Dec 08 - 9 months in, 9 months out!

[jumpjockey]

Hope you don't mind the dodgy thread name but all our babies are 9 months old now or in the next few weeks

Hey all, sorry for lack of personals, am a bit bleary on lack of sleep. Last three nights have been horrendous, DD waking virtually every hour through the night. I have no idea why. No signs of illness, more or less fine in teh day. Teething, is all I can assume. But wouldn't she be grumpy in day too if that was the case?? How long will it go on??

Also can I ask a quick question? What sort of naps are your DCs doing these days - how long after they get up do they go down again? Naps have turned into Screamfest 2009 round our way, DD just immediately crawls down the cot, stands up and HOWLS at the top of her lungs and could apparently do that for ever. I don't know when to put her down. This morning (after an apalling night again) she fell asleep on me for 25 minutes and that's all she's done so far today and is now HOWLING away again in cot because I put her down (she was frantically rubbing her eyes and grizzling)

My eyes sting with tireness and i am a bit at my wit's end. Help kind people help!

Kiwi: DS2 depends to fall asleep in the buggy as my CM and I both tend to be out and about in the mornings. Afternoon naps are more random, but I'll sometimes feed him to sleep in our bed and grab a nap at the same time (ds1 permitting). Or we're often out in the afternoon as well - about to head out soon in fact so DS2 should drop off.

Hello all I have copied Aub(lol) and changed to my other name - sick of using my initials I used it awhile back when I was first ttc, but decided it's time for a change. I'm sure you can all figure it out from personals! Hello Aub!

Jolly sorry I meant that one for Jam (I think )

Veggie bummer about the house.... is Leo going with you?

KATIE!!!!!! Test!! 2 words for you - FIRST RESPONSE!! Good luck, thanks for the update, I can't wait! No news on that front here, however not for lack of trying I'll be doing my usual early testing in a couple of weeks!

Kiwi hope you get some rest. DS usually wakes around 7am and then is back down once in the morning and anywhere from 40mins - an hour and a half, and then again in the afternoon usually around 2pm and it's been about an hour so far. He does stand up, hold on and scream bloody murder, but then it stops really suddenly which is weird. It's a new thing as I've only noticed it in the last 2 weeks or so, and it takes about 5-10 mins until it suddenly stops. If he hasn't had enough sleep in the afternoon he wakes up and cries no matter what I do for about 15-20 mins which he's only recently started doing.Apart from that he is in Bed at 7pm for the night and unless his teeth are particularly bad, he is usually ok all night. I must admit though, I do leave him cry when he is doing that stand up thing, as if I keep laying him down, it makes him worse. My latest problem is if I'm out during the day or for dinner he will not nap at all in the buggy like he used to, but he will in the car.
Anyway, back later...

and he's awake...... Kiwi that was about 1hr 10min.....

Love the names Aub and Rub!!

We are going to London for 1 night on the 13th November. We are staying near Earl's Court and I was wondering if anyone could recommend a nice restaurant nearby?

I can't wait to go. Will be nice to just have a night for the 2 of us.

Hi there ladies have been lurking on and off all day and now can't remember who said what.

I must add my voice to the pro aubergine lobby. I don't just love them, I'm obsessed with them. Back home I have an Aubergine stove top kettle, salt & pepper shakers and a garbage bin I painted to look like an Aubergine. Jordi has a little aubergine man I got him from green baby. In Australia we call the Eggplant, I once dabbled in webdesign and was going to start a company called eggplant.com. I also have a running argument with DH about to salt or not to salt, I just think he has crap tastebuds and can't taste if they are bitter. However, DH does make the best aubergine dish it's an indonesian one and the Aubergine just melts in the mouth mmmmm. We always get 2 aubergines in our shop everyweek so he can make it (though I salt the aubergines before he cooks it obviously).

Someone ask how I'm feeling about the move. I waver between excited, stressed and occasionally lapse into a kind of vegetative state when it all gets a bit much. I'm constantly stopping mid sentence and start starring into space. We have a week and half til will leave and things are getting tense. DH is quite stressed. Poor DS1 is picking up on it and is himself a bit sad and is being a bit naughty. He was acting up tonight and I asked him what was wrong he started crying and said he is going to miss Derby and wants to take it with him.

I may have to meet on weds cos the removal company may want to pack us up on Thursday but we are trying to convince them to do it Friday. I can't believe we will have to pack a suitcase of clothes to last us a month!

