December 2007 - Oh what fun, they are almost ONE!

[Caz10]

OK here we are ladies!

Wow Wizz, are you rubbing shoulders with royalty now

Just a flying visit going to play with ds - we've just had our lunch, and he virtually all of us plus pudding! VEry pleased, as yesterday he hardly ate anything apart from the porridge at breakfast!

Quick question what kind of games or activities do you do with your babies. I must confess at times I'm at a loss as to what to do with DS when we are at home and I really feel I need to do more with him.

We do songs and nursery rhymes and dancing, and I read to him from his vast collection of books but just wondered what else others do?

BT - I have been known to try drawing with DS, but it is not really that successful. He likes his building blocks, especially if I build towers and he can knock them down, although now he's starting to build them too. Usually he's happy putting things in things or chucking stuff in the bath. He follows me round the house and opens and closes all the doors. He loves being chased, although has to revert to crawling for that as he can't move fast enough when giggling and walking at the same time. Having said all this, I am a fraud and don't look after him full time so perhaps I should ask DH and then report back to you.

moment, BT I don't actually do a lot of activities with ds yet, mostly he follows me around asking to be picked up or plays with dd.

He likes to help me put washing in the machine or pull everything out of the cupboards. He also likes to help hang washing up which means on fine days it gets dragged across the garden or on bad days it gets pulled off the airer-this means I spend A LOT of time just undoing his 'housework'.

When I do do proper activities with him we play with bricks (I build he knocks down), I sing songs with him(mostly ones with actions like row row, if you're happy and you know it, heads shoulder knees and toes, pat a cake etc), I build the trainset for him to play with-he mostly just pulls it apart though but I am lucky because mainly dd entertains him for me! I have to say the playroom is a huge bonus too, it is set up so he can get to all his toys, when dd was his age it was all put away and I used to have to get things out for her and get something else before she got bored!

Colouring was a big disaster last time, he ate the crayons and had blue poo and he also drew on the wall. He seemed to enjoy making cakes with me and dd but it was VERY messy and next time I will definitely close all the doors to the rest of the house so he can't run off and smear the mixture everywhere! He has just got into trying to do puzzles (those wooden ones) but isn't into reading books together unless it is a noisy one ummm

Um trying to think for you, dd and I are sick today so I'm having problems thinking of a normal day

He mostly plays with this tractor, this fire engine or this rocket quite well on his own. Also his drum or anything else noisy.
When he plays with dd they dance, chase each other, or push each other around in a plastic crate, climbing in and out of it seems to provide quite a bit of amusement.

When he comes back to me he is usually grumpy and doesn't want to play with anything so we usually just sing songs or I just carry him around with him shouting at me. Otherwise he loves going up and down stairs, climbing up onto chairs/boxes/tables. He also likes being able to play in the garden so I force myself to take him out there (even though I hate it!). Even though I seem to spend most of the day carting him around I don't feel like we actually do much together though! I suppose he seems to expend huge amounts of energy over a short period then just be grumpy and tired until his next sleep (like right now he is just on boob, get down run away come back cry for boob etc) and things only keep him entertained for a few minutes at a time...

Thanks for all your input! @ blue poo! Will not give ds crayons yet lol.
It's great that your dd and ds can keep each other amused!

Clairy - your ds sounds very similar to mine even have same oys except the tractor thing. Samuel is into book though, the ones that grabbed his interest were the 'thats not my..' as lots of textures. He also now likes 'I wrote to the zoo' and lifts flaps on it for different animals.

We went for a walk today and he walked for AGES. It was ever so sweet but took a long time with his little legs.

In terms of activity though i want to start gym tots but full at the moment. I think the things that seem boring for us really interest them. He was obsessed with a plastic bottle the other day. Getting all the pots andpans out is a game he enjoys. He is also getting more independent and wants to do things 'his way'. We do bathe together though, which is lovely as gives us a play time but then he gets all needing milk as he can see boobs, so alot of time is spent nursing as well.

Those still bfing - do you babies keep sticking their little hands down there? He is doing lots at the moment and leaves it there almost for comfort.

