June 2008 - The Olympics are here and Mums deserve gold medals

[ThePenguinProject]

Thought I'd start a new thread before we ran out of space! Couldn't remember the exact name suggestion so have paraphrased, the sentiment is still the same though...

OK, been to Buxton for the weekend with my brother and his wife, and also managed to meet up with DH's sister and her wife, the infamous Kate and Kate. (Yes, Iestyn has a pair of gay aunts, which is fine, but the same name? Please, girls! Incidentally, the gay aunts issue is part of the problem with MIL - it's only DH and his sister there, and she's opted out, as it were.) We went to Chatsworth, which was lovely, but Iestyn showed his appreciation by doing a gigantic poo which dripped onto the floor of the restaurant (we weren't eating, just standing there!!) and we had to buy a new babygro. I suppose it could have been on some expensive William Morris carpet or priceless heirloom or something so we were lucky.

Anyhow, there are so many posts I can't begin to catch up. Won't join the TV debate except to check that Glanaethwy are still in? They're local, but I have quite mixed feelings about them.

Amber Iestyn is also playing with toys - he grasps some of them too!! His favourite is a Whoosit.

Makescakes I got your e-mail last week and replied, but nothing since - seeing you post on Monday. Did you get my reply, or did I not get your reply to that?

I'm in London, btw, and have SO MUCH LAUNDRY! I think DH is bringing home his colleagues' shirts or something.

Hi all

Essie - Glanaethwy are still in, they were very good on Saturday - why the mixed feelings? CM gospel choir went out but I thought it should have been Revelation instead. Have you been watching Maestro - I think it's on tonight - that's good.
poo dripping on the floor - sounds delightful!!

ernest I have to agree 5.00 is definitely a no no!!

Josie - happy Birthday to your ds1, as you present the cake whisper in his ear , what do you think of your lion then? Then on the video he'll have the right response!!

got to go - crying baby

I know - in Chatsworth of all places! Such fine surroundings. And we were standing in the restaurant. But my thinking is if I'm up to my elbows in excrement, why should I suffer alone?!

Glanaethwy - well, they're very very good, extremely professional. But the thing is they're basically a stage school (a private one), and they've been going for many years, so they do know what they're doing, and they're not really in the amateur league.
But having said that, I find that the Welsh have an advantage in all these talent shows - Rhydian on X-factor, Connie Fisher, Tara on I'd do anything (anyone watch that?). It's the Eisteddfod setup. From the age of 5, children can compete in an international festival, with a huge audience. It includes auditions and rejections, but also there are lots of small eisteddfods with auditions and feedback. So if you've ever competed in the eisteddfod (eg. the youth national) you'll have performed in front of a panel, been told you're rubbish and why, or been told you're great and get to compete in the final 3 in front of an audience of hundreds. So for the Welsh, it's not a new thing really. Rhydian was ex-eisteddfod, Tara is (she didn't do v. well), and Glanaethwy most definitely are.

Actually, I'm also ex-eisteddfod too, but not likely to go on x-factor. Mind you, they've taken away the age limit now...

Does this mean that we might see Iestyn in years to come , performing on the TV? So did you sing/dance/play an instrument?
With dh being musical we watch all these programmes - Joseph, Nancy, Maria etc...

I cannot get Ethan to sleep today, ds1 and 2 are at the circus camp again and I wanted to get on with loads of things at home but he is not for sleeping today!!! I too have piles of laundry today - AARGH

Well, actually, I hope he'll be able to sing. I used to compete in recitation parties at the youth eisteddfod, and also piano duet; I've competed with choirs in the national, and actually won in a dance party. That's folk dancing, so no x-factor for me...

With regards to Iestyn, I'm musical (grade 8 piano, good singer i.e. accurate, but nothing special about my voice unfortunately - not a soloist), and DH is extremely musical: perfect pitch, grade 8 piano, organ, flute; Oxford organ scholar, and an excellent treble - he was a finalist in choirboy of the year. (His voice didn't break until he was 15, snigger snigger!) Singing and musical ability is something that is passed down in families, so Iestyn may well be a decent singer. But he could also be totally tone deaf, of course.
I've always said I wanted to have a little boy who could sing. But actually now that I have a little boy I just want him to be happy!

