January 08 shiny new - year babys , tired mums and dads!

[lilyloo]

Will that do

gingeme you need a new name
Naetha that picture of Ben in front of mirror is priceless, you need to find a competition to enter it in

Made some lovely pics of Nathan too today. He is growing up so fast, aaargh, was pleading with him to slow down a bit.

Was in Boots today and bought him a wee weaning bowl with Winny the Pooh on it, could not resist. He is only 14 weeks so will be waiting a bit, but I would really like to wean him onto solids while still breast feeding and I want to wean him on to formula by 8 months max as he does not like change and I am supposed to go back to work when he is 10 months. THat said, i am really in two minds. I like my job but cannot imagine leaving my precious baby, plus what if he is developing so well because I am around to stimulate him all the time?

JUst ordered a sun mesh for the push chair. Bright sunlight makes him scream and the Phil and Ted hood is not great. Makes the thing look like a hearse, but hey ho, looks like he has my skin so better be careful

Amani, hang in there. I know what it is like when your tiny is so ill. You worry anyway, even if they are not, so if they are you get beside yourself. Praying that it will get better soon. The question 'Why my little baby' has played in my mind a million times.

Ha was thinking that madmouse but not sure what to.
We bought a bowl for George today too. ds4 has a bowl and plate with numbers and letters on so we bought the weaning bowl with letters on. All from Tesco. I bought 3 spoons too but dh put them back because they were pink and got some blue ones.
I think lo may have a touch of excema too. He seems to be very erm how can I explain crusty I guess around his eyes and hes has a couple of patches under his arm pits and behind his knees. Ive been putting oilatum cream on his limbs but not sure what to put on his eyes. Im going to the docs on Monday and I have an appt for him too.
Well were off to Matalan tommorrow to buy me a new coat. I have a massive pink one dh bought me when I was pregnant with ds3 and the zip has gone on it and I cut the fur off the hood cause I couldn't see to cross the road so its basicaly knackered. I got one off Ebay but its a jacket rather than a coat so Im going to see if I can get a nice one in there sales ready for this winter.

Just want to shout this from the rooftops Alek did 8 - 2.30 - 6 last night!!! That feels like a breakthrough to me!

gonna take him to the seaside today.

Got loads of stuff for weaning from the tommee tippe factory the other day - they also had Mothercare and Boots stuff in there - all half price or less.

Alerk was whingey for my nan yesterday (teeth again). She is 87 but looks and acts about 20 years younger (someone else had a poorly nan?). Although .... she had saved me a tracksuit from the charity shop where she still works, which was lilac and clearly had Little Miss written on it .

Amani - hang in there, really hoping your lo gets better soon. Naetha, loved the pics of Ben, he's adorable. Ange - yay! Hope you're feeling the wonderful effects of more sleep Good tip on the make-up ....and yes, it was me slathering on the face cream! Gingeme - good luck with the coat shopping. Nicky6 - glad things kinda worked out, its so annoying going to the wrong place and a million times more annoying with a baby in tow! Barristermum - how was your girl's night in with cerys?
Tana had her vaccinations yesterday, and was very unsettled after - managed to get some calpol down her with a spoon by smiling and making 'yum yum' noises, and she was quite happy to have it - major breakthrough, as normally I can't even get gripe water down her with her screaming and squirming!Hope the sun is shining on all of us today
Ooh, quick update on my MIL - she's still saying 'my baby' to Tana which I can learn to live with, but think I have cured her of saying 'Mama' to her (told her that's my title and I'm not willing to share it).

Mixedmama - how's the new job going, and the living situ with yr BIL?

