July 2016 #2

[Bluebell20]

A new thread as we (hopefully) move towards longer sleeps and lovely little smiles!

Primary- our local MRI dept has a 'short notice' list for filling cancellations. Might be worth seeing if your dp could join something similar especially if he works in the hospital, you don't get many perks but you can sometimes pull a few strings
Poor Annie, hope the virus clears up soon, when will they have her sample results back?

Julf- I'm annoyed I didn't see the boots freebies last weekend as we spent £30 there last sat. I consider sleepsuits and baby grows to be long leg/long sleeve, vests to have no legs/short sleeves, and rompers to have short leg/short sleeves?

Bluebell- I've been so keen to get loads of diy jobs done while on mat leave that I get overwhelmed by the amount I have to do. I found it helps to remind myself that I'm on mat leave to care for my baby primarily, not to do diy. Already a third of my mat leave is over and once Xmas has been and gone I'll have to start making plans for returning to work in the spring
Might have to try doing my exercise DVD with E watching (really need to do more exercise but I'm lazy)

Forgot to do my weigh in this morning (always weigh first thing before breakfast!) as I forgot it's Friday so will update later. I seem to be losing 2lb one week and putting it on the next so never getting a net loss. Have started taking the pill again though and I'm hoping it doesn't cause any weight gain.

Indians- Can sympathise, I'm stuck seeing the in laws AGAIN this weekend. I just want a weekend to ourselves once in awhile. And we don't get time to see friends as much either as in laws ask to see us all the time. Round about Leeds way we are, but out in the countryside.

Oh god I appear to be 11 stone. Baaaaad! That's about 3lb on this week. My pre preg weight of 10st 4 seems so far away right now. And that's totally ruined enjoyment of my Friday night tea plans now

Weight loss this week 2.5lb but period came and bloated me right out so I recon it may be a bit more. Continuing with slimming world this week. Been shopping and got lots of fruit and veg. I'm loving my spiraliser, making lots of courgettie as I can't have pasta .

I took Ben to the Dr's this morning and they think he has croup. He certainly has a chesty 'barking' cough. He didn't have a temp and he's still feeding well so they've just said to monitor him. He sounds so poorly but he's his usual smiley self. Currently he's snuggled up asleep on my chest. Love him so much.

Poor little Ben becks. Not enjoying illness season a,ready! Well done on weight loss - so glad to still not be having periods!

indians tell me bout it. Dp's family are crackers - I'm considering inviting Jeremy Kyle to the wedding next year, we'd make a whole series let alone a bloody episode! Never met nutters like it! (MIL aside, she's driving me nuts at the mo but I do love her normally)

I am so up for a Manchester meet up! I'm there all the time, I really miss living there. Can't believe it's been over a year since we moved away

sunday he's already using his influence - he wouldn't even have had the initial appointment until JANUARY! Having someone close work within the NHS is an eye opener into how shocking it's become. A&E seems like it's run like a charm compared to dedicated "planned" departments! Feel so sorry for the people working within and the shit they recieve.

julf babygrow = sleepSuit, romper = soft dungarees, that's what I think!

primary oh god yeah, the poking of fingers in the mouth... My friend did that the other day. I held it together the first time, but the second time she did it I just couldn't stand it any more and told her not to. I don't even do it myself, for goodness' sake! I lied a bit and told her it made him frustrated to be sucking on something that wouldn't give milk. Didn't want to say, 'Er, when did you last wash your hands?!?'

I'm glad your DP is able to pull some strings to get seen earlier. Having gone semi batshit crazy about my armpit lump just after Ruben was born, I can really empathise with how hard it is to keep a handle on the fear.

Hope Annie feels better soon. And well done on the weight loss! I totally forgot to weigh myself today.

Indians ugh that sounds like a mare of a weekend. I vote you treat yourself to something nice to make up for it.

