July 2008 - Living in the Twilight Zone of never quite enough sleep to be compus mentus

[libralady]

Just thought I'd better set up another thread as the old one is just about to run out.

Thanks for all the sympathies about Tesco's and the pile, still there still giving me grief, thinking of claiming Child Benefit for it

momma23 - second the hassle about going out with 3 especially when it's this cold, most of the time we don't bother

Jodie - aww cbeebies for a day or two won't harm him

Rumpel - no they sometimes refund the delivery but that would be cheeky considering I used a £9 off voucher. Theres a little ginger boy in DD1's nursery class and he is a wee cracker. I am a bit of a gingeophile, theres too many blondes and browns etc ginger is stunning it stands out.

Minkus - poor you sleep deprivation sucks.

Morning all,

Hope you all enjoyed Halloween.

Disaterous day yesterday..
We went to a family friends house last night for a bonfire and fireworks party but as it had been pouring down all day turned into just a get together. Abigail slept for about 20 mins on the way there (needs about an hour to be happy) and then woke when we got there. Needless to say, too much going on to go back to sleep. She played for a while then got very grumpy and refused to go to sleep no matter what we tried. We ended up leaving really early after a couple of hours.-ie 7pm! Little moo when to sleep the moment the car started!
Annoying as we only get to see these friends a couple of times a year
She slept the hours drive home and was as happy as larry when she woke up- monkey!

She has a habit of doing this when we go somewhere like that.. her sleep gets upset and shes a grumpy old mare! Feel like we cant go to any get togethers anymore as its likely she will get grumpy.
Cancelling our Anniversary meal tonight too now and just having a takeaway indoors

Anyway hope you all had better Sat evenings.

Afternoon all.....what a beautiful day

I went in the garden with dd1 and ds4 and played chasing and hide and seek for a while but ds4 soon got tired and we came in

ds4 has been really unwell for about 3 weeks and although the doc can find no infection he is running a slight temp and gets tired very easilly and is sleeping a lot...he is also complaining of sore legs and of being cold...not normal for a 3 yr old
doc says to take him back this week if no better and she will refer to hosp for blood tests etc I am so worried and keep thinking the worst....hope it's just a long lasting nasty virus....

minipink I hope your DS is OK. I'm sure he will be, but it's always worrying when they are ill isn't it.

pigley You will get to go to get togethers soon enough, but it's annoying isn't it. There was a time when DH and I could only go to Carvery's for meals so we could take it in turn to comfort a grumpy baby!(that was DS1, we don't go anywhere now, no one likes a toddler running around!) Happy anniversary! Hope your night turned out better...

My night was shite! We all went out, had a nice meal and a catch up, by the time we got to the cheesy night club though my feet hurt, I was shattered and grumpy, my 2 friends got so much attention by the men and no one even looked in my direction, so I then started to feel fat and unattractive, which made me worse, I then had to sit in said club until 3.30 while the other girls 'sucked face' with these men, finally got home at 4, been up for a grand total of 23 hours by this point. I think I've out grown my clubbing days. Much rather be in my slippers with a cup of cocoa by 11.00.... This realisation made me sob like a child (yes I was still in the club) I used to be the life and soul, and now I'm boring, fat, unattractive... where has it all gone...

As for leaving the house.. Well we rarely do that anymore, DS1 wants to walk everywhere, which is fine, but a pain when you just want to pop to the post office or grab a loaf of bread, and going out at the weekend is a mission too. I can't wait until DS1 is of an age where he can sit and play nicely so we can have Sunday Lunch somewhere nice again!!!! (of course then Sam will be a nightmare toddler!) ahhhhhhh

Sorry about long rant, feel better for getting it off my chest though.

SK I'm with you on the piles I have one big itchy one that doesn't seem to be budging (sorry if TMI).

Jodie - aww sounds like you are just feeling a bit tired and emotional, I have just turned down a school disco night as I would have to go on my own so DP could babysit so surrounded by couples and I couldn't stay awake past 11pm anyway, utterly depressing isn't it?

Agree about the going out, I tend to do everything I need to get done on a Mon/Weds/Fri morning when I only have Bethany, even going around the supermarket with the 3 of them on my own is a nightmare. We do sometimes go out for lunch the 5 of us but only to child friendly places.

