December 2007 - Not Quite Two, Already Terrible ;)

[claraquack]

Just checking that this worked....

Thanks for the congrats so lovely to hear from you all. I'm good now Skid, though last year was a long year with many illnesses and challenges.
Now I've just got morning sickness which is a breeze after last year!
Is it bad that I haven't even broached potty training yet? I was hoping to wait til it was warmer, but now I know new baby coming in Sept I'm keen to have it sorted by then.
So glad the snow finally goin we've been so trapped, though it has meant I got an extra two weeks tacked on to my xmas break which I really needed!
Back to reality next week though......

bloody hell skid...nothing gets passed you...suppose you are a Dr...yes i am regnant ..bloody August though sigh - I have written this baby off to a lifetime of failure ...I was actively trying not to get pregnant...but clearly I am most fertile when very very stressed (because it was just after dh came back after his head injury)!

Anyway DH is OK and has gone back to work very part time from this week - just doing a few mornings. He is less tired than he was but more grumpy than he used to be. We had a lovely Christmas - went to my Mums and then went skiing. It was my 1st time - the girls through themselves down red runs and I snowploughed very very gingerly down almost flat blue rune feeling very scared. DH looked after Evie - who has discovered a love of snow!!!

She is such an independent madam and won't let anyone do anything for her . She loves nursery and has a boyfriend called George.

Missing you all - I have been crap and not been on here for ages..but been busy with reports - boring boring boring!!! ANyway they are done.

Ohh and I have just read a really good book - the girl with the dragon tattoo - it was fab...anyway I am back now!!!

Oh skid - i am sorry about your dad...hope by now you have some more positive news. It really is 1 in 3 pweople isn't it

I never did get around to that nappy thread!
The only nappy DS hasn't insisted on my changing in the middle of the night, was a Bumgenius stuffed with an Ella's House hemp booster, a Lollipop bamboo booster and a BG newborn insert!
The fleece pockets are no good now.. maybe the inner fleece is too bobbly?

Congrats melly and cazzy

BT ds has woken up crying "my willy, my willy" and pointing to his nappy a few times but when he has made me investigate he has had an erection

Skid at least you are only using a disposable at night...ds is in them full time now. A lot of his nappies are too small and I was finding I didn't have the drying space to keep on top of them in this house so I put him in dd's pull ups(she is back in them at night ) for a couple of days and he didn't want to go back into cloth . Scared about how much they are going to cost me though and hate putting out bags full of nappies BUT I now have toys in the cupboard where the nappies used to lve, laundry basket in the bathroom where the bucket used to live instead of on the landing and am able to get all my washing dry even in rain and snow... I just make him have a bare bum lots to cut down on how many we use!

Congrats cazzy (I think!) and Melly!!

Cazzy glad to hear your DH is on the improve. Have you been at all effected by the disaster in Haiti?

The Girl with Dragon Tatoo - presume you know its one of a trilogy? I've read it too and really enjoyed it. But just a word of warning if you're thinking about going to the movie - its very graphic in its detail - particularly the bits about Lizbeth and the "guardian". Also in Swedish!

Skid, your mum didn't speak to YOU! My goodness, that makes me relieved its only me that ex H won't speak to.

Clairey that is a tricky one re nappies. Completely get where you're coming from re space etc. I guess it'll be a good incentive to toilet train DS soon! DD's always been in disposables at night, and now is too at the weekends when we're out and about. Only wears washables to creche - and I'm ashamed to say she probably wouldn't be doing that still if it wasn't for the fact they wash all the nappies there (except the one she comes home in). My Mum quietly chastises me by always using the washables when she babysits DD - but I HATE that she insists on putting dirty ones in water in a bucket (I dry-pail and can't stand taking the sopping pooey nappy out of the bucket of water) so she rather destroys all her good intentions!

