Jan '07 part 15: a big (calorie-free) bar of chocolate to cheer us up

[2Happy]

And dairy-free too if needed.

It's not been the best month for a lot of Januaries has it?

Oooooo are we onto discipline already?? I told DH off tonight cos he told J 'NO' really loudly and tapped his hand (v gently I might add!) cos he was playing with the fire (which obv was off but will be being used again soonish). I told him that 8 months is FAR too young to be tapping hands and that whilst 'NO' is fine - you can't just say NO and expect them to move away from whatever they are doing!! You should say no and remove them from the situation and distract them with something else. He disagreed. What do you lot reckon?

J's teething is HELL. He was screaming from 10.30pm-12.30am and then again at 5.30am. Not good when I have work! So far tonight he has had Neurofen, Anbesol and Ashton Kutcher powder. All he wants is to lay on our bed and sleep next to me which is sweet but ain't happening

Get a fireguard?

Pointless telling a baby No in my book, but everyone has their different ways.

F is teething too, well he seems to have been for ages but now he has all the symptoms. He really has never had a red bottom until now.

Wilkie NOOOOOOOO dh is WAY out of order. agree with you that just saying No isn't enough, you need to say No and move baby away. i don't agree with smacking ever anyway, but certainly not ever under 2.

I used to have this argument with a friend who couldn't see why it was weird for her sister to smack the nine month old's hand so he didn't pull books off the bottom shelf.

All that happens is the baby thinks, if I explore here, mummy smiles, if I explore here, mummy hurts me. It's horrible. They don't have a concept of right/wrong, even if you agree wih smacking, surely it's when some consequences can be understood. With a baby they have to kept safe by a safe home and distraction not discipline.

Hi everyone!

I agree with the discipline - distraction is the key! We tell Saul 'No' when he scratches his eczema (and we explain why, as obviously a 7 month understands everything we tell him!), which will stop him for a few seconds (bless him), but his memory is very short and you have to distract him. Can't imagine smacking a 9 months old hand , but my cousin did that with her lo too....

We caved in and bought a walker today. Bless Saul, he isnt quick in the uptake. I don't think he realises he can move it yet! He just sits in it and plays with the toys on the tray.

Saul is going through a clingy stage at the mo - not so happy with strangers, and quite whingy which isnt like him. Not sure if it's teeth (dosed him with calpol yesterday and he was much happier). I can never tell til after the event!

DS4's walker arrived today and OMG hes was away in it straight away.

As for disapline, I don't think I've said no to him yet....if he grabs my hair (a fav game ATM) or whatever I normally say in my silly messing about voice* "gerrrr-offf my 'air(or whatever)" while shaking his hand/my head.

He thinks it a huge game, which is probably why he grabs it at any opprotunity....

*silly messing about voice is a bizarre northern accent in with a high pitched squeeky tone at the end of the sentence.....

lol atm! Saul is doing the hair pulling thing too. And cheek grabbing. He strokes your cheek lovingly for a minute, then GRABS it!
I'm not sure his feet quite reach the floor in his walker, which is why I don't think he moved it... he will have to borrow my platforms I suppose..

Urban- Sorry about dh's friend. So scary when someone your age dies. Medised and Calpol always made Luke wake in the night when I swapped to Medinol (same as calpol but without the colours) he was alot better. Very cute pics too btw

2happy- did your get the kenwood chef? Lots of love to Loosh xxx

Jodie- Hope dd is ok after swallowing the coin, LUke is always putting coins in his mouth but I think he does it for my attention Weird child!

EAH- Bargain on the raincover! Sounds great about the fish oil too. Hope it keeps up. Hope E took the news about her helper ok.

Vino- Hope the chair cleaned up! DH takes Luke to church and he has just found his voice in the hymns and says 'Laaa, laaa, baa baaaaaa, daaaaa laaa' rather loudly though them!

Wilkie- Sorry that the golf range fell though. Hope that something similar happens for you soon. Hope work is going ok now too. Although your coligues sound like weidos! I'm definately up for the secret santa if it is not too late! Will email now. Hope all goes well on Sun too. Did you decide on the English tea theme?

I agree with you about dh. I dont really agree with smacking either but I have always talked to Luke as if he understands me when I am telling him not to do something even when he was tiny as they understand way before they can comunicate back imo. It is no good telling them off if they dont understand they they cant do something. It is only now that Luke is doing things out of defiance to what I have said and he is 2. As everyone says though, all kids are different and so it the way we bring them up.

