May 07 - 6mths on...........Oh I can't think of a witty title, 6mths is obviously not long enough to have regained some brain cells.....

[Mrsjaffabiffa]

Morning all.....

Thought I'd start a new thread as the other was huge.

Bit late now but big hug to Beau..... hope you went back to sleep little man.

J & M still asleep, it's one good thing about having Mum & Dad around, I don't have to wake the girls up to do the school run.

biteing bitting---

biting!

No teeth here. Lots of biting though. My poor nipples.

DH took me out for lunch to a village pub. Had an enormous roast and felt like a complete gannet. Before M I couldn never have eaten such a huge meal. Post M, there isn't a food stuff safe from my raging appetite.

M has had her first solids. I just thought what the hell and offered her some roast dinner! She ate a broccoli floret, a cauliflower floret and two carrot batons. Took her about 3 seconds to devour the lot, gagged on the first mouthful but managed to swallow the rest without incident. Then had a massive milk feed and slept for a looong time.

Tis jolly quiet on here. Where is everybody?

bitting even

Hi everyone,

phew what a day! glad the munchkin is asleep - wish these sodding teeth would hurry up and come out the poor little mans cheeks are so swollen and red.

Lovely to see comments like glossy and glam in regards to me - feel like a bit of a lump at the mo not helped that my hair is falling out massively - thought I had a dead rat down the plughole but on pulling it out found out is most of my hair.

Also this might be very cruel but my DP and I have realised that A looks a bit like The bear from Bo Selecta.

Woohoo on the solids SOH, A had some brocoli florets today and carrot sticks yesterday - loved it.

Free KK's you lucky cow.

How are all the unwanted pets - have you managed to treat and get rid.

AM poor you with all that palavar yesterday.

Glad J is on the mend MrsJB

PJ is L feeling better today?

Right my day has been so poo am off to the smoking shed ie balcony for a very naughty only when stressed and a bit drunk ciggie (used to be a 20 a day girl so allow myself one occasionally)

Thanks SOH, I knew you'd know, can't even use the spell check as the laptop is French it doesn't like most words I type. hehe.

Wooooooo Hoooooooo M has eaten, thats it now they'll be NO stopping her!

She shouldn't really drop a feed just yet SOH, even with solids. It is usually given as an extra not as a replacement iirc

A book I was reading the other day suggests...

Week 1 26weeks Start by introducing one food in the morning, pears are easy to digest.
Breast or Bottle on waking
9am - 4 teaspoons of pears
11am - breast or bottle
and so on throughout the day as normal breast or bottle feeds.

Week 2 27 weeks Pears move to lunch meal, new food introduce in the morning.
Breast or bottle on waking
9am 4 teaspoons of sweet potato
11am - breast or bottle
1pm - 4 teas spoons of pears and finish on breast or bottle
normal feeds then follow

Week 3 28 weeks Former new food moves to lunch, now solids are given 3 times a day.
breast or bottle on waking
9am 4 teaspoons of butternut squash or any new food
11am - breast or bottle
1pm - 4teaspoons of butternut squash, finish on B or B
4pm - 4 teaspoons of pears
B or B as normal after

Week 4 29 weeks Quantity increased at lunch meal.
B or B on waking
9am 1/4 of banana or any new food, finish on B or B
11am - B or B
1pm - 4teaspoons of butternut squash and 4 teaspoons of sweet potatoes, finish on B or B
4pm - 4 teaspoons of pears, finish on B or B
B or B as normal after

Week 5 30 weeks Quantities increased at lunch and dinner as above.
B or B on waking
9am teaspoons of pureed apples, finish on B or B
11am - B or B
1pm - 4 teaspoons of sweet potatoes and 4 tsp of pears, finish on B or B
4pm - 4 tsp of butternut squash, 1/4 banana, finish on B or B
Then B or B after as normal

Week 6 As new foods are added at 9am feeds, two of each are given at each meal, quantities also increase depending on childs appetite.

