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

Still not done any work. But bought quite a lot of things in online sales. So double bad .
Must. Try. Harder.

LadyT I love that advert. And so does DS. In fact he wants to get DD some rollerskates .

Aub have no idea about meds - if they work though. DD only has 2 teeth and no sign of any more. One of our friends said the other day 'it will be really weird when babyurbane has teeth and hair' . I think she's beautiful...

Aub: I'm a bit wary about ibuprofen as well, both DSs are a little chesty at times and I seem to remember it's not good for that? m But I do give baby nurofen on occasion when nothing else will work. Am intrigued by disprol - is that aspirin based?

Thanks for the comments on dealing with toddlers, part of it is down to me not being consistent and dealing with problems as they occur rather than letting things escalate in favour of an easy life .

Brrrr it's cold here.

LadyT - thanks for asking. The thing I interviewed for a while back is still live, its just been a bit slow, not helped by the Christmas holidays. So not all bad really, just find it a struggle to be motivated in the meantime! We're off to the wedding a week today - it is in Denver, so all this cold weather is good practice

As far as meds go, it tends to be calpol in this house, which does seem to help DS a bit when he is teething. But we're a bit rubbish at thinking of medicating them on the whole. Its usually an act of desperation when they are grumpy, nothing works and it suddenly occurs to one of us that they might be in pain. I'm afraid DD spoiled us as she is such a stoic, it can be quite hard to figure out when she is not well.

Hi everyone, are you all very cold? I got half way to work this morning and wimped out of going down the very big hill in the snow so turned back ? and a good thing I did, as its now closed. The office are emailing me stuff over, as I got DD to nursery OK, but I thought it wouldn?t hurt to have a sneaky catch up with you guys!

Kayz I am shocked about your HV. I don?t know if this helps at all, but I have a friend with 3 boys ? DS1 was 7lb something, DS2 10lb11 and DS3 8lb something. I think all the medical staff were a little disappointed at her DS3, they had their fingers crossed for a record breaker! Obviously only one person, but it does happen that babies don?t keep getting bigger. And anyway you had DS2 without a hitch, so you will be able to do that again even if any DC3 is also large

Daisy I?m pleased you?ve found a solution to your DC?s still seeing your MIL. And it sounds quite clandestine, which I bet makes it doubly exciting for them. Great news on your Nan?s progress, and on your DS?s first steps. And Rubena?s DS walking too, they are all so grown up and

Trace I hope you?re feeling better? I read your thread, and at everyone being nice!! Well done for finding the lovely people out there And happy birthday for tomorrow, so nice it?s fallen on a Wednesday this year, your favourite day of the week

WG wow, that house is gorgeous! Did you have enough people to have the run of the whole place?

WG/SL/Veggie ? DD has also taking to waking at about 4/5 ish, and we?re also taking the easy option and bringing her into bed. We think she?s hungry, as she?ll guzzle a load of milk and any food she can find, so have started giving her a couple of rice cakes or something at bedtime and a nice filling tea, but even though she cheers up after a midnight snack(which we?re trying not to encourage) she refuses to go back into her cot. Fine, except this morning I set my alarm for work and because she was in bed she woke up too, so I didn?t have any quiet time to get myself ready, which makes the mornings a challenge to say the least.

SL I worry about dogs, or more I worry about children around the dogs. DD gets so over excited and tries to poke them in the eye/pull their ears/give them big sloppy kisses ? if I was a dog it would be enough to make me growl, so the dog has my full sympathy for reacting. But I quickly remove the dog from the room, because you can?t remove the baby. Could your DH have a word? Does he think his MIL is being unreasonable?

Kiwi sorry to hear that you?re struggling. I am lucky in that my DD is very entertaining right now, but still very high maintenance, and I think that is why I?m also enjoying work so much (although daren?t admit that to other Mum?s), and also why I haven?t dashed back to pick her up from nursery today (I?ve told DH that its because we have to pay anyway), so I can sympathise a bit. I can?t offer any advice, but I can say don?t compare yourself to new Mums ? I happily found the first couple of months pretty easy and got a little smug by 3 months that I?d got through the difficult stage so smoothly ? and then DD got harder and harder, so every child has their own time to be an angel and to be a little sod! Have a big hug, it?s all I can offer

