November 09 - rolling, laughing and cutting teeth ... but us mama's are still not getting sleep!!

[scarlotti]

New thread for us

Hi all, gosh it's been a bit quiet on here lately, I can actually catch up for a change

ursi hope Paula is ok now after her little scare, and you too!

scarlotti good luck for your first day at work!

raggie lol at Psycho being shown at the Big Scream, i'd be worried about the babies having nightmares though and let's face it we have enough problems with their sleeping!

Millie is still waking up in the night, I am resigned to the fact that it will probably stay that way until she is weaned properly. The problem is that although she puts food in her mouth she is still not swallowing any. I even tried purees last week but she ends up spitting that out too. Maybe she just doesn't like my cooking!

I tried potty training ds last week but have given up already. Despite being 2.8 he just has no interest in sitting on the potty or loo, even after being bribed with stickers and treats! I just can't be bothered with it all so will try again in a month or so.

We are going to Center Parcs on Friday, woo hoo! I am very excited! We are going with my parents and brother, his girlfriend and their 3 children so my two will be kept well occupied...

Yes SirB you may wish to provide your own miniature fanfare/ drum roll as you mark the box - no-one else will do it for you! Mind you, I quite like the underwhelm(?) of it... visiting a crumbly old school hall after hours, everyone so understated and pokerfaced. As British as a wet Tuesday or a Tunnock's teacake.

snort Laugs. I am going to see if I can download a ring tone of a fanfare now Mine is at my old play school - and the lady that used to be the manager when I was in attendance is still there. Will be a weird moment

Helips am jealous - I went to CP a few years ago in conjunction with a young persons project I was involved in, and had a fantastic time. Which one are you going to?

Am watching the 29th debate on iPlayer (I dare not discuss stuff in politics too much, they're all scary and educated over there ). My concerns are obviously primarily how they will be accessing things like DLA, and CB, university fees, getting back to work... Have a feeling I am going to loose out whatever happens I agree and disagree with things that they've all said. Problem is if they're all (and they appear to be) tackling "welfare dependency" then I'm screwed. That's my only income, and it will be for a while, until I'm well enough to work.

ursi oh how scary for you, you must have been very worried. I am glad she is ok, how are you feeling now? Calmer?

R is sort of sleeping 8pm-midnight, 12:30-3am 3:30-6:15am, or thereabouts. But he is eating LOTS at night, and sometimes is awake for more than half hour just not settling down, not sure what is going on there. But last night he did not eat as much as I had a leaky boob .

Weaning is going well, he has had apple, banana and carrot. Not all at once . He loves it all and cries if we don't feed him quick enough. He is not happy with two mouthfuls though! Having to keep is slower than he is wanting as I think he would happily eat twice what we are offering, but not happy about his poor little tummy coping with that much! He had his first non-breastmilk smelling nappy yesterday though. Lovely. Not! What is it with carrots? How on earth can a pureed carrot turn into a solid lump of carrot at the other end? I swear there were chunks . When are those of you puree'ing food introducing/have introduced second meal? He had breakfast and dinner yesterday for the first time, on day 7, as he is so keen, he cries when we eat now. He only had a little, but still not sure if this is too fast. I can't go by his wants, as he wants what we are having, and lots of it!

Helips don't despair. It might take her a few days until she realises what to do with the food. Toby was like that, for the first ten days or so I don't think much went down him and then it clicked and he now gobbles and gobbles.

Ursi poor you and Paula, glad she's ok now

Yeah election tomorrow! Toby's first general election. Not that he'll care or anything. DS1 might get more out of it. I was the same age as DS1 is now when Mrs T came to power and I remember the big excitement. I remember my dad staying up all night to watch it and my mum rolling her eyes and sighing. I don't think Mr Cameron coming to power will generate the same amount of excitement somehow.

oh yes return of the monthly visitor and with it PMT...which i am told and can confirm gets worse the more children u have...whats good to take for it? does evening primrose work??

OMG PMT gets worse?!?!?

My monthly 'friend' hasn't returned yet but Ethan is sleeping brilliantly so I suspect it won't be long. Every silver lining has a whopping great cloud!

I'm having a much better week this week. Keeping busy and even had my haircut yesterday, first time since about September. Got a very busy weekend ahead with a funeral, 4th birthday party, night out to dinner & to see Kevin Bridges (our claim to fame; he grew up nextdoor to DP) and Ethan's christening on Sunday.

hobnob How is Isla doing this week? Hope she's a happier baby and you're all getting some sleep.

