Discussion amongst Mums with babies born in December 2008

[Veggiemummy]

Hope you all can find it, Moms title was perfect I thought.

We've just had our first offer on our house! £35k below the asking price, but it's a start! I've gone back with an offer £10k below our asking price. GOD it's quite stressful isn't it???! Anyone done this before? I haven't and am a bit nervous!

PS Rubena loved your battered eyelid

beans - can't help at all re house buying but will keep my fingers crossed it all works out to your satisfaction!

Oh gosh, sorry, cross-posted JJ - I don't really know as haven't started thinking about schools yet as our life is so in flux at the moment. I would be tempted, if you're happy where you are, to stay put and fork out for the all girls school as it won't change your finances that much. However, if you're going to have to move anyway when JJ2 comes along, then I'd perhaps be inclined to make the jump a bit earlier and go with the higher mortgage and better school. God, the quality of life we have to face a decline in, just for the sake of our childrens' educations is extraordinary! We are moving to Streatham and I haven't done any research into schools at all, as I'm hoping we won't still be there in a couple of years for DD!!!

But it worries me terribly. Already!

What we should really do is move in with my dad so dd can go to the primary school in my village and the grammar school (ahem!!) I went to, who cares about the hour+ commute in each direction for me and DH

JJ - it was the pole dancing pole in the bathroom that really got me. As if! Your housing dilemma sounds entirely reasonable. The schooling thing is really tricky. I think if you are contemplating the independent school option you need to be thinking of it as a financial commitment for 2 kids over the course of their schooling, not just a q of whether you can afford it in the immediate short term. What would your plans be if no. 2 is a boy for example? The job situation has really started to mess things up for us as well - if I go for this job, it is just outside London on the west side, so it would probably make sense to move and that thows all our schooling etc thoughts into disarray, not to mention that we are feeling very cosy in our bit of north London.

Aub - day at home sounds lovely! I'm taking tomorrow off, as its our turn to be parent helper at nursery and DD has been badgering me to take her for ages. Really looking forward to it.

Yikes Invis I didn't spot that, too busy being blinded by the bath!

V good point about the next nipper and what would we do then. We've looked at what fees would be for dd at secondary, and are putting aside a bit each month to go towards that, but you're right about a boy next and what would we do then. Maybe it is time to think a bit more seriously about a move. We're about to have the kitchen done up (at last after 6 years of me cursing the fact there's only one drawer and the worktop's absolutely tiny) so a bit daft to move right now, but then again presumably a decent kitchen would help bump the price up a bit.

I am utterly amazed that dd is still asleep, having gone down for her nap at 1. Am going to have to wake her up which seems so counter-everything, but otherwise we may never get her to bed... Catch you ladies later

Wow, I've just had 3 NCT friends round for tea. They're so lovely - there were 2 boys and 2 girls. The difference between the boys and girls is so extraordinary! For starters, both boys walking and have been for a while. But also, they just trash everything. It's amazing. Feel v sheltered with my little bird. But she's so gentle. Instead of bashing and pulling, she strokes other children's hair and says "aaaah". It's v sweet, but I can't help thinking she'll be shat on in life!!!

I didn't spot the pole dancing pole either - wowsers - who on earth wants one of them??! They can't have children, surely!!!

PS I think I spotted the pole out of the corner of my eye and subconsciously thought it was probably something structural. Could I be more gormless?

Good God Invis, can't believe that house. London properties are evidently still vastly overpriced. Just to put it into perspective, this is what you'd get for that sort of money down here www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-15137562.html
Actually this is in a village that I would quite like to live in, but think we will have to go for something slightly smaller!
Had a great fun Hen weekend despitemy misgivings, butmanaged to wake at6.30am yesterday, despite not getting to bed until 2am, bloody typical! I have also now got absolutely no voice at all, which the kids are loving.
Mom, dying to hear the outcome...
Good luck for tomorrow (today?) Lady, also looking forward to hearing the flavour, my bet is on for another girl
Children shouting, back later

Oh glad you had a good hen, katie - always fun to have a night out.

I need to ask some advice. DD has slipped in the bath the last couple of nights and briefly gone under water, but was absolutely fine. However, tonight, when I put her in the bath, she went totally psycho and screamed and screamed and flailed around. I was quite worried about her - haven't seen her like that before. Not really sure what to do. We've got the nanny back tomorrow and don't really want Izz to be put off any more. Was thinking that I might tell the nanny not to do the bath tomorrow evening and I'll have a go at it myself when I get home from work at 6.30. Or else just skip it totally for a night. What do you think? DD was fine when she came out, although took her a while to get her breathing back to normal. Obviously she can't stop having baths, as need to keep her clean! And a few days ago she was absolutely loving her bath. V annoying!

