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

[stripeywoollenhat]

there.

Should add the 1.5-2 hours thing was because she would be awake 2.5-3 hours before a nap - the idea being that you get a gap of 30mins ish between small feed and nap. And eventually drop that small feed altogether so that they become used to milk on waking rather than milk before sleeping. The only caveat being that we managed to get her to self-soothe like this during the day but it didn't help in the night since then you do want them to feed to sleep again.

And Pat - you had me laughing with your title suggestion

And finally - DS 18lb 10oz today - little fattie. Doesn't look like my sugar detox has done him any harm! Am at 2 weeks tomorrow and have lost 1/2 stone - think much of it water like Moose said though as weeing loads have had one indiscretion with choc souffle the other night but otherwise stuck strictly to it. Am going to carry on now as got another 1.5-2 stone to shift. Would like to see another 1/2 stone off before start weaning as will be that bit harder once not feeding as much.

Sorry - that was mammoth I must have had withdrawal symptoms

Lenni Fab weight loss! I am being genuinly crap in my attempts and have now resolved to start properly after DD's party on Sunday, just too much temptation! Am now thinking Zach is officially OBESE, he was 18lb 14 3 WEEKS AGO, I have been to scared busy to get him weighed since then .

I have had about 3 good sleep nights on the trot, going down about 7ish and waking at 4am for a feed and then getting up at 7.30am. Really pleased, hopefully it was the teeth bugging him and now they are through we may be back to normality. You watch, he'll get ill now or something! I really think him being in with DD helps to, perhaps he senses someone else in the room or something?

Dog Your day sounds lovely,are you pox free now? Isla looks gorgeous in your latest photos. Yes I do get similar rushes of love when I look at Zach (or DD sometimes). Mostly I just want to gobble Zach up, he looks so delicious all the time, If only we could just freeze them at this age eh! I quite like robot themes for boys (bought Zach a robot shaped cushion and I really like it) or you could go nautical (sometimes looks a bit poncey though!). My nephew has quite a nice space theme going on, not TOO boy-like IYSWIM.

Tink Glad Britters was fab, will check out the pics.

MsSparkle Glad you are back in the fold. Finley sounds like he is doing fab. Hope things start to feel better soon

Oh Forgot to mention about potty training. We did about a month of preamble (leaving potty out for her to get aquainted with/reading lots of books about potty) we then waited for a warm week in July when we had nothing much on and I wasn't working. I knew she was ready because she had actually asked to sit on the potty after her bath (when we left her naked for a while before pj's) and had even produced a few wee's. So we then went for broke in that week, put her in little dresses with no pants for a few days and bought a little sticker albumn and loads of stickers (one for a wee, two for a poo). We had a few accidents on first day, then VERY few altogether. Few days later introduced 'big girl pants' that she had chosen and braved the big wide world. Stickers lasted about 3 weeks and then she forgot about them. She was nearly 26 months I think.
She loved the potty and the hardest thing was actually to wean her off poo-ing on the potty and onto the toilet (she loved to look at it afterwards and give us a little description as to its size/smell/shape and consistency). Quite happy to wee on the toilet from the word go with one of those integral seat things (didn't need after a few months). Strange girl!

I think Moose's ideas on timing are good, we used about the same intervals when asking her on the first few days. After that she just asked us when she needed it!

She has now been dry at night for ages so about 3 months ago I stopped putting a night-time pull-up on, only 1 accident so far. If we get wet sheets again then so be it, saves me money in the interim .

moose i'm sure your hair looks fab!

lenni you have done really well losing half a stone!

pat that's great you have had 3 good nights! I'm sure they will continue, the world seems an easier place after some proper sleep doesn't it.

dog i am like that with Finley, i just want him to stay a baby! He is sooo cute.

I potty trained my dd in March. She was 2.5 years old and was definatly ready. I had tried before but always failed. Things i bought and found very good were;

10-20 pairs of knickers

5 pairs of cheap trousers that i bought from primark

two potties, one for upstairs and one for down

i made a really colourful reward sticker chart

a couple of books, i had dora's potty book and the little princess one

a free week where i didn't have anything on

and lots of persiverance!

She was potty trained in one-two weeks with the odd accident, mainly at nursery. I never once shouted or got angry with her when she had an accident, i just said "oh well, try and get it in the potty next time" in a really calm, soft voice. She had a travel potty too, she has done so well that i haven't had to use it that much because she will go on the toilet now. It's just for the car now.

Be calm, patient and persivere!

Finley had a great night. Went down at 8pm and i had to get him out of bed at 8am this morning to take dd to nursery. 8am! He is a fabulas boy!

DS has got chicken pox - arrghh! DD got no sign of it yet - except already annoyed that she's missing music group and playgroup today but looks like I might have a free week for potty training after all [grrr]

hello all!!!!!

Flying visit!

Am Disney-ed out!!!! Zzzzzz!!!

Brilliant time.

