June 08 - a Coalition for all (even those with May or July 08 babies).

[DomesticGoddessInTraining]

Abdn liked the title so I just went ahead!

I am going to be on the sleeping thing.

C has been wearing bunches for the first time this week. She loves them! So funny, they are like little tiny tufts of hair, but she keeps telling me 'I got pretty bunches' and 'where my bunches?' if I haven't put them in.

C is still in a travel cot, we have a ready bed, but I think she'd climb out of it at the moment.

penguin that's crap about the laptop, is it covered on insurance? hope so.

amber sorry about the nausea, hope it settles again soon.

dewin well done on getting the application in!

I got my form signed today, so can send in my mat leave forms! hooray. When did those of you with 2 take Mat leave the second time around? I'm planning on working until 37 weeks I think, including taking 2 weeks annual leave, so my mat leave is starting at 39 weeks, am i being mad? I've front loaded my on call for the next 3 months though, so only day time working in the last 4 or 5 weeks, and no weekends after August.

Ah, sleep... Well, I think I disagree with Eddie on good sleepers/bad sleepers. I think they can have phases - because now I have a good sleeper (bet I don't tonight because I've said it ) but I didn't before: it was hellish. (First Christmas: Christmas week had a total of 12 hours sleep - that's over 7 days, Boxing Day night being 1 hour total. Plus, he had given up on bottles so nobody could help out. Would have done anything for a night off then: his size meant he fed every 3-4 hours, day and night, so I never got more than 3-4 hours that Christmas. And, just to polish the award, PILs came to stay - they don't make their own cups of tea (or for anyone else either), or wash up, or clear up, or anything. ) Difference is, I don't have an older one as well. (But think of the reasons: when Eddie got pg second time, I hadn't had a full night's sleep since Iestyn was born, and didn't for several months either: I mean, not one! Iestyn averaged 1 wake up on a good night, but more likely 2-3, and started at 6am.) He did have a phase of early waking too, and that lasted a while - it was sometime after he had been weaned (!! so, like some time in the confused last 18 months...)
Now he sleeps and everyone is a whole load happier for it.

Off to do Davina now in the hope that I feel better about stuff - in despair that I haven't done enough for my job app. I'm not a patient person - does it show?

Oooh, have to take issue with you on the "FF and they sleep better" myth Neenz! M has been FF practically since day one and his sleep is shite! The two NCT babies who slept the best were both bf - I don't think there is any correlation personally.

Dewin, yes I agree sleep can change - A went from ace sleeper, to crap sleeper, to ok sleeper - but I think some kids are naturally early risers and I suspect M and Luke both fall into this category. Unfortunately one friend also has an early riser who is now four and showing no signs of growing out of it .

Biscuits, I was planning to go off at 38 weeks 2nd time round but was signed off at 34 weeks in the end. M arrived at 38 weeks though so quite glad I had a month beforehand to prepare!

penguin will ask dh about the laptop recommendation.

I think some kids are naturally early risers as Luke has NEVER had a phase of sleeping normal hours he has only ever woken early. Dewin I remember your sleep mares and the bottle problem. Blimey I hope your next one doesn't go the same way (wanting milk only from source!!).

You shouldn't be doing Davina this late - you'll never sleep!

Luke has a playdate tomorrow ad I'm really excited! One of the kiddies from nursery. I'm also going to take Luke to the supermarket and get him to choose some fruit in the hope that he will eat it [not too hopeful emoticon]. He has been going on about blueberries after seeing them on tv so we'll see.

I know, I know Amber... I try to do it usually at 8pm, half an hour or so. (Don't actually have other time - are there extra hours floating around that I don't know about? ) But I needed the endorphins! I've done it now - a hard one too (bought box set 2 because I like box set 1, and it's hard!).
I'm considering taking a glass of something alcoholic to counter the effects. See, I could be like Elvis - take stuff to make me sleep, take stuff to make me awake. Except I'd be in better shape!

