July/August Mummies

[Kim]

Hello All

Well, Thomas is 8 months old and these last 2 months seem to have flown by !! I've cut out one of his bottles now so he's on three 6oz bottles a day and as it's the mid-morning bottle that I've stopped he eats more at lunch time which is good. He's just started crawing over the last couple of days and can also pull himself to his feet using his baby walker for support.

It's my first day back at work tomorrow ( just Mondays and Tuesdays ) and I'm sooo gonna miss him. I know it's only a couple of days a week, and I am quite looking forward to it, but he seems to be doing new things all the time at the moment and he's such good fun to be with it's going to be a bit of a wrench. Still I'm sure I'll soon get used to it and to my mum saying, " guess what Thomas did today ... " ( my parents are looking after him for us. )

He's back in his own room, in his sleeping bag, and things have been going well at nights. The last couple of nights have been disrupted due to another tooth but he's not coming back into our room - it's just not fair on any of us and he's safer in his cot ( I know - famous last words - again )

Anyway I'm off to get organised, ready for tomorrow

Love to everyone

Kim xxx

[sophiejane]

Hello all,
I've been away for too long again. As I'm working full time I just don't get a chance to post. Freya is 7 1/2 months old and is certainly a pickle. She sat unsupported at 5 1/2 months but has never rolled over and still sky dives if I put her on her tummy and screams instantly. No where near crawling or attempting to pull herself up. She puts her arms up for me to pick her up all day long though!!!!
She still growls rather than talks ... and we have yet to have two sounds together is baba / gaga just aaaggghhhhhhh!!!!
I think she may be rather slow All your babies seem to be devloping right on target ... maybe I should see the health visitor.
So I have had no problems with her rolling over in her cot ... or moving anywhere for that matter. She eats loads but I still can't get much milk down her. Only one milk feed in the morning of 5oz max and about 4oz at bedtime.
Her bedtime is 7pm and she goes off like a dream and wakes up at 6am. We have always had no problems with her sleeping, especially now that nursery wears her out during the day.

It is very hard at times and I am exhausted. teething has been a nightmare and she only has one tooth. We went on holiday last week ... snowboarding and she was so ill that we got no sleep and no snow boarding as we couldn't leave her with the nursery. It was a disaster. She is better now and we seem to be at a comfortable place at last.

I am still abit emotionally fragile though. I still get so scared something bad will happen to her. all my energy is taken up with her and I give no time to Dh. I phone the nursery about 5 times a day, dn't take a lunch break so I can pick her up early, and then check her through the night a couple of times. Is anyone else like this??
Anyway off to the photo site and to post a picture of Freya

Toni - blimey you are doing well. Give yourself a pat on the back.
Kim - hope work goes ok. I find that I have no problem leaving freya but after an hour I feel like I've lost a limb and want to go and get her. Mind you its certainly easier working than looking after a baby.
Susan - hows blakes sleeping. hope it is better. Sometimes I would love freya to come into bed with me. She's not that type of baby though and can't be cuddled to go to sleep.
Jackie - hope you and Joshua are fine and that you enjoyed Devon. You seem to be out and about the whole time!!
love to you all
from Soph

[Toni]

Hiya Sophie!

Good to see you back. dont worry about Freya. My two are just as slow and they are 8 months old. they are TRYING to crawl bless them. They can either push themselves up on their arms, or have their bums in the air with their heads down. they havent grasped that they need to do both yet!! They also roll around all over the place, yes, but cannot sit unsupported! So you see? All babies are diferent. I wouldnt worry. Once shes off Im sure you'll be longing for the days when you knew exactly where she was!!

Having a nightmare with teething still. But the exciting news is that Tom bit me on monday evening. I looked down at his mouth and his two bottom teeth are coming through. little rascal!! So again, that the only teethe we have any sign of, though judging how Charlotte is right now i wouldnt be surprised if theres one on the way very very soon.

I've started introducing finger foods. Just biscotti, rice cakes or soft carrot sticks for now. Charlotte thinks they are toys and happily waves them around. Tom loves eating them though, so thats good.

right off to have a look at Freya.

take care all you mummies

keep in touch.

Toni xx

[Kim]

Hello there Sophie !

I'm not surprised you don't get much time to post, what with working full time. You're right about work being easier than being at home - I never realised that would be the case.

