January 2008 Shiny New Year Toddlers - Happy 2nd birthday to us!!

[LilySwalLoosHerTurkeyBaster]

Where did 2 years go ????

LaT have you tried the good old offer a new food every few days and if she refuses to eat it remove without comment and don't offer anything else? I guess I have easy talking as Nathan does not refuse anything on principle although he sometimes struggle as he's a lazy/lousy chewer. They say it can take 12 'offerings' for a new food to be accepted.

Nathan loves to eat lumpy/chunky food with an adult fork - if we give him child's cutlery he nabs my dh's fork when he's not looking. Particularly cute with spaghetti and noodles. Could anything like that entice Sabela?

Afternoon all. Ive just got in from a day shopping with my Dad.
Started this morning at Dreams. He got a lovely new bed and headboard. He is currently sleeping on a sofa bed which we are having when he gets his bed
its only 5 months old and will be great for when my boys come to stay.
Then we went to Mata;ans though I don't know why I bither. All the stuff is so badly made and too small for me though I did get David some lovely t shirts and pjs. Then to Morrisosn for some lunch and shopping. All without kids and DH
Nicky so glad Charlie is better and Noah seems on the right track too
LaT it won't last I promise
Well thats about it from me for now xx

IWST - I have tried it. By the third time she sees the offending article anywhere near her, she bursts into hysterical tears.

She often grabs my fork, but it diesn't mean she eats any more.

I know I've just got to be patient.

What I really don't get is that some foods are immediately accepted without question. For example, cashews she just picked up and ate. Try peanuts, though and it's a total no no. Spinach soup, yes! Pea soup - absolutely not! (soup is generally good with her).

I do try and introduce new things, but it's difficult to keep it up when 95% of things get rejected.

She does eat plenty. She certainly has plenty of energy. I just lose heart sometimes.

Evening all

House full of yucky cold here, hoping H keeps it off his chest, going ok so far

Nicky - any news on Charlie's foot? How's Noah doing now? I have half a stone that i put back on over Christmas that I've done nothing to lose is proving stubborn

Mixedm - well done you with the family stuff btw, forgot to mention it before. I have determined that i should put real effort into being a better wife - sounds a bit 50's i know, but think DH has been looking after me for a long time and i need to pull my weight a bit more now.
Hope the studying is going well.

LaT - i dunno about food really. T used to eat everything, now is a fussy sod. H used to eat everything and is now getting fussier too. guess it's a stage they all go through. I used to be so fussy it was awkward & embarrassing but have gradually improved as i've got older so try to be relaxed about it. Don't lose heart, don't get upset, try and keep food and mealtimes as relaxed as poss, if she likes something, let her have it is my view!
Though now I say to T that he must have at least one mouthful of everything on his plate, but he is a bit older.

IWST - make the most of N eating everything in sight, it's one thing not to worry about, yey

Gingeme - sounds like a lovely time shopping Sometimes i find good stuff in Matalan, sometimes it's rubbish it's true.

Only done tiny jobs today but feeling much more positive about life in general - the nanny (our star!) even commented that things are more organised around here now & DH noticed last week too
And that's with a cold, AF & some rubbish sleep!

Just popping in to say 'hello' and placemark...

JKS - hope you're all feeling better soon...and remember to keep on being kind to yourself - its been a hell of a year or so

Gingeme - glad the diet is going well, keep it up I think I'm gaining weight even faster than you're losing it at the moment

Mixedmama - once again, big kudos to you for dealing with the ILs so well...how far have you come in 2 years?

LaT - if you want some 'hardcore'-ish feeding support, CAT me and we can have a chat about filly's evil tough love approach to feeding toddlers Mine do eat pretty much everything, even if they don't like it, but it has taken a lot of time and effort to get to that point

Lily - hope and you're sister are ok?

Nicky - how's charlie's foot? Sorry again about missing the meet up...

WST - how you feeling this week?

Back still v sore but able to move again, so hopefully I won't be flat out for the next 3 months or so. Still v cross with myself tho

Love to everyone, sorry to anyone I've missed

Hi all

Filly it was probably about time that you started to put on some weight?

Gingeme well done you

JKS echoing what Filly says - you are still recovering and still under some pressure!

Lilyloo how are you doing?? x

How's everyone else?

I'm doing ok actually (surprised emoticon ) despite the weekend not being all fun due to some church politic issues that got rather personal (to me)- I've really bounced back and can tell how well the counselling has worked. Coping better at work this week too. Trying to sort everyting out now as they want the office closed at the end of the financial year i.e. in three weeks. Looks I will be at home again from April until I start a new job.

Visiting nurseries today as Nathan's cm has given notice and it is time anyway - he needs it. One this morning which we have a good feeling about (as in some things looked a bit scruffy but kids love the staff and are obviously having fun) and this afternoon we are visiting another one. With him of course the big question is how positive are they re his sn and how happy are they to work with his portage teacher and physio.