Eddie yeah I know people with naturally early risers. One friend - her middle child is but the other two aren't. That's a tough one! You never know - M might change - Iestyn went dreadful, dreadful, worse than dreadful, dreadful, getting somewhere, dreadful, good in parts, dreadful, good, very good. Actually it stops there! If you're starting at a terrible place it can only get better!

God, yeah, I'd kind of put the bottle 'problem' (at the time problem was not the word...) out of my mind. Weird how you forget these things. Thanks for the reminder, Amber, I won't have a second one just yet then and it's all because of you! Seriously, though, for all his good sleeping, Iestyn is headstrong. That explains the bottle - he would have starved before he gave in. Must be a genetic throwback or something, beats me where it comes from...

What a load of grins. Must be the endorphins.

Can you link to your Davinia DVD Dewin? I need a new one !

I'm going to sign up for Couch25k this weekend, when dh shows me how to do it .

KWYM about headstrong - M is like that. Took them out for pizza this evening and my meal arrived before his (naughty waitress!) and M climbed out his highchair and started crawling across the table to reach my food ! Don't know where he puts all this food mind!

He is utterly determined to get what he wants and drives A mad cos what he wants is usually what A has!

Oh, yeah. It's this one. I've got (borrowed from my sister) the other box set too, the one with the 3 x 30 mins workouts and power of 3. This new one is a bit harder.
If you want tougher than that, it's Nell McAndrew.
Is Couch 25k a run? Long way to run, no?

(Long running joke - my friend and colleague just took part in the Swiss gigathlon. And did very well. Absolutely mad.)

Lol, no, badly written there - Couch 2 5k !

Maybe could move onto 25k . . .

Thanks for link x

Don't remind me about the battle of the bottle. [fingers in ears] Not going to think about it for this one...

Going to go to JL for a little bit of retail therapy. actually, mainly need to buy more yarn for the blanket that I am knitting for my sister's bump - it's this one for those of you on ravelry.

LOL at M climbing across the table to get to your pizza Eddie!

Oh, yeah, Biscuits - forgot you went through that too. Did you win in the end? I didn't and he won't drink from a bottle even for playing, even now.
Very impressed at the blanket.

Eddie I seriously thought you were running 25k, and only made the comment about it being a long way because I wouldn't contemplate running further than 1 mile, and then only to escape from a charging animal/killer/certain academic colleagues.

And Amber was right - it took me hours to get to sleep last night. Doh.

Now you're disappointed right Dewin?!

I used to run 10ks before pg/IVF, etc. Would like to get back to that distance first, then progress. 25k is only just over a half marathon distance and I would like to run a half marathon next year or the year after, so yes that is the long term aim .

I loved running - I became very Forrest Gump about it and badly miss it. Such a fantastic stress reliever and an exercise you can do anywhere while enjoying the scenery and your own thoughts.

As you can see I'm quite evangelical about it .

No laptop insurance, but may be able to just replace the screen for about £200, which would be much better.

Wow Biscuits! That blanket looks amazing. I've just sewn up my very first pair of booties and two pairs of knitted baby mary janes. Very proud of myself, even if they are real beginners stuff. Any beginners patterns very welcome (esp. blankets or socks).

Just joined ravelry to look for patterns - NN: Badjelly.

Amber - R loving fruit ATM. He has always loved blueberries and satsumas. Can also recommend oranges cut into quarters (he eats and then spits out the peel) and bananas but only if the peel if still on.

Applied for my job today - took ages, 7 page online application form, CV and covering letter! For a temp p/t customer services role in the local council! If I get it (and it's a big IF because I am really crap at underplaying stuff and without being smug I am massively overqualified), I will be working pretty much up to my due date. But that's the advantage of planned C sections I guess. And I'll have just had two weeks off for Xmas and New Year.