Beans: getting freaked out by baths is really common. DS1 went through this (after mil gave him a bath) and we just bathed him less often until he forgot about it. You can try washing her with a flannel in a minute amount of water if that makes her happier (squeeze out the flannel over her head to wash her hair). bubbles might also help, but if she has eczema you obv need to be careful about products. Or a new bath toy to distract?

Am on train home and leaning at an intersting angle. Unfortunately not due to drink but a crick in my neck. I am waiting for something to fall off next - maybe my body is telling me to wise up and get healthy?

Blimey so much for catching up with you all on Friday and doing a long chatty post. DH's back has gone again had ht emergency Dr put on Sat eve to inject him full of drugs and am now sitting in the car posting from my phone with the boys while he is in the chiropractors.

Anyway had a quick squizz.

Beans I wouldnleave the bath for a few nights. Am sure she doesn't get that dirty. Perhaps take her in the shower with you.

Ver impressive nights out and staying up late.

Poo am going to have to drive around as the boys are not happy.

Thanks re tips - v kind. Will have a couple of nights off, then try again with a new toy. Thanks so much.

Gosh, all these mobile posters - I've got to get me an iphone!

I'm going to be a total me me me, as usual, but am feeling totally abject at the thought of leaving DD with the nanny again tomorrow. All I want is to be with her all the time. I am such a total wetty, I swear. But have loved this last week or so, and the thought of leaving her fills my heart with hurt. Wet mess. I should so be a SAHM!!!! One day...

Ugh, the faint line must have been a mirage. Tried another today and nada. I must just be having some serious pre-mentrual symptoms this month or something? The deed in question was way back on the 8th, so surely something would be showing up on a test by now. If AF doesn't arrive by Friday, I will be very confused. I will be gutted, I think, if it is a definite no which is a good sign that I should A. Drink more. B. Get DH to take me to a spa with very hot saunas. C. Go to Paris on a dirty minibreak and D. Start TTC in earnest!

Poor DS has got terrible nappy rash from his weekend of poonami. His bits/sack are raw with open sores, poor guy. He never got nappy rash like this when I was using cloth nappies (switched to sposies a few weeks ago because the childminder isn't keen on cloth). I've gone back to cloth at night to see if that helps.

Aubs - Sounds like a lovely day. I love my Fridays at home with DS. But I am a very bad Mum and also love dropping him at the childminder on Mondays so I can go to work!

Jump - I would probably keep an eye on 4-bed places if you know you'll need one eventually and keep the school aspect as a secondary issue because you never know what the school will be like in a couple of years, and worst case you can swing the independent school fees if necessary?

I wish my DS's 5:00 am wakes were just a case of creating a crack den. Have tried everything. He is such a sly fox because he throws in long night wakings every now and again, just to fool me into being grateful for the 5:00 am starts if he sleeps through the night. I am counting the days until he is old enough to understand one of those Sleepy Bunny wake up clock thingies.

Hi Ladies
beans dd1 went through a phase of HATING the bath - I think it was triggered when she knocked the plug out so it started making the "i'm going to suck you down the plug hole" noises and she was freaked out. ANyway it was horrendous so I stopped bathing her for a while and just washed her as best as I could. Then I started sitting in the bath with her (fully clothed, no water!) and playing with her toys, then gradually built it up to playing with a bit of water in the bottom, then a bit more until she was happy for us to bath together, then back to bathing on her own again. It took a while but it worked. I think once they freak out about something they need to feel it's safe again. Hope Izzy gets over it soon - she'll survive not being bathed for a while.
Talking of baths, P was hilarious tonight! She always has Oilatum in the water for her eczema, which makes the water so cloudy you can't see under the water, IYSWIM, but tonight I didn't put any in (forgot ) and she spent the whole time pointing at her feet and legs and hands under the water because she's never been able to see them before So cute!
jj that sounds tricky about the house. Think I'd be tempted by moving, especially as you're wanting a DC2, but I guess there's no rush so you've time to have a good old think about it and bide your time.
mom I'm sure that must be a positive - even a really faint line is a postitive How exciting!
katie glad you enjoyed the hen night - I take it you weren't ostracised for the 'issue' - whatever it may have been?!
effie poor you - you really are in the wars. Hope the neck soon recovers. ANd how is your mum doing?
kayz - how are you? I'm not on FB so do keep us posted on here with how you are - when you get the time. Take care of yourself.
daisy if you're lurking - hope you're doing alright love We miss you xxx
I took Lu to the GP today about her continued sloppy poo (sorry) and she's referred her to the paeds at the hospital. I'm sure it'll turn out fine but I'm glad it's being looked into.
Tomorrow I'm (finally) seeing my CPN, which should be helpful.
syb hope you're feeling better. I hate that washed out feeling after a tummy bug.
jam sounds a bit hectic. Hope dh's back gets sorted.
Now sorry to go on, but where are zj and urbane? Has anyone been in touch with them?
Oh and any BFers have any advice - P has decided she only likes my left boob! She's had a left preference for quite a few weeks now but is now refusing the right one altogether! Do I just let her get on with it, or will I end up with wonky wangers for ever?

