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

Have just uploaded a new photo of DS2 on my profile: yes he is that loopy most of the time! Please note smile (for those who have only seen him frowning) and hair a la Viv from the Young Ones. I'm avoiding getting it cut in case it develops into nice ringlets.

trace and effie - love the pictures! They are so adorable.

LadyT - nice to see you back on and glad you had a good time. Is it the Victoria Coren book you are reading? If so, is it any good? Sounded like it might be fun, even though I am not exactly a poker player...

ZJ - best of luck with the job! Can totally understand how you feel about your parents house. I guess you can think about how new people might also be happy there and have good memories of it like you have. So sorry about all those sick babies - you are right, it does put everything else into perspective.

veggie - just keep reminding yourself, in a couple of weeks time it will all settle down!

Invis, it is. She's a friend actually so I must be careful what I say It's more of a character piece, I guess, about the people she meets. It's nicely written. I skim through the technical bits and it's fine.

Yes, ZJ, good luck with the job!

And loving the pics, girls. Effie, Max has a grown up air about him somehow.

Veggie...I think you are taking all of this very well.

Right - HAVE to get on with me work.

Hello everyone!
Quick post from me as DS has been asleep for nearly 2 hours so can't be long now.
I am at MILs for a day, then off to my bros, trying to make the most of last 2 weeks of maternity leave, yikes

On naps, DS is quite good at napping, but he also refuses to settle on his own in the cot during the day. I have to hug him and talk to him so that he can't wriggle around and then he falls asleep on me and I put him in the cot. He will also sleep in pushchair and car too. And he sleeps really late, morning naps are about 11 and afternoon at about 4. Today he slept for about 4 mins in the morning, hence the early and long afternoon nap. I am hoping that becomes the norm to be honest. At what age do they normally drop to one nap a day?

I would be up for a book thread though I fail to read hardly anything these days. I was blaming DS but I think I actually blame my iphone as I spend so sodding long on the thing browsing the internet. Really should read more. I think a new thread would be a good idea for it Effie. Also think I have more lowbrow tastes. I have read the count of monte cristo and did not think it was easy going. It was a long read and quite hard going in places I thought, though I did enjoy it. Quite partial to a bit of swash and buckle though. Oh and on the sharing books, bad timing as DH and I just gave away LOADS of books (probably about 50+). To be honest they were mostly rubbish thrillers of DH's but some others may have been potentially interesting to others (I didn't like any of them though!) But could still be up for swapping ones I have left.

Green tomato chutney is a great idea my friend made some last year (after I managed to kill his tomatoes ) it was yummy.

veggie hope DH's work stuff is fine and just his new work being cautious. You are coping very well with this moving lark, very impressed!

JB (oops just typed you first as BJ, that is not a good nickname!!) I laughed at your conversation with DH. Effie you too at the Gideon/Gilbert convo. I actually quite like both those names!

Like the new Aubergine name! Maybe aub should change her name every month and that is Vegetable of the Month for us to discuss. Perhaps CurlyKale or PurpleSprouting next, hey?

I love aubergines too. My favourite recipe is a Simon Hopkinson one with a peanut/ginger topping. Can't get it here as at MILs and don't have the book. Actually though the ginger and walnut topping is the best bit, not the aubergine itself! Also can't beat a good moussaka!

What is that child doing? He is still asleep!

Oh and hello LadyT glad you had a good time in Bruges. I love Bruges. Also I have recommended on here before but the movie In Bruges is HILARIOUS!

Welcome back LadyT. Glad you had a nice trip. I love the new picture of O on your facebook page. I am mucho jealous of the hair. N has still to sprout a strand.

Brilliant news on the bravery award Katie. Not so great about the BFN but at least you can have some more fun trying.

Kiwi your poor sleep deprived creature. It sounds like you need some help. Could you consider taking advice from Millponds like WG or getting someone like MrsSleep to help out? We have very set nap times here. She has an hour in the morning between 9-10 and then she goes down at 12.30 for 90 mins to two hours. To be honest she does often cry when I put her down, and sometimes wakes and cries after 30 mins, but unless she goes ballistic or keeps going for more than 5 mins, I leave her and she settles. DD1 was more like BabyPanda and I had to push her to sleep in her buggy every day. Then like JB I left her out in the cold as it seemed to have a soperific (sp?) affect.

*Kayz8 - the only place I know near Ealrs Court is The Troubadour cafe. It does do food but is best for breakfasts or coffees. Its quite arty/trendy and I once saw Madonna in there.

