July 2016 #3

[primarynoodle]

Hello all! Can't believe we're on thread 3! Let's kickstart with a then and now photo :)

Here's Annie at 4 months 4 days

Julf I love that photo, Jasper looks like he was born to be a champagne baby :) Also re work and staying focussed in my experience as long as they are with someone who you trust once you get into work it's business as usual and I switch into work mode. I am sure you will be fine.

Here is a 4 month photo comparison yesterday of Raff in his swinging seat, it is crazy how babies grow so much only drinking milk!!

Anna home working sounds fab, let us know how you get on with the bottle, I gave Raff some Hipp last week which he drank (for me - not so helpful) but it sent him a bit hyper he was really sleepy until he finished and then it was like someone had switched on his reserve batteries quite funny!

We went out on Saturday and mum babysat, I fed him before we left at 8.30 and then he was fine until we got back just after 11.15 ish didn't want to drink from the bottle of breastmilk I lovingly pumped him ;)
I am hoping the only taking the bottle from me is just a one off... although if I am not here I am sure he won't let himself starve. We shall see on the evening of the christmas curry!!

Here is above mentioned photo!

Blue thanks for the BLW name I am seeing the HV about it next weds so going to read up was all purees last time for me!

Hello all. So sorry not posting much. We're in midst of dreaded sleep regression and Mo is really going for it so not kept on top of keeping up. I still read all your news and so glad everyone is doing well.

julf well done for getting through such tough times and great that your DH is coming round. That is so positive, some men never do, so it's great that he and J are bonding. They're going to have so much fun together in the coming years

ruby thanks so much for 'going with flow'advi ce. I've been tearing my hair out (aside from it falling out in clumps since 16 weeks) with what to do re bottle feeding and sleep routines. Your post made me relax, so thank you x

Hello to everyone else, sorry not to be catching up properly, M not letting me put him down much today - cold plus teething, oh joy! 3 hours sleep last night so feeling a bit bonkers!!!!

Oooops missed a load! Go Jasper - starting life in style!!

rolly - wow how they grow! Raff is gorgeous!

Cute clip indians - you need to start a collection for all that lovely hair x

juflin that photo is hilarious! Love it!!!

It's gone really quiet? Are you all slagging me off behind my back on FB? how are we all doing?

A good here. Can't believe Gracie is 16 weeks! Where's time gone?! She's desperate to sit up and has started giggling with her sister. Makes my heart burst.

I did some work for my friend on Monday and really enjoyed it! I've got more to do on it but there may be more to come! I've really liked using my brain and not being 'mummy' for a while! Gracie not a fan of the bottle at all. I've just got some tommee tippee ones as my friend is watching her tomorrow so I can get my hair done. It's my first proper break from Grace so I'm very excited!

We haven't discussed weight loss for a while. I'm steadily losing a pound a week. I've got five pounds to go to get down to pre pregnancy weight but was a stone over what I'd like then! How's everyone else going?

It's almost a year ago that I got my BPF!

Still here and still love you, Anna! Been out on the razz tonight. Painting the town red. Partying like it's 1999

Oh good for you julfin how was it?

I know I'm a bit late to this. Can I join?! Had a baby boy in July. Currently having a sleep regression and he's on 0.4 centile :( worrying constantly about his weight X

Hi Anna I'm still here too. Weight loss wise I've lost 7lb in 6 weeks. Really slow but finding it difficult as DH does shifts so is often not around at dinner time and it can be difficult to cook healthy food from scratch with a 5 month old and a 3.5 yr old!!! When he is here he usually wants something different to what I'm having. I'm happy it's coming off, I've got a lot to lose (another 3.5-4) stone but I'm on my way. 1lb a week for a year us 4stone!!

In other news Ben is sick again, really chesty and snotty. Sounds like he smokes 40 a day! It's affecting his sleep so I'm nackered. DH is on leave next week so hoping for a bit more help and a bit of a rest!

Can't believe Xmas is approaching so quickly. I must get organised!!!

Still here also struggling a bit with tiredness! Although now it's time to get up and do the school run Raffy looks so cosy and very asleep!

Becks sorry Ben is poorly bless him hope he picks up soon..chesty coughs always have me.on edge as they sound so severe.

