June 2008: Nine months in, nine months out

[Essie3]

Here's to the next nine months!

Glad last night was better, Amber. Maybe he would be better if you did go into him. The first time he cries just pick him up, wait for him to settle down then put him straight back down. Then go back after 5,10,20mins etc and just pat him on the tummy. E doesn't tend to respond well to being picked up - she just screams so we tend to just pat her on the tummy. T does well with being picked up, he just sticks his thumb in and shuts up immediately.

Does he have any toys in his cot? E loves her teddies and chats to them for ages.

amber glad that things slightly better- echo what neenz said about toys in cot - edie has a teddy, a tag thing (she is keen on labels) and a music box - this was relatively pointless til a few weeks agobut she now really likes it. Have also followed neenz route (started by dh) to let her cry for a bit - does seem to work as does self settle.

that said ah has a good point - there are definite times edie is more clingy and sling is a lifesaver - I love my ergo (ah godo idea re climibing time).

ah sympathies re nct - I knwo what you mean about it being nice to have people to share with but not feeling that close. I've felt increasingly distant esp since I'm the one going back to work -feel like I've got two heads0-they are all very nice and I know tehre is no stigma but I still find it bloody odd that in a group of 8 I am first to have to go back to work/put her baby in some kind of childcare. I know I'll keep in touch with a couple of them but it does mark you out as I'm obviously not going to be around to join in activities.

Any tips re discouraging babies to grab glasses - its a positive obsession with edie at the moment .

that said I actually don't feel loss too keenly cos get loads of support on here - which sounds weird considering not met most of you but that somehow doesn't seem to matter..

AH sorry about your meal out. It's not nice to feel like an outsider.

Hope your work gets sorted out Sponge. Not what you need is it?

Thea's favourite thing is paper . We were at Little Church this morning and I think every piece of paper in the room ended up with a bite-shaped bit out of it. DD1 spent her time snatching felt tips and picking fights so if she approached anyone they'd grab their pen, and if Thea approached they'd grab their paper!

AH, sorry to hear about the NCT group - it's strange isn't it cos the only thing we have in common with our groups is that we all had babies at the same time!

Rolf, sorry to hear DD1 is being so challenging. How old is she?

Amber . I don't know what to say - my heart goes out to you, which is sod all use, but I don't have any alternative strategies to offer.

Well, PILs have gone home now and peace is restored! I'm off to see my parents tomorrow and really looking forward to it.

Oh, and Alex has done his first bit of modelling!

Alex's first modelling assignment!

Hope everyone else had a good weekend x

excellent work A - signed the petition too while I was there..

been to rugby today so edie was much admired by her older fan base .

sorry to hear the girls are being challenging rolf

Great picture Sponge

Poppy DS1 has been playing rugby today and has taken about an hour to get all the mud off his legs!

When I look at what I've moaning about with DD1, it looks really lame and grouchy . She's not doing anything that's out of the ordinary for 3 year olds (she's 3.5) - so I realise that the problem is me, not her. I'm not handling her well at all at the moment . Thea is being lovely, but not sleeping well and much, much harder work than she was even a month ago (as I'm sure all the babies are). So really, I have nothing to complain about other than my own shortcomings.

Thanks poppy and Rolf, and thanks for signing the petition too!

Btw, Rolf, I think you're being very hard on yourself - obviously I'm not exactly talking from experience as I only have one little monkey darling to look after, but four children and sleep deprivation must be v hard. I do have experience of other people's toddlers and they can be unbelievably hard work in my (albeit very limited!) experience.

I'm sure she'll grow out of it but that probably doesn't help at the moment .

I didn't sign it, I just admired Alex's picture . I get the feeling that when it comes to religion and politics, if we ever meet we will need to either keep a tactful silence, have a heated debate or hate each other's guts .

Sorry Rolf, the thank you was aimed at poppy!!

I'll go for the tactful silence!!

I'm not a good person to argue with as I'm always right and I never back down - dh has learnt the hard way!!

Hi have skim read posts

Sorry to all with grumpy babies etc Mega sympathies.

Last night here was the worst night ever in 9 months, screaming inconsolably to the extend that at 3am we got up to watch baby tv
Took her to drs this am cause thought it was ears etc but no nothing! she is completely cleared up
Now im thinking its mamiitis she has been a real mare to get to bed at night and cries if i leave her in the cot i go in wait til she is nearly asleep and leave but she cries and if she wakes at night she wont settle with Dh only me.

SO we too have to crack down, 1st step will be 2 naps a day tops and not past 4pm in her cot not in chair and think we will have to do some form of CC so if any one has any tips or help?!!!

well carrying on writing jut done bedtime routine and much better did 2 mins of CC couldnt facce any longer and only had to go in twice it took grand total of 5mins lets see how night goes!!!

Question: do you all shut your babies rooms ddoors DP says we should but as its not cold its not an issue but then she wont hear noise from downstairs I just dont like idea of closing the door

Hi paro, sorry to hear about Fleur's sleep problems.

We pull Alex's door to but not completely shut, but we have to as we have two cats and we have found one of them sleeping in his cot when he got in the room .

Hope you get it sorted.

Thanks sponge re door thats what i do at mo! but DH thinks shut is better, our cat has only done that before she was born, now she wont go near the room!

