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...

Mamaloco allergies don't usually manifest on first exposure - normally it's the second time as the body has become sensitised from the first exposure. Oats or chicken would be a strange one though. It could just be a viral rash, rather than allergic?

IC you continually amaze me with your intrepid trips to festivals. Good for you!

Stoof sorry you are having such early mornings. Maybe your DS is still on down under time?

Rainbow loving the new name, and laughing a lot at the thought of zen arguments. I have those with my DH a lot, except he doesn't have them with me (which means I play out a whole argument in my head and he doesn't even know I'm annoyed about something!).

Oh, and can we have two rules on this thread?

Rule number 1) Nobody, but nobody, is to apologise for doing a "me" post. It's fine, nobody minds, in fact it should be encouraged. Better to vent on here than elsewhere as we're all in the same boat, and someone else on this thread will probably we relieved to read that someone else is going through or feeling the same thing as them.

Rule number 2) Hugs are fine, and again are to be encouraged

Can someone please second the proposal?

Absolutely

third

Hi all,

Thanks for all the kind words, I'm started to feel like I'm finding my feet again which is good. (Oh and I'm 26 which I guess counts as young, on MNs anyway)

Beth where else could we tell people about our 'downstairs' dilemmas. Mine seems to have heeled, but I've banned myself from heavy lifting and anything strenuous for a week to be careful.

We've booked a car and hotel for two weeks time in San Francisco, so that should be good/stressful/we'll see at the time. Once I've looked up what we can do, I should start looking forward to it.

DH is getting on OK on the March thread, he only has time to write once a week so gets out the loop pretty quickly. It's mainly for him to see that other babies arn't sleeping through, crying in the night when teething and falling out with their DHs. Being a man, he doesn't ask/tell these things and assumes that he's the only one and failing. I've had a few quick looks, but checked with him first. They all write essays every single time (and answer/comment on EVERONES posts, not like us where we remember two at best, much better system).

I also feel that UK education system gets too formal too quickly.

I hope everyone gets the answers they need/want from their HCPs

Oh and DH got his OU mark back today and got a first (I hope I never have to proof read another English essay again).

And Mawbroon's been hanging out on the March thread

And LO fef. did two consecutive forward shuffles yesterday (how sad am I). Though she can do more, but only with her head still making contact with the ground (if that makes sense?), very interesting site.

I was wondering where mawbroon had got to. We haven't heard from a few regulars recently, I hope they are ok. flyingcloud, clappedout and angelacarleen spring to mind.

We have been away visiting my sister in South Wales for a few days. It was lovely to have a willing spare pair of hands to help me out, especially with dd. She too has had a few toileting accidents and has been attention seeking. I think she has realised ds is here to stay and she will have to share mummy and daddy forever. I do feel sympathy for her, and of course have a huge dollop of mummy's guilt, but she has really been trying my patience.

Dd was desperate to see Toy Story 3 when we went to my sister's. It was her first trip to the cinema and I didn't want to miss out so I braved it and took ds in too. I put cotton wool in his ears and he behaved like a dream. Watching the film, feeding and even sleeping, and hardly making a sound.

Have given ds a few tastes of solids. Not every day but he grabs bananas from me and has a good munch on them and he chowed down for ages on a corn on the cob. In the interests of fairness I have made a few purees, and just like his sister he will not let me feed them to him. He just wants the spoon to do it himself and the mess is unbelievable. So it looks like we are BLW again. I will wait 2 weeks to start properly because then I can give dairy and wheat which makes things much easier.

I feel like the dunce of the thread because I don't have a PhD. I only have a Batchelors degree and a post graduate diploma! Though I did take my exams a year early if that counts. I feel ready for a complete career change and will probably have to do some sort of re-training. Am fairly worried about the state of my brain now as I have to make lists for everything these days if I want to remember things.

I seem to have rambled on about myself for quite a while there. Hope that counts as a 'me' post!

Oh bc I haven't posted a picture of ds yet but I will when I remember. Must write it on my 'to do' list.....

chinook funny I was just thinking about them too. I have lists for everything (numbering to 3 digits) - had to start them about 4 years ago when things got too busy when I moved from my old job to the new one, so pretty sure it's not your brain. You're just getting a lot busier

BG watercress ahh, grasshoppers the zen argument technique was honed over years of repeated intensive discussion by 2 very pigheaded bloodyminded opinionated erm detail-oriented individuals. Needs hundreds of hours of loud verbal practice....

Had a weepy moment this evening after I met up with some colleagues for lunch, then realised I wasn't going to be able to spend about 10 hours of a weekday with DD anymore once I go back to work. Even though I know it's for the best, and I'm looking forward to going back. Still feel sad that I'll miss some of her first milestones in the coming years. argh. mamaloco sounds like you are having a rough patch at the moment. you're lucky to be able to spend time with your LOs, helping them through their illnesses, watching them grow. Making myself weepy again, so going to stop! hope things get better for you soon.

BG stoof CC Came across this book for working mums. The "Look inside" extract has so much of the book that we don't need to buy it....

Congrats to your DH CC!

