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

[scarlotti]

New and shiny thread

Fruit thanks, I might well offload every now and then although also conscious that this is a post-natal thread!
DH hasn't moved out yet, but that is what will happen. Tomorrow is the session where we sort out the practicalities but we have been speaking about it a little already. I can afford (just) to run the house and the dc's need stability so I'll stay. He will rent a 1 bed flat nearby so the dc's can come and stay. We need to think about how we run our relationship so as to give us the best chance of saving things whilst also having the space to work out what we want - this is where I'm hoping our relate lady will be able to help as that bit is more difficult to work out. Not sure if we 'date' or how it works. I will definitely keep seeing her for a little while as I would like the chance to work through how I'm feeling with someone to help me make sense of it all. I am well aware that I will need to make changes too.
I am taking each day at a time at the moment, some are good, some not so good.

Scarlotti I wish I were studying but I only work for the university. I dropped out after one year to come to England many years ago and sometimes get the urge to pick it up here and get a degree. But that's another story altogether.
Second Fruit, we're here if you need to rant.

Well, the visit to the nursery went great. Plonked Lucy on the floor amongst all the babies and she barely noticed I wasn't giving her my full attention! The staff there seem really lovely and the place is really nice. I haven't got any experience of nurseries so didn't know what to expect, just thought that if the kids looked happy it would be fine. All the children were gorgeous, messy, noisy and really enjoying themselves. I can see this being much, much harder for me than Lucy.

Scarlotti so sorry to hear how things have turned out for you and your dh. I hope that with Relate and some space between you that you can still work things out, we are all here for you. This may be a postnatal thread but doesn't mean you can't offload on other things too, you would say the same to us if we were going through it!

Skorpion Glad Lucy enjoyed nursery, you must feel much better about going back to work!

Pav Glad you enjoyed your camping!

sirboob Hope you are feeling better and have started making some headway with the benefits.

My sil arrived on Saturday and is staying for 3 weeks, it is so nice to have some company! Although it was a bank holiday here yesterday so only today that I've really appreciated her being here!

Millie has another 3 teeth on the way and has started grinding her teeth! It sounds so horrible! Bless her, she only has a tiny bit of tooth poking through so I'm hoping she doesn't grind what little teeth she has away!

I am in a bad mood today, another stupid person asked me if i was expecting again, what is with these people?! I have been googling Liposuction, it's cheaper than I thought...

Argh Helips that is so horrid, I had one friend ask another (NOT PREGNANT) friend at dhs birthday party when her baby was due... fortunately said friend took it on the chin and we all fell about laughing at the expense of the tactless friend who was digging a deeper hole with every apology... we did all conclude that empire line items were most likely to cause this problem.

Bf babies and sleep at night qu: H goes down at about 7.30pm-8.30pm time but will wake always once and sometimes twice between 7.30 and 6am for a feed. Is this typical? I feel it's OK except for that I start work again in three weeks and am not mad keen on it being the case then as I will have to be in the car commuting by 7am and just envisage driving around knackered and spending all day yawning my head of.

Also, has anyone seen a chirpractor and is it worth it?

Hello ladies!

I haven't caught up, and I'm not sure I'll be able to, but I just wanted to pop in and say hi. We've been away in Ireland for a month and busy with a wedding this weekend so are now back home and facing the reality of going back to work in a couple of weeks.

DD2 has been teething all month and now has 6 teeth. It's been really trying as she wouldn't let me leave the room without much protest for most of that time. That said, my mum did look after her for a couple of afternoons to let me go shopping (oh, the novelty!) which was lovely and she was fine until she saw me again and then the protests began!

She has been sleeping pretty well now the teeth have settled down but will only take on nap during the day after lunch, and only if she is in her cot or in the car which is trying if out and about.

Weaning has gone from strength to strength and she will tuck into twice the portion size that her big sister will pick at.

She is rolling and shuffling backwards, babbling (including mamamam, which DD1 flatly refused to do) and generally being quite entertaining at the moment.

We took both of them to a wedding this weekend and she dealt pretty well. I fed her after the speeches and she slept in her car seat through the ceilidh until 11pm or so, at which point we were having to leave anyway due to DH's all nighter with old friends the night before. Another story there.

We have two trial mornings with the CM this week and next week, and I'm kind of dreading it because I have in no way prepared DD2 for it feeding-wise. We have been so out of routine for so long that adding formula into the equation has been out of my head and capability. I have tried to encourage her to take a couple of sips out of a sippy or doidy cup after breakfast, but she is usually so full then that that is all she will take. But I suppose she is used to the taste. I feel so guilty about it though. Poor CM will be in for a rough time. I've consoled myself with thinking back to DD1 and how she would never take formula off me anyway, so then it hardly seems worth the effort.

Hope you are all well, and the wee ones of course.

Hope you're all okay.

Still no teeth here - but I did get some Codeine from the doctor today so hopefully my pain levels will be sorted out :)

Scarlotti there are a lot of nice one bed flats around at the moment (a lovely one in the Marina but of course the buggers won't accept HB), and I really hope that the space it gives you helps you to work through things.

