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.

I'm giving up breastfeeding today.

Period is due and DS always gets fussy around then plus my supply drops (must be the hormones) so I think it is as good a time as any. I wanted to carry on feeding him until 12 months but we are having a really difficult time with DD's behaviour lately (mainly through jealously/lack of one on one attention), and DS seems to be through the separation anxiety so I could really do with being able to spend some time with DD now. I only have 2 months before she starts preschool and I'd like to make the most of it rather than have to deal with constant demands for attention mid feed. DS and I have 2 more years before preschool. Am I crazy?

Love your boy racer activity Stripey and the halloween name Tree!

lenni ((((hugs))))

I gave up two weeks ago but am still doing a sneaky night feed, and will probably keep going on just that as can't bear to give up totally yet as he's my last

I'd like to carry on with morning and night feeds if I can but I have to be realistic, my supply seems to suffer if I'm not feeding in the day and I think I may find he isn't interested anymore. I'm going to give it a go, but I think this is probably the beginning of the end. It does make me to think that is that, but then I'm also so proud of feeding him this long when I couldn't feed DD at all.

lenni - obviously my experience is not the same as yours, but i gave up about a month ago and apart from a few days of c being pissed off with me (i got the cold shoulder, dp got lots of hugs) it was a trouble free transition. i think if it feels like the right time, then it is - ds has had nine months of bf, it's a fantastic start and i think if you feel like you need to give more attention to dd, then you should do it

just had a delicious fish curry - rick stein is very annoying, but his latest recipe book has some of the yummiest food i've ever tasted in it....

Thank you Stripey

Congratulations on brilliant feeding Lenni, the benefits for ds don't stop. So this isn't the end, just a transition

H hasn't fed for a week [due to drugs] and I haven't even motivated my fat one to express to keep them ticking over. So much for my big relactation plans after the egg donation.

Hatts has been a bit lost I think. She is clingy and wants to sleep on my chest [of daddy's]. Rod for my own back and all that but I am going with the flow, she has gone from pretty much full breastfed to no skin to skin in about 3 weeks flat! So am aiding the transition as much as possible.

Our new pose is me in bed, knees bent up, her on my chest with legs dangling, sometimes jumping. I think she would stay there all day if she were let!

Am trying not to think about what I have lost, just what she has gained in t he past 8.5 months.

Plus the joy joy joy of wearing a proper bra. Wow.

Lenni hugs for you - must be hard to stop whenever it happens, so as long as deep down it is what you want, then trust your instincts. You have to do what you feel is right for the whole family, not just DS, who after all has had a brilliant run of it...

fish curry too, too jealous .

spooky we had fun in trolley seat at waitrose too - hard not to put some boy racer moves in .

Lenni, hugs. It is hard, but I think we know when the time is right, whatever the reason. You have done wonderfully and given him the best possible start in life.

Dh and Mum have been badgering me to give up with dd, as I am just so low and depleted that they are both really worried about me, but it just doesn't feel right for me yet, although I think I am getting closer.

Just found out that dh has been conscripted into a training course on Monday and Mum can't have the dc's so I am going to have to cancel my dentist appointment - again. I know for a fact that they didn't have any appointments for four weeks a week ago and booked me an extra emergency one, which was all they had left. Its looking like I will have to try and go to the emergency NHS clinic again later in the week if they will see me. Its hurting so much now, but the temporary dressing is still in place, so I think the infection must be back, either that or the dressing is coming loose.

I feel so flipping low about my tooth, my ear, my chest, the gallstones etc etc etc. I just feel like curling up under my duvet and whimpering, but instead have to drive to Cambridge tomorrow to visit dh's great aunt.

I'm stripey/spooky's DP and someone wanted advice about running??

first thing, decide what you want to achieve and how much time you have to give to it (not much, probably, and definitely less than you think). Do you want to be fit, lose weight, run races, meet people, run on your own, have some me time (I always run alone)? Be realistic. If you think running will make you lose weight, it will (I had a really good 18 month period of running A LOT and lost the best part of a stone, I'd say), but you have to run a lot. A few minutes here and there won't, not least because you will feel so virtuous that you think that stuffing your face a small snack is justified.

Start slow and easy - you should be able to hold a conversation easily (tho you probably shouldn't go about the place muttering to your self ). If you feel close to collapse out of puff walk, but don't stop. 3 x 30 mins per week is good to start, gradually build up so that you can run 30 mins continuously, then add time/distance gradually

Remember that you will get aerobically fit faster than your muscles and bones will adapt - if you go too fast too soon, or run too much too quickly you will hurt something and never want to run again - achilles is my - ahem - achilles heel. Buy a proper pair of running shoes from a proper running shop - they should make you run on a treadmill and assess your gait. This will cost you some money, but save a lot of pain, literally. Run on grass/dirt paths where possible - concrete and (especially) sand are very hard on the soft tissues.

find nice places to run - enjoy being outside - and don't obsess about distance/time - you can get into that if you want once you are fit.. There's lots of good online sites/support and the couch to 5k program from Cool Running.com is a good place to start. I think there are some running threads on MN. Also with the dark nights/morning be mindful of safety - festoon yourself with ugly fluorescent tops and twinkly lights. Don't run off road in the dark.

that's probably quite enough - I love it, I have missed it (just couldn't hack it on minimal sleep, f/t job, not fair to Stripey and Stripelet for me to come home and say 'hi', oh, and btw I'm off for a run now) and I have a good 10lb of blubber to run off before Christmas...good luck! And here endeth the first lesson.

preceding message from dp for dog

Well done Lenni- you've given him a fantastic start!

stripey's dp- you know- you're a mum... you could join mn too unless it would step on stripey's toes... there's a running thread...

