Dec 08 ladies getting re-clackered, with tantrums from toddlers we're sure to be knackered

[traceface]

Loved your title rubs
Never started a thread before so hope this works...can anybody find it?
hello....

Oh that sounds the same as DS. Always bringing you his shoes and moaning to go outside, the trouble is sometimes he won't go in the garden but wants to go out the front (busy road). He also picks up my keys and tries to put them in the door!!

That's so funny Summer! Smart boy! Yeah we have a fairly busy road and he screams if we take the rubbish out as he wants to come too! I think mil started that as she takes him out to wave goodbye from the front wall when I go to work oh well.

Kiwi - I really feel for you with the early wakings. My DD1 woke between 5 and 5.45 every single day for 9 months between the ages of 1 year and nearly 2 years. It nearly killed me. With DD2 I was determined this wouldn't happen again and when she started waking earlier I had a battle plan which actually seems to have worked ( might just be luck but it might be worth a try).

First I properly blacked out her room, and I mean properly. You may remember me referring to it as the crack den. Not a ray of light can penetrate. Then I got her a warmer sleeping bag as Mrs Sleep (my old sleep consultant) reckoned babies often get cold at 5ish and this wakes them. I also put her to sleep in a vest and PJs as well as the bag. Then I set a time before which I would never get her out of the cot. For me it's 6.45am. When she woke before this time I left her and if she got really irate I would slip in as if it was midnight and check she was ok and then leave. It worked v well and generally she wakes between 7 and 8. However when we are away and she is out of the crackden she wakes closer to 6am and on our return home there is always at least one morning where I have to leave her to cry for a few minutes.

Shoot me for the controlled crying (as I am sure many child development researchers would) but her and I are happier when she sleeps later. She is a right grump without enough sleep.

Oh and I am with you on your Daily Mail rant. Have you read the book Flat Earth News. It documents some of their "journalistic" practices and is quite horrifying.

Snigger on the daily mail.
The daily mail and the bbc reporting on the same thing:

mail

bbc

Bless.

Oh Avo, that Crack Den advice you gave a while back was a saviour for us - just in the nick of time. I didn't do it proper crack den with newspaper but I bought a blackout roller blind and modified it so it goes under the wooden venetian and goes up and down when you raise the blind - That and my sleepsuit dying - I'm quite the Martha Stewart these days ok it was dh who modified it, but it was my idea! I did the same thing with not going to get him out before 7am but that was pure laziness on my part more tha any thought though plan! Although as of today he can get out of his room himself but didn't even wake till 7am - still early days I know. he still has some teeth pain as he's chewing his fists right now, but he was all Calpufroened? up last night so didn't wake. Right, gotta get some things done today. My mn has gone to a whole new level of frequency these days - not good

Afternoon ladies, I'm glad you don't think I'm mental. I have another theory but I haven't aired it as it's a bit rude and I'm worried you'll think I'm completely raving. that daily Mail/BBC article comparison was hilarious. I really don't think papers should critique research anyway, it is quite obvious the research has some serious flaws but for the DM to seem surprised that the researchers identified the need for more research even after £17mil had been spent is funny. Almost every research reveals the need for further research, it is rarely definitive. Oh and on the childcare research. I have a friend whose son is a delinquent already and he never went to nursery!

Trace I'm sorry the HV upset you. I had a MW with DS1 who spoke to me like that, I'd ask something and she'd say 'your pregnant of course xxx is going to happen'. I felt she really brushed off my concern and made me feel a bit stupid. My other MW, was great and would explain everything to me and really understood what I wanted when I asked questions. For the actual birth the other MW was actually brilliant and quite in tune with me which was surprising but for the prenatal stuff she just rubbed me up the wrong way. Also did L eat stuff, my DS1 would barely put food in his mouth let alone anything else so I'm not used to it either. DS2 often puts stuff in his mouth then stands in front of me waiting for me to react, he's such a cheeky monkey.