Ugh weightloss I have been eating everything in sight and done no exercise (other than walking) for about 2.5 weeks its my birthday tomorrow though so I have said to myself after that I am going to get back on with it, I always feel better after I have exercised as well!

Go Julf, I hope your night out was awesome.

Hi tired mummy welcome :) sleep regression is the pits! Although I am maintaining we weren't sleeping well enough here to regress ha ha what is the HV saying about his weight? If he is happy and healthy otherwise I would try not to worry too much. I had some great advice after a badly worded HV comment from the ladies on this thread. They all seem to grow at their own rate!

We have two broken through teeth now, was hoping for a better night but still attached to me like super glue and 4 feeds broke his heart when I put him on his cot and went to the loo. poor Dh he isn't having any comfort from anyone else at the moment!

MrsR great pics! Wow - teeth! I hope the nights improve soon. Ruben has been waking up loads for feeds recently... I cried the night before last when he woke up at 9, 10.30, 3.30 (that was a good stretch), 5.30, 6.30... I only managed to get away with fobbing him off with a dummy on the 6.30 one. However, last night we were back to just 12.30 and 4.30, which I am very much down with. Happy Birthday for tomorrow! Hope you get treated :)

becks I think that's amazing weight loss! (Says she who has lost one single lonely pound in the last three weeks, haha.) And it's better to lose it slowly, isn't it, than crash dieting? Hope Ben feels better soon.

verytired welcome, and you poor thing! Is he feeding okay?

julf yaaaay partaaaaaaay. Was it good? Did you have a hangover? To be fair if I partied like it was 1999 then it would involve no hangover, lots of pizza and sweeties, and half-a-dozen girls in their sleeping bags in someone's front room watching a video of Now and Then. (And I don't want to hear about the people on this thread who were barely even BORN in 1999, 'k? ;) )

Anna well done on the weight loss. I've managed to get down to what is allegedly 1lb above my pre-pregancy weight (according to my notes, but then I wasn't weighed at my booking-in session nekkid and I am certainly weighing myself nekkid now), but is still 4lb above where I really want to be. Some days I feel completely happy with my body and I don't care about the slightly softer bits, some days I feel a bit more self conscious. I think I am going to get an expensive haircut to make me feel lots better, ha! Hope yours goes well! Enjoy the baby-free time! Also, glad you've been able to do some work from home. Yippee!

Cheery I really bloomin' hope that Mo starts sleeping a bit more for you soon! Hugs to you my lovely.

Indians how gorgeous is Hallie?!

We're doing pretty well over this way, aside from the disturbed nights. Ru is exceptionally lovely and makes up for the night time get-ups by grinning away at me every time I go to get him out of his cot. These babies, they know how to play us, right?

Things with DH have been a bit fractious the last couple of days. I was put out because he stayed late after work for a pint and didn't tell me. I had been absolutely DESPERATE for him to get home and relieve me (honestly Beaut I don't know how you manage with DP away) and I was particularly cross that he hadn't rung me earlier to tell me to go ahead and eat without him. (He said if he'd rung me earlier, I wouldn't have let him go for a pint. Personally I think that if he knew that I'd want/need him at home, then perhaps he shouldn't have gone for a pint in the first place, ahem!) Anyway, his point was that I socialise much more than him these days and he needed to socialise too. I don't know. He does have a point, but so do I, and I don't think we'll ever agree on that one so I've just had to move on from it!

It has made me reflect though how lucky I am that I get my one or two days a week where he looks after Ruben though (aside from feeds) and I get to write / work. If it wasn't for that, I think I would be going spare, as much as I love Ruben... I obviously don't have my mum, and my dad lives abroad, so I don't get much help from anyone other than DH. I have found the rainy days this week long and difficult in particular, and I have resolved to start putting together a list of indoor places around the south-west that I can visit with Ru when the weather is shite. And I think I'm going to get myself a National Trust membership to help with that. I want to make the most of not working, and I don't want to be as bored and cabin feverish as I have been the last couple of days, so it makes sense to start having lots of adventures with Ruben. That is my plan and I think it's a good one :)

I also, in a fit of madness yesterday (and I think panic that my brain is atrophying... not even sure that's how you spell atrophying, that is how atrophied it is...) started looking up PhD opportunities nearby. Ha, ha ha. I changed my mind pretty quickly when I started thinking about what that would actually involve!

