January 2009 - "This is halloween, this is halloween, babies wake in the dead of night..."

[VerySpookyLennipillar]

A homage to the Nightmare Before Christmas song. DH obsessed with that film, we all (DD included) have to watch it on Christmas Eve.

Still feeding DS too - morning, night, middle of night and about 3 times during the day. I am gradually replacing daytime feeds with formula at the moment as he doesn't have the patience for breastfeeds (bobs on and off and wanders around the room) but still needs something so would prefer he sticks to milk rather than water all the time for now. At nesrly 10 months I'm not bothering with the hassle of expressing - and it'll only be a few weeks now before he can have cow's milk.

Yes, Moose, we could be anyone, but we're not! Actually if anything I find it more reassuring to be able to see everyone on facebook as I can see they are real people and put names and faces to everyone. But then I do understand your DH being cautious - perhaps if there were more cautious people in the world we wouldn't have all the identity theft etc.

DS would go down awake too until the separation anxiety thing started a couple of weeks ago. Now there is not a chance and he too works himself up into a rage really quickly, instantly in fact. I was so cross with myself at first as had always been so careful to make sure he could self-settle after DD being such a nightmare with sleep but I've realised it is just a developmental thing and like all these things that have gone before it will pass.

Chef - so wonderful to hear from you. Pleased little V is doing so well. LOL at the potty training, bless you for your enthusiasm, that would have gone to the wall months ago if I was in charge, am far too lazy.

Hey all.

Good luck Soccerete on the house!! Wow at the profit, that's more than our house cost. Yay for you. I hope it works out. x

Welcome home Chefswife, sounds like a great trip.

Moose, I wouldn't mind a bit if you wanted to look at pics of my dc's wiithout adding your own

I hear ya on the sleep Lenni, and all. These are dynamic times in the baby world. I think their little brains must be zinging. Can't read properly, supposed to be making dd a good snack for after school, pre gymanstics. Not back home till 5.30 now so it's crucial planning time. Need dd in bed for 6.45 or she is too tired to cope. Dd into that a good 20 mins on the loo trying to poo.....no time!!

Back soon. x

chefswife, was wondering where you had got to. glad holiday went well

sorry to hear about the sleep-proof babies - c is in a fairly settled phase at the moment, she has actually slept 7-7 for the last two nights (), but we have yet to reach the separation anxiety stage, so i think we had better pack in the sleep while we have the chance... she did absolutely freak out in m&s this morning when someone i vaguely know did one of those diving straight into the buggy things - i think this is fair enough though (but confess that i am not wild about the woman in question either), if a bit socially awkward.

i tend to let c grizzle a bit when she is going to sleep, as i think it is part of her self-soothing, but try to police the line between grizzling and crying - they do tend to blend together, though. she has a cot toy and we are still using the hairdryer recording as a sleep cue, though.

mooose, can i assure your dp that i barely have the competence to hold my own identity together - i think that everybody on facebook is safe from me . i do worry vaguely about putting up pics of c, so can understand where you're coming from, but as the page isn't under my actual name, think it's probably okay. you could put up a page and not post any pics, but you could see ours?

soccerette - wow, that's a massive profit, definitely worth a shot (thoguh renovating is a vile pursuit, i warn you). we are probably deep in negative equity here, the irish property market went down the toilet about a year ago, but hey, never moving again anyway...

better go and amuse the child...

I've gone out for the evening expecting to come back to pages of posts and you've all buggered off enjoying yourselves. Not on in that case I'm off to change the bed. Think DH thinks he's on to a good'un tonight so better put clean sheets on so will have the 'don't want to mess up the new bed' excuse

bookmarking

Sorry you are still feeling rough Dog. at your mini toddler though!

Dd is actually sleeping this evening. She did put up a fight, but we were determined.

She has learned to sit herself up from lying down, but doesn't seem interested in walking yet. She has been doing a similar thing to what you described Isla doing a while back though, getting onto all fours but with her feet on the ground rather than her knees and then lifting one hand up. I don't think there's any danger of her walking at 10 months like her brother (thank heavens).