I've had a lovely morning. Every 2nd week the ANZWC girls have their coffee morning at a local plsygroup. DS2 loved it, I barely saw him for 1.5 hrs he had a great time. Poor child I did pretty much ignore him while he wandered around playing in different things. Then they had the usual singing session at the end. Again he loved it, he danced in the middle of the group and clapped & cheered after each song. I feel a bit bad, I used to put nursery rhymes on all the time for DS1 and sing to him, buy I don't so much with DS2 so I'm going to start trying to each day if I remember. It was nice to have a natter though.

SL DS2 is always nicking my keys and trying to unlock the front door, he's bound to work it out one day.

Well I've had 2 coffees but I think I'll have another, I've just had my lunch and I'm sitting here with our back double doors open with the warm sun shining in and I just feel a coffee would suit this afternoon very nicely.

Oh yes I meant to say trace that is very mean of your HV to make you feel bad for asking about the putting everything in mouth thing! My DS used to put everything (inedible) in his mouth, but now he doesn't do it as much, but he still does sometimes. I think they do tend to ease off on the eating everything but given Avo's DD2 and the toilet brush tale and jj's DD eating a snail both quite recently I think it may be a while before we can trust them!!

Hurrah for the nice morning veggie! It is lunchtime and I am at work but I should get on with work as I have to go to the midwifes later so shouldn't really have a long lunchbreak.

veggie fortunately even if he figures out the keys he can't get out the front door as he can't reach high enough to undo the latch - phew!! Also I have loads of keys so he'll never figure out which one it is.....haha.

Veggie: we have a bit of a sing song before lights out. Ds1 was never bothered with singing but ds2 loves it and now ds1 likes singing to him so wveryone's happy. Ds1 gets requests but when I ask ds2 he does a good Mmmmmm as if he's thinking and then nowt! Still slow on the talking here.

LadyT: when are you seeing the gp? Did you get to baby group?

Where is Lady? She should have access with her blackberry, but is she away in London?

Effie, DS1 loves singing, he even makes up his own songs, usually about how much he loves me, he does borrow lines from sings he knows though. He made up a song for DS2 not long after he was born entitled 'Jordan, don't cry', singing it to him is still the one sure fire of getting DS2 to settle down if he is upset esp in the car.

Hello everyone,

Must be quick as am working....

Thanks to everyone who suggested shoe ideas and brands. I had a look in Kendals on Saturday (fancy dept store in Manchester) and they had some good options but were £££. DH said to wait till we had some proper good weather in case her feet have a growth spurt, and of course it is boiling today.

ladyT I enjoyed Topaz too. Torn Curtain is also meant to be one of his poor films but I think it is very watchable. We also have a Hitchcock box set, very useful when there is nothing on the sky+.

beans I too would have been shocked that 7.30 could be considered a lie in! Urgh, DD was up at 6.15 this morning. We already have a *aub style crack den look with a blackout blind and additional curtain. A mass cull of noisy birds would help. I could get the cats to help....

rub Wow, already in the big boy bed! Does he play nicely in the morning now?

summer DD does the same with her shoes and the keys. She also brings me my coat and shoes!

Back later when the working day is done.

DD just been picking flowers in the garden and bringing them in for me. Tee hee! DH spent ages planting them at the weekend - oopsie! Hee hee hee. Evil me!

Re the shoes - there are sandals you can get, which support the foot, although they again tend to be £££. But I think I'm going to get some for DD as her normal shoes are too sweaty for summer. BUT you can also get normal shoes and then some canvassy ones for summer, which they can't wear every day, but do for the odd day here and there. I'm hoping she'll go barefoot a lot of the time!! Live in hope.

Avo thanks for the tips! We have been dressing her a bit more lightly at night so I'm making sure she's snug and warm tonight. We have black out lined curtains but that's obviously nowhere near as effective as proper fitted blinds etc so if this hideous new development continues I will get some - and I'm definitely letting her howl a bit!! If it was a gradual thing I would sigh and see it as a progression but the fact that she's literally just dropped 2-3 hours sleep overnight can surely not be normal?? Fingers crossed for some more sleep tonight because DH and I are zombies!!