I'll catch up / reply in a bit, but I just wanted to get a quick sanity check re whether I'm right to be absolutely totally f•••ing livid about these posters that I've just seen in the hospital.

I know I'm tired and -ahem- hungover today, but I actually want to punch someone.

In case you can't read it:

BE A YUMMIER MUMMY.
Breastfeeding mothers
A) don't have to spend their money on formula milk,
B) carry less baby stuff around with them, and
C) get their figures back sooner.

Anyway, let me know your thoughts. In the meantime, I'll just be strutting around in my skintight MILF dress and patent red stilettos.

WOW!!!! I can't believe those posters. That's awful. Firstly I hate the term yummy mummy. Secondly those reasons are very superficial. The notion you save money feeding is crap. You have to buy maternity bras, the millions of coffees so you can sit down and feed, the expresser and storage bags, the biscuits!!! Nonsense. Your figure doesn't return quicker as you have huge boobs! And you eat more as you're always hungry.
To be fair I do carry less but who the fuck takes a clutch out with them with a baby? Where do you put the nappies? Plus I'm not clubbing I'm with my baby!
Outrageous!!! I wish they would realise what's needed is support particularly in those first six weeks and stop wasting money on these stupid marketing campaigns. RAGE

Anyway... I'm so glad my needy post got you all back

becks poor baby. Have you got some baby Vicks? I find it fab on the feet! And saline spray helps them clear out their nose. I hope it gets better soon. Hate this time of year.
I tell you what I'm really into for weight loss. Veg pasta! You know like courgette spaghetti etc. You can get in aldi, Tesco, m&s. I have it instead of rice with chilli or pasta with sauce. It's really tasty, low in cake, quick and a good way to eat veg! It's so hard with two little ones. I just eat biscuits a lot!!!

blue sounds like a growth spurt? I can see why you're pissed of with DH. For me it's all about expectations. If I know DH is going for a drink after work then I'm prepared for it. When he springs it on me and im not I get pissed off. I think the best way forward is to agree in advance. I think you sound like a lovely couple supporting each other. You'll find your way

rollly teeth!! Wow! Gracie is teething as is dd1. It's fun did you notice much with the teething?

Welcome very I'm sorry to hear you're having some worries. I would say if Feeds are ok, plenty of wet nappies and alert and happy baby you're ok? Feel free to talk to
Us.

Just got back from hairdresser I look like Gigi Hadid now. Gracie finally took a bottle for my friend! Phew!!!!

Happy thirsty Thursday. I'm celebrating with a gin later x

WTF is with those posters!! Anna speaks much sense when she says they should spend less money on promotion and more on bf support!

Will do a proper update tomorrow but we are having a rough week too. Sleep regression, dropped a centile at weigh in, stomach bug, and post vaccination fever too

Bluebs - I've been having similar frustrations re socialising. DH hasn't explicitly said that I spend every day socialising, so I haven't had the debate with him, but I've had it with myself in my head. As I see it, although admittedly I do quite enjoy the various baby groups/classes, I see it more as part of my parenting job, as opposed to having a social life as such. Whiling away the hours comparing notes on bowel movements with other new mummies that I've only known for a couple of months (and in many cases don't have much in common with, babies aside) is very different from going out drinking / talking sh!t with my "real" friends. So it frustrates me that DH gets to go out on the lash once a week after work whereas I don't. Last night I had a reunion with some colleagues/friends that I worked with a couple of years ago, and DH was stuck at work late, so I just took J with me for the evening. Given that J refuses to sleep in the evenings or be put down until we go to bed anyway, I figured I might as well take him with me. Well folks, we had a whale of a time! J was an absolute hit with the blokes (a couple of whom are clearly getting broody for either a second child or a grandchild), so I basically had free in-pub babysitting for much of the night while I got smashed (a bit more like the early noughties than the late 90s, yes!). Felt pretty ropey this morning (still am, actually). Luckily J was pretty tired after his big night so he slept until 1030 this morning 😀 Anyway, I figured I might just take that approach more often in future (not necessarily getting smashed (oops!), but taking J out with me for evening socials with my old/"real" friends). As Anna said, it's nice to feel like the Old Me and be able to do things the Old Me would do.
Sorry about your disrupted sleep.
Glad to hear you didn't unexpectedly whip yer kit off at your booking-in appointment 😉
Great idea re the National Trust membership. They have so many lovely places to visit, wet or dry.
Looking forward to meeting you and the gorgeous Ru next week 😊

