For the 8th time...............May Babies!

[egypt]

well hello

Awwww the strawberry story! My god i am in tears How lovely

xx

Egypt: to be honest, don't know. He wasn't that comfortable in it (prefers his "stationary" walker, if you know what I mean) and the rubber had gone a bit white in places so I didn't trust it anymore (used to be ds1's) so chucked it. Sorry!

Well health visitor has been and gone. Is it just me or do other people end up feeling really defensive around HVs? I always feel like they're trying to trip me up to expose me as a bad mother!

Apparently:

• I should be giving him finger food as it's important developmentally (sorry, apart from the odd rice cake, I really can't be arsed yet. He'll survive if I wait until 9 months when he's got a few more teeth and is actually interested in chewing).
• He should be babbling. He's not. Ds1 didn't at this age either. So she's coming back in 6 weeks time (when he would have been 9 months had he been born on his due date).
• I said he couldn't bang two blocks together. Slightly embarrassed when she handed him two blocks and he sat there merrily banging them together for a good five minutes!!!!
• He's doing well for weight/height/head circumference despite him being sicky which is good.
• can't do pincer movement yet (picking up with finger and thumb) - he's almost there with the action but can't lift stuff... but then I'm avoiding letting him have small stuff in case he chokes! Can't win on that one, I don't think.
• apparently ds1 is blinking lots so he's probably short sighted. Oh joy. Something else ds1 is "less than perfect" on (stop picking on my darling babies!!!!) - mind you he hasn't much hope on that score - both me and dh are short sighted.

I also feel a bad mother today because I've finally made the decision, and I gave ds2 a bottle of formula for the 2.30pm feed (well... it was 3pm by the time it had cooled enough... oops! Will be organised tomorrow). He only drank 2.5oz after all my angst, so not sure if that's good bad or indifferent. Kind of feel relieved though as I hated that feed - just hope it isn't the slippery slope to losing the other two feeds as well though.

Good grief, I don't think I've posted this much of relevance for ages!!

Oh, also said ds2 was doing really well in terms of "self-care" (he can hold his own spoon but not eat from it and can drink from a sippy cup unaided - didn't think these were particularly marvels of development). I jokingly commented that second children have to be better at self care (mental note, never joke with HVs) Then she started telling me that exceptional self-care skills are often a sign of extreme neglect! I know she wasn't trying to imply that I was being neglectful, but still

egypt: up to 12kg

casmie: ouch! somehow i am glad we don't have a checkup. how terrible to say such things to you!!!! - and besides that each baby is different so how would she know

and well done on bottle! he might now even need that one if he drinks only that little.
lucas for example gets only 2 bottles a day each 7oz (when he gets up and before he goes to bed)

so, lucas decided he wanted an quick nap. and dp is napping for an hour too
dinner is cooking (chicken roast, carrots, broccoli, sprouts, peas, rice) - domestic enough? - so nothing much to do really!

tried to play my new game on the new pc and grrrr keeps crashing! so i gave up.
dp was on the phone to the pc company and oh surprise they couldn't help us at all. suggested to restore pc to factory settings. which we did - and guess what!! still crashes grrrr
well, no i have to copy all the programs again which i had on here already - what joy!

so how is everybody today?
for saturday dp has planed to go shopping and get me a bike (his xmas pressie!) - we might fall into some other shops too though
and i might even get him to take us out for lunch (nandoo's!!!! - very yummy)

and prob sunday we might go and visit dp's mum. we try to see her about every 4-6 weeks - mainly because of ds!

oh wow, i think i am bored!!! thought that won't happen ever again

SusiS: tbh none of it was meant in an overly critical way and there was lots of praise mixed in - but somehow I find I always focus on the things he's not doing... daft really.

TBH, I think both my boys are wonderful - advanced in some things, getting their on their own steam on others... I think it's worthwhile checking that there isn't anything fundamentally "wrong", but beyond that the rest just makes you worry unnecessarily.

