january babies are now riggling,giggling & crawling to keep us on our toes

[bodenaddict]

hi

morning

had a good time yesterday had bday money for dd1 got her elc peg board and 4 books in waterstones were buy one get one free

mm - hope u get tooth sorted

pat - 8 wow can u send some here bracken is 8 mnths none yet!!

lenni really sorry to hear of your bf crisis. Sounds like you are def not ready to give up yet, or at least this way - dogs advice for a babymoon sounds great, and I am no expert but I am sure that staying as relaxed as possible will help get your supply back up. When I express I found a really good way to get my flow going without stressing out about it is to read baby care books (of which I have many!) - seems less intense than trying to think about N somehow, plus I don't look down for ages! Also, you could try having a warm bath with LO as I think warm water is supposed to help, isn't it? I love feeding N in the bath, in the dark with just a couple of candles - he almost falls asleep! Anyway, fingers crossed you can get over this dry patch, and if not it is not the end of the world anyway, like tree said we have all done amazingly well to get this far, and the most important thing is for you to stay happy.

As for me, I can only hope N is going through some massive development spurt as he just doens't want to let go of my nipple these days... I thought the sucking reflex was supposed to diminish after 3 months?!? These days he barely sleeps 2 hours without waking and wanting a comfort suckle... We do seem to have gone from bad to worse with the whole sleeping thing, and while co-sleeping works for us in preventing sleep deprivation, and I do love the snuggles, I have to admit that given the choice I would much rather have a baby that slept for 12 hours in his own cot! I try to keep the faith that one day he will grow out of it naturally and sleep in his own bed.... but seems a long way off sometimes!

tink no teeth here either!

Off to shovel horse shit now... a whole barn of it. All hands on deck. Weirdly looking forward to it.

Lenni I must have a mountain buggy! Hope one comes up on ebay soon. 400 quid new is a bit steep but could be done if nothing comes up.... would just be ideal.

Hi folks

Still not got tooth sorted. Called the emergency dental service when it happened. Took them nearly three hours to call me back and then they said I would have to call back at 7am on Saturday to get an appointment at the emergency clinic.

Set my alarm, called them again, only to be told its not bad enough for them to see me as they only have 10 appointments avaiable for the weekend to cover the whole area. So now I have been told to call back again at 9 am on Monday for an appointment. Problem is the appointments are from 1.30 pm and even if I get the 1.30 one by the time I get there I would have to leave to fetch the boys from school! Also have noone to leave dd with and can't exactly leave her screaming in the corner of the room while I have my tooth fixed.

Fortunately its not too painful as the tooth was mainly filling and I think the bit that came away had been broken off but not fallen out for a while. Lord only knows when I'll be able to get to dentist though. (Must do it before my maternity exemption runs out though.)

Lenni sorry to hear about bf troubles. I would personally think it would be down to the cold and stuffy nose (and possibly teething?) rather than not wanting to nurse anymore. I would just keep offering at regular intervals and not offer an alternative, he'll soon pick it up again. If its any comfort, dd was a nightmare with bf last week while she had this coldy/fluey virus, she just kept coming off and turning her head away. I let her come off a couple of times then just put it away and tried again a couple of hours later. She's back to normal feeding like a good 'un five times a day again now.

Dog I wish I could come and give you a big hug and a large cake and hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows. You need some proper comforting. As others have said, you are doing everything humanly possible for Mr A, you are a fantastic mum and even if he does get a diagnosis he will still be your lovely little A, nothing will have changed in actuality, it will just mean you/he can get all the help you need. The fact that you are so aware of the potential signs of a problem proves what a great mum you are, an awful lot of mums wouldn't notice or have the compassion to understand how he is feeling rather than just get cross and assume he is being naughty/awkward. Please try to be kinder to yourself.

News and Isit christenings sound lovely, am so I would love to have a naming ceremony for dd, but feelit wouldn't be right as we didn't get round to it for the boys.

Went to my nephew's party yesterday and all the travelling (Norfolk and back in day) plus a fair bit of family stress and a very late night seems to have enabled my virus to redouble its efforts. I feel terrible today, currently curled up on the sofa with a bowl of rice pudding. Ds1 has got the virus as well now the poor little fella and has just had to do three lots of homework back to back.

wave from the house of the sick here.................DS fine by saturday but me and DD bad now. She has just puked all over DH for a change, he looked thrilled. Will make it back one day when the plague has gone.

consoling myself with watching The Princess Bride this afternoon.

Hope you are both better soon.

Well, I thought today had gone ok with bf, but then DS got to his bedtime feed and still no letdown and he went to bed in a frustrated, unsatisfied, biting mess instead of with a lovely last feed like he used to. I can't shake the guilt.

