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...

fizi you are not being unreasonable! I hate that kind of thing from my DH - I think men sometimes forget that the person at home looking after the children really needs some adult company and conversation at the end of the day.

As for brainwashing DD1, we basically made sure that seven was the first number she learnt by putting a picture of it next to the digital clock next to her bed and saying that she couldn't get out of bed until they matched! I'm a meanie, I know, but it worked (she was less than two at the time - start them early, that's my motto).

BG, hurrah indeed! As if we don't feel guilty enough, the negative press and raised eyebrows consipre to make us feel worse, don't they? My rational self says it's fine, then someone makes a barbed comment and the irrational side of me thinks "Oh no".

Sunangel I think it's outrageous that someone said you need to lose weight. Nobody has said anything to me and I've still got a stone to go. But I think I'm a bit scary (see comments above about brainwashing my older DD)...

Mamaloco Thank you for the spaceship song! I love it. Also logged into google with DH's password and can now see baby. She is so cute.

Fizi Not unreasonable at all. He was though, very. How is your suspected mastitis? Hope it has cleared up.

Sunangel Can't believe someone was so rude.

Also very impressed with recipes from Sunangel and Watercress. Will def try them when we are on solids.

BG Sorry re confusion with names. Yes, it does say Monika on the album. Both of your DDs have lovely names.

I can't think straight today. We have had the third in a row of bad nights and I've managed to do my back in by twisting/rolling on my side to feed DS lying down in bed so often. I haven't been able to even stand up straight with the pain. Felt crap. About an hour ago, though, I found a really strong Voltarol left over from the hospital when I had my caesarian and now I am pain free and gently buzzing. Feel like a bit of a rubbish mum though as have spent the day mostly lying in bed going "ow" and being useless and bad tempered.

DS has slept most of today. I don't want to wake him because I am so shattered myself but no doubt it means another bad night tonight. Oh DEAR.

Sorry to be on such a downer.

don't feel bad bc that was me yesterday . I felt bad as I feel that on my days off, I should be full of energy for her.

Feeling loads better today, swelling and tenderness have gone down and can see a small tear (right word?). So, I've also come to the conclusion that I had done too much. (Great excuse, for feet up though ).

Our last few nights have also been a bit shit to be frank. I feed her, she's asleep, she goes into cot, still asleep, 10mins later....awake, in our bed, awake for 1hr. However, she's starting lifting her bum and tummy in the air when she's awake and shuffling forward/backward a whole 1in so fingers crossed its a development set back.

LO starts a swimming class and a music class next week, I miss taking her to things.

Oh thanks CC and sorry about your downstairs injury...

You said you wanted to boost your milk supply - things I have heard work are avocados, cheese and oats (there's loads of lactation flapjack recpies if you look online).

I'll have to admit that I'm the one that's rude - I do the telling people (men) that they're over weight

bear I had strained my back and shoulder with the lying down to feed thing but since getting a small bolster (stuffed with old t-shirts which support better than the usual soft stuffing) have been able to feed asleep without pain. The bolster is about a foot or so long and 4 inches in diameter. I have it beside me to hand ready to stuff behind my back when DD wakes. Here's something to cheer people up - I thought the 2 frog poems were quite funny

CC Glad you're feeling better. I had thought to take up the exercise again but you've given me the perfect excuse to rest a bit longer! Still can't move the pelvis as much as pre-pregnancy. Quite certain SPD has something to do with it.

fizi you're absolutely not unreasonable.

watercress love the idea with the 7am wake up. Planning to save that up for 18 months' time! At the moment, if DD wakes up at 6am (or 5.30am for that matter) I do get to doze a little while she looks about.... then she gets quite insistent about her nappy change past about 40 mins of waiting.

bear just thought of something. No need for a bolster, just get an old pillowcase and insert some suitable rolled up old t-shirts to shape into a bolster 1.5 foot long (needs sufficient give to become slightly wedged-shape). Roll pillowcase around t-shirts to make into bolster shape. Bolster will then support your shoulders and back. Maybe make 2 - so you can have one on each side of LO!

BG I haven't ironed since before DD so hats off to you for your 2 pieces. And after reading your post, I did a calculation - it took me 18 years to do what CC did in a matter of months!

Sorry to hear that I am not alone in the 'downstairs' problems CC. Tonight I have awful period type pains. I'm hoping they are just that as I gave up feeding two weeks ago. If it is related to my 'downstairs' problem I will be visiting the GP considerably sooner than I had planned!

Fizi not unreasonable at all about your DP. Mine has tentatively raised the prospect of him going on a camping trip in October. I hate the odd occasions when he goes away as it joins two weeks of 'work' together for me. I'm very lucky that he only goes about once a year. he also wouldn't mind if I did it but a) I have nowhere to go and b) I worry that he wouldn't hear DS2's alarm as he's a very heavy sleeper. The only night I've been away since DS1 was born was while I was having DS2!