I have made a massive batch of green tomato chutney today. I picked 5kg of green tomatoes from our three tomato plants that I pulled up yesterday. The garden looks so different now. I've repopulated the veggie garden with some shrubs, I'm quite pleased it looks really nice.

Katie I have an I idea. I have a left over preg test from boots that I got a few months ago when I thought I was up the duff. I could post it to you and when you get it that's when you take the test OR you could just do it NOW!

Oh and she that was previously known by her initials, and then changed and was referred to by her initials in reverse...I like the new name. Any reason for Rubena?

Kayzr Oo I love recommending restaurants. What sort of food do you like? Or particularly not like?

I had "ooo does she understand me?" moment with DD just now. Was reading her a bedtime story (which I don't usually do because she's such a wriggler she just fights me and is desperate to get off my lap) and everytime I said "where's the panda DD?" she pointed or whacked the panda picture. Could that be or is it just a coincidence? Have no idea what sort of age they would do that. Would be very happy if she did though because I have a longstanding panda obsession...

Kiwi we like most stuff. We don't like sushi. Well we've never tried it but I just don't fancy it really. We really love Indian and Italian.

Clever BabyPanda!

DS2's latest thing is climbing the stairs unaided. Though he gets about half way and gets bored so we end up havin to carry him.

Kiwi - sorry you are having rubbish sleeping. IME teething doesn't necessarily mean much day time grumpiness (too much interesting stuff going on!) but miserable nights. As far as nap goes, DS is particularly cooperative and he will nap for about an hour in his cot in the morning (around 9 ish) and maybe 1-2 hours in the afternoon. He doesn't get too upset if we mess with this and if we put him in his cot and he doesn't feel like sleeping he just burbles to himself/plays with his toys. BUT DD was a completely different story. Gave up her morning nap pretty early and I never worked out the knack of getting her to sleep in her cot in the afternoon - it was always a bit of a screamathon. I think her nanny just used to plonk her up there and after a while she got the message and slept for a bit, but personally I tended to find it easier to go for a walk when she would sleep in the buggy. She gave up napping altogether by the time she was 2. Sorry, that probably doesn't help much!
On the up side - yes, babyKiwi is likely to be telling you something. DS isn't up to much on that front, but DD was definitely starting to do animal noises and asking for "drzoo" (Dear Zoo) by this sort of age.

Kayz - the stair climbing thing is a bit nervewracking isn't it? DS has been doing that kind of thing - totally startled this morning when I was getting ready for work and found DS charging at me having made his way up the stairs on his own...

As far as restaurants go, don't know the Earl's Court area that well, but there are some decent Iranian restaurants round there if you fancy something a bit different. They tend to be slightly basic ethnic restaurants though so not sure its what you're after for a romantic night out.

hello
Kiwi that's exciting! LadyT's dd does the pointing thing with animals in a book - you must have clever genes Sympathies on the rubbish nights. I'm right there with you .
P is waking loads again and I'm just going straight to her and offering the boob, which usually settles her but not always. I can't be bothered doing anything else at the moment, and all the crying and lack of sleep was getting me down...a slippery slope that I definitely want and need to avoid, so I just recognised my signs, listened to myself and am going with the flow. I'm tired from getting up lots of times but it's not as completely draining as listening to hours of crying.
P's eyes have cleared up loads so the mean old eye drops are worth it. How are L's eyes Jolly?
Well Phoebe has finally realised she has muscles in her legs and pulled herself to standing today . She held the TV unit and then let go with one hand to wave at me! I'm putting a pic on my profile. It's a nude one though - is that allowed?! She looks so chunky on it it's hilarious!
Lucy has been dry again today so I think we may be over the worst of that too. She's ever so emotional but I think tiredness hits at the end of term - and TBH she's not been right since the dancing shows with the 2 very late nights.
So kiwi why pandas?! I'm rather fond of meerkats personally
Veggie you amaze me too with your attitude to life and your ability to sdapt to whatever situation life throws at you. I'm sure ds1 will keep talking to you and sharing his feelings and that he'll soon make new pals in his new place.
Rub your last name made me think of 'pink' and now I'm thinking of Ribena!
kiwi re naps - When she's at home P usually goes down for a nap pretty well at about 9.30 ish (ie about 3 hours after getting up), and sleeps for about 30 mins. The I put her back down after her lunch (usually about 12.30 or 1.00ish) and again she sleeps for 30 mins or sometimes an hour. She does the whole eye rubbing thing and just gets grumpy and won't play. SHe does protest at first but I walk away and she whimpers for just a minute or 2 before settling. On her nursery days she tends to last until about 11.00 then has a 30 min nap, then has a second one mid afternoon for about 30 mins. She actually sleeps best in her cot or in the car and will NOT sleep in her buggy because there are far more interesting things to see and do than fall asleep!
Aub nice name . I have to say I'm a rather ignorant in the aubergine department. DH sometimes cooks with them, but I tend to look at them in the supermarket and think "I don't know what to do with that!" so never buy them . Maybe someone could post a tasty aubergine recipe for me to attempt to introduce me the world of aubergines!
effie I like the idea of a book swap, although from other people's posts I think my literary level might be somewhat inferior . I tend to read funny stuff and light hearted no-brain-required books!
I have to go to a meeting tomorrow, even though it's normally my day off, so I'm leaving P with MIL. I've not left her with her before so I hope they are nice to each other! ZJ how are things with E and your mum?
Right must go.
Night xxx