Poor you, kiwi - horrible to feel so knackered. Is there any way you can sleep when she does? I did this pm for an hour while Whizz did. But I have to say, I woke up feeling grotty! Now just getting ready for a night in without DH - he's gone to the pub. And out again tomorrow - but I'm out on Thursday - can't wait!

DS2's shoes are actually wearing out, he has had them since late January which is ages, DS1 usually grew out of his every 6 weeks. I don't whether the shoe shop just greatly oversized him or he has slow growing feet. He is also doing that thing that toddlers do were they wear their parents shoes and thinks it's the best joke. Poor thing he keeps wandering into the livingroom in our shoes with the biggest grin on his face. Unfortunately for him we've seen that joke before, DS1 did it at the same age. We've been trying to humour him but it's getting a bit old.

That's interesting what somebody said about the waking at 5am cos they are cold. DS2 doesn't wake for the day then but he does sleep really lightly from then but he sleeps really lightly from about 5.30 onwards and figits and rolls about restlessly. If either of us get up to go to the loo he wakes and is angry at us for waking him (bit rich really).

I met a really nice lady today who I after we met found me in FB as we have mutual friends here. Anyhoo she discovered I know Bisou as she saw her on my FB friends list. She apparently went to Primary school with her, and was wondering how we knew each other. It strange with us lot here on MN, I kind of consider you my close friends yet some of you I haven't even met. I felt weird saying we met each other in a chatroom and well I always feel like MN is like fight club or something, minus Brad Pitt (unfortunately). I ended up saying Bisou lived in London briefly and our boys are the same age, neither of whiconus connected but well it wasn't a lie.

Gotta go I haven't put tea on yet and it takes an hour to simmer..

Hello,
Vaggie I wouldn't worry - as you say you haven't lied, I hate those situations though so I know how you feel.

Jolly, yes this morning he played for about half an hour and his laughing giraffe woke me up but he didn't even try and come out of his room (even though his door wasn't locked) I was stressing about nap time but he napped for an hour without attempting to cry or escape
However, my good boy dissapeared briefly out at Costa this afternoon. He had his backpack and rein on (we were only stopping briefly and we decided to have a coffee at Costa) but ds wanted to keep walking - good God, I've neever seen a meltdown quite like it - it was hideous, he was blood curdling screaming to the point of almost making himself sick we decided to ride it out in an effort to not let him win. He eventually stopped as he exhausted himself I think and then we left. Probably the least enjoyable coffee I've ever had. Even some customers left! Was worried about big boy bed night 2 after today's melt down, but he actually ran and hopped in it after his bath and he hadn't even had his milk! Took him downstairs for milk and then back to bed and he just nattered to himself then eventually fell asleep I have just moved him under the covers. He looks so small and cute in his bed but really seems to like it, so we have been very very lucky I think.

I think I recall Lady saying she was off to London again? Lady if you're reading - I went to the hospital today as a really last minute decision as dh rang me and said to come in as he was really quiet at work and could have ds while I was getting the bloods done, which is why I didn't let you know but hoping we can catch up with Sybs and katie and whoever else can make it soon?

They did my bloods sitting upright which I hadn't had for ages, but I thought I'd be alright as I haven't fainted in eons. I started feeling woozy after not very long! They even used a butterfly needle as I can't even feel that so it's clearly not pain that bothers me it's more the thought of it the needle. I guess since it takes longer to draw the blood through the smaller needle I had more time to think about it! They ended up doing a quick recline of the chair when they saw the colour drain from my face and I didn't look good Anyway, was fine within minutes of reclining so all was well!
Bloody nora, needles will have to be laying down for the rest of my life and I'm going to start taking my own butterfly needles to any appointments just in case they aren't available as this often happens!