Off up the mountain tomorrow - very excited, lots of snow! And we're going to go to some natural thermal hot pools too (just the kiddies one for me with R, not too hot). So see you all on Thursday. Don't chat too much!

Eddie - There is a podcast of couch to 5k somewhere, let me know if you want me to have a search, I know we've got it somewhere. Also there are a few threads on it on here - well done you BTW. Esp with chicken pox and no sleep!

Dewin - Loving the endorphin crazed grins.

Neenz - No sleep until 5am!!!

Quick question - I have cupcakes (not the ones I baked this morning as mentioned in fb) that have been iced with butter icing. Am way too full to eat them - store in fridge or airtight container.

Sorry, got loads of advice on this previously from Valium and others but can't remember!

Will come back and post properly later...

airtight container!

Just put C in her cotbed with her duvet for the first time - she was so excited, and snuggled down, no complaints, said 'I'm a bit cosy Mummy!' and seems to have settled in for the night! I think the sleeping bag days are well and truly over!

penguin, that would be great. Btw, dh says that if you're laptop is fairly old then don't bother replacing the screen. You can get a new laptop for as little as £300 depending on what you want to use it for. If you're interested in him giving you some recommendations then let me know .

Biscuits, glad C likes her duvet .

oooh ooooh I've just met Neenz and her family! And because I've seen lots of photos of them I was able to freak her out by asking if she was Neenz .

Hahaha!

How weird - where did you meet? I know you'd tried to make a meeting time but hadn't managed it so did you end up just bumping into each other?!

We met in church . We straggled into the children's liturgy late and there was Neenz and her family. They were there for a relative's baptism. I saw the twins and saw a v pregnant lady and it all fell into place! How brilliant is that?

Amazing! How lovely - you must have given her one hell of a shock!

Yes she did give me a shock! It was a baptism at Rolf's church (didn't know it was her church of course). We went into the creche and Rolf said 'Hi, Nina?' and I said 'yes' (trying to rack my brains where I knew her from but obv didn't recognise her at all!) Then she said her name and I was so shocked - most of all because Rolf always says she is old and dowdy and frumpy looking and she is nothing of the sort - she is gorgeous, slim and young! And very nice of course . And her DCs are gorgeous too and very polite. So that's opened the floodgates now - no excuses for not meeting up more often

Eddie, you're right re ff and sleep - was trying to put positive spin on it for Amber . At least if ff then hopefully someone else can feed one while A feeds the other and then even if they only sleep 1-2hrs at least it is at same time so you can sleep too. Or if you get them both propped up you can feed them both at same time on your own. Not ideal but if it gets you through the night...

Eddie, I thought you were doing 25k run too

Aw, biscuits, that is sweet about the bed!

My SIL had her twins last night - 34+5wks, two girls (so Dan is safe ), both born breech and vaginally , she was due to have section at 37wks but obv went into labour last night and when she got to hospital she was already 10cm dilated! She didn't even think she was in labour cos pains were not that bad . So she was delivered by MWs only cos consultant didnt get there. Panic all round cos second twin got into distress and needed to be dragged out feet first, but ok even tho she is not breathing on her own yet. But both expected to be fine - both in scbu at mo. They said it was their first ever twin breech birth!

Neenz - glad your sil ok and hope twins out scbu soon. And as you say your name is safe.

Hello everyone else - nothing much to add as bit tired/jaded as had friend to stay last nigh and too much wine consumed.

Aw, you've made me all weepy, and it's got nothing to do with the half-bottle of champagne...

LOL @ Neenz: now I have met Rolf and I know she is nice and the children are well behaved we should meet up more often. (I know that's not how you meant it of course).

Wow on a twin breech birth. Hope both babies are ok. What names did she go for?

Back from Lincs. Great weekend with my friend. She is 39 weeks pg luckily I wasn't required to do any emergency babysitting! P resisted all normal sleeping arrangements but was fine at home last night. Will have to have a think before we go away again.