Okay, paranoid parent alert - should I be worried that Alex doesn't play with toys?! He's 10wks old.

Sorry, you know me, total angst about everything. Did try BDQ's tip today of showing him the toy on the right, he looked at it and laughed but didn't want to reach out to it at all. Is this normal?

I'm stuck at home on my own all day with a stinking cold and have far too much time to think (or should that be worry!).

I wish I could sing, but I'm really not very good at it. Fortunately dh has a voice that even cats would snigger at so the kids think my voice is quite good!

Katyo/Allnew - I also hope you are both having a better day feeding than me. Am trying to get J to the health visitor this afternoon, just to check that he isn't actually losing weight but need him to have a feed before I go as he hasn't fed since early this morning and he is point blank refusing. I hoped he would sleep feed but he didn't do that either so I feel a bit desperate. He also refuses tghe bottle though which while adding to the general frustration does make me feel that at least it is not just me he doesn't want.

Sponge, you lovely paranoid lady you! I don't think you should worry. I was worried for ages because Amber's Luke is quite advanced in that area!

Iestyn's 'playing with toys' consists of looking at them, and batting them with his hand. Sometimes deliberately, sometimes he's looking the other way so is probably coincidentally batting them. And that's it. He doesn't seem to be having brilliant fun (smiling, laughing) - more a confused look when he is 'playing'. So I think Alex is normal. He's probably more advanced in other areas - isn't he sleeping through for you? Iestyn is nowhere near that.

Also, DH finds these developmental markers really funny. Our book said a baby of Iestyn's age should be able to follow an object as small as a raisin with his eyes. I was thrilled, because Iestyn can. But DH pointed out that an object as small as a raisin doesn't move on its own - it's held, in a giant object (a hand), and therefore Iesytn is probably looking at the hand...

Hope your cold is better - you can do lemsip! Have a virtual hug.

Essie, thank you! Lol at following the raisin with his eyes!

I do worry about everything - family trait . Yes, Alex is sleeping through and he's reading Shakespeare so I shouldn't worry too much should I?!! Maybe he's just too advanced for toys?!

I must stop fretting about these things really cos there's so many developmental milestones to get through in the next year. If I worry every time he fails to meet a milestone at the same time as everyone else I'm going to end up in an early grave.

sybil, love your description of dh's singing - you should enter him into X Factor, he'd look great against some of those contestants!

Dh and me are both completely tone deaf so hoping Essie or her dh will agree to teach Alex to sing!

Right I'm off to take my paranoia elsewhere .

Deb I also watch all the musical theatre programmes, love them! not so keen on last choir standing but it fills a hole while I'm waiting for Strictly to start again!

argh running late, got to go, had meant to reply to lots of things but spent to long reading...

Sybil - hope your hv can help you out .

Essie - lol at the raisin

Sponge - Ethan doesn't make a grab for anything apart from my boobs! He occasionally hits one of the toys dangling near him, but that's more luck than judgement - that's about it really.

He's still not asleep!!!!!!!Knowing my luck he'll just drop off as the other 2 get back in.

Sponge, love the thought that Alex is just too advanced for toys. I was going to boast that Iestyn may not sleep through, but is potty trained. However, my previous posts have given me away...
It must be tough fighting the worrying. We all have our issues: I tend to be depressive, and can't deal with failure. But having a baby is whipping me into shape on that - I have felt like a failure from day 1!! I'm learning to cope with it and try not to get depressed. (I was off Mumsnet last week really because I was miserable but in an irrational and stupid way.)

Sybil, Sponge, you should be pleased that you realise that you can't sing. I'm amazed at the huge numbers of people who turn up on x-factor, who really, really think they can sing, and are shocked and amazed when Simon Cowell tells them they can't. But it must be great to have so much self confidence about so little!! I wouldn't mind a bit of that delusional confidence!