Lenni, I have been around on mn this evening, but haven't checked in as I could see there was no-one else here and I haven't really got any news. [boring Moose emoticon]

Ah lenni the old clean sheets trick - love it!
Spookey/stripey you do realise now you have told us c slept that she won't tonight?!
EAP please let me know if you find something to make you taller. I keep trying phish food but its not working... Telling off coming! You must eat breakfast, especially if you want to lose weight.
HKZ hey you! at weight for MRI. Must be frustrating. Ds1 pooed in his pants today for the first time since potty training week in August. I had put him on the mat as he had thrown a watering can at his friend and then I ignored him so possibly my fault. What with S doing an up the backer in tesco and me deciding it was smart to change him on the front seat of the car (not smart) it's been a poo filled day.
Moose I crave sleep like I used to crave Malbro lights! If we get a new thread before Christmas it is all I want for Christmas is sleep. I vow to start a thread one day!
Soccer do it do it do it! And move into a hotel...
Chef hi! LOL at no vaginas on fb. I certainly haven't posted mine!
Sleep sleep sleep!

LOL at boring Moose. Never?
Is lack of running due to pelvic floor? I have that problem.
We are set to try for no 3 in Jan too

Sorry not never? Never!

Oh and S 10 months on Monday. Is he the oldest left? Have started to think about his bday party and everyone keeps asking what to get him but we have so many toys and clothes I have no idea...
Don't want to start the whole ds2 gets nothing though or tie in bday and Christmas..

Gumps Sleep whats that? I remember back in the day, sleeping for 12 hours in a row...getting up at lunchtime...mmmm. You mentioned marlbo lights...I remember them too...now I want a ciggy and 12 hours sleep.
hello there Chef your trips sounds fab.and at having a walker! I have a bum shuffler/yogic bouncer.
Very at your 7-7 stripey...can C have a word to J about the benefits of 12 hours sleep in a row please?
Soccer House sounds exciting, hope they accept the offer.
Dog The doc said the waiting list in most hospitals is about 6 months but because the mri scanner thing is new we should be seen in about 6 weeks, but its been 4 weeks and we are still waiting.
So moose and dog dish the dirt on having three...is it totally mental to begin with or does it all fall into place quite nicely...like if you already have two you don't really notice a third...
Hello tree leeni missJtink and all! Right am off to bed...5am get up tomorrow to catch 7am train up to newcastle to stay with Pils for a long weekend....wish me luck

12 hours in a row.... ha ha haaaaaaa! Can't begin to imagine what bliss it must be, not only to get that much sleep, but to not see your baby for 12 whole hours... I mean that in a really good way of course . You know what I mean! Mine has currently been asleep since 8ish, which counts for a small miracle in this house .

dog no more running because it's just painful and hard to motivate yourself and vanity alone was not enough. But not to stop you giving it a try.... personally I would be happy just to do some yoga and pilates now and then, as I really enjoyed those and the body you get if you do them enough. Which doesn't apply to me anymore.

hkz and gumps how exciting to be going for no.3. We were being all relaxed about conceiving number 2 whenever it happened, but now I am working till end of jan we have put that plan on hold as I can't work 14 hours, feed N all night, AND be early pg. So will start trying feb I expect.

Off to watch question time now! Bet it's never had such good viewing figures!

Hi all, I was reading bits of the QT related threads/wathching QT and now This Week.

I'd love to try for a third but still not sure I will, and certainly not for a bit yet. Lots of reasons not to, and I'm a bit concerned about childcare costs. Especially if some or all of the proposed cuts in our income go through - according to most definitions we're a middle income household, but we're really going to need every penny of Child Benefit and tax credit for the next few months. And childcare vouchers - I didn't sign up last time I went back because I got pregnant again so quickly and didn't want to lose out on maternity pay, but dp gets them and I'll sign up as soon as I get back.

Good luck HKZ and gumps, and anyone else who is thinking of going ahead - I need the vicarious excitement of other people's baby news now!

morning

cold is abit worse today

i found the leap from one to two so hard. i was barely managing with dd1 she is very headstrong and active and full on. so glad she is @ school

no more kids here

I found the move from two to three easy to be honest. Just like Isla, Elizabeth slotted right in, no problem.

