Dec 08 - Nanny Anne's Apprentices.

[daisydora]

Thread started - hope i've done it right!!

Well it does sounds a little like his name I guess. Ds1 was watching 3rd & bird the other day and he saw baby Jordan but I didn't see it and he was telling me later that Baby Jordan is pink and is a girl, he finds this quite hilarious as he thinks they have given her a boys name.

Veggie / Kayz, DD1 used to say "oh, bonk" loudly when she crashed into things. That raised a few eyebrows.

Trace, I am so sorry to hear about Lucy.Sendin get well soon vibes your way.

Thanks for all the kind words about my friend. She has 2 DDs, one who is 4 and the other not quite 18 months. I spent a lot of yest with her and the girls. She was very angry and tearful in the am but managed a glass of wine and a few cheery moments by the evening. It's going to be a long road though.

Right, off to catch up with rest of thread

Bottles, Ds never took one. Ever. At all. If presented with one he screamed which was fun since I had lectures to go to etc. Dh and I got very good at passing the baby in the corridors outside lecture theatres and I had to feed him outside exams then dh would bring him back for the end of the exam so I could leg it back outside and feed! YOu certainly don't have to introduce a bottle at all, water in a cup with meals but otherwise just keep bf. Ds went to creche from 9 months whle I finished my degree and he just went without milk in the day. Dd has shown a passing interest but I'm terrible at actually kicking dh out when I know she will feed, especially as she tends to just sleep when out anyway. I may be brave and just leave her with him while I'm at Rainbows this week so she'll have to take it or lump it.

Am loving toddler talk. Ds talking so much more now and I love it. He jabbers on about everything. He's started calling us by our first names a lot which makes me giggle when he struts around importantly ordering his father around Another lazy mum leaving toilet training til summer here Also working on the theory that by then I can bypass the potty.

Very of all the sleep some of you are getting. I'm going to join effie in the no sleep club. We can make badges.

I do agree about how amazing these babies are though, it constantly astounds me that a whole person fits into a baby

Indith I understand you! I was saying yesterday that i find it amazing that P is so small but that she gets hungry/thirsty and has a drink like a real human!!! DH thinks I'm bonkers

Couldn't go to the cool sure start baby group today as Lucy's off school . Will have to try to go next week. Lu saw the GP...more steroids...she's a bit brighter now. In fact she's just eaten 3 chocolate coins, put the wrappers in a Tupperware and shaken it saying "foil-tastic!" Back to school for her tomorrow me thinks!

I've been putting off the supermarket shop for nearly a week, so we have consequently no food! Just had a cheese sandwich and have just about cleared us out! Really must go to the shops but it's such an effort

on the weaning... i quite enjoyed all the puree business although i did find myself cooking fruit and veg for her that I'd never bought in my life before (or since!). I guess I'm a bit busier these days so might not be so diligent!

as for routines...ours has been the same since she was born pretty much! STILL feed every 2 hours - just can't stretch it out.

something like
7.30 feed then play
8.45 sleep/dragged on school run
9.30 feed then play
10.45 sleep
11.30 feed then play
12.45 sleep
13.30 feed then play
15.00 dragged on school run/ sleep/ scream
15.30 feed then play
17.00 sleep
17.30 feed
18.00 bath
18.30 feed
19.00 bed

then usually midnight feed, 4 ish feed, and then start all over again....! Obviously every 3rd day seems to be a growth spurt so the nights go 2 hourly then too!

oh and did anyone else get those funny little skin tag things in pregnancy? I got a few mainly under my arms, but now they're starting to fall off! (the skin tags not my arms).

Message withdrawn

I have just worked out that since January 2007 our bank has charged us £1585!! I actually feel physically sick. So they are getting a letter as I want it back!!

What for Kayz? That is a lot of money! Though unfortunately I think a lot of bank charge cases are being held up now, the banks paid a few, everyone started at it so now things are being contested by the banks.

Trace glad I make some sense. Good that L is better

My peace has been shattered, both are up from their naps. Ds is buggin me for a quickie (kiwi!)

We were having some trouble and they just kept charging us and charging us instead of doing anything to help. Then our bank manager changed and told us about managed loans.

As DH has lost his job they have to deal with our case straight away which is why I decided to go for it.

Hey Kayz can you get any help from the citizens advice bureau or an org like that. You know like an advocate or someone who can assure you of your rights. These banks will do their best to get out of it so if your armed with all the ibfo you need that would help. Also Kayz have you and DH ever done your tax return a few of he decided to have a go at work once I wasn't owed anything but one girl found out they owed her £5000 for several years of tax over charging and also you claimed some stuff.

