December 2007 "The one where babies walk the walk... and talk the talk"

[Arcadie]

I'm sorry - I couldn't last out. Welcome to the new thread.

Hi Clara, so pleased to hear that its exceeded your expactations and you'll have a nice place to live. I would LOVE to go to the Caribean someday but its surprisingly difficult to get to from NZ - you have to go all the way up to LA then back down and across again.
Poor consolation for me but have just booked a week in Queensland's Gold Coast (where Surfers Paradise is, but we're not staying there as its rather reminiscent of Torremelinos with Ausssie accents!) in September. I find by Sept the winter is starting to grind me down a bit. I've booked an apartment up 3 flights of stairs which is a bit mad but they said they'd help me with my bags!
Nice to see you Ambi.
DD2 had temp of over 39 last night but seems better again today ... fingers crossed she'll stay cheerful through the party. I'm pretty sure its no more than a cold - altho she slept in until 10.30am this morning!!!

oh wow, St Lucia, Clara you really are a jetsetter. Does this mean you're moving back to the uk? You must be a dab hand at packing boxes now.

Hiya Buzzy, I love the Gold Coast, it's my favourite part of Oz. I'd love to go back with DH but he's not interested.

I'm starting a new job this week working 3 days a week doing what I was doing before ( boring accounts). I've found it relatively easy to find a good job so all that scaremongering about unemployment and no jobs out there isn't strictly true. I'm nervous about being the new girl though since I was at my last place for 8 years.

Can I just ask has anyone started potty training yet? I think its far too early but DD has started to squat when she's weeing in her nappy so think we might try her out for a bit, see how she gets on.

Hiya Ambi, how funny that you've spent time on the Gold Coast. We either go there or north of Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast every winter. This time we're staying really far south almost into NSW.

No I haven't tried any toilet training techniques with DD2 altho I'd love to get her out of nappies asap. I kind of figured that she needed better language skills first - which are improving daily so would like to start trying well before she turns 2 I went down the "later is easier" route with DD1 and in hindsight I think I just paid for another year's supply of nappies for no apparent benefit as it was still a mare.

Yeah we've been to Australia twice now, we have rellies near Sydney. Last time we travelled from Sydney to Cairns and Queensland is definitely my fav, I quite liked Surfers, though not nearly as tacky as some places I've been to. Anyways I'm very jealous as we can just about manage to afford Spain this year.

not torremolinos btw!

hey ambi - good to hear from you and good luck for your new job. It is awful being the new girl (recently had to do it myself) but within a month or two you will feel like you've been there forever and there will be another new girl/boy feeling like you do now!

I haven't even considered potty training as I don't think DS is anywhere near ready. Having said that DD was potty trained at 21 months (IIRC) which is pretty early. My advice would be to wait for signs that she is ready - e.g. she tells you when she's doing a wee/poo and will voluntarily do one in the potty. Otherwise you may be setting yourself up for a battle. No harm in having the potty out and seeing what happens though

clara - that is fantastic news that it has worked out so well and you have found a lovely house and great nursery - what more could you ask for? Oh I know sunny skies, sandy beaches, beautiful scenery and time to yourself... oh yes got that too - am very VERY

buzzy - how did the party go? Hope DD was well enough to enjoy it

Thanks skid, fab news eh? So you'd be due when? my Maths is rubbish (says she who work in Accounts) Feb/Mar?

Re the potty training, I always wanted to wait as long as possible ideally to make it easier, but just over the last few weeks she seems "ready" to at least give it a go, she squats when doing a wee, and points to her nappy if asked if she's done a wee or poo. Sometimes even if I don't whiff anything she'll tell me her nappy is dirty by pointing to it. Granted she's letting me know after the fact but she seems to comprehend it. I don't have a potty yet, but I think I might get one for her to try for a bit and if it's too early then put it away for later.

Ambi! Where are you going in Spain? Have spent several weeks travelling in Spain, most recently spent a night in Malaga as the meeting point for a trip to Morocco and was pleasantly surprised that the old town in Malaga (which I'm pretty sure most tourists never see) is still relatively unspoilt. I really like Spain but have to say that Italy beats it for food!

Hi skid, DD had a pretty nice party in the end altho she still wasn't really herself poor wee tot and was a bit overwhelmed and clingy at times. She enjoyed the cake tho! And got a few pressies, all very appropriate (book, jigsaw, pull-along telephone, doll) for her age and stage which is so nice as sometimes that can be very hit and miss. The pressies were a nice bonus too since I had told a number of people not to bother since it wasn't her actual birthday, but as my Mum's cousin said "I didn't get her anything for her actual birthday so wanted to give her something now". A number of others commented what a nice idea it was and how I'll have to keep up the tradition!

Buzzy, we are going to Mijas. The party was it a half-birthday party? I'd like to do that for DD, but DH has rubbished the idea. I know having a winter(ok summer where you are) birthday is rubbish as mine is at the start of Jan and no-one wants to can afford to celebrate then, and it's going to be tough for DD a week before Xmas.

