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

[stripeywoollenhat]

there.

Stripey - that was my brother's first visit and Dylan is 17wks tomorrow. Not a great effort since he is 45 mins away. Families eh?

oh no - hope it's just a passing thing and he'll be okay tomorrow
and families: yes, weird, aren't they? if she'd had a baby i'd have plagued her visited in the first week

PatTheHammer, I've been to a few MN meet ups, but I don't know what to advise. I'm sure people will turn up. I've found that when they work, they organise themselves, to some extent. I've been to 3 postnatal thread meet ups and 2 Haringey ones. It looks like 3 of us from Feb 2009 might see more of each other through an exercise class that walks on Hampstead Heath - one has gone since her first baby and two of us tried it for the first time last week (I got talking to one because we were both worrying about high risk screening results last summer, and our DS2s were born within 24 hours of each other in the same hospital, though sadly we never met on postnatal (I was hoping we would!)

I've also met up with other internet friends - most interestingly with others who like reading crime fiction and travelling around the country/the world to talk about it. I suspect having babies has curtailed my travels for a few years though there, Harrogate will be my limit this year.

Just had an evening sitting in the garden with dp putting the world to rights and planning or escape from Hackney...am now freezing! And slightly tipsy on two glasses of wine Good to have an uninterupted talk with DP and make plans...even talked about a DC3

Dog- Arggghhh the pox! Its doing the rounds here at the moment, took the dcs to a birthday party at weekend and two of the children there now have it...so I am just waiting for it to happen...think it has a 10 day incubation period or soemthing like that. Hope they are all ok and not too itchy.
Also thanks for the crayon removal tips...its been so long since I blow dried my hair I can't find the hair dryer

Ms Sparkle- So sorry you are having a hard time, just reading thorugh the other posts I can't really add much, everyone has given such sound advice and support. Talking to others (councillors and other people in the same boat) has always given me strength in the past. ADs have always taken about a month to kick in with me, so hopefully they'll start doing thier job. I'm rubbish at trying to put my feelings into words so am sending you a big hug instead [big hug emoticon]

Lenni- Brother When Jude was born mine sent a card saying congratulations on the birth of 'Jed'! Arghhh!

Pat- Good luck with the meet up...I've done one through my local MN group and it was really good, have made a good friend out of it!

Stripey- Have no advice for baby proofing..we have done a terrible job at it. Although stair gate have been useful for keeping them in one place (their bedroom)
keeping them safe. They seem to cotton on pretty quickly as to what is safe and what's not. DD's head is a magnet for table corners and there seems to be nothing I can do to prevent head/table corner contact, she's just drawn to them.

Ray- Congratulations to OH!

Books- I have enough material for a small book on DD's unsupervised antics... she keep son taking bars of soap from the sink and bath and I have no idea where she puts them, I am sure if we ever move I will find a huge stash...unless she's eaten them

Tink- Hows the painting going? I can send my DD round if you want an original crayon mural to finish things off?

Tree- Hope you're ok and DD is settling.

Elkie- If you ever fancy a meet up on Hampstead heath I am up for it..it's just a few stops on the train for me and am happy to escape get some fresh air!

Lenni- Hope Ds is ok

Right...going to bed...

HKZ, that would be great, maybe we should pick a date in the next few weeks before you have to go back to work? We could meet at or near Gospel Oak which is on both the North London line from Hackney and the Gospel Oak-Barking line from me. If it would appeal to your older child there's a City Farm just a few minutes from the Heath and the station too.

just popping in quick... i went looking for the old thread and happened on this one. show's how long its been... well 5 pages worth. ok, note to self, catch up on pages 1-5 when DH takes DD out for a walk.

mssparkle fistly the meds take a while to work, plus you probably need a higher dose. make sure you go back to the doctor. get some councelling as it may help. Make it a mission to go for a short walk every day.

dog ds1 just had the booster, which is really just another dose the same, it was fine.

