TTC First Baby Catch-up With Our Babies Continued!!

[ELW85]

Hi all

As I’m rubbish and keep double posting I thought I’d start a new thread as we’re nearly at 1k.
I don’t have all of the OG’s so apologies for anyone I miss or anyone I miss in general (blaming lack of coffee this morning!!)

@Delilah7 @RanchoRelaxo @MrsR16 @thumper59 @trashkitten10 @Bostonfern @crossfitgirl @Fivebyfive2 @MrsEG @purplefig @LarryDavid @Lemonysherbet @Stormtrooperjulian @MrsH497 @LokiCat @Cupcakesandglitter

By moving them equally I mean he isn't stronger on one side of his body than the other, which he doesn't sound like he is. He sounds like he is getting on really well.

Remember every child has strengths and weaknesses. Taking my mummy hat off for a second and putting my teacher hat on, I've taught hundreds of 2-5 year olds. Every one of those little ones were amazing in their own way, but none were amazing 'all rounders'. I've taught children who could do mental arithmetic off the top of their head but struggled to find their way into a friendship group. Children who were so calm, kind and gentle but struggled to hold a pencil. Children who could talk the hind legs off a donkey but had zero patience and children who didn't say a word but took everything in and were incredible observers. You could find in each and every child things that they couldn't do but each of them could do incredible things. You've not had much sleep, be kind to yourself and focus on the positives of how far you and Finn have come. You've met his every need to four long months with very limited outside support and he is growing and developing each day. He may be a little behind in his head control but so what? He will be on track or ahead in other ways. That's how kids work. No child has a copy of these checklists to tick off each month, they all potter along at their own little rate :)

@TrashKitten10 - thank you. I’m trying to hold it together. I jut keep thinking that the ventouse has hurt him and I’ve let him down.
The sleep deprivation definitely isn’t helping.
I really appreciate your kind words though ❤️

@ELW85, nooooo, Google is the devil!! Finn sounds like he's doing well enough, you'll probably find one day he just suddenly starts with better head control. Like @TrashKitten10 says, things like lots of tummy time and holding him up on the shoulder really helps. Joe's favourite place to be was on his papas shoulder and I think it helped his strength come on; we called it covert tummy time! I do get it though, there's always something to worry about... Joe is 8 months next week and although he feeds himself with a spoon really well, is still hopeless with finger food. I'm trying not to panic about him needing to eat everything mashed on a spoon when he's 13 😂 On the other hand my nct friend is panicking her lad won't know how to use cutlery! They all do their own thing and will pick things up in their own time.

Also with you on the sleep, as Joe was up 4 times in the night and self settling was not happening. He's fussy again today, keeps sitting there, tensing up, arms and legs going straight and rigid and going 'aaaaaagh' at the top of his voice! Then smiling... And repeat?! I've felt his tummy to see if it is hard/bloated but it feels soft so I don't think he's constipated. Teething?? I can see teeth below the gums, but it's anyone's guess as to when they will push through.

Hi all, I'm having a bit of a confusing day and not sure what to do for the best!! So joe has been fussy all day again. Had a big poop this morning, was OK for his bath and had banana porridge for lunch. Had 40 mins sleep about 8.20 till 9 this morning and another 40 mins about 11.30 till just after 12. He then started having a melt down about 2ish so I got him in the buggy and he napped 2.30 till 3...got him home about 4 (I was out with a friend who is visiting) and he was yawning etc so I figured I'd take him upstairs, feed and see if he wants a last nap to see him through until bed. He has a total melt down, full on screeching so I'm thinking maybe it's his teeth (after checking nappy etc) Get the calpol out but before I can give it, he's all happy again?! We play on the bed a bit and I take him back down as he's wide awake and happy. Go to change his nappy and it is poonami city 😮 Grt him cleanetc, sit him on sofa with me and he starts screaming again?! Take him back upstairs, he falls asleep on the boob about 6.10... Sooooo... Do I just let him be and if he's wide awake later just go with it?? Or should I wake him soon and try to put him to bed properly about 7.30/8?? I'm thinking skip his tea because maybe his tummy is unsettled and just offer milk, but then maybe he'll be really hungry in the night because he's used to having a tea now?? So confused!! He feels warm but temp is saying 36.5, but tbh the thermometer is a bit crap... Any advice?! Sorry to ramble!! Xx

He woke screaming at 6.45 and was having none of my attempts to calm him, so I gave calpol and got him re settled... God knows how tonight will go?!