Week 7
Steak, chips, mushrooms & peas followed by hot chocolate fudge cake and ice cream.

Just thought I'd share it with you all, but sort of shows you don't really drop feeds just perhaps the amount they will take from B or B. Obviously I think you could take the times with a pinch of salt!

Ooooh, exciting. SOH did BLW! Well done Mathilda.

I'm SO tired. My 4 girlfriends were over from Ireland. I cooked up a storm on Friday night and we sat up drinking til 3am. Then I got up at 7 with A, DH got up at about 8.30 and let me go back to bed til 10. Went to Camden for a look round and had a pub lunch. Got ready to go out, drank lots of champagne, went to the Sanderson bar where one of my other friends blagged us a table, went to Movida where mate got us in free and got us a table. (The most hysterically, pathetically pretentious club I've been to in a long time - there were some 4th rate footballer types there buying vast amounts of Dom Perignon which came out with sparklers in the top of the bottles and the DJ stopped everything each time and played the Superman theme. WTF?) Left there at 4, came home to find DH pretty incompetent with drink so I was most displeased at his irresponsibility. Anyway, went to bed at 6, A woke up at 6.10. Got up, fed A, tidied up, shouted at DH for being a useless sod for getting too pissed to get up and let me have a sleep, had an hours kip on the sofa, made breakfast for everyone.

Am KNACKERED, but had such a lovely time this weekend. We're scoffing Dominos atm. The thought of cooking...

Can't make the lovely meet up I'm afraid. We'll be at the ILs for the weekend.

Meant to add LG&T, I'm THRILLED you got that invite. If anyone deserves it you do!

Don't you hate it when you lose your post. Grr.

Not an easy day today. L still not well. She was up in the night, crying, not sure if it was her cold or her teeth. Anyway, she went back to sleep around 4am. She wasn't eating much but seemed a little brighter so I took her to my mums for a bit. When I went to get her she was all moany and whining. She's obviously still not feeling well and has hardly eaten or drank anything at all.

I am so worried about her, although she is asleep now. Can anyone verify that it gets a little easier to cope when they're not well. Am I still destined for an early grave?

Evening

Well my weekend has been one full of suprises.

First our fireworks party was a success (yes I was shocked, had expected the £250 worth of fireworks to be a flop) In actual fact they were brilliant, even my dad enjoyed them and he normally hates that sort of thing. Alana sat watching them all, didnt even have her early evening nap. Everyone had a great time although we ended up with lots of food and drink left over. I ended up drinking a bit too much but its not often we have parties at ours. Our flat is only small but thankfully because of the nature of the party all 27 guests stood in our back garden for most of the night, god knows where we would have put them all if they hadnt lol

Then just as I was about to go to bed I saw in the paper that Bon Jovi are touring again in June so I cut the advert out of the poster, wrote on it a couple of hints about me being 30 next year and how i would love to see them live, stuck it on our airing cupboard door where dh would see it and went to bed (after checking there were still lots of tickets left) This morning dh saw it and booked me 2 seats!!!! What a sweatheart lol. I have always wanted to go to one of their concerts but never seem to get the chance. He doesnt like them so Ive asked my sister to come, she has been a fan for ages so she's happy. It will be my birthday treat from dh and the boys (we are already going to a cottage for the week, paid for by the in laws, spoilt arent i lol)

I didnt think anything else would happen but then 2hrs later dh arranged for us to go to Disneyland on the 27th Dec. We had spoken about it a few months ago but decided to leave it until Alana is a bit older (Ethan and Jordan have been there twice before so there was no rush) All of a sudden hes sat there talking to his mum about booking a hotel and ferry crossing. To break the journey up we will be staying at a travelodge in Dover on the 27th and catching the ferry the next day. Ive wanted to see all the Christmas parades for ages so I think Im as excited as the boys.

