Dec 08 Ladies welcome to the new Bean, next stop, Summer.

[Veggiemummy]

Sorry very boring had to think quickly, not my best feature

Oh Rubs you poor thing, you've had a hard week. Thank the lord for metanium I say. It is great stuff. If you wanna finish off with something a little easier to put on bepanthun(sp) is good too. But for almost overnight sorting of evil nappy rash metanium is great. Surprisingly, considering his terrible teething DS2 hasn't had much nappy rash, bet he'll get it now I've said that.

He has woken once already tonight at 10pm which is worrying as we are hitting the Holland Casino tomorrow night and don't want to do a dash home in heels again as this time we'll be about 15 mins ride away.

We just watched kick-ass, it wasn't what I expected but I quite liked it.

Vag, I remembered what I wanted to ask you (our resident Homeopathic consultant)
As you know, I'm not the most homeopathy-ish person you'll ever meet but for my CS with DS you put me on to Arnica, and quite frankly, it was a bloody genius concoction and worked wonders for me (or so I believe) Anyway, I am definitely taking it again this time, and have the 30c strength which has to be taken quite frequently as you probably know, and therefore easily forgotten to take. I have found there is 200c strength and I was wondering (probably a dumb question) if I got some of that instead, does it only mean I don't need to take it as often, and otherwise does the same thing? I know I have to start taking it a few days before the op, so gotta get some soon if the 200c would be best.

DS up at 6am so that 7am waking yesterday may have been a one off What time do everyone else's l/o's wake these days? Do I just have to accept that now he's a bit older it's more like 6am all the time now? He's pretty happy though, but I'm shattered. I just ground some fresh coffee then poured the boiling water into the excess Beans I did rather than the plunger (cafetiere is it called here?)

Rubes: the boys tend to wake up between half five and half six. Six seems about average for us. Bleurgh.

Sybs: I'm a 32G and finding decent bras is a pain. I was a 30G at one point which was even worse, the I got measured at Bravissimo and they tried to convince me I was a 28. When I have the cash (ie Xmas and birthdays) I treat myself at Rigby and Peller as they will put me in a bra that lets me breathe!

Rubs to tell you the truth I'm not 100% sure. There is a homeopathic hotline you can ring to check these sorts of things I'll see if I can find the number. I wouldn't think it wouldnt be a problem. The reason for taking the arnica is for healing & reduces the risk of septicaemia. Give the number a call but another thing you can do is take the big dose before the CS then pop a few in a bottle of water and then use that as your drinking water after the CS you'll then get a steady dose of arnica during your recovery. I took almost all my remedies before, during & after DS2's birth in water and it was perfect for me. You are def a good advertisement for Arnica you were up & about so quickly.

Wow Effie big boobs & big feet shopping must be nightmare for you [ wink].

We are going cam gear shopping & I'm stupidly excited about it.

Rubs most definitely not clackered! If I was, you could start a new religion round me...

Veggie sign up for the fashion statement email!! Then you need never miss my musings again . hey do you want me to order that blouse for you ad send it? So silly they don't send to Netherlands

Beans very excited to see you on Monday! Hope you got some more sleep last night. Do let me know if you need anything Ivan easily pick up some shopping en route!

Rubs there is a link here for the homeopathic helpline. It is on my old homeopaths site I'm putting her link up as if you don't get any joy from the phone number give her a call cos she had CS for both her babies so could also help with a phone consult. Note though either way you get charged for a phone help, they gotta make money somehow I guess. If you don't want to pay just do the pop them in a bottle thing and it will still help.

Thanks Vag - that's a good idea. I'm hopeless at remembering to take stuff. I might order some 200c anyway. Yes I really think they helped me get the heck out of hospital the next day (and out sightseeing day 5 ) however some of that might have been running on pure adrenaline as I was excited to see my family.

I'm just back from swimming. DS was a handful as per usual - this little girl is starting way earlier than he did - He's so strong now, however the big bump and getting pummeled by her this morning doesn't help. I swear she's trying to kick her escape out between my now rather ample bosom dh is stuck at work this week but I think next week I'll take a week off and just watch

xed - thanks Vag, will call and see what they say.

oh and xed you kiwi - so the clacker club includes Spot, JJ, WG, Lady, Katie, Lightening, me and who else?
I'm hopeless. Got into the car thismorning with my slippers on, and then there was that coffee bean incident!

