The all new and exciting May TODDLERS thread...

[GeorginaA]

... it's May 1st folks...

so how do you all go from formula to milk? are you all still sterilising? I think DS will switch quite well to milk but I don't to push it - we had our MMR invite but I havent responded yet xx

Libb - just give it! I would do it at his morning milk rather than bedtime first, and maybe warm a little in the microwave if it's straight from the fridge. If you really wanted to dip a toe in first, use it with his cereal first before doing it as a drink.
Sorry, I keep saying first.

I stopped sterilising at 12 months. I just gave dd2 cows milk when the powder ran out, although I heat it in the microwave for 50 seconds, she has 8oz bottles, just to take the edge off the milk straight from the fridge. she'd been getting her formula at room temperature so didn't want to shock her with cold milk.

she gets cold milk on her weetabix though and that doesn't bother her at all.

We've beeen using cow's milk since 10 .5 months. Bottle at 5 am to buy a lie in, a little warm milk before naps and some on food. So quite a lot. though not all introduced that early. also our reliable 2 b/feeds at morning and night... am I the last one standing? that'a an appropriate turn of phrase actually because this morning DD arrived in our bed feeling active and managed to b/feed standing up while I was lying down! (bending over). very funny.

Poor Judd, I have a friend who's prone to l'itis; not nice.

Helsy what do you put in the memory boxes?

ds is having his nap (after waking up at 6am!)
and he's getting so exhausting!!!!! since he started walking he is just into everything - and well, i always after him! - he also loves to climb on just anything possible! *aarrghh - and yesterday he decided he can go down the stairs by himself! did really well the first flight of stairs (turned himself over and robbed backwards - very proud ) - second flight he decided to stand up and walking downstairs whilst holding on to the railing; well, at the 3rd last step he got overconfident and oh my, fell - big cry, a big bruise on his head but he survived!

re milk: i gave him cows milk from 11 months on (straight to a cup as well); no sterilising! - he gets 7oz when he gets up in the morning and 7oz between bath and bed in the evening! (lightly warmed up; well warm milk makes you sleepy, right?! )

judd: hope you feel better soon!!!!
and helsy: happy anniversaryyyyyyyyyy

I need to try to figure out how to get dd2 to take her milk from her cup rather than a bottle. She only has a bottle when she gets up and when she goes to bed. She drinks water from her cup during the day.

WE tried the other morning to give her the milk from her cup but she didn't want it. I'd really like to have her off bottles before we go away in October, one less thing to pack and deal with while we're away.

Oh, by the way...

HAAAPPEEEE

Birthd a-eeeee

LIBB!

What a big girl you are now. Have a nice old drink and chink a glass from me. xxx

We were at my godmother (type person... wasn't christened!) 's today. She is baby crazy, crazy baby. Gave DD the most beautiful and special heirloom necklace as a late birthday gift... each bead is different. DD loves it and said 'bead'.

happy birthday libb - you kept that one quiet!

ahhh, its lovely when they get special presents. my aunty gave dd a necklace for her bday made from one of my nanny's drop earrings. (she's passed away so it was really special). i cried anyway.

dh away tonight. i'm wanting and needing a glass of wine,, well a bottle, but none in the house and i can't leave! aaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggghhhh. no chocolate either. panic panic panic. neigbours out, cant even scrounge.

Hmmm looks like I can get moving on the cups then. Had every intention of giving cow's milk at 1 but stuck to formula - think DH bought an extra box by mistake so we used it up - and now we're still on bottles. She has cow's milk in a cup in nursery and has had it in weetabix every day for about two months.

We went out for our anniversary, for a meal.

Spots, we use a box with Winnie the Pooh on that someone gave us with a present in for dd1's memory box - it's got cards, special coins from an uncle, some baby hair, hospital bracelets and other stuff from when she was really ill, a bib, a card we wrote for her on her thanksgiving, bootees, pictures, list of first words, that kind of thing. She likes to look at it every now and again. Dd2s we bought specially and it's got a book in it to record milestones, and little drawers to put mementos in. It's a good place for sticking things you don't want to throw but wouldn't know where to put.

Happy birthday Libb.

I was alarmed to see today that dd1's teacher for next year is very pretty and appears to be about 16 years old. Feel very ancient and I think I will be attending parents' evenings alone next year, thank you.

We had MMR and the 7 - 10 days is up - phew.

I'll have a glass of wine on your behalf Egypt. You need an offy that delivers. Hey, there's a gap in the market!

Judd, sorry to hear about your labyrinthitis. Does anything cure it?

Susi, I don't know how you keep going! I have enough trouble with four years' difference...

Wow you lot have all been chatty. Just nipped in between an awful shopping trip (grotty children mine) and soft play this afternoon. Then my friend is going to have them while we see the financial advisor.

We've got rid of the bedtime bottle about two weeks ago. Sometimes she drains a full cup in seconds, other time is not really bothered - depends on amount and time of tea I think. Has been on cow's milk for maybe 6 weeks now since the last packet ran out.

Bought DD some cruisers. She's not walking properly enough to have real shoes but the ones she had before were almost like trainers (hence sweaty feet) and more black than pink... So got her some new for the hols - gone for the really practical option of white trimmed with lilac.

Really could do with looking back at some archive threads about hols - what toys to take for DS and DD etc etc. Also unsure what to pack in terms of clothes. Its only northern France so bit unsure on the weather and DD is so filthy all the time. Think will take the lighter weight stuff and lots of cardigans. DS is into wearing t-shirts and those zip up jackets/cardigans so he should be OK.

I'm just ducking in for a quickie on the way to Tesco. Was reminded that Sunday is Father's Day when DD brought home a card she had made at pre-school this morning. So am hoping that the book section yields something good (and cheap!)
My mum came to visit yesterday and we all went swimming - brilliant fun. Had fish and chips for dinner and DS devoured them with relish...although rejected mushy peas, strange boy. So that's another easy holiday dish under our belts!