I think it does depend on your family dynamics and how old the other dcs are though. It was definitely easier for me having older boys this time than it was having a 2 year old and a baby. There's no sibling rivalry/jealousy this time, plus I have E to myself all day while the boys are at school, so don't have to feel guilty when I have to leave her to play on her own for a bit while I do after school snacks and homework etc. I also find it great that the boys like to entertain E while I do things like make the lunch etc.

The boys are totally in love with their sister. The last thing they do before school in the morning is sit on the play mat and play with her and again after school they run out and say hello to her before me . As soon as we get home they want to play with her again. The feeling is mutual, and her little face lights up when they come home from school. Yesterday we arrived in the infants playground to fetch ds2 and she started straining to see, waving her arms around and saying "Ed, Ed, Ed" (ds2's name obviously) then squealed with delight when he came running up.

Its not always easy, but then whose life is? If I'm being totally honest, I think its harder now than when she was newborn, as there are times when they all want/need something at the same time and I am thinly stretched, whereas before I used to make sure she was fed and changed before those times when I knew the boys were likely to be demanding my attention. Those times are pretty few and far between though.

Get well soon Tink - I have an ear infection and am proper grumpy with it.

mm - poor u u do go through the mill!!
dd1 luvs dd2 as well she luvs playing her

3 it is if its easy but woe betide you dog and moose* if its hell! I keep swinging between yes and no still. Indecisive woman moi? Dh just decides that as he thinks its a good idea now that its just happening where as S seems to get a bit easier every day and I think ooh in a few months it will be a doddle so enjoy 2 for a while. S is currently eating and talking to a set of headphones at my feet and pulling up to say hello every now and then. He should be asleep but hey if he is happy..
Going to have 8 kids and 4 mums here this avo. The cleaner has just been which is good because the house looks fab but it will be destroyed in about 2 hours time. Oh well.
And dh got a rare sat off rugby and we are going to do nothing. Bliss!
Get well Moose and Tink.
Oh S has taken the head phone to play on his own in the hall. So cute he can't work out what they are for the life of him. And ds1 convinced that I am hiding my willy under my belly

Sounds like you are having fun with your two Gumps. Pmsl at hiding your willy!

Dd is currently littering my living room with discarded avocado after I got fed up of sitting in the kitchen with her for hours while she played with her lunch and wheeled her into here. I think I might regret that now having seen the radius she's managed to achieve! She thinks its hilarious that she is at the same height as me in the lounge and keeps having fits of giggles at me.

Hey, don't blame me if your third isn't as easy as E. I do think we've been incredibly lucky with her, but I also stand by my belief that it has been easier this time because the other two are older.

AND You have a cleaner?!!! [extremely green Moose emoticon]

potty training

the smell of poo lingers in d's bedroom even though everything it touched got washed.

any tips for getting kids to poo on the potty/ loo - so far we have

1. upped the fibre/drinks
2. 'demonstrated' and rewarded ouselves with sweeets
3. tried going without nappies at all (got a few dry nights, but it was really exhausting for both of us, and she just pood in her knickers in bed still)
4. waited (erm 7 months now.)

maybe i should do some EC with DS, and get him to poo on the potty. am trying approximation in a way...though difficult as she currently only poos in bed. i have left a potty in her room (so she is always near th epotty). and am currently leaving the door open until she sleeps, and she normally mucks about for an hour (happily).

sorry that got a bit long!

70 horses!! DD would be in heaven (Hoooo! Hoo!)

@soccerette mean mummy here too, have always let him self settle - though he would never have it any ther way. He does wake up id-night if hugry though - DH is being annoying and bringing him through even when I am still asleep! he gets bored with eating and it makes it hard to et enough food into him during the day.

i don't think DD did much moving about @9mo...everything she wanted was within reach!

HV - mne seemed suprised too. but then, i get the feeling of general disapproval from her at all times. i have brought it down to 4 feeds a day most days, morning, lunch, night & dreamfeed.

Dog don't panic. Most viruses can be dealt with, the absolute worst case scenario is having to wipe the hard drive and reload the software.

I used to know a site where you could look up the virus and then they told you how to remove it, but I've forgotten the name of it.

A couple of questions:

Have you got any virus protection at all?

I don't suppose this virus told you its name (some do) did it?

What sort of weird behaviour is your computer exhibiting?

Dh will be back shortly, I will ask him if he has any ideas.