No never done a tax return. A few of the people he worked with have said they think they will get some tax back in April. The citzens advice bureau is at the library tomorrow so might pop in and see them.

Just a quick post as DD is about to wake - she hasn't dined since 1.15 and she's usually an every two hours sort of a girl.

I love the toddler talk! I was with my friend and her little 2yr old in Asda a few weeks ago and he was shouting what sounded like "mummy's bush, mummy's bush" at the top of his voice. I was beside myself laughing

Back later....

Have just returned from a toddler group where there is a woman who's DS was born same day as mine, also totally bf. She was saying he feeds every 1.5-2 hours morning/night-timeand has since birth . The poor woman said she felt like the walking dead and her DH wanted her to try a bottle of formula at night but she felt guilty as she never had to do it with her other DS. I said to try that or get her DH to give some EBM so she can get her head down for a few hours. I'm amazed she was standing, hats off to her, made my odd bad night seem a little insignificant

I love toddlerisms. DD's fav saying at the moment is 'how do I get to sleep mummy?'. I tell her to close her eyes and stop talking which she does and the opens her eyes declaring 'I can't sleep mummy I'm broken!'

Cat I might join you - I hate having initials if anyone wanted to figure it out with the FB stuff. Hope it doesn't get too confusing!

I?ve tried to catch up from where I left off the other night, but there?s been so much chatting my head is spinning and I can?t remember what I wanted to say ? I?ll try my best, but very aware that I have skimmed over some things ? sorry if it?s you! Anyway, now I?ve caught up to Sunday, I?ll post and then just carry on with more reading ? (DH has threatened to take the laptop to work again tomorrow, til Thursday, this is not good I may have to review our relationship )

Great idea to have a FB group, will go on and try to find you and join in - a little scared of how many of you have mutual friends though, it?s a blooming small world

A few of you (days ago) were talking about using sounds that your LO?s were used to when away, to keep bedtime normal and Veggie (I think) also mentioned a bath oil. We?re taking DD to friends next weekend and I?m keen to have a normal bedtime for her so she sleeps well and they think we?ve got an angel baby (they?re childless, so I don't want to scare them). We don?t use any music or white noise for DD and I don?t want to introduce any for the sake of it, but like the idea of using a bath oil. Would a couple of drops of essential oil, such as lavender, in the bath be ok for DD?s skin?

JJ so pleased for your friend?s LO

Jam with thrush my nipple felt a bit sore during feeding, but much more painful straight after a feed ? really sensitive and putting clothes back on was very nasty. Ouch. Hope you and L don?t have it

We have a bumbo, so will have to dig it out for DD seeing as so many other Dec babies are enjoying there?s already (should there be an apostrophe there??)

Kimberley what a scary experience for you with J?s bleeding, glad that all is well with him now

Arti/ladyt the ice hotel actually was pretty classy and in such a beautiful location, even the gift shop (disappointingly for me) only had nice, non tacky, gifts (I love cheap tat ). The night we stayed there, there was a family with a DD of about 7 or 8 staying, so its even suitable for children. It is pricey, so we stayed 3 nights in a different hotel and just one night there (they have a normal hotel for the rest of your stay, but 2 coffees and muffins cost £25, so who knows what a 3 night stay would be). We watched that Joanna Lumley programme recently and it was fab, and the artic circle really is that beautiful (think I?ve already said that, but just wanted to reinforce my point)

Arti your talk of doing up your new house reminds me of my attempts to learn a few DIY basics, as DH is such a practical dunce he is banned from anything involving tools. Last year I had a ?tomboy tools? party (like an Anne Summers party, but with more respectable tools ) which involved learning DIY and getting the chance to purchase pink tools (I just heart my pink toolbag so much). In fact, if you held it at your new house, all your friends could practise their new skills and you could get a room done for you! Oh, and some of the money from the pink tools goes to charity, so everyone?s a winner (I don?t work for this company by the way, just realised I?m sounding a little too enthusiastic about it)

OK, will carry on reading, back again soon ...

Hi all, am loving the toddlerisms. Ds1 has quite a few things but I can't think of any offhand!

I've been on my course today which was good, nice to get a bit of 'me' time. One of the other girls had a baby 6 weeks ago & she was there with her dd, made me quite sad that ds2 isn't that newborn anymore! Not sad enough to start contemplating number 3 though!

trace glad Lucy is feeling better

cat & kmp I'm looking forward to seeing your new names!!

And finally caught up, and just in time cause DD is stirring and I need to start peeling potatoes for tea

Bisou I?ve discovered that DD has the longest daytime sleeps when wrapped up warm and cosy and outside in her pram (as long as it?s not raining), she?ll sleep for 2 to 3 hours outside but just has short naps, like your DS, inside. Do you have a garden where you could safely leave him for some good fresh air? (Although you probably don?t need a snowsuit and 3 blankets in Oz!)