Hi all... have read everything but brain not retaining much.

LaT - I am at Birkbeck, I think I might pass out if I get into UCL or SOAS as prob will apply just to see if I get in and then see whether full time study with 18 year olds is what I want, but SOAS do a brilliant Masters.

Thank you ladies for your praise re: the ILs. I feel good about it.

Waves and kisses and hugs for everyone.

just a quickie - noah's medication seems to be making some difference so i am getting 5 straight hours sleep which believe me is a massive improvement. so getting there, back to docs on friday. 8mth and 2 yr check on thursday for dc's.

WEll done mixedmama

Filly take it easy

am weary so off to bed now

Morning all.
Oh I bet that makes so much difference Nicky lots of sleepy vibes sent your way.
So glad your feeling sunnier too IWST. Its nice to have smiley Mums this near to Mothering Sunday.
I have some sunny news too I lost 3lb this week so I am just half a lb from my first stone
Ha ha DH making a bacon sarnie to celebrate....x

Good news all round Nicky!

Lily - how are you

IWST - Really nice to hear you doing so well. What did you think of the second nursery? They're really getting a move on at work aren't they? Maybe it's a bit of a relief to you and thta's helping you feel better?

Mixedmama - I used to work in Birkbeck library loads! Ahh.. Lovely days. Go for SOAS, even if you're not sure you'll get in. I've NO idea wht UCL let me in, apart from the fact I talked my head off at the interview, andI now know from experience that lots of interviewees don't. I seriously did't have the grades.

Simpson - where are you?

JKS - Glad things feel liek they're swinging into place. Why the rubbish sleep?

Gingeme - enjoy the sarnie!

Filly - did you get my CAT?

Do you remember that I used to have this daughter wh odidn't sleep? You will never guess what just happened.

We got home from nursery and she was asking for her pinky bunny (her favourite cuddle), so I threw him down the stairs to her. She immediately lay down on top of him, as she does. I asked her if she wanted to come in the front rom with me and she said no. I asked her if she was hungry and she said yes. I can always hear her going up the stairs, so I said I'd go and get the soup on. I did and put away the washing (5 minutes maximum) and went back to check on her because I hadn't heard a single sound. She was fast asleep at the bottom of the staris, exactly where I had left her. She's there now. I put a blanket on her, got some lunch and I am just waiting for her to wake up. I'm fairy sure it won't be long, and I'm fairly sure she'll be in a foul mood too.

But I am very very surprised!

I am now frantically looking out for the home delivery van I'm expecting, because if they ring the bell, there will be hell to pay!

LaT - have sent you a long reply ...in fact, can you send me a copy back so I can just cut and paste for myself when dc3 turns out to be less compliant than the other two and I have to take my own advice?!

Gingeme - that's amazing. Have you done that incredibly fast, or does it just feel like that from where I'm sitting? Honestly, that's brilliant ...wow!

Umm..brain dead moment. Bugger.

Nicky - really glad Noah's medicine seems to be working; I have no idea how you've coped for so long on so little sleep, but glad the end might now be in sight

Is Simpson ok?

Love to all and sorry for a crap catchup...I had to work all day despite it nominally being my day off and am still at my desk - back is slowly recovering but still not great and I have to go all the way to S London office tomorrow and Manchester overnight on Monday.... Not entirely enthusiastic about either journey, but at least I'll get to see my grandmother in M'er one more time - I get the impression we're now well into final weeks and I didn't think I'd be seeing her again after our December visit, so that's a good thing, altho def pleased not to be taking the dcs with me as my df has been warning me how ill she looks.

Thanks Filly - I have had a quick look but I need to digest it tomorrow while Sabela sleeps. I do need a plan. I've realised it's not good at the moment in part because she has learnt the joy of saying no, and says it most loudly at mealtimes. Also, I have recently occasionally given her pre-prepared food, like Heinz tomato soup, as it is always a rush for lunch when we get home from nursery because she is tired. She really likes it and is much less tolerant of any variations in texture in 'real' food (I would not have thought that were possible).

Can you take a few breaks on your journey to walk around so things in your back don't seize up?

Sabela slept for an hour and a half, on the floor by the door (she did have a blanket). I actually shook her at one point because she was so still I couldn't see her breathing. If this ever happens to you, the trick with the breath on the mirror doesn't work! ... I tried that first.

LaT at Sabela sleeping that long on the floor. So sweet though.
Poor you filly with those journeys looming. Will be nice,or not as the case maybe, to visit your grandmother.
It has taken me 5 weeks to lose this weight.Yes bit quicker than I thought. I gave myself till November to lose 2 stone but at this rate I might try and make it 3 The only thing that I realy miss is a good chunk of strong cheddar. My Dad who is also doing SW got his stone award last night and he agrees with me on the cheese front strange thing is I'm not missing chocolate one bit

I just got my first 'made at nursery' Mother's Day present (a cardboard daffodil and flower arranegment with a little picture of Sabela in the middle). I know she probably just splashed a bit of paint over it, but I am spectacularly chuffed!