Sorry for all the posts, hope everyone is doing OK?? Xx

@Fivebyfive2 Have you tried any new foods that might have upset his tummy? Not sure about where you are but it's been very warm and muggy again here so maybe he's just struggling a bit with the heat. I'd personally let him sleep from 6:10 (but Daisy goes to sleep at 6:30 anyway and is a bugger to get to sleep after a late nap- if you think Joe would be better off waking and resettling then do that, you know him best ☺️) hope he's okay and feels better after a nice sleep :)

Today we went out for our first afternoon tea with my mum and sister which was fab. They were really sweet and did Daisy a little plate of sandwiches which she loved (and smeared everywhere 🤦🏻‍♀️ cue me mopping the floors with a wet wipe.) I got myself in a bit of a panic a few times as she did some big excited screeches and I was worried people would be tutting and getting annoyed but my family reassured me that I wasn't just letting her sit there getting upset and howling, you can't help them getting excited. Daisy did really well though. I was really nervous as she has so little patience at times, I was expecting her to be shouting and moaning after ten minutes but she sat in her high chair for nearly 1.5 hours! Helped masses by my mum bringing a bag full of new and exciting toys to play with (good old mum!). My confidence in being out and about is quite low as I'm always worried I'll get in a pickle and people will look and judge but today made me feel a lot better :) what's everyone else been up to today?

Cross post with you @Fivebyfive2. Bless him, sounds like he's not feeling himself :(

@TrashKitten10, Aaahh that sounds like a fab day, go Daisy!! And yes, mum's rule, especially when they bring toys 🙂 I did think about his food but tbh because he's been so fussy the last couple of days I've been mostly just offering more milk. He's had his usual porridge with fruit. I did give him a bit of pasta yesterday afternoon and thought maybe the sauce was too rich, but he literally only had 2 spoons to test if he liked it, so I don't think it would be that? Seems a bit late for a reaction? I read somewhere that some people note diarrhoea as a teething thing, but it's not official. He has been pulling his ear though? I'll just see how he goes tonight..

In better news, we booked his birthday present... On his birthday we're going to Statfold Railway, on a steam train to meet Santa 😀 I'm stupidly excited! Hopefully we can actually go and covid won't wreck our plans!!

@ELW85 I think @TrashKitten10 has put it perfectly! At 4 months the boys didn’t have good neck strength at all. One of our NCT mums has a super baby (we call her Einstein) and she was practically sitting up at 4 months; I popped the boys in their Bumbo seats and they were all over the place, poor Ruairí basically head butted the tray. They hated tummy time and so I never made them do it, so perhaps a little my bad, but as soon as they learned how to roll they wanted to be on their bellies all the time and their neck strength has come on enormously well. I can’t believe the difference in them now compared to then! I can almost guarantee the HV will prescribe tummy time. Even if Finn hates it just try and minute or so here and there - one friend used to do it at every nappy change, quick flip over and leave him (supervised!) on the changing mat for a minute or so. He’s only 4 months old - he has so, so much developing to go yet! Please please please don’t worry. I stopped googling a while ago and it has 100% been for the better. Trust your gut mum instincts there’s nothing better!

@TrashKitten10 Afternoon tea sounds amazing! I am exactly the same, zero confidence going out - I force myself too as I don’t want to feel like I’ve wasted their first year, and for experiences outside of our damn living room for them too! But I always worry and sometimes try and turn back en route (luckily DH calms me!!) - and like you say, 95% of the time it all goes wonderfully well. Plus twins are like this tiny freak show so we get lots of attention which the boys LOVE so that always helps keep them entertained!!

@Fivebyfive2 We’ve had our first NCT tooth and mum said he had very runny poos the week before it cut through - could well be teeth! Ahh how lovely to be thinking about the big 1st birthday!! I did have a think about the boys this week, mainly who would come and what we might do with it being winter. My head says just keep it family/small my heart says BIG FAT PARTY.

