Dec 08 mums - from rolling to sitting and everything inbetwean

[waitinggirl]

there i've done it - hope that is ok.

Hello, ladies! >waves<

Am contemplating rejoining you in the hope that my stalker has given up by now. I miss you! How are things with everyone?

Hi Verso! Lovely to see you and hear you are contemplating a return. I hope you do it.

This is just a bookmark for the new thread. Back later once I have caught up. Am picking up a gorgeous new Mac Book laptop today so finally will be ably to post via a keyboard rather than this phone. Can't wait!

Do it, Verso! We miss you too!
Loads of projectile vomming here last night, a lot of it brought on by coughing but some not, am just not convinced this new formula is much cop - it's called Enfamil AR, which is anti-reflux, and meant to turn solid in contact with stomach acid but it seems to do that with the air and is just like cottage cheese and clogs up the bottle. Eugh. Dietitican apt on Tues anyway so can complain to her then.
Looking forward to a friend's two year-old's birthday picnic in the park this afternoon, lovely weather . Hope everyone has good days.

So lovely to hear from you Verso hope you stay we've def missed you, it's not the same n FB.

Drinking some lovely fresh maroccan mint tea I made with mint from my garden I hope this is the beginning of a good fruitful load of crops. Though I'm concerned about my runner beans, and caught the cat eating the top shoot of a sweet pea plant this morning!!!!

Had a lovely sleep in this morning with ds2, it's so quiet here without ds1, I do miss him though.

JJ was thinking about your question re: toys this morning. I have a lovely friend who I met through NCT who doesn't believe in toys which are not made from natural products. She is very against toys that need batteries and toys that mimic adult things ie toy screw drivers, hair dryers, vacuums. She is particularly against toys that don't make noises naturally. Her son was able to name his colours clearly when ds1 was saying 'want mook mook mama'. I think stimulation is ok but some of the whirly toys can be a bit overstimulating. I think in the end it's mostly genetics how they turn out. My friend is a professional violinist and was music director thingy at Cambridge and her hubby is a consultant so their son has the genes and def hasn't suffered from not having the latest shiny toys.

Hi all. holding sleeping dd so typing a bit rubbish - sorry. i'd forgotten how brilliant 5/6 month babies are. DD has started really laughing and burbling away. we got the high chair out and she loves sitting up in it, although propped up with ludicrously expensive until now completely useless little cushion. Makes life quite a bit easier as am less worried about ds driving trucks over her head ('fancy likes playing cars with me mummy').

good to hear from you verso. and trace is p better now? really feel for you - is horrible when they're ill

will catch up more later.

we have the pox! Only DD1 so far but could be an epidemic in the house. She is in good spirits though, so we may be OK. No nursery or anything for a week though which means i'll be crazy by the end of the week. Also means my lunch with Verso may be postponed

At least DD1 will do colouring while I play on computer look after her

Evening all!

DC's still snotty but they aren't too bad. DD was worse and she seems to have rallied today and had a whole jam doughnut after church. I guess her appetite is coming back.

Went to see my GP's today. My Nan is doing great, sadly Grandad was not so good and is really struggling with his Emphysema

verso Fab to see you back

Have had a bit of a lightbulb moment today(well I've been mulling the idea over a while)....I have decided to go back to college and train to be a teacher. I already have a degree so will just need to complete a PGCE (if they'll take me). I want to teach secondary, and ideally start a course in 2010. That way I won't have to repay my enhanced Mat pay to my current employer, DD will be at school and DS will be that bit bigger. I really feel this is so the right thing for me. DH is totally behind the idea, it all feels so 'right' for me and my family. Oh sorry I'm waffling now!

sybil about the pox hope DD1 not too poorly with it.

Hello from my lovely new laptop. I am MNing in bed to celebrate! You may be excited to hear that my posts may finally be legible as this computer appears to have spellcheck for Safari.

