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...

Persist Poppy as will make it easier when older.

Looks like lots of babies aren't interested in toys yet then! I can relax .

poppy, was just about to reply to your post and say don't bother as we gave up trying to put A to bed. His natural bed time is 9ish and it means he sleeps through til 6.30am/7am so that suits us. But having read 5gomad's post, maybe we're setting ourselves up for problems!

Right, Mutual Friends starting in 5 mins. Hope it's good!

Sorry should have expanded, we got DD into a 7-7.30 routine right from the start and now it is no problem getting her to bed at that time as we have had the same routine, bath bottle bed.

and toys, dd was not inetersted until she was sitting up, also chep toys, coke bottles filled with gliiter in water and pasta kept her amused for hours, banging saucepans with wooden spoons, at the moment Sebastian is quite content just to watch us.

fungle - yep Michael is a definite attraction for Prison Break! I'm on series 3 now and we're getting through them pretty fast. at your FIL with the wheel!

poppy DH is upstairs still doing tonights pick up/put down as we speak. I thought we were getting somewhere, but it's gone to pot. Maybe the weekend away put him off his routine. The thing I find difficult is timing the daytime sleeps so as not to interrupt bedtime - A slept between 6 and 7, whereas his bedtime is 8, and so of course he wasn't tired come bedtime. I don't like to keep him awake though during his daytime naps, so really haven't figured the routine out yet at all!

HH A tends to be a hot baby as well. When he is in a sleepsuit with blanket over him he just kicks off the blanket - I always think he'll be cold but he seems ok. When I'm using a grobag I'll just have a vest on him under it usually

HH love the purple muslin - what dye do you use?

fivethanks for the encouragement.. thought that might be the case - allnew the six o clock sleeping is a pain...and we have no daytime nap routine

hh/allnew - edie also hot..esp when having tantrum. feel bad as seems to wear less than her peers but she doesnt seem to mind and never seems to get cold - think she must have some of her father's genes there as he is never cold either

Hedgehog yes, still battling with evenings here. Like Sponge, we've found that Iestyn prefers 9-9.30 for sleeping, and there is no point in attempting to get him to sleep at 7. We've tried and it's heartache... However, our new strategy (last 7 days) is to not fight it; we bathe him (if he's not screaming), and feed. Tonight, he's been sleeping since 9ish. And of late he's been going through to 5am!! So it works for us.

Hello -

umm, I skimmed the posts then forgot what they all said so can't comment . But I'm thinking nice friendly thoughts! I've killed off 2 computers in the last few weeks so haven't been online much. I think it's having a house full of plaster dust but the rest of the family are convinced that I carry a computer virus in my fingertips. I can't wait until this flipping attic project is finished - I've definitely had enough of builders.

Hope everyone is enjoying the "summer". Deb and Sophie - have you been madly busy? Deb - how are your returning to England plans? Ernest - how are you coping with 4? Neenz - I saw your DH's name in our local paper (the thrill!!) defending some scally (to paraphrase!). Essie I hope your DH's work hasn't caused the chopping and changing that we've had. We were supposed to go to Wales for 3 weeks, then 2, then 3 with a gap in the middle etc etc. Eventually it was reduced to 1 week, but the night before DH came in with 5 boxes of papers he had to bring with him. So we decided that he'd take the boys as he can get some work done when they are around, and I'd stay home with the girls. Needless to say he's got the work done and is staying on for a few days . I can't face the thought of long-ish train journey with DD1 (drippy I know) so I'm having a nice quiet time here.

Was someone talking about losing baby weight? I'm still telling myself that it's ok to be stout as I've just had a baby but as DD2 is 10 weeks old that excuse is wearing rather thin (unlike me!) and I am looking decidedly matronly. I haven't tried on my old jeans yet as I am convinced that I won't get them past my knees. I'm walking loads but also eating loads. So...any tips?

hi rolf - nice to hear from you...sympathies re weightloss..no bright ideas apart from fact we can provide moral support - can now start exercising a bit given got 6 week ok.

essie..so take it you're leaving your routine with iestyn for now? must say it is tempting if they are sleeping through...

ROLF have managed to lose half a stone in just over 3 weeks doing the GI easting plan, really tasty recipes, lots of food, DH is happy eating it and the weight is coming off at a really nice pace.