When do your anxieties about Freya surface ? Is it during the day while you're at work or just anytime out of the blue ? Mine appear at night - I'll be lying in bed thinking about how much I love Thomas and thinking of him laughing and happy and the next minute I'm thinking that if he was ever taken from me I'd want to die - very extreme but I can't help it sometimes .

Also, Toni's right, all babies develop at different rates. I know it's hard not to compare their progress but they'll all reach their different milestones at different times until eventually it evens up and they're all at around about the same stage.

Sounds like you're I bit worried about neglecting DH ( you're not the only one - we've only been out together once since Thomas was born. ) We're gonna try and get out more but it's easier said than done ( or is that just an excuse ? ) Still, at least if you can see a potential problem you can do something about it before it becomes an actual problem. I know I need to give my DH loads more attention - he certainly deserves more that's for sure.

I saw Freya on photobucket - she looks sooo happy - what a cutiepie !!

We bought Thomas his first pair of shoes from Clarks yesterday ( they're so dinky !! ) The staff in there are brilliant, they're very thorough and take their time to make sure they get the size right. They even took a photo of Thomas in his new shoes as a keepsake !!

Hello to everyone else - would love to hear from some of you girls who haven't posted for a while.

Love

Kim xxx

[Jackie S]

Hi everybody

Joshua is 8 months old now -its hard to believe it is that long. I must admit when he is screaming non-stop it does feel a LOT longer!!! He is GREAT, I can't believe how much this precious baby has given me.

He is still in 3-6 month clothes even though he is the right weight 20lb 14oz and height he is thin so his clothes seem to be lasting for ages. I have 4 bags and a box of new clothes 6-9 ready and ironed for him under his cot and tried a sleepsuit on him 2 days ago -I think he would freeze if I put him in it overnight. At least he is getting lots of wear. He isn't a sicky baby and I even tend to feed him without a bib -he sees the food and there is no chance even a small drop won't end up in his mouth -I swear he must have a food magnet in it!!!!

Joshua seems to be such a character, everywhere he goes he seems to pull people into his little world. We were at the hospital on Tuesday and the waiting room was very crowded. We were sat in the corner surrounded by unhappy people when all of a sudden there was a GIGANTIC burp!!! There was Joshua gurgling away all innocent smiles etc and John and I looking very emabarrased! It certainly got him attention especially off all the women. He also decided it would be great fun to grab onto the old man sitting next to me. We couldn't get him to loosen his grip on his sleeve and he sat there staring at the poor man for about 15 minutes, transfixed by his beard.

Joshua adores our dog and one of our cats, the other cat isn't that interested in him. Bessey-Dog our border collie is absolutely stupid so she and Joshua get on very well. She drops her toys next to him and waits for him to examine and drop it so she can do it again. The two of them play tug with her toy sausage -she is so gentle and lets him 'pull' her so he can laugh at her. I am so proud of her because Joshua tends to hit everything very hard and dig his nails in everything including the poor dogs eyes. She just sits there letting him do it. His face lights up when he sees her and they lay together all the time. In fact the only time they are apart is when we are out.

(John's mum and her dog got a 2nd place at Crufts so she is very happy.)

I am glad all our little ones are doing so well, it seems like all of us are worrying about the same things which is reassuring in a strange way! I think the main worry I have with Joshua is that he cries all day when we are alone. The healthvisitor said I am too good a mum to him and give him too much attention (how can you give too much attention???). He doesn't sleep at all during the day from about 8am -9pm when he finally starts to look tired. I can't just leave him so I play with him or read with him -we are currently reading the 'Mog' series of books by Judith Kerr. He has always been brilliant at night and has slept straight through from 4 weeks old. I think from that age we have only had to get upto him once during the night (we put him down approx 10pm and he sleeps straight through until about 7.30 - 8am. I still feel like he hates me when he cries so much but I am beginning to see that he isn't crying because he hates me -it is because he wants to be with me.

It is 1am so I suppose I should go to bed -still not sleeping, I have sleeping tablets Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday so none tonight. At least I have the weekend coming up.

I have added 2 pictures of Joshua onto photobucket. I have taken 1629 photos of him since I got my new camera in February -I have some lovely photos. (thank goodness we are in the 'digital' age). He poses like mad, he only has to see the camera in my hand and he is at it!!!

