December 08 Supermums: We are all doing fine and our LOs love us!!

[kayzr]

Hello.

Trace I went with your idea!!

I have given up chocolate, sweets and crisps for Lent. I have got to get rid of this waist line as apparently my waist is a size 28!!!

I am devasted as I have realised I will never wear my corset again. My back size has increased and I don't think the corset will fit even if I get back to a size 10. Though I suppose I can save the money I get from selling it to buy a new one.

The weight thing is so depressing Kayz. Believe me, you have my every sympathy. Every time I look down at myself it's all I can do not to scream. I know that sounds incredibly self-indulgent but it's true. I don't even eat sweets or chocolate (don't like chocolate much) and I eat perhaps one bag of crisps a fortnight.

It seems I have given up sleep for lent

Hey Daisy you've made me wonder - if one ate a lot of prunes or other equally poo expulsing food, would it go into your breastmilk and have a similar affect on your DC? It sounds like he is cooking up a nice big one for you

Oh no! Look at me harping on about food again, what an idiot. Sorry ladies Hopefully prunes count as a 'health' food though?

Must get to bed and at least pretend to sleep as my lovely DH is in the baby's room on night duty, as I've got a show tonight. It's nearly 3am here. Night all! xx

Hello everyone,

I too was very sad to hear about Ivan Cameron. What an awful thing for any family to have to go through.

summer Goodness me, I don't know how you managed to deal with the rat I'd get yourself a huge ginger tom cat and keep him hungry . Your other rodent stories are just yucky .

A big yes from me on the memory issues. I'm still doing stupid things like trying to put the cereal in the fridge. Will we ever return to normal?!

Lots of your babies are in lovely daytime routines. I never know what DD will do from one day to the next! She has been very consistent at night (for the last week or so!) and will go to bed at 6-7pm and shows no sign of wanting to get up till 7ish, but she feeds at 10.30 and 3 or 4ish. I'm not sure whether to try and get her into more of a daytime routine, any tips?!

We've just got back from Manchester where we pottered about the shops and then met with DH during his lunch hour. It was really lovely . Why on earth do baby changing rooms not have toilets in? Are mums not allowed to wee? I'm fed up of having to take DD out of her pram and take her into a cubicle with me.

Sorry for bringing pancakes up . Bisou Prunes certainly count as a health food!

I know LadyT. It is horrible. I think I might have to get much more strict with myself and exercise at least twice a day.

Night Bisou, it has been lovely to hear from you and have a good show.

Yes on the brain thing.
I have always been one for drifting off half way through sentences and doing a bit of staring into space but it has got worse. It started when I was pregnant though. DH says I am particularly bad at nouns. I say, "Can you pass the thingy?" and he says "Give me a noun please..."!!
The council have got back to me about the rubbish next door, and have offered a free rat treatment. I was hopeful that it was just the one that nipped in when the door was open (to be honest I don't think one could live in the house for long without me finding it at that size!). But better safe than sorry and all today i keep seeing things move and thinking it is a rat or hearing noises, (eg DS moving in his basket) and thinking it is a rat, so it should set my mind at rest.
Talking about food is fine as far as I am concerned even though I am on a diet. As long as you don't eat a big cream cake in front of me I am fine! in fact I don't really like cream cakes. It would probably have to be a load of cheese and biscuits and some nice red wine to really make me jealous!

Just been to get DS weighed, he is now 11lbs 7 so not bad seeing as he was born a tiddler. No wonder he has double chins and fat triangular shaped fingers.

night night bisou!

Kayz well done on giving up on all those things very noble. I'm with you on the feeling sorry myself wanting old body. I still can't see my feet past my belly when I'm standing up. However I have found if I stand up really straight and pull my butt back a bit I look a bit slimmer, at least it will be good for my posture.

Ds1 is currently watching Shakira- whenever wherever, on the V+ music on demand thing. He is obsessed I think he has a little boy crush on Shakira. The film clip has reminded me I have always wanted to try belly dancing...and I now have the belly for it.

Oh and not sure if it consolation first timers but it takes about 9 months for you pelvis to retract back so your hips are bigger because of that...too.

bisou I suspect I'd have to eat a LOT of prunes

I'm trapped! DD is asleep on me and I don't want to wake her up.

That's interesting re hips veggie. Is it the same for the ribcage too? My bra backsize is still bigger than normal even though I'm back to normal (save for the wobble ).

Anyone else suffering with their back? Mine was OK during pregnancy but carrying DD about is giving me awful backache. I'm going to see if the pilates class I used to go to is still on. That might help perhaps?

summer Glad the council are taking action.

Jolly My bra backsize never went back to normal after having DS1.

Kayz, good luck with the exercise. I really need to try & fit some in as well. I think the yoga class I used to go to is still on, and will try & fit in some swimming as well.

Dementia, funnily enough I took ds2 upstairs to change his nappy when a friend was here, came back down & realised yep, I'd left ds2 on the changing table . At least he isn't rolling over yet!

