Dec 08 Mums - Terrible twos already? Tears, tantrums, tiaras and tractors - and the rest!

[Beans33]

Hope this is better - sorry all!

Actually a layer if sudocrem on the worst patch (under his many chins) and a nap have worked wonders .

Hey Nolda! Lovely to hear from you. We were talking about you the other day as we thought you had E at the same hospital where One Born Ever. Minute was filmed. Is that right? Did you watch?

Who is betting on the Grand National today? I have money on Character Building, DH has gone fot Mon Mome and DD1 chose Snowy Morning because it reminded her of Christmas. I also put £5 on Tricky Trickster for DD2 as the name describes her perfectly!

Hello Nolda! We have often wondered if you'd come back! Especially when One Born was on, as Aubi says. Oh, and if any names look unfamiliar a few people have changed names though we do have a few newish chums too.

I have backed horses too numerous to mention, Aubi Have a lovely time in Sussex. I stayed at Arundel Castle once, I'd like to go back again one day.

Good to see you back, Rubes. I am so relieved your MIL wasn't as bad as you'd thought about your FIL. Also super relieved about your bro...I do have a lightweight Mothercare buggy that Mum bought for me as she worried the Bugaboo Cameleon is too heavy, but I hardly every use hers as I love the Bugaboo and find it so easy to push. Like you, when I have the new tiddler I am planning to carry her in the BabyBjorn and use the pushchair for DD1. I don't want to assume she will actually be walking on her own two feet, at two months short of two I may buy one of those boogy boards that you put on the back of the Bugaboo but I have heard that you keep tripping over them.

Hooray for WG's good night and I hope you have a lovely night, Spot.

We are off to the house soon for more DIY, though DP is currently glued to his Kavanagh QC box set. You'd think he'd have enough of that gubbins in the week.

Don't know if anyone heard the news story about Frankie Boyle taking the p out of kids who have Downs and their parents, but a lady was in the audience whose daughter has Downs Syndrome and she called him on it. I would struggle to say that certain things are off limits in comedy as that worries me, but I think to make those sort of gags, you have to be a real turd, and I only wish him ill (never found him remotely amusing anyway)

Aaaahhhhh silence....we've been out for lunch and a play in the park but I've just comeback from the park early with DS2 as he hasn't napped all day and was needing to sleep. He wasn't happy to leave though and screamed when I wheeled him in the house on the bike and refused to let me unclip him from his bikeseat. It was a struggle but I won in the end and he is now flat out.

Effie, I think your doing fine, trying to stop then scratching is a nightmare. Try to keep the skin cool if you can & when put cream on try to rub it in locally. So put it on and just rub it around the local area don't spread it from say the top of the trunk to the body, just to reduce spreading and infection around. Also decant the cream onto something and then put it onto your hands to spread. That reduces it getting into the tub if there is an infection. Time in the sun is good but drying is bad. A simple cool damp cloth over itchy bits can do wonders. If you do notice any red weepy (other than normal chicken pox) areas or a sudden temperature increase get her to a GP tout suite (bad French spelling).

It's so sunny here today hope your all enjoying good weather.

Nice to see you Rubs sorry you've had such a hard time of it lately. Thanks for your concern over my FB wobble. I have a bit of a fear of the violent racist element in Australia & happened across a FB group which was just horrible. Got some nice responses.

speedy hello from me...

Lu has turned into Verruca Salt from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. GRRRRRR! Not nice.
Anyway have put my old and new hair on my profile page, but I'll be taking them down in a few days because I don't want my ugly mug on show!
P and DH and are both asleep and Lu is demanding attention..
Back later hopefully

Wow Trace it looks amazing, maybe I should take the plunge? I always get worried if I go short I'll look...a bit...mummy. Your cut looks so stylish. Your so pretty Trace, you look really chic.

Trace Love the new look.

LadyT and Aubergines Good Luck for the Grand National!