Daisy - your teaching idea sounds great. By that I mean you sound really enthusiastic which is obviously the most important thing. What subject do you want to teach? I admire teachers very much. I just don't have the patience for dealing with kids en masse, tbh I hardly have the patience for dealing with the two I have at home .

WG - I have only just noticed the "inbetwean" pun in the thread title [slow emoticon]. Am loving it.

Trace - how is P today? Better I hope. I also hope you have managed to get some rest in amongst all the fantastic nursing and mothering.

Veggie - are your boys back? I hope it was not too lonely for you this weekend.

Spot - sorry to hear about all the vomiting. I hope the dietician can offer some solutions for you.

Lal - does he always call her Fancy? That is so sweet. Might it become one of those sibling nicknames which just stick? Might you be waving Fancy banners at sports day?

LadyT - I hope your busy weekend was fun. Nice weather for the horse trials in the end. Did you enjoy?

Well all is not very well in the Artichoke household. I am really worried about DD1. She had the nasty nighttime vomiting virus at the beginning of the week and then after it seemed to clear she appeared to have lost the ability to sleep. She kept waking all the time and wanting cuddles and stories and night lights. This is from a girl who has slept a reliable 13 hours in the pitch black for most of her life. I am not sure if it was because we had done all those things to comfort her when she was sick and she wanted to try her luck at retaining that treatment, or if she was scared of being sick again, or if she is still ill but in a less obvious way (this last one is my biggest fear). Anyway it nearly killed us as between her and DD2 we were up every 30 mins one night. It was a little better last night but she is starting to dread bedtime which is very hard to deal with and I am exhausted and living in fear of what the night will bring (this is before I even think of DD2 and her wakings). She is also not herself in the daytime but I won't go into those details else you will all die of boredom before finishing this post. Suffice to say I am so worried about her that I am not even sleeping well when her and DD2 do manage to both rest at the same time.

I hope everyone else is well. xxx

Hello all, pleased to report that after last night's waking she did her usual few night time wanting a feed/cuddle, but didn't wake for the day til 6.30! we've taped up some blackout stuff at the windows because the light is so bright in the mornings and it seems to help her stay asleep a bit longer

arti sorry to hear about poor dd1. Maybe she's just feeling uncertain about the night because of the illness - if it's something where she's been ill during the night it might take her a while to be happy with the idea of bedtime again. really hope she feels better soon and you get some rest.

v lovely to see you! If you wanted to come back with a different name to avoid stalker, how about Recto (ie the other side of the page in boring librarian geek talk )

veggie I reckon it just shows that DS knows his priorities - mook mook far more important than colours! Your talk of chinese food is making me super hungry.

spot eek, that sounds pretty grim. Really hope you get some helpful answers from the dietician after all this waiting.

daisy how exciting about the teaching, like arti says enthusiasm is at least half of what you need, and great that dh is behind you. What subject would you teach?

trace poor P, glad your friend saw sense good to hear she's a bit cheerier today.

pingu lovely to see you

delivery services - our local indie video store has closed down but the guy who ran it bought up the stock (something to do with leases and the owner) so now delivers dvds to your house on his chopper bike, we got him to bring some over last night but the most important bit is he will also deliver Ben & Jerry's ice cream

co sleeping (can't remember who was asking dd starts the night in her little side car crib. When she needs feeding I shove the duvet down to my waist and then curl up round her with my arm above her head so she wan't get caught in the pillows. I try to make sure that she feeds on the left last, so that in the night she can have righty as that's the side with her crib rather than DH - so when we fall asleep, she won't get squished by him, he's a very deep sleeper. Very careful to make sure the duvet's pushed down, but if it gets chilly I might pop it over her feet (she's sleeping in a grobag in a long sleeved vest rather than a sleepsuit).

Had a lovely lunch out in the garden today, I think we've bred a panda as dd kept grabbing the leaves of the bamboo next to the patio and trying to eat them!

arti - the thread title belongs to someone else - was it you who dreamt it up, trace? so sorry to hear about dd1.

i am losing confidence again and am more tired than i have been since the month she was born. i can't really go into why - apart from it would take effort and i can't summon any up.

i am now going to bed. hopefully feel better in the morning.

