The new rolling ILX parenting thread, since the other one was getting unwieldy

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Old thread here. This is the new thread for discussing parenting, from pregnancy to the point at which you finally throw up your hands and disown the little buggers (just kidding). Lots of pictures, please!

― schwantz (schwantz), Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:37 (seventeen years ago) link

Daughter number two winning a relay race at her athletics club

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v506/Paronomasiac/?action=view¤t=run.jpg

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 09:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh. Try again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v506/Paronomasiac/run.jpg?t=1170753762

― C J (C J), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 09:24 (seventeen years ago) link

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― Mädchen (Madchen), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 09:38 (seventeen years ago) link

there should be a new one, those DC people start a new freaking thread every other day

― onimo (onimo), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 11:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Ceej she's running out of lane!!! Was she disqualified?

― === temporary username === (Mark C), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 11:51 (seventeen years ago) link

those DC people start a new freaking thread every other day

we've got a lot to discuss!

I just wanted to inform everyone that I have just written a letter of recommendation for a two-year-old.

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 16:17 (seventeen years ago) link

recommending to what?! ("She doesn't go in her pants and restrains from chewing up book covers.)

― Ms Misery (MissMiseryTX), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 16:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Preschool!

― Mary (Mary), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 16:49 (seventeen years ago) link

"Caitlin is a proactive self-starter who presided over a foundational reorganization of all the board books. She will be an invaluable asset to your organization."

― Stephen X (Stephen X), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 16:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Bit of a shame the other thread has been locked - it's a real repository of memories, anecdotes, banter and pictures as some of us fumble our way through the first few months of parenting. Now it's just going to disappear from the new answers page. I don't really understand the decision.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:03 (seventeen years ago) link

bookmark it?

― emsk ( emsk), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, I could, but I liked the fact that it was an ongoing thing. There's no such thing as an overlong thread if you're set up to see only the most recent messages.

But I guess it's a bit daunting to new ILX parents who've never read it before, so fair enough perhaps.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, there is a link at the top of this thread...

― schwantz (schwantz), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:11 (seventeen years ago) link

also if it continues the way it's been going there'll always be a rolling parenting thread on the new answers page, and the previous one will always be linked at the beginning of the newest one.

xpost...

― emsk ( emsk), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link

my brother found out last night that an ex-girfriend is six months pregnant with his kid. first baby out of four brothers in their twenties. i guess i'll be on this thread a little more often than i'd envisaged.

― darragh.mac (darragh.mac), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link

I locked it b/c overlong threads tax the server a bit, and bc cj revived this one.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 18:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Me and the offspring enjoying the SS Great Britain.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/142/380588746_08d4063451.jpg?v=0

― Edward Trifle (Ned Trifle IV), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 19:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Trying out for your Slade tribute trio, I see.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 19:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh I am thankful for this new thread, the birth of my second daughter has swept me off the web for a longer period than I had thought, and since I've been able to be online again I've never had enough time to read everything I had missed before posting myself, so now it feels less like cheating if i do, if you know what I mean.
So, my second little baby lady was born last September 19th, Lea and thankfully she was fine and healthy, even though she's had some minor health problems in the first 2 months. Older (23 months "older"...) Sara has been great about the arrival of her sister, even though she has recently started a little aggressivity thing with her old best friend which I am afraid may be due to some gelosy and insecurity. Anyway, Lea is different from Sara, but she screams just as much and even though she is almost 5 months now she still doesn't sleep all night long and still spends many hours getting nervous. And above all I am much more tired and less patient so it is a very demanding period. Particularly so also because we have moved out in the meanwhile, restored a new apartment and spent 2 months at my mom's place and we have just moved in the new place. so well, now I only need to learn how to publish pictures on the web, so that I can show off a little, and let you see how beautiful and funny my 2 lady babies are.

― misshajim (strand), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 22:34 (seventeen years ago) link

congrats! put your pics on flickr!

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 6 February 2007 22:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Lots of pics of my little guy here - he's five months old now (flip back through the months).

http://voguingtodanzig.blogspot.com/

― Raymond Cummings (Raymond Cummings), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 16:24 (seventeen years ago) link

So as you know I'm in Japan with Ophelia. Despite the projectile vomiting she's been such an easy girl! I was worried she wouldn't sleep, but she does. She does sleep with me (on a blanket next to my futon. No, she could very easily sleep with me but she crawls on the ground so I put a blanket next to the futon.) I was worried she wouldn't like the baby food. She does. Sort of. But fucking LOVES Japanese (adult) food! Soy? Yep. Steamed rice? Yep. Everything. Well almost. Isn't that GREBT? I'm worried about returning but heck it's just vomit! Who teh hell cares? Her stool was a bit *odd* the first days after landing but then it was *peachy* fine. I recommend traveling with yr kid! :-)

Also, travel to Japan with your baby: EVERYONE is in love with Ophelia! I mean, on the streets, in restaurants,... They keep saying:"She looks like a doll!"

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/140/382809095_8e5296d426_m.jpg

sleeping on the blanket

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/120/382805751_67e4bd9aa8_m.jpg

enjoying japanese food

― Nathalie (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 17:04 (seventeen years ago) link

:-D

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 7 February 2007 17:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice enjoys a meal on holiday last week:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/386328873_0afa4307da.jpg?v=0
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/386328874_c89a9b603b.jpg?v=0

We ditched the dental plate halfway through the week as it had given a massive ulcer on her tongue which then started to bleed - the final straw really :(

― Archel (Archel), Sunday, 11 February 2007 07:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Welcome back, everybody!

Let's see if this works...

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pernfors88/396394437/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/396394437_e80688bb4a.jpg" width="333" height="500" alt="The artist at work"></a>

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 21 February 2007 23:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Ok, this then...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/396394437_e80688bb4a.jpg

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 21 February 2007 23:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Ok - interesting. The click-through links to Flickr still work on the old thread, but posting that sort of referral code on the new ILX doesn't work. Or perhaps I'm just not doing it right.

No worries.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 21 February 2007 23:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry Mike, it doesn't work. Afraid some people just spoilt the party, so had to stop letting people use HTML.

― Keith, Wednesday, 21 February 2007 23:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah, fair enough. We Flickrholics will just have to get our hits in another way...

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 21 February 2007 23:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Nu ILX, Nu Alice!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/398612371_19e2ecda33.jpg?v=0

Ten weeks old today. Not sure at what point she became a slightly cross N4zi...

― Archel, Thursday, 22 February 2007 10:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Nu-ILX, nu-labour (maybe). Since this morning I have been having what I am really, really hoping are early contractions - like Braxton Hicks but with added backache and what feels like period cramping. Happening every 15 mins or so, but no show or waters breaking. I know this could be a false alarm - or go on for days before proper labour establishes - but still, fingers crossed! (If anyone can confirm this is what the start of their labour felt like, you'd make my day...)

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 22 February 2007 14:57 (seventeen years ago) link

YAY! fingers crossed this is it for you! Hope you get a show soon, so you know that things are really kicking in

― Vicky, Thursday, 22 February 2007 14:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes Meg that was roughly what the beginning of labour was like for me - a few hours after I'd been induced. I think I had a show after another couple of hours of that - then really strong contractions shortly after and a baby four hours later! Fingers crossed!

― Archel, Thursday, 22 February 2007 15:12 (seventeen years ago) link

ooh good luck! mine started like that, faded away, and then I took a nap and my water broke when I got up!

― teeny, Thursday, 22 February 2007 15:19 (seventeen years ago) link

What teeny said! Hopefully you'll drop the baby soon! I know how crap you can feel those last days/weeks. Shit, yes, I remember, ARGH! I'm (hopefully!) go through this again at the end of the year. The whole prospect of a second child scares me a little. Especially since I can't find a daycare (unless I travel a gazillion miles). I contacted the one in my street and they have free space from april. Shit. On top of that our employee is also pregnant! Double shit. :-)

― nathalie, Thursday, 22 February 2007 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Ian has his second stomach flu in the past month, and so does mom. apparently it's an airborne virus that is highly contagious and wrecking havoc all over california (or so someone said they heard). vomiting, the whole bit. AWFUL. somehow i've managed not to get it either time, but I have had a horrible cold all week, so we are a house full of incredibly sick people now, and can't seem to get anyone to come over to take care of him for the day while we sleep. it's times like this I wish we had a nanny. we're losing our minds.

― akm, Thursday, 22 February 2007 17:35 (seventeen years ago) link

nath, do you mean they won't have time until april? are you thinking of putting ophelia in daycare when the new baby arrives?

― Ms Misery, Thursday, 22 February 2007 17:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Good luck Meg - that sounds like it could be the beginning of labor!

akm, it is horrible to have sick kids, but even worse when you are sick, too. Hang in there... I wish I had good advice for that situation, but all I can say is that if you have a family member or friend who offers to help (or who you can beg for help), that is what you should do. Otherwise you just have to soldier through it. It's the worst.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 22 February 2007 17:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay Meg! That's what it felt like. Have you had any mucousy discharge (cervical plug)?

By the way, when my water broke, I didn't know that it did. I knew I was having contractions, but I thought the contractions were making me pee myself a little, cuz instead of one big whoosh, I just got a little tear at the top of the sac. The dr. had said water breaking would create a flood, so I didn't expect just trickling and figured it was a bladder control thing. I waited too long to go to the hospital, and my uterus got infected (high fever). Sorry for scary stories now. Everything turned out just fine.

I'm sure you'll be fine. Have someone come post news here!

― Maria :D, Thursday, 22 February 2007 18:02 (seventeen years ago) link

And Alice looks so strong and determined!

― Maria :D, Thursday, 22 February 2007 18:03 (seventeen years ago) link

that's funny maria (er except for the infection bit)--they told *me* "oh it's never a big flood like it is on TV, and it's really unlikely that it'll break before you go to the hospital anyway" etc. UH.

akm, I and the boy had the stomach flu too--it went coast to coast. Mine passed within 24 hours though, and I can't imagine getting it twice, you poor things! It does make a baby who wakes up in the middle of the night seem like a cakewalk in comparison, though, so just imagine the good times ahead!

― teeny, Thursday, 22 February 2007 18:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice IS very strong, and very active. She's always trying to fling herself off into the void from my or her dad's grip, or trying to climb up us. I think she'll be crawling early...

My waters didn't break as such either, in fact I never noticed them going at all.

Here's hoping we DON'T hear from Meg today ;)

― Archel, Friday, 23 February 2007 08:02 (seventeen years ago) link

nath, do you mean they won't have time until april? are you thinking of putting ophelia in daycare when the new baby arrives?

No, the daycare, which is in the same street as our shop, doesn't have any place available until April. This is not good news. But since the busiest season (hopefully!) starts at the end of March, it's better than no place at all. And they put me (or rather the baby) on the waiting list and we do get priority because Ophelia will go this year. On top of that our salesperson is most probably pregnant and will deliver at the same time. This could be seen as GREBT, and it is, but on the other hand it's not good since she won't be available when we (or rather I) really need her in the shop. *sigh*

Hopefully Meg delivers! YAY for delivering babies. :-) My water had to be broken. Felt really fun, even though I know that sounds a bit weird. :-)

― nathalie, Friday, 23 February 2007 08:13 (seventeen years ago) link

It WAS labour! H0wie arrived at 8.38am on Saturday after 48 hours of back labour, which ended in a dash to the labour ward for an epidural and ventouse delivery. More details when I have more time... but I am very happy :)

― Meg Busset, Monday, 26 February 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay congratulations!!!! Awesome news! (uh, except for the back labor - ouch!)

― Sara R-C, Monday, 26 February 2007 16:29 (seventeen years ago) link

YAY!!!! well done Meg, and hello to Howie! Do we get to see a photo of the wee man? Sorry to hear about the back labour, and 48 hours, my goodness, but I'm sure it was all worth it!

― Vicky, Monday, 26 February 2007 16:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats, Meg! February babies are good babies.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 26 February 2007 21:31 (seventeen years ago) link

howie, what a great name! congratulations!

― teeny, Monday, 26 February 2007 23:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Hooray for Howie!

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 26 February 2007 23:26 (seventeen years ago) link

CONGRATULATIONS Meg!!! Can't wait for Howie to make his debut appearance here :)

― Archel, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 12:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Howie! What a GREBT name!!!! I absolutely love it. :-D Happy that you're happy though, boo on the 48 hrs of back labour!

I did a stupid thing of course. I googled for info on the link between lack of morning sickness and having a son. What did I find? That many women tend to miscarriage. EK! Of course I immediately textmesaged my friend who, the sweetie she is, called me up (in the middle of my knitting class) and said I should not google such info. :-) I'm feeling slightly *off* but not as much as with Ophelia. We'll see how it turns out. I'll probably feel crap by the end of the week as retaliation. ;-)

The one thing that does happen now that I'm pregnant: I smell stinky diapers all the time. hah.

My mum suggested we put the two kids in one room. WAH? ARETH THOU MAD! No way. Has anyone done this? I'm not very keen to do this.

Shit, I'm having another kid. PANIC ALERT! :-) (insert blinking red light) :-)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 13:08 (seventeen years ago) link

My mum suggested we put the two kids in one room. WAH? ARETH THOU MAD! No way. Has anyone done this? I'm not very keen to do this.

I used to share a room with my brother until I was about six, I think.

― ailsa, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 13:17 (seventeen years ago) link

O seems to be a good sleeper, she'll probably sleep through any fuss the baby makes. I think this whole one room per kid thing is so new and decadent! And I always heard that you get more morning sickness with girls (although I know plenty of moms with the reverse experience too). I didn't have much morning sickness at all, it was more like a compulsion to keep my stomach full so I wouldn't feel queasy. Yeah they say that morning sickness is a biological protectionary measure to keep you away from environmental stuff that could make you miscarry, but the vast vast vast majority of miscarriages are going to be because of some genetic strangeness and beyond your control. I think they just talk about the morning sickness protecting against miscarriage to make the morning sickies feel better. :)

― teeny, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 13:26 (seventeen years ago) link

so are you gonna find out the gender this time? and are you gonna tell us? ;)

― teeny, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 13:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Me too. (With my sister, not with ailsa'a brother. That would just have been odd.)

My parents had a three bedroom house but we had a lodger in the third bedroom for years. Bunk beds rule, nath!

― Archel, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 13:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Ha, I used to share a room with our lodger at one point, with my two brothers in the other bedroom. In fact, for about six months, when I was about seven and my brother was five, we shared a BED for about nine months while our house was getting built and we were all living with my aunt.

Re: morning sickness, my mum puked for about eight months with me, and not at all with my brother.

― ailsa, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 13:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice's new favourite snack - daddy's nose:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/404593266_fbe060be5a.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/162/404593252_cc05e6ca6a.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 13:46 (seventeen years ago) link

I was about 4 when my brother was born and his crib was in my room. He used to wake me up by holding on the rail and throwing his stuffed animals at me.

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 13:50 (seventeen years ago) link

I did a stupid thing of course. I googled for info on the link between lack of morning sickness and having a son. What did I find? That many women tend to miscarriage. EK! Of course I immediately textmesaged my friend who, the sweetie she is, called me up (in the middle of my knitting class) and said I should not google such info. :-) I'm feeling slightly *off* but not as much as with Ophelia. We'll see how it turns out. I'll probably feel crap by the end of the week as retaliation. ;-)

The one thing that does happen now that I'm pregnant: I smell stinky diapers all the time. hah.

nath, i didnt get sick at all until 4 months in. ive puked pretty much every day since then. yeah, avoid googling anything. really. everyone is different, of course.

ive been smelling stinky diapers too! when i realized it was like OH MY GOD IM SMELLING THE FUTURE!!!

anyway, congrats to meg! you peeps are so cool post labor.

archel, daddy + baby pics just kill me! so adorable.

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 14:19 (seventeen years ago) link

also, im due TODAY and here I am sitting at work. woo.

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 14:19 (seventeen years ago) link

you're a warrior! any plans for inducement or are you just going to wait the tyke out?

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 14:20 (seventeen years ago) link

inducing on friday if nothing happens in the meantime. id rather wait but doc says my blood pressure has gone crazy since last week. well, its plenty higher, anyways. pleasant plains is pleased because march 2nd is the date he was pulling for. its definitely nice to see an end in sight.

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 14:33 (seventeen years ago) link

That's Texas Independance Day! (perhaps that will please him less?)

yay for impending birth! are you nervous?

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 14:34 (seventeen years ago) link

UH OH!! dont tell him that!

i am in so much denial right now im not nervous at all. its like part of my brain is all 'oh friday 6 months from now, right? '

thursday night may be a different story!

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 14:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Hope everything goes well! Hope you don't have to wait until friday!

Archel, those photos are just too cute!

― Vicky, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, I know it's a bit decadent, but I do want to give my children their own space. We have the ability, so why not?

so are you gonna find out the gender this time? and are you gonna tell us? ;)

you'll probabmy have to delete itagain. ;-)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

We have the ability, so why not?

they might enjoy each other's company?

when they get older and truly need privacy, yes being able to give them their own rooms is awesome.

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice and dad both look so blissed out :)

― Jaq, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Welcome Howie! I also had back labor with Rufus - ouch! I had a scheduled C-section with Cyrus, so no labor at all the second time.

I had virtually no morning sickness with my boys. They've been sleeping in one room now because Cyrus doesn't want to go in his crib anymore. When we build the new house, we'll probably get bunk beds. They like sharing space. They're pals; we're lucky.

― Maria :D, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh god, now you are all making me feel guilty! I already apologized to my mom saying she was probably right. Maybe it's because I think like an adult and figure they'd like their own little space? Maybe silly. How do I convince my husband this?

― nathalie, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:41 (seventeen years ago) link

haha, like not googling on morning sickness, you probably shouldn't let people on the interweb make you feel guilty. ;)

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:43 (seventeen years ago) link

oh thanks for the update SS! I was about to ask, I knew it was coming up. I think my blood pressure went weird at the end too, it certainly did once they started giving me the drugs. They do so much mom/baby monitoring it's crazy, just remember that just because you have some sign of something wrong doesn't really mean much, it almost always turns out to be nothing.

― teeny, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, those pics are so adorable!!!!

― nathalie, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 15:54 (seventeen years ago) link

YAY HOWIE!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been using photobucket.com for pics, Meg, it's very easy. LET'S SEE HIM!!!! And his tired mama!

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 18:35 (seventeen years ago) link

teeny, its totally weird to have high blood pressure because mine is usually really low. did it make you feel hot all of the time? i feel like im radiating heat.

did anyone here do the cord blood stem cell banking thing? im considering it since most of my family has had cancer at some point.

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 18:40 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah I was hot, I usu run cold. glad I had it in winter. I have no knowledge of cord blood banking other than it's pricey. :(

― teeny, Tuesday, 27 February 2007 21:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Bumping this in advance of poss news...just have a feeling!

― teeny, Friday, 2 March 2007 13:43 (seventeen years ago) link

soon you will have more primary-colored plastic shit in your house than you ever thought imaginable.

― teeny, Friday, 2 March 2007 13:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Blimey, where have the last six days gone? All is well with little H - we are starting to get to grips with the feeding / changing / burping / cuddling routine, and he even let us have about 6 hours' sleep last night (only interrupted twice for feeding and changing) - just as well cause I was starting to get a bit delerious with sleep deprivation. My milk has come in now, which seems to have made it much easier to settle him - luckily he has taken to breastfeeding with no great problems so far (apart from waking up this morning with boobs like great big bags of marbles).

I love him so much!

Re: photos, I'm not very keen on posting pics on public websites, but will have a look at Photobucket and see if I can get something up briefly for y'all to look at.

Oh, and good thoughts for Sunny today! So relieved I went into labour before having to be induced.

― Meg Busset, Friday, 2 March 2007 16:20 (seventeen years ago) link

BEEPS

― gbx, Friday, 2 March 2007 16:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Glad to hear Howie is doing well and the love and milk are aflowin'! Meg, you could always start a flickr account and make photos only visible to friends - ie all of us lot ;)

Come on Beeps!

― Archel, Friday, 2 March 2007 16:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Sounds like things are going well so far Meg. Can you and your partner take turns taking care of Howie while you each catch long naps?

Also remembering the rock hard breast feeling... not fun. I woke up in puddles of milk for a while. A nurse helped me with the rock hard breasts by putting hot wash cloths on them and then putting disposable diapers over them to keep the heat in. Then I nursed or expressed after that and got a lot of the "excess" milk out. Taking a warm bath would probably produce the same effect. It does all even out eventually (thankfully!).

― Sara R-C, Friday, 2 March 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Expressing milk is not a good idea, unless you want to alleviate the pain a little, which is what I did. But expressing milk is actually sending a message to your breast to make more milk. Just saying, I don't mean you did wrong, Sara, only that I know some women who did this.

I too awoke in puddles of milk. hah. Very funny but the rockhard breasts are no fun.

Morning sickness has arrived. Boo (in a way).

Today Ophelia went for the first time to daycare. It's a posh place, but very kidfriendly. And parentfriendly as well. She did exceptionally well! I was in tears when I called my husband asking how things went. He had dropped her off as we suspected that me doing it could create problems. We only sent her half a day as we didn't want to overdo it. On monday again. We only do it twice a week. Hopefully she'll do as well as she did today. :-)

― nathalie, Friday, 2 March 2007 16:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Nathalie, you are absolutely right - it is a feedback loop that could keep you overproducing milk. What was happening to me was that my breast tissues were so swollen that the milk that was there wasn't coming out well, despite my using a hospital grade pump (Alex was a preemie and couldn't nurse much). After that first time of using heat, I was able to express a bunch of "extra" milk and then it wasn't such a problem.

Possibly the best thing to do would be to just apply some heat before nursing Howie; then you're not going to get overproduction.

(As for the puddles, I just took to throwing towels down when I went to bed because it kept up for a few weeks.)

Ugh on the morning sickness - so sorry to hear it. Awesome news about the first day of daycare going well. (I hope somehow this means you get a nap out of the deal...)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 2 March 2007 16:54 (seventeen years ago) link

First day at daycare. Result: she has a cold. I'm gonna beat that kid who gave it to her UP. ;-)
She had her molars whilst battling this cold. Result: a very sleepless night for everyone involved.

― nathalie, Monday, 5 March 2007 06:37 (seventeen years ago) link

H had his 10-day check-up today and all's well - jaundice has cleared, he's got a lovely pink belly button where his stump was until two days ago, and he has put on nearly a pound in four days (!).

We also seem to have slipped into a half-decent sleeping routine whereby we start to get him ready for bed around midnight (when we're ready for bed ourselves), he falls asleep by 1, wakes at 4.30 for a quick feed and change then goes back to sleep til 7.30. This morning he even gave us an extra lie-in of an hour after his 7.30 feed. I am vaguely inclined to try to get him to bed earlier in the evening (since my friend told me her 6-week-old happily goes to bed at 7pm!) but am reluctant to mess with the current system as I feel very fortunate to be getting 6 hours' sleep a night at this point. Anyone got any thoughts on this?

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 15:20 (seventeen years ago) link

If you're getting some sleep with a newborn you are indeed fortunate! What a good boy!

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 15:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations new babies and new mums n dads!

Meg: as ppl said to me upthread when I asked a similar qn, count your blessings! Ours now (at 3 months)has a regular pattern of sleeping at 10PM, waking at 6 or 7 for a short feed, then back to sleep for another 2-3 hours, and then nothing during the day bar the odd 10-minute naplet. We don't really want to move him back earlier - I really like coming home and seeing and playing with him, and my wife likes the extra morning sleep.

He is at his second swimming lesson, or splashing lesson or whatever you call it.

It's fun how they seem to try and "level up" different skills at different times - two weeks ago it was all about intense concentration on his hands and accurately touching stuff in front of him, and he'd hardly pay our voices any attention, then this week he's working on locating sounds and depth perception and its starey stary head turney all the time with his hands politely by his sides. He also has developed a happy but ear-splitting squawk which is louder than his unhappy cry or howl.

― Groke, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 15:42 (seventeen years ago) link

When we build the new house, we'll probably get bunk beds. They like sharing space. They're pals; we're lucky.

Maria, one of my regrets in our other house was that we built it assuming that the boys would share a room. A room for each, no matter how small, is preferable, I think. Tucker ended up moving out of the shared bedroom—not because they weren't getting along, but because Nigel was so much sloppier than him. He moved into that tiny tower room, which had no door and was freezing in the winter. We were paying HUGE eliectric bills so that he could run a space heater.
Don't forget, they're going to still be there as young men—home from college, home on holidays with girlfriends, spending time there between rentals, if they end up staying on the Vineyard (it DOES happen!) etc. So even if they like sharing a room now, I strongly advise building a room for each—big enough for a double bed, a bureau and a bookcase. Maybe a chair. Anything else is wasted space. Check out our guest room—it has all of the above, and it's a bit smaller than 8 by 12, not counting the closet.

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 15:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Tallulah's sleeping pattern at the moment is very similar to Lytton's - and it's fine by me, as I love the easy engagement with her after work and after the trauma of putting Ava to bed.

She's much less active than Ava was at the same age (we have a pic on Flickr of Ava jamming her feet in her mouth post-bath at 14 weeks; Lulu* is now 17 weeks and the idea of her even being able to get those tree-trunk legs more than an inch off the floor is laughable) but I guess a lot of that is down to her being a much bigger baby (4lb 10oz at birth to 14lb in under four months) and her not getting as much interaction with Mum and Dad during the day. The wild'n'crazy 2-y-o does tend to demand all your attention.

(* - Pam's pet name for her and Ava's too, so I've just gone with it; very crafty by Pam, as Lulu was one of her favoured names that I nixed)

Lulu chuckles and yelps and coos but there are no discernable vowel sounds yet. She's much readier with a smile than her sister was; Ava would hold your gaze, seemingly fascinated, checking out your hair, your eyes, but Lulu just smiles and laughs every time you lock eyes with her. I doubt she'll be crawling at 7.5 months and walking at 10 like big sis.

Our evening routine with Ava has totally broken down for the moment but we're about to impose a new, better one. For the first 6-7 weeks after Xmas, everything was great - bath with Dad, brushy brush teeth and spit out the yuck (copyright Bing Bunny), singsong on the bed as I changed her into her pyjamas and then bed without a problem. No way is that working any more. However, the nursery (after 13 months!) is nearing completion and soon she'll be in her first proper bed, surrounded by her toys and books in a room of her own. I'm sure the transition will be hell for a few weeks but she's totally ready for the bed experience, I reckon.

Latest Ava crazes: singing everyone's name to the tune of Fireman Sam, counting to 20 but with the teens in a quasi-random order, blowing kisses.

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Shall I post pictures? It's been a couple of weeks...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/159/409271311_7e49eae1ab.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/409271301_d086f01e35.jpg

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh wow, it's so fascinating reading about other babies' development, habits etc!

Alice currently goes to bed about 7.30-8pm (obligingly falling asleep almost immediately she clocks the combo of bedroom, swaddling, darkness, and soft music) and then doesn't wake until about 3am. She doesn't settle well after the 3am feed, but usually has another 3 or 4 hours sleep once she does. 7 hours + 4 hours is of course FANTASTIC, but we are trying to edge last feed/bedtime later so that her 7 hour stretch coincides a bit better with ours.

She's not a smiley baby by any stretch of the imagination, preferring a look of intense concentration/suspicion. But she will stare raptly at colours, lights and her hands for ages, and has started to really fight sleep during the day in favour of looking around her - unfortunately this soon makes her outrageously overtired and she screams madly until we can persuade her to sleep through intensive dummy-rocking-shushing sessions.

― Archel, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava's EYES! Michael you must resist the temptation to make huge amounts of money from her beauty so that you never have to work another day in your life. It would be wrong.
Sicilians believe that if you go on and on about a child's beauty, it attracts THE EVIL EYE. So I'll stop.

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Lytton is very smiley but there's usually an (extremely adorable) moment of narrowed-eye wariness before you get the smile, a "hey hold on you don't fool me - oh ok then!" moment. (I project, but who doesn't). The only thing which gets a guaranteed first-time smile is a rattle from his blue bird after he's been changed.

Very little seems to upset him - lack of food, discomfort, but other than that he takes everything remarkably in stride.

― Groke, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Mummy morning sick and battling a cold, Ophelia also with a cold: BLERGH. I feel extremy utterly awfully CRAP.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, Tallulah's amazingly resilient too - I mean, Ava is fairly brutal in her expressions of affection. Perhaps one time in every three or four she'll heed our instructions to be "gentle, soft" but usually she's headbutting her, trying to pull her off the couch, slapping her hands, sticking her fingers in her eyes, all the while cooing "Aw, baby Yuyu. Kiss baby Yuyu." Tallulah generally copes with it, unless Ava actually draws blood. Babies are tough! They should build planes out of whatever babies are made of.

Archel: Lulu needed her 3am feed until 9 weeks or so, and after that she started sleeping through - Alice could be the same (as if any two babes are ever the same). It was really hard for us at the time as we'd been spoiled with Ava sleeping through from something ridiculous like day 8 and weren't quite prepared; Ava was also going through a poor sleeping phase. We'd have both of them in the bed at 4am with work the next day...

(Pam took the pics above, btw - credit where it's due).

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry to hear that, Nathalie; kids just don't allow you to be ill, do they? I've had a bacterial chest infection and I'm still not fully over it after a month - it's because "rest" is a foreign concept now.

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Owen:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/409181303_edc6bc07df.jpg

Ben and Owen
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/158/401125259_9efb349b15.jpg

― schwantz, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 16:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Awww! That second pic is like those Greek comedy/tragedy masks :)

― Archel, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 17:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Luscious!

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 17:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh God, they're adorable.

Sometimes, sometimes, I wonder what it might've been like to have a boy...

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link

As one of two sisters, I can say confidently that you have the best combo M :)

― Archel, Tuesday, 6 March 2007 17:51 (seventeen years ago) link

schwantz, i was seriously thinking about you and the babies, wondering how everything was. so tell us, please, if you don't mind,how things are going? is he handling the medication pretty well and how are the strokes (?).

ophelia's coping quite well and doesn't really *bother* me that much. but boy oh boy am i morning sick. and the cold isn't a fullfledged one, in teh sense that you actually SEE me having a cold, so it's like i'm just moaning for nothing. as they say (but not in front of the kids, so cover their ears): BUGGAH.

ophelia's been standing indie style and doing little steps. it's so darn cute!

the funniest thing, someone in my knitting class opinionated that boys are closer to their mums than daughters. as a girl i was so attached to my mother, you didn't need any superglue to make me and my mum any tighter. i find the whole concept "boys are... than girls..." just ridiculous, really. but do say i'm wrong if you like and regale me with tales of your sister not being attached to your mom....

if my english comes out all weird: see above about cold and morning sickness.