Loved seeing pictures of your little ones -Sophie it is nice putting a face to you. Its weird we have all been sharing all our experiences for well over a year. Freya looks so cute with her toothbrush. We brushed Joshua's 2 teeth yesterday for the 1st time.
Kim -Thomas is gorgeous, he looks so angelic which probably means he is a right little rascal!!!
Toni -the twins are gorgeous too! I am still amazed how you manage with two babies!!!

Anyway better go

Jackie

[sophiejane]

hello all,
Dp off to play football tonight so I've got a few minutes spare.
Kim ... I seem to worry more about Freya when she's sleeping or when I'm away from her. When I'm with her I don't think I have time to worry!!!! Its just negative thoughts I have about something bad happening to her. I know its all tied up with the infertility thing, being stressed and overtired. Or am i just completely bonkers and in need of lots of therapy!! Actually don't answer that one!
I hope that picture of Thomas's first shoes has pride of place on the mantlepeice. And hows the sleeping in his own room going?

Jackie ... you are very lucky that Joshua sleeps through ... that must help you cope with the days. At the mo Freya is up on and off throughout the night with her cough but sleeps for about 5 hours throughout the day. Unfortunately I don't get much benefit from that because I'm at work!! So needless to say its 7.40 and I'm off to bed in a minute.

Toni - has Charlottes tooth come through yet? Freya loves her finger foods and its the only way I can keep her entertained when I need to do some chores. I sit her in her bumbo and she'll stay tehre for ages if she's got a peice of toast or a rusk. its amazing how they just know to suck and chew (with their gums).

hello to everyone else ......
PS: its our first mothers day coming up. Yippee. That just makes me go all goose bumpy as I still feel so bloomin lucky to be a mummy to a gorgeous little girl.
lets hope we all get spoiled rotten. we deserve it after all our trials and tribulations.
Off to see pictures of little Joshua ....

[sophiejane]

PS: is anyone thinking about trying again?? We've got 7 frosties still and I never thought I would consider ivf again but the thought does sometimes cross my mind. Certainly not yet but in a year or so. I suppose it depends on whetehr I start getting a good nights sleep zzzzzzzzzzz

[Jackie S]

Just a very quick one today.

Kim -isn't it coming up to your 1st anniversary??? I'm sure it was March or April when you were married. I can remeber how excited you were.

Sophie -Your right it is exciting to think this is our 1st mothers day. All these milestones not only for the little ones but for us too. Joshua missed Fathers Day by about 2 weeks so this year it will be a first for John too.

I was thinking maybe we should start a photobucket thread because a lot of us mum's are starting to put photos on the site and it would be nice to see when other mum's add to it too. I hope you liked the latest picture Sophie. Need some more of Freya and Thomas!!!!

Joshua is screaming ....again so must go

Jackie

[Kim]

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY !!!!!

Hope you've all had a lovely day and been spoiled rotten !!

Jackie - It will be our first wedding anniversary next Sunday - sooo sweet of you to remember. I loved your comment about Joshua having a food magnet in his mouth it's great that he likes his food and it makes you feel good if you've cooked something and they really enjoy eating it. I'm glad you're starting to see that Joshua loves being with you and doesn't cry because he hates you but because he wants to be near you - it's a step in the right direction. Your photos of Joshua are gorgeous and it would be nice to set up an IVF Baby page in photobucket.

Sophie - What a happy litle girl your Freya looks. Thomas is still in his own room but tends to wake once early on ( about 9pm to 10pm ) because his dummy has fallen out and once at about 1pm for a bottle. Unfortunately he also tends to wake at about 5am and then it's very hard to get him back to sleep. I've been mildly broody for about 2 months now. I haven't got any frosties and don't want to have IVF again but I can really relate to the way you're feeling. If I had some frosties I think I'd probably give it a go and I'm sure when the time is right you'll know.

Hope all you other mums and babies are well, would be great to hear how you're getting on

Love

Kim xxx

[sophiejane]

Happy anniversary Kim. Did you get a night off just with dh??
Well my mothers day was not the one I would have planned. I had a sickness bug (at first thought it was a hangover so got up at 5am and did Freya's bottle). It was only when dp was throwing up aswell that I realised we had a bug (and I should have stayed in bed and been looked after insteasd of thinking it was my fault!!).
So no spoiling but I did get a CD and card from freya (with a little help from her daddy!)
She has recovered from illnesses and is a happy baby again. Sleeping through from 7pm to 5am (just can't seem to extend that morning wake up .. seems like Thomas is like it too Kim). I also have to put the dummy in about once per night. I now put about 8 dummies in the cot and this seems to have helped because she finds one when she wakes up. Unfortunately she often wakes up with dummy imprints in her cheek too!!!

