Dec 08 Ladies - Maybe this thread they'll ALL sleep through the night at the same time!

[Beans33]

Apologies for rubbish title, couldn't think of anything - mind is totally riddled by hormones...!

Jam it obviously depends on your nursery policy but if they are just scars now that's fine. It makes no difference if Archie had them as once you've had chicken pox you can't pass them on even if you've been in contact with someone who has.

Daisy DS2 isn't saying much, but on the subject of things our kids can do that they don't put on the milestone charts, whenever we put a hard rock song on DS2 simulates playing the piano on our little ELC keyboard and head bangs at the same time! You can have ya full sentences & babies walking at 2 weeks but imitating the keyboardist from Bon Jovi at 18 months that clearly shows an advanced intellect, doesn't it? He's got a routine developmental check up tomorrow. I bet they won't be getting the baby drum kit out to check his musical intelligence! Or asking him to spin Daisy. Oh he finally said 'mama' clearly this morning but then ruined it for me by saying yes in Chinese and no in English. I'm sure DH says no as much as me! Obviously I'm not saying yes to my poor child enough . Or maybe he hears DH asking me for some sugar?

Trace I hope P is feeling a little better. Poor thing. And L too Jam. So tough when they're sick at this age as you can't talk to them about it.

Am skiving off doing a job application/cleaning the oven (a great combination if ever there was one).

LadyT thanks so much for the advice about forgiving myself if he'd forgiven me. Very wise. We had a lovely evening, only he was 10 minutes late (uncharacteristic) and I was 10 minutes early so i sat there for 20 minutes thinking that maybe he wasn't going to come.

Veggie poor you with DS2s finger. I hope he's feeling better now. I have also left DD to cry for a bit and then returned to find her leg stuck in the cot

Avo glad you got the news you wanted. Eek DH back and I'm about to be busted for not doing the application. the job is in india and there's not a hope in hell of me getting it but you can but dream...

Been meaning to say. Lady that chocolate was delicious, really yum. It was just what I needed on Friday after the door versus finger incident. Also those matchstick seeds are so brilliant. I planted 3 of the herbs & 3 of the wildflowers yesterday. I have to admit I think I got more out them than DS1 but oh well I'm more important anyway. He will enjoy the flowers and loves picking herbs for me for cooking. Thanks again.

Flooping heck counting to 10?! And here's dd hardly even saying mummy yet.

Am just back from a party for DD's godfather's middle son's first holy communion (if you're following...!) and am a bit merry. Hurrah! DD sitting on the dining table in front of me eating an apricot and dh out having birthday drinks with a mate of his. We just got utterly utterly drenched on the cycle ride home but there were 4 big frogs waiting in the garden so got to play chasing them which was great

anyway. Probably time to put nipper to bed, catch up later

Hope everyone had decent weekends, sorry about the pox sufferers, we still haven't had that, it's only a matter of time though...
We've had a busy but satisfying weekend getting this house ready to go on the market. We've achieved loads, although not finished yet and my kitchen is almost finished, nearly 2 years after it was started! I knew that we would move as soon as it was finished and DH has been made to feel very bad about it!
Right, I need to go and give the worker some food.

Nice day bbq at mil's and pretty much escaped any rain.
Trace ds didn't wake until 0850
he then didn't nap all day and fell asleep on the way home in the car at 8pm! I'm sure tomorrow will be a different story.

Summer - I would approve of your boys name? I only ever had 2 for ds and he got one of them so..... don't worry I won't say but maybe I'm way off!

I have a new throry that I think I am going to give mil my top 10 list via email but not tell her which ones we lean towards reason being, if I don't tell her any of them and just name dd, then I will never really know if she likes it or thinks it's awful iyswim. Not that it really matters, but I'd rather know that one of my family hates the name rather than not know and always wonder! (my weird theory)
I might put my list up if anyone else does? I'm probably alone there though One of the new favourites is one of our very own dd's names and it's not Poison or Avo's AND I have found out that it's one of mil's fav names too as she was rattling off the one's she likes!
Hmmm I shall give it some thought...

Very about bisou's ds counting!! ds still only says 4 things and even then they are more of a mumble than a clear word!

Those are awful women Vaggie

jam sorry to hear your pox are spreading through the family. I'm sure Archie will be allowed in nursery. P is in a real state SHe must have over 100 just on her face and head. She must have hundreds all together. She's been crying for hours now and still has a temp.
Anyway must go up and try to relieve dh who's been trying to settle her for ages.
Back later probably...

Oh no trace.... hope dd settles a bit soon.