Had appt on Thursday and we start provera on Monday and then will be on clomid .. woo hoo so exciting to think this time next year might have another little one.

Oh cool Awen, didn't know you were TTCing! Good luck!
Daniel is also a flap book fan as well! We have a ball pool which he loves to play in as well.
I feel a bit better now that I see what you all do!

hello all, tis v quiet!
we've had a good wk end, ds1 is better, only one more day of antibiotics to go so hoping its getting back to normal

BT - Toby loves the pop up tent that my mum and dad bought him for his birthday, he'll play peekaboo out of it and we fill it with blankets and teddys and he snuggles up in there. When I'm cooking he'll play with pots and pans and kitchen tools and try and empty cupboards and likes the garage we bought the boys as a joint present for xmas - mostly he tries to get as many cars in the lift as possible, cars have big appeal.

buzzy - that job sounds amazing but a huge decision for you all, I guess like has been said it all depends on if you can find a childcare situation you'd be happy with, good luck making the decision, its a really tough one

awen - great news about ttc - I'm waiting for someone to join me over here!

clairey - hope you and dd are better soon x

Too busy running after rampaging toddlers methinks!

Another flying post whilst ds is temporarily distracted lol

BTW - he has all his incisors but no canines... is it possible for him to start getting molars now, he had had some episodes overnight where he has been obviously in pain, grabbing his ear, side of his head and frantically shoving his hand in his mouth, so wondering if it might be a molar? Poor thing, hate seeing him so upset

Funny how emptying the cupboards is a favourite for all babies

Awen ds also sticks his hands down my top, especially when he is tired or upset. The past week he has been pretty clingy and has wanted to be fiddling with my nipples pretty much non stop, I've been getting really annoyed with him...I know it is comfort for him but I wish he'd find something else to fiddle with, I just feel like I'm being constantly mauled! Hmm maybe I should leave his nappy off and let him play with his willy all day

Ooh on that subject, the other morning he was having some nappy off time and went and sat on the potty and did a wee his vest got in the way but I was v impressed! He definitely knows what it is for because I have to nag dd so much he goes and sits on it and says poo but I think it was probably just a coincidence that he managed to get a wee in there. Whatever, I'm not going to potty train him til he's about 10 after my wee everywhere experiences with dd!

#oihhh i haven't posted on here for ages... awaen am very jealous off you ttc...who else is there?

evie is currently asleep on my shoulder snoring gently. Bought her her 1st shoes last week. John lewis only did boys shoes in her size..porr girl. She will be a tom boy. She has learnt to climb the stairs and come down, flush the toilet ( ) take off her nappy (grhhh) and is generally really cheeky. She lvoes to climb on anything

Wow, Cazzy - my ds is nowhere near climbing stairs!!
Clairey - ds likes to open cupboards but more to bang the doors shut again then out of any interest of the contents! He does tend to stick a hand down my top, but often it is his dummy! Fortunately he is not a nipple twiddler!
Insy - aww Toby sounds soo cute! Ds also love peekaboo. He loves rough and tumble as well, that usually has him in fits of giggles. Aren't baby giggles just lovely?

bouncing - samuel has all incisors and now 2 molars - no canines.

Clairt - pmsl at your post and totally get the irritated bit. I am feeling a bit guilty though as ds2 is poorly and think thats why he so obsessed. WOw about wee in poty. Ds did wee by the loo about 2 months ago.. but that was an accident. Bare bum time always involves kitchen roll and antibacterial spray

Inso - aww at toby. We have pop up stuff too and samuel loves it. (so does ds1 )

Cazzzy - wow at the stair climbing down We can manage up but the down bit isnt there yet.

