Dec 08 it's time for sippy, tippy and doidy cups (& wee sticks!?!)

[Veggiemummy]

sorry could think of much and these where discuss on last page.

traceface you can have a HUGE helping, there is enough to feed the five thousand...

I am sure DS2 just said doughnut. DH said it then it sounded like DS2 said it after him. We've tried getting him to say it again to no avail. Was quite funny though.

TRACE !!!!!!!!! THAT IS FANTASTIC! i hope tonight goes as well, although what with the change of parent, your boobs coming with you no matter which t-shirt you wear, and sod's luck, it may not be. but that is so fantastic i am so pleased for you. there is hope for all of us.

mom - oh, hon, that sounds rubbish rubbish rubbish. poor you. it must be so upsetting to be so far from home, a guest, and unable to do quite what you need/want.

well, fil has a date for his operation - 25th. radiotherapy beforehand, then we will only know what we are dealing with when they operate.

dad is doing surprisingly well (apart from when he's had a couple of whiskeys) - he's rubbish on crutches, but is being a good patient, and has been v helpful with madam. he is now back with his sister, having had a long-standing cataract operation today. so blind, as well as lame. great! hopefully not for long. it appears ladyfriend is back on the scene - coming down to look after him this weekend (?!?!?!?!?!) and i am simply grateful and not asking any more questions.

i've had a couple of days of losing my confidence with madam, don't know why. weaning doesn't help - she is so random about when she will eat and when she won't - she has also learned to scream and sometimes does so all the effing time, and i don't know why. i hate weaning! why can't they just have boob until suddenly somehow they start eating roast dinners of their own accord (and possibly cooking them as well).

we are though getting somewhere with the sleep thing. like trace, dh is going in whenever she wakes and tries to settle. only if settling takes more than 15 mins and she sounds like she is being strangled am i going in with the big guns(!). this means that for the last few nights madam has woken about 2-3 times, but only needed boob once. she is waking early (6/6.30), but that is fine. we are getting there, but i suspect there will be some crying it out at some point as naps are a different matter and she and i are so used to feeding her to sleep, it may be a different story.

other news: i have been offered 1 day a week work (and possibly another half day) - and i have provisionally accepted. gulp. this means we have to get madam on some sort of other milk feeding device and a way of getting her to go to sleep without those big guns so some other poor person can look after her for a day. don't know who that will be, but i think we will try to cope with friends/family for the term - it is only 10 days i need help for.

happy nights to you all, if possible.

Good morning!
Phoebe only woke up twice last night, and both times I just went in, put my hand on her (clad in dh's dressing gown, which is admittedly rather stinky!) and she settled back to sleep within minutes, with hardly any crying! So that's 3 nights with no milk - so I'm not going to go back on that now. I guess she just needs to stop waking up now

WG sounds like you're heading in a good direction too. It has actually been far less painful than I anticipated. Night 1 was the hardest when we had 35 minutes of crying, of the type where I was adamant that there was no way she would settle without boob, but dh insisted I give him longer, and he was right. Since then it's just got easier and better . Hope your night went well. As for the work thing - P will not take any milk (ebm, cows milk, formula) from anything, and she starts nursery in 4 weeks . I spoke to my HV and she said that if she is having BF morning and night and plenty of dairy (yoghurts, butter or milk added to solids) then she won't be lacking. From a thirst point of view P will accept about 2-3oz of water from a bottle over a day, so she will have BF when she wakes, solids and snacks in the day and water offered with them, then BF before bed. She has dropped the mid morning BF on her own, so I'm just trying to wean her off the afternoon one in time for September. I'm trying to replace it with a snack, so rice cake or toast or yoghurt and water, so she has that to keep her going between lunch and tea. Sorry to waffle - just thought it might take the pressure off you trying to get milk in her.

DH rang last night from the campsite up Mam Tor in Derbyshire. Lucy sounded sooooooooo happy and part of me wished I was with them, but the other part was quite happy I was at home with my book in my double bed .