Sunday I just keep making list after list - the stuff I have to do is never-ending, it seems. However, DH did a really excellent job of de-manking the kitchen today, and has vowed to wipe the walls down with anti-mould stuff once a week from now on, so that is one major job off the list! Another job: I still haven't registered for child benefit, but the gov.uk website seems to be down - don't know if that's linked to today's hacker attacks - so that's something that's going to have to wait...

Also, your weight might be funny if you're weighing at a different point in the day. Try again tomorrow after breakfast.

becks I hope Ben feels better soon; poor little sausage.

So, ladies, I have discovered baby crack, and it is Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson. I have always loved this book (as a teacher) and I had a bash at reading it to Ruben when he started his usual screamathon this evening. He was quiet by the second verse (literally volume eleven to zero) and asleep before I had finished the book.

He then woke up later, crying, so I picked him up and gave him a cuddle, put him back down and started reading Tabby McTat again. He stopped crying very quickly. I had to read the last page twice to be sure he was thoroughly asleep, but my goodness me, it worked. Baby crack, I tell you.

Thanks all for the clarification on the baby clothing names! And also re HVs.

Ooh Primary, you're getting married! How exciting! Are you already actively planning? Can we all be your bridesmaids 😄
So sorry to hear about Annie's virus. Horrible for both of you. Hope she's much better soon.
Good idea re antibacterial wipes - I hadn't thought to take them with us when we go out.
Good luck with the siblings! So do you still work for the family at all (i.e. before you went on maternity leave)?

Bluebs - I hadn't realised that you'd had an anxiety meltdown in hospital. I'm sorry to hear that. I can totally understand that household grubbiness would be difficult to deal with, especially at a time when our lives are so out of control - the last thing you need is for the housework to be out of control too. Good news that your DH is now onboard re sorting out the mould. Please don't feel guilty - you've had so much to sort out, including BF which is the most crucial thing for little Ru, and you've done it all at the best pace you could, whilst also trying to maintain your own sanity. Ru has a wonderful mummy.
That's great that you've got your MIL coming to help out next week.
Did you do your pilates at a class or at home? I need to get more active. I'm keeping in shape due to BF and lots of walking, but I'm not actually getting fit. I'm keen to go running more. I'm visiting my folks for a couple of days next week so will try to get out for some exercise as well as catching up on sleep!
Sleep training. Aargh. I've been struggling. I find it really hard to implement, and I don't feel I have the right support from DH. He's keen to have J well trained sleep-wise, but he isn't very patient/tolerant (understatement) when J cries on and on, so I feel I have to deal with it myself (to be fair, DH is normally cooking the supper at that time). In terms of tactics, once I've done the bedtime routine (bath, massage, lullabies, bed, kiss goodnight, leave room), I then allow up to ten minutes of crying before I go in to soothe him. I try to just pat/rub his tummy and talk to him, rather than immediately picking him up. If that doesn't work, I pick him up and pat/rock him until he's calmed down and then I try again. But sometimes it just doesn't work. Often we're still battling at 9 or 10 (target bedtime is 7pm). Tonight (DH was out for the evening) I gave up after a couple of attempts and loads of loud screaming. I was just too tired. Once I'd given up, J happily fell asleep in my arms and slept on me for about 3 hours, while I ate my supper and watched TV and then fell asleep on the sofa (oops 😳). I felt I'd failed, but equally my evening was much more chilled since I gave up. I guess there's no urgency for the sleep training (not sure what timeframe is recommended - is it between 3 and 6 months?), but equally DH and I want to get our evenings back, so (as ever) I'm putting pressure on myself to get it sorted right now...
Re clothing, J still wears babygrows if we're just pottering around for the day, but since he moved into 3-6m sizes he's been wearing smarter trousers/outfit e.g. if we're going out for Sunday lunch with friends. He just looks so cute in big-boy clothes! And the trousers seem much easier now that I've got used to them.
Child benefits - good point.
Right, I'll buy a copy of Tabby McTat tomorrow. I need some of that baby crack. Hurrah for you! I just googled it, and hope you've seen this...? www.geekmummy.com/2011/06/the-correct-way-to-read-tabby-mctat/