Oh - anybody read "Diary of a One Year Old" by Rohan Candappa (typing from memory so may have name really wrong). Written as if by a one year old and it goes through month by month - I found it really funny!

Bozza, for toys whilst on holiday, are you meant to buy really cheap ones that you can then abandon and not bring home? Or you could buy really cheap ones there to abandon. (when I say abandon, I do mean in a safe, responsible way )
On the Balamory website on CBeebies, they have got some printable I Spy pages with about 8 or so things for children to spot and tick off whilst on journeys. Sorry - can't remember which colour house they are in !
If people are going abroad for their hols, shall we all rally round and try and help them with their language skills? Here is some French from my Baci chocolate wrapper:
Il est impossible d'aimer et d'etre sage. (it is impossible to love and remain wise).
Ou est la piscine? (where's the swimming baths)
That wasn't in the chocolate wrapper, that was from O Level memories.....
Anybody else got anything they can dredge up ??

La plume de ma tante est sur la table - my aunty's pen is on the table - that'll come in handy.
Or - il pleut - que faisons nous? It's raining - what can we do? (think that's what it said - title of a French book given to me when I was about 7).

Dd2 not too well today - she was sick last night then seemed ok, but DH took her into town and she was sick after he gave her a cup of boiled water in a cafe. She's refused her milk tonight and didn't really want any tea - managed to shove a yoghurt and a jar of apple down her, though. She seems as jolly as usual, though and is asleep now. Hmmmm. DH is away tonight.
She was trying to walk today but can't balance at all. She enjoys trying, though!

Helsy - les enfants sont seulment mal quand ton DH n'est pas dans la maison.

Do like the idea of you going alone to parents' evening so that your DH doesnt ever meet the teacher! In Tesco, DD came up with a DVD (trying to find a Father's Day prezzie) and said "I think daddy would like this one". Yes, he probably would - 'twas Natalie Imbruglia . At the same time, DS managed to grab 3 copies of Now 60 off the shelf so we had to leave quickly, poor DH having to make do with a kite and humorous (?) book by Jeremy Clarkson.

Very well chosen. Avez-vous un animal a la maison?

Oui, merci for asking. J'ai un husband
Just back from a lovely apres-midi at Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival (we have friends with canal boats we meet up with there), so I've got a spring in my step and a lust for a tie-dyed mini sarong in my heart.

Heavens to Betsy! As they say in France.

This is a song that DH sings to DD:

I saw a jelly mountain
I chased it to the sea
I wandered in with a banana skin and had it for my tea.

I swam across the Channel
I climbed up onto France
I said the Ten Times Table
The French for Gloves is Gants!

Oh, Jelly, one two three four five...
Oh, Jelly, six seven eight nine ten.

Oh, Jelly, I love you truly dear...
Oh, Jelly, I love you cheap as well.

Let me try and remember what to call the tune and I'll post it because you'll all know it, I just can't think of what other tune goes to it.

Une bouteille de vin, s'il vous plait?

Remember that one and you're sorted!

My Old Man's a Dustman!

Have been trying to think of that all evening, even through a documentary about the Airbus A380 AND Big Brother.

Knackered after night out last night with old pal and DD having sleepless night.

kiss kiss.

I'm having trouble fitting in the words for the "Oh Jelly one two etc". Never mind, I'll keep trying....
When you can't remember something do you mull it over and over until you remember? I was trying to remember who sang "Jump" this afternoon and shouted out "VAN HALEN" about half an hour later.
Ha ha, this afternoon, DD said to me "mummy, being three is very hard you know". OOoooh I can only imagine. DH is also having problems coming up to the big 3 0. (yes, 5 years between us, I am very very old). He has been all through the Argos catalogue this evening and only come up with a Garden Fork and an Overnight Bag as potential presents. Tsk.
Oh yes, more French phrases:-
Je reste mon valise (I rest my case)
Je me suis desolee que vous avez pied et bouche
(I'm sorry that you have foot and mouth - more relevant about 4 years ago than now)

I will sing it at the meetup.

All together now... J'ai vue un montagne de gelee...

Did I miss anything fab on Grand Frere? I was outside listening to DH make his birthday list at the time (we had barbeque). May have to have DH whinge-time at some point...which is most unlike me as I am mainly convinced of his utter wonderfulness and my unworthiness.
Anybody else need some language practice that we can help with? Susi - how's your German? I'd hate Lucas not to know which prepositions take the dative and which the accusative

lol judd, that sounds very promising. although i am starting to forget, well at least it sometimes takes me quite some time to come up with the proper word, but german is my mother language! so fairly well, thank you

hmmm french! have to dig deep for that one! (too long ago) - ou est la mer? est-ce'que tu peux tomar mes enfants?

aww judd, bless your dd with her 'oh so hard life'!!

don't think somehow that dp will bother with a card or present today - his head is aching way too much (had a lovely 'surprise' in the evening! one of our neighbours invited us around (her mum leaves today back to carribean after 6 months staying here); we took lucas with us from 5 onwards, till at 7 he got tired (as expected) and we just put him to bed and took the babymonitor with us (it's 4 houses down)! so we sort of had a 'babyfree' evening!!!!! was lovely having some 'social life'! (was the first time ever since lucas birth) - lots to drink and eat but at 10pm i was deadtired! dp came home at 2am *ooohhh - but if he thinks he can sleep all day - think again

ds managed to fall over and injured his ankle - it's getting better slowly, and the cold water in the pool does help - but he still can't walk properly. well, at least he tries now but fails after a few steps - and i was so happy when he started walking so i don't have to carry him around all day!!!