Rainbow I have years of practice of zen arguments! Due to my mum being such a strong person, I gave up argueing anything in my very early teen (probably when I reached 4). In the US they call that passive agressive . DH often talk to me in his head which means he doesn't call me during the day or tell me about important things because he thinks he has already done it His excuse is "I am thinking about you (and the girls) all the time..."

Taking DD 1 to the doc again today, she has very high fever and headaches, I am sure there is something more than hot weather. I don't have a happy dancing ballerina anymore more like a whinging (sp?) coachpotato. I was up from 1 to 4 the night before, and last night from 2 to 5 with a very hot and unhappy girl.

Watercress thanks for the reassurance regarding DD2 allergies. The doc thought it was a contact rash (very caracteristic 'design') but we couldn't find anything new or different and she have had no medecines. So he went on food, I agree both oats and chicken are very rare especially for somebody not allergic to feathers (she is playing on our duvet with no problems so far???) My mum is allergic to sulfur compounds, me and my DH's dad have allergies to mosquito bites (I know a lot of people laugh about that one ), my DB allergy to dust and DD1 has atopic eczema so not a huge suprise that DD2 has some kind of reaction to something.

Agree with watercress .

Sorry fellow phDs for what I am about to say but I met a lot of very stupid people having phDs and some completely uneducated people being very intelligent, so please chinook don't feel bad. I am thinking of retraining too, but my DH is completely against me not using what I learned before, apparently being an environmental microbiologist as been classed as being one of the top 10 jobs for the future .

I agree I am very lucky to be able to spend time with my DDs. I would probably have chosen to go back to work in my 20s/30s though, but being over 35 when I had DD1 meant that I was done with the working like a madwoman thingy. On top of that we are moving so much that I don't have time to find a job even if I'd wanted to, and I am the only stable thing in my girls'life (may be it is completely wrong but I think it is important that I SAH for the moment because of that).
Also we are in the "poor" middle class, so child care would have suck up all my wages I am not up to work for free or pay to go to work .
We are all "damaging" our children in a way or another. We have to do our best, but be happy too. They will always find some ridiculous things to complain about when they grow up anyway (like my DB ). No I am not pessimistic, rather realist . They will be fine whatever we do or don't do, and rebel against us and have their own set of problems too....

Mamaloco hope your DD gets better soon. And how is the rash? Is it improving? Me and DD1 both have eczema and hayfever (my eczema is terrible at the moment - the worst it has been for years), and she also has asthma. DD2 already has signs of eczema , so I feel your pain. DH gets most worked up about it, but I just say that there are far worse worse thins and we are better off knowing and treating/managing.

I am clearly the dunce of the thread as I only have a bachelors degree and no postgrad or doctorate! However I am on career number two (first was pharmacist, now I write for a living) so maybe that compensates a bit?!

Right, off to wake DD2 (again - had to yesterday morning as well) as I have to get her breakfasted and dressed then go to MILs (20 mintes drive away) for my piano lesson at 10am. Is anyone reading this knows me, it will now be blindingly obvious who I am...

< Is anyone reading this knows me, it will now be blindingly obvious who I am.> yeah, me too, I don't know you though if it can reassure you

Thanks for your words. Obviously I was trying to distract my mind from the DDs health, hence the huge philosophical post. Sorry BG.
DD1 has got severe tonsillitis, she is back on antibio. At least I was right, it wasn't nothing , sometimes mums know best! with the doc we saw on monday!

DD2 might have caught it from her sister or is teething. so no med for her, she is just on a watch.
She definitely have an allergy/sensitivity to something, but his much better thanks watercress.
So, she is on slow weaning pattern from now on. Fruits and veg (could be before 6 months, for those who haven't started yet) and cereals (6 months) for now, 6.5 months + dairy, 7 months + meat, 8 months + eggs, 9 months + fishes; if anybody is interested to follow the same due to allergy fears in the familly or want to do it slowly.

have a nice day, we are roasting here!

watercress you don't sound like a dunce to me

mamaloco could it be heat rash? Your poor dd1, hoping the antibiotics kick in quickly

I'm rubbish typing with one hand - will moan write more when dd2 is not standing on my lap chewing my hair/nose

Agree with mamaloco there are some right dunces who do PhDs (its virtually impossible to fail one). Of course, I'm excluded from that . DH just got a bachelors, he dropped out of uni in his final year so only had to do two modules with the OU. Its nice that he finally proved to himself that he could do it after all, which I knew all along (even if I am a bit jealous of his grade).

Had a bit of a rubbish night, two feeds were only an hour after the last one , then she didn't want to sleep after the 4am feed.

I see that it doesn't matter if we go back to work or SAH, we all feel we need to justify our choices. Why can't we be more like men. I do wish things had turned out differently and I had had more time just me and LO, not trying to fit in a thousand things, but I'm hoping I can reap the reward in later years. Oh well, guess that's the price of getting pregnant.

watercress wow you write for a living, hugely jealous, would love to have a creative skill. What do you do exactly?

chinook hope your wales stay was good. Also sending out good luck vibes to all those with toddlers.