Aubi I?ll be thinking of you when your DH is away. I?m terrible when I?m on my own, and I often imagine how it would be to be a forces wife, with months apart? I hope the week passes very quickly for you

at SL not being good enough for a ?crikey?! I've never had a crickey either, but did get a 'wow from an ex when I took my top off for the first time (they're not worth a wow anymore )

Belated happy birthdays to the last of our babies ? baby Turnip, baby Effie and baby Olipop . They are all grown up at last [sob]. And happy birthday to WG too, I?m pleased your Dad realised (with some prompting) how unimaginative his present was ? men and present buying don?t go together at all. And of course, a very happy 2010 to you all

Our tree is coming down tonight, and I?m not looking forward to DD?s reaction in the morning. She loves the Christmas tree more than anything else ? she smiles at it, laughs at it, points at it, can point to it when asked ?where is the Christmas tree?? (or if there?s one in a book too ? ask her where Mummy is, and she just looks blank) and even tried out her first word (or half word), by pointing and saying ?tr? lots. When we come downstairs in the morning, she shouts until I turn the lights on ? so how loudly will she shout tomorrow when its not there? I am tempted to keep it up til next Christmas, when we can replace, rather than deal with her grief

And now I?ve said everything I want to say, and its lunchtime ? guess I?ll do some work this afternoon then!

ZJ: we put DS1 in nursery for a day between Xmas and New Year cos it was open . It was a short day (mid morning till mid afternoon) but still... then we scarpered off with DS2 for lunch. Glad you didn;t get stranded at work. No snow here but blommin freezing.

To warm you all up a bit, get your indignant hats on for this: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/in_the_news/887424-39-Career-women-make-bad-mothers-39-ad-to-run

Hi all
kiwi bless you, you are NOT crap. Like Veggie said it's easy to read other people's posts and filter them so it seems they have wonderbabies, but the truth is far from it... P is also clingy and does the 'cry when you pick her up, cry when you put her down' thing. I'm back on boob night feeds (i know I said no going back...) and the lack of sleep certainly doesn't help. P is actually fine at nursery and I often have a glowing report from nursery about how lovely and happy she's been, then she comes home and wails until bedtime! Hope things have perked up a little.
ZJ though of you today with the snow. It took me over an hour to get to work, and L's school is closing early, so then I had to leave earlt to come back for her! And my idyllic birthday plans for tomorrow, just hanging out with Phoebe all day, have now been shattered as L's school is closed all day tomorrow, so instead I shall be tearing my hair out trying to occupy them both on my own all day. Oh well.
I'm very amused by the lack of work going on at the moment - I haven't dared use the computer at work for MN because it's all monitored - hope ladyt is finding a little more motivation today (although it's much more entertaining when you come on here instead!)
Well I'd better go.
Keep warm everyone xxx

kiwi - just wanted to say v quickly - you are not a crap mum, she is just having a tricky time at the mo. easy for us to say, but we really have all been there at different stages. over new year there were 2 3 month old babies there who have both been wonder babies and who were happy, content and sleeping relatively through. when i look back to how madam was - screaming her head off for hours at a time for the first 4-6 weeks, i felt such envy. i really find the way you interpret their behaviour is the key to it. if you are in a state of mind to accept it, know it will change and not blame yourself, it is easier. i know the minute i put pressure on myself to be a "better mum" or when i compared her to someone else's baby, it made it all worse.

deep breaths, and please don't feel guilty about enjoying spending time away from her - you will all cope so much betgter if you get some respite. good luck. and let us know how it goes.

and to whoever was asking - yes, tehre were enough of us to fill it - 24 adults and 10 children!

and news alert, madam has now started to do some proper walking, by which i mean 8 feet across teh living room, not just random steps here and there. quite a moment!

Woo hoo for madam!
I am in the middle of a 4 day detox (couldn't handle any more) and I have the worst headache of my life! Next time I threaten to give up caffeine, even for a few hours, someone please stop me!

Just wanted to say to all those experiencing bloody annoying challenging behaviour from their LOs, What to Expect - the toddler years - is pretty good. I didn't much rate the baby one as T was miles from their typical babies, but I'm finding this one has some useful tips.

OOh, ZJ, hope you aren't too snowed in.

Trace - been vairy slightly more productive today. Not much though. DP and I had a stonking row this morn, which is a real shame as we'd been doing quite well recently. Made up now, but not before some very ugly things were said Oh dear.

You have given up caffeine for four days, Spot? I feel horror and respect, mixed.