I have so many aubergine recipes to share. One of my favourite snacks is a very simple Turkish dish where you slice the aubergine thinly, salt it for a few hours, rinse, fry in olive oil and garlic and then eat with fresh yoghurt spread on each slice. A more substantial recipe for a yummy grilled aubergine salad is:

1. Grill 1kg aubergines whole, turning until the skin is charred and crispy all over and the flesh is soft.

1. When cool, cut off the tops and peel off the skin. Roughly chop.

1. Place a frying pan over a medium heat. Add 6 tbsp oil and when it is hot add 3 cloves of sliced garlic. Fry for a few seconds until the aubergine begins to colour, then add 1 tsp ground coriander seeds and 2 tsp ground cumin seeds.

1. Stir and cook for 10-20 seconds, then add: the chopped aubergine, 1 large skinned and chopped tomato, 1.5 tsp sweet paprika, 5 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley, three tbsp of chopped fresh coriander, and 2 tbsp lemon juice.

1. Stir and season.

1. Turn the heat under the frying pan to low and cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring every now and then. The aubergine is ready when it is no longer watery.

1. To finish, stir in 3 more tbsp fresh coriander.

Hello ! Sorry been lurking for ages and not had time to post. Sadly I am at home today with DS1 as we both had a tummy bug last night (started with 1hr of eachother!) Today he has been absolutely fine, eating custard creams with aplomb while I lie on the sofa feeling sick and exhausted. I mean, he got a lie in till 10:30, I was up at 6am with DS after having been up all last night dealing with icky things ! Thank god for iplayer....

Kiwi I hope sleep has improved for you. DS2 goes to sleep on his own at nap and nighttimes. Sometimes he cries for 5 mins, sometimes he doesnt. We have a baby monitor that plays lullabies to him, I wonder if the consistency of this helps him to go off. He is a good sleeper though. With DS1 we had to do some CC, and if he got ill it would throw his sleeping pattern out for a while after he got better. If DS2 wakes in the night, I breastfeed him, Trace and he usually goes back off again. If its as early as 5am I put him in with us and we all doze off. I would love to have a third but I'm kind of ruling it out now. Even with a good sleeper I'm exhausted and keeping getting ill/run down and stressed at work. I think I will just need to enjoy the two I have. Trace, I hope things are better with you now, you have more to cope with than I do, I hope you have someone to look after you.

Veggie I hope the contracts get sorted soon, I'm amazed you keep a clear head. I've been wondering why I struggle to cope a bit sometimes, and also how other people seem to be having so much more going on but seem to be doing OK. I wonder if I stress about "Getting things right" all the time, rather than getting by. I got very frustrated last week when I spent ages cooking a slow cooked lamb and sweet potato stew, DS1 refused it, DH said it gave him wind, DS2 ate it but made a face, and I thought FFS that cost us at least 5 quid, I wouldnt eat any of it, I spent ages cooking it and now they arent even grateful ! Annoying boys. I'm tempted to ditch the meat and fish and make us all veggie again.

LadyT any luck with career options ? Have you got any exciting plans coming ?

Hello to Aub and Rube I think I know who you are

And Katie, I tried to look at The online version but couldnt see it(not a subscriber), I would have run away

Kayz, I sympathise with the fat feeling, did you try WW ? I found them really good. I hated seeing the blobby person in the mirror, but I think you feel worse than you look IYSWIM I lost 3 stone but tbh I dont feel I look that different as it was so gradual. I'm still slightly overweight as I cant be arsed to do the final push....

Hello to everyone else ! Sadly I'm not an aubergine fan, but thats due to my own culinary disasters with it....

Oh yes, I'm very interested in book recommendations. I'm very fed up of random chick lit picked up in a hurry from the library.

Afternoon all. Much better night and better naps today, hooray. DD is currently pulling ever DVD out of the shelf and decorating the floor with them. I give up trying to tidy up until she sleeps now. Many thanks for all the napping advice everyone - I think it was teething related. She's never been a big daytime sleeper but has done two 45 min naps today which is good for her.

LadyT I worked with Victoria C a while ago, used to work in TV and she presented a series I worked on. Want to read her Poker book but don't think it's something I'll buy until it's out in paperback. Hope she's well!

Has anyone read Wolf Hall? I thought it was brilliant, absolutely loved it. Could definitely do with some book recommendations though. I've just started the new Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy book (number 6 in the Trilogy..) which is good so far, surprisingly close to what Douglas Adams might have written I think.

