Dec 08 babies are nearly one - PARTY TIME!

[EffiePerine]

As I accidentally filled up the old thread I thought I'd better start a new one

Hello everyone,

Congrats on the interview effie. 100k eh? Shoes? A nice new coat?

JJ What a lovely birthday for your DD! My friend used to drop things into conversation about how advanced her DS was and being childless at the time it meant nothing to me at all! I don't know what I was meant to say, "your DS walked at 10 months, well our cat killed his first mouse at 3 months"!!

ladyT I'm not sure the ebay listing would inspire much interest! I love this time of year too, the first frost on Tuesday morning made everything look so sparkly and crisp.

veggie Hope the jabs go OK.

mom What a night you had, no wonder your asthma started playing up. How are you now?

trace Hope L's blood test goes OK. Is she brave with needles? P must look so cute all gummy. DD lost that look at 3 months!

I had to collect DD from nursery early today because she was not at all herself, really quiet and out of sorts. Her bottom has flared up so badly it looks like a burn . I'm going to get her a GP appointment tomorrow as it is just getting worse and even the plain water in the bath was hurting her. I have no idea what has caused it unless it is connected to these damn teeth. DAMN THOSE TEETH!

Goodevening ladies I'm currently trying to get these 2 boys to bed. It's our last day with my niece tomorrow which is a bit sad. We are going to westfields so I can get some bits for the boys that are cheaper here than Netherlands and also so I can have a few last hours of shopping with my little au pair. I'm going to miss her loads but no where near as much as DS1 will, I fear he is going to be completely devastated when we say goodbye to bee tomorrow night.

On the sleep front, last night DS2 was great and slept through. However, I think this may have been because he has been waking so much previous to this including waking up the entire hotel (I'm not exaggerating) in Paris when he woke at 1am screaming like he was being murdered! I was really worried someone was going to call the police. We heard loads of doors opening in the corridor while he screamed. I'm fairly sure it's teeth as he has 2 coming through either side of his top front teeth. Trace DS1 got only 2 teeth before he was one but I swear he was teething from about 8 weeks old. He has quite a small mouth and my BIL who is a dentist said he is not surprised he had bad pain due to the size of his mouth and all the teeth pushing through a small area.

Mom sorry you've been unwell and needed the steroids, sometimes it's just best to take it and knock the asthma on the head. Hope your returning to normal now.

Lady that sounds quite scary, poor little O. Glad you had a nice time and no fights brilliant.

Beans so true about competitiveness bring exhausting. I always try to remind myself that it's just mums trying to make themselves feel better but it often feels like they are trying to put my boys down. Both boys started crawling and walking fairly early which I know doesn't mean much in the long term but we are proud but when DS1 started walking I had one friend going on about hers would be more cerebral because he was saying words earlier as if mine were football thugs or something.

Oh and Jabs went well my friend very kindly did his 12 & 13 month jabs in one go so it meant 3 jabs but I'm so glad their all done now.

Jolly - Same here with the burn-like bottom! Poor things. He screamed yesterday when we put him in the bath because I think it stung. Today I put porridge oats in the bathwater (tied in a muslin cloth) and a silk liner in his nappy so we'll see if it helps. He has been grizzly all day (apparently....my parents had to deal while I was at work...oh well, too bad for them ), drooling like he hasn't done since he was 3 months old, crazy nappy rash. Could this all be teeth?! He has already woken up twice since bedtime screaming and chewing his hands. Ahhhh! I can't get a look in his mouth very well, but I don't really see any molars or canines about to cut through I don't think?

Kiwi - I was expressing at work for the first 3 weeks. It was no big deal (we have a nice first aid room with fridge and a bed that I have more than once contemplated sleeping in...zzzzzz). But I am getting busy now and trying to leave by 4:30, so I have decided to stop expressing. He is just having some cow's milk in a cup during the day, but not much by the sounds of it.

Effie - Toddler Taming ordered today! Along with the Mumsnet Toddler book. Thanks!

Trace - Always so very impressed with your packed lunches. My friend told me a hilarious (well she didn't think it was that funny) story about how she took her son's lunchbox out of his bag after school but left it on the table and forgot to pack a new lunch in it. Her husband saw it on the table the next morning and put it in his bag. So her DS had a rotten apple core and a couple of crusts for lunch the next day! She is traumatised by motherly guilt, but I had to giggle. THAT'S how busy we mums are some days!

mom I find DD always opens her mouth when I tip her slightly upside down on my knee, I can then have a good look at teeth progress and DD gets tickled.