Casmie - FWIW DD babbled at her 8 month check so big tick on that score......then didn't say A SINGLE WORD until 2.8 years!
I am encouraging DS with finger foods (he's eating Rice Krispie Muddles (yukyukyuk) right now in his high chair). However, this is only because it give me half a minute's respite to type this message, not to try and advance him in any way
Spots - in a strange way, I would like the pill to be responsible because, having suffered from depression several times before, I would like there to be an outside "cause" rather than it just being me, being me. I just keep clingling grimly to the hope that it will pass, hopefully as the weather gets sunnier and the days get lighter.
Please, can somebody tell me what happens with the strawberry? The thread doesn't cover past Emmatmg getting it from the postman. Is it all OK???

phewww, did i say i was bored????? silly me! ds decided not to sleep, wanted dinner instead - and that "now"!!! - then i had to run his bath and meantime get his bottles ready. luckily dp woke up and did the bathing - good dp
ohhhh and lucas was sitting all on his own in the bath today (had a seat so far) - he was well happy! was splashing about and trying to stand up

i know casmie. it's just everybody "knows" better what your kids need. - and i am sure you are the best mum they can have - and all the others here to their lo's!

how is your writing coming along btw?

Casmie your hv sounds most po faced. Have to laugh at her response to your (rather funny I thought) joke about 2nd children.

Just had my sister and her partner here. They are SO going to be the groovy aunties. My sister was running up to DD going 'bumbumbumbumbum' and then roaring at her bottom and DD was in fits, with that slightly manic edge that you hear in older children when something really thrills them. Very funny.

for domestic detail: we had baked potatoes, pear and stilton salad (still got that xmas stilton) broccoli... and our very favourite yoghurts. Yes we do have very favourite yoghurts, DH and I. I had a Blackcurrant one and it was Lovely.

Judd after that it seems rather silly to be commenting on your feeling miserable. Then again not... I don't think anything is more important than teeny tiny things that keep you ticking over like blackcurrant yoghurt. Just do keep us informed won't you? I hope it was as nice a day where you are as it was here, all sunny and cold. Send you not just xxx and {{{hugs}}}but also a blackcurrant yoghurt.

what are rice krispie muddles anyway? am I missing something?

Judd - missed the pill thing. I found that I used to have mood swings on the pill (plus it got to the point where I felt I had PMT all sodding month not just for a couple of days). One of the reasons I didn't go back on it once we started our family.

That said, I have a friend who reacted very emotionally to the pill, went back to the doc who said it was quite common - and they "experimented" with different types of pill until they found one she tolerated well. So do go back to your GP, please, don't suffer in silence!

SusiS: writing isn't really It's on my to do list along with the photography, honest

Good morning

Nothing much to report on the baby side of things, apart from kiera being able to sit really quite well suddenly- which i am thrilled about.

Casmie- I know exaclty what you mean about feeling like people judging your mothering capabilites, i put kiera in her best outfits when we go to the doctors, so they can see she looks pretty and healthy Anyway sounds to me like both your lovely boys are doing wonderfully, and so are you

Susi- no, no, no NO! NEVER announce your bordeom, you will curse it! Just aknowlegde it quietly and use it without anyone noticing.....

Judd- Big hugs...do keep us posted about how your feeling, i hope it was just a bit of a "bleugh" patch and you're feeling a bit better now. The pill used to make me a bit depressed as well at first, and very sick. Eventualy though it did get better, but i agree with Casmie, get thee to the docs and ask them If it's not just a "bleugh" patch you have much love and support here also....so keep venting

Well, today i am going to spend nibbling lots of crackers attempting to keep the nausua from hell at bay, whilst organizing a photo session for kiera next week, which is the last week we can use our 2nd "watch me grow" voucher.

