May 09 - Six months on. Sleepless nights, hen nights and a sexybuilder.

[HeadlessLadyH]

Over here!!!!

a quick question.. how is it that men can use nearly every bowl, loads of cups, plates and knives in just over 12hrs and be asleep for most of those 12hrs?! it's taken me half an hour to sort out the kitchen that's been spotless all week..

Morning!
Feigning being bright & breezy here in the hope I will perk up! Didn't get in til 2am DH was asleep sat up in bed with O on his front. Had a great time although felt a bit emotional - first of all missing O and then feeling guilty. How stupid am I??!

Fi - glad your DH is home safe, sound & fluttery

Belgian - I didn't get on with the TT pump either. I had great success pumping this morning after my night out!

Tummum - I haven't checked my spam box in ages. Sounds like a difficult situation for you with all the changes.
Well done G on sleeping through!

flippin - hope your roof survived the night.

momi - sorry to hear your SIL's struggles. Def get tongue tie checked. When O's was sorted it made so much difference to both his weight and my pain. Even if it's already been checked, worth getting it rechecked as first MW said O did NOT have a tongue tieso it then got ignored for a month.

Reggiee - how's your DH coping with his hangover?!

fi My dh does that too + towels. I seem to be able to survive with only 1 towel in use per person. DH comes home and suddenly all bath towels are in use spread all over the house. He seems to need 4 just for himself

ses Great that you've had a good time. 2 am! Must have been a good night

C's awake now. Time to go and rescue her.

Ses glad you had a good time. 2am! I don't think I could stay awake that late these days.

Belgian interesting about the Tommee Tippee pump. That's the one I have and I haven't even bothered trying to express lately as the last few times I only got 1-2oz, even when feeling quite full. But I'm thinking with H's probable dairy intolerance it would be good to have some EBM for cereals, as I don't like the sound of the alternatives.

Fi DH is just like that. When I was ill with a cold on Tues & DH stayed off to look after me & H (bless!) you should have seen the state of the house by the end of the day!

This morning we're having 2 windows replaced, including the bathroom one, and I missed my 'window of opportunity' for a wee so I'm hopping and squirming around the kitchen waiting for the chap to finish.

Momi hope your SIL can get some suitable advice. BTW IIRC I think it was Frazz who had the silverettes.

I've got the Medela pump; not the small one but the next size pump. In the evening I get about 6 oz very easily but in the morning a bit less. Timing is everything! I'm really happy with the pump. The last one I had was the smaller Medela and the I wore the motor out. This time around I go for weeks without pumping and then pump loads in a week to build my freezer supply up.

I've just had to tell DS1 to stop licking the sofa. Did I ever think I'd hear myself say those words? Nope!

just want to say thank you and how lovely you all are to be giving advice to a 3rd party (my lovely SIL) here on MN! very supportive and I'll ask her a few more questions about what pump she uses, check tongue tie, etc. Haven'tspoken to her yet today but want to see if/how she got on with NCT BF counsellor.

flippin, your roof still on? horrid weather in britain today.

ses, sounds like a good night out but IKWym about being emotional/guilty. it must be a built-in emotion for parents.

spangle, what a pane to have to wait for the window to be finished before you can go to the loo.

Fi, glad DH has had a good homecoming!

febes and anyone else unwell, hope you're feeling better.

Hello.

ses glad you had a good night. I know what you mean about the guilt but it will pass. But am v impressed with your 2am!! You party animal you.

fi glad your DH home safe and sound. LOL about using every utensil though. Its a man thing. DH does that here too. Especially if cooking a meal ( although I can't remember the last time he cooked properly ). Everything gets used and then piled up in the sink so you then have to remove everything out of the sink to actually wash up.

belgian lucky you with your man in uniform but it must be hard for you having him away so much and in what sounds like a hairraising job. Is he working this weekend in all this awful weather?

spangle have you managed your wee yet??!! And what a day to have windows replaced! At least you will be snug and warm tonight.

I so wish I could stop in tonight. I really want to sit on the sofa with SCD and XF, a nice bottle of vino and a choc pudding but instead DH and I have to go to a 50th birthday. I feel bad as I really can't muster any enthusiasm for it. Its someone that DH works with and its black tie so a chance to dress up and all, with a sit down meal. The birthday girl must be v excited but I barely know her and I'm sure she won't care one jot if I am there or not as I am only invited as the plus one. We have to be there at 7.15pm too which will be nigh on impossible with putting 1 baby and 1 4year old to bed. We are having to use DH's niece to babysit who is only 17 (no one else, ie my mum or nursery staff) available so the plan is:
Get R in bed about 6.45
Let DS1 stay up till he is too tired to stay awake rather than get niece to try and do the bedtime drill
Me come home early (yay!) after the meal to make sure R ok and DS1 asleep.

