radical cross stitch, theological debate, Easter bunnies, changing bags,and a baby brother...it must be June 08!

[spongebrainbigpants]

Welcome to our new thread .

hi -marking post as go bit lost with it all and have been ill for last week -still feel like death warmed up which may/may not be why I have swung to other extreme on ttc and not sure I want another.

sponge so sorry you are having it tough - cranial osteopath did seem to help friends who had screamers. And yes a sling was a necessity for e so would echo that advice -she still goes into the ergo so I would suggest that given it lasts until they are about 3 and is mega comfy.

neenz when is your consultant appt - didnt bother to look at results.

impressed with alll the craft talk and debs we have no happyville or whatevr they are called people.

rolf I love amazon too and do most of my shopping on there (or john lewis) -and yes I do have a vague idea before I go of what to get (fortunately in my family if in doubt buy booze is usually a good motto).

Right off to bed - hi to everyone else and sorry for anyone I missed.

sorry didnt finish that sentence -neenz meant that didnt look at results as would mean nothing to me. And well done E on her clever girl moment

Essie - the relaxed day of shopping sounds good, it wouldn't be relaxed for us, DH would moan all the time.
DH's family are very set in their routines about every bleeding thing. First Christmas I spent with them SIL (who is a quite a few years younger than me and fairly immature) kept exclaiming "Oh Ktpie doesn't know about doing .....(insert stupid Christmas thing they do)", errr yes that is because you are the only people that do this and I didn't grow up in your family, it made me feel really welcome

Thank you AH, would love to take you up on that offer - just looked at sling library and they don't offer that sling. Shall I email you through FB? I have looked at the sling and it looks great - we have a babasling but never got on with it. Can you use it on your back too or is it just for carrying on the front? If I get on with it I could buy one. Thank you.

Essie, we've tried a dummy but he won't take it - spits it back out . Could try MAM - does the type really make much difference? A was always happy with his Avent ones so never really explored any others!

The Christmas shopping thing did make me smile - my MIL always used to phone me and ask what I was buying dh and then . . . . bought the same thing! So one year I told her we were buying each other new dressing gowns so she bought us both dressing gowns too - we didn't need two each! And for his birthday once I said I was buying him a bottle of whiskey and a book on whiskey so, yes, you've guessed it, she bought the same . Needless to say I stopped sharing ideas after that.

poppy, sorry to hear you're feeling poorly .

Right, off to bed to catch some zzzz while I can.

Hey,

my online shopping staples are Amazon (free delivery), Boots (3 for 2's galore and particularly good for toys), elc (but only in the last year or so ) and john lewis. I usually have a reasonable idea of what I'm buying but I do surf a lot searching out gifts. The promotional, money saving codes topic on here is handy to keep an eye on for bargain offers as is the Christmas topic. Other staples are vouchers for beauty treatments, restaurant vouchers, afternoon tea vouchers, theatre vouchers (there's a running theme here).

sponge I'm so sorry you're having a tough time. I'd def try a different dummy just to make sure. S had colic and I found it really hard. Getting him in a sling about the house saved my sanity (and I could MN in peace ). If you think it could be colic, we found dentinox worked really well and you can add it to milk so easy to administer.

I've forgotten everything else, sorry. Oh, could someone link to the fly lady Christmas thing. That appeals to my love of lists, stationary etc

oh, abdn I don't think there's anything wrong with rigourous preparation - if a job's worth doing...

Hello All, sorry, busy weekend here so haven't posted for a few days. PILS were here until this morning and we all went to the tennis at the O2, so lots of baby juggling whilst we took it in turns.

Sponge sorry to hear that you are having a tough time of it at the moment. But you do know don't you that it does get easier, and this stage wont last forever. As you know P just fed and screamed (it felt like) to begin with, and now I think he is a fairly happy chap. Infacol have you tried it? I suggested it to a friend with a new baby a few weeks ago and I am now feted in their house as the new Gina Ford

I am really too tired to write back to anyone else. So, just a big wave all round.... will try to check back in tomorrow.