Yes, you were all right, not a eye lid battered at travelling in black cab. Esme stayed in Sling.

Other end... Well we got Eurostar directly into Disneyland without stopping!!! So we didn't have any journey the other end, only a few mins walk to our hotel & in the beautiful weather-didn't mind in the slightest.

Got to run.... got B. Milk to defrost - Tomorrow is the BIG wedding and the leaving Esme for almost 24 hours!!!!!!! maybe i can smuggle her in my hand bag & Oh wont notice? Hmmmm.

Will put Disney piccies on F.Book later.

Love to you all. xxxx

Morning all,

Have just read the thread but as I seem to be unable to retain anything in my bf addled brain at the moment I apologise in advance if I miss anybody.

Just got back from my walk, only 2.5 miles this morning as still have loads of housework to do, not to mention doing something with myself before tonight.

Lenni great weight loss. Well done. Have just weighed myself (after saying I was only going to weigh in once a week and then not being able to resist doing it daily) and I have lost another pound so thats 5lbs since Monday. I am really pleased as it has given me the motivation/determination to keep it up. Haven't fallen off the wagon yet, but DH put ketchup on my plate last night and I nearly ate some without thinking, stopped myself just in time.

Dog I am a dark brunette, but with some lighter goldeny streaks. I was just trying to cover the grey and Mum said she would try to just target those areas (around my temples and the nape of my neck mostly) then she ran it through all over and now I just have really dark brown hair rather than having the texture and lights that the gold used to add to it. Am hoping it will fade out a bit to be honest as my hair is now past my shoulders and it would take an age to grow it out - serves me right for being vain about my grey hair I suppose. Mum has a really good hairdresser that comes to her house, she is ex Tony and Guy and fortunately Mum has offered to pay to have some lights put back in professionally by her, don't know when though and will have to see her first so she can assess the damage and decide what colour she needs to bring with her.

I think a dedicated dieting thread would be a great idea. Possibly in the clubs section under big slim?

I have that teary moment almost every night when I go in to kiss the boys and I must count my blessings for dd at least a hundred times every day. She is such a little sweetheart - she makes my heart feel like bursting sometimes.

Boys bedrooms, well I asked my boys what they wanted and ds1 wanted a giant vw camper on the wall (and bright yellow walls) and ds2 wanted clouds on the ceiling and hot air balloons going across the sky. Somehow I have to weave that into an overall theme! I have sourced repositional stickers for the van, clouds and balloons, they have a sun shaped light fitting from vertbaudet and I am going to paint a new moon and the odd star in that clear glow in the dark paint so they show up at night and keep the sky theme going.

Have you looked at some of the sticker sites, there are some fantastic ones about, really funky and the good thing is with renting (obviously we are in the same position there) is that they peel off without damaging the wall surface. Actually, we are about to put a giant tree sticker in our living room! Here are my two favourite sites for them:

Wall Glamour

Superice

You can get them on ebay as well and they are really cheap on there.

Uh oh! Dh just called, he is bringing a colleague home with him at 1.00 and I've just noticed the time! Think I had better get moving on the housework if I'm not going to be totally embarrassed by the state of the house. will try and get back later if I can.

hi

bought nice bits with bday money

Just popping in to say - have been rushing around London seeing too many people, and am now absolutely shattered. We've had fun though.

Will catch up properly on everyone's news when I get back tomorrow hopefully x

Just pricing up a few bits for the NCT sale tomorrow - yay! My favourite shopping trip of the year [saddo emoticon]. Just been looking at fb group pics - how lovely and big are all the babies?! Chef I cannot get over how Violet is sitting and looking so alert. Dylan a million miles away from that. Pat I'm desperate to see some pics of Zach sitting - isn't he just completely edible.

Lenni got some on my camera, but you know what I'm like with uploading photos! I think I forget that he's still very little, walked off and left him sat on the grass at playgroup duty today, 2 minutes later he fell and hit his bonce on the grounnd, ouch! He's fine as long as he doesn't get too excited about something. At the MN meet-up on weds he was happily sat there for ages, then I realised he was attempting to pull up and eat huge handfuls of grass, one way to start BLW I suppose!

How is DS coping with the pox?? Strange that he would have it first and not DD? We are still escaping by the skin of our teeth, she'll probably get it week after next when on holiday!

Moose hair sounds lovely, and 5lbs! Wow, that is fantabulous You are going to look amazing on your night out!

Books Enjoy the Lakes, we are going for a week next saturday, I love it! Hope the weather is kind for you.

Ray Sounds like Disney was fab, I have been twice on 'school' trips as a responsible adult and have to say I loved it, especially 'It's a small world'!
Have a fab wedding tomorrow, Esme will be fine

Jules Hope you had a great birthday......probably did if it involved shopping I guess

Very busy today, on duty at playgroup this morning. Then my friend came round to deliver DD's cake for her party on sunday, it's amazing and I totally love it . Then we went to a party at 3.30-5.30 at a soft-play and DD was totally knackered and a right pest, Zach an angel boy though (as per usual), apart from the biting . Sister and nephew coming tomorrow and DD has a birthday haircut, should be great fun and games since she hates having it cut, ho-hum!