I don't know teeth names but it is DD's side ones that are cutting through at the moment. Three all at once. Oats in the bath sounds good. I'll try that tomorrow.

Hi everyone, so here I am with my long promised catch up ? except I can?t really remember everything I wanted to say. I know I want to send a huge hug to Daisy and her family, I was so sorry to hear about your MIL?s diagnosis ? she seems to have a very strong character, so I hope that strength will help her achieve whatever she wants to in the coming months and years. How has your first day at work been?

It?s so nice to read about all the first birthdays . Happy birthday to Katie?s baby for tomorrow, and also to Beans? and PD?s DD?s for the weekend, if I don?t get another chance to post.

I?m glad your CPN is being helpful Trace, and you?ve sorted out the confusion with your pills. Your posts sound more positive this week, I hope you are too? Were you in Pizza Express today? (clue was the garlic dough balls!) I walked past at lunchtime, should have nosied up to the window to wave. Did you look at the river from Lendal bridge? I was quite amused to see 3 sets of bicycle handlebars poking out of the flood water ? obviously would have been less than amused if it was my bike, but the image was a funny one.

LadyT your holiday sounds so lovely , what a charmer O is!

Kiwi I am with you on the lack of patience with the useless naps. My DD is similar to yours, and it is so wearing. The only thing that keeps me calm is the thought that (usually) she sleeps well at night, which isn?t even happening for you, so you have my greatest sympathy

Surely, if we pool our DH?s together, they may attract some bids on Ebay? I am adding mine into the mix. Yesterday morning he had DD and then took her to nursery in the afternoon. I must start with the caveat that he is a great SAHD, they both had a whale of a time and DD was clean, well fed, well rested and happy. However, house husband, pah. I asked him to hang the washing out and ring the plumber ? that was all. The washing somehow got muddy and he never rang the plumber to sort the shower out (so now we can?t get clean til Friday afternoon, at the earliest, and its been broken since Saturday). And DD?s breakfast and lunch pots were strewn around when I got home, her pjs on the floor, with a dirty nappy folded up beside them. Arrrgghhh

I?m glad work hasn?t been so bad for you Beans. I?m a week into my new job and actually loving it, it really surprised me as I thought, finances aside, I?d be much happier being a SAHM. I?m fine during the day, but as soon as the clock strikes 5 I want to jump into my time machine and get straight home to DD, the commute home is awful and that?s when I miss her. DD is doing well at nursery/with Grandma ? her report from last Thursday (her first full day at nursery and with their meals) said ?mid morning ate all my toast, drank all my milk, lunchtime ate all my roast chicken, broccoli, potatoes and gravy and all my treacle tart and custard, mid afternoon drank all my milk and ate all my fruit, teatime ate all my pizza, chips and beans and all my yogurt?. The activities section was blank, so I think she maybe just ate all day! I don?t know whether to be proud or embarrassed My DH seems to be more of the problem, despite him being the one who said I do need to go back to work, at least for a while, I think he is now finding the thought that someone else is looking after DD a difficult one and keeps dropping ?wouldn?t you be happier at home with DD? and ?maybe you could get out of your contract early? into the conversation. I?m just ignoring him, as I?m already suffering the working Mum?s guilt that I am actually enjoying the time away from DD and don?t really want to give it up. Oh well, if the only thing I am unhappy about is that I?m not unhappy (middle of the night screamathons aside) then I have a lot of blessings to count

Must go to bed now ? but do I wash my hair now (over the basin of course), or set my alarm early? Or go for the greasy head look tomorrow? Night everyone

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. Had a lovely day en famille and have arranged a small party for a week tomorrow. This is more so that the DDs realise they are not the only ones who get made a fuss of on their birthdays.

Veggie, am so glad that you had a great time with your niece. I wish I had had an aunt like you when I was growing up. Den Haag sounds amazing. When can I come? And which night are we having the virtual birthday party?

Thinking of you Daisy and Trace. Hope the blood test is OK for Lucy.