Apparently LO LOVED her first swimming lesson, and she went under water twice. Once DH is a bit more confident, I'm going to go along and watch them

Have to admit, I couldn't read much of that book, started to well up. Kinda of feel like I'm just keeping it together and I know this is a classic time for PND, so trying to be careful (hence the exercise, I do feel great afterwards, but then if I don't go one time I feel really bad). I'm OK as long as people don't bring it up (like when my dentist said my problem was stress related).

yeah that first paragraph is a real killer!

..and would love to learn to write creatively! watercress what do you write?

CC er... I 'failed' mine. It really depends on your topic! (Long story, with external examiner disagreeing with my methodology..bla bla)

really really sorry bg , I should have said in my field in our department. Less open to interpretation (even so, unless they can really explain why its wrong, rather than just disagree they can't really fail) and they have a filtering out policy (at end of first year) for those who shouldn't be there. That's the problem with the viva method, one dodgy external and who've got a fight on your hands.

I'm been back and read it now, and am still OK.

Right, time for coffee

CC Nah, don't worry... I was just really unlucky with an external from a different discipline and different methodology, and an incredibly incompetent supervisor. All water under the bridge...

DD2 was six months old yesterday and I was thinking about all the things I love about her. Quite a long list actually but here just a few ...
I love the way she does a little pretend cough in the morning to let me know she is awake and wants me to come and get her, and then her total whole body delight (as in kicking and wriggling) when I go and see her. I love her cheeky grin, showing one dimple, and two very cute baby teeth. I love the way the pats my face and grabs hold of my hair, or snuggles up to me for a cuddle. I like her red face when she words on a poo, and the way she beams with pride when I change her nappy and she can offer me a particularly smelly poo... I love the way she literally pounces with both hands on whatever I hold out for her to grab, and the way she tries to hop (standing up and sitting down again) in her highchair. I love her eyes which seem to go from blue to grey to green to light brown, depending on her mood and the light...
(feeling very soppy so will stop here )

'works' not words

Hello Ladies! Have been reading all your posts with admiration. Those of you back at work and dealing with bad nights, I really feel for you! My DD woke every hour last night so got up finally at 6.15 feeling shattered! I am lucky enough to be a SAHM and was able to stick DD on the boob at 11 in bed and we both slept til 2.30 this afternoon!!! Really naughty I know but could hardly walk straight due to exhaustion!

I've been toying with the idea of getting a childminder for a couple of mornings a week so that I can start painting again from about October... I've just been on the Childminder/Nanny thread and have been completely put off by the whole thing - OMG am I way too over protective? But terrible stories of nanny contracts, legal issues, child protection issues, I just don't know where to begin! I may have to wait until DD is old enough to go to nursery (and does anyone know when that is?) I just have this fear that DD will be stuck in her pushchair or left to cry while the CM is having tea with her friends... I'm sure I'm being completely unreasonable but I have a friend who is a nanny and I've bumped into her a few times having her nails done at the beauty salon while both her mindees were sitting waiting in a double buggy!

Anyway, I know weaning and allergies are the hot topic but I'm waiting til DD is six months (she's five months next week) so I've found other things to worry about until then! I would love to hear if anyone else is contemplating child care/childminders.... Oh and CC congrats to your DH on his degree, that's great!

That's really beautiful BG .

mamaloco hope that your DDs both get well very soon.

Abs not naughty at all, the most sensible thing you could have done . I wish my DD would nap with me as she used to. Even the boob doesn't work as a magic nap-inducer any more. Boo hiss.

I should be contemplating childcare, as apparently nursery places for babies are scarce here, but my head is firmly in the sand. La la la if I ignore it, it will go away.

I'm another dunce, no post-anything and no career change either. I was talking with another accountant friend today and we agreed that life is too short to spend doing something you really don't enjoy. I expect I will go back to work, or get work as an accountant, to get MP for DC no.2 (as yet unconceived, thank goodness) but once I have two I plan to really reconsider work. I'd like to work, I just want to like my work! Not dread it .

DD had a terrible day today. Missed her first morning nap and it went downhill from there. Finally got her into bed an hour early, we've had one wake-up and screaming session since, I'm hoping that will be the last (until her first feed at 1ish)... She really needs her sleep. Naps are SO important!! I'd never have guessed.

I'd never have guessed pre-motherhood that is.

And yes congrats to your DH CC! Clever stick.

That was lovely bg.

mamaloco hope your dd is on the mend and glad you finally got to the bottom of it.

I refuse to take part in the returning to work discussion. That way I can bury my head in the sand and pretend it is not going to happen . For lots of reasons I don't want to return to work this time. But I must as dp is self employed and this recession has hit us badly. We are lucky to have them, but if this winter is as bad as the last one financially, we will be cashing in investments to pay the mortgage.

It seems a few of us want to or have changed careers. I spent 4 years studying law and knew before I took my final set of exams I really didn't want to practice. Who knows what they really want to do when they are 18 and choosing uni courses? Music is where my heart is so I am considering my options in this field now. I would LOVE to be a professional singer (though not a famous one), but my voice is just not quite good enough. A girl can dream though....

watercress would you be able to find out the name of that net thing you described for weaning? I would be very interested in taking a look at it. Thank you

chinook could it be this? food feeder net