December 2008 - Its not wind they are smiling.

[JamInMyWellies]

Here we go ladies Rosmerta suggestion.

Hello!! I have been so rubbish at keeping up. I haven't logged on for days! DH went back to work on monday and I've been a bit busy to say the least but I think you all know where I am coming from! I'm going to leave the laptop on today and read bits as and when I can but I hope you are all well!!
I've been thinking of you all lots and feeling like there is a party going on that I can't get to!!!
Heidi is doing well....she stayed sleepy for ages but has started to wake up a bit now!!! THats a bit of a shock! Hearing test was done yesterday and all fine and she had put on 1lb 3oz on Monday when the HV came to visit. I'll try and do a new pic.

Managed to upload a new piccie of the bub!

Those of you planning to swim/gym/yoga to lose weight, what will you do with the baby? and when will you go? I had this problem with dd1 as none of the local gyms did creche before 6 months. Now we've moved there is one that does from 3 months but is v expensive, and also not sure i want someone random looking after her!

Any tips/thoughts?

Yay for some sleep Kayz.

Trace, Oli and JJ, your pictures are gorgeous! I haven't looked at anyone else's pictures, but am hoping for an hour or so tomorrow when DH can entertain the ladies so I can catch up properly.

Just had a very quick skim - Veggie, Verso, Lady T I am with you on the fat front. I think I am too chicken to post my actual weight (in my defence my fightin weight is 10 st 10 as I am tall. I am NOWHERE near that and so my starting weight is completely massive) but will happily post losses and when I am a bit thinner I will reveal what I was! I am going to WW on a monday morning for fatties' club to inspire me so can post my losses / gains etc then.

As for division of labour JJ - I am afraid that I felt just the same as you when I had DD1 and it was only solved by the cleaner. I love her to bits and would forego most things to pay her her £25/ week. She's coming this morning and so the house will look nice for all of ten minutes before the kids trash it. It's hard though, isn't it, as you have the baby all day and when your DH comes home, both of you want a break and you don't want to spend yours cooking etc. I am a messy bitch anyway but suffice it to say that even with the blessed Sue in residence once a week, the house looks like a bomb has hit it most of the time. The only way to get past this IME is to drop one's standards considerably. I always tell myself a little dirt is good for the immune system. Prob why DD1 and 2 are so healthy .

I am SO loving having the internet at home. It's a real novelty for me. Must go and get the kids dressed for pre school. I am having an extra one this morning to help out a friend so will be striding round with 2 under 2 in the double buggy and the baby in the sling. I will look like the most fertile woman in South London. Or contraceptively incompetent, but I know I am that anyway.....

More later. Have a good day.

Morning - great night here - Took ages to settle but tried something new - expressed during the day so last feed at about midnight gave him 100mls from bottle while in his cot - would have worked a treat but he had massive wind issues so once I sorted that out he still wanted more so BF him a little then when sleepy put him back in cot - on 3rd attempt at 130am he slept. Woke at 410am and fed for just 10 mins - he remained sleepy the whole time so small burp and went back in cot - 2 attempts but went to sleep until dh left for work at 7am - dh changed un prompted! (i think he was extatic that he got sleep!) and apparently he peed for Australia over night! Unfortunately dh picked up wrong nappies accidently (micro baby) so we had one on him but decided they def can't be stretched onto him as he had pee escape all over his back (can't believe that didn't wake him) anyway, he only fed another 15 mins at 7am and then went back to cot - altho i can hear him now....Anyway, I think REALLY filling him up with extra expressed milk is the way forward if anyone with settling problems is able to express as well - try that - if not feed as much as possible and top up so full to brim!
JJ - I have been really struggling with getting things done around the house too - dh leaves at 7am and gets back anywhere between 5pm-8pm some nights and I have always been well on top of cleaning and all that (a bit obsessive about it) given that ds has not been sleeping much it's been hard - and also the dog has been making it worse as she is shedding everywhere which is getting to me as I feel like vacuuming every 5 seconds - anyway, I don't know what the answer is - def not a cleaner for me - my dh had one when we met and I felt I had to go over her work as she was crap! Plus I don't like having a stranger in the house, nor can afford one! Anyway, I find that I also can't get it together to get out the door to do errands etc as I'm always trying to time feeding and changing him immediately before walking out the door and it's hard to get myself presentable at the same time - does anyone else have issues with that? I think the best thing is to feed last thing before walking out the door? But then I feel I'm gonna need to change him too but problem is he doesn't dirty nappy until about half an hour after feeding!! Anyway, regarding the housework - i'm just trying to get bits and pieces done as I go along - including dinner etc - I have to think ahead a bit and try and prepare stuff during the day - i say that but i think i have done that once! Sometimes dh will cook but if he's not h9ome early I do - and then I just don't get a break.... i'm waffling, and don't really know the answer, however I really just want to say that I can totally relate so u are not alone!!!
On the weight thing - (sorry not familiar much with stone)
My normal weight is 60kg's, but when i conceived I was about 63kg's. Gained 15kg as I ate for Australia AND England during pregnancy (although a lot of calories were due to my fresh OJ addiction)So weighed 78kg on day of C/S. After birth a few days after getting home I had lost 5kg so was 73kg's. By about 3 weeks later I had got to 69kg's quite easily, but now at 6 weeks am still at 68kg's and seem to have plateaued.... Want to lose another 8kg to get back to normal before doing this all over again! I think it's about 1 and a 1/4 stone so not big numbers I know.... My friend was quite slim but didn't lose the baby weight from her ds1, and then got pregnant with ds2 and is having big trouble now trying to lose weight from both ds's so will try and lose it first.
I am wondering about the gym / creche thing too as have only found them who take lo's at 3 months too but they are very expensive. Tesco online are selling a cross trainer for half price I think dh said - so I am considering that as I don't think i'll be able to burn the calories I want to by walking with the dog, and running is bad on the joints!
Anyway, can hear ds making funny noises - must go and spy on him in the cot

