Sept 08: last year they were cute little bundles that smelt of milk and vanilla, but now they've been replaced with a babyzilla!

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

A new thread for us as the last one was running low.

Thanks Starlight, that's really kind of you.

Suddenly realised that T hadn't had a nap yet today about an hour ago (he doesn't really do 'tired' signs, just keeps going and keeps going and keeps going then completely disintegrates. Even the childminder finds it amazing ). Put him in the pram and jiggled for about 6 seconds and he was fast asleep. He's a funny chap.

Hopefully I mostly used a buggy board and pram and then McLaren. I did borrow a double Mclaren but didn't use it much, only if it was raining as I didn't have a raincover for the pram and with ds1 on the buggyboard he'd get a bit wet. We used the pram and Mclaren at weekends sometimes.

Pony My friend who lives in Gibraltar where the pavements are like tracks and the kerbs are about a foot high has the Mountain Buggy and she really likes it. I think it's not quite as wide as some doubles too.

We just built a stegasaurus out of snow. I'm quite proud of myself. (in fact why did I write we, it was all me!) Will put photo on here in a min

hopefully sorry to hear the bleeding continued. Sounds very much like what I experienced. Despite not being in much physical pain (although the cramping did tire me out) and only knowing I was pregnant for a few days, I still had a cry.

carrie I've got that bag in brown. I love it! DH happily takes it out when he's got DS for the day, it's just a brown bag to him.

DS has been a lot better today despite having a very sore bottom. Think the long walk in the freezing cold (which he loved!) helped.

Have worked out how to manage the tv. I know everyone had worked this out ages ago but we'd slipped into very bad habits. It goes on when we need to put him into coat, shoes & buggy. And whenever we change his nappy (especially with this nappy rash). It's much more effective as a distraction technique now that we've rationed it. Now just need to drum it into my mum for when she's got him.

Very impressed by your paleontological snow figures, debi. I built a half arsed snowman in the sidewalk. Then, as I was contemplating my creation with DS from the window, a fat drunk came and stomped on it. These are the hazards of London, and of not having a garden in which to house snowmen.

I wanted to poll some of the more experienced mothers about DS's seemingly insatiable appetite. I'm getting a bit worried.

I was always happy that he is a good eater. He eats by himself, with cutlery, in a way that the nursery staff tell me is remarkable (probably because they don't know what a greedy sausage he is yet). But he eats A LOT. Not just that, but he eats so fast, I don't think he has time to chew, despite the fact that in the past 3 weeks he's got both his bottom molars and one upper one. I try to encourage him to eat slowly, and to chew, but he just seems anxious to chomp. And he goes into screaming fits when he is hungry, as he watches me prepare his food - he won't stop screaming until it's in front of him.

Today I made a chickpea and spinach soup for lunch. He devoured his FULL plate (this is a hearty, chunky soup). Then he demanded to have some smoked salmon with his pita bread. He had half a slice. Then he demanded more. He finished a slice. Then he demanded more so I gave him another half slice. Then he had a screaming fit when I said enough, and I had to give him some blueberries and an ella biscuit to calm him down.

Or just now. He's had a banana, some more blueberries and 200ml milk. He demanded more milk (gave him another 120ml, which he polished) and then he demanded a biscuit.

So is this overfeeding? He is not a fat baby, but he is well padded. I suppose he is tall for his age, but still, do yours gobble this phenomenal amount? He seems to eat a lot more than other kids.

Or am I once more being the anxious mother?

Book marking. having nightmare of a week and not read posts but sounds like it's been best & worst of times

Sorry to hear about the mc Hopefully, it's shit innit?

Pacita - I really don't know how one tells if you're overfeeding a child. Although if your ds is feeding himself all of this food then I would say it's ok. Has he been ill recently? DS doesn't eat much when ill but really makes up for it when he's better. Maybe it's a growth spurt and it will settle down?

Or maybe one day try an experiment? Dish up what you think would be enough to satisy him and when he asks for more only offer him something that he'll eat at a push (for ds it would be breadsticks). Also only give quite bland tasting snacks (carrot sticks or apple maybe) rather than sweet ones. Then see if you can draw any conclusions from how the day went.

DS is a biffa bless him. He's tall and chunky but not fat. He doesn't chew properly either. I have to ration grapes as he will stuff them in all at once given the chance. He also hangs off my leg when his dinner is being prepared, but then I've been cutting down on the snacks this week. We got in a bad habit of grazing all day over Christmas.

I've found a whole small apple is a great snack as he can eat it without my help and it takes him ages to finish it (core and all!) as he can't just stuff it down at 100mph like he does when it's prepared for him.

Bookmark I used it!!!! Now will catch up x

Thanks ILTMIMI, your idea of rationing snacks is a good one, and the bland snack too. I generally give him fruit as a snack, plus ella biscuits with his milk. Maybe it's a monster growth spurt as you say, but at the moment, the only growth is in his tummy!

Hopefully thinking of you. Hope you're feeling ok.

Ponymum - consider a double nipper too. The childminder has just got one and swears by it. I got a single before christmas ad am SOOO glad as it gets through the snow/slush with no problem. It's nice and light and a lot cheaper than a mountain buggy.

at how much some of yours eat, but saying that M still drinks loads of milk. I guess there are days when she'll eat more than dd1 (6)

T thinks a whole apple is the ultimate treat. but only if it's peeled. I don't think he even understands that it's food if it's not peeled!

He is huge too - top percentile for weight and a couple below for height I think. I'd expect him to be fat though, as he's not walking yet, so presumably will burn it off. He eats plenty, but not an alarming amount (well, maybe if I knew more people with babies it would seem alarming!).