Oh Kayzr do you like Chinese? One of my favourite restaurants - best Chinese in London IMO - is very near Earl's Court, place called Taiwan Village - here's the website. If you fancy a blow out the chef does an amazing leave-it-him menu - about a zillion courses and even my pig of a DH admits to being stuffed after that. It's all seasonal/whatever he has in the kitchen though you can say what you don't like or if you don't eat e.g fish or something. I think that's about £25 a head (for about 7 course) but it's not expensive generally. Oh, and the woman who runs it LOVES babies too, we took DD there at about 3 months and she practically kidnapped her

nudey standing Phoebe now available for all to see on my profile

Invis Oh that's interesting what you say about nights vs days with teething. I think it must be - she's got one of her bottom teeth now but no sign yet of the other, so could well be on it's way. Just hope tonight is better...

Trace The panda thing is lifelong - first toy I was given and it started from there (still have him, and DD is NOT allowed to maul him, he's to be treated with respect ) The level of my obsession is demonstrated by the fact that three of my recent birthday cards, from sister, parents-in-law adn brother-in-law were exactly the same picture of a panda ...

kiwi - in answer to naps... even though nights are so much better, naps have been a mystery. millpond were recommending we try for a 45min nap at 10am, then at 1.30 for 90 mins. yeah, right. madam won't sleep in her cot for me during the day - she screams and screams and i know i'll just end up trying to boob her to sleep, and i don't want to go back to that. she has however, gone to sleep for my godmother who played hard ball and let her scream, and for a friend of mine who sang her to sleep. anyaway i have discovered the joys of the pushchair being wheeled back and forth in the hallway - if she is tired, it will take 3 mins to get her to go to sleep - it is so dark and cosy in there, i think that also helps. however, the timings have now gone shot to shit - this morning she napped for TWO HOURS. honestly - who stole my non-napping baby??? this afternoon, even though she didn't seem especially tired, i knew she must be, so i made her go to sleep (in the buggy again) and she slept for 25 mins from 3.45. she goes to sleep at 7.30 at night and wakes anything from 5.30-6.30. am slightly worried i am creating a bad sleep association with the buggy during the day, but i feel we've cracked the nights (fingers crossed), and i don't have the strength to make her cry during the day.

katie - gosh gosh gosh. waiting with baited breath. we have pulled the goalie, as it were, but seeing as i've had only 2 proper periods and those were 10 weeks apart, and my periods have always been ridiculously irregular, i don't reckon i'll get up the duff any time soon. trying to conceive madam i was taking my temperature and charting cm etc, and without that i don't think we'll get lucky, but if we do, we do and we'll be thrilled (hoping we don't mc again which i understand is likely, seeing as it happened twice before madam). maybe after christmas i'll start charting. who knows??? it took us 7 months to conceive first time, one month second time, and 4 months for madam. who knows.

kiwi - just told dh about that restaurant. we may have to visit it soon - i am drooling!

veggie - good luck for the move. i also think it's a good idea to be in some temporary accommodation so you can find somewhere lovely when you get there. friends of ours lived in amsterdam for a couple of years - you're going to love it. a wonderful standard of living there.

oh, and could someone please post an aubergine recipe? i've got one in the fridge and only know how to put it in ratatouille. i love aubergine in restaurants, but don't have much confidence in rl.

Hi everyone, how are you all? I'm sorry I've been AWOL for a while, but have been busy with a job application that I have just sent off - phew! Wish me luck

Would love to do personals to everyone, but haven't posted properly for dozens of pages now and although I've been lurking and reading your news it would take me forever and a day to say everything I'd like to. So I'm only going to comment on the last page or so, please please forgive my lack of attention to you all.

