June 2008 babies: rolling, sitting, crawling, babbling, teething, laughing, sleeping (not yet!)

[spongebrainbigpants]

New home!

I'm back.

Had a lovely time, caught up with my niece, indulged in a serious amount of book porn and buying, and now have a pile of books about my height to read ( I am only short so don't get too panicked).

Will catch up with you properly tomorrow

I was thinking about you with the snow, glad you had such a good time, enjoy the reading!!

Oh, hi 5GoMad, tell me all about it so that I can have the Oxford porn! Hotel good? Where did you go? Did you visit Jesus? (College, not the Son of God.)

Sleep - posted a ridiculously long and not very useful rant (not negative) on Sponge's thread. It's basically habits schmabits, whatever gets your baby to sleep painlessly, you do it; if it's co-sleeping, it's co-sleeping. Nothing lasts for ever. Two things - I have a different book to everyone else - 'Teach Yourself Baby Sleep' (stupid title - I don't need to learn it, Iestyn does) but it's quite good. And the other thing - I am in no way attempting to start any kind of argument here, but eating has made a difference to Iestyn. He eats loads, and he's sleeping so much better since. I did wonder whether it's nursery, but he's not there every day (only 2 days a week) and he sleeps well on the days he's not there too, so the only thing that's different is the eating. Controversial, I know, but others share this view. (Neenz get DOWN! )

One final thing - Sybil, Rolf just twigged that you're also sometimes-single parents like me. Is there a thread on here for that?

sorry just quick post but having a nightmare re bedtime (as I speak edie up watching tv...).. is it teething thing (its basically that she is quite unsettled and won't go down til later) or cos dh has been away ? or just a phase...

Hello Poppy, hello 5gomad. 5 tell me what books you bought? DH came in this evening very sheepishly, with a big archive box of books he's just received via Abebooks. He's so happy about it and the books do look excellent. Essie I was hoping he'd bought your book as it would have been so funny to have posted about it (and obviously it looks like a very interesting book).

HH what an evil witch your manager is. Imagine being told to hurry up when you're expressing. Like being told to hurry up on the loo! It takes as long as it takes!

Thanks for the comments on No Cry Sleep Solution. I know I'm at my wits' end when I start buying how-to books.

Thea and I had a lovely time at baby yoga today. During the relaxation time at the end she rolled around and gave the other mothers sloppy baby kisses. The sad thing is, I can't quite believe anyone would find that anything other than delightful

Allnew-don't know how you are doing this and working. I do appreciate that when I am revoltingly tired I only need to stumble through my day.

Essie- the NCSS advocates filling their tummies to rule out hunger as a cause of waking, so not so controversial.

Hedgehog - I am sending you a big hug. That's not what you need (your manager, not the hug). How small minded. I hope that your manager will back down now.

Snort, yeah right, Rolf! My book does have quite a bit of sauciness in it, though. I am the proud editor of the first description of the sexual act in Welsh. The word c* makes it into the index too, and there are three separate references to it!

morning all,

Thanks for all the nice things said. Worst thing about the manager being this way is.. she returned to work and had to express for her daughter, and she is now due in May and plans on returning to work after 6 months so will need to express too. Yesterday she actually told me I was too in your face about it.

I have actually missed being able to get on here and have some reassurance that I am not being unreasonable. Am due to upgrade mobile soon so will be looking for one with far better internet so I can bitch from work - Internet access is limited to BBC, Financial Websites and Government websites

HH, your manager sounds like a right piece of work! Talk about one rule for one and one rule for another.

Hunger and sleep - yes, have been told about the connection again by HV yesterday so we are going to try and fill him up more in the day. But you all know how obsessed I am about not making him fat so it's a difficult balance .