Wow Sponge your MIL is a right one isn't she. So sorry you are not getting much rest with M. Have you tried the Karp method (the 5 S's)? There's a thread about it plus link to youtube demo here

I went to osteo with T and it was brilliant, I swear it cured him, he used to cry all night and wouldn't settle at all unless I had him on my chest for 30 mins (had to time it).

Have you tried changing his milk?

x-posted Spider - I recommend Infacol too, and Colief is even better apparently

sponge it's just for the front - email me on FB with your address and I'll pop it in the post!

Hi all - sorry I haven't posted for so long. Work is awful at the minute and it's really getting me down

sponge have just read your post and wanted to send my sympathies. I can only second what the others said about a sling. A was a very needy baby indeed and the sling really did help as it was the only thing which would put him off to sleep. I tried all the usual colic remedies but tbh I'm not so sure that any of them made much difference. I used to sometimes let him go to sleep on a pillow on my knee and then transfer the pillow to his moses basket. He was such a light sleeper that he'd wake up otherwise. On the positive side, A did eventually improve with his sleep and there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Really hope things get better for you

neenz - all sounds very complex with the tests, but I hope you're able to get some clarity with it soon, must be very frustrating

I'm another internet shopper and have got most of my pressies online. Amazon especially for A's toys, also stuff from boots

A is moving up a class soon in nursery - can't believe it's come up so soon and he's one of the bigger ones in the baby unit

I'll try to catch up some more on other news now

Hi guys, thank you so much for all your lovely posts and advice - I'm noting it all. We realise now how bloody lucky we were with A as he really was a ridiculously laid back baby - when I say he didn't cry at all unless he was hungry, I am not exaggerating, so all this is a bit of a shock .

allnew, our little A has moved up too - and is loving it! Scary how grown up they look with all the babies in the baby room so I think he's definitely ready to go and play with the big kids. Hope your A loves it too .

AH, you're a star, thank you .

Right, off for a long walk into town to make the most of some sun .

I posted earlier but it seems to have been lost.

Cross posted yesterday Poppy, hope you are on the mend now.

BDQ - I think it is here the holiday control journal, is that right Rolf? I think it will help give me a nudge in the right direction, plus I like making lists

Hi Allnew - hope work eases off a bit.

Spider - tennis sounds fun.

Sponge - having had a crying baby I think you get used to it after a while, it used to really stress me out at first when he was crying all the time but after a while it doesn't seem so bad, that's probably not much help, sorry.

Ktpie yes, that's it

We've had a change of date for plasterers. They are coming in a couple of weeks on a Sat, Sun and Mon to plaster the hall, the boys' room and the girls' room. DH is going to be away all of the week leading up to it, and won't be back until the Sunday. The plasterers will want to start work at 8am so I need to get out of the house, and I still haven't learned how to drive the scary big car . I'm hoping we have lovely sunny days and we can have a jolly time at the museum and art gallery but I know that there will be lots of snot and hysterics.

Just a quick one as have much to do after 2 out of the 3 kids have been ill on and off for the last couple of weeks!

SPonge Sorry things are tough at the moment. I used to carry dd2 round with me a lot and she was very happy with that. I bought a close baby sling with ds and wish i had found it sooner as it's very comfy!

Been tidying like crazy, got rid of one bin bag of rubbish from ds's toys and this morning managed to chuck away tow bin bags from the girls room! Feeling ruthless so need to do some more decluttering!

Hello everyone! I have decided to get over myself and start posting again 'cos I miss you all! There is no way on earth I could possibly catch up on everything so if anyone fancies posting a lovely round up I would be super grateful - if not I will work things out I'm sure.

We are in the new house now - it's fab and we love it. Saying that the heavy rain has meant our roof is leaking! We are still living out of a lot of boxes and painting bits and pieces. We can't seem to fit any stair gates so we have already had a trip to A&E with Luke who fell down the lot. I must say I thought he had died and it was the most horrid experience ever but he came off with just a scratch so we are very lucky indeed. 'Twas lovely to see PP, Essie and Puree and the kiddies a couple of weeks back who filled me in on a bit of the MN goss.

I am redundant as of 31 December but my last day is 21 Decmeber. it's scary stuff but I am fed up of the commute and nursery run in a place which has one bus every 20 minutes! I am also knackered in general so am going to sit on my arse and eat chocolate for a while.