I have just demonstrated to myself why Lucy calls me a clumsy clot. Having burnt my arm on the iron on Wednesday I have a fairly big raw gash in my arm, and I just managed to walk into the door frame in such a way that the metal door catch bit went right in the middle of the burn. ow. Oh well, at least my hand isn't stuck in a jar of jam

ZJ I forgot to say when you said you'd worn a normal bra...I was so excited about going out and wearing a non-feeding bra and top, but when it came to it not one of my bras fitted my silly big bazookas so I ended up in a nursing one after all!

ok must go and do something constructive while P naps.

see you later xxxx

Trace, I am so pleased for you! And WG too. WG, it's good about your dad's LF - and the job!

I still haven't heard anything from work, it's really getting me down. Twelve hucking years I worked for them and I made them a stack of money. I wish I could just stay at home, tbh, and look after DD and do my writing, but it's not financially viable. I am a sociable person and it's pretty isolating here but with the wireless, the internet (and Cash in the Attic once in a while - a terrible show but strangely addictive) - I would be fine...I've never really been the type to get bored.

Mom, I understand how it can be a strain staying with others for extended periods - even relatives. Maybe you could politely give them a little more direction about the help you want? I hope you are guitar strumming before long, anyway!

Kayz, glad the driving went ok. Everytime you post about it, it reminds me that I MUST get back into it...I passed my theory test last September and I know it runs out after a while and you have to do it again. Not sure when, must check!

Well, I can't be gassing on here, much as I'd like to. PMK, are you still watching Big Brother? I watch it a fair amount (not every time it's on) and so I will be glad when it finishes as it is wasting my time

Lady I hope your employer find a shred of decency soon... that's appaling treatment, especially how long you've been with them, and how hard you've worked etc... Big Brother - unfortunately yes - it's so bad but it's so addictive to me I'm embarresed to say- double I can honestly say though, that this years and last year were the only one's I've ever watched... I actually used to think people who watched it must be bored to death.... and then I got pregnant..... and it started, and now i'm actually sky plusing it if I miss it ... so it goes on....
I'm just an all round reality TV addict. X factor I'm a fan of too.... Right that's enough of exposing my mind numbing reality tv show addicitions.... hope you will all still talk to me
Fantastic new Trace.... Hope it continues for you... ds has been textbook here so i won't say too much!
WG good news for you too, getting there. I have days where I feel like that. it's usually when I'm around friends with babies. Don't know why, I've managed 8 months fine, but I really worry too much about what others think, and I must stop - I always think people will judge me.

I'm not sure what to do work-wise either. My StatMP runs out in Sept. I can stay off 3 more months and get leave paid out over that time or can have leave in a lump sum and go back to work part time, so I'm trying to weigh up cost of childcare vs income. I think I know which one will win! I also don't know what mil is thinking as I think she is retired very soon, but then i'm not sure about asking her straight out - don 't know why, might get dh to. Then there's a friend who would like to work opposite days and look after each others kids on our days off - but then that would be two little one's every time I'm on days off which would get exhausting - especially if I get pregnant! Oh what to do what to do!

trace and WG - so pleased for you on the sleep front, that's fabulous!! As trace says, don't worry too much about what they do when you go back to work - they'll be fine. I spent I don't know how many sleepless nights worrying about DD would do when I went back to work (she also wouldn't take any kind of milk from any kind of container other than me and needed a boob to sleep). You know what, she never did learn to bottle feed, but managed just fine - just consumed vast quantities of soya yoghurt and I indulged her with the odd night feed.

LadyT - so sorry that work is being so rubbish. At the risk of sounding fogeyish its really sad that these days you don't get that relationship of mutual loyalty between employer and employee. I remember naively how sad I was when I left my first job (after 6 years) - I'd kind of grown up there and somewhow never thought I would leave. Never had as much emotionally invested since as I know now that employers are quite happy to do you over when it suits them, no matter what you've done for them in the past.

MoM - being a houseguest with small children is hard! Hope things settle a bit and you get to enjoy the rest of your trip more.

