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May 08 babies,,,,,,,they're turning one!!!....pass the 'Toddler Taming' book!

456 replies

luckymummy74 · 28/04/2009 19:44

Hi girls, thought I would start a new thread as DD2 is one on Thursday .

Can you believe a whole year has passed already?

HM LOL at your little independent DS...I know what you mean. DD2 is v cute but also getting v independent. I do a mix of spoon feeding and finger feeding (I know not BLW as such). She is thankfully a very clean eater like her sister...it must be genetic!
I know people will slate me for this, but I really couldn't cope with all that mess. My days are demanding enough!

Joking aside, the latest version of Christopher Green's 'Toddler Taming' is brilliant.

Big news in the lucky household...DD2 took 3 steps on her own today!!! So she may well be proper walking before her birthday (you've got 2 days DD2....no pressure!)

Still no sign of chicken pox.....

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
thefortbuilder · 04/06/2009 08:04

HM just reading about DH and childcare - I may be speaking totally out of turn but he needs to step up a bit - there's no reason if he knows he is supposed to be looking after Harry while you have an AN appt that he should be putting a lunch in!

not much else to report from the flick household - am out for a girls night out this evening, although on antibiotics and feeling a bit grotty still! Bet I'm home before 10...

forgot also sam can say nana (banana) - how could i forget that one when he screeches it so many times a day!

macaco · 04/06/2009 09:22

Hi,

I have to say HM I would be very annoyed if DH did that, if you've made the appt on the understanding he does the childcare and then he arranges something else. I don't think that's reasonable.
Just been watching Diversity winning BGT on youtube, wow they are fab!

Haribosmummy · 04/06/2009 20:23

Thanks guys.. Was just having a bad night last night. Plus DDog is going to my parents at the weekend, and I'm going to miss him LOADS.

We had some good news today - SIL had a baby girl (that's her third under 3!!!! and I think I'm mad!!! ) so Harry now has 3 cousins!!

Flick - Enjoy your evening. I'm sure you will have a fab time!

Macaco - Diversity were great - I really thought they deserved to win (plus the main chap is SERIOUSLY easy on the eye! )

Harry has gone to bed so I'm treating myself to a NA beer, a packet of crisps and the latest issue of Junior!!!

HM xx

monkeysmama · 05/06/2009 01:11

Hey girls

Was supposed to be having work leaving do tonight but I decided not to & to go out with dp instead. His parents babysat. All good there. He booked Cipriani which was nice (& eye wateringly dear) then had few drinks at Mayfair Bar. Felt young & in love again until we got home & rowed over the European election....

Finally using my Sanctuary vouchers tomorrow & treating my sister for getting her MSc with day spa-I'm having massage, pedicure & facial. Lucky me! Then drinks & dinner with mum & sis. Can't wait!

HM I think our dps can be quite similar but bang out of order going out when you'd booked to do something.

Gotta run but back soon. And quickly thanks to LM for nice bf comments. Will share fucking nightmare soon but we're back to feeding & loving now.

baiyu · 06/06/2009 15:03

Thanks for all the congrats, feeling very lucky. We're hoping to get married in October - soon I know but I do not want to be pregnant on my wedding day and I want it to be before we move South. We're keeping things very small and budget so I think it's possible. Very excited! It's been a good week, DP got a first in his degree with a double distinction for oral (Chinese & French) - clever bunny despite all the sleep deprivation this last year!

DP has to have big security checks before he can start work so we'll probably stay in Edinburgh til the end of year at least, maybe even early 2010. We actually have to leave where we are now (very last minute, long story) so we have about a week to find a new flat for the next 6 months! Went to view somewhere today but the agent didn' turn up, grr. I am really looking forward to Cheltenham though, an outdoor heated lido, woooo! Definitely want somewhere with a garden, don't care how small and shabby.

Completely understand the continued sleep problems, DS still sleeps really badly. Nothing helps him get to sleep these days and he still only does one hour stretches at the most before I give up and bring him into our bed. We can't ever leave him to cry as he has hellish excema so will just scratch himself to pieces, this means he has no idea how to get himself to sleep which I know is not good. I hate to think how many hours a day I spend trying to get him to sleep.

