***************December 2006 ****************

[lucy5]

I can't access the thread with my rubbish Spanish internet connection. Could someone start a new thread and link it on the old one too. Thankyou. Hope alls well!

Am I on my own in this or do you think that it is hard for our December babies?

Speaking from experience (my b'day is on the 4th December) no-one goes out for your birthday celebrations, you get a "joint" b'day + xmas pressie and all of your celebrations are over in 1 month.

i told my mum for years that i would never have a child in december (in fact, every b'day for 20 years!). Boy, someone up there is laughing at me - my mum certainly is!

i am going to celebrate dd2s 1st birthday and then not celebrate her 2nd until the following June.

Will you all stick with celebrating their bdays in December?

Margo - you are right. My brother is start of jan and always got joint presents. I plan to make a big fuss on birthday but then have a day out in the summer somewhere like legoland etc

Margo, I always thought that people who had children in Dec or Jan were incredibly irresponsible. I am old enough to understand where babies come from, I can count up to 9, how did this happen??

We're going to make a big fuss over both DD1 and DD2s birthdays and have small Christmases. We will make sure that there is a big outing in honour of DD2 every summer.

Nice to hear, Satinshoes, long may it last

Milkshake, how scary...I know pretty much exactly how that feels. I did get some sleep last night (thanks Castles), as dh did a feed for me, but punctuated by anxious moments waiting to hear if dd breathed again after a snotty choking moment. I hope your LO is better soon, some miserable bugs around!

OK, seasoned mums of 2 or 3 or more, how on earth do you do it? My back is bad since I did something to it last week, so constant pain - and 3 yr old just got glitter all over kitchen (death to the kind friend who gave her a make your own glittery box kit) and 9 week old is really really windy again and needs picking up all the time and carrying on her tummy.

And I'm feeling overwhelmed. Could be because nice doula lady aka surrogate mum finished working for me this morning?!? Um, yes, now I come to write this, could well be...

But still, how do you cope?!

Do you know I asked that question on a different thread and received a pasting from a few MNetters!

How do they cope? I find it very hard to be dressed before 11am? DD1 (2yo) frustrates me because she runs away when I try to dress her, so it seems she puts about an hour on the whole getting ready situation.

I am considering going to bed in my dayclothes...

Wouldn't dare ask anywhere else

Thanks Margo, if nothing else I know its a learning curve for someone other than me! I suppose if I'd started a new job I wouldn't even be surprised at there being a few tough bits during the induction period!

Have got dd2 asleep, tidied up a bit, expressed a bit, and feel calmer. Can see now that Nice Doula Woman took the place of family for me, so I felt bit emotional at her going - as well as panicking practically. Both my ILs are dead, my sister is away, and my mother needs more looking after than she can give, so it felt a huge treat to have a competent grownup helping a few hours a week.

Oops, other than dh of course

Can't believe you got a pasting for that, Margo, what did they say? It's a valid question. I have no idea how it's done, I lurch from one thing to another putting on a good show of being in control but in reality I'm not at all .

Hi Lollipopz, congratulations, know what you mean about the school run, we make it by the skin of our teeth most mornings.

Satin, I'm having a better day today too, not so stressed over the bf so ds2 is more relaxed and latching better. Do you think the two are linked ?

This was my thread - It was supposed to be a bit tongue in cheek. Some were sympathetic and someone used the "c" word to describe how naughty some of the posters were

I remember that thread Margo. It was another one of those that got a bit hormonal and heated. I did like the one who told everyone off for being so mean & using the "c" word!!!

I'm no expert Elibean but when I'm finding it all too much (most days) I just get out of the house. Problems seem to disperse in the open air and the trees and traffic absorb the sound of DD2's cries!

