Jan '07 part 11: How clean is your thread? Coz EaH'll come clean, bag and give you laminated labels for it!!

[2Happy]

The cushions are plumped, the cake is baked and RGee's cat hasn't depositied any birds in the corner: the new thread's ready to move into!

15th is fine for me for the meet-up.

smallone - my ds is 21 weeks (I think, maybe 22!) and I haven't started weaning. Am sort of planning to wait till 26wks but might start a couple of weeks earlier if I get round to it or he seems really interested. He's just started to look interested in people eating, so will wait and see what happens over the next couple of weeks. I don't think there's any hurry to get as many different types of food into them, but if you wait till 6 months to start then you're less restricted on what you can give them. For the first year milk is supposed to be the main source of calories, so even if you wait till 6months you've got another 6 months to introduce a good variety.

Hi all

Can do the 15th folks! But don't know if I'll come with or without Pippa as she'll have started at nursery.

Just started weaning today (24 weeks). She lapped up the carrot puree, pulling a few faces along the way. V entertaining and messy.
When I got her weighed on Wednesday, the HV seemed most surprised I hadn't weaned her yet. I hadn't started earlier just cos I've been too lazy and hadn't got a decent chair to start feeding her in (didn't fancy the lap wiggle technique!). Anyway, the HV told me to start now with purees then from six months (in two weeks!) try her with more solid stuff and pretty much anything and everything! Don't think I'll have progressed that much in a fortnight given she'll have carrot for three days, pear for three days, apple for three days...etc etc.

I started weaning at 23 weeks as LO was making a big fuss every time we sat down at the table. Basically its just one small meal a day (pureed fruit and veg) so milk is still his major food, and yes, it probably has made him sleep better at night now, although he's still wakes once and then I bring him into our bed till 7. Must say he's really taken to it though and cries when its finished. Oh, and to those of you who have given banana for the first time, a word of warning, the poo when it comes through looks like there are black worms in it which are the banana seeds. I remember being horrified the first time I saw that !

I was going to wait till 26 weeks, but as he was a month early I was advised to bring the date forward as his iron reserves were probably low ? anyway, I'm not too hung up about dates, you just have to go with your instincts and your baby. To me, being sociable and enjoying food and making mealtimes pleasurable are what is important and hopefully avoids any issues in the future .

I've just been thinking that he doesnt really roll around or sit up much, and i think thats partly because we've got wooden floors he doesnt get much practice. I think when he wakes up I'll give him some practice (competitive mum emotion).

25 weeks ago today - can't believe it.

PCF about the grave, its seems extra petty when it concerns a child though, surely no one can take exception from a small toy ? My MIL faces the similar thing with my FIL, as she cant put a headstone on for ages so she planted a lavender which she has been asked to remove so they can mow the turf !

Hi all

I'm on antibiotics again for a throat infection, I've had a sore throat for weeks and started feeling really achy a couple of days ago
so I went to the doctors and she said it was an infection.

Wilkie - hope J is feeling better soon

MrsCarrot - hope F is feeling better too hugs to both babies

PCF - Max is doing well isn't he I'd complain about that Vicar as it's just rubbish, people can put things on graves and they're never
going to be sterile anyway. Disgusting.

Hattie - hope your lo doesn't need an operation

laughalot - glad your ds enjoyed his nursery visit

Rgee - I love chubby babies

Trixy - I'm sure we had a growth spurt just before 20 weeks when Ethan fed and fed but he's back to normal now. Wasn't a sign for him that he
needed food although he has managed to nick some food off my plate already! It was a bit of brocolli but he ate it so maybe he is almost ready
as they say that's when they're ready, he's 23 weeks next week so not quite 26 weeks yet. Will see how he goes.

UD - Ethan is sitting up with minimal support for ages but totally alone only for a few minutes really. He is trying to crawl though lol. He does that rocking thing with his bum and body in the air. He's rolling and turning everywhere so have to really watch him now.

Smallone - weaning around 26 weeks. I'm going down the BLW route so not doing purees. It's nonsense that if you wait unti 26 weeks you have to rush
to get them to eat more.