I've also just bought the new Nigel Slater and think there are loads of lovely aubergine recipes in there. Will post the tastiest if I get time later..

WG You should try Tawian Village, it's gorgeous. I am craving a meal there now, might have to go this weekend. I have been lucky enough to try some of the poshest places in London, Michelin stars etc, for work, and I still reckon it's the best Chinese food in town.

Kiwi - Haven't read Wolf Hall yet, but I have it and am really looking forward to it. I'm a big fan of Hilary Mantel - if you haven't already, try Beyond Black, or Eight Months on Gazzah Street, both brilliant. There's normally a bit of menace to her books, but she also has a wicked sense of humour. Her memoir is also good, but a bit too harrowing. Glad you got some better sleep - I always get caught out by the teething - somehow it isn't always obvious that's what is going on until after the event!

Agree with aub, fried aubergine is great, a real treat of my childhood. Will dig out a proper recipe when I get a moment. Have a slightly unusual stew that gives it sweet and sour treatment (lemon juice, sugar)cooked with onions and tomatoes. Main thing though is just to make sure it gets cooked properly.

I love the sound of Wolf Hall but I haven't bought it yet. I keep thinking that if I'm going to buy Wolf Hall, I may as well buy the whole Booker set from Book People (35 quid), but then I delay because I fear DH will kill me if I bring more books into the house!

Kiwi - Glad things are looking up! Hopefully it was just the same 3 night heebie jeebies that we had! Teeth are same in our house...very little sign during the day (maybe a bit more drool, chewing, runny nappies, nappy rash) but very clear signs at night.

MoM - I'm afraid I did buy the book people set! DH is resigned to the fact that I keep buying books, but in my defence, I am pretty good at culling them pretty regularly, otherwise we would have disappeared under them all by now!

Invis - I think I might just go for it too. It is such a good deal and I will probably end up buying most of them anyway. Better get them in here before DH gets back from his trip this week .

Morning,

I am shattered. DS2 decided to wake at 4 and not go back to sleep. So in the end I brought him into our bed and he promptly went of to sleep but I just could not get back to sleep.

DH is at work until quarter past 1 so I think I might go to bed when he gets in.

Hope you are all well.

Sorry you've had a bad night, Kayz. DS2 slept OK in the early part of the evening, didn't wake for the first time till past ,idnight (good for him) then again at 5. I think someone was asking about sleep clothes: I've actually put a fleecy top on DS2 while he;s in teh cot and it does seem to help. Will keep an eye out for those warm fleecy pj things. It does get a bit chilly in our room (Victorian house, rattly windows). But we've now had our first delivery from the coal man (proper coal merchant in a smock and funny hat) so we have half a ton of the stuff in the tool shed. Much better quality so we have a nice glowy fire downstairs with no smoke. Our local woods sell logs as well which are cut by the forestry volunteers, 2 quid for a bag of oak logs or a fiver for a bootload.

Will start the books thread and post a link, maybe we should start with recommendations then move on to swaps? I have some great books that are now out of print, though I would obviously like them back at some point!

NJAN: I'd stick with veggie food you can all eat. If DH wants meat he can cook it himself. Cooking more than one meal when you're juggling work and childcare is mad

Book thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/postnatal_clubs/847600-Grabbing-some-reading-time-Dec-2008-book-thread?rnd=1256 198389446

Hello all, another lurker back from the depths... DD has been pretty hard work for the last couple of weeks, crying when I put her down but not wanting to be held, refusing to nap etc etc. But today she's finally gone down without a fight so time for a quick update!

Re napping - she's really not been keen on going into the cot, the most success we've had has been walking with her so many of my days are planned around getting her out at about naptime. She's been waking at 6-6.30, looking knackered at about 9, put her in the cot with a big cuddle and she yells til I give up hope and go out walkies at 9.45... Yesterday we had a major miracle though, she hadn't napped in the morning and I was just too tired to fight so put her in the cot with a couple of toys for some 'quiet time', 20 minutes later the babbling had stopped and she was asleep of her own accord this has happened fewer than 5 times so am hoping she might get the hang of it.