Still bleeding. Bored of it now - don't like the reminder every time I go to the toilet. Suppose it'll be at least as much as a normal period though, so probably a few more days to go. Ho hum.

Santa
Sorry - just saw your post
things been a bit hectic, so haven't been on much.
Yes presents lovely. DD2 especially loved the doll, clutched it between face and shoulder going aah baby & crawling off with it. I havent had a chance to go shopping with my token yet - not many shops round here so need to take a trip, but am excited at the chance to shop for me! dd1 also loved her presents. Thank you so much for helping make our Christmas special x

Hopefully - sorry to hear your news - had a mc between dd1 & dd2, it's horrible . Btw - whereabouts are you? I know s coast somewhere.

Carrie & Meglet - also sorry for your losses. Really tragic

My latest drama is that have had pipes burst in my house (where ex is still) and flooded the kitchen & bathroom (only put in a year ago), my bedroom (inc cot, toys & books we left behind), and the dining room which contained most of our belongings, all boxed up from when had re-wiring & plastering done. So most of remaining clothes, books, toys etc. Worst thing is gives ex reason to contact me million times a day it seems, try to control situation, make me feel obligated to him for what he's doing re liaising with insurance company etc. Also had idea to sell the house soon once could make him leave, now could be 3 months before dried out & fixed up. On plus side considering that as insco will pay for accom while work done, in theory we could have a proper home instead of staying at the refuge. Not sure if it would have to be in home area though. Don't really want to go into too many details with ins company about situation either.But then when work finished would still be back in a difficult situation - trying to ensure he moved out, having to keep him away, all without support I currently get. Can't speak to ex without ending up arguing.

Well I'm sure he'd be only too happy to move into accom paid for by the insurance, but I don't want that. To me just seems to be delaying the moment when he actually realises he needs to rent somewhere to live, pay for it out of his earnings and be a grown up. Why should he live rent free because I have paid for a policy on my home. I'm paying the bit of the mortgage not covered by benefits. I'm paying his gas & electricity bills out of my benefits. He's an employed professional. Tis all crazy!

Oh yes...
sorry, it's all me me me.
dd2 has weird red patch on tongue. It started as 2 smallish (but not tiny) red patches - the next day 1 looked bigger, about 5mm across, then today the 2 patches have joined up so it's maybe 2-3cm long, and another small patch has appeared on the other side of her tongue. Difficult to be accurate with measurement as she is getting wise to my poke your tongue out tricks.

Pharmacist thought prob thrush but said the 2 patches (when he saw it) were bit unusual as bigger than wd expect, but still possible. But now it's so big... yet she doesn't seem bothered by it. Have some oral gel to apply.

Anyway - any ideas clever ladies?

I think they get red patches like that with viral infections. I have seen it on both dds tongues in the past when they've had a bout. not sure though.

Splish! phone the electricity and gas company and take your name off the bills! Do not pay any more. Give them his name! If he doesn't pay them, he will be legally responsible. It won't affect your credit rating. I used to work for London Electricity 7/8 yrs ago so i know.

in fact take your name off all bills connected with the property - i think council tax as well. of course mortgage and insurance are different issues.

Splish I'm in West Sussex. Sorry to hear about house/tongue issues. Can you do as Foxy suggests and phone gas and electricity and give a brief precis of the situation (just that he won't leave, so you've had to) and say you aren't responsible for any bills run up at the property any more? No idea re: tongue things though

Thanks for all the support everyone - it really makes a difference (especially as the couple of friends who I've told, even those with children, have sort of gone 'oh dear' and changed the subject without a second thought). DP has been fab though.

Splish I can't believe how unfathomably selfish your XP is being towards you and his children. I think if you can safely take your name off bills without future repercussions for when you get the house back, do it! It's a tricky one re: moving to the insurance accommodation. I'm sure you'd like your own room, but I'm also sure you need the support you are currently getting... Is there no one who could bring XP to his senses? Friends, family, the police? It just sounds so unfair, and it feels impossible that a normal society allows things to get to this point for a mother and her two small children.

Starlight LOL! Although you did put my mind at rest, as I did not know that thing about weight being more than two percentiles above height. He is on the 75th percentile for both, so I guess it's ok. And he has started walking just this week, so maybe he's storing up calories for the long hikes ahead. His diet is quite healthy on the whole, but I'll keep up the veg and fruit as you ladies suggest.

Not sure what the patches could be splish - thrush would be my first guess too.

Can you not stop paying for the bills? Just say to the utilities companies that you are no longer living there and you have a sitting tenant who refuses to pay rent. Then if xp asks why he's been cut off, say they've cut your benefits as you're no longer living there.

I had wrote a really long post about how grumpy I was from ds waking up last night and then getting me up early this morning. But my mum has come to the rescue. Am now MN'ing in the bath (ah luxury) and DS is napping with his grandma. DH and I are off to see Avatar at the Imax tonight (belated birthday date) and will have the bed to ourselves. Then tomorrow I start a two week freelance contract that could lead to more work. So really I have nothing to complain about.

Oh, there is one little niggle. I just read the article about extended breastfeeding in yesterdays guardian. The extended breastfeeder claimed that all children who are breastfed till they selfwean beyond the age of two are much more outgoing, confident, happy and generally more pleasant to be around. Now as a mother who guiltily gave up breastfeeding at 15 months I am annoyed to think that ds's tantrums/clinginess/general hardgoingness would not exist if I were still breastfeeding him. I would just be using it to buy me 10 mins to sit down and shut him up. Wouldn't make him any happier in the long term. But that's probably the defensive guilt talking.

pacita I agree with the growth spurt theory. But also laughed at Diego demanding smoked salmon, like Withnail demanding more booze.

Oops x posted with everyone on the not paying bills suggestion.