On the excema front we've now (finally) been refered to dermatology and until then have to try a dairy free diet. Struggling a bit so far though thank goodness he has taken to the soya formula. Still BFing at nights but really really want to stop. Anyone have any genius dairy free meal ideas for one year olds?

Have a gorgeous spa day MM. A friend s taking a few of us to Stobe castle for a spa day on the 20th, I am so excited but slightly bummed that I'll have to do the moonwalk that night! A whole day away will be the longest I've been away from DS, I really need to get out more!

HM Perhaps you shoukd encourage DH to take DS with him for lunches? Might give him an idea of how hard that is, we all have to multitask eating and childcare!

LM What are you doing for your sisters hen weekend? I'd like to do something fun but pub crawls, pink sashes and 6ft inflatables are my idea of hell!

Sorry, I'll stop rambling...

macaco · 06/06/2009 18:51

Just popping in after (another) first communion. DS cream crackered, gone to bed already!
Sorry,Baiyu have i missed something? Are you going to TTC quite soon as you said you don't want to be pregnant on your wedding day?
We wre thinking of TTcing #2 any time from Jan 2010 but my bestest, oldest friend from way back is getting married next May or June so, seeing as I had HG last time til about 18 weeks I think we'll hold off TTcing til about when the wedding is. I really don't think I could do a flight back to the UK and a week's holiday with HG and a 2 year old. It'll give me a good 12-18 months to get my business up and running as well.
Hope everyone's having a good weekend. Raining here in sunny Spain!

luckymummy74 · 07/06/2009 11:26

HI all,

Blimey, I haven't had time to fart the last few days! Lovely to catch up with you all.

HM I think what Baiyu suggested is genius, ask DH to take DS to his lunch with him....then he will see what it's like!

I've had a busy but good few days. I organised a 'Foot Biomechanics' course at work which was all day Fri and Sat, and I am pals with the tutor so we all went out to Prezzo on the Friday night straight from the course and then a few drinks which was lovely as I can't remember the last time I did that!!!

My Sister's hen weekend is in Brighton and the theme is the wizard of oz....her new surname will be Ruby so it's 'The Ruby Slippers Tour'. We have lots of W of Oz games and dares for her to do (nothing nasty, she's still my little sis afterall!) and I manaed to get her a great Dorothy costume on ebay with a matching 'Toto in a basket' which doubles up as a handbag!!!!
I haven't planned any activities as such as we're hoping being July that the weather will be nice and we can go to the beach.

I have done her a memories book which all her friends are contributing to....

Baiyu when you live in Cheltenham you will be very near the Longleat Centerparcs which would be fab for a hen weekend....lots of activities and a lovely spa?

I took the girls to mass this morning in the pouring rain, it was a nightmare. I got the buggy out of the boot and put it up, by the time I had got DD2 out of her seat, the buggy was soaked and she would have got so wet, so I had to put it back in the boot and carry her (running!) from the car to church. We all got drenched.....! I hope the good Lord appreciates it!!

Must go, oh, before I forget, there is a programme on Monday night at 9pm all about chidren and sleep!!!! Looks like a good watch!

Hope you are all OK,

LM xx

OP posts:
shonnomanom · 07/06/2009 12:40

hello!

baiyu my friends sister got engaged on holiday and decided that she wanted to get married 3.5 weeks later. It was like something out of a movie how it all came together! She fell in love with the very first dress she tried on, her dream location had a cancellation. Hope u have the same luck!

After deciding that we werent having a holiday this summer we'v decided that we need a holiday. My holidays are the end of july start of august, I cant believe how expensive it is then! We normally go off peak so its a bit of a shock to the purse how much it will cost incomparison iykwim

Hope everyone is well and having a good weekend
Sho x

monkeysmama · 07/06/2009 22:33

Baiyu - I didn't even say Congratulations! Very exciting news - big congrats!

monkeysmama · 09/06/2009 19:30

Where is everyone? Hope you are all okay and busy doing fun things .

My last few posts have been a bit down - the "nursing strike" and ripped off nipple kind of got to me along with the sleep deprivation but I thought I should post this time with some happy things.

