June 2008: birthdays, bunting and bumps make mummy a little bit tired!

[pureeandpearls]

Bring it on!!!

Going to bed now - all this stress has tired me out!
Plus, Iestyn seems to have some Teeth Issues. I think it's a jinx, seeing as we were discussing it here! He came back from nursery with mega drooling - I really haven't seen anything like it before! - and cried a lot. And when he was eating something seemed to hurt - I did wonder whether it was his throat but teeth are more likely really. He insisted on having a dummy between each mouthful (he hasn't done that before - but he also doesn't understand the concept of teething rings etc!).

Anyhow, he's calpoled up, and I'm going to sleep - it's graduation tomorrow.

Aaarrgghhh, my ipod died just as I was about to press the 'post' button on a big long post earlier.

So I'll try again quickly...

PP I cant speak for anyone else, but I suspect everyone on hear will have empathy re your anxiety.

ktpie I use the bus a bit, but only with the maclaren. Psychologically I feel better knowing that it's not too much of a hassle to fold a maclaren down if need but, but if truth be told if a bus comes along with a wheelchair user or another pram on already I do just wait for the next one.

5 teeth here, with a 6th trying to break free (which may account for S sleeping in our bed for the last two nights following lengthy hysterically outbursts around 12.30am).

Well done on your big decision re work abdn - it must have been a tough call.

Not much on the way of words here amber - he can sort of say a 'da da' but its quite indiscriminate. He does say something that sounds like 'hiya' when he's waving, but S waves all the time at everything and everyone (including the bin, the door, the tv...). I'm sorry to hear about the door slamming too. I really think that as the situation with SF has moved on since the government first sent out leaflets they really could do with an updated public information case. Am really glad Luke is feeling better.

Essie I felt so sorry for you on reading your OU traumas. As someone who is never studying too, I really felt your pain at the wasted time etc.

I have no idea what my BMI is, but Rolf in every other way I sound a bit like you! I keep telling myself that next week I will get some exercise in, study lots, tackle something on my to do list and not eat any snacks. Come Sunday it goes straight out of my head until about Wednesday, when I resolve to do better next week again. No point starting mid week when I'll just be having a wee treat on Saturday/too tired etc.

Viva sounds like C has a great vocab. Lets hope that we can get that meetup sorted and she can teach S a few words. I've messaged you and whinegums on fb tonight.

Sponge I think you're right about HV's - it's a bit worrying though isn't it. It's right that they spend time with the most vulnerable, but what about the families that aren't flagged up as in desperate need, but for whatever reason might be struggling a bit or following some really dodgy advice? I've got a very distant relative who a while ago started feeding her 3 month old meat. I was appalled, but she's been really dominated by her own mother who had her kids really young, and its all a bit 'it was fine in my day'. I don't think she would flag up as being particularly vulnerable - she's got a job, partner, lots of immediate family support etc. She needs some sensible regular guidance on the basics though Oh, I can feel a rant coming on, I'd better step away from the computer...

Gosh so much has been going on since my last post.

Rolf, you met my FIL??

Allnew, oops sorry I got that wrong, I know you live in Manchester and thought after I typed that 'have I got that wrong' but then thought no she has moved to Manchester!'

Essie, how very annoying! I feel your pain I really do, it's the sort of thing I would do cos I rush things and don;t check stuff and just assume everything will be ok. No wonder you have done so well on the course tho!

Sponge, can't believe that man putting on your fb about Alex! What a tit, you sure do know 'em . And a size 14 is not fat at all, it is the average size of women in the UK.

Abdn, I think you have made the right decision. Sorry it did not work out for you. I remember when we calculated how much I would earn going back, and we thought it was going to be about £80 a month, so we made the decision for me to quit, but then I felt very bitter that I could not go out and earn a bit of money. Anyway now I think it will be more like £300 so thankfully more worth it and I think I will stay.

My first day back today - it was great. Very relaxing, much easier than looking after t and e! I think I will be glad it is only two days tho. They were fine for the lovely Anna and she coped well even tho T is not well, and E has a terrible rash, maybe chicken pox? Will try to take them to doc's tomorrow before work.

Six teeth (T) and eight (E) here, but but no words yet and they are the oldest!! T took quite a few steps today though, I think he is going to be properly walking by the weekend.

I just read back and saw your post about my FIL Rolf! No way, that is crazy. Don't know why I didn't see that first time round, it was on my birthday. Were you in Duke St park? How did you manage to find out it was my fil? How did you say we knew each other? 'I know her off the internet' sounds a bit crazy

BDQ stairgates - we have two: from dining room to kitchen, and from dining room down to the basement. However we can't fit a gate on the main stairs which are especially narrow and steep. Not ideal.