Lizz, So sorry about your friend. Must be terrible for her and her family. xxx

Luke is always banging Ruth's head off stuff and she just grins at him! No bruises as yet though think she is a toughy

Hi there Katierocket, Trinity and Saltcod

Canmummy- Glad you are starting to feel better.

Shimmer- Hope you had a good day at the Zoo.

Welcome Ratfly. I have a 2 year old boy called Luke and Ruth who was born on the 5th Jan. Ruth is pretty ok with most people but when we went to dsis house to see her new baby, dsis' MIL asked for a hold and Ruth screamed her head off! SHe never screams, or very rarely so it was rather strange. As soon as she gave her back the tears stopped.

Laughalot- Hurray for Portugal!

Pink- Will keep my fingers crossed for you!

LTH- Poor Jessie. People leaving stuff on the beach really hacks me off! Lazy sods! When we visit my ils I spend the time watching out for stuff left lying around as Luke bombs around. Last time we were there he dug up a dog poo. I mean, who lets their dog poo on the beach then burries it!?

Glad you had a good time in Edinburgh Carrot.

The thing that annoys me the most about suppernanny is the way she says 'that is unaseptable behaviour' instead of 'unacceptable'. Petty I know but just cant watch it. I have had to start telling Ruth off at meal times as Luke keeps copying her and banging his cup/hands/sppon on the table or blowing rasberries while eating food. I feel really silly and she just looks at me as if to say 'I have no idea what you are saying but his is fun!'

We have been using a new shampoo for Luke called 'Halos n Horns' which has no SLSs in it and it has helped his eczema loads. I would definately recommend it as his skin on his face and chin is so smooth. They also do washes and bath stuff.

We had a pretty quiet bank holiday but it was nice to spend some time together. DH is out tonight wetting dsis' babies head with BIL and his uncles so on my own (hence the big catch up!). Gave him another pass to play golf tomorrow afternoon too as I am such a loverly wifey!

Ruth flew off the sfa bed in Lukes room tonight when I was putting L to bed just before I read them a story. I was looking at L and saw something fly off the sofa and thought it was the teddy she was playing with then there was this big bump and lots of crying. Poor love, she eventually calmed down and then was all smiles again. Typical then dh is out though as I am worrying about it and keep checking her. I hate worrying on my own!

Ruth is a lazy so and so when it comes to sitting/rolling /crawling ect but yesterday I tried to sit her up with a big gorilla in font of her and she sat for ages touching its face. Then when she looked up at me she suddenly went ridgid and fell over More evidence that she can run around when I am not looking me thinks!

Hope everyone else is ok, sorry for the massive post! xxx

OKKKKKKKKKK - I think we are there with Secret Santa. Let the emailing commence. If you haven't sent me your email address SEND ME IT

The woamn from the paper came round ear;ier to take some photos of Jessie and her purple bandage....they'll be hilarious because ds1+2 were told not to look happy because it s a sad story.

Faces like thunder is an understatement!!

DH "The thing that annoys me the most about supernanny is the way she says 'that is unaseptable behaviour' instead of 'unacceptable'" I KNOW!!!!! DP and I used to watch it before F was born (just to see what we were letting ourselves in for) and used to just crack up at the "unasseptable"! WTF?

You would think that as she says it so much on the bloody programme that someone would tell her!

LTH, make sure you post a pic on here of the article!

Sorry, hope she is feeling better! xxx

morning -you were chatty last night, DH had the massive hump that I sit with the laptop on every night so i turned it off last night (he sits watching shitty football but thats a whole other story)

LTH Post some pics of ds4 in his walker, hattie is currently following ellie around in hers (although ellie has a new habit of shoving her in it so it spins across the lounge floor )every morning she goes in int whilst i do breakfast and she always scoots over to the fish tank and appears to have a connversation with them all

wilkie thanks for my secret santa email I assume nearer the time we email you all our addressed and you'll send them to the right people?

Dragonhart hope Ruth okay

I am not commenting on discipline as its a touchy subject in our house (especially in teh last few months) however Hattie has developed the hair pulling/stroking then pulling your skin ouch it hurts!! Still no teeth had a shit night up and down with her and nothing would soothe her (and like you wilkie sunday and thursday's are always the days she plays up cause I work mon and fri )

Got loads and loads to do at lunchtime today as only working today and monday then off work for 2 weeks and hate going into town with 2 terrors in line!! (lots to do includes going to post box wilkie!!)