Afternoon ladies. Hope your all well. Didn't go shopping for a coat in the end. Will go tommorrow.
Had a lady from freecycle pick some pastry cutters up fom me today and she had a baby boy born on New Years eve this year named Max. Im sure shes been on here or due in Dec thread somewhere. Didn't think to ask
Had another early morning this morning. George seems to be getting earlier and earlier. The other two were up early today too. Its driving me mad .Think its time to get something other than milk into George.
Rang my eldest up this morning to wish him Happy Birthday. Hes 14! Can't believe it . I seem to have been having children most of my adult life . Hes got a deep voice and everything
Might go to the park later. Feel so tired but its not fare to keep the boys in on such a lovely day.
Oh well off to make some lunch.

ok, all those without gardens, look away now...

i am lying on picnic blanket, typing on new laptop, both boys asleep, sun is shining and dh said he'll be home by teatime

gingeme - max does sound familiar...
happy birthday to ds1
if you can remember that far back (cheeky!) did you manage to get out and about much with one? that's what i think others are in awe of, somehow one baby is so much hard work, then when you have others you just have to get out for sanity sake. i know my ds1 wouldn't tolerate a boring day indoors but when he was the baby, we both did that for the first few months anyway.
but from the pov of first-timers, getting out and about with 2 or even 3 looks v tricky. i know it did to me yet we get out at least once every day, even if only to shops/supermarket/walk round block.

mixedmama - yes not heard from you in a while, all ok?

fragolina - sounds like you are winning in the MIL stakes
ds2 had his second jabs this morning, so far ok, was more worried about ds1's reaction to ds2 screaming but all went well. not sure ds1 thinks much of the nurse tho

naetha - lovely pics

ange - well done alek that tommee tippee factory shop sounds good, where is it?

madmouse - so you have a p&t? i looked at the sunshade but have a pepeny (sp?) that ties onto any buggy so have stuck with that for now. the hood isn't great for lying down babies i agree, but good for the toddler sitting up in front when you get there

hi to nicky, amani, lilyloo and others, think ds2 is stirring...

Afternoon ladies,

Am having a much better day today - slept 6 hrs (in broken bits) but that is such an improvement to having a baby crying half the night, the sun is shining, listening to some classic Mariah Carey (cheers Gingeme!) and my family are heading here from down South to give some support, and it is looking like there might be some light at the end of this tunnel.

Gingeme - about the crying thing - I was really touched about the fact that I haven't even met or spoken to any of you but you all have given me so much support - means a lot.
xxx

justkeepswimming - are a new a newbie? Hello! and it sounds lovely how you are spending today.

Fragolina - well done for standing up to MIL..

Oh was going to reply to everyone and the phone just rang and woke up DD2....

try and come on later...

Hi everyone...

Started with good intentions of personal replies, but then just lost track.

Gist seems to be though crap DH/DP, mine seems to be looking up but is worse than useless most weekends so you all have my sympathies.

Amani - hope things improve.

Lilyloo - sorry to hear about your worries, hope things look up. I am unfortunately all too familiar with the finances situation which in my case never seems to be solved.

Job is going well... have just been training really. Had been absolutely fine and then started reading all your posts and now virtually in tears at my desk at the fact that I have left my baby at 4 months old and gond back to work and am probably missing all the things you guys are talking about. Hopefully when my part time hours kick in next week I might feel better when I have my own childcare and can spend proper time with them. The strange thing is I am not even financially that much better off.

The lady I am workign with who is also new is really stressing me out. she actually does not know how to use a computer at all. The other day I came in and she said "did you know that you have to press the button on the box to turn the computer on" she then proceeded to tell me that we hadnt received training in this and that we always turn off the computer from the screen. That is one of many things. I asked her to send an email with an attachment whilst I was at lunch yesterday and I came back and she had one of the admin staff out here cos she couldnt do it. We started on the same day.

She has had 3 years out raising her daughter so of course her skills may be rusty but to not be able to turn on a computer. Every single task she cannot do and we have to sit with her and go through everytime.

The lady I am covering for (she is going on mat leave)has told me that she has expalined to HR and our manager about the situation as she doesnt want me to carry her and then people never notice that she cant do the job. Feel abit bad, btu DH said it isnt my fault if she cant do it.

The solution now is that we have shown her in immense detail how to do two things which require the same info and need to be done each week. These will be her tasks until she is 100% confident and I will do all the other admin tasks and train her in them one at a time. The thing is she is the perm one and I am the contractor which feels a little unfair,.

Anyway enough ranting... and fragolina the BIL sit is the same as ever.

Ohhh had some good news too.... a friend who i fell out with a few years back is back in touch and we went out witht he kids on sunday and had a lovely day so pleased.

