Jan 09' Dribbling, drooling, swaying and babbling...thats just the mamas....

[stripeywoollenhat]

New thread

ray how gutting about your hol - it is horrible when you've already arranged something and then it has to change. You'll just have to make sure you do some especially lovely things together in June. Sometimes home holidays can be more relaxing than going away ones, especially with los, their routine stays the same so there is no (stressful) adjusting - we went to a villa in Tuscany last year with ds (he was 15 months old) and though it was a beautiful place, it was easily the worst holiday of my life!!. Ds stopped eating, there were loads of baby safety issues (even tho I thought I'd vetted it and it was supposed to be v child friendly) and there wasn't any babysitting available so we had to cook every night. We decided, after that, to make all of our hols with the children when they are very young either local or with lots of family to help out! Anyway - sorry about my rant - You can make holiday from home brilliant. there are bound to be lots of lovely places for you to discover locally. Make sure you get babysitting arranged and go out for dinner lots, that sort of thing.

stripey cool pic, the mobile looks like a huge hit! what a smile!!

tree in that case I'm a saddo too , kinda lost touch, or at least don't see much of, my RL friends, so this is it!

OK. now I'm just going to have a quick offload about my day, just need to get it out.. ds was at nursery from 9-3 today, so it is supposed to be a really easy day, but every hour he was with me, he was so hard to be with. Not even massive tantrums or bad behaviour, just a constant drip-drip of whinging, he couldn't get into playing with anything, went from one thing to another, shouting lots, throwing stuff, not eating any dinner, refusing to brush his teeth etc etc etc I feel like such a bad mum because my patience has gone, I couldn't make anything fun today. He only does nursery 2 days a week so tomorrow he is at home and I'm dreading it (and feeling SO guilty about that). I don't know what to do with him. if it was just me and him, I'd take him out and muck about on the beach, but with Rosie it is much harder. She is brilliant and I can put her under her gym a lot, and leave her to it (though I feel bad about that too) but if she needs more attention, he is even harder to handle. Also, Rosie is going through a phase that if I try to feed her when stuff is going on around us, she gets really distracted. So bfing in public is no good - she doesn't eat properly, stays hungry, gets lots of wind, and I get to flash my nips at everyone. ARgh. It makes me feel so useless.
End of offload. thanks ....

Ray, what a pain about the holidays

Stop talking about buying baby clothes online, you'll start me off.

But I will just mention this company, run by my cousin's ex-girlfriend.

www.gossypium.co.uk/catalog/baby-collection/puppy-c-40_77/

My mum and her dh bought Danny a giftset in jungle print which I'm using for Conor now, and I've bought a vest and blanket in farm print and a vest with a cat on. I wanted to get my babies matching pyjamas but they don't have them in ds1's size.

My baby sister models for them (adult clothes, as she's now 28!)

spink - sounds like it was a tough day, hope you can chill out a bit this evening and that ds will be easier tomorrow. re distraction, it is rubbish when they won't stay latched and you wind up flashing at the general public.... the mobile makes c laugh and laugh - i don't think it shows in the picture but the fish have big black and white eyes, think that's what amuses her.

tree - that's an amazingly generous thing to do for somebody else. speaking as someone who needed somebody's help to conceive, i can tell you that i am more grateful to our donor for his help than i have ever imagined you could be, iyswim. and he gets to be c's dad, so it's not as straightforwardly altruistic as what you are proposing. do you think you will see any ensuing lo from time to time, would that be okay for you?

dog, donor's partner is not all keen that he should help us again (partner wasn't on scene when c was conceived) so not likely to happen, i think. and because c has a dad we wouldn't really be comfortable to have a lo who didn't have a dad, iyswim, and we don't know anybody else who could help us out in a non-anonymous way, so it looks like c will be an only. we are a little sad about this, but she's perfect and my sister's daughter is only a few months older so all will be well

duct still blocked but things seem a little less taut so hope it's resolving.

c very unsettled today, can't work out why.

also, ray, crap re holiday. plan something fab for 2010, i say.

missj Esme too has been scratching her face! however much i nibble (midwives advice - Clippers too scary!) them, they grow SOOO fast!

Tree oh don't you worry- i'll be getting the mother of all holidays next year- its my honeymoon!

Spink i think thats exactly what we're going to do with lots of days out. plus, we will be in brighton for a bit! i know you will understand, there is pretty much nowhere better than brighton in the sunshine! Sorry for rubbish day- Esme too doesn't feed nearly so well in public. I usually feed under a shawl, and she gets so hot and bothered. Bless her.

stripey hope ducts get better

tink was bracken more settled last night? waking less?

just getting used to my lovely birthday toys. Rather techological for me! the ipod touch even has wi fi on it uh oh.... be on mums net ALL the time now! xx

ray - bought dp ipod touch for birthday - it does seem to do everything but make tea...

okay, so just had to settle c again for about fifth time this evening and think she is still vaguely grizzling so no doubt will have to go up again shortly. can't see any reason for it - fed, clean nappy, no temp, warm enough, not too hot etc. is there some twelve week thing i don't know about?

