Ohmigod, you lot have chatted today!
Will try and answer all points - so prepare for a long post .
going, I think the resentment about dh still having a life is part of the problem. He's going on a lads' weekend this weekend climbing Snowdon and I'm sooo . This is the kind of thing we'd have done together pre-kids, he still gets to do it, I don't. He is going with the NCT dads, and I have suggested to the NCT mums we also go away for a weekend . . . . they jumped at the idea, but they want to go shopping . My idea of hell! I just don't enjoy the kind of activites that my girlfriends see as fun - shopping, spa, clubbing, etc. I would rather go cycling, hill walking, zorbing or throwing myself out of a plane . Problem is my Action Buddy is my hubby and we can't do it together anymore . It's obviously far easier for him to find male buddies to do this stuff with than it is for me to find girlfriends to share this kind of experience with.
I should have been born a bloke!!
DG, we have had a couple of nights out courtesy of willing babysitters (my mum and one of my best friends here who used to be a maternity nurse and is utterly fab). I did start a babysitting circle with the NCT but it fell apart within weeks. I have my suspicions why (in fact discussed it at the time via our little secret FB club ) but couldn't mention it on here!
We have a couple of other friends who have suggested doing a circle, cos their families live in Scotland and Canada respectively. However both of the mums are now expecting No 2 so babysitting is going to be a little tricky!
AH, lol at having a handy 12 year old! Your boys are a little bit older though aren't they. I wouldn't mind leaving A with a teenager (my friend's son has looked after him for me when M was v small, just for an hour or so and in the house) but I don't think there are many kids who could manage M. He is a very challenging baby .
And this is the problem, it's M that's the issue not A. For those of you who mentioned tv, I don't have any massive issues with it, and A does watch it now and again, but M isn't remotely interested (I wouldn't have thought many 9 mths old are though!) so it doesn't really distract him.
M cries all the time - constantly. I don't mean screaming all day, I mean just constant 'whinging'. I hate that word but can't think of a better one . It's immensely stressful, and drives me insane . I try everything to distract him (feed him, cuddle him, hold him, let him play, play with him, leave him alone, put him in his cot) but I can't seem to do right for doing wrong.
I had friend round yesterday who has a four year old DS and 20 month old DD and she said her DS was exactly the same when he was M's age. She said she literally counted down the days before she could go back to work and have a break and that's how I feel at the moment. And then I am racked with guilt for feeling like it . A, on the other hand, is very easy to spend time with - he loves his books, his puzzles and his garden and he's happy.
Sorry for that long whinge .
My friend said her DS eventually grew out of it at about a year old, so fingers crossed the same will happen with M. He can be such a happy little boy, but more often than not he just seems so stressed about everything. I think if I was sleeping then I would have more patience, but trying to cope with his day-long crying on little sleep is pushing me to breaking point .
On the sleep issue, last night was better. Midnight and 3am he had water feeds and then slept on til 6.30am. Much better . Now we just have to try and lose the water feeds.
As for names, I'm a traditionalist so won't comment on Beau , but I have never dated a Simon! Lol at Brian or Roy though poppy.
I was pleased to hear that things went ok at the hospital for you today. Was thinking of you x
Dewin, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you - that's all I can offer I'm afraid . Oh and thanks for your email - will respond when I've measured the wall!
Right, waffled on enough . . .