Glad to hear the party went well Buzzy - it's good to see what other people are doing about our DCs having a birthday so close to Christmas. Is anyone else planning something similar?

We thought we'd do something to celebrate DD's half birthday when she's older but we were thinking more of having a special day for just her and us. Our worries about a party were that other parents people might think we were expecting yet more presents and possibly setting a precedent for lots of people to have half birthday parties. Though if people start routinely rolling her Christmas & birthday presents into one we would definitely be rethinking

The thing was that we didn't even have a family party let alone a proper party on her actual birthday which was 30 Dec - so a number of people were quite keen to give her something, even tho I made it clear that wasn't expected.

The problem in NZ is that 30 Dec is not only 5 days after Xmas but also bang in the middle of NZ's major close-down period and EVERYONE is away so a completely useless time to try and have a party. In fact we were away ourselves and it was just 4 of us!

So in future I guess I will need to make a judgement call whether to even try and celebrate on 30 Dec or make the tradition to not bother then (of course she'll still get presents from very close family) and have this one instead.

Plus I can do what I like as no DH to complain

Hi all, hope everyone had a good weekend!

Arcadie, how was camping? Hope the DCs slept well! You're not mad for wanting another child, 3 DCs are lots of fun, lots of work though, I don't feel I've sat down since DD was born! I had a third for all the reasons Skid said (although I had 2 DSs, honestly think I would still have wanted a third even if DS2 had been a girl). I even occasionally have rougue thoughts sneaking in about a 4th (hence why DH hasn't had the snip yet) despite the fact it would mean bigger house/car etc and possible medical complications in pregnancy. I have 2.7 years between the first 2 and then 5 years between DS2 and DD, its a great gap TBH and the DSs help me out a lot by fetching nappies and playing with their sister and she just adores them. Plus I love having her to myself when they are at school

Buzzy, how did you get on with the interview for the trustee of the zoo? Sounds interesting! How is DD today? Glad she had a nice half-birthday even though she was still a bit unwell.

Clara, I'm glad St Lucia is nice, must make you feel good about moving there now you have seen it and chosen house and school!

Ambi, hi! You could always get a potty and see how DD reacts to it, my neices were both started at 18 months and did quite well. I left my boys until they were older, both were 2.3, DS1 was a total mare with it and it took months, I did plan on leaving DS2 until he was older but he wanted to do it at that age and was fine from day 1 (and then at night a week later - he just refused to wear it!). I'm going to leave DD until next spring at the earliest I think unless she shows real signs. She does often tell me when she has done a poo though (and also if it is a 'hot' one ).

I am finding DD really delightful at the moment but so strong willed! She loves to 'help' me and follows me round chatting away. Just had her feet measured last week, it was only about 7-8 weeks since the last time and her feet had grown a whole size! She's now in a 6 1/2 F which is the same size as her 3 yo cousin. Mind you, DH and I are big footed but still!

ambi i've been wondering about starting potty training, but not really sure what to do. we put a potty in the downstairs loo ages ago, and she did go through a phase of saying poo-poo and running to find it, but she never actually managed to do anything. now she's at the clutching-nappy-when-weeing stage and is dry for quite long stretches (lovely sunny weather means i can find out how many times the garden gets watered when she's running round sans nappy).
think i read somewhere that we were supposed to put her on the potty for a period of time each day and basically tell her to go but that doesn't really make sense!

I really didn't want to be potty training her early as I think it's gotta be easier when they can communicate well and hold their muscles better, but I think I might give it a go, if it doesn't work out then we'll try again nearer the end of the year. I do need to get round to actually buying one though!!!

Blimey Beckle, those are large shoes, DD doesn't really fit into size 3 properly, which is a pain because all the 9-12 months or size 2 shoes are mainly soft soles. I need to et her some sandal/jelly type shoes for this heat though.

Is anyone finding this heatwave a bit hard? It's too hot to stay inside and too sunny to stay outside. DD loves running about in the garden, and she won't keep her hat on or stay in the shade. I put the cream on but she's still catching the sun. I don't want to complain about the weather, I love a nice sunny day, but keeping DD cool/safe is a nightmare.

Hi everyone, back home safe and well but jet lagged, hating the time difference (we were all awake in the night 10.30pm - 1.30am). Still can't complain as we're about to go and live on a beautiful Caribbean island...

Ambi - I know what you mean about the heat. Even though we've just been in the tropics, I do find this heat really hard as this country just isn't set up for extreme temperatures. Do yu have sun suits for your dd? That's what we used for the dd's in St Lucia, then just smothered any exposed skin with factor 50. If you had a paddling pool in the garden she could run around outside and keep cool in the water? (mind you it's raining here today so perhaps the heat wave is over).

Potty training - la la la la (fingers in ears). I can't face that yet. Probably no point until after we move anyway. But as dd1 wasn't trained until she was 2.5 (although it was VERY easy to train her as she was more than ready by this point), I'm not expecting any great things from dd2.