Stripey uh oh... Esme 12 weeks tomorrow! so i bloody well hope not! If you haven't changed anything, or had an out of the ordinary day, maybe C overtired? Can't really think of any other reasons like you said. When i went out for dinner the other night Esme unsettled for her daddy too- seemingly without reason! Good old unpredictable bubbas!!

Don't drink Tea- so i'll let the ipod touch off doing that!

Am v. impressed with i photo on the mac book!!!

rray - sorry about the holiday.... where are you thinking of honeymooning next year??

stripey - sorry to hear about the donor, but only children do get more attention and are a bit more self reliant (I'm one!!)

as for not settling - could it be teeth?? 3months is a bit early but could be...

tree - don't think I could do that...

I managed to avoid online shopping accident by a narrow margin, that babygro is great!!!

I have had a mare with poor Hatts this eve.

Am a bit tbh as was meant to be a 'tree evening' dh is mountain biking adn dd2 is at nana's and so it was me adn Hatts on the couch just chilling. Got some m&s comfort food and an easter egg - you know the thing.

Well, poor bubba has screamed her self silly, I coul dhear the wind growling in her. Worked her legs and massaged her, but to no avail. She has just conked out, she looks so pale and frowny bless her. Just had my dinner [cold] and am pissed off.

With ref to donation: I've always known I would - since I saw people go through hell to get their babies at work. I just thought 'this is crazy, I have 1000's of eggs, I don't need them all, and this is what has to be done to get this girl her baby'
So yeah, I guess maybe I am a bit removed or cold or something from being in my line of work, but I honestly just see it as something that has to be done to get her the baby. A bit of sacrifice on my part, gets her here talking photobooks and baby grows, choosing a pushchair and suffering piles. It's just worth whatever I have to go through. I almost see it as a no brainer tbh!!

I don't think I'll feel odd when I see the child - we have agreed we won't avoid each other, I have offered to miss events they will be at if they would feel odd [christenings etc] but she is cool with me being around. At this stage anyway. She wishes to keep me informed, I think as a reminder of how grateful they are. I am happy to take my lead from them - it's whatever they want that matters, I've told her 'it's your party'

I guess I just see it as a gift - and you don't ask for gifts back or wish you'd kept them for yourself do you? You just give and hope it is well recieved. I seem to see it really simply. I think it's the job y'know?

I've thought about scenarios, like the dc needs a kidney - will my dc's be matches, or if any of our dc's show a genetic based illness, how will I react. Probably in my usual pragmatic way, but I have to see a councillor, so I'll be able to wangle that all out.

So another life adventure begins......

Long long post! Sorry

So that was good to do - when I think of their countless cycles and utter despair at having a child, I feel a fool for whinging I can't have my dinner!

So that brought me back to earth.

Thanks for all the lovely comments on the photo book - was Tree's inspiration that made me do it. Hasn't arrived today as I got my wires crossed - should be here Monday though, I can wait Will let you know how it is when it gets here Tink.

Rrrayray sorry to hear about holiday. Are any of your weddings anywhere nice? You could book a nice hotel with spa etc. and make a long weekend of it?

Stripey that is an awkward situation with the donor - can understand you not wanting to use anyone else. It is nice that C will have a Dad, that was the hardest thing with my Dad once we knew he was gay as he had a partner and I don't think my parents really knew how to balance out the relationship with all of the various parenting influences as my Mum also had another partner. In actual fact we missed out on having a Dad for a while really since they couldn't work it out and sadly he died before we got to status quo again.

And Tree good luck - what a lovely thing to offer to do for someone. Especially since you probably know more than most about all that it entails. Hats off to you lady.

PhD might not happen even without wine but I'll happily sozzle remaining braincells soon! Mmmmm..... wine! Had a small glass tonight. We really should plan a wine night sometime, maybe when they are all one, in celebration.

Am thinking of getting DH an ipod touch for his birthday (not til December, long time ahead!). Glad to hear the rave reviews.

Spink - I understand completely. DD very similar. No massive issues just constant need for attention. It is very draining and I too find it hard to keep my patience going endlessly. Plus the minute DH finishes work she doesn't want anything to do with me, it's all Daddy. That hurts. But I'm trying to remember it's just a phase. And TBH it's quite nice to have him have to take her off my hands in the evening.

I have one of these which I was given and use for very public feeding - keeps him focussed on the boob! I don't mind feeding in public so don't use it to cover up so much as to stop him being distracted. If you look at the close up it is just a length of cotton jersey material which is folded widthways and stiched part way along to make a poncho type thing. You could make one very cheaply. It is handy to keep in my bag for a blanket too. DD and I had a picnic on it the other day

Tree I think its an amazing gift to give someone - you are a lovely lovely person.