― nathalie, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 08:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, I didn't really want to bum out the thread with tales of seizures and hospitals, so I haven't posted in a while. However, it hasn't really been that bad. Ben has had a couple of seizure spells. We have put him on some anti-convulsive meds (Keppra), which are still getting dialed in. He hasn't had any spells for about a week and a half, but that is about the normal inter-cluster time period, so we are crossing our fingers that he doesn't have any more for a few weeks, at least, so we know the meds are actually working. If this happens, then it pretty much rules out any of the really scary, intractable seizure disorders (go ahead and Google "partial focal seizures" if you want to see where my head was at a couple weeks ago). Also, his development seems to be on-track, so we're pretty hopeful that these spells will pass in a year or two (or less). We took him for an MRI yesterday, which was stressful in its own way, since they had to put him under in order to keep him still. We find out the results today. The most probable result is that they will find nothing, which is actually, statistically, the best option (it means that the spells have a better chance of going away on their own). If they find something small, then it will at least let us know what is actually going on (and rule out some of the scary shit). They probably won't find anything macroscopic, as they would have seen that stuff on the ultrasound they did of his head a couple weeks ago (you can ultrasound a baby's head through the soft spot!).

On the bright side, like I mentioned, his development seems to be on-track. Physically, he is a tiny bit behind his brother, but he was born a little smaller, and has always been a bit more verbal than Owen. He smiles and talks all the time, and is pretty strong.

Owen, I just found out, rolled over for the first (and then second, third, fourth, and fifth) time this morning, from his back to his front (ooo - adVANced!), trying to get across the crib to his brother. So that's exciting! Bummer that I have to hear about this stuff through email, but then, someone has to work, right?

Do any of the parents of slightly older children feel like your constant nervousness about your children ever subsides a bit? I can hear you laughing through the screen, but I'm serious. It seems like when they are infants, there is this fear that they will just freaking DIE randomly. Does this go away at all, or does you just get used to it?

― schwantz, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps is in a crib in our room. When she fusses, I worry, and when she stops fussing, I worry. I hear that it's completely par for the course to feel this way.

I do a sports report daily at my job. If I'm ever late or we get an intern to do it for training, I get a phone call at 12:31 from my Dad going, "WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU OKAY?" It's annoying, I don't condone it, and I hope that I'm not doing that when Beeps is 33 years-old, but I now sort of understand it.

I hope everything works out for Ben. So often, you read about someone and find out that they were born with some incredible handicap or were eight months early or something, and look how they turned out! We'll continue to hope for the best from this end.

― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 17:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Does this go away at all, or does you just get used to it?

Not really, not for me. Mine are each in their mid-20s and I still get panicky when I don't hear from them (they both live far from me) and I have occasional horrible nightmares of BAD THINGS happening to them. I have however, in the past 2 or 3 years, trained myself to stop phoning and emailing them constantly. Now I just take my panic out on Mr. Jaq. Everyone should call their parents right NOW and tell them things are fine.

I'm glad things are getting under control for Ben - both your boys are so darned cute!

― Jaq, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 17:43 (seventeen years ago) link

I have a knot of anxiety in my gut over my adult kids. It never goes away, but it lies dormant most of the time. Different things will activate it, like if one of them has a rough patch with a girlfriend, or gets speeding tickets. I went to the funeral of one of my younger son's classmates on Sunday. Car crash.

― Beth Parker, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 17:47 (seventeen years ago) link

One more pic:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/187/413103206_ea65866782.jpg

Also, if you want to check out a whole ton of pics, check out my twins Flickr set

― schwantz, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 18:14 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG they are adorable. Crossing my fingers that the meds are working for Ben and that the seizures will disappear on their own.

I still freak out some about my 8 and 4 year old kids, but I no longer fear that they will just die. I'm more worried that they will blithely walk out in front of a car (especially J., who is not only younger, but also fearless). Mostly I don't let myself contemplate bad things happening to them, though, because it's just too scary.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 18:17 (seventeen years ago) link

So we found out what Ben has is a mild version of Focal Cortical Dysplasia (don't Google it or you'll get freaked out), emphasis on "mild." This is one of the most common causes of seizures in kids. Our neurologist seemed to think she was delivering relatively good news, and told us that this rules out any of the really scary seizure syndromes. According to her, the effects of this could range from nothing, with the seizures disappearing within a year or two, to possibly some mild learning disabilities. Apparently many people have FCD and don't even know it.

Again, if you Google it, you will get a menu of frightening possibilities. It sounds like the version Ben has is very mild, and should be controllable with the meds, etc.

― schwantz, Wednesday, 7 March 2007 23:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Finally some hard information for you. Ben certainly doesn't look too worried!
Of course we're all going to Google it anyway. Who do you think you're talking to?

― Beth Parker, Thursday, 8 March 2007 00:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Oy! Too scholarly for me!

― Beth Parker, Thursday, 8 March 2007 00:08 (seventeen years ago) link

As much as I'd like to say that I would be relieved, I would still worry very much over my baby if he had it so I'm assuming you do as well. Still good to hear he has a mild form and that the meds seem to working. Here's crossinger our fingers!

Ophelia has her second *bad* night. She's teething, molars, and still battling a cold. As a result, I think, she wakes up and wants to sleep with us. She refuses to go back to bed and instead she screams and cries. It's not sad wimpering, it's angry crying. So what do I do? No, I don't ferberize, I put her in bed with us. My husband doesn't agree, he finds that we should just leave her crying until she gets the message that she won't be sleeping in our bed. WHAT TO DO!

― nathalie, Thursday, 8 March 2007 08:32 (seventeen years ago) link

I can't just leave Ava when she's really wailing and has been for 10-15mins; she's been coming to bed with us in the middle of the night fairly frequently recently.

When she had a bad patch like this before, she came out of it and went back to being able to soothe herself when she'd woken from a bad dream/whatever. I know bringing distressed toddlers to bed is considered dangerous practice (i.e. you'll never get them to sleep in their own bed), but I'm not sure of a viable alternative (I don't drive, taking them downstairs just seems like a recipe for an extra 2 hours of being awake, she doesn't have a room of her own yet - she's sleeping in a cot jammed into our office - so calming her in situ, as it were, doesn't really work).

We'll see how it goes in the next week when she moves into her own room and into a real bed...

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 8 March 2007 10:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Terrible night with Alice last night, speaking of. And, also on topic, when I finally did go to sleep I dreamt that she was drowning in the bath :(

― Archel, Thursday, 8 March 2007 11:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Your dream is probably all about wanting to protect her.

Oh, all you poor parents with your sleepless nights. It doesn't last for ever though :)

― C J, Thursday, 8 March 2007 11:21 (seventeen years ago) link

I took my kids in to the local hospital last weekend to visit a friend of mine who is recuperating after an operation. My friend's room was in the new part of the hospital, and her windows overlooked the helipad in the hospital grounds, which was quite exciting. While we were there, the ambulance helicopter brought in a patient - a very elderly, wrinkly bald man strapped tightly to a stretcher - at which point my eldest daughter exclaimed "ooh look, it's Britney Spears"

― C J, Thursday, 8 March 2007 11:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Yep they grow up fast!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/414513213_f0160f25ea.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/136/414513209_8c9ff268c2.jpg?v=0

― Dr.C, Thursday, 8 March 2007 11:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, they're gorgeous!

― C J, Thursday, 8 March 2007 11:38 (seventeen years ago) link

aww - ta! The top one is 6 feet tall and has larger feet than me. I got some hand-me-down converse shoes that he'd grown out of the other day.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 8 March 2007 11:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Beautiful children, Doc.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 8 March 2007 11:45 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/181/414520563_2b0c468a24.jpg?v=0

Couldn't resist posting this one.

― Dr.C, Thursday, 8 March 2007 11:54 (seventeen years ago) link

H gave us a good night's sleep last night - 12 til 9 with wakes for feeds at 2.30 and 5.30. Also we managed to get him to nap in his pram for an hour at 8pm while we ate dinner - up til now we had been eating in shifts as he refused to settle. The trick? Two laps round the block in his pram - we have found this sends him off to sleep like a dream.

On the minus side - we went for a long walk this morning which was lovely, but I don't think my episiotomy was ready for it and now I can barely sit down. Ouch :(

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 8 March 2007 12:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Also you can finally see a pic of the lil fella at a few minutes old - plus read about the birth in gory detail, should you wish to - here

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 8 March 2007 13:00 (seventeen years ago) link

speaking of sleep, I took the boy to a chiropractor, I had a suspicion that the neck problems he had at birth (tortocollis and also his shoulder got hung up a bit during delivery) hadn't fully resolved themselves and maybe that was interfering with his sleep. It helped a lot, I was really amazed.

― teeny, Thursday, 8 March 2007 15:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw Meg, Howie is gorgeous! Such lovely round cheeks already :)

― Archel, Thursday, 8 March 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link

We're six days behind Meg! Sleeping through the night is possibly in sight!

― Pleasant Plains, Thursday, 8 March 2007 18:08 (seventeen years ago) link

How are you all otherwise, PP? Please for to let us see more pictures of Miss Beatrice, because she looked pretty darn cute in the first one, and I'm sure it's only improved.

― luna, Friday, 9 March 2007 02:40 (seventeen years ago) link

We're doing all right. Haven't had a solid night yet. You're never really fully prepared, but at least you can prepare yourself to be unprepared, if that makes any sense. I'm really hoping some sort of routine begins to develop, but six days in (and just four days since coming home from the hospital), we're still playing it by ear. Thank you for asking.

And by request, Ms Beeps.

http://img113.imageshack.us/img113/9378/im003519ud9.jpg

http://img184.imageshack.us/img184/5102/im003516wg1.jpg

― Pleasant Plains, Friday, 9 March 2007 04:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw, she's beautiful!

Meg - thanks for sharing the link to your blog with Howie's birth story. I enjoyed reading it! And he's looking fabulous as well!!!!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 9 March 2007 05:02 (seventeen years ago) link

We're six days behind Meg! Sleeping through the night is possibly in sight!

WTF! Thank your lucky stars if it happens. Usually it's the baby deceiving you. ;-) They do it once to show you what might be and then the next couple of weeks they wake up screaming. ;-)

Ophelia's molars have burst (?) through. She slept till 6:40. Double yay with hurrah on top. She's coughing a bit now so my husband's afraid she'll develop a lung infection. Worry? You bet ya. However it's much less than the first year, then I freaked out on a daily basis. :-)

― nathalie, Friday, 9 March 2007 07:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, we're a long way off sleeping through the night, I think - he wakes every 3 hours or so demanding to be fed, though luckily he is pretty good at settling down again afterwards.

Main problem at the mo seems to be overproduction of milk on my part - not only am I constantly leaking out of both boobs like a tap, but H seems to guzzle too much at each feed nad make himself windyand grizzly. We had some serious projectile vomiting yesterday, which was nice...

Miss Beeps is beautiful!

― Meg Busset, Friday, 9 March 2007 11:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Lytton's Top Three Current Irritants

1. First mild snuffle, leading to coughing and grizzling.
2. Move onto larger size bottles, which he can't grab as easily - they have slightly harder teats I think.
3. Mum has been ill herself and Dad busy at work so less attention generally.

Lytton's Top Three Minor and Major Pleasures

1. Changing - he loves it: he can roll more easily, he gets toys shaken in front of him, it's great. I think he will grow up to be a nudist.
2. "Heads and shoulders knees and toes" - never fails to get a smile.
3. Being read to - he has learned to bash at a page to "turn" it. (at least we think this is what he's doing)

― Groke, Friday, 9 March 2007 11:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Lytton sounds like a little smasher.

I just tried to compile a list detailing Ava's current vocabulary; excluding Mummy, Daddy, Lulu, the names of friends/relatives/fictional TV & book characters, I came up with 207 words*. I think that's about average but she's not stringing together sentences to any great degree - well, none we can understand (the linking words are her own garbled phonemes). In the ongoing power struggle in the home, she's definitely winning (in bed with us again last night from 1:15 and again from 3:30, ridiculously extended bathtimes) - but we'll get through this. We haven't used the Fisher Price punishment dungeon yet.

(* - I'm generously including words probably only me & Pam recognise - tangaloo for triangle, cattapada for caterpillar).

― Michael Jones, Friday, 9 March 2007 12:29 (seventeen years ago) link

hey meg--I had overproduction for the longest time and it helps to nurse on one side for a while--like until the other side is ready to burst!

― teeny, Friday, 9 March 2007 14:10 (seventeen years ago) link

P.P., what a beautiful little girl!

― Beth Parker, Friday, 9 March 2007 14:22 (seventeen years ago) link

thanks teeny - will try that, he's been very unsettled and teary this afternoon, esp after feeds, so I suspect it's a bit of colic. Have dosed him up with Infacol so we'll see if that helps.

― Meg Busset, Friday, 9 March 2007 14:43 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/148/415373024_6a1fb00514.jpg?v=0

I bought this toy but it's not the handiest thing in the world. Figured she could learn how to walk properly but it's more something to play with when you KNOW how to walk. It's too hard cause it's not wide enough. But we'll use it as a... waddayacall it. Whatever. My English is subpar today.

She's at daycare today. We were tempted to call yet again but decided against it. My husband said to the woman in charge that if O was sick, they could call us. They haven't so hopefully she's been happy at the daycare. Not too sure though cause last time I picked her up, I was near tears as she seemed so... bored is an exaggeration but you know what I mean....

Anyhow I just bought a Sublime and Debbie Bliss book for baby clothes and some Sublime yarn. I know how to fill my evenings: knitting baby clothes.

― nathalie, Friday, 9 March 2007 14:50 (seventeen years ago) link

A walker?

http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/Images/ww_images/senior-walker.jpg

― Pleasant Plains, Friday, 9 March 2007 21:02 (seventeen years ago) link

hahaha, you're going to feel that old in a month or so.

I noticed that you're doing all the posting. How is SS?

― Rock Hardy, Friday, 9 March 2007 21:23 (seventeen years ago) link

If I can find a walker with a barf bag (sorry!) attached to it, I'm definitely interested. Morning sickness is even worse than the first time. *sigh* I got what I asked for, I guess. ;-)

― nathalie, Saturday, 10 March 2007 13:11 (seventeen years ago) link

My ex-mother in law was a big believer in those hard leather shoes for babies. The white ones—I don't know if they even make them any more. She told me that my older son would not learn to walk right if I didn't put those shoes on him, and she sent me a pair. I threw them out. Awful things.

Dr. C, your children are splendid! My boys were so thrilled when they grew taller than me.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 10 March 2007 14:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia is suddenly a little girl! Not that she was a little boy before or anything. Ms Beeps is amazin' and so is Howie. And Alice! Am I forgetting anyone? A bumper crop of cracking kids.

Here's Ava playing in Stambourne Woods near our house earlier this afternoon (monkey backpack restraint deployed because Tallulah was in a Baby Bjorn and we were walking a friend's dog; didn't really fancy chasing her into poison ivy/other people's gardens [it's a very suburban wood]):

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/149/416552641_96803b6d9a.jpg

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 10 March 2007 17:26 (seventeen years ago) link

They still make them, Beth. I didn't use them, either, though my mum all but insisted.

Beeps is gorgeous - love those little plump cheeks!

― luna, Saturday, 10 March 2007 17:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Alex in NYC posted an adorable photo of Oliver on his blog today.

― jaymc, Saturday, 10 March 2007 18:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow. In the very back of my mind, I was still thinking of Oliver in NYC as being a little infant kid.

That's already been a year? Whoa.

― Pleasant Plains, Saturday, 10 March 2007 18:19 (seventeen years ago) link

Lovely sweater, too.

― Michael White, Saturday, 10 March 2007 18:30 (seventeen years ago) link

At the pediatrician's my sister saw this other mom who had brought her baby in for his two-week checkup. She had him dressed in those hard-soled shoes, shirt, pants and a BELT.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 10 March 2007 18:32 (seventeen years ago) link

No tie?! Such informality is allowed these days!

― Michael White, Saturday, 10 March 2007 18:35 (seventeen years ago) link

I thought belts for babies were illegal!

I still haven't bought Lou hard-soled shoes and he's been walking for six months.

― teeny, Saturday, 10 March 2007 18:37 (seventeen years ago) link

My kids managed to learn to walk, too.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 10 March 2007 18:38 (seventeen years ago) link

I put leather shoes on. Not always but still do. She LOVES it. Even grabs the shoes as to say she wants'em on. It's certainly not a bad thing to put shoes on, as long as they are well-made. My husband was shocked at the price of shoes for babies. hah. We paid about 90 euros, which is about 110 dollars. (Exchange rate is crap, so just think 90 euros. We also have crazy high taxes.)

He's been walking for SIX months? Sheeit. How old is he again? Ophelia has been *letting go* but cruising is still her main form of going from A to B. She also crawls at an amazing pace. Thank god there are no cops around, or she'd have a speeding ticket. ;-)

― nathalie, Sunday, 11 March 2007 09:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice has suddenly decided that life is worth smiling about after all:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/417810058_153664ed17.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Monday, 12 March 2007 10:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh Archel! Don't you just fight back tears of happiness when she smiles? I still remember the first time she turned and smiled at me. It's something you never ever forget. :-D

― nathalie, Monday, 12 March 2007 15:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Archel, Alice's smile is so gorgeous! I can't wait til Howie starts smiling. At the moment he seems like he is kind of trying, but it could just be wind...

Meanwhile, H weighs 8lb 14oz as of today, which means he has put on two pounds in less than two weeks! He is already growing out of newborn-size clothes, and developing proper (and lovely) baby fat. In less welcome news, his colic has meant some very wah-filled evenings in the last few days. I'm really hoping he doesn't go the full 12 weeks with it - it's so distressing to see him crying, when no amount of soothing / cuddling will help.

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 17:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Why I'd missed the Beeps photos! Hurrah!

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Those pictures were taken during the five minutes last week that she was actually asleep.

― Pleasant Plains, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 17:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Archel,
Beth Parker is going to come over to this thread and start collecting rocks!
Alice is amazing. I am also fond of the pictures of her eating daddy's nose.
Any protuberance is a nipple, I suppose.
I love the milky eyes that infants have - so many decisions to make!
Happy -sad -hungry -poopie. What color should my eyes be? Hmmmmm....

― aimurchie, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 17:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Haha yes Howie had us fooled with that one - the ventouse delivery meant he was quiet as a mouse for the first two days of his life. Talk about lulling us into a false sense of security...

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 17:45 (seventeen years ago) link

(x-post dammit)

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 17:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Has anyone else read Neal Pollack's piece in salon.com about having his son circumcised? Made me mad—the way he capitulated to the demands of his horrible, horrible family. I mean, if he and his wife felt strongly about it, fine, but the way it played out—ugh.
They're going to have trouble with his family sooner or later. May as well bring it on.

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 19:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Neal Pollack is a shitty excuse for a parent. If that article was the only example, that would be a harsh thing to say. But I remember the one article he did for Salon where he complained about how inconvenient having a child around was, and his daycare center should accept the boy even though he had repeatedly assaulted other children .

― Nicole, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 20:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Beth - I read his book! If that issue ever comes up for me, I have my arguments ready.

― tokyo rosemary, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 20:35 (seventeen years ago) link

I guess this is a good a thread as any? What's an appropriate christening gift? I was thinking check (but how much??) and illustrated children's Bible (maybe signed by the illustrator).

― tokyo rosemary, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 20:38 (seventeen years ago) link

I was thinking check (but how much??) and illustrated children's Bible (maybe signed by the illustrator).

The bible sounds like a very good idea, but I'm not sure about the check amount -- the christenings I've attended were for nieces and nephews and the children of very close friends, so I guess it would depend on how well acquainted you were with the family.

― Nicole, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 21:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Wait a minute. Where did kevin's cheeky comment go?

I knew he was being cheeky since his comment was patently false.

― Pleasant Plains, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 21:11 (seventeen years ago) link

They grow up so fast! I just found this one of my two boys from summer 2002.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/420363729_c85b4e0465.jpg

Mr Collander Head is now a fluent reader!

― onimo, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 21:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw. His big brother is obviously privy to the ancient 'sieve on the head' method of encouraging young readers.

More Alice on beach:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/179/420263696_f3620df11a.jpg?v=0

(Note classic parent pose in the background - holding orphan shoe which has been wriggled out of for the tenth time that day...)

10lb 13oz at weigh-in today, and final farewell to the Brighton health visitors before we move away next week. Eek!

― Archel, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 21:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Great pics of Alice.

How come shoes never stay on, no matter what kind you get and how well they fit?

― onimo, Tuesday, 13 March 2007 22:09 (seventeen years ago) link

We are closing in on Teething Time, M (6 months old today! Blimey!) is beginning to have grumpy spells.

She's also getting a bit clingy with Mrs O, which is bad news as she's thinking about going back to work in a couple of months.

― onimo, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 13:44 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/416372736_29d4328358.jpg?v=0

helping out in the shop. oh yes, she has discovered the ring cases.

― nathalie, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 14:24 (seventeen years ago) link

O so cute!

― Beth Parker, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 23:05 (seventeen years ago) link

i think i am a bit in love with alice. that last pic with the squirmy can't-help-myself smile and the laughing new-moon eyes made me exclaim out loud.

― emsk, Wednesday, 14 March 2007 23:51 (seventeen years ago) link

All the babies are so squeezable.

― Beth Parker, Thursday, 15 March 2007 00:09 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/132/423123103_9efde5404e.jpg?v=0

BabyMkII! We calculated the right date. *It* Iz 8 Weekz old! Expected delivery date: two days before my birthday! 26th of Oktoberfest! Hoera!

― nathalie, Friday, 16 March 2007 15:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Awwwwww.

― luna, Friday, 16 March 2007 15:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats!

― schwantz, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Woo! Two is better than one, honestly - despite all my moaning.

― Michael Jones, Friday, 16 March 2007 16:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw, Nathalie - it's amazing how that makes me want to be pregnant again, even though the stitches haven't yet healed from this one! (and I spent a lot of my labour chanting in my head, "I am NEVER doing this again")

― Meg Busset, Saturday, 17 March 2007 08:45 (seventeen years ago) link

I wonder if ILX will still be here when we're withered and gray, and we'll be posting pics of the great-grands. I hope so. At the very least I want to be here when these babies have their first compulsory brushes with the law.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 17 March 2007 13:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay nath! It truly is a rolling parenting thread - I wonder who the next ilxor to get pregnant will be?

― Archel, Saturday, 17 March 2007 14:14 (seventeen years ago) link

My wife, as it happens. Though she's not technically an ilxor. So it looks like I may be hanging around this thread a bit.

― Matt, Saturday, 17 March 2007 14:36 (seventeen years ago) link

!!!
Congratulations! So happy for you both :)

― Archel, Saturday, 17 March 2007 15:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations!

― luna, Saturday, 17 March 2007 15:58 (seventeen years ago) link

matt, tell us more! How (heheh), when,...

― nathalie, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Thanks!

Sometime towards the end of january I think. It wasn't really a surprise as we'd started trying (well, in a half-hearted if it happens it happens sort of a sense) in the vague expectation of pregnancy occurring at some point this year. Within two weeks came as a bit of a surprise, though.

― Matt, Saturday, 17 March 2007 16:34 (seventeen years ago) link

The boys, after a particularly draining (hehe) feeding:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/146/424186895_44074e1d2d.jpg

― schwantz, Saturday, 17 March 2007 20:54 (seventeen years ago) link

I wonder if ILX will still be here when we're withered and gray...

That's a shorter stretch for some of us than for others. The gray is advancing by leaps and bounds, but the witheredness is still holding back, thank goodness.

― Aimless, Saturday, 17 March 2007 21:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava, with a nice bit of lens flare, waiting for a bus earlier today:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/424565717_c93142b2ae.jpg

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:36 (seventeen years ago) link

:-)

Fun bunch of photos and stories on here, I have to say (again, I'm sure). While for a variety of reasons I suspect kids aren't in my future (stranger has happened, though), I enjoy the living vicariously as much as I do with my OC friends and relatives. I admit I'm glad I don't have to worry about all the actual child-rearing, mind you, as I am a lazy and selfish bastard. So you all get credit for that alone!

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:42 (seventeen years ago) link

That's a really lovely picture of Ava.

― luna, Saturday, 17 March 2007 23:52 (seventeen years ago) link

It really is. My god Mike, I don't know how you even manage to walk down the street with her without being mobbed by adoring hordes.

Also loving the picture of the super contented twins :)

It wasn't really a surprise as we'd started trying (well, in a half-hearted if it happens it happens sort of a sense) in the vague expectation of pregnancy occurring at some point this year. Within two weeks came as a bit of a surprise, though.

Exactly what happened with us... people called Matt are obviously very fertile!

― Archel, Sunday, 18 March 2007 08:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Stupid cleft-related comment of the week:

Old woman at child health clinic: aw, don't worry, they can operate on that these days you know.

OH REALLY? Thanks for the info TOTAL STRANGER.

:(

― Archel, Sunday, 18 March 2007 08:49 (seventeen years ago) link

I don't know why people can be so cruel. I know they would (correctly) reply that they only want to help, but in return you just want to tear their head off and let your dog chew on it. My husband has a congenital dysfunction in his eyes which has given him terrible eyesight. He's lucky because many with the dysfunction are blind. The times that people have recommended he use glasses or have an operation are just... I just want to scream:"Bloody idiot, don't you think we would if it would help?" So Archel, I feel your pain a little.

Matt, I think *something* was in the water in January because I know, besides you and I, two more couple who got lucky the first try! :-D

― nathalie, Sunday, 18 March 2007 09:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava is being touched by the Reading Rainbow!

― aimurchie, Sunday, 18 March 2007 10:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Lovely smile from Alice. And schwantz's boys continue to cause melting in the Jerry-Bones household.

We finally got the nursery into a state where we could move Ava into it over the weekend. She loves her new room and she likes, er, resting on the bed. But sleeping? No way. So we moved the cot in and she's back in that for now. Good God, the screaming out of her when I put her to bed nowadays - it's like she's possessed. But five minutes after I leave her, the wailing ceases, she's cuddled up with kangaroo and is out like a light.

Here she is, expressing misleading enthusiasm for her new sleeping arrangement:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/174/424560218_d8501a554a.jpg

― Michael Jones, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia doesn't like the daycare at all. I think as a result of my husband leaving her there, she cries whenever he leaves the room now. Or maybe it's just separation anxiety for my husband. I really should not be typing about this,because then I have the urge to go pick her up. :-(((( The problem (for me) is that it's not necessary, I could leave her here, but then again I am now able to work more (so why am I on ILX huh?). Also, I think for her the problem is that she only goes twice a week so it'll probably take a longer time to adapt to the new situation? :-( Poor baby.

I love Ava's room! It looks great! To make you lament the night time routine even more, Michael: Yesterday Ophelia went to bed before I could say:"So let's go to sleep!" She turned around and went to sleep! While I was walking out of the room she kept saying:"Dada dada!" (Here it's colloquial for saying bye bye.) WHAT THE FUCK! My husband had already noticed that when I went out the room, while he started to read/show the picture book, she would say "dada" to me and also wave but now I could hear it clearly. Freaked me out completely.

That said, she wakes up a lot, but usually goes to sleep again. Her damn cold and cough are still not gone after a couple of weeks. :-( Mine neither but I can live with that. Poor thing doesn't realize what she has. Also, her bloody mother always wants to peel the little crusts off her nose which she doesn't like at all. ;-)

― stevienixed, Monday, 19 March 2007 10:20 (seventeen years ago) link

We have not had brilliant sleep the last few nights. H has started making these REALLY loud snorting, coughing and snoring noises when we put him in his crib at night - usually they don't go on for too long (until he wakes for his next feed) but last night he was at it from his 2.30am feed until I gave up trying to get him to settle at 7am and got up with him. (I managed to get some sleep from 2.30 - 5ish but my husband was kept awake all night.) It doesn't sound like he's particularly distressed - he doesn't work his way up to crying unless he actually needs feeding or changing - but it is very loud and I can't help listening out for the next breath to make sure he's OK. Let's hope it's just a phase...

― Meg Busset, Monday, 19 March 2007 11:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah Meg, been there as well! Ophelia made these noises as well, and also these sort of clicking noises with her nose as well. The pharmacy gave me some spray which cleared up her nose a little bit.

― nathalie, Monday, 19 March 2007 11:39 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/186/426697630_f56c5612d8.jpg

hey, look at my sleeping kid! I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but a bunch of the sleeping issues seem to be behind us...I took Lou to a chiropractor and she made a couple of adjustments and now he sleeps much much better. I was totally dubious but the proof is in the pudding!

― teeny, Monday, 19 March 2007 13:40 (seventeen years ago) link

That's a wonderful photo.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 19 March 2007 14:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Megan has totally sussed rolling over. It's great when kids hit developmental milestones.

― onimo, Monday, 19 March 2007 19:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Just gorgeous, teens.

― luna, Monday, 19 March 2007 19:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Ours have figured out how to roll from back-to-front, but not the other way. They do this, and then they get REALLY bummed-out. Tracy told me today that she is only going to let one roll at a time to help keep her sanity. We're hoping they figure out the front-to-back roll very soon, so we can remove the swaddlers at night. We got the Miracle Blankets recently, and they work pretty well for about half the night, but at some point the little Houdinis wriggle their way out. I'm getting close to pulling out a roll of duct tape.

― schwantz, Monday, 19 March 2007 19:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Another member of the sleep problem club over here :(

Alice has recently gone from five feeds in 24 hours with a nice long sleep at night, back up to six or seven and refusing to settle after the night time bottles... plus major crying most of the day. I think it's a combination of growth spurt, teething (v early but two little nubbins visible in the gum today!) and the fact that we have stopped letting her sleep in her rocker chair, which she always preferred to the moses basket but is now too big for. I have never been so tired in my whole life - we are also moving house this week so it's pretty hellish.

Will probably have no internet for a while so bye for now, rolling parents and rolling babies!

― Archel, Monday, 19 March 2007 20:19 (seventeen years ago) link

that's awesome Teeny!

holy shit, we had ELEVEN STRAIGHT DAYS OF SICKNESS in our house, culminating with an ear infection. Classic how the sickness laddered from youngest kid to next youngest to oldest. A miracle happened and I didn't get the virus or whatever it was. We haven't been on a barf bender like that in years.