Having had a temp over the past few days, he seems fine today albeit his nose is still producing rivers of snot. But it gives me the excuse to leave the party early. We were out last night too so I really really really don't want to go out again. We had DS1's key worker from nursery sit last night so I had no prob leaving her to deal with bedtime and a baby with a slight temp. Shame she can't do tonight too.

Last night, we were at a charity do. Name drop here - our table was next to Sven Goran Eriksons table.

These last 2 weekends have NOT been typical for me!! Hen weekend last weekend and then the charity ball last night and this black tie do tonight. Believe me this is not a normal weekend!! Thankfully. I do love a good night out but not this often.

DH has just taken DS1 for a swim so am hoping this will wear him out a bit, although it he does stay up later than his usual bedtime, its fine. I don't mind him staying up a bit later on a sat and its quite nice to watch a bit of sat eve telly with him (although I won't be able to do that tonight)

Has C gone to sleep now, belgian?

She'd gone to sleep before I posted, LadyH. She's difficult enough as it is with naps and the only thing that works is for me to stay with her. She screamed like that for half an hour, that was why my ears were ringing! She's now just woken up and is all happy and smiley, desperate for her turn on the key board.

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Hi all,
Horrid day here. We did dash out this morning between the showers but have been hibernating since.
I have all my overseas Christmas presents wrapped and ready to send on Monday . I have all the DCs presents wrapped and hiding . Just got to get something for DH under £15 (any ideas??) Something for SIL which I have chosen so just need to pick it up. I am going to make fudge or something for all other friends in a bid to save money and we do a secret santa with our friends we are spending christmas day with so I'll need to get a few £5 presents for that. We are on a tightbudget so I needed to get organised this year.

Both Dcs are in bed here as DD didn't have a nap and R had a short one this morning in the buggy and a 20 {shock] nap this afternoon. He has been hardly napping the last few days but he is definately teething again as he premanently has his fist shoved in his mouth.

I want to ask your advice on DD- her eating has been shocking this week. She has a few spoonfuls then plays with the food picking it up in her hands and flicking it around, throwing her cutlery etc. She has only been eating half or less what I dish up. I sit with her and R and eat all eat together at the dinner table. She has always been such a good eater and I know it changes as she is 2 (next week ) I'm also wondering if she is seeing R BLW and making a mess in general and is acting like him. She has been eating completely independently since about 9 months old so its doing my head in a bit that she seems to be digressing.

I am still feeling a bit sicky but not too bad and am settling back to watch a night of strictley and x factor. Lovely.

running Here's a few links for you... I had a surf & browse around... unfortunately it seems the more expensive labels have the most choice but i did find some nice options elsewhere and the 'very' website has loads of tops (not all sparkly) but going to have a good trawl through myself!

very.co.uk
bravissimo
karen millen
monsoon
per una at M&S
wallis

febes I had a phone call from my friend in Tauranga yesterday eve.. the pressie had arrived already and she was amazed i'd chosen IQtoys.. she has used them herself there and has always found them very good so will definitely use them again! Well done on all your xmas shopping and wrapping. I've still a fair bit to do of both and some family birthdays too...

have a great night out ladyh and hope you get home when you want to escape.

spangle i hope you are now cosy with your new windows in... what a day for it!

belgian G does the head thrash when needing sleep but not quite giving into it yet... & a short window between that and major screeching too.

right off to make a cuppa...

oh and ses 2am! respect to you for managing to stay awake that late & glad you had a good time

evening all!

We still have a roof! Phew. Despite being only walking distance from quite a large town centre we have a lot of trees round here - loads have lots branches/bits of branches come off in the wind but nothing damaged.

ses - at your night out. Sounds fab!

febes - also at you too, and your super organised christmas shopping. We haven't started yet.

Dreadful night last night, with A starting her day at 4:30 after unsettled hours. I got up first with her, then DH got up when DD1 woke and I went back to bed.

I had a 30% Gap voucher so bought a new cardigan and pair of jeans, yay!