Still not up the duff but having tests done at the fertiility clinic. I have a hideous one tomorrow where they are injecting dye into my fallopian tubes and Xraying me. We've already worked out that Mark has sub optimal sperm so that's a problem. Just checking whether I have one too 9sometimes caused by the mildest of infections from a c section). Feel better for having the tests and not blindly trying for months on end.

Luke is adorable. He will not stop talking and repeats everything we say now! Bizarrely he counts everything - probably because I do but misses out one and seven and can't say anything with an 'f' or 's' sound - Dor, Dive, Dix, eight!! I have however only had 4 hours sleep today and am knackered as usual. Teething I think. Blimey when do they get them all???

Anyway - nice to be back and read everyone's news. xxx

Much better day today - the sun was shining and I went for a walk, and M slept. What a difference .

The HV came round this pm and was lovely - thinks the sling idea is great so thank you AH . He also seems to be getting on a little better with his dummy, although still not a big fan, but we're working on it.

Amber, welcome back - the xray/dye thing is really not that bad, and it's great that you're getting these tests so early on. The NHS never checked my tubes and we'd been ttc for nearly 3 years before a private check and discovery they were blocked . Is M following any diet/supplement thing for the sperm?

Thank you again for everyone's support yesterday. It really was so welcome. (Oh and sybil, I will take your advice about accepting help when offered ).

Hi Amber! Really really glad you're back . House sounds great and Luke adorable. He obviously has a quick mind and that is maybe why he sleeps so badly! Couldn't even attempt a round-up but not much going on with me except ttc - had blood tests and everything looks ok but the progesterone test wasn't done so I am having that next week. Hoping not to get PG this month because I don't want to be 6wks pg at Christmas so that is sure to make it happen I suppose.

Abdn, the job sounds really exciting, hope you get it.

Essie, at the whisky story. How much is a bottle of the one you used?

Sponge, sounds like you are feeling a bit better today. When the DTs kept me up all night I had to make sure I got a couple of hours' sleep in the day - can anyone come to look after the LOs so you can do that?

I just had to sleep when they did (easier with DTs than different ago kids tho) but I often went to bed in the evening and left DH to hold the fort, so I'd always had a couple of hours before the night shift proper began iyswim.

I think most colic remedies often dont work because it really is just a case of letting the baby's digestive system mature a little bit. Just remember it won't last long - seven or eight weeks I think usually. I also think you;ll get more used to the crying, try not to see it as necessarily a bad thing - it is just his only way of communicating right now, and don;t feel bad about putting him down for 10 mins while you have your tea etc. We always used to put the Dts in their cots while we had dinner, and even though they usually screamed their heads off, we just shut the door and had our dinner. It was only 10 mins - sometimes they would have fallen asleep by the time we'd finished .

x-posted Sponge - fab that you are feeling so much better. The sun definitely helps doesn't it!

Glad you're back Amber and wow, Luke sounds like he really does belong on the G&T threads! Having said that, I went to take J's photo the other day and he posed beautifully and then said 'cheeeeese'. I was so proud!

Also glad to hear you are feeling better Sponge. You will get there, I promise.

Hi Amber, great to have you back. Glad you're getting the tests done and not having to wait around for months.

sponge so glad you've had a better day. If it is colic, Neenz is right - they do usually grow out of it (although it seems like eternity at the time). We tried all the different remedies - I think whether or not they work depends on the baby. S definitely did pass a lot more wind (from both ends) almost immediately when we gave him dentinox, but infacol did nothing although I know lots of people swear by it. I'm quite sure a sling will make a power of difference. I thought the sling library was a brilliant idea!

