, I think it's all credit to the crèche and fair play to them.

Thankfully the one word he hasn't learnt yet is No, and long may it last!

happy how is her walking coming on?

moggle best of luck with Shagathon '16. My poor DH is enduring the "3rd trimester drought" poor lad, but he just brushes it off as unimportant and the last thing on his mind (bless his fibs) so I don't feel too bad. Actually I wouldn't mind it at all but just because the mind is willing doesn't mean the body is! From the neck down I'm just a groaning mess of aches and pains. Just over a week to go.

haven't am thinking of you, and hope its going on ok and you're not too pukey.

And why is it that in the afternoon I can put her in the cot and leave and she will cry for a few minutes then fall asleep, but, if I try that at night, she screams for a long time, longer than we feel reasonable to leave her to scream for? There is no way that she would just lie down in the cot with a not unreasonable amount of crying and go to sleep in the evening, but what is the difference? Not complaining too much though, as naps in the cot are still a fairly new development from the child who previously would only nap in my arms so I couldn't do anything else.

Anna - are you really due in a week? Wow that felt fast!