Jan 09 - weaning,smiling,laughing and chatting and loads more fun to come:)

[stripeywoollenhat]

there.

MissJ Just saw the pics of your new house on FB, looks totally gorgeous, what an amazing place to be living and for Nye to grow up in!

Thanks hkz, it really is beautiful, soooo different from London - but I do miss London lots. If only I could have my house in my valley, but have a tube station at the bottom of the hill ....

pat Yes, I was often the voice of BB in the diary room - the most fun part of the job! I often did nominations and telling-offs - very important not to laugh! What a funny job it was.... certainly not one I imagined doing when I was studying for my social anthropology degree!

elkie also love Clissold Park.

Sorry for ratbag DCs - but all your toddlers look so sweet in your fb photos! I like to remember spink's comment that being difficult is a developmental stage they have to go through!

I think you can see fb album here even if not on fb. But let me know if it doesn't work.

Time for bed here too!

DD bit my nipple something awful today and drew blood! i felt the pain shoot right out my toes! when i yelped and pulled the nipple out, she looked at me shocked, then laughed, cheeky monkey and proceeded to do 3 more times! every time she latched on i was on pins and needles. man, complete weening may happen a hell of a lot sooner than i wanted if this continues.

we had a fab day besides that. went on our first picnic and took a cat nap in the shady sun. it was lovely. she is still waking twice a night. what happened to those 6 straight hours i use to get? i did explain to DH about the need for more hours together of sleep and he was understanding but still didn't get up with her the following morning when she woke. he just rolled over and pulled the covers up when she stirred. go figure. i guess i just have to ask him to do it instead of hoping that he will on his own volition.

i posted a couple of new pictures of DD in our FB group. been taking lots since getting back my camera. (it broke and the warranty ran out but they gave me a new anyway, free!. it was a glitch so not my fault.)

hope everyone had a great weekend.

very nice missj! elkie think my brain went for a walk yesterday deformation

oh and James managed to spend the whole of last night rolling in his cot so had to spend most of the night rolling him back again...bit tired today...

am i the only one with a baby that won't sleep? DD goes down for a nap a 12 and if i'm lucky, she'll sleep 2 hours. then she goes down at 8 and sleep till 11, goes back down about an hour later then wakes at 2, 4 and 6, no matter what time she goes back down. then up at 8 am. this seems more like newborn patterns. she use to be such a good sleeper. well, its 2am and i' trying to give her a bottle before i feed her because if this sleep pattern continues, DH is going to have to do a feeding because i am slowly going crazy. argh!

No Chef, you are not. I guess sometimes I am better at coping with lack of sleep than other times and moan less but DS hasn't slept well for ages now. He was a brilliant little sleeper once too. What happens to them eh?? I wish I had an answer. I cling to the hope that DD was a terrible terrible sleeper and never slept, at least DS has slept sometimes. By this point in DD's life iyswim she had managed one 5 hour stretch and that was it. Everything else was 3 hours at most.

OUch for nipple biting chefswife... and you are def not the only one whose baby doesn't sleep. Like you and Lenni's LOs, Nye used to be able to do 5 or 6 hours at a stretch, but has got gradually worse and worse. It's not so bad because from 8pm till 8am I treat it like it's 'night' for him, so only nappy changes and feeds, no playtime, and I never bring him downstairs. But I do bring him into our bed when he wakes (usually around 1am) and feed him lying on my side, so tbh I am only awake for 5 mins max each time he wants a feed. And the nappy changes I have started doing in our bed too - I have the wipes, a flannel and clean nappies by the side of my bed, and I can do a guerilla change in about 3 mins these days! So I am really not that sleep-deprived. But oh, I dream of having a baby that would sleep all night!

I guess we just have hungry babies!

Lovely house BTW MissJ and gorgeous garden with the sun shining and the stunning views. Lucky lady

It is an online form Books but there is a bit of scope on the personal statement bit for me to try and piece together my career laundry list of jobs. I'm having a crisis now though. Do I really want to go back to work yet?? Realistically if things stay as they are DH's business is not going to be able to keep us going. We don't want to pull the plug on the business until we really have to since we have worked hard for years on it and hopefully this recession won't last forever. Our biggest issue is some of our suppliers have hit the wall and that's biting us.

Anyhow I digress. My plan really was to go back to work next year and probably part time but it's not so easy to come across part time jobs round here at the moment so I thought I'd prob have to go back full time and DH do part time or something. Arrghhh! It's all so complicated and guilt ridden.

hi all

went to 30th bday party not as good as i thoguht

Hi Books no, there's not much else to eat really. If you are only cutting out refined sugar its a lot easier, but the more sugars you can eliminate in the first fortnight the better, as it helps your body find its level quicker. So for example there is sugar to be found in potatoes, fruit and milk etc but its not refined so would be ok unless you are being mega strict and trying to avoid all sugars.