Kiwi they only have it in a 14 which would def fit my waist but is too big up top (hooray). Will sign up for it is it on the Guardian site. Hey did you find DHs oystercard? If it's just a pay as you go I can send you one of our many cards, they don't get much use these days.

I did! Thanks though. It was hiding in one of my many bags. Oh and this is where you sign up

I have a few free hours as DH has taken DD out. What shall I do??

And talking of being clackered (or not) - DH quite keen to start trying but I'm in two minds still. I don't want DD to be an only child, so I do want another one.. it's just.. she's still SUCH hard work. In all honesty I find my three days with her seriously exhausting, specially as two of them are almost always solo. Getting back to work on a Tuesday is so restful! Then there's the whole "how the hell do we afford childcare for two kids" thing, then there's the "we need a bigger house but can't afford one anywhere we want to live in London" and.. oh god I don't know. Agh.

Hello everyone. Still on phone as Internet not connected here yet so will be a short one!
House move gone great. Movers were amazing. Love the new house much better than I remembered even. So all good.
On slings jj has a close sling which might be what whoever was talking about - she has a ring sling too but only since her dd is older. We have a close too and love it. I hardly used pram for first 5 months with ds as loved it so much. It is like a moby so stretxhy but It has rings to tighten it so you don't have to do so much tying yourself. But not everyone gets on with them!
Oh rubes meant to ask you what is the swaddling thing you used with ds as I want to get one! Never got the hang of swaddling last time and really don't want to let no 2 sleep on their front like I resorted to with ds was hoping swaddling might help if I have the same back sleep refusing issue this time!
Right no time for more personals as slow at typing on this thing. Oh but rubes you forgot mom from your clackered list! There is lots of us now hey?

summer glad the house move went well You can start to relax a bit now (apart from all the unpacking and arranging...!)
kiwi that's such a hard decision with so many tings to consider. And I guess you have to be prepared for it to take as little as a month to conceive, or as much as a year or two, so you can't exactly have a precise plan anyway. Also bear in mind that there are pros and cons of birth smaller or bigger age gaps, so don't feel it has to be a now or never thing. You could always leave it a year and see if you have more energy and whether babypanda chills out! We have 4.5years between our two, and although I wouldn't have planned it that way, it's actually great most of the time. Don't rush yourself.
Vag hope you enjoy the casino experience! Don't lose too much money!
effie and Sybs wow! What amazing cleavages you must have . My friend and I were sharing a changing room yesterday trying tops on (in Asda!) and she looked at me and said "look at your mini boobs! You don't even fill that bra - what size is it?" (we used to both be a 32/34 D), so we checked and it was a 32C but with room to spare Think I have to accept I'm a B cup now!
ladyt so sorry if you're fed up with the "have you tried.." suggestions , but does little O like Malt Loaf? P munches happily on Soreen, and on the cinnamon and raison loaf they do too.
Poor P is full of a cold. She seems quite happy most of the time though but is so snotty and sticky eyed
We're off to James' work BBQ this afternoon - it's raining though unfortunately! Quite a few of his department have kids so it should be a fun time for the girls too.
Right, had better go,
see you soon xxx

by James, I mean DH, who may or may not be called James

and I'm not sure why that random 'birth' appeared in my post to kiwi!

Thanks trace you are right of course it's not like we - I - have to decide now. I'm mainly just feeling knackered and down on the idea at the moment. DH is such a great dad but DD is so clingy to me (can't thi k why, he's much more fun!) and it does my head in. She's so happy at nursery but when she's with me she wants constant, 100% attention preferably while being carried and with a boob in her mouth... I'm sure I should look forward to weekends and spending time with get but I have one eye on the clock from the minute she gets up. She's always been a demanding little thing but every so often it just seems toO much

Ps I was a B cup to start with.. By the time DD is finally weaned (at this rate probably her 18th birthday..) I'll be AAAA...

just lost a long post and now am very irritated so will summarize.
Kiwi - are you still BF? could you express and let dh do some feeds? This is what made ds way less clingy earlier on.
Trace makes a very good point could take just 1 month (ala LadyT) but could take 2+ years so keep that in mind - hard to plan.