My dh is full of suprises today

Then to top it off I heard that dh's cousin is expecting her 2nd child in May next year. That month is going to work out expensive for our family, for some reason it seems to be the popular month to be born in lol.

Pebble, you lucky lady to have such a thoughtful dh

Anyone watch Long Way Down tonight? That's my world, I felt quite emotional remembering good times in Ethiopia and some sad times too as I was in Gondar when I started to miscarry my first baby . Next week for me will be really interesting and makes me look forward to moving back .

Morning all, hope everyone is ok. We've had a bit of a shit weekend. R has been really poorly and we ended up at the emergency doctors on Saturday night. Of course he said it was 'just a virus'. I was ready to punch his lights out to be honest. She has been up all night for the past 2 nights and has cried on and off 24/7 for 3 days! She has a terrible cough and I think her throat is sore too. She is refusing all food and only drank about 6oz milk all day yesterday. I've taken the day off today and I'm going to take her back to the drs. They'll proably think I'm a neurotic freak but I'm past caring. I just want her to be really well checked over.

Wow pebble what a lovely dh . Glad your fireworks went down well. I am just pleased that i dont live next to you as i would have been cursing the noise. Ds hates the bangs and we had promised him that there wouldnt be anymore until next year (nye) and then for 3 nights running we have had really loud banging ones - they werent even the pretty 'ooooh' 'ahhhhh' ones.

Abby, sorry to hear that you have had a pants weekend and hope that R gets better soon.

Got to take Ella to the Dr's in an hour as she has a rash and cold and temperature. She was wide awake between 11.15 and 11.45pm and then woke at 3.30am and i ended up sleeping in the rocking chair in her room for 2 hours got back in to bed just before 6 and the then she woke up 45mins later. Good job the rocker is fully reclineable one. Was very chilly as the blanket i had only covered my shoulders - need to get some nice winter pj's and put my strappy tops away , did notice that La Senza are doing a BOGOF so might have to have a look.

She also said her first word but i feel robbed so pleased that it was Dada. Ds said his name first as well and also at 7mths.

Soh, well done on the BLW

Another baby off to the doctors. L still not well, had a runny poo this morning. Our appointment is at 10.50am. We should start a bloody league table of doctors appointments today.

She's still whining but has been to sleep this morning, happy for about ten minutes and now crying again. She hasn't got a temo but sounds full of mucus and her little eyes are all bloodshot.

Fun!

Well we are back and as I expected it is still 'just a virus'. She didn't really give me any more advice but at least it has set my mind at rest that it is nothing more. I just can't bear to listen to her crying so pathetically any more. She fell asleep in the car on the way home so I've left her in the car seat in the hall. However I can hear stirring already. I hope she's hungry as she's had hardly anything to eat or drink for days.

Sorry to hear about all the poorly babies. When M had croup the two worst things were the crying and the refusing to feed. Her throat was so sore she didn't like to swallow. The only way round it was to dreamfeed. If I got her just before she dropped off to sleep she would feed through her nap and I at least knew she was getting something. Remember a virus can hang around for weeks at a time and while infuriating and saddening it's usually a matter of waiting it out. That said, as in M's case she just couldn't fight it on her own and needed steroids and nebulisers to build her back up a bit. Keep an eye on breathing, responsiveness, level of interest and recognition. And fgs don't worry about going back to the doctors repeatedly. Better that than the alternative. I saw a doctor, went to NHS direct and A&E with M when she was ill, all with the same response ie 'it's a virus'. They didn't check her oxygen levels or her pulse, just her temperature. Two days later she stopped breathing and we had the paramedics out and she was admitted to hospital, medicated and was found to have low oxygen levels and a racing heart. I knew she wasn't fighting it and it's your own instincts that you listen to first.

AM, M says dada too but not in context. It's her favourite sound and she shouts it all the time. I've told dh it's just a random string of phonemes (on cue she's just started shouting dadadadadadada) but he's strutting around with a puffed out chest all the same.