Forgot my other claim to fame, my old friend from school should be my new mp tmrw! Safe labour seat and the current mp is retiring. Hope I haven't jinxed it now.

bbl Thanks for the encouragement re the weaning, I just find it hard when you all talk about baby's gobbling down their food and Millie just rolls it around her mouth for a bit and then spits it back out! Oh well, she'll get there eventually!

Sirboob It's the Elverden one I'm going to, am quite excited, especially at the prospect of pancakes, yum yum! Might see If Millie will have some as part of my blw!

weston poor you, hope your monthly visitor doesn't hang around too long...

Ooh good luck to your friend DWB!

SirB at your fanfare ring tone! I might do the more subtle two-pen-drum-roll before marking X...

Because I have to make an occasion out of everything we will be having a pre-election Thick of It-fest this evening, and tomorrow we are eating an election tea of pasta with red pesto, red onions, red and yellow peppers, red and yellow tomatoes and some green leaves... to keep DH and I both happy. (Although I'm not too sure DH could care less what colour food he is eating)

Do you think maybe I haven't got enough to think about???

Oh Pav I've been wondering when to up the food intake too. James had been having about 1 large ice cube/ 1 oz of food, but then we went out for lunch yesterday and he had a jar and wolfed down the whole lot - 4oz! For a few days he's had breakfast and dinner, but today he's had breakfast and lunch as he was crying after milk, so I'm not sure whether to give dinner too? Come to think of it, I have nothing to give for dinner though!

Raggie sounds like you and Skorpion had a nice time. When's the big meet up to be?

Ohh Helips that's the one I went to - its beautiful!! Make sure you go on the rapids outside. I went at the February and it was still plenty warm enough

helips James is only swallowing food that is smooth. I made a whole batch of carrot that is a bit lumpy and he's totally rejected it.

SOrry to hear about the curses returning. Fingers crossed mine stays away a wee while longer. I remember it being pretty full-on the first few times last time.

DWB Isla has been much better recently thanks, at least in terms of nights. Back to sleeping through until half 4 or 5. I've started BLW with her too and she loves playing with food. So far she's had carrot, pepper, broccoli and banana. She's had really horrendous screeching wind the past few days though and I'm wondering if the weaning is anything to do with it (or the oats I had on Sat, or from swimming - as usual, it's all untraceable). Any experiences welcome.

Laugs I too am about voting. We are in a safe seat constituency with a really experienced MP. I don't know whether to vote according to my conscience (which is actually split between parties anyway) in order to feel like I've influenced things nationally or to vote according to who I think might do a good job locally. All so complicated. DH and I chatted about it into the wee small hours and got nowhere really.

Glad to hear Isla's sleeping well hobnob

I've just changed Roo's bum and there was clear evidence of the carrot she had earlier. Looks like it went straight through her!

We had a good day here today after a few awful nights of waking in the wee small hours and refusing to go back to sleep - hence why I've not been MN-ing much! She slept from half 7ish to 2am then 6.30, which is great. Think we were spoilt by her sleeping well early on and this regression is taking its toll! Fingers crossed for another good night for us all...

DWB Fingers crossed for your friend! What a brave thing to do.

Unfortunately I can't vote tomorrow, no British citizenship I must really get on to that... The whole rigmarole of being tested on 'Britishness' is ever so slightly offputting. I can vote in local elections, so am telling myself that I have influence over what happens around here...

I've been wondering about periods returning. How long does it take once you stop frequent feeding at night?

Raggie good to hear Rosa gave you a breather last night. I'll keep'em crossed for another good night for you.

Lucy's bumbo arrived today and she looks so funny in it. She started to want to sit up in her bouncy chair which wouldn't let her so we splashed out on this for her, as it seems so safe and comfortable. How long do you leave your babies in them? She'll be five months in a few days.

Laugs there was talk about a meet-up some time ago... I think if we're up for it perhaps we should start making some more concrete plans...??? Maybe a weekend somewhere, somebody suggested camping as I recall, I'd be definitely up for that.

Skorpion I love the bumbo Some friends got us one. Bryn really likes being in it - shame the same can't be said for his high chair

Raggie slightly green here! Hope she does it again for you tonight

We have discovered a new favourite food - banana and mango. Rather him than me!!

Thought I'd join in with the name change thing for once twirls

Hope you're all okay.

hobnob, I'm pretty sure it is the pepper that caused the wind. I personally don't have too many problems with it but have heard about it.