Kayz - good luck with the driving - you're doing fantastically well just to keep at it. I'm afraid I'm not really the person for advice as I never really got on with it. Did finally pass my driving test after 6 tries, but haven't really driven since .

Just discovering what havoc 2 children have wreaked (sp?) to my stamina. I went out for dinner with a friend on Tuesday, very modest, couple of glasses of cheerfulness, back home by 10.30. Its now Friday. Still knackered. It was worth it though to feel like a real person.

Big Brother talk, others please skim!

PMK - I watch celebrity BB but the last 'civilian' one I watched was in 2006. And before that...the first one ever! No one is really that nice in this one. I used to like Rodrigo but I find him dull now. I used to like Bea but I think she is a pain in the neck now - just full of herself and a bit superior. Marcus is interesting because he is so selfish. I think Siavash is probably the most decent among them so I have decided I want him to win. And how thick is Dogface?? "Fishmongle"?

HI Invis - the thing is, I think some companies ARE decent (or at least have structures in place to ensure they are so!) My company is a very small company and I think that doesn't help as it feels so personal.

Glad you had a night out though!

Right, off to do work.

Hmm well I work for a company that talks the talk but seems rather more reluctant to actually well, walk the walk.. Mind you that may be just because I had the world's most depressing conversation with my boss the other week where she basically said "we're all doomed, everyone's doomed, the end of the world is night". God knows if I'll have a job to go back to...

I also seem to have having a crisis of confidence with DD. She's just been so grumpy the last few days and nothign seems to work except holding her. She won't even let me sit down holding her or sit on my knee, no, I have to be holding her in my arms standing up. Last night was pretty grim and I am SO tired. Hey ho.

Random aside: I have just seen a trailer for Ingloriuous (or however it's mispelled) Basterds on morning tv.. and they censored the Basterds. FFS.

I guess I've always worked for biggish places. None of my employers have been terrible, its just that when push comes to shove its always their bottom line at a particular moment in time that counts. No sense of a long term relationship! I guess the personal dimension is hard. In a bigger place, things can always be blamed on nebulous higher powers, but actually it always basically feels like its between you and your boss. It sounds over the top to say it, but at the end of my first job I kind of felt betrayed (although very much my choice to leave). Anyway, all slightly irrelevant ramblings. Just sorry they aren't being more helpful.

I think that's it, exactly. Big companies leave you feeling that you are a tiny cog in a bigger machine (and that that machine is currently driving headfirst over a cliff, in the case of my industry). Then again I used to work as a freelance for tiny companies and then you really do feel betrayed when there is no more work for you, and betrayed on a regular basis.

You can't win can you? I'm holding out for the lottery win early-retirement plan. I think it's a completely realistic option, except stupid DH KEEPS buying the wrong kind of lottery ticket. The kind that doesn't win £15 million.

Hi

Trace you are doing so well. Hope she stops waking up soon.

Not sure what is going on with my job. My manager wants to talk to me. I have said I am going back Monday, tuesday and Wednesday, if he says no to that then I won't be going back. But if I don't go back then I have to give up driving lessons.

The lottery win would be lovely wouldn't it! I think I'd always like to do some kind of work, but it would be lovely to please myself...The freaky thing is I actually know 2 people who won lotteries many many moons ago - not the big prize in either case, but enough to buy homes outright. I guess by the peculiar laws of probability that means no chance for us then!

I would love to win the lottery. I could pay for a nurse for my grandad so my nan doesn't have to do it all. Despite them both working all of their lives they have got to pay for a nurse to look after him so my nan refused and does it all herself.

Ooohh a lotto win would be fab! I wouldn't really want millions just enoough to buy a nice house outright and not have to be a slave to the salary (and a few pairs of Jimmy Choo's )

Trace, fab news on P's sleeping! We gave DS supper again last night he woke once which was much better. He did require a feed to go back to sleep but he didn't want much.

Ladyt that is particularly bad about your employers. Am both and that they are treating you this way. But as I have learnt over the years loyalty seems to count for nothing as far as some are concerned. I hope things get sorted for you soon. From experience I find the hanging around not knowing where you stand the worst part.