JJ I?m always amazed (and little smug) that my body made a beautiful baby and is now feeding her, nature is a fantastic thing

There?s far too many singers on this thread now, feeling v inadequate. I was the only one of my group of friends not in the school choir ? and that was because I failed the audition, not because I didn?t want to . So far no complaints from DD about my singing though

Trace poor Lucy, I hope her asthma improves quickly, poorly children just break my heart. Foiltastic is a good sign though! Very happy that you?re arms aren?t falling off

Kayz your DS1 is so funny, I love that he called his little brother Bob

DD has started refusing to take anything from her bottle, which means feeding is all down to me and I don?t get to share the night feeds anymore. My DH is really upset by this, as he loved taking his turn, and he even said yesterday that there?s nothing he can do anymore to look after her . We?re trying to give her a bottle at a daytime feed, as we have no patience at 4am, but a bit more during the day, but it still isn?t working. Does anyone have any suggestions how we could get DD to take a bottle again? She?s been having one a day very happily for 6 weeks now.

hi. quick question... we are off to italy over easter and dd will be about 15 weeks old. friends have lent us a graco travel cot. am i being dumb, but do we need to but a mattress to go with it??? haven't yet had time to get it down from the loft - bthought i'd ask

wg there should be a very thin mattress with it. We usually put a thick blanket or something underneath the sheet to make it a bit more comfortable.

zj sorry I don't have any advice re the bottle. Could your dh do dd's bath? Then he still feels involved

Zj a couple of drops in a bath is fine ZJ. For ds1 I had a lovely baby mix but I can't remember what it's called and haven't been able to find anything similar. With ds2 I have been using lavender which has been great for his spots healing. I would just warn that only a few drops as if you over do it it can have an opposite effect. For some reason a too strong smell of lavender makes babies a bit grumpy.

Oh and ZJ he could always change nappies or dress him

update on baby M - she's home! was expected to be in hospital for at least a week but is already so strong they've sent her home!

dd has learned to roll over if I put her on her back ahe flings her legs about and ends up on her front. Unfortunately she's also turned into a stroppy moo - didn't sleep from 10 am until 3pm (! only when being pushed in the pushchair) and then only for half an hour, managed to get her to sleep at about 4 by feeding her lying down, then she woke at 5.30 screaming like a nutter. Have managed to feed her into a sense of quietness again, but not sure what else to do - none of the usual cures is working apart from boob.

zj do you use grobags for ds? You could take that, or a familiar set of bedding that he's used to so the bed feels familiar.

blimming heck she's still not happy, sorry chaps catch up with the rest of you later.

JJ - what fantastic news about M! You must be so thrilled. Glad she is doing so well. And at DD rolling - she must be a very strong and clever wee thing.

Ladies, can I tempt any of you to our meet up this Wed here? I'll need to book a table if there is going to be more than just me, Verso and Ros so please let me know.

Back later - just off to finish a spot of work before bedtime. DH here so have left him in charge of the girls. M in his new (to him) big cot, gurgling away. Am sad to put the moses basket into mothballs, but I really can't have 4 children....can I???

Aw zj no advice on bottles (see earlier post!) but of course dh can be involved, he can bath her, massage her (don't need to do a class to rub her back after her bath), cuddle her, play with her, take her on walks to give you a break.....

meant to say before but keep forgetting, arti thanks for asking, feeding much better, bad days and feeds getting less frequent

4 seems like a nice round number to me Sybil

at rolling over, they are so grown up

lovely news on baby M

Great news JJ . The grumpiness may well be linked to your DD's rolling, they do tend to get grumpy when they learn something new.

Veggie: am glad I'm not the only one who refers to her cherished sons as boy 1 and boy 2! DS1 has always been 'the boy' for DH and I so it kind of made sense.

Sybs: how utterly rubbish to leave your wife and such young children .

Kayz: hope the CAB can help

Trace: glad DD1 is better. Asthma must be terrifying in small children, I have it mildly and that is bad enough. One of my nieces has been in and out of hospital with her asthma (she also has bad eczema) but it's getting much better as she gets older. In fact she is soon TWELVE . Which means my oldest niece is FOURTEEN and doing GCSEs and I was at uni when my sister had her. Where's that zimmer frame?

DS1 sometimes comes out with stuff that makes me wonder about the world he lives in - the other day we were looking at a massive crane at the end of our road (they're rebuilding a community centre) and I said 'look DS1, it's not working' (they were on their lunch break). He looked at it and said sagely 'No batteries.'