APRIL 2008 - We venture over to the 'other side'

[VictorianSqualor]

Our babies.

07 March: Ashton, a fourth child for gemprincess, 5lb 13oz @ 34+6
09 March: Ted, a second DS for Daftmoo, 7lb 14oz @ 36+0
21 March: George William, a first baby for KnitterintheNW, 7lb 2.5oz @ 37+3
25 March: Olivia, a second baby for TheMaskedPoster, 7lb 2oz @ 38+4
28 March: Pablo, a third baby and first DS for vacaloca, 7lb 14oz @ 39+4
28 March: Matteo Alexander, a first baby for Gangle @ 38+0 (?)
30 March: A baby girl, a second child for PortAndLemon, 8lb 15oz @ 39+5
02 April: Jak, a baby boy for rainbowdays, 9lb @ 39+1
02 April: A baby boy, a second child for bunyanvillas, 6lb 14oz @ 37+5
02April: Struan, a baby boy for Donnabels, 6lbs 15oz
02 April: A baby boy for mummyofaprincess @39 weeks
03 April: A baby girl for PippiCalzelunghe @38+2weeks
03 April: Aeryn Daisy, a baby girl for Denny185, 9lb 8oz @ 39+3
03 April: Benjamin, a baby boy for Micegg, 8lb 3oz @ 39+4
03 April: Roelof Grové, a first DS for Sal22, 7lb 5oz @ 38+5
03 April: A baby boy for siikibam, 6lb 8.5oz @39+1wks
04 April: Matilda, a baby girl for AprilsFoolsBaby 7lb @
06 April: Henry Peter, a baby boy for Sheds, 7lb 130z @ 40+4
07 April: Sebastian George, a fourth DS for Peachy, 8lb 4oz @ 41+1
07 April: Jack, a first baby for ThePFJ, 7lb 5.5oz @ 41+1
07 April: Lexie Bea, a fourth baby for babywhiting, 8lb 1oz @ 39+4
08 April: Alasdair, a second DS for bunnyrabbit, 8lb 5.5oz @ 40+3
08 April: James Samuel, a third baby for honeybee10, 6lb 7oz @ 37+2
09 April: Zara Mia Martin, a first baby for V1KK1M, 7lb 10oz @ 41+0
11 April: Kyran for rdk, 7lb 13oz @ 38+3weeks
11 April: Sebastian James, a second baby for Fleecy, 10lb 2oz @ 40+4
11 April: A baby girl, a first baby for CeylonSapphire, 7lb 12oz @ 41+1
12 April: Maya Alice, a first baby for egyptianprincess, 8lb 15.5oz @ 40+3
12 April: Sophia Viviana, a second DD for AussieDivaonaBreak, 6lb 12oz @ 39+3
15 April: Alexander Oliver, a third baby for VictorianSqualor, 10lb 3oz @ 41+0
16 April: Ailish, a first baby for Mollyfloss, 6lb 11oz @ 40+3
16 April: A baby girl, a second baby for elfsmummy, 7lb 13oz @ 41+1
16 April: Zoe, a baby girl, a first baby for ToastAddict, 6lb 10oz @ 39+3
17 April: A baby boy for paranoidmumy, 8lb 9oz @ 41+4
17 April: A baby boy, a second son for lorisparkle, 7lb 12.5oz @ 41+6
18 April: Millie, a baby girl for scorpio1 8lb 9oz @ 41+?
18 April: Cameron, a second baby for munchkinmum @ 39+5
19 April: Oliver Michael, first baby for bashboid, 7 lb 4 oz at 41 +3
20 April: Samuel, a first baby for Velbels. 8lb15oz at 41+1weeks.
20 April: Angharad Mai, 8lb 4oz, 40+6, first for 7monthsplus
20 April: Emilia, 7lb15oz, a first baby for SuzeM, 40+6
21 April: Eve, a second baby for Scampmum, 8lb 4oz @ 39+3
22 April: Sam, a second son for Soph73 @ 40+0
22 April: Molly, a first baby for EllieG, 8lb 8oz? @ 40+5
22 April: Daisy, second baby for AttilaTheHan @ 40 +3
22 April: Zoe Olivia, second daughter for Piccallilli2 7lb 1oz @42+1
23 April: Jessica Elizabeth, first baby for BabyBratt @ 40+1 7lb 12oz.
24 April: A baby girl, a second daughter for christmaspixie, 9lb 2oz @ 40+6/41+5
24 April: Miya Jade, baby girl for ShelleySare at 39+4
25 April: Amelie, a first baby for Dondons, 9lb, 41+3 (i think!)
25 April: Aisha, a second baby for Jaq39 7lb 14oz @ 41+4
26 April: Hope Olivia, a second dd for northeastmummy, 7lb 11oz at 41 .
26 April: Gabriel, a third child for Bainmarie @ 41+5
26 April: Eli Michael, a baby boy for LittleMissTurquoise, 7lb 15.5oz @ 40+5
27 April: a baby girl for Ayomi, 6lb 1oz @ 41+0
28 April: Jacob Andrew, a 2nd DS for Kaybeeand2boys, 8lb 4oz @ 41+5
29 April: Thomas Henry, a 2nd DS for TLSM, 7lb 8oz 40+3
30 April: Harry Samuel, a fourth ds for Chipmonkey, 9lb 5oz @ 39+2
01 May: Sophie May, a baby grl for Annieroo, 6lb 5oz @ 41+4
01 May: Euan George, a baby boy for Jenniejennie, 8lb @ 40+4
02 May: Robyn Olivia, a baby girl for soph28, 8lb 1oz @ 42+1
05 May: Nora Martina, a first baby for Eva07, 7lb 8oz @ 41+2
05 May: A baby boy for Beeper, 8lb 10oz @ 41+0
05 May: Gabriella Summer, a first baby for Mum2babyroo, 8lb 4oz @ 40+6
06 May: Wilf, 8lb 60z for bigbadmom @ 41+6
07 May: James Andrew, a second ds for Moominsmummy, 8lb 13oz @ 41+5
08 May: Ellie Isabella, a first baby for Carey87, 7 lb 8oz @ 42+1
08 May: Robin David, a 2nd baby for Woollymummy, 8lb 11 oz @ 41+3
09 May: 4 kittens for scorpio's cat!
10 May: Astrid Mary, a second dd for sagitta, 8lb 8oz @ 42+0