Am currently a bit peeved with my dad, he agreed a couple of months ago to babysit dd while DH and I rehearse for and sing a concert. This would involve a few hours in the afternoon, then putting her to bed. He called yesterday and has decided he's not happy with doing it after all, is ok with being in the house once she's asleep but doesn't want to do the active childcare. Fair enough, he's not very good on his legs and isn't really up to chasing round a crawling baby, but that's why we were so chuffed when he'd said he'd do it in the first place - time to spend together with his granddaughter and do some bonding. And now he's not going to so I've got to miss the concert - we can't find anyone else who's able to do bedtime as everyone dd knows fairly well has got nippers of their own so will be busy. Are we the only people who haven't yet had someone else put their baby to bed?? He's the only grandparent anywhere nearby and isn't willing to do any helping out while she's awake - I know we're very lucky to have even one GP nearby but I'm just disappointed he doesn't seem to want to spend time with her.

Anyway - enough moaning.

to catch up on the major developments -

sorry to hear about the BFN katie but hey, lots more trying and what a lovely photo of you and your gorgeous family!

and trace and effie, v cute pics as well. will pop up a couple of dd on my profile.

aubergine and rubena love the names! And all the aubergine recipes are making me v hungry, what a great lot of cooks you are.

oh she stirs - back later hopefully

Ugh another grim night, alas the theory is blow, Mom! Unless we now are in for another grim three nights. Agh.

That book set sounds really good value to me. I bought Wolf Hall and the Children's Book from Amazon cos they were supercheap but that is a good price. Will go check out that book thread now!

JJ No one but me has ever put DD to bed, not even DH. She always has a BF just before bed so that's why, though of course she could have the milk from a bottle if I expressed it, but I don't know how she'd react. My parents are fairly useless when it comes to childcare - they have babysat a few times but like your dad only once she is asleep, and have never looked after her for even 5 minutes when she's awake. DH's parents would LOVE to help out more, particularly his mum, but they just don't live near enough to make it possible. Maybe when we win the lottery and have a house with more bedrooms

Kayzr hope we BOTH have better nights tonight! I'm lucky that DH has day off today so can - and is - doing most of the DD-wrangling. Hope your day is ok.

Hello

Oh Katie, sorry about BFN I know all about that waiting another month stuff but at least you can indulge in a spot of cheerfulness for a bit longer whenever you fancy I was thinking those of you on FB, when I do finally get good news - it stops here ok!

Lady lovely to see you back. We must do lunch soon!

How many of you have stair gates on both top and bottom? I've had another once delivered today as ds crawled up 2 steps when I didn't know he could do that and fell landing face first on the floor with his legs and body still pointing up the stairs

Veggie, why did they say hold off on paying for the removalist? That sounds worrying? Is it all still going ahead? or is it just the time fram etc?
OH gosh the most horrible thing is on the tv - womans dh took kids out and met mistress, and buggy rolled into sea and the dd died

Rubena, I read about that on here ages and ages ago. There was a big arguement about it. I had actually completely forgotten about it.

Now I'm afraid I must go against the grain. I hate aubergines. Aubergines and bananas, two things that I really can't bring myself to like.

I am the only one to have put dd to bed too because she has a bf and while she has had a bottle during the day before I have not dared at night. Course, she has not had a bottle since around June so it may be a little late to try!

Urgh Bananas make me sick. I really struggle when the boys have them. Just the faintest smell of them makes me feel awful.

I'm generally on bedtime duty too, though DS2 will fall asleep on for DH if I'm not there. He will tend to wake up shortly after I get in for a feed though.

Re bf/bottles, I've given up on expressing but DS2 does seem to be starving for milk when I get home. CM gives him cow's mik, but would it be a Bad Thing to send a bit of formula in instead? DS1 never had formula but I can;t remember exactly why I was anti.

Right - she's having a snooze again The bedtime thing, DH has put her to bed a couple of times and in fact last Sunday I had choir and had managed to express a measly 0.5oz in an hour so we gave her some formula for the first time. She took a few oz from a cup and went to sleep fine - and when I tried expressing just to make sure the boobs knew they were still needed it was another feeble haul. It felt very odd giving her formula for the first time, I was being totally precious about it but clearly there was no reason to worry.

Rubena - we have a stairgate at the top but not the bottom, since some days going up and down the stairs is her best exercise! I generally hover around the doorway in case of trouble but now that she knows how to come down backwards it's usually fine. Her little face when I open the living room door is a picture, and off she trots! But yes definitely at the top since I do worry about her disappearing downstairs in the morning while we're getting dressed.

Sorry to hear about the awful nights, teething is such a bugger and we've taken to happily giving calpol if she wakes up with the right signs. It must be so sore for the poor things

NJAN hope the tummy bug goes away soon. Definitely agree with Effie re the meaty/veggie cooking.

Oh all you cooking experts, does anyone have a recipe for homemade baked beans? All the bought ones are so salty but they make such a handy tea.