Looks like Samuel has croup anyone got any experience of it? His temp was 103 and neighbour is a gp and came over and said croup. Got to watch his stridor as may need to take him to a&e if gets all the time.

awen - no experience of croup but I've heard from other mums that steam helps, putting ds in bathroom and running shower and one mum I know got a humidifier for ds's room, hope temp comes down soon too x

cazzy - Toby can climb and come down the stairs too, decided to teach him so I didn't have to carry him up and down when heavily pregnant he's really cute the way he looks down then does a three point turn to get his feet over the top step and push off grinning all the way - I love the fact he thinks everything he does at the moment is amazing

BT - baby giggles are the best, especially after a long day at work

Awen DD1 had croup and taking her out in the night air did her no end of good. Only found out by accident as we were driving her to A&E at midnight and over the course of the journey she got alot better. When we arrived they said that was very common! Its really nasty tho, much sympathy.

We've been away for a few days. Summer school hols just about over so last chance to have a bit of family time with DD1. We borrowed my cousin's farmhouse as they were also away and the girls had a lot of fun altho I wasn't so keen on all the insects LOL (multiple bites despite repellent - think I'm a city girl at heart).

I still don't know what's happening on the work front. Have found out that there's competition for the job even tho its only a secondment so may come to nothing anyway.

Awen, have no experience of croup. Hope he feels better soon.

DS can go up and down stairs by himself now, but we still keep the stairgate up. Sometimes he tries to go head first instead of turning round which is fine for one or two shallow steps, but harder for a whole staircase. He's not learnt that yet. He absolutely loves stairs and giggles when you let him climb them.

Buzzy hope you get the job, if you want it.

seriously had enough today - Toby was sick all night, he's home with dh today, my turn tomorrow, I need a break, can't believe sickness never ends, I'm starting to think people are sending there children to nursery ill as they are worried about redundancies... might have to start a AIBU thread on it and have a rant

off for more coffee - will be back soon for a less indulgent self rant

Insy - it has been the worst year I can remember for sickness. Thank goodness we've not had it since before christmas. My boss got it last weekend and am waiting for it to filter through to me. Before christmas I think at least one or more of our family had it from October to late December. DH lost a stone, DS got skinny and I didn't . So now I have to lose 10lbs and am having pea shoots for lunch.

Insy it's great how they are so proud of themselves for everything they do isn't it?

Sorry about all the sickness, other than a couple of 24 hour things we seem to have escaped so far.

DS majorly grumpy again at the moment, This time I'm going to blame it on teething, a cold and speech development . One day I may have to just face up to the fact that he has pretty much constant grumpyitis but for now I'll continue to look for excuses!

Insy - I feel your frustration! It does worry me Ds picking things up at nursery, so far apart from conjunctivitis he has been ok!
There has been cases of D&V and chicken pox at the nursery though, so yes I think some people do take a chance!
Buzzy - good luck with the job may the best woman win I guess it would be easier if you didn't get it, then you would haven't a decision to make.

I'm amazed at all these stair climbers, ds has really attempted to climb anything!

I too love the way they are so proud of themselves for every achievement. And so much going on at the moment - oh so close to walking, learning to get down from the sofa or back down a step to get out the french doors, words (current favourite "ow, ow" when she sees the cat!) and the constant giggling!

We went swimming for the first time properly on Tue and she took to it like the proverbial duck - quite happy to float on her tummy or back with me holding on of course (and no face in water).

Its me who's got the runs at the moment Still as you say may help to loose a couple of those Xmas kilos!

Samuel now got bronchiollitis as well as croup and he has nearly lost his voice now poor boy. NOt much sleep here and lots of nursing. Will try and catch up later. xx

Oh no, I thought I'd lost you all. Can't get used to this new format, am all of dither.

I spoke to soon... ds now has chicken pox!!
He's fine atm, but doc siad he'll be having a couple of grotty days before he gets better.

Awen - aww poor Samuel! Hope he is better soon, have you taken him to the GP?

Aw poor boys Awen and BT, hope they feel better soon.

DS currently has THE most disgusting snot I have ever seen, it is vile. He had a few nights of barely sleeping so last night we gave him medised, had a bit of guilt about it now it is for 2 years+ but as dh pointed out dd had it at night from a few months old when she was ill and unable to sleep/breathe. Not entirely sure why the age has changed, anyone know?

Buzzy that's great that she loved swimming, ds loved it in Botswana but dd was scared, think I didn't take her enough when she was younger.