I personally hate Mother's Day as a marketing ploy, and hate myself for falling for it, but I did warn DH the other day that it was coming up and that I was pregnant and would be upset if it was forgotten, despite myself. He did understand, although he said he didn't think of me as a mother, in a positive way apparently, becuase it meant he thought I was sexy. I do feel ashamed of myself.

Now he has some 'plan' (which I think involves giving me time to myself OR the three of us doing something together). I did suggest a small bunch of flowers would be quite enough (which is actually what I WANT) and he said, 'Oh no, we can do better than that.' So, we will see and if I don't like it, it will be all my own silly fault.

Oh! IWST - if you are in touch with Filly on FB, could you link us up please? I tried to find ehr with the name she gave but couldn't. Ta.

Like thinking of Nathan with his walking frame. I think I might buy him a flag for the back!

LaT I will suggest you to Filly

Nathan had half an hour in his frame this morning and is doing brilliantly, stepping much much better, racing around (can't steer for toffee yet though but doesn't care. As soon as you put him in it he races to the front door howling with laughter and squeaking with excitement to bang on the door until I let him out . Then this afternoon he walked to the shops across the road (I carried him and frame over some rough bits) and he so so loves it...

feeble 'hello' to everyone.
I am just back home after being rushed to hospital on Sunday
The sore throat turned out to be quinsy Am on the mend now but have been in agony.
Luckily my sis still not had baby yet , she moved yesterday though. Am now trying to get myself better in the hope i can still be her birth partner! It never rains eh

Hope everyone ok x

Eeeeeek Lily you poor thing did you escape without surgery?

Agree it does seem to poor for you and your sis right now - praying that you will be well enough in time. Glad she's moved in, that's one thing off your mind. Thanks for the update xx

Thanks iwill , no they had to aspirate it , but just used local anaesthetic although had to have it done a couple of times!!
It can only get better , i have been speaking to my sis on phone and she is relieved to have moved too so that is good.

Lily - I ahve no idea what that is, but What a shock. I hope you're feeling better.

LaT - have suggested Filly for you on FB too.

Lily - crikey, no idea what it is either, will have to google in a mo! ubut glad you're back home.

Had H's portage worker here this morning, was ok, she's leant us a couple of toys that H has to hold down a bit button to make play and better than that, she's going to lend us a bubble tub - i was looking online at buying one last night but they are mega-£££

just dropping in to say hello, after my second week of working 29hrs. It's quite tiring, especially as A has decided to get up before 6 every morning this week. As well as his blankie and dodie, he is obsessed by small objects at the moment eg bits of train set, matchbox cars, and clutches them all the time, takes them to bed etc. It makes me worry he is overly insecure but that is prob just the working mummy guilt kicking in.

get well soon Lily, sounds nasty! hello everyone else.

any news on Lucky? baby is overdue now? IWST or anyone don't forget to post if you hear anything .

Ange Lucky was still waiting last night, tired and struggling to get sleep you know what it is like. She must be just about due now! She cleaned the kitchen yesterday so who knows

Just to reassure you (unless we have an insecure child each) Nathan usually ferries some sort of car, train, spoon, key around with him even when tummy crawling. Little plastic pretend teacups are the latest hit (no wheels yey ). He sleeps with a Little People train carriage . Not allowed to sleep with matchbox cars in this house as they are 3+ so don't like the idea of him having them outside our sight

Lovely image of your LOs clutching small objects in their sleep. Sabela just has a big pink bunny she is in love with. It'll be a very bad day if Mr Pinky Pinky ever goes missing.

Thanks for the link ups with Filly.

HAd a long discussion with Sabela about the light waking her up early in the morning. She's decided we should just not have any more light until it's getting up time.

Hi all

Sory for going AWOL for a bit but tbh am struggling with day to day stuff with kids and you guys must be fed up of my moaning

M is really hard work atm and have just had a 40 min tantrum to get her to bed. She was kicking, biting, screaming etc so much I could not hold her still to change nappy.

TBH if she had not had poo in her nappy I would have put her in cot and left her till she had calmed down

She seems to love the naughty step So its not a punishment

Everything is a battle ie going in buggy, coming out of buggy, what she wants to wear in morning (usually wants a particular pair of socks and her PJs on!!) And any advice on how to make nappy changing easier would not go amiss!!! She kicks me in face and thinks its a game

She takes up so much of my time poor J gets a bit left out

The only thing that is not a battleground atm is food which she still loves and will eat anything & everything

The good news is that after Easter I have got her a place at a private nursery for 10hrs a week so hopefully that will help

However her talking is amazing and some of the things she does/comes out with are hilarious

BTW I spoke to Lucky on FB the other day and think she has a week to go and they will let her go 10 days over due before intervening etc.