DD2 is completely obsessed by Harry Potter DVDs now. Surely that's a bit strange for a 2 yo? It was Mamma Mia but now HP! She doesn't really like cartoons which I suppose is good

Hi cazzy and congrats! Feel like a bit of a mad stalker - don't know why on earth I was looking at the Aug10 antenatal group! Hope you are feeling OK (sickness gone?) and glad your DH is OK despite grumpiness - is the grumpiness because he still has some physical symptoms or do you think his personality has changed slightly as a result of the brain injury? Glad you had a lovely Xmas too.

clairey and buzzy - re nappies we have been very lax this time round with washables (were a bit too far the other way with DD taking washables with us to Dublin when we went to visit ILs!) and DS is quite often in a disposable. He hates the washables and we don't really have enough of them unless we do a wash every day so I reckon he is in disposables about half the time. I don't feel bad about it anymore - whatever it takes to get through the day is my new mantra! Clairey you shouldn't feel bad either - something has to give and as you say now you have a manageable house with space for everything (although I agree they are v. expensive, esp. the 'eco' ones).

melly - don't think many of us have started potty training yet (only clara? and she lives in the tropics!)- I am also thinking of waiting until the summer, can't bear the thought of embarking on all that now

clairey - hope your DS's willy is OK?!

Nice one CAzzy!!!!!

Congratulations Cazzy and Mellymooks! I hope you all remember to keep us updated as well as your new antenatal boards when the babies come. I won't mind a cut and paste, honest!!

On nappies, well we have only ever used disposables so I guess that makes us very very bad However I guess as we only use one a day (at night) now, at least we're getting out of them quicker than most. She is doing so well with the toilet training, I can't believe it. She disappeared off yesterday and came back without her pants or shorts on. It was only because we noticed a bit of poo stuck to her bum that we realised she had gone into the bathroom, done a poo on the potty and even tried wiping her bum, all without asking for any help at all. She is such an independent little thing!

Hi everyone! I am a little at those of you managing anything like potty training! DD will tell me when she has gone and often (with number 2s) before she goes and insists on sitting on the potty a lot but as yet has produced nothing. I may try her properly over the Easter hols if she hasn't decided she's ready before that...I'm in no hurry for her to grow up!

Dundee, how's it going with your MIL? Have you managed to have a chat with FIL? IKWYM when you talk about babies and not being able to create life before one ends. We were TTC when Mum was diagnosed and it seemed really important at the time that she would have another grandchild so we carried on. I did fall pg but it was quite obvious by then that she had very little time left and I couldn't bear to tell her in the end, she already felt sad enough about leaving my DSs behind . As it was I m/c'd not long after she died . Sadly all things happen for a reason and although I'd never wish it, if I'd not m/c'd then I wouldn't have DD who is an absolute delight and the sunshine of my life

Skid, sorry to hear that your Dad is having to undergo more treatment , I have everything crossed for you that the doctors will get it under control very soon. I found too that people in RL don't like to talk about it when you have an ill parent, especially when it is cancer. I think it comes from not really knowing what to say, and that nothing you do say can actually make it better, and that it reminds them of their own parent's mortality. The shame of it is that sometimes talking is exactly what you need to do, I often feel the need to talk about my Mum (she has been gone for 3.5 years now, on Friday it will be 4 years since she first fell ill) but its difficult as I don't want to depress anyone! My neighbour lost her Mum a few years ago and says she finds the same. As for your varicose veins, don't despair! I had loads (in all sorts of nasty places) when pg with DD but most of them went down once she was born and I'm left with some thread veins and one patch of nasty stuff (thankfully looks like a bruise so can still wear skirts/dresses), not too bad

Cazzy congratulations! I'm glad your DH sounds as though he is on the mend, hopefully the grumpyness is a by-product of his tiredness and will disappear as he continues to recouperate. Skiing sounds fab BTW! I've always wanted to try it but suspect (with my lack of co-ordination) that I would end up on my backside!

BT, how are things going with the house? Any interest yet?!

Buzzy, I think you are very sensible and very right, you are a great Mum to your girls . Funny how a simple epiphany/decision can make you feel so much better/more level isn't it?

Melly, hi and congratulations!

Clairey, I can't believe your exH's attitude about not getting a break! (actually I can, I think it is the attitude of most men as far as I can see, ex or not!). Grr... mind you, I honestly wouldn't know what to do with myself if I was given 'a break' from my children, sad isn't it?! I do think it's funny when the LOs come out with grown up phrases! I probably would not correct DS either for "oh my god", it's cute! DD comes out with all sorts she picks up from her 9 year old full of attitude brother, "it's not fair" and "said so" are her current favourites! Boys are very funny with their willies, my 2 have always been fascinated when theirs go stiff - funny!