Glad work not too bad Beans. Zoe, I always have to stifle a smile at the activities secion in M's nursery book. Ysterday he did painting, helped put up a Christmas tree, enjoyed role playing in the home corner (being a useless husband on the sofa with a beer no doubt) and sang Christmas carols. All at the age of 1y and 1 day. He's a genius!

I HATE HATE HATE competitive parenting and don't engage in it at all. I'm afraid it goes through life though, so I just have to smile and say how marvellous the other person's child is, whilst counting to 20. We are currently in the midst of Angelgate, as Kucy is but an innkeeper, when her friend Iris is the important angel. Lucy is furious as the innkeeper is a boy, and she won't accept that Gabriel is as well. Iris's mum doing nothing other than fanning flames TBH.Grrrr.

Must go. Back later. Happy Thursdays everyone.

JJ can you repeat the link for emailing Mr JJ for the secret santa? Can't find it.

Thank you darling.

Bum burn and drool is most definitely teeth. Metanium cream is awesome for it and you are best getting the GP to prescribe it for you as a bit costly. Also good is bepanthemum(sp) I don't use nappy creams unless there is any redness and then I use these and usually sorts it almost overnight.

Oops just found this post forgot to send it last night.

Hello everyone!
Been meaning to do a catch up for ages but just no time at the moment.
This post might be a short one as DS is a bit whingy though!

jj had a giggle at the competetive parenting. However, shouldn't giggle too much, as I think DH might do it. He was desperate for DS to crawl and is now desperate for him to walk properly!! So funny. It's only physical things though. He probably won't care if he can't speak by the time he's 5.

oh at the risk of sounding competetive by putting this immediately after talking about competetive parenting, DS is sort of walking now, very exciting. He's been able to take steps when encouraged from DH to I for a while but he's finally started doing it of his own accord, so I think he has figured out that walking is a good idea, and not just a party trick that Daddy is trying to teach him.

DS has a sore bottom and is always chewing his hands and is grumpy today. So I am wondering if the dreaded teeth are coming for him. He is still sleeping well though (fingers xed) - and sorry to all who are having sleep problems not meaning to be insensitive saying that! mom that night of yours sounds a shocker, I hope you have got some decent sleep since.

Oh I was wondering if anyone (particularly veggie as I think she had the same probs) has any advice. DS has reverted to being a crap crap crap eater. He will nibble on finger foods, but often just throws them on the floor. He won't eat hardly any spoon fed savoury food though he kicks his feet with joy when he sees a jar of organix pasta. He will also eat pots of fruit puree and yoghurt. And banana if you are lucky. Before he got sick a several weeks ago he was going through a phase of eating everything and anything. I hope that comes back but what do I do in the meantime? I don't want to feed him organix jars all the time!! He seems happy enough with nothing or close to to eat, and he's not skinny either, so maybe I should just keep going with lots of finger food and try him on the savoury spoon stuff now and again.

sybil I had a giggle at your nativity dramas, sorry!

zj glad you are enjoying your new job.

ladyt glad you had a good holiday and little o had a good birthday!

Happy birthday to all the early December birthdays too! It's my birthday tomorrow. I am going to work, boo!

Summer - Same here with the eating. He used to be a champion eater; it was so much fun. Now he is not great. Swipes most stuff away and gets very cross. He is usually happy to eat the Heinz Mums Own jars so I just resort to those if nothing else is working. It seems to coincide with teething episodes for us and then he'll be back on food for a couple of weeks, and then more teeth so not eating, etc., etc. I am worried that he doesn't get enough milk because he isn't that keen on yoghurt anymore, he only BFs 2 X day, and my Mom said he doesn't really want milk in a cup most days.

I'm pretty sure the Baby Led Weaning book says that it is common for the "novelty" of food to wear off and for them to go through fussy phases?

I am just trying to ignore it and just say if you're done, you're done. Clean it up and try again another time. And I let him steal my food if he wants it.

Summer - Izz was the same after she was sick. Took her 2 weeks to start eating anything like a normal amount again and she's still quite fussy, unless it's mince or beef casserole! I would give him food he wants, even if you're worried it's from a packet. Honestly, better that he eats something and baby food such good quality these days, that I'm sure it's not a problem. And just every now and again try him on something else and he'll soon get back into it, I'm sure.

Work is going really well, but am exhausted! I'm not even that busy, if I'm honest - just getting used to a new routine. Plus I'm cycling in - wow my bottom hurts - clearly I'm saddle sore - need more practice! And no one has noticed my burgeoning belly - they probably think it's old baby gut from DD - which it is partly!