Hope everyone is okay

xxxx

DD won't take formula (bottle / cup whatever .. she spits it out)

DH wants me to stop breastfeeding

I'm torn as I think this might be my last baby (so last chance to bf .. so don't want to give up ..but would like to give up)

seem to be down to just night feeds .. but last night she woke up twice .. tried leaving her but after an hour of going in every 5 mins or so I gave up and fed her .. 5 minutes later fast asleep

she is eating loads of yogurts and cheese though and is currently devouring an entire crust of wholemeal bred

she also crawled (commando crawled where they drag themselves on their front arms) out of the lounge so I think I need to put the stair gate up

ho hum

blimey,its done it again.....i posted but its disappeared

twiglett - do you want to give up? you sound like me, want to but dont want to. at least my dd will take a bottle now. have u tried diff formulas? aptamil = yummy

but, above all i would highly recommend going out for the day, or better, day and night, then she'll have to take a bottle. i couldnt believe it when i came back and dd took a bottle even from me. a full bottle. loads of them. weird.

lol spots, like your "groovy aunty"
wish my family lived closer. but we've got some "groovy" friends. well, one is french and she always talks of lucas as her future husband - don't ask

cat: you are soooo right!! never ever again!! and if i just count as far as i can - still keeps my busy (and out of trouble)

judd: look around you and see the nice things! 2 lovely kids! the sun is shining (hopefully) - put your ds on the floor with a few toys, get yourself a cuppa and put your feet up for 5 min - what else do we need

wohoo hippy () twiglett: maybe try a diff brand?? or maybe she doesn't need much milk during day - ds only has 2 bottles in total!

Twig and Casmie, I have cut out the 2.30 feed and replaced it with water and finger food instead of formula - ds doesn't seem to mind and we are still managing the am and pm feeds.

Here is the second strawberry thread, and here is the third - don't read it at work because you will cry.

Well, I don't know if it's the catalyst of switching the 2pm feed, but mentally I'm winding down the bf I think (although I reserve the right to change my mind tomorrow!)

Going to wait a couple of weeks then phase out the morning one (another quite fussy feed) then see how I feel about the evening one once that's the only one left but suspect I'll phase that one out too.

Was thinking last night, that I quite enjoy it still, but mostly it's the memory of the close bf relationship rather than the reality now. He's losing interest and is fussy - far less of a pain if he's fussy on a bottle than on my poor defenseless nipples . I feel like I've given him a good run of it (this is the time ds1 stopped by himself - so he's had as good a start in life as his brother). I'm not feeling joyous that the end of bfing is near, but neither am I feeling terribly upset and distraught - so maybe it's coming to a natural end for us? Does that make sense to anyone?

Hello peeps, I am relishing a day off at home ON MY OWN - so I watching Lord of the Rings (the 3rd) and wondering about looking at the mess I should be clearing.

I stopped bf when DS had the course of antibiotics just before Christmas as I fancied a drink and didn't want to mess his medication up. He had been taking bottles with the childminder and didn't bat an eyelid when the morning and evening feed disappeared to be replaced by bottles - he guzzles 7-10 ozs at bedtime and is then flat out for the night! not sure if this is right but he (sleeps the night through - sssshhhh). Like Cat I have that "not out loud" thing going on . . . every time I praise his best bits he does the opposite!

Twiglett, I can see why you would want to hold on to the baby side of things for as long as possible. DP and I have the bad habit of putting DS in his Moses basket and letting him start his sleep downstairs with us because we like his company . . .even though he is comatose. I know we are building a rod for our backs but we have such a short amount of time with him during the week, we are clinging . . . bad bad parents! Oh dear.

He is Master MissChief though - he has twigged that if he drops something on the floor then one of the little girls at the childminders will run to pick it up, he then waits until they turn their back and then drops it again. One of the poor girls did this for 5 mins before twigging, and all the time he was doing his Beavis and Butthead giggle "he he, he he". I think I might have a devil on my hands, this chilled out baby is going to be the terribilest of twos/threes and beyond!

