November '09 and the months are flying by, our 3 month plus troop, and us, the knitted boob group!

[SirBoobAlot]

New thread, we chat so much!

DWB well done on your response to your DP, am proud of you (hope that doesn't sound patronising) as I'm not sure I'd have the gumption to stand up for myself as well as that. Very brave thing to do when you are in a relationship with dc's. Good for you and hope that your DP now pulls his socks up and steps up to the mark.
Do you hire yourself out to speak to other people's dh's ...?! Mine could do with some of your stern talking!

BBL at your poor boys, hope DS2 isn't suffering too much and roll on another week when it's all calming down.

Laugs I've wondered the same thing re names! I have a DD (Lauren) and DS1 is Callum. Guess I figure you'll all remember Ioan but too many names would get confusing!

SirBoob glad your Uncle is doing so well.

Ursi [shudder] at your mil and the poem. Am not in the least surprised mother's day now has such connotations for you and actually am a bit at your Mil for robbing you of the day. She sounds like she's obsessed with her son
She is exactly what I would dread becoming with my boys. I'd hate to think in years to come any dil's I have would think me interfering or controlling etc.

hobnob hope you get some answers at Isla's appointment and poor you at having to be so restrictive with your food, and poor Isla for still being so poorly with it all.

Trikken hope your ds is on the mend soon. We've had some bugs like that where it's down their pj legs and on the floor before they can make the loo.

Having a tidying day at home today - am fed up of looking around and seeing mess. Am not the neatest of people by far, but things here seem to have gone beyond a joke with piles of papers and crap all over. Trying to get on top of it so it's at least presentable (SirBoob you and Bryn can tell me if I've managed on Wed!!) but the lure of mn and the weaning book I just found in the cupboard are so strong...!!

London meet-up it would seem that Monday 22nd is the best day as people have rearranged things to try and make it. Ursi does that work for you? So we now need a venue - South bank was suggested, so we just need a place there to meet. I have no idea so over to you locals....

scarlotti thanks... I worry that I'm being a bit soft not holding a grudge but what's done is done. It wasn't empty words either, I genuinely do feel that I might put up with that behaviour if it was just us two but definitely not when we have a child at home. As hard as it would be, if this was or became a regular occurrence it would be over. It's amazing how being someone's mother can change you.

laugs it'll be two days a week so not too bad really. tho finishing later than i wanted as the idea was to work late morning so i could finish at seven but they want me to work til ten which means that the kids will have to stay over at both their Nana's houses for the days i work. wanted to be able to have them home for bed-time.

DWB Oh dear, DP has some growing up to do... sorry to hear about the event. Well done for stating your standards, though. I don't think this should be about holding a grudge, that doesn't really work in relationships in the long term, I don't think. You said very clearly what is expected of DP and presumably he'll be smart enough to recognise that you mean business. I hope you'll see change sharpish.

Welcome Cadders and Henry!

Laugs I haven't read that one but all the other books of his - I love him! 'Cloud Atlas' is in my top 10.

BBL poor lambs - I hope the boys are better soon.

Ursi Polish Mother's Day is on the 26 May every year, I shall have to remind DH to mark it some way, I think. To be honest, though, I'm not big on celebrating either - just got a big dribbly kiss from Lucy yesterday. Can't imagine demanding big things from my child like your MIL - is the poem easy to translate? - it's sort of in contradiction to the spirit of things, isn't it? But it is a shame that it spoils Mother's Day for you - do you think you could perhaps start your own little tradition to mark this day with your own family (don't mean teaching Paula any poetry )? Could be a nice way to change your feelings about the day...

Trikken good luck going back to the world of work.

Those of you still bf ... how often do you feed during the day/night? And how many weeks old is your baby now?
I seem to be feeding more often again (every 2 hours) and he cries when he comes off, but won't always take any more. Just had the wierdest feed where he fed for 5 mins, came off and cried, so we tried again. Only swapping holds seemed to get him through the crying to feed more. Then he managed the other side too for a fair feed.
Am so confused , thought if he was hungry he'd just eat?!

Scarlotti I occasionally get this fussing
on one side with Ethan and he settles when I swap him over. I think it could be a number of things... no milk left, not coming out fast enough or coming out too fast, baby uncomfortable on that side, overtired? I don't worry about it too much as it rarely happens.

Our routine has been very changeable over the past week or so. I don't even bother keeping track of when he will be due a feed at the moment as he seems to be hungry every 1.5-2 hours sometimes, including during the night! He is 15 weeks old.

Forgot to mention earlier, Ethan is around 16lbs at the moment. My youngest niece Olivia is 21 lbs and she is 22 months old! She is on the 2nd centile and Ethan on the 91st. I think Ethan's arrival has made my DB and SIL feel a bit more relaxed about their DD's weight as it shows that you can be at either extreme and still be a happy healthy child.