Hey all - didn't mean this week for London meet up, was assuming it would be at least two before we got our acts together! Might start a new thread, though, so we don't clog up this one and annoy everyone else.

DD2 is asleep, FINALLY, on something that isn't me (borrowed bouncy chair). Durr for not realising her feeding was to do with the heat - have really sore nipples again now as it's once an hour, basically, but sore nipples are not really the main issue as DD1, who is remarkably OK in general with bf, does get a bit irked when it is ALL I can do!

Took DD2 to be registered this am - still no middle name! Feel so bad it's not going to be on her birth certificate but we didn't want to pick something random just for the sake of it. Must say I have had plenty of ideas but DH has failed to a) approve of any of them in a sustained way or b) provide any alternatives.

Interestingly our relationship is much more similar (testy and more argumentative than normal) to how it was after DD1's birth than I expected. I think it's a combination of me being ratty and tired (it really affects me - I get paranoid, too) and him feeling like he's doing everything when he DEFINITELY is not (he still hasn't got the hang of the fact I'm not JUST sitting and watching TV/relaxing/reading the paper when I am bf!). I also think he finds my bf really hard and is quite jealous of me being the mum and being so indispensable to DD2. I guess it's quite common. I am also being completely anal about the house and getting stuff done and not having to clean up all his shit just because he hasn't got up early enough and has had to rush to work. The thing is he is really, really trying - it's just the stuff he does is the stuff HE would want done (e.g. gardening when I am bf having just got up and am absolutely starving and would really appreciate a drink/snack; inviting people round then being really pleased with himself for doing a barbecue and the clearing up when I would probably rather have gone to bed, etc. etc.) I wish I could be less naggy and irritable and more laid back. Maybe I can now I've ranted to all of you guys!