I've been reading about a diet today that is especially for the insulin resistant, like me. It involves cutting all carbs for eight weeks (not just the obvious like bread and pasta and rice - but no pulses, no milk, no carrots, no fruit, no wine obviously - all of which I really like) then introducing carbs again really slowly. It might be too hardline for me. But I am desperate.

That's smashing about the walking, WG! Exciting! Now listen, should I be worried that DD has never crawled, pulled herself up, has barely ever rolled (will do it occasionally) or any of the mobile stuff? Now, I am not worried, figuring she will get to it in her own sweet time. But so many people in RL seem to go on about it, I don't know whether I am being lax in just shrugging about it. It's quite useful that I can put her somewhere and she is still there when I come back But am I being too relaxed?

Another question about DD actually: her food pouching has come back with a vengeance since she was ill. It is something she has always done, whether we feed her or it's something she eats herself - it goes like this:

keep stuffing food in, filling face hamster stylee;

Put serious face on, mouth a straight line. Stay like that a while;

However I try to persuade her to swallow or even if I just leave her, eventually dissolves into tears;

Lump of half masticated food the size of a tennis ball tumbles out of mouth, cue hysterical coughing, choking, and crying. It's a bit wearing. Anybody have any bright ideas?

Ano

I don't know what 'ano' means at the end of that post. Hmm.

Oh, and it's weigh in day tomorrow, over on Fatties Mk 2 thread As well as being Trace's birthday. Happy Birthday for tomorrow, Trace!

LadyT, that diet seems very severe, esp for 8 weeks. If you're up for it, then give it a whirl, but could you do it for 4 weeks or something that seems a bit less daunting?

I'm sure someone will come on here with some good advice about your DD's eating and mobility but I was wondering if she'd had her 1 year check by the HV yet? T's having his somewhat belatedly next week, and I've got a list of questions I've got ready along similar but different lines (T v mobile but doesn't have a word in his head, for e.g).

Thanks Spot. She hasn't had her 1yr check yet (didn't know there was one) but I need to book in for some jabs. As she was one on 25 Nov she is actually 13.5 months. You are probably right...I should ask the HV. But the HV is a patronising old bat who drives me demented

Spot, ds is the same - very good with the mobile stuff and can change the bloody tv channel, and zoom around the room but only says dadada and grunts a lot!
Lady, perhaps she is just taking the easy route - she did come a lot of places with you when she was younger and was no doubt in the buggy a lot etc so maybe she is just being lazy cause she didn't have to try? See what the HV says if you haven't had the 12 month check yet. I remember you said she was saying 'cat' etc when she pointed to it in the book so perhaps she is just advanced at different things? ds won't wave and i've tried every night to teach him, yet he'll 'hi five' total strangers in the lift a the shopping centre
Not sure about the food thing with dd, but the HV may have some answers there. I thought she was such a posh eater last time I saw her
I bet you'll have success on the low/no carb thing as I swear by it when I want to drop the lbs fast
4 day detox spot - wow - you are joining me - it was hideous for the first week but now I just have half a teaspoon of instant - ok sometimes 1 teaspoon but i'm guessing my detox is for different reasons than yours?

oh cross posted lady

Mmm, I don't think I can do the no carb. It's just too drastic. No crunchy apples or raw carrots or even skimmed milk? And I eat pulses fairly often, being veggie. It's hard to get a balanced diet otherwise. I only have rice or pasta for a treat anyway, and bread for breakfast only.

Yeah Rubes, we did whizz around but she wasn't in the buggy every day and would just be on the floor at home. I don't think there is anything wrong physically but I suppose I ought to get her checked out. She just has no interest. If I lift her up and try her on her feet she just lifts them in the air. If I put a toy out of reach she just cries, reaches and then eventually ignores it and plays with something else. Maybe she's just philosophical...

It is, Rubena, though it has made me realise that if I were to do it again I'd be in for a shock! Also, I'm afraid I did have a fair number of americanos when PG, maybe it explains why T's never been a good sleeper

Evening everyone,
LadyT the only time I have done atkins similar diet, it worked amazingly. I only did it for two weeks and cheated a bit and lost over half a stone. So definitely worth a try. Good luck!
I am sure your DD is fine. I suspect she is just cogitating about it all in her mind and one day, she will just get up and go straight to walking....But ask the HV if you are worried. Oh just saw what you said about her. Definitely don't ask her then!