― Dandy Don Weiner, Monday, 19 March 2007 20:39 (seventeen years ago) link

You have my every sympathy, Archel - to top my sleep deprivation, today I have come down with some kind of sore throat / shivery muscles bug type thing. Hope I don't pass it on to the wee fella - don't think it'd be much fun with both of us ill :(

― Meg Busset, Monday, 19 March 2007 20:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay for baby slings! The answer to the baby who will only nap while cuddled up to mum. Tried H in his today and, after a few mins grizzling and wriggling, he promptly fell asleep. That was two hours ago and he's still snoring away happily. It's nice not to be stuck on the sofa with both hands full of sleeping baby, unable to move!

Are there any co-sleepers on this thread? This morning we brought him in with us after his usual 6am refusal to settle, and all three of us dozed happily til 7.30 - after which he even went back in his crib for another 45 mins, which made mum and dad very happy. But it still seems a bit of a taboo thing to do...

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 22 March 2007 14:54 (seventeen years ago) link

I had a baby bjorn - the best in my opinion - and I used it so much when she was a couple of months. I don't think I could have survived without it. I also tried other baby carriers but I threw'em in a corner as the Baby Bjorn is very VERY safe.

I still have a cold and so does Ophelia. :-( I went to the doctor after several people advised me to. I am not a big fan of antibiotics, especially for kids, but I figured I better not feed my guilt (of being a bad mommy and neglecting Ophelia) so I went. Was it necessary? No. But I still have to give a few meds (nasal spray and other *concotions*). Hopefully it'll clear up cause she still sleeps very lightly. Me? I wake up because of my own snoring. Urgh. Morning sickness and old BEGONE.

― nathalie, Thursday, 22 March 2007 15:21 (seventeen years ago) link

I never did get the hand of baby slings, but my husband did. They worked very well for him!

As for co-sleeping, we slept with both our kids. It was a choice we made, but yeah, people won't hesitate to tell you you're making a terrible mistake. We transitioned them into their own beds in our room (Julia is still in hers) after leaving ours. Alex got his own new bed and his own room when he was about 5, I think. Julia still wakes up in the middle of the night and crawls into bed with us, which is fine. (She's 4 1/2). Honestly, with nursing, I don't know how anyone can do it and not co-sleep. It was the only way to get any rest, it seemed.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 22 March 2007 15:38 (seventeen years ago) link

We had our best night yet last night - Owen slept all night (as usual), and Ben made it to 5:30, and would probably have made it further if my wife hadn't peeked in to make sure he was still breathing! Looks like we may be getting close to having both of them sleeping 7pm until 7am, which would be mind-blowingly cool, especially for 4-month-olds. I credit the swaddling.

― schwantz, Thursday, 22 March 2007 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link

This is silly, but I thought you guys would appreciate it. My new phrase for the sounds the babies make when we're trying to go to bed? "Cock-blocking bleats."

― schwantz, Thursday, 22 March 2007 17:58 (seventeen years ago) link

I have a book question for the parents of little girls 5 snd above. My niece is turning six this May. She is an excellent reader, and I would like to give her her first "chapter books". I got my nephew "Lemony Snicket" for his seventh birthday (two volumes, which makes gift-giving easy for, oh, the next five birthday/christmas exchanges, as I continue his collection of the series). But i don't know any girl books, or just fun books that would appeal to a rather pink/princessy type girl that are "longer" and/or in a series.
I have looked on some lists, but a personal recommendation is always great!
Thanks!

― aimurchie, Thursday, 22 March 2007 19:48 (seventeen years ago) link

The ones that sprang immediately to mind--Little House on the Prairie and the Anne of Green Gables series--might be a little too much for a 6 yo, although Little House might work (maybe in a year if not now?). The American Girl series are nice for that age, but clear it with the parents, they might not want her getting hot for the very expensive dolls. Maybe some biographies of actual princesses? I started loving Cricket Magazine at that age too--it has stories for different reading levels.

― teeny, Friday, 23 March 2007 12:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Aimurchie : your niece might like the "Animal Ark" series, by Lucy Daniels.

― C J, Friday, 23 March 2007 12:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Little House series seconded.

― Rock Hardy, Friday, 23 March 2007 13:01 (seventeen years ago) link

There was a great thread along these lines on ILB but I can't find it.

― Madchen, Friday, 23 March 2007 13:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Gotcha

― Madchen, Friday, 23 March 2007 13:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Thank you! I might start her on the "Little House" books - she's too young for Nancy Drew and most of the list sites are really about selling particular books.
I can't buy into the American Doll thing unless she is exposed to it. It's not bad, but it's also NOT GOOD.
I am the "Book Auntie"...
Thanks, rolling parents!

― aimurchie, Friday, 23 March 2007 21:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Tummy time for Ben (Owen looks on, Cat Benatar sits in the sun)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/161/432043024_f4b077289f.jpg

― schwantz, Saturday, 24 March 2007 04:26 (seventeen years ago) link

aimurchie, is your niece from the Scottish side of your family? I just bought Mairi Hedderwick's Katie Morag books for my niece. They are really aimed at the 5+ age group - a little above her age - but no matter, I just wanted her to have something relating to traditional Scottish life (her father is Scottish, but her mother is American and she is being brought up in Florida).

― ailsa, Saturday, 24 March 2007 12:58 (seventeen years ago) link

("her" being my niece, not yours, re ages)

― ailsa, Saturday, 24 March 2007 13:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Lots of girls like the Junie B. Jones series. A new author, Sarah Pennypacker, has just released "Clementine" and a follow up. This is an adorable and clever book along the lines of Ramona, which wouldn't be a bad choice either.

― Virginia Plain, Saturday, 24 March 2007 15:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia had her first long tantrum. She wanted another yoghurt and I refused. I realized I should have put'em in the cupboard so she didn't see'em; but that doesn't mean that I should reward her for knowing where they were. So I put her on her back on the ground so she could howl as much as she liked. She eventually crawled onto my lap but then realized, probably, that daddy was a better companion and reached out to him.

― nathalie, Saturday, 24 March 2007 16:13 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm sure Lucy gave her a long-suffering look.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 24 March 2007 16:14 (seventeen years ago) link

The family is going to Scotland nexy month! Them, not me:(
I will tell my sister in law about the Katie Morag books. Thanks!

― aimurchie, Saturday, 24 March 2007 20:32 (seventeen years ago) link

i've been off thee parente threade for a while, hope everybody's doing well. i do have some new pix.

this was his christmas outfit:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/gypsyfrocksbedlam/0002230-R01-053-25.jpg

at central park zoo:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/gypsyfrocksbedlam/0002229-R01-053-25.jpg

and the ever popular pool of balls:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v335/gypsyfrocksbedlam/0002229-R01-009-3.jpg

― tipsy mothra, Saturday, 24 March 2007 21:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Why bother building her a bed?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/432863989_6fed17f40a.jpg

She slept like this for two hours (it was her afternoon nap) but - success - she did actually sleep in her bed 8:30pm-4am last night, which is a start. She's in there right now - 3 hours and counting...

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Whoops.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/432863989_6fed17f40a.jpg

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:17 (seventeen years ago) link

we bought a miracle blanket today

OMG PLEASE WORK

― sunny successor, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:43 (seventeen years ago) link

lemony snicket isn't for girls?!

― emsk, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Nope, just for evil stinky boys.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 24 March 2007 23:57 (seventeen years ago) link

THIS MAKES NO SENSE

i read (some of) them in borders when there were some decent freebie live things happening there and the whole time i was just thinking DAMN, i wish i'd had these when i was 7. and i was an GURL.

― emsk, Sunday, 25 March 2007 00:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Good luck with the Miracle Blanket! Make sure you wrap 'em up tight!

(Ben's back to waking up at 2-3am - I guess the other night was a fluke :( )

― schwantz, Sunday, 25 March 2007 03:04 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.bibsandstuff.com/miracle-blanket-1.jpg http://www.keyboardbiologist.net/knitblog/images/Equals.JPG http://www.affordablehousinginstitute.org/blogs/us/Horse_with_blinders_small.jpg

(So far, apparently...)

― Pleasant Plains, Sunday, 25 March 2007 05:35 (seventeen years ago) link

And they wrapped the Beeps in swaddling clothes and lay her in a manger.

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 25 March 2007 05:39 (seventeen years ago) link

I love the Lemony Snicket books as well, and as someone recently pointed out to me, my lip gloss collection suggests that I'm a "girly girl."

Hope all the babies are sleeping peacefully tonight!

― Sara R-C, Sunday, 25 March 2007 06:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Ben's back to waking up at 2-3am - I guess the other night was a fluke :(

They *always* do this! But it's not far off, those long nights. Hang in there!

Morning sickness is still in full swing. Really full swing. :-(

― nathalie, Sunday, 25 March 2007 07:50 (seventeen years ago) link

i'm a grown up girl and i've read some of the lemony snicket series, i thought it was great. two of the key characters are girls, i can't see why it would be thought to be aimed at boys.

― gem, Sunday, 25 March 2007 09:17 (seventeen years ago) link

I always found them a bit negative. I'm a sensitive chap.

― Mark C, Sunday, 25 March 2007 09:48 (seventeen years ago) link

UMMMM.....I bought the Lemony Snicket books for her brother, who is seven. The books are reccomended for 7 and above. He already has the books - the family is reading them together. Why would i get her the same books?
In fact, i mentioned them because - well - her brother already has that collection, so I Would Like To Get Something Else For Her!
She's very girly, but I tend to "combat" that by NOT buying her barbie stuff, etc. In fact, I only give books to the kids - they get plenty of toys from other relatives.
I didn't ask about books for girly girls - i asked what parents thought about for a five year old girl. i guess i could have said "five year old not gender specific", but "niece" kind of gave it away!
Anyway - not the point of this thread.
Thanks for the reccomendations!

― aimurchie, Sunday, 25 March 2007 10:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Mrs COastaltown seems to have morning, afternoon and evening sickness at the mo:(

― Matt, Sunday, 25 March 2007 12:20 (seventeen years ago) link

We have thought about swaddling Howie, but given that he loves to sleep with his arms above his head, and kicking his legs in the air is one of his favourite things, I don't think it would go down too well. When we try to wrap him in a towel to wash his hair, it's mere seconds before he has arms and legs sticking out all over the place. He be a free-spirited baby...

― Meg Busset, Sunday, 25 March 2007 13:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Whoo-hoo!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/164/435925876_426497ad6e.jpg

Ben gets a private concert from atop the piano:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/433147978_b4433083cc.jpg

― schwantz, Wednesday, 28 March 2007 18:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Seriously, how long can you have a cold? Sheesh, it's been a couple of weeks and she's still not recovered. Some nights are horrendous: wakes up every night and cries. I refuse to put her in our bed this night. Which I know is cold and severe, but I wanted to let her learn that she has to remain in her bed. :-( (Also, I was so sick and feeling horrendously crap, I don't think I could have more than *me* in bed.)

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 06:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry to hear about Mrs Coastaltown's all-day-long morning sickness. There's been a thread on this which might help

― C J, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Apparently swimming in the morning helps alleviate morning sickness. So a daily routine of 30 minutes should help (and is also extremely good for zee bones and muscles). I don't of course swim so much, but the weekly swim does help with the morning sickness. I feel exceptionally well after it.

Still suffering from morning sickness coupled with dreadful cold. And hormones. I am as a result a bit out of it. :-(((

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, poor you :( I suppose you can't take much in the way of cold medicine, can you?

― C J, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, sort of homeopathic ones that don't do me anything. I mean, works for an hour and then it's full on snot mode again. hah. It's not so much the physical aspect but the fact that mentally I feel awful. :-( Ah well, this too shall pass. ;-)

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Any chance you can have an indulgent day pampering yourself with Nice Things, or are you working in the shop today?

― C J, Thursday, 29 March 2007 08:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Much obliged for the link CJ, some helpful stuff (the swimming also sounds a good idea, she starts easter hols next week so I shall suggest it). My sympathy to Nath.

Scan today!

― Matt, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Pampering? haha No. The shop has to be open seven days a week. The only pampering I can do is stuffing myself. ;-) (Which I realize is NOT good but it alleviates the sickness a bit.) Also, we just discovered OPhelia has the measels (from the creche). ARGH!

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh lordy - are you rubella immune, nath???

― C J, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:20 (seventeen years ago) link

shit, i mean chickenpox.

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah shit, I just read the effects it can have on a foetus. :-((((((((((((((((

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 09:38 (seventeen years ago) link

But YOU don't have chickenpox, right?

― schwantz, Thursday, 29 March 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, I'm not sure I had it as a child. I think I had *something*, probably chickenpox, as a teenager. But I'm not sure. So we had to take my blood. I'll know next week (argh!) if I'm immune. If not, then I hope we're in time for some immunization. :-(

― nathalie, Thursday, 29 March 2007 15:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Good luck to you... I'll keep my fingers crossed.

― schwantz, Thursday, 29 March 2007 15:59 (seventeen years ago) link

My mom had chicken pox while pregnant near me, near the end. I turned out okay. (I think)

Hopefully you won't get it Nath so you won't have to worry! I hope you feel better soon.

― Ms Misery, Thursday, 29 March 2007 16:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, near the end ofyour pregnancy isn't as hazardous as the first twenty weeks. When you are pregnant, the first three/four months are the riskiest. If I have chickenpox (before they can immunize (?)) me then the baby can not only die, it can, if it survives the ordeal, develop a range of problems ranging from shortened limbs to cataract (?). That said, my doctor says that most people have had it during childhood (even when they didn't show the signs) and are thus immune to it. I think it's about 95 procent. Even if I didn't have it, they will probably be in time to give me an injection.

If you have it the last couple of days before your delivery, then they have to inject the baby with something, I think.

In short: this has been one hellish ride so far for me. I feel completely crap. I also think I managed to *dry myself out*. I need to drink more. I am also going to pop a Dafalgan cause of my splitting headache. :-(

― stevienixed, Friday, 30 March 2007 09:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry it's been such a rollercoaster so far Nath, I'm sure you'll have had chickenpox already, and you and baby will be fine.

Matt - hope the scan went well! How are you finding cooking for a pregnant woman?! Are you being ultra cautious, or are you throwing some of the overly strict precautions to the wind?

I am in the honeymoon period of pregnancy :0) Feeling great, got a bump, can feel little squirrel wriggling without it keeping me awake at night... (sorry to rub it in Nath, but I'm sure it won't be long before you turn the corner....) We've bought a buggy (with car seat and carry cot) too, thanks to Pam (Mike's mrs and Ava and Lulu's mum) and our second scan on wednesday went fine, no problems at all so far.

Lovely twin fluff, they're so gorgeous! But we need more piccies on this thread!

― Vicky, Friday, 30 March 2007 10:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Schwantz - we love the Bumbo seat. We also used to take pix of Ava in it, perched on top of things, but worried Social Services would come after us if we posted them anywhere ;)

I'm entirely confident everything will be fine for Nath. There you go.

Lulu is now almost rolling over and remains a pretty easy baby (up to 16lb now), even if it took us 40min to pacify her last night at bedtime. Ava is well into her naughty phase (I hope it's a phase) - she thinks throwing food is more fun than eating it and has explosive tantrums at every opportunity (last night, she agreed to a bath and then went ballistic once I got her up there). The transition to her own bed is having mixed results - two nights recently she's wailed at the safety gate in her doorway for 20min before falling asleep on the wooden floor but last night, with the help of fairy lights on a timer, we did get her to stay in her bed until 4am. Oh, and bathtime last night was carnage.

Here's Tallulah doing her bit for the Dairy Marketing Board:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/432867681_2f6fd22a62.jpg

And here's Ava weighing up the possibilities during a slightly more successful mealtime:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/427241284_a67bb6dce0.jpg

― Michael Jones, Friday, 30 March 2007 12:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry about mentioning last night's bath twice - that's what happens when you compose a post over half an hour inbetween work things - though it was so traumatic there's a chance I might bring it up again.

Did I mention Ava's bath last night?

― Michael Jones, Friday, 30 March 2007 12:31 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/145/437627723_e03e91b38c.jpg?v=1175094082

Before the red spotty state. ;-)

Vicky, no, you're not rubbing it in at all! You're giving me hope again. :-)

― stevienixed, Friday, 30 March 2007 18:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi guys, no interweb yet in new house wahhhh!

Just had to check in on my fellow parents though. And parents-to-be! Hope things improve for you nath and for mrs coastaltown, and continue well for you vicky :)

Alice is taking to the new abode very well although we've discovered that our donated cot is missing some vital pieces so she's still in with us at the moment, and she's been a bit poorly after her jabs last week.

And please send us good thoughts on Thursday which is the day of Alice's lip repair. I'm going to miss her wide grin :(

― Archel, Saturday, 31 March 2007 10:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Good thoughts coming your way! I'm sure she'll still be pretty cute.

― Beth Parker, Saturday, 31 March 2007 12:34 (seventeen years ago) link

I love you guys but I have been too crazy busy to post here much. In the last few weeks, Emma has made her stage debut in "The Music Man" (rocked it), Sammy is still tap dancing but has also had his Little League baseball tryout and been assigned to a team (oh god oh god oh god please don't let him be on a team with a meathead jerk coach and mean little bastards on the team, or else let him be good so they like him), my wife has had an emergency appendectomy, and I've started a new fancier job (at the same company) so that I can conceivably make more money to pay for it all.

Good luck to all, many good thoughts to Alice/Matt/Archel for the surgery, and love to all. Okay back to lurking until we hear about the adoption thing.

― Dimension 5ive, Saturday, 31 March 2007 14:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Archel, I'll be thinking of you and Alice. I am sure it'll be a smooth operation, but I realize that's a cliche comment cause as a parent you're still worried.

Matt, how was the scan?

The pharmacist gave me PrimPram which apparently can make morning sickness disappear. I still a bit nauseous but I am feeling a teeny weeny bit better.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/167/440597678_7a23d060d9.jpg?v=0

First signs of chickenpoxyfuled.

― stevienixed, Sunday, 1 April 2007 06:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Archel, hope all goes well with the op.

Vicky, are you finding out the gender?

We are making good progress with bedtimes - Howie went down without a peep at 9pm yesterday, and only woke twice in the night (12.30 and 4) before getting up for the day at 7. As if to compensate, daytimes are getting trickier - he's awake more and more, but not yet in any kind of nap routine, and if he goes too long without sleeping he turns into an overtired grizzle-monster. Tried to put him in his crib for a nap for the first time this morning, but he screamed the place down, so had to go for a long walk in the pram instead.

― Meg Busset, Sunday, 1 April 2007 12:18 (seventeen years ago) link

I discovered that I once had chickenpox so the baby's safe from harm and 2 I was drinking so little that probably caused the headaches/morning sickness. I had the same thing when I was pregnant with Ophelia: I always forget to drink, it's silly really.

Ophelia has been sleeping in our bed the last week or so. She wakes up at 4 am and screams. As I'm so crap, I think "what the hell" and put her in our bed. But I think we'll have to *grit our teeth* (?) and ferberize a bit. She's feeling much better and I think it's time she learned that sleeping with us is the exception, not the rule. *sigh*

Archel, good luck on thursday!

― nathalie, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 12:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Good news, Nath!

It's been four days, so time to post another goofy snap of the hellion:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/441930890_01ce327660.jpg

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 12:08 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/443704980_8e44cea8ef.jpg?v=0

Choco and chickenpox :-)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 3 April 2007 12:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Hello everyone. :) :) :)

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 6 April 2007 15:31 (seventeen years ago) link

hee hee hee

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 6 April 2007 15:32 (seventeen years ago) link

wow

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 6 April 2007 15:32 (seventeen years ago) link

*freaking out, a little*

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 6 April 2007 15:39 (seventeen years ago) link

:D !!! spill!

― teeny, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:24 (seventeen years ago) link

we got our referral

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:25 (seventeen years ago) link

but i aint sayin nothing else for right now

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Whoa! :-)

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Robin (as in Zander) would be a fine name either way.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 6 April 2007 16:49 (seventeen years ago) link

How are Alice, Archel and Matt?

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 01:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Static electricity + trampoline = exploded hair state.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/453045601_995f2ba6b3.jpg

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 09:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, I was asking myself that question, Beth. I hope they are doing well.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/233/453783947_d65a368302.jpg%3Fv%3D0

11 weeks! Hopefully morning sickness will subside. The baby is extremely active, pretending to be a breakdancer on speed when we did the ultrasound. ;-)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 10:30 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/233/453783947_d65a368302.jpg?v=0

Will THIS work? If not, well, uh...

― nathalie, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 10:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi guys,

All went well with Alice's op although it was pretty damn stressful and emotional. The surgeons did a great job (despite leaving her with a stunning black eye) and she's recovering really quickly.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/449393981_f0b505596b.jpg?v=1175952838

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/239/449389312_95766a3d94.jpg?v=1175952688

― Archel, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 10:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Archel, is she home already? How is she coping with the stitches? How's eating?

I love love LOVE her *pink eye lids* (Is that how you say it??)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 10:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Hurrah! Very glad to hear things went OK. She appears to be just as gorgeous as before (black eyes tend be cuter on toddlers, but she wears it well).

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 10:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Awww, what a little sweetie! Hope she coped ok and didn't find it too traumatic

Nath- yay on the little bean! Is 11 weeks where you thought you were, or is it a bit further along? Hopefully the morning sickness will start to ease off soon, fingers crossed.

Meg - a very belated answer- we're not finding out the sex, keeping it as a surprise. I hope the bedtime progress has continued!

― Vicky, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 11:09 (seventeen years ago) link

No, we had calculated the exact date! This is because I had quit the pill on O's borthday and knew when I had my period. So we sort of knew EXACTLY when the baby was conceived. heh Morning sickness *should* disappear at around 13 weeks, the OBGYN promised. (Or I'm asking for a refund. hahahaha) Next month we'll probably know the gender. Yes, I wanna know. :-)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 11:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Good to see Alice looking chipper!

― Madchen, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 16:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw, Alice babykins!

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 23:54 (seventeen years ago) link

AND spotty O!

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 10 April 2007 23:54 (seventeen years ago) link

my brother had the first baby out of all of us today.

girl, dark curly hair, seven pounds four ounces. she's gorgeous, photos to follow.

chuffed at being an uncle, but as there's no rolling uncling thread i thought this was next appropriate.

― darraghmac, Wednesday, 11 April 2007 02:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Okay so I guess I'll just say it here: we got our referral for our adoption, about to accept it as soon as we get one more test result (which is why I didn't say anything before now, but I just kinda can't wait anymore so there). She's an adorable wonderful cool smart-looking little thing, just four months old this week, we'll probably be traveling early this summer *knocks wood* and then I can finally post some pictures, not yet though because it is illegal.

― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 12 April 2007 14:12 (seventeen years ago) link

:-D

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 12 April 2007 14:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Without trying to be flippant, I honestly think that if I ever became a father, it would be through adoption. I think it's an extremely cool thing your family is doing. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 12 April 2007 14:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Are the pox gone, Nath?

Aw, wee Alice and her black eye! She looks as beautiful as ever, I'd love to have a cuddle with her!

― luna, Thursday, 12 April 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats Haiuknym!

I would definitely love to adopt. but I still would want to have one too.

yay for Alice! (and Nath's in progress)

― Ms Misery, Thursday, 12 April 2007 18:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Flickr doesn't work on my Macbook for some unknown firewall-based reason so I can't see all these lovely baby pix :(

But glad Alice's op went well.

Howie is doing well, he went to bed at 8.30 and my husband is down the pub so I am about to sit down with a glass of wine to watch Starsky & Hutch - a rare treat. He has been waking us in the night flailing his arms and legs wildly and crying out, but while he's fast asleep - doesn't seem to bother him, but hard for us to sleep through! So I'll probably be asleep after the first sip.

Oh, and he has baby acne so not such a handsome boy any more... hope it clears up soon!

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw but baby acne rules!

― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Surely not for the baby!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Babies are the only ones who do not care about their own acne, Ned.

Wow there are tons of cute ILX babies.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Sara - this cuteness is what I was referencing the other day!! Out of control adorable!

― ENBB, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Here come some more!

Ben flirting with a our waitress:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/188/441503488_c0fc8db231.jpg

Ben gets his first piano lesson from dad:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/168/446869309_45ad63659b.jpg

Owen after his bath (with Grandma):
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/195/446869763_0a5e7d0255.jpg

― schwantz, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:33 (seventeen years ago) link

last pic classic, nice comedy reaction shot by owen

― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:34 (seventeen years ago) link

ENBB is right; I'd totally be wanting to reproduce again after looking at these pictures if I hadn't already caught my limit of babies.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Seriously. Let's take these two in particular, they're perfect and there's two of them! So sweet.

― ENBB, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:47 (seventeen years ago) link

That is Owen's default look: surprised/fascinated.

― schwantz, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, maybe they'd play with each other when they got to be toddlers...? I love infants but it is when kids get to be 3 that I start to flounder. Even so, I'm done with the babies; everyone else can enjoy their reproducing, though, and I'll look on admiringly! (It's so clear that everyone is doing a better job than I am...)

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 12 April 2007 20:49 (seventeen years ago) link

That top Ben picture is an absolute gem!

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, go on then - a couple more pics posted at http://pregbasket.blogspot.com

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw Meg, he's just gorgeous.

― luna, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:47 (seventeen years ago) link

"Howie" = super-awesome name!

― schwantz, Thursday, 12 April 2007 21:59 (seventeen years ago) link

OK - one more. I got home and my wife had taken this:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/182/457228887_34c16a387a.jpg

― schwantz, Friday, 13 April 2007 02:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh the cutest smiles!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 13 April 2007 03:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh Ophelia's chickenpox disappeared pretty quickly! As you can see in this picture she's back to her old self:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/169/453917167_115bac4125_m.jpg

Thanks for asking! :-)

― nathalie, Friday, 13 April 2007 07:24 (seventeen years ago) link

What cuteness! I can't believe how big Ben and Owen have gotten already, and Ophelia's looking so grown up in that photo! Meg, Howie is indeed a little cutie, that photo of him asleep on you is adorable!

Excellent news of the adoption front, fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly for you.

I'm torn - I don't want to wish my pregnancy away cos I'm rather enjoying it, but I want squirrel to be here NOW! (I think it's very good timing to see lots of fluff as the reality of what we are about to embark upon is starting to hit home and it's good to be reminded of the benefits!)

― Vicky, Friday, 13 April 2007 09:13 (seventeen years ago) link

ophelia probably has an ear infection. poor thing.

― nathalie, Saturday, 14 April 2007 15:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi dere. Good to see Alice doing so well after her op and everyone else's kids coming on great too.

Here's one I took of Megan this morning. She's sitting up all by herself and now has her first tooth. She was 7 months old yesterday, I can't believe it!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/191/460409696_127c6171ca.jpg

― onimo, Sunday, 15 April 2007 20:18 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG, she's getting big! She was only an ickle wee thing when I saw her! Also, she looks really like you.

(p.s. you have the same carpet as us)

― ailsa, Sunday, 15 April 2007 20:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Quick update: test results perfect, referral accepted. Not sure when we'll travel but probably this summer, H in Addis will be taking me on a tour of Addis Ababa's best places. Happy happy happy, so happy and grateful. Terrified too, how does one do that whole little-baby thing again?

― Dimension 5ive, Monday, 16 April 2007 02:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Start practicing now by waking yourself up every 3 hours, staggering around in the dark warming up bottles and such. Maximum congratulations to the entire Dimension 5ive clan!

― Jaq, Monday, 16 April 2007 03:48 (seventeen years ago) link

You lucky man to meet H in Addis as well! Plz to give him my very best.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 16 April 2007 03:49 (seventeen years ago) link

haha Jaq that's what I do now anyway with no babies in the house!

― Dimension 5ive, Monday, 16 April 2007 05:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Can the next thread title be "Teh Cuteness"?

Cyrus has been wheezing. We've got him on albuterol. About to leave the kids with an Other for a week while we gallavant off to Seattle kidless. They'll be alright, right? We're leaving them with my stepmom, a retired pre-K teacher. They'll be fine, right?

― Maria :D, Monday, 16 April 2007 05:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Stepmothers have a bit of a bad rap. Have you vetted her for wickedness and evil?

― Mark C, Monday, 16 April 2007 10:06 (seventeen years ago) link

My husband will stay a weekend with his parents to see how she copes with being in a different place. Then next time she'll probably stay over without either of us. A bit scary. I see all these sharp edges (on tables) and steps looming; :-(

She's still a bit feverish, but not that much. She's also drooling and picking her ears from time to time. She'd definitely in a "bad funk" as she has these little tantrums. I think going to the doc is maybe a bit hasty but then I feel as though I'm neglecting her by not doing it. :-(

― nathalie, Monday, 16 April 2007 11:37 (seventeen years ago) link

And OMG Megan has such pretty eyes!

― nathalie, Monday, 16 April 2007 11:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Megan is gorgeous, mate. And I can see bits of both you and Mrs Onimo in there - she has a lovely innocent look with a touch of "don't mess" thrown in.

― Guilty_Boksen, Monday, 16 April 2007 11:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps after her first day at childcare:

woo!
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/4859/daycaredayonebb4.jpg

wee!
http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/8805/hellokittyqs1.jpg

PHEAR TEH BEEPS
http://img490.imageshack.us/img490/9035/pheartehbeepszs3.jpg

― sunny successor, Monday, 16 April 2007 23:01 (seventeen years ago) link

She's just beautiful. I want to smooch her fat little cheeks.

― luna, Monday, 16 April 2007 23:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, xxxpost - they really are a perfect pair - what a great pic!

― luna, Monday, 16 April 2007 23:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Sunny, what a little cutie! Could she open her eyes a little wider?

Maria, don't worry. The boys will be in great hands. Your stepmum is lovely. I slept under her roof and came to no harm.

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 01:29 (seventeen years ago) link

How was it putting Beeps in daycare? I dread the day I will have to do it with Baby Nr II at six months. The first day I had to put Ophelia in daycare, I really wanted to cry my eyes out. And she was over a year old. :-( I felt so guilty because it wasn't really necessary. Now we are allowed to put her three days per week in daycare, but we rarely do. We always find a reason to keep her home. :-) That said, it's sometimes a relief to put her a day in daycare because it can be extremely draining to run the shop and take care of her. That's something I have to keep in mind when those tears well up.

Those Hello Kitty sheets! ME WANT! I want Beeps as well, what a cutie, but I know that's impossible. ;-)

A friend, who's also pregnant, not only smokes like mad but drinks gallons of coffee. The only thing she doesn't do is eat raw meats. And cheese, I think. WTF. It's her fourth child, so hey, I hope this one will be as healthy as her three others.

Maria, don't worry! (Yep, easier said than done.) :-) Hey Beth survived!