Sorry, I seem to be waffling today - in answer to your question - yes a cuppa would be fine as long as you are not being mega strict and cutting out all sugars for a fortnight.

I don't try to cut out all sugars as its just too hard but I do try to minimise the amount of sugars I have in the first fortnight. Personally I couldn't live without the odd cup of coffee, even though I only drink decaff and black coffee just isn't as comforting somehow.

Am exhausted today, dd has decided she can roll over - but only in her crib! SAS seems we were both doing the same thing last night! She hasn't bothered doing it in the day yet either - contrary child!

MissJ gorgeous house and stunning location! You lucky thing. Showed the pics to DH and he went green with envy!

Chef at the biting bubba! I was told that if they bite try not to react - yeah right! Then unlatch and end the feed so that biting stops play so-to-speak, apparently they pick up very quickly that its a no no if you do this.

Dog I hate people who are that insensitive and rude - DS2 was born with an extra digit (actually was just a little ball of skin attached to his little finger, although it did have a little nail) we had to keep one mitten on his hand constantly until he had it removed at 10 weeks as people tended to be all smiley with him then recoil in horror and say 'what's that' and other less polite phrases whilst looking at him aghast. (We had to have it removed as it was only attached by a thin cord and would easily have been ripped off once he was mobile.)

Funny thing was the midwives and paediatrician at the hospital didn't notice it despite three of them counting his fingers and toes! I pointed it out to them when they came to discharge us and then ended up waiting another four hours on the ward just so that the paediatrician could come and look at it and say - 'oh yes thats an extra digit' - doh!

It was kind of cute as he used to hold it in the crook of his little finger and then you couldn't see it, which is probably how the medics missed it.

Hi Jules and MM

For all those who are struggling a little with two

MissJ your home looks lovely, how fab that you've moved in at the start of summer so will be settling in with hopefully lots of sunny days.. I HAVE put the book in an envelope, by the way, and it is inching its way towards the door and the postbox.. sorry for my tardiness

lenni sorry the job thing is being confusing - if you go ahead and apply, at least you'll have a chance to follow your fears (and hopes) about going back to work up more clearly. Even if did go back to work and it didn't work for you, you could always reconsider then - nothing has to be final! I have really mixed feelings about going back to work - I'm not cut out to be a SAHM, but will miss my two cubs so much..

Chef ouchey at the nipple biting, ds only did it once and a bit absent-mindedly, so it wasn't too harsh. I've heard about the not-reacting / putting them down for a sec technique but easier said than done. After all, it is NIPPLE BITING.

I am going to apply I think - I won't get that one I don't think, but I might get [http://www3.lancashire.gov.uk/corporate/vacancies/vacancyDetails.asp?id=36405 this one]] and then DH says he'll reorganise his day to have the DCs if I do get a job. We've decided I'll only apply for things that would be a good career move. We're not that desperate yet...

I'm not sure if I'm cut out to be a SAHM either Spink - some days I get all sobby at the thought of leaving my babies, and other days I long for some space and time to be myself. It is a horridly difficult decision.

DS seems to have started nipple chomping rather than biting. He kind of absently chomps like you would on chewing gum if something distracts him from feeding. Not quite as toe curling as biting, but not far off.

Or.. this one even...

oh and Lenni - thanks for starting that other thread, helped to be reminded it is not all hard graft..

lennied and missjackson thanks for the words of... i don't know. sleep deprived... can't think. thanks for telling me that i am not the only one even though it may feel like it when i'm walking around the kitchen island at 3 in the morning. DH got up with her at 8 and let me sleep till 10.30, which was good, but honestly, i don't feel that much rested. i'm just worried that i am going to completely crash and not wake when DD needs me. (that is just crazy talk, i know. but i'm feeling a little crazed right now.) and short tempered. i snarked at DH because he dirty a face cloth that didn't need to be. for crying out loud, its only a face cloth, not a big deal. i already apologized.

not reacting to the nipple biting! who said that clearly has never had their nipple bitten by a teething 5 month old. i felt like i had lightning bolts shooting out my toes! she did 3 times, each time i pulled off and let her know it wasn't cool. the 3rd time, i put her down. she hasn't done it again, yet, but i'm finding it hard to relax when feeding her. gun shy.

i am amazed at the insensitive comments and reactions to babies with anything even remotely unusual. if people would just stop projecting their insecurities onto LO's, the world would become a better place. mind you, last week at swimming, i was chatting to another mother with a 7 month old and the LO had a raspberry birthmark on the back of her head. i never said anything, its not an issue to me, birthmarks are just that, birthmarks, but the woman showed it to me and told me she was thinking of having it removed or bleached (not sure how that works or even if you can, but that's what she said), because of the comments she gets. peer pressure. i said, its on the back of her head. when her hair grows in, you won't see it and besides, its her mark, that's who she is. let her make the decision if it is still a concern when she is an adult. was that good advice?

i think i might start a AIBU thread, asking about how to deal with my neighbours dogs. they are herding dogs that are kept in a pen from 7am till 5pm and one of them barks incessantly. plus their pen looks out to a well used public path and so every time someone walks by, barking. i was thinking of sending them a not saying that i was not about to spend another summer listening to your dogs and will call the BCSPCA. a bit passive-aggressive, i know, but i find people can get very defensive about their animals. the thing that burns my ass is that other neighbours feel the same way but no one has ever said anything. why do people prefer to bitch and chew about it instead of doing anything. in the past i've just tried to ignore it but it ain't going away so if i don't step up now i'll kick myself later.

that was suppose to be 'note' not 'not'.