Sorry jam - quick recovery for you too I hope

Hello! Just a superquickie after being away since Thursday night as been on another course. Miss me? Well, why not keep the cv looking fresh and all that. I was reading up on here as best I could whilst I was away, have only had a quick whizz of the recent ones and will do a proper catch up later, but - oh Trace, poor little P, that sounds heartrending. And Jam's little DS2 still as well, this pox really is a curse, I'm dreading it.

Avo, I am relieved for you, my dear...
Urbane, bless you, I am so pleased you had a nice night out
Rubes, I am dying to know your names (and those of all the upduffers, in fact) - however, I am being a big spoilysport and not breathing a word about mine until she is born. As you know, I am dead set on one first name in particular and reasonably flexible (within usual poncetastic parameters) about middle names...However, Summer, you did ask me what my baby would have been called if a boy, and the answer is (and I know hardly anyone will like it, but it's ok - in fact it was badly dissed on the names board recently, I noticed)...Julius. All a bit frighteningly Roman with Octavia, but there you go, and he probably would have been shortened to Jules anyway. We also liked Felix, and Oswald. So, all in all, prob best that I'm having a girl Someone mentioned Lydia, which I think is gorgeous, but a complete cowbag I know called her daughter that, so it's out for me.

So glad you liked the stuff, Veggie. Sorry it took me an eternity to post. And sorry also about the finger. Poor you. I really know where you are coming from - DP hadn't strapped DD in the buggy when I was wheeling her down a hotel corridor and I didn't know, and I bumped her over a door jamb and she was catapulted out onto her face Not a mark on her and it wasn't even my fault, but I am still castigated myself and re-imagining it one week on.

I am not an uptight mother, I don't think. If anything, I am too easygoing, too laissez-faire. However, whilst I am grateful to my MIL for looking after DD whilst I was away, AIBU to be irritated that even the vaguest routine wasn't followed? DD has two naps most days. Yesterday, she wasn't taken up for a nap until 5pm No nap at all until then, which is just cruel. She is completely out of synch with everything now, and apparently slept between 12 and 4 today so had a very late lunch and then didn't want supper, meaning she effectively missed a meal (the LAST thing she needs). It's partly DP's fault as well. But it's seeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeewww irritating. But I will bore you all about that tomorrow. Hope you're still up for Wednesday, Katie! Rubes, any further thoughts? There's a pub called the Bell Inn on the High Street, which has a beer garden where kids are welcome with gaint jenga, Connect 4 etc...Oh, and Katie, we can pretend it's your birthday. Night night all.

Morning all. Am a bit bleary eyed as DD's early starts are getting worse and worse. 5.30 when they started, but last couple of days have been 4.45 and 5am. Aghhhhh. It's one thing when DH is here as he takes her downstairs once she's fed but he's off on Wednesday and that's it, 5am starts SOLO for me for a MONTH. AGHHHHHHHHH.

So basically taking ANY suggestions going ... We put up blackout material so its pitch dark in there and it seems to make no difference whatsoever. A couple of weeks ago she did 6/7 nights in a row of 7 - 6am or later, which was great, but after that wedding we went to it all went haywire again. She's not even going straight through - this morning she woke at 3.45 and screamed for a few minutes, then slept till 5. Night before it was 2 am, 3.30am and then 4.45.

Sometimes when she's up early she seems fine - but then by 7 or 8 she's grumpy and rubbing her eyes frantically so I really don't believe she suddenly needs 1 1/2 - 2 hours less sleep a day. She's not even a very good daytime napper - yesterday we had to take her out twice because the first time she only slept an hour.

So I'm rambling now but am really really really dreading dealing with this on my own so ANY suggestions, no matter how preposterous, are most welcome. So far my plan includes a) industrial strength ear plugs and b) soundproofing the bedroom wall with egg cartons a la recording studio.

)h many thanks for the travel cot advice too.

Poor you kiwi. I'm afraid I probably won't be much he'll with practical suggestions. Occassionally leaving dd in the cot and sticking ds' audio books on does the trick to keep her gurgling in the cot for a bit. DS did this for ages (sorry) and I just reconciled myself to it and then it gradually got better the more active he got - so now she's walking keep her running about? When it was bad with ds I went back to napping in the day when he did. Am sure someone will be around to give you more sensible advice shortly...
Urgh have that sick feeling this morning (no not that sick feeling ) as am really behind in all aspects of my life. And today is going to be a bad day at work. All this cutting the public sector is absolutely zero fun in practice. Bit soul destroying as it looks like some of the things I'm really proud of that we've done in recent years will have to stop. Also have niggling doubt that this might be the wrong thing to do anyway. Bah. Have better days all

Trace: how is P today? Ds2's spots got infected whrn he had the pox, the infected ones looked a bit pussy and the skin around was red. I took him to the gp who prescribed an antibiotic mild steroid cream - it cleared up the spots and his eczema and his skin has been much better since. I'd take her in if you suspect an infection, but let the surgery know as they may want you yo go in before/after usual hours to cut the infection risk. I took him in at the usual time but was asked to sit away from the main waiting area.