And returning periods? I thought they would get lighter or less painful. My mum said, she didn't have any periodpain after having had her children. She has 4 though ...
And is it related to stopping night feeds? Well, than I'm happy about Paulas annoying night pattern as she needs something at 10.30 (actually not a lot, wanted to stop that), 1.30 and 4/5ish.

Ooh loving your topical name-change SirB! But v that I can't do a similarly cool one. Think I might have to start thinking of an alternative screen name soon...

Laugs am loving your pre-election events! How much was 'bigotgate' straight out of The Thick of It?

Anyway must go since like Mr Tucker, I've got a to-do list longer than a Leonard Cohen song...

Evening all

Work was good, was really nice to get back into something to stretch my brain and there are quite a few familiar faces there. Ioan had a great time at the CM so that makes it all much easier.

My period came back as he has cut right back on the amount of milk at each feed as he's preferring solids. We are currently on 1oz ish of lunch and tea (protein dishes) and a bit more baby porridge in the morning. He's definitely wanting more now though so going to up each meal to 2oz.
I went from one meal to three in about 3 weeks and just took his lead. Probably would have increased it quicker if I'd got my act together and sorted out food for him to eat.
First batch of veg was pureed but I've mashed everything since then and he's fine with the small lumps.
Banana and avocado is a firm favourite - didn't have any avocado yesterday so he just had banana. A whole one!!! Weetabix this morning too so we're moving towards normal meals.

Am up for a meet up and agree we should get something in the diaries if people are up for it. When is good?

Got our school place for DS1, not our first preference but our second, but on reflection I think it's probably the better choice for him so it's ok.

Ioan still wakes in the night at anywhere between 3:30 and 5 for a feed but generally settles straight back to sleep after - probably because then he's in my bed! We still do a dream feed too when I go to bed so I'm hoping that the 5am feed moves to nearer 7 soon!! Maybe if I up his meal sizes then I might be in luck!

Must've been nice to be a person again today scarlotti

Yes, it was

skorpion I've already packed our bumbo away & Ethan is almost 23 weeks I think! Nov 29 anyway. He is around 18.5lbs or 8 and a bit kg though so I'd imagine it's more on weight than age. He kept stretching his head back and legs straight at the same time so to avoid him pinging across the room, we're using the highchair more!

I have no idea how old Bryn is in weeks I lost track around week 16 I think...

Scarlotti so glad it went well - did you get my text, by the way, about the show? WRT the Wheatabix - do you mix it with EBM or normal milk or formula? Was thinking about getting some baby porridge, but the faff of expressing is putting me off. Pleased to hear about the school place too - I'm sure it will all work out for the best

Raggie you could be... Ummm... Nope, blank sorry. I even did the quizzical face but nothing happened

DWB does Ethan eat okay in the highchair? Bryn really hates is Admittedly he is smaller, but he just screeches as soon as he is put in it. I have resorted to feeding him balanced on my knee and in the buggy a couple of times (bumbo is at DPs). Did he get used to it?

Must apologise, am having a hypo at the moment and can't calm down. Trying to ride it out, but have the impending sense of doom that is the lowest of lows afterwards. Bloody Borderline Personality Disorder... Ah well could be worse.

Ohh meet up, definitely sounds good

Also - those of you who are on two + meals a day, have you found your milk supply has dropped dramatically? The feeding isn't a problem, he's getting plenty of milk, but I used to be able to easily express between 7-10oz a day extra with no problem. Now am struggling to get two in a sitting Is this normal?

James has a Bumbo and seems to like it. He also does the back arching thing when he gets fed up, so I try not to leave him alone in it. He's been sitting in there for meals as we've misplaced a bit from the highchair. I am already mourning the end of the bouncy chair though as it was nice to have him strapped in one place, unable to escape or be captured by wild sisters. I keep on using it, even though he's practically horizontal...

Scarlotti I'm glad it went well today. It sounds like you're in with a nice bunch and so nice to have something to think about. I hope Ioan sleeps well for you (which I'm sure he will after his big day out)

Raggie I am still waiting for my TTOI evening to start and it is past my bedtime! DD was coughing, then sick all over James's sheets first (she had snuck into his cot - her old bed until last week), then her sheets, so ended up sitting up with us until 10. Now DH has gone for a shower. Clearly everyone is determined to spoil my plans! Grr...