Rubena When DD was little I had a Maclaren Volo which I replaced for DS with a Mamas and Papas Nipi as the child can lay flat in it but it is a bit heavier to push than the Volo and needs constant attention with WD40. I have found a buggy ideal for trips on public transport and for nipping to the shops. Our other pushchairs have been large three-wheelers ideal for the forest and saltmarshes hereabouts but rather clumpy and inconvenient anywhere else.

Re: One Born Every Minute - yes both my children were born at the Princess Anne but I only saw one episode of the series. A couple of my friends had babies there at the time they were filming but wisely opted out of being filmed giving birth!

Well Veggie, it was sunny here but it's gone all dull now.

DP had the winner in the National (but didn't put much on it) and I had 5th, which SkyBet will pay out on so I will basically recoup what I bet. Very exciting though.

Just watching my team play Chelsea in the FA Cup. It's a day of sporting action. Then back to the house to carry on painting. Bor-ing.

Oh and Trace, I think your new hair looks lovely

Thanks Veggie the sun and cream combo seems to be working! Dh came home at lunchtime and took ds1 out so have had a lnice quiet pm.

Rubes: glad things have settled down with your db. Your fil visit sounds dramatic!

A new thread, you chatty lot!

Been to France. Dd back to hellish sleeping. There is not enough chocolate in the world.

Hope you are all ok!

Evening all, soooo chatty!

well too much to catch up on so just a few answers to questions etc:

pushchair - we have a bugaboo bee which I don't really like any more as dd is very much lying back even on the most upright setting, also it takes up about 50% of our boot so we got a Silver Cross Pop instead, it's much lighter and she's much more upright but when she nods off it goes nice and flat. The only problem is you can't 'bump' it up and down stairs as the brakes get in the way, and the wheelbase is quite narrow so being a bit of a penguin I end up kicking the back wheels a lot. But on the whole it's great and we may be about to retire the bee to the loft.

evenings - we've had much the same routine for ages now, dd has a bath at about 6, 6.15 (our bathroom is downstairs so once we go up afterwards that's it). Upstairs to get into pjs and grobag, she'll often dash around a bit climbing into the chair and chucking all the books on the floor after which I give her a bit of milk and then either I or DH (on the days he's back) read her stories. Try to put her down still awake and sometimes she'll burble to herself for half an hour, other times she's quiet straight away. Bed very early tonight as she had a much shorter nap than usual, is already out but often it's lights out at about 7.30.

milk - having said that, she refused boob for the first time tonight - someone was asking about this on the last thread I think, was it Invis?

horses! Well I put my money on My Will (at 55 to 1!) because the jockey was in my old college colours, got all excited when BBC tipped him to win then he fell at the 3rd. Sigh... but dd did very much enjoy sitting on my knee and being galloped and jumped.

We had a lovely morning, there's a 'sculpture promenade' at the big museum in town in the gardens and three of them have huge mirrored walls and we had great fun peeking round them and disappearing from view. DD also flung herself off face first a couple of times but seemed to take no damage. Phew! Will post some pics on FB, if we do have a Cambridge meet the museum gardens are fun to walk round and the sculptures could keep the nipsters busy for a bit?

Right. Time to decide what to have for tea. Am very bad at this whole planning thing, we usually end up with the old improvised whatever's in the veg box - plus - tomatoes - plus - pasta kind of thing. Though dd had egg mayo sarnies today for tea with cress we grew ourselves Hope everyone's enjoying the sunshine, and will try to keep up a bit better this thread!

evening
Hi indith! Sorry your nights are so rubbish, but really nice to hear from you again.
jj P refused the boob from me about 2 weeks ago, just shaking her head one night when I offered it to her (although her feeds had been getting shorter and less 'focussed' for a few weeks prior to that). I tried to encourage her on for the next few nights but she was clearly not interested and we haven't fed since. My boobs were sore for about a week but are fine (albeit rather shrivelled!) now.
I won't be around until the end of next week as we're off to my sister's in Knutsford for a night tomorrow, then on to the Lakes for a few nights in a caravan (belongs to an old couple in church and they have said we can stay in it for free ), so we'll probably be back on wed, thur or fri, depending on the weather and how long we feel like staying.
Hope you all have lovely weeks, but don't have too much fun on the thread without me
see you next week xxx