Sunday - oh god, I'm trying not to think about how large a proportion of maternity leave has already gone. I mean, I love my career, but I just really don't want to go back so soon. I've got to go back in March - need the income. It probably doesn't help that I won't be going back to the same role (I'll apply for specific jobs in the New Year) so in the meantime I can't really envisage being back and I don't feel I'm missing out on anything in particular. Whereas I feel acutely that, once I go back, I'll be missing out on Jasper and his development and his gorgeous little quirks and smiles and snuggles. I already feel that I missed out on the first few weeks of his life because my post-natal brain went totally loopy and I didn't know what was going on - I couldn't really look after him or myself, and my mother had to look after both of us. And since I've been well again, time has just been flying.

Indians/Sunday - unfortunately I think the Boots offer has just ended. But worth asking?

Indians - Good luck coping with Vile and Pervert and their offspring!

Primary - try not to worry too much about the weight loss/gain. There will be good weeks and bad weeks. It's a difficult thing to do when there's so much going on. You should just feel proud of the good weeks when you achieve them.

Becks - sorry re period. Well done re the weight loss. A good week!
Gosh, poor little Ben with his croup. Glad he's still smiling. Your last line made me warm and fuzzy inside.

DH has been out last night and tonight, and will be out again on Monday and Tuesday nights. To be fair, 3 of the 4 are for work. But I find the evenings long and painful, so next week I'll stay with my parents Monday to Wednesday. Looking forward to some me-time while my lovely mother dotes over J. She's also coming here to babysit tomorrow night so DH and I can go out together. What a star.

Gosh, another epic. Hope you all have a lovely weekend. Night night 😴

Hello ladies, I fell off the thread long ago but I still regularly check to see how the other July babies and their mummies are getting on. I've just seen the July babies 2017 thread has started today, it's made me feel very nostalgic about getting my bfp and I read through our very first July 2016 thread...there were so many of us on the thread! Where has that 12 months gone? I can't believe our little beans are 3 and 4 month + babies!

It would be lovely if there are any other ladies from the original thread still lurking if they could pop in with an update?

Lurkers reveal yourselves!!

Here's my little guy Harry, he's now 16 weeks and very vocal. He loves his play gym and jumperoo and loves a splash in the bath. He sleeps 7pm-7am at night but has very little sleep during the day, 2 hours max! His colic is now a distant nightmare following his tongue tie snip, he's a very happy little boy and is full of smiles and giggles... must of the time!

(Formerly HopesAndDreams15)

Hey Hopes / Jammie! Nice to hear from you! Actually I was just glancing through the stats the other day and wondered what had happened to you! There are still quite a few people here from the original thread but some only manage to pop in occasionally, and some have migrated to Facebook.
My little one is Jasper, he reached the ripe old age of 100 days today (Saturday), and he's super-cute and hilarious. I had a very tough time the first few weeks after he was born but am well now, and am really enjoying getting to know him.

Indians - I should've been clearer that that is the theory! The practice is very different! And yes, lots of time snuggled up pretending to feed but in fact sleeping

Hello!

Sorry I've not posted the last few days. Some days I get nothing done with my two little ones!

hopes/artful lovely to hear from you. Sounds like you're doing so well. Very jealous of the sleep! Be lovely to hear from others. I think everyone else is on FB but I'm terrible at it and like the longer posts here.

blue I don't even have anxiety issues but I do regularly get really upset over the state of my house. However I've come to accept I just can't keep it how I want. Especially with a one year old! Whilst I'm cleaning one room she's messing up another. It's a great idea to get someone over for a couple of hours so you can do some bits. That's what I do!

