March 2016- first birthday's coming up!

[marmiteandcheeseplease]

Thought I'd start a new thread as the old one is getting full!

I got an email too wooh! @DomesticAnarchist

@Dottydoodoo DS was a 5/5.30am riser from a very young age until about 3 weeks ago, I've finally touch wood managed to train it out of him. It involved some leaving him to grumble (I'm not a fan of full on cry it out, and I went to him if he was really crying, but stayed firm if it was just grumbling) and being very strict about not giving in and giving him milk before a reasonable hour. It took a few weeks but he has now adjusted and it's so refreshing having him sleep in until 6.30am most days! I was shocked the other day to be actually woken by my alarm! Think that was the first time it had happened since before I had DS!

I'm not speshul. I'm not getting the email and I can't work out why. 😠

Thanks so much for the suggestion , dom.. it's definitely going to be on my list of things to do... I really need it ! Generally i nap with ds during his morning 90 min nap as the older dc are in school and it's been a sanity saver !
For all the woes in my last post , I'm still glad I'm breastfeeding and glad I didn't give up in the early days when feeding was hellish with ds tongue tie, although at the time I wanted to stop and ff. Extended breastfeeding seems to get a lot of criticism and negativity but there's a joy and beauty to it you can't quite put into words and I wouldn't have it any other way . I could go on about this but I'll spare you all !
How's marmite doing ?? I bet you're lurking somewhere, probably mad busy like the rest of us !

Breastfeeding woes here too, I think related to teething and to adjusting to the childminder. S has been waking so frequently, but the last few weeks hasn't really wanted to feed, she pushes me away or just bites. Bedtime feed has largely gone, and all of our feeds have been painful and bitey, with teeth present the whole time and a huge hard chomp down while pulling off it's been slightly better this week though, so hopefully it was just tooth number 5, which has now broken through. Doesn't leave me with much hope for tooth 6 though!

S is one next Saturday, we're just going to do a little cake and tea party with the grandparents. They've got her a play house and we've got her an ikea kitchen, she won't love them straight away but I think a first birthday is a good chance to get the things you really want for them, even if you end up not using it for 6 months. Have also got her a couple of the babylit books, homer's odyssey and jabberwocky, which I can't wait to read her!

I don't know how to do the @ thing!!

me we have had another 5.30am start this morning . I woke up to a noise and saw on the monitor DS sitting up looking super pleased with himself! He isn't upset when he wakes up he just lays there babbling and kicking the ends of his cot. That's good to hear that you have solved the problem, I'm really hoping that I can do the same. I shall persevere! I have to get up for work at 5.30, it just seems a bit much to have to do it on a non work day too. I think he is possibly overtired, naps seem to have been pretty rubbish over the last week or so, but we can't seem to break the cycle..........

swear our babies share a birthday, DS is one next Saturday too! S sounds like she has got some lovely gifts. We have got DS a whizzy world?! set from early learning centre which can be added to, track and cars and stuff. I think my parents may have got him a smart trike but I'm not sure!

DS has learnt to shake his head when he doesn't want or want to do something. It's so funny! God help me for when he's a toddler if he's doing this already!

@Swearwolf - I had a hellish month of exactly that kind of bitey crap while the lateral incisors (5-8) were cutting, and it stopped once they were through. We're on to molar teething now, ridges under the gum, but bf is back to normal.

T actually had a great night, bf at 2 then back in her cot, brief moan at 4:45, ignored, and then in with me for morning bf at 5:45. She would have gone back to sleep then if the cat hadn't accidentally set off the auto play on the electronic piano keyboard downstairs at top volume!!

Dottydoo- do you recommmend the whizz world ? It looks lovely , wondering if it's sturdy enough for a very destructive toddler?

Hey everyone - I haven't posted in months! DS turns 1 on Tuesday. We're planning a trip to the zoo and then cake at home, and also having a little party next weekend. He is changing so much every day, he isn't walking yet but I don't think he's too far off. I've just gone back to work and he is doing really well at nursery so far, despite severe separation anxiety. We are also still bf, he isn't bothered about milk when he's away from me, but he's a boob monster when we're together.