Sorry for the long post... am now going to meticulously make a plan for next week so I dont feel that I am depriving my children of their mummy.

Hi everyone...

Started with good intentions of personal replies, but then just lost track.

Gist seems to be though crap DH/DP, mine seems to be looking up but is worse than useless most weekends so you all have my sympathies.

Amani - hope things improve.

Lilyloo - sorry to hear about your worries, hope things look up. I am unfortunately all too familiar with the finances situation which in my case never seems to be solved.

Job is going well... have just been training really. Had been absolutely fine and then started reading all your posts and now virtually in tears at my desk at the fact that I have left my baby at 4 months old and gond back to work and am probably missing all the things you guys are talking about. Hopefully when my part time hours kick in next week I might feel better when I have my own childcare and can spend proper time with them. The strange thing is I am not even financially that much better off.

The lady I am workign with who is also new is really stressing me out. she actually does not know how to use a computer at all. The other day I came in and she said "did you know that you have to press the button on the box to turn the computer on" she then proceeded to tell me that we hadnt received training in this and that we always turn off the computer from the screen. That is one of many things. I asked her to send an email with an attachment whilst I was at lunch yesterday and I came back and she had one of the admin staff out here cos she couldnt do it. We started on the same day.

She has had 3 years out raising her daughter so of course her skills may be rusty but to not be able to turn on a computer. Every single task she cannot do and we have to sit with her and go through everytime.

The lady I am covering for (she is going on mat leave)has told me that she has expalined to HR and our manager about the situation as she doesnt want me to carry her and then people never notice that she cant do the job. Feel abit bad, btu DH said it isnt my fault if she cant do it.

The solution now is that we have shown her in immense detail how to do two things which require the same info and need to be done each week. These will be her tasks until she is 100% confident and I will do all the other admin tasks and train her in them one at a time. The thing is she is the perm one and I am the contractor which feels a little unfair,.

Anyway enough ranting... and fragolina the BIL sit is the same as ever.

Ohhh had some good news too.... a friend who i fell out with a few years back is back in touch and we went out witht he kids on sunday and had a lovely day so pleased.

Sorry for the long post... am now going to meticulously make a plan for next week so I dont feel that I am depriving my children of their mummy.

whoops posted mammoth message twice

HI MIXEDMAMA !!!!!!!!!!

whoops about the capitals

amani - not a newbie, was katyt but got bored with that...
glad you have some family coming to help out.

mixedmama - the work situation sounds bad, think HR really do need to know, i mean turning the computer on fgs!
instead of feeling guilty just read the bits about where we say we are bored/deprived of adult company/deprived of brain stimulation/etc....

dh home, yay

well they are aware so will see how it goes. thankfully we dont actually have top work together she will do 8.00 - 1.30 and I will do 12.30 - 6.00 so only an hour.

oh mixedmama i know just how you feel on the work thing. I went to see our friend who will be looking after Cerys today and signed all the paperwork. She's a close firend who is a childminder so it is perfect but when I left I was in tears at the thought of going back to work and leaving Cerys. Who, needless to say has been the most lovely company today - all toothless grins and giggling as if to say "You couldn't possibly leave me mummy, look how much fun I am?!" Aaargh!

Put her in a door bouncer today - she was utterly nonplussed by the whole thing - really funny - just swung around in it looking at me in a "What's the point of this the?" sort of way.

Wherer is fluffymummy/fillybuster I know she was going to family for passover but shouldn't she be back by now?

Evening ladies.
Lol at Cerys in the bouncer can only imagine.
Justkeepswimming I never realy had just one for very long because number two wasn't that far behind. But I think it quite amusing when people comment now when were all out together. A classic example just this afternoon at the park. Ds3 off on his scooter shouting 'look how fast I am Mummy!'. DS4 falling over his own feet and scraping his knees and ds5 fast asleep in the double buggy with the big sunshade over him and a lady walking past smiling and saying 'boy you have a lot of kids'. If only she knew. he he
mixedmama sounds like this woman needs to do a pc course before she starts any real work
Amani glad the music thing worked. Personaly I cant stand Mariah Carey but each to their own I say
Ive put a big bag of baby clothes on Freecycle last week and had a woman realy keen to collect them., Arranged a time. I was here exactly on time. She emailed to say sorry can we do it next day?. I was in at 5 pm next day, time arranged and she didn't show again . Re listed the items and a guy emailed me. Yes please I can collect as soon as blah blah. We went to the park today. Got back for 4.50 as he was meant to pick them up at 5. No show . Its for free for f*k sake whats the problem?
Im taking them to the charity shop Saturday can't be bothered with Freecycle any more.
Now Ive finnished moaning Im off for a bath.
Have agood night all xxx