Jackie - how on earth do you cope with Joshua not going to bed until 10pm. That would drive me mad as I definilty need my evenings to chill.

Hope everyone else had a good weekend ...

[Kim]

Sophie J

Sorry to hear you were ill on Mothers Day ( especially as it wasn't alcohol related !! ) I got a CD too - you didn't happen to get the No 1 Mum cd did you ?

We had Dhs two children this weekend so were unable to sneak off alone for our anniversary so may treat ourselves to a meal out sometime.

We're considering a house move at the moment. We love our house but we're not in the right school catchment area for the better schools where we live. I know it sounds a bit early to start worrying about these things but a house has come on the market close to my parents which has made us think about it.

Jackie - Have seen the photobucket thread, great idea, although I thought you meant to set up a new page on the photobucket site when I read your post

Love to all

Kim xxx

[Jackie S]

Hi, me again!!!

I was thinking we are all telling little bits about our babies, so I thought it would be nice for us to maybe do a little update list to where they are at now.

So

Joshua is 9 months old in 3 days.

WEIGHT /HEIGHT/ CLOTHES SIZE:
He is STILL in 3-6 month clothes but is the right height and weight. I think he is long but thin so his clothes sort of go downwards instead of out. This is great for getting a lot of use out of his clothes but I had bought him a few jumpers and 2 thick winter coats for 6-9 months and snowsuits, he won't get to wear them. I tried him in some 6-9 trousers today and they won't even stay up around his waist and the trouser legs are way past his feet.

MOBILE???
He can't crawl yet but can certainly roll. Everybody thinks he will be walking and skip crawling altogether. He is very strong on his legs and wants to stand all the time.

SLEEP
He doesn't sleep at all during the day but sleeps straight through the night.

FOOD
Favorite foods are: chicken, rice & peas, Munch Bunch yoghurt (sp??), scrambled eggs, raisins, icecream & carrot sticks. Oh!!! and MORE icecream!!!!

TOYS
His favourite toy is his cuddly pig that goes absolutely everywhere with him. It has to go through the washing machine at least once a week because he sucks its tail and it goes a lovely shade of brown and looks like it has had runny poo!!!!
He also like his Tigger toys, activity crocodile and monkey, Mega Blocks and Roll-a-rounds balls.
He also loves his stories we are working our way through the Mog books, anything by Julia Donaldson goes down well, and he also enjoys the Mr Men. I read the story and then we look at the pictures /colours etc I know its a bit early to do this but at least he will get used to hearing a wide range of words.
Oh yes, he loves ANY animal and managed to terrorise our moggy on Tuesday by grabbing hold of the bell on her collar while the collar was attatched to her neck. The daft cat just sat the letting him pull her head so he could hear the bell. If our dog is in the room nobody else gets a look-in. He sits next to her playing, letting her sleep on his leg or playing with her and her toys. We were in the front garden chatting to a neighbour on Monday, Bessey-Dog got out and ran over to Joshua and he threw his arms up in excitement and squealed!!!

WORDS
Joshua can say 'Mummy', 'Baba' etc. He loves it when I say 'I love You' very fast, over and over again and sits there giggling with a massive smile on his face.

FAVOURITE JOSHUA MOMENTS
Of course the first time we saw him will always be the bestest moment of my life and nothing could ever take that away. Next to this I think my favourite moment with him was the first time he was being held by his dad and kept saying 'mummy' over and over again and laughing. I think my favourite time of the day is the evening when he becomes so much fun. He loves being upside-down, bouncing, causing choas etc He always snuggles into me for a cuddle and a little nap before he goes to bed, and when I put him in his cot he is so gorgeous and lifts his arms for cuddles.

MOST EMBARRASING MOMENTS
I have 2 of these. The first was in outpatients when he let out a long, very loud burp and sat there looking all cute!! The 2nd being when we are walking around shops and he is there making farty noises with his mouth at everybody who walks past. Most people think it is really funny and it takes us ages to get round the shop because all the women seem to stop for a chat to him, he is such a flirt!!!