Skorpion that's generally the way Mum says they regularly have mums in floods of tears and the children not even noticing whether their mums are there or not. Hope it gets easier for you soon.

Hobnob I'm sure the CM will have seen it all - and worse! - before. Hope the sessions go well though.

Yikes Bryn is still feeding twice a night. Some people say they don't need the feeds at this age, but the feeds here are about fifteen-twenty minutes each, so he's obviously hungry / thirsty. Guess they're all different.

SirB yes, H hs a really good long feed of about 15-20 mins too, it's not just comfort I'm sure!

Guess it depends yikes and sirB. R doesn't usually seem to need a feed but occasionally she does.

At the mo usually no feed but she does wake at least once. Often gets self back to sleep but sometimes we've gotta go...which then ends with feed if it's me. That's my argument for sending DH!

Off to catch up now.

Had a thoroughly miderable rainy day here today. Is this the end of summer ?!?!?!

MissI Summer's back! Was horrible yesterday, wasn't it?

Hobnob Lovely to see you again.

I haven't seen any summer since June. It was the dullest July on record in Ireland and it's cold and raining here [sad and pasty white emoticon]

Getting blocked ducts from all these teeth here today.

Ah hobnob, I was in Ireland in July too and I thought it must have been the end of summer for everyone. Cold, rainy. Came back to Oxford and found there'd been a drought! How can it be so different so close? (Rhetorical questions, know it is something to do with...er...pressure and windstreams or summat)

Afternoon everyone!

Scarlotti - So sorry about the situation at home. I hope, whatever happens, that you are happier in the future.

Well, Ethan still has no teeth and no real sign of anything approaching either. He's now crawling loads, and pretty fast as well! Also walks at some pace if you hold his fingers. I think he's turning into a handful!

I did a pregnancy test yesterday as I was fed up with the uncertainty. Negative. It's very odd, Ethan is now around 8.5 months. I've only been breastfeeding at 6am and 6pm ish for around two months and still nothing has happened. Don't get me wrong - long may it continue - but I was starting to worry! Mind put at rest now.

I'm finding things very hectic at the moment - working full time, arranging a wedding and trying to keep up with uni work. DP is doing a grand job at home, he has really made me proud. Still, I know he would rather be earning money fulltime and giving me the option to work less. Such is life, I'm sure we will look back on this period and DP, at least, will be thankful of the time he has spent with DS. I'm quite proud I'm able to provide for them both but still feel that I'm missing out on milestones.

I have my friend's wedding on Saturday so will try to post photos of Ethan in his kilt afterwards. Also means I'm having a spray tan tomorrow night, haircut on Friday and make up done on Saturday - as a trial for my own wedding day, but nice to be pampered!

Butterpie I love your bouquet - lovely idea! When is your wedding now?

yes Butterpie, I agree with DWB that the flowers are lovely.

sounds nice DWB! am slightly jealous of your pampering!

Annabelle is getting fast at crawling now which is good, and has a really good appetite.

The weather here was ok but now it has got very dark and is raining again. makes it difficult to know what to wear or what to do.

Welcome back Hobnob!

yikes I have used a chiropractor and definitely recommend it, has done wonders for my back problems.

Dontworry Glad your mind has been out at rest re the pregnancy test! Enjoy being pampered this weekend. Me and sil have had a girly evening colouring my hair and painting our toenails all ready for a girls night out tomorrow night.

Millie pulled herself up to a standing position for the first time today! She's not crawling yet but she's getting close, woo hoo!

OOh, enjoy the pampering DWB. Can't wait to see pics of Ethan in his kilt! Glad your mind's at rest re pregnancy. I did a test a few months ago too as I was so paranoid. Can I ask you and anyone else who has cut back their feeds, do you give formula or anything in addition or do your little ones get(almost) all their nutrition from food now? I always read that BM should be their 'main' drink up til a year and wonder if that's true when Rosa has only 2 feeds a day and perhaps one at night. She drinks water with her meals so not worried about dehydration and in general she's totally fine and in fact I have been offering her breastmilk during the day inbetween meals now which she readily accepts but... well, was just wondering.

Phew, think I tied myself up in knots a bit there. Reminds me of the children at school breathlessly explaining something - 'and then...and then...and then...'

Yay for Millie standing helips! Rosa did that before crawling and she still only crawls when she has to, i.e. to get a toy or something, rather than just running riot (crawling riot?). Well, so far anyway!

scarlotti, think I forgot to say that I've been thinking of you and hope the steps you and DH are taking help you to sort things out, one way or another. We are here for you! Funny, when you said 'I know this is a post-natal thread', I thought, 'Oh yes, so it is!' and of course we talk about the little ones all the time but I do think it is more than that. And everyone will be happy to listen

MissI Ethan has two 7oz bottles during the day, as well as good big bfs in morning and evening. I read recently they need 500ml of milk a day and his formula alone is around 420ml so thinking I'll cut out (or DP as the main carer - maybe I should get him posting here) one bottle gradually so he will have a little formula in his porridge in the morning and stick with a big bottle around 3:30.

No idea if it's the right thing, but that's what we do!