Anna - yes I likewise miss the days when there'd be dozens of posts on here by lunchtime! There are old peeps that I miss as we've barely heard from them since July 😔
Had a lovely night out thanks, as above. It was quite nice to have some male company actually. Think I may have been a teency bit drunk when I replied to you last night!

Very exciting about your work! What sort of writing (if I may ask)? Hearing you and Bluebs talk about it has made me miss writing too. Not that my writing is anywhere near as exciting as Bluebs' (it's much drier, with fewer crimes/murders!) but I enjoy it. I think when I go back to work in Spring I'll try to get a job that involves more writing. You know where you are with words on a paper.
Good luck with the new bottles. How's your hair? Did you enjoy your You-time?
That's gorgeous re your girls giggling together!
Well done on your weight loss.
Ha ha, i agree that's there is a very high hidden cost for bf mothers, in the form of biscuits!
"low in cake" - do you mean low in calories?! HA HA HA!

Rolly - that's really reassuring re getting back into the mindset of work - thank you. I'm sure it'll be fine once I'm back. Actually, just over the last few days I've started to get quite motivated by the idea of applying for new roles.
Great work on the milk! Yes it's amazing how nice and plump and perfect it can make a baby!
Oooh, Christmas party! Hadn't thought about it but I'll miss that this year. Might need to sniff out some good carol concerts instead. Actually I'm feeling a little bit Christmassy already - we were playing carols at the weekend (in November - shocking!)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROLLY!! xx

Indians - jealous of your hair-clip collection. Make sure you play with her hair lots while she's a baby/toddler, and then she'll love having you play with her hair when she's older. Even now, for me, having my mum brush/plait my hair is pure bliss.

Cheery - so sorry re sleep regression, cold and teething. It never rains but... 😔
Yes i think DH will have lots of fun with J once he can walk/cycle etc. Thank you 😊

Very - welcome! Always nice to have new blood. Sorry to hear about the weight concerns and sleep regression. I agree with Rolly that we mustn't lose sight of the fact that all babies grow/develop at different rates and it doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong. Hope you get better sleep soon. May i ask baby boy's name?
I have a little boy called Jasper. He's been very healthy so far, aside from a wonky foot and wind problems in the early days. He's very active and chatty now - lots of fun! He's desperate to walk already! He sleeps well at night (and has daytime naps) but he absolutely refuses to go to sleep in the evenings until we do - so now we just go with the flow and enjoy our evenings with him. As for me, I suffered from very severe post-natal anxiety and confusion in the first few weeks, but have been fine since then.

Becks - poor Ben - hope he's better soon. Well done on your weight loss, despite the odds against you.

Sunday - sorry you're having a rough week. Poor little thing, with fever and bug. Sending hugs.
I mean this in a (hopefully) helpful rather than a flippant way, but my strategy for never having any concerns re J's weight is simply never to weigh him. Problem solved! He looks plump enough...

I've been suffering from very achy/stiff joints (especially knees and wrists), and pins&needles all up my arms. Went to the Dr today, who thinks i might have rheumatoid arthritis. Had some blood tests done at the hospital, so should know more in a week or so.

Still choking about those hospital posters. Will write a complaint.

Yours sincerely, Shocked of Chelsea and Westminster.

I'm here too, tired and cold (more on that later, but here!

Also still snotty, and sleep has good days and bad. After the hell of last week, H slept from 12-6.30am on Friday, which meant that I got to go to London on Saturday night (no way was I inflicting the tired wreck of me of Friday in other people)
DH and Huey survived a whole 27 hours without me, and DH even said "I see where the time goes now" Came home to a broken boiler though, so we haven't had any heating for 5 days, which has been interesting. Stayed at a friend's on Tuesday night and H cried on and off from 10.30pm to 4am, needless to say, I had an attack of the 3am despair.
We discovered a tooth on Monday! A little, razor sharp, mini tooth. Currently eating my words about hands in mouth not meaning teething and never wanting to bf with teeth!!

