July/August Mummies

[Kim]

Hi girls

Well, Thomas will be 15 months old on Friday and is just a little sweetie.

He's a bit lazy in the walking department, he crawls nearly all the time, but will walk a few steps every now and again when he feels like it. The last couple of nights he's seemed quite keen to show off this new skill so I think he's on his way now.

He can say quite a few words now and has got a thing about brushes !?!!
Hair brushes, floor brushes, makeup brushes, toothbrushes - sometimes he even pretends his spoon is a hair brush which can make mealtimes even more messy than usual !!

He tries to feed himself with his spoon and fork but needs lots of help. We recently discovered that he absolutely loves smoked haddock. Some of his other favourite foods are pasta, cheese, cucumber and tomatoes.

His favourite toys at the moment are cars. We found a box of his brothers old cars and he loves them. He loves looking through books as well.

His favourite TV programmes are Noddy and Peppa Pig as well as other programmes on Milkshake.

So life is fun and Thomas is making new discoveries every day - I'm so happy !!

Hope you and your babies are all well and enjoying this very special time.

Love

Kim and Thomas

[Toni]

Hi Everyone

Kim - sounds like things are great. Isn't it lovely to see our babies developing day by day? Thomas sounds like he is far more advanced than my 2 though - but i tell myself that they were 6 weeks premature, and that all babies develop differently. I wish they would talk more mind you. Charlotte says 'Keys', 'big', 'yeh!' and 'mama' and 'dada'. Tom just says complete nonsense in between 'mama' and 'dada', but its very cute! I read somewhere that twins are slower with speech than singular babies - does anyone know anything about this?

Thomas loves toddling around with his brick trolley or push walker and can stand nice and steadily now. He seems hesitant to take those first few steps on his own but i dont think it will be long. To be honest im quite glad that my 2 arent running in opposite directions yet! Its hard enough trying to keep an eye on them when they are crawling around! Charlotte loves to crawl everywhere and anywhere - and we often play chase with her where we crawl after her. She giggles madly like its a big joke!

Eating is going steadily well. Tom loves to make a mess with finger foods but we havent got on to the spoon feeding stage yet. Charlotte still doenst have much in the way of teeth so she struggles a bit and i have to make her sandwiches a bit smaller (other things - pasta, carrots, cucumber - she manages fine) and help her out - but she gives it a good go and we are getting there. They love anything tomatoey based and when they have jacket potato with spaghetti hoops they cant eat it fast enough and make yum yum noises throughout the whole thing. Other favourites include anything on a traditional roast (except cabbage), yoghurt, rice pudding, custard (im a bit manic at trying to make sure they are getting enough milk based products!).

we had another holiday a couple of weeks back - when we suddenly got that lovely hot weather back? we went off for a weekend to a Haven site on the east coast. It was lovely for the kids, we did sooooo much. it was a very cheesy place - but so bright a colourful that the kids couldnt help loving it! they had shows every night and Tom and Charlotte were almost open mouthed with bewilderment. We even took them dancing on the dance floor and let them have chinese takeaway with us. The beach was lovely and sandy, we built lots of sandcastles which the twins promptly destroyed, the swimming pool was really huge so we had fun in there every day. I could go on and on but i won't bore you!

we also have Milkshake on in the mornings - Charlottes fave is Hi 5 - have you seen it? The minute it starts up she looks around for me, gives me this huge grin nd starts clapping her hands! Its really sweet! the other thing we have discovered is The Wiggles on Nick jnr. Geoff and the twins love it, but i think its a little bit bizarre. It gets on my nerves i have to admit - but all the tunes get stuck in my head! Apparently they are totally huge in the US!!

Charlottes modelling career is going well - she will appear in the Next store on a couple of items next spring so look out for her (ill remind you!). its something Geoff decided to do - sign our babies up to an agency as he thought they were so cute. As do i. But i figured as Tom and Charlottes mum i was probably just totally biased with rose tinted glasses! Next got ahold of Charlotte and she went in for a few fittings at HQ first and then started having her photo taken! They totally adore her there, and she loves going. She gets paid properly - we had to open her own bank account as we recieve cheques made payable to her - its all very professional!! Its nothing huge yet, but im still pretty proud! We have had no interest in Tom yet, but we love in hope bless him!

How are u all getting on - besides Kim and Jacqui a while back no one seems to have posted for a while!?

Love and kisses

Toni xx

[Toni]

What the ....... ??????????

[Toni]

What the ....... ??????????

[Toni]

Hi everyone

just to let u know that ive added some more pics to photobucket, as havent done so for a while. would love to see some pics of everyone elses babes!