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 09:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps is lovely. Our Tallulah is scoffing baby rice and banana porridge now (and rolling over - but not, thankfully, at the same time):

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/184/460631470_3ff9f527b5.jpg

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 09:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps = beautiful! Can I set her up with Howie when they're older?

I want a girl next! Not for a while though...

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 11:25 (seventeen years ago) link

The babies all just get more and more gorgeous!

Alice has been really unsettled since the op and any routine she had went out the window, but she is gradually getting happier again:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/198/462786580_91154b5565.jpg?v=0

Helping me with the crossword:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/462786584_ce0ab30fb5.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 12:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Archel, that is SO FRIGGING CUTE! <3

― nathalie, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 13:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Already doing her crosswords in pen!!

All these babies = completely, heart-meltingly adorable

― Jaq, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 13:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Aww..thanks, everyone.

Alice is looking at Monkey! So cute!

Michael, how old is Tallulah now?? It only seems like a couple of months ago that she was born!

Nath, Beeps took it a lot better than PP and I did. She was asleep when PP dropped her off and happy as a clam when I picked her up . Of course, PP didn't want to let go of her in the morning and I was racing to get her in the afternoon. She was also the least fussy she has ever been afterward. We had trouble keeping her awake to feed her! I guess because she is so young (only six weeks old) its easier on her because she doesn't really know whats going on. I can see how putting a one year old in daycare would be MUCH harder.

Now I think about it, it may have been the first day Beats didn't cry at all. Maybe they're drugging the formula! Yay!

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:19 (seventeen years ago) link

Tallulah is 5.5 months; she's really come on in the last couple of weeks - so much more mobile. She won't be crawling or walking as early as her sister, I don't think. So much more to lug around!

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:25 (seventeen years ago) link

How old was Ava when she first walked/crawled? Some people tell me kids dont walk til they're two and some say its around one. Two seems a really long time to be immobile.

I'm kind of dreading Beeps crawling. We're not prepared for it. Just in the last week I've found a whole bunch of coins, a shirt button and a big shard of glass in our carpet.

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 14:47 (seventeen years ago) link

These babies are killing my ovaries people - so sweet! Also, Alice looks wonderful!!!

― ENBB, Tuesday, 17 April 2007 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Our 3 year old has just been busted by his mum in the process of eating worms in the garden. Washing them in the bird bath first, then popping them in his mouth, so bonus points for good hygiene practice there I think.

― NickB, Thursday, 19 April 2007 12:07 (seventeen years ago) link

I spoke to him on the phone afterwards and he was all 'Daddy I did eat some worms'

― NickB, Thursday, 19 April 2007 12:09 (seventeen years ago) link

haha TRUE CONFESSIONS

― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:11 (seventeen years ago) link

all babies on this thread are lovely beautiful and smart, older kids too, everyone is awesome and I love you all

― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 19 April 2007 13:11 (seventeen years ago) link

NickB your child will live forever. I read about a study that showed that farmers have fewer autoimmune diseases because of all the soil organisms they ingest. It keeps their immune system from attacking itself. A group of people who suffered from inflammatory bowel problems ingested eggs of an intestinal worm (of hogs, so that it wouldn't get too comfy in the human gut). All of them had relief of symptoms and BEGGED THE RESEARCHERS FOR MORE HOG-WORMS.

― Beth Parker, Thursday, 19 April 2007 14:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava crawled at 7.5 months and walked at 10.

I banged my knee on the side of the tub last night while bathing Ava; she said, "Daddy, hurt self? Don't worry, Daddy." A few minutes later she tried to pull my face off.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 19 April 2007 15:05 (seventeen years ago) link

My grandfather apparently walked at EIGHT months. When you say walk, Michael, do you mean without help? Ophelia walks but needs one helping hand. She's 15 months old. I think the cut-off age is about 17 months, after that you're *late*. I don't care that much, I mean, I don't expect that she'll need a hand when she 23 yrs old. ;-)

― nathalie, Thursday, 19 April 2007 15:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, it totally doesn't matter when they start. The day after Ava had sat and watched her near-contemporaries toddling about (most 2-3 months older than her) at an Xmas party, she took three or four steps of her own unaided - waddling from Mummy's arms into Daddy's. By the end of that week she could do ten steps and after that there was no stopping her. We hadn't even tried to see if she could walk before that week!

She had been pulling herself upright from a crawling position on stuff for a while - this was at nearly 8 months:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/29/51570458_90201b461e.jpg

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 19 April 2007 16:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Argh naps are becoming more and more of a nightmare. This afternoon I spent a difficult hour trying to get an exhausted and tearful Howie to nap in his crib. Eventually he conked out and slept peacefully... for 15 minutes. Then woke up screaming and refused to be resettled, or even cuddled back to sleep. He is obviously still tired as he's yawning and rubbing his eyes, but what am I supposed to do? So I've just put him in his bouncy chair and hoping he'll drop off from sheer knackeredness (before I do!).

There, moan over. Of course he is still a little darling but I just wish he'd sleep better in the day - we'd both be happier!

― Meg Busset, Sunday, 22 April 2007 13:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh meg, tell me about it! :(

Alice has always struggled against daytime sleep, even when exhausted. Some techniques we used:
1) music (obviously you have to experiment but Alice responds particularly well to yodelling CDs!)
2) swaddling
3) shushing noises
4) last resort - dummy. This almost always works with A. but it's controversial I guess. My reasoning has been that as she can't comfort feed from the breast as other babies might, I should give her a chance to suck something if she wants to. And boy does she want to!

The swaddling can be especially good at stopping babies from waking themselves up by flailing around etc, although if Howie is waking up screaming it could be wind troubling him?

― Archel, Monday, 23 April 2007 10:01 (seventeen years ago) link

I think he screams 'cause he's still tired - when he's had a longer sleep he wakes all smiley and happy. He usually wakes after exactly 30 mins so I think he's having trouble switching through stages of his sleep cycle without waking. Some days he will have 4/5 30-min catnaps but they barely seem to keep him going.

Shushing/patting works fine to get him to sleep in his bouncy chair or on me (most of the time, anyway) but it's keeping him asleep past 30 mins (without pushing him round the streets for 2 hours) that is a challenge! Have decided to give up on daytime crib sleep as he doesn't sleep any better there, and in fact it's harder to get him to drop off there. I don't want him associating crib with crying as he sleeps so well there at night!

As for swaddling, he doesn't like having his arms by his sides (they are permanently being waved above his head) so not sure he'd like this - we try to do it with a towel when washing his hair over the bath, and within seconds there are limbs escaping all over the place.

The dummy is a slightly contentious issue in this house. My husband is all for it but I really, really don't want to end up with a baby that needs it to sleep (and parents that have to put it back in his gob 10 times a night). So I use it only if we're out in the pram and he kicks off a long way from home or somewhere he can be fed. He has started sucking his fingers a lot so hopefully soon he'll find his thumb, then he can settle himself with that.

Having said all that, after yesterday's dreadful nap day, this morning he fell asleep in his pram without me even getting it out the door, and is still asleep 45 mins later. So just goes to show, you never can tell what a baby's gonna do.

― Meg Busset, Monday, 23 April 2007 10:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia didn't (and still doesn't) like swaddling. She prefers to keep her arms above her head and move around.

I can understand you would prefer the daytime naps, but if they are anything like Ophelia: they will learn the difference between day- and nighttime much quicker. Well, she did anyway. I understand you would like a bit of rest but, alas, the baby decides. ;-) THe only thing that really helped for Ophelia: going for a walk with the pram/buggy. Now it doesn't anymore, but when she was a baby she fell asleep the minute we hit the pavement.:-)

― nathalie, Monday, 23 April 2007 10:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, one week to the next: One week will be easy, next one difficult. Especially when they go through *jumps* or teething, expect less sleep. :-)

― nathalie, Monday, 23 April 2007 10:32 (seventeen years ago) link

meg, archel and nath; beats does the same thing in the day. i can get her to sleep for 15 minutes MAX in the crib. she'll sleep for hours while im holding her though. actually, she sleeps all day at daycare and all afternoon when i bring her home. i wonder what they do?

hey, lets find and post cute and helpful kid stuff!

if beats could fit into this id buy it in a second. yay, interactive t-shirts!
Interactive pirate t-shirt

also, do you think these would work?
Plush pacifiers

― sunny successor, Monday, 23 April 2007 17:34 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.babydagny.com/file.aspx?id=1061&w=300&h=300

Or we could just have the orange tabby cat bite on one of the pacifiers and save sixty-five bucks.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 23 April 2007 17:54 (seventeen years ago) link

I posted this (the Miracle Blanket) before, but since people are talking about swaddling again...

We also have found that these sleep positioners are good for keeping the babies from rolling all over the place. They won't stop a determined baby, but they help ease them into their first sleep cycle.

That plush pacifier seems a little ridiculously big. It does seem that our boys spend their midnights rolling around their cribs trying (fruitlessly) to aim their mouths at their pacifiers, however.

The boys are now both sleeping "through the night," which means they both wake up at 4am. Ugh. Still, we can't complain... On the nap front, they like about 45 minutes of nap before they get sick of it. Sometimes we can coax them into another 45 minutes, but we have to catch them quickly and stuff the pacifier into their mouth.

― schwantz, Monday, 23 April 2007 17:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Ooo, and speaking of CUTE, we use these for naps and nighttime. They also can be found in super-cute sheep-ish varieties:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/155/331222961_f7acbbf084.jpg

― schwantz, Monday, 23 April 2007 18:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Oooh, sleeping bags, I'm really keen to use them, but I can't find that many that are tog 1, which is recommended for high summer, and seeing as Squirrel is due in august.... or are cotton blankets best for newborns anyway, and start using sleeping bags later?

I bought some cute babygrows from www.greenbaby.co.uk last night, from the vegetable range, surprise surprise!

― Vicky, Monday, 23 April 2007 18:13 (seventeen years ago) link

that link was weird, no idea whether this will work www.greenbaby.co.uk

― Vicky, Monday, 23 April 2007 18:14 (seventeen years ago) link

I hope I am not alone in cooing to this thread. Like, thank god I am at home as I squeal and coo at the babies.

― aimurchie, Monday, 23 April 2007 18:45 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/207/470241631_8e2f5de973.jpg

10 seconds before she trashed the keyboard onto the floor :)

― onimo, Monday, 23 April 2007 18:51 (seventeen years ago) link

awwwww

― sunny successor, Monday, 23 April 2007 18:56 (seventeen years ago) link

"I saY Dora iz gRebt and you sayin dRAGonball iz more good is DUMB!"

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 23 April 2007 19:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Vicky, I think Mothercare do tog 1 sleeping bags. We got one for H but haven't used it (it's tog 2.5 so too warm now), he just has a sheet and (on cooler nights) cellular blanket. Our bedroom stays warm even with no heating and window open, so he doesn't need anything else. He does sometimes kick sheets off but it doesn't seem to bother him.

― Meg Busset, Monday, 23 April 2007 19:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Owen thinking about fish:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/218/467953775_44bc74b9b9.jpg

― schwantz, Monday, 23 April 2007 21:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Not only are your twins adorable but they have fantastic expressions. I was out to dinner with some friends tonight and we kept seeing great toddlers around 1 - 2 years old who were stumbling around like little drunken sailors. So classic.

― ENBB, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 01:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Meg and Archel, can you get someone to drive Howie and Alice around while YOU nap? Usually they drop right off in a moving car.
Someone should make a virtual carseat for fussy babies. It would vibrate slightly to the sound of engine noises while a passing-scenery video played.

― Beth Parker, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 02:08 (seventeen years ago) link

All you new parents have recalled to me the complete visceral joy of napping in the nursing chair with my tiny daughter asleep against my chest.

Which, if I remember the rest of it, was the only way I got to nap for several months.

― Jaq, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 02:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Haha, Onimo, that picture is definitely convincing evidence for Megan's Daddy's-little-girl-ness. You should make her post to this thread.

― ailsa, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 06:12 (seventeen years ago) link

i wonder what they do?

Let'em cry for a bit. Trust me, it doesn't harm the baby. I mean, not if you let'em cry for hours. But they make sure that right after a feed, they usually put'em in the crib and if they cry, it usually stops after a few minutes. That's what I notice in the daycare when I pass the baby section: they don't RUN to the baby when s/he cries. Instinctively I would go for the baby when I pass it by but now I notice that it's actually alright. :-)

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 06:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Vicky, I am pretty sure that Meg's right & mothercare do 1-tog sleeping bags. I was wondering whether to get one for a July baby but am not sure whether to wait & see how sheets/blankets do. Finally started buying baby clothes and sorting out the nursery at the weekend, which makes it all seem frighteningly close.

― liz, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 08:57 (seventeen years ago) link

I wish I had used sleeping bags right from the start. But then I didn't realize OPhelia would be so anti-swaddling.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 09:53 (seventeen years ago) link

nath, i kind of fear the 'let them cry it out' strategy, mostly because im afraid she'll go from crying to hysteria. Does/did anyone here use this method with their kids?

me and little miss hold-me-or-ill-cry! :

http://img375.imageshack.us/img375/115/bandmenn6.jpg

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:26 (seventeen years ago) link

also: beeps had her first school picture day today. so cute!

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Today we drove to Norwich for Howie to meet his Nanny for the first time. He slept like a log for two hours there and two hours back - and was an angel in between. Which goes to prove Beth's point!

The crying it out method is definitely not for me (though I do know some people swear by it), but I have started to learn to distinguish between a cry that means "Wah! I'm about to fall asleep but not sure how...zzzzzzzzzzzz" and "Wah! I need my mum" - and let him get through the former without rushing in and waking him up trying to help.

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 19:39 (seventeen years ago) link

We were all set to let them CIO last night if they woke up before 5am. So, of course, they woke up at 5:05...

― schwantz, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 20:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Schwantz, have you got a big enough bed to co-sleep? We often bring H into bed with us if he wakes around 5 and won't settle, and it works wonders in getting him through til a reasonable hour (ie 7 or later).

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 20:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Once we feed them, we can put them back to bed and they'll sleep for another couple hours. We're just trying to get to the next step, where they will sleep until 7 or so, without needing to eat. Owen did it for a while, but now they both seem to want to get up at 5.

It's another case of "if it was just ONE baby..." If it was just one, sleeping until 5 would be no big deal at all - my wife could feed him, and go back to bed. With TWO, she has to feed one, then we put him back to bed and grab the other one (who hopefully isn't fully freaking out by then), feed HIM, and then put him back to bed. All-in-all a 30-45 minute deal at 5am. With this scenario, we are trying to rapidly move them toward sleeping all the way until 7.

When you have two babies, crying-it-out just happens. It's unavoidable, especially when my wife is home alone with them. She can't pick them up both at once, so there are plenty of times where one just has to work it out. So far it hasn't seemed to permanently affect their moods, as you can see from the pictures in this thread.

― schwantz, Tuesday, 24 April 2007 20:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Recent shot of Family in NYC

http://vassifer.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/02/museumsubway_2.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 00:02 (seventeen years ago) link

wow! i remember seeing pics of charlotte(?) when i first started looking at ilx. she's grown so much. they're both insanely beautiful children.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 06:31 (seventeen years ago) link

nath, i kind of fear the 'let them cry it out' strategy, mostly because im afraid she'll go from crying to hysteria. Does/did anyone here use this method with their kids?

I think if you have your first (and single) baby, and especially as a mother, you just can't. I think there's some *gene* that yells at you: "GO TO BABY NOW." :-) Now? Well, I'm more relaxed about it. I don't rush towards O. I know this is because once she hit six months she just seemed *stronger*. I think with a second baby, you're bound to be more *relaxed* and know that a little bit of crying won't harm your child at all. That said, I didn't really have to ferberize (until a couple of weeks ago). I did stick to my guns once she was past chickenpox a few weeks ago: she woke up at four am and decided she wanted to have a good ole cry fest. I went to her, firmly said it was sleepy time and put her on her matras (?). She didn't budge. She got the message. But with babies it's a different story. Also in the beginning you don't really know the difference between moaning, FEED ME crying and just plaintive I wanna go sleep crying. But you quickly learn.

Alex, stop overcuting us all. You know you win every time. Well, everyone does here. :-) Seriously, you guys have all such cuties! And, this is so not done, but I don't care, but at the crèche there are some not so cute babies, so I'm not this crazy mother who considers all babies cute. ;-)

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 06:32 (seventeen years ago) link

thanks, nath. i tried it a little last night but only held out for 5 minutes. beside wanting her to be comforted and happy, just the sound and pitch of the crying can be really upsetting when you're super tired, which we pretty much always are at this point. i might give it another try this afternoon.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 12:31 (seventeen years ago) link

i remember seeing pics of charlotte(?) when i first started looking at ilx. she's grown so much. they're both insanely beautiful children.

Yeah, it's funny - I was still thinking of Charlotte as a baby because that's the last time I saw pictures of her posted.

― Nicole, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 15:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, the boys woke up at 4:30, and we tried to let them CIO. By 5:15 Owen was WAILING and sniffling, so we gave in, fed them, and put them back to bed. When I left for work at 7:30 they were still sleeping... We're thinking we'll try and give them their pacifiers next time this happens. It's hard to be harsh with them when they sleep from 6:30pm to 4am...

― schwantz, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago) link

9 1/2 hours?? im jealous. beeps has only slept that in the miracle blanket. are you using yours?

schwantz, you must buy your babies these!

https://www.pandapark.com/products/wondertwinpowers_full.jpg

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm not an expert, but from what I have read about it, 'crying it out' / Ferberising should only be used on older babies (if at all, but that's another debate). Ferber himself recently revised his advice from 6 months to 12 months as the youngest a baby should be before considering this option.

― Meg Busset, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:30 (seventeen years ago) link

We stopped swaddling a few weeks ago. It didn't seem to make that big a difference - maybe swaddling gets them used to sleeping and then you can stop? Where did you find those sweet onesies?

My wife has been a total taskmistress with sleep training them, which I think is the key to our ongoing (semi) sanity. We have a strict routine in the evening, and we get them to bed at the same time every night. A lot of it has got to just be luck, though. That, and the 7 ounce bottles of formula they guzzle down before bed each night!

xpost - Meg - I will bring that up with my wife. However, I don't know if Mr Ferber ever had to deal with twins!

― schwantz, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:36 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.pandapark.com/item/Urban-Smalls-Wonder-Twin-Powers-Activate-Retro-Ringer-Onesies/643/c1

they have some cute stuff there but its kind of expensive.

here i am complaining when reports have just come in that beeps slept 8 hours sans swaddle last night.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:42 (seventeen years ago) link

we try to get 6OZ into her before bed but she rarely makes it through

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:42 (seventeen years ago) link

How old are your twins, Schwantz?

Sunny: eight hours! That's amazing. The longest H has managed so far is about 5 1/2. Is she formula fed? Apparently they often sleep through sooner than breastfed babes.

Would recommend 'The No-Cry Sleep Solution' by Elizabeth Pantley for lots of useful hints & tips on encouraging good sleep habits without leaving them to cry it out.

― Meg Busset, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 16:47 (seventeen years ago) link

shes a formula baby but, i dont know how she knows at this age, she seems to be able to tell the diff between night and day in that she doesnt sleep in the day for more than 10-15 minutes at a time but is really good at night. she'll hit at least 6 hours most nights, sometimes 8 or 9, but that has been with the miracle blanket. last night is surprising to me because its the first time she slept unswaddled since we left the hospital.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link

I swaddled Spencer for as long as he'd let me, and iirc, that was until about 7 months when there was NOTHING that would stop him from getting one arm free, and if you've ever swaddled a baby, you know that once that first arm is free, you've had it.

I wasn't ever a big advocate of letting him cry it out, and didn't start even really trying it seriously until he was at least 9 months - I got good at figuring out what it was he wanted and so didn't feel that it was ever wholly necessary.

I think you sorta have to figure out what works for you and your baby and do that - people will give you advice until it's coming out your ears, but each baby will do what it's going to do, the end.

― luna, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 20:13 (seventeen years ago) link

re: the wubbanubs posted above; our friends daughter loved hers, and we were really wanting one while ian was going through colic and unconsolable crying; alas, they were out of stock everywhere, going for big money on ebay, and we just never got one. he never wound up taking to pacifiers as a result, and now doesn't need one, thank god.

ferberizing: we did this, basically, at 6 months. it worked. took three weeks though. I think we'd have gone insane if we hadn't. also, moving him out of our bedroom into his own room was key; he actually slept much better in there, I think we're noisy sleepers.

― akm, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 22:22 (seventeen years ago) link

also, that pantley book didn't work for us or anyone we know, but it was psycholigically comforting for us and helped us segue into ferberizing. i hadn't heard he adjusted the age to 12 months; our pediatrician recommended we do it before 9 months; if we'd waited this long we would all be dead, surely.

― akm, Wednesday, 25 April 2007 22:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Another recent one of Charlotte.... looking somewhat Cold War-ish

http://vassifer.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/04/01/img_5565.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Thursday, 26 April 2007 00:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Meg - the twins are coming up on 6 months old. I think it's very true that everyone should just follow their instincts a bit with this stuff.

― schwantz, Thursday, 26 April 2007 02:03 (seventeen years ago) link

In keeping with Alex's monochrome theme (and Charlotte is a wonder, btw):

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/200/473255895_9bb5f07827.jpg

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 April 2007 06:27 (seventeen years ago) link

shes a formula baby but, i dont know how she knows at this age,

formula is *heavier* whereas breast milk digests much quicker than formula, hence the difference in sleep pattern.

we moved ophelia to her own room at four months: she slept through the night almost immediately (read: second night). i highly recommend it. i did feel a bit guilty but on the other hand it just felt right. guilty because noone i knew had done it at that age and friends/family said: KEEP HER WHILE LONGER. but like i said, it just worked.

― nathalie, Thursday, 26 April 2007 07:59 (seventeen years ago) link

X-post: I agree, all you can do is what seems to work for you and your baby, sleep-wise!

At the moment we don't have another room to move Howie to! Which is going to be an issue pretty soon, I think, 'cause he's rapidly outgrowing his crib (spends half the night bashing his hands against the sides) and it's going to be a pretty tight squeeze trying to get a full-size cot in here. We have been looking at bigger places around here (Enfield) but they are ridiculously expensive (esp. now we're down to one salary) so looks like we might have to relocate up north where we can actually afford a little family home. I guess it's the best time to do it, before H starts making friends at nursery or whatever...

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 26 April 2007 08:46 (seventeen years ago) link

How much do you pay a babysitter?

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 26 April 2007 08:48 (seventeen years ago) link

That looks a bit like I'm just butting in on a conversation, sorry!
But I do really need to know. Thanks!

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 26 April 2007 08:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Meg, at the hospital (the lecture actually, held at the hospital) they suggested either putting the bed in a bathroom or make a *seperate* space (using a screen or sth) in the living room if you don't have a bedroom (yet) for the baby. Any place that is quiet.

Ned, I haven't used one yet. But check if the babysitter wants to be driven (to your home and back to her home). Here it's pretty common to do this.

― nathalie, Thursday, 26 April 2007 10:49 (seventeen years ago) link

They live next door- which is very handy. We haven't used her before, relying on friends up to now, who we didn't pay - it being a kind of reciprocal deal.

I was thinking minimum wage and that would cost £30 (as there are 2 of them) which seems like a lot. But really I have no idea.

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 26 April 2007 10:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Megan will not sleep. She is getting less cuet with every passing ~~walking coma~~ day.

:(

― onimo, Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:15 (seventeen years ago) link

minimum wage? they are teenagers! babysitting! actually i'm out of touch. i only remember getting paid jack sh*t. i didn't care, i found spending my evening reading in a stranger's house just as fun as sitting at home reading. :-)

oh yeah! IMPORTANT question: from what age do you guys *serve* the same food to your kid? i think ophelia's pretty much ready: she wants to eat whatever i'm eating. (this lunch:japanese eel and genmai rice!) but we still give her baby food (pots we buy at the supermarket).

― nathalie, Thursday, 26 April 2007 12:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Megan occasionally eats what we eat, though sometimes it's cooked separately to cut out the salt we'd use in our own. She's been eating bland mushy versions of whatever veg we're having since she started weaning.

― onimo, Thursday, 26 April 2007 12:06 (seventeen years ago) link

two pix of ian, 9.5 months. thanks, professional photographer dude we hired! our camera is shit so these are the nices photos we've ever had of him.

http://jelly.smugmug.com/photos/147173172-L.jpg

http://jelly.smugmug.com/photos/147173757-L.jpg

― akm, Thursday, 26 April 2007 23:48 (seventeen years ago) link

aww! cuetilicious! such beautiful eyes. i cant believe that is how 9.5 months looks. before beeps i would have guessed he was 2 y/o.

― sunny successor, Friday, 27 April 2007 03:19 (seventeen years ago) link

What big eyes etc.

That monochrome shot of Charlotte back a bit rules.

― Ned Raggett, Friday, 27 April 2007 03:21 (seventeen years ago) link

i love the gothic charlotte pix too

― akm, Friday, 27 April 2007 05:36 (seventeen years ago) link

also, ian is kind of huge for his age, so not all 9.5 month olds look that ginormous. he's in 12-18 month clothes; he basically skipped the 9-12 month section all together. kids are freaking expensive.

― akm, Friday, 27 April 2007 05:37 (seventeen years ago) link

oh yeah! IMPORTANT question: from what age do you guys *serve* the same food to your kid? i think ophelia's pretty much ready: she wants to eat whatever i'm eating. (this lunch:japanese eel and genmai rice!) but we still give her baby food (pots we buy at the supermarket).

My niece is nearly three and STILL isn't eating the same as her parents (she is a spoilt brat though, and there are many more things than that which concern me re her extremely slow development - she's a bright kid, but they are trying to keep her a baby forever, I think). I asked my mum about that because I was sure it was wrong, and seems I started eating what my parents were eating at about 6-9 months - my mum was trying to grow me up quickly as soon as she was pregnant with my brother so as she only had one "baby" to deal with :-)

― ailsa, Friday, 27 April 2007 06:21 (seventeen years ago) link

we supplement ian's baby food with things that are like what we're eating (or should be eating anyway). he gets turkey slices and cheese cubes these days a lot, his favorite meal (we don't eat meat ourselves). egg, some fruits, little bits of bread, cheerios, etc. the younger you start them on things with different textures the better, i think, otherwise they might not want to eat anything that isn't pureed.

― akm, Friday, 27 April 2007 06:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Lovely photos of Ian. The range Tallulah skipped was 3-6mo - straight into 6-9mo (Ava's old clothes which I'm sure have shrunk through innumerable wash/dry cycles). She's not 6 months until next Wednesday...

Ava's been eating "adult" food since about 12 months, I think. Though we did relapse into bottled stuff when we were refurbing the house and Pam was going through a bad spell in her 2nd pregnancy.

― Michael Jones, Friday, 27 April 2007 06:42 (seventeen years ago) link

My little brother Charlie (on the right) has a friend!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/474508403_c9c95a0482_b.jpg

― caek, Friday, 27 April 2007 13:37 (seventeen years ago) link

Owen petting the kitty:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/211/474182599_3756f1034e.jpg

― schwantz, Sunday, 29 April 2007 17:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Mae's got a new haircut and she is very happy about it.
[Removed Illegal Image]

― Ned Trifle II, Sunday, 29 April 2007 21:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Try again...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/175/477346695_80d84bcfb4_m.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Sunday, 29 April 2007 21:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia's off the baby food and loves adult food. HURRAH!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/189/475452413_b5f86d592f_m.jpg

― stevienixed, Monday, 30 April 2007 14:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Next step, fugu.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 30 April 2007 14:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Did any mothers on here (or partners of dad's) suffer from SPD when they were pregnant? I'm 99% sure I've developed it, as it feels like someone's kicking me in the crotch every time I move my legs, and though I've done loads of research it'd be great to have first hand knowledge to tap into.... All of a sudden I'm not looking forward to the next 13 weeks or so...

― Vicky, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 11:16 (seventeen years ago) link

SPD? What does this mean? I do know I had painful joints. Especially the last month of my pregnancy and especially after the delivery. Even now I feel it at times. :-(

― nathalie, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 11:46 (seventeen years ago) link

― Vicky, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 11:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Ouch, that does not sound very pleasant at all (understatement of the year nominee). I don't know any more about it though.

Update: we still don't have a travel date to go get M0lly F4n4ye, but at least her pneumonia has been cured. Now the wee thing has chicken pox though; been an uncomfortable month for her I guess. We're guessing June for our trip but maybe July, don't know, won't know until right before. Cross fingers.

Other kids: S4m went 2-3 in his first Little League game, Emm4 is now just shy of 5'3" at the age of 11 1/2 and is handing clothes down to her mother.

― Dimension 5ive, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 12:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia looks like Spanky saying "Gimme the high sign!"

― Rock Hardy, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 13:22 (seventeen years ago) link

I have it mildly, Vicky, mostly it's just a bit painful when i walk. Archel also had it & can probably give you better advice. My midwife said to keep your legs together as much as possible, esp. when getting in & out of cars, & that she could refer me to a physiotherapist if it got worse so it might be worth asking about that. Did it just come on suddenly?

― liz, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link

thanks liz. I think in hindsight it's been coming on for a while. If I'd been sitting down for a prolonged period I'd feel stiff at the top of my legs when I got up. I did some major hoovering though on saturday and started getting pain that steadily got worse and worse over the next three days, to the point that last night I could hardly stand up straight getting up from the sofa and was in tears of pain and frustration.

A day of staying at home has made a huge difference, as has paying attention to all the advice I've read - like keeping legs together, not crossing my legs, I'd already been using a pillow between my legs in bed anyway... I tried to talk to a midwife today, as my next appointment isn't until next wednesday, and I'm too impatient to wait! so I've got an osteopathy appointment booked for friday - from everything I've read it can be quite useful to realign the pelvis, so I'll report back on how it goes!

― Vicky, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:22 (seventeen years ago) link

yes, I've got the stiffness too. It went away while I was on holiday so maybe I just need not to be at work... and it certainly sounds like hoovering is to be avoided, hooray!

I'm keepng my fingers crossed that it doesn't get any worse & I hope your osteopath helps.

― liz, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 16:31 (seventeen years ago) link

It's delightful in it's full name, symphysis pubis dysfunction. It's basically when the pelvis is misaligned, combined with a softening of the ligaments, which means pain whenever you move your legs apart.