Weaning has gone well again today, Ruairí flipping LOVES cauliflower!! He could not get enough of it. They’re loving just taking the spoons and eating it themselves, which I’m delighted about. Today was the first day they actually ate some of the finger food too! Just a wee nibble but it was going in. It’s avocado tomorrow, so I’m gonna do a few slices of toast to go with it and see how they get on.
The main thing I struggle with is timings - they still only stay awake maybe 2hr 15 between naps so getting food and bottles in to both of them when I’m on my own can be a challenge!! At the mo I’m giving food first, around 10:45ish, then their bottle at half 11. Nap at 12:30. Absolutely no idea if that’s right but hey ho. I am finding that nap is becoming a bit unsettled but I wonder if it’s their little bellies processing something new?

Not much more going on other than I think my work drama is about to throw me another curve ball. I’ve been asked to have ANOTHER call with them about my return tomorrow. Ugggggh.

@MrsEG Aww bless you, you do amazingly to get out whilst feeling nervous and to have double trouble as well! :) I bet they love their little twin fanfare when they go out ☺️ Weaning sounds like it's going really well, we've got a big cauliflower fan here too. She devoured a HUGE portion of cauliflower curry last night, no idea where the child puts it. Squeezing it all in is really tight, to start with it felt like just constant food preparation and clear up. Daisy is down to 2 naps and 3 bottles so we get a bit more time now, although you still have double to prepare 🙈 Interesting about your job, you'll have to update us with what they say.

@Fivebyfive2 How did the night go? Joe's birthday plans sound AMAZING! I need to be as organised as you 😳

Sorry I've been MIA, just cannot keep up with everything. Does anyone feel like they're spinning plates and some are slipping?! My mumsnet addiction is taking a battering 😂 (probably a good thing).

Sleep is slooooowly improving. M puts herself to sleep for both naps and bedtimes and I have heard her settle herself a few times. We've also gone from being up hourly, to last night we were up resettling just twice been 7pm and 7am. However it took an hour each time! But thankfully she isn't screaming, just having a whinge and a roll around.

@ELW85 oh mate I'm sorry you're having a hard time of it. It's so fucking hard doing all of this on our own without outside help. I hope the HV can reassure you. Finn sounds like he's doing absolutely dandy, but it's so hard as a first time parent isn't it? In the meantime, can you put yourself on a google ban?

@MrsEG Urghhh hope the work call isn't more drama for you to contend with! So glad the weaning is going well!

@Fivebyfive2 Joes birthday plans sound amazing!! I think it's such s magical time of the year for a birthday, plus most people are in good moods and have time off.

@TrashKitten10 your high tea sounds so lovely and little daisy did brilliantly! Am I right in remembering you said she's quite spirited?! M is exactly the same and I always get in a tizz about taking her out! But she usually surprises me. We've started going on a daily outward facing sling walk and she just looooves staring at people / dogs. She'll do the occasional excited noise, but I've kind of come to love it (though sometimes my stomach still lurches like pleaseeeeee don't have a meltdown). I am not looking forward to her toddled tantrums though 😂

What's everyone up to today? DH is out for the day so we're flying solo. Got an NCT meet-up later which is our big excitement of the day. Otherwise I'm just planning her proper solid foods, as we'll be moving on from purées in a few weeks. So excited for her, she loves food time 💕

@TrashKitten10 Twin fanfare is about right haha, I still really struggle to ‘get’ the obsession, they don’t even look alike, it’s just two babies. I used to hate it but now I let the old dears ogle and the boys lap it up haha.
Weirdly enough I was doing loads of reading up this morning about when they may drop a bottle and a nap and it made me feel a lot more relaxed! I feel like once they’re awake at the mo it’s like ‘Right! Nappies, strapped in, bibs, food, out of high chairs, clean clean clean, bottle one, bottle two..... oh and it’s nap time again’!! Cauliflower curry sounds great I’ll note that down, he could not get enough of it! Any other go-to recipes you could share? I’ve only got a few more days of the veg purées and then we’re on to the good stuff haha!