Poppy sorry you've been ill and hope you're fighting fit again soon.

essie on Christmas customs... My mum makes a big thing about hating lists and people asking for things and then proceeds to ask everyone what they want and tell everyone exactly what they should buy her; My DB sends unsolicited lists with approved presents for DN and his DW never says thank you for any gift and asks for receipts. One year, she wanted to return a scarf I bought her because it didn't go with her winter coat. It's an accessory FFS - do what all sane women do and buy a new coat to go with it . But tbh, they make me look like a last minute Xmas shopper and probably have DN's presents stashed away for next 5 years. Oh and they always see something
g they think my p's should buy DN for Christmas, buy it, and then ask for the money. On DH's side - they're not too bad although imagination when it comes to presents is frowned upon. So now I just buy presents so DH doesn't get the chance to consult with his p's or Dsis! They are incredibly generous to us and S though.

allnew sorry work is so awful. I hope it gets better. S went up to the next class a month or so ago and it's brilliant. They do so much more, I guess because they're not constrained by the endless feed, food, nappy, nap routines of babies. Today he's had playtime, songtime, garden and painting. Lots of fun for him.

Thanks for the link ktpie and good luck driving the scary car Rolf goingto I've got loads that needs decluttering if you've any energy left over...

ok, I think this has turned into a massive post so I'll stop there!

Oh, and those of you who haven't started Xmas shopping yet, there's a thread in 'promotional discounts etc' about some bargainous toys at lidl.

Helloooo! I'm a different woman today - I was all miserable yesterday because of the awful night, but last night Iestyn slept from 7.45-8.15. Oh YES! (On just a tub of custard for dinner. I'm not such a bad mother but I had to get him to eat something, and that was the only thing he would take. Several of you know this from personal experience, I know! The table was like a bloody Roman feast with numerous different dishes for him.) Anyway, good day at work, came home at 4.30 and got Iestyn, played with him until teatime; he ate an ok amount of food and we watched ITNG and he also had a fruit puree. Please don't let this be ruined with a bad night...

Yay Amber, glad you're back! Also you've highlighted how crap I am at keeping in touch with people if they're not on mn.

Some of the points which were discussed: Christmas shopping, with BDQ leading the attack there; Rolf is preparing for advent and looking forward to it although not to the plastering which will happen before Christmas; Ktpie is still the winner on responding to everyone on here and is doing well; Poppy hasn't been well; Neenz is having tests and is still TTC; Deb is very busy and has excused herself for a while to get stuff done before the season starts ; now I'm struggling to remember... goingto has been having a tough time of it with sick children; who's also moved? Is it whinegums? Now I'm confused, so someone else fill in the gaps please!
Sponge - now you might be able to help there; she's been having a bit of a mare with 2 little uns, the newest one crying a lot. Maybe he's really bright like Luke. (And Sybil's man J )

Me - I've been having major major work crises. But I'm being all girl-powery about it. I have made an appointment to see the Vice Chancellor of the University. Yes, right to the top! Let's hope he doesn't say 'so, what's so great about you? Go away, young lady.'

I'm sure there was something else I was going to post. Hm, maybe later!

Hahaha, this thread!

Wow Goingto, I'm impressed by the decluttering. I've been trying to sort out the house today, had my little helper in tow, I was putting some books on a new book shelf and every time I turned round he had taken them all off again! Helped me change the bedding as well by rolling around on the bed when I tried to put the sheet on and hiding things under the sheet then jumping on the duvet giggling every time I tried to pick it up to put the cover on it.

Rolf - good luck with the big car! I was worried when I started driving the van (and it is only a little one) but now I find it easy.

Amber - good to hear from you, glad you got moved OK. The stairs incident sounds awful. Hope it goes allright tomorrow. I'm impressed by Lukes talking!

Sponge - glad you had a better day.

Hi to everyone else, I'm being dragged away by DH to do more sorting out of the spare room, what fun!

Hi guys, I am lurking as am drowning in work at the moment, I keep being given extra stuff to do that I have to fit in outside usual work hours, but most of it needs to be done at work because of patient confidentiality stuff- can't even keep databases on USB drive or anything, so difficult to co-ordinate with, well, life.

Also have to start studying again for exams soon, and have a house full of BIL and family this weekend, so all very hectic.

C is super fun at the moment, lots of talking and singing and dancing here - some attempts at stringing together 2 words, generally on the Daddy theme - Daddy go, Daddy Car, Daddy work.. etc. Still won't say Granny though - my Mum is getting very annoyed!

big waves and hugs for all!

will be keeping up as much as possible x