Yuck to 4.45am Kiwi. I had that kind of schedule with DD1 for months. DD2 is creeping earlier too, nothing as mad as MiniKi but she has moved from 8am to 5.55am in a week. I can't go through it again so this is what I am doing for a week to break the pattern. As you know her room is pitch black.

1. At bedtime leave her with my iPod playing white noise. Leave it on all night in the hope it will drown out the morning birds (who I believe are the culprits).

2. Set my alarm for 3am (before it gets light). Creep into her room with oral syringe full of medised. Squirt it into her mouth without picking her up. Add a light blanket to her covers as MrsSleep reckoned kids get cold in the early hours. Leave. (Medised is controversial, research it before copying this. I am only using it for a couple of days in the hope it will break the pattern).

3. If she wakes before 6.45 leave her. No matter what. Giving milk etc before this time will train her tummy to be hungry before this time.

4. if she does wake early do not allow extra naps.
   I am paranoid her body clock will reset as it will know
   it can catch up on lost hours during the day.

Who knows if this will work but it's worth a try. Sadly DD1 who usually sleeps like a log woke us up 10 times between 12 and 2 last night. She is acting v oddly at the mo but that is another story.

Urbane - I am with you on the public sector cuts being no fun. One of my busiest teams has two vacancies and the recruitment freeze means we can't fill them. The whole team is up in arms as they will all have to do more yet are less likely to get any bonuses. Interesting projects we were working on will probably be scrapped too. It all makes the career break idea look more and more attractive.

Trace - I hope P is improving. Is Lu still spot free.

LadyT - I quite like Julius but Oswald reminds me of Moseley.

Rubes - Go on, post your list.

Kiwi , not much help either really. I thought the crackdenification would have done the trick. The only thing I can think of that makes a difference with ds is that for the last 2 nights (not by our choice) we have been home later than usual so he hasn't been to bed until about 8-830p (his usual time 7p) and he has woken at 0850 and 0830 respectively. He also (yesterday) didn't nap at ALL during the day yesterday. On a normal day he will nap only once for anywhere from 1-2 hours, sometime in the middle of the day or very early afternoon either before or after lunch.
How much does she nap during the day and what time does she go to bed?

Jam - saw your poorly ds FB pics - hope he feels better soon

Hello Lady. I will play Wed by ear, and see how ds is (sleep wise) and see how I feel to drive far all clackered. I really do want to meet Katie though and see you again of course so we'll see. What time are you both meeting?
Lady I knew you wouldn't be revealing any names! I'm still not sure as I do want hones feedback but I'm worried I'll get put off one's I really like. I pretty much have a top 4 or 5 though.

x posted Avo - wow!! Coulf you really administer meds without her waking? ds would wake if I did that for sure. I swear by the same things though - no extra naps when he was doing those 0530 wakings a few days last week, and I would just leave him if he wakes before 0645. That said. I have a fan in there now and I think he sleeps better with the white noise from it. However, he is also a bit worried about it and only for the last couple of days when he's woken really late he stays on his bed and stares at it - not really looking frightened, just intrigued by it it seems - perhaps get one of those fans Kiwi?

Wowzers AVO hats hardcore! Good luck.

KIWI cant help really we too are still suffering from occasional early mornings. There is one theory which might ring true. Apparantly when they make big developmental milestones their sleep can be disturbed. Possibly its the learning to walk, clutching at straws. ANyway holding hand solidarity on the sleep thing.

Come on Rubes spread the names around or you could be really brave and post on the baby names threads.

Trace how was last night is she any better?

LADYT I would be seriously hacked off by that. Poor wee thing must have been beside herself with tiredness.

Ooh and Veggie yes I did see bisou DS counting We too are training DS2 in the art of large physical movements and how to try and kill yourself in one easy launch from the sofa.

Katie nice to have a finished kitchen if only for a short time before your move. My paretns were like that we would liv ein half finished rooms then they would sell up and magically the house would look great for the few weeks before we upped sticks.

Hi all, quick sneaky post while I'm trying to work. (but obviously not succeeding).
Kiwi, you have my sympathies. It's really shit when they wake so early. I have no advice as whenever I think I've identified the cause of early waking (light, noise, hunger, timing of daytime naps etc) it'll change, leaving my theories in the dust. Sounds like others have got more sensible suggestions though. Are you having to go into work after getting up then or are you working from home?
And not surprised you're dreading DH going off for so long. The only (unhelpful probably) thing I can think is to hope she'll move on from this phase soon and in the meantime you go to bed at a totally uncivilised and horrible hour so you can get some zzzzs in early?