I left DS2's bottle in the kitchen at the weekend. I went in and made it, got DS1 some lunch and myself a drink. I went and sat on the sofa got DS2 out of his basket and then realised I didn't have his bottle. He wasn't best pleased.

jolly bear - my back is really aching too - not sure if it's to do with the position I feed in during the night (slumped semi-upright with head half on a pillow!) or carrying P around lots.

Veggie - does that mean there's a chance my jeans will fit better later in the year? My weight is pre-preg but my shape is wrong!!!

right - here's my dilemma. DH's parents have offered to have the girls on Staurday for a few hours so we can go out for Dh's birthday. I could express and leave a bottle, which I'm sure she'll take no probs because she took one when we were trying the dream feed. Anyway, I'm really reluctant to do it, basically because I feel like no-one can look after P as well as I can (including DH) and that they won't know what any of her cues and cries are for. My fear is that she'll be over tired or starving or just fed up of being held, and they wo't have a clue and FIL will do his usual jigging her around with no effect, and that she will scream for the whole time we're out. Am I just being big-headed to think I'm the only one who can look after her, or would you feel the same? DH is chilled about whatever I decide, but said he thought I'd be ok with it. He knows that with my PND last time I wouldn't let anyone do anything for dd1, so he says he's surprised that I'm doing the same again and thought I would have learnt my lesson (in a nice way!). Should I just bite the bullet? I really don't want to, but don't want to offend the ILs either. aaaaagh. help!

I have no doubt that no one looks after your DD2 as well as you do, Trace, and it's not bigheaded to think so. However, I DO think you should go out because for just 2 or 3 hours she will be fine not having the finest care. I'm sure she will have ADEQUATE care so I would try it, for the sake of you having a nice little break with your DH. But if it is going to make you feel very worried and bad, don't, I guess.

I agree with LadyT. You do a brilliant job but I'm sure that your ILs will do a good job. You should go out. You'll enjoy yourself.

trace we went out on Saturday and left DD with the ILs, I worried she'd be totally over stimulated, over fed, over tired etc etc with all the attention they give her. But when we got out I was talking to a friend and saying that her grandparents fuss over her so (too?) much, and my friend said how lovely that was, as all her grandparents died before she was born so she never got to spend any time with them. That made me pleased they were spending time with DD and however much fuss they gave her, they all enjoyed the evening. (Still didn't stop me worrying about DD all night, but did make me glad we'd gone, and of course she was fine and I needn't have worried at all).

On sleeping routines, we're starting DD's bedtime routine at 8pm (ish) each night and she sometimes wakes around midnight, sometimes lasts til 3, and then wakes about 6.30 for the day. As much as I try, the day time 'routine' is far more hit and miss, but I'm aiming for a good nap of a couple of hours in the morning as then I feel happier if she doesn't sleep so well in the afternoon. Today wasn't so great and she managed half an hour this morning and half an hour this afternoon and is lying in her pram whining now and sounding no tired. We went to meet our post natal group this afternoon, so I think the excitement of others prevented a decent sleep this afternoon, so I wonder if I'd not gone then she would be a happier baby now?

I too was so sad to hear about Ivan Cameron, and have given DD extra hugs and kisses today just in case there ever comes a day when I can't do that, as the Camerons can't do tonight.

Have read so much, and forgotten so much too ... so love to you all and all your babies

Oh I was going to say that yesterday I got 2 new nursing vests so I don't get a cold tum whilst feeding (and don't inflict the sight of my tum on the general public) - they are fab, proper bras inside the vest - I love them!

Have a good evening everyone, off now to pack DDs swimming bag for her first lesson tomorrow [excited at grown up baby emoticon]

Have really been struggling over past few days to read or post.

But Trace - would defo say "go" - it will be so good for you both and tis only for a few hours.

To anyone feeling low - watch THIS IT'S GREAT - really funny and cheered me up. Someone of you may have seen it on saturday night. Hope WG doesn't mind me saying that this star is her chum! (great also for Flashdance aficiondos...)

All a bit mad here.

Wow you guys have been chatty today. It just took me 20 mins to read what you have been up to even though I was all uptodate at 9am this morning. I was meant to be watching Grey's Anatomy while DH is at the gym and now I won't have time for a whole episode - thanks girls !

I too have spent the day feeling very sorry for the Cameron's. We saw DC with Ivan in Padstow last summer. He was really sweet with him and obviously adored him. Its just so sad. And poor Gordon Brown giving his tribute remembering losing his own daughter and knowing he may lose his secnd son young as well. I just wanted to hug my girls all day.

Re the post-brith dementia, I read an article about "pregnancy brain" a few weeks ago. It was outlining a recent study that suggested that women's brains actually re-arrange themselves when tehy have babies in order to allow us to multi-task. This leads to temporary problems with memory but results in us being more brainy and capable than ever! The jury is still out on whether I beleive that.

Re nigh sleeping - DD2 is very variable. Some night she has gone down at 7pm and not woken until 3ish and then got up at 6.30. Other nights (the last three included) she is up every three hours. She usually settles quickly though. Out bigger dhallenge is getting her to take decent naps in her cot during the day. In teh pram she will sleep 2-3 hours over lunch time but in the cot its never more than 30 mins.