I know what you mean Eli about having no family. Mine are absolutely useless/not interested. I only have my ILs & like I said y'day they are abroad all the time or taken up with other grand-children. I too was mortified when my Doula left - she only did 2 weeks. It's definitely helped me though. Can you get your DD1 to "help" you? I get DS & DD1 to do loads of fetching & carrying. I even caught DS giving DD2 the remains of a bottle yesterday

wow margo. just saw your thread.

must admit i do half an internet shop for standard items and send dh with dd1 off on a sunday morning so i get an hour of me time. However, if i had to take both i would feed dd2 lots before hand and hope she fell asleep in the car on the way.

i only post on here and the good housekeeping thread unless something catches my eye. i find a lot of posts a bit too contraversial to read

haven't had time to read the tips on having 2 or more thread, but how's about we add our own tips here as so many of us are struggling. Mine is put my own outfit out the night before (inc knickers, socks & shoes) so I can scramble into it after a lightning quick shower. I've been making getting showered and dressed in the morning my no.1 priority as I think castles is right. If you get out of the house, even if just in our cul-de-sac, life seems better, and I can't go out until I'm dressed.
Will try and get back on later, have mastitis and ds2 had day and a half of unrelenting wind with no nap (does anyone have baby that never naps, how on earth do you cope, I didn't have ds1 to contend with!) I'm so behind on the good housekeeping threads! (my favourites, esp as they introduced me to Perfect Housewife)

good idea aq. I say :

• dont worry about taking DC2 out in sleepsuit. Noone will notice.
• get DC1's clothes ready the night before
• get your clothes ready the night before
• if it gets too much wrap up warm and all go for a walk or a drive in the car.
• my dh has been helping me at night by staying in our room until 2am and helping change DD2/pass her to me so i dont have to get out of bed etc, but then at about 2 (if she wakes) he goes next door and sleeps until 7. If i'm asleep at 7 he will get DD1 up and entertain her before he leaves at 8.

omg, you lot are brilliant. Have clocked several useful tips already and that was ultra fast skim reading!

Back later, dh works till 9pm on Tuesdays so its my longest day...in case you hadn't guessed...

Castles, love idea of dd helping with dd2, can't be worse than certain other family members 'helping' eh

Mmmm Ds is in his crib, semi asleep but quite happy. A miracle. Perhaps caused by cracking and giving him a dummy. Right now mummy Indith is considering eloping with the dummy. Can you marry a dummy?

Not had the chance to nap for a few days and just exhausted! When do naps and bed times start to become a little more fixed? Ds doesn't really nap at all unless we are out. At home he is awake all day and just needs constant attention. Some evenings he seems to go off early like today, others he goes down around 11. I never know when I should be putting him in his crib, obviously he will still wake to be fed but I do wonder if I should be putting him down when he is asleep but it just seems easier to keep him with me.

I don't know, I think my sleep deprived brain is trying to think too much. Way way too early to be thinking about routines really.

Agree with Castles too about getting out of the house. I always get up before Dp and shower and dress before feeding as I know if I leave my shower until after Dp has gone into uni it won't happen and I ned my shower to feel awake and then be able to get out of the house and into the fresh air a bit.

i also make cold lunch for dd1 when dd2 is asleep and then clingilm it so i can just get it from the kitchen at lunch time.

I see what you mean, Margo. LOL at Hunker using the 'c' word .

Okay, confession time - who else has succumbed to a dummy? (Bit like Margo's thread, would only dare ask this on here, less risk of being lynched!) I have, it's fab, especially if he's in the sling, I actually get the use of BOTH hands!

I also have an amazing non napping baby. If he manages 20 minutes asleep when I put him down then I'm doing well. I'm using the sling more and more just to be able to function in a semi normal way.

Agree with showering before dh goes to work. I always get up and get ready before he goes so that he can hold ds2 and I know I'm not going to terrify the general public! Trying to shower with all 3 dc's on my own is NOT an option at the moment!

Irrititating, anal posting alert

I am a classic organiser - but I am a project manager in the real world, so it makes sense! My clothes, DD1s clothes, all of the stuff for DD2 (including nappies, wraps, etc) ready the night before.

If I need to do a load of washing, I put it on as soon as I get up. If I left it until later,it wouldn't get done.

I make DH's lunch for the next day while I'm preparing DD1's lunch - usually while she's at nursery and DD2 is content.