Love as always

Toni x

[kappy]

Hi July/August Mommies!
Toni ... had to pop on to tell you what gorgeous babies you have =) Thomas and Charlotte are just adorable, as are the rest of the July/August babies. Not sure if you remember me from Pregnant after Treatment forum, but I had a little girl (Hannah) at in August of 2005. She's a little over 13 months now, and we are just having the time of our lives with her. It's such a great age (although I seem to say that every month).

As for language development, walking, etc. ... I also worry, but I'm told constantly that every baby is different. Hannah started walking just after her 1st birthday. Looks like a little monkey though with her arms in the air =) I couldn't imagine chasing two around, so it's probably good that your only running after one at the moment. Soon enough they will have you going in opposite directions =)

As for talking Hannah's vocabulary is pretty limited. "Uh oh" was her first utterance, then da da and teddy. She tries to say thank you and all done, but I'm probably the only person who recognizes it. I know she knows what I ask her ... like "where's your sippy cup" or something similar. She always looks at what I'm saying or goes to pick it up. My guess is that she will just start talking one day soon and it will all come out. I've also heard that twins are slower to talk. I think I read that it's because they communicate so well between themselves --- their own way (I'm sure you know this well). It's truly amazing how smart they are, and how fast they pick up on things.

Well again - just wanted to say hello to all the mommies out there. Love seeing everyone's pictures!

Kelly

[Kim]

Hi girls

Just to let you know I've put a picture of Thomas on Photobucket.

Hi Kelly - I remember you!! I totally understand how each month just gets better and better - no doubt this won't last forever.

Toni - The twins are gorgeous - they look full of fun.

Jackie - How are you - haven't heard from you for a while.

Hope everyone else is good

Love

Kim

[Toni]

Kim

CUTE!!!! I mean Thomas. Clever lad - climbing trees already - son he will be bringing you home some apples!!! Oh and we have that dungarees set too!!!

he looks like such a gorgeous little boy - you must be so proud!

Toni xx

[Toni]

Oh and Kelly - yes of course i remember you. I was glued to the site back then, it was such a support to me!

Hannah sounds a delight, and it sounds like you are gtting on well. Put up some up to date pics and don't be a stranger, ok?!!

Love and kisses

Toni xx

[Toni]

Hi girls

if you pop into Next have a look at the newborn section and look for some tights. they are in a plastic wrapper and have a mouse on the seat of them - they are cream and pink.

The little baby on the front modelling the tights is CHARLOTTE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im so proud of her - sorry for gushing ......................

Toni x

[sophiejane]

Hi all
Sorry I've been away for a while. My home computer has been down for ages and just so busy.
I'm going to go off to Next and have a look at Charlotte. I'll tell everyone that I know her Mum (even though I've never actually met you!!)

Freya is a delight (now nearly 16 months). Been walking since she was 13 months old, and now even running (when I'm trying to put her nappy on, or get her dressed). She talks gibberish all day long - limited clear words except hello, daddy. She's starting doing this fake laugh at everthing which I just find hilarious.

She still has a big problem with pooing. She's had an anal fissure since about March which we just can't get rid of. She holds poo in because she knows its going to hurt. This obviously makes her poos bigger so when she finally goes she's in so much pain. Consultant has just increased meds but this is giving her stomach ache so we are back to the drawing board. Hoping that it will resolve itself with age.

Other than that its great. ShelLoves adult food (so she gets our left over spag bol, pasta bake, curries and stir fry). Her favourite at the moment is tomatos and of course cheerios. It makes it so much easier now they are a bit more robust and can take them out to farms, soft play etc. Mind you I still don't get much time to do this as I work 4 days a week.
It is still exhausting having a toddler, and finding time with dh is simply impossible. Freya still takes all my time, energy, focus and worry. Yes I still worry and still have a monitor in her room each night?? I don't think I'll ever stop worrying about her. When I'm working I phone my Mum or Nursery to check all is well. So yes, still as neurotic as I was when pg.

Kim, Toni and Jackie - glad to see all is well. Thanks Toni for your private messages finding out where/how I am!!

Any of you going to try ivf again? I still want to, but not quite yet. maybe in a years time.
Off to see the photobucket
love from soph

[sophiejane]

Just put photos of Freya on photo bucket. Just realised that the house looks a tip in one of the photos (clothes and toys everywhere!!!) Sorry I normally do tidy up, I promise. ....

[Toni]

Soph - HI!!!!!

Blimey I almost fell off the sofa when i saw u had posted!!