Yes - Stipey's DP, you should join us, so long as Stripey doesn't mind. I think you would need a better name than 'Stripey's DP' though

Thank you for saying lovely things about the feeding everyone. I think I would feel the same if I gave up in another 6 months - but now feels like the right time for DD. I've balanced their needs pretty heavily in DS's favour for the last 9.5months, I think it is her time now. I'm going to try to feed him morning, evening and during the night for now and see how long my supply lasts, but I reckon I'll probably manage a week or two at best really, unless he starts waking loads in the night again

Yay Lennipillar. I have found as my milk has decreased my desire to feed has too - hormonal I guess. As long as I don't think about it, then I become a bit glum.

H was 9 months on Thursday. I missed it!

That's awful isn't it!? I was telling everyone she was 8.5 where does time go?

Now Moose why do you keep coming too far down the list of prorities and jobs to do? This is no good!!!! Your dentist has been put off loads and loads of times. Perhaps ring them in am and say I'm sorry to have to do this but I really do need your help very much indeed. I have a terrible toothache [you had so it's not a lie just a confusion in dates] and I know you wouldn't want me to suffer and be grumpy with the kids for the sake of one trip to the dentist......
Or take the whole jolly lot of them to dentist? In a taxi if needed? I used to take dd1 to the orthodontist, she loved it. She was 2 at the time.

I'm sure my suggestions are un-do-able and possible annoying but I do think you need to get that tooth sorted. Poor you!!

Anyway dh could take the kids and you have a day to yourself? A nice healing Moosey time.

Yay Lennipillar - as in yay for you having made a decision you are happy with. That Yay looked rude,, like I wished a night waking ds on you

Moose, as in dh take kids tomorrow.

Must preview, must preview, must preview.

at starting at 3x30 mins runs MrStripey. Gaaaaawd bless you . 3 mins would be more my starting point On a good day.

Thanks Tree, Mum and DH really can't help on Monday, nothing either of them can do about it and noone else to call on. I can't really take them with me (although the dentist surgery is only across the road) because I don't thing my two boys and dd seeing me shaking and crying like a baby at the dentist would be very good for them really. I am truly terrified of dentists.

I am such a control freak that I won't let dh take the dcs anywhere too far away without me. I would spend the whole day fretting and imagining all sorts of accidents etc so it probably more restful to go. At least I will get some rest in the car.

On the other subject, I read in a book about fat burning once, that you burn more fat by running for 5 mins then walking for 5 then running for 5 etc etc than you do by just straight running or power walking. Apparently its supposed to boost your fat burning/metabolism thingywotsit. Course I could be talking rubbish, but I'm pretty sure it was a popular thing to do a couple of years back.

Anyhoo, I'd better go to bed before I keel over.

Night all.

Will let you off then, this time......Night Moose. x

Morning....

why don't babies have a switch to tell them we all get an extra hour in bed???

tree feel obliged to point out that Stripey DP is not a Mr...

I was going to do that Stripey - glad you beat me to it!

moose - tree is right, you must get your tooth seen to. is there anyone you can pay for an hour or so of childminding?

morning

bracken has my cold and was sick in the night everywhere seems ok now

Morning all - wow, you lot are up and at 'em early today - but I suppose there is that extra bonus hour.... N must have heard about that because he was up at 5am, unheard of for him - I put him in the cot and put baby einstein lullaby time on the laptop (youtube - can highly recommend!) and he was happy in his baby cinema while I dozed beside him ... he is sleeping now to make up for it.

Waves to stripey's DP - your advice about running almost made me think twice but no, not for me, never again. Too hard to motivate myself.

tree happy birthday H! I keep forgetting how old N is too - but his 9 month bday is thursday when we will be celebrating with pat lenni and dog - am sooo excited!

Careful on those jumps dog! Sounds like a fun day you have planned. I am off to my Mum's for late breakfast (very late) and then up to the farm - OH bought 2 little ponies yesterday for N's 2 little cousins (age 5 and 3) so we are excited to meet them!

missj at bucolic idyll with ponies. my dad bought me a pony when i was seven, but he bought one he liked the look of rather than one that was suitable for a small girl - she spent my childhood mocking me from the other side of a field . she did have some lovely foals though. we finally lost her earlier this year, but i guess thirty six is a ripe old age for a pony to reach - and she did spend her life untroubled by small girls

dp is out running, but told me to express her thanks for the kind invitation - i'm sure she'll swing by from time to time

and tink, sorry lo not so well - hope it passes quickly