March 2008: New thread as they come up to 1!!!

[turtle23]

New thread so that mobiles can cope...

good LORD typos. must be channeling cod.

thwats frine MB, im dnown with typso, kind of like a cpyptic puzlze

Turtle- can only imagine being in your position as dd has never slept through, not even more than 5 hours ever and then only a few times so sympathies but it could be worse!

I miss the sunshine, DP told me yesterday that supposedly there is a link between sunshine received during pregnancy and the resulting height of babies...guess that means our dour-english-weather-born children will all be vertically challanged then...

Hello all. Have emerged from a huge pile of freelance projects, so for the first time in months can legitimately Mumsnet without feeling guilty. Got more coming in this week, but for now am making the most of it.

Turtle, it might be worth seeing your GP. Earplugs will be on the way tomorrow - Bloke has been playing soldiers on exercise for a little while, but is back at work now so is free to thieve stuff again. I second MB's suggestion though. Make sure it is a book that you really want to read, and, if you are anything like me, you will be sure to drop straight off.

I have been buying bits and bobs to put away for her birthday...I can't believe it is next Saturday. I was feeling very pleased with the Rolling Stones t-shirt, and her Arsenal kit with her name and 1 on the back, and then, today, my mum rang and said that her gift was being delivered today...and lo and behold a swing arrived in an Argos van. (Bought the Arsenal kit in a fit of excitement as I have a ticket for the FA cup replay next Monday. Have never been to the Emirates before, so am thrilled.)

Posted my uni application form yesterday. Nervous, excited, scared, and all the usual emotions. It's an odd thought that this time next year I could be a student again.

How is everyone now they have thawed out?

We're ill AGAIN - laryngitis & cough this time. I am so utterly sick of being sick. Also had a letter home from DoH saying the Rotavirus is doing the rounds at Surrey nurserys so can probably expect to get that soon, joys of Motherhood!

Sorry to hear some of you are struggling, I feel your pain DD doesn't sleep well at all anymore, normally ends up in our bed and as she is ill all the time we haven't felt like we can do any training with her yet.

Can't believe it is nearly birthday month! DD is getting a course of swimming lessons which I have been meaning to do for ages but haven't got around to and she is still just about young enough to do the water baby type lessons. Also going to get her loads of books as she loves reading books with us and we usually read about 10 when she gets in from nursery. I never got her bookpack at 8months - do you think it is too late to pick up? Also, where would I get it from? Think I have asked before but have useless memory these days.

Very about your football tickets Ff!

MB - my DD has a wooden rockinghorse that she hates doesn't use much so haven't really looked at rocking toys since buying that!

Aw, poor you, Ewe. It's just horrible when they are ill, isn't it, especially when you feel rotten too. I suppose it's the time of year, isn't it?

about the football. I was thrilled about the snow postponing it, as I had to turn down the ticket on the original day as I had a friend coming to stay. Even better, as the new date is in the same week as my birthday, my lovely friends have paid for my ticket. A little torn though - my Dad is from north London, so I have been an Arsenal fan forever. However, I am from Cardiff, and while I have never been a die-hard Bluebird, I do follow their progress, and think I will struggle to actively cheer against them. Unbelievably excited though.

We've got a wooden rocking horse too. Ff likes standing next to it, chewing the handle, or pushing it across the room, scaring Boydog half to death (bless him, he is neither bright nor brave...)As far as rocking on it goes, not interested.

Hello all - we're just back from South Africa and i'm back to my original name as i like it best

I can't quite believe that we missed the snow, but am glad that we are only experiencing a 30C difference in temperature - 35C in Cape Town, 5C in London when we landed! Holiday was wonderful, DS was an absolute angel including on the flights where he either slept or was whisked away by the stewardesses, and he has acquired two new teeth, can get onto all 4s, has finally remembered how to roll after 5 months without doing it after previouslyt beiong quite adept, and can get up to sitting (weare and JFly - my DS was like your DCs in terms of not moving until this past week or so). Also v close to crawling - can go backwards and working hard at going forwards

Also got back to wonderful vmail - i have got a 3 day a week job to go back to rather than having to go back 5 days I return in 4 weeks and had managed to not think about it on hols but was worrying about it in taxi on way home, and so glad that vmail was there to stop me worrying any more!

have skim-read - turtle: hurray on sleeping! like others i had real issues at times sleeping at night even after night feeds stopped. It took about a month for me to settle back into a normal sleep pattern.

someone mentioned gymboree - we do it despite expense as DS loves it, cheesy songs and all, and all his firsts (rolling, sitting, pulling up to standing (not done it since!) have been there.

mb - on pain. i do hope appt tomorrow produces something useful.