LadyT what a lot you?ve got on your plate, I?m not surprised your head is whirring with it all. You?ve already had loads of good advice, but I?m going to rely on some good old stats (I?d hate to disappoint and not throw a number in!) ? if O is on the 2nd centile, that means she is as big as or bigger than 2 in every 100 babies, or of the 708,711 babies born in 2008, there are 14, 174 who are the same size as O. That sounds like she?s in good company to me. Have you measured her? If she?s also petite and on a low centile, then I would try not to worry as she's all in proportion. I agree with Spot on the toddler groups, love the tea and biscuits and therefore always worthwhile ? one group I go to has stopped serving hot drinks in case of spills, and I actually considered stopping going again.

Nolda DD is a tiny bit Swedish, well she was conceived there. I?ve only been the once, but loved it and would love to go back (so I am quite jealous of LadyT?s trip)

Such great news about your cousins boy Daisy ? I am so impressed he?s breathing on his own already. And to think that if Rubes gave birth now, her DD could also similarly function ? amazing

SL DD also isn?t all that interested in the TV, apart from Big Barn Farm and the opportunity to turn it on and off and on again and off again. And we don?t have a telly in the kitchen either, but when DH is in charge he takes her into the living room for a picnic in front of the TV, and still she's not fussed

NJAN at your DS making fart noises and falling over, you?ve really tickled me!

Trace those psychologist sessions sound fascinating, obviously you?re not going just because they?re interesting, so I hope they are useful too

Katie DH grows various veg ? asparagus is the latest venture, sprouts and cabbages are the main ones and also pumpkins. With the sprouts, cabbage and asparagus, he supplies mainly supermarkets, but also local farm shops, farmers markets, pubs and restaurants, the farm gate and any leftovers wholesale, so he probably wouldn?t be the best case study. With the pumpkins a lot more go to wholesalers ? so if you?re interested in pumpkins I could ask him if he?d help. Without making him out to be big headed (which he?s not at all, just confident in his skills) he is always willing to talk about what his does. Wow at the land and cottages!

We packed DD off to my Mum?s for the weekend, as my Mum has been asking for her to go and stay for ages ? it was the third time I?ve spent the night away, but the first time I?ve stayed at home and DD has gone somewhere else. It was SO lovely to read the Sunday papers without them being ripped apart, but after that the house was too too quiet. I did get some bits of decorating done that I?ve needed to do for ages though, so that was good. Cheeky monkey though ? when we went to pick her up, she saw us, grinned, and then turned round and ran away [cross], I still got a big hug when I caught her up though

Has anyone got any fitflops? And are they any good? As my legs are the wobbliest bit of me, I?ve been wondering if they?d do any good ? but they?re not cheap, so I want to know what I?m letting myself in for first.

I'm here, I'm here, just back to those wondering where I was What, you mean you didn't notice my mentioning I was off to London in the midst of my 1000 word posts?? Do pay better attention Yes, Veg, I have got my Blackberry but I can't post on it (I have tried) and reading isn't particularly easy on it (for me) and finally I was stupidly busy anyway when I was there. 20 wk scan today, and YES it is deffo a little girl, but she wouldn't show her face properly so I have got to go back on Monday for them to try again. Nothing sinister, but they have boxes to tick. The rest of her looks ok though.

Zoe, I have fitflops. I had high hopes for them and will get them out again soon but I can't say I noticed any discernible effect...they are comfy but obviously they look monstrous. Occasionally they made my legs ache though, so maybe they could do some good? Oh, and thanks SO much for your stats. I will measure her height tomorrow. We're off to the docs with her tomorrow evening.

Right, I have only read ZJ's post and I am worn out, tbh, as I honestly have not stopped rushing since 8 this morn, so proper catch up in the morn. Night all.

hello hello - sorry for lurking for a while, and thanks to those who have asked how things are going.

dh and i now have a date to see someone. i am half looking forward to it and half dreading it. we are able to laugh about it a bit, though - the other day in the car dh was telling me something and then half way though i said "hang on, can you repeat all of that, i wasn't listening" - he said: "right, that's going in the therapy book - dw doesn't listen to me". so that is good. but things are still a bit tricky.

we are off on hols on fri for a week - going to see my dad in portugal (ash cloud permitting), so fingers crossed we can have a good time before coming back and having our first appointment the week after.

i had loads to say, but can't remember anything. apols for lack of personals - it's all a bit overwhelming when you've been away a while.