KMP glad last night was good - cross-posted with you. I want to start doing an expressed bottle for L too. Might have a go this weekend when DH is around.

With boys and their wee wee - I always used to put one of the large round cotton make up pads folded in half pressed down on his willy (tucks it right down) and stops a lot of the leaks that happen when ...well when you know what (those with girls will not know what baby boys do with their willies even before they are a month old?I remember being very shocked having only had a girl previously!! )

turnip I got a shock first time ds1 did that! Then I realised at some point in the future I'll no doubt walk into his room & catch him

kmp great news on the good night! Makes such a difference, doesn't it?

ladyT I think most Odeons do the baby screenings, definitely the ones in Putney & Richmond do.

Re weight loss, shall we start this Monday? I'll be happy to post what I lose each week, plus a tip I had from last time I seriously dieted was to measure your hips, waist, bust, thighs etc as sometimes you might not lose weight but you would lose cms. It kept me motivated if I thought I hadn't lost any lbs.

Hello everyone - I've been looking at photos and have gone all soft and squushy. a year ago I had no interest in babies and now looking at all your pictures, I want to cry! They are just so divine.

Izz had a good night, think she's getting into a bit of a routine - feeling very pleased. I go to bed at 9pm and DH does at 10.30pm formula feed and he managed to get nearly 5 oz down her. She slept til 4.30 again - brilliant! I'm so proud of her. Long may it last! So I've got some decent sleep. I can hear her stirring now, so I'd better go and top and tail her. I really hope everyone is doing ok today and didn't have too hellish nights. Thinking of you all.

xx

Yup, I'm keen to start weight loss thing. Am going to do WW online as well.

Hi girls,

huzzah for the good nights sleep isnt it amazing what 5hours uninteruppted sleep makes you feel like.

Commiserations to those who had rubbish nights.

I wish we had a cleaner. KMP our dog is molting like crazy at the mo too its driving me mad. Who said they were like Monica? As thats what my family call me, cant go to bed at night unless all the cushions are fluffed up etc. In terms of division if labour DP id truly pants at cleaning well its never done how I want it . So I do all the housework laundry etc. If I have time I try crack on with dinner or the prep then DP finishes it off when he gets in. We both bath DS'. At the wkend its a pretty fair division.

Weight loss have dropped 2 and half stone already - thankyou BF. But am now stuck with the dreaded muffin top. When I hit 6wks I will be going to yoga in the eve. I refuse to faff with my food as love eating too much.

Going to start proper bedtime tonight with munchkin 2. Bath at 7 feed in dark rm w2ell by the light of laptop then down dream feed at 10.30 cross fingers till 4am.

Figured out why DS1 has been somewhat grumpy he has cut 4 back teeth in the last couple of wks. Only realised when his mouth was wide open while screaming.

Have a good day all.

does anyone know roughly how many mls / oz BF-ing gives? I am confused as to whether it's more or less than expressing? I think the lo's are more efficient at getting the milk out, but i'm getting confused I think - cause they take it in faster from a bottle is that right? How many fl oz's would 30 mins BF be? (Given they kept at it solidly)

Well done Beans you sound like you've got it down!!!

Oh and trace FABULOUS photo!! I want one like that!!