Summer I have loads of different swaddling stuff but the best for nighttime was the Miracle Blanket and it truly was. DS slept through from the first night I used it. I think you can get it at Mothercare but could even be cheaper online elsewhere.

Gosh gotta go. ds has had major meltdown due to lack of long nap (had to go out so evidently 40 mins in the car is not enough )

Rubs yeah I am, but the thing she's fine when st nursery or not with me - happily has her oat milk - but when she can see me she only wants me...

Swaddling was totally essential for us too, she was (is) such a wriggly little thing! We bought miracle blanket too on Internet though also had a merino one which was better as DD was tiny and it was smaller. Also sling was essential too. I have about five diff kinds

Hi ladies just back from big shop day and was just settling in to write some ramblings when I read traces post referring to our casino night. Bloody hell! I completely forgot there is crap everywhere the boys are wired from eating hunk all day and the sitter is coming in an hour. Aaaahhhhhh.

Will just say there is 3 years 4 months between our boys and it works really well for us. I feel like I'm able to spread my time between the 2 fairly well and DS1 is older so less dependent on me. Also he is great with DS2 & plays really well with him, without finding him too babyish and boring. Right better go sort this house out!

Kiwi - do they make the actual Miracle Blanket in Merino too? I searched but can't find one. The only one that worked properly for us was the original Miracle Blanket which has the little wings to pin their arms down like they're in a straight jacket Otherwise hecould wriggle out, but I did have several others that I used during the day for naps..... I too have a million few different types

Have you had fun Vaggie

Hi,

Had a fantastic holiday in Dorset by the sea, and came back then got weighed down by work - which thankfully is sorted now. Just wanted to say congratulations to WG and Mom and Katie and also invis for the new job, and spot for the book launch. And glad your Dad is Ok, LadyT, if I remember you saying that ?

Have to say there seems to be some kind of breakthrough here, I dont know if it was giving up breastfeeding, or just the DC's ages, or drving, but suddenly I have time and energy for me. I read the paper yesterday, during the day. And I did some painting last weekend, I can drink wine and go to bed late, its amazing. And I lent some baby stuff to a friend and now I feel sad that time of such dependence is over, how sad is that ! We are still talking about a third may still happen in a year or so (if we feel the same way and feel that we can afford it). For some reason, I think I could enjoy it "properly" the third time round which is probably completely bonkers.

I have also introduced the children to my own childhood in papier mache, egg-box monsters, Scooby Doo, and leftovers on toast, which for me is a lovely way to feel closer to my own mum.

At the moment I am in the garden listening to an 80s concert nearby, so far I have heard, Erasure, Howard Jones, Kim Wilde and am hoping for Rick Astley before bed

Cambridge Meet-up, I am thinking of taking a week off work with the boys soon. But are we coming too close to a due date now ?

Njan how lovely! I find also that simply being away from home gives you more time for yourself as every spare minute doesn't feel like it ought to be spent doing tidying/laundry etc! So glad you feel a bit rested. I wonder if I'd have more energy if I stopped BF?? Can't bring myself to force the issue w DD though. Having her ill again recently made me realise how useful it can be...

Rubs no I think our one was from Bambino merino or similar. Exactly the same shape as the miracle blanket just a bit smaller - and I found slightly stretchier too. We used to actually tie her in, true straight-jacket style, and she'd still have an arm out within minutes...

NJAN I'm so pleased for you. You sound so content and happy Hurrah for the phase you're in! I'm jealous of the 80s concert
We went to dh's work bbq yesterday which was from 4.30, so we stayed much later than the girls' bedtimes. We got in just after 8 (P normally goes to bed at 6 and Lu at 6.45ish) so I was expecting anearly grumpy morning from them both, but...Lu only got up about 8.45 and happily watched TV on her own for half an hour, then I got up and watched tv with her, and P has still not woken up! It's almost 10! This is completely unheard of Part of me is a bit worried because she has a bad cold and there's a little niggle wondering if she's ok, but then if I go and check on her I'll wake her up with the door, and she's probably just needing the sleep. DH is still in bed, L is now in the bath and here I am with the laptop! Happy days
Off to curch in an hour, then to the PIL this aft with FIL's birthday present. Hope you all have lovely Sundays and that veggie isn't too wiped out from the Night At The Casino!
xxx