Morning all - just posted a couple of up to date pictures of my beautiful girl. Feeling really weepy today about it being my last day with her.

Hi all Ange great news on the sleep front i am so pleased for you , hope you have truned a corner

Gingeme agree with the frecycle thing , our moderator asks you to let him know if you get no shows and the reason why so they can stop these time wasters! Lol at you going shopping for winter jacket suppose you will get a bargain, i am way too disorganised to do that!

mixedm and bmum am with you on the guilt work / don't work thing but there are pros and cons to both as i have done both and i think it's just finding the way that suits you, for me that was going down to 3 days!

Mixedm are you still no better on the finance fron as i know things had got reall bad ?

Amani of course it's not down to you dd is ill i think it's so much harder when you haven't got family support. I sort of know what you mean as dp's family live in Leeds and my family are not at all close now since my mum died i don't think my dad has seen Martha for a couple of months now
Glad yesterday was abit better amazing what sleep can do!

Naetha did you get any help r/e settling Ben off your thread, he is verrrry cute!

Frag poor Tana hope she feeling better after injections and yay on mil front small steps

Madm that must be a tough decision abut leaving Nathan as you say your constant stimulation has done him so much good.

Nicky at your nigghtmare day meant you found nursery hope it's a good one.

Justkeepswimming how are you going to top yesterday off sounds like bliss !

Well i am sat here very with sunburnt arms after walking to get ds from school yesterday it took me 2 and a half hours there and back so not sure giving up my car is an option
Martha's sleeping last night was terrible every two hours again , dp even said she needs 'formula' but don't really want to yet! Hoping it's the 16 week growth spurt they talk about apparantly it's the worst.
Well dp got the job so he just needs to clarify wages. He was the strongest candidate they said. That's because he is good at what he does just a shame the bloody credit crunch meant he couldn't make it work to make the money for himself and not someone else [angry but onwards and upwards i guess , he shed a few tears yesterday and i felt very sorry for him, he only ever cried once before when my mum died so not like him. He feels he has failed us all esp as it will leave us with debt.

just a quickie any advice on this -

Charlie now 16 weeks from 12 weeks has slept through from dream feed at 11 to 730 then last week had her 2nd set of jabs and since then wakes up at between 4-5 am for about an hour crying such a happy lovely baby its really weird, i dont feed her her as i reckon well you have been sleeping through the night so it cant be food and after about 50 mins she goes back to slepp unitl her normal time of 7.30 any ideas whats up??

nicky - as lilyloo said the 16wk growth spurt is on the way ds2 was down to 1 feed a night for weeks but has gone up to 2 or even 3 (argh!) a night atm. he is 16wks on monday. so i wouldn't think it's necessarily the jabs, tho worth watching if she comes out in a rash or has a temp?

lily - with you, tho my dh doesn't dare mention ff as he knows he'd have to get up then to help
seriously tho, i was even thinking of posting a 'support for 16wk growth spurt' thread cos i know i'm stubborn enough to keep bfding but it would be nice to get a little encouragement too so keep going
2.5hrs? blimey that's a long walk, did ds walk back with you ok? i wouldn't give up a car for that either tho i am trying to walk more atm. have a pedometer now, up to 7000 so far today, got to 10,000 yesterday - not sure how it translates to distance tho

bmum - love the pics for you being last day, are you going back f-t? you will love your weekend time with her even more. make sure your cm/friend tells you any little developments so you know what she's up to

gingeme - so what is the gap between ds1 & 2? and what are the gaps btw 3,4 & 5? my gap is 20months. hoping to get pg again when ds2 is 2, so will be 35months-ish gap then.
grrr re freecycle, i have been messed arond too, but had some really good grateful people too. coat shopping today?

well - been at playgroup, ds1 knackered and asleep upstairs, ds2 asleep in buggy, i am having some chocolate then turning this off and grabbing some shuteye myself [fingers crossed emoticon], bye all

Hi all,

Sorry - I've got so far behind...