OMG DS slept until 7.20 this morning !! He was awake at 4.30 just lying there quietly playing with his hands, and then he just rolled over and went back to sleep. I on the other hand could not get back to sleep........ Hey ho!!

sherazade I'll let you know next weekend, it's for DS's birthday so it's not been opened yet! It does look lovely though, I couldn't choose between that and the toot toot stuff, but thought the whizz world looked nicer. We have got the rescue centre which was reduced from £50 to £30 in mothercare and the digger. If it's a success I will probably get him the garage too.

Just remembered a tip for toddler birthdays: before you wrap it, take everything out of the box, take out all those annoying clips and wires, put the batteries in, tuck it back in the box and wrap it up. Then there's no wailing while you wrestle with the packaging and hunt for batteries.

Took us till DS1 was about 3 to realise that.

Yay for the lie in Dotty!

That's such a good tip Dom! Thanks, will remember that for next Christmas/birthday.

We bought DS his first shoes today 😍 He isn't quite walking yet but he's not far off and we need something for when we go out - yesterday we went to the park and he wanted to get out of his pushchair and cruise around, cue socks getting absolutely filthy and wet. So got him a pair of cruisers from Clarks, he was very unsure about them bless him, refused to take a step at all in them for ages!

He also had another first today ... his first McDonald's DH and I really fancied one so despite feeling like a terrible mother we ordered DS a happy meal - he had fish fingers, a packet of apple slices and grapes and a bottle of water! Happy meals have come on since my day ... I did let him have a couple of my chips too, I'm not a total meanie!

Hello! Happy birthday to all the little ones I have missed turning 1 hope you are all enjoying the cake! I had an experiment with our oven on Friday as I haven't baked a cake since I moved -or like forever before that too- the birthday cake may be a little hit and miss

Dom glad DS is feeling better, and thanks for the tip on the presents - I will check everything in the toot toot box isn't too attached down - although I know the damn thing has batteries from the number of times I have set it off just breathing near it in the same room

Just finished filling in my request to part time hours, having come back full time I have been having a bit of a think about dropping a day - I didn't work Tuesdays in January and really enjoyed a weekday off with R so I have decided to go for it... Otherwise I was scared of her getting to 10 and me regretting that I didn't spend more time with her... I know I am very fortunate to be in a position to do this. I've been feeling a bit weird coming up to her first birthday that its all whizzing past very quickly?...

Me I need to go shoe shopping - we have a pair of size 4 pumps/trainers I got ages ago but she just started walking by herself this weekend (and wants to be walking between us and out the buggy all the time it's very slow going anywhere) so I think its time for some proper shoes..

@Me624 ah first shoes which did you get? I bought the brown and blue cruisers simply because they have one strap rather than two and therefore quicker to put on! A bit annoyed with clarks for having a lovely,bright and colourful range for girls and a really dull range for boys :(
It took a few days for ds to agree to walk in them though . He kept trying to take them off and was all wobbly at first !

@sherazade we went for the grey two strap ones with a little train on them. I know what you mean, they only had three options in DS's size, the grey ones, a blue pair and navy blue doodles! But tons of options for girls. I liked the doodles actually and will probably get those for the summer - his feet will probably have grown by then. I hope they don't grow too quick at £26 a pair!

Me not sure if you are near any outlets that have a clarks outlet but I have been to Gunwharf with my nephew and they do all the same measurements etc as in the normal stores and seem to remember picking him up a pair of Doodles for about £10 and a pair of shoes in the end of the sale for about £6.. although we were there anyway (when I could afford a handbag habit..) not sure it would be worth a special trip in case they had nothing but slightly less galling when they then grow out of them straight away..

@Me624 I liked the train ones but went for the single strap instead as ds is a nightmare to pin down . I like the doodles too they look much more fun, can't wait for ds to be in shorts and sandals. It's been so miserable and grey at the moment.. anything that reminds me of summer is so appealing .
Ds birthday today. Has a meltdown as wanted to touch the candle on his cake , of course !