So...BLW... the vegetables just come out whole! Normal bright yellow nappy with bits of broccoli and carrot in it. Was there any point giving it to her? I know food's just for fun atm and it's more about textures and smell and the swallowing action etc but she's not digesting it at all. I presume her gut isn't ready yet and she doesn't need it. Got some swede and parsnip for lunch, will see if they come out whole too.

MrsJB, I love the 'offer 4 teaspoons' bit. DD would have a fit if I did that. She needs the whole vegetable and will strip into pieces in seconds. She then needs two more choices of vegetable before she's satisfied. I had a yoghurt this morning, offered her a spoonful and she looked disgusted and reached out for the pot. She ain't a lady.

Did I tell you all about my SIL? DH's little sister has been selected to play rugby for England. She plays prop forward and has been playing for the county for a few years. She's at uni now, went for an England trial and whaddya know, she's an international sportswoman! DH is so proud of her. We both are.

My brother phoned this morning, his fiancee is expecting in January and they've had an antenatal appointment. She's contracting irregularly and baby is engaged. She is on bed rest! They're having a little girl too. His fiancee has a 7yr old already, my brother's dsd but this will be his first experience of a newborn. He's never changed a nappy. Can't wait to sit back and watch the carnage after months of him asking me 'how hard can it be?' We're not on the best of terms atm as he told me last week that his df will be going for an 'ordinary birth', not 'the easy way' like I did. Yeah, 24hr labour, episiotomy, 3 attempts at ventouse and surgery. Was like a walk in the farking park. I was extremely hurt. Still am.

SOH that is not a nice thing to say at all, it must have come out of ignorance. He will soon see just how hard it is, even a straightforward birth leaves you feeling run over by a bus, let alone a juggernaught in your case. I would be very hurt too These things always hurt more when they come from someone close.

On the exceptional sporting achievements of your sil WOW! You will have to direct me to the rugby game footage of her in the near future, I do love rugger, especially a chick doing it for all us women out there.

On the dh being here when all the coven descends, he will be. He has said thank god for J on many occasions this week already. He also wonders if J would like to wear his hat, as a special treat of course?

Now i know i have to make Gingerbread (duh!) but shall i make a bounty cake and a chocolate cake too or maybe a lemon sponge? Any need's amongst us?

Shall i call you SOH? Will you pick up the phone or run and hide behind the couch looking terrified? Im not that scary honest.

TYG that is why for years i did not go out at all, i just couldnt bear the morning after. EXP would always drink too much in sulky protest while i was out. I would quite often come home to find hi passed out on the couch even if i had been to the cinema with a friend. He would inevitably lie around in bed too the next day. Nip it in the bud. Very glad you had such a glam weekend, must have been amazing to go out and feel like a person again and not just a mommy\milking machine. Am upset you will not be here fpr the meet, but you can come anytime. Bring S too, she can take charge of DD, who at the moment is the epitomy of grumpy pre adolescent.

Poor R and little L, hope they get better soon. Virus's plague your life from now till they are about 3. By then they seem to have had them all and undergo a transformation in to healthy children. Hang in there.

Im cleaning today cos all you buggers are coming to my house. Course im not, im on here, so no berating me about my messy\filthy house on Saturday, it is all your faults for distracting me

Wish we were coming to the meet up, I'd love to meet you all in real life! We're actually over your way SOH. We're renting a cottage with some friends somewhere between Cromer and Sheringham. In other circumstances I'd have paid you a visit if you were up for it. I'm actually really looking forward to it, just keeping my fingers crossed we're all healthy! Managed to get about 6oz of milk into R earlier and she's been sleeping for ha;f an hour so I'm happy. The dr says the best thing she can do is sleep it off - yeah right! I'm catching up with some work I should have done last night, it feels really naughty being off work!

SOH, M could just skip straight to week 7 in that case. How brill for your Sil, what an amazing opportunitiy.