X-posted many folks - sorry all!

Off to thread a raisin onto a fishing wire now. He will follow it, he will, he will!

SBBP and Essie Isaacs playing consists of grabbing my t shirt to cover me up when he is feeding, then getting fustrated with a mouthfull of various gig t shirts. He is not interested in anything except his mobile, and I have bought quite a few including a hedgehog that rattles and is crinkly etc. In fact he currently is wearing 'footfinders' and 'wrist rattles' and is decidedly uninterested.

also LOL that Isaac has a better social life than you sbbp, the looks I have got from my NCT friends are all of the opinion that your life should revolve around your baby rather than the other way round.

josie happy birthday to your d (s or d) sorry can't remember and can't go back a page or I loose the post.

On the musicality front - I did learn to play the trombone and was involved in orchestras, choirs and Gang Shows (scout and guide variety shows) but I was definitely chorus line rather than both my sisters who have natural talent. I am more of a listen and love person.

Isaac slept 11 - 6 last night although he SCREAMED from 9.45 til he dropped off for no apparent reason. does anyone elses LO get overtired then bawl. He almost screams himself hoarse and scares me but I try and stay calm, sometimes I have to put him in the bed between us and let him scream it out

Isaac is now trying to grab my marmite sandwich so must go before he trys to wean himself

deb and hedgehog, thanks for the reassurance too. Hedghog, Alex absolutely loves his muslin and clings onto it for dear life when I'm feeding him. I saw a little boy in the park on Friday, about 3 yrs old, and he had a muslin wrapped around his hand and shoved in his mouth! It made me laugh cos I thought that will be Alex in 3 years time!

Essie, sorry to hear you were feeling low last week - motherhood is definitely designed to make us feel like failures and, like you have said before, when you're used to a work environment where you work hard and you succeed it's hard to adjust to a completely different role .

As for the singing, I think the sad thing with X Factor is clearly alot of these people have been told by friends and family that they can sing - esp doting parents. Now my parents love me to bits and always encouraged me to do my best and succeed at things I was good at, but they never tried to kid me into thinking I was good at things I had no talent in! It doesn't do your kids any favours in the long term - and they could end up getting humiliated on national tv!!

Hope you managed to get your raisin onto your fishing wire!

Hedgehog, if your LO is happy to go to all those places with you then take him! Ignore what your NCT friends say - they're probably just jealous!

Following the raisin made me PMSL! Don't get too carried away with Luke and his toys - I put him on that baby gym every day and he just looked at it but then gradually his curiosity took over and now he can turn the music on at will (even with his feet!) but it's just practice!!! I would rather he slept through the night !!

sponge at 11 wks Fraser's still not interested in toys. This time around I have thrown the book out - milestones are arbitrary anyways!

Essie motherhood is great at making you feel like a failure - but we're not. I think kids are pretty hard to screw up as long as we try our best...

I am sticking to these beliefs because they are allowing me to be so much happier than I was with DS1! Please don't disillusion me!

Hi All

Sybil hope you got on ok at the hv, I am just giving Mia bottles of breastmilk and hoping that my breasts recover. I wonder if it is still thrush that is causing a problem but I am not going to give Mia any more drugs, poor little thing.

Essie My mum always says that motherhood is about feeling guilty, and I would definately say the guilt gets worse when you have a second child. Don't waste your time feeling guilty and worrying about your children, its not worth it.

Better go little one calling!

Just read all the posts, but running out of time to chat...

Re: toys, I agree that milestones etc totally arbitrary (have I spelt that properly?). I just try different things with S every day and if he doesn't like something I leave it for a few days and try again. He only looks at stuff, certainly doesnt try to reach anything and completely oblivous to any wrist rattles so far.

I cant sing either btw. Shame, because I reckon I'd be fabulous on the stage if I could hold a tune

sybil how did it go with the HV? I know what you mean, it makes me feel worse sometimes when A will accept EBM but not my boob. I don't know about you, but the fussy feeding makes it impossible for me to attempt to feed A in front of anyone except DH. So much for bf being discrete when they're fussing and screaming!