Well we obviously knew what we were doing buying DS his shoes at the weekend because today he started walking properly! He's been taking the odd step for a few weeks and walking if he holds onto someone's hand but was pretty reluctant to try it out properly ... then today it's like something clicked and off he went! Charging up and down our living room, swaying as if slightly drunk! I'm so proud. Does this mean I officially have a toddler now instead of a baby?!?!

Wow!! You must be very proud me!! We don't even have a crawler yet let alone a walker... DS just rolls everywhere bless him, I guess he will do it in his own time. I am rather sad though as I'm currently sorting through and packing up all of DS' out grown clothes ready for our move! They grow so fast where's my little baby gone!!?

Hope everyone else is getting on ok?! DS has had a horrid cough for a while now- think some of you mentioned the same, if it doesn't go soon I will take him to the doctors. 1 year jabs booked in for the end of the month. Why do I have a feeling these will be a hell of a lot worse than the new born ones!

@FirstTimeMummy25 Don't fret about the jabs! T had hers on Tuesday and has had zero reaction so far. Lots of babies are just fine or have a minimal fever that night or 10 days after. The lingering coughs are awful, though, DS is prone to them and is currently waking us every morning with his hacking.

Congrats baby me!

Thanks all, I am super proud! Although he's hardly taken a step today according to my DPs (who have him today). Very much a work in progress!

I've just booked DS's jabs too First, although our surgery is so busy they're not happening for another month. Did your DS react badly to the 2/3/4 month ones? Mine didn't seem too bothered by them so hoping he'll take these ones in his stride too. Has your DS started nursery, I can't remember. Mine has been in nursery for 2 months and he has just about got over the lingering cough he has had for that entire time. Like your DS MShip he was waking us up every single night for prolonged coughing fits. I did take him to the doctor after six weeks but they said it wasn't on his chest, was just viral and nothing we could do but wait it out! You have my sympathies though

Afternoon all.

We've had the jab letter. I need to actually make the appointment.

DS2 seems to have made two transitions this week: Firstly to his Big Cot in DS1's room (had two full nights in there now. I'm not quite ready to ditch the Snuzpod yet). And secondly, I think we've finished breastfeeding. He flat refused on Wednesday night. And hasn't seemed bothered since.

So it's the end of an era. No more baby snuggles and no more BFs. I had hoped to feed longer but he's just not into it. I have spent just under 3 years of my life breastfeeding though, and it's one of very few things I've actually been Good at! Quite proud of the 'fried-eggs-on-an-ironing-board'!

But I get my bed back! And we can go away for the night!

Hope everyone and the babies are well.

Congratulations on getting DS2 into his big cot @DomesticAnarchist! It's a major step.

I'm finally getting T to sleep in her cot more instead of suctioned onto my boobs all night. The last three nights she's stayed in till 3:30, 5:30, and 3:30 again, although two of those nights I did feed her around 11pm and got her back in her cot again. My back is sooooo grateful.

I jinxed it. Today he woke up at 3am. Eventually got him back to sleep at 4:30. For half an hour. The Joy.

It was DS's birthday yesterday! He had an absolutely lovely day and got some beautiful presents. We had a party at home for family, I think DS found it a bit overwhelming having so many people in the house and got a bit shy. He couldn't concentrate on opening his presents as there was too much going on!

Dom and mship congratulations on getting babies into their cots. Fingers crossed for not too many nights like yesterday's Dom.

I am back at work properly as of tomorrow I have been back for two weeks but only doing one shift a week as I had annual leave to use up. My shift pattern is two shifts a week so I'm really lucky that I get so much time with DS, but I just wish the days weren't quite so long. DS is still asleep when I leave, and by the time I get home he has gone to bed so I don't see him all day. He has a whale of a time with daddy, it's just me! I have to do a night shift on Wednesday and am really dreading it. My body seems to be set to wake up at 6am and by the time it's 10pm I'm ready for bed, goodness knows how I am going to function staying up all night. Help!!