Moose - you could have a 'naming' ceremony for all of them. It isn't too late. DH was christened at age 7. My grandmother was about 40 when she was rechristened into CofE.

MissJ - he will settle into a better routine, but as you say you do need to make some boundaries to encourage it sooner rather than later if that's what you truly want. I found it very difficult to break the co-sleeping with DD. We wanted her with us forever but enough was enough at about 10mo. We just stopped bringing her in with us - we'd feed her in her room when she woke and put her back down in her cot. It is a major hassle compared to co-sleeping but we found she was sleeping better almost immediately. And we had an 'after 5am' rule where we would bring her into bed after 5 for a couple of hours of snuggles and milk. It was the best of both worlds. She still sleeps in with me if DH is away - it is comforting for both of us. She'll be in with me tonight. DS on the other hand is a reluctant co-sleeper. He bed shared with us until 6mo and now just won't settle

Pat - Yes, sis is moving I am very very pleased. Am having her DS 3 days a week and then I'm hoping to work the other two, hence nursery for DS. DD due to start preschool in Jan so should work out well for us. Will do supply at worst case scenario. Hope you are all better soon, and house stress sorts itself out.

moose sorry about your tooth! just skimmed read the posts.

missj hope ur LO sleeps better tonight.

DS1 is better but still weak and fever need calpol to keep under control. at least he is not wheezing anymore. it is a real shitfight getting him to take his medicine tho. he gags and all that. and the tears. thing is i am not very sympathetic cos he is 5 yr old!

really hoping LO does not get it. we are washing our hands lots and using alcohol gel. so hope that is enough!

dog you will feel better once you have made the appt I am sure - just do it first thing tomorrow morning. Just a chat about your worries can't hurt. tree's hv suggestion was a good one too - but depends on your hv I guess.

Lenni hope tomorrow goes better for bf-ing. Thanks for thoughts on sleep - when you say 'we'd feed her in her room when she woke', do you mean you fed her, or both? Oh I think I remember that DD was formula fed? So you could both feed... that would be my major stumbling block - that it would have to be ME at 2am, 3am, 4am.... but love the 5am rule. One day when my life stops being so busy I might go for it. When OH isn't so busy I could make up for it with a daytime nap...

MM hope tooth gets sorted... toothache of any kind is hell on earth. Way worse than childbirth imo.

Hi heron. Poor DS1, sounds rough. Fingers crossed for LO.

Had a lovely day today shovelling shit out of an old barn - LO was riding in the ergo on OH's back, and there were 4 of us doing a major clear out. Strangely therapeutic. Will ache tomorrow though!

Also had lovely lie-in this morning with LO, from 9.30am till 11am listening to the archers omnibus. Heaven.

MissJ Yes - that was my stumbling block when we moved DS too - but despite a few dreadful nights when I seemed to spend more time up and down the landing rather than in bed, he has slept better since he's been fed in there. DD was the same. She dropped to max 2 feeds a night, as opposed to 3 hourly straight away. IME children are pretty flexible up until age 2 - despite my concerns DD dropped her bottles and dummy without fuss around 1yo. Within 24 hours she had forgotten them, and it would only take a couple of nights of being more strict to get her back on track with going to bed etc. - once they hit 2yo it is a different matter! Point being you would probably find it much easier than you think but you do need to be committed to the decision, otherwise it won't work. I have never done cc with either of mine (except for one night with DD, but there was no crying so in my heart it doesn't count) and I won't do it either, there are other ways and means to sleep. I think I still have the NCSS book. Do you want it?

dog - thats what we are here for hope u feel better soon

miss j - you wknd sounds good

I'm back! Brilliant time but I am hanging now. Took me 7 hours to get home yesterday and I cried on the train as I was so desperate to see the boys.
Anyway at work but will catch up later on. Hope all is well.

morning all, hope weekends were lovely. cruddy weather here today, so am staying in. was out all day uesterday - dp brought me on a hawk walk as a birthday present, which was amazing, but also the longest i've been away from c; i was surprisingly stressed by this. she barely noticed, i think, had a lovely day with her aunt.

lenni, i hope the bf is coming easier today, am sure if you bear with it it'll pick up. i took fenugreek to up my supply a couple of times when i was bf and it definitely helped, might be worth a shot?

missj, we just bit the bullet with the cot here, and actually it was fine. she really wasn't sleeping well with us and slept much better in the cot. i am pretty sure we have a copy of ncss somewhere if yuo'd like me to dig it out and send it?

gumps, glad you had a good time

gumps glad you had such a fun time; bless you for crying on the train though - I can imagine how you would feel.