What are the co-sleeping LOs sleeping in in this weather? E just in a nappy last night then I swaddled her in a sheet to put her in moses basket (one of DD1's flannel cot ones doubled over) and was really panicking she would be too hot! Also, she is feeding every 2ish hours (though not really counting) in the day (ex hot weather) but because she is really hard to settle after night feeds I don't really know when she is hungry again (since she cries solidly from the moment she voluntarily stops the first feed). I just keep offering her the boob and she feeds if she wants it.

Hope you are all doing OK and M2B you are healing OK and being looked after properly. IIRC you and Carey are Kent - could you guys make a London meet-up?

Sorry for venting, please feel free just to skip my post!

Peachy I shall join you in the moaning about no-one being near me, all my friends that have kids were done with doing babies when DS1 was born let alone DS2!

Scampmum, Alex slept in a babygro and his sheet swaddled last night, but we have the windows open and no other blankets on him, little rascal is actually still in bed, but decided this morning between 5am-7am was time to wake up and pull faces/make noises at mum and dad, and of course because he's starting to smile now we were too soppy to sleep and leave him to it!

Thanks VS - think DD2 is a very hot baby anyway - she's always been really pink and warm to touch but she's never sweaty. Dad says something to do with placental blood transfer and she should get paler in 60 days (half the life-cycle of an erythrocyte, apparently...!)

Here is the thread for the meet-up

I can't believe there's a Jan 09 ante-natal club! How did that happen? (rhetorical question)

here- you can syill add middle name within 12 months

Bas co-sleeps, and wore just a sleeveless vest and napy last night, then i put just a very thin blanket over us both.

Bas has a nasty patch or red raw skin under one arm from the heat, poor mite. I've got him in lose organic cotton sleepsuit today to keep him dry.

Might be going away this weekend- if not Bas gets his first camping trip weekend after! Blimey! got all the boys poncho's here for the evenings, think Bas's will be useful in the autumn / winter in the car etc. He loved being out at the sports day yesterday (unusually for him) so hopefully he will be ok...

DD tends to be in nappy and short-sleeved vest and 0.5 tog Grobag; on the hottest nights she's been in just a nappy and short-sleeved vest. Based on what we did with DS, when it gets still hotter she'll be in just a nappy and Grobag.

Has anyone any recommendations for a sling/carrier? i've looked on the reviews and everyone seems to complain about the same issues with all the different carriers (difficult to put on, uncomfotable etcetc) so no idea which to get.

any views on the wilkinet or close carrier??

I think Peachy said on the other thread that she has a Close baby carrier and loves it. Have just bought a Hug-a-Bub on ebay but haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

I have a baby bjon from B4, wouldnt recommend particularly as baby hangs too far away from the body and pulls on your upper back. I just use it for walks not around the house and TBH find it too hot at the mo to use.

DS is being v testing over the last week or so, not sure if its terrible 2's or an effect of Aeryn needing time and his nose being put out of joint. He has started throwing himself on the floor when he cant get his own way, generally whinging over the smallest of things, not sharing with other children any more, he also used to walk really nicely holding your hand but has now started trying to run off (so glad for the double buggy). Dosent help that hes just had a fews days of vomiting followed by a cold (which DD2 now has and spent half the night unsettled). Really hoping this is just going to be a short phase Im finding it generally quite tiering.