Question for all of you with P&T's - has the baby outgrown the cocoon, B looks squashed in hers, haven't bought the sleeping bag yet was between the P&T sleeping bag or a buggy snuggle. I think B is getting bored underneath too. A lot of the time now I just have it as a single unless we are walking miles then DD2 likes to sit up top.

minipink - hope your DS4 feels better soon

pigley - I distinctly remember one night when 3 of my friends came over to visit DP, myself and DD1 when she was about 8 weeks (we were up from Scotland on a visit) anyway they all came in cooed over the baby for a bit, then chatted amongst themselves, DP and my friends hubby were off chatting about mens stuff, my other two friends were having a nice chat over a bottle of wine and I was trying to comfort DD1 who was like Abigail so tired and grumpy. I went in the other room and burst into tears, like I was lef to get on with it with the baby. Anyway sorry off on a tangent I don't think it's the end of going out, can you either wrap Abigail up in her pram take her for a 20 minute walk around the block to try and settle her then when you bring her back just let her sleep in the pram or even put her in the car seat 10 minute drive then bring the car seat in if she's asleep.

Hiya. Having a lovely day . DS2 headbutted me under the chin, whihc made me bite my tongue on both sides til it bled and now have three huge ulcers. Not pleased. Is it wine o'clock yet? Oh yes, it would appear so.

ttfn xxxxx to all

pigley / jodie - sorry to hear your weekends didn't go to plan
Jodie - I have to admit I would rather have cocoa and slippers than clubbing! And I would never have stayed awake until that time!

minipink - hope your ds feels better soon.

re going out with dc - we tend to go for lunch more than dinner, and it has to be somewhere the service is pretty quick - no dawdling! the ds love the wacky warehouse so we go there for an hour before lunch, then they are starving so sit and eat better. Poppy is usually happy to sit on my knee (one handed eating for me) although it is generally a question of timing. I yearn for the days dh and I could have a leisurely lunch over a bottle of wine, sit and chat..... now it's quick order the food, slurp a glass, no time for pudding, let's go.

Donut I keep wishing wine o'clock was earlier too! Poor you with your tongue

Jodie I really miss clubbing too, esp the dancing bit. Not been for about 2 years now though. But at your mates, that's not very nice to do to a friend, let alone one who hasn't been out in a while and needs a good old girly night.

DS1 is great at going out to eat really- but only if I take a bag of tricks to keep him occupied! A few books and a bit of lego, best thing is a little tub of playdoh, most places don't have tablecloths do they and so he can squidge it about to his hearts content, keeps him quiet enough.

One of you lovely ladies wrote a really nice comment on my facebook wall the other day, sadly I can't log to it at the moment and so havent replied! Thanks whoever it was, can't remember now though. Typical baby brain, though that pregnancy was the culprit but evidently not!

Just about to watch xfactor from last night, I sooo love that prog at the mo!Go Diana Laura and Austin!

Evening All,

SK one of your girlies has lovely long red hair doesn't she? I love it too - luckliy we are not freckly as not so keen on the red hair masses of freckles everywhere look (BIANCA!!!!!) I only used the cocoon about twice He likes being in the bottom all snuggly in a blanket.

JODIE - I was reading in The Times today to wear red to attract men I love red and bright colours anyway - so helpful hint for next time you are needing a lift. I used to love dancing all night too - so cannot be arsed now. My waiting for taxis in the freezing cold at ridiculous am and scoffing chips and curry sauce are well gone - oh well it was good while it lasted. We'll all just need to wait until the kids are a bot older and we can do the embarrassing parents dance at parties/weddings etc

MINIPINK - maybe growing pains and post viral whatsit? Hope he is okay - sending + vibes.

MINKUS - I hope your littly is being a good boy and letting you get some rest (unlike my little treasure).