Essie thank you for the raisin story I could not read it out to DH properly because I genuinely had tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks. Sorry you were blue last week. Hope you feel better now. I did notice that you hadn't been posting as much as normal but had assumed you must be busy - sorry!

My best advice for body shape is to go and buy new stuff even if it is bigger than normal. I forced myself to get some real jeans yesterday as I was far too fond of the elasticated waistband on my maternity ones. I feel better to be wearing something new. Successfully excavated some of my old pre pg clothes too. The good news is that some things fit. The bad news is that not much of it is breastfeeding accessible IYSWIM.

Better go to sleep as ds regressing on night sleeps at the moment. I am sure last night was worse than when he was 2 weeks old

Hi all, first to post today but pretty much been up all bloody night Poppy Night nanny has gone on holiday till September 11th I'm afraid.

Re weight loss - I am still a bloater and haven't lost a single pound but I am trying Weigh Watchers online so we'll see how that goes.

advice needed please The reason why I wake up 10 times a night is not because Luke wants a feed but because he wriggles his way to the side of the cot and sqaushes himself against the sides and cries to be freed. He got his leg stuck again last night. Has anyone got ay ideas how to keep him in the middle? I have tried grobags and they don't make any difference. Already got bumpers. I was even thinking of threding a buggy harness through his sheepskin he sleeps on and strapping him in or will that mean someone will call social services?

fivegomad I don't know how you have the time to look after kids and cook GI recipes - respect!!

Amber- CJ works her way into the corner of the cot every nigfht- she doesn't go to sleep until her head is pressed up against the edges....I think it's acommon thing. I'm afriad I put a cot bumper on (bad mum alert) and left her to it (with the window wide open to keep her cool and stop me worry about overheating!). YOu could try rolling two towels into logs and putting one along each side of him. I think you can even buy sleep positioners for this very purpose.

Morning all.

Morning all,

read all the posts then S started crying so have forgotten most of them!

RE: weight loss am so impressed that some of you already working on diets etc. I'm still at the stage where I just grab whatever is quick. That's usually cornflakes/toast at breakfast, sandwich or tin of soup at lunchtime. DH does the evening meal and we're on the quick and easy recipes at the mo! Usually manage at least half a pack of jaffa cakes throughout the day to keep me going. Not the most nutritious diet and certainly nowhere near my 5 a day. I'm also really struggling to get some exercise in. Am feeling a bit useless after yesterday. S was playing up a bit with feeds etc and I managed to get nothing done. I live right on the outskirts of the city and it's such a big effort to go anywhere or do anything around S's feeding times. If I was BF I could whip my boob out wherever I was, but FF takes more organisation . Sorry, having a bit of a moan today.

Amber no suggestions I'm afraid. I dont understand about the cot bumpers and overheating though - why are babies more at risk in a giant cot with some bumpers than they are in a small enclosed moses basket.

Amber don't know what to suggest as Peter hasn't done this - yet. You aren't meant to swaddle at this stage are you? Only thing I can think of, sorry.

Much better night last night as proven by exploding boobs this morning. Possibly the dream feed helped him only wake once.

Toys. Peter sounds similar to others, he has just started to bat things sometimes not by coincidence I like to think. In the last 5 days he has noticed big toys being waved in front of him and I found him touching his caterpillar this morning which I thought was rather marvelous!!

essie so pleased someone else doesn't do routines. and it works for me Isaac slept through last night, although I woke him at 5.30 for a feed as my boobs were so sore, but he then slept til DH woke him at 8.30, I think his thumb really works for him and he looks so cute with it in.

Re dyeing I just use the DYLON machine or hand ones depending on how much I have to do.

rolf nice to see you back

BDQ only half a packet of jaffa cakes, I can easily knock of a packet of biscuits in one sitting, at least 2 if I am feeding!!

Am thinking that if Isaac continues his sleeping success that we will move him into his cot/own room next week as DH has a very busy 6 weeks at work coming up with at least 2 of his other managers off every week

Right off now

Morning all

No way can i catch up wwith eveything from yesterday!!! So...

Yes phoaaar at micahel in prison break

My cousin is the one in vid who is repeated several times at end - blond hair and white shirt

Cot bumpers - fleur has one dont understand why they are dangeous im leaving fleurs on (think its cause of tthe ties when they aree older ie strangling, no way the ones on fleurs oould do that)

Overheating- fleur sleeps in romper suuit and grobag in temps of 27 so whoever woried bout their LO in England dont!!!