Hope all going well x

Quick catch up before getting back to work.

Welcome back ladyT - glad you had a good time, but sorry you/O weren't well. Sounds like O is the type to stop traffic, but can definitely see that has its downsides. BTW - been following up some of your book recommendations from the other thread - Elizabeth Howard hit the spot and just starting some Updike - pleasantly surprised so far. So thank you!

ZJ and Beans glad the return to work is going well. Daisy how have your first few days back been?

Sorry for those with sore bottomed children - sudocrem works pretty quickly for us.

On BF, DS is pretty much down to one (morning) feed a day, but it looks like that won't last much longer earlier. Basically when I went back to work I offered him BF morning, evening and any time he woke up at night, but he pretty quickly settled on just a morning feed. Lately he's not much interested in that and I have had a few nips (ouch!) in the last week, so we may be coming to the end of the line. Not sure if its because there isn't enough there to be bothered with, or he's just not that bothered, but anyway feels a bit sad to be almost finishing.

Tantrums. Not sure we've had those as such, but DS definitely lets us know when he is not happy about something (like his sister taking back her books that he's been chewing...).

With competitive parenting, I think you just have to smugly hold on to the thought in your head that its a sign of complete insecurity on the part of the other parent. After all, why else does someone need to prove how marvellous their DCs are to you? By contrast, your children will be well balanced and confident people (who can't walk, talk etc etc?)

Food intake fluctuates wildly in our house especially with DD who used to go days eating everything and then getting quite fussy. Not much we ever managed to do about that other than exercise a lot of patience. So far DS seems to be a bit of a gannet who eats everything, but I guess that might change.

DS is also becoming a real little monkey - this morning something caught his eye on the kitchen table, so he stood, hauled himself up and crawled onto the table to get it. He won't like it, but looks like we might have to start using the harness.

Oh and SL happy birthday for tomorrow!

Hiya everyone and a belated Happy 1st Birthday to babyjj & babysybil .

daisy sorry to hear your family is going through it at the moment. Hope your new job is going well.

MoM/Kiwi another one not bothering with expressing here either. On the couple of occasions I've had to leave DD for 12 hours or so I've just left her with cow's milk, and I'll be doing the same when I go back to work. I was at wedding the last Friday and left her from 12 noon till 2am and ever since she seems to be feeding voraciously day and night and doesn't seem to want me out of her sight. So that's going to be fun when I go back to work.

Effie well done on the job interview. Is it in London? I must say I am impressed by all the job activity on here at the moment. I'm feeling nauseous at the thought of returning to work, not helped by the fact that the job which used to be across the road from my house is now at least an hour and a half away. It's pathetic I know but the thought of going back to work is ruining my last couple of weeks of freedom mat leave.

trace DD got her second peggy through the other day (her first one was about 6 weeks ago). DS got his first one at 14 months which meant at least 10 months of drooling, gnawing etc.

SL Happy Birthday!

Lanzarote was great (thanks for asking Effie & LadyT) - very relaxing & easy, lots of sunshine and fun for the kids. Would definitely go again. DP was in the doghouse big time on my birthday though - I don't know about ebay but I would have cheerfully swapped him for any of the following:

breakfast in bed
bottle of something bubbly
slice of birthday cake

I mean I wasn't expecting a present or anything, but the teeniest bit of effort would have been nice. He couldn't even be bothered to find out if there were any good days out to be had or to seek out a decent restaurant for my birthday meal. I had to practically beg him to change out of his scruffy top and have a shave to go out to eat, then he acted like I was being a massive diva and told me the world didn't revolve around me. Since when does the world not revolve around you on your 40th birthday? My dears, I am the very last word in low maintenance but I'm sure you'll agree that this was a pretty poor do. Birthday ended with a huge drunken row, surprise surprise.

Off up north tonight for DD's birthday on Sunday ? meant to do more personals but must change DD, pack, and take the dog DS for a walk in the next 20 minutes.

Oh and Happy Birthday to babyBeans for Sunday!

Hello Everyone!

Phew, a few days away and you ladies seem to have posted loads!

Ladyt Glad you had a lovely holiday, O sounds like a star but the crowd thing sounded a bit hairy. Thank you so much for your kind words re: my MIL, we are going to try and research some 'alternative' treatments. Has to be worth a try right?

