April 2004 Babies - eight is great!!!

[Yorkiegirl]

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[MrsDoolittle]

Oh and we have 7 teeth!!!

[Fennel]

mrs D - it's a common problem isn't it?

tracyk - I agree I would prefer to live in scruffy squalor than do a job I dislike (actually I do that already, but never mind... ). but like Mrs D I get so much out of my job - intellectual challenge, friends, adult time uninterrupted, foreign travel - that giving it up would be a big loss really. it's still hard though for many of us to get the balance right.

I've been blaming my work and boss for expecting far too much work to be done, but the work-life coach this week ticked me off for that and told me it was my fault for caring too much about the job and other peoples' recognition and approval !

[Metrobaby]

your work life coach sounds like a very good friend to have Fennel.

Balancing work and family life is tricky. Sometimes I feel that I'm giving neither my full attention, but just enough to get by. However the alternative of being a SAHM would not be an option for me I'm afraid, as I know I wouldn't be truely happy in myself if I was. Trouble is that I keep feeling guilty about it !

[Chuffed]

wow 7 teeth, we only just have 3...

Worklife balance is such a complicated subject and every person wants the same outcome but it's like everything different things work for different people.
Fennel your friend sounds rather wise although it is easier said than done isn't it?
Left a message with HV about 8mth check (dd now 10mths) and still haven't heard back

[Yorkiegirl]

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[LucyJones]

We have lots of teeth here but haven't counted for a while Ds was weighed today and is 25 pounds so is still on 75th centile. No wonder my back and shoulders are wrecked!!!

[TracyK]

haven't had ds weighed for a while - although I 've made a mistake and bought 2 big packets of nappies 9-20 lbs and he's too big for them now. Will have to take them back. I reckon he's about 22lbs - still quite skinny.
He has 6 teeth and has started to bite me on the boob when feeding so I'm just going to express and feed him that - it's too stressful just waiting for the next bite.
he's now taking one or two little steps and is keen to do some more. gawd help us all!

[hewlettsdaughter]

He'll be toddling before you know it TracyK!
Chuffed, I rang my HVs re the check - they rang back the next day to say they were a bit behind but I'd get a date within a couple of weeks.

[handlemecarefully]

One or two little steps TracyK - blimey, impressed!

Mrs D, your colleagues sound lovely and caring - reassuring you that your family comes first. Does your boss say similar things?

My attitude to work if I am honest is:
It's well paid, it gives me time off from the children (god I need that), but I don't find my work as intrinsically rewarding as yourself and Fennel. I imagine that if I really loved my work like you guys, I wouldn't necessarily want to be part time and might feel similarly torn between work and baby. But as it is, I work 3 days a week and would reduce to 2 if my boss would consider it (but she won't)

Re loving a 2nd as much as the first - absolutely, totally and utterly possible. I love them both as much as each other(and that's the truth - not just saying that to be politically correct), but occasionally I do have fleeting preferences. When ds wakes in the night I prefer his older sister who sleeps until 08.00 in the morning. But when older sister is having a toddler tantrum, I prefer ds who is too young to be a feisty, contrary handful.

[dot1]

all change for us as dp's got a part-time job! She's been going bonkers being at home with both ds's (as much as she/we love them..!) so has got a 2 day a week job at Manchester University working on a project - just the kind of environment she loves!

So, ds2 will be going to nursery for the first time - starts in 2 weeks....! I'm sure he'll be fine as he's a happy sociable thing, but it's still a bit scary - I may be miserable and need lots of reassurance from everyone who's been through it before...!

Fennel - we went to Longleat Centerparcs when ds1 was about 1 and used the babysitting service - fab - really nice woman and you get a bleep and everything so we felt fine about it. Also used the creche which was great aswell so I wouldn't hesitate using it!

ds2 has now added to his animal noises repertoire by doing a dog when we ask him - he's just sooooooo clever..!!

[TracyK]

can you believe it's almost a year!!!!!
how fast has time flown!

[Chuffed]

Well I got a call back from HV - 8 month check is now booked at 11 1/2 months.

[LucyJones]

Evening all! Ds shuffled on his tummy backwards across the room today No sign of forward movement but it's a start!!

[TracyK]

ds had his first swing on a park swing today and he loved it! roll on the light and warm evenings that we can do more at the park/garden.

[Fennel]

well done dot's dp, that sounds perfect

dd3 is changing very quickly - working hard at shape sorting, even trying to draw with a pen. she seems to be moving out of the baby phase fast these last few weeks. she doesn't do animal noises though!

no 8 month check for dd3 (though the others had them). but I am sure she's ok anyway.

[hewlettsdaughter]

ooh that's funny Tracey, dd had her first swing on Friday
I've just been out to a gig! Went to see a band from student days, they were playing down the road.

[hewlettsdaughter]

sorry, Tracy (no 'e')

[Yorkiegirl]

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[TracyK]

when do the lol's start to drop naps? ds only has about 1.5 - 2 hr nap each day - none in the mornings at nursery? he makes it ok till bed time - although I have been letting him sometimes have a nap at about 4-5ish - but will stop it as he wakes up in a foul mood.

[fimblesfan]

Hi all,

Im fairly new to MN so im just introducing myself.

I have a DS who is 10 mths & 3 days, he is about 26lb & only has 1 tooth(but i don't think the second is far behind,hence the sleepless nights).
I work 2 days a week while mum looks after ds.

I'll look forward to chatting to all you other April mums & babies.

I work 2 days a week & the

[fimblesfan]

Sorry about the last bit of sentence, haven't got a clue what happened.

[LucyJones]

Hi Fimblesfan. My ds is 25lb 1oz and was born on 1st April last year. I currently work part-time but am thinking of giving up soon. Hope to chat soon. Whereabouts do you live?

[fimblesfan]

Hi Lucyjones, I live in the croydon area whereabouts are you?

[Metrobaby]

welcome fimblesfan. dd is one actually. I also from Croydon !

[Chuffed]

Hey all

Hope you all had a good weekend. We got out and had a bit of a play in the park in the swings and fed the ducks. We also went dog spotting, dd just loves dogs at the moment and so she just giggles and makes lots of noise when she sees one. Almost forgot about this and was wondering why the sudden noise on our way to nursery this morning, we passed two dogs and she was giggling and pointing away.

I think dd is teething again, woke up last night to hear some noise in her cot and she was standing on the side chewing on the rail. Lay her down and patted her back and she was fast asleep, not sure if she even woke up. weird...

Well it is the end of the bf for me this weekend. I am somewhat sad about it but my milk just seems to have vanished over the past 2 weeks so that if dd has a feed for 45mins she still needs about 4oz as well. I suppose the time had to come sometime and we did last till 10 months which was longer than I thought I'd manage. She was a bit sad about it last night but i'm sure it won't take too long for her to adjust.

Welcome fimblesfan - we are a friendly bunch here.