MAY 07 Post natal - This time a year ago it was all just beginning, look at us now...........................

[Mrsjaffabiffa]

Morning........

Hey Bef - good to see you!

We've just had rhubarb crumble, have a piece!

April - what a drama, makes my CP experience pale into insignificance.

Kelly Brook is so irritating. Her and Brendan are made for each other.

I love Alesha. Or Jamelia as my mum calls her.

Dare I say CamDoesNairobi is a wee bit Debbie Does Dallas? Although never having seen said film, I'm sure it's all about sightseeing in the States or summat.

And er may I also lose all decorum and declare:

GGGGGGOOOOOOO EEENNNGGGLLAAANNNDDD!!!!

Yah boo sucks to the French team, you dirty rotten bunch of kicked out in the semi-finals, couldn't find your way out of a paper bag, losing blues!!!!! Spent last night screaming myself hoarse, bouncing on the sofa and getting very excited at the rugger. We're in the final! So, for tonight, can I just say GO ARGENTINA!!!!

MrsJB, message me on Facebook. I need to know what you've been up to pronto. Have missed you lots and lots. Update please on happenings in the mansion?

Cam when do you leave the country? And I concur on the DishyBlonde bit. For those not in the know Cam is a bit of a stunner.

Hey Befnal, one of the missing MNers, how very dare you- where's CinnamonTam got to? What's new?

Bit dramatic there AM and a horrid start but it can and will get better and better from here on in.

LG&T, did you ignore me when I said I'm coming to your neck of the woods for a week? Are you planning to leave the country that week? The Tank isn't that much trouble, honest. And we'll only pop in for tea and leave you in blessed peace I promise.

DH has sodded off to London for the day to some Court belonging to an Earl to look at shiny road bikes. He spent yesterday in Newcastle. Alright for some. I went sale shopping and bought some stuff from these people. We have a 'Wind Farm' babygro, a 'Stop the Wailing' babygro and a 'Peas on Earth' t-shirt. All £1, bargainous little find.

Ooh somebody's waking...

Hey SOH - I'm sure the site went down last night. I was wandering around the house like a lost soul.

Dh spent yesterday watching the football and at the gym. I spent it being shouted at by L.

Rash update - gone. Its so weird though, last time she had it, one of the little marks on her leg didn't go, even when the rest of the rash had disappeared. This time when it started to flare up, that particular mark was white in the middle and red all around it. Now the rest of the rash has gone, but that mark remains once again. Ideas anyone?

L is currently sitting on her dad's lap being ignored while he tries to watch the cricket. I'm trying to ignore them both. I'm sick to death of rescuing him every time she starts. I can see him looking over hopefully at me, keep typing, keep typing, don't look up...

Could it be a bite that caused the initial reaction and that's the site of it?

DH does that when M starts to fidget, looks hopefully over at me or starts mumbling about 'she's hungry'. In fact a lot of people do that when she's wriggly as obviously only muggins can feed her and they don't have to expend the energy entertaining her.

Get thee on ebay and have a browse, wander off and make tea. Do not rescue him woman.

Mmm, at my parents' this weekend and have just been brough a bacon sandwich and tea. Lovely.

She's hysterical, I'm just sitting here now rooted to the spot.

I know, I did think that about a bite too. The doctor seemed very dismissive when I mentioned it. If the rash comes back again (probably more like when!) I'll tell him in a much more assertive manner.

My GP is great, but has a tendency not to listen and to talk over you quite a lot.

I just had a bacon sarnie too, stood in the kitchen, reading Glamour. Fun.

Turn the blardy cricket off. It isn't even a sport. Tell him firmly that his child needs attention, perhaps he needs to take her out for some fresh air while you relax for an hour or so. DH got home at 1am and left again at 7am so he can enjoy his day off and go to some bike show rubbish that he's interested in. I'm happy for him to do that and enjoy his free time as long as he allows me to do the same sometimes.

What exactly is he doing to stop the hysteria?

He stood up and jiggled her about a bit, but then I couldn't stand it and took him off her, hence the break in messaging whilst she had a doze on me.

He used to be so good with her but its like he's got bored or something.

Or even took her off him.

Oh they all do that, pisses me right off. Baby wriggling and it's suddenly "oooh i think he is hungry" > GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

How long did you manage to resist PJ?

MrsJB at last! What have you been up to? Will facebook you in a mo.

AM poor you! Awful situation to be in, really hope it gets better now for you all.