I had a joke with my Dad at Christmas time that it was just as well I worked at the Magistrates Courts because at least we could take DS home with us after his hearing . . .

I was kidding obviously! No son of mine will there unless I bring him in for work experience! I have already approved and disapproved the list of potential girlfriends that he meets at the childminders . . .

lol libb. sounds like a little comedian.

suppose bf is winding down for a lot of us. dd has a little feed when she got up today as she'd had a load at 4am (only took 2.5oz at bedtime you see), but it was nice. she didnt seem to mind whatever. lovely when she looks up and blows a big cheezy smily raspberry....not that my breasts are cheesy of course.

libb a day on your own! lucky you. how come?

oh wow, the strawberry thread!! how lovely. bless. still havent seen pics though

We have an extra long weekend, today and Monday as the courts are being relocated for a few years while they rebuild - it sounds fancy but we will alway be "on top of the Lion Yard car park". So we and various defendants are being shipped out to an "especially"(sp?) made building next to Waitrose until it is finished. I don't think I have ever seen cells made from pre fab before . . .

I don't think Waitrose will know what has hit them, can't imagine there is much call for White Lightning there so I guess most people will bring their own!

I decided to pack DS off to the childminders anyway as we pay in advance and I can get on with cleaning without distraction, however . . . a. I haven't done half my set tasks and b. I still keep running into the living room to check up on one absent son . . . Lord of the Rings is also proving to be too captivating and I must get a grip . . .

Hiya, thank you so much for your kind thoughts and especially the blackcurrant yoghurt - I'll see if I can squeeze it in on top of the three chocolate biscuits I've just had (hey, you're meant to eat with your children to encourage them, aren't you??!) Today has been a nicer day...well not nicer as such, just that I've had a different and better mindset. Could be that I'm already dreading DH being away in Oxford all next week - I feel a bit out of practice at coping alone after the long Christmas break.
Rice Krispie muddles aren't great - polystyrene tasting little shapes and high in sugar. Only giving them to DS a couple of days until I can go and see what other cereals would be good as finger food. DD liked Cheerios (but Nestle - boo) but I need to check if they have honey in. What a minefield!
Interesting that you've cut out the 2.30 feed Prufrock - I find it a faff. I'm trying to give it out of a cup but DS still finds it tricky to swallow any respectable amount.
Do any GF people flex the routine at all? I don't but I don't really find I need to. It all seems to fit in OK. However, I do find the morning sleep a bit of a millstone round my neck and would be happy if he was to drop it at around a year.
DS's Christening on Sunday - quite excited about it.

Omigod I am the last hippy breastfeeder in the corner. Are you all going to disown me?

Casmie DD isn't babbling either. She has a reportiore of noises - squawks, rapsberries, squeals etc - but nothing you could really describe as babbling or at least only occasionally. But I am a good mother - I give her finger food all the time. I thought that was a feature of "second child syndrome" - stick her in the high chair with toast/noodles/chopped up strawberry/banana (today's selection) and then I can actually make everyone else's food. And actually that is what is helping with her pincer grip because like you say its the only time she has small items. Actually managed to manoevre peas into her mouth this week. OTOH she is still absolutely hopeless with a cup (best results with my water bottle). What sort of sippy cup do you use?

All those of you discussing breast feeding. We have been down to night and morning (ish) for quite a while. I had been considering dropping the night feed because she can be quite fussy and has given me some nasty bites but have changed my mind and think I will continue a bit longer.

Had a fairly good day today. I think things are starting to come together with looking after the two of them especially now that DD naps more reliably. So while she had her morning nap I managed to change the sheets on our bed, load washer and dryer, prepare our dinner (Ainsley's doodle chicken & spinach noodle), pack swimming bag and still spend some time with DS doing an activity/sticker book. Then I took them both to parent and child swimming class.

Anyway will have to log off soon because I am half way through cleaning the tiles and grout in the en-suite shower.

Anyone any ideas what DS what like for his fourth birthday?