Oh hell yeah, that's what I had. Extremely difficult to walk the last couple of weeks. So much so that I could not do more than cross the street. That was basically IT. My husband always had to laugh saying I was doing a penguin walk. I wanted to strangle him whenever he laughed, but hell I couldn't walk fast enough. roffle It was also very hard to do stairs. I remember, after the delivery, being so scared to do this in the middle of the night when I had to put a new diaper on Ophelia. I was so afraid of falling. It disappeared after a few weeks, but it feels as though I'll have it again. My OBGYN just said that it would disappear (when I went for a check-up after the delivery). Now I know you can get these *bands* that help you somewhat. It disables you from bending over - I don't know if I say it correctly - but at least it does help you lessen the pain and also enables you to move more somehow. Maybe you can look into it? Also go to a kine-whateveryoucalleminEnglish guy, he'll do some exercises to lessen the pain, strengthen your bones. That's what my cousin said (who's a qualified kine-whatever woman hah).

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 19:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh yes, poor Ophelia had a fever for a few days and also threw up twice. We went to the doctor who discovered she has an urinary infection. :-((((((

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 19:41 (seventeen years ago) link

- I have missed Charlotte in NYC, and am happy to see her looking so beautiful and grown up, and her brother is quite handsome, too.

- Ava looks quite stunning in b&w.

- Ian looks like such a little man! So cute.

- Owen has such a lovely smile! (Ben, too!)

- Mae's haircut is quite pretty; and

- Ophelia has such a cheeky grin and pretty blue eyes! What a big girl.

As always, I want to smooch these babies.

― luna, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 22:34 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/216/479975789_6fc3a68048.jpg

― schwantz, Thursday, 3 May 2007 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Nath, from what I've read if you've had it once then the odds are heavily stacked that you'll have it again, and from reading about other people's experiences it often comes earlier (or you know what to look out for I guess) Sounds like you should be going to see your cousin soon, the earlier you catch it the better apparently.

As I said, I'm off to see an osteopath tomorrow (is this what your cousin does, or are they a chiropractor?) - couldn't wait for the NHS. Standard NHS procedure is to refer you to a physiotherapist, where you'll get a band/girdle and even crutches or wheelchair if it gets very bad.

Liz, definitely avoid hoovering! And anything else like that you don't HAVE to do. I still can't get over how quickly it came on, seems like it doesn't take much to trigger it.

Poor Ophelia, hope she's feeling better soon.

Yay for Owen and Ben!

― Vicky, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:25 (seventeen years ago) link

The Beeps got her two-month immunizations this morning. For the first time, I saw her blood! :-(

But the doctor said she was healthy and happy. Strong and fit, too. Now she's at the daycare where she can give those people some post-shot fussiness.

Here's one from the other night, after a bath. I sound like every other father who has ever taken a picture of his baby, but the adorability of this mug is ridiculous.

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/6403/im003546me0.jpg

― Pleasant Plains, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh. My. Gosh, that's the cutest picture EVAH. <3

Vicky, she's a physiotherapist. That's what you'd call her in English. We'll see what happens. I swim and will probably do some yoga as well. Hopefully that helps.

Ophelia is off with daddy to stay a weekend with the parents (in law). It's the first time she's gone for that long. It'll be extremely weird for me.

― stevienixed, Thursday, 3 May 2007 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link

I love snuggly baby pix! Have you tried blow-drying the Beeps? Our boys really loved that when they were tiny.

― schwantz, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Okay, the last few baby pictures are almost making me want another baby. Maybe I can borrow my sister's baby for a few hours to rid myself of this craving for CUTE BABIES.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Sara, I know just what you mean.

I sound like every other father who has ever taken a picture of his baby

You do, and rightly so. Beeps is just beautiful.

― luna, Thursday, 3 May 2007 16:59 (seventeen years ago) link

aw Beeps, what an angel she is! I have seen way more of Alice's blood than I'd like as it was taken seemingly constantly straight after she was born for various things. And of course the bloody mouth she got in surgery last month :(

Matt - good luck with M0lly!

My SPD was fairly mild but stairs were the killer. My midwife told me to bring my feet together on every step which did help but took ages and got me lots of funny looks. Hope you all feel better soon ladies!

We've had a few nice firsts with Alice lately:
- first 'solid' food last week (baby rice - quite a hit!)
- first night in own bedroom on Sunday (not reliably sleeping through yet but we usually manage from 10pm to 6am with only one quick trip to settle her if she wakes at at 3 or 4, night feed has been phased out though woo.)
- first roll over (from front to back) today.

It's all happening!

― Archel, Thursday, 3 May 2007 17:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Howie had his jabs this week, too - was fine for a couple of hours then all hell broke loose. I have not heard screaming like that since the first couple of weeks when he had colic. Luckily a dose of Calpol sorted him right out - and he slept the longest stretch ever that night (6 hours).

On the downside, night wakings have increased to 3/4 a night these past few days, and 'sleeping through' is a far-off dream! Also he has got quite bad eczema :( so perhaps that is unsettling him. But at least the baby acne is clearing up!

At my NCT baby group there are identical triplets (girls) who are 12 weeks but were born at 30 weeks so 2 weeks adjusted. They are TINY and soooo sweet. Amazing to think they are older than Howie, but the biggest is half his weight.

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 3 May 2007 20:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Identical triplets! Those are some long odds. I heard that in triplets, there are invariably two that gang up on the third (or conversely, one that is left out). If true, that breaks my heart for the unlucky one.

― schwantz, Thursday, 3 May 2007 23:37 (seventeen years ago) link

Dear Gripe Water,

I LOVE YOU

― sunny successor, Monday, 7 May 2007 14:24 (seventeen years ago) link

NOT QUITE AS SCARY AS WHEN WE TRIED THE NYQUIL.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 7 May 2007 15:21 (seventeen years ago) link

WHICH WAS A LITTLE LESS SCARY THAN THE TIME WE TRIED OXYCONTIN

― sunny successor, Monday, 7 May 2007 15:25 (seventeen years ago) link

where are the babies??

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 18:57 (seventeen years ago) link

You asked for it...

Hanging out on the deflated air mattress (great for barfs!):
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/491633993_8454914cd6.jpg

Sitting in their fancy new Svan chairs:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/224/491634291_de87d9f784.jpg

Just another day at the office:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/218/491633245_5d8e784fc8.jpg

― schwantz, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:05 (seventeen years ago) link

We went to the neurologist today with Ben (after going to the MRI last week) and got some pretty good news. The small patch of his brain that is irregular has not grown or changed in any way. This all but rules out any kind of tumor, and points toward a developmental irregularity, which is the typical cause of seizures. He hasn't had any spells in months (since we got the medicine dialed in), so it's looking pretty (knock on wood) hopeful that they are at least manageable, and at best, they will disappear on their own over the next year or so.

― schwantz, Wednesday, 9 May 2007 20:11 (seventeen years ago) link

David, that's such good news!!!!! :-D

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/222/493539850_5f94185041.jpg

Relatively good news. The only (minor) problem is the placenta which seems to be blocking the *passage way*. If this remains the case I'll be having a caesarian. Boo! Otherwise everything is perfect. Knock on wood!
Still having headaches but that's not due to a pregnancy. Migraines suxor! :-(

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/493402842_c8254c66aa.jpg

Ophelia sharing some food with granny. She's completely recovered and an absolute DOLL. Whenever she does something good, she'll sit down or wait, look at everyone and clap her hands. She understand a lot and rarely if every complains. Going to bed? No problem at all. "Shall we go to bed?" She reacts by pointing to her room! The only *problem* is that she likes to run marathons around the house while we hold her hand. She can walk on her own, but most of the time demands on a helping hand. Grrr. ;-)

― nathalie, Friday, 11 May 2007 12:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Continuing in the series of My Children Sitting On Weapons, this summer they have moved from Simple Weapons to Complex Weapons.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/aldo_cowpat/Cambodia-3.jpg

― aldo, Friday, 11 May 2007 12:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Better view of the torpedo, which I'm sure you all want:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/aldo_cowpat/Cambodia-1.jpg

― aldo, Friday, 11 May 2007 12:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay for Ben's news! And yay for 14 week scans!

I've had my SPD confirmed, got a referral for physio from GP:

Me: do you know how long it will take to get an appointment?
GP: well..... you don't really have 9 months do you *in a semi serious manner then laughs* not sure really, we'll chase them.

Have had two osteopath appointments, got hip adjusted, which has helped a bit, and been given exercises and told how best to rest and told to use cold compresses. He was a LOT more helpful than the midwife on wed. I was in there for a whole 5 minutes, which included taking blood. When I told her I thought I had spd she just said 'oh, you'll have to make an appointment with your gp to get a physio referral then, especially as you've got 12 weeks to go' well, thanks for that love, very helpful. Anyone else in the uk less than thrilled with their antenatal care?

Now that squirrel's getting bigger and more active it's a bit more real that there's a living human being in there, it's quite scary and freaky!

How are things with you, Liz, coping ok? Nath, has the morning sickness gone then?

― Vicky, Friday, 11 May 2007 12:55 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost

'kin hell, aldo! Those two have grown up rather a lot since I last saw them (mind you, that was about 3 or 4 years ago...)

And damn fine looking kids they are, too. It must be the cowpat bloodline.

― Guilty_Boksen, Friday, 11 May 2007 13:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi all. Owen and Ben are looking so grown up! And as for aldo's kids... I still can't quite believe that Alice-baby is going to become Alice-child and then Alice-adult. Too weird.

Vick, I found my antenatal care really good for the most part. Occasional nightmares with red tape towards the end meaning whole days wasted in various waiting rooms but the health professionals themselves were all friendly and great. I was less keen on my postnatal experience in hospital, which was a confused hell of conflicting advice and seemingly constant shift changes.

In fact, if I had to give anyone advice about that part: remember or note down what you've been told/what's been done and who by so at least YOU know, even if handover/information sharing between staff is unreliable.

ALice had some craniosacral therapy on Thursday which is supposed to be great for crying babies. The therapist - my best friend's mother - detected quite a bit of tension and remembered trauma from the birth and the surgery, apparently. No miraculous effects just yet, but watch this space I guess!

― Archel, Saturday, 12 May 2007 10:28 (seventeen years ago) link

We're about to send Sarah off to England for four weeks starting tomorrow. Hell of a Mother's Day present for my wife, who is seriously stressed out about her baby being so far away.

― Rock Hardy, Saturday, 12 May 2007 12:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Archel - we also tried the craniosacral stuff. I'm a bit of a skeptic (and they sure haven't backed off on the crying!), but my wife seems into it. Our neurologist said that she doesn't understand it, but that she is "humble enough to know that there are things that work that she doesn't understand." Yay San Francisco doctors!

― schwantz, Saturday, 12 May 2007 16:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Ok so that "quote" made our neurologist sound like she was talking in the third person. Disregard the quote marks.

― schwantz, Saturday, 12 May 2007 16:03 (seventeen years ago) link

A recent pic of m'little Oliver....

http://vassifer.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/05/09/img_5664_3.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Saturday, 12 May 2007 17:19 (seventeen years ago) link

sandy eyelashes!

RH - is it a college trip or is she going alone?

Archel - Does Alice cry a lot? I hope it works for you two!

Beeps and her moms:

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/5179/beatsandkateun3.jpg

― sunny successor, Sunday, 13 May 2007 04:33 (seventeen years ago) link

schwantz's twinies always look like they're amused by some inside baby joke

― sunny successor, Sunday, 13 May 2007 04:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh and Happy Mother's Day ILX Moms!

― sunny successor, Sunday, 13 May 2007 04:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps is so beautiful! I keep hoping for Alice's hair to grow but she still has an enormous bald patch on the back of her head. (As will I at this rate - hair STILL falling out in clumps since she was born...)

Yeah, she does cry a lot, although I'm getting better at deciding when she's just tired and depositing her in her cot where she usually gratefully falls asleep. She seems to need a lot of sleep in the day still, though I'm not sure what's 'normal' for babies her age anyway.

Rock - hope Sarah has a good journey and you don't find the next few weeks too weird. Us English ILX parents will watch over her! (The weather is terrible here just now I'm afraid.)

― Archel, Sunday, 13 May 2007 11:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Happy Mom's Day, ILX!

― Alex in NYC, Sunday, 13 May 2007 12:01 (seventeen years ago) link

It's a college trip, so she'll have a dozen classmates and two professors with her. They're all going to Edinburgh one weekend, and Sarah's staying with friends of mine instead of having to shell out for a hostel -- they'll talk about Philip Pullman books all weekend. The only bummer about the trip is the exchange rate, and J's nerves.

Beeps and Oliver are good lookin' kids! Happy Muddah's Day, ILX.

― Rock Hardy, Sunday, 13 May 2007 12:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Sunny, are you and Beeps plotting the overthrow of the State?

Rock Hardy, give Jude a hug for me! I was a total basket case when my kids left home (luckily they're both back!). I was stricken with intense physical symptoms. Guts tied in knots, heart flipping around in my chest, you name it. Ugh.
I especially remember my distress when we put our younger son on a bus back up to the Bay Area after a weekend in Joshua Tree. As Donald and I started our drive back east we tuned in the radio and found out that the (bad 2003) wildfires were really close to his route! Later he told us that he had seen actual flames from the bus.
WE SENT OUR BABY INTO THE FLAMES!!!!!!!

― Beth Parker, Sunday, 13 May 2007 12:45 (seventeen years ago) link

We had the UK Mother's Day some weeks back but thanks for reminding Pam that she needs to call her folks in Virginia!

All babes and kids are looking very well on this thread. Ava and Tallulah had their first bath together last night - much hilarity. Ava can now say, "May I have a chocolate, please?" but whether these new-found sentence constructing skills extend to other foods, we simply don't know. Tallulah is trying with all her might to crawl but lacks the leg coordination. Another month or two...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/221/487024156_77b1ee7748.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/180/487035511_bd39862847.jpg

― Michael Jones, Sunday, 13 May 2007 13:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw! Please tell me where to procure one of those hats Tallulah is sporting so adorably. It's funny, I haven't bought a single item of clothing for myself since Alice was born - it's all been sublimated into baby fashion cravings.

― Archel, Sunday, 13 May 2007 13:33 (seventeen years ago) link

H&M - I don't think they sell it anymore. Here's Ava in it in July '05:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/22/32592265_660c0807da_m.jpg

― Michael Jones, Sunday, 13 May 2007 13:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Little Miss aldo_cowpat looks like her dad, but in a nice way :-P

― onimo, Sunday, 13 May 2007 13:43 (seventeen years ago) link

My god, Ava is starting to look the spit of her mum.

― Mark C, Sunday, 13 May 2007 14:46 (seventeen years ago) link

What Lytton did at the weekend.

― Groke, Monday, 14 May 2007 11:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Brilliant, Tom. I love the Bl4ck P0wer salute during Belarus.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 14 May 2007 12:08 (seventeen years ago) link

We did that thing everyone has to do when they go on Brighton pier. The kids heads are a bit small for it though.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/194/496836035_f17ca3820b.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 14 May 2007 12:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi Vicky! I'm doing fine, the walking is not too bad but the wiggling is amazing! I am not quite sure what s/he is doing in there but I can see arms, legs, heads, etc. sticking out at v odd angles. It's nice though to know that it is ok in there (at least I assume so...).

I am getting excited for it to be here now, especially looking at all these lovely photos.

― liz, Monday, 14 May 2007 15:23 (seventeen years ago) link

rufus gardening:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/498218830_3082187785.jpg?v=0

rufus & cyrus hijinx:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/498218824_4c352ac34b.jpg?v=0

― scott seward, Monday, 14 May 2007 17:55 (seventeen years ago) link

so good lookin'

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 16 May 2007 00:12 (seventeen years ago) link

I've been really out of touch with the ILX families - new wee faces - congrats all around. Cyrus will be 2 tomorrow. When Rufus turned 2 I had a cake specially made and decorated with a curious george driving a car on it and had nearly a dozen kids here.

This time we're keeping it super-simple. Rufus helped me bake a banana cake. We'll have some presents and a few balloons but no going overboard and having lots of toddlers (and their moms) here just to be able to show him photos later that we did have a party.

― Maria :D, Wednesday, 16 May 2007 00:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia's urinary infection RETURNED after less than a week. We noticed immediately that after two days she was slipping back into sicky mode. :-( She threw up and had a fever again. I'm a bit fed up with the doctor not being able to cure her. We went back foir a check-up (the first time she had it) and he just stared at his computer asking if her fever had gone, how her appetite was,... Didn't really LOOK at her. I mean, wtf, man, at least fake some concern. Now we went back and he just said she had to take her antibiotics again. I am doing this but if it comes back, I'm going to another doctor. I don't like to continue giving her such heavy meds and I want her back to her old self. Poor thing. That said, I don't think there's much we can do: she's just very sensitive to have these types of infections. When she's four years old, we'll be able to do the operation (*cut* the skin that connects the two labia). *sigh* Poor thing. Maybe it'll be less when she goes on the potty. Hope so anyway. :-(

Also, she's very capable to walk on her own for a while now but REFUSES to do so when mummy and/or daddy are around. Clever and stubborn girl she is. When she's with my mother or father, SHE FRIGGING WALKS ON HER OWN. But when she notices me, she immediately stops and reaches out to me. I find it funny but also realize she's taking advantage and needs to walk on her own when I'm around.

That said, her linguistic advancement is amazing. She understands a lot of things and *mumbles* a lot of words already. One of which is (worryingly) television. :-)

― nathalie, Saturday, 19 May 2007 09:15 (seventeen years ago) link

poor O. i hope shes feeling better. were all sick with daycare colds at the moment. :(

anyway, beeps and bunny:

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/4679/bunnyxz3.jpg

http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/392/weegx8.jpg

― sunny successor, Monday, 21 May 2007 17:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 21 May 2007 17:28 (seventeen years ago) link

She's just lovely.

― luna, Monday, 21 May 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps is a CUTIE!

― schwantz, Monday, 21 May 2007 17:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Has anyone here had experience with infant sign language? My daugher is 4 1/2 months and she's so expressive and inquisitive that we're going to start with the ASL (american sign language) as soon as possible, but we're not sure we can get her day care providers to buy in. any tips appreciated.

― DJ Logan5, Monday, 21 May 2007 21:57 (seventeen years ago) link

We are planning to try the signing classes, but at the moment Howie's diary is pretty full up with NCT group, baby massage, baby rhyme time... anything that gets us out of the house, basically! He loves meeting new people and going to new places, so it's all good.

On a downer, his eczema has really flared up in the last couple of days :(

Think it must be the heat making it worse. And all the creams don't seem to be making much difference. I find it really upsetting to see his skin so red and raw - though it doesn't seem to bother him as much as it does me! Taking him to the GP tomorrow to see if they can suggest anything - think it might be time to bring out the steroids.

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 24 May 2007 22:02 (seventeen years ago) link

We have the signing book, and we've tried to do the simple ones (food, drink). No reaction from the boys whatsoever. We're gonna keep doing it, though.

― schwantz, Thursday, 24 May 2007 22:20 (seventeen years ago) link

The boys playing on a blanket:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/192/508833438_20be36f771.jpg

― schwantz, Thursday, 24 May 2007 22:21 (seventeen years ago) link

I am very weary of teaching your (or rather MY) child anything but proper Dutch. I say proper as I don't use baby talk either. It's not that I shy away from cooing or once in a while using a *cute* word, but like my developmental psychology professor once said:"Why bother? There's no reason to." So she doesn't even say dada when waving people goodbye, she says "Daaag!" like every other person. Ok, this sounds like I'm putting people down who use signs and/or babytalk, but in essence I don't see the point really.

Ophelia has finally let go of my finger. She was able to walk on her own for a while now, but never wanted to when I (or my husband) was around. Yesterday I put my hands behind my back, after my husband told me she had walked on her own with him around, and she decided that she didn't need my finger anymore. It was silly really, she was able to walk on her own for quite a while, but she didn't want to (when we were around). She's such a clever girl. :-)

― nathalie, Friday, 25 May 2007 07:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, Teeny where the hell are you! I miss your posts! And pics!

― nathalie, Friday, 25 May 2007 07:46 (seventeen years ago) link

hello and thanks! We're doing fine, just a bit busy with all the fun summer stuff.

I will say that baby sign language has been an enormous help to us. They say it doesn't interfere with the development of spoken language. I was a late talker and knew there was a chance my boy would be too, so I gave it a shot. I started, kind of half-assed, with the sign for "more," around 9 months and he picked it up right away. Some of the signs are ASL-based and some we just made up. He knows more, all done, nurse, eat, water, bed, bath, brush teeth, diaper, wash hands, poop, help, and he recently made one up for 'bird' for some reason. All the others he's had since around 12 mos though. I can't imagine how frustrated he'd be without them, since he doesn't have many words. Maybe he would have been motivated to talk earlier without them, but he's very communicative so I'm not worried how the job gets done, I know the day will come when he'll be a chatterbox regardless!

djlogan, have you asked your daycare person about signs? My mother-in-law runs a daycare and they all use signs, so maybe yours are already into it!

So Louis is 17.5 months right now and I have not gotten tired of him yet. ;) He's really active, climbing all over the playground equipment. He is not throwing tantrums yet and just this week started saying "no" occasionally. We got him a potty because he will pee on command and tell me when he's about to poop, so I thought I might as well give it a shot. He thinks the potty is so cool that he pees every thirty seconds when his diaper is off, so I'm not sure what that means. Not sure he's got the control to go a long time between pees. Not making a big deal about it either way.

We started doing baby gymnastics and it is funny to see all the little kids around his age and how they're all different. Like there's a girl lou's age who has around 50-60 words but just started walking. And there's an older boy who yesterday pulled Lou's hair and his mom had to deal with the situation. I feel like jane goodall amongst the apes.

Here is a picture:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/215/506032595_a62ff4836a.jpg
he looks a lot like my husband.

― teeny, Friday, 25 May 2007 13:50 (seventeen years ago) link

I think part of the reason I also don't do sign language is the fact Ophelia seems to be advanced when it comes to language. She understands a lot and has started *half-saying* words. I realize it might not interfere, but I am still dubious of these things. I rather take things slower.

I mean, shit, she could walk for a long time now - though she certainly wasn't advanced like some kids - but only yesterday decided she didn't want to drag me along.

― nathalie, Friday, 25 May 2007 14:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice and I will probably start 'sing n sign' in September (and my mum already uses BSL signs when she talks to A.) All the evidence is that it supports and even accelerates spoken language development, but if babies are verbally advanced anyway then maybe you're right nath - why bother? Except for fun!

I don't seem to have any recent photos of Alice. Shocking! Especially since she's growing and developing so fast at the moment - her new favourite thing is standing up holding our hands, with a manically proud grin on her face at her achievement. Too busy to take pics I guess!

― Archel, Friday, 25 May 2007 18:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah, here we are - fat and sleepy at around four and a half months:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/514371818_9977354d44.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Saturday, 26 May 2007 07:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Aaaah, how cute! :-D I also like the blanket!

― nathalie, Saturday, 26 May 2007 11:48 (seventeen years ago) link

last week at the health club swimming pool two cute girls who looked to be the same age as my son -- 11 -- arrived on the pool deck as we were leaving. expecting miles to take no notice I was mildly astonished as his head swivelled 180 degrees as they passed, "checking them out" with a classic application of the MALE GAZE. When he turned around and we continued on to that citadel of male bonding known as the locker room I couldn't resist turning around myself and checking out his peers -- they were of course both watching him intently as well. so it begins.

― m coleman, Saturday, 26 May 2007 12:33 (seventeen years ago) link

A friend of a friend just related that her 12 year old, a Goth, had pierced her own lip! WT*bleeding*F! She also does a bit of auto-mutilation. :-( God, I thought I would be saved of this for at least 16 years. Seems it starts a lot earlier. *sigh*

― nathalie, Saturday, 26 May 2007 12:51 (seventeen years ago) link

We decided to try the swing today!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/212/519026170_61ebaf638e.jpg

― schwantz, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 01:53 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/172/433147978_b4433083cc.jpg

do they make these for adults???

― river wolf, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 05:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, those twins!

Ava has always played rough with her little sister, but last week she bit her:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/214/512740249_c0f940512f.jpg

Here's the hellion trying to explain herself:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/516834344_65010cb5e2.jpg

Progress report - Tallulah still not able to sit unsupported, so she's a wee bit behind her sis on that score. Trying to crawl but no forward motion yet. She's up in the 60-odd percentile weight-wise but is the same flavour of shortstack as big sis - hugging that 9th-percentile (about 65cm at 29 weeks). They're both destined to be five-two in their socks if they're lucky.

Ava's sentence construction is still more or less stuck at the "May Ava have..." stage (the third person thing is very cute and we don't really want to discourage it!) but she's starting to identify words now. It's not reading, more a feat of memory, but she'll look at the label on a carton of cream and say "ice cream van" or an issue of ReadyMade and say "ready now!"; certain words crop up in her stories so she recognises "London" from her Madeline stories, "pesky" and "rat" from That Pesky Rat (though they both mean "that pesky rat") and so on. Also her own name, Lulu, Mummy, Daddy and so on. Still having trouble with lower-case letters.

While the in-laws have been staying we've all been in the same room which may be a step in the right direction as regards Ava and Lulu sharing space but is a step backwards in getting Ava to sleep through the night in her own bed (she invariably gets in with us around 3am). This summer: toilet training! Oh joy.

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 10:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Nice mantlepiece, schwantz.

― Pleasant Plains, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 16:20 (seventeen years ago) link

xxpost I bought such a chair for Ophelia. She didn't like it AT ALL and cried every time I put her in it. SHe doesn't like to be *restricted* at all.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 29 May 2007 16:35 (seventeen years ago) link

FITE!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/213/519069254_970a2d235f.jpg

Sleeping Owen:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1167/526948603_c471d78d44.jpg

Ben sleeps on his stomach:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1188/527829670_210ab03a65.jpg

― schwantz, Sunday, 3 June 2007 15:40 (seventeen years ago) link

IF ANY OCCASIONAL ILXORS HAVE RECENTLY LIKE IN THE LAST 24 HOURS SAY HAD A BABY NOW'S THE TIME TO POST ABOUT IT OKAY

― Mark C, Sunday, 3 June 2007 22:46 (seventeen years ago) link

He already sleeps on his tummy? Woha!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1053/526213257_5267ffdbc5.jpg

walking with granny in yoyogi park.

yesterday she had, not really fever, but a higher temp. :-(

― stevienixed, Monday, 4 June 2007 00:51 (seventeen years ago) link

what on earth are those twinies hugging??

whats on O's t? a bunny?

poor beeps has an ear infection and a lot of congestion. a bunch of snot sucking, some frightening coughing fits and lots of "ARE YOU BREATHING?!?!?" from me. sigh.

― sunny successor, Monday, 4 June 2007 03:13 (seventeen years ago) link

nathalie -- i was only funning on the buddhism thread

MJ -- manga wants its eyes back

schwantz -- your twins are stupid cute, and i wish them all the best

sunny -- tell beeps i said "sup"

― river wolf, Monday, 4 June 2007 03:24 (seventeen years ago) link

MJ -- manga wants its eyes back

Ha! If you don't mind, I may steal this next time I'm stuck for a caption on Flickr.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 4 June 2007 07:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Poor Beeps. Howie had a bunged-up nose last night, I wondered if it might be hay fever 'cause he was rubbing his eyes too.

His sleep has gone completely tits-up the last week or so - whether it's teething, growth spurt, or the hot weather, who knows? But he woke up five times last night :(

On the plus side his eczema seems to be slowly improving with the help of steroid cream and lots and lots of emollients.

Also - he can now roll over onto his side, but then kind of gets stuck.

― Meg Busset, Monday, 4 June 2007 09:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah yes, it's a bunny.

The other day, damn Japanese diapers, Ophelia was sitting beside me on the futon and SHAT all over it. Urgh!

She's doing ok though. Feels better and has added a few *mumblings* (words): Lucy, daddy, mommy, granny, grandfather... Yes, you have to know Ophelia's language to understand her but it's very clear for mommy. :-)

― stevienixed, Monday, 4 June 2007 10:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice now often rolls onto her stomach in her cot but has trouble rolling back and sometimes wakes us up crying to be moved :(
Night feeds have been well and truly banished though, hurrah!

Meanwhile, she can sit unsupported briefly, but far prefers standing up and will shout to be lifted to her feet if made to sit for too long. At this rate she will skip crawling altogether...

She has two teeth and dribbles constantly, and foodwise enjoys pear, apple, squash and potato (and will tolerate carrot) but unbelievably dislikes banana.

Has had the grumps for the past few days - heat and growth spurt I think. Must post this photo to remind myself that she's not always screaming!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1215/526516186_37a42e4646.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Monday, 4 June 2007 11:02 (seventeen years ago) link

I am going to be a full-time stay-at-home Dad as from next Monday. I get to do toilet training. I suspect you might be hearing from me a bit more often.

― PJ Miller, Monday, 4 June 2007 11:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow! Good luck.

Quite the opposite for me - I am going back to work as from next Monday and am already mourning being a stay-at-home mum :(

― Archel, Monday, 4 June 2007 11:33 (seventeen years ago) link

My Hubbin did the full-time dad thing for a while. I think. I know he did the stay-at-home male, but I can't remember if it was before or after Le Kidlet.

God, I'm losing what memory I had. Sheesh.

― Hey Jude, Monday, 4 June 2007 16:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Late 93/early 94, after she'd started pre-K, so I could sit around in the mornings in my bathrobe and watch Oprah and scratch my balls.

― Rock Hardy, Monday, 4 June 2007 18:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Wait, I'm not supposed to talk about my balls on the parenting thread. Sorry.

― Rock Hardy, Monday, 4 June 2007 18:35 (seventeen years ago) link

balls make babies babies make parents?

re stay at home daddies: ive tried to talk pleasant plains into this lifestyle. no go.

― sunny successor, Monday, 4 June 2007 18:37 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm just too committed to screening sportstalk callers and playing this wastebasket game.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 4 June 2007 18:44 (seventeen years ago) link

men these days. they want careers and babies. THEY WANT IT ALL

― sunny successor, Monday, 4 June 2007 18:48 (seventeen years ago) link

What I'd really like to do is open my own boutique.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 4 June 2007 18:55 (seventeen years ago) link

What is up with men and balls? Jeez. ;D

― Hey Jude, Monday, 4 June 2007 20:20 (seventeen years ago) link

did sarah make it back from the UK?

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 19:17 (seventeen years ago) link

One more week! She'll be home Monday.

xpost -- MY POKEMANS -- LET ME SHOW YOU THEM.

― Rock Hardy, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 19:25 (seventeen years ago) link

She'll be back soon, and with hundreds of photos and probably thousands of stories.

Truth? I miss her, even though she's having the adventure of her lifetime. I'll be glad when she gets home.

