Oct 2007 - This little piggy had pureed butternut squash and a slice of pear...

[alicet]

Well thought I should start a new thread in time to link it on the old one!!!

" getting p*ssed on Stella and all sleeping together under the canvas awning" ooops...I really should read before posting...they really did sleep, nothing more, honest.

Floria not surprised you're hacked off and feel hemmed into a corner! I am really quite on your behalf! The childless couple have an excuse in that it's just not possible to really appreciate quite how hard it is to be away from your lo's and all the practialities of bf etc but the others are having a laugh! I think this is highly insensitive of them.

Could you not take Alex with you? Where are you all staying? Maybe get a house together and then you can still have the boozy nights albeit in rather than out if that's a big part of it. And there's no reason why you couldn't take Alex with you shopping with the girls is there?

I might have just left my 5 and a half month old for 3 days but that's not to say I don't understand why people would choose not to and certainly it's not an option if you're bf. And to presume they have the right to tell you to stop bf too is really rude.

Maybe take a couple of days to let things calm down and then just explain to your dh why it's just not going to be possible but if you can find somewhere to stay all together with Alex included as well then you are really looking forward to it. OK so that might be a bit of a stretch of the truth but I guess at least it's a reasonable compromise...

Hi everyone. Just trying to catch up here - been busy with DS's3rd birthday this weekend (where did those years go?) and feeling pretty crap about things. But too boring to think of now...

Floria - do not feel bad. There is no way I could have left DS at this age (interestingly, I may leave Madeleine in a few months overnight for my DH's 40th but we'll see) - I didn't leave him until he was well over a year I think. Mostly cause I too was b'fing but also because I just wouldn't have coped with it very well. Each one of us is different - I have friends who have LO's in full time nursery from 4 months, and others who take an annual week holiday in Spain without babies - works for them, and whist I would love a break, I know that it's not for me. Would spend the entire time fretting. Treasure your time with Alex. These months will fly by and you have the rest of your life to think about weekends away - just explain to your DH and friends. I'm sure they'll understand, and if they don't - tough!

aahhh - have to go and get DS from nursery. But will come back later - quickly though, Stefka I had dizziness and hallucinations when Madeleine was at her worst sleeping period. I would say it's exhaustion and would seocnd Floria - someone coming to the house for a few hours so you can rest/sleep whilst they push D in his buggy or entertain him in the sitting room is worth its weight in gold. If money is tight, check if you're in a sure start area cause if you are, they can provide this service to mums who are struggling I think.

and Mine, I am right with you on everything you are feeling girl! Try not to be too hard on yourself. We will get our old lives back. This, like everything, is just a temporary phase. Or at least this is my recurrent mantra of the moment. hope it works!

hope everyone else is ok.Les, how are you today?
really got to go x

That would really piss me off Floria - BF is a wonderful thing and why the hell should you be under any pressure to stop it? It's good for you and good for your baby.

Ejt - thanks so much for the lovely offer - I actually got the book after you suggested it before. It's great. I have been using it and would you believe this - last night he got me up - ONCE!!! I was in total shock! I heard him at around three but he must have gone back to sleep himself. I really hope this is the start of better sleep!

Floria am [shocked] at your dh's friends! They would have seen you both struggle to having Alex so I am surprised they haven't taken into consideration your feelings about bf and spending time away from Alex. I think if I were you I would go but on my own terms in that Alex's needs come first and if that means you will bf when ALex needs it. As for the comment about you getting him off bf by then, well that's really none of their business is it!

Just to put a more positive spin on your friend's behaviour.... They might have seen you struggle with the sleeplessness over the last few months and struggling with dh being away with work a lot and thought they were helping to give you a break? I am firmly of the school that it is important to take time as a couple and to remember the person you were before the dc's arrived and maybe they are too? Lets face it they are 1) childless so have no idea about how you feel 2) have teenagers so have forgotten and 3) are totally happy to leave their 4 months old baby for 2 weeks so are on a totally different planet to you. I should add though that although that is how I feel it is FOR ME AND DH and I would never presume that it would be the right way for someone else and would definately check with the couple concerned that they were happy with this before presuming I was helping them by arranging some childfree time!!!!! However maybe they thought they had done this by asking you before if it was OK and presumed that you would realise this was asking if a boozy adults only weekend was ok rather than if you and Alex and dh wanted to go do this for a weekend! If that is how their relationship with your dh was before Alex they might have presumed you would realise this. I think they have been thoughtless and their remarks about bf are totally out of order and innappropriate but maybe their hearts are in the right place?

Sorry Floria that message was for you - sure that's obvious from what I was saying!

Went to see the doc about my hip half an hour ago...