Re sleep training Im so crap with letting mine cry that I don't really do it. I don't mind having Grace with us in the evening as it's her time with us when DD1 is in bed. She still feeds loads though and won't be put down still so I think until She's on solids and a bit more independent it will stay that way! There is loads of advice online but I wouldn't let them cry too long at this age as it can actually have the opposite affect and make them More clingy apparently! I know it's so hard as they're so full on but they grow up so so quickly so just try enjoy the cuddles.

My diet has been awful last few days. Booked to go to Spain beg of April so that's my motivation now. I'm 12 weeks post birth next week so going to try find time to do some exercise to get toned!

primary what? Fingers in the mouth??? How odd!!!

becks poor Ben. Is he any better? Grace has Another cold so is feeding little and often and being sick a bit! I'm using the sterimar nose spray. It's amazing to help them breathe. Highly recommend, especially at night when it gets annoying for her!

indians forgot to say Love famous Hallie. She's so adorable.

Anyway still doing lots of feeds? Grace feeds every 2/3 hours still day and night. So many babies on here seem to be sleeping so well! Grace is quite big I guess.. about to move into 6-9 month sleepsuits as she's so long!! I'm hoping it improves with solids in a few months. I'll then start to swap BF with bottles as I'd like to stop feeding by 9 months. I've been pregnant or feeding for 2.5 half years now bar one month and I'd like my body back!

Off to visit my mums resting place tomorrow to plant loads of bulbs. She's at this gorgeous meadow type place. I think I'll have a good cry as first time we're taking The girls there. Then got MIL over for Sunday lunch. DH is going to take girls out for an hour as I've had two ten mins and one thirty min break on my own without girls. All of these were to go to the shop! So with my free hour I'm going to potter around as I wish!!

Here's my little miss 11 + 5

hello, have managed to fall off the thread again!
Just had a catch up..

We are 14 weeks today here!

Primary really sorry about your DH, must be very stressful. How is he coping?

We have another cold here too, it is a full family affair this time and I have been feeling awful (and sorry for myself) this week.

We had a wedding yesterday and Raffy was borderline angelic (despite pooing spectacularly loudly through the vows causing all my friends to try and not laugh loudly) DH then had to sneak him out to change him at an opportune choir moment to spare everyone the smell ha

I am doing awful on the diet, too much cake but other than the odd bit of cake we eat fairly healthy but I am doing better on the exercise front. Just doing HITT sessions at home from you tube which have been working pretty well. Gutted at how unfit I have become. No babies in my gym so going to try and just do home stuff until I can justify my membership (prob post maternity) Aiming for 3 or 4 sessions a week. Raffy loves to watch me prance around and has some excellent bouncy chair time. I am doing the 20 minute ones for now but I may try and combine with a evening 20 minute run twice a week as well if I can fit it in with DH and DD and it not being pitch black!!

We haven't done any sleep training yet, Raff stays with us in the evening asleep (normally on me) or gets handed to DH sleeping for cuddles! I have contemplated buying some monitors but still enjoying having him so small. My daughter was routine from 6 months on and has always been mostly brilliant at sleeping etc so we will probably aim for then. I think having a much older DD has given me perspective on how short all these periods are so trying to make the most of him being wee and remember more as thinking back last time was such a blur!

Indians I love Hallie's fans so funny will be a brilliant photo to show her in years to come

Yes Anna we are still doing allll the feeding, I went on a hen weekend last weekend and really noticed how much we still feed compared to the other bubba who granted was about 5 weeks older but still! We haven't done any more than 4 hours at night (actually once injection filled did 4.5)
Last night was one of our better nights asleep at 10/10.30 fed around 2.30/3 then again at nearly 6 and then snoozed and fed until awake at 8
I am loving the dropping of the midnight feed though. But some nights we are still doing 10/12/3/5 etc
We decided to give one bottle of formula brought all the stuff and still haven't got around to it! Too easy to just stick him on the boob but we should really.. Maybe this evening. We have also pretty much outgrown 3-6 in some brands, I tried to measure Raff with a tape measure and he was 68cm so I guess thats why!
Enjoy your free hour - I am hiding upstairs at the moment catching up on a few bits and bobs

Has anyone thought about highchairs?? I am going to start giving solids from 4.5/5 months I think if R keeps growing and feeding the way he is. I spoke to a HV and she can't say it is ok because of guidelines but she didn't protest!
Has anyone with older DD invested in one of the more expensive wooden ones? The Tripp Trapp? We have an opportunity to buy one second hand which has been barely out the box but still a fairly big investment!!