On the breastfeeding subject, WTF is with those posters?!? Because, you know, my biggest priories right now are having enough money to buy shoes (why red stillettos of all choices?!??), squeezing into a figure hugging dress and carrying a clutch bag. This is going to make me ANGRY.
Have just googled it - those have been around since 2010, read this:
www.creativematch.com/news/lida-creates-breastfeeding-campaign-for/98860/
How is there not a huge backlash against them?!?

Good grief, somebody pass the gin. Will return after some dinner and a deep breath.

Bloody hell julf, those posters are so patronising - they would have incensed me, too. As Ruby says, HOW have they gone for so long without creating a stir?

Crap, posted too soon. Anyway, Anna, I'm with you - BF has cost me a fortune in bras, pumping equipment, breast pads, coffees every two hours while out of the house, not to mention my Boob Guru!!! More Boob Gurus on the NHS, fewer obnoxious posters please.
Yeah I agree about it being okay when you're prepared - for example DH is out at a gig tonight which I knew about and was happy to agree to. It was unfortunate that he chose the one day I was really feeling desperate and clock-watching to be the day that he came home late!
Glad the hair went well. Is it bad that I don't know who Gigi Hadid is? Am I showing myself up by admitting that?

Sunday I hope things pick up for you soon!

Julf - yes, DH definitely sees the baby stuff as socialising when I see it as nothing like going out with my old friends without Ruben to entertain / feed / change the whole time! That said I am thoroughly looking forward to our meet up on Monday so it's not all bad ;)
Hooray for your party night! That is definitely the attitude to take. That said, Ruben wouldn't tolerate it. If he's not in bed by 7.45om he starts wailing intolerably. DH's dad got us tickets for a fiddle gig tomorrow night and he suggested we brought Ru along but there is no way I can do that - he'd be competing with the music! So we are going to take turns popping out to babysit him at a relative's house near the venue. Bit nuts but at least we all get part of a gig!
Low in cake also made me howl. Freudian slip much, Anna?!
Really sorry to hear about the joints pain. It sounds terrible. It must be really hard with hulking Jasper around too. Keep us posted.

Ruby - yay for (some) good sleep, and yay for DH getting an insight into the time-sucking world of baby-rearing. Boo to the boiler though. Are you still planning to come to the meet-up on Monday? Would be lovely to see you.

Well ladies, I am not far from beddy byes. I'm in a rented apartment tonight while DH and the crew all go out to a friend's gig in the city. I had been planning to stay home-home with Ru but then our friend pointed out that we may as well come to the apartment and have a nice evening with everyone before they went out. I have been supplied with chocolate and prosecco and I feel terribly relaxed. So relaxed that I'm about to nod off! Xx

Ruby - boo to snottiness and broken boiler. And Ouch to the razor tooth!
Very interesting link - thank you.
I chuckled re "I see where the time goes"!

Bluebs - despite J thoroughly enjoying his night out, the downside is that he was wide awake tonight until about 1am (as opposed to his normal 11pm!). So now he's finally asleep and of course I'm wide awake. TBH that's also partly because I'm annoyed because DH is being a dick (again). Seriously, about that commune...
Thank you for your sympathy re the sore joints (it was nice to get some, huff). It's not really awful, it just doesn't help, especially when I'm having to carry J around all the time. I really need to get back into using a sling again when I'm doing stuff around the house.
A "fiddle gig"?! Phnar phnar
Your evening sounds blissful! Enjoy it! (Right now, I can't imagine anything more appealing than chocolate, prosecco, baby, and no husband.)

Bwaha, I tried to think of another way to phrase 'fiddle gig' but I was too sleepy and gave up!

Definitely use a sling if you can. I am really lazy about using mine because I think it's a faff to put on, but really I should do because it only takes me a minute to get it on and my back has started hurting a little bit from always carrying him on one side. I just can't carry him on my left! Which is annoying as I am right handed and it means I can't do much when I'm carrying him! I really hope the doctor can help you out.