Dd is walking all the time now and doesn't crawl at all anymore. Luckily I took some video fottage of her crawling a few weeks - these stages all go so fast don't they! She's a little live wire - we were at a friend's last week and I was painting outside with dd and my friend's 2 ds'. I turned my back for literally a few seconds to help one of the boys do something only to turn back and find dd had climbed onto a garden chair and then onto the garden table and was standing up ! I must have been having a psychic moment when I was pg and named myself "monkey's mama"!

She's "talking" all the time - "more" is the current favourite word. I thought of all of you who don't like mess earlier when it took me almost 1/2 hour to clean the walls after dd's lunch of gnocchi & salmon.

We're off on holiday on Saturday and I cannot wait! Not going to Sardegna HM - I really liked it but dp thought it looked "too big" so we're going to Cyprus instead. Dp booked it without mentioning it but I've been telling him to be more spontaneous and he thought that was what I meant. Still, can't complain - looks lovely doesn't it! I am a lucky girl.

Right - dd went down at 6:15 and has woken once but has been [monkeysmama touches lots of wood and lucky things] sleeping 7:30pm-4am most nights for the last week or so - but dp's on his way home with a Japanese meal so ciao for now.

MM

Haribosmummy · 09/06/2009 19:52

Hi guys,

Have been away visiting parents and in-laws for a few days - just back so will catch up now.

Thanks for the suggestions re. DH / DS.... I won't be trying it though - it's never going to happen!!! I wouldn't even dare suggest it!!!

HM Xxx

Mitchell81 · 10/06/2009 07:10

Baiyu Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Haribo Hope you enjoyed your time away

Monkeysmama Enjoy your holiday, I am very as not going away till September

Shonnomanom Hope you find a reasonable holiday

Macaco Not long now till you are a WAHM

Flick Hope you had a nice night out dispite being sick

LM Hope the buggy dried on sunday

Sorry to anyone that I have missed out.
We have a busy week and weekend ahead. On Saturday is DS1 3rd birthday party and we have 22 kids coming its going to be fun. Then that evening going to a Charity Ball for (cash for heroes) at a 5* Hotel, so its going to be a busy day. But looking forward to it as haven't been out in ages. Hope everyone is well.

Haribosmummy · 10/06/2009 21:05

Happy Birthday Baiyu - Hope you've had a lovely day!!

Hope everyone else is OK and not too wet and soggy from all this rain!!!

I'm feeling really tonight... I'm missing Ddog lots and DH is out again tonight (so, once again, I got the lovely task of the recycling and bins!)

DS is asleep and I'm in bed already... I have an AN appt. tomorrow so DS and I will need to try to get in and out of London without getting too wet... What a boring relaxed life I have

HM x

luckymummy74 · 11/06/2009 19:07

quick hello. DD2 walking all the time now too, and rarely crawls.
Off to Mum's for the weekend tomorrow.

LM x

OP posts:
Haribosmummy · 13/06/2009 18:28

Hi guys,

Just a quickie from me... Looking for some advice please!!!

Firstly, I have now got 6-7 weeks before DD is due... If anyone has inspiration for girls names, please let me know. The only names DH and I agree on so far are Millie (Emily / Amelia / Millicent) or Martha.. But I am not sure Martha goes with our surname!!! Help... please!!!

Also, as far as childcare / help goes, I've got it down to two options...

  1. Part time nanny (working out at 2 full days) OR...
  2. Housekeeping help 5 days per week (approx. 2 hours per day)

I think the housekeeping idea is a much better plan... Except this won't account for 1-2-1 time with each child (but how important is that??) or time I need to study (but would be able to rope parents in to help when I need to do a ful week)

Also, I did come very close to employing a maternity nurse for Harry and I'm really glad I didn't as I didn't feel I needed one at all and friends who did pay for one felt it wasn't great value for money...

So, what do you think? An au pair is not an option as we don't want someone living in the house full time.

Thankyou!

How is everyone else?

Mitchell - YOu sound very busy! Hope you have a lovely night!

Fuzzy - Hope you had a lovely holiday!!!

LM74 - Hope you are enjoying your weekend away!