Like I said I know we have all covered this in our previous posts but thought it would be nice to see where we all are now!!! Hope all your littles ones are enjoying the nice weather although it is still very windy here!!!

Hoping you post too!!!

Jackie

Ps we now have well over 8000 photos of him, we're off to Morroco in just over 5 weeks for 15 nights so should have loads more.

[Jackie S]

Kim - I registered Joshua at school 9th September 2005. Our local school is one of the better ones and it can be hard to get a place even if the childs sibblings attend. Also, out of 24 nursery places available again (09/09/05) 19 had already been taken. None of my sisters children had to be registered in advance so you should check to see what the policy is in the area you live. Some people register their children when they are STILL pregnant!!! I never even thought about schools etc Joshua will go Nursery 5 mornings a week from September 2008, and start school September 2009.

Sophie -Hope you are feeling better now. Hope Freya and your husband didn't get poorly too.
I have been so poorly this week. John had to take Tuesday off work because I could hardly get out of bed so he had to look after Joshua. My friend had him for 2 hours Wednesday afternoon which was a godsend. I felt so guilty asking her but she said I should go to bed for a couple of hours. Think she enjoyed it as much as Joshua!!! Had load of bloodtests yesterday and see GP next week.

Toni -how are the twins? Are they crawling yet, I was wondering how am I going to stop Joshua going off when he starts crawling (when we are on holiday) -YOU will need eyes everywhere. Do the twins interact much with each other? My nephew is 1 year older than Joshua and the 2 of them were well away 'chatting' to each other last week -they were in a world of their own!!!

I finally gave in and let John buy a lightweight pushchair. I know it sounds stupid but I really don't like pushchairs they always look so flimsy. I like my chunky M&P because it feels like there is something there. Anyway, he bought a Quinny Zapp and he loves it. The M&P takes up the whole boot because it is bulky and the new one has a bag and the whole thing folds very tiny. It is one of those 3 wheel things.

I have a question about chairs. Joshua finally managed to put his feet through the bottom of his bouncer so we can't use that anymore. His highchair is great for feeding but I don't like leaving him in it after mealtimes. What I want is a seat of his own that isn't high up so he can sit with us at our level. I have seen adverts for a chair that looks like a potty 'Bumba'??? But it is not what I am looking for. When the door goes or I have to do things i don't want to have to keep taking him to his cot or highchair. We live in a small bungalow so space is definitely a problem. Any suggestions??? He has a travel cot but it can't stay up in the lounge because it takes up so much room.

Jackie

[sophiejane]

Hi Jackie,
I'm still using the bumbo, but freya is just starting to push herself out of it. Its great though and has been so handy when I'm in the kitchen making food/drinks etc.
I also have a blow up ring (with activity bits round the outside) which I put freya in when I'm having a shower. She loves it and can play in there for a good 30 minutes by herself (well, as long as the Hoobs are on the tv that is!!). However, I think she will be out of this as soon as she is crawling.
I must admit I leave freya on the floor when I am answering the door or doing chores. She's never rolled, so just sits there playing. She is nearly crawling though but is just getting one foot stuck under her bum.
Sorry, haven't got time to write anymore. I'm arranging freya's naming day (basically an excuse to get all friends and family together and drink champagne ... and of course getting presents for freya!!).
I'm also off to eat freya's easter eggs that keep on getting delivered for her. I might save a small bit for her!
hope everyone is ok. little hugs to the babes
from Soph

[Toni]

Hi all

sorry not been on for ages.

Just wanted to say Jackie, have you considered using small plastic chairs. Not really sure what they are called, but i guess really they are portable high chairs. My two have one each and they love them, they were a present for Christmas. Basically they are a floor level, and they have a tray which you can either have on or off. They have restraints so they are safe. and you can strap them to a normal chair, like a dining room chair, with a strap which goes underneath. I sit the twins in theirs in the mornings with some toys and we put baby einstein on the DVD player while i have my breakfast, and before they go down for their morning nap. They giggle away relentlessly at the DVD (has anyone else ever tried baby einstein?)

Im not sure where my sister in law got them from, the chairs, but i did see them when I went to Pailton while i was pregnant (a local Leicestershire place) They have a website www.babyequipment.com i think. let me know how you get on.

Will post more soon.

Love to all mums and babies!

Toni xx