Clara, I'm very about Disney, are you going to Florida? Our neighbours have asked us to EuroDisney with them in June but if we go then we won't be able to afford to go to Cornwall in the summer (our current plan), I know the boys would love Disney but they'd also love crabbing on the beach so I'm a bit torn!

DD had a lovely birthday end enjoyed her presents, tea party and the mass of helium balloons we had! She's gotten very used to presents now though so am not sure what she'll make of DS2's birthday on Thursday! She is also now in her big bed (sob!), she just announced on Friday night that she wasn't going to sleep in the cot anymore! The bed has been set up in her room forever but is in the dark corner (the cot faced the door) which she didn't like so I had to rearrange the room... it's taking her much longer to settle in it than it did in the cot but she has been sleeping all night in it and she loves her flowery covers and the tree/flower/bird/butterfly sticker mural I've put up behind the headboard! Hopefully it won't take her too long to settle into going to sleep with no fuss again (in the meantime, I get to sit up in my room reading for a bit while she settles which is great ).

Hi Beckle,you are so good with your long posts, I don't know how you do it. I think it is just me with the toilet training and that is honestly only because we can let her run around in just pants or nothing all day long if we like. Also, she has been greatly encouraged at toddlers. They train babies much earlier here so as soon as she refused to put her nappy on one day, the teachers just told me, leave it off. And, against my instincts, I did. And so far so good!

Yes, we are going to Florida disney - I can't wait! Four days in Orlando then a week in a little place on the beach on the Gulf coast. We are really making the most of being on this side of the Atlantic and not having to deal with jet lag etc. Also luckily for us we have airmiles to use as it is so expensive to go anywhere, even close islands would cost us about £1,000 to get to as a family

Cornwall will be great, I love that part of the world. If only you could guarantee the weather! We'll be going to Devon with my family when we are back in the UK in the summer.

Hi Beckle! No interest in the house yet, but early days!
Got the estate agents coming back around today to take some more pics, as some of the ones they took were rubbish!

Took Daniel for a 2 year developmental check yesterday which was done by some nursery nurses.

Went through a very long check list, and apparently I have to work at getting him to walk upstairs and doing peg puzzles and also she was concerned about his speech and I have to go back in 3 months!
Went to breastfeeding group just afterwards, and they were astonished at the nursery nurse's comments. The 2 Home Visitors and the BF HV both said that I had nothing to worry about. I was very annoyed at the "you have to work on..." comments, he is a child who will develop and grow at his own pace, not an animal to be trained He is clearly advanced in some areas (they never asked about whether he can jump, which can very well and he can build towers of 15 blocks, she asked can he do 6!), and the people at the breast feeding group agreed with me. Bearing in mind I have been to this group with Daniel since he was 3-4 weeks old, I think they know him much better than this nursery nurse, and I know they would talk to me if they had any concerns about him. Plus I have already discussed my concerns I have as well. Plus his nursery have never expressed any concerns about Daniel's development, we went through a similar check list in December and they said he was doing fine, and saying lots more words than he does at home!
I still think he is building up his voculabary (he said key yesterday), and once he has got enough words he will start talking properly.
He does say "what's this?" and "up there" and "down there" and even "look at this car!" and "my dodie!"
It's just when he wants something it is always "this!" and pointing.

Sorry this has turned into a bit of an essay!

Bouncing, sounds like they're talking bollocks, don't take it to heart (though I know that's easier said than done) K can't walk up the stairs yet, climb with some help, but not walk. I'm not sure I know what a peg puzzle is?!

She can however tell you what most vegetables are!!
They are all different and in a one off meeting someone who doesn't even know him cannot make a judgement, as long as you're happy and don't have any concerns keep trusting your instincts and get opinions from people you know and who know him.