Off to my sleep thread now - thank you to all the June mummies who came to give me advice btw. And Essie, on your habits thing - I do have a 36 year old friend who still sucks her thumb!

oh.. sponge sorry but haven't skimmed all posts but what is your sleep issue... I've got two worries -edie started being very unsettled in evening which may/may not be teethign related -anyone else experienced this? more concerned about fact that she still needs to be cuddled to sleep (well its not a concern its nice but I know it can't carry on forever)... any tips on how to break her off this? do I start with naps/night time or what? also her daytime naps have been a bit erratic - we get two a day but the timing varies a little. is it better to work on getting her into going for a nap at certain times (her feeds are pretty constant in timing as is bedtime) before tackling the cuddling issue.

Looks helpfully in direction of likes of rolf deb 5gomad or other experienced types...

and hedgehog your manager sounds like a piece of work... for you.

Hello all

Poppy DD was really regular with her naps and feeds, DS isn't he still likes to be cuddled and fed to sleep but and he still sleeps allover the place in the day time. Sorry that is not much help.

Essi Oxford is so beautiful in the snow. I took my niece and her friend to The Grand Cafe for cocktails. The hotel was lovely but not sure I would call it value for money as basically you paid for the room and then had to pay for everything else. and their breakfasts were not as tasty as mone but it was heaven to get away and get 2 nights uninterrupted sleep, so back to normal last night as DS woke at 1 and DDat 3 and DH slept through both. Do you think men have a switch that they can flick on and off to tune our children so you have to get up?

Rolf Here goes

The Clothes on their Backs - Linda Grant
A Fraction of the Whole - Steve Toltz
The Secret Scripture - Sebastian Barry
The Murder Farm - Andrea Schenkel
The Spare Room - Helen Garner
The Quiet Girl - Peter Hoeg
The Witches of Eastwick - John Updike
The 19th Wife - David Eberhoff
Dial M for MErde - Stepehn Clarke
The Singapore Grip and Troubles - both by JG Farrell
Celestial Navigation - Anne Tyler
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Larsson
The Birthing House - Christopher Ransom
Five people you meet in heaven - Mitch Albom
The New Confessions - William Boyd

to join the huge amount on my to read shelf

I also got Edie, the rest of the Olga Da Polga series and the first 3 Paddington Bear books, Milly Molly Mandy, Pippi Longstocking and The tales of Teddy Robinson to read as chapter books at night.

aw that sounds a great list 5.. I'd forgotten about olga de polga. my reading slowly picking up again although i'll admit its on the lighter end of the scale for now...

and it is some help.. I feel a bit better when I know I am not hte only one cuddling to sleep (and its hardly a hardship )

and yes I think men do have a switch -how the hell dh slept through edie's teething wailing about 6 inches from his ear last night is beyond me but he did

I love Teddy Robinson

poppy, sounds like we have similar problems - Alex is taking up to two hours to settle at night which is hard work .

Have to say that dh is taking this sleep thing more seriously than me - he's reading NCSS at the moment, has photocopied the sleep logs and is religiously noting all A's sleeps. Bless him .

Have just woken up from a two hour nap, co-sleeping with Alex. He was wide awake after 30 mins but I managed to coax him back to sleep - if I could do that in his cot we'd be sorted!

Snap Sponge we just had a very long afternoon sleep together. It was lovely. P is so happy now as well. Very impressed about your DH's commitment to NCSS. A friend and I were saying yesterday how DHs generally never read any baby literature and just work things out from first principles. Friend's DH has been heard to say over the baby monitor in a calm and even tone: "You have no reason to cry: you are not hungry; you are not wet, it is not logical to continue crying" (he is a scientist)

I got my haircut this morning. It looks a little like a haystack, but DH is maintaining that it looks good, and is even sounding like he means it rather than just being dutiful.

Meant to say the other day, thanks for the nice comments about my friend's Dad. I have been thinking that this thread has been a little gloomy recently, and I have been adding to this. My next post in attempt to cheer us all up...

PMSL @ your friend's dh talking over the baby monitor - reminds me of Ness in Gavin & Stacey talking to Baby Neil .

My hair looks ok but not the dramatic change I was looking for .

Dh has just confessed to me that he's been reading NCSS to Alex as his bedtime story - that's one way of multi-tasking!