Damn I can't make the London meetup. I get together with some local mums on a Monday and on 22nd am hosting a coffee afternoon at my house (after putting it off for over 2 months). Will hopefully meet up with you all some other time.

My hair is everywhere! I'm moulting!

lemontop I had a shower at my mum's yesterday and collected a big ball of hair while I was combing. My mum's toilet is rubbish at flushing and half a dozen flushes later big ball of hair still floating... Cue my 2 year old niece nipping to the loo "Granny, there's something in the toilet...?"

laugs black swan green is a lovely book, hope you enjoy it. lovely writing.
dwb good for you.
got to get ds now so one handed typing rush

Henry is now 18 weeks. He went through a really fussy stage at the boob about 4 weeks ago, had to keep changing holds, would not take expressed milk from the bottle over 50ml. Generally being a bit of a bother! All over after a couple of weeks though, also started waking a lot at night during this time, although I did try not to feed him every time, as he was not always hungury really.

He now generally is feeding every 4 hrs - although is taking a lot more at each feed, particularly at 11pm when he is now having 200ml of expressed milk (DH does this feed). He is only going through till 4am on this feed - where 6 weeks ago he would have gone until 5.30. Think he is going through a bit of a growth spurt.

How is evryone sleep during the day? Finding it hard to get Henry to nap more than 30 mins during the day in his cot, although quite happy to sleep longer in pram or car seat over lunchtime!

Welcome cadders! DWB, well done. This behaviour was really stupid! Even if it wasn't mother's day but if he agreed on coming home early he should be able to do so. I guess it takes men longer to grow up but they should be reliable. And if he wants to go out with the guys every now and then, I'm sure there would be a solution like sleeping at a friends house.
scarlotti, thanks for keeping me informed about the meet up. 22nd is fine for me.
Paula gets fussy very often. Seems to be for different reasons. A major one is the strong let down in my right breast. Change of position sometimes helps, sometimes waiting for 15 min and try again. I've noticed she preferes a more "sitting" like position rather than being hold like a newborn.
poem, thanks for all your sympathies. Actually the poem is well known in my generation. I've learnt it my self in nursery and it got really "famous" as it was used in a very successful movie called "mothers day" (very funny but I guess only if you are Austrian). First I found it funny that he would still say it to his mum as I stupidly thought it was meant as a joke for both of them . I don't know it by heart anymore so I can't translate it here. It is basically something like "What would we do without you, mum"... we would eat fish with honey and cabbage with cinnamon, our shirts were never ironed,...
It is rather funny and cute, not too serious I guess. And actually after all those examples what stupid things we would do if mum didn't care about us, it ends with: But what would you do without us, be happy to have us!
Anyway, I'm already very curious if they are coming again this year or if it is over as I am the "new" mum now. She does really have an issue with me having taken her baby away. She did say stuff like "now his (my DH's) behaviour is your responsability not mine any more" or rather

scarlotti Hedy does a mad feeding frenzy from about 4 am to about 6am. She hates the right side and does a lot of complaining there, really odd.

My goodness it's been a busy day on here! I go shopping for a few hours and you've all been chatting away

BBL Your poor boys I hope they bounce back quickly. At least they have it now and not when they're older.

Ursi I admire you for dealing with your MIL so well! My MIL isn't like your normal kind of MIL... My MIL was in a gay club last night dancing to trance music She met up with an old friend who is gay and he took her to this club for drinks. She is 66 going on 16!!

Welcome Cadders! Where in the country do you live? It's a busy thread here as we all chat loads!!

Scarlotti Fussy feeding (at times) on the right boob.

Has anyone bought or come across 'Sophie Giraffe'? It's meant to be a very good teething soother. I purchased one last week and it was delivered today. DS is chewing on it like mad. He likes the giraffes legs which go in his mouth really easy and he's chomping on it very merrily. Thought I'd share that with you all.

DWB Well done for dealing with your DP. I'm sure he's learnt his lesson.

Lemon Great news on the good sleep last night.

Had a lovely day shopping. Bought some lovely tops. Hoping I can bf in most of them. So limiting buying 'everyday' clothes when you're bf.

Sorry if I've forgotten anyone..

DWB How old is your DP? My mum's friend is a child psychologist, and she told her that boys don't mature until the age of 29! . I knew it would be older than girls, but I thought maybe 21 or something. Anyway, I live in hope. DH turns 29 in June.

I'm really looking forward to reading Black Swan Green now so many of you liked it. I honestly do recommend Poundland for books. It's hardback too! No wonder authors earn a pittance...

Speaking of books, I am setting up this book group for new parents - basically a normal book group, but babies come too. I thought it would be nice to have a bit of grown up conversation as at so many mother and baby groups you never get past the baby chat. The first meeting is tomorrow, so I'm getting really scared in case nobody comes!

scarlotti James is now 14 weeks and has been fussing quite a bit at the breast. Not sure why. We have no feeding routine. I felt like there was until last week but it's all gone to pot! I seem to feed maybe hourly, two hourly? who knows.

