FEB 2010 No longer newborns!!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Three months and counting, everyone! Our babies are gradually getting the hang of the world...and we are gradually getting the hang of them...

hello! it's taken me so long to read everyone's posts that i now have to go to bed!

been thinking about you all lots!

have to say unemigrating is SO much tougher than emigrating in the first place - jeez it's been hard?

been back 6 weeks now, finally got the keys to a rental a couple of days ago and our container turned up too - surrounded by boxes now! should have broadband back next week, so will try and be a bit more regular again!

still no jobs for either of us, but looks as though i've got some temp work starting next week

DD is back to nursery next week (they've been ace and are letting her go just for the 12.5 free hours whilst we're not working!)

DS 17 weeks now and is SO different to his big sis it's unreal?

GUILT?!?!?! tell me about it!!!! I just thank that i'm a lot happier this time than i was last! I actually feel like myself (which is bizarre really, given the two kids etc etc) ? first time round I think I eventually became almost 'myself' again after about 18 months of abject misery

anway? a long, self-centred post? hope you're all well - see you again soon(er!)

xx

stoof so good to hear from you... I'm the same as you, so much more myself this time round and really struggled first time. Wishing you lots of luck with jobs etc!!

Hey Stoof nice to hear from you! I second the 'feeling much better this time round', even though I agree it doesn't make much sense. I think it's because DS2 is still lacking in the conversational department and I got bored of no-one answering my deep and meaningfuls last time round. This time round I get so much chatter from DS1 that DS2 hardly hears a word from me! (DS1's current favourite is, "That wee came out of my willy!" and various conversations about which Thomas train is actually the best. It's enough to keep me going at this stage - maybe I will be bored of that one day too?!)

I am also accepting the sleep deprivation much better this time round. DS2 needs repositioning about every hour and a half due to the reflux but I was expecting it and just keep on going. It will all resolve itself in time.

Has anyone been following the Catinboots saga on the main threads? I believe it is the lady who also had her leg in a cast like Mawbroon and sounds awful - thinking we should send some sympathy.

As for work, I will be going back again part-time in November as a peripatetic teacher of children with SEN. I will earn enough to cover the childcare for both DSs and to pay for most of the Sainsburys shopping (and the cleaner that I am about to appoint ). Mainly, it's for my sanity. I take my hats off to those of you being SAHMs but I'm afraid I just need to be at work (and enjoying lunch/toilet breaks/reading emails ). It's definitely hard to get a balance though and it's not an easy option either - we can't win really - back to the guilt thing again.

Not doing a dream feed anymore so off to drink a whole glass of red wine and to eat some chocolate . Have lovely, warm, sleep-filled and relaxing weekends one and all.

One day I'll learn to a)get on here daily to write short posts or b) write it all and erase half!!

Oh yes, and the red wine is gooood!

Nooooooooooo bethylou or I'll be on my own with the long posting. I've not come across the Catinboots saga yet, sounds like something to fill my time.

This sleep business would be alot easier if they just did the same thing everyday. We were back to 5 wakings last nite, all demanding food. On a postive note LO has had a nap lasting longer than 30mins two days running. Both at lunchtime so maybe it will develop into something.

I see we've found stoof again, welcome back and hello.

We're still struggling abit with the fussy eating, but I'll give the bouncing trick a go. I'm really worried about the effect of having EBM in the day will do for her feeds with me. Slowly building up a freezer supply, just a shame I couldn't bring our UK stock over with us. Also why can't the US have a NHS. Its looking pretty dubious whether we'll get LO registered before her next due date of jabs.

oops

Hey, stoof, great to hear from you! Good news on the temp job - I'm sure more permanent positions will be sorted in time, but it's not an easy time for job-hunting, is it? We'll be facing a similar thing I suspect when we go back to the UK next year....
Good luck

What's happening with catinboots, bethylou? Which forum is her situation on?

Don't worry about the long posts - I mean, look at mine!!