Morning ladies -

Well, I managed to do the swapping the baby on a high speed train thing, but never again! The ballet was absolutely lovely (the costumes were heaven) but I had to scramble back to Paddington as soon as the curtain fell and it was 1am before I got home. Have to get Madam's hearing test done today (they have been rubbish at sorting it here) and am going to be stranded for two hours when it's finished, until the next bus. Sigh.

Oli, Trace, Beans - loved looking at the gorgeous pics!

Kayz - Glad your MiL was broadly supportive.

JJ - no advice about division of labour here. I do most things and feel mildly resentful and sometimes we row about it. Er...But he does try to do more at weekends. I would love a cleaner but it's such a small flat it gets dirty and cluttered every day so it's pointless, unless I had one every day, which isn't really feasible...

Re: weight, glad people will do it too. I just think if I have to post weight loss every Monday it will motivate me. Doesn't really matter how it is done, but it has to be done! Verso and Syb, you don't have to post your weight if it's going to upset you - just put the weight loss. It doesn't matter how little this may be - even if it's a tiny amount - the important thing is to keep it going in a downwards direction! I can't go to a gym or anything like that as I have no way of getting to one - but will use my one in London if I am there on my own ever, until the membership runs out. So it's walking, rowing machine (we have a fancy one here) and exercise dvds for me. Well, I am going to be very brave and put what I weigh and what I have got to lose, as it's a hideous amount. I am doing it in kg as I REALLY don't care to know what it is in stones (though I can guess!)

Was 68kg when I got pregnant and by the time I had my cs I was well over 90kg! I didn't even EAT that much, or I didn't think I did - I guess I must've, because I am still 85kg now! I look best when I am between 62 and 65 kg (I look emaciated at 58kg, which is what I was until 5 years ago) so, like Veggie, I am going to aim for that. I am 5'6", so not a titch but hardly Jerry Hall. Turnip, I am actually envious if the weight goes in one spot - it goes on my thighs quite a bit but really it's all over, and I hate it. So...off it comes. We may have to enlist ZJ and her stats when we are all done - collective fat lost! Right, must get ready...

hello! Happy Friday!
Glad there are some good nights happening...
ours was pretty good too - fed and zonked at 7 then didn't wake till midnight (wish I'd gone to be when she did!), then fed again at 2.20 and 5. Then dd1 woke up as she's got a bad cough, but they both went back to sleep and I had to wake them both up at 7.30 otherwise we wouldn't have got to school on time! How annoying - they've never both been asleep at that time!
Went straight to the suprmarket from school and Phoebe slept like an angel all the way round then woke up hungry and screamed like a screamasaurus at the check out! The lady on the check was sooooo nice - she said " you just get her out and cuddle her and I'll pack your shopping for you". I could have cried with gratitude! Then we went to the little cafe so I could feed her and I got chatting to an adorable elderly couple, and of course I needed to boost my energy so forced myself to eat a deliciously sweet fruit scone . All in all a pleasant morning. SHe puked all over herself on the way home but has been cleaned up and is now sleeping in her cot - so I should really put away the shopping which is in bags all over the kitchen!

As for sharing chores... I guess unless your LO will sleep not on you (ie, cot, basket, cushion, buggy...) then it's child v chores until they're down for 'the night'. Is there anyway you can start her bedtime routine earlier JJ so that you get a bit of evening for 'you' time? My DH gets home about 5 and he pitches in with getting dd1 to bed while I focus on dd2, or he holds dd2 so I can do dd1 - am trying to feed dd2 at 7 and put her down then. I know that means she's going to have more feeds in the night, but it means that both DCs are out of our way (in the nicest possible way!) and we can eat in relative calm. it usually involves me running up and down stairs repeatedly to resettle dd2, but i'm hoping we'll be able to settle into a routine. i'm a monica about chores too and can't leave the house for school with breakfast pots still around - but i'm my own worst enemy - these things really don't matter.

the weight/ exercise talk is very inspiring... i don't want to lose any weight (i seem to be one of the lucky ones whose baby weight has come off through no effort of my own other than muchos breastfeeding!) but i wobble in many places so the measurements sound like a good idea. I just need to exercise and had thought i'd join a class at 6 weeks, but i hadn't factored in that i have a baby who is exclusively bf so i can't! will have to run up and down my stairs a bit more for now!

darn it! she's woken up! i knew i should have put the shopping away while i had 2 hands!

back later xxx

On the weight thing - I'm currently 5kg less than I was when I got pg w dd2, so I should be glad it's all come off and more... but I'm still much heavier than I was when I got pg with dd1. I made the decision last year to focus on getting pg not dieting... so I guess now it's the day of reckoning!!

Check me out! On twice in one day!!! I am coming to the meetup next week too so grateful for any info on where. Somewhere on the southbank would be very handy as I come in to waterloo and can combine it with a visit to the office to show off Heidi. Although, when I did that with DS, he vom'd all over an office chair!