My 2 were hell tonight - DH glued to the Grand Prix and they are both screaming - DD starts and it sets off Calvin. I have now plonked them with DH (DD should be in bed but has a stonking cold and fell asleep too late this afternoon and is now wide awake) and am off for a lush claming bath with Maeve Binchy and a HUMUNGOUS glass of white [heaven emoticon]

I put my detials on netmums and am hoping to meet up with some other mummies later this week - really would like to make some friends and get some stimulating conversation again. Bit scary though in case they are awful or they think I am [argg emoticon]. I also have a cholesterol test on wednesday

Got back the cine film yesterday £200 for 1 hour 55 mins of VHS - was amazing though - saw my Great Grandparents on both sides - stacking hay the old fashioned way, handling bee hives - with no gloves {arrgggg!} and my Mammy/Uncle when they were wee up until they were married with my brother - none of me though. Also my Dad kacking himself at his and Mum's wedding Every shot just about had a beautifyul big German Shepherd in it bounding along - my Grandpa set up the police dog training branch in Scotland all those years ago. Was amazing.

Anway am off for me bath nite all.xxxx

Evening all.

I have a very nice glass of Villa Maria Savignon Blanc and Jeremy Clarkson. Hurrah for Sunday nights.

Minkus - how was your dinner out?

Jodie - sorry your night wasn't as hoped, you are not fat/unattractive/boring you have just reached a new stage in your life where a good meal with friends is better than a night out on the tiles and there is nothing wrong with that.

Mini - hope your DS4 feels better soon or the doc works out what is wrong.

Pigley - happy anniversary!

Rumpel - hope your child-free bath is lovely.

Evening all
Have been away on hols since Friday before last - bet you didn't notice I was gone. Had a great time staying at my sister's, my other sister was there with her family, and so were my parents. All 3 girls were spoiled but Orlaith especially - I don't think she had to do more than give a deep sigh before someone would pick her up and cuddle her. It wasn't quite as restful as I hoped as O has a nasty cold and is waking even more during the night doing, as DH says, her impersonation of a drain clearing. And now I have to unpack and do the laundry

Anyway, have now spent vast amounts of time catching up, so here goes.....

Disneystar, thank you for your lovely words about Orlaith's name, and about DD1's Harvest Assembly. Re Sam's hair, it makes him look really gorwn-up! I wouldn't cut it - it's just the way he is . He looks so bright and alert in the photos. I'm sorry to her about the other problems they'v picked up on now. How are things with your DH? I sometimes feel like you and I have a similar relationship with our husbands - we are very close to them sometimes, but st other times we feel we could manage very well without them. I have to say that my relationship does suffer for the first 4-6 months of each of our baby's lives - I put so much into caring for the baby and the other child(ren), I have little left over for DH. I cannot imagine how much harder it is when your baby needs you as much as Sam. Also, I can be quite a solitary person and lived alone for years before I moved in with DH - being with the baby 24 hours a day is at times stressful, and DH doesn't see that, and doesn't understand my requests to get some time alone without the resposibility of even listening for the baby. I hope things are on an upswing with you and your husband.

Hello and welcome to Smudge123 and Jadey24.

Sweetkitty, and that your period has come back so quickly. Mine doesn't come back at all when I'm bfing, even when the baby has gone down to only 2 feeds a day. I can't say I missed it...

TJuice you are a baaaaaad mummy with that picture of Elodie, but it did make me larf. Definitley one to show her first boyfriend. I took one of DD2 the other day sitting on her potty talking to Grandma on the phone - saving that for her 18th birthday party.

Gillythekid, I'm sorry to hear you're struggling. I don't have any help or experience to offer, just my sympathy.

Jodie, I'm sorry your night went pearshaped. It wasn't very kind of your friends to leave you sitting there on your own. I can't remember the last time I went clubbing, as I usually had to be at least a bit drinky to want to go and I don't really deink anymore (babies, needing to drive etc, not some teetotal crusade).

Rumpel hope you enjoyed your childfree bath. While I was away, my mum and one of my sisters took all the children out, and the rest of the adults were out doing various things so I had the house to myself. Had a long hot shower and blow-dried my hair all the while with some loud music on - it was ace!

OK, I think I've bored you all for long enough. Sorry if I haven't responded to anything important.

Hi all,

minipink- Hope your little one gets better soon.

Jodie- Sorry to hear about your night out. Im another one who would prefer to be snuggled up instead of clubbing. We had friends round the other week and by 1.30 am I was knackered!