On naps kiwi, DD and I struggled hugely at around 4 to 5 months, as she just fought and fought it and we regularly spent many hours a day crying at each other. My only solution to the problem was to accept that napping is not going to be something that DD will be putting on her CV and letting her go with it. We now normally get around 30 to 45 minutes in the morning and afternoon, at varying times depending on what time she woke, if we're out and about at all, what direction the wind is in etc etc. However it seems to have picked up since she started crawling and she's tiring herself out more and is more willing to nap in her cot when she starts grizzling and rubbing her eyes. Also the cold weather seems to be improving things - she always napped very well as a tiny baby, when wrapped up cosy in her pram and left outside, and now that she's being wrapped up in her fleecy foot muff in the buggy is going back to happily sleeping in the windiest and coldest spot I can find. As you can see, I can take no credit for her improved napping, so I hope you either find something that does work for your DD or hope that some random factors (like crawling and cold weather) collide to help you out

Trace P is too cute for words - how proud of herself is she for standing up! Do you get half term off? I hope you get lots of rest and lots of quality time with L - I'm sure with both of those you'll all be feeling chirpier again. I also have an inferior level of literary appreciation, so we can swap low level book recommendations!

DD's favourite meal is ratatouille with lots of aubergine, so she would love all this aubergine chat And on food, I have loads of green tomatoes too Veggie. Please can you post your recipe (if you have time between all your packing), as I really don't want to chuck them.

A great big wave and a hug to Effie, Daisy, LadyT, Verso, Urbane, Sybil, JJ, Katie, Tilly, Kayz, Jolly, Spot, Invisible, Indith, SL, WG, Turnip, NAJN, MOM and Aubergine and Rubena (love the new names) - and anyone else who has posted recently that I might have missed

I've been having an emotional few days - my parents move on Thursday, out of the house I grew up in, and I'm feeling very sad at all the memories . DH and I had our wedding reception at their house, my first dog is buried there, I first drove my car there (into the hedge ) etc etc. However on a positive note, I've taken delivery of their piano today and its beautiful in our lounge. I tried to have a tinkle of the old ivories, but can't read music anymore so will be tracking down a piano teacher for a few lessons.

And also I know 2 people (one a good friend, another a friend of a friend) who've had babies this month and who are both poorly - my friends baby has kidney problems and faces an operation in the coming months, which although is supposed to be routine and not risky, she has had her christened in a rush so I suspect they are more worried than they are letting on. And my friend of a friend's baby has already had open heart surgery twice in as many weeks, and so nearly lost his fight during the second op . I just can't imagine how horrific it would be to be in their shoes. This last week I've been daily counting all my blessings, if all I have to worry about is DD refusing my lovely home cooked food or showing a bit of a penchant for biting me at the moment, then I am just the luckiest Mum around.

I promise to be a better MN-er again, now I've got my CV done and dusted, so will be back again soon. Good night everyone, sleep tight babies xx

Hello kids

Good to see you all!

Just got back from Bruges (and France and Mum's and London, prior to that) so I have only skimmed for now.

It was all fabby but I am super glad to see vegetables again. Too much cheese, too much wine, too much living out of a suitcase. But I am not moaning really!

Loving the new names, Aubi (Aub makes it look like an abbreviation of Aubrey, which makes me chuckle for some reason) and Rubi I am musing getting one for myself but it will be a modification rather than a dramatic change. Otherwise I won't feel like me.

Loving the chat about books (you highbrow lot - you all seem to like a bit of swash and buckle. I am reading a book about poker at the mo) and Iran (my DH went several times but I didn't make it).

Massive hug to our Trace. And for Spot's little T. And Indith. And anyone else in need of it. Kayz, I am with you on the weight thing, I feel like I am wearing a fat suit, but it can be done. And it will be done!

WG - I will post an aubergine recipe tomorrow. Love 'em.

Right, off for a shower in an attempt to calm down before bed. I feel very hyped up. You know what it's like when you get back from a break. Goodnight my dears.

Morning.

Trace P is so cute!! Glad you are feeling a bit better. D is still up every night despite the HV saying he shouldn't be, but then again they think all babies should sleep through from 12 weeks. Not sure how they can say that all babies should sleep through as they are all different.

Kiwi thank you. That restaurant looks lovely. I'm going to trawl through the menu and show DH. I really want to go to Atol Kutcher's restaurant as I love indian but I think I might need to win lottery first.

RE Aubergines. I have never ever had them. So I'll also give them a try. We made some ratatouille for DS1 when he was younger but we never tried any.

