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

yep, all sounds familiar. Plus I get running praise from DS1 for actually using the loo (blame excessive toilet training) 'well done Mummy! You get a sticker!'. I'm trying to train him not the fling the doors open when we're using public toilets. Or dashing in first and locking himself in (nearly gave me a heart attack the first time he pulled that one)

Earplugs here too! They have changed my life. I don't wear them if DH isn't here because they are a bit too effective and there was an incident last week where my mom heard him crying for 30 mins (or so?!) in the AM and assumed I was in with him trying to get him back to sleep, but I was actually asleep with my earplugs and didn't hear him! Felt terrible.

JJ - LOL at the visual on the biscuits! Without earplugs, like you I hear every peep and then have much trouble getting back to sleep. We have been having crazy nap issues too - what seems to be working (a bit) is letting him sleep in the AM but only for 30 mins. Any more than this and he won't sleep in the PM at all, and then he is a nightmare.

LadyT - It must be such a difficult time around the anniversary. I will do my bit honouring your late DH by finally buying his book for my DH, which I have been meaning to do for ages!

JB - We have a toothy monster here too. He has 8 now, and I can see the lumps of the 4 canines. Still quite high up, but they're there. I am scared as I've heard those teeth can be horrendous for pain (and lack of sleep...my true fear, if I'm honest).

Rub - I wish I had advice about what to do with the DSs when out in the evening, but sadly we rarely do it because my DS is such a terrible sleeper that we are complete sticklers for the routine now. In bed 6:30, almost without exception. BORING! But it seems to mean that he mostly sleeps through the night, so for us it is worth it.

Veggie - Enjoying the updates from the Netherlands!

Daisy - Sorry your DS is still coughing. Even if it is asthma, the vast majority of babies grow out of it very quickly I think? Hope you find a treatment that can help.

I am back at work! So far, very good. Having an easy start of it because my parents are at home, so I just have to worry about getting myself out the door. It feels like a holiday so far, actually! Am sure that won't last once I get busy at work and am trying to shuttle the DS to and fro childminder.

Hope everyone is well!

ha ha effie DD is a nightmare in public loos. Always trying to open the door when i'm still on the loo or declaring rather loudly "mummy are you having a poo"

Daisy! and Kayz! So pleased I could help or rather something I was doing is working for others too! Daisy, it only took a few nights of leaving him for him to give it in and go back to sleep - you can tell the difference between when he gets really worked up and when it's just a normal cry / scream - and seriously he only very rarely does a proper worked up can't breathe type of cry now - and of course I go to him, other than that if he cries when I put him down or early in the morning - I give it 5 solid minutes and he stops 9 times out of 10!

lol@ bathroom door!! I know what you mean!

Our latest problem is baths and couch diving.... he will constantly try to stand up in the bath to move the screen door back and forth and it's way too slippery....
Oh and screams to get up onto the couch and then dives head first off it - and I mean dives like into a pool I've let him do it watching to see if maybe he could do a supervised one and he landed on his head and got quite a shock which I thought would put him off but nup... Have tried to teach him to go legs first but he prefers to dive and attempts to break his fall with his arms!! Any suggestions? I will keep him off the couch I suppose until he learns to get down backwards!!

Effie - do you mean both you and dh don't drive?

Hello girls

A comparative quickie as I find if I don't start working in the morning I really lose my momentum...and the clock is ticking for me to finish (I've a week and a half left).

Kayz, well done to your brother. It makes me feel guilty though about neglecting my own driving after all that agony trying to learn in the late stages of pregnancy...we must get on with it!

Aubi, if you are reading I really hope you are feeling better. You haven't had good luck with illnesses over the last few months, hope you are not neglecting yourself and getting run down...

Rubes - eating out with babies past their bedtime - I do it perhaps once a fortnight and I tend just to flip her back in the buggy with the hood up and give her a dummy, which she has for bed. Often she goes to sleep but sometimes she doesn't, but I tend to let her get on with it as I figure a couple of hours aren't going to hurt her. Hope that doesn't sound too harsh. She doesn't cry, just lies there playing with toys or whatever.

JJ - hope it goes ok at nursery tomorrow, although your DD will undoubtedly be a paragon as they all are when they are away from their parents...To all those recently back at work - Rubes, Mom - glad to hear it is all going well...

And Daisy, well done on the second interview. Hope it goes well. It's heartening to hear of people going to interviews/applying for jobs (Urbane, ZJ etc) - I have to send my cv and an application to try to get on a BBC course in March (which I have to pay for) but it will just freshen up my cv a bit.