Sorry DH is being a knobber. They just take it in turns don't they? I made mine agree yesterday that we have to be nice to each other because I am so scared that Ruben will pick up on the nasty tones of voice! We will see if we can stick to it...!

Yep it was a good evening thanks, although I did mostly spend it sleeping! It was nice to have people to chat to (some were still up drinking) when I got up for the 3am feed too! Xx

becks Poor Ben, hope he perks up quickly.

Primary have you tried feeding with the sippy cup? I'm thinking of trying E with one as he keeps attempting to feed himself with the bottle. Our feeding times have become a bit of a battle! Ooh and how did your bauble go?

Mrsrolly Wow, I knew childcare was expensive but £100 a day is just...wow. Lovely comparison pic of raff, he looks like he's gonna outgrow the bouncer v soon! Teeth too! I wish time would slow down now they're growing up too fast.

"Bluebell I have begun the process of making our home baby-friendly (note I don't say baby proof!). As long as one room is safe for him to explore I'm happy. I think we'll go for a combination of purées and blw like cookies* describes to begin with but I'm keen to get him eating the same as us early on. I think I'll probably mush things up a bit at first but offer finger food also. That way he's practising feeding himself but I can make sure he's actually getting something into his belly too. I'm really looking forward to seeing him try different foods. Hoping he'll follow my food preferences rather than DHs who thinks Marmite and ketchup are devil's food! I can understand how some days you are desperate for relief when DH gets home.

Anna I'm still doing my weigh in although I'm doubting the accuracy of my ancient analogue scales as this morning I have weighed myself twice and there was 6lb difference! So obviously I'm going with the lower of the two measurements which also puts me at 5lb short of my pre pregnancy weight. I'd be really happy with 1lb off each week, it's good to lose it steadily as it's more likely to stay off apparently. Had to google Gigi hadid (does that make you feel better bluebs) like the natural looking waves, wish mine did that.

Very tired mummy welcome to the thread. What did he weigh at birth? If he's always been at that centile I wouldn't worry but I would have thought the HVs will be keeping a close eye if he's dropped a lot.

Julfin Haha at your drunk posting!! Free in pub babysitting is fab. Although I once looked after my friends one yr old after a heavy night at their house warming and I swore I'd never do hungover with a baby again! I'm not massively worried about his weight as I know it's because he's dropped a feed so I've increased the volume now. I hope you don't have RA in your joints, perhaps it's a funny post natal hormone thing. Knees and wrists is an odd place to experience RA, it's usually fingers and toes firstly.

Ruby so glad your DH now appreciates all you do now! What a pain in the arse about the boiler. And another July baby with a tooth!

Was having a bad day yesterday but feeling more positive today. I think E has been waking for feeds in the night because he was dehydrated from the stomach bug rather than the dreaded sleep regression so now that the bug has gone I'm hoping his normal sleep will resume. Amazing how they just 'know' what they need.

Can I ask your opinions/experiences with dummies? He's getting too heavy to rock to sleep and I'm thinking of trying one for daytime naps. Am I mad to think of introducing one now? I know dummies can be a love/hate issue.

Regarding those bf posters, I'm all for encouraging bf especially in young mums but I think most people have heard the 'breast is best' message by now. I doubt the endless posters and leaflets will change a woman's mind if she has decided to ff. All the formula feeding mums l have met ALL wanted but failed to bf. Perhaps we are just not the target audience? I'd be interested to know if these campaigns have had any actual affect on bf rates.

Hi guys sorry I've not been about - sleep regression/horrid cold/xmas stuff.. still waiting for dp's MRI scan results too :(

very hi and welcome! I'm sure your being closely monitored and all will be ok - are you bf or ff?

weight loss am now 10.1! Just one more pound to go before it all goes back on at xmas well done everyone else!

anna my mum is getting me a haircut for xmas.. I'm so excited!! I had mine cut at 20 weeks preg to my shoulders and it's already nearly back at my bum grr I have crazy growing hair!

julf that's the way to socialise! Did you have fun at the meet up? I wish there was enough interest for a Nottingham one!

bluebell that's another great way to do the socialising! How's the book going?

sunday my opinion on dummies - I bloody wish dd would take them! I have for the last 2 days been bathing Annie then feeding to sleep upstairs with quite loud white noise with success! She kept waking up when I went to bed and was restless all evening but has been sleeping really well upstairs, I literally sit with the monitor glued to my ear though lol!
Not tried the cup yet but tip - nuby one is crap and leaky according to everyone I know who had one, the cheap Tommie tippee free flow ones seem to work best!