@purplefig Ah that’s so fab M’s sleep is getting better, could it have been a regression maybe? One of the NCT mums in our group her son didn’t get the 4-month one til 5 months! It’s so bloody hard to know what the heck’s going on with them though isn’t it. 7-7 sounds amazing but the hour to settle doesnt!! Really hope she brings that time down for you soon! Yeah weaning is going fab, purées are driving me mental as it’s just so much mess, x2! I’m giving them a bit of toast with their avocado today to see how they get on as the sooner I can get away from all this blending and cleaning the better. Even the sodding dog wouldn’t eat the leftover cauliflower mush last night! What sort of meals are you looking at for M? Gosh you’ve done so well doing purées for her as long as you have, I take my hat off to you! I peel their bibs off them and take them out of their highchairs, then just look at it all and my heart sinks haha! On Broccoli day it was just such a disaster I did nothing and left it all for DH!!!
I also know the ‘spinning plates’ feeling, feels so hard to get anything done sometimes. DH is our with the boys at the mo so I finally have free hands, have sorted some bank stuff out, got a wash on. But it’s never anything relaxing!
Bless her they just love the outfacing carriers don’t they!! Taking it all in!

@ELW85, how is Finn today? Did the hv come out? Xx

@MrsEG, we had success with toast fingers today, he is definitely getting better with finger food! How did the boys do with the avacado? Xx

Well, Joe slept 7.30 till 1am but was then up until almost 3 and still wide awake at 5.30! He didn't nap until 10.30 this morning either, no idea what's going on. He did another poonami too! He was happier this afternoon though, had his lunch, we went for a walk and he napped and once home he was rolling around everywhere (his new favourite way to move!) Had all his tea and was in bed at 7...fingers crossed for a good night!

@MrsR16, how are you getting on?? Xx

Omg I just wrote a huge update and it got deleted 😭 basically a couple of people pm'd me saying they were interested in seeing how we got on with gradual retreat from that famous mumsnet thread.

Well it'll be two weeks on Monday and the difference is huge! She's gone from needing to be fed/rocked to sleep and when resettling, to going to sleep in her cot without us doing anything and being resettled in the cot. She's also gone from waking every 1-2 hours, maybe the occasional 3 hour stretch, to the last couple of nights waking twice.

Couple of points: I'm fairly we started this when she had been through the 4 month regression. Also when she was 3 months we did get her to settle using the shhh/pat method and she did have a brief spell of putting herself to sleep.

In my limited experience, I'd really recommend if you're looking for a gentler way to encourage better sleep and don't want to do CC etc.

@MrsEG meal wise, so far she's eaten everything! This week she's had avocado, spinach and cauliflower, roast squash and sweet potato, broccoli and peas, bananas....prunes after a little bit of constipation! What solids will the boys be trying soon? I've heard toast with wet toppings makes it a bit easier for them? Loads of excellent instagram accounts for ideas...I like Little Veggie Eats as we don't eat meat. Ughhhh the spinning plates is hard isn't it?! "Done is better than perfect" is my new mantra 😂

@ELW85 hope you're ok lovely, I was thinking about you this morning! Hope it went ok with the HV.

What's everyone up to this weekend? X

@purplefig Ha on the twins group I’m on a big motto is ‘fed and not dead’ for year one hahaha! There’s a big ‘don’t worry, the first year is hideous, just do the necessary and if you manage anything else it’s a bonus!!’
Ah that sounds fabulous! The boys had toast yesterday with avocado. A lot of sucking the avocado off haha. Zero toast eaten! But it’s all new to them! I’m doing two more days of veg as I’ve already bought it and then we’re on to meals, I’m doing them some veggie porridge, a cous cous aubergine thing and a fish pie next week. I follow What Mummy Makes - I’m sure someone here recommended it! - and bought her cookbook too. Making me feel quite adventurous!! I don’t eat much meat but DH does so gonna give them a bit of everything I think but wanna give them plenty of veggie meals too especially curries etc!

@Fivebyfive2 They did really well! Here’s Conor with his toast haha. Did Joe sleep well?

Had a tough night with Ruairí last night; well, for him anyway! He went down around 7;30 after a bit of fuss which is very unlike him and then he woke a few times and settled again, fine but again unlike him. Then he was up from 3:45 constantly - his eczema was bothering him he was scratching all around his chest and neck. Poor little thing. Cuddles today (and coffee for me!)