I prep tea whenever DD2 snoozes (she doesn't really sleep during the day). Yesterday I spent the whole day prepping a shepherd's pie in fits and starts! But it means I can get tea on the table at a decent time.

I do all of my grocery shopping online except for meat and veg, which I pick up during my daily sanity walk.

At 9:00 every night, I stop organising, sit down and indulge in something nice - a bit of cake, a glass of wine. That's my time!

Needless to say, I drive my DH absolutely potty with all of this.

Hello everone, I've been car shopping since the weekend which has taken up most of my free time so have just now managed to catch up with all of you.

Welcome margo! I had a similar bad thread experience a while back and did a mini- flounce for a few days. I had written aong post last week about my first shopping experience with dcs and no dh but then lost it in computer freeze. It was challenging, not as bad as I had feared though.

Another round of colds here, too. First ds1, then ds2 and I believe I'n headed that way too Ds2 miraculously slept 5 hours in a row night before last but I stayed awake most of it lidstening fearfully to his snarfley breathing. Baileys, your experience must have been so scary. That the same kind of thing, well, in a way,that kept me awake. It would seem for a moment as if he stopped breathing then he would start up again with a tremendous snort. But I never had to actually assist like you did. Thank goodness you recognized the problem and acted quickly!

He already seems a bit better tonight though, so maybe it's a mild version asa far as colds go.

Oh, and still no car purchase as of yet, but we are getting closer...I think.

My God, Babypowder, you do sound REALLY organised! I am impressed

This is how my early morning goes:
I put DD2 back in her bed in the morning after I've fed & changed her - screaming or not - to have a shower. I always wear some makeup & dry my hair whatever I am doing. This just makes me feel better about myself & also I am very old & ugly & might scare young children if I don't. Fortunately my other two DCs get themselves dressed (sometimes DD1's choice is rather eclectic ) and help themselves to brekkie - I just put the stuff out in the kitchen. They also clean their own teeth etc. The secret is in early training I believe I always go through DS's school bag when he gets home in the afternoon & make his packed lunch 1st thing in the morning when I'm unloading the dishwasher, loading washing machine, sterlising etc. I think the fact that my day always starts at 6am in the week (due to DH getting up) helps. I bung DD2 in a snow suit whatever she is wearing (she's always in vests, sleepsuit, cardy - I'm not into "real clothes" for them at this age). I always manage to get them out of the house by 8.30am. Being the daughter of an army orficer & going to boarding school aged 9 helps at these times!! I knew there had to be some benefit ...

As you can see, I am not doing any of this today as DS is still crook hence I'm still in my jimjams and we are existing in blissful chaos!!

p.s. had a really crap night just to make everyone feel better - DD2 up screaming until midnight, then DS got up feeling ill. Feel fine today. Know it won't last forever ...

Hi All,

I am coping well this week as DH has the week off so I dont have to get up with the first feed of the day and get DC's up and dressed as DH does that with DD and I stay in my PJ's and sort out DS. Last week and next week are a different story!

Is anyone else finding thier body has become adjusted to disturbed and reduced sleep? Although I am getting a good 5 hour run of sleep now we are in a 5 hour feeding pattern.

Also anyone else hallucinating during the night time feeds??

BP very jealous of your organisation . Am going to try this myself, not a whole regimented schedule but certain list things that must be done, including spoiling myself!

And a serious effort on the improving the food in our house underway. I have a veg box coming next Tuesday and have decided to take my daily walk past the butchers too for some nice meat for stews etc. Got a box of Special K coming with the shopping and I'm going to do the drop a jean size thing - dont all laugh at once!

PS Great ideas for organization. I am personally fairly disorganized so will watch and take notes from the sidelines

Re daytime naps, with all 3 of mine (still working on youngest) they didn't start having proper sleeps during the day until they were at LEAST 3 months. The only way DD2 has a big sleep during the day is if I go out (say to school) with her in the car & leave her in the car seat when I get back. Otherwise it's 20 minutes here & there. I just move her about the place - under play gym, bed to watch mobile, kitchen to watch washing machine etc and hope eventually she will nod off.