LadyT I'd be at MIL too, that sounds like she's not really thinking at all.
Am v impressed about your courses, was the latest one linked to the last one you did? Oh, and any update on your book?

So sorry for the pox sufferers out there, how are things today?

Had a nice weekend with sis and her 6 month old DD, T was very sweet with her but would on;y let me hold her for a while before doing something very dangerous and attention seeking to get me back! It's so funny, I remember feeling so stressed about things when T was that age (as sis is now) but I now see them and think, blimey, it's such a great and easy stage, they're just on purees, don't move yet, don't eat snails or other foreign objects, don't need constant vigilance etc. But of course you just worry about other things at the time.

Went to GPs this morning and she has referred me to see a counsellor. Apparently it is a bitch of a waiting list but she thinks I might get some priority being pregnant. Anyway, it's good to know the ball is rolling there anyway.

Oh, and wanted to say that's rubbish about your work, Urbane and Avo, what makes good headlines has huge knock-on effects for the workloads and stress levels of a lot of public sector initiatives. It must be an anxious time. But glad things are all ok on the unclackered front, Avo.

HI Jam - hmmm nobody else seems to be spreading the name talk so perhaps I'll lay low.

Lady I meant to say, yes I'd be completely and utterly pissed off about about your mil not even keeping to a remotely similar routine as you do. Can your dp have a word to her about it? Surely she knows how hard she is making it for you after she leaves? Or is she oblivious?

Hi all,
Sneaky lunchtime post .

rubes I think I posted most of my boy's shortlist before, the name we like is actually one you mentioned as your favourite (not your DS's name though - that is already taken by other family!) but I am not sure I got round to saying "oh yes that is also on our shortlist", but anyway, sorry I am not posting shortlists as there is no shortlist any more, just a boys name and girls name, and I don't want you lot changing my mind/giving me doubts!! But anyway I think you probably know my boys name now as will anyone else with a good memory!

Sorry kiwi cannot beat avo's early waking advice, I think she is the thread expert on early wakers, in fact maybe she should write a book!! But sorry, it sounds knackering, may it improve and this month go fast as well.

LadyT I would not be impressed at MIL either. Did you tell her that she should have put her down at some point for a nap?? DS would probably have had meltdown with no nap, he usually crashes out at 11am latest at the moment.

I also saw bisou's counting update, wowzers!! I don't think DS can count to 1. He can count to "lots" when biscuits are involved. I tried to teach him that "Two beans plus two beans equals "Some beans"" a la Baldrick's maths in Blackadder, but alas he is not even up to that intellectual level yet. DH has however taught him to sing the muppets theme tune - endless amusement.

Oh and sorry for the pox ridden P and L. I saw the photos of L on Facebook, poor little man, and trace 100 spots on her face?? Ouch. I think DS got off lightly when he had it as it didn't bother him tooo mcuh.

katie that's great about your kitchen. Sounds like it is all go at yours! We managed to clear out shed and loft this weekend and are feeling very pleased with ourselves. Now got loads of stuff to put on freecycle.

Oh DS is getting worse with his jealousy. I held my friends 8 week old while he was having his tea and he went nuts, gave baby to DH, more nuts, took him out of the highchair to give him a hug, discovered he'd done a poo. Changed him upstairs, he was inconsolable, bring him downstairs, he's crying so much he's sounding like he's going to be sick. DH gives baby back, he's immediately happier, but not impressed for a while after!! Oh dear. It's bad because it's still no good if one of us has a baby and the other is giving him attention!! I guess he'll get over it. Or maybe it'll be ok when it's his own little sibling - ahahahahaha - optimistic, moi?

Oh LadyT I like Jules and Julius is OK but I think i would have found it a bit much alongside Octavia!! Tee hee reminds me that my friend though my DS was called "Caesar" after he received a text after he was born "Sorry Tony, we are not coming round for Christmas lunch, summer has had her baby, Caesar but all fine"
Oh I like Felix (my friend has a little Felix, it is cute), not so sure on Oswald though!