SK- I have taken A for a walk before to settle her but it was pouring down with rain so didnt fancy that and driving doesnt work as the moment you move the car seat she will wake up
Oh well, im sure it will improve as she gets older

Donut- Ouch!

Isaidno- We were prob abit dramatic about taking Abigail out for a meal tonight. We were only going to go to the harvester. Just abit stressed after Sat night that we just didnt want to possibly face it again so soon IYKWIM.
Had a nice chinese takeaway tonight though which turned up just after Abigail had gone to sleep so good timing for a nice meal together. Silly I know, but its not our Wedding Anniversary but our first date anniversary! We always used to celebrate that till we got married last year so seemed a shame to not mark it somehow. 9 yrs!

Rumpel- Ive met quite a few people through Netmums- great way to meet people.
Ive recently met a mummy with a DD 3 weeks older than Abigail. We get on really well and see each other every week now.
Glad you enjoyed the cinefilm.

crossposted with Poledra..

Glad you enjoyed your family time together.

Hey Poledra you were missed, honest! Glad you managed at least one stressfree session on your own.

Just noticed, Rumpel you're back! Glad you've shelved the weeble. But you're in lowercase now not capitals , it is you isn't it and not someone doing an impersonation??

Libra our anniversary dinner out was really lovely, thank you for remembering- so nice to finish our conversations without a small person asking what the saggy bit under his willy is for - i.e. his balls- (really! This question came out of nowere earlier today) or another even smaller person squeaking for boob. We even managed not to talk about them constantly!

Well Little Lou has had a 3oz formula feed tonight as well as a whole boobful. Fingers crossed he might sleep well tonight! And for you Rumpel and Gilly, hope Calvin and Nate aren't too troublesome (the terrible three!)

Right, back from hols, need to catch up with what's been going on but it'll have to wait as I'm back to work tomorrow - arrrrrrgh!!!!!!

Oh so much to catch up on, we are officially a house of snot today, both DDs suffering so have kept them off nursery, DD1 still in bed and it's 8.30am! It's so cold and foggy today think we will be snuggling under a duvet watching Snow White, have started getting the Disney classics for the DDS now they love them, we had Lion King on Saturday, DD1 bawled at the sad bits! Disney is so sad.

libralady - welcome back at going back to work

minkus - glad you had a nice anniversary meal, pmsl at the willy conversations, my two put toilet roll between their legs and sing "I've got a winky" they also chase the cats about looking for their winkies!

pigley - sorry was just trying to be helpful about the meal situation, I know what it's like B is great in the car but if you are stuck at traffic lights starts wailing then stops the minute you move off, how do they know that? It does get a bit better once you can plonk them in a highchair and give them some toys to keep them occupied.

poledra - welcome back too of course we missed you glad you had a nice time. What you said about your DH I could have written it. Mine was in a strop all weekend as I had fallen asleep during the film on Friday night and didn't seem very sorry said to me yesterday that our relationship is rubbish and that he feels like giving up and one day when the DDs are older he will leave, so agree with having so little left over for him. You know I just let him rant I simply don't have the energy for it right now. I agree though about relationships suffering when a new baby is born, I hope it will come back once B is sleeping through the night and not needing me so much and DD2 stops being the 2 year old from hell.

Rumpel - I think you must be thinking of someone else re the red hair, DD1 has light brown curly hair, DD2 has straight blonde hair, would have loved one of them to have red hair. That's great news about netmums hope you meet someone nice. I thought I had made a nice mum friend but she has turned into a bit of a nutter oh well. Lovely about the cinefilm I think it will be lovely for our DC in later life to see themselves and us as babies.

Right best be off DD1 up now, let the chaos begin.

Morning all,

Feel much chirpier today after lovely long cuddles with DS1 yesterday, I think he missed me! I'm not doing it ever again (til the next time! ) It's meals out all the way now!

Libralady at going back to work, I've got until the end of Jan and I'm panicking already!

Poledra We did miss you, glad you had a nice time and had a bit of a 'chilax'

SK Boo at the colds! I must admit though, your day sounds lovely, I quite like it when DS1 feels under the weather as he actually sits still for a few minutes at a time...

I feel awful as I've just had to text some of my friends and tell them that I've got no money and can we please not do christmas pressies this year, feel very presumptious, but I'm sure they will be grateful, as I think everyone is in the same situation and I now have 2 to buy for!!! Still feel dead cheeky though!