Right we have to leave in 20mins so better get off here and finish packing the car up!

ooops forgot LAUGHALOT have a fantastic holiday I am so and fingers crossed A is okay (will be spinning positive thoughts to Portugal for 2 weeks!) and catch up when you are home

Hola. Well had a good night but J very cranky this morning anyway - wanted to goback for a sleep at 8am so he is currently asleep, I have just washed up and though I would nip on here.

LAL - have an amazing holiday - am not in the slightest...I am sure Center Parcs will be just as good

I sent emails to everyone involved in the Secret Santa last night so let me know if you didn't recieve. Will collect addresses nearer the time if that is OK and email out to everyone.

Got loads to do today for the christening. Spoke to Rev Vino and Mummy Vino last night to arrange last minute bits so think we are just about there with it. Canmummy - hope yours goes well too! Take lots of photos.

My camera is broken so will have to borrow my M&Ds cos it is the same at ours so I can upload onto laptop.

LTH - PMSL about the photo. I can just picture it - why do they always do photos like that in papers? They make me giggle

J has discovered he likes plug sockets so it is off to mothercare for me this morning to get some of those stoppers you put in. DH tapped his hand AGAIN this morning when he was playing with the socket so we had a row. I told him we both have to agree on discipline and I think it is far to early to be tapping his hands (I do agree with occasional smacking BTW but not at this age). We have agreed to say 'No' firmly and move J away from whatever he is doing. We have also agreed that we always have to be united on the discipline front.

was it decided if its for the adults or children?

I think adults nows...we do deserve a treat

I've already got an idea what to get my person

Hi everyone hope you are all ok thought I better get posting before we go away on holiday. Im all packed just last minute bits to put in.

Had a bit of a mare yesterday waynes mums oven caught fire and she had to call 999. She had the kids with her as I was at work. The fire brigade were really good and a fireman took aidan straight away to the fire engine and sat him in there with his helmet and gloves on. Last night he wouldnt go to sleep and kept going on about it and then he did a wee in his pjs all over the floor he has never done that before I think he is scared about what happened. How do I explain to a toddler that it was dangerous I dont want to play it down because if it ever happens I need him to know that it is dangerous and he must try and go outside.

Wilks thanks for my secret santa I shall now have to start some detective work to find out what this person likes . Hope j has a good weekend.

Can hope the christening is just as good for you too.

Take care miss you all and speak soon xxxx

OH MY GOD - save me before I lock J in the shed. I know teething is supposed to be difficult but am having the day from hell. He won't eat, he is just crying continuously, not happy doing anything other than crying...ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

LAL - god how scary. No idea how you tell Aidan. I'm sure one of the other second (or fourth) timers will have some good advice.

take him out in the buggy wilkie, just walk around the block if there nowhere to go.

or the park, ds4 LOVES the swings!!

Already done that LTH and he cried. Went out in the car for a drive which shut him up for a bit.

DH home in 20 mins THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am I a bad mother that I am just ignoring him?? He keeps flinging himself face down on teh floor, wailing and then stopping to look at me to check to see if I am watching. Amusing but annoying after half an hour of it!

A SMILE......I REPEAT, WE HAVE A SMILE.....

gah - why are people so horrible? on the bus today, i spoke to a lady who had all her baggage on the seat next to her, which was preventing an elderly gentleman from sitting down (and before you say anything - i would've offered him my seat but i was wedged in by the buggy!) and said to her, "There's a whole section there that's specifically for baggage and the seats you're sitting in are priority seats for elderly people," and got a mouthful of abuse back. She did move the bags after a few other people on the bus said something but i was fuming all the way back from town!

Zac is well and truly mobile now - he was crawling properly yesterday, but seem to have regressed today and is rolling around again. his teeth are hurting him too - he was sat on the floor yesterday just sobbing his little heart out

Wilkie - have you got a sling that J still fits in? when Z is upset and poorly i put him in the wrap and go for a walk - soothes him better than the buggy cause he is closer to me. but then he can be a clingy child...

i am now on first name terms with the customer service guy at Hauck - my icoo has broken again, and i know i didn't pay for it, but it's still a £300 buggy, and it's broken twice in exactly the same way. i did feel bad phoning him on friday afternoon and telling him though!