LadyT glad you had a nice time away. It is nice to have you back.

Hope everyone is ok. I'd better get up and get ready for work.

Having mentioned to DH last night that AF was late, I finally bowed to pressure this morning and tested, BFN I'm afraid. So those of you living vicariously through my conception possibilities will have to wait at least another month I'm afraid. I'm pretty nonchalant about it at the moment as I am both a bit happy and a bit sad that it's not this month. We'll just have to jump back on the bandwagon so to speak .
On other news, this is seriously outing myself, but if anyone has a chance to see the Daily Express today, DS and I are on page 35!
I also got a letter through yesterday saying that I have been nominated by the police for a High Sheriffs Award for bravery! Do you remember when I stupidly tackled a robber at our local Post Office when I was 7 months pregnant? Well they obviously think that was brave, not stupid, so have to go and collect my award on 12th November, it's a bit embarassing really .
Right, must do some work whilst DD is napping, hope everyone has good days.

Go Katie!

LadyT: I thought of Aubrey as well, mostly cos I still think we should have given it to DS2 as a middle name. I think Maximilian Aubrey sounds lovely but DH flatly rejected it. I was talking about names the other day and remembered a conversation we had:

'What about Gideon?
'Bullied.'
'Gilbert?'
'Bullied by Gideon'

Will have a think about the book idea, would an extra thread be too much to keep up with?

That is referring to awards for tackling crims, not TTC

Yay Katie! For the bravery award, not the BFN - can well imagine that sad/pleased combo.

Effie, I like Aubrey actually but it was more imagining Arti as an Aubrey, as I do think of a jovial, portly vicar. I'm up for a books thread for us. Why not?

I have to wait for DP to come home to post the aubergine recipe. I'm not the chef in this house

Here's my aubergine recipe. Eggplant parmesan (sp?). Cut aubergine into thick slices (about 1.5 in) and brush both sides with olive oil. Put on parchment lined cookie sheet in 200 d oven for about 20-30 mins until quite soft and browning. While aubs are roasting, make a tomato sauce with fresh or tinned tomatoes (or open a jar ). When aubs are cooked, smear a few tbsps of tomato sauce in the bottom of an oven proof dish (just to avoid sticking), lay a single layer of aubergine slices, top with rest of the tomato sauce. Top each aubergine slice with slice of fresh mozzarella and grated parmesan (or top with any cheese you have lying around). Bake until heated through and cheese melted. Voila!

Hello everyone,

kiwi Naps are a bit hit and miss here since DD get to sitting. I found her the other day asleep sitting up slumped over the legs . I tend to put her down at the same time routine wise - so in the morning we have nappy, bottle, play, breakfast, short play whilst I tidy, nappy change into day clothes, into cot, nap - whether she seems tired or not. Once DD starts rubbing her eyes etc she is usually overtired so I try and get her before that happens. WHen we have non nap phases I try to ride it out or take her out to nap in her pram.

Thanks all for asking after DD. I am glad to report her eyes are clear and she is eating and sleeping once more. She has lost weight though, her chubby cheeks have gone smaller.

Aub Love the name! I have a great recipe for stuffed grilled aubs if anyone fancies that! We should have a 'veg of the month' and share our recipes .

zoe Good luck with the job! If you read music before it will come back. I started playing the flute a few years ago (hadly played since DD was born - wrist slap for me) and at first I couldn't remember a single note (I'd learnt to read music to play the recorder and percussion at school) but it came back really quickly.

I felt sad thinking about your parents leaving your childhood home. I'd feel the same if my parents moved - all those buried pets things like our height chart written on the wall by the cellar.

Sorry to hear about your friends babies. It really does make me count my blessings.

katie Well done you on the award! Sorry to hear about the BFN.

With the book thread would we each offer up some books we have in our collections we would be willing to post out (postal strikes allowing!) or are we just sharing ideas?

effie That's funny! I like Gideon and Aubrey.

I'm not sure why but that reminded me of a conversation DH and I had the other day.

JB "DD is so beautiful"
DH "Of course she is she looks like you"
JB "Don't be silly she is much more beautiful"
DH "Yes you are right, she is like you but with the improvement of me"

Backhanded compliment there somewhere!

Sorry no time to post but ZJ type green tomato chutney into google and pick the bbc good food website link. I didn't cut the sultanas up though, who has time to cut up 500gm of sultanas!

We have much stress in casa veggie (or should I say veggiehuis) DH's new work is holding back on hardcopy of contract and asking us to not pay for removal just yet!!!! Sure it will be fine but just adding to stress!