Sounds like u r having as wonderful a time as the rest of us. I don't, however, think you are worrying too much! I too still have a monitor in the twins room. we are soon going to split them up tho, so they get used to being apart and in their own rooms. so don't know whether I will buy another monitor then, or just get rid of the one we have now.

Soph - really u shouldnt worry about how tidy ur house is! My house is NEVER tidy. To be honest keeping the place tidy is pointless til about half 7, 8pm when Thomas and Charlotte have gone to bed, as they just mess it up again! I was never a very tidy person anyway - only in the kitchen!

Take care and keep in toch - off to lok at Freya now!

Love as always

Toni xx

[Jackie S]

Hi everyone

Finally got round to rewriting post due to the last effort being lost!!!

Joshua is great, moved into 9-12 month clothes a couple of weeks ago. He is still very tall but quite thin so the clothes tend to last a lot longer. Just got him a leather look jacket from Adams he looks so grown up in it.

We got his first shoes on Saturday, a lovely pair of boots. Was told to put off buying proper shoes until they start walking properly on their own... and he started 28th October after months of walking holding on.

Joshua walks to the bus stop near us everyday, he has a bang on the seat and then we turn back. It takes us between 45 mins and 2 hours according to what he sees. He refuses to carry on until he has inspected every branch on the hedges and loves whacking them so they vibrate -he is SO funny. We have a horse field round the corner and he knows they are there. The other day we were saying 'hello' to one of the horses and I looked up to find the other one with Joshua hat in his teeth. Joshua was giggling like crazy!!!

We got Joshua one of the ISO fix carseats, expensive but well worth the extra. It is attatched straight into the seat so no seatbelts have to hold it in place, he looks so comfy in it. Sophie I still use the monitor, we have the Angelcare and the movement senser pad came away from the wires. I was so upset and John had to take it into the uni to fix it. I was so relieved to get it back. We have never used the noise monitor because we live in a bungalow so we can hear everything.

Joshua hasn't really started talking yet, just Mama and Yeah. I was so glad he didn't say No first -I don't think I could have coped with that!!!

I feel so blessed that I can be a full time mummy to Joshua. We have so much fun together although it is very hard and tiring trying to keep thinking of new games. His favorite 'toy' is his Room On The Broom book by Julia Donaldson -we have 4 copies of it all so we can always find one. He will actually carry the book over when he wants a story. We never bought him any 'baby' books just proper story books which I still read at least 12 a day to him. He has a cardboard copy of Room On The Broom and he turns the pages on his book and you can see him following the pictures. One of the pages has a picture of the witch fainted in the dragons arms, since I first read the book to him when he was about 3 months old I have always stroked the picture with Joshua's hand. About 2 weeks ago he started grabbing my hand and stroking the witch with it when I turn on to that page.

He is also obsessed with shoelaces and will quite happilly sit for over an hour threading the lace through one of the holes, pulling it out and doing it over and over again. He has such concentration on his face. He also has the habbit of grabbing our finger when he can't do something and dragging us over to whatever he wants then he puts our finger on whatever he wants. Usually it is because we have turned the batteries off. He also has a couple of the musical books, he grabs our finger and pushes it into whatever button he wants to play. He has a Winnie The Pooh musical book and likes the Little Roo lullaby.

Joshua loves his food. He doesn't snack between meals and eats proper dinners straight off. I have never done any choo choo trains etc just praised his and clapped after he has finished his food so he eats his meals at the same pace as us. It works really well. He still hasn't had any chocolate or sweets, he has the odd digestive biscuit about 2 times a week, he hasn't had any crisps, processed foods etc. Like I said I am lucky because I get to stay at home with him. He loves chinese, pasta, spaghetti bolagnaise (sp?) full sunday roast especially Yorkshire pudding, scrambled egg, yoghurt, raisins, fruit, chicken and icecream although anything we offer usually disappears big time!!! He usually has 1-2 slices of bread cubed before his dinner -he smells food and thats it -cry city until it arrives so bread is very handy.

He still sleeps straight through which is great. We haven't got up to him once since he was 1 month old. Everyone looks daggers at us when they hear that. He goes to bed about 10pm and will sleep until about 9.30am then he is awake playing until he goes to bed, he probably has 1 hour afternoon sleep 2 times a week at the most. But he is such good fun.

