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

[pureeandpearls]

Bring it on!!!

Oh, and yes I'm sure a pint is the recommended amount - but that includes yoghurt, cheese etc. I'm just so paranoid about it because S dropped down the centiles a lot in the last 6 months (but I wont start that chat all over again!).

Ha ha now we did cross post!

BDQ, don't apologise - I am just such a worrier, I worry about everything . Dh gave me a look when I said today that I thought A might be ill cos he's sleeping so much. The little girl in My Sister's Keeper slept all the time . Sorry, told you I was a worrier .

Oh, and I love the idea of S's keyworker sitting by his cot stroking his cheek - how cute .

ktpie, sorry for blowing your cover! But you absolutely should be napping now, much more important than housework!

And again! I'm rubbish at knowing about recommended amounts of things like milk. There is probably something else vital that I should be giving him and haven't been.

Bdq a pint is recommended amount and it's about what e has.

Sponge yes e very tired although only on one nap but is completely done in by end of the day.

Natalia is un PC reference to fact I thought I looked like an aeroflot air hostess with home made hair dye. Put it this way I like red wine colour in my red wine not in my hair.

Poss tmi alert here - but my problem breast with the blocked duct has started leaking milk. This has got to be positive - do you think squeezing it will help? Am now at point will try anything as nice as he is I would rather not see the consultant again.

Back to top gear ( and to check out sponges links - baby touch ladybird books and maisy real favourited here).

Poppy - how is E's pint made up? I think S has milk during the day at nursery, but then he struggles to eat dinner on nursery days, whereas at home he doesn't have milk after breakfast (cup plus cereal) but he does eat his dinner ok.

ktpie - all done! Fingers crossed I get my £50. Also lots of websites I use on that one so will hopefully make a few more pennies back too.

Now, if I could just get round to opening a children's bank account I could cash those cheques made out in S's name (apart from the one or two that are already out of date )

It's equally split - bottle in morning when she gets up, bottle at about three as mid afternoon snack and last one before bed.

Am going to ask here - am having no luck getting e to hold her bottle )unless in buggy) and doesn't like any cup I have given her. Also isn't great with spoons etc apart from odd mouthful - any ideas on encouraging her without spending three hours at a meal?

milk - A still has 3 times a day like edie, but he only has about 4oz at each go. No idea what that means in terms of a pint, but he also has milk with cereal, and fair amount of cheese/yoghurt

poppy - no ideas on the cup sorry, assume you've tried various brands. I bought A a 'cow' one the other day that I'm hoping he'll like. On the spoon front, I have tried giving A the spoon and he does a few mouthfuls but tbh we'd be there all day if I didn't spoonfeed him most of it. He managed a spoon much better when he was weaned at 6 mths, much less messing around then

A's daytime sleeps are 30 mins in the morning, 50 mins in the afternoon. Nightimes 11 hours. BUT last night was a disaster, he was awake for 2 hours from 2-4 crawling around my bed and babbling away. It was like sleeping with incy wincy spider, he was all over the place. Wouldn't go back to his cot and just screamed . I slept in and am now exhausted

Poppy - not sure about the leaking duct although I guess that means it isn't blocked?
J is pretty good with cups and also has the cow one, took a few days to get used to them.
I've given up on spoons and J's new thing is having a go with a fork, only at the end of the meal when he is pretty full and we have to be prepared to sit there for ages. He loves it and can stab things and put them in his mouth, he tried to eat a whole plate of peas the other day carefully stabbing them one at a time, took forever. The bad bit is if you try to take the fork or plate away, he has a bit of a tantrum. He seems to find it a lot easier than using spoons.

BDQ- glad you got the CTF sorted!

Thanks ktpie and allnew - have cow cup too so will retry. And sounds like she is not so different re spoon to others.

allnew you have my sympthies as edie did this from 3.30 to 5 for no reason I could see ( wasn't poorly, ESP hungry just woke up and although bit doxy wanted company and wouldn't e put in her cot).

She seems fine - yelling at me now. I feel like living dead - coffee and chocolate needed but at least at home today.

I'm finding it difficult to keep up atm! BDQ, I haven't even replied to your FB message about next week (and have just remembered to ring the docs and cancel B's appointment) but I will.

I'm trying to sort out a holiday insurance claim - we were delayed on our flight home, missed the last flight and had to buy new tickets and spend £200 on a night in a hotel (I may have already mentioned this, sorry if so!) so I'm hoping the insurance will cover it. For a free holiday (won via Sainsbo's mag Sponge), it was very expensive - we spent a lot when we were there. Worth it though, but DP says I can't win any more holidays for a while.

