November 09 - solids and crawling underway but sleepless nights still here to stay!!

[scarlotti]

New and shiny thread

skorpion i am so sorry to hear about your dad. Hope you and your family have support around you. Sending you hugs.

Miss oh a little love in for sure, i am not embarrased, me? noooo! Hehe. It is actually an honour to have you ladies here to share this with. I feel able to come along and bounce about how great my little boy is without boring people too much, you all know that feeling of first tooth, sleepless nights, moving, or trying, all the positive and the negatives of babyhood. I find my friends seem a little less interested second time around, or are busy. Not that they are not interested, but when I say 'a new tooth!' they go 'cool!' and that is it! Also, we have all shared this journey so far together, with some new people coming in on the way and joining us on this trip. It is something I hope will continue as we progress, even as we move on to other things in our life, work, foreign climes etc. Aaaaanyway, enough of the gush eh!

Good morning! Thank you again for your kind words. My dad had been ill for a very long time - lots of things: heart, diabetis, gout. I think for about 20 years now, so it sort of became normal. So much I guess, that the seriousness of his condition stopped being as sharp in our minds as it was at the begining... My parents separated about 4-5 years ago and my mum has moved to England, his relationship with my sister has been pretty much non-existent since then, lots and lots of bad history there. I guess what I am mourning most are the lost chances that perhaps something could be improved. Even though logically I know it was impossible - he'd never feel anything but being wrong-done by the whole world around him - as long as he was alive, there was always a chance... Now it's gone. And I guess I am very sorry that he left all that baggage for us to carry and never be rid of it.

Sorry for this downer on a beautiful Saturday morning. It helps to write things down.

Thanks again - you're absolutely right Pavlov: time and time again I am so grateful for this place. Babies and everything else, it's nice to be able to share.

Thinking of you skorpion. Sounds like you have a lot going on in your head to sort out. We are here if it helps to talk...and we're also here if thinking about Lucy and what she's up to now is a nice diversion. Rosa is sidling along the sofa as I type, she's also babbling almost meaningfully, do you know what I mean?

Like, she's actually saying babahbahbahbaaaaa, but it clearly means, 'well, mummy, I do think that dress looks nice on you, but will you need a cardigan..?'

skorpion, I'm so sorry for your loss. Eventhough you were far away from him, and as I suppose not much in your daily life has changed, it must be difficult. And with the background you have described it might make it even more difficult to sort things for you out.

miss i know exactly what you mean about that babble, its like words, but words that we don't know. bear cub does it, in particular, he sees something he wants and lets out this particular 'gah! bah eheh! bahaha geh! while bouncing on his legs, arms aflap, and those words clearly say 'yey! thats the toy i wanted, and I got it! yey!'

Any other babies squeal with delight at their own reflection? bear cub just adores it, he thinks it is another baby, not himself, but even so he loves it he sees himself and he just grins and squeals. If he sees his reflection in the car window he tried to grab at it and touch it!

Hi all

Am lurking more these days than managing to post. Things at home aren't good so not the perkiest of people for posting at the moment.

Glad to hear all the lovely stories about the little ones

I'm so sorry to hear your news Skorpion. I don't really know what to say. Do you think you that talking things through with your mum and sister might help you get some kind of closure on old issues? Thinking of you. Please stick around xx

Scarlotti Sorry to hear things are not going well at the moment. We're hear if you want to talk about it.

You're right, it is lovely to hear all these stories of babies developing.

Thanks for the advice on teaching Yikes and MissI. I know it would be hard (nearly all my family are/ have been teachers) but it's hard to know how hard 'hard' is, if you know what I mean? My working life so far has probably not been very stressful compared to most people's standards. I do love the idea of doing a job that I felt was worthwhile though. Honestly, you should see some of the things I have to write about...

Oh, and SirBoob I had a dream about you last night! You were nothing like I'd imagined...

Oh and James is starting to babble a lot more too. DD, whose name is Belle, loves that his favourite thing to say is 'BUH-uh-BUH-uh-BUH' - she is convinced he's trying to say 'B for Belle'. It is true that he thinks she is the most amazing thing he has ever seen. His eyes light up whenever he sees her and the smallest thing she does makes him laugh his head off. She is so boisterous around him and he LOVES it. Any other parents of two or more finding this? It is definitely making all the torn-in-two-directions stress feel like it is worthwhile.

yes Laugs this is exactly what DD is like with DS. As soon as DS even close she is giggling away, and he can be quite rough with her and me telling him "no!" but she just laughs more. they are always cuddling and things. DD says "Bruh-Bruh" now, which is "brother", so thats nice.

Laugs thanks

Ioan too lights up like a beacon when DS1 comes into view and acts the goat to get him to laugh. He LOVES his brother and DD, he had a great time the other day when DD looked after him for me. Definitely makes it all worthwhile!

scarlotti sorry to hear things aren't good at home again. You know where we are. x

Just home from a friend's hen night but she's been unwell this week and didn't enjoy the night, bit of a disappointment. At least she is unwell today and hopefully not on her wedding day.

Hope you are all fast asleep!

Sorry to hear that scarlotti. As DWB said, we're here if you want to talk/vent.

Well, I am now a PhD widow until Thursday. DH has gone to London to do 'research'. Why has he gone on a Sunday you may ask? Officially, it's so he can be at the museums etc at 9am when they open, but conveniently, he's also made time for a wee visit to Lords with his cricketing buddy...AND a birthday drinks thing on Tuesday night

Ah well, I can't complain really as I went to London (for a few hours) on my bday and to the pub the other night. But it is weird knowing he's not around at all for the next few days. R and I been off to Scotland for a few days without him but then always has the people I was staying with around. It's particularly bad timing as PILs are away til Thurs too AND our good friends with the 5wk old away for the week too. Lonely raggie!

