September 08 Remember what we were doing this time last year?[wink]

[Debs75goldrings]

So what were we all doing this time last year?

sorry to hear about thoes who have had sad/stressfull xmases. we had a fun time at my SIL who is a great believer in cryinh it out, and was put out a bit when my dh gave up his xmas dinner to see to elliot's distress cries, but he's our child not hers. we also had to listen to the old lady with dementia telling us that there is something wrong with him when he cries and pulls his legs up, -yes its wind, - has he seen a doctor, -yes several they say it will pass as he matures. 5 mins later -theres something wrong with him when he cries and pulls his knees up..... aaarrrrggh
I know she cant help it but it did get a bit tiresome.
elli's best present IMO is the bumbo baby sitter as we cne sit him that ad playwith him better. its also strengthing his back muscles for when he does start to sit by himself. hes started grabbing his toys and bringing hem toward his mouth, not quite got them in there yet tho, but dont think it'll be too long til he does.
sleeping is still a PITA tho, hes so over tired in the day he just power naps.
and bed time is still in the early am's
anyway love to all and merry christmas and happy new year.

ninj sorry to hear about your gran.

hopefully - I got the sling from Bebecannelle (when they were on sale at 50%), but s.one else mentioned another sling site with discounts (sorry, can't remember who/site) and I'm sure foxy will have a list of sites/best buys.

holly we put M in DS's bumbo seat yesterday for the first time - really can't believe we didn't do it earlier and today we got the tray for it too (it wasn't around 4 years ago) - I loved it with DS, just wished we'd bought it earlier, so I'm glad this time we've already got it.

So funny tonight! I gave her a bottle of EMB and was teasing her with it , so she just grabbed it and fed herself! and did it again after the nappy chage! DP and I were just in stitches

Bigmamaslings has just put loads up in her sale section. Quite a few pouches and stretchy wraps. I noticed at least one Tricot Slen which is the one that Starlight got and a few Mobys. they are stretchy and v. good for beginners and newborns. Plus one size fits all.

There are some pouches, the Peanut shell ones are fleecy so good for winter use and the Hotsling ones are pretty. The thing with pouches is that they go by body size so you may need to speak to her to make sure you pick up the right one.

enjoy.

for the rest of you, there are a couple Buckle carriers which will come into their own at the age of our babies are now. I got my first carrier (Ergo) when dd was about 12 wks and used it from then. The Yamo, patapum, angelpack and Manduca (german and fabby according to a MNer I know out there) are all on sale and are fantastic carriers. If I was in the UK I would be sorely tempted by the Angelpack. I am wondering if i should ask bigmama for a commission.

I just caught up with everyone's post so . Glad to see you back Barnpot. Sorry about your Gran ninja (were you once gingerninja, btw?)

Hi Foxy no I've always been Ninja - there is a gingerninja too who I feel very much akin with (I would have chosen that name if I'd thought of it!! - my students used to call me that)

Thanks for the condolences - My DD (when she was 4) said that when people die you can remember them by thinking of all the things they liked to do (a future philosopher I think ). So I'm thinking about my granny at the theatre, watching Rugby and Racing, playing cards, making lemon pudding, being punctual and cleaning with j-cloths!! (I also can't help remembering that she called the last bit of a baguette the knob end, and that she once talked about going to the hairdressers for a cut and blow job ). It was my granny who taught me to dry myself after a bath and iron a man's shirt (she'd be mortified that I have trouble even finding my iron!!).

May Aunt who died 3+ yrs ago at only 52 yrs wrote her own eulogy. She told us that whenever we think of her, it is she who has come to give us a little hug. Her eulogy was one of the most spiritual and life affirming thing I have ever been blessed with.

Hi there

Ninj sorry to hear about your Gran; I hope you are all ok in this sad time.

Also sorry to hear about those who have not been well.

We got a belated chrissy present in the shape of a bumbo too - atm Erin is not completely sure about it. On the plus side she is getting better at lying on her front and resting on her little forearms.

She has her second set of jabs tomorrow which I am not looking forward to at all and with no DH there this time as he is back at work, it will be torture for me and her .

Sorry to hear about your nan ninja

Glad to hear everyone had good xmases, we also got A the bumbo which he looks so funny in. Like a little old man in his armchair. Doesn't always like being in it for too long but it's great for sticking him in while I'm busy in the kitchen as he gets to watch me do interesting things.