I don't think I would want millions. Just enough to pay of our debts, my parents debts, buy a house in the lakes and have enough to not have to work unless we wanted too. Oh and to pay for all the dec 08 ladies to meet in Paris for a weekend away!! I do have a euromillions ticket for tonight.

evening
I've been on a cleaning frenzy! P fast asleep, DH and L due back from camping any time...so I've cleaned the bathroom, vacuumed all the carpets, mopped the kitchen floor, cleaned the surfaces and even cleaned inside the bin! It was all long overdue
Am going to chill out with my feet up now (which is usually a surefire way of dh and L returning home...)
P has seemed a bit off it at times today and has a rash Just viral looking and she's not got a fever, but just not herself. She's had a green snotty nose for weeks and weeks and I don't know whether to take her to the GP or not. She's not ill and I'm not really worried about her, but it's thick and green, which makes me think infection, but I guess it's probably just viral. She's coughing quite a lot but mainly during/ after a sleep when all the gunk has slipped down onto her chest!
She has some new tricks though! She can crawl now (albeit rather slow and wobbly) and she can clap! I say "Phoebe clap hands" and she does! It's really funny - like she's a real little human who understands!!!!
I knew it - they're home!
Goodbye quiet me time, hello whirlwind!

oh and where's veggie?

Trace I think Veggie is in Holland. They are definatly on holiday.

Evening all, just stopping by quickly to say whether its the NCSS or something else I don't know but last night, dd slept from 7.15pm until 6.45am without needing us once! I had the monitor next to me and she squeaked a few times but no crying and no waking up for long enough to make her presence felt

It's only taken 8 months and she may never do it again, but lawks it was a funny feeling this morning to wake up, look at the alarm clock and think "hang on, she really didn't wake up?!"

Mind you it still takes an hour or so to settle her at bedtime - 3 lots of boob, sleepy, lie down, ping back up to standing and then finally lie down and go to sleep. So we're getting there very very gradually. Baby steps as they say!

catch up in the morning, will make dh be on baby duty while I do MN duty

Does anyone else's dh / dp do things dc-related un prompoted? How on earth am I going to go back to work even part time? ds woke at 500 hungry as he's vomited up some of his milk before bed so I was expecting it - dh didn't hear him crying for about 15mins! Finally I begged him to get the milk - (know it's his days off but I was SO tired) and he got it (in a half asleep / Aptamil powder all over the kitchen type of way) and then he went back to sleep!! I fed ds in our bed and then he babbled then screamed as his nappy was dirty and he was right next to dh's ear and dh didn't wake up let alone move!! So I got up....
I think I will announce today, that we have to do a dry run tomorrow for the entire day assuming I am at work and see how he copes! Yesterday he was home from work and went straight to check emails knowing full well that ds would be going to bed about an hour later... Souldn't he want to spend time with him? So he went and put him in the bath etc, but only becuase I asked him to - why does he have to be asked I wish sometimes he would just initiate these things! Claims he does want to spend time with ds after work, but always forgets the time and how late it is - great, another reason he's not going to be able to manage if I go back to work....
It won't all seem as bad later and perhaps I'm blowing it well out of proportion but It makes me angry when I'm tired. He claims that as he knows I'm here he doesn't wake, but if he knew I wasn't and had to wake it would be a different story
ok, rant over....
lady - Big brother eviction - what a let down! How boring!
JJ - GREAT news.....

sorry about my spelling / typing - unprompoted?????

First peep last night was 02.45. I went in, replaced the dummy, put my hand on her back and was back in my bed by 02.48, then she slept till 7.00
So why do I feel like I've been hit by a bus today?!!!
Congrats JJ on the Big Sleep. Maybe 8 months is the magic number!
And where is Lal? We miss you....

Will catch up more later but got dd1 in the bath, all the post-camping trip mess to sort out, and the ILs arriving shortly...

have a good day one and all xxx

right, dh woke at 10 and I had a massive rant at him and he has agreed to do better to prove he can be ok with him so will keep you posted...