The 15th should be fine for us for a meet, was a place decided on? If it was then I missed it.

Bugger just wrote a really long message and my computer lost it cant be bothered typing it all again but thanks everyone for your advice/experiences will leave it for now and let you know how I get on

smallone - my dd is 22 weeks tomorrow and I started weaning a week ago because she was sleeping 4 hours at night then waking every 1-2 hours to feed which was doing my head in. She has slept better since weaning, only waking once between 8pm and 6am usually. I give a fruit puree at brek and veg puree at tea time.

Jodie the meet was arranged for russell square which shimmer says is near kings cross and her flat plus there is a nice cafe.

Gosh i'm so excited so many of you will be coming down/up here! Shall we do a big picnic?? There is a cafe there but possibily trying to fit all of us round a load of tables with LOs, buggies etc. could be tricky? If anyone needs directions let me know.

Short post cos just off to bath Freddie. Had a really long day out with some friends from my antenatal yoga class, and am completely knackered now. It was really nice to see some more that have recently had babies though. I held a 10 week old today and he was SO tiny and light compared to Freddie the big lump!

Smallone Freddie is 23 weeks (about...i think) and we just started weaning this week. He's had 2 pots of banana & milk (and did have the wierd black spots in his poo!!) and today had pear, which he gobbled up. I think your LO will let you know when he's ready for some food. Freddie had all the classic symptoms - always hungry, started to wake up in the night, when previously he'd been sleeping though, tried to grab our food etc.

A big picnic sounds a good plan. EAH do you want to organise that and tell us all what to bring or shall we all bring whatever we fancy??

Lets hope for good weather unlike today. DH and I have just spent the evening rescuing things from our cellar. I discovered it was flooded when I took some washing down to the tumble dryer earlier on. Had to SOS some wellies from a friend. I squeezed my size 7 feet into size 5 wellies - OUCH

If we are settled on 15th is it safe to book my train ticket? Glad I hadn't booked one for 22nd in the flurry of excitement the other day!!!

I think the 15th is ok with everyone (hope so as just text dh to remind him to book day off work to look after ellie!!!) Yes Wilkie I'll be bringing Hattie so J and Hattie can have their first 'date'!!

Probably easier if we all bring our own bits for picnic (although I'll prbably go and buy mine when I reach London as it'll be less to lug onto train) luckily trainsrun every half hour from here to London Victoria so wont bother booking ticket I'll just check which train is the direct one and I'll be there in 40 minutes hurrah (mmm now a buggy and the tube does not sound a good combination so will have a look at bus routes!)

DH agreed to the sofa purchase so will go to DFS later and order them (with e and h in tow as he is at work so that'll be dfs display recked by the time ellie has been round the shop!!) going to get some postcards and make advert to sell our current sofas as they are still in good condition but cream is not the most practical colour going to stick them up in the newsagents where my mum works as its a huge council estate so should sell!!

E and H staying at my parents tonight as we are going out but they are dropping them back at 10am as its fathers day tomorrow (hope you all remembered!) then off to il's for a few hours them meeting mum,dad,brother,his g/f and son and going out for dinner yum yum

as someone who has navigated Tube with baby, i would recommend a sling for anyone going on the Tube! (or the bus works too, but i get confused with London buses!)

totally crap night here - dh and i were up four or five times EACH in the night with Z, then he woke up for good at half 7.

Hi all. Sorry, I havent had time to catch up yet, so thought I would just leap back in.

I have been trying to sort the house out for the christenimg next sun but all is chaos as always. Just looked at the long term weather forecast and there are supposed to be thunder storms!!! Dont know how we are going to fit 40 people in our tiny house if it does rain. Starting to dread it now!

Hope everyone's ok and that th ear infections are getting better Wilkie and Carrot.

ooh, only just noticed the date change, think dh has booked it off, will check if he can change it...

i've just ordered my sofas yipeeeeeeeeeeeeee and ellie found a swivel chair on display so she sat in that and behaved herself

They are delivering 2 weeks on weds so I have a 3 seater and 2 seater cream leather sofa for sale eeeek i cannot fit all these sofas in my house.