Hmm Summer if it's not my ds's name then it can only be one other! And I LOVE it! But it won't be used by us now even in it's feminine form

Hi all, am feeling v bad mummy today DD has decided that she doesn't like naps any more, used to be a quick BF for 5 mins and she'd be all dopey, lie her in the cot and off she'd go. Last few days, has faffed about on the boob for about 20 mins and then started to kick and/or generally batter me, so have given up and walked her out and about or driven somewhere when DH was here over the weekend. Today I just said "It's sleep time" and left her in the cot. Silence for 30 seconds, then crying really hard. i gave her 5 mins in case she's just drop (she used to do this - whinge a bit then fall asleep but this wasn't really whinging ) but no luck so I went upstairs, gave her a cuddle and she immediately fell asleep on my shoulder. Bad impatient mummy I wish I knew the secret at nursery, apparently she just lies downm when the other kids do and they all go to sleep together.

Kiwi can't help at all on the early starts I'm afraid - blasted birds probably. The white noise is a good idea. How about giving her a big carbtastic dinner, and seeing if that helps keep her asleep for a bit longer? Really hope things get better soon and you don't have too many nights to do on your own.

Poxed up babies - poor lovelies. At least it's out of the way I guess, that's abotu the only bright side to the situation.

urbane and avo it must be very hard at work for you, like urbane says when you've spent a long time setting up lots of great initiatives, to see them going out of the window must be horrid I can't believe DC expects to be making any friends with his annoucements, surely even his own supporters must find this whole "we're climbing into a big dark pit for the next couple of decades" a bit of a downer?

LadyT I don't think you're being overly strict about napping and routines there. It's just foolish not to give her a chance to rest.

Effie if you're about - will FB you re possibly meeting up in Cam tomorrow!

last bit of mememe for this message. DD is being very hard work a lot of the time at the moment. If she doesn't get her own way within about 5 seconds she'll yell a lot. I strapped her into her chair at the table while making lunch, and she immediately started throwing her toys onto the floor then the "mahmamamamaaaaa" came on when I refused to pick them up more than once. So put her on the floor to be able to play without thropwing things about - she starts climbing up the dining chairs and standing on the table. We are very strict about not getting up on the table as it's a long fall onto floorboards. So I have to repeatedly take her down, telling her each time "No that's not safe", but she won't look me in the eye when I try to tell her and has started giggling when I say No sometimes. Is this part of the prelude to the terrible 2s? Or is she just a little tyke?

Oh no, Summer, I am worried by your anecdote about the other baby...and Spot's! I suspect it will be the same here because DD, though gorgeous, is somewhat of an attention monkey.

I know what you mean about Julius being too Roman with Octavia...but I love the name so much I think I would have borne the mockery As to Oswald, yes, it would have been a slight worry that people might have thought we were not-so-closet fascists so that was only in contention for a middle name (DP had an Uncle Oswald whom he loved). Anyway, the girl name I have in mind isn't even faintly Roman so we won't have that problem at least...

After your text story I must tell you (and I know I have mentioned this before but it makes me laugh) - when my mate's stepsister was born, his dad was on the phone to my friend's granny as follows: "We're calling the baby Robyn, with a 'y'". Granny: : "What - Yobbin?"

Kiwi, I am so sorry a difficult month looms for you. We promised you some sort of cheering meet up and we must stick to that. I would like to see Beans as well before she finally crosses into the scary Land of Two Children but I don't know how probable this is. I DO think you need to get some decent earplugs (seriously) and this might be a stupid suggestion but could you somehow stack loads of mad physical activity into the evening before she goes to bed, so she is exhausted? I know what you mean about the morning birds, they are a nuisance. Not sure how to fix this. I wonder if there is such a thing as soundproofing tape for the edges of the window? Is her cot by the winodw itself - could you move it? Gosh, I do hope her clock resets itself soon.

I know I promised a proper catch up but I definitely will do one later.

Oh, as to MIL, the simple fact is that she can't bear to let DD out of her sight. I expected DP to be clearer with her (although it's not like she doesn't know our rough routine anyway) and he wasn't, and all he could really say was how magic it was to have his Mum around for a few days I made my opinion clear to both of them without being rude, and will hammer it home next time.

Cross-posted with you, JJ. I also get defiance and/or hilarity if I say no or something similar. She finds it particularly funny if I say no more than once and tries to keep on doing whatever naughty activity it is, just to elicit a 'no'. Most irritating. Worse, this morning when I had her in bed with me, I said no over something or other and she whacked my coffee cup in a very cross and sulky way, staining my Egyptian cotton pillows with coffee. It's a miracle she wasn't scalded. So, I haven't solved that problem but I do sympathise

jj DS is similar, sometimes NO works temporarily. The only different with him is he does look me in the eye and do a cheeky grin or a comedy expression, and bloody hell does he know he is cute and that I will find him funny.

If you shout NO loud enough he cries and has a tantrum. Sigh.

ladyt haha at "Yobbin".