― Hey Jude, Tuesday, 5 June 2007 22:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Mothers, tell me about quickening. When did it happen, what did it feel like.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 14:57 (seventeen years ago) link

i didnt get it but my mom claims she did when she was pregnant with me (but not with my brother). she describes it as feeling like the world just flipped over. a head rush kind of thing where you lose your balance and think youre going to pass out but then everything rights itself.

however, here in the US (as far as i can tell) it just refers to the baby moving which still feels pretty freakin weird.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:10 (seventeen years ago) link

hmm. . .I'm being a paranoid betty. At home awaits Zantac and a pregnancy test. One or the other should hopefully sovle the weird feeling I've been having the past couple of days.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Quickening is the moment you first feel the baby move, as far as I know?

It was like:

one day, in your head or to partner 'oh, that might have been baby! Or not. Could have been gas. But it might have been!'
a couple of days later 'oh, maybe that was it!'
a coule more days later 'maybe that was, or maybe not, I can't tell!'
a couple of weeks later 'ok, that definitely was the baby!'

It's really weird. You're totally on the look out for it, but at first it is very like gas turning over in your stomach, so it's easy to miss, until you know what you're looking out for.

Apparently you notice it much more with subsequent pregnancies, because you know what to look out for. When it starts can depend on a whole lot of things, like where the placenta is, whether you're sitting quietly or if you're on the go all the time. (you don't notice movement as much if you're always on the go)

I was 90% sure that I felt squirrel first at 18 weeks. It felt like brushes sweeping the top of my bump. I'd probably felt things before but put it down to gas. Chris felt squirrel kick for the first time when I was 21 weeks.

― Vicky, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, that seems pretty far along. I've seemed to gain a lot of weight lately and have felt/looked bloated but even if I was surprise pregnant I'd think I'd be bigger.

The past couple of days I've been feeling sporadic fluttering near the top of stomach, under the sternum. No other adominbal distress normally associated with gas, etc. though.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Mrs O is back at work. We're not quite sure if it'll work out as there are three babies competing for two grans but so far (2 whole days!) it's working out okay.

Megan is crawling around and saying jajaja (which occasionally becomes Dada) and boooo/poooo. She's had to adopt two different crawling techniques as we have carpets upstairs (proper crawling) and wooden flooring (sniping coz it's slidy and fun) downstairs. Time to child proof the house again - I mentioned this to Mrs O and said something about Megan being able to grab my DVDs and video games and ended up mumbling an "oh yes, that too" on the whole falling down stairs thing.

She's had a couple of teeth for a while but doesn't seem to keen on growing any more of them.

― onimo, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:20 (seventeen years ago) link

I associate quickening with cutting an Immortal's head off so I'm not much use to Ms Mis here.

― onimo, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:21 (seventeen years ago) link

sam, either way its not something you feel until well into pregnancy.

i wouldnt have even realized beeps was moving if pp's mom hadnt casually mentioned that the first baby moves are just like little tap tap taps. i was expecting to be booted HARD. of course, that came later.

sam, how would you feel about being preggers?

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

pics please omino

why do you all get so much maternity leave. i was back to work after 6 weeks.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:24 (seventeen years ago) link

In the end, I would be pleased to be pregnant. It's in our future, not our present, but I'm sure we'd deal after the inital shock.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:25 (seventeen years ago) link

I will post pics later, when I get home.

why do you all get so much maternity leave. i was back to work after 6 weeks.

We've been on one wage for a few months. I think Mrs O got 6 months maternity pay (which was much less than her salary, obv) then the rest was unpaid.

― onimo, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Even though it's been ages, I remember that weird fluttery "what-was-that?!?" moment when I first felt my daughter move - it was around the 16 week mark. I was being very still and quiet, and there was a frantic butterfly feeling in my gut that bowled me over. I don't remember the same thing with my son, but I was less likely to have any still, quiet times then.

― Jaq, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Because we have a good welfare state. The statutory minimum is:

you are legally entitled to take up to 12 months off. You get the first 6 weeks at 90% pay, then for the rest of 9 months you get about £112 a week, and if you want to take the last three months it's unpaid. (it used to be 6 months, but it changed to 9 months statutory maternity pay after 1st April)

Some people have very generous employers. I get 6 months on full pay, then I'll get the £112 a week for the next three months.

We are very lucky compared to the US. I think Canada have similarly mum friendly policies.

― Vicky, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:29 (seventeen years ago) link

crazy

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:32 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm guessing some of you saw this, but in case you didn't:

Even if you can't help me out, I need to spread the word...thanks!

― 2for25, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:34 (seventeen years ago) link

BABY DATA DUMP! Lytton has just been weaned - zero hassle, likes every food we've given him, seems to want stronger and stronger flavours, adapted to spoons with ease - he doesn't like water though and has no patience with beakers.

He's sitting up for a few seconds at a time but not raising himself - trying to crawl but not managing it, good at wriggling/rolling round playpen until he encounters an interesting toy, though. Huge caws of excitement and satisfaction when "THAT'S NOT MY ROBOT" appears - bigger books annoy him. No longer putting stuff in his mouth as soon as he sees it. Huge big-eyed interest in the outdoors.

Sleep time remains stubbornly fixed at 9-10pm, sometimes later. Two teeth, one seemingly coming (judging by drool and howls) but can't work out where. Totally recognises his name and will look around for source - ignores "Hello", sometimes answers to "Gibbon" or "Sausage" (am trying to phase these endearments out). Definite mirror stage action going on. Shy with other people for about an hour then very playful (just as other babies are getting tired!). That's it! I love this thread by the way and reading about all your kids, I just never have anything specific to say.

― Groke, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:36 (seventeen years ago) link

x-posts

One year sounds very nice but how does a company justify paying someone on maternity leave for even 6 months? i mean, you dont need six months off. seems kind of excessive.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:38 (seventeen years ago) link

I guess it's all part of recognising that if companies don't have mum friendly policies then they're going to lose key staff. Also that my company used to be part of the civil service, which historically has always been ridiculously generous to staff.

Childcare in the uk is incredibly expensive, particularly for very young children, and often oversubscribed, it often puts women off going back to work. I'm on a ttc/mums board that has an international mix of women, and it sounds like some US moms really struggle going back to work as early as they have to.

― Vicky, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 15:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah it sounds like you've become well-acclimated to the US Sunny! We only get 6 weeks which I think is probably too little.

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link

I think that six weeks seems like way too little. I really want to be able to stay home for a couple of years when my kids are young but am terrified that we won't be able to afford for me to do so. If we wait until we can afford it, I'll be ancient before we can realistically contemplate having kids. Hopefully we'll be back in the UK when we have or first so I'll be able to take more time off. Maternity leave here in the States is a joke.

― ENBB, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 17:11 (seventeen years ago) link

6 weeks is plenty of time for you to be physically ok to work (im assuming retail and or office situations here). I probably could have gone back in a week. As for the kiddo, its good to bond but Id think the earlier you socialize them the better. I get scared thinking of beeps believing we're her whole world.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:02 (seventeen years ago) link

6 weeks felt too soon after my first, so I stayed home (w/o pay) for 8 months. I ended up with some agoraphobia made worse by our living situation at the time (trailer park, no car, scary neighborhood), so returning to work would have been better for me. I leapt back to work at the 6 week mark after my son was born, which was better all around for us. The situation varies so much - I had a better support network as a working mom than as a stay-at-home mom, but it's different for everyone.

― Jaq, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Tom, apparently most babies get their teeth in the same order although the timing can be hugely variable. So, bottom two middle ones first, then top two middle, then the rest.

My six months maternity leave is now up! (I was a bit early to qualify for the nine months boo.) My employer is reasonably generous but I certainly can't afford to take the option of further unpaid leave - and Matt would kill me anyway. He can't wait to share looking after Alice. NO WAY was I ready to go back after 6 weeks, but I guess if that had been my expectation all along I would have been...

― Archel, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:21 (seventeen years ago) link

J. went back to work at 6 weeks, but the daycare was next door to her workplace, so she walked over a couple of times a day to visit & de-stress. A perfect situation.

As for the kiddo, its good to bond but Id think the earlier you socialize them the better. I get scared thinking of beeps believing we're her whole world.

This was pretty much our thinking as well. What really scares me is people who have kids for emotionally needy reasons. For a while, the kids are going to be like, "oh shit, these people are my whole world!" And then suddenly one day they're going to be like "oh shit, these people aren't my whole world, but they made me think they were!" (/rant)

― Rock Hardy, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:32 (seventeen years ago) link

so its your fault shes independent enough to go off to london with out mom and dad!

what are signs of teething? beeps has started drooling like a faucet and shoving everything in her mouth to suck/chew on. and shes lost interest in pacifiers. it has to be her hand or a towel (bib/receiving cloth/shirt/blanket/towel) or toy. shes only 3 months though.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:37 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I read once that Napoleon already had two teeth when he was born.

― Rock Hardy, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:51 (seventeen years ago) link

womb biter

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 18:53 (seventeen years ago) link

"you may see his first white cap (usually one of the bottom middle teeth) as early as 3 months"

uh oh

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 19:07 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG! SCHWANTZ! we just bought the same exersaucer that one of your twinzies is in upthread! i looked all over the internet the other night for help with an assembly problem and found nothing. maybe you can help? the very bottom leg pedestals, the ones that attach the base with the spring, are supposed to snap back into place when turned. ours dont SNAP but they do return to their original position very very slowly. did yours do the same? im scared to keep assembling and find out i did it wrong and have to undo everything.

we also got the rainforest bouncer but shes not big enough for it yet.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 19:15 (seventeen years ago) link

does the rainforest bouncer send them up into the treetop canopy???

― Jaq, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 19:18 (seventeen years ago) link

@Sunny: Yeah, I think that behavior is ok. It's just a friction thing, right?

Ben LOVES that thing. We call it his office. We had to replace the little bear-on-a-stick (Anger Bear!) attachment cuz he tries to eat it and it's sharp.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1164/533643765_515cc5c3f3.jpg

We got this instead:
http://www.baby-wise.com/images/images_big/10-0520-01.jpg

― schwantz, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 19:58 (seventeen years ago) link

(not a picture of Ben in that photo)

― schwantz, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 19:58 (seventeen years ago) link

oooh! attachments! i havent even taken the toys out of the bag yet.

thanks so much for the help!

does the rainforest bouncer send them up into the treetop canopy???

sort of, yes!

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 6 June 2007 20:35 (seventeen years ago) link

why do you all get so much maternity leave. i was back to work after 6 weeks.

what the hell is maternity leave? i didn't really take any. didn't really want to. i preferred being in teh shop over being at home alone (with the baby).

here you get three months (if you are an employer). you can also ask for breastfeeding and/or parental leave. the latter can only be postponed, the former can be denied by the employer.

sam, the one thing i should have noticed, when being pregnant (the first time), was the sensitivity in my nipples. it was very weird but my nipples were so sensitive (for a day or maybe more). the second time i was just very hungry for a couple of days. no bloated feeling though. well, not due to pregnancy anyway, maybe due to excessive eating.

in regard to babies and socializing: this is certainly not necessary before twelve months. children can only socialize from around 18months (according to my therapist). that said, ophelia loves being around children, she walks up to'em and strokes'em. very funny.

the fluttering? now, the second time, i was so scared that i didn't feel it. but i did, i was just thinking it would be clearer (or rather that i would be tell much better). i think this baby is quieter than ophelia though. ophelia was very active.

let us know if you are pregnant! (i tried to read the posts but might have missed if you mentioned if you were.)

― stevienixed, Thursday, 7 June 2007 05:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Hello all. Just wanted to say that we have gotten our travel date, and that we will be able to meet our new daughter M0lly on July 7. OMG so excited and nervous and stuff.

If I get crazy later I will post the only picture I have of her.

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 8 June 2007 14:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Haha, not pregnant so far! The test I had at home had actually expired in May, which although not too far gone made my a little skeptical. I'll probably pick up another one. It's doubtful I'm accidently pregnant but the way I take my bc (skipping periods) I often get a little worried and take a test.

I worry about it b/c of my psychiatric pills b/c they weaken the effect of the birth control. Twice I've had to move to a stronger bc pill. Also I worry about being pregnant for weeks and weeks without knowing and hurting the baby with all those pills I shouldn't take while pregnant. :(

Just paranoid I'm sure. However if this weird fluttering feeling doesn't stop soon I will have to go to the doctor. It's annoying the crap out of me.

― Ms Misery, Friday, 8 June 2007 15:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Sam,you take anti-depressants, right? Well, apparently they prescribe this to pregnant women who suffer from migraine attacks. Secondly, I wouldn't worry too much about the first few weeks. It doesn't harm the baby at that stage. (So doctors told me.)

The fluttering feel I haven't experienced in the first week at all. I mean, the foetus is certainly not big enough to flutter.

Get a blood test, it'll solve those feelings. :-)

xpost: Woohoo! POSTPICNOW!

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/234/536090655_15ede9efd7.jpg

Checking out zee Japanese books in Ebisu.

― stevienixed, Friday, 8 June 2007 15:53 (seventeen years ago) link

She's such a cutie. Is she learning any Japanese?

The two pills I take, Lithium and Lamictal, have not been cleared for pregnancy but are not strictly forbidden either. Not enough known. It will have to be something I decide with my doctor ahead of time. Both my pysch and obgyn have said making decisions about my meds will have to be something we all discuss before I get pregnant. So I'd prefer not to have it be by accident. Also I like to booze it up on the weekend and would like to stop this beforehand.

― Ms Misery, Friday, 8 June 2007 15:57 (seventeen years ago) link

If it were up to my mom, she'd already be enrolled in a Japanese language school. In the space of a week, she has already learned to bow and say (konnichi) "wa" (though not consistently of course). Kinda freaky really. It's amazing how much she has changed this week. I wonder if it's the fact I am here with her on holiday.

I worry so much as well about my pregnancy, but I do realize and know that the first weeks are not that harmful. Heck, my gran was a pregnant alcoholic and my dad's relatively good. ;-) Seriously, have a blood test and start *prepping* now. This way you will freak out less about booze and pills. :-)

― stevienixed, Friday, 8 June 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Also I worry about being pregnant for weeks and weeks without knowing and hurting the baby with all those pills I shouldn't take while pregnant. :(

I was 6 weeks' pregnant when I found out I was, and the week before, I'd been drinking and smoking pot and doing all kinds of horrible things, and he's just fiiiine.

― luna, Friday, 8 June 2007 21:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps is holding her head up like a champ:

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9415/headupue4.jpg

Also a champ at being cuet:

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5474/stareysn2.jpg

― sunny successor, Saturday, 9 June 2007 03:19 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw, looks just like her daddy.

― Rock Hardy, Saturday, 9 June 2007 03:57 (seventeen years ago) link

I forgot I promised photos on Wednesday.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1231/537193033_f8ba2387e8.jpg

― onimo, Saturday, 9 June 2007 13:25 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/537193035_98051d57fd.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/537193047_02651507c0.jpg

― onimo, Saturday, 9 June 2007 13:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Howie can't quite hold his head up lying on his front (he does try, and usually ends up getting frustrated and crying). However, he can roll onto his side (and frequently practises at night when he's supposed to be sleeping). I am sure one morning we will wake up, find him lying on his front, and panic. I think it's OK for them to sleep on front or side once they can roll, though.

In other news, after two weeks of terrible night wakings there's been some changes around these parts. Firstly we went and bought him a big cot as he was looking all squashed in the crib. It has a drop-down side so much easier to get him in and out without major back damage (just as well as he's now over 15lb). Secondly, daytime naps are now in the cot (in fact he's there right now) unless we're out and about with the pram. And thirdly, no more breastfeeding to sleep and putting in cot asleep. Now he goes in the cot awake - something I thought would NEVER happen. I do use a dummy to settle him (which I said I'd never do, but it works a treat) but whip it out before he falls asleep.

Re: maternity leave, before I had H I thought I would return to work after the 6 months' paid leave, but I'm going to take the full year and maybe even longer if we can manage on one income. Absolutely no disrespect to mums who go back to work much sooner, but personally, I don't want to work just to cover the cost of childcare so someone else can bring up my baby. (The industry I work in has zero provision for creches or anything, plus very long hours.) So we are looking at a year or so of poverty, but then we don't seem to be spending much money at the moment as we're not going to pubs or restaurants or anything.

― Meg Busset, Saturday, 9 June 2007 14:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw she is so gorgeous onimo! Has she got you a birthday present or just teh gift of CUTENESS?

And Beeps looks so beautiful and wise already :)

Meg, I feel just the same - after the ridiculous childcare costs we'd be almost as poor anyway AND we wouldn't have our precious time with Alice. In our case though we're both working part time and making up one income out of two half incomes. If anyone stayed at home full time it would logically be Matt as he works in a very poorly paid sector, but I know I couldn't handle working full time yet.

― Archel, Saturday, 9 June 2007 18:56 (seventeen years ago) link

My birthday's not till tomorrow. I'm hoping for a present but teh CUTENESS will do :)

We've managed to get through Mrs O's first week back at work (part time, 3 days) without any problems. Hopefully it stays that way. We're lucky we have willing grandparents or we'd probably struggle with childcare.

Mrs O is out boozing tonight so I am being stay at home Dad for the night. I got Megan to bed by 7.20pm and the boys are peacefully watching a dvd before bed. It won't last...

― onimo, Saturday, 9 June 2007 19:05 (seventeen years ago) link

All these cute cute babeeez!!!! Awwwwww... Need to cuddle one.

Ours was once a small cute cute baby. No more. ;D

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l298/JRaynmaker/stonehenge.jpg

― Hey Jude, Saturday, 9 June 2007 23:39 (seventeen years ago) link

they rope stonehenge off now? tell me that red hair is natural.

omino, megan's eyes are incredible. i wish they were mine.

beeps started rolling on to her side two days ago and did her first full roll from back to stomach this afternoon. i was excited but also felt pretty bad since she had been making what i thought were pre-nap fussy noises/cries in her crib for about 5 minutes when i decided to check on her. there was poor beeps face first into the crib mattress. when i turned her over her face was all red and her eyes said "NOT HAPPY, MOM". she did another roll on the change table tonight.

― sunny successor, Sunday, 10 June 2007 05:02 (seventeen years ago) link

The red hair is natural. The frizzy, uncontrollable curls, sadly, also natural. Both my fault, genetically. Sorry, Kiddo.

When the Kiddo was a wee pup, she used to sleep on her tummy in the corner of the baby bed, with her head wedged as far as she could get it in the corner. No matter where on the bed you put her down, or how, she'd eventually get in that position.

I honestly worried that she was going to suffocate herself, so whenever I found her like that, I'd move her back to the middle of the bed. Inevitably she'd get right back in that corner. She's been a strong-willed pup from the get-go.

Sometimes you just have to let them do what they want. I blame her dad. He sleeps on his stomach a lot, too, albeit not with his head in a corner. ;D

― Hey Jude, Sunday, 10 June 2007 14:04 (seventeen years ago) link

My hair is all crazy curls and frizz too. I straighten the bejesus out of it every day. When beeps came out with curls the first thing i said was 'OH NO!' but it seems to have straightened out since. I still flatten it down after every bath.

Yeah, I figure with a round head its hard to suffocate on a flat surface. Whenever I think those things, or get worked up by all the fear people instill in new mothers, I just remind myself of all the billions of children that somehow made it though childhood.

― sunny successor, Sunday, 10 June 2007 15:02 (seventeen years ago) link

I straighten the bejesus out of mine, too. After years of frustration with blow dryers, curling irons, straightening irons, none of which worked worth a shit, I discovered nirvana last year. A Paul Mitchell flatiron which heats to 400 degrees.

Eureka! I finally have straight hair. :D

Kiddo still doesn't care enough about her hair to mess with straightening it. I figure the need will hit her someday.

Flattening the Kiddo's hair was an exercise in futility when she was a little one. It was just completely pointless. If beeps' hair seems to be lying down a bit, you might have dodged the curly bullet.

That's a really weird-looking sentence, now that I look back at it.

― Hey Jude, Monday, 11 June 2007 01:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice sleeps with her head mashed into her sheepskin (which she grabs and buries her face in as soon as she hits the cot). I do worry about suffocation but then until recently the official advice was to put babies to sleep on their fronts, exactly the opposite of now. So screw it.

― Archel, Monday, 11 June 2007 10:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Jude, straightening is a total bore but NECESSARY for my sanity. those little curls ends sticking in my face all the time drive me nuts. I've been straightening since i was around 10. Anyway, i think you're right, Beeps dodged the curly bullet.

Archel do you use a movement monitor? we do but honestly id have no idea what to do if it went off for real.

― sunny successor, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Your babies are all so cute!!

I need to get another preg. test but I seriously doubt I am just like all the other times I was paranoid. (well, except for that one time when I wasn't paranoid just shocked. which was part of the problem.)

My brother and his wife have four kiddos 7 and younger. For awhile now just she was working while he was housedaddy. But they've come across tough times so it looks like he'll need to get a third shift job. The childcare costs would sink them. :(

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:11 (seventeen years ago) link

childcare is remarkably cheap here. the average in LR/AR seems to be $125 a week. i know in australia its more like $100 a day.

― sunny successor, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:16 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost Do you mean a monitor taht detects movement (or rather lack of movement) so as to prevent cot death? I have read this is unreliable.
Once babies roll over (and sleep on their bellies) the risk for SIDS is much lower (in fact, some claim it's finished).

Poor Ophelia is not handling the jetlag so well. She's nearly sleepwalking at times and then suddenly *erupts* in a frenzied running around Lucy (our dog).

― nathalie, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:17 (seventeen years ago) link

haha...cute! i hope you guys adjust soon.

yeah its a pad kind of thing that you put underneath the matress that detects whether the kiddo is breathing or not. we had one that you strap to the diaper ("respisense") but she kept knocking it around too much so we had a gazillion false alarms. the pad thing however seems pretty reliable. the only thing i could see not making it work would be something else in the room making movement that it detects. it sure goes off loud and clear as soon as we lift beeps out of the crib.

wait, isnt sleeping on the belly bad as far as SIDS is concerned?

― sunny successor, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:29 (seventeen years ago) link

I guess it's bad unless babies can roll into (and out of) that position themselves?

I have never even heard of a movement monitor!

― Archel, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:31 (seventeen years ago) link

wait, isnt sleeping on the belly bad as far as SIDS is concerned?

Yes, placing very young infants (<4 months) on their belly to sleep is considered to increase risk of SIDS, but once they're old enough to flip over themselves there's no need to keep putting them on their back. So goes the current received wisdom.

Of course, we worried about all this stuff with Ava - with Tallulah, not so much.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Child care rates at my rate of employment. Level three means household income 55K to 99K.
Level 3
Infants $810
Toddlers $665
Two’s $605
Pre-K $580

That's per child with a $25 per month discount for additional children. This is considered a good deal and there's a long wait list.

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:34 (seventeen years ago) link

2nd rate = place, duh.

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:34 (seventeen years ago) link

archel, seriously? i dont know anyone in AUS that doesnt use one. I dont know anyone else with babies here in the US so im not sure if theyre popular or not.

this is our one:

http://www.bebesounds.com/products_movementsensorsound_description.asp

honestly, i dont think its ever going to come to the alarm sounding but it sure lets me get some good sleep.

sam, do not tell me thats $810 a week!?!

― sunny successor, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:37 (seventeen years ago) link

haha, that's per month. But from what I understand, being childless myself, that's a better deal than general, public daycares. In the case of my brother, multiply that by 4 and it's just madness.

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:39 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah, we figured if we had two kids one of us might as well stay at home and look after them.

― sunny successor, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:51 (seventeen years ago) link

I think we're talking around £35-50/child/day here in London for childcare. So if Pam were to return to work full-time and we could find somewhere that would take the two of them, she'd conceivably have to be earning £28k-35k just for us to be in the same financial position we're in now with her freelancing from home (and earning about £500/month). There are things like childcard voucher schemes from some employers (it's paid out of your pre-tax earnings so the employer gets an NI break too) and Child Tax Credits and so on, but the sums still don't add up for us.

So here's Ava in the garden to cheer us up:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1190/533883295_54038dfaf6.jpg

― Michael Jones, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:51 (seventeen years ago) link

beautiful. i love brown tops on girls.

― sunny successor, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Let's assume your baby stops moving long enough to set this movement monitor thing off. By then *if* anything was wrong it'd be too late to do anything, right? Or does it literally measure something like heart rate and if it stops for 10 secs it goes off?

Sounds like just one more horrible paranoid product designed to make parents even more twitchy and scared, but what do I know.

― Mark C, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:55 (seventeen years ago) link

it makes a single beep if the kid doesnt breathe for 10 seconds and starts the alarm after 20 seconds.

i dont know if id be too quick to pronounce my kid dead after 20 secs of not breathing.

― sunny successor, Monday, 11 June 2007 15:57 (seventeen years ago) link

i find it pretty comforting actually but, before we got it, i wasnt past the point of straining to hear her breathing at night. it does delay the inevitable jump to a "chances are real slim the baby will stop breathing and whatever happens happens" attitude, which is probably bad for the parents in the long run.

― sunny successor, Monday, 11 June 2007 16:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Ms Misery I was also worried about those statistics - but I get your point.
it's impossible to afford childcare and work unless you have a big social net to help you.
Hopefully, being at a progressive place, like a University, is more helpful than being in anything corporate.
UMASS has develop[ed a program for undergrads who want to get licensed It's pretty cool.
Anyone who works at UMASS can leave their kids at the day care ( also, students with kids)- very low cost, or free. The people working with the children are getting degrees in ECE, so they're committed.
It's a good model, I think.
Give potential teachers academic credits through doing what they want to do. Practicum. That's what it's called.

Every company should have a daycare - it could be run by one person and staffed by students who earn academic credits!
That's a very low cost business model!
It makes sense on so many levels - which is why it will never happen.

OK, back to the kiddlywinks!

― aimurchie, Monday, 11 June 2007 16:09 (seventeen years ago) link

We have a supposedly subsidised creche where I work. But it's still like £5000 a year I think :(

― Archel, Monday, 11 June 2007 16:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Mark we bought a monitor and it's been invaluable - Isabel suffers from occasional anxiety-related OCD anyway (exacerbated when she's tired, which she was all the time post-birth) and having a machine to basically "check" on him for her was so useful in the first couple of months (i.e. we got some rather than no sleep). It didn't increase the anxiety and paranoia at all because we've had no false alarm problems and because it's loud and we know it works.

There is an awful lot of tat marketed to parents, but all of it's useful to *someone*: you just need to realise what fits your specific needs.

― Groke, Monday, 11 June 2007 16:34 (seventeen years ago) link

We don't have a movement monitor, but do have a video monitor, which for the first few weeks I would lie in bed and stare at all night long (he sleeps in our room but when he's sound asleep you can barely hear him breathing). Now I have it on when he's gone to bed, but mainly so that I can tell when he's woken and needs resettling, or when he's just flailing around noisily in his sleep - otherwise I would have to keep running into the bedroom to check, and wake him up even more.

We're in London too and like you, Michael, the numbers probably won't add up for me to return to work any time soon (certainly not commuting into town). Hopefully I can get some freelance writing work (am in magazine publishing) although I have been considering a career change into something more compatible with family life, like a classroom assistant.

Still, you think childcare's expensive? My nan is about to go into a respite care home (she has dementia) and that's £500 a week. Sheesh!

― Meg Busset, Monday, 11 June 2007 18:55 (seventeen years ago) link

We have a video monitor, too. I've used it more to see when the dog sneaks onto the couch than to watch the baby.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:06 (seventeen years ago) link

it's impossible to afford childcare and work unless you have a big social net to help you.

Not in the UK, it's not. It's not easy, granted, but it is far from impossible.

― ailsa, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, Megan = surprisingly cute for someone who looks so like her Dad :-)

― ailsa, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Ok, this may be a strange question but may I ask how old some of you were when you had your first? My husband and I defintely want to have kids but we're not anywhere near ready. I'm starting grad school in the fall and he's only just started working since relocating here from England. At this rate it'll be 3 or 4 (more likely) years before we're in a position to contemplate having a baby. I'll be 30 at the end of the year so this will make me around 34 when we start trying and I'm terrified that it's going to be difficult at that age. Thoughts?

― ENBB, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:23 (seventeen years ago) link

S. Successor and I are in our mid-thirties and just had our first.

My mother had her fourth child a month shy of her fortieth birthday, and that kid is probably the fittest of the lot.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:26 (seventeen years ago) link

I'll be 34 and I imagine it will be another couple of years before we feel ready. Hopefully that won't be too old :)

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:27 (seventeen years ago) link

I know - my mom turned 39 three days after I was born which at the time was considered incredible but isn't that outrageous by today's standards. It's just that you hear stories every now and then about how fertility starts declining at 27 and that scares the crap out of me!

― ENBB, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Also a co-worker (who has a nine month old) and I were talking last week when he mentioned that he and his wife want another child soon. He then said, well we don't want to wait until she's in her thirties or anything (she's 28 now) as if the idea of waiting until then was horrible. I think that exchange was what got me thinking.

― ENBB, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:32 (seventeen years ago) link

I was 25 myself, and my best friend was 24, but she's now trying to have another at 36 ("advanced maternal age" her doctor calls is) and is having to go through IVF. Having said that, my sister had her 4th kid last year, just after she turned 42, with no ill effects.

― luna, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Everytime I see my obgyn she reminds me at 35 getting pregnant becomes a different game. She's not neccesarily discouraging but likes to make sure I understand all the extra tests that will be neccesary. It's kind of funny that 35 is this magical deadline. I know things do get harder then but why not 34? 36?

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:34 (seventeen years ago) link

It's just the arbitrary line that medical people draw because they need to have a standard of care thing in place. I'm sure it's based on statistical models and averages.

I don't know that all the extra tests are strictly necessary, either. I mean, you might be more likely to want to or need to have an amniocentesis after age 35, but that doesn't mean that you will need to or even want to.

I had my first baby at 26 and my second (and last) at 30. Honestly, the second pregnancy was easier. That might be because my body had gone through the process before or just the nature of "every pregnancy is different," but if I wanted to do it again, I'm 35 now and I wouldn't let my age stop me.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, the 35 thing is weird. It's stories like the one about Luna's friend that scare me. I've had people say that we'll never feel ready and that we'll find the time etc. but it's still definitely going to be a while yet. I don't mind the waiting at all but am just worried that when the time comes it might not be possible.

― ENBB, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:42 (seventeen years ago) link

I'd like to hear some of you all's observations of this:

I've got two sets of parents since my biological parents split up when I was six. Each has remarried.

My mother had two more children with my step-father when she was 37 and 39. I'm fifteen years older than my youngest half-sibling. Mom's just a few years away from sixty now, and yet, she's still hopping. Still going to skating competitions with my sister, keeping up with my half-brother's trips to China and Estonia. She's a teacher, too, so she's surrounded by young people all day. She knows who Buffy the Vampire Slayer is, to say the least.