stripey how wonderful to have the opportunity of a career break! I know Gina Ford isn't everyones cup of tea but the book has a routine for increasing milk supply and it does work.
re babyproofing, I found it more of a problem when it was a senseless 6m-12m old as you just can't tell them. I bought a babydan playpen which was good but still had to babyproof. I wuld wait and see what she goes for - for example we had to move the stereo as he was there all the time but never gave a second glance to the DVD.

rray and stripey rray you are completely right - did this with DS1 and he started putting on more weight than before. you have to make tthem wait for a longer period then they are hungry and feed longer next time.

lenni our BIL started stirring when DS was small (DS was a very good boy btw) BIL had no kids at the time and we found out he'd been telling other relatives how naughty and out of control he was. I was very , nothing has been said but one set of inlaws won't invite us to their house as a result. Mind you now he has a kid he doesn't get invited that much either!!!

Elkie- sounds like a plan...next week is good for me, Mon, Thursday or friday would be easiest, what's good for you?
Didn't know there was a city farm at gospel oak, DD would definitely love that, we spend half our week at Hackney City farm, soo it would be good to have a change!
The week after I have, in a moment of insanity, agreed to go camping , when the weathers lik eit it is today, the thought fills me with horror.

Right, am off to make a start chart for DD then the joys of play group....It's only 9a.m. and it feel slike it should be lunch time already

Thursday afternoon or Friday slightly later afternoon would be best for me - think I'll probably go to Pushy Mothers again next week 1.30 - 2.30 on Friday but would be happy enough to come over on Thursday slightly earlier if 2.30 is too late for you, or if Thursday's better.

morning

dd1 @ nursery till 3pm bracken upstairs

ms sparkle - sorry hun for feeling low would definelty see doc i didnt have pnd but depression found tablets kicked in after a month

dog - not chicken pox dd1 got a week before xmas
good luck

i enjoyed asda shop last night - bought dd1 mr men show cutlery, dd2 teether,myself bras and some pot stakes for plant pots - mini windmills and buckets

zach is doing well

hing kong lol - mum has done first coat on all walls

colic continues - it must be after the dairy I had at the weekend. Second attempt to reintroduce results in mammoth meltdowns. It must be dairy intolerance. Hospital tomorrow so we'll see what they say.

MsS - very sorry for you, I hope rl isn't too hard on you and the meds help. I'm sure they will. PND sucks big style.

Dog - really hope pox is clearing?

Lenni - how's it going?

HKZoe - You're sounding very dynamic there! Camping in Cornwall in 2 weeks. I have no idea what we are going to do. We have no tent for a start!!

Very at futher meetups. Have fun!

What has your dh done Ray? Smeone said well done to him but I dunno whay. But I join in the cheers. Hurrah!

Please all say a prayer that Hatts produces the toxic green nappy action by tomorrow so I have a sample to take.

Ta!

Come on hats...do a big green poo!

Elki- Thursday sounds good to me, would 11a.m. be too early...DD normally naps around 2.30 , although she is pretty ok without a nap these days.

Tree- Hope the hospital goes well tomorrow and that they are able to help.

HongKongzoe -

Have big green snotty nose [bless her little nose] but no green poo as yet. Had mucusy one this am - sample in fridge. Nice!

Lenni have you done any baby massage? Am thinking it might be wind, but wind that is too far to bring UP, and that needs to go down instead? There are some baby massage strokes which are very helpful with this. If you like i have a sheet that complimented the class which illastrates the strokes on it. I could Scan it & Email you- See if that helps at all? Maybe you could do before/ after his bath to ensure all wind out, whether up or down before bed?

Esme isn't keen on 2nd side if i put her straight on, but if i change her nappy, and wind her a bit, then she'll have a go at it. But... that said Esme is my old child, so i can devote all day to feeding if required (No thanks!!! ha!) like you said you have DD to watch over! Is there any way you could engage DD in the feeding Routine? Esme gets very sleepy when feeding, so i've started reading her a story to keep her more alert feeding. Maybe DD could read LO a story while you feed?? Just an idea- having not got 2 i don't know how practical that is!!!!