PD Hello, and glad you had a good holiday too in lanzarote. Tis grim up norf at the moment - very wet

veggie Hope you are enjoying London. Always good to hear of your travels.

kiwi trace jolly and anyone else I'e missed having bad nights, much love and sympathies, I hope things improve soon!

Trace how did L's blood test go?

ZJ Glad work is going well, and beans how is it going being back?

summer and the others with bad bums I second the Metanium, and Bepanthan. Both very good I find.

Re: Husbands mine is definately going on Ebay. Actually no I wouldn't want to inflict him on anyone so I'll put him out to scrap I think. Last night he said the TV was too loud and so passed me the remote to turn the TV down The lazy F*er

MIL doing okay, and can I just thank you all for your kind words they are a huge comfort and support and once again you ladies have brought a tear to my eye with your heartfelt wishes

DS has been horribly constipated again this week. He has been dosed up silly with Lactulose but he wasn't going. Anyway he has just gone massively, all over the carpet! Cue DH informing me of this so I could clean it up...did I say he was a lazy f*er???

Job has gone quite well tbh. A little bit over my head on the first day all to be expected I suppose. But the past 2 days I've been getting more of a feel for what my job will be and so far so good. But I'm done now for the week so some cheerfulness and 'I'm a Celeb' when the DC's are in bed.

Got a hectic weekend which I am looking forward to. I'm out with friends tomorrow for a bit of a Christmas party type thing. And then saturday we have a family party which everyone in DH's family is now going to as it may be the last time MIL sees everyone all together. Will be both fun and I expect.

So obviously she didn't go back to sleep yesterday...! Has moved to a rather exhausting routine of sleeping shockingly well at night (sorry to all still battling with nights) but only having a very short nap in the middle of the day and being awake the rest of the time. Oh well, musn't grumble as then she'll stop sleeping full stop! Other weird new habit; for the last 5 days, as soon as she's got in the bath she's had a mammoth wee while standing up! No idea what that's all about... Nursery has gone much much better, today she didn't cry at all apart from brief yell on being dropped off, has been playing with the other children, eating, and even having a kip (for them !)

Right - catch up time again, won't manage to get on over the weekend as the ILs are coming to stay from tomorrow til Monday [yikes]

katie happy birthday Lily hope you've had a lovely day

belated happy birthday daisy, hope that your FIL is managing to get some help with MIL. And that you have a good time this weekend and it's not too sad. Does she have the energy to join in with the party? Maybe it would be nice for the children if she was too tired to play, just to record her telling them stories so that in the future they can listen to her voice.

kiwi hope you've had some better nights, like SL says hopefully it's just a brief phase. Effie's idea about getting DH to do the settling is a good one - especially if you've had a knackering day with her, I know the last thing I wanted to do on those nights was have to go in to her yet again and be the one doing all the coping.

beans - sounds like work is going ok, hurrah! Do you ever hear nightingales singing...?

rubena how's work going for you? There's lotsd of us going back at the same time, it feels so weird!

trace has your mouth got better yet? How odd about the prescription business but it sounds as if your doc is being pretty understanding. Hope L's blood tests weren't too scary.

sybil did you have a good birthday as well? It's funny suddenly having a one year old!

invis fingers crossed for the job, an hour and a half sounds pretty epic

Lady glad you had a lovely holiday, and that O survived being centre of quite so much attention. Sounds a bit scary tbh!

njan yikes to mastitis, is it all better now? That's not skiving if you're actually ill

useless DHs - mine isn't too bad but I think it's pretty telling that he still doesn't realise the nappy packs have a little perforated bit to get into them, you don't have to hack away at them with scissors and the box on the changing table is for dd's laundry and has been for the last, oooh, 5 months...?!

MoM what a horrendous night, you poor thing.

and re feeding - on the two days I'm at work DD has morning and evening, I'm not expressing at all (never managed to get anything and it would be just my luck to get walked in on using the sick room...). Other days she has morning, evening, and usually a couple more during the day. they only seem to be about 5 mins each side these days so either she's much more efficient, or she's just doing it for comfort in which case need to top her up a bit. She has cow's milk at nursery, we didn't bother trying to get her onto formula as like you say, it's not as if there's a magic switch that makes cow's milk ok on day 366.