Lenni/ stripey thanks so much for offer of NCSS book; that would be fantastic if you could send it to me... how can I pay for postage? I am not up on this cat thing. And obviously I don't need 2 copies so Lenni are you okay to send yours if you can find it easily? May get here sooner than from Ireland! [desperate, pleading emoticon]. I still haven't sorted my bank card out yet - have asked OH to do it, but strangely he seems to be taking his time.... - stops me having any shopping accidents anyway.

Although in a genuine accident, I did end up paying 14 quid for a chicken today, from my friendly (no wonder) local butcher, and while I am all for ethical nice meat etc, that does seem a bit steep. I got confused with the kg/lb price part I think.

Lenni, will fb you my address. Thanks so much. But if it's any hassle please don't worry.

Have decided to try the cot thing after this weekend, when we are away for a wedding so he will have to come in with us anyway.

Went swimming this morning. Tried to shop at Asda for a change but couldn't find anything and N was threatening meltdown so gave up. Have now ate 2 packets of chipsticks and a welsh cake for lunch. Not good.

ps if anyone wants one of those 30% off gap vouchers I can email it to you if you fb me your address - but only valid till tomorrow. Was hoping to make it over to Bristol tomorrow but don't think I will get there. Oh well, another few accidents avoided .

MissJ - I can't find my copy of NCSS - argh! I have a feeling I may of lent it to a friend who moved away last month - I think I had it back but no idea where I have put it. I have 'The Baby Whisperer' still which you are welcome to but as yet no NCSS. I'll keep looking, but it might be quicker to have Stripey's from Ireland after all. If it turns up in the meantime I'll let you know.

Bf seems a little better today but still no letdown like I'm used to. DS is less fussy and no biting, although I'm so sore from yesterdays encounters with his teeth that I'm not sure I even have any nerve endings left. I am very confused about it all now, I don't know whether I would be better just giving up. I don't want to do that, but it seems worse to deprive him of milk altogether. I'm hoping my supply will catch up in the next 48 hours, but if not maybe I am being selfish by trying to continue?

My lunch was 1/4 of DD's egg andwich and 2 smarties cookies. Makes your chipsticks look healthy MissJ!

Hi Tink - how are the clothes? I am very jealous, a boden catalogue arrived here today and the front cover things looked gorgeous, I didn't dare take it out of the shrinkwrap!

hungry - the clothes are well worth it they are gorgeous. really good quality and lovely colours really rich.
i used 15% off voucher so not too bad in price in the end. dd1 has 3 of the big button dresses my favourite so cute and 4 pairs of the tites really nice and match the dresses perfectly. the cord heart trousers are great and have pet tshirts

MissJ I was going to try and use a 30% off Gap voucher on Friday but didn't really have enough time, and C seems to hate shopping.

We did have a shopping accident in Green Baby though - 2 Sophie the giraffes which have been mentioned before here as I had to buy the boys one each (Danny has a giraffe obsession) and a bright red poppered vest with an owl on it.

C wore his new Like a Tiger Itti this afternoon and very lovely it is too. My order for animal print Blueberry Minkis including a Real Nappies for London voucher (council incentive scheme) for over £50 and a cheque and ID evidence for voucher has all got lost in the post during the strike so not sure what will happen there.

elkie - about the post, sure c is adorable in tiger stripes

tink - the boden clothes are really nice, c has a pair of red cords from there which are lovely

missj - fb your address and i'll stick the book in the post tomorrow

lenni - sure it's a good sign that bf seems better today. did i already telll you about the fenugreek?

got to go now, time for an argument with dp about whose fault it is that dinner is burning...

I'll losing my adoration for ittis lately DS is growing into his Blueberry sidesnaps a treat and they are first out of the nappy drawer these days. Am thinking of selling the ittis and buying more BBSS but DH gave me a look when I suggested it. So not sure that plan will come to fruition.

Yes, stripey, I saw your post about the fenugreek but have to confess to not knowing what kind of fenugreek I would need??? Is is a supplement or tea or what??

Where is the Green Baby store ooi? I NEED to add it to my shopping plans next time I am in London. I love their clothes, DS wears his GB pyjamas all the time, he looks so cute. I'm trying to book Harrods grotto tickets at the moment, hoping to tie in the natural history museum with a grotto visit but as yet no luck since the Harrods site seems to be down every time I try.

Just a quick one to say I will be AWOL till about thursday.....................OFSTED!!!!!!!!

Glasses of wine and matchsticks for my eyes greatly appreciated.

Hope evryone is fine and dandy. DD now recovered so back at nursey tomorrow. What a bloody week this will be

Pat!!!!!!!! What a week. Good luck, will be fine. Last time I was done they didn't even see me, am I odd to confess to having been disappointed you'll be fine, and once it's done at least you'll have 2 clear years.