Bloody stand in doctor horrible man. I can't wait for my doctor (woman) to get back from China, I appreciate her even more now. I went in all friendly like, asking him if he was standing in for my doctor etc, he never cracked a smile. I felt on edge as soon as I went in. He didn't ask me what was wrong, just waited silently until I spoke. Didn't really help at all, only advice he offered was that they could do an mri scan or ultrasound, but nhs wouldn't fund it, so would have to go private as it was only for peace of mind. Did a cursory check of movement on the couch, which didn't hurt at all, I told him I was just being cautious and that it was uncomfortable but not enough to take painkillers. I wanted some advice on my running, as to whether I could keep it up or not, he just said that it was likely a sprain, not to run the race this year and to lose some weight that's why I wanted to run you moron Aaarrrrgghh! can't put in to words how stupid he made me feel. Anyway I am still going to train but take it more slowly and see what happens. He didn't even suggest any exercises to do that might help. F**ker, he has made me angry. On the way out I told the receptionist that I didn't like him and she agreed with me.

Stefka, hurrah for DS having a better night! I had DH doing most of it, so I had a good night too (!).

Ejt, I've had Alice's copy of the no cry sleep solution for months. I do actually follow most of it - I dont pick her up, I just put my hand on her chest, and that sends her back to sleep. The problem is the sheer frequency of wakings. I'm not bothering with the HV anymore as her last suggestion was 'change to formula' - completely bonkers as Rebecca goes 11-12 hours every night without food; she doesn't wake up hungry. She just wakes up a lot and can't self-settle. I'm working on that but it is soooo slow... and hard when you're shattered... and when I ignore her she cries, and I can't abide the crying so I go to her. I just hope she will start to wake up less.

Stefka, re weaning, I think you do it when it feels right - I'm waiting for the mo cos DD isn't that hungry (if she was she'd presumably ask to eat during the night) and I have a few allergies.

Floria - I wouldn't leave Rebecca either. Could you say thank you, great present as long as Alex can come??? It won't affect DH as he can still do his driving thing, and you can still shop, do lunch etc with lo in a pushchair at this age - I find it's easyish to have fun shopping even with a pram in tow.

Lisa, GRRRRRR to the doctor!!! Go back when your real doctor is there!!!

LES, hope things improve for you soon!

Well, got to go put Rebecca to bed then am making Nigella food for dinner... she is good at going to bed now at least! Have a good eve all!

It's great that you don't have to pick her up! That hardly ever happens with Dareh. He went to sleep at 6:30 tonight, woke up at seven and has been awake every since. I have been in trying to get him to sleep for the last hour, I just swapped with DH. He's tired but at the same time totally awake.

Dear me - I've missed lots! RL getting in the way .

FT - you should definitely get that suit for Alex - he would look so debonair (sp?) in it! About your dh's present I think you should talk to him - he might be happy to arrange it for quite late and you can both see how you feel nearer the time. I'm sure he'd want to know if you had doubts about going and he may come up with a solution.

Muppet - hope you're feeling better today. Poor you having to starve yourself for the enema - not sure I could have managed that. Hope the table leg tasted yummy! Space party sounds great - you are so good at that sort of thing. Brave boys both having their jabs done.

Mine - Don't feel guilty at all about wanting time off from Eren - you're still a person in your own right - that didn't stop when you became a mum. It's ok to want 'me' time every so often - in fact you will be a better, calmer mum if you look after yourself now and again. My dh usually takes Anya out on a Saturday morning just for a couple of hours so I can get a bath and chill out - sometimes I spend the whole week looking forward to it.
And weird that Muppet talking about having a 5-year plan - I was working out one for me a few weeks ago and it was really interesting. It felt like a good opportinuty to step back and decide what I want out of life as I'd stopped doing almost everything I was doing before, temporarily at least. I'm glad I did it, it's helped me stop feeling a bit 'lost' and disorientated.
(When did the world stop saying disorientated and start saying disoriented? Has anybody else noticed that? Drives me )mad!

Inzi - welcome back!

Frangipan - welcome! Lovely name for lo.

J2O - has Shannon got any teeth yet? Can't believe she's been teething for so long! Anya's teeth seem to have decided not to bother after all.

Alice - at hr department. Stand your ground, I'm sure your colleagues will understand.

LLL - glad Ben is so much better. lol at the receptionist at the doctor's - that should tell you everything! Make another appointment when your normal doctor's back.

Choc/Stefka - lots of sympathy for your continuing lack of sleep. Am so grateful not to be going through it.

Stefka - I started weaning at 4+bit months. Think it varies a lot as with most things - it's whatever works for your baby.

LES - big hugs - hope things pick up for you soon. Good luck with the baby signing.