Oh, anyone elses LO really not liking feeding when you are out and about? Zach is just so nosey he WILL NOT feed unless we are at home or he absolutely has to and then only takes a little bit to keep him going. He's obviously not suffering, but I just wondered if this carries on now they are more active or if the novelty wears of. It's just quite embarrassing that he messes around, laughing, biting and blowing raspberries

moose- those sites are great!
Hope your big night out is fab

ds has been up 2 nights on the run, so I'm off to bed now...

good gracious. i can hardly keep up with you ladies. lots going on.

treeedelivery you went camping!? awesome. i love it. growing up we went the day after school let out for summer and didn't go back to the city till the day before school let in. 2 months! mind you, including the deck, the trailer was the same square footage as our ground floor flat in the in city. i was such a tom boy there, winning fishing derby's and catching snakes and tearing apart beaver dams. loads of fun. we are actually buying some camping gear this week. DH and i love camping and there are some fantastic and secluded spots on the island.

mssparkle i'm with you on the low mornings. i can't really get going till i take a shower too. i think its because i can take a moment to focus on myself and not the hundred other things that spring to my mind when i first wake up that seems to muddle me.

moose weight loss! yeah!!

rrayray good to hear you had a great time at Disney. i can't wait to go but to the California one. would be a great road trip down the coast.

re: potty envy... when i put DD on the potty, she grunts and concentrates and now every day we have a little poo. its great that she understands what she is to do on this thing. now i've got to work on peeing. she doesn't give any signs when she is about to do it. my friend said the key is to take them to the potty every hour on the hour sort of thing. she was diaper free by 10 months. doesn't that sound lovely? i've got a lot time on my hands.

eating is going very well too. on top of breakfast and dinner, DD has a snack after afternoon nap and gets a teething cookie if things are bad. it frees up time for me in the morning because DH feeds her now, but i end up sitting with DH and DD on the deck because the mornings are lovely and we get good sun.

the sleeping thing is still frustrating. still waking every two to three hours. doesn't eat much but i think because i usually fall asleep, DD has taken to using my nipple as a soother. now what? i say. its such a bad habit of mine but i love sleeping.

and morning all!

Just bookmarking and trying to catch up...

morning!

Ohhhhh moose... I just clicked on your sticker link....and have spent the last hour window shopping...am very tempted!

hi off to an italian for lunch

Well, eveing out was sort of a success and sort of not.

Benjamin Zephania was great, really enjoyed it. Two of our friends hadn't had time for tea so we nipped to a Tapas bar afterwards, which was extortionate for poor quality food and I could only have the tortilla as even the spinach and aubergine was drenched in honey glaze. I drank one white wine spritzer as there is only trace sugar in white wine. (First alcoholic drink since the night dd was conceived!)

I think we all wanted to go home and chill out with a few drinks and some music then, but there was a guy from dh's office with us who wouldn't fit in the car and we didn't feel we could abandon him, so ended up doing a hike across town to a pub that 'apparently' did better beer. Not good in my case, as I was wearing my new shoes, which I love the look of, but aren't exactly built for comfort. (I thought we were parking in the underground carpark and walking into the theatre and that would be all the walking we would do.) Ended up with 2 blisters on each foot.

I also felt ok about the way I looked until we hit the town centre, which was swimming in half dressed, pretty, skinny teenagers. All of a sudden I felt like a middle aged whale and just wanted to go home and hide.

So, didn't drink in the pub, just had mineral water and got fed up of everyone nagging me to 'have a drink'. Why do people feel the need to do that? If I don't want a drink, I don't want a drink what's it to them if I don't drink alcohol anyway?

Anyway, all that aside, dd was an absolute angel for Mum, which was lucky as she was really suffering with her teeth all day. The boys were similarly well behaved, but the dogs (who were locked in my bedroom as my step-dad is scared of dogs) were a nightmare and howled all night.

Not sure I feel like going out again on Monday, I enjoyed the show, but wish we'd left it there or just had one drink in the theatre bar and gone home really. To be honest, I think I'm just a homebird at the moment - it was ok leaving the dcs for a short while, but I wanted to get back to them after a couple of hours.

Moose - glad you enjoyed part of your evening, and DD was ok without you. I've hardly been out since DS arrived, so know what you mean about being a homebird.

Want to post more but DS crowing from the bedroom having not settled for his nap. Chickenpox much worse today and he's been sick which he has only ever done once before and that was from taking too much milk so am a bit worried. Luckliy DD at GPs today so can see to him, but he's tired and cranky now which is no fun.

Catch up later.

hi

enjoyed italian for lunch then had choclate crepe next door for pud

mm - rooms sound good