Cleaning here tody too, have borrowed my friends dyson (we don't own a hoover) It's fab, so much easier than a broom, was nice to give the rugs a good go rather than just a sweep, have also done the cob web corners. Wooo Hoooo, oh the joys.

I hope the porly babies make a speedy recovery, it is so horrible when they are rough. Big hugs to them all from the Jaffa's

AbbyLou, whereabouts are you staying and how long for? Is it just the weekend? I love Sheringham. During the day that is. There are some lovely galleries and photographic studios hidden around there and in winter it's so peaceful. Not so keen on it at night as the quay is a hotbed of homosexual prostitution. And in Cromer there is a cafe with walls decorated entirely with dirty postcards. There ends my tourist information announcement.

J is bringing his special hat to Gosport. I told him N had one too and he practically bounced with excitement which proved problematic as he was supposed to be driving.

Will there be a kk at this meet? I've still not tried one. And LG&T I'm phone phobic. I won't just run and hide but I'll break out in a sweat and moan to myself. By cripplingly shy I mean I can't string a sentence together when talking to anybody apart from J/M/myself. I'm already terrified about meeting you. Social nightmare meets witty, groomed earthmother. I'm scrabbling about trying to find the pennies for a haircut as I've seen how beautiful you all are and I'm just fat and messy

SOH just checked and the place is called Mundesley. Apparently the cottage is only 150 yards from the beach. We do a cottage somewhere about twice a year with the same friends and have been to Norfolk before. This one, however, is worryingly cheap! We'll have a laugh anywhere really, we always do. Thanks for the warnings about Sheringham and Cromer, don't think we'll be venturing out at night as we have the kids and our friends have a 1 year old. I think the plan is to do the railway thing at Sheringham.

Sorry, R pressed. Yes it is just for the weekend. We are going Friday night and coming back Sunday.

Back from the Dr's and it's another of those Viral Rashes. Slight sore throat and have a script if she goes off her milk.

I will be bringing the KK's SOH dont you worry

Please dont worry SOH i am not an Earth mother and most defintitely do not fall in to the groomed category I used to own a velour tracksuit you know! If TYG was coming we would be in trouble though
Actually Cam is coming too, hmmmm, may have to do something to my unruly hair...

Scoooooooot where are you?????????/

Pebble your DH sounds just lovely, how thoughtful of him. It makes such a difference having something to look forward to too. Are you coming on Saturday?

April, gah! for the blasted virus. Hope she recovers soon, no bugs allowed at the weekend >

SOH is that a 'no' to the phone then?

You may have to wear dark glasses in the house as i am clearly still not cleaning...

You LG&T, not groomed did I not meet the right person last time?? Remember I shall be coming with 3 in tow, I shall most definitely not be groomed, in the slightest, most likely harassed and slightly dishevelled.

Sorry to hear all the babies are not well. Lets hope they are all soon better.

Sccccoooooooooooooooot where are you? I was hoping she might make it to join us on Saturday, maybe TYG could send her a quick message.

By the way the night out sounds incredibly glam and great fun, I am quite . I felt like a complete country bumpkin at the christening I went to, especially since the skirt I had bought in the summer to wear (a nice swishy Boden one) fell over my hips and came to rest half way down my thighs,too big, I couldn't believe it! So I had to make do with an old Monsoon junk shop find

Request for chocolate cake please....

We're back as well. She has an upper respiratory infection, i.e. a cold. Apparently her chest is clear, its all in her nose and throat. She has been given some ointment for her eye as it is all red and streaming, and apart from that, carry on with the Calcold. She's brightened up a little bit this afternoon, taken 7oz today and just managed some water and some rice pudding. She's so alert and such a feisty little thing, its so obvious when she doesn't feel 100%. She's currently terrorising a stuffed aninal by trying to bite its head off. I bloody love Calcold.

Have also bought myself some Rescue Remedy. I needed bloody something.