I thought we might having fun filling in the 2009 Friends Survey. I have taken out questions that may compromise anonymity. Just copy and past the text below and delete my answers with your own.

1. What time did you get up this morning?

10.00 (the miracle of Saturdays]

1. Diamonds or pearls?

Diamonds

1. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Mamma Mia

1. What is your favourite TV show?

Entourage

1. What do you usually have for breakfast?

marmite on toast

1. What is your middle name?

Elizabeth

1. What food do you dislike?

Pancakes

1. What is your favourite CD at moment?

Anything that gets P to sleep

1. What kind of car do you drive?

Astra

10. Favourite sandwich?
    Brie and turkey

11. What characteristic do you despise?
    Not trying your best

12. Favourite item of clothing?
    My red beanie with stars on it, especially after my haircut

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
    Rajastan, India (even though I can't spell it)

14. Favourite brand of clothing?
    Don't have one. More and more M&S is creeping into my wardrobe though.

15. Where would you retire to?
    The Alps

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
    30

17. Favourite sport to watch?
    Tennis

18. When is your birthday?
    23 May

19. Are you a morning or night person?
    Currently, middle of the night: 2am, 3am, 4am etc

20. What is your shoe size?
    UK 7

21. Pets?
    Nope. So far have resisted all pleas from DH for a rottweiler.

22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
    I slept for 2 hours this afternoon

23. What did you want to be when you were little?
    A fashion designer (the Clothes Show was very influential)

24. How are you today?
    Happy and well rested. Enjoying my weekend with my lovely DH and DS

25. What is your favourite candy?
    Twix

26. What is your favourite flower?
    Tulips

27. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
    14th March - off skiing

28. What are you listening to right now?
    DH fiddling around with his new bit of hifi equipment

29. What was the last thing you ate?
    Chocolate brownie

30. Do you wish on stars?
    No

31. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
    Indigo

32. How is the weather right now?
    It was sunny until if got dark, and is very, very cold.

33. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
    No-one yet

34. Favourite soft drink?
    Full fat Coke

35. Favourite restaurant?
    La Luna in Godalming

36. Real hair colour?
    What you see is what you get at the moment. Brown.

37. What was your favourite toy as a child?
    Flower faries stuff

38. Summer or winter?
    Winter

39. Hugs or kisses?
    Hugs, although baby kisses from P are pretty special.

40. Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Chocolate

41. Coffee or tea?
    Tea

42. When was the last time you cried?
    Earlier on this week, re-watching the videos of DS that DH puts together. It does it everytime.

43. What is under your bed?
    A big bag of my pre-pregnancy clothes that I haven't yet re-instated.

44. What did you do last night?
    Watched "A place in the sun" which was rubbish and went to bed at 9

45. What are you afraid of?
    Not making the most of things

46. Salty or sweet?
    Sweet

47. How many keys on your key ring?
    3

48. How many years at your current job?
    4 years this week

49. Favourite day of the week?
    Saturday

50. How many towns/suburbs have you lived in?
    13

51. Do you make friends easily?
    Could do better

Hi everyone. Ernest nice to see your name back on here.

Oli managed to get her hand to her chin this week She has been getting really angry and frustrated with herself. You see her fighting to do what she wants bless her.

Also break through with her sleeping, have started heating the milk for the pump instead of room temp, and adding gaviscon soooo, Darth Vadar breathing with reflux has stopped. So I sleep in silence now, apart from the pump itself

We all went sledging the other day, I was going to take Oli down in her carrier but chickened out as it was very steep.