Also I needn’t have worried about work at all.
Got a bit of an apology that things have been ‘all around the houses’ as they’re using a new HR company, but I basically got my working pattern signed off, no problem with flexible hours the days they’re at nursery, and they’re also moving me on to one of the bigger agencies with loads of opportunity for growth. And lord knows my bank balance could do with a promotion with these two in nursery haha! So I’m really pleased.

Hope everyone has a fab weekend! Still waiting on my COVID results and cases have skyrocketed here in Manchester again so can’t imagine we’ll be doing much of anything at all!

@purplefig Yes she's definitely spirited 😂 Aww the outward facing sling is fab isn't it! Daisy just grins ear to ear in it, I think they like being up and part of the action ☺️ You sound the same as me getting all panicky, hopefully getting out and about more will help us feel a bit more chill.

@MrsEG Do you feel like they're close to dropping either yet? I pushed the dropping of a bottle a bit more after speaking to the HV about Daisy's sickness and she said I was giving her about double the recommended for her age and considering she was eating well 😳 Oops. Didn't just reduce by half straight away but I did realised I was feeding 3 hourly from habit and she wasn't actually asking for milk so pushed the bottles further apart and she's naturally dropped the ounces so we are at a much better level and the sickness is near enough gone, yay! I'll have a look for some recipes during a quiet moment, how exciting!

I've been reading about naps and how I'm apparently doing it all wrong 😂 We do a long nap in the morning and a shorter nap in the afternoon. Apparently that should be the other way around. Yesterday however Daisy woke from her (normally 2 hr) morning nap after 30 minutes so we tried 'the right way' and bedtime was HELL. 1 solid hour or screeching and screaming, playing games, took her nappy off 3 times! Urgh. However she does seem to have moved away from 5am wake ups (praise the lord!) and woke at an incredible 6:50. She hasn't woken up that late...ever. So we are getting somewhere with the early waking but not with bedtime. More tinkering to the routine needed! Anyone feel like it's a bit like a science experiment all of this raising babies?! Change one variable and pray for a good result haha.

@TrashKitten10 Ha oh god yes! The first night I tried bed without a bath I bloody paid for it. Never again haha! We do a 1hr morning nap and 1.5-2hr lunch one and it seems to work for the boys, I do have to sometimes wake them from the morning one but I’d read the same as you! A 6:50 wake up is amazing!!
That’s so interesting- the boys drink SO much milk, 9oz 4 bottles a day. It’s so much. And I just offer it to them at intervals during the day. Might give my HV a call about it! I’d LOVE to drop some of it!! The tandem feeds are horrid!

@purplefig, oh I hate it when you do a big post and it crashes, it's so annoying!!

@MrsEG, Aaahh look at him! Joe does the same with the toast, sucked all the spread off and then sucked the bread before eventually eating it!

Last night wasn't much better, quick wake up at 10.30 but then he was up at 1 and although he kept going back off, he was waking every 5/10 mins until finally conking out properly at 2am! Then he was up at 5 again. He has at least napped today though, thank God! He's also obsessed with rolling?! He's been able to do it since June but just not bothered, now all of a sudden he does it all the time. I think it's part of him wanting to crawl but not yet being able to??

Anyway, hope evis OK on this sunny Friday?! Xx

Hey ladies, sorry I've been quiet. Thanks for thinking of me @Fivebyfive2 😊

This week has been fairly horrendous. I didn't get the hospital job, but a couple of hours prior to finding that out, I'd found out I didn't even get an interview for a civil service one that I really wanted. Between those two bits of news, I'd found out DH's great uncle had passed away the night before! So yeah, Tuesday was utterly pants. Yesterday was awful - Ethan was grumpy all day, which is really unlike him. I'd spotted a bit of redness where his nappy was earlier in the day, but it got worse as the day went on, so I'm no longer using Tesco nappies on him! Back to good old Aldi and Pampers 😂 thankfully he's been so much better today and has been very chatty. He's got "Dadadadadada" and "nananananan" down pat! He'll call for me when he needs something... 😂 he has literally just crashed after a hot and bothersome day, where he's only napped for 90 minutes all day! Currently reading 29.1 degrees in the nursery 🥵 I hope he sleeps well!