BT what a load of baloney! I get so angry when I hear about these sorts of experiences. As if anyone can make judgements based on checklists!!! I just had a friend visiting from New York who'd been through something similar with her 12 month old and was told he was language delayed! At 12 months!!! Apparently he should "at least" be saying mummy and daddy
I'm a great believer that parents have extraordinarily good instincts about when there is something "wrong" or "different" and take appropriate action. I'm sure you would be the first to consult with a SLT at the appropriate time if you thought there was real cause for concern. From my understanding 3 is a pretty benchmark age, particularly for boys who are notoriously slower to talk.
For what its worth DD had hardly any words 2 months ago and now is turning into a little motor-mouth. She still rarely strings more than 3 words together and is clearest with 1-2 syllable words but the difference is quite startling.

BT I agree it's silly as if all children are interested in the same things at the same time. DS is only just doing puzzles and only if he is in the mood, can't see him doing one just because someone wanted him to perform!

Clara ds took himself off to the toilet and did a poo this morning He stood at the top of the stairs shouting 'mummy I did it, come and see what I did' and I thought oh god what's he broken now and went upstairs where he pointed down the loo to show me. He was very proud of himself especially when I clapped him, has asked for a nappy on now though.

Yes,DS like to throw the peg puzzle pieces around. He does like to throw things!

peg puzzled

Oh BT how ridiculous! Lots and lots of children don't say a word at 2 and go on to have perfectly normal speech. I don't think they should be assessing him like that at this age,unless he literally made no noise and maybe had hearing problems or whatever.

As for the peg puzzles - ??!!*~~~### what the? Perhaps he just doesn't see the point? And after all, I imagine throwing them around is MUCH more fun.

Clairey - leave the nappy off!At least that is what they would tell you if you lived here. Good for your ds though, at least he told you, Martha just keeps it to herself. It's only because her older sister is so obsessed with what she's up to in the bathroom that I find out what she has done.

Pouring with rain here.

Ahh so they're called peg puzzles?! Didn't know they had a name! (Was imagining some kind of wooden pegs slotting into something type of thing that I had never seen!!) We've got some and K played with them for about 5 mins before getting bored. She would rather pretend play at kitchens or giving toys a bath etc

Melly - exactly - ds would much rather play with his trains, cars and soft toys. He is not that fussed about the puzzles!

Ds has a potty... he likes to throw it, que sorprisa [hhm]

Yes K uses her potty as a handy device to move small toys about the room

Yes I agree it all sounds ridiculous BTalthough I do feel slightly sorry for people who have to do that job because if they didn't pick up on problems then they would be hugely criticised and because there is such variability in babies and children it is hard to say what is 'normal'. However, in your particular case, it is clearly insane. Glad your BF group has more sense, and you too of course!

Well done to clairey's DS!

DS has just started having the most almighty tantrums! From never ever having had one to 30 minute long ones which are daily or more often. Just what I need with baby no. 3 on the way

Skid - martha's tantrums getting worse too. Bed times in particular are such a battle. This evening I had to threaten to send her to bed with no tv/books, then put her in the naughty corner until she eventually agreed to clean her teeth. It is all so tiring, I feel for you being so heavily pregnant again as well.

I don't remember dd1 being this difficult at this age.

Skid hold in there, although ds is still having tantrums they are a LOT less frequent now he has sentences! Think so much of it is frustration.

Clara but that's what I did with dd and had over a year of wee everywhere

(plus then he won't be able to wear his dungarees and he looks so cute in them)

Clara my long posts are purely to make up for the fact I hardly get on here to post Quality rather than quantity hey?!

BT I agree with everyone else, what a lot of rot that checklist sounds! I know they have to do their job etc but children do all develop differently and if you have no concerns and your friends and BF group don't either then I would follow your instincts. DS1 said barely anything at 2 but by 3 he wouldn't be quiet was a total chatterbox (still is). He also couldn't do jigsaws at 2. DD, however, has been able to do those puzzles with ease for a couple of months now and chatters all the time. They are all different. They all have strengths in different areas and enjoy some things more than others (just like adults). From my experience (with my own and friend's children) they are all usually at a very similar level by the time they are 3.

Ooh Clara, I agree with Clairey on the tantrum thing, DD was throwing a few biggies (30-40 mins a time) just before she mastered sentences, now she can express herself she doesn't tend to tantrum any more (touch wood). It must be hard for them as their understanding is usually much more advanced than their communication skills.