Hello -
Thanks for the 2nd buggy advice - I picked up mine yesterday - This one its great. Plan is - to use the P&T with the doubles kit and cocoon (ala Effie / Lal style) for the longer outings and use the lightweight one for either just ds1 on his own or quick trips with DS1 and DC2 in the Bjorn. It's a lovely buggy - so nifty and light, lays flat with a head hugger for the NB. and it's handle height is really good for us (apparently the tallest in the lightweights) so I'm
Next just got to buy the doubles seat for the P&T and since I sold the bouncer I had (cause it vibrated too loud )I'm going to get the P&T Lazy Ted kit to convert the double seat into a bouncer - anyone used that?
Good job on the Grand National to those that entered and Turnip - hope you get the bag and dh doesn't get the golf bag

Hello Nolda, Hello Indith, hello Trace - enjoy your trip.

Like the buggy! Do you have the p&t cocoon? I found our old one when I was having a clearout. If anyone wants to borrow it give me a shout.

Beautiful sunny day here, pox seems to be on the wane (except at night) and I'm about to take ds1 to 2 hours of birthday party soft play whch he will love. I'd prefer to stay sitting in the garden but hey.

Hello Indith! Sorry about the sleep. We've had a few broken nights and I'm feelng murderous. How I managed on months of little sleep I do not know.

Yeah I got the cocoon when I got the P&T after I saw Lal at RFH meet up eons ago and she slid the lil tiny bub straight out and straight under the table without waking! First time I'd seen it and thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. But thanks anyway Effie By the way where the heck is Lal? Not been on FB for ages nor on here...hope she's ok. Hopefully just an internet problem but it's been weeks now

I'm a big fan of having a p&t and a lightweight buggy too. P&T hardly gets used with the second seat now but is great over the tracks around here and the Maclaren is used when going onthe bus etc.

Never used the lazy ted but you can get a bog standard bouncy chair from mothercare for less. I'd be inclined to get a separate one so you are not always taking it on and off the pushchair, can leave the baby in the bouncer while getting the pushchair and toddler ready to go out etc.

Milk. Dd is more of a chase me around the house calling "mama meme more more" until she catches me and pulls my top up but she does sometimes refuse, just shakes her head and says no. Ds though had stopped by this age. He started refusing bedtime before 12 months but still fed in the afternoon. They ar all different. Sometimes it is just a blip and if you carry on offering they may pick it up again but nothing wrong with letting it stop if it feels right to you. With ds is was so gradual that it felt right to stop, with dd if she refuses it is usually that she is brewing something or teething and doesn't feel like a natural decline so I tend to keep offering.

Dd has decided that she will only go down stairs forwards. That girl is either going to kill herself or terrify me into an early grave.

Nice to see you, Indith! Where were you in France, I've forgotten.

I have got Lal/Urbane's phone number, do you think I should text her to see if she is ok? At the same time I don't want her to feel hassled.

JJ, we must get that Cambridge meet up nailed. And Spot, sadly I can't do next weekend for Brighton. Booo.

I am in a bit of a childish sulk. MIL is coming to stay next Sunday night, until the Wednesday. DP will probably be at work so I will be with her all day everyday (she is coming to help paint, which is of course kind and I shouldn't be ungrateful, but 'painting' is actually code for 'nosing'). I don't want to hang with her, I don't want to have to put up with her irritating questions and fatuous remarks, and I am basically just dreading it. Like I said, I know I am being a child but I could scream. How can I get through it, other than by gritting my teeth?

Eugh. Hungover again. Am like a child in a swetie shop when I'm let off the leash for a night. Thing is, my body clock is so trained to wake at 6ish that even if I go to bed at 1 or 2 I still wake up then.
Not so sure about Lewes now. It was on our shortlist of potential places to live but there was no one at all on the streets last night, really like a ghost town which we thought was a bit odd for a Saturday night. Tis very pretty though and I so admire its social history.

Hello Indith, nice to see you . Sorry about the rubbish sleep. Am there with ya, pardner.