I like the pic of alex very cute grin !

Thank you .

I don't think I could bear to shut the door completely, don't ask me why, silly really!

haha me too!!! cant bear the thought of a closed door dont know why either!!!!

oooh DP just bought dinner he has made spag carbonara yuuuum!

rolf I can barely keep patience with inanimate objects like the kettle on days where edie has not slept so I think you're doing well to cope with a lively 3 year old.

and paro we just put the door 2/3 inches open and leave the dimmer on...

we shut the door completely - but we're in a bungalow and it helps reduce noise.

rolf I can understand why you're feeling like your struggling with DD1. Sometimes with DS1 I feel like I'm the worst mother in the world and just have no clue how to deal with him, other times it seems to come naturally.

Sponge Alex is very cute in the photo!

Fraser is still sick - throwing up again too. uggh! it's been about 8 days! I hate this stage when their immune systems are still so immature.

and poppy, rolf, and sponge yes, it's hard to feel like an outsider. I was one of the first in my NCT class to go back to work and I think that's one of the problems too - they all had months and months where they got together every Thursday and I've only seen them sporadically. But I have had a better day today and appreciate your comments!

hi guys, sorry for everyone having a challenging time, we've just got through a rough couple of weeks with sleep (for C, nothing compared to the terrible time some of you are having, muchos sympathy)and illnesses but seem to have come out the other side.

We're nearly ready for the next car seat, have started a thread here I know most of you have moved up already, so any advice would be appreciated!

Cute pic of Alex Sponge - how did he get that gig lol

Rolf, never underestimate how much work is involved in four kids! My mum had four and not much help (in Australia so no family) and it was very hard.

Get well soon Fraser!

Still no crawling here! T can push backwards and sometimes pull forwards (ie sliding) but has not cracked actual crawling yet. E is on hands and knees now too so surely not long now?!

DH is out tonight at a church group so I am going to relax in front of the telly and watch things he doesn't let me watch when he is here (Desp HWs, Lost, The City, 90210 )

Paro, we have just been through a tough time with sleep and a couple of nights of CC did the trick. It was hard though. E really screamed . Just put Fleur down, give it 5mins then go back in and pick her up to settle her then put her straight back down. Then go back after 10,15,20 etc and just pat her on the tummy. Eventually she will go to sleep (but it could take an hour or two or even more ). If she wakes again start the process again. Good luck, it is not fun but it does work, within four days she will have got the hang of it (and the first night is the worst so just hang in there).

Thanks for the support . AH that's exactly how it is with me and DD1.

Paro good luck with the CC.

He's ok thanks Rolf - I think we were more upset than he was!

AH sorry you didn't enjoy your night out. You know, when international types talk about camping, we ignorant Brits just assume that their lot are into alternative holidays Anyway, what's wrong with camping (if that's what you like?) - it's a good family style holiday. I know someone who took their 1 year old on a luxury holiday - they all had the most miserable time!

Poppy re discouraging of glasses grabbing - we have the same thing here. The only thing that stops it is wearing contact lenses

On doors, we shut it completely and never put the hallway light on either. I remember reading something really negative about nightlights when I was pregnant so I'm obsessed with having DS's room really dark at night.

In other news, S's rash much worse so planning to try and get docs appointment tomorrow. He's also been a bit more 'unwell' today IYSWIM so he's got something. Bit gutted (because he's ill obviously) but its also my very last day of maternity leave and had nice things planned. I suspect some of the mums at Jo Jingles wouldn't thank me if I turned up with a baby covered head to toe in spots though?

Quick question before I go... Are any of the FF's giving any milk feeds in a cup yet?

Sorry to PAro and others who're having rough nights. Dont have any ideas other than those already suggested, but I am thinking of you!

hope your last day of mat leave is OK despite the doctor's appointment BDQ good luck for returning to work.

poppy same problem here with glasses, and same solution as BDQ!

I have the same thing with glasses, seriously looking at having my eyes lasered.

Rold sebastian loves eating paper as well, he just grabs rips and chews.

BDQ, enjoy your last day, hope you get some answers at the doc's.

We shut the door to and turn all the lights off too.

Yes, same problem here with the glasses - E loves them, T doesn't bother with them though!

Last night we had a bit of a mare - E woke at 3am and I went in, did PU/PD but she just cried and cried. I went back after 5,10,20 mins etc but she just kept crying, not really really awful, like I didn't think she was in pain or anything. This went on for nearly 2hrs, so I gave he 2.5ml Medised and she went back to sleep, but not before waking Theo. He was awake for about 45mins before I gave him Medised too and he went back to sleep, (it was about 5.30am by this time!) both till 8am.

When I went into E her room stank like she had pooed but when I checked her nappy it was fine. So she must be farting for Britain! Could this be why she is waking? Could it be that she is not getting on with some food or other? Yesterday she had porridge and prunes (but had prunes the day before and no problem), then salmon, sweet potato, carrot and parsnip for lunch plus yogurt. Then cous cous, sweet potato, parsnip and carrot for tea and more yogurt. Usually they have cabbage or something too but I didn't give them any yesterday, so what could be causing her to fart like that? Could that be why she is waking or is it not normally a sign of a problem?