And then we have my father. Same age as my mother. Never had any more children after my blood sister, born during the Ford Administration. Along with my sister getting married soon and his first grandchild being born a few months ago, he's really starting to act his age. Possibly acting a little older. He makes a grand show of showing the waitress at the Dixie Cafe his pills before he takes them. He doesn't understand that last night's Sopranos is stored as a file inside the DVR and not recorded onto a tape or DVD. He seems much more wrapped up in his mortality than my mom.

There's a part of me that thinks that having a teenaged daughter when I'm fifty may make me a little "younger" than those fifty-year olds then who will be becoming grandparents. I'm not necessarily saying that I'll be hip (I'm not really hip now), but there will be less time to be singing "Sunrise, Sunset" like my dad is doing now. Is my armchair psychiatry a bit flawed or am I onto something?

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:44 (seventeen years ago) link

I think what your describing is more a matter of personality than anything to do with age or children's age.

I've had people say that we'll never feel ready

My brother, he of 4 (who is 28 by the way), tells us similar. He says thinking and talking about it won't make it happen. It's like standing on a diving board. The more you stand there looking at the water the less likely you are to jump. :(

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:49 (seventeen years ago) link

I don't have a maternal bone in my body at the age of 34. I like kids, I'm completely in awe of people who have them and have made a success of it, but have *never* had the desire to actually bear one of my own. I do find myself thinking that I'd be quite good at this mothering thing, but I just don't have this thing in me that makes me think I have to actually do it. Am I going to have a massive, too-late, life-changing desire to do this in December when I turn 35?

― ailsa, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Doubt it.

― luna, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:53 (seventeen years ago) link

I think what your describing is more a matter of personality than anything to do with age or children's age.

Quite possibly. The funny part is that Dad used to be accused of acting no older than nineteen as recently as ten years ago.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:55 (seventeen years ago) link

PP - I think you're totally onto something. Like I said upthread, my Mom turned 39 right after she had me. She'll be 69 this year and she's amazingly young for age. I honestly believe (and so does she) that it has something to do with the fact that she had me (her only) later in life. She even looks fantastic. This pic was taken when we were both a little tipsy at my wedding last summer. It's a crap picture of me but the only one I had of her on my work computer. Does this look like a lady of nearly 70?
http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c287/expatrica/EandMomEve.jpg

― ENBB, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:58 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost
Maybe he's overcompsenating. ;)

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Am I going to have a massive, too-late, life-changing desire to do this in December when I turn 35?

Probably not - and even if you did, 35 is not "too late." It is just that some of the risks start to get higher and yes, fertility does start to drop in women. BUT we are all individuals, not statistics.

As for "feeling ready" - yeah. You might never feel ready, but it's sort of just something that you *do.* You'll be fine, Sam.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Again, you could be right PP. My mom's 53 and a total wreck. I think she keeps both feet in the grave and is just looking for a chance to have a seat.

― Ms Misery, Monday, 11 June 2007 19:59 (seventeen years ago) link

PP, you know your parents best, but it does sound like you have a solid, plausible analysis there.

My husband's parents are completely resistant to change of any kind (they have finally gotten a computer with internet access this past week!), and they do seem older than my parents do... and maybe it's because my parents are more willing to be "in the world." My parents are maybe three years younger, but the difference is huge.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 11 June 2007 20:02 (seventeen years ago) link

The 35 thing (in the UK at least) applies to due dates rather than conception, so if you're 34 and a quarter you're old :-P

Mrs O managed to have Megan while she was still officially Not Old, at 34 years and 9 months. We were 28 and 27 when we had Mark, our oldest. We tried the "wait until we're ready and have all the finances etc" approach but eventually decided that was never going to happen, especially with us going out 5 nights a week coz we had no kids :)

― onimo, Monday, 11 June 2007 20:04 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I agree with Ms. M. (multiple xposts)

Anyway, i think you're right, Beeps dodged the curly bullet.

Get back to us after Beeps hits puberty. My hair went from very light brown to dark brown in a year.

Infants $810
Toddlers $665
Two’s $605
Pre-K $580

OMGWTF WTF WTF. We paid $35/week (late 80s dollars) when Sarah was a baby. But four companies went together and built a daycare for their employees' kids, and one of the companies had a big not-for-profit community service arm, so they kept the costs low for the eligible employees.

― Rock Hardy, Monday, 11 June 2007 20:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Those childcare figures are dang scary. I don't see how you guys manage it.

I was 32 when Sarah was born, and I'm glad. If anything, I wouldn't have minded being a little older. If I'd had her much before that, I don't think I'd have done as good a job of parenting as I did.

Rock may feel differently. And as always, your mileage may vary.

― Hey Jude, Monday, 11 June 2007 20:28 (seventeen years ago) link

You practically had to raise two kids, you cradle robber.

― Rock Hardy, Monday, 11 June 2007 21:22 (seventeen years ago) link

I should add - kind of agreeing with Jude in a way, sort of - I could have stood to be a few years older before beginning the parenting thing. Like maybe a year or two ago would have been good. Not that I'm complaining, but I think that sometimes older is the way to go.

― luna, Monday, 11 June 2007 21:40 (seventeen years ago) link

In general, I think if you're younger you have more energy; if you're older you have more patience. You need both - so there's no perfect age...

― Sara R-C, Monday, 11 June 2007 21:46 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I'm at the right age in terms of energy and patience. I just don't have whatever it is that makes me actually want to put it into practice. I'm genuinely interested in what it is that makes people take this massive decision.

― ailsa, Monday, 11 June 2007 21:56 (seventeen years ago) link

That's a good question, and everyone has their own reasons. Right now I have no idea what mine were, but I may be a little frustrated because it is summer vacation and my 4 year old is pitching a fit about nothing.

If you don't think you want to have kids, definitely don't have them.

And if you're unsure, I'd be willing to loan you mine for the evening... ;)

― Sara R-C, Monday, 11 June 2007 22:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Okay, crisis over - although J. continued her fit until she threw up. Fun!

It's hard to get my head back into my 25 year old mind, which was quite enthusiastic to get pregnant. We'd been married a couple of years and I think I took to heart the admonition from my mother that I should have my kids early (because we have a family history of ovarian cancer). I also knew we wanted more than one. The "why" of the first one is pretty hard to peg, though - I just did want one.

The "why" of the second is easier to figure: we didn't want Alex to be an only child. Less concretely, it didn't feel like our family was complete.

There are four years between my two kids - and the reason for that is that my first pregnancy was really difficult.

I miss the baby years, but I'm also really delighted to be moving into years when my kids get to be more independent. Alex is so self-entertaining. And we are able to get out a lot more than was the case with infants.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 11 June 2007 22:29 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm genuinely interested in what it is that makes people take this massive decision.

In my case, I hadn't decided whether or not I wanted kids, but due to a lot of family stress and hassle around that time (my sister in law got married in December, two weeks later my father in law died, E. had to fly home for that, then it was Christmas and I was alone with my stepson and ... there was a lot of shit going on) and I skipped a couple pills and tried to take them later to make it up, but oops, nope, a month later the little test strip gave me two lines, and here we are 10 years later. An accident, yeah, but a happy one.

― luna, Monday, 11 June 2007 23:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Parenting happens every day.

And SS and PP? You are going to grow old together - and THAT'S so wonderful.
let's applaud the happy family's, as well as the children!

― aimurchie, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 01:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Sometimes (maybe an awful lot of sometimes) the decision whether to have a child isn't so much made as surrendered to. "Accidental" pregnancies tend to happen when one or both partners want to have a child but can't decide when.

We actually planned. I would go off the pill. It would take three to six months for me to regain full fertility at my age (so we were told). I was about to move into a challenging, difficult promotion at my work, and we figured this would give me time to get past those first few awkward months before the addition of pregnancy.

Right. Man plans; God laughs.

As far as we could calculate later, I was pregnant within three weeks of going off the pill. So first-trimester wretchedness coincided precisely with the promotion... AND one of my reporters was killed in a car accident on the job during that time.

Is that how I would have chosen? No. Hell, I'd probably still be trying to decide, 20 years later. But it happened, and y'know, it worked out just fine.

I always heard it said that there's two things you can't wait until you're ready for or you'll never do them: building a house and having a baby.

And amen to happy families!

― Hey Jude, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 05:01 (seventeen years ago) link

I always heard it said that there's two things you can't wait until you're ready for or you'll never do them: building a house and having a baby.

Hmm. I'm probably out, then.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 05:02 (seventeen years ago) link

metaphors, Ned!
also, the Rock Hardy family is a happy one!
I'm planning to hug some babies/kids in about two days. (Big family wedding).

― aimurchie, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 06:18 (seventeen years ago) link

The big debate for us is how long a gap to leave til we try for no.2. Do it soon and get the sleeplessness out of the way sooner? Or wait til H is a bit older and we've had a few decent kips? I am 30 next Sunday so time isn't too pressing, but even though I got knocked up in second month of trying, I wouldn't assume it would be that easy next time.

In other news: Howie's eczema is terrible at the moment, have new steroids and hypoallergenic cream to try, next step is a referral to the hospital. Poor lad can't stop scratching :(

But to cheer him up this afternoon, we are going to Monkey Music

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 09:00 (seventeen years ago) link

I feel the time is right to start trying (I'm not quite thirty) but we keep making other plans. I came off the pill in October but then we booked a holiday for this August.

This kind of put us off a bit, we're determined to have at least one more holiday as a couple and I can't even contemplate going away and not being able to enjoy a drink.

We then talked of starting a family shortly after August, but found ourselves planning a camping tour of Scotland for next year!

I think we need to realise that starting a family does not mean the end of trips away.

― *rumpie*, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 09:48 (seventeen years ago) link

At my ageI definitely was ready for a baby. Looking back now - hah, she's only 16 months - I would have preferred to be younger, maybe around 25, but I hadn't met the right person then. I feel that, although I don't consider myself old by any means, I did have a lot more energy in my mid20s compared to now. But hey you havce to have the right ingredients. So I had to wait. :-) With the second I doubted for about... Well, I didn't really. We decided when Ophelia was 12 months old. Quit the pill on her birthday - I was only back on it for two months or so - and I was pregnant immediately. WTF, right? I'm happy though! Very much so. But it's a whole other experience: I am more tired, since I have Ophelia to take care of, but I also know what I'm in for, so I feel more prepared (as if!). The only thing that worried me (aside from the health aspect) was how it would/will be with a second baby. I was (sadly) a single kid and so was my husband. So we don't have any clue as to how the dynamics are.

The daycare costs about 20 euros per day (about 26 dollars per day). That'd amount to about 670 dollars if you did the five days per week daycare thing, but we only do three days a week. I have *enrolled* for a fulltime daycare thing for the next one but I'm not sure we will. I mean, we can take care of her (if my husband's still working in the shop, he's planning to work for the goverment in the future). If my husband's still *around* (in the shop I mean) I think we might do much less, that way I can breastfeed longer and, hey, I think the first year it's much better to have your baby with you (they're not going to *mingle* with other babies much). That said, daycare is great for me since running a shop plus a baby is extremely hard. :-(

Rumpie, planning is a bit futile, in my opinion. Most people have to *try* for about half a year (and more) before having the first one. My husband and I tried for a year. That's why we were (pleasantly) surprised this time around but also had a WTF feeling. :-)

Traveling is, however, a bit more difficult. I did it twice (without my husband) and it's... well, a bit harder. Especially long plane trips. Going to Japan was easier now she was able to sit in a chair and also walk around. The first time, she was still in her crawling stage. Jetlag? Well, she did *suffer* a bit from it, but not that much. Food? Hah! She loved Japanese food. I think all in all I realize(d) that babies are far more flexible than I thought they were.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 12:14 (seventeen years ago) link

BTW my mom was 18 years old when she had me. About a good 2 months later she was 19. Looking back now I wonder how she coped. So so young. But she's a wonderful mom. Too bad my parents couldn't have any more. :-( They stopped trying around the age I am now. :-((( Apparently they were very lucky to have me. How funny in a way.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 12:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah my mom was 20 and my father 18 when I was born. They definitely couldn't cope.

Sara speaks wisdom about patience and energy.

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 12:51 (seventeen years ago) link

They were (strange how that may sound) VERY ready. Well, so they say in hindsight. They say they wanted me. Esp my dad wanted a kid. But sometimes I wonder if maybe this is rewriting history and maybe I was an *accident*. Does it matter now? Hell no.

About wanting to be a parent: I learned from having Ophelia that it's one thing to love children - which I did and do - and another thing to have a child (or more). It's a fulltime thing. You can't switch it off nor drop'em off if they are having a bad day. That said, maybe a strange to say this, but I'm so in love with my kid. The way she says Waaaaawa every time she sees an animal, I just fall in love all over again with her. <3

Also, man, I totally underestimated how much it costs. :-)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 13:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Speaking as an older parent of a two-year-old (I'm 42, my partner 40), my feeling is there's not a lot to be said for being older, and I do regret not having children younger.

First and foremost, there's the fertility issue. My partner had a hell of a time trying to conceive, with several miscarriages along the way. I kind of feel it's miraculous that we managed to have a child at all, and I know plenty of couples our age who weren't so lucky. Ideally, I'd have liked two kids, but that seems unlikely now.

Secondly, having children is incredibly tiring and I simply don't have the energy and physical stamina I had ten years ago. I can see it when I take my son to the park and the back twinges I get when I haul him up onto the slide or whatever, and I see the younger fathers around me who are having a better time of it.

Thirdly, there's the fact that I'll be so old when he's an adult, I won't have time to enjoy his adult life. I really appreciate the fact that, at 42, I still have my parents and they're still active and still working even. Will I even be alive when my son's 42?

I dunno, there are some benefits; I'm no doubt more patient than I was when I was younger. I don't regret not being able to go out etc., I don't feel having a child has cramped my style, as I might have ten or fifteen years ago... but in general, my advice would be if you know you want to have children, and you have a partner who also knows he/she wants children, then don't hang about. You can wait for the "right time" forever, there is no "right time", and once you have the child, you'll find you'll muddle through whatever else is going on with your life, buoyed by the love you feel for your child.

― underpants of the gods, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 13:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, this is a concern for me since my mom is nearing 70 and I'm only 29. I doubt she will be around when I'm 42 but that is something that I've kind of come to terms with but who knows, she may surprise me. My Dad btw, is 6 years younger than my mom. Perhaps that kept/keeps her young too! ;-) Two of my good friends lost their young parents when they were teens so in the end anything can happen and I wouldn't dwell on it too much.

They tried to have kids for 7 years before conceiving me. It turns out that they were fertile all the long but a horrible doctor told my mother that her IUD had "passed" when it was embedded in her uterus for the entire time they were trying to conceive!!! If it weren't for that idiot Dr. they might have had kids much earlier. Then again, I might not be here if they had.

All this advice about not waiting is very interesting to hear. We'll still have to wait for a while. There is no way I can work full time, be a full time grad student, and a mom. Maybe we'll start trying when I'm finished with school which will be in about two years. Hmmmm. So many decisions!

In the meantime, I will have to make due with looking at all your ridiculously cute little ones. :-)

― ENBB, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 13:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, you can be a young parent and die sooner than someone's who only had kids at the age of 40. You never know.

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 13:54 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm about to be a parent for the third time and I'm almost 41. Weirdly, I feel a lot younger now than I did five years ago. And you can be 26 when your first kid is born and still have no idea how to be a parent.

― Dimension 5ive, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 13:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats on the kiddo!

― Ms Misery, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 14:07 (seventeen years ago) link

I hardly need much encouragement I must admit, I'll see what happens once this holiday is over and done with.

I have a niggling feeling that my health is failing, my heart scare probably contributes to this even although the doc says that they'd rather not take any more action for the time being. I wonder if this will change when I tell him I want to conceive.

― *rumpie*, Tuesday, 12 June 2007 14:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Rumpie: :-(

Ophelia just came back from the crèche. The caretaker (?) said she did very well and also added that Ophelia's a sweet girl!!!! I mean, shit, I know but I can't help but *enflate* with pride. hah

― nathalie, Wednesday, 13 June 2007 15:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Owen in a pool for the first time:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1026/541586953_89ccbbd165.jpg

The boys are both sitting up on their own (never mind the cushion behind them...)
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/550131890_4bed8996a4.jpg

― schwantz, Friday, 15 June 2007 02:40 (seventeen years ago) link

^^ great smiles! "This sitting up lark's easy! What's next?"

Megan's started pulling herself into a standing position against boxes and furniture. Stop growing up so fast! You're our last baby!

My oldest son Mark's got a karate grading tomorrow so I've got hours of being Supportive Dad. I'm a bit worried about this one as they've being getting progressively harder for him (I know: DUH!).

Then on Wednesday David's getting a prize at school and I get to be Proud Dad :)

― onimo, Friday, 15 June 2007 09:00 (seventeen years ago) link

I should scan the photo of me supposedly sitting at a very early age. Only years later did my mum admit that she was propping me up from underneath the table. Mums, eh?

― Ned Trifle II, Friday, 15 June 2007 09:12 (seventeen years ago) link

In fact here it is...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1350/551586903_c4a8f531ef.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Friday, 15 June 2007 09:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Those legs! That smile! I just want to HUGGELZ you. :-)

― nathalie, Friday, 15 June 2007 09:31 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1216/542548891_49f88d3006.jpg
Nothing much to discern (?) but this is BABY MK II. :-)

― nathalie, Friday, 15 June 2007 09:44 (seventeen years ago) link

What kind of fancy scanner is that?

― schwantz, Friday, 15 June 2007 16:37 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah, is it 4D?

― sunny successor, Friday, 15 June 2007 16:54 (seventeen years ago) link

The previous time we had an even swankier one (the salesrep brought it to test it and I was a *lucky* victim): in sepia colour we could almost *touch* the baby. Really 4D. This is one they use to test whether the brains, heart,... function properly. This way we know s/he has no "water head" (?), cleft lip, good connection with umbilical chord. It's better than the regular ones.

― stevienixed, Friday, 15 June 2007 17:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Hey, Nath.

― Pleasant Plains, Friday, 15 June 2007 17:27 (seventeen years ago) link

What exactly is that.

― Pleasant Plains, Friday, 15 June 2007 17:34 (seventeen years ago) link

This is the photo that Nathelie is commenting on in case it looks a bit weird that she says that to a photo that isn't there! Also I look so cute in it I cant resist putting it here one more time...
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/28/41222785_694e9e63f3_o.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Friday, 15 June 2007 19:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry - I removed the redeye on the photo above, and Flickr changed the url. Here it is again:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/199/550131890_3b7dd1f145.jpg

― schwantz, Friday, 15 June 2007 19:59 (seventeen years ago) link

gorgeous!

― luna, Friday, 15 June 2007 20:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Schwantz, please post cranky/screaming/crying pix also or I'll think that life is just a nonstop festival of laffs at your house.

― Rock Hardy, Friday, 15 June 2007 20:27 (seventeen years ago) link

When babies are cranky/screaming/crying do you really think to run for a camera?

― Ms Misery, Friday, 15 June 2007 20:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Here's my little girl Ivy.
http://a559.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/60/l_36f55fb06ab1f188720a8e04bb2ebd8e.jpg

― everything, Friday, 15 June 2007 20:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Sometimes yeah, every parent has blackmail material on the kid.

xpost, cuet!

― Rock Hardy, Friday, 15 June 2007 20:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Why are all ILX babies so CUTE?!

Also, "Ivy" is a cool name.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 15 June 2007 20:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Cheers - that's not even in the top 20 cuet photos of Ivy lemme tell ya. Also, that's quite old. She's running around with hair these days.

― everything, Friday, 15 June 2007 20:42 (seventeen years ago) link

I will make a point of getting a few pictures of them crying/frowning/sniffling. Shouldn't be too hard. Just stop paying my FULL, UNDIVIDED ATTENTION to them for about 30 seconds, and they should completely fall apart. Maybe I could enlist the help of Jill Greenberg.

― schwantz, Friday, 15 June 2007 20:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps got in such a foul mood the other day, she turned her head to the heavens and wailed at the living room ceiling fan.

Kinda odd since we kinda thought that she and that fan were like best friends. She spends enough time staring at it.

― Pleasant Plains, Friday, 15 June 2007 21:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Howie has been less than his usual cheery self recently 'cause of his eczema... we had to take him to hospital on Weds because he'd had an AWFUL reaction to this supposedly 100% natural/non-reactive stuff the doc had given us. He was screaming for two nights and his skin went bright red then peeled :(

However today his skin was the best it's been in weeks, so maybe somehow it helped?? Anyway it's been great to have my smiley little guy back.

― Meg Busset, Friday, 15 June 2007 21:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Here's a little taste of reality at our house around 5:30pm:

Ben:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1136/554374364_bde296d12d.jpg

Owen:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1222/554672181_77fee1bd80.jpg

― schwantz, Saturday, 16 June 2007 02:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, those boys are cute even when they are crying. That's impressive.

― Sara R-C, Saturday, 16 June 2007 02:13 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm not sure what perversity made me ask you to post fussy pix. But thanks. They are cute when they're mad!

― Rock Hardy, Saturday, 16 June 2007 02:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Meg, I am happy to hear Howie's doing slightly better. :-)

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/12/90981886_96546c9b92.jpg

Ophelia crying.

Also, sorry about the confusing login names. I should just switch to stevienixed.

― nathalie, Saturday, 16 June 2007 07:29 (seventeen years ago) link

http://homepage.mac.com/arobinso/.Pictures/sara_arm/4.jpg

Alex (age 9) reads to Julia (age 4)

― Sara R-C, Monday, 18 June 2007 22:51 (seventeen years ago) link

wow...beautiful kids!

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 03:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, bless. It's like a real life Charlie & Lola.

Ivy is a smashing name; Am3li4 of M4rin3 R3s34rch/H34v3nly fame named her kids Dora and Ivy.

I haven't posted a pic of Tallulah for a while (she's 7.5 months and so close to crawling it's driving her mad) - this is by Pam in Greenwich Park at the weekend:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1022/558204080_5bae115943.jpg

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 04:45 (seventeen years ago) link

My employee (or colleague depending how you look at it) is now off to Brussels to have a placenta test. Apparently she has "something in her blood." They didn't tell her what yesterday, when she was at the local hospiotal where they took her blood. She's also a little over 20 weeks pregnant. Her husband called and you could hear the panic in his voice. They didn't/couldn't tell him anything yesterday, they just said he had to go to a specialist in Brussels. :-(

I (stupidly) googled and discovered that, especially when you have your second child, it is/can be dangerous to catch the CMV virus. It's in the stool or blood of your children. Most people get it at one point and, I think, about 50 procent is immune to it. As nothing can be done about it and doctors don't want to freak out their (pregnant) patients, they usually don't test nor tell you about it. Maybe that's what she has? I'm not sure. I hope it turns out okay. Usually a virus doesn't affect a feotus/baby... Hopefully not in this case either.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 08:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Fingers x'ed we don't have the no remote linking thing on this folder:

http://freakytrigger.co.uk/lytton/JunSit3.JPG

― Groke, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 09:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh hurrah! More of Lytton:

http://freakytrigger.co.uk/lytton/JunPeep.JPG

http://freakytrigger.co.uk/lytton/JunSit2.JPG

― Groke, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 09:24 (seventeen years ago) link

omg Lytton looks fabulous!

nath, I hope your friend is ok. So many people have scares in pregnancy that turn out to be nothing though (including me).

― Archel, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 10:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, I quickly calmed down - I got all teary eyed when I told my mom - and realized that in most cases a virus does not affect the baby. (That said, I'm not even sure it is a virus, I'll know more later in the day...)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 10:57 (seventeen years ago) link

http://freakytrigger.co.uk/lytton/JunSit2.JPG

"Leave it Phil, he ain't worth it"

― Mark C, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 11:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Hilarious caption for Tom's last picture.
Damn.

― Mark C, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 11:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Lytton is adorable; what a fantastically expressive face! And Tallulah has gorgeous eyes, WOW.

Nathalie, I hope all turns out well for your friend.

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 13:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Fathers Day pix...

Owen:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1299/562068487_7b5c699a20.jpg

Ben:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1285/561876365_b9cf279b49.jpg

And yeah, the Jones girls have some crazy-beautiful eyes...

― schwantz, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 15:28 (seventeen years ago) link

A long time ago, before I even met Kate, I figured that I could name my son (if I had one) My Full Name, IV. And since I'm called Tre, he'd be called Ivy. You know. I-V. Ivy Baker has kind of a nice ring to it.

But since I've met my wife, she has convinced me that Ivy is a girl's name. Coming from the South where women are named Chester and men are named Elaine, how was I supposed to know?

― Pleasant Plains, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 16:19 (seventeen years ago) link

MONKEY SOCKS

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 16:19 (seventeen years ago) link

OH NOES mine kids are both blogging, my life is pretty much over now

― Dimension 5ive, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 16:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Just wait until they start posting here.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 16:29 (seventeen years ago) link

never gonna happen...unless they start putting up some LOLcats or something. anyone who wants their urls can email me: expresso2222 at gmail

― Dimension 5ive, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 16:32 (seventeen years ago) link

schwantz should recognize the following:

beeps looking at the fish
http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/7403/dsc02891la9.jpg

beeps looking at the fish
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/9711/dsc0287im9.jpg

and, hey!, beeps looking at the fish
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/894/dsc02931fy4.jpg

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 19:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Coming from the South where women are named Chester and men are named Elaine, how was I supposed to know?

lol @ men who desperately want sons. I used to play baseball with a guy whose older sister was named Perry Ann.

― Rock Hardy, Tuesday, 19 June 2007 19:40 (seventeen years ago) link

if i had a boy he'd be wearing this:

http://www.babyrockapparel.com/files/sorrygirlsonesie_LO.JPG

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 13:07 (seventeen years ago) link

My father bought a great one for a friend: something about punk rock not being a crime. His Japanese friend had played in a noise/punk band. I WANT ONE AS WELL. :-)

― nathalie, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 13:23 (seventeen years ago) link

http://img512.imageshack.us/img512/6682/dsc0287im9kj8.jpg

― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 16:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Charlotte last weekend...

http://vassifer.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/18/lollie.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Fark!

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:11 (seventeen years ago) link

http://vassifer.blogs.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/18/lollie.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:12 (seventeen years ago) link

oh I give up

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Should you care, just click here and scroll y'selves on down.

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:17 (seventeen years ago) link

http://vassifer.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/18/lollie.jpg

Here you go (I think).

― onimo, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:18 (seventeen years ago) link

That's my girl.

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:27 (seventeen years ago) link

OK, she got old! I've been posting here for too long :-O

― ailsa, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:30 (seventeen years ago) link

I was just browsing the original baby thread the other day! And now here she is three years on. World conquest is next.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 19:44 (seventeen years ago) link

AINYC, she is incredibly beautiful

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 22:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh my goodness... You know I love me some CINYC - what a beautiful little girl she's become!

― luna, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 22:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Alex NYC, I can't believe your daughter has gotten that big! I too have been posting on this board too long.

My wife and I went to our first Lamaze class on Monday. Hmm.. don't know what to say about that exactly. I am sure it'll be helpful in ways.

― Super Cub, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 22:40 (seventeen years ago) link

It might and it might not. My best friend thought it was the best thing ever, but I'm still waiting for it to be helpful for me, and my son is nearly 10.

― luna, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 22:42 (seventeen years ago) link

There was quite a bit of talk about pain and fear. I don't know if that was this particular session and the instructor's point of view or what. Is insighting fear part of the Lamaze approach?

― Super Cub, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 22:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, three years went by fast.

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-08-04%2008.02.11%20-0700/Image-7C160B7AE62611D8.jpg

― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 22:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Anyway, here's a picture of me and Beeps that was taken earlier this afternoon:

http://www.saintclair.org/pictures/Noah_M_StClair_Sr_with_Granddaughter_Heidi.jpg

― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 20 June 2007 22:56 (seventeen years ago) link

okay so this is apparently a couple of months old now but i'm going to post it because we got our birth certificate today. meet m0lly.
http://i10.tinypic.com/4pduwjp.jpg

― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 21 June 2007 14:56 (seventeen years ago) link

whoa that wasn't supposed to be that big, sorry

― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 21 June 2007 14:56 (seventeen years ago) link

How fantastic is Lytton?

Tallulah apparently crawled a bit yesterday...which is enough of an excuse for another pic of her...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1352/577649021_ab713e7954.jpg

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 21 June 2007 15:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Hooray for M0lly! And her huge huge eyes.

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 21 June 2007 15:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay Molly! Welcome to ILX.

― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 21 June 2007 15:51 (seventeen years ago) link

All these babies with their gorgeous eyes!!! My heart is just thrilled to pieces for the Dimension 5ive clan :)

― Jaq, Thursday, 21 June 2007 15:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh gosh! So so pretty! Molly (and the rest). :-)

My husband is off to another doctor. Ophelia has yet another urinary infection. Third time in as many months. :-( We're going to ask for a referral (for a urologist) and hopefully have an ultrasound to see if there's nothing really serious. For now we assume it's the *extra skin* that connects the small labia (?) which causes the infection. Also, we're just tired of having to give the poor thing antibiotics. Even though it's a light one, AB are *evil*. :-) She had fever (about 39 degrees) in the middle of the night. Poor thing.

― nathalie, Friday, 22 June 2007 09:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Bah. It's more serious than the other doctor thought. We have to do an "echo" and check what's exactly wrong. also we have to give her a bath every time she urinated.

― nathalie, Friday, 22 June 2007 12:42 (seventeen years ago) link

wow. poor O. i hope to new dr fixes her properly.

― sunny successor, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:14 (seventeen years ago) link

molly is gorgeous, btw. congratulations!

― sunny successor, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats on Molly!

Tallulah looks lovely in the pic.

Sorry about O. Nath. Hopefully they can figure it out. UTIs aren't too uncommon in babies are they? I'm sure she hates it though.

― Ms Misery, Friday, 22 June 2007 16:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, the echo didn't show anything (which I read on the baby site doesn't mean much). Bt at least it's not a kidney stone or something. We'll see how this works out. If the UTI comes back, we'll need to do a more serious test (catheter urgh!). I am so not looking forward to this. :-( Poor thing.

― nathalie, Saturday, 23 June 2007 08:03 (seventeen years ago) link

http://freakytrigger.co.uk/lytton/JunSit2.JPG
Best picture ever!
"If I wanted milk I'd ask for it, OK? Now where's my damn bourbon?"