Complete on the house tomorrow - picking up keys Sat morn. WOn't have much time to do anything with it for a bit. I glanced at the local magazine for the new village and in the section at the back were ads for TWO different mole catchers, someone who makes dry stone walls and someone else who mends clocks. Something tells me that the pace of life is going to be much the same as here.

Thanks to all those who sympathised about DH's anniversary. I must say it's the first year I haven't got a sick feeling from hearing fireworks and I take that as a great step forward as I actually like Guy Fawkes' night. It was hard but I know very well that DH would not be impressed if I was moping about and not making good use of my time. I think of him every day anyway so it isn't actually logical to feel worse on the anniversary. And I will be raising a glass to him when we are on the plane to Egypt on 23 Nov, as he was always very jolly about having a glass of wine on the plane regardless of time of day and I have a framed world map in my flat in London which was his and has a coloured pin for every place visited, which I have kept up (with different colour pins for me). I don't think he went to Luxor, so it's a new pin, and I always feel like I am seeing a place for both of us. Right, must press on!

Effie have created exactly the same thing with DS - we were in the loos somewhere the other day and he kept saying 'mummy are you doing a wee in the loo? I'm so proud of you' in a special patronising tone.

Am now panicking about him doing the lock thing. We have an Alfie book where Alfie locks himself in the house and DS thinks it's great and so...locked the nanny out of the house yesterday. Is there a stupid parent emoticon?

Mom glad you're enjoying being back at work. I think it pretty much is a holiday from being with small children 24/7.

Rube my Mum taught DS to turn round and wriggle down things. I don't know how - just showing him repeatedly I think. Frightening how little sense of fear they have.

LadyT The map sounds like a great idea. What a lovely thing to do. Would be great for showing the grandkids all the places you have been.

Rub DS2 also dives headfirst of the sofa. DS1 also does it while screaming "Help me Dylan help!" Not sure what DS2 is going to do to help but he always crawls over.

DS1 has just asked if we can go on holiday on a train so might see about taking them to London for a week next year.

Glad to hear there are some other couch divers out there....

Lady (I know you have to work - so do I) but I love the map thing - lovely idea. I'm a massive John Edwards fan, so I know your dh will be having a toast with you on the plane too Glad you felt a bit better this year. it really is true that time is what it takes.
I can just see little O sitting there quietly playing with her toys while you and dp complete the pub quizz...
How exciting for the house and picking up the keys!

Urbane, can your mum come around for some slide down backwards training? Your ds1 is hilarious! I'm really looking forward to that stage! I can see ds has so much to say but it's all just grunts now!
Lol at freddie kayz! Right, I need to do an online shop and then some of my work for training

Hello everyone,

mom We have had a bit of teething trouble with the next lot of teeth. It has put her off her food a bit and we have had some night waking but I discovered teeth 10 and 11 have just emerged from the gums too . They are little sharp points at the moment so I'll keep you posted as to how DD copes with those.

I really felt for you on the ear plugs thing. I forgot I'd muted the monitor the other night when I went into her and didn't hear anything till some very loud crying at 7 .

daisy I remember hearing a little girl asking her mum if she was doing a poo in a public toilet once. There was a massive queue and we all found it very funny!

LadyT How very exciting about the house. Is there lots to do before you can start picking out paint and curtains? The map is such a fantastic idea.

I think beans asked about the swine flu vaccination. They'd only vaccinate you after the 1st trimester anyway so lots of time for you to decide, but there is lots of info on the gov swine flu website.

I decided to have DD vacinated in the end. Apparently as my immune system is suppressed my body will not build up the same antibodies as 'normal' fellows. It was a really hard decision but my GP said, "I think it is in L's best interest to help keep her mum healthy". I made me well up . Anyway, so far so good. DD didn't even cry when she had the injection and had no fever or anything. With this sort of decision you are stuck between a rock and a hard place. That won't have helped you at all beans, sorry!

I chuckled at JJ's DH's comment. I think that holds true for most of us!

Right, back to work.

Afternoon ladies wow you ladies have been busy today.

Daisy I'm glad the powders are working. It's a good example of treatments changing and improving i've never heard of them. I know they've been trying to get a way to take salbutamol orally for years because the stomach acid always ruins it and inhaled was the only way so these powders sound great. It is easy enough to take?

These ear plugs sound like a good idea. DS2's tummy and teething seems to be settling and he is sleeping through from about 10pm but from his bedtime to then he wakes like 5-10 times. It's getting really difficult because I can't relax in the evenings and DH & I would like to go out while we still have my niece here to babysit but he just keeps waking. I'm not sure if it's tummy cramps from the bug he had or because he is sleeping in this new place where the bedrooms are right next to the livingroom and he can hear everything. At least his eating is getting back to normal.