If it doesnt sell i'll give it to 'beacon' charity who collect and distribute to people such as women who have left husbands/family home and been in sheltered accom but now been rehoused but may have walked out in the middle of the night with one bag and the kids so it would be nice to think its helping someone

Very of EaH new sofas, I have a really old manky one that I've had since I was a student and I think it was 5th-hand then! The covers are starting to shrink they've been through the wash that many times! keep telling myself we'll treat ourselves to a new one when dd is old enough to be told not to dribble on it! - but by then I'll prob be thinking of a little bro or sis....aggh am I never to have nice things?

Tried dd on banana again today, I know I'd said I was gonna leave it but I couldn't help myself! Explosive poo about 30 mins later with the dreaded black bits! Think I might steer clear of the banana for a while might try apple next time!!!!

We had a 2nd hand one when we bought our 1st house and it fell apart after 6 months so we got a cheapy one from argos that we still have 7 years later (albeit in the playroom now and on its last legs but at least ellie can play out there without me constantly telling her off) the sofas we hav now are only 4.5 years old but I am so fed up of cleaning them, the stupid thing is we were trying for a baby when we bought them but we thought being leather they'd just wipe clean nobody said about the dirt that ingrains itself so you have to scrub them if I had known that we would have had chocolate brown ones (hindsight is such a great thing!!!)

Hopefully someone will find them handy. Girls are at my mum and dads now so its nice and quiet here just cleaned the house and changed bed covers etc (matalan have half price homeware sale so bought us some new bedlinen) dh due home from work soon and we'll decide what to do tonight, might go to cinema to see oceans 13 or stay home and get chinese depends on what sort of day he has had

oooh eah I too have sofa envy now. Our sofas were made by DH's dad cos he is an upholsterer so cost us next to nothing but I wish we had thought more about the design and the size. I long for a sofa I can stretch out on rather than just curl myself into.....one day

Our cellar is now pumped dry but cos water is still coming in a tiny bit they have to come back on Monday to give us de-humidifiers etc. Its one way of making us tidy out the cellar!!

Hello all
had to come and post in shock#
Chloe has 2 TEETH!!! Out of nowhere!!!!
She was a little grumpy last week but nothing like the other 2 have been[and how Hannah still is as she is getting her fangs now]..when did they grow up soo much???

ooh, Nemo, how exciting. I keep hanging LO upside down and looking for the strip of white like treasure but no sign yet!

Dh is still in bed having a lie-in, actually we haven't wrapped his stuff yet so it's a good job.

Hope you all have a nice day.

oooooo Nemo how exciting!!

Nemo congratulations to Chloe! What a clever wee girl! I can still see Z's tooth under the gum but it hasn't come through yet. he was so grumpy this morning till i gave him Ashton Kutcher powder, so think they are bugging him poor little dude.

bit better night here, only up twice. he has a feed at around 10, then wakes at 2 and 5, then usually sleeps till dh's alarm goes off at half 7. i suppose i'm lucky cause Z settles straight after a feed, it just seems to be a lot!!

what did you all do for your oh's for father's day? i forgot it was today and gave dh his pressie yesterday morning!! doh!!

anyway, hope you're all having lovely weekends!!

Hi all.
Hope you had a good weekend, and hope you've dried out!

Kat - we have wooden floors and lo has only rolled once. I'd like to think it was due to the floors, but I think it's cos she's lazy and too pudgy!

Jodie - hope the family run of ill health ends soon. Are you feeling any better?

Vino - hope your cellar is less damp than it was. Couldn't believe the amount of rain coming down on Friday. Was much damaged? Have you booked your train ticket yet? Let me know what trains you are getting and I'll invade your personal space .

Shimmer - I'll probably just get a sandwich en route like EaH. BUT hope Lizz brings some cake - that'll do me!! Does your cafe do takeway bacon butties? [lardy emoticon]

EaH - did you have a good night without the kids . Quick sofa delivery - hope you sell the old ones. I have two really tatty sofas (both my sisters cast offs) but don't want to upgrade just yet as they are the cats sratching posts, and so slumpable comfy!