I've just posted my first listing on Ebay, feeling v proud of self. It feels quite empowering doesn't it? I can see how it's addictive. I just put on a bag and a shirt and suddenly I was thinking, 'ooh, I could put on that dress I don't wear anymore...and THAT dress...and THAT dress...'

So sorry to hear about your dad skorpion big hugs to you.

scarlotti hope things improve at home, we are all here for you to vent if you so wish.

Millie is another boob kneader, it can be quite painful at times! She is teething at the moment and has had a temperature and generally been a bit mopey, poor thing. I just feel so sorry for her and wish I could take her pain away.

I've had a lovely day today, went for a bike ride on the coast and then had a delicious lunch, the food in Singapore is amazing! I was hoping to lose some weight out here but at this rate that is not going to happen! Talking of weight, has anyone still got a bit of a tummy? I'm generally ok everywhere except my tummy still makes me look about 4 months pregnant, despite dieting, breastfeeding and going to the gym several times a week. In fact, I'm really toned everywhere apart from the tummy area, is lyposuction the only answer?!!

Hope everyone is having a nice weekend...

Glad you're having fun in Singapore helips. I am same as you with tummy. I wouldn't say the rest of me is exactly toned...but it's the tum that's the prob. At the wedding I was at last weekend, two (2!) people (women!) asked me if I was expecting my next... Don't they know you NEVER ask that question?! Even if the woman is about to drop, just in case. It was the way I was standing, pushing out my belly with R on my hip but still... made me think a few less pies should be going down.

Mind you, sure you can eat as much as you like if you keep up with the bike rides! Did you have M on the back? Can't wait to do that. I got a new bike for my birthday and it's arriving tomorrow, woo!

helips my tum is like that too, makes me look 6 months 4 months pregnant still, but then I do admit to being a bit lazy towards making it any better.

skorpion so sorry to hear your news.

No teeth here yet. Gummy bear is still gummy but is very unsettled at night at the mo. so every day we expect to see a tooth or two! Nada yet.

On bellys: I hate my belly. After three babies it is never going to be how it once was.

I look like 4 months pregnant too. The rest of my body is fine, not toned but really ok. I really have to control my diet now that I'm bf so much less. And do some exercises of course.

But speaking of looking pregnant, is anyone already working on the next one? A couple of weeks ago (before my period returned), I thought I might be pregnant and was quite scared. And then a bit disappointed . I'm not sure when is the best time to start trying again but I would like to be a bit back to normal before trying again. But then, one of my friends just had her second one and now I want one too.

Hi all...just thought I'd add that if you are still breastfeeding your body is hanging on to that tummy just in case you don't eat enough to feed LO. I haven't stopped breastfeeding for years now so am looking forward to it going for good!

DH and I are finalising divorce although still having moments of do we give it one more try...Also am seriously thinking about getting pg one more time before he goes. How stupid is that? DS1 was 10 months when I got pg with T so I guess it's just a natural though to have for soon........

turtle is that for real, or are you just saying that to make us all feel better?! I have a little bit of weight on me which funnily enough I gained after being pregnant, but nothing spectacular, however, I have a rather prominant belly, it really does look like a pregnant belly, rather than just a fat belly ifkwim. I shall use the breastfeeding line from now on though eh?!

turtle I've heard that before from a friend but I wasn't sure if it was true... am sure some of my tummy is down to the biscuits and cookies

I think considering another baby around now is natures funny trick! I do think wistfully about it even though I'm certain I don't want any more. Financially, energy wise and stress wise it would be too much ... but they are just so cute!!

How are you coping with the two little ones and your divorce? Are things relatively amicable for you? I hope it's not too tough.

I hope that's true! I think I'm tubbier now, only breastfeeding morning and night, than I was 4-6 weeks ago exclusively breastfeeding! That might make sense though...

I've got a kilt for Ethan!! Plain black kilt with a black ghillie shirt (the one that laces up and is usually worn without a jacket) and the cutest little sporran! We have my friend's wedding in aug, future BIL's in Sept and our's in October so he'll get lots of wear out of it.

I would love to be TTC just now... alas DP's work situation rules that out! Although if I haven't got my period in the next fortnight I'll be doing a test, hate this limbo!

Off to bed, work in the morning! Night all x

It is the truth..I swear.

Scarlotti- Thanks but you know what? It's soooooo much easier than I thought. My only problem really is DH being an arse about signing papers. Having two is lovely. Although last two nights I've been up from 1am with T feverish...I feel a bit giddy and odd from lack of sleep. Especially as P wakes up 530-6. Yawn.

I definitely have a tummy too. It is soo loose and flabby too. Yuk. I really need to do some exercise and stop eating chocolate, but I will cling on to that breastfeeding anecdote for all its worth!

I am definitely not TTC, or even wanting to, yet every day I find myself thinking of names for my third baby, thinking how nice it would be to be pregnant again, feeling jealous that nearly all my friends haven't had kids yet and still have it all to come I'm sure it must be hormonal.

Morning ladies, I've lost track for a few days.

Skorpion I'm so sorry to hear your news. I hope you're doing ok.

Scarlotti Sorry you're going through this tough time.

Turtle I was looking at my tummy the other day and have grown fond of my extra bit of podge

DWB Have you got any signs of being pg?

I would like a 3rd DC but not just yet. I've also got some convincing to do with DH. But, with DH's redundancy on it's way and wanting to move house, I'll be holding out for those things to change until another baby is on the cards.