AND I have a second interview for the job I went for before going on holiday, and I have to do yet another presentation. FFS. It's down to me and one other person, so why they can't make their minds up after the first one, which included a presentation, a copywriting assessment, and a four person panel interview (oh, and I had to send them a load of samples of my work in advance) I don't know. Still, I need a job, so have to shut up and put up. But just one more thing to do.

B is well and truly mobile now, and is very pleased with his new walking skills. He had a black eye from walking into the bookcase and bruise from the floor though. Oops.

BDQ, we opened a non stakeholder ethical CTF with Foresters Friendly Society, mostly because it reminded us of druids and sounded a bit hippy! However, we're well pleased with it, as we get quite a lot of benefits as members, and they have various funds, bursaries, etc. However, the £50 you've just made will more than make up for any profits in the past year, even if you'd picked the best performer I think. You deserve a stern finger wagging for not sorting out S's cheques though

B is good at drinking water from a cup, and occasionally juice at breakfast, but no way will he have any form of milk. I've tried formula and cow's milk of varying temperatures, and even hot chocolate, but nada. He loves yogurt, ice cream, cheese, etc, and has milk on cereal, so I don't get it. I tried EBM a while ago, with the last I had in the freezer, but he wasn't having that either. I'm so ready to give up BF now, but he obviously isn't, so I'll be watching what happens with the rest of you on the milk front.

We don't have much success on self feeding either. Finger food is fine, and B will stuff his face (I made pancakes for breakfast yesterday, and he ate SIX!), but he just plays with spoons and drops them on the floor. Ah well.

Poppy, no idea about squeezing re blocked duct, but I would imagine the last thing you want to do is to stimulate milk production? Maybe a hot flannel will help? Or even just call the consultant for a chat if you don't - understandably - want to go and see him. I used to find the Dr Jack Newman website helpful for various stuff, and Kellymom, and you can email Dr Jack if you can't find an answer online? I know you've had this for ages, so sorry if you've already tried, I hope this means it's sorting itself out.

Abdn - I keep meaning to say I saw your message about a possible meet up in Edinburgh, which would have been great, but I can't do it. Enjoy the zoo.

Deb, fingers crossed re viewings.

Sorry if I've missed anyone....

Bdq that is great re second interview but I can see how it's overkill after your first round.

My mother bought edie a push along dog( no point wasting my breath asking to limit toys she buys- sweet tho it is I think you can have too many). That said edie loves it- pats it and actually pushes it along ( as opposed to her pushalong hippo that she tries to wrestle).

Morning! Hellish day yesterday - Iestyn was sick again (this time at lunchtime), but fine otherwise. Then Tim was sick too! (Boy, did he make a big deal of that - I was so pissed off when he told me to go to settle Iestyn because he was feeling 'too weak to pick him up'...GRR! ) I'm not feeling fab today - really tired which is odd because I got a good night's sleep last night - but ok.

Milk - Iestyn won't drink any, but gets it in food and on cereal. He's doing ok. He will hold his TT beaker, but prefers it if I hold it for him.

Duct - no idea (and believe me, anything milk/breast related is never TMI here!) but possibly try to drain it? How about a pump? Is it definitely milk?

Ali don't feel bad about having a moan. It's all relative. I moan about coping alone without Tim here - but remember I have good childcare and my Mum keeps the show on the road. You don't have that - it really is just you, and I think that would kill me. (LOL, maybe I shouldn't moan, then!) My stints in London are hellish and I don't know how you manage. Also, I said to a single mum friend of mine that I shouldn't complain, it's harder for her; she said it actually wasn't harder, because she knows she's alone, and knows there's nobody else, so she's steady and knows where she stands. Whereas me - I'm sometimes alone, sometimes not, which makes it harder in her opinion. (And she wasn't being sarcastic either!) Which makes me wonder that it may be even harder for you - because technically you're not alone, but in actual fact you are. The worst thing for me is the loneliness. I meet up with people, etc etc; but when they've all gone and it's just me, the loneliness is awful. (Not unbearable, mind - I'm FIIIIIINNNE! )

I'm considering buying a running machine. What do people thing - is this going to be the biggest waste of money possible? Anybody got one/use one?
My reasoning: (a) getting fat. (b) can't go to the gym in the day because I work (c) can't go in the evening because I have Iestyn and I want to spend time with him (d) I'm on house arrest from his bedtime onwards (e) could get my mum to babysit whilst I go to an exercise class but really it's better not to waste those babysitting credits (f) I have an exercise video but prefer watching telly therefore (g) I could watch telly and exercise at the same time.
And because I'm bored and lonely I eat. Sad but true.