Well A has been chewing his fists furiously, soaking his sleeves and chest with huge amounts of drool. No temp and can't see anybumps in his mouth yet so not sure it is teething. Am running on emergency fuel today as last night was the third night in a row with hourly waking/feeding. He's 17 weeks but not 4 months till weds am really really hoping for a better night tonight. Poor little thing is exhausted too!

Must try and go for a walk today - think DH is getting cabin fever.

I think these Bumbo things must be all the rage, my DD was given one from her grand-parents on my DPs side. When we first put her in it she was really leaning forwards so we thought she wasn't ready, but I've put her in it twice since, both early in the day and she's been fine so I think she must've been quite tired before as I put her in it in the evening.

Foxy - I looked at that link, veeeery tempting! I am starting to fall out of love with my Close, it seems to slip all the time now and DD ends up round my navel, very frustrating.

Funny how everyone's fans of the bumbo - my SIL had one and said it was the biggest waste of space in the world! Maybe I'll see if I can find one in a charity shop to try. T is quite happy in his poo bouncy chair, but maybe I should put him in something like the bumbo to encourage him to hold himself up more. Does anyone think theirs will last any length of time? T is already fairly enormous and I can't imagine him fitting in one for long!

Most people I knew didn't use the bumbo for long - but seeing thwe rave reviews here I might look out for a second hand one.

We had one of these or similar for DD - it was the BEST buy, she loved it and used it for months and it gave me so much freedom (she wasn't a sleeper). They say from about 6 months, I think at the same it said a bit earlier.

Hi all, I hope you all had a good Christmas. I managed to eat my dinner on Christmas Day and Boxing Day with two hands, as M's lunchtime sleep coincided with lunch being served (ILTMIMI punches the air in celebration).

Ninja - sorry to hear about your Gran, how sad for all of you.

foxy - how are you all doing now?

Hopefully - they don't use Bumbo's for long (unless your lo is petite) so it's a good idea to get a secondhand one. The toy that Ninja linked to is also great.

M is 16 weeks today - how the hell did that happen? I can't believe he is that old already

Yuck, T woke twice in the night (2:30am and 5:30am) after his 10:30pm feed for the first time in ages. I can't believe I used to survive him getting up every hour or two only a few weeks ago! Think he's having a growth spurt - he's woken early from all his sleep and taken a massive feed for the past couple of days, taken an extra evening feed, and is sleeping a fair bit. Think i might top him up before his naps for the next couple of days to try to up my supply a bit - he doesn't seem to demand extra during the day a huge amount, but has never been known to refuse more feeds! Suppose he is nearly 14 weeks, perhaps he's beginning the 4 month thing?

ILTMIMI, i think so.

my sinuses are still blocked but seem to be slowly clearing.

maybe partly because of the dust out here. i hope not if i am supposed to be here a while.

Oh, didn't cancel christmas after all. We went to a 5* hotel and had a lovely brunch. I chose all foods international and marine (seafood). was great to have raw oysters, sushi, sea bream in orange sauce, etc. etc for Christmas lunch rather than the usual. I can have that anytime.

There was a Brit on the other table who made a fuss because when he and his family and parents, I suppose, got there, all the roast taties had gone (probably temporarily) and that they had to queue for a long time. Well, ahem, that is what happens when you turn up full swing, dope. He whinged all high and mighty to the staff. It was one of those moments where your countrymen's behaviour embarrasses you.

proud mummy moment

I got Alice in a High Back Carry yesterday! I took photos but haven't downloaded it yet.

Hello all...hope you all had a good xmas..we did.

I am more besotted with Toby everytime I look at him - which is often!!!! I am so lucky

Happy New Year and all that jazz....

Love from the becaroo household
xxxx

Merry Crimbo everyone!
Had excellent family christmas - was panicking as the plasterers didn't finish on the 23rd and dust everywhere, so was hugely glad to hear BIL1 and family were poorly and would come on the 24th instead. So had just about hoovered whenthey arrived, and they were fine except baby a bit coldy. Got Babydan fence up to ensure he couldn't fall off the landing, and otherwise no problems - got woken early by A on the 25th, so started the cooking, which meant everything ready once the 4 parents arrived. An excellent meal if I say so myself!

A was a bit disrupted by the noise of plasterers and would NOT nap after being woken, and woke up a bit more for a few nights, but is now back to normal. Although decided I couldn't be bothered to wake him for a 11pm feed yesterday (he was out like a light at 8.30), so got woken at 2, 5.30 and 7.30, but managed a bit of dozing until 9.30.