Oh Mom - your poor DS with his sore parts. That's just awful - DD hasn't really suffered with it that badly - but when she's had it a bit, I found bepanthen was good - although it's probably not strong enough by the sound of it.

My parents went to Malaysia for 2 weeks a while ago and I found myself thinking how nice it would be when my children have left home! Haha! I haven't even had the 2nd one yet! And all I want is to be with DD at all times. I am a clingon. Terrible. Actually, probably just hormonal.

I don't think I'm making any sense. There's a surprise.

Trace - I have this, with the left boob too funnily enough. I find that it doesn't matter as much anymore because I think maybe he isn't actually feeding that much so they're not that different in size? This happened before a few months ago and I just kept offering the right one, to keep it "pumped up" (vain) and he eventually took it again. But now I don't think I would bother because it doesn't make a difference for size.

Hey Trace - cross-posted! Sorry. and thanks for tips on bath - sounds good. Think will try having a bath with her tomorrow night - after nanny has gone!!! That's a great idea.

I'm afraid I've got no tips about wangers. How much longer do you think you'll be BFing for?

So glad you're seeing CPN and am glad you've got a referral for the botty issues for Lu. It's just no fun at all for her. Poor little bird.

xx

BTW, my boobs are TINY these days. I think smaller than before DS. Massive nipples and tiny saggy boobs. How attractive.

mom sorry x-posted there. How puzzling about the pregga tests. At least it has helped you recognise how you feel about a potential pregnancy. Hope you're ok. Perhaps test again in a few days? And on the sore bum - I always find Metanium to be like magic. It's yellow and smells strange and is really effective. vast improvements usually after only a day or so.
beans yes you're soppy but there's nothing wrong with that! I'm besotted with P too - I told her earlier how much I love the fact that she's a mini-human, just because she lifted her foot up for me to take her sock off, and I thought "how cool - she can lift her foot!" [soppy and slightly mad emoticon]

mom lol at the boobs - mine look particularly freaky when I bend over forwards - like two weird wrinkled sacks!

Oh Trace - that's gorgeous! And sums up exactly how I feel about Izz! When she pulls off her own top after I've taken one of her arms out, I'm struck by how remarkable she is! I can't quite believe she's real! But am so glad she is!

My boobs, too, were tiny post feeding. Sort of pitta breads with raised nipples. not attractive at all! Good thing about being up the duff again is they've refilled!!! Have been squishing myself into 36B old bras, assuming they haven't grown at all (apart from have gone up to 38 round back, but am in denial about that). Put on one of my nursing bras the other day, and discovered that I perfectly fill a 36E cup. Oops!!!

beans not sure how long I'll BF for. I'm pretty much down to a quick one before bed (she's not that interested), a decent one when she first wakes (6ish), and some random through the night ones or day ones if she's particularly unsettled. I think I'll try to stop the bedtime one soon because she hardly drinks any at that time, and also that would give me freedom to not always be the one who puts her to bed. Then I think I 'll let P decide how long she wants the morning one for - as long as it's not when she's at secondary school

Oh and she drinks no other milk at all, but does like her yoghurts and cheese, so I think she kind of could do with the BFs that she still has!

Sounds wise. I gave up at 7 months as wanted my body back to myself. How foolish when my norks gave up the ghost and became scrotums. Nice. Also I hadn't had a period. Then when it arrived in September, I so didn't want another one, I got preggers again - hahah! One period in 2 years has been bliss!

Would be nice not to have to do the bedtime feed - you could then put your feet up and have a large glass of something cheerful while someone else does the job for you!!