Hope everyone's doing ok in this heat!! Xx

Evening all

Sorry for the radio silence and thank you for thinking of me and Finn.
The HV said that she’s thinks he’s fine but is looking for improvements by the end of the month.
Between that, him apparently teething and the ongoing battle of getting him down for naps in lots of weird and wonderful ways, I just feel a bit drained. And a bit sad.
I realise there are worse things in the world going on but it’s just gotten me a bit meh.
Like I can’t imagine a world where he naps longer than 45 minutes by himself, or is able to stay awake for longer than 1h20. So I feel like I can’t do anything and theres something up as he should be closer to 2 hours awake by now?
On top of that, the house viewings aren’t getting us anywhere and I feel really deflated. I will stop whinging, I promise!

@Fivebyfive2 - is Joe feeling any better? Poor little thing. Can’t believe he’s nearly 8 months though?!

@MrsEG - brilliant news about work! Hopefully you get your results soon enough.

@purplefig - thanks for thinking of me mate, I’m so pleased to hear M is doing kids better on sleep! I may be asking you for help soon with little FinnPop!

@MrsR16 - I’m so sorry about the job news, and the sad family news. It’s 100% their loss and there will be another role just perfect for you. I hope DH is ok.

@TrashKitten10 - surely a shorter afternoon nap makes sense to increase the pressure to sleep? I don’t get it!!

Anyway, I figured because of my holidays left etc I only have 18 working days left this year which will mean Finn can go to nursery around the 10 month mark. How exciting!!

I hope you have a lovely evening all.

@ELW85 evening you 💕 sorry you're having such a hard time. Sometimes you just have to allow yourself to wallow. I always find an early night helps. I don't know if this helps, but I was in your shoes a month or so ago. M would rarely nap more than 45 mins and was an absolute rat bag if I kept her up 2 hrs. But she's grown out of it, maybe it's the regression, maybe it's the sleep training, maybe it's just the passing of time. I know that doesn't help right now, but when times are tough I think: this too shall pass. Because it will. One day he'll sleep longer, one day he'll be awake all day long etc. I know these things seem major right now, but one day they'll probably fade away to insignificance and you'll look back fondly at these crazy, hazy newborn days. Sorry if I sound like a twit, I've had a beer and it's probably gone to my head 😂. Big hugs.

@MrsR16 oh mate, I'm sorry you're having such a shit week. That sounds really awful. Can you do anything to take your mind off it all this weekend?

@Fivebyfive2 M is the same...I think she sees rolling as a form of transportation 😂

@TrashKitten10 I don't know about you but the more I go out, the better it feels. We've had it hard with lockdown tbf, we'd be seasoned pros by now otherwise!! FWIW M tends to prefer a longer morning nap and just 1 hr in the afternoon. I guess if it's working no need to change? Then again, 5am starts could be motivation to experiment!

@MrsEG omg that motto!! Love it. Sounds like they're both in for a treat next week. I'm soooo excited to start M on proper food! Poor Ruairi (is that pronounced the same as Rory?), that sounds like a rough night for him. And you. Hope you got lots of coffee. Glad everything is fine with work, that must be a huge relief?. I'll keep my fingers crossed your tests come back negative.

@ELW85 I'm so sorry to hear you're still struggling a bit! For what it's worth, Ethan still has lots of times where he can't stay away for more than 90 minutes! 😂 I just let him sleep when he's tired and play/eat when he's awake! I've given up on wake windows/anything else that tells me what he is supposed to do - he has his own rule book and I'm generally figuring it out! You feel free to whinge away! I hope there's something else out there for me! I'm not a massive fan of where I am, but I requested today to start back on 5 October. However, with all my leave I've accrued, I won't actually be in the office till 29 October for half a day and then a whole day 30 October. I'll then (hopefully) start new part-time hours on the following Monday! I've just got to wait to see if they approve my flexible working request... 🤷‍♀️ DH is fine, thanks for asking 😊 we weren't overly close to him, but it's still sad.

@purplefig we're going over PILs tomorrow so Ethan will have a good time playing and cuddling and all sorts! I spent a lot of this week in tears but I don't think AF visiting this week has helped! 😂

@Fivebyfive2 I feel like they just suck on everything!! We did spinach today and it did not go down well bless them - to be honest, I’m not sure I’d want to eat spinach blended with milk either so I don’t blame them!!