How nice Lady that O will have a sunny warm birthday, how long are you away for?

I have met a MNetter online and now via email who lives here in the Hague. She has 2 boys a 4 & 2.5year old. We are going to meet up tomorrow. I'm so pleased because DS1 is desperate for some friends. We went to a museum in Rotterdam with an absolutely amazing play area thing and DS1 got so excited about playing with all the kids but non of them spoke English so they all kind of wandered off on him. DS1 was funny, they had this undersea bit of the play area and they had these square Perspex areas of the floor with sand and sea creatures in them. DS2 thought he could climb down into them and kept turning and backing up to them ready to put his feet down. He was really confused as to why he could climb down, and kept looking at the sandy bits.

Wow Lady I'm am in awe of you finishing that book, how do you manage it with O? You are a very motivated and drivan Lady, an amazing example for your DD. Hooray on the exchange, can you believe it is finally happening. I laughed at the ads in you local rag, but on a serious note have you checked the coffee selection at the local shop.

Giggle at the image of us all in our respective toilets, with offspring. dS1 used to open the toilet door in public toilets while I was still on the loo, highly annoying. These days he goes into his own cubicle so I only have DS1 with me. One thing I used to hate more than anything was when we were out and I was desperate for the loo, DS1 would grumble about being dragged to the toilets when he didn't need to go then as soon as we got into the cubicle he would exclaim that he did need a wee and needed to go first, then after I'd had to listen to his tinkling wee and my bladder was ready to burst he would say 'actually mummy lucky I came to the toilet as I need a poo poo too!' urgh, not good for a bladder control depending on dodgy pelvic floor muscles.

We are staying in today, DS1 is recovering from a cold and is tired. So it's lightening McQueen for us. We'll pop out this afternoon to look at a house but that's about it. It's a lovely sunny day but I really think both boys need a day in.

And I need more coffee so I'm off to sort that out. Oh and Kayz, London is pretty good idea for a week if you can find some reasonably priced accomodation and can make some of your lunches rather than buying at cafes etc you can have a great time as so many great museums and galleries are free.

Right coffee.

Phew interview over . They had me doing role play, as though I was doing the job. Talk about thinking on my feet. still as the interview went on I did actually think that I would quite like the job. We shall see...if its meant to be and all....

veggie the powders are called 'Montelukast Paed granules'. He takes them once a day, usually at tea time and you just mix it in with a little food. So simple!! The Dr did say they were new but also said she'd had some good results with young children.

ladyt the map sounds such a beautiful thing. Also forgot to say 'WOW' on the book. You are very very talented!

Just got off phone fom my mum. She is taking Grandad into hospital into hospital this afternoon in preperation for his operation to remove his cancer tomorrow. My Nan is struggling on the Chemo. She's very drained, tired, hates her wig. All to be expected but my nan is not one to do 'being sick'.

I'm also hoping to get to see MIL this afternoon too. She is still waiting on an appointment with a specialist. But I saw her briefly at weekend and she is not looking well at all. Not sure if its the cancer that is more serious than we think. But she is so down and appears to have lost all fight. Very sad but I hoe a visit from the DC's might give her a lift.

Think I need to join veggie in a large coffee.

Sounds ;ike you are having some great days out Veggie . I love your descriptions of the DSs, they come across as distinct little characters. Hope your meet-up goes well and DS1 starts making some new friends. I find it slightly boggling that DS1 loves playing with other children so much as I've always been a bit of a loner. I think future social occasions like parties (eek!) might be a strain!

LadyT: love the map idea, and hooray to Luxor (such an evocative name) and sun and cheerfulness.

Rubena: the coach diving sounds scary, DS2 is still at the pulling up to standing stage but topples over a lot of the time. Esp if DS1 leaps on him in the guise of 'DS2 going to hurt himself!' Poor DS2 must feel thwarted a lot of the time.

Anyway, need to crack on...

x-post: well done on your interview Daisy. I hope all goes well with the GPs, you have a lot on your plate at the moment. It's lovely that you're close enough to visit your MIL, I'm sure she really appreciates spending time with the children.

Jolly, yes, there is a lot to do before picking out carpets and curtains...and with all the stuff we need to get done we may well just be pulling up existing carpets and getting second hand curtains initially - roof and chimney work, put a kitchen in, fix at least one of the bathrooms and hopefully have a boiler fitted. Ummm. Glad you came to a conclusion about the jab - not deciding is the worst part. Dare I ask what everyone is doing about MMR?