Hello all, no thaw in progress yet up here, still snow

Can I admit without feeling like a bad person that I've really enjoyed my first week or so back at work I do miss LO but I kind of feel like I've returned to 'normal' except there's a cute little baby waiting to give me hugs and kisses when I get home DH has been doing really well looking after LO and we all seem to have got into a good routine. In fact, DH is enjoying going to all the toddler groups and getting to gossip with the mums

It has helped a HUGE deal that LO has been sleeping through, and I think we're all in better moods all round. Turtle, it has definitely taken me a bit of adjusting in terms of sleep - I also had a few sleepless nights at first but I think your body eventually learns to relax knowing that it won't be called into action in the middle of the night, hopefully..

On the birthday present front, I can recommend a trampoline. LO has been in love with his cousin's baby trampoline and has become quite a proficient bouncer

Ewe-Epsom library usually has them. If not, the Sure Start office is almost immediately opposite on the high street.
Some baby I know...not naming any names as that jinxes things...slept until 715 this morning....
HQ-welcome back...am not at all ...

Ff- have Facebook messaged you

Welcome back HQ!

On the work front, I do enjoy getting out for my 2 days of work, and having lunch, coffee, "grown-up" conversation, but I love my days with H at home so much more!! And feel like there isn't enough time in the week to do/see all the things I want to now that I "only" have 3 days. In reality, I realise how lucky I am to be able to work 2 days only, but I guess I feel even that is too much sometimes. So M,T,W I race around trying to see friends, get the groceries and laundry done and just hang out with dd, and then Th and F I spend running around getting to work, running to pick her up from the childminder's(because I miss her so much), and rushing home to spend a couple hours with her before we all crash out! Does it get easier??

Oh and btw, I'm selling my Bugaboo Gecko, if anyone is interested in a new buggy!? Great condition, great price!

It's lovely and sunny here today- hope it is where you all are too

ilgb-How much?

Hoorah for the mystery baby, Turtle!

Very fast progress being made with the walker, and today when I sat her on her little ride on car she propelled herself along, then got off and pushed it across the room. Frightening stuff, but am beaming with pride.

Was offered two more projects today, so little holiday is over. Good, but also a bit of a pain. No time for a longer post...freelancing calls.

hello all. Am back after the snow knocked out my dongle. Housebound and without internet. I got the shakes. Thankfully I got my ass into town yesterday for some retail therapy so feel much better and have a new top.
Life here feels so much same old same old I feel kindof jealous of those of you who are back at work. Coffee when I want it and the closest I'm going to to get to adult conversation (not very close in my office on most days). And a commute with an Ipod!! I'm salivating at the thought.
I have bought an exercise bike which I will ride,promise. When the courier finally makes it through the snowy wasteland outside that is and I figure I'll use it when DD has her nap with a West Wing on the TV and let the housework be buggered. DH looked a little concerned by that. .
DD has discovered standing solo and we now have all day everyday of some kind of warped team bonding workshop where she waits with a big grin on her face and randomly topples backwards or forwards in the blythe confidence that I will a) guess which way correctly, and b) be paying attention. Doesn't always work.

You're supposed to catch them? Insert dawning comprehesion emoticon ;) we all 4 have colds today. 1st time all poorly. I foresee much tv today

Feel better MB family.
We got first proper outdoor shoes today (not counting wellies I shoved on him in snow.) He has mahussive feet...they only just fit into a 4 1/2 H...Hmm...
Makes me a bit sad. Know I should just be proud of him, but he now just wants to run (away from me)outside!! (Although clumsily as he isn't used to hard shoes)

Hey all. Have been lurking but not posting since I bore myself thinking about what I've done recently!