I am still on sleeping tablets and anti depressants which isn't good. I have also had 3 major fits in the last 6 weeks. John called the ambulance for one of them. I have only ever had 1 major fit in 16 years but lots of minor, then they started up after Joshua arrived. I have had my meds increased 3 times in a year. I am seeing consultant tomorrow. My GP says it is major stress that is causing them. Joshua was terrified of me when I had the one with the ambulance, I had been holding him when I fell. I was unconsious for about 10 minutes luckily John was there, poor Joshua wouldn't come near me for about 3 days.

We went on holiday in September (3rd since Joshua arrive) it was the holiday from hell. We are in the process of claiming from the tour operator. Joshua actually had a cockroach running up his arm in the hotel restaurant -I was absolutely furious. He got a double ear infection and had to see the dr. He the got severe sickness and the runs. We had to see an airport doctor because they refused us our flight until Joshua had a certificate to travel. Everyday something else was going wrong and I spent every evening in tears. Like I said we are trying to get refund etc so I won't go into too much detail. We are hoping to go on 1 more holiday before Joshua reaches 2 years old, that is when you have to start paying for him. We always buy last minute through the operators website and have never had any problems before. We even booked our honeymoon just 10 days before we left. We didn't think we could have one.

I love being with Joshua but since his birth he has only been apart from us for about 8 xtimes 4 hours in the afternoon. John and I have had 3 of these together once last Christmas so we could go shopping, and 2 to get ready for holiday.

Everybody loves him because he really loves being around people and is so socialble, John's work colleagues really spoil him. The majority the department are Chinese so there are evenings out at the all you can eat restaurants. They are there feeding all the best foods and he is there mouth open waiting for the next. We went out with them about a month ago and we didn't see Joshua for the evening because everyone was claiming him and taking him off for walks. They say he isn't just our baby, he is the whole departments because they followed the pregnancy all the way through, I had at least 1 scan a month so they saw lots of pictures and they all know he is special.

We had bonfire celebrations for the close we live on, on our front garden. Three families were there and we had a BBQ, hot roast pork and stuffing batches, baked potatos etc The fireworks went on for almost 3 hours. We have a massive black patch on our front garden from the fireworks. I swear John and my friends husband are a lethal combination -enough said!!!

I can't believe it is only 5-6 weeks until Christmas, how scary is that? It will be the first Christmas they will be aware of -can't wait. We got Joshua a drum and lots of tamberines, shakers etc for Christmas on Saturday -funny Christmas seemed to have been Saturday night. We got Joshua that Spin & Bounce Zebra a few weeks ago and Joshua loves it. HE can't get on it by himself so he stands next to it, holds on to the ears and bounces on the floor looking at us to come over and put him on it.

I now have 14,274 pictures of him. He is such a poser. I am so glad I have them all because it feels like I missed his first year with the depression. HE has changed so much.

Wow! I have really gone on. Thomas, Freya, Thomas, Charlotte and Hannah are all well and being little monsters. I call Joshua my 'mini monster' and he has a big grin because it is usually when he has emptied all the cuddly toys out of his cot and looking at me with such it wasn't me dark brown eyes -so cute it just melts me and he knows it.

Hope to see lots of posts soon -I love reading how we are all getting on -it is great.

Seeya soon

Jackie

[Toni]

Hi Jackie

lovely to hear from you again! so sorry you are still suffering so badly withe the depression and fits - it must be so awful for all of you at times!!!

WE had our first night away from the twins on sat. My sis-in-law had them stay at hers, and we went out for a meal and slept late the next day. My husband even offered to make me some breakfast but i was enjoying being in bed so much i didnt want it!! Im sure you all think I'm a terrible mum now for spending a night away!! But it was great for US and Im sure that my lifted mood rubbed off on Thomas and Charlotte. It was the first time in 16 months after all!! I was so pleased to see them the next day though!!!!

I was worried that they wouldnt settle because, even though they know my sis in law, her boyfriend and their 2 cousins really well its a strange place for them to sleep. Apparently they were good as gold. Thomas slept straight thru and Charlotte woke a couple of times wanting some water. it quite nice to know that I CAN leave them, tho its also something I won't do for a long time again!!

Charlotte has started using her toy phone properly - for the first time yesterday she put the handset to her ear!!! No she just hunts til she finds the phone and keeps doing it and smiling at me as if to see 'see mummy? Aren't I clever!?' she also waves now when you say hiya and bye to her. Tom is still like a mini godzilla and just trashes the place a few times a day. I swear he just watches me tidy up with such glee as he knows he is gonna pull everything out on to the floor again! By the time he has finished you can't move for stepping on lego!!!

Jackie - whats this rock and bouce zebra u mentioned? sounds great!

any way will post more soon gotta fly never enough hours in the day!!!

Love always

Toni x