Red wine and chocolate ice-cream was a good combo. Not going to help the weigth loss though!

...and have decided to name-change from sunangel. Never thought I'd be on the forum for this long (beyond ante-natal) you are a fab lot.

Ooh why the name change rainbow?

I sometimes wonder about name-changing myself, as I didn't really 'get it' when I joined and my name is very similar to my RL name. Sometimes I just want to post something that I wouldn't want DP to read! Not that he does, but if he had the odd read he'd know that I'm me.

Talking of DPs on MN CC how is your DH getting on, on the March thread? Do you read each other's? I'm sure I would if DP was on here.

My sore boob, I worked out it was probably a blocked duct rather than full-blown mastits, is all better now . I fed DD as often as she would take it, always from the sore side first, and it took about three days to clear. I also sat around the house for three days, probably for the first time since she was a few weeks old. Trouble is, it's made me lazy! Now I'm thinking, hmm, I could just sit around again today... and the next day... and the next... Have to have some pretext for getting out of the house.

And thanks for the reassurances that I'm not overreacting over not-so-dear P. I think our romance was so whirlwind, we got engaged and pregnant after a few months, that he sometimes forgets that he's not a carefree bachelor any more. I reiterated to him that I was hurt, and why, and gently suggested that he might think about buying the flowers he didn't buy on Valentines Day, because DD was due and "everyone will buy flowers then anyway" (they did, but still ).

bethylou I hate it when DP goes away too. He hardly ever did last year and this year, since DD's birth, it's been one thing after another! Mostly work, but also stag dos, and he's doing a charity cycle to Paris which will take 5 days and 4 nights. I was really not happy about that one, as with his exam (final professional exam before he's qualified!) and our wedding I think we've got plenty on our plates as it is. But he's doing it anyway. So I'm going to stay with my mum for the 4 nights. Is there anyone you can stay with, or who can come and stay with you? I hate doing a weekend on my own .

Nice name rainbow! (I thought hugs weren't allowed on MN ).

I am joining the club of the one's angry with their DP. He is working hard which means I am alone with the girls most of the time. Asked him to look after DD2 5 min yesterday so I run her bath. He let her fall from the bed, and proceed to blame me . He did apologized but I am still . I was a bit scared as DD1 didn't fall from the bed before she was at least 2 yo . He does a lot of silly stuff lately and it is beggining to weigh me down. He does his night out quite regurlarly too and expect me to do everything to cover for his lack of sleep or/and hangovers... for me.

I agree with BG, regarding CC. I did it all, some of it several times, but not all at once! Hats off! I do hope you are considerably younger than me though, otherwise I will feel ashamed of my lack of energy! Can't exercised at 9.30 pm, it is almost my bedtime can't even learn romanian properly .
Don't worry about your new job (I am assuming it is a postdoc?), it takes a while to get into the new subject, lab, set of rules... but you will get there soon enough. Observed what the other are doing for their weekly reports, some of them are just covering their a... over and over, no real substance I am sure you are doing fine!

fizzi good that you feel better. Full blown matistis is hell. Usually, there is a telltale red line going from your breast to a lymph node, and very high fever. Even with a block ducked you should rest as stress and tiredness can make it worse. So take a few more days of

Both girls not 100%, it is hard work! and I am stuck inside again
hmm! DD2 doesn't smell very nice better go and sort that out

mamaloco could have written all of your post (except the bit about learning Romanian - I have heard it is incredibly hard because as a language it has nothing in common with any other European language and very oddly stands on its own in linguistic terms)!!
I spent the weekend because dh did lots of DIY (badly needed, I agree, but it's my weekend, too!!) which meant that dd1 was whining because she wanted to play with her daddy! For me, the weekend was just like another day, only worse...
Also agree with there being absolutely no chance of me doing exercise at 9.30 in the evening . I rather fancy a lie down at that time, watching things on iplayer... Mind you, I am also 'old' (about 104 last time I looked in the mirror...)

BG you are thinking of Hungarian, Romanian should be easy for a French speacker. Everybody tells me; "you should billingual in 2/4 months" (well, they don't speack it ), I have been here 2.5 y. It is very close to italian/latin. I like my languages without grammar like English or Japanese I can't do declinaisons, gender and conjugations too boring to learn by heart

I understand about the week-end being worse, I have to tidy after DP and make more food (and let him have a lie-in) on top of everything else I do during the week. At least during the week I have the pleasure to kick him out of bed. (well at least when DD2 doesn't wake up at 5 am, after 6 it is his turn )
sorry rant over!

mamaloco ah, got muddled somewhere..
I can't do French despite 5 years at school...
Is your dd1 going to a local school or an international one in September? [

Must go, dd1 is having a screaming fit because I dared to suggest 'the wrong' clothes for her 4th change of the day....

mamaloco I was thinking of Albanian.... So no excuse for you not to be fluent

DD1 will continue romanian kindergarden after a long debate... still not sure it is the right decision, but I do think english children are formalised too early. So more piano, singing, dancing, painting... They start school at 7 here, so she should have 2 more years in KG but she's already jump a year not sure how we are going to get around that next year when she finishes KG a year early.
hope we will be in an other country but not in the UK as she won't know how to read or may be she will She is far too stubborn for homeschooling!

mamaloco good decision imo. Also think they start way too young here.