Re housework, I have put a 15 minute clean in my bullet journal habit tracker blue. This has helped hugely ( I don't count cooking or washing dishes in this) and just 15 focused minutes and my beloved cordless dyson have stopped us descending into complete filth ;) (my bathroom however is in need of a deep clean - this is a gift to DH from me)

Happy Sunday everyone, we are off out for a carvery as my best friend is moving to canada for two years (sob) so saying goodbye.

bluebell Annie's baby crack is David Attenborough, she's mesmerised!

julf indians we were meant to be getting married next summer but TBH don't think it will happen what with dp's head, maternity, no money etc etc. We want a fairly low key do but all the stress of feuding families is putting me off hugely! What's your venue like Indians? We are thinking registry office then booking a pub or something for a bit of a boogie.

julf I was a live in nanny for them when I was 18 so just over 5 years ago now, thank the gods I no longer work for them! They went through 13 au pairs in 2 years because the poor girls just kept running away as they treated us so badly. They laughingly told me about the previous French au pair and how they used to hide the keyboard and her passport so she couldn't book flights home once they knew she was trying to leave bastards

art hi! What a lovely fella little harry is :) what a great sleeper!

julf (again!) we haven't done any sleep training whatsoever. Annie is with us all evening until I go to bed - I am surgically attached to her lol. She sleeps in her little rocking chair and is generally transferred to the crib at night without waking - bonus! So we do still get evenings together really. I find trying to establish any kind of routine or controlled crying etc really stressful so I just don't bother - we'll get there eventually (though I am a touch worried that I might be creating bad habits)

anna around 12 weeks feeding seemed to calm down LOTS. Now we go from around 9/10pm - 4/5am during the night and during the day its a mini cluster feed in the morning then a couple of afternoon feeds then a mini cluster feed from 6-9ish. I'm fairly sure the late morning and the evening feeds are just sleepy comfort nursing though rather than her being hungry - she's still not taking a dummy. We don't have any routine though, this just seems to be her natural rhythms.
I hope you had a lovely time at your mums resting place and that shopping went well I do find a good cry therapuetic every now and then!

rolly what a good boy raffy is! We've got a wedding next weekend, hope Annie behaves! No idea about high chairs, I'm scouring gum tree trying to find a non fabric one as everyone tells me they hide mouldy food in the seams I think wood would be a good choice. DP is doing okish, he's just really worried :(

Just trying to catch up after a weekend away. Dd was good for most of it. She slept for the majority of the car journey (about three and a bit hours each way). We stopped about two hours in each time and carried her into the services for a break from her car seat. We had a bit of an incident on the way back though. As we were about to leave the services dd did a huge poo which somehow defied gravity and escaped out of the top of her nappy. I didn't realise it was on her vest so took it off over her head to put a sleepsuit on ready for bed when we got back. We then had poo on her, the vest, her cardi, a muslin and our changing bag. It was so far up her back it reached her shoulder. I'm so glad that dh had come with me to change her. It was definitely a two man operation. She was then sick all over her sleepsuit as I fastened her into the car seat so we had to change that on the passenger seat too. Definitely our least successful stop yet!