Veggie, we are only gone for a week, 23-30 Nov, so happy birthday to any other babies 1 in that time, notably DaisyD's DS and Verso's DD2...Oh, and Daisy, sending you good vibes for all your poorly relatives...

Oh - does anyone know if pesto is ok for babies? Am feeding DD my homemade smushed buttered carrots mixed with cream cheese and a little pesto. She seems to think it's ok...but still doesn't really like lumpy food much.

LadyT - was really touched reading your post about your DH. Its lovely that he is still in your life like that.

Sounds like you have your work cut out on the house, but I'm sure it will be very exciting to get your hands on the keys come Saturday!

More mundanely, on your questions. MMR - DD had it, will give it to DS as well. From what I had seen, the research suggesting the jab was a problem has been pretty thoroughly discredited and LOs getting measles etc is no joke! Pesto - I think the only reason you might not want to give too much to babies is the salt content, but I'm not overly precious about that myself. DD (now 2.5) has been crazy about dairy free pesto and also tapenade for ages. Its been a godsend for speedy meals, especially as with the allergies, we don't have many options that don't involve proper cooking!

daisy - well done on the interview! You also sound like such a star with your GPs/MIL - I'm sure your DCs are cheering for everyone though.

Rubena - DS seems to have no sense about when he is going to hurt himself. We try to keep him out of harms way, but sometimes he just seems to be covered in bruises from all the things he's managed to hurl himself off. DD was never like this. As far as DCs out for dinner my experience was that you get to a bit of a tough patch from about 1yr ish to 2ish where it gets quite hard if you're out and about around bed time. When they're tiny there not too fussed and will sleep anywhere and I found that by the time my DD hit 2 it was not the end of the world if she stayed up a bit late, but in between she couldn't settle in a restaurant and ended up in meltdown if overtired so we gave up for a bit.

veggie - sounds like you're settling nicely - glad you are findinig MN mates there!

urbane - loved the locking the nanny out story - I can so imagine that happening!

MoM - glad the return to work is going well.

DS a bit out of sorts in our house, lots of wailing, very clingy and I think a bit feverish. Not sure what's up bu was sorry to leave him this am. DH has an appointment to take him to the docs tomorrow, so no doubt he'll be back to his usual chipper self.

Yes, Invis, the salt was what I was worrying about a bit, but I took care not to put too much pesto into the mix (I hope). MMR - I am definitely going to get DD vaccinated but (and I have mentioned this before) DP is keen for her to have the single jabs rather than the combined (Aubi, I think you did this, or looked into it?). I am toying with asking the question on the wider MN but don't know if I can face the inevitable bunfight. When I was first on here I used to love getting stuck in to all the big ructions but they make me a bit weary now.

Oh, and Rubes - DD dived from sitting on the pub table face first onto a padded bench, and came up laughing unlike her dear parents and the landlord. Right must get with work...

daisy Sorry I forgot to wish you good luck . Glad it went well. Interviews make me so nervous, I babble and my voice goes shakey. Not good.

LadyT I think some pesto has nuts in it so if you are avoiding those then you might want to check the jar, otherwise a bit won't hurt saltwise. The thing is with salt your DD probably had less salt in her tasty sounding lunch than she'd have had in a slice of bread. I gave DD cauliflower cheese made with philidelphia the other day, that was so yummy, I gave it to DH for his tea and he never noticed it was different from my usual cauliflower cheese. No more spending ages stiring white sauce in this house!

Re MMR, DD will be having it for pretty much the reasons invisible said. Again, it is a horrible decision to make but I know a few people through my work who have been left with brain damage through having had measles as children.

Can I have a kick up the bum to get back to work too? Look at the time, eek!

On MMR if you ask your Dr/Health Visitor there's a very detailed book that they hand out - I found it really useful, and it points you to all the research. Is very difficult though. And I think you have to do whatever you feel comfortable with. DS had it, and his booster within 8 months of that because there's so much measles round here.

DD will have MMR too. But I do worry about it.

We're all absolutely full of cold so have had TV on far too much today (including ugly betty which I bet my ass DS starts talking about in front of the ILs this weekend).

Right bath time.

Hey lovelies, we have a house, hooray it's nice lots of room and in a lovely area. It has a backgarden and a little shed so all good. Our estate agent has been a star, I think she knew this place was coming on the Market and do was being cautious about letting us make a decision til we saw this place. The owner wanted to have an open house so they did that with us and a few others viewing at the same time but she basically fobbed off the other people as when I said we wanted it, and would we have to compete with others who want it she no that she already had the paperwork ready for us to sign! I think she wanted us to live here because it is near where she lives and we get on really well and she has other friends with kids nearby even in the same street so we have instant friends. All very exciting.