And now for my big news - OUR OFFER ON OUR DREAM HOME HAS BEEN ACCEPTED! Sorry. Had to shout about that one. I am sooooooooo excited.

Arti that's fantastic news! So pleased for you.

I'm supposed to be cooking the dinner so must dash. Will try to do proper post later.

Congratulations Artichokes!

DS2 is in his moses basket! He dropped off as I was feeding him and reading DS1 yet another Thomas story, so I swaddled him up, bunged him in the basket and scarpered. Will check he hasn't woken up in a minute. Need the time as we want to get the flat cleaned and in a reasonable state of tidiness should we get any viewers in while we're visiting the inlaws (we've dropped the price again in the hope of enticing a few more in the door).

Rats? Uurrrghhh. Hope it was a lone rat, Summer. FOOT LONG rats in Aus? Crossing that one of my holiday list, as if gurt big fuck-off spiders weren't bad enough!

Well I have totally missed the last half of masterchef trying to catch up with you lot.

Summer I think I would have just stood on a chair and screamed.

Bisou lovely to see you and what gorgeous pictures.

Arti that is fantastic news on the house. I am going to wholeheartedly agree with the article you read on baby dementia. DP's mum gave me some cash for the boys and I put it in my jeans then this morning DP said what happened with that 40 squid mum gave you. I had absoloutley no recollection of her giving it to me I then couldnt find the money. I remembered putting my jeans (my favourite pair in the world but they died on me at the wkend)in the bin so had to go through the bin to find the money.

LadyT your poor DP hope he is feeling better soon.

Turnip I saw that on Saturday, genius!

Kayz glad you are feeling better. How is DH getting on with his job hunt?

So on the sleeping front DS2 goes down for the night at 7.30 then dream feed at 10.30 he then wakes anytime from 2 - 5 for a feed then after his initial waking its every 2 hours so obviously I love the wake at 5 then its 7for first feed of the day and up and at em and I hate the 2am then every 2hours until 6 when he is up proper.During the day its anyones guess as to whether he will sleep or not. If he sleeps in his cot its never for more than 30mins, if in the sling he will sleep all day, and also pretty good in the buggy. SO that he gets a decent daytime nap we normally go walk the hound and if we catch him at the right point he will sleep for a good couple of hours but only if I wheel the buggy into the garden and leave him there when we get home.

DP starts his new job tom its all happened a bit quicker than we expected we thought it would be a couple of wks. I have a list as long as my arm of jobs for him to do that now wont get done.

Right best go pump the boobs my medela is bust so am having to use the hand pump hardly get any milk from it but every few ounces adds up in the freezer.

Night all.

Brilliant news Arti!!! Jam DH's job hunt is useless. There is absolutely nothing unless you can drive and want to sell double glazing. The job centre are useless and told him about a job in Leeds despite the fact they know he can't get there.

RE: sleeping. DS2 usually goes down at 11-11:30 wakes between 4 and 5 and then he is up about 7:30 for the day. Which isn't too bad.

DS1 on the other hand is a nightmare. He has always been a wonderful sleeper. He slept through at 8 weeks and slept through practically every night up until about 5 weeks ago. Now he is dreadful, up 6 out of 7 nights. He still goes to bed well and goes straight to sleep. But he normally wakes up when we go to bed and then again when DS2 wakes up. He just will not settle back in his bed and most nights he ends up in our bed when he wakes with DS2. But it will all stop, I rang the HV today and she gave me some tips. We're putting them into practice tonight as last night was hell and DS1 spent the whole night in our bed. Please wish us luck.

I've got the Paul Mckenna 'I can make you thin' book. I'm about a third of the way in and already it seems really good. I suppose I'll have to wait and see if it works. It comes with a cd which apparently hypnotises(sp) you.

What are the tips Kayz, ds1 is back to coming into our bed or wanting dh in his room now he is sick and we hadn't really gotten him out of it from the last sickness.

I'm so excited, after I had ds1 I went to a mamaheaven retreat. It is this mother & baby retreat near Wales that is run by some great women. You just eat amazing healthy food, do yoga gets massages and are generally pampered in a nice vaguely earth mothery way. They have a little crèche and also have baby massage & baby yoga. It was really lovely but only 3 days. They have just started doing a week long mamaheaven in Ibiza so more time and more sun!!!! It is in late May, it is White pricey but DH, god love him has said that I should, and who am I to disagree with my husband. Aaahhhh it will be lively, he is going to take a week off to look after ds1 and is quite looking forward to that too.

Ds1 and I had a little fight tonight I think he is still feeling yukky in the evenings was missing his dad and I was in trying to be all organized putting to bed mode so didn't have time for messing about so I was a bit snappy too. Do any of you have those times where you fear you are psychologically damaging you children? I so don't want to be my mum but sometimes I hear her in my words. She was a bit into inducing guilt and I can see myself doing it.

Trace I think what LadyT said is very wise, I am like you, but sometimes I think it isn't healthy for both you and the LOs to not trust others, it makes them fear bring away from you. I think it is why it took so long for my ds1 to settle into nursery at 2.5 years!!!