Anya is still rolling like a mad thing, but not crawling yet though she's trying very hard. News on the scan - a consultant at a different hospital has agreed to take responsibility for her and we've a consultation booked in for next week. Scan to follow within 6 weeks - feels like a long time .

Plan to get a highchair soon and see if she'll sit in it ok. Will be much easier then to give her finger foods - sticking to purees just for the moment.

Went on a St John Ambulance course Saturday morning - children's life saving. Would recommend it - we did choking, serious bleeding and recusitation (sp?). Hope I never have to do any of it for real but it's reassuring to think I would know what to do instead of going into a blue funk!

I have just typed in my name on facebook (maiden version) and found a girl with the same name -feaky as I have a very unusual surname (still part of my name now as double barreled it with dh's)

She asked where I was born so I told her but also told her that my family were all from Nettledbed in Oxford and it turns out she was born in Oxford and most of her family still live there. I wouldn't be so excited about this if my surname was Smith but I have a very unusual surname that I have never met anyone else called this too...

This has really spurned me on to do something about researching my family tree which I have threatended to do every year for the past 10 years. Anyone else done this at all?

Hey everyone, been away for the weekend to Peterborough (over 5 hours away in the car!) for sil's baby shower. Was really nice but tiring! Dylan was an absolute angel, he smiled at everyone for the first hour of the baby shower and made them all broody then went down to bed in his buggy in the other room (we were in conservatory so could just check on him through the patio door ) and never heard a peep from him for the rest of the evening. Have read posts but haven't really got time to reply to them all right now as have to tidy house, fil is coming to move our bath and get the tiles off the wall in our bathroom tomorrow, he's gonna help finish it, thank god cause I don't think we'd ever get it done otherwise (he's a heating engineer/plumber). I can remember choc and stefka are having sleep problems, hope it improves soon!
Anyway, can't be bothered but must go tidy, catch ya soon

Thanks all for listening to my rant earlier; I'll talk to dh about it when he gets back on Thurs

Anyasmum; I'll be in touch about Thurs...so looking forward to it

Muppet: I did quite a bit of family tree building. Joined genes reunited and ancestry.com, got a lot of the puzzle filled in by distant family members who had done the hard slog and who contacted me through Genes reunited when they spotted a match...and discovered a skeleton or two in the closet...I'm sure you will have fun doing the research....I havent had time for it since Alex was born.

Dal; glad you had a good time

Bed beckons...night,night all

Hi all,

The sun is shinning (it's bloody cold though!) and my little boy has let me have a lie in Henry is still asleep as usual but Ollie is at Grandma's so we didn't have the usual dawn chorus start to the day. ('Go back to be child it's still dark') Apparently my lovely big boy told Grandma that she needed to practise her cooking as it wasn't as good as Mummy's.

I love my big boy even more now

Am getting H weighed today and will walk there as I don't have to go to school to pick Ollie up afterwards. WIll probably arrive all sweaty like but I need to do some exercise as I feel like I'm getting really lathargic after stopping all my Tennis. Dh got home at 9.30pm last night and thinks he will be late again tonight -so much for the 'us' time we normally have when Ollie is away but he did say he was going to try to work from home tomorrow and we could have some time together then.

Have a good day all
x

that should be 'go back to bed child'

Have a good day Muppetgirl

Oh and I live for the day Sam would tell grandma that mummy is better at something what an angel

Floria - looking forward to meeting you on thursday Now, does everyone going to York, like Lemon? Was going to do some baking today. If not I will do another version too

Anyasmum, how did you get onto the St Johns course? Think I might do one as I'm a bit neurotic about choking!!!

Lisalesslumpy - I LOVE LEMON! Actually I'm not picky anyway, but I love citrus fruits and lemony anything. Yum, am excited now, not that I wasn't already eager to see all you lovely ladies...

Muppet, ha ha to Oliver's comment - well said! Is Henry really still asleep? Oh dear. My little marauder woke up around 11 times from when she went to sleep around 8 to 5.30 when she decided it was time to get up.

Have a good day, everyone!

Yep Henry went to bed at 6 last night as he was rubbing his eyes and woke up at 8.20 ish am (just after I'd posted) He downed his 9ozs still screaming for more so I gave him some baby rice with sma but it just sat in his mouth. He doesn't spit it out or swallow it, it just sits there! Any ideas as to what to do anyone? He's obviously hungry after a full bottle, he does grab things off my plate and out them in his mouth but he really dosn;t know what to do with once it's in his mouth...

He ate a whole jar of banana and apple yesterday but a) it's sweet and b) I wanted to make his dinners!!!!