julfin we're in a good sleep routine at night but don't class what we did as strict sleep training. Some time between 7 and 8 usually we put M in her sleeping bag and feed her in the nursery. She usually falls asleep while feeding. It's then a whispered story (even though she's asleep) and then into the crib in our room. If she's still awake then we wait for her to fall asleep before putting her in the crib. If she wakes when we put her in then we stay with her until she falls asleep and pick her up if she cries. She's always been pretty good at sleeping at night. I can count on one hand how often she's been up three times at night since she was born. We were having to wake her a lot for feeds due to weight issues. The sleeping routine started at eight weeks. The first night it took hours because she woke and cried when we put her down. We just kept soothing her and cuddling her until she fell asleep and if she woke after we came downstairs then we'd go straight up - no controlled crying. She was much better the following night. Now it either takes ten minutes because she's tired or an hour because she's wide awake. Daytime sleeping is still all over the shop and always on me/in the pram/in the car.

Welcome back jammie. I was a bit late to the party so wasn't on the original thread. I will be next time though - this has been great! One year ago today dd was conceived. How much has changed...

primary I have to admit I do fingers in the mouth. It started when dd began licking and sucking my hand. I would be really angry if someone else did it though. How do I know that their hands are clean?

anna I hope visiting your mum's resting place was a soothing and peaceful time. It sounds like a beautiful place for your family to go to and remember your mum.

rolly loving the wedding story! Hope you enjoyed though. We haven't even started to think about high chairs! We'll have to at some point but dd seems nowhere near ready for sitting up in something like that. Probably wanting to keep her little is making me procrastinate about it too.

bluebell housework here is in desperate need of doing. It's getting to me now but I never seem to have time to do it. Once dd goes to bed I can't hoover or do the bathroom without waking her. I'm usually sorting out tea and sterilising bottles anyway.

I do put my finger in Ben's m mouth usually wrapped in a muslin so he can really bite down on it. He's definitely teething and sometimes it's the only thing that will settle him. I don't think I'd want anyone else doing it though.

His cough seems to be getting better but he's still a bit snotty and wheezy.

It's half term here so DD is off so is DH so looking forward to some proper family time. I also have a work night out on thurs where one of the ladies is doing a curry night, she's is Indian so it's going to be amazing!!!! Then on sat I have a friends 40th birthday party. It'll be the first time of leaving Ben with my parents but I'm sure they will be fine.

Here's to a lovely week for everyone

Thanks ladies. Harry does sleep like a log at night but he sleeps very little in the day. He only had two half hour naps today between 7.15am and 6.45pm...it's been a looooong day. I guess you really can't have it all.

julf yeah I can't remember if I really said on here about what went on in hospital, but I had a meltdown on day 3 because I just felt that I couldn't keep myself / Ruben sufficiently clean. The worst bit for me was going to the loo - I was so wobbly on my feet after the section, and the toilets near my ward were tiny with medical waste bins jammed in so that you had to edge really carefully past them to avoid your gown / nightie brushing them, and then I was struggling with those whopping maternity pads not to let the pad / knickers brush against the toilet when I sat down, and once I saw someone else's blood on the toilet that was it, I was having a full on nightmare! They ended up putting me in a private room because I couldn't stop crying. I felt like a massive brat. But, I also felt a shitload better for being in a private room with my very own bathroom. So, hey ho.

Pilates was at home with YouTube - I'm going to try and make it part of my daily routine from this week onwards. I'm not managing to go to the gym at all - trying not to think about how much the membership is costing me, agh! I don't want to cancel because the fact that I'm haemorrhaging money might make me go back faster... Maybe?!

Thanks SO much for the sleep training details. I'm going to to nick your routine and have a go! Ruben was more unsettled than usual last night - he woke up and cried (a lot) twice. The first time I waited outside the door until I heard him settle and start sucking his thumb. The second time he went ballistic so ended up falling asleep snuggled on his daddy! We will get there eventually, I'm sure. On the plus side, he slept through till 6.30 so it's not all difficult!

Apparently you can only backdate child benefit to three months (we will have missed out on some of ours) so ladies, if you haven't done it yet, chop chop!