Finally this afternoon have only one baby in the house. It's SO peaceful! I feel so lucky having such a fantastic baby.

Tomorrow will be at NYE party where everyone will be reminding me of my words to SIL2 last year about 2008: "You've got to give birth next year and I don't, ner ner nah ner ner..."

just found out that SIL has had a missed miscarriage. She went for a scan today and found out, and has to go for a D&C tomorrow. She has a DS already, but it's her second MC. Such sad news to end the year on.

Hopefully I am very sorry to hear about your SIL's sad news

T'is been a good day in the Kagey household with E getting through her second set of jabs ok (so far so good).

Anyhoo, just to wish you all a very happy new year and all the best for 2009!!

xxx

sorry for your SIL hopefully, it's very sad.

We're off to my mum's tomorrow for NYE. Alfredo has never stayed away from home yet so it will be an adventure just figuring out what to pack. We'll have to find room in the car for a pushchair, travel cot, bathrest, a playmat, do we take the bumbo?

We had marginally a better night last night, with A waking for feeds at 10:30, 12, 3:45, 5:15 and 8:20. I think he woke a couple of times around 1 but DH managed to get him back to sleep. He's been a lot chirpier today, despite not having many naps. And I've tried to offer the boob as much as poss in order to encourage more daytime feeds.

Ninja So sorry to hear about your gran

Holly Robyn has decided that her bedtime is 12 - 1am. She then usually sleeps till 9am has a 'snack' and wakes properly at noon. Going to have to try and shift it forward a bit when dd1 and ds get back to school or i am going to be a zombie again

Had a great xmas Robyn got loads of presents, we only got her 2 but everyone else made up for that. Going to get her a bumbo and decent high chair with the money we've saved.

She is still doing the leaning back looking at the ceiling thing. She also pushes her legs out straight when i try and wind her which makes it very awkward and have almost dropped her when tired on a night.

Finally got her appointment for what should be her 2nd set of jabs but they say jabs1 on it. It will be 7 weeks since her 1st lot so do you think she will have to start the course again?

Hust done a quick search for bumbos and you are looking at about £30 with postage from ebay so might be worth getting new. How ,long should they last I thought you could use them till they were about 1

Hi All. We survived Christmas at Ponyfamily HQ, but DD now seems to be all clingy and grizzly and needs feeding all the time. She is on my lap atm and is only happy either feeding or sleeping on me. Seems to have a monster appetite - is this the 4 month thing? If so it is two weeks early. Hmph.

MIL stayed for Christmas and it seemed to go ok! She was very jealous of our non-rigid approach with lots of cuddles and feeding on demand. Get this: back in the 60s when DH was born, FIL basically gave MIL the rules for how a respectable family should be raised. She wasn't 'allowed' to pick up DH when he cried, feed when he wanted it, etc. As a young mum who didn't know any better it broke her heart, and she ended up in hospital. Then women's liberation happened and she found her voice! (er.. and got divorced...) But anyway, it was very interesting to see a real life example of how feminism made it possible for ordinary women like her to decide how to raise their children. Hooray I say. (Rant over. )

debs We got our bumbo off Amazon, worked out about £23 inc postage. Also, you could tried winding Robyn across your lap (legs to the side) so she doesn't take off when she straightens her legs?

I'm always lurking in the shaddows and try to keep up everyday, but sometimes I only get chance to read and not post.
Els is 17 weeks today and 4 calendar months on friday, we've just discovered that he has a tooth coming through, poor little mite, no wonder he has been extra grizzley lately. It doesn't appear red or inflamed so will hold off the calpol for the time being. I'm suprised really as he doesn't really have any of the classic symptoms, for example he's not droolong more than usual, he sucks his fingers/thumbs/wrists but no more than usual.
I have ordered a kari-me sling, (thanks for the discount word potoxa
On the Bumbo front, I thinks its fab, we sit him in it and are able to read him stories, work on his hand eye co-ordindtion etc.
Hes is only 10lb now so quite small but has good head control. it should last ultil he's around 14 months old. We got ours from mothercare £24 and was recommended by his physio, to help with his clingyness. HTH
Sorry to hear about your SIL hopefully that happened to me before Els, It was up to that point the worst thing that had happened to me, as you get to the 12week point and think everything is ok only to be told there is no heart beat. truly sad, and my heart goes out to her x

Hopefully - Really sorry to hear of your SIL, it is a truly horrible thing to have happen, such sadness and disappointment when she was expecting such joy, I really feel for her.