Chef- ouch to the biting!! I have to admit I gave up feeding totally at 6 mths with DD because she kept biting me (had teeth top and bottom), I tried all the tricks and nothing seemed to work. I could have persisted I guess but I was already back at work and mixed feeding so I think I just stopped for various reasons and biting was one of them (she drew blood a few times- the little mare). DS's sleeping is also shocking at the moment. Am in the same boat as Lenni and missJ really, as he was so good and now it seems to have all gone to pot. He goes down between 7-8 ok and then sometimes wakes when we go to bed or I dreamfeed him. with the dreamfeed he goes through till 3, without he wakes at 1am and then 3am aswell. The rest of the night after 3am is a bit of a right off and lately DH has been getting up with him at 6.30 when he gets up for work and giving me an extra hour of shut-eye. Just crossing fingers that this isn't a regular pattern and just a few weeks of disturbance and he will go back to much longer stretches when he finishes all this developing stuff.

Zach sitting unaided for a good few minutes now and rolling from back to front with ease, should this be enough to tire him out yet?????

MissJ Bet that was fun doing the nominations. Did you have to practice that............................................................really long pause before you said the names . I would have just blurted it out!

Lenni good ideas and thoughts on that thread, perhaps there is light at the end of the tunnel with two!! When does your DD start pre-school? It really does give me a nice break 3 mornings a weeks but also when I was doing duty last week I noticed what an utterly fab time she was having with all her friends, made me feel less guilty for not doing much with her in the afternoons, she's probably knackered! I also think her relationship with DH has really come on since the baby, saturday mornings is officially daddy-daughter time and its so cute .

Spink when are you going back to work? Are you part-time? I go bak in 6 weeks (for 2 weeks) and am dreading it .

moose can you come up with some meal ideas for this detox, just a rough guide as what I should eat for breakfast/lunch/dinner, nothing major. Oh, can I eat bread, or is that a no-no? Sorry if thats asking a lot! Also what can you drink? I'm guessing no fruit juice?

HKZ enjoy your camping

Hi books and tink

Fab day at family fun day. DD loved Peppa and George and all the rides. Didn't want to actually queue to meet them as she was too busy going on the rides and the fun-house! Highlight was getting a Handy Manny balloon, it's as big as her! She's staying at IL's again tonight so we've enjoyed a relaxing evening and now watching the crapola that is Britain's got talent

hey Pat,
I'm supposed to be going back in Sept. I was working 4 days a week before, and think it'll be the same when I go back. After ds was born, for a while I worked 3 days; that was PERFECT and I'd love to have the luxury of doing that again, seemed the right balance to be more at home than at work. With a 4 day week I feel like I'm just working much harder than all my colleagues, trying to do what they do in 5 days, whereas with 3 days I was definitely part time and found it easier to stick to boundaries..
You dreading anything in particular or just the general being away from home and lo?

Pat sounds like you've had a fun day with Peppa & George. Ouch ouch OUCH for nipple biting - apparently the mere mention of nipple biting in some seminal childcare book long ago stopped many women from even trying to breast-feed! When it happens to me I fully intend to scream and fling him from my breast.... that'll learn him! .

ray waves at you all via facebook - sounds like she has had a lovely weekend with the grandparents and OH.

Lenni I don't think you should even worry just yet about whether you really want to go back to work or not - just the process of applying for the job and possibly an interview will all be good experience for the future when there is a job you definitely want. And you can always decide when they offer you the job! What's your other thread?

spink no worries with the book, it's been the bank holiday anyway so wasn't expecting it.

pat Part of the reason we pause so long before nominations reveal was to get shots of everyone's faces - but also had the added bonus of really winding them up! Loved watching them trying to stay cool, and the inevitable 'great, I wanted to be nominated anyway' pose...

Fab day today at a BBQ in the village I grew up in (about 40 mins away in the Wye Valley) - lots of old school-friends that I hadn't seen for years and years. I always find there is nothing like meeting up with people that knew you when you were ten years old - you were so 'real' then, before all the layers of clothes, haircuts, friends, jobs, careers, travel, relationships etc that come to define you. Anyway, had a great time, and Nye slept through most of it but looked v angelic!

Thanks for lovely comments about my new place - notice no photos inside because it is still such a tip with boxes everywhere never yet to be unpacked...