Hi Ladies!

Sorry I haven't posted for a bit - I've been busy doing the expat tour - seeing lots of friends and family. Also I have to queue for the computer here at my PIL's house, so not such easy access.

Another weekend, another festival - Bristol Harbour Festival this weekend. It was great to wander round and show off DD to various mates.

Sleeping is still punctuated by lots of wake-ups (well, 4-6 per night on average)but DD's mostly settling back reasonably quickly, so it doesn't feel too bad. This morning she woke up fairly early and was too full of beans to go back to sleep, so I started to change her nappy - only for her to dump 4 days-worth of poo on the changing mat... Hoorah!! Luckily, I managed to keep her feet/vest/sleeping sack out of harm's way and get it cleared up, but it was a fun moment (ahem).

Sympathies to those struggling with sleep deprivation/DP/Hs in the doghouse/work/health issues.

Hugs are okay if they're unmumsnetty, so...

fizi name-changed because I thought of a nice shiny new name (and because DH knows I'm sunangel)
Glad to know your sore boob's better, likely also due to you taking it easy. Nothing wrong with taking it easy, in fact according to my latest baby read Magda Gerber (Self-Confident Baby) it's also good for the baby. Actually after reading her, I stopped stressing about whether I'm giving DD a sufficiently stimulating environment, apparently that can wait until she's older.

mamaloco I didn't know hugs weren't allowed ooer at breaking rule. Luckily if all agree, we can secretly be an unmumsnetty thread. Good decision to keep your DD in romanian KG, always good to learn a different language I think, apparently children who are exposed to at least 2 different languages find it much easier to learn new ones in future.

On the subject of arguments with DP/Hs, DH and I have just last month started having what I'm calling Zen arguments with each other (where we have maybe the first line then the argument plays out in our heads, then concludes without a further word said, though some squints may occasionally be exchanged - a bit like those Chinese martial arts movies where the fighters just look at each other then one concedes defeat ) As we got so fed up of arguing about the same things, and besides after 16 years of occasional massive rows we already know what the other was going to say. I have to admit it works really well! Should have done it earlier.

IC lol at 4 days worth of poo (and the fact that you're happy at the mess) being a person who stresses if LO even misses one day of poo....

Have to learn how to do Zen arguments:-).

ergh 4.30 this morning, so by the time i get to work, i'll have been up for 4.5hours already ho hum?. just the luck of the draw i suppose - DH and I take it in turns to be 'on duty'?. win some, lose some? very lucky with DH i admit (it will be our 18th anniversary in a couple of weeks!) we have been saying recently that we should have had kids earlier in our lives, but then we had very happy carefree, kidfree lives for a long time prior? have a good day all!

hmm, forgot, am off to the dentist again today - got to get the root filling finished they started in NZ when i was 40 weeks pregnant! went to UK dentist a couple of weeks ago for it to be finished and it was all infected (yeuch)? hopefully the dressing he put on should have worked by now, and it will be all good for him to finish - it's the one right at the top at the back though, and getting access to it is really difficult - not looking forward to the jaw ache and wobbly jaw after trying to keep it wide open for 20 minutes! another me, me, me post - sorry!!!

ok, DS has just rolled over and over 3 times - now on the other side of the room - first time! woo hoo? we're in trouble now!

welcome to the club stoof! DD2 is in a pen (something I have never done with DD1) Those 3+ toys are a nightmare to keep track of.
Just read the "drop my baby thread" almost made me cry I had to stop am I supposed to have hormonal break down after I stop BF for so long?

DD2 has a skin allergy, Doc recommend only tea and veg and apple or banana for 24h (hahahahaha!!! histerical laugh...) I lasted 1 h after he left and gave DD her night time milk. Am I just a really bad mother or can I just assumed that she had the same milk from birth, and it is not going to harm her....? Allergy could be chicken or oat, both rare, but the only "new" food she had this week appart from spinash (but the doc wasn't worried about that one). She had a little bit of both before with no reaction or it can be completely some thing else (pollen, dust , mosquitos...)

DD1 has nothing despite complaining a lot and having 38.5C last night when the doc came. She does seem unwell though. May be off to see a 3rd doc .
Sorry for the me post