Been baking DS2s birthday cake tonight, its a vegan chocolate fudge cake which is going to be iced with white chocolate icing in the shape of the robot off his favourite tshirt. Its not actually his birthday until Saturday, but we are off to my sisters for the weekend tomorrow and so am baking the cake and wrapping it in cling, making the fudge icing and putting it in tupperware and putting the lot together tomorrow night at sis's house.

Tonight we are also making the templates for the alka selzer rocket competition and have already wrapped his presents. His main present is a Hornby Thomas the Tank Engine train set which he firmly believes is waaay too expensive so Mummy and Daddy can't possibly buy him one - can't wait to see his face when he opens it!

We are having a day out at the beach somewhere near sis's house in Norfolk - don't ask me where, we are following her - and having a rocket/space party picnic. We are going to make and decorate alka selzer rockets and launch them to see whos goes the highest (did this at DS1s space party a couple of years ago and it went down a storm) and I have a huge bag of screaming rocket balloons which the boys love. I also have two huge foil rockets which you can launch up to 50 ft and we will have a play with those as well if its not too windy.

Anyhoo, better get on or there won't be a party at all!

x-posted with you there Tree - god my internet is slow. Hadn't thought about that side of egg donation really. TBH to me it would just be an egg, I wouldn't think about the baby as being mine since I hadn't carried it but when you start to think about the genetic aspect and the baby being a match for your DCs it is more complicated isn't it? I guess that is my pragmatic side coming out too though, to me the egg isn't anything other than genes. But then I wouldn't personally be able to abort as by then it is a baby to me. Funny eh. I'm waffling again aren't I someone slap me...

I feel like that too LenniEd - it's an egg. What can I say about it? I have an egg, you need one, take it, I hope it helps.
I kinda feel like this about my dc's. I ama their protector, but not owner. They are not 'mine', they are themselves. I look after them and help them grow and develop, til they hit 18, tell me I'm not very cool and move out. Whilst demanding money for halls at uni. Sigh.

God what a hard old bat I am - I'm actually a nostalgia junkie and surrounded by Laura Ahsley house stuff, it doesn't add up does it?

MM Party sounds fab - you are such a thoughtful Mum to those boys (and E too of course!) I need to start taking notes.

Think I am pre-menstrual, getting cramps and back ache and feeling hormonal. DS been going 10-11 hours between last feed at about 7pm and night feed at 5am for about 2-3 weeks now so am sure that is probably long enough for me to have ovulated. Dammit. I kind of like not having periods.

It does Tree - it adds up perfectly. Mmmm, dairy milk. Dammit - there is calcium in dairy milk isn't there? Come on, help me out here...

MM - I could really go at a cake right now. You kick creative ass lasy!

Lenni - Oh no! Periods are so just 'off topic' right now don't you think? I mean really, who around here wants online fertility just right now

Unless any of us are thinking of a 12 month age gap....??

lasy = lady.

Tut.

I don't think I want fertility again ever let alone right now, but then DH told me his plans for his third child tattoo today - looks like he is serious about the third. He has our DCs names tattoed across his wrists, one each in fancy writing. So he has worked out how he will get a third without growing another arm... to me there is the issues of needing another bedroom, not getting car seats in the car, never being able to take them all swimming, how do I cross the road and so on. To him... where do I put the tattoo. Such balance.

morning all!

tree - hope Hatts ok this morning, wind is not nice

re: periods - I've been on the mini pill for many years - so no periods! mostly due to migraine on the normal pill but best thing I ever did!

morning

tree - that is an amazing thing to do
sorry you evening wasnt great

rray - regarding brackens sleeping she seems more settled thanks. slept through we night and only woke @ 4am this morning.
am so proud of her in the cot.

mm- thomas pressy sounds gr8!!

dog alarm must have been scary, glad Isla was okay.

tree cold comfort food just isn't the same. Lesson - never look forward to something; LO will somehow sense it and make sure they ruin it

lenni lovely book. I order the mac books on iphoto but I don't think you can share them online. They are £16 for a big hardback one and I really love them. Boo for periods coming back - I felt like that the other night but no evidence yet.

MM party sounds brilliant - but hope it is not pissing down like it is here today/ last night/ yesterday .

We had friends visiting from Paris and I really wanted to show them the lovely view etc, but the whole valley was covered in fog! Had amazing welsh lamb for dinner though, our butcher hand cuts the chops in front of you and they are soooo thick. Yummy . Followed by incredibly stinky french cheese - double yummy.

Poor LO really miserable this morning as hasn't pooed for ages, only pathetic little farts. Am trying to help him out tree-style but doesn't seem to be working...

sorry dog missed bit about alarm going off glad all ok
dinner sounds good miss j
hope lo poos soon

mm - my dd1 is 4 years old end of aug for her bday getting her :- wooden rosedud caravan to go with her dolls house, wooden stable plus horses,mamas and papas pink junio giovane dolls pram and my first annabell doll

dont have fog here but very dark and wet