I think there's definitely a grace period with two where you think it's all sunny and easy and then it gets tough! We're certainly finding that here. Have also managed to forget all my military precision planning skills.
Vis today's nightmare - went to pick up DD1 from nursery (in maclaren, baby bjorn covered in muslin for DD2), 'dropped in' [hollow laugh emoticon] at surgery for baby clinic, told would be up to half an hour wait (at 1.10), realised effing nursery had AGAIN given me back a DD1 with a poo in her nappy (grr) - of course I hadn't brought a spare - tried to entertain her with a trip to the loo to empty out the poo (mercifully a neat one) and wash her hands, went back to waiting room, realised she somehow had got poo on the sole of her flipflop , went back to loo to wash hands again (and again... and again... as she found my 'no, don't touch the loo' just too tempting), back to waiting room, DD1 starting to get tired as she usually goes down between 1 and 2, tips all magazines off table, put her in buggy, start reciting stories, DD2 getting a bit restless on my front, realise have worn sodding dress with too-high neckline and will have to show my pants to bf, but don't want to come home with DD2 really hungry and then have to feed her before DD1's nap/leave her hungry whilst I put DD1 down. In the end just thought 'fuck it' and put muslin on lap and pulled dress up! Should also mention by this point that I am completely starving having thought to leave lunch for when I get home. Finally got seen at 3.10! Lovely health visitor gave me her Alpen bar when I said I was about to faint and why did anyone with two kids bother with baby clinic (but I'm not going to again) and joy of joy DD2 put on 500g in 9 days! And that's no nappy compared to with nappy so prob a bit more. DD1 finally put to bed (bit hurried as DD2 starting to scream downstairs in another convincing I-don't-like-being-put-down-at-all impression of her sister) at 3.40! Remains to be seen how she will respond to getting up around half five and going back to bed under two hours later...

Oh, sorry, I'd already used my ranting credit for today, hadn't I? And it does all seem a bit less awful now I've eaten half a baguette.

I have a baby bjorn and a hug-a-bub - baby bjorn was absolute lifeline with DD1 and she lived in it (never slept anywhere else in the day), hug-a-bub new (second hand) and have found it not quite supportive enough but good for around the house. Is a bit of a fiddle, DH loves it and always puts her in it but then it's too big and loose for me and I am too lazy to change it. Am planning to use BB and Maclaren as primary method of transport though it won't work in the rain. I love the BB although did get horrible backache after long walks with DD1 (like 8 miles - like I said, she wouldn't settle anywhere else) and I think some people get concerned about hips and that style of carrier?

Thanks for all input about sleepwear! you lot really are great.

Gosh Scampmum that sounds like a nightmare! I think I'd have bailed! But then I am quite precious about DD1s naps - mainly because that 1.5 hours are so important to me!

I have a close baby carrier - mainly because dd1 was a complete nightmare who couldn't be put down all day - so I bought it intending to use it for dd2 around the house - so far DD2 seems to be a different kettle of fish and is a fairly chilled baby - happy in her chair or pram

Can't remember who it was who said they were going but baby massage is brilliant. I did a course with DD1 and have been using it on DD2 before bed each evening. She's going down really chilled out, lying back arms relaxed, looking around and then taking herself off to sleep!

scorpio you've probably done it already but we have DD2s crib propped up on an angle on about 6 books to help with her sleeping through this cold. Its really helped although she does look like she could slide out at any minute!

It gets easier scampmum honestly!
When it's your third it's a breeze.
I got up at 10:30am this morning, as Alex had been up early this morning, and DP drops DD at her friends before school so I don't have to get up and I do packed-lunch and uniform the night before, DS decided to play quietly in his room until then (I was expecting to be woken up about 8:30, but I shan't complain!).

I have done two loads of washing, made the meat sauce for a lasagne this afternoon before I did the school run, did my two hour/4 bus long journey to get DD from school and they cleared off into the garden as soon as we got home, have just finished lasagne, whilst on the phone and feeding Alex and now have nothing to do
Alex is asleep, the other two are playing outside, dinner is on and until the sheets are dry can't make the beds. Everything goes manic for a couple of hours every so often but then I get these hiatus' in the middle of such chaos and it feels pretty simple. I think the key is to be as chilled as possible and always put too many nappies in your bag on a day out (nearly got caught short with DS today but we still had some in from when we went to the beach, Phew!).
'Spose it helps that DD occupies DS1 when she is home.