DS is another physical one that doesn't say anything as well....he has only just learnt to wave after months of trying to teach him (and he does that AFTER the person has gone..very sweet). And his only thing vaguely resembling a word is "babababa" for bye-bye at the same time. Oh plus he will make little squeaky mouse sounds if I do, and big squawky parrot sounds after me as well (DH says I should not encourage him to squawk as he does it of his own accord, but it is cute).

The eating sounds very annoying. Does it only happen with things she doesn't like? Or is it just at certain times but with all foods? Are you worried about it or do you just find it frustrating? Oh, to have a good eater, I share your pain! With E back at nursery now he is eating almost nothing in the daytime, as the nursery don't seem to put loads of effort into making him eat.

ooh cross posted, ladyt, forgot you were veggie, that makes atkins tricky...

lady - friends at new year were saying how some of their children only started moving at about 16 months. i wouldn't worry. another friend of mind has a 2.5year old child who doesn't speak at all - she isn't worried. i suppose it all happens in its own good time.

madam also does this hysterical thing whereby if she doesn't get her own way, she drops to her knees, throws her hands in the air and throws her head back and screams. dh calls it the "platoon moment" based on the willem defoe image from said film.

Well, Summer, actually it seems to be mood based more than anything Although NEVER with fruit puree or anything sweet. She doesn't like lumps, I think that's part of the problem. But since she was ill before Christmas it has definitely set her back. Maybe it will pass.

I have just been reading about the walking and as DP didn't MOVE until he was 18 months it could be inherited. Apparently crawling isn't counted as a developmental milestone, but sitting and also pulling up do. Well, she is a million miles from pulling herself up, so far as I can see. Her social skills are good I think (waving, pointing, jargoning as if she is speaking in Welsh, saying a couple of words - hello, 'dere (as in, 'that there'), etc - she will give me a kiss if I ask her for one, or make a kissing sound and face if at a distance) but just basically acts as if she is sitting on her throne the whole time, gracing the ill favoured populace (that's me and DP] with her mere presence

I suppose she could just marry into royalty...

Anyway,

What IS it with me tonight? These weird one word endings to my posts! WG that is very funny about Platoon

Happy New Year to everyone !
Well we have just returned from pox land, as poor DS2 has had it quite badly over new year. However, I have really enjoyed being at home with them even though they have been ill. We spent this afternoon under a blanket watching the gruffalo...

Lady, your DD sounds like she has it sussed to me She is so much further on in terms of language and communication than either of mine were/are at this age. Perhaps she just does not see that movement is worth the effort right now, when there is so much to look at and think about !

Trace, sorry to hear things are tough with 2, I sympathise. I stupidly thought the newborn was going to be the hard bit - how wrong was that ! I might not be sleep deprived now, but DS2 ONLY wants to play with what DS1 has, or DO what DS1 is doing etc and its hard to keep them apart and warfare is already starting (and not in the direction you would expect, DS2 frequently throws a punch at poor DS1 !). If its getting too much, I either separate them and give DS2 a bath while DS1 has some time on his own, or go for a walk, or strap DS2 to his highchair while we sit at the table and bake/draw/whatever. It makes you realise how utterly different a first-borns first year or so is, compared to their siblings.

Kiwi, dont feel bad about needing time away. I felt like that with DS1, a lot. But just this weekend we went out for a long bikeride and then went to the coffee shop and had a tea and cake together, and we had such a special time together, the two of us. And I looked at him and realised, he is a person in his own right, and is fun to be with, now. I find it a lot easier as they get older, more rational and are able to communicate their needs and also understand that you do have some of your own.

I also need to join the fatties thread. I have been comfort eating a lot over xmas. And drinking too. I have to go back to work tomorrow for the first time since the 17th Dec and I am not, not looking forward to it. Have come to the conclusion I need a new job.

Or perhaps just a cleaner and a cook.

Hello to everyone else I have missed, hope you are Ok, and that Kayzr your head got better

Lady! (On her throne!) I think she's not stupid at all! Why put the effort in if she doesn't have to, and as you say - seems very advanced compared to my ds's grunting or louder grunting if I don't respond!

There is at least 6 inches of snow outside and it's getting heavier! Woohoo!! dh gets to stay home tomorrow!

Spot, yeah I had many a (proper even) coffee the first time around - not sure why but i'm way more paranoid this time. Must ease up and have a glass of cheerfulness on Friday!