OK here goes

1. What time did you get up this morning?

7.00 am to say goodbye to guests]

1. Diamonds or pearls?

Diamonds

1. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

struggling here, I haven't been to the cinema for 4 years, last one was probably something like Finding Nemo with Stefan. I want to go to the cinema NOW

1. What is your favourite TV show?

anything English

1. What do you usually have for breakfast?

porridge

1. What is your middle name?

Jane

1. What food do you dislike?

Egg custard

1. What is your favourite CD at moment?

Haven't really got one, but quite like adele

1. What kind of car do you drive?

Big Hyundai bus which I hate

10. Favourite sandwich?
    Brie and cranberry

11. What characteristic do you despise?
    difficult - being narrow minded

12. Favourite item of clothing?
    Pre pregnancy jeans (at long last)and an old silk dress from Monsoon which doesn't go near me now but I still love it so I keep it

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
    Canada

14. Favourite brand of clothing?
    Like Monsoon and Per Una at M+S

15. Where would you retire to?
    UK!!

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
    40

17. Favourite sport to watch?
    Tennis

18. When is your birthday?
    23 December

19. Are you a morning or night person?
    night

20. What is your shoe size?
    UK 7

21. Pets?
    No

22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
    can't think of anything and I'm sad now

23. What did you want to be when you were little?
    don't laugh - a parapsychologist (Ghostbusters)or a dolphin trainer

24. How are you today?
    tired and fed up of cleaning

25. What is your favourite candy?
    anything cadburys,

26. What is your favourite flower?
    freesia

27. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
    14th March - sil and bil coming to stay

28. What are you listening to right now?
    DH fiddling around trying to do a web conference with bil

29. What was the last thing you ate?
    fruit salad with ice cream and cream

30. Do you wish on stars?
    No

31. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
    turquoise

32. How is the weather right now?
    too warm, way too warm, everything's melting

33. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
    Ethan (pretending)

34. Favourite soft drink?
    Full fat Coke

35. Favourite restaurant?
    Gasthof Post here, and the sandpiper in leyburn

36. Real hair colour?
    I'd love to say blonde, I was once, but now it's brown with increasing amounts of WHITE

37. What was your favourite toy as a child?
    rag doll my Mum made

38. Summer or winter?
    summer

39. Hugs or kisses?
    Hugs

40. Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Chocolate

41. Coffee or tea?
    Tea

42. When was the last time you cried?
    Very nearly when reading Dogger to ds2 tonight

43. What is under your bed?
    nothing, it goes to the floor but there are Ikea kitchen cupboards to make up under Ethan's cot

44. What did you do last night?
    Washed up, and got all cleaning materials ready for today - I live the high life

45. What are you afraid of?
    spiders , and making the wrong decision about our future.

46. Salty or sweet?
    Sweet

47. How many keys on your key ring?
    3

48. How many years at your current job?
    too long

49. Favourite day of the week?
    Sunday

50. How many towns/suburbs have you lived in?
    11

51. Do you make friends easily?
    Yes, when they speak English

Josey - well done Oli - that's great

aw sponge that kind of thing is so nice - was thinking when edie asleep on me yesterday that for all the helpful types who banged on told me that "life would never be the same" , not a one of them told you how deeply joyous it is to have a baby asleep on your or when they sleep on you , wake up, look at you and snuggle back down content.. thats my contribution to happy thread (dh settling edie as we sleep... )

right that survey ali (and hair sounds lovely...)

1. What time did you get up this morning?

9 am

1. Diamonds or pearls?

Diamonds

1. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Quantum of solace

1. What is your favourite TV show?

brothers and sisters

1. What do you usually have for breakfast?

porridge

1. What is your middle name?

alison

1. What food do you dislike?

celery

1. What is your favourite CD at moment?

dido -safe trip home or embrace - the seldom seen kid

1. What kind of car do you drive?

Tiguan

10. Favourite sandwich?
    chicken and avocado

11. What characteristic do you despise?
    Not trying your best

12. Favourite item of clothing?
    My pink fluffy fleece (also dd's fave)

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
    either syria or beirut or preferably both

14. Favourite brand of clothing?
    at risk of being flamed...boden

15. Where would you retire to?
    paris

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
    34

17. Favourite sport to watch?
    football/rugby

18. When is your birthday?
    5 october

19. Are you a morning or night person?
    nigh

20. What is your shoe size?
    UK 5

21. Pets?
    Nope although would love a dog -cavalier king charles but not v.practical

22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
    I went to the rugby today with dd and dh - dd wooed the old timers /soask there with her very good behaviour