Effie good luck with your interview too!

PD gah to DH, as you say your big birthday is absolutely the time to be spoiled! well gald it sounds like a relaxing time anyway.

secret santa - if you're keen, email your real name and address and MN name to [email protected] and DH will do the draw tomorrow night... oh and say if you want a pressie for you or your babe!

Right - off to get the spare room re-sorted for ILs, two weekends in a row with guests, it's almost like the old days!

Hi all, thanks for the birthday wishes for Lily. I think she's had a good day, we had a little party for her this afternoon which was absolutely knackering and some people didn't leave until 7pm, which was a bit much. Although a spot of cheerfulness certainly numbed the pain. I don't think I'll be doing any more birthday parties! I must say I had a lump in my throat this morning when reading her cards to her, the thought that she is no longer my little baby is quite sad.
Too knackered for personals, but sorry for all those having sleep problems and sending sleeping dust your way.
My thoughts and prayers to all of you coping with illness etc
Re: Useless DH's, Ebay is too good for them, try Freecycle!
LadyT so glad you had a good time in Egypt, am still very jealous. Hope O wasn't too traumatised, part of the reason I was too scared to leave our hotel for the first 4 days is that DH kept being offered xxx camels/ cows for me, and the higher the offer got, the more tempted I could see he was. The Egyptians are certainly not shy about lavishing attention.
Right, that's all I can manage after one too many spots and an exhaisting day. Kisses xxxx

Just quickly passing through [waves]....

Happy birthday to all the birthday mummies and babies and lots of hugs to everyone that is having a tough time.

Sleeping has improved here (sorry to everyone that is suffering!) and bizarrely it was the result of putting DD to bed earlier. She now goes to bed around 6.30 pm rather than 7.30/8.00 and it really seems to have made a difference. Not sure if that is of help to anyone - I mean, it's pretty obvious stuff but it never occurred to me until someone suggested it!

I am still breastfeeding but am now down to only 2 feeds a day (first thing in the morning and last thing at night) in readiness for going back to work. I also decided not to bother with formula (and DD point blank refused anything that had even a whiff of expressed milk about it) so DD has been having cow's milk out of a beaker for about 6 weeks now. Sometimes she just has a few sips and other times she chugs down loads.....

More happy returns to all the LOs blowing out (or eating) their first candle. T going to nursery proper next week so will hopefully have some time to catch up then (rather than write book, ahem). Going through a tricky patch at the mo but seems to be v typical from what I read. He's turning into a toddler .
Our main news is that my sis had her baby girl last Sunday morning, 6lb 4oz. I've managed to see her once so far and she's a little stunner. .
Oh, and thanks to JJ for the secret santa plans. Just caught it in time!

Hi ladies
Lu's blood test went really well - she just sat and watched and said she didn't feel anything. The magic cream obviously worked a treat! She got a Twix afterwards for being so brave and I got a Mars Bar for being the mother of such a brave girl .
LOL at the babies' activities at nursery. P's diary on Tuesday said "this afternoon Phoebe has enjoyed painting the salt dough decoration that she made" I'm intrigued as to what that looks like! Some days she apparently does baking too! Poor P has such a bad cough she keeps waking herself up . On the sleep front we had a good night last night - only woke once at 2.30, fed and went back to sleep until 6.30 - that's an amazing night for us. Tonight I've already been up to feed her but she has a hoarse voice so I think she just needed a drink!
Where's WG these days? And spot? And Tilly? Hope you ladies are all ok. Hopefully you're busy having fun real lives!

ah x-posted spot!! Hello!

Hello!!

Long time no see!! Been really busy at work and just going to bed early. Hence the being awake from 4:45 this morning.

Happy belated birthday to all the babies I have missed this week! And Happy birthday to all those that have birthdays in the next few days.

I am now on holiday from work, but I am not sure it is going to be a holiday at all. I have to get the house ready to host 2 birthday parties, on the same day!!(what am I thinking), bake and decorate 2 cakes, make a Stay Puft Marshmallow man to stand on my brother's cake, wrap DS2's presents and try and find something for my brother's present,

I hope everyone is well. I promise to be on more so I don't get so behind!!

Morning all! Still going through the dreadful sleep phase but as suggested DH has been doing all teh settling and it does seem to work quicker

DD has now worked out how to get, commando style, UNDER the stairgate. Eek.