Dragon - what is lo wearing for her christening? Fingers crossed that the weather will be ok. Thankfully long term weather forecasts regularly change! You'll have a great day whatever the weather.

Small - banana based disaster. Might be wise to hang on to your old sofa for future banana based troubles!

Nemo - teeth Have you got your year's supply of Flash yet btw?

UD - did nothing special for Father's Day (Dh doesn't 'believe' in it) but at least he liked the card! However, I have made it clear that I believe in Mothers Day

Wilkie - hope you had a good weekend with the family.

Where is 2Happy?

Evening been out for a lovely meal with mum,dad,brother,girlfriend and her ds was very nom nom although ellie very tired as she woke up at midnight and decided she didnt want to be at my parents (very strange as she normally loves stayng there) packed her little suitcase and demanded that grandad should get up and bring her home. Of course they didnt, but took till 2am to settle her and then Hattie woke at 5am so my mum and dad looked rather knackered today

We ended up staying in last night but we got a takeaway and turned the tv off and sat at the table and actually it was really really nice, but cause we both woke up at 6.30am aaaarghhhh blimmin body clock. Was really gutted as well because just read another thread started by eddas (real life bf) and they didnt have their kids last night and her dh wanted to stay in but they went to the early showing at the cinema (which we had planned to do but didnt get reay in time)then got a takeaway so we could have caught up with them and had a child free night out

No luck with sofas yet, wrote some cards out to put in loca shops etc am hoping that someone will buy them asap but we can store in the playroom if we have to.

Hope everyone has had a good weekend

Helllloooooo! I'm here, RGee, I'm here! Busy week with ds1's bday, and ds2 has decided that sleep is, if not for wimps, then at least for other babies .
Missed far too much to catch up on all the personals, but sofas sound nice, hope dd is recovering Jodie, hope ds stsrts sleeping better UD but at least you made it sound like dh was taking his share - is he?, Nemo how is your dh?, hope wilkie and carrot children also feeling better, PCF I cannot believe that vicar!!!! Graves are such personal things at the best of times, but to be so insensitive about a child's grave!!! Ummmmm, can't remember any more am crap sorry!

Mothers of toddlers may enjoy this story, however (the rest of you can just feel the frisson of fear that you feel when you hear what's ahead of you...)

dh was woken by ds1 this morning, was a bit bleary as he went to open the stairgate at the door of his room. Took his hand and thought "hmmm, that's odd, his hand's sticky". He put the light on (you can see it coming can't you?)....yup, ds1 had pooped, stuck his hand in his nappy, then put his hand pretty much everywhere. Eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!! Boak! I love having kids .

Right, too tired to type any more - but promise to try and keep up this week! Hope everyone has had a good weekend x

Rgee - I've not booked my ticket yet, was waiting to hear back from you cos if we book tickets together we should be able to sit together. The new antivirus stuff on our pc is pissing me off cos it won't let me log into anything with cookies. AAAAGGGGHHHHH. When I looked yesterday trains at same times I said the other day still avail for same price. Want me to book a ticket for you so we can sit together?

EAH - even though trains from Leeds are every 30 mins to London we need to book to get cheap tickets - buying ticket on the day is not an option! Think I will visit M&S at Kings Cross for picnic goodies.

My cellar is much less damp now. Impressed with halifax insurance. Freezer still working, daren't try the tumble dryer as it was standing in 6 inches of water!

DH has almost finished our garden redesign after a hard days work. What else is fathers day for?? Ellen gave him a card that she and I had made a right mess of when we tried to hand and foot prints. Oh well!Its the thought that counts. Garden just needs some cement and then new turf but that won't be done for a couple of weeks. Patio is useable though so I am ready for some sunshine please. NO MORE RAIN!

2happy - pmsl at the poop all over the place

I've been to Asda for food shop, M&S for trousers for me, dropped card and flowers off for friends b'day, delivered wellies back to friend we borrowed them from on fri night, cooked a roast beef tea, washed up and then enjoyed a dark choc magnum and coffee. Researching online for travel cot, rucksack baby carrier and highchair at the mo. Busy vino.

This notebook tip means I always type loads