Stripey we are currently introducing esme to a bottle. She used the haberman feeder a little when i first introduced a bottle to her, but i got slack, and she didn't go near one for about 6 weeks, as its SO much easier to BF than sterilise etc. So we're having to give her one again, Expressed BF at 5pm, Daddy does it! I totally understand expressing is disheartening, but when my milk supply dipped (don't know why) about 2 weeks ago, once she'd finished feeding, i stuck the expresser on... not so much to collect milk, as i literally got 1/2 an oz or so.... but to stimulate my body to up the milk supply. Maybe trying that for a day or two (yes it would be a mission, feeding, expressing, feeding. expressing, its all you'd do! ) But if might be worth a shot if increased your milk production? It worked for me!

Tree Any poo yet? OH has won ANOTHER award..... Jammy thing! Running out of room for Trophies. Can't complain though... All profesional sportsmen have shortish careers, so obviously needs to do as well as he can, while he can sort of thing.

Hope your all well.... had my NCT ladies over this morning. So funny we first used to meet and the babies would just sleep, now the floor is covered in toys! :-)

rray - good luck tree tom @ hops
hatt - go on do a green poo u know u want 2
rray - meet up sounds fun

it is amazing how they change.
bracken tried out bumbo yest,leapfrog learn and groove activity station and door bouncer today it is great when they can go in different places she luved them all

has her 16 week injections this aft

have been spring cleaning this morning sorted out bedroom cupboard!! in a right mess done now threw out 3 bags worth and have 4 for charity

hi all - quick question: has anybody's small one ever had a slightly bloody poo? am going to tkae her to doc this afternoon if i can, but just wondering how worried i should be...

i had blood in my poo when i was baby it was due to irritation of th stomach lining, stayed in hospital for a week.
bracken has had her 16 week injections not too bad!! last ones till she is 1 year old phew

good luck with doc stripey

stripey I read somewhere it can either be from nipple abrasion in the mother, so the blood passes through the system undigested or if constipated or excessively explosive from the tiny capillaries around the anus (sorry for graphic terminology, couldn't think of another way of putting it). Hopefully it will just be one of those two and nothing to worry about. Let us know how you get on though.

Just in case I don't get back on - good luck tomorrow Tree and Hatts hope you get some answers.

Oh yes, jinxed myself by mentioning dd's new improved feeding schedule the other day - she woke up in the middle of the night for the first time since about 6 weeks last night - had a feed then proceeded to yodel (sp?) squeal, giggle and make any number of happy but very loud noises for over an hour and a half and all this on top of the dogs waking me up several times and ds1 waking me because he needed the toilet! All boiled down to almost no sleep - am totally whacked today - I don't know how those of you with regular night feeders do it - you are supermums!

moose, tink - thanks. the doctor wasn't particularly worried, but am to drop in a sample if it persists to the end of the week. it really isn't very much blood, she thinks it's a tiny tear somewhere on the way out. poor c was very good, didn't cry or anything. she was pretty quiet though, for the first time in days - it's like she suddenly found her voice and she is babbling and shouting and laughing all of the time. she has even started talking herself to sleep, which is both adorable and also a relief, as it means she is learning to go to sleep by herself...

hkz - at camping! i've only been camping once (since i was a girl guide and that was all dampness, beetles and smoky beans) and that was in africa, so worth it (freezing at night). in general, i want a hotel...

sparkle - i fully intend to get a cage playpen for the small girl. the career break is amazingly well timed for us - need to cut public sector numbers here, so they're going to pay me what is effectively my half of the mortgage for three years and i don't have to go to work! i know recessions are shit but i think i've found an upside...

tree - fingers crossed paeds appointment goes well

Hi all.
Hey Moose! Hope Elizabeth remembers night time is no time for giggling soon.