Annie is now fairly steady at sitting up and can sit unaided for a minute or two, not rolling yet but very nearly can do back to front - she seems to have missed the memo about going front to back first!

Sorry I've missed loads of people and updates, I've been lurking but not had the energy to post! Hope all of you and your babies are doing well :)

Sorry I’ve been AWOL. That might make this a mammoth post as I try to catch up. Having said on the second post of this thread that I’d reply to everyone after my MIL’s visit, I somehow dropped off the thread and now I have five pages to go through to find out what’s been going on! I’m sorry if I miss anyone.

anna loving the biscuit diaries! They’re making me want to raid my stash of poorly hidden dark chocolate digestives…

Grace is rolling already? She’s one of the youngest too! M was four months old this week and rolled from back to side for the first time last weekend.

bluebell I’m slightly envious of the bullet journal. My sister has started one too and keeps sending me pictures of hers. I don’t think I’d realistically devote the time it deserves at the moment though so that’s one to save for when children are older and I have more time clearly never going to happen. Dorset sounds lovely but probably feels a long time ago for you now.

You actually made me snort while trying to suppress laughter at the pooy willy grabbing story.

cookies I hope the weight is less of a concern for you now. If it’s any help, I know a few bf babies in RL who have dropped multiple centiles. They all look healthy and are behaving like normal four month olds. The parents in a couple of cases are quite slim so it’s been suggested to one of them that the baby is just following their build. I’m finding my ff baby is also concentrating less for feedings and gets distracted. She has dropped at least a bottle a day because she is too busy looking around to eat. We’ve got a perfect prep machine that my MIL bought in a sale before M was born. I was not impressed because I intended to bf so wouldn’t need one. Given that bf didn’t work out for us, it’s actually been a godsend. So much quicker than boiling a kettle even. I’d say it probably depends on when you want to use it and how often you think you’ll give bottles. That said, if we’d done what I wanted we wouldn’t have one and would no doubt be perfectly happy using a kettle and a tap to make bottles.

becks that’s impressive movement! Hope you’ve avoided carpet burns though. I feel like M is desperate to crawl – her legs are all over the place when she’s doing tummy time but she can’t get up on her knees and still isn’t strong enough to keep her chest up while she tries to move her legs. Just worked my way further through and oh my word to the planking! Seriously impressive.

primary a friend said to me the other week that ‘chunky’ is only a compliment for a very short space of time so I should make the most of it. I keep trying to remember that when I see my chunky girl next to all these dainty little things. Their build now won’t necessarily be their build as they get older either. At the moment, if Annie is happy then that’s what’s important.

Why did the hv tell you to bin all the bottles in favour of cups? Is it a bf thing?

Sorry to hear you’re still waiting for MRI results.

julfin I think you’ve just shown me my new favourite word – omnishambles. I’m definitely going to find another excuse to use that soon. In reality, I’ll probably forget in about three minutes. My short term memory is appalling now. On the biscuit front, I love a fig roll. They might have to be my next sneaky biscuit purchase.

Yes yes yes to ff groups. There’s bugger all support so it’s a case of winging it every time. When to increase the number of ounces, what milk is appropriate/unnecessary, when to move up teat sizes… Not even going to start on those posters. I shared my complete disgust and upset about them on faceache.

sock Poor Adam. I hope he’s feeling better after his mammoth poos and everything is back to normal now.

sophie We usually manage a put down awake at night unless she’s zonked from her bottle. Naps in the day are on me though. If I put her down (awake or asleep) she ends up wide awake and wanting to play or cuddle.

verytired Welcome! Sorry to hear about the sleep and weight concerns. Lovely group of ladies here though who always have a good word to say or advice to offer.