Jodie, it is so not cheeky re the Christmas presents. My sisters and I stopped giving each other presents a few years ago as it all got too expensive with the children too (we still buy for the children, obv!). We've done the same thing with most of our friends. These days, time is more precious, so I'd rather invite my friends round for a meal and spend time talking to them than to search desperately through the shops for something.

Libralady- back to work already.. poor you

SK- Your duvet day watching Disney sounds fab!

Jodie- Some of our friends have told us just to buy for the kids now which is fine by us- One less present to search the shops for!
My sister and I have agreed our LO's will buy each other a present but only up to £5. There are quite a few nice little toys for £5 now so wont be too hard. Abigail has just bought her cousin a highchair toy with all sorts on it for a fiver in Tesco's.

Well im quite refreshed this morning as Abigail slept 8-6! brilliant

Im looking for a new changing bag as the one that came with my pram is crap. Its quite deep but only has one compartment so you have to pull everything out to find what you need. Any recommendations??

jodie - glad you are feeling better. evenings out are different now - i went to a trendy party the other night and i definitely felt different - but i must say i was really excited just to be out with the girls. but my mojo was a bit off - i don't look dramatically different to how i was before but its hard to get excited about gussying up these days. anyway, meals out are lovely.

i went to a brunch place yesterday that was really child-friendly. in fact, a bit too child-friendly for my liking - loads of kids running around! but its so cool they have cafes like that here. cilc - you should check it out, its called Cafe Krudthuset on krudtlobsvej. You can take the harbour boat from Kongens Nytorv or Nordre Toldbod

Anyway, Elodie woke up from her lunchtime nap but was really mellow. We put her in a high chair and she just gummed up her toys while we eat the buffet brunch, then slept all the way back.

poledra - i am a bad mum - she's going to hate all the silly outfits i get her up in! i post them for my mum and dad to see on flickr flickr.com/photos/juicifer/

On friday night though, we took her to a noisy kiddy and adult Halloween party and amazingly, she went to bed in her lift (the basket bit of her pram) and stayed asleep, all the way home in a taxi until 5am, when she fed and went back to sleep. And it was sooooo noisy, with shouting teenagers and toddlers playing musical chairs and everyone turning up the volume! I think when they fall asleep in a noisy environment, they generally stay asleep. I did have to sit with her for a while though - in my Pocahontas costume!

libra - hope back to work is going okay. i have to go and have a chat with my boss tomorrow. i want to go back in March or April but not sure if he can get extra cover. Time has gone so quickly!

Pigley
In the same boat on the changing bag thing! Need to get a new one.. On my 3rd child and still have not found the right one!! But really need a new one now..

Bethany asleep and other two have now built a Little People village all over the lounge, we have got every bit of LP/Happyland/all the vehicles out, place lots a mess but they are happy.

Forgot to say we put B in the door bouncer the other day, she looked so little in it but loved it, I think she loved being upright. She is such a nosey little thing doesn't like being cuddled or cradled likes to be up over your shoulder so she can see whats going on. I would recommend a door bouncer they are great even for half and hour a day DD1 adored it DD2 wasn't as keen. I used to hoover around DD1 when she was in heres. We have the Lindam one.

Changing bags - check out your local TK Maxx I got a nice demin one in there, it's a Samsonite one got it for £15 RRP was about £70, it had loads of compartments (great for juice cups) came with a bit for keeping bottles warm and a changing mat. John Lewis do some really fab posh ones if your up for a spurge.

having a growth spurt here - Poppy feeding hourly . Nights are getting better though; most nights she sleeps from 7pm to 4am, quick feed them 7am. She has now slept through 4 times, never when I expect / want her to.

LL - work already but IIRC you were planning to go back even sooner? I moight go back to work in 5 years or so!

SK - Poppy likes to see everything too - she likes to be carried facing out so she has a full view.

Changing bags are never quite right - usually so big you can't find anything and it weighs a ton. Or too small and the zip is popping.

how do ur lo go to sleep?
do u sitll rock/swing.lull them?

also have ne of u brought books for ur lo? im dyin to buy sum, my dh tinks she is too small...