Evening routine - agree with 5gomad keep perserveriing will be worth it in end

Fleur loves her baby einstein dvds however they are veryrepetetive Dp recckons we would be better to watch them whilst stoned!!!!

Love the rasin!!!!hehe

Well wish me luck today is 1st day im on my own with Fleur, Dp gone to work. Why is it im not scared with 30 screamming and crying 2 yr olds on their 1st day back at school ut slightly nervouus bout today!!!!

Also going to head into village see if i can spot any other mums and babies as no clubs, activities etc here at all.

BDQ Just remembered you mentioned giving Fleur a dream feed, Dp used to do one bout 10/11pm but she ended up sleeping through it so we left her, the other day i did her up at 10pm cause she was realling stirring hands in mouth etc but still half asleep, she fed quite well but still woke up at 1/2am!!! Maybe i should perseve and see if eventually she drops 1am?

Poppy - Ethan was 10 weeks yesterday, and for a while he wasn't going to sleep at night until about 9.30, but gradually over the last week he has been ready for his cot earlier and earlier so it's now about 8.00 ish that I put him to bed. Sometimes asleep , sometimes awake. I wouldn't worry too much at the moment.

Rolf - thanks for thinking about us, we're not madly busy(we have guests but only until this weekend) unlike Sophie - our busy time is the winter which I'm not looking forward to - Saturdays will be hell.
Have had the house valued, and I think we will be putting it on the market soon, may be on a TV programme about moving back to the UK so we're waiting to hear about that first!!
I am also trying to walk but still eating lots, I'm really trying to keep off the biscuits but it is hard. I too haven't tried on the dreaded jeans yet but I can fit in some elasticated wait summer trousers - but that's cheating I think!!

Essie - sorry you were sad last week, but think how much joy you have given us regaling your raisin antics!!

Allipalli - hope last night was better for you

BDQ - Jaffa cakes - well there's your vitamin C - don't worry!!

Amber - I've seen things online that you can get to put either side of baby to stop them moving, just can't remember where.

Morning Makecakes - how's your silver cross been in the garden? lived up to your expectation? (it was you wasn't it?)

Hi Paro - good luck today, I remember feeling very nervous when dh returned to work when I had ds1, but I'm sure you'll be OK.

Hot day here, must change milk sodden bedding then hoping for a peaceful swim whilst circus boys are absent. I've asked them not to tell me any more of what they do as it all sounds so dangerous, I'll just wait for the performance.

Ladies - we have tried the bolsters but he's too big and wriglles outof them easily but I have had a breakthrough!! Check this out - my solution I think...
www.safetsleep.com/easy-to-use-instructions/

Paro goodluck today you will be fine. I had a complete wobble on the first day on my tod, but you always sound very sorted.

Thanks Deb last night much better. Peter woke once just as Hillary Clinton was giving her speech to the Democratic Convention. The night before I got to hear all of Michelle Obama's speech. its not as though I am American even.

Thanks debs and allipalli

I knew id prob be fine its just a bit strange! Just been for a walk and now she is asleep so what do i do now!!! Suppose studying or washing but that sounds too much like hard work!!!

looks good Amber, id give anyhting a try you can always sell it on ebay later!

Glad that peter slept better

Enjoy your swim debs weather here is awful today really cloudy and quite chilly so much for sunny GC!!

Hi paro hope your day is going ok - at least you got out for a walk, I was just about to go out and it's raining as usual

HV has just been and had A weighed. I'm happy with his weight, 11lb 11oz at 8 weeks, yet he's fallen on the growth charts! He was on the 50th centile, but is below that now (this seems really odd to me as his 0-3 clothes are mostly too small for him now . The growth chart I have is for bf babies, and it's left me feeling paranoid that he's not gaining enough, especially with his fussy feeding

Hi,

allnew I wouldn't worry too much about the growth charts. S is 11 lb 15oz at 7 weeks but 0-3 clothes are still big on them. If you're happy with his weight then that's the most important thing.

Paro - you're supposed to check out daytime tv like the rest of us . I always wake S for a dream feed, he often sleeps through it but he now doesn't feed till about 7am. Sometimes he wakes up in the night but we can usually settle him without feeding now. It is really hard to wake him for the dream feed, he's usually half asleep and doesn't take much but I think it makes the difference.

Is it me or has it been a while since PP posted?