Interesting to hear mums of 2 saying they enjoy it more this time round, despite the knackeration of having a toddler (usually) to look after at the same time. I guess a lot of it is the confidence that comes with experience...? Anyway, heartening stuff as I'm hoping to add another one to our family if I can before too long.

Yep, DD now (usually) takes a long lunchtime nap, CC - up to 2.5 hours. Something she started doing in the last three weeks. I think the longer napping is definitely something they grow into.

Last night was LOADS better than the previous one. DD still awoke 5 times, but resettled quickly after brief feeds, apart from the last time, but by then I'd had enough sleep (in bits) not to mind too much. And she DID resettle after a little perseverance on my part, finally getting up at 0700. The storm, thankfully, passed by the time I went to bed and Spain didn't score too many goals in their match, so I didn't get disturbed by too much cheering (!)

Re catinboots - I think you mean this thread

Glad you found it IC cos I saw it in the active threads and had no idea where to start looking for it. Sounds like a total nightmare but the baby is the right age to be our Cat.

Will not be on here for a few days as will be spending some quality time with DH for the next few nights - we hardly speak when I'm on here and he's on the Xbox - time to catch up with each other a bit cos we never manage it in the day with the boys around. Will return in due course.

Oi DrCC - no knocking my wine over - I've waited a year for it!!

Is it wrong that I've just been reading the Feb 2011 thread? I recall somone mentioning it but.........

I remember I was camping in Skye for a week (where we only got signal at the top of the mountains), realising on the Monday that I was late, but having to wait until the Sunday to get back to civilisation to do a test. Did lots of the peaks on my own as couldn't stand being around people and not shouting at them that "I might be pregnant" and saying WTF over and over again. Also that Michael Jackson had died and me being amused that when I got into signal range people had felt obliged to text me with this information. Because god forbid, I got back and didn't know.

bethylou it was clearly accidental. Anyone could see that. Enjoy your precious time with DH. I've been so short tempered with mine lately, been expecting him to read my mind and know when and when I don't want help.

I have been on here far too much lately

Hello all and thanks for all the supportive and empathic messages about my feeling quite down. I'm feeling a bit better, and think that I'm struggling with loneliness and boredom, although I agree with those who say it's easier the second time round.

So to counter the isolation, I have started an OU course and learning to play the piano. I have also admitted to myself that I should stop hoping that other people will organise to see me and just do it myself (which I do anyway as I am a super-organised bunny) and not feel hurt about it.

And my SPD finally seems to be waning, so I am feeling much more comfortable and enjoying getting back to normal levels of activity.

Sorry, I sound like a loon!

DH is away this weekend, and although I was a bit nervous about it, I have actually had a lovely time with my two gorgeous girls who have been paragons of virtue. And it's surprisingly empowering to be doing it on my own and feel like I'm doing a good job.

Re nails, I cut DD2's every couple of days. She has eczema and also sucks her fingers (and feet) so can easily get covered in scratches if I don't keep them short. I just use my normal nail scissors and she doesn't mind me doing them.

Weaning has restarted and is going well. DD2 is very enthusiastic and I am giving veg or fruit purees mixed with a little baby rice (mainly because they are often very liquidy when they defrost and the rice firms them up a bit).

Sorry for lack of individual comments. I regularly log on and read about how everyone is doing, but just can't keep track of who has said or asked what. I also haven't been posting as I have felt so blue and haven't wanted to be sad on here where everyone is so lovely.

So thanks again for all the support. It has meant a great deal to me.

Hvaen't read all the new posts, but had a quick look at catinboots thread.

Our lady was calling herself catinacast and then catinaboot (maybe had capitals in it).

I don't think it's her, some of the detail that catinboots has given doesn't match.

But it's still a bit crazy, whoever it is!

Hey watercress well done on getting started on the course and piano! I was just clearing out my watch list and came across these.... Have pasted the links here in case a walk down memory lane beckons. Sometimes I forget how much we've gone through in a space of only a year

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/897080-February-2010-Babies-have-started-arriving

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/860604-Feb-2010-part-III

Maybe not our cat, then. Felt sorry for her, anyway. Don't think she was a troll either, seemed rather harsh the flaming she got.