Whinegums - I didn't realise you had won the holiday, wow! Every now and then I go on moneysavingexpert.com and enter a load of competitions, once won a self watering plant pot (bet you are jealous now!), have been inspired by your win to go and enter some more.
The job interviews sound like a nightmare to me, I'm rubbish at that sort of thing.

I'd better go and get J, can hear him chatting to himself upstairs.

Oh, Sponge, those books are lovely but are they really in Welsh? The company seems to be called Clodagh Welsh but I can't find any info on Welsh versions.
I'm going to make Iestyn a Welsh alphabet quilt.

And LOL at your comments on the language issue! Perhaps it's a paranoia thing with my PILs - obviously, every time I speak Welsh with Iestyn, it's to slag them off. In fact the entire Welsh language is only used for slagging off.

Essie, I bought Alex's book ages ago at a craft fair in Guildford, but he was very keen to tell me that they were all available in Welsh on request - give them a ring and ask. That would really annoy your PILs!

Bi-lingualism is definitely something that makes us English paranoid cos so few of us can speak a second language - and I'm sure that is the only reason the Welsh keep their language alive, so you can slag us off and we won't understand!

poppy, can you ask your specialist about your duct - I wouldn't do anything until then if I were you.

Just had MW appt and Bill is still transverse so be prepared for lots of panic on my part if the little darling doesn't move in the next few weeks .

Oh, and eating, Alex now wants a spoon/fork and plate and gets v cross if we take them off him too, but he doesn't use them to eat - just waves them around in Little Emperor fashion!

Yes I am familiar with the little emperor stance sponge - in our house it also involves shouting and pointing at staff (me, the nanny, mickey mouse).
Think will leave it apart from anything else just got out pump and brought back memories - it's a mare to use now let alone when had to keep it sterile .

lol at Alex the little emperor! How far on are you now sponge?

essie - not sure on the machine front. Personally for me I think the novelty would wear off pretty quickly. Do you have a lot of space? I've avoided going to the gym for ages and it's costing me a fortune to not go. Do you have a 'real' bike that you could use in Wales with Iestyn on the back?

Sponge acupuncture can be quite good for moving em. Isn't it post 37 weeks they worry? You could take it as good sign that bill is chilled out have a lie down baby.

ali did you know there is an alypaly on mumsnet?

Oh, Essie, forgot to say - get a Wii, they're fab!

poppy, lol at waving at staff - yes, can relate to that!

ktpie, I'm 27 + 3 now so still early days.

can you tell I'm bored?!

Those of you who've been somewhere warm recently - can I just ask for advice on swimwear? I've always worn a bikini rather than swimsuit but I'm really not sure I can brave it this year. Have got that awful bobbled tummy effect now . What have you worn on hols?

Poppy I think Sponge's advice is the best - I had a panic that you were expressing, getting up milk supply, re-blocking, developing mastitis...and all on my advice!

We get (and have had for some time) little emperor behaviour here, mainly involving the pointing and 'uh uh UHHHHHH' sounds (a la Ann from Little Britain). I call him the Little Dictator (as opposed to that fine Chaplin film...)

Sponge tell me more about Wii! Although I may have had a good idea - Allnew agree about the novelty factor - I could hire one! And, the Reebok one folds small.
Also if you do hear people speaking Welsh, they are more than likely slagging you off. The whole of S4C is on that basis - light entertainment with slagging off in spades, and it's likely to be you personally if you hear it.

Allnew my top swimwear tip is Lands End who do (a) flattering swimwear and (b) tummy control swimwear. They have a suit called 'no ride' or something equally stupid similar because it doesn't ride up. Guaranteed. Personally I still wear my tankini but I seriously hang out of it.

Tugless, that's the one.

The Wii was my No 1 fitness tool in the brief period between pgs! It's versatile, loads of different activites, can use it anytime, it monitors your fitness levels, can do yoga, aerobic exercise, balance exercise, etc, etc. Mine is now gathering dust but will be back in action in November.

You can also play games against Tim plus I'm hoping to get Alex involved too when he's older!

Oh, and I know the whole of S4C is dedictated to me and what a bad person I am - I watched it when on holiday in June and heard my name mentioned several times, along with gales of laughter and raised eyebrows!