Hello all, not even going to pretend I've read through....! Greetings from rainy far north Qld! Cannot believe how crap the weather is!! had a nice time at the resort for first two nights (despite the terrible weather) back at my brothers and since he is in the midst of big diy projects we have been navigating a building site, and often find myself with a paint brush in hand. dh has quite a talent of sorting out audio visual gear so my brother is def taking advantage of our stay but fortunately is keeping us sweet rewarding us with many nice dinners out etc... We are cutting the trip short by a couple of days though due to crappy weather,too many diy jobs,Dengue fever risk flight loads being a bit dodgy. Although rainy, apparently the temperature is the coolest it's been, but to us it's still quite humid so difficult to sleep at night! next trip over will def be a bit further south though! B is doing well although still seems to be on UK time, and at this point I think I'll leave him there! Anyway, was meaning to keep this short... Quick Question for Veggie my db's gf is big into yoga, and i'm interested to get involved as well. I'm a bit over the whole omming chanting meditating type stuff, and I know you do pilates and I was wondering what the difference is, and if either of them are beneficial for weight loss / toning very much? She tells me it is, and it firms up and changes your shape etc, so thought i'd see if you could elaborate, as I really don't want to get involved if it's all a bubch of chanting and mind cleanising yada yada yada not any weight loss! Anyway, having fun and will read more later....!

Hi,
Hope everyone enjoyed the weather. We had a lovely weekend, anyone that loves near Cambridge, visit Audley end as they have a victorian seaside thing going on there with sand and deckchairs and a hilariously un-pc punch and judy And the DCs will love the minature train. And then visisted some friends that dropped out yesterday. I envy them - he is self employed, she is a SAHM and they have a very low mortage. Would like to drop out myself and just bum about with the kids. Am trying to think how this could be possible

WG Sorry to hear that you are feeling low. I hope you feel better today. I started to feel stressed at this time with DS1, worrying about weaning, weight, routines,sleep. Its such a lot to think about - a lot of pressure. I met a lady down the park once and she had 3 kids, and I just burst out "My god how did you manage?", and she replied "The first year of the first child is the worst". And I think she was right. So many decisions and challenges, and you dont feel equipped (I didnt), even though really and truly you actualy ARE. As a second timer now I can assure you your are doing just fine even though you might think not.

Also If you are not feeling right, get checked out at the doctor. I felt teary and exhasuted and it was my thyroid and some anutoimmune problems. Good to know there was a physical reason.

arti hi. I hope things improve on the sleep front. Poor DD1, as JJ says, perhaps she is just still a bit disturbed by the illness, and is feeling the effects of the disturbed sleep during the day ? DS1 is having nightmares at the moment, and it is really hard when they are both waking. I hope you have someone to help.

Morning,

Verso Lovely to 'see' you!! I hope you do come back. It's not the same without you!!

Pmk Glad you are having a good time. I hope the weather picks up for you.

We had a power cut yesterday so spent most of the day at Mum's so I could watch the Grand Prix and football. We have had a bit of great news here!! Tax credits have paid us extra to cover for DH getting his new job so we are rich[evil cackle]!! Well not rich but we have enough to treat ourselves a bit for a change.

Hope you are all well.

Morning all. Sorry about the UK sleeping baby and DIY work. Shame about the weather too, you will go to the tropics. Go to a rainforest, I've always loved wandering through rainforest in the rain, just watch those cheeky leeches. Is is late in the season to be having so much rain up there? The humidity is stiffling up there when toy aren't used to it anymore, feels like you are breathing air, not much chop for convincing DH to live there. Do all your family live in Cairns. Are you going anywhere else while your there?