Hi cadders!

Fruit I think I've seen that giraffe. It looked really good.

I live just south of Cambridge, anyone else from these parts? If there is another meet up in London in the future could easily make it down on the train.

Laugs sounds brilliant! Hope your book club is very popular.

Scarlotti no routine here really. Lucy's 14 weeks on Wednesday. To be honest our nights are more in routine than days - she goes to bed around 7pm, feeds between midnight and 1am, and then again between 5 and 6am. Seems to have dropped the 10pm feed. In the morning she snacks a bit and then has probably three good feeds before the evening one. No fussing yet, even when my right boob attacks her with jets of milk in the face (only right one, every time, does it ever stop?), poor thing.

Cadders Lucy doesn't sleep for more than that in the day either when we're at home. Scarlotti mentioned that a baby's sleeping cycle lasts 45 minutes and it seems she only goes through one cycle at a time. Like Henry though, stick her in a pram and go for a walk, or go for a drive and she can sleep for England! She is just starting to be interested in toys so can be occupied for a bit while I try to MN work.

Can I just put in an official complaint to Mother Nature please, as I am on the start of my second frigging period since Bryn arrived and its not fair whines Everyone said if you breastfeed your periods stay away for longer than this... skulks off to eat vast amounts of chocolate and drink tea whilst watching crappy TV

Laugs that book club sounds just perfect.
cadders I am vaguely from your parts if we're counting all of east anglia in general!
Really wish I could do London meet up on Monday but boo, can't. Maybe next time.

crikey sirboob that is indeed sodding luck. I managed 9 months last time!

welcome cadders. I used to live in those parts, where are you? We spent a few years in Ware/Stanstead Abbotts when I worked in Broxbourne.

Thanks for the good wishes re. the gastro. Basically he said that through my diet I've eliminated 80-90% of the problem and the remainder isn't doing her any clinical harm. The only way to get her in full gastro health is to go onto hypoallergenic formula, but the benefits of BF are probably outweighing the drawbacks at the moment. I wouldn't want to stop BF anyway, since DD1 got 13 months I'd feel guilty for not giving Isla the same. So for the remaining 10-20% we've just to grin and bear the writhing and screaming. Speaking of which she was screeching this afternoon. I'm not sure it was tummy related, maybe sore gums? Whatever it was it was very wearing whilst trying to cook and eat tea.

laugs good luck with the book club, it sounds fun!

Im tired but I dont want to go to bed, it will just confirm that I will indeed be working tomorro. Can I just stay home instead? hides in foetal position

laugs He's 27. He didn't need any talking to yesterday, realised himself he was a prat. Maybe this is him maturing now! Good luck with the book club, sounds fab.

sirboob how are things with DP and is your uncle doing well?

trikken best of luck with work tomorrow x

trikken hope tomorrow goes well. Am starting to job hunt myself now so feel for you.

laugs your book club sounds excellent!!

hobnob well done you on persevering with the bf and having the strength to cope with the screaming and writhing.

Am thinking of putting the weaning on hold for a little bit. Ioan has a cold and isn't interested in much food at the moment plus I'm wondering if I've started a bit early (nothing like a bit of self doubt eh?! ) Have been reading up on BLW and it would seem I can do it and be away at work so thinking I might look into that a bit more. Have ordered the Gill Rapley book so will see what that says.

Trikken thinking of you for tomorrow. I hope it all goes well.
Thinking a lot about work myself, especially since I've just been watching the 'Women' programme on BBC 4 and feeling sad about going back to work (if I can get a job ) (not to mention feeling sad about not being a smug posh woman with an aga and a vegetable patch and a wealthy husband )
It will be very hard at interview to do all that 'oh yes I really want this job, beam, smile,' sort of stuff when actually, all I really want is to stay at home, but yet miraculously get paid hundreds of pounds a month for something, preferably something nice and not very time-consuming, like drawing pictures or writing reviews of films or records, or testing labour saving household devices or baby toys....
Also, did anyone else watch that programme and get a bit cross with the dh who was saying 'oh yes, I freely admit I'm useless at washing whites' 'oh dear me I can't cook I always burn it, it's not my forte...' Hmmm, couldn't you learn to help out your wife, who apparently does two full time jobs?

Tikken Good luck today. I'm sure it will go all fine.

Scarlotti Another cold here with both DS'. I received my Gill Rapley book yesterday. Have read a few pages, wanted to read more but I struggle to read books lately without falling to sleep. It's a very good book and has opened my eyes, and I'm sure it will make lots of sense to you as well. I'm going to hold out until 6 months to start weaning. I think our babies are of similar size and age, so will be interesting to see how they both progress. He isn't interested in anything but my boob atm. I also think I'll be bf for at least a year. It's dawned on me how hard it will be to wean him off the boob.