ZJ I am very anti fit flops and all that "barefoot Masai" technology bollocks. Sorry but they are all marketing and actually not very good for your feet - will post a link in a sec. Best way to tones legs = running or walking, doesn't matter what you do it in! (well, as long as you aren't running in heels...)

ANOTHER 5.30am start. This is killing me, I am so exhausted. I honestly think I could cope if it had been more gradual but this sudden shift is horrible. Today I am going to get some card or something so I can black out her windows properly (temporarily until Ivan get proper black out stuff - anyone know where I can get that?) plus tomorrow am I think we have to be more consistent. I fed her this am to try and get her back to sleep but it only worked for about 15 mins and probably sent the wrong message.

God I feel ill with tiredness now. DH wants to start trying for number two soon but the thought of dealing with this while pregnant - ugh!! Pregnant ladies, I hope you are all getting your kip!

Oh and ZJ packing off to the grandparents sounds bliss. Has anyone else other than me NEVER spent a night away from their DC??

Morning!

kiwi Sorry you are having such a rough time with early starts. I can recall from DS's non sleeping days what a killer lack of sleep is. I have to say though DS is a regular 6am waker. We try putting him in bed with us but this usually results in him jumping all over me and smackingme in the facewith his stuffed dog!

WG I'm glad you have some counselling sorted. I'm sureit will be a big help, and sounds great that DH seems okay about going too. Have a lovely time in Portugal too, you deserve a break. Can your Dad watch DD while you and DH try and go for a meal or have a day to yourself?

ladyt Have been thinking O and her lack of eating. Just a thought (and knowingme not a scientifically based one!)maybe she just isn't as hungry as some other babies if she isn't walking yet? I know if both DD and DS have been running all over the park or something they are ravenous(well more so DS) but, if we have been inside or DS been in buggy a lot he never seems as hungry. So if she only has a small appetite to begin with...Anyway, I think I am trying to say that it is a phase and she will grow out of it and try not to worry

I go on my hen weekend - 2 nights in Chester! I can't wait. Not at all sure DH is overly thrilled but I don't care i need a break from him and the kids (does that sound awful?).

Oh kiwi - I'm so sorry for you - that's horribly early start. DD managed til 7 this morning, which is the first time in ages. But think it might be because she was up at 1 and 1.45 in the night for a cuddle. V annoying and unlike her! I then spent a sleepless night worrying about the house sale. We STILL haven't got an exchange date - grrr.

Is this the sort of blackout blind you're looking for?

x

Kiwi, I've never spent a night away from ds either, but only really as the opportunity hasnt's arisen. If we go to mil it's usually to stay the night (all of us) otherwise she come to us to babysit in which case we would come home anyway. It's not for her lack of wanting though, she's constantly asking when we plan trips if we want to leave ds with her, but I just like to have him around Please don't be put off with #2 - I've know of heaps of cases where one was a nightmare and the next textbook child etc, plus you'll get m/l and others will give you more of a break.
I was looking for the black card too but for not more than a fiver you can get an actual blind from Argos and cut it up if you need to.

Hello Lady.

Hello WG! Glad things are a little light hearted. Sounds positive. Fingers crossed your holiday is very relaxing, fun, and ash free

yes I was looking at that blind also but went for the cheaper option as dh likes to "adapt" things which sometimes ends up more trouble than it's worth tbh however it worked this time

Daisy - hen night sounds smashing. I'm jealous. Am from near Chester originally - the Wirral. Love it up there. My first boyfriend lived in Chester! And a couple of nights away sound just the tonic.

I'm afraid I've done rather a lot of time away from DD - been to Morocco and Paris and left her with my Mum. Plus DH has insisted on taking her to his Mum's a couple of times without me, so given me a bit of time off. I missed her horribly every time, but it was such a treat to see her again. But I figure make the most of it while I can because with 2 it won't be so easy - and only just over 5 weeks til due date now!!! SH*T!!!