Dishyblonde it is then? The general concencus (sp?) ie 97% and i have deemed it perfectomomdo, no arguing please

The inlaws turned up last night freshly loaded with French goodies We have some yummy wine and cheese and delish chocolate. Wahooooooooooooooo! I can live like MrsJB... just need a mansion

97% i would positively love to have you, J and the tank over i cant wait! Hope we have a lovely day and can go for a stroll along the beach. I will bake a cake, any preference? Gingerbread for you obviously, just J im thinking of

By the way MUM2G i have just seen the pic of little G wearing his fabulous T-shirt DH and i were killing ourselves with laughter. It is soooooooo brill, i want one!

Ooooh.. about five minutes, if that. This morning he has cleaned out his car, put loads of stuff in the loft, blah, blah, blah, he's bloody well avoiding looking after her.

I was just about to go out and he announced he was coming too. Great, can't wait.

Oh, I'm in such a bad mood today!!!

Cheer up pj. Sounds like time to start going out on your own and leaving dh with her for a while. If there is no one there they can't hand them across.

It's the other way round here, they annoy me when they wriggle or moan so they go to Daddy. He has far more patience with them than I do. He is so laid back, not much phases him. I went back to work, part time but shift work at opposite times to dh when H was 3mths old. dh had to get used to the whole deal very quickly.

By the time he has his third on the go PJ he will have got used to it Dh knows the score, stroppy wife or pick up baby, hmmm difficult one that! I have just been to Sainsbury's on my own, no babies or children and dh stayed with all three, typical that J decided to sleep through it and will no doubt wake up now I am back and he has gone out.

Ok so I am still having an identity crisis, I'll try out dishyblonde for a while as dh also mentioned camdoesnairobi is very similar to debbie does dallas, not that I have an inkling what that film is all about

Woooo Hoooooo Jorja has just scoffed a massive pot of sweet potato and carrot. We had arms and legs a flapping, smiles and lots of ummm noises. Bit different to the last time I tried a few weeks ago.

you could have Camsadishyblonde

Yeah Jorja!

PJ give your LO to your DH and send him out for the day with her or you go out for the day and leave him to it.

I left my DP to it yesterday I was there but pretty much kept out of it apart from feeding, then I went out in the evening. I realised while out he had never done bedtime etc on his own. I can honestly say it has done him the power of good - he has been saying that he didnt realise how exhuasting it can be especially as A was extra whingy yesterday.

I know I am Scottish and will prob have my head chopped off and be excommunicated from Scotland - but well done England in the rugby. Has made my DP well happy. Hope they win next week otherwise he is doing to be in a horrid mood next weekend.

Hi Bef - need to try sort out seeing you and JL.

Hope everyones weekend are going well _ I saw The Proclaimers lat night they rocked.

But that would be a lie MrsJB But who would know heh? Well done Jorja! I am still trying to work out when exactly I can fit in a second meal of mush into mine and J's day

My mum has just told me my bro and sil have decided to go their seperate ways She is more upset than they are.

Och Julie, I too am Scottish (could you not hear it in my dulcet tones LG&T?!) but on this occasion I am happy to start supporting England. My dh has just said 'I would give ANYTHING to be in France next week', ironic given he has spent the last 3 years trying to stay away from France I would love to see the Proclaimers, what a great pair they are, I heard an interview with them on the radio and they are so funny!I saw on one of your posts that you lived in Dunfermline when you were little, we lived in Dalgety Bay, do you know it?

My dh has also just said, 'gosh it really is non-stop with those children from 7am to 7pm isn't it? Quite full on really. I don't know how you manage it every day' Yeeeehaaaa FINALLY he gets it. Take heart PJ.

I think my DP might try sell Archie so he can buy a ticket for next weeks match.

Dishy blonde how funny of course I know Dalgety Bay it is in the Kingdom of Fife Am off up there soon to visit my gran and grandpa.

Julie - love the new Proclaimers song. How fab that you went to see them.

Am currently badgering my friend into going to the 'Here and Now' tour next May - Paul Young, Rick Astley, Bananarama, Curiosity, Johnny Hates Jazz - she is resisting well at the moment. Sorry SOH - I know how much you appreciate 80s music. I'll have to agree to disagree with you there. The Co I work for owns Reflex, the chain of 80s bars, and I am famous in work for being the biggest fan and cheesemeister, everyone else is like, oh may favourite of the brands is Browns, and I'm like Reflex baby!!

I've had a glass of wine, can you tell.

I know I must leave Lexie with dh. He's very short tempered though, I would be frightened they'd kill each other.

She is in bed but keeps waking tonight. I'm watching Girls of the Playboy Mansion on E!. Love it.

Did anyone see the piece that Claire Verity wrote in the Daily Mail today? Interesting.

Unfortunately my change of name is not as glam as Dishy Blonde. However I used to have a little nerve rash above my left boob which came up when I was worried or tense. Since Lexie was born its more of a permanent fixture. Haha.

Ok girls. Here we go. Wish me luck.....