About the yoga, I haven't done very much pilates so for now I still prefer yoga. I love the feeling I have after a yoga session, it gives a more all over body workout. It is definitely a cardio and strength session all rolled into one. There is a misconception that yoga is a relaxation exercise, but that is if you do some gentle beginners class when you get into the more experienced Ashtanga yoga classes or Chaya yoga which is what I used to do it is a full on sweaty breathless work out. I get as much of a cardio workout from a 1 hr session of yoga than I do from a good hard 1 hr of running. When I used to do Chaya yoga my legs would always be aching the next day as a lot of the session is done in a plié squat position. But you have to open your mind a bit, I have rarely been to classes where they do the omming but the breathing is very important and at the beginning of the session they will do a bit to sort out the breathing ready for the session and then a relaxation at the end to settle you after the session. These are both really important as without correct breathing technique you can't effectively do the session. Similar to pilates the core is very imporant, and they might talk a bit about 'Bundas' this is just the core area of your body and just keeping it engaged during the session. About all the omming I don't mind it I used to think it was weird but it is quite a good way of controlling your breathing and sounds amazing in a room with a load of people doing it. Originally the Zen Buddhist used it because it is a sound that has no meaning to it so doesn't remind you of anything and so helps you to clear your mind and basically get all the brain chatter out of your head and help you relax and get the most out of your session.

I'm missing yoga I haven't found a good class I can do that works around childcare, and DH being away, might have to find something on a Saturday morning.

Morning girls. I have a week of nothing ahead of me. Hurrah. No commitments and no one to see until Saturday afternoon. Not one! I think this is probably the first time this year Much as I love to keep up with people it is frankly a big relief. And as adoring as I am of London I find the dashing to and fro strangely exhausting.

Now, didn't Lal have her appointment today or tomorrow? Good luck Lal. Been thinking about you.

Arti - oh dear, that sounds very stressful with DD1. It does sound as though she was traumatised by that nasty night time vomiting, but I am sure that will fade comparatively soon. Poor little girl! How can you reassure her, I wonder? I would love to meet up at Westfield or something when I have recharged my batteries.

Veggie - are your boys back from the Big Smoke? Badminton was fab, thanks. Bit chilly, but it was nice to put some time in with my sister and (rather vulnerable) nephew, and stomping through the crowds in my Hunters with a buggy was exceedingly pleasant. The horses were all beautiful and we watched Zara Phillips zoom past on Toytown, though I must admit I was peering at the horse rather than her (I felt sorry for her as the paps had their zoom lenses, it must never let up).

DaisyD, it all sounds so positive about your teaching. How satisfying to come to a decision like that. What age/subject? I am sure you will get on to a PGCE course.

Spot - ah, thanks for the kind words! I was just feeling a bit sorry for myself on Friday. I am still a bit fretful about the house/money but trying to think that at least we have a roof over our heads whatever happens (two rooves in fact, albeit small ones - my flat in Maida Vale is little more than a pied-a-terre until I get the loft converted, if I can ever find the cash, which doesn't seem likely for a few years). How is young T?

Syb - hope you don't go stir crazy from being under house arrest with the Pox. I know I keep saying it but I really will come and have lunch one day.

Verso - hello and welcome back! Hope things are good.

Pingu - I'm glad you are still there!

Jump - hooray for better night! Ah, well, how was last night? I know what you mean about blackout. We don't have curtains in the bedroom and I am starting to think that is why DD doesn't sleep much in the day.

PMK - hey, sorry for crummy weather...You do make me laugh re: your impatience about pilates. I don't have the patience for it either but everyone always says how wonderful it is for toning (toning rather than weightloss). When are you back?

WG - everyone has temporary setbacks or days when they lose a bit of heart. Shut the door on your mind, pop the key in your pocket and spend some time reading a metaphorical magazine on a metaphorical chaise longue. NJAN, it sounds like you spend time sluicing things round in your mind too. I do it myself, turning those negatives over and over, and it's a bad habit. Decide what you need to do to change things and take small, managable steps every day. That's why I try to do and it's the best way to achieve and to keep yourself feeling good (though I don't often manage it!)