23. What did you want to be when you were little?
    an engineer

24. How are you today?
    Happy Enjoying my weekend with my DH and Dd

25. What is your favourite candy?
    galaxy chocolate

26. What is your favourite flower?
    rose

27. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
    17th March - off to florida. 12th feb -off to france

28. What are you listening to right now?
    the tv/dh chatting

29. What was the last thing you ate?
    lentil curry

30. Do you wish on stars?
    No

31. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
    red

32. How is the weather right now?
    It was cold but quite sunny at times -dark now.

33. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
    No-one yet

34. Favourite soft drink?
    ginger beer

35. Favourite restaurant
    difficult to say - prob bistro near house in france or thai down the road at home

36. Real hair colour?
    brown

37. What was your favourite toy as a child?
    fisher price garage

38. Summer or winter?
    summer

39. Hugs or kisses?
    Hugs

40. Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Chocolate

41. Coffee or tea?
    tea

42. When was the last time you cried?
    about 2 weeks ago - pmt/fatigue related

43. What is under your bed?
    dust

44. What did you do last night?
    cooked dinner for dss and his g/f, watched baby tv and tried to settle dd

45. What are you afraid of?
    fish ,being alone, driving

46. Salty or sweet?
    Salty

47. How many keys on your key ring?
    1

48. How many years at your current job?
    4 years last december

49. Favourite day of the week?
    Saturday

50. How many towns/suburbs have you lived in?
    7

51. Do you make friends easily?
    not really - socialise ok but find it very hard to make a deeper connection

1. What time did you get up this morning?

8.15am - booked a 9 am hair appt, am I insane?!

1. Diamonds or pearls?

Diamonds

1. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

Oh god, can't remember!

1. What is your favourite TV show?

ER

1. What do you usually have for breakfast?

marmite on toast

1. What is your middle name?

Judith Ann

1. What food do you dislike?

celery

1. What is your favourite CD at moment?

Best of Neil Diamond

1. What kind of car do you drive?

Astra Estate

10. Favourite sandwich?
    brie and cranberry

11. What characteristic do you despise?
    putting others down

12. Favourite item of clothing?
    jeans

13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go?
    New Zealand

14. Favourite brand of clothing?
    don't have one - not really interested!

15. Where would you retire to?
    New Zealand

16. What was your most recent memorable birthday?
    36 - my last one before I became a mum

17. Favourite sport to watch?
    football

18. When is your birthday?
    1st June

19. Are you a morning or night person?
    morning

20. What is your shoe size?
    UK 8

21. Pets?
    two cats

22. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share with us?
    can't think of anything!

23. What did you want to be when you were little?
    a doctor

24. How are you today?
    Good, had a lovely day

25. What is your favourite candy?
    any chocolate

26. What is your favourite flower?
    rose

27. What is a day on the calendar you are looking forward to?
    9th May - naming ceremony

28. What are you listening to right now?
    the rugby in the background

29. What was the last thing you ate?
    chocolate biscuit

30. Do you wish on stars?
    No

31. If you were a crayon, what colour would you be?
    blue

32. How is the weather right now?
    cold

33. The first person you spoke to on the phone today?
    No-one yet

34. Favourite soft drink?
    diet coke

35. Favourite restaurant
    Courtyard

36. Real hair colour?
    brown

37. What was your favourite toy as a child?
    Tiny Tears

38. Summer or winter?
    summer

39. Hugs or kisses?
    Hugs

40. Chocolate or Vanilla?
    Chocolate

41. Coffee or tea?
    tea

42. When was the last time you cried?
    Thursday when A wouldn't sleep

43. What is under your bed?
    dust

44. What did you do last night?
    went to a friend's house for dinner

45. What are you afraid of?
    losing those I love

46. Salty or sweet?
    sweet

47. How many keys on your key ring?
    4

48. How many years at your current job?
    1

49. Favourite day of the week?
    Saturday

50. How many towns/suburbs have you lived in?
    oh god, too many to remember!

51. Do you make friends easily?
    very, moved around a lot so had to!