Buzzy - I too have been to the Gold Coast and all around that part of Australia. Loved loved loved it, although partly this was because I was young(er), free and single and having the time of my life on a rtw trip. Would love ot go back to Oz and NZ one day but as you say, the trip from the Caribbean to that part of the world is fairly complicated!

Beckle - I am loving this stage too, apart from when I get "evil" Martha which seems to happen when she is tired or feeling unwell. Her vocabulary has exploded and she is getting really communicative now, which is so sweet.

Spiral Queen -Martha's birthday is 11th Dec so hopefully sufficiently early not to clash too badly with Christmas. I fear it will clash with end-of-term parties though.

Clara - how about we make a pact, I'll come visit you if you come down to NZ I agree that 11 Dec is probably OK for parties. My father's was 12/12 and he seemed to cope OK!

I've been appionted to the Zoo Board thing!! So exciting. However my head is aching from lack of sleep as was up til 1am preparing the accounts for our childcare centre for the auditor!

I'm jealous of your heat wave - definitely the opposite here. Poor DD still not very well. I'm thinking I might have to take the morning off tomorrow to give a shorter day at least. Everyone seems to be so full of colds at the moment its hard to see how she's going to get better before she gets another one...

Ambi let us know any tips for early toilet training! No running round the garden naked in this part of the world at the moment!!

Hi all
Ambi we are giving it a go this week. Nappy only at sleep times, putting heron the potty every 10 mins or so for the first two days. Makng a note of accidents, then day 3 and 4 putting her on the potty 10 mins before, at the time and ten mins after accident times. Fifth day only at time of accidents. If she doesn't get it by the fifth day well leave it till September.

We don't know what to do about potty training. DD now tells us when she's done a poo (and most of the time is correct). She insists on inspecting the contents of her nappies too. We bought a potty so that she could get used to it being around before it was needed but she hates it with a passion.

Nursery haven't mentioned the prospect of potty training although they would do it if we asked.

With the holiday coming up now seems like a bad time. I know they say you shouldn't attempt it before any big changes in their life, but they never seem to give any timings. Is it ok to do it a couple of months before a change or what? We'll be moving in about 8 mths so not sure when the window for trying it would be beforehand or whether we just forget about it until we've settled into the new place. Decisions, decisions..

Clara i'll join you with fingers in ears-we've only just got through the nightmare of training dd, no way I want to go through it all again yet!

According to the books ds is more than ready-sits on potty/toilet, tells me when he is doing a wee or a poo (yesterday he was nappyless in garden and took me inside to toilet so he could do a poo), is holding it longer etc etc but dd was the same and from when she decided she didn't want nappies any longer it took over a year for her to be reliably dry so I don't actually think it is always a true indication of readiness!

Sorry for rushed post am at my mums and have abandoned children 2 floors away to check email, better go see what ds is breaking

Yes I'll get a potty this weekend and give a whirl, though it won't be all that easy now I'm working.

First day today, it was good. I've not worked a full day since before maternity leave. I'm glad I took the plunge and left my old job, and waited unemployed until the right job came along. The only draw back is the travel time is around 35 mins, but isn't much more than my last job. I'm only doing 3 days pw so it's not too bad and I get a long weekend every week.

DD is at her GPs whilst until Thurs, so I might go crazy and have a glass of wine!

Clairey - I tend to agree about potty training. Although there are exceptions, on the whole I think you can either start early and have lots of accidents along the way or wait until later and have very few accidents. I can count the amount we had on one hand, and she has never wet her bed in her life, even though she was out of nappies at night as the same time as she was in the day.

Ambi no harm in having the potty around even if you don't go straight into proper training. DS is very used to the potty and asks to sit on it and the toilet a lot but doesn't usually do anything in it! I find it quite handy to catch accidents in when he has his nappy off too

Eeek! at all this potty training talk! I'll be waiting until next summer to try DD I think (although she was incredibly fascinated by my friend's 2.5yo DS using his potty yesterday - she tried to get on it after he got off and put her foot in it instead - yuk!).

Congratulations on getting the Zoo Board appointment Buzzy!

Am also at potty training talk... DS doesn't seem to care if he has a pooey nappy. Occasionally he will nod if his daddy asks him if he has done a poo, but if I ask him, he simply shakes his head and runs away!!
And OMG does he ever put up a fight when I try to change his nappy!
We're having a bit of a nightmare at the moment with him, bedtime is now a full on battle ground - we are now co-sleeping full time as he will not entertain going into his cot. It started off with him waking up and wanting to sleep in our bed in the middle of the night but now he will not go to bed in his cot. If we put him in his cot, he stands up throws his dodie out and screams blue murder. We've managed to transfer him from bed to cot while he was asleep but now that doesn't work as he wakes up!
Has anyone got any ideas?
I don't mind him co-sleeping, tbh, as he still feeds once in the night, and I like not getting out of bed. But DH is desperate for him to go back into his cot so he can get some nookie...