LOL barristermum - I had a similar door bouncer experience. I put Sabela in hers and she just hung there, keeping extremely still as she does when she thinks she might be in danger, staring at me. Poor lass. Maybe in another couple of weeks

Nicky - I find that Sabela isn't consistent in her sleeping. She's now 18 weeks and she started to change to sleeping longer around 5-16 weeks, but it's not all the time. Sometimes I get 10-7, sometimes 8-3-5, sometimes 9-3-6 etc. I just feed her when she wakes and generally she's pretty easy to get back to sleep. My feeling is that is just takes a while for them to adjust to sleeping longer. But then I'm generally pretty easy going and we don't have a strict routine as such, I just follow her.

Well done on DH getting job, Lilyloo!

Gingeme - you are a traitor to gingers! Looks nice though, and DCs are adorable. I'm jealous of you with your big and little boys! An old friend cam to see me the other day and, talking over people we know who had kids young I realised that they could now go for a second lot! I@ve always wanted a big bunch but I think I've left it a bit late.

Hi Lucky!

Naetha - Ben's as cute as ever! Sabela just ignores the mirror!

MM - I do know a PA who is actually more useless with technology. Her entire department is livid, but she's the wife of a high up, so nothing doing. It makes them want to tear their hair out!

Amani - big hugs to you and DD. Especially you!

Ange - LOL at tracksuit!

Madmouse - I agree they're getting old! Everyone keeps saying Sabela looks so big. IT's going so fast! ??????!!!!!!

My best friend is due to give birth on June 10th. I can't stop buying her presents! I keep thinking, 'oo, that'll be useful'.. so excited!

Well. My big news is that I've resigned from my job! SO I'm officially a SAHM.. and skint! We've had a surprising amount of negativity about itfrom some friends where both parents work , saying we're goin to be hard up / what's the point etc. I've always wanted to stay at home while they're small though, and I think I'm just going to please myself. I'm not here to please them and I'm not hurting anybody. As soon as I have another baby - which hopefully won't be too long - most of my salary would go on childcare anyway. EACH TO HIS OWN, I say. You just have to do what it right for you and your family. You can change it again later if it doesn't work for you.

Better stop spending on my best friend though! ....

Hello JKS. 16 week growth spurt is fun. Really! No, REALLY!

Hola ladies....

lily - things are as bad as ever and looking into serious options now.

I have a meetign with my manager later and she is gonna ask about the other lady. The recep that has just left to have her baby has filled her in anyway so she knows what is going on. Today when I was training her (yes me) she actually asked wehre Excel was when i asked her to open it and actually opened inetrnet explorer.

Rapidly losing the will to live, she even had the cheek to tell me that I should be honest with boss about her - like i was goona lie and cover for her.

Anyway... kids are doing great. DS1 is very attached to me in the evenings, but hoping with part time kicking in next week we can get some good quality time. DS2 is smiling and talking loads... also dribbling loads... has been nice not to have to wrap him up the last few days with the weather. No rolling or anything yet but he is trying.

He has a lop sided head atm and DH took him to health visitor and he now has to have a scan on his skull to make sure it isnt anything serious and that it wont inhibit brain growth. They said they think it is just the way he lays and just to put him on his front more often so not worrying too much.

Gingeme - meant to say am up for meet up if it can possibly be a weekend but know i am in the minority so no prob if not.

Susie am quite you have taken the plunge and resigned , i would like to be a sahm i think with Martha as she is my last am hoping our finances will be better whe it comes to decision time.

Mixedm things are still so bad , did you ask your dad ?
Hope it isn't anything serious wih ds.

Nicky '16 week growth spurt' my dd has been taken over and has spent the best part of the day grizzling wanting to be carried and feeding on and off most of the day it's harder than having a newborn!

JKS thanks for the bf support i did see him 'pale' when i said he could do the night bottles then!