LadyT, sadly I am the last person to be advising on patience and gritting teeth as I am super intolerant. I would normally say get through it by mainlining some gin but you can't even do that at the moment. Can you be supremely on deadline for 3 days and use her for childcare?

Hope you had a nice afternoon at soft play, Effie, tis the 7th circle of hell but hopefully you get a decent night's sleep as a reward as they are so knackered.

Love the new hair, Trace!

Oh and JJ I would be up for Cambridge meetup as my mum is in Ely and I am down there pretty often.

Bookmarking until I have time to catch up properly, but Lady it was me with GD. They can't really tell until much later, I think 22 weeks is when they test, but if you continue to be extra thirsty go and get checked out. The earlier they find it (a glucose tolerance test with 12 hours fasting will show it up) the less chance you have of a ginormous baby. Hope it's just an ealry pregnancy symptom though, injecting yourself 4 times a day is no fun.

Quick one to say "hello" - haven't caught up at all so know noone's news (save any of you FBers...)
We had a lovely time in Portugal - weather was just perfect child weather between 20-24 - despite L developing severe car sickness each time we went more than 10 miles....and our lovely temp nanny/au pair girl we brought was so so lovely and meant we did get a small amount of time off.

And we saw Chris Evans and Robbie Keane (plus WAG) which was lovely. Back to work now...sob. Hope spring springing has envigorated everyone. Off to catch up.

oh and Trace I really love your hair!

Hi everyone

Sorry for no personals but having a crisis. Can anyone help here please?

Hope you are all well and enjoyed the sunshine.

Just posted on yourcthread syb, good luck.

Trace your hair looks fab!

Spot how's the head now did you manage to avoid gorging yourself with hangover munchies.

LadyT as my friends and I say with tongue firmly in cheek Man Up you will be fine with MIL. . Although saying that I would be climbing the wall after 5 minutes with my MIL.

Re lightweight buggy. We have our P&T still for walking around our local fields. Hardly ever use the doubles seat anymore. But we have a Maclaren for shopping holidays etc and we use a a sling. What I would say for those of you thinking of baby bjorn ing it. Have you tried a different type of sling as they are so bad for your back. I tried them with DS1 and after half an hour always had sore back and shoulders.

Fairly quiet wkend here doing lots of gardening chores. I still feel a bit yuck my throat has got a boring residual ache that won't go away and am knackered. I just don't have time to have glandular, grr. In my own words I should man up.

Gosh Syb, just read your thread and am hoping you got some sleep last night. I haven't posted as I know nothing of thumb sucking but I am thinking of you.

Turnip , I'm glad Portugal was fun and the weather was good. We are off to the south of France for the week after next and I am keeping my fingers crossed for similar weather. Thanks for your FB tips about Dublin. I am at Heathrow now, waiting to board the plane. V excited as I've always wanted to get to know Dublin. Will def drop by your BiL's place.

Spot, how's your head? I know what you mean about Lewes. Lovely town (with a fab state secondary) but a bit dead. At least you wld be near the bright lights of Brighton for a night out. BTW if you ever want a night away in the countryside google The Griffin Inn at Fletching. It's 10 miles from Lewes and it's where we stayed on Saturday night. Great food and nice rooms with an amazing beer garden. In fact I wld also recommend it for a country lunch with T. In the summer they do amazing Sunday BBQs in their garden. We had such a nice stay there this weekend. It re awoke my dream of living in the countryside.

Veg - I meant to thank you for your reassurance regarding DD2's regression back to the incredible not walking baby. You may well be right about talking developing at the expense of walking as she seems to be learning new words all the time. I shall try not to fret.

Trace - I love your hair. It really makes you look good. Have fun in the caravan.

Jam - I really hope it's not glandular fever that's plauging you. If it is you must rest (ha ha ha). No really you must otherwise it might really linger. Can you get some high dose zinc? My GP recommended it after my numerous winter viruses this year and it does seem to have helped my immune system a bit.

Dammit, why do I always get to airports too early?I am all ready to board and the aeroplane Isn't even here yet. I might go and sample the delights of the Terminal 1 shopping area. I could do with new shoes...