@MrsR16 Ahh hun sounds like you’ve had an awful week I’m so sorry, what rubbish news about the jobs too. Hope you’ve got something nice planned for the weekend to take your mind off it all?

@ELW85 Oh hun I’m so sorry to hear how you’re feeling! Firstly what I will say is you have your shit weeks and just go through it, cry, get mad, drink a bit too much wine, stress eat ice cream, get it all out. It’s so effing hard at times. But remember - it’s all a phase at this age. They say the first year is the hardest thing you’ll ever do as they develop so so much and go through leap after leap, every time you think you’ve conquered one thing something else pops up! But this time next year he’ll be awake most of the day eating three meals and you’ll be looking wistfully at his baby snaps wondering where all the time went. I used to struggle to keep the boys up anything over 1hr 45 and one day they just went longer. Very recently they’ve suddenly out of nowhere added 15 mins on again, it just sort of happens. Hang in there!! Also fab news about returning to work - the boys will be on the eve of 10 months, feels like a good age doesn’t it!

@purplefig Sort of - yes! I’m 100% sure in time over here he’ll become ‘Rory’ but the Irish pronunciation sounds/rhymes with ‘brewery’ in a way. It’s kind of like ‘Roooh-rie’. We love the name but know he’ll have a good period of hating us for it. I just hope he doesn’t hold it against us that his brother has a more ‘traditional’ name!! Although Conor was almost Tadhg!! So could’ve been worse haha! I bet M will love her meals sounds like she loves her food already!

It’s been SO hot here today so late afternoon we took them for some shade in the park as the house was like a sauna. Decided to try them on the swings - still a bit small, so we improvised and put them both in 🙈 They were dubious at first but then loved it! Fresh air tuckered them out too so they had a nap in the pram. They’ve generally been fairly awful today though, teething so badly, the drool is next level it’s like a taps been turned on. I hope the bloody things cut through soon!

@MrsEG, omg how cute are they on the swing together 😍 I think Joe was a bit unsure of spinach too, but he's OK with it now.

@MrsR16, I'm really sorry you've had such an awful week xx Definitely try to treat yourself in some way this weekend and I hope Ethan is happier today.

@ELW85, I know it's easy to say, but try not to worry about Finn, he'll get there, probably all of a sudden and you'll wonder where it has suddenly come from!

We had a good morning and lunchtime yesterday, Joe seemed happy and napped well etc... Then about 3.30 we were at my friends house and he was getting fussy, I tried all the usual (feed, nappy, distract, pram/sleep etc) but he kept getting more worked up! Thought it was his teeth because he was pulling his ear, was red faced and his gums were red so tried bonjela too but he went into full meltdown and we had to go to the pharmacy for calpol!! Dh picked us up, he fell asleep in the car. Was OK after, had his tea, sat in garden and went to sleep 8.45 in the end. Woke 11.55 till 12.05 for a very quick feed and then slept until 4.45! Unfortunately he's been wide awake since so I'll get back in bed when he has his 'nap'!! But not bad overall in terms of stretches of sleep!

@MrsR16 oh my god, you had your period to contend with as well?!?!? What a week. You poor thing. Hope you can get some rest and recuperation over the weekend. I find grandparents are good at facilitating that! Have a fab time with your PILs.

@MrsEG they look too freaking cute in that swing 😭❤️ you've inspired me to go and check out our local park soon! I'm sure the little man won't hate you for his name, it's gorgeous. Unusual but not wildly out there. Tadgh on the other hand....😂 how do you even pronounce that?!

@Fivebyfive2 poor Joe, teething is so rough isn't it?

Guys!!!! GUYS!!!!! M freaking slept through the night for the first time ever last night!!!! Down at 7.30pm and didn't hear from her again until 5am!!!! I am beside myself!!! This from the girl who up until we started gradual retreat 2 weeks ago was up every 2 hours, on bad nights 45 mins.

What's everyone up to in the heat wave? We live on the coast so it's cooler....but so busy with tourists, so kind of limits what we get up to. I don't begrudge people their holiday but I so wish people would be a bit more mindful....there's zero social
Distancing happening and the littering on the beaches this year is just next level. I think we'll probably drive to a quiet spot somewhere, maybe the woods for some shade. M and I both wilt in the heat 😂 x