Glad you're feeling less down now, watercress! I know what you mean about the loneliness and boredom - as an expat (although I do have friends here, but not as many as back home...) in a country where I don't have a brilliant grasp of the language, I get those feelings too. Think that was partly contributing to the IBS/insomnia I had. Hence me restarting my novel (which had hit a hiatus, not surprisingly, when motherhood crashed in!) It helps keep me sane by using my brain for something other than babycare and I feel like I've achieved something. So piano lessons etc. are a good idea.

And hey, don't stay away from the thread if you want to have a moan - that's what it's here for (among other things!!)

Last night DD was pretty restless again, but managed to resettle her quickly each time either with the boob or the dummy - until 05.45. That one took an hour, but hey - she's still asleep at 08.00 while I woke myself up with a coughing fit (which I managed to speed out of the bedroom before it undid my good baby-sleeping work). Tried to go back to bed a couple of times, but the cough kept threatening to come back, so gave up and here I am.

Nice day yesterday, though. Took DD with us to a group picnic in the Retiro (Madrid's main park) - it was lovely and DD obligingly took a couple of naps in the pram, when she wasn't lying on the rug gurgling or being cuddled by our young Senegalese friend, who'd adopted Rosie as his unofficial baby sister... cute pix on the blog, if you fancy a lookee

We're off to watch Eng V Germany with two Spanish and two Venezualen friends this afternoon (Rosie allowing)... urk...

dd2 laughed out loud in delight at seeing me this morning .. still melts the heart!

.... dh seems to have just as much fun playing with the new dollshouse dd1 got for her birthday than she has. I just secretly filmed them playing

ok ok so I may have played with the dolls house myself last night....

A few days without posting as my mum was over for the weekend.
Lovely weather over here and we enjoyed going to the beach and eating ice cream!
Good to see everybody is coping fine.
IC I know exactly what you are going through. My DS has been sick a few times with a lot of mucus coming back up... Not nice but they do feel better for a bit after it happened. Mine has been suffered from a cold since the end of May. I'm started to be annoyed that he can't be cured. Rant over

A few weeks (or months?) ago, some of you were chatting about baby carrier backpack. Can you advise me on them? I can't carry DS in my Bjorn baby carrier as he is as long as my trunk and our heads are banging!

Not looking forward to go to work tomorrow

IC gorgeous pictures!

What made you settle on Madrid IC? Feeling a bit ... . Dh would happily move to Madrid (he's half Spanish but speaks no Spanish) and I would not hesitate to move to Rome (I speak reasonable Italian)... What are we doing in the UK????

Lovely pics IC. I did get offered a job in Madrid (but went for this one obviously), I remember being taken to a couple of really good veggies places, so at least you can eat out there. I also remember that park, sounds like you had a lovely day.

Oh and watercess wow. Also been reading the threads sunangel which was rather lovely actually. I realised I hadn't corresponding anyone's pre baby personality and backstory to pn (which probably doesn't make sense).

Realised why I've been on here so much.....we have no telly

corresponded even

so DS is doing pretty well - been going to sleep about 19.30 and not waking til 04.45? yippee? except that for the last 5 mornings he has refused to go back to sleep then ?

seems to have terrible bottom end wind that disturbs him - i stopped breast feeding last week in readiness for going back to work, and i think his gut is taking a bit of time to cope with the change, though it was gradual over a couple of weeks, and we've been using 'comfort' food (which we used with DD)

anyway, i realise that i shouldn't complain, just get myself to bed by 9 and im fine!!!

beautiful sunny morning here in cumbria - lovely!

oh, and his first tooth is about to cut too, so i don't suppose that's helping much!

have bought some anbesol to try this time - DD developed a calgel addiction last time, and i've friends i trust who swear by anbesol, so figure it's worth a go if needed!

oh and wcress glad you're feeling a bit happier - sounds good!