Essie really sorry about the OU course. It is significant enough news that it warranted reading out loud to James. Hope that sleeping on it makes it seem less hideous.

PP wanted to say well done on the public transport. Hadn't realised that you were struggling with agrophobia on top of everything else . Makes my suggestion of going out for a walk a few months ago seem a little inappropriate - sorry.

Neenz pleased that work was a success. Was it weird being back after so long?

AH well done on making a decision. Indecision is always the hardest things I find. Once you know what you are doing everything gets easier.

P&P how are you?

Amber pleased to hear that Luke is better.

Hello everyone else. Sorry for not writing more.

Essie that is just so crap for you, I'm so sorry. I don't know anything about OU courses but I'd have thought that an introduction to law course would be a piece of piss for someone with your experience and qualifications. I mean, it will obviously be extra work but once you've got the idea of the particular hoops they want you to jump through you'll race through it. So it will be a question of discipline and timetabling rather than grappling with difficult concepts. I bet a lot of it will be things you already know, and just need to work out how it needs to be presented to get the marks. IME the biggest difficulty with law (I did CPE after a history degree) was not being imaginative or quirky and being a slave to index card revision and spewing out information. Like with a classical education, where you do the ploddy stuff before you can advance to real thinking.

Sorry if I'm being really unhelpful. I've been at a party drinking cheap white wine...

Essie I?d expect that the course would stay mostly the same; unless there was some ridiculously keen new lecturer (would never be me!). Plus I agree with Rolf ? since you?re used to learning at a high level, the 200 level course should be really straightforward. I had to take a 3rd year course in a field closely related to mine when I was doing my PhD and it was a joke, but I did resent having to sit through it and waste the time when I was busy (and I thought I was busy then ? now I know what busy is!!). I guess that?ll be the stress for you ? more to do, even if simple, in an already very busy day. My DH is away this week in Norway and I am once again run down and exhausted?

PP good for you for getting out. Public transport is a nightmare ? I hate waiting for a bus and then not being able to get on because there?s no space for a buggy. It makes me so stressed that I always walk if I can.

sponge post-pregnancy sizes do not count. I was four sizes bigger than I am now after Fraser was born (subtract eight!!!). All of it was paprika crisps ? they left their mark on both of us. Actually, I?ve been very lucky when it comes to losing weight after pregnancy. As long as I get out for a long walk every day (which I also need for my sanity), I tend to lose weight at a slow and steady pace (1-2kg/month) until back to ?normal?. I can?t for the life of me lose weight past this point though, I figure it?s my body?s natural level.

Saying all that, I?m gaining weight now that I?m back at work. Is it incredibly shallow that on my list of reasons to quit is that I?ll get to lose this weight? I have so much less time to walk and exercise now and the canteen at work is full of crap food.

viva C has a great vocabulary ? she?s a star! Fraser?s more interested in screaming than talking. He shrieks and shrieks and it sounds like he?s cut his hand off but then he stops and giggles. I am going to make him pay for my hearing aids when I?m older? If I can last without one until he?s got a paying job (16? Can you force your teenager to turn over all their money from their summer job?).

And viva I like your comment about normal sized people  I know that some women are just naturally skinny but it?s nice to not feel like everyone is built that way.

Rolf the singing pirate sounds fantastic! I?d love to have that sort of entertainment on a commute.

I am at work today and should talk to my line manager about quitting but I?ve cold feet. It?s very easy to say ?yes, I?m quitting!? at home, but much harder to act on it once I?m actually at work. I'd hang on for a few more months I think until DH has his job sorted (it's still all up in the air which makes us a bit uncomfortable) but I want DS1 to start at the local nursery on the 19th of August. That is so soon...

Pp well done for getting out. Neenz glad work went well. Essie that is a bugger . Ah can see how tricky to resign- have you plucked up courage?

Sitting waiting for edie to wake from nap then will take her for a jab. Feeling bit fed up as am pretty sure my nanny is pregnant - obviously fab news for her but selfishly I am not wanting to rejiggering childcare so early on and spent some time at interview testing to make sure would stay a year as have this paranoia re too much disruption before kids are two. Sorry selfish posst - hi all and Amber am so pleased luke on the mend. Whinegums when is your interview?

Afternoon All.

A miracle: P asleep in his cot in the daytime. Now I have written that, it must surely wake him up. It is some recompense for P doing a pooh during swimming today. First time ever. Luckily it turns out that swim nappes do work. Only realised when we were back in the changing room. I still got caught without wipes though.