Hope all the sicknesses and such aren't getting people too down. At least the sun is shining!

Feel I'm struggling a bit on the food front. Although I've embraced BLW and DS has been adamant about feeding himself anyway, I sometimes really wish I could just spoon it in and fill him up. He spends a lot of meal times just smushing food around or throwing it on the floor/feeding the dogs. If he's really really hungry, then he'll eat more but most of the time he has a few bites here and there.

He will also eat more of what he knows he likes and does quite well with sandwich-type things. But I'm trying to feed him more variety of things and he's just not interested. And I'm also trying to feed him stuff on a spoon and he won't let me. Sometimes if I get a mouthful in, then it's OK b/c he decides he likes it. But I often don't bother to do things that need a spoon b/c they just get flung far and wide. So, we're back to a rather limited diet.

I wouldn't be so concerned if I thought he was gaining weight OK, but he's continuing to drop down the centiles. Since 6 months he's gone from 50% to 23-30%. Not skinny, but small-ish at 20lbs. AND, he definitely sleeps much better when he is full.

So either I need to by myself a panini machine, or maybe you BLW peeps can help me think of nice protein rich foods he can pick up. I'm thinking complete meals, here, not just a piece of chicken or veg. Quiche has worked in the past, but it's hit and miss. Help??

Oh JFly, tell me about it! Will post some ideas later, but you're not alone...

those annabel karmel chicken and apple burgers are good, and the principle worls for loads of things

so we've all had this cold, with us all drifting around slowly, except for gg who is the same as usual just snotty. he has a new nickname, 'master mcfaster'

JFly - I have a BLW baby who is a gannet one day and a waif the next, and as you may remember his weight gain has always been abysmal so I do stress about it... It can be incredibly tedious when he's on a disinterested day so you have my sympathies. I've found sitting with him very attentively makes a huge difference, as does making a big song and dance about me tasting it and looking ecstatic and saying yum very loudly. Effusive praise for every morsel (tedious in extremis when he eats a whole grated carrot piece by tiny piece as he did on Wednesday...) and a firm no for throwing or messing. It also really helps if I eat the same as him and show him that it is the same.

On food, bread is a huge favourite, so I try to do things that involve breadcrumbs (basically make whatever you have into a patty, dip in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, and fry or bake). Pancakes are great for protein, carbs and fat and can be stuffed savoury (e.g. cheese sauce with spinach and brocc, or ratatouille with cheddar) or sweet (banana or apple and cinnamon). Egg rolls are a similarly good protein idea - make very thin omelette then spread with cream cheese, layer with veggies then roll up.

I try not to worry about too much bread - it is a good carb after all - and just try to get more creative with filling. Philly or hummus with whatever veg you like grated into it is fab, so you can ring the changes with the veg while DS thinks he is getting the same favourite. Leftover risotto was wolfed down the other day, so I'm planning to try every version under the sun of that.

MB is right - AK's chicken and apple things are fab. Also if you don't have it, I like Finger Foods by Jennie Maizels and I've got most of my ideas from that, including a very healthy but surprisingly yummy sandwich filling - cream cheese, lentils and spinach.

Finally, my top tip is to take DS out for lunch once a week. I really noticed on holiday that DS loved the razzamatazz of watching waiters and other diners. He liked watching the food come to the table and trying new things, and I get to experience a change of scene. Plus I get ideas for cooking for him - planning to make Thai sweetcorn fritters this weekend after they were a hit, and did egg fried rice today after successful Chinese meal.

Jfly - Omlettes are a firm fave here. I have found that I can put anything into it, and it gets wolfed down, especially if it is accompanied by buttered toast. One egg, a splash of milk, some grated cheese, and then whatever you want to fill it up. Ff likes tomato and mushroom, tomato and spinach, has eaten a chicken one, and even a mushroom and chorizo one when Bloke was making lunch. (He doesn't share my fanaticism about salt...) Lots of protein and fatty goodness - and, a plus in our household, if some is thrown onto the floor, the dogs love it too, so no mess for me to clear up!