Oh, another question from me for the breastfeeders - has anoyone NOT got their period back yet? Just occured to me that I haven't (yeah, I'm quick like that)

Morning, so here I am on deeeeay foooowah back to work, and am not at work - dd has a fever of 39.2 on waking and as she's 'reliant on calpol' the nursery won't have her. So here it begins...

kiwi - am on no. 3 so far, it seemed to take a good long time to come back but now last about 5 days whereas before they were only 2. V glad to hear DH settling is working but how on earth can she get under the gate?! Is she like a dormouse, can squish her skeleton right down?! It's a bit like the froggies that come under our back door when there's a rainstorm, makes you wonder a bit...!

right - must tend to nipper but quick waves hello to Pingu, SuperSpot and Kayz

Morning girls

Just a quickie as I have SOOOOO much tidying up to do. This place is like a junk shop and I have DH's father coming round for lunch. Then it's my one and only Christmas party tonight, DP's chambers do, and I am fed up because I look like a pig in a dress. I know I have been whinging about my weight for precisely one year but it makes me so miserable. I guess I am just not doing enough exercise. So after tonight, the cheerfulness gets reduced to two glasses a week until Christmas and it's starvation rations for me. This can't go on. I just don't understand why I had 36 years of being slim and then since DD the weight has been so hard to shift. Anyway...my appointment with the dietician isn't until the New Year so I guess that will be revealing.

Aubi, I am not going on Sun, much as I would like to, as I was in town Wed and Thurs and I need to rest and catch my breath this weekend!

JJ - competitive parenting - my little sausage can't even crawl, as you know, but it doesn't stop me being delighted for you and your DD, bombing about. I mean, I know we are all only human and sometimes the green eye creeps in but I do think people in this country are so wretchedly insecure and defensive (especially women) and it mars people's lives. It is tiresome. If DD thinks she will have a life of being carried around in a sedan chair, good luck to her It turns out that DP didn't move until he was 18 months so laziness is evidently congenital...I used to think I would mind if DD wasn't bright but now she is here I KNOW I won't - I've said it before but if she is confident and kind she will always be successful (and happy) and an extra would just to have an interest in other people and the world as that usually stops one from being boring and selfish One of the things I love most about her is that she is so loving with her parents. It's not an achievement but I love it. But when people go on about her not even crawling, I just laugh and say she is a idle little tick.

I actually think she is quite babyish in some ways - talking about food, SL, she only has finger foods and still nothing too lumpy, and lots of formula. I keep trying her with other stuff but I guess she will some to it in her own sweet time.

Trace - you mentioned teeth. The little girl of a friend is 14 months and she has just got her first tooth. My eldest nephew was like that too.

ZJ, it's lovely to hear you are enjoying your new job so much. Sorry about the commute - are you driving or using publich transport?

Invis - really pleased you are enjoying Elizabeth Jane Howard! And Updike, yay. I am very tempted to reread some Jane (as she is known) as it is so cosy for this time of year.

PD - glad to hear Lanzarote was good but if insufficient fuss was made on my 40th, I think I'd have had the most operatic of vapours. (Talking of which - where is Bisou?) Heavens, that commute sounds gruelling. When is your actual return date?

Katie - I am now miffed that DP wasn't offered camels, cows or even cold hard currency for me With his currently parlous financial state he would definitely have sold me down the river. Karnak temple was particularly amazing. All your tips were great and as for the filthy money, that anti-bacterial hand gel a boon (as Mrs B of Essex would say).

Spot - you mentioned having an idea for a book a while ago, good on you for doing it. I know how hard it is.

Right, so much for a quick visit...masses of love to all. When do people put up Christmas decorations? DP makes me wait until just before Christmas but it's hard as I grew up in a house where anything after 1st Dec was fair game.

Oh, and if anyone gets me as Secret Santa, self-obsessed harridan that I am, I would like a present for MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE rather than DD as she got too much stuff for her birthday, let alone what Christmas will bring. Also, I am worth it [tosses golden locks]. Have super weekends all.

One more thing - are we having a London meet up before Christmas for those not yet in gainful employment? There is that lovely Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park or there is a Christmas Market on the South Bank...Northern Ladies, Sheffield trip now postponed until the New Year but will keep you posted. Cheerio.