Flick - Will FB you about next week!

Baiyu and Gingerwench - Final preps for the moonwalk eh??? One thing I've noticed (I did enroll for the half moon ages ago) is that the bra they sent rubs (I am using it, because I'm not doing the walk...) If you are planning to use the bra they sent, give it a try for a day or two first and check it.

MM - How are you? We must try to meet up soon!

sho, Macaco - Hello!

Sorry if I've missed anyone!

HM x

macaco · 13/06/2009 18:51

No time but just to say Haribo I like Amelia or Emily with short version of Millie. Millicent sounds very old lady to me. Not keen on Martha and have heard it's quite popular? Wouldn't know really being out of the country.

Hello all.

Mitchell81 · 14/06/2009 07:08

Haribo My favourite is Emily. RE: child care I would opt for the house being cleaned. But besides your parents,will you have anyone else to look after the kids during the week/day if you need it? I do think you don't need someone all the time but need an option if you have an appintment or something.

Sorry if that doesn't make sense but only got home at 2:30 this morning and DS2 decided that 5:45am would be a good time to wake up so I am exhausted. I am letting DH sleep for now and then will go back to bed in afew hours to catch up on my sleep.

shonnomanom · 14/06/2009 23:04

Hello Hello

Emily was our back up name incase Hannah didnt look like a Hannah iykwim. My sil's neice is Millie, not short for anything, wasnt sure at first if I liked it because everytime I heard her name I thought about cookies - that might have something to do with pregnancy hormones at the time .

DD has been a bit off this last week, she's been sleeping more than normal during the day. On some days having a 3 hour nap right in the middle of the day. On the plus side though her night sleep hasnt changed. Oh and we found tooth #7 today. Not sure if that is connected to her sleep, its not her normal teethen behaviour.

Did anyone watch the Michael MacIntyre Road Show on BBC saturday night. Jason Mansford talking about Chief Sup Williams was hilarious!!!!

Hope everyone is happy and well
Sho x

Ps Is anyone else gettin really broody? I really miss being pregnant, i loved it!!

Niknak21 · 14/06/2009 23:26

Evening all,

Have been reading recently, but no inclination to write. And I always forget who's doing what with who etc!

So just thought I'd put in a few thoughts.

Congrats to Baiyu getting engaged is very exciting no matter how soon/late. Hope you get the day you want, I found the planning/dreaming more fun than the actual day!

HM I would definitely go with the daily housekeeper, especially if it would be more than cleaning. When I was struggling my HV suggested a mother's help, and was going to get me some advice for other mothers in the area, unfortunately I think she was too busy to follow it up . Anyway I think someone to come in and cook a meal/clean/go to the shops/what you can't get done that do would really have helped. I did look into a doula, more for the aftercare,but wasn't organised enough. And I love Martha. DS2 was probably going to be Elizabeth (Libby) and I liked Charlotte (Lottie) with DS1. I have a thing about girls having long names. I have a long 'proper' one which was always shortened and I only started to use it professionally when I started a job where they used 1st names. I once read an article on how if you have a short name you are seen as more approachable, but not so 'professional'. I always use my full name when dealing with estate agents/banks etc.

So the Niknak house has been trugging along.

Most recent events, job interview yesterday. I really want the job, but have a funny feeling I'm not charismatic enough for them, or 'high end'. Plan B is to turn our kitchen into a surgery. I would go for it, but we have no money to do it! And I'm not sure either of us have the drive/ambition. At the interview they did say they would've given my DH a job 3 years ago when he locumed for them, but he had other plans, we were in the process of buying our house/surgery at the time. But poor DH would love to turn back the clock, he now hates his job/business and I think could do with some professional help for his anxiety . I sometimes think I gave it to him, ie it's contagious .

Anyway, here's hoping I get the job, it would definitely be the boost I need and I think in turn would help him.