AH be brave! You will feel so much more settled once it is done.

Poppy that is a bummer about the nanny. Maybe she isn't pg. What is making you suspicious? Hope that if she is PG it doesn't make you feel to crap personally on a ttc level. Hope the jabs go well.

P awake.

poppy i was just about to ask how the nanny was going - we have relooked at our finances and are wondering if we could afford one (and therefore add another option to the quit/don't quit mix). Can I ask, do you pay the nanny during holidays? Obviously there needs to be agreement between you and her about when they'd be though.. We currently pay for nursery for 51 weeks a year, or five weeks more than we need to, so if we saved those weeks....

(no, didn't get up the courage. Dh is away though so no surprise there).

She is going very well hence my disappointment (Ali various things like pregnancy vitamins poking out her handbag make me think it- that said after I had posted did come across something that made me re think but think should stop on this subject as not really about me so inappropriate to comment). Yes I do pay her holidays but half of it is our choice so I am not wasting anything. Also all in she does such a good job and does make it so much easier to work that I don't mind.
Edie seems fine post jab - barely cried. Good news re p's nap Ali.
And ah I don't blame you for chickening out- I would feel the same.

Aberdeen, I don't know anything about nannies in particular, but if one was an employee then she/he would be legally entitled to 5.6 weeks holiday, but this could include bank holidays etc.

Home alone tonight so hoping S behaves himself!

Essie, I completely missed your 20:34 post last night . Thank you .

BDQ, totally agree with you about the situation re: HVs. Although, apparently in Glasgow they are talking about putting the HV service in with SS, post-Baby P. This has caused real concern that 'middle class' parents will no longer want to access the service because of the 'stigma' of SS involvement (of course, SS wouldn't get involved with most of them!). But it is hard to spot those that need help and those that don't - domestic violence, PND, etc is no respecter of social class, so there is a risk that people are slipping through the net .

Neenz, glad to hear work went well .

AH, I also walked alot after I had A and am hoping to do the same once Bill is born - but how did you find it with a toddler (can't remember how old D was when F was born?)? Do they still tolerate long walks or does the novelty wear off?!

poppy, bugger about your nanny - you've been so pleased with her, although obviously lovely news for her. Your gorgeous little girl obviously made her broody .

Ali, good news about P sleeping in his cot - I really don't know how you've managed all this time without him sleeping in his cot during the day tbh!

Had a bit of a tough day at work today - lots of conversations about abused/neglected kids. Just makes me so sad that so many children suffer this sort of home life - I know I sound like a right Pollyanna, but why can't all children be born into homes where they are loved as much as our LOs are loved?

Sorry, just find it tough to listen to sometimes .

Right I keep starting posts then being rudely dragged away (DH off work today and tomorrow) so going to post while he is busy bathing J!

Aberdeen - good to know the chicken pox is cleared up, did you pick the remaining one off? I remember when I got it I had one on my eyelid stuck in my eyelashes. Horrible!
Contract work sounds like a good option, could keep your hand in but choose when to work (plus in my field it always pays a lot more, but then it is per hour and less hours). I know that terrified feeling of handing your notice in, good luck with speaking to your boss.

Amber - I'm so glad Luke is better, I'm finding the whole SF thing pretty worrying, the idea of getting it with the added complication of being pg and looking after a 1 year old is not great.
On the words topic we get dada ALL the time and on a few occasions he has said something resembling hello, and at fairly appropriate moments, to ladies in shops, and today while peeping round a chair.

Essie - what a pain in the arse about the course, how blooming annoying for you. I hope you manage to sort something out. Wasting time and money like that is such an annoying thing.

On the size subject I know that at size 14/16 I am fairly average (and there are an awful lot of far bigger people around) and it really annoys me when you go to a shop where they have sizes in S, M and L and the L or the XL or even the XXL are tiny! They must be catering for pixies! Decathalon is a major culprit there, not that I have been in the market for sporty clothes for a while, but still.
I once went shopping with a particularly petite friend of mine and she couldn't find a dress small enough, size 6 dresses were hanging off her in a particularly annoying way, she isn't a twig either but short and annoyingly toned.

Allnew - I've never met a MNetter before either, if I am in Manchester I will let you know. I haven't had a proper trip over there for ages.

Rolf - it sounds like you had a lovely day out yesterday, you sound like me forever in jeans. I do wear dresses and skirts but mostly round the house unless I feel very adventurous, or it's a wedding or something.