You are an inspiration, seriously! If you are bored I would just devote a couple of minutes to feeling very proud of yourself! I do have (rare) moments when it feels OK but much more frequent moments of 'aaaarrrrrgggggh how am I supposed to do this?'. E.g. must go as think DD2 has rewarded me putting her in the bouncy chair by pooing all over the lambskin. Lordy, that girl can poo.

oh, also do everything you possibly can in the evening so any last minute problems don't need to be such an issue, I have days where there is no way I could've done everything if I hadn't prepared the night before, like last week Bobby threw all of Ella's books out of her bedroom window and emptied all his toys everywhere plus Alex did an explosive nappy all over his clothes and bobby got yoghurt all over him, so they both had to be changed.
If I'd had to do that and sort out my bag with suncream and hats and nappies and thrush gel etc, and find myself something to werar and get something out the freezer for dinner and make sure there were clean shirts ready, we'd have been rather bloody late!!

scampmum - lol at your epic trip to baby clinic - why do nightmares like that always seem to involve poo getting everywhere???

thanks for all the feedback on the baby carriers - I might see if i can borrow a few of those mentioned and try-before-i-buy

next question ; how much do your LO's sleep? DS2 is now 6 days old and sleeps ALL the time - is only awake for nappy changes and occasionally for feeding (often seems asleep during feeds) - when awake he does look around with interest but this is probably only for 10 mins at a time and only about 3 times a day. other than that he just sleeps! he's putting on weight ok but am starting to be a bit concerned about amount of sleep - (or am i fussing over something I should simply be grateful for??)

mm. be grateful

No seriously, Alex is only just starting get proper waking/sleeping periods until now he was only awake to feed!

ditto Evie. Awake is generally crying unless on the boob (and apart from occasional cute 'I'm a little old man who's been in a cave for a month' blinking and looking around confusedly episodes) so I remember those days of sleepfulness wistfully. Of course when she slept all the time I worried about her, though. Why are we mums so impossible to please?

Eek

vs you are but an aateur with 3 lol

my alternative solution is to just let it all slide... mine basil bacon tomatoes onion and garlic bunged in slow cooker becomes fab spag bol by dinner time... M& S non iron school shirts.... making dh wash up... bribing kids to fold clothes/ sweep up....

do agree with vs ir's about preparing in the evening, but also being oblivious to the odd bit of mess as lonh as the house is fundamentally hygienic

moomins sounds bang on average!

bas awake a bit more now, mostly crying! but noticeably more interest. but he's 5 weeks now, it takes a while.

btw he gained a total of 5oz last week so pleased but HV now wittering that if i don't drink milk I can't make milk.... laugh? i nearly pmsl!

Peachy - oh yes the drink milk make milk thing, lol!! glad you are sounding happier about bas' weight

VS - i do the prepare the night before hting too otherwise it just aint happening!

i think i was off on one yesterday. i just said to dh i feel like i am doing everything and it cant be how it was before..i have a 3 week old baby. he did lots yesterday. he is under alot of pressure at work and has been ill so im not bitching, just having a little moan. it did get through to him though

i have dh's man flu today and millie is still very snotty, though feeding fine. i went to baby club yesterday and was lovely to get out and about.

Millie still has a white tongue, though less. guess i just keep doing meds until it goes?

R u sure shes a health visitor

Going to walk into town today to buy some bday pressies, fingers crossed DS sleeps all the way and avoids melt downs.

I think she's probably pretending to be a health visitor for a bet... .

Moomin, I don't think sleep settles down for the first couple of weeks. A lot of them sleep all the time to begin with, then it all changes...

she's half hv half homeopath- he hands her cards out when she visits

they're starting a baby club next week (yay) so might meet somebody at last!

its run by hv though...

oh dear!

oh bejeezus, What a flaming joke!
I never drink milk, nor do cows.

I'm pissed off today.
DS1 has been playing up, so nip it in the bud, he's been sent to bed, but I just called DP to tell him I got alex weighed (he was 12lb 4oz) and mentioned DS1's behaviour, only to get a lecture on how he 'wouldnt do it if I was there' , No that's right, he wouldn't because you're not with him all day every day, he's afraid to upset you because seeing you is a flipping novelty! But of course, I know nothing, it's not me that bought DD up and had the exact same reactions from her when dS1 was born that I dealt with and shall do again.
Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.