Haha I love that Tabby McTat video! It is a lovely book. My DH comes in for story time because he loves to hear it too! I've already got it pretty much memorised which is handy for not having to read in the dark...! I am going to have to get a stock up of good bedtime poems I think - it's the rhythm that is so soothing!

It must be so hard balancing wanting to go back to your career with not wanting to miss out on baby moments. I am lucky that what I want to do can be done from home. But I do sometimes wish I had a career that i felt a bit more passionate about. Maybe if the writing takes off...

Glad your mum is going to help out this week. Hope it refreshes you!

Artful hello again! Loooovely photo!

Anna thanks for solidarity on the house cleaning stuff! Yeah I think I am going to have to book in people regularly to come and cuddle Ruben while I clean... I have various family members and friends who would be happy to do so once in a while so that should help keep on top of things! My DH astounded me today... He asked me what on earth I was going to clean while MIL was here because he feels we did it all last week! I was like... Um... Everything?! Floors, fridge, shower, sinks, hoovering, sorting cupboards - I mean it would be easier to ask me what didn't need cleaning!

Your mum's meadow sounds lovely. I think that's the sort of place I would like to end up. Hope you had a good visit there today.

MrsR sounds like you're doing really well on the exercise front. I need to be more disciplined about scheduling sessions in for myself. How old is your DD? I hadn't realised she was much older? The 15 minute clean in the bullet journal is a great idea - will nab that, thank you! Achievable - and it is amazing what can be done in 15 minutes.

I think I'm going to go for the IKEA high chair.

primary you've got a budding natural scientist then!

tams that poo sounds immense! I am not envious! Yes the housework is just... I don't know. It feels like I'm climbing a glass mountain and every time I make a little headway I slide back down again!

I went for a super walk in the woods today with Ruben and a friend. We did 3 miles in the rain. Poor Ruben was in a sling and his little face was so cold! But he didn't seem too unhappy - he just snoozed. I had to keep wiping the rain off his face with my jumper cuff.

Had a smear test today and it sucked. I have never been bothered by them previously, but I found this one uncomfortable and to my complete mortification I started crying!!!! I can only think that it took me back to the panic I was feeling when I last had a speculum, which was during labour when they had to take a blood sample from Ruben's head. I'm not sure why else I would be weepy. The nurse questioned me loads about postnatal depression! I thought it was good she was so hot on it, but that really wasn't why I was upset. Anyway she thinks I might have thrush which might be making me more sore, and might be why the one time we had sex it was painful, so I'll get some canestan tomorrow. I'm not convinced though - I think I'd have noticed if I had thrush?

Oh yeah - and Ruben properly giggled for the first time yesterday! It was magical. He has also started holding his arms out when we go to pick him up! Awh it's so lovely to see him developing.

Bluebell I love the arms out cuddles too! And the oh it's you mommy look she gives me when I go to her in the morning. Proper little people we have on our hands now!

In good news cow and gate comfort seems to be making Sophie happier. We tried gaviscon, sma, domperidone all with no improvement. Yesterday was actually the best day with her, minimal crying, good naps, cooing lots and generally happy. And I got a few things done including eating a hot lunch! And she has slept 11-7 last night after we had a few days of wanting a night feed again - very lucky I know, fingers crossed for it to continue but I doubt it once teething kicks in. Although we do already have one tooth over here - she was born with two!

Becks poor Ben, glad the cough is improving tho.

Julf Haven't tried any sleep training yet, E normally has a feed around 7 ish and is wide awake after and happy to watch us cook and eat tea. He then tends to get grouchy after 8 ish so he has a nap in dh's arms while we watch TV then we wake him for a 10pm feed. He sleeps through until 7 or 8 am that way! I think after the clocks go back I might try putting him down after his 7 pm feed as like primary says, I'm a bit worried we will get into bad habits. Do you put j upstairs in his cot? With baby monitor?

Anna wow 6-9 sleepsuits! E is only just growing out of 0-3 so it just shows how babies vary. Hope your bulb planting for your mum went well. It'll look lovely in the spring for visiting. I've got relatives buried in a woodland type place and it's much nicer to visit than a cemetery- more like going for a woodland walk.