Me too Oli Waterloo is very very handy for me - but I'll go anywhere is easiest for anyone - since I only have the one DC!! I really admire those of you that have toddlers to manage as well - however that will be me one day soon! Hmm I'll have a look at what is around that area but I don't know where everyone else is thinking?

Hi all, things going much better now that DD is on a bottle. The control freak in me needed to know how much she had eaten and that she wouldn't need to feed again for a while, and the bottle is helping us to get into a routine at last. Last night I had both DC's in bed and asleep by 8.30, bliss. I opened a very nice spot of cheerfulness (TM) to celebrate. Shame DH was working late so couldn't share it!

I'm up for the weight loss. Weighed myself for the first time today and was surprised that I was back to pre-pregnancy weight of just under 12 stone. Although I was overweight before getting pregnant. I'm 5'11" so would like to get down to 10 1/2 stone (haven't weighed less than that since I was 14) but will aim for 11 stone to start with. Are we going to start a new thread for this?

Waterloo good for me as well, I think someone mentioned Giraffe before? Though I'm not sure if I will be able to come, dh can't get the morning off so I would have to bring both dcs. Not sure if I'm brave enough to bring both of them into town. Is anyone else bringing their toddler as well as the baby?

katie glad things are getting better

Hi everyone, hope you?ve all had a good week? I?ve been lurking but not posted, and have so much to catch up on!

I?ve had some news from work this week (work! I don?t even remember what that is!) My boss called to tell me that our company is relocating to Leeds ? this is a bit of a pain for me as it will almost double my commute, and on top of arranging dropping E at nursery/childminder/where ever we decide will make getting too and from work a huge effort and probably will take 2 hours at both the start and end of the day. Has anyone had any experience of an office relocation? My boss was great and said to send any questions or concerns over to her (as she knows where I live and that I?ll be one of the most inconvenienced by the move) ? what is reasonable to ask? Currently the company (it?s a small one) has no policy for staff to work flexible hours or from home ? would I be justified in asking for this to be considered for me? And what about the extra costs incurred with the commute, could I ask for financial help? If someone came to you at work with these questions, would you think them fair? I don?t want to get dismissed, and also want to offer a bit of give as well as take. Thanks for your help on this one girls!

And now I?ve got that off my chest, I?ll catch up on the rest of the news and gossip, will be back soon. x

I've got another sore throat and a cold too. I feel like death. I was meant to be making cakes with DS1 but haven't been able to.

I am going to join in with the weight loss. I am 5 stone heavier now then I was before I had DS1. So I really need to lose it.

I got a parcel from Mothercare today. I thought it was wierd as I haven't ordered anything but wasn't sure if DH had. I opened it and it was a lovely Skip Hop changing bag that I really want. But it is actually for someone in Croyden!!!!

So I rang them and they have no idea how my name and address got on the outside of the parcel. They are sending me a paid address label so I can post it back to them.

Hello all,

Glad that things are getting better routine wise for some. DS gets bathed ready for bed at 6ish with DD. Then he will bf on and off for about 1.5 hours then he'll be bed for 8 and wakes 2ish, then again at 6ish. Has done this for past 4 nights so am v pleased

Have been for lunch with DH and children today and was v proud of myself for bf DS in public again. DH encourages me to 'get 'em out' which I don't obviously Although DS is develping a habit of un-latching to look up and grin at me mid feed. Which is cute but the waiter got more of an eyeful than he wanted

As for the 'me' time....never heard of it and so most definately never have any

Waterloo area good for me - like Oli I was thinking of popping into the office to show off the baby say hi . If we do Giraffe I'dsuggest meeting early as it gts v crowded. Or there's a Taz closer to the station.

Afternoon all, glad to hear plans are in hand for meet! I'll be training it from Cambridge which gets in at Kings cross so Waterloo is very easy for me too

trace - the idea of starting dd's nighttime routine earlier is great, except that on the nights dh gets in late he wouldn't see her at all, and it would mean I'm doing her entire day. I guess that's how it is for a lot of people, but does feel a bit bloody unfair!

weight loss - you'll hate me but I'm pretty much back at pre baby weight. I think it's a combination of morning sickness= not much weight on in the first place, carrying dd all the time in the sling, walking several miles a day into town and back to get out, and rarely managing to have breakfast bad girl as she'd particularly demanding between about 9 and noon. My patented weight loss plan - have a baby who won't nap unless you're in motion!

Have just got back in, she's asleep, so am going to try dozing on the sofa with her in the sling. I know that's against all therules but she's tied on so would have to do a bit of a houdini to get out and slide between the sofa cushions!