Hi all-

Completely knackered. Maeve's been waking up at 1am, 2am, and 3am lately no matter what I do. She usually sleeps from 3-8, which is nice but since DH's alarm goes off at 6:30 this doesn't help me much. I let her cry at the 2am wakeup last night, and she went back to sleep (eventually) but then woke up at 4am. I wanted to let her cry again but DH got up and brought her to me. I can't do this much longer.

On top of all that she has a runny nose. Which is the cutest gross thing I can think of.

Good to see you back , hobnob :)

Thanks all. Today has been a tough day as it's our wedding anniversary so an odd day to say the least. Last night's relate session went well. We are both hoping the split will enable us to get back together, stronger, but obviously are wary in case that's not the case. The practicalities need to be sorted out now so I think DH will now look for a flat, then we can iron out the details from there. It's a very odd situation, but we are coping ok-ish. We're being nice to each other so that helps. It's not easy but it's nowhere near as difficult as I'm sure some people have it.

Another tooth has appeared here so am hoping for a day or two of happiness now! He ate like a horse yesterday and today, so am presuming he's gearing up for some spurt - either a growth one or a developmental one. He's still such a joy though - when I pick him up from the childminder he just grins then buries his head in my neck, which is just lovely!

Milk wise, here we have an early morning bf anytime from 4 (last few nights not withstanding!) then he has milk on his breakfast (maybe 3oz) then a bf at bedtime, and a dream feed at 10. No milk in the day at all, but I'll give a yoghurt or two or maybe some cheese. We do 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks here. On hungry days he'll take 7oz at 10pm otherwise it's around 5 or 6.
7oz is 210ml so he easily gets his pint a day one way or another.

Last few nights have seen 2 feeds, although I'm hoping that it's the teething that's woken him and so I might get some respite now. Who'd have thought that I'd actually be feeding at night at 9 months ... not sure the desire to ttc would have been quite so strong if I'd had that particular crystal ball!! Have to say though, bringing him into bed when he does wake is the only thing keeping me sane and allowing me to hold down my job.

That and wine

Hello everyone! Sorry I've been so quiet lately - been busy with DH in Brussells this week and then Berlin now leaving me to cope with all three!

We've got the tiniest, cutist, little bit of white tooth poking out of Toby's bottom gum. Yeah!!!!! About time too.

Toby now sits really happily and easily. He's just the last two days started to try to move but no luck yet. I think he's going to be another bottom shuffler like the other two.

Hello

Just trying out my new NN since I saw a thread where someone was complaining about being called Ms instead of Mrs. Even though I'm happily married I am proud to be Ms! It's no one's business if I'm married, single, widowed, divorced and Ms is the easiest way to convey that IMHO. Though why do we even need a title these days? I even had to give one at Mothercare when arranging our cot to be delivered - 'Miss or Mrs?'

BBL thats nice to hear! mine still has none.

MsInterpret That's very true, We dont really need to distinguish in this way and it shouldn't matter in retail and the suchlike, but I must admit I like being 'Mrs'.

Msinterpret I have msd myself in solidarity with your struggle, sister!
No seriously why should men be 'mr' but women apparently have to be 'miss' or 'mrs'? (Or Dr, I suppose or Rt Hon!

My grandparents always send/(sent :() cards to 'Mrs MyHusband'sName' even though they knew that I had not taken his surname- as if I am a sort of appendage of his/ a female version of him. I always wonder who 'Mrs MyHusband'sName' is!

Suspect H will face all these big and little dilemmas of femininity- wonder what her take on it all will be? (I think she's pretty sure to have a determined stance on most issues!)

Still, at least we are in a position to quibble about language as opposed to having to fight to be educated, or not to be stoned for adultery

Helips I think I will give the chiro a go then, fed up with having a crunchy back.

Juicylips the weather is a total pain at the mo isn't it, never sure what to set out in.
Have twenty 5 yr olds coming on Sun for ds and there is NO WAY we are partying anywhere other than the back garden- (it's tiny but at least it's not in the house!)- I can envisage lots of blue, shivering children huddled under the pop up gazebo in their party dresses and shirts....

msyikes I see an osteopath regularly and she's a godsend. I have been to a chiropractor before but found them a bit rough - maybe just the one I went to? Osteo's ime are gentler as it's more massage based than just manipulation.

Interesting discussion about Miss/Mrs/Ms - I always wondered if being a Ms made people think you were a lesbian?!
I loved my maiden name, and my married name is never pronounced or spelt correctly so it's a right royal pita. Sadly, DH's first name is the same as my maiden name, so I couldn't have kept it as it would have been odd. I like being the same as the dc's though!

Off to visit my Mum tomorrow, can't wait

Scarlotti I think you're definitely correct about the lesbian assumption and/or I think insisting on ms can date a woman a bit, back to 70s/80s university days perhaps... But I think it can be resurrected!

Wow, did not know that Ms implied possible lesbianism in the UK! That is definitely not the case here. "Miss" implies someone youthful (under 18) and "Mrs" of course implies married, so most grown women who are unmarried go by Ms.

Myself I get around the whole bit by choosing "Dr." on forms