Am so jealous of your meetup -I LIKE LEMON TOO!!!

morning all

Muppet;hope you get your "us" day tomorrow...enjoy your day with H today and well done Ollie

LLL; Looking forward to meeting you too. I LURVE lemon ...but must admit I'm holding off buying ingredients for quiche until the weather forecast tomorrow for Thurs

Alice; thanks for trying to put a selfless slant on the weekend away thing..I wish I could believe it anyway..I saw Dh off to Kent until Thursday night, he's working from home Friday so I'll tell him about my concerns then

Morning ladies!

Muppet pmsl at Ollie telling Granny her cooking wasn't up to scratch !!!!! I can just see him doing it looking up at her all angelic with those gorgeous big brown eyes and her trying not to spontaneously combust! I did a project on my family history at school when I was about 14 so over 20 years ago them!!) and always said I would continue but haven't. I just spoke to my gradparents and other family though and didn't do any proper research or anything - these were the days before the net - however did we cope?!

Lisa at your stupid doc. If I were you I would go and see a physio instead. They will probably have a lot more practical advice. NHS referrals might take some time (plus you'd need the crap doc to make one) but you would be able to find a private on no bother - maybe go and see them and see what they say? Oh and lemon sounds lovely!!!

I am very impressed by the way at Lisa and Floria and their home baking for the York meet! I have to hold my hand up and say my contribution will be from Sainsburies! I love cooking but just not so good at the whole baking thing, more dinners that wouldn't exactly travel well!

Floria you know these people better so you are probably right that their intentions weren't selfless - in that case they may well try to say 'oh we did discuss it with you first!' and act all innocent like... That would really piss me off! Lets hope dh gets it anyway - sure he will!

Dal glad you had a lovely weekend away

Anyasmum you have been missed - looking forward to seeing you on Thurs... And the rest of you York ladies!

Well Adam is sleeping and I am chilling - quite literally as the bloody heating is knackered AGAIN!!! Why it chooses the really cold time to do this and not last week when it was hot any sunny is beyond me.... Have boiler man coming back again this pm after warming up in cafe nero with Choc first!

I am going to see a physio alice, there is a good one near me and they are open till 8.30pm three days a week, so can go without the boys Its only £37 for the initial session, so well worth it I think

Alice - I know! He couldn't have got it any better had I been secretly training him myself....

But he would have then just said 'Mummy told me to tell you.....' 'cos he's like that!

muppetgirl - am at Olly's comment to Grandma ... good boy!

FT - am (sadly) not shocked at your friends' reaction - the childless couple have no idea, the couple with older children will have forgotten, and the couple with the 9-month-old won't have the same insight into the bf relationship.
fwiw, I'd also suggest the self-catering option - that way you can all go.

Can't remember what everybody else said, sorry. HV came around today, and said in her first breath how well M was looking, then weighed her, and got all worried looking as she's dropped to the 50th centile ... personally I'm not that bothered - we have only just started solids, she started on the 25th centile, before shooting up to the 75th anyway, not to mention the fact that she's a busy little thing, and rarely stops moving ... HV didn't seem convinced though, and told me off for not giving her pureed food - the fact that she's eating, and that she's only a week over 6 months seems to have passed her by ... [frustrated]

Think I'll do exactly what I do when MiL starts - nod, smile, and carry on doing my own thing ...

MiL's latest btw is that M. is too attached to me - and that it's my fault because I'm ex. bf ... apparently, I need to get her onto a bottle. Fortunately dh replied for me before I could explode ... s!lly bl00dy woman!

Oh, and my hat arrived today - I am now out of the duel ... next stop "Bag Whores" (I kid you not!)

Am having a Welsh lesson at home tonight - my tutor is coming round ... my exam is in a fortnight - managed to do some studying while M was asleep earlier - hence my less than frequent posts at the mo'!

loves to all ... ... enjoy the York meet-up!

FT - i'm so angry for you. Its a shame its all gone a bit pear shaped considering it was something you were all looking forward too. I completely understand where you're coming from as i have a few friend the same, those that don;t have kids just don;t understand. In fact some make you feel a bit stupid for not wanting to leave your kids for 5 mins!

LLL - i think you should go back and give that stand in doc a good kick in the back and see how he takes the pain!!!

LES - you have soo much on your plate, its a wonder you keep sane!! I hope it all works out. Living in London can be a bit of a pain sometimes, but to be honest i don't think i could live anywhere else!!

Choc/Stefka - i wish there was a magic potion lo's could take so they sleep through the night for you. I'm not sure if it was choc or stefka that said their lo woke 11 times in the night... that surely is not right, can;t your gp/hv do ANYTHING to help you??? Thats what they are there for, not just to spurn out crap from the WHO blah blah blah, we can all get that from the internet surely. Maybe if you kick up a fuss they may help ......

Muppet - pmsl at Ollie's comment to grandma!! How cute does he sound!

Hugs and waves to everyone i din;t get a chance to mention.
xxxx