Ooh, Kayz, are you going to get yourself a little treat? Treats are good for the soul.

Well, my cricket team won yesterday (cracking start to the season!) but I spent yesterday evening (and will do for the rest of the day) fretting about DP who has a very stressful few days ahead at work and was working himself up about it. As for me, I HAVE to get work done this week...

Oops sorry that was all for you PMK forgot to write your name in it.

WG sorry your feeling a bit yuk, NJAN put it perfectly this is a difficult time, all the excitment, hormones and general specialness has settled down after the birth. The 'oh ah's and 'isn't she cute's have been replaced by well meaning and bloody annoying 'you should be doing this's and 'have you tried that's. When generally you have no idea what the hell your doing but aren't sure that you like what other people are doing either. Go easy on yourself and remember she loves you and you can't break her. I wish I could give you the hindsight that I now have.

Kayz hooray for the tax credits? What treats are you going to get?

I can't believe it, my Auntie Flo has come to visit. She waited 10 months before visiting after Ds1 was born but ds2 is only just 5 months, how rude.

Ds1 had a great time at his cousins party and down in London but we had lots of cuddles when they got home. Might take him to the park today. Also feel better about my very slowly evolving normal food eater, his cousin who is 5 will only eat macaroni cheese or potato. Occassionally he branches out to rice and noodles. I feel much better now as we are def getting somewhere he is trying something new at the rate of one new food a week.

Oh hello Lady glad you have some time at home. Sorry about DPs stress, it's hard not to feel it with them. Hope it works out ok.

Daisy I'm so pleased you've decided on teaching and particularly secondary. Teenagers get a bit of a rough deal these days, esp in the media so the more wonderful people they have to guide them the better. I think it is a wonderful decision well done! How does it effect you mat pay?

hurray for you daisy . my dh is a secondary school teacher and (usually) really enjoys it.

Ladyt - glad you have a calmer week ahead.

wg - please don't worry. it's a confidence blip and you need to remember how amazingly fantastic you are. Madam needs and loves you as you are and isn't asking for anything more. tomorrow will be a new day...

lal - thinking of you.

arti - was there any reason for the night time pukes? have you seen a gp about it? what's happening by day with her? it's not boring to hear about it at all.

P is getting over her cold now - back to normal temperature and smiles. still snotty and her little voice is husky but definitely on the mend. She hasn't slept in her cot for 3 nights though...hope i've not broken her! i'm not made for co-sleeping! thanks for all the co-sleeping advice - i just don't seem to be able to do it!

i'm a little worried that P is too quiet ! at baby groups the others all squeal and squeak and make general happy noises, but P is silent! she has a voice because she cries when she's cross or tired and she does a feeble moan when she's bored, but she's silent when she's happy. very strange! people keep commenting on how quiet she is.

right - nappy needs attention...back later xxx

Hello!!

Here is my treat. Should get it this wednesday or next wednesday. I am so excited!! We have also treated ourselves to a new freezer that is a lot bigger.

We also treated DS1 to a 'Fearless Freddie' for his Thomas train set. He keeps calling him Dummy though.

Lal, Hope everything is ok with your appointment.

Hello girls

The poz has taken hold here - poor DD1 is covered in spots. She's very stoical though, and is just sitting on the sofa gripped by Balamory or some such. I, on the other hand, am going a little bit stir fry. Need to get out, but can't take her anywhere we will have contact with other people. I foresee a trip in the buggy round the block just to get some fresh air down me. We'll have to go out to get DD2 at some point though. I'll put the rain hood down on the buggy and leave her outside so she doesn't come into contact with the other children.

Trace, glad P is better now. Has she had a hearing screen? Does she respond to loud bangs and noises? If so, then I would not worry about her being a quieter girl. She is obviously just demure. My DD2 is a much quieter character than big Lucy - it's jus the way I make them!