HH A often gets himself so overtired that he will scream instead of sleeping, so I sympathise

lol re. the moving raisin - I never thought of that, but as you say, how on earth are we supposed to test that theory!

SBBP the only toys A is interested in are the ones that hang right in front of him in his bouncy chair. I guess this is because he sees them in the same place every time he sits there, and so it's familiarity which helps. If I show him a toy, the most he will do is look at it, not grab at it

Hi all, just a quick post, hope everyone is Ok and had a good bank holiday weekend, we were busy but managed to get out, the jousters have gone so Edie is upset as her beloved Tom won't be back until next summer.

Had a great afternoon with Libralady we went to my parents and we all were in the pool for an hour and a half, with my mother and the 2 ladies who work for her looking after the babies, going to do it again on Friday.

Re weight gain, I haven't actually been down to get him weighed since his 6 week check, he is in 3-6 month baby grows as the smaller ones he was struggling to stretch in but 0-3 months for clothes as they don't have feet in them.

Things still busy here for a couple of weeks and then I may get a night off.

SBBP there is a pic on my profile of Isaac cuddled up to a muslin, I have an orange one, a green one, 2 turquoise ones and 2 purple ones, but he only cuddles/grabs the purple ones
I dyed them myself as white ones where cheaper and I was dying babygro's/sleepsuits/vests at the same time and have just done the 3-6/6-9 stuff today

If anyone is interested if you go here you can get a free baby cap, add it too your basket, it takes off the discount. they email you and ask for your babies name, DOB and a photo and stuff for free. deb, paro and ernest it's only availble in the UK I think but check it out

On the TV front would recommend Californication as well - David Duchovny and Natasha McElhone (SP) its shorter episodes as well so you can fall asleep watching it

5gomad glad you haven't had anymore nightmare customers/guests

allnew thanks for the reassurance that it is not just my baby, he also seems to get really hot and sweaty but I don't want to strip him as it is normally at bedtime and so is in sleepsuit and sleeping bag, He is not likely to overheat is he?

Lets hoppe we have another sleep like last night - 11 - 6 would be lovely

Hi, just a quickie here, have read through but struggling to find a spare moment the last few days, I'm sure you all know that feeling!
I too am on Prison Break, Allnew, think it was you talking about it. Phwoooar at Michael!
Cold Feet is my all time fave. I bought the whole lot on ebay when i was pregnant and re-watched. Rachael's death gets you just as bad each time. Im going to try and stay up to watch Mutual Freinds tonight....already struggling though!
Isla got herself so overtired this afternoon, poor baby, she fought the sleep till she was beside herself.
My pushchair is now thankfully fixed, although only temp. It turns out that inside the plastic bit on the wheel is smashed up...with a bit of detective work we have discovered that FIL was getting v cross when putting it together and whacked the wheel with a hammer(you can see the dents)
So now we won't be covered by guarantee.
Toys - Isla is not that interested yet. Doesnt try and grab for things so far. Is quite happy to chat away to dollies and teddies though!

hedgehog - is it just colour or does isaac prefer a dirty muslin to cuddle? edie has taken to licking hers (whilst rather fetchingly rolling on her side and grunting)..it is as odd as it is amusing. But reckon all these things are personal so not sure if you can read anything into toy milestones...

anyone else battling wtih evenings still.. still having the pick her up /put her down business with edie (and its really pissing me off as its me that mostly wastes hours in pointless trying to get into a bedtime routine) - am I best off moving it til later (trying at 7..but she doesnt generally get to sleep til 9/10) or persistign strictly with routine? dh reckons persisting but I'm now tempted to get ambers nanny in (had put it on hold as -touch wood- she has been pretty much sleeping through). ANy tips welcome - want to deal with this now as know its not goign to get better (and havent even started on daytime naps as no point whilst builders in next door room so cant put her down in her cot in daytime)