Mrsrolly I had a good giggle at raff pooing loudly in church! I'm gonna steal your idea of getting some hitt sessions from you tube, any good ones you recommend?

Tams your pit stop poo situation sounds like a nightmare! Always thankful for an extra pair of hands in those cases.

A quick straw poll for you all! Who irons baby clothes? I don't (but I don't iron much of my own either!) but my friend irons all her baby's sleepsuits etc. Am I in the minority with my slatternly ways? Or is she the odd one?

I hate these bloody baby jabs. My poor Benny is so sad, he keeps whimpering in his sleep and making little sad faces. At least he's got no more now until he's 1.

Sunday I certainly don't iron any baby clothes. Who's got the time?? I don't iron much to be honest. Your friend must be mad!

sophie I love the morning smiles too! Ruben blinks loads at first when I put the lamp on, and then he realises it's me and gives me a massive grin! So glad that Sophie is having a good time at the moment. It makes a big difference doesn't it?

sunday oh my GOD no, I do not iron baby clothes. They are stretchy! They don't need ironing! In fact, I would have thought that ironing would stretch sleepsuits right out of shape. Of course, I don't actually iron any of my own clothes either. Unless I have a wedding to attend. Or an interview. (About five years ago I had to go to an interview and I burned through my shirt attempting to iron it in the morning, and then reversed my grandmother's car into an earth bank and caused £300 worth of damage. I got the job though, hurrah. So then I could pay for the repair...)

becks awh no, I hope Ben feels better soon. Ruben's last lot should be next week.

MIL came round today so that I could clean the house. Ironically, Ruben slept for about four hours while she was here (he NEVER does that during the day) so I didn't actually need her. But it was nice to have the company. And I did get to go to the gym in the afternoon. Oh guys - hilarity - I attempted a sit-up. I got about three inches off the floor.

I iron everything! I'm a bit weird with it. Lovely MIL does it currently as she's worse than me! She irons tea towels I quite like pulling the board up in front of the tv with a wine and cracking through it. I know how pathetic I sound.

Thank you all. Bulb planting went well. Nieces and nephews loved it! DD1 was a bit grumpy but had a go. I ended up feeding in the car for most of it! Was a bit pleased as HATE gardening and it was freezing! Think it was a sign from mum

primary thank you! That gives me hope. Find it so tough to get out the house with such a short time in between feeds. We will get there though!

mrs rolly bless you, glad it's not just me up loads! How was the hen do? How did he take the bottle? I've got my work Xmas do in December and really want to go

Posted too soon! Twat!

Re highchairs. IKEAs is awesome! It's £13!!! I love it!

becks you're fine to put finger in mouth just not s friend! I find that strange.

blue Sod's law! You'll encounter this loads with babies. See also when they're ill and miserable crying but happy as Larry at the dr and also happy at home, horrendous at the baby group you paid £6 for!
Glad you got cleaning done. I can't wait to get stuck into mine at some point.

Both my girls are ill Grace is particularly bad tonight so think I'll go to dr tomorrow. It's so tough as both want me and I can't do it at same time. I'm not ashamed to say today has been fucking hard work and I'm excited for this illness to go!

12 weeks today!

sunday good lord I don't even own an iron! I line dry everything though so it's all pretty uncreated tbf. anna if see your ironing patheticness and raise you with an obsessive need for minute by minute weather forecast checking so the washing is planned meticulously for maximum line-drying effectiveness (including careful pegging of items depending on thickness and effective wind tunnels in the garden)

becks as Anna said it's not mum fingers in mouth it's random strangers!

bluebell art at sit-ups, I don't think I've been able to do one properly since my sporty teenage days. I have never ever managed to do a press up though ^^
I'm so jealous of the arms out! We've not had that yet. The big beaming grin when she sees me in the morning though melts my heart every day