Lady the only uncertainty I have about DS2's mmr is which country he will have it in. I think I will have to organize it with my old work when we are back in London in December. I can talk to you about why I'm convinced it's completely safe, I worked in the hospital where Wakefield worked, I know one of his collegues who was deregistered very well. I am aware of how unsubstantiated the research was (an how unethical) and have been keeping up with research done since. If you want to chat about it or want any info I can talk or email about it. I don't want to bore you all. I will just say what convinced me more than anything is that if you look at a graph showing the increase in autism since the 60's there has been no spike in increases, it has just been a gradual increase over this time. If MMR caused autism there would have been a spike in numbers around 1981 when MMR was introduced. Also the single vaccines are not sourced in the UK and I think you can only get the rubella and the measles one now as the mumps one was linked with causing encephalitis. I will say at the end of the day it is something you both have to feel comfortable about and it's a difficult decision with all the info that's around, but whatever you decide look at as much information that's available. I'm not into giving unnecessary injections (ds2 didn't have vit K) and I'm still yet to make a decision on the swine flu vaccine but I'm 100% comfortable with the MMR.

Kayz your HV needs a bullet sweetie calamine lotion dries out skin, it isn't even recommended for chicken pox anymore, it makes eczema worse. Is this the same women who recommended sedation, if so she needs reporting.

Right I'd better go, I've been ignoring DH to talk to you guys and I think he's getting grumpy.

Oh and Lady sorry to go on a bit aboutvthe MMR, but don't ask the wider MNers, I'm sure some one from our group can give you the arguement against without bring nasty, so just use someone on here to inform from that side.

Oh and Lady, I give DS2 pesto he loves it, if I'm feeling motivated I make my own otherwise just buy a good brand, it's not like your using the whole jar.

Hey I also just did the philli cheesy pasta tonight, DS1 loved it so no more flour butter and grated cheese mix, and I think it's less salt too.

hey all.
sorry not had time to come on much lately. TBH I'm not doing great so may not be around much.
Lu is still behaving really quite horribly a lot of the time. She has stopped wetting herself but is so pale and tired and has dark circles under her eyes (is in bed from 7-7) so she's going to have some blood tests done. Phoebe is gorgeous but wakes so much at night I'm just exhausted. DH has been off work all week with general snot and misery and has got ABs today for sinusitis, so I've run around all week taking Lu and P everywhere they needed to be, and going to work, keeping on top (or not) of washing, cooking, making packed lunches etc while dh rests in bed. I feel cross with him for being ill but then feel guilty for being so unsympathetic. I'm feeling a kind of low-level something - maybe anxiety or a bit down - can't quite identify it, but something isn't right and I'm worried about that scary downhill slope...
sorry not to do personals. And sorry for my glum post, but just wanted to pop on to say I might not be around much until I can pick myself up a bit.
xx

Trace I'm so sorry to hear that. Please don't stop posting - if in any way it helps to just come on and moan do. We're all here for you. It's no wonder you're feeling down with all of that going on. Don't underestimate the physical effect of not getting sleep. Is there anyway you can get someone to come and help out for a night or two?
I get really irrationally angry with DH when he's ill (like the other weekend).
Am sorry am not saying half of what I wanted - we're mid bedtime and I just quickly saw your post and didn't want it to go unanswered.

My lovely Trace, just wanted to echo Lal's post and say please don't stop posting. You have offered kind and wise advice to so many of us over the year and now it's time for us to look after you. Don't underestimate what a star you are to manage 2 kids, a big job, a house and all that goes with. Are you still in touch with your CPN? It might be worth a mention if you feel on the slippery slope (as one who has also had depression in teh past, I know that getting in early with some treatment can be worthwhile).

Could you get someone to come in at the weekend for an hour or two to be on child watch so you can have a bit of a rest? At times, I have left everything to go to pot just so I can catch up on a little sleep and an extra hour or so has done the world of good.

The basket awaits. Sending much love and good thoughts.

Pesto - practically a food group in our house. All 3 love it and we have it 3 or 4 times a week. Got qiote a taste for it myself now.

Just a quickie trace oh hon I wish I could do something for you. I will pray that things get easier for you. You are such a fantastic wife and mother and you hold your family together wonderfully! Agree with sybs can you have a word with your CPN?