And my little boys! We had a birthday party for DS2 3 weeks ago at the in laws. But stressful since my sister in law has been there with her 2 LOs since the start of April, due to her house being extended. I was not impressed on the 1st morning we stayed (we were there 5 days in all) being woken at 5.30 but 3 little elephants stomping around. My darling nephew had new flashing trainers which he wore to bed and he was demonstrating them to his sister and his cousin. I nearly went home at 9am! We survived due to the fact that my poor MIL has got them into full time preschool so we had some time with just her and the SIL. My SIL is far too nice to her DS and her DH is even softer. It was really hard to rein in DS1 who has a wild side when his cousin was not being disciplined to the same degree.

Anyway the birthday party was on day 3 of our stay and seemed to be run by my SIL. I had forgotten to get a birthday card (bad Mummy , so had to go into town ( a very small somerset town!) and get some lat minute things. I was not impressed when she asked me to get party bags, which I wasn't going to get for 3 kids. I said it was a waste, but she had promised her DS so she 'had to follow it through'. I was wondering whose party it was . But the cheap shop in town came up trumps, £1 ready done party bags! I love crappy cheap shops! So the party went well, apart from MIL getting sick half way through and having to lie down for most of it (she's had 5 kids, the last when she was 44, it takes a lot to get her to even sit down). And then DH was sick in the night, he was pretty bad on the way back from our friends who live near the in laws. And then other SIL was sick. And SIL with the kids stayed in bed all day, because whenever she moved she felt sick. Only me and the FIL were left standing, and the kids! I was sooo ready to go home by day 5!

DS2 was a good boy and is very cute at the moment. Although a tad bitey, I can feel the naughty step coming into play far too early. He can stand alone, but still no walking. I think he'll save that for next week when we're on our hols at a lovely Italian villa with stone floors/lots of steps!! I thought he said gone the other day and he did do the sign, but as with all men, he's forgotten how to do it.

Mitchell hope you've enjoyed your weekend pursuits and your party remained fun .

Would love to go back through the thread and look for more people to say hello to, but I'm crap and need my bed .

Hope you all have a fun week x

Niknak21 · 14/06/2009 23:28

Sorry for the the long ramble, must get a job to vent the rambles!

Niknak21 · 15/06/2009 03:31

Looking at comp late at night, not good for my sleeping routine .

Sho just read your post, took me so long to write mine, didn't see yours when I'd done. No, no broodiness here. Although I've never really done broody. Being pregnant is not my idea of fun, just a means to an end. My friend keeps on that I'm going to have another, but only ever saw myself with 2 (although it was one of each, not 2 hooligans!). I just heard one of my NCT friends is expecting number 3 in Jan. Her DD2 I think has just turned one (unfortunately don't have much contact with her since she now lives in the UAE), so 18mnths between 2 and 3. And she has horrible prolonged morning sickness. I'm really pleased for her, but 3 under 5s!! But in this house never say never, and accidents do happen. I'm a bit of a fatalist, hopefully will help if I don't get the job I want.

Haribosmummy · 15/06/2009 08:01

sho I love being PG!

I'm around 32 weeks now!!!! Not sure we are ready for the chaos again, but it's coming!!!!

This is it for us though! 4 kids is enough!!!

Niknak - Good luck with the job, hope you got some sleep!

HM x

thefortbuilder · 16/06/2009 13:53

dh and i have jsut started having the conversations about whether to try for number 3 - but then both my two behave like little buggers pains this morning for 3 hours and i think "can i really handle this with another?" - and i'm bound to get another boy so no point in thinking it might be different with a girl!

am torn though.

HM ds1 was born at 32+2 - mind you i'd had a shocking pg and had pre-eclampsia from 9 weeks!

Haribosmummy · 16/06/2009 14:15

flick - My DD has been scheduled to arrive on 29th July. She is barred from making an early appearance!

There is every chance you would have a little DD, though Flick....

luckymummy74 · 16/06/2009 15:11

HM I love Emily, and Millie. I would have had either if DH had approved!

Michael Mcintyre was brilliant, esp Jason Manford!

Had a lovely weekend at Mum's shopping for wedding bits for my sis...shoes for me and the girls.

Got stuck in horrendous traffic jam coming back but other than that it was good.

Father's Day pressies anyone? I have got DH a lovely photo (actually 4 photos but in one frame) of the girls, a photo mug and a toblerone!!!

LM x

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