LadyT, I think a week of recharging will do you the power of good. Did you have the meeting with your specialist? Hope your DP's week proves to be less stressful than it currently appears.

WG - big love to you darling. I think we have all had our wobbles over our babies and our own emotions over the past few months. You are the best mum to DD that you could be, and you are what she needs most and loves most. You are just having a day when it's hard to see that. The first year of your baby's life (esp your first baby) is a real culture shock, so be gentle on yourself and remember that you are doing a hard job very well.

Daisy, well done on the teaching. My mum was a secondary school teacher and loved it. Have you decided on a subject? My mum taught maths, but alas that's not my forte.

Lal, am thinking of you today and hoping all is going well. Are you at Kings?

Arti, huge sympathies on the sleep. With my big DD, it has gone in waves, although she has never been an excellent sleeper. I am sure that if she has once been good she will regain it. You sound thoroughly shattered though you poor thing. Hope you can get some rest today.

Hello Veggie, hope all is well with you. Great news about the food. It is very stressful when they won't eat, isn't it? Bad luck on the period though. I haven't had one since 2006 (pre DD2) so expecting a humdinger at stome point, esp with my (non mirena) coil.

Kayz, brill news on the ££££, treats look great.

Hello PMK, hope life down under is treating you kindly, even if weather is rotten. When are you back? We must try gor ano S london meet up, esp if our friend V is back on board

Hello everyone else, hope you are well and your babies are behaving. Have we heard from Mibbes, the Invis Hand, Not quite so big bird and Beans lately? If you are lurking, girls, hope all is well with you and yours.

Back later, hopefully with pox under control

Meant to say too that NJAN is right - it is worth getting yourself checked out physically. Apparently too it is over a year til your hormones return to their previous levels (esp if breastfeeding) so that might explain how you are feeling a little.

Argh!

That is all I have to say.

Am not capable of keeping up with the dec 06 lot, the sleep thread and you between ds and his night terrors and dd's reluctance to sleep. At all. Ever.

Hello All,

DS slept last night from 8pm till 5am Although suspect its a one-off. The snot is on its way out in the DD household thank goodness.

I am thinking of teaching Secondary school History. There is a shortage of RE teachers apparently and it was always one of my fave subjects. I have an A Level in Religious studies but I don't think my degree would count as relevant enough to teach it, so I would have to do another year before the PGCE to give me a better knowledge of the subject. I am going to speak to a careers advisor to see if its possible to not do the extra year with my degree(its in Politics!). So I am currently checking out courses at the local Unis to see where would be best for me. I would only want to start it next September(2010) when DD starts school and DS will be that bit bigger. While he is still tiny I want to give him as much QT with me as DD got IYSWIM.

Kayz - Yay for Tax Credits and treats!

Hooray for treats Kayz.

Lovely to see you Indith please don't go away you don't have keep up just pop in every now and then, oh and hello to V if your lurking.

Have just discovered after a year of going to the skanky park near our house that just 5 mins further along there is a much nicer and much bigger park. The play equipment is only partially graffitied and is loads more fun. So have been out for a picnic and lovely play in the park with the boys. Still finding it fun to be able to play and kick a football around with DS1 after so long of barely being able to move with J in my belly.

J is still a grizzle bear at the moment and I have managed to lose all his dummies not sure if I should go buy some more, which is a problem as my preferred dummy for him is the Nuk ones which I can't seem to find anywhere but Germany, or just go cold Turkey?!

hi everyone, our internet has been down over the last couple of days so haven't been able to keep up. Plus I had a presentation for my course to do today so have been busy preparing for that! Have realised I've nearly finished level 1 so won't be long until I do my practice teaching

Hope everyone is ok. We've started to feed ds2, just a little bit of baby rice in the mornings, he loves it so far, won't be long until we start on the veg & fruit purees!

Anyway, I'm off to have a read back & try to catch up, apologies in advance if I don't manage it.