Sponge - thank you, and Alex is gorgeous little boy too.
In fact after looking at everyones pics I think we all have particularly beautiful children.

Poppy - hope things work out with the nanny.

By the way have any of you been to any surestart groups? There is one in the village we have just moved to and I'm wondering about going along, might help me meet some locals, have a bit of a snobby feeling about it and not sure if this is ridiculous or justified, I guess I won't find out until I go. Our Tiny Talk class broke up for the 6 week summer holiday today, only thing we go to regularly and we both really enjoy it, need something to fill the gap.

Better get off, DH now washing up in an annoyed manner, bless him.

Hi, feeling sorry for myself as feel a bit yucky and headache-y and DH in London.

ktpie surestart works a bit different in Scotland but I did see some threads on MN about how it's the middle class mums who take advantage of the sure start groups so you might be pleasantly surprised. Worth a go. Do they do rhyme time in your local library?

Oh, this screen isn't good for my head, off for a lie down on the sofa!

BDQ - thanks for that info, should get over my snobbyness then! They have rhyme time at the local library but it is on a tuesday when I have no van so haven't been. I could get the bus there if I was a little braver.
I really need a lightweight pushchair for buses and general out and about, ours is pretty heavy for lifting about so going to cause problems in a few months.
I was having a look at this one, any advice?

Hope the headache is clearing up.

Ktpie- there is a link on site to advice from senior obstetrician on swine flu in pregnancy if that helps.
Sponge- can see how your job would get to you- I haven't been able to watch or hear about anything remotely distressing since before edie was born. Can remember breadtfeeding ( on rare occasion!) about two days after I came home and yelling at dh to grab the remote so I didn't have to watch the wind that swept the barley. Also had to stop reading a book on d day as couldn't bear story about soldier who died calling for his mama and no one was able to get through to comfort him (am welling up thinking about it now).
Right on more cheery note am so glad mock the week is back.

Ktpie how do you wash up in an annoying way?
Sponge well said re hv, ss etc

ktpie, we have a surestart group near us (Southport) but because the area is quite middle class anyway it seems to be mostly middle class people who go! I say just give it a try, it will be full of people who live in your area so whatever they are like is what the group will be like.

Second day back at work today, it wasn't really that strange being back, like I'd never been away really, everything felt very familiar. Had another good day today but quite tiring as it's an hour's drive each way so I am glad I don;'t have to go in tomorrow.

I took T and E to the doc's this morning cos T has not been himself and E has a terrible rash even on her face but he said it was just a viral thing so I have been filling them full of Nurofen and Calpol which always does the trick. E screamed for 30mins when I put her down to bed which could be the virus but I suspect it is more to do with me being at work and I think she was a little overtired too. Hopefully get back to normal tomorrow.

It also knocks me sick to think of children being mistreated or dying etc, much worse than before I had kids of my own - like that guy who went missing in the bush in Oz and was found after 12 days, I could imagine how his mum felt cos the thought of anything like that happening to Theo.. well, the desire to protect them is so primal isn't it, you'd do anything to protect them and the thought of anything happening to them is just too awful to think about. It must be the worst thing in the world to lose a child .

Neenz hope e is better tomorrow. Glad work going ok- it knocked me for six when I went back.

evening, or should I say 'bonsoir'? Back from France...did 750km today with my baby on my own. Feeling quite chuffed. Off to catch up so will check back in with you all when I know what you are all chatting about!!!

ktpie, I would second what the others have said on SureStart - although it is aimed at more 'vulnerable' parents, it is often dominated by middle class parents who are looking for company and activities for their LOs! Go along and give it a go .

BDQ, hope you're feeling better soon - rubbish to be left on your own with a baby when you're feeling crap .

poppy, could you provide a link to that site? Would be quite interested to know what the advice was.

And KWYM about not wanting to watch/hear anything sad about children. Neenz, I also cried listening to that bloke's dad describe how he had scratched his son's name in a rock near where he went missing and said he thought he would never see him again . Although I did laugh at the bollocking he gave him when he was found!

lost in the outback

P&P, I am seriously impressed!

Purée I am also impressed. Not least cos of my rubbishness re driving.
Sponge link here link

ktpie I think a lightweight pushchair would be a good idea - if you can get the bus on the days you don't have the van you might find it really liberating! Are there any reviews on that pushchair on MN? It's worth a search of threads - there's always loads about pushchairs.

Head thumping still so am taking myself to bed.

Anyone know how josey is - don't think she's been on for a while but think I may have seen something on fb about a holiday.

Oh, before I go, any suggestions on keeping S away from the release button on his car seat harness? Why are they so big and red?