Exciting stuff, my brother and his wife are coming to see us tomorrow, and they might be bringing my sister and nephew with them. It'll be mad and chaotic, but lovely to see them all.

So quiet her tonight. Clearly most of us seem to have a life,... or at least a DH/P to talk to.

flippin Glad to hear your roof has survived the storm so far. Also nice about the GAP vouchers and your family coming. I hope your night will be better tonight. How are you feeling otherwise? You know PND wise.

febes at your organisedness (is that a word?) You're right feeling smug. I've got 2 x-mas presents so far. Time to get cracking I suppose.

Nearly bedtime now. Just got to wait for my strawberries to be fully grown. I've timed that nicely with C's dream feed

Hi Belgian, I was just about to go to bed and just came back to check here one last time!

Thanks for asking, I'm ok, I think. I'm still struggling with my temper and patience a bit, but I'm trying really hard to think and take a deep breath before I do or say anything. Some days I have to try really hard to get out of the house, but things are very much better if we all go out. I had a really long chat with my closest RL 'mum' friend the other day and that has really helped too, admitting it to somone else. My letter came this morning about the counselling, so I need to phone them on Monday to arrange an appt - I'm quite nervous about it for some reason. DH is beeing good at doing stuff around the house and getting up with the girls etc, but I could do with a bit more emotional support from him, iyswim.

Oops. forgot to say good night! Sleep well, mums and babies.

Hi All,

Hope everyone had good nights.

Not been around as had friends visiting and have woken up today with a stinking cold and sore throat and feeling v sorry for myself.

Thanks for the links Fi you are a star (of the sparkly variety) off for a looksee now.

Interesting chat about the tommy tippee pump as thats the one I had an have never been able to express more than 1-2 oz so gave up about four weeks in and haven't bothered trying since.

flippin Its ok to feel nervous I think as its possibly going to be a difficult thing to do. Good luck.

Sorry feeling pants and can't remember what I needed to say. Have a good day all.

hmm i gave up expressing too after only trying 2 or 3 times.. was lucky if I got 2oz and i have the tommee tippee one too!

It's very interesting about this tommee tippee pump- sounds like it's a bit rubbish. I use an avent hand pump and have always found it good- I can generally get my letdown quickly and get lots out.

Running- sorry to hear you are not feeling good, and hope everyone else feeling poorly or any poorly LOs gets well soon.

I am trying not to be too smug , but I have had THREE nights in a row when S hasn't fed . This is after 6 months of feeding every 3-4 hours so it feels great. Shame he still wakes up but he's getting there. Last night he only woke at 4am, and probably because the students next door came home, and were making noise til 5.45 . Luckily i am a deep sleeper and it didnt bother me much, but poor DH was awake from 4am onwards.

Gosh its quiet today on here!

jael I hope you are ok. I think you said you were going to the light switch on in Birmingham and it seems all didn't go well. I thought of you when I heard about it and so am hoping you and your DCs are all ok. Let us know, won't you?

febes Am sure your DD will be going through a phase (when is anything they do actually not a phase???) so if it were me, I wouldn't worry unless she doesn't revert to her usual self in a few days/weeks. Maybe just try to ignore it. I know that when we ignore DS1 (ifkwim) who is a faddy eater, he is so much better. If we butt in and say one more mouthful blah blah blah, it just makes him worse and it becomes a real battle. Easier said than done though.

flip good luck tomorrow. To me, you sound like you have conquered a lot of your isshhoos just by talking about them and that you know where your difficulties lie which seems to be a big part of the battle.

Managed to leave the party at 10 last night and thank god I did. R still has a hacking cough and was up at 11, 2.30 (for an hour) 4.30 and 5.30 so am feeling a bit pants now. At least I hadn't got a hangover to deal with on top of that.

On the bright side, he had a roast dinner today and devoured a large roast parsnip as well as carrots and a tiny bit of chicken. Am v proud of him!!

Hellooooooo

Anyone there?

Am sure our thread has never been quiet for more than 2 hours!

DCs in bed now. We also had a great roast- pork. DD picked at it but R ate carrot, green beans, sweet potato, potato and some choc pud too .

Its DD's 2nd birthday next Sunday so we are having a afternoon tea for friends and making a monkey cake. We got her a shopping trolley with plastic food and a hobby horse. Today 2 years ago was my due date and she was still in my tummy .

It was nice to see the sun today after the strom yesterday.

storm