Good luck!

Pinkjenny - your DH might need to bond with Lexie again. Is it possible he's feeling a bit left out? Just throwing ideas around... Please don't think I'm judging. It might do him the power of good to be left with her.

Was thinking about L's rash. If it happens again (hopefully not), go to your GP and get him or her to call the Dermatology registrar at your local hospital and get her put on the next clinic list as an extra. Take lots of photographs of the rash and of any changes. That way if the rash is gone by the time you go for your appointment, it won't be a waste of time.

From my experience of my infected bites/ urticaria (hot red rash rather than the usual "hives")/ exema combo rash; GPs (and presumably doctors from A&E) don't have the experience of skin conditions to be able to reliably diagnose.

Take photos of what the rash does as you press on it and also what happens when you "draw" a line in it by running the edge of your nail across it. Those are things that the dermatologist might do if the rash is still present.

If you don't get any joy, it might be worth your while bringing her to a homeopath. If it's not your cup of tea then fair enough, but I found that it was the homeopathic remedy that cleared mine up in the end. It was just useful to know from the dermatologist what the rash was to help find the right treatment.

Dishyblonde i know for a fact you are a dishy blonde Couldnt tell the scottish tones though, im half Scot too. Most of my Dads family are from Rosyth > We have lived there on and off over the years. I have long lost my dulcet Scot tones.

PJ come and stay with me for a while and leave him, he wont kill her, it will be hard for him and he may be grumpy but he will be ok.

TYG how is the lovely A taking to her food now?

MrsJB wahoooo on the eating front with J!!

Good luck ABBY!!! It will all be ok, and little one will be fine.

Must go to school, gah! Hate it the bloomin school run. Have i said that before?!

Good Luck Abbey!!

Bit soon for a bacon sandwich for Jorja. She's just tried stealing ity out of my hand mouth wide open. Bless!!

Dishy you so are..................

lg&t, I think you may have mentioned it before.

How's things TYG?

Oh and 97% Cricket, not a sport, deary deary me you have been breathing far too many of those feild fertilisers your brains gone funny.

bloody nora Rosyth - the shipyard of the North.

Good luck Abbeylou.

@ bacon sandwich.

A is loving her food again. Likes apple, pear, banana and peas (separately that is). Not so sure about broccoli, but she ate it anyway.

DH wants me to give her more savoury stuff because he's worried she'll get a sweet tooth from all the fruit. Says he wants her to have porridge for breakfast.

He put her to bed the last couple of nights. It was great. He was doing her baths (when he was home) anyway, but he gave her a bottle the last couple of nights and settled her. I got LOADS done in the time I'm usually doing that and he really enjoyed it. She's still only taking really small amounts from the bottle though. It's weird. She slept from 7 to 12 last night on 100ml. Then I breastfed her, which can't have been that great because I didn't remember to express until 10.30 and expressed both sides and then she slept til 6.15. I'm not complaining, I mean it's great that she's sleeping well and she seems to be putting on weight... It's funny, as long as she was breastfeeding I was assuming she was getting enough and now that I've introduced a couple of bottles - even of ebm - I've started fretting about what she's having. I should just trust her to get enough shouldn't I? She's managed fine up til now!

I'm hoping the local cricket club might agree to take DD1 in the summer so she can see if she likes it. Some clubs seem to start training the kids at about age 7 and they're playing matches by the time they get to 12, but the nearest one to us seems to be a bit more relaxed from what I've seen on their website.

I'm getting those guilty feelings again, that DD1 didn't get as many opportunities as DD2 is going to get; like perhaps private schools (DD1's school is turning out to be a bit crap, although she does enjoy it) and music lessons and time for me to take her to do sports... Guilt, guilt, guilt.

Speaking of which, I don't feel guilty about thinking of giving up breastfeeding or mixed feeding, but DH keeps saying, "but she loves being breastfed" and asking if the bottle I give him at bedtime is breastmilk or formula. Argh! Expressing is a faff. If she'd been taking bottles of ebm when she was really tiny, then that's one thing, but at 4.5mths old, I really don't think it's that big a deal to give her a bottle of formula at bedtime fgs.

TYG I have been giving a bottle of formula as A's dream feed for a few weeks now - supposedly so I can express and then stock the freezer up or DP give as a bedtime feed. But expressing really isnt happening last night the last boob feed I gave A was at 5.30pm then tried to express both boobs at 10pm and got a total of NOTHING. I really am finding bf a struggle now hope its jsut a phase but unless he starts gaining weoght in the next couple of feeds think am going to switch to FF. Spoke to a friend ex HV now NCT teacher and she said he is twice as active as most babes that age and to not worry he is not gaining masses. oh worry worry worry