Hope everyone has a good weekend. Anyone watching the rugby tomorrow?

Oh, and I wouldn't let the weight gain thing get you down, Jfly and HQ. Ff eats like a horse - seriously, some days she polishes off more than I do - and she is just short of 17lbs. As long as they are happy, it's best not to let them see you are worried.

Thanks so much, HQ etc. for support and sympathy. You have such great recipe ideas, and I will look up that Finger Foods book. It seems so obvious once you start listing all the different things you give your DS, but then I guess I've been stuck in a rut. I must go back to some of the "nugget" things I used to give him - he may actually eat them now.

But listen to this: tonight I gave DS a one-egg omelette with bacon, leek, spinach and cheese and he ate the ENTIRE thing, off a fork that I loaded for him. That was the 2nd time he's had eggs, and I think he likes them! I also think the fork was a stroke of genius as it's a novelty and the food doesn't fall off/get flung off as it does with a spoon. [hits head emoticon]

DS also likes to eat out, although I haven't tried exotic restaurants yet. Out of curiosity, how did your DS eat the fried rice? Oh, and you've inspired me with your fritters and I'm going to try and make some onion bhajis.

It's so easy to get stuck in a rut, but then I go through phases with my own food (I'm in a mega Asian mood at the moment and everything contains rice and coriander!) so it's not surprising it's the same with the baby. We probably give DS way too many omelettes because as FfFf says they get wolfed down, and he would have pasta for every meal if DH had his way because it is always a huge hit.

The egg fried rice was eaten with fingers: huge portion, half on floor, half in mouth DS thinks spoons are just the thing I use to stir food in pan, and that plates are something to be tossed like frisbees so I live with the mess and the sticky fingers... I need to find out what type of rice they use in Chinese restaurants - not as gloopy as risotto but sticks together in a way that the basmati DH and I usually have does not. It was much less messy there than my version today. I did it with some left over packet stir fry veggies, scrambled egg, prawns, ginger and garlic, and then just topped my portion off with some soy and sesame oil so it was a bit tastier.

On ethnic food, I have decided that he can try everything except really salty things (so avoided soy-based stuff in Chinese) and chilli things (as not sure I want to deal with the sore bottom afterwards!) He loves Wagamamas (partic udon noodles) so that might be a good place to start (they have a kids menu so you could order just from that if you preferred that to sharing the adult stuff).

I did check and apparently there are no longer any limits on how many eggs you can have, even for babies. It's great as they are so versatile and a great source of protein.

Oh, let me know how the onion bhajis go! Indian is next on my list to try with DS.

Changing tack, meant to say that we had DS's check up at the hospital yesterday for his broken leg. Good news is that it is on the mend - he's starting to bear weight on it rather than doing one-legged pirouettes and doctor was pleased enough that she doesn't want to see him until the autumn for x-ray to check bone is growing properly. So only need to go back beforehand if we are worried that he isn't using it properly. Probably put him behind a couple of months on his standing/walking but beyond that she thinks things are going to be fine

Yay for his leg! You must be so relieved.

So much of your post ring true, HQ! Pasta, check. Plates=frisbees, check.

Chinese rice is what I call "sticky" rice. I think it's short grain, where as basmati is long grain. Maybe? Dunno. Anyway, it's starchier than basmati so that's why it sticks together. Probably do best to buy from thai/oriental grocery as I don't know that you would get the real deal at the supermarket.

I love that you said "ethnic" food. It makes me laugh as that's what us Americans call it. My DH and I have a running joke as my uncle once asked him if he liked "ethnic" food, referring to Lebanese. Oh, as it happens, DS loves Lebanese. Falafel are a big hit. Must make some!!

i tend to eat way more 'ethnic' food than british but I never know what the collective term for non-meat and two veg food should be!

Will try and hunt down sticky rice tomorrow. Aside from uncle ben's type, supermarket only had basmati or jasmine rice or else pudding rice, and I didn't think it was any of those