Am I the only one having totally no fun at all? Life is a series of mad dashes to do jobs in the 10 mins Hatts will be put down, and the rest is just carrying a baby, who often screams in my ear. Fobbing off my dd1 and drowning in a dirty scruffy house that needs so many jobs and carpets and blah blah blah. Am feeling totally robbed of the fun and lovely bit of a new baby [just like first time, was a car accident then]. No doubt she will cheer up as soon as I go back to work. Am fed up. Pah!

How did it go Stripey?

tree - i'm sorry it's so tough, i think you are doing amazingly well. i can't manage to get anything done either and i don't have a colicky baby (though she has only really started to get the hang of sleeping during the day in the last week - it's really helping) really hoping that the medics will have some strategies for alleviating it tomorrow. and i know it's no comfort but i think they really do outgrow the dairy thing, c definitely has it a bit but it's way better than it was (raw milk results in wind and crying, processed dairy seems okay now) and even though harriet seems to have a worse version of it hopefully it will also subside as time passes.

you are doing an amazing job, though - i am in awe of you, actually (i know that this is no help at all, but still true)

Elkie Thanks for the advice, just a bit concerned about how to recognise people I've never seen before but I'm sure a designated meeting place and time will be sorted (all we have is a rough time/venue and date at the mo). Just need a bit more confidence really that it will be fine .

Lenni Soory that DS is a bit poorly. Zach was similar today, woke up snotty and then screamed from when I got back from pre-school till when I left to pick DD up. About 2.5 hours of crying, so unlike him and finally passed out due to exhaustion in the car. Would not feed and kept doing that clamping down and pulling away. Made out he wanted to feed but then got really upset when I put the boob anywher near him. So consequently went without a feed from 5.30 this morning till 1.30 this afternoon. Seemed ok after a nap and a big poo in the Bumbo (yes the vest had to be removed!).
Still a bit fractious though so called DH to come home early as we had dentist appt at 4.30 and felt it would need to be a 2-man job.

Oh, DD was soooo welll behaved at the dentist. I was so that she actually let her have a real good look and count and put the mirror in there and everything. Usually she gets a quick peek and thats that! Anyway she got a treat when she got home and then was her usual crabby self by bath-time- can't have it all though!

Dog- so sorry for Beth, hope she's not finding it to itchy. Hopefully Isla should be fine if your immune. Sending some pox-riddance vibes your way .

Stripey- Glad C seems ok, worrying isn't it. Zach only had blood in poo once and that was after he swallowed a load after his tongue-tie was cut at 4 weeks. Did not look fresh though when it came out which I think is how you tell the difference. You are probably right with the tiny tear or something. Lovely when they find theie voice isn't it, Zach loves to shout now and babble really load, DD thinks its hilarious . He also does this adorable flapping thing with his arms when he gets excited, smacking them into his belly, trying to take off I think!

HKZ at DC3!!! Was that the wine talking?

Tree- Dairy sounds like a plan, I had a huge cheese pizza the other night and I think that that upset Zach's tummy even though he has nowhere near the problem's you speak of with H. Like Stripey says, you are doing a fantastic job, it's so hard with 2 but when you have all that to deal with and can still keep your sense of humour too!

Tink You have been busy! Your girls must be so good to let you get spring cleaning done. My house is officially a dirty hovel at the moment. The bathroom is foul, Kim and Aggie would have a field day! When do DH's realise this and perhaps (god forbid) wipe a cloth over or perhaps just rinse the bath out .

Ray Well done your OH! My DH is a huge footie fan and it totally takes over his weekends, can't imagine if it was his job though! Good luck with the bottle, we have persisted giving Zach one every 3 or 4 nights from about 7.5 weeks. This is purely because I left it too late with DD and by the time I had to do it it was too late and was a right nightmare. Good that you are managing to express that much, am very . Think Zach just drains every last drop out of me (as shown by his huge weight!)

Hi to everyone else. Hope everyones day has not been too bad, despite the rain x