― Ned Trifle II, Saturday, 23 June 2007 09:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Nath: love and support from here, it's a big hassle I know but I'm sure she'll be fine.

― Dimension 5ive, Saturday, 23 June 2007 11:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Dimension, she's beautiful! Congrats! And great choice of names, btw.

― molly mummenschanz, Saturday, 23 June 2007 13:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Here's another crybaby picture for that sicko, Rock Hardy.

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/543/dsc00513cb2.jpg

Beeps's mood did improve later...

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/8971/dsc00504eg7.jpg

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 25 June 2007 04:52 (seventeen years ago) link

awww. it must have been those duck feet shoes i made her wear.

― sunny successor, Monday, 25 June 2007 13:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Everybody can go back to their normal cheerful baby programming -- I just wanted to make sure that Schwantz's twins weren't animatronic or something. They remind me of that Youtube "happy baby" video.

― Rock Hardy, Monday, 25 June 2007 13:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw Beeps so lovely all dressed up!

And Molly is GORgeous, so excited to see her!

― Archel, Monday, 25 June 2007 14:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Upon her request, I photoshopped my mom-in-law out of this picture:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1222/626932427_420373328a.jpg

― schwantz, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 05:02 (seventeen years ago) link

And Owen has found his tongue:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1364/627801102_cf20cb185c.jpg

― schwantz, Tuesday, 26 June 2007 05:06 (seventeen years ago) link

We are leaving in about 15 hours; Paris first and then Addis. Pixx to follow. Keep it real, parenting threaders.

― Dimension 5ive, Sunday, 1 July 2007 01:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Good luck!!! :-)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1147/682010243_424c6fda32.jpg

― nathalie, Sunday, 1 July 2007 13:59 (seventeen years ago) link

That ws yesterday. Today she's sick again. I'm getting a bit (hah! a bit?!?) worried here. We stopped with antibiotics last night! I mean, WTF! :-(

― nathalie, Monday, 2 July 2007 07:14 (seventeen years ago) link

nath, is it still the urinary infection? beeps has had a cold/sinusitis for 7 weeks now. she finished her second round of antibiotics last week and she really doesnt seem that much better. so frustrating.

― sunny successor, Monday, 2 July 2007 13:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh my god, I just came to post that the doctor said a UTI was impossible and that, maybe, it was a cold. Maybe that's what she had all along? Poor thing. She went a big hysterical on us for a few minutes, so I went out with her and bought a Pooh Potty (hah! Pooh! Potty!) Check it out http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1199/695930708_be3d387dc3.jpghere. She loves it. I suddenly realized that she's 18 months (almost... Well, 17 almost) and that means we can officially start potty training! In the past they would start much earlier. In Japan they also start earlier. But here they advise you to wait till at least 18 months. But y'know, fuck it. Potty training has been one of the main things I was afraid of (when I thght of having kids). I think it's TIME. Now. Eep. :-)

So how's Beeps doing?

― nathalie, Monday, 2 July 2007 14:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Argh! FUUUUUUUUUUCK! Sorry about posting another pic. :-(

― nathalie, Monday, 2 July 2007 14:43 (seventeen years ago) link

beeps keeps going up and down - almost coming out of it then going back to coughing and snotty. pp and I have spent the last few weeks taking turns sleeping on the futon in the nursery because shes guaranteed to have a coughing fit she cant shake herself out of at least once a night and one of us needs to be close by to sit her upright before she really wakes up and gets upset. she's been in a great mood through all of this. if I'd been sick with something for that long I'd be pretty upset most of the time. babies are so tough.

i hope they've diagnosed O correctly this time and she starts feeling better soon.

― sunny successor, Monday, 2 July 2007 15:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh I shouldn't complain, really. O wakes up early, is a bit teary and/or screamy but all ni all she's such a good girl. I just hate seeing her this way. When she's healthy (or on antibiotics) she runs and shouts and laughs. I want to see her happy.

Hope Beeps recovers soon as well. :-)

― nathalie, Monday, 2 July 2007 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Potty training? Jeez, Ava's 28 months and we still haven't crossed that particular bridge. I think most of her local contemporaries are in the midst of it or have it down. Every time we consider it, there's another excuse to put it off. July is the month, though.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 2 July 2007 16:36 (seventeen years ago) link

I have potty trained two kids and the one thing I can say is don't push it and don't let it turn into a power struggle. Julia was very ready at age 2 and she trained really fast; Alex I didn't even really start until he was 3 1/2 and he still took a year to get it.

― Sara R-C, Monday, 2 July 2007 16:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Three and a half? That would be nearly impossible unless we decided to keep Ophelia at home (instead of going to kindergarten). Yes, if a child *enrolls* (?) in kindergarten s/he has to be potty trained and *dry* (as we say here). Also, the crèche also starts potty training from around 18/24 months anyway. I'm not really *that* nervous about it and I am going to take it very slowly. But as she's prone to urinary infections and because the second one's on the way, I think I'll start now. If she's not ready, then we can wait. But when I came in with the box, she wanted to have a look inside and then proceeded to sit and play with the potty. I like to delude myself into thinking she's ready. ;-)

Apparently she has a viral troath infection. Which is sort of "yay." At least it isn't a UTI. :-)

― stevienixed, Monday, 2 July 2007 17:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Alex went to preschool at age 4; no kindergarten until age 5 here. I think it probably *helps* kids to train earlier if they are in day care or some kind of school program, so it sounds like you're good there. It sounds like Ophelia is showing interest, and that's the first sign that she's ready!

I hope she recovers from her viral infection soon... that would not be fun.

Alex went through a period when he was 3 where he just refused to poop. Which is, of course, impossible. He was still in diapers at the time. That was a trick to solve...

― Sara R-C, Monday, 2 July 2007 17:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah yes, the refusal to poop (or pee). It's a common problem: kids don't wanna lose play time. :-)

― stevienixed, Monday, 2 July 2007 20:48 (seventeen years ago) link

i remember reading an article in social studies back in high school titled "POOS, PARENTS and POWER"

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 13:35 (seventeen years ago) link

I read the other day that the average kid is 'ready' to be potty trained at two and a half, so the closer to that age you start them, the less time it will take to crack. But in reality they are probably all different.

Question for parents of older babies/kids: what age did they start having 'finger food' as opposed to just mush? Alice (nearly 7 months) has had bits of toast and rice cake and she LOVES it, but she does often cough and choke a bit afterwards which freaks us out and makes us think that she's not ready after all.

― Archel, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 16:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh yeah and I hope both Ophelia and Beeps feel better soon!

― Archel, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 16:30 (seventeen years ago) link

We tried some little puffs, and they didn't seem ready (coughed, etc.). I think we'll wait until their top two teeth come in before trying that again. On the other hand, my wife has been putting her cheffing skills to use making them all sorts of yummy mushy stuff to eat. They get squash, blueberry-mango sauce in their cereal and yogurt, sweet potatoes, avocados, etc. We even gave them some mashed chicken and plums, which they seem to like.

― schwantz, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 16:49 (seventeen years ago) link

This photo was taken in Oct '05, so Ava was eating toast just shy of 8 months. But Tallulah (8 months yesterday; two teeth coming in) doesn't seem ready yet - she's still working her way through the frozen mush mountain in our freezer (bags of cubes of chicken, pumpkin, sweet potato, broccoli, etc).

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/25/51570525_a063c21189_m.jpg

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 16:53 (seventeen years ago) link

"POOS, PARENTS and POWER"

lol - and yes, losing play time was a huge part of it, I think!

I'm trying to remember when my kids started on "finger foods..." honestly, like the potty training, I think they are all different. It took Alex a lot longer than it took Julia; J. wanted to eat whatever we were eating by the time she was probably 10 months old. (She did not always get her way). Alex, on the other hand, I was worried would want to live on breast milk, Cheerios, and the occasional yogurt forever...

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 16:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Archel, I have a GREBT recipe book (for children aged 4 months till a couple of years old). If you like, I can scan a few recps and email them? It's in English, so quite understandable. ;-)

Today I made tuna pasta bake from it. She took out the peas. hah. Tomorrow I'm making meatloaf with tomato sauce from the same book. I'll probably throw in some mashed potatos. It's extremely easy to make larger portions so the adults can join in. hah!

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 3 July 2007 17:31 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/vast_voedsel/rapley_guidelines.html

I just sent a friend this link, it's an interesting perspective on starting solids. I started spooning goo into my kid's face around 7 or 8 months, and when he got finger foods down around 9 months, there was no looking back. He's only now liking mushy food again now that he can use a spoon. But I know some kids like the mushy stuff for a long time, Sara is OTM above.

― teeny, Thursday, 5 July 2007 11:36 (seventeen years ago) link

This is a Dutch site! Borstvoeding means breastfeeding in Dutch.

Ophelia has been using a fork for quite a few weeks now. She is mastering it slowly, but over half of the time we still have to feed her.

What I don't get it is the five veggies/fruits per day. I'm not sure we achieve that but I'm not *that* worried about it. Today I made a veggie sauce (tomato/pepper/onion/carrot) and meatloaf. She loved it and so did mummy and daddy. It was adapted from that *kiddie recipe* book. She doesn't eat that much carbs: no cookies at all, a few slices of bread and that's it? Rice and potatos? Very little to none.

― nathalie, Thursday, 5 July 2007 11:56 (seventeen years ago) link

the face betrays the sentiment:

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4788/cheeriy7.jpg

― sunny successor, Sunday, 8 July 2007 22:59 (seventeen years ago) link

breathtaking shot, Sunny.

― Alex in NYC, Sunday, 8 July 2007 23:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava and Tallulah are finally in the same room; for the last few weeks T has been in her little rocker-cot on the landing, now she's too big for it and she's in Ava's old cot in the room we're still calling Ava's room.

We've got one of those zippable cat-net things over the cot to discourage Ava's midnight mountaineering. Last night was bliss - T slept all night and so did Ava. They've both been down without a peep (well, Ava was talking to her toys for a bit an hour ago) for four hours so I'll now creep upstairs, bash the stair gate into the nappy bin and ruin it.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 9 July 2007 00:03 (seventeen years ago) link

thanks, alex!

michael, i wonder when the giggly bedtime girl talk will start. does anyone here have girls and boys? we seem to all be one sex baby families.

― sunny successor, Monday, 9 July 2007 12:52 (seventeen years ago) link

THe giggly bedtime girl talk starts around the time your daughter can *vocalize* I think. I can't remember when it started for Ophelia. A couple of months back? Around that time. It's become more complex in the sense that you can tell she's sort of talking to herself (or to her teddy bears).

― nathalie, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 08:23 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm not counting any chickens yet but we've three relatively incident-free nights and a much less whiny Ava than normal. If baby sis wakes her up, we soothe T and encourage A to go back to her own bed; for the last few weeks, we've been defying midwife advice and opening Ava's bedroom gate when we come to bed, and locking the stair gate (with bathroom and office doors shut), so if she does wake up in the night she can just run into our room and climb in with us rather than the old 2am wailing-at-the-gate routine - this meant none of us actually got enough sleep (T, too, was probably waking up earlier than normal with the landing being flooded with daylight around 5am) what with Ava sticking her feet in my face and insisting that we look for her "blankie" under the covers at 4am.

In the new regime, Lulu is sleeping better (in her crazy tent-like structure) and Ava is much happier to go back to the room with her beloved sister in (even though she doesn't try to play with her) than she was when it was just her room. I haven't heard "Mummy Daddy bed?" in two days...

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 09:50 (seventeen years ago) link

And here's the girls watching Sesame Street (Guess That Shape and Color) in perfect harmony:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/764341894_b542d9cf70.jpg

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 10:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw, Michael. How could anyone resist those eyes?

I have ordered a bed rail 'cause these days co-sleeping seems to be the only way we all get some rest. Howie's eczema is still bad (we are still waiting for hospital referral) and he still seems to be hungry in the night (regularly feeds 3/4 times), I am too much of a softie to do anything other than go with it, so co-sleeping seems the sensible option for now.

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 11:59 (seventeen years ago) link

I got lucky with this shot of the Boy.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1213/751111020_292f28bff3.jpg

Although 9 year olds can certainly be very difficult at times, it's just great to see them revert to little kid mode on a bouncy castle. We had it in our garden for Mae's bithday and so they got a good hour of bouncing before it was invaded by her friends for her birthday party.

― Ned Trifle II, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 12:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Meg, how many months is Howie now? I think around the age of six months they really don't need night feedings. I know it's easier said than done,but try *postponing* feedings (for example distracting Howie or something).

I fear O's UTI might come back: she seems to hurt when peeing. :-( It's difficult to tell really, but at times she cries for no reason whatsoever and then we check her diaper... which is wet. Not a good sign. :-(

― nathalie, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Fellow Ned, your son's hair meets with my seal of approval.

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 14:32 (seventeen years ago) link

does anyone here have girls and boys? we seem to all be one sex baby families.

aldo and onimo have boys and girls. Scottish people be better at varying their babies!

― ailsa, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 15:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Nathalie, Howie is 4.5 months so could still be hungry, he does seem to feed well at night even if strictly speaking he could go without it. It's just hard getting him back to sleep without the boob!

Poor O, I hope she is OK.

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:07 (seventeen years ago) link

4,5 months? Feed Howie! Actually I think at four months O slept through the nights. Woke up maybe once or so but on the whole she slept through the night. Just do what you feel is right. :-)

She'll be okay. I hope. We're going to the doctor tomorrow but we might have overreacted. Well, better to be safe than sorry, I guess. I really hope it clears up one day. I really do. Poor thing. :-)

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, everybody's baby but mine sleeps through! :(

His sleep was really good until about 6 weeks ago but has been a nightmare since then... just waking and waking and waking. Am really hoping it's just a phase as I'm bloody knackered. Co-sleeping does help, though.

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Maybe a stupid thing to ask, but have you tried a night-light (as we call it here)? Is the room completely dark? Some babies don't like it.

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:36 (seventeen years ago) link

BTW Kim Clijsters, the tennis player, is PREGGERS (har har that awful word).

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:37 (seventeen years ago) link

Owen is in this frustrating phase where he wakes up at 2am and blabbers to himself for a while until finally freaking out around 3am. We can't get him to go back to sleep, but if we feed him before 3, he wakes up again at 6am for another blabbering session. If our house was bigger, it wouldn't bother us too much (we would just let him blabber), but since we hear everything, it's driving us CRAZY. These guys are on such a sleep see-saw. Nowadays, BEN is the one who sleeps through the night (or WOULD, if it wasn't for Owen the Loudmouth). Twins...

― schwantz, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Shit, what have I gotten myself into... again. At times I do freak out over the fact I'm getting a second baby. I'm already knackered as it is. :-)

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 21:49 (seventeen years ago) link

(The spell is broken, btw; Ava is howling and no amount of gentle persuasion by Pam is going to get her back into her room tonight. I better go up and stake a claim to the three inches of pillow I'm allowed on occasions like this...)

― Michael Jones, Tuesday, 10 July 2007 23:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Michael, have you tried going "cold turkey"? I know it's hard, but she won't really have any emotional scars from it either.

― nathalie, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 08:21 (seventeen years ago) link

I think she's illin', actually - bad nappy rash (she tells us herself - "nappy rash hurting"), bit of a temperature.

We've done the leave-her-to-wail thing for up to 45min in the past but she scares T with her tantruming, so then we've got two screaming kids. And, really, we can hardly complain about our neighbour playing Neil Diamond really loud at 6am if we're subjecting her to that.

It's OK - I really think we've made some progress with Ava not always wanting "mummy daddy bed" and last night was a fever-induced glitch. I hope.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 09:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Fellow Ned, your son's hair meets with my seal of approval.

-- Ned Raggett, Tuesday, July 10, 2007 2:32 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

He wants dreads (after seeing Ed's pic!).

Haircare is a constant battle with our two. They both hate having their hair dried and brushed. There used to be a little girl who lived next door to us who cornrows and you could hear her crying when she was having them put in. We thought 'how cruel' but now we now that even trying to drag a brush through a child's hair can result in disproportionate screaming.

― Ned Trifle II, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 09:49 (seventeen years ago) link

I just want to bitch and moan for a bit about what a heavy bugger my boy is! It's nice to have a big healthy kid but I'm such a weakling, I weigh 115 and he just passed 31 lbs. I think I mentioned we threw out the crib six months ago because I was regularly pulling muscles throwing him in. So he has his crib mattress on the floor for naps and then spends nights in our bed. And he's a year and a half, it's not like I can avoid picking him up. oh well, just like anything else, it'll all change in a few months.

― teeny, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 12:24 (seventeen years ago) link

oh and we were totally on the way to potty training and then I spent a week at my folks' and now the potty chair is no longer fun. :(

― teeny, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 12:26 (seventeen years ago) link

I fear potty training. :-( I mean, I don't really, I just don't know how to start. They tell you to just put the baby on the pot (sans diaper) and hope she urinates or, uh, poops. *sigh* I am tempted to wait till september cause then she moves up to an older group which means she will be potty trained there (in the creche I mean).

115 pounds? Sheeit. I weigh more. Even without baby bump. ;-) But I understand your discomfort a little. I got used to it after a while. I remember at one point my shoulders and back hurt. But enough practice cleared that up.

I made an appointment with the doctor but tried to cancel it cause I think we're just freaking out over the UTIs. She said for her it's okay but she recommends to come anyway just for a check-up. I guess she's right. Hopefully it'll be ok.

― nathalie, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 12:58 (seventeen years ago) link

I totally just thought of you: "at least I'm not pregnant too!" :)

What I did with potty training is naming it when I saw it (and letting him run around without a diaper a lot)--but we started this as soon as he could stand, maybe before. Then one day I asked him to pee, and he did, and I cheered, so that was the next step. Then asking him to pee on the potty. He'll do it when we prompt him and was starting to do it spontaneously until this trip. He does not want to poop on the potty but he will tell me when he is pooping (with a hand sign), so that's progress. But now he doesn't even want to sit on the pot to pee when I ask, who knows. It's tough because he doesn't talk much and he doesn't have the motor skills to take off his pants, but if he's naked, he does great! And he stays dry for naps and sometimes even overnight, which is amazing considering how much he still wakes up.

― teeny, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 13:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Woha! I know about the "leave the diapers" nekkid routine but I'm not ready for THAT. I can't do that cause I run the shop and she runs in it. :-) I can just picture her pooping/peeing while I am serving a customer. :-) Still, I probably should start. Maybe the UTIs will disappear magically that way? :-)

Well, holding her while pregnant isn't what scares me, it's the TWO KIDS part that scares the frigging shit outa me. My husband and I sometimes talk about it: OH NOES SECOND BABY SOON. Then we revert to ignorance phase again. ;-)

― nathalie, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 13:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Teeny, you have one big beautiful son - Ava's almost a year older and is only around 29lbs. Lulu is making up for it though - nearly 19lbs at 8 months! Picking 'em both up at once is the thing that really tests the thighs...

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 11 July 2007 13:35 (seventeen years ago) link

New pics of Alice! I think these photos must be BEFORE dinner, since there's no way she'd be that clean afterwards...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1327/786951640_a9d4796c4e.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1209/786951598_2e0a545d9a.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Thursday, 12 July 2007 12:07 (seventeen years ago) link

aww! bright eyes!

― sunny successor, Thursday, 12 July 2007 12:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh Archel,so so so cute! Does she already try to grab the food with the spoon?

― nathalie, Thursday, 12 July 2007 12:28 (seventeen years ago) link

what a great smile she has!

― luna, Thursday, 12 July 2007 15:42 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1006/797022301_9840de5888.jpg

babymkII at 25 weeks. :-)

― nathalie, Friday, 13 July 2007 10:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow! That is some CSI-level imaging technology.

― Michael Jones, Friday, 13 July 2007 10:13 (seventeen years ago) link

do you know if its a boy or girl yet nath?

― sunny successor, Friday, 13 July 2007 18:54 (seventeen years ago) link

That's AMAZING!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 13 July 2007 18:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, it is amazing that I know it's a... baby. ;-)

― nathalie, Saturday, 14 July 2007 11:02 (seventeen years ago) link

OK, time for more pix...

Rompin' in their rompers!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1334/825281014_3c7ebe6cbf.jpg

Owen loves goatees:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1370/824403659_d7cb635195.jpg

The difference between Ben...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1297/751247963_47ce78441a.jpg

and Owen:

― schwantz, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 02:15 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1437/752098950_e4ec173513.jpg

― schwantz, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 02:16 (seventeen years ago) link

I have never seen this thread before. I wonder why.

Anyway, I am now a full-time stay-at-home Dad and I think I'm beginning to get he hang of it after a few weeks of THE FEAR etc. I think we are doing OK. Does my swede in at times though.

I wonder if this will work:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1270/829072512_23ecfa3ac2.jpg

This is us chiling out. Must have lasted all of five seconds.

― PJ Miller, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 11:05 (seventeen years ago) link

So how is the experience? I can't imagine being a fulltime parent. Even the first week, after delivering OPhelia, I coudln't wait to get back in the shop. I could *do* it, but I prefer being in the shop. (That said, I work far less than I used to, I feel extremely guilty about this yet I can't seem to up the work amount. It's partially a lack of energy, being pregnant again does drain you from some energy.) Anyway, PJ, I am really interested in knowing how it is! Same for Teeny, how are you feeling? How do you organize your day? Do you guys plan to remain fulltime parents until.. when?

― nathalie, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 11:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Now I'm back at work I feel like I was BORN to be a full-time parent, grrr. There is nothing in my job that is as fulfilling or enjoyable as looking after Alice, and I can't imagine any job that would be.

But then again if I was still at home full-time perhaps I'd be going mad. The grass is always greener...

― Archel, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 14:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh yeah and twins = gorgeous! And Edith looks so like you PJ! Hope your swede isn't too broken today.

― Archel, Tuesday, 17 July 2007 14:57 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm just glad I have a choice in the matter and that it all worked out for me. It was good timing, I'd gotten out of radio anyway and was just doing contract PR jobs when I got pregnant. I'll really have to start from scratch when I get back to work, though, oh well. I was definitely afraid that staying home with a kid all day would drive me bonkers, I never cared for kids before, but it worked out. I'm not terribly social so I don't miss having co-workers. I do some volunteer and freelance work though just to keep fresh and connected.

What do we do all day? I dunno, we just play! It's easy to go out if we get restless, we have a tiny tiny backyard or a park across the street, and lots of other stuff within a walk or short drive. Sometimes I take one of those delightful classes at the YMCA like kid gymnastics. St. Louis has a free zoo I live close to also, which is great. It's not too structured.

― teeny, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:06 (seventeen years ago) link

So looking forward to the second kid yet? :-)

I am sorry if my question seemed loaded with negativity.It certainly wasn't intentional. Maybe I'm just very paranoid (as here being a stay at home parent is... sometimes frowned upon, I guess.) I really am interested in hearing how you guys experience it all! I do think that me being in the shop and having her "in the back of the shop" isn't always that grebt. It has its good and bad sides. Just like being a stay at home dad/mom, I guess.

One of the things that irk me a LOT is this "romantic" view the media has of kids and how they portray babies. Just last night watching Veronica Mars (yeah shut up, I go on about it too much) there was a baby in it and NOT ONCE did it cry nor even mutter a sound. It was just "there." I commented to my husband that the baby must have been on some tranquilizers to be that silent. It was weird to the point of freaky: it just STARED into nothingness. :-)

― nathalie, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:16 (seventeen years ago) link

My wife is staying home with Molly for at least the next six months; she would probably like to stay longer on some level but we are too poor; on another level, she feels guilty about not using her recently-completed teaching degree and feels like she will just turn into, I dunno, a Desperate Housewife or something. I would happily stay home but someone gotta make that cheddar.

Hi, by the way. Pictures whenever Liza deigns to download them from our camera. Most amazing trip ever, and lil' M0lly is smart and beautiful and amazing, more fun than Cheap Trick opening for P.Funk in 1978, cuter than one million lolkittens, funnier than Gallagher mistaking Carrot Top's head for a watermelon.

― Dimension 5ive, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 14:23 (seventeen years ago) link

yay! congrats!

im ready for babe number 2. too early?

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 16:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Of course not! :-) (Although they do recommend you to *recover* physically for about a year.)

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 17:10 (seventeen years ago) link

my wife is about 5 months pregnant, guess I better start paying attention to this thread

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago) link

How is she feeling? Still nauseous? Tired?

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 17:35 (seventeen years ago) link

there's no nausea anymore - she's not particularly tired either, but she does tend to take a little nap when she gets home from work. There have been a few more trips on the hormonocoaster than I would like but there isn't anything I can do about that besides be patient...

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 17:43 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm ready for baby no.1 to arrive, even though I've just reached 38 weeks! My ankles are swelling up, I think I've got a trapped nerve in my back, and the midwife reckons that squirrel is already 8lb, they do get their estimates wrong, don't they?!

Having said I'd like squirrel to show up asap, we still haven't finished decorating the nursery and there's loads of clutter everywhere and a couple of things we still need to pick up, but I can't do any housework as it's too painful and I'm sure we'd cope with what we've already got!

― Vicky, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 17:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Best description ever! Huge congratulations to all of you!

― Ms Misery, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 18:44 (seventeen years ago) link

thx 1138

― Dimension 5ive, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 18:45 (seventeen years ago) link

oh no nath I didn't think you were being negative at all! I can totally totally see what you're saying. You're right, it's all a mixed bag. We're lucky to have choices but it's the existence of those choices that makes us wonder if we're doing the best thing. I'm sorry if you catch any flack for your choices, I think it may be even worse in america though, where you're damned if you do and damned if you don't, it's really horrible and occasionally misogynist the way people go after moms.

― teeny, Wednesday, 18 July 2007 20:08 (seventeen years ago) link

hello dere
http://i12.tinypic.com/4knc6ed.jpg

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Oooh. *melts*

― nathalie, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:09 (seventeen years ago) link

awwwww!

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:11 (seventeen years ago) link

parents with older kids, tell me about teething. beats is sucking in her bottom lip a lot and i can see two very distinct teeth outlines in the front of her gums. shes been drooling for maybe 6 weeks. how long til they pop out?

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Depends, it can take days for some, weeks for others. Just be prepared. It can be a hellish ride (waking up in the middle of the night,..). Get some teething toys (which you can stick in the frigde, it numbs the pain a bit) and there's also some ointment which you can rub on their gums as well. How old is Beeps again? Drooling can be a sign, but also rubbing ears.

― nathalie, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:16 (seventeen years ago) link

beeps is 4 1/2 months old. im using the stuff you rub on their gums. thing is, package says you cant use it for more than 7 days. i dont want to use it now if the worst 7 days are still yet to come.

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:19 (seventeen years ago) link

Another way you can tell the teeth are sore is if their cheeks are hot.

Top tips corner: The teething rings that you put in the fridge tend to defrost pretty quickly in my experience. You'll need two or three of them or alternatively tie up some ice chips in some kind of chewable cloth - that worked better for us.

― everything, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:26 (seventeen years ago) link

btw beeps laughed for the first time earlier this week. it was such an adult laugh. not squealy or giggly at all. more "ha ha heh ho" than the "heeeeeeeeeehehehehe" i was expecting.

her father was horrified to learn she was hanging out with a boy at daycare yesterday. its the first social interaction with a peer ive seen her in. they start so young.

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:28 (seventeen years ago) link

My (first) pediatrician said the drooling is a load of crap. Then again, I didn't really like him anyway, so whatever dude. ;-) There's homeopathic (?) ointment which you can use for longer periods. Well, we used it for a prolonged period, but we'd only use it when O went to sleep. She was about Beeps age when she started teething. I wouldn't worry too much, the first ones are the least painful (I think). The ones in the back (molars?) hurt more. :-(

― nathalie, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:30 (seventeen years ago) link

we do have one for the fridge. i guess we'll need another. also she has a teething blanket but when she gnawed down on the plastic corners she started crying.

her cheeks are hot! diarrhea and fever too.

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:31 (seventeen years ago) link

There is a homeopathic treatment that comes like a little pill which you put on a spoon with some water. I can't remember exactly what it's called. Anyway, it worked quite amazingly for us. Literally within a minute the crying stopped and all was calm. I tasted it once and it just tastes slightly sweet. Probably still got the container lying around somewhere, I'll see if I can find it - it was really useful that stuff.

― everything, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:34 (seventeen years ago) link

excellent. thanks!

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 14:50 (seventeen years ago) link

sunny, before any teeth break through, large peeled carrots are good as teethers. They stay cold and have some give, but aren't safe if she can bite or break off chunks.

― Jaq, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:02 (seventeen years ago) link

the kid is still on formula (we are delaying solid until 6 months+) but thats a good idea though. later months maybe.

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:04 (seventeen years ago) link

She shouldn't actually eat them, just gnaw on them to get the teeth to break through the gums. Once they have teeth, raw carrots are too easy to choke on for littlies.

― Jaq, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:34 (seventeen years ago) link

oh duh! gotcha now.

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link

We've used carrots (unpeeled, but I don't think that really matters), the teething tablets (sort of like melatonin pills - you put them on their gums and they dissolve), the gel, tylenol, and ibuprofen/motrin. Ibuprofen works the best, but some doctors want you to wait until 6 months before you give it to babies. I think our doctor said we could use a slightly lower dose of ibuprofen before six months. We usually alternate between all of these things, so that they don't get too much medicine. For some reason, the frozen toys have never worked for us.

Ben and Owen both have their bottom two teeth, and they are cutting their incisors (I think that's what they are called - maybe canines?) now.

― schwantz, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:57 (seventeen years ago) link

IBUPROFEN??? WTF man, here they avoid it at all costs.

― nathalie, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:59 (seventeen years ago) link

D5 - She is absolutely ADORABLE!

― ENBB, Friday, 20 July 2007 15:59 (seventeen years ago) link

incisors are the top and bottom middle 4. i think canines? i dont know. i always call them the vampires.

xxpost

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Cuspids? I think of them as fangs.

― Jaq, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:04 (seventeen years ago) link

http://whyfiles.org/shorties/147tooth/images/teeth.jpg

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Ibuprofen is a modern miracle. I love the stuff.

― schwantz, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:32 (seventeen years ago) link

me too. in australia it is branded as "neurophen" but a lot of people call it "neurofriend".

― sunny successor, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:46 (seventeen years ago) link

I used to freeze washcloths and twist them up and give them to Spencer when he was teething - he loved 'em.

― luna, Friday, 20 July 2007 16:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Who would have guessed, ILX the fount of all knowledge AND the land of lovely babies + children, HOORAY!

Only early days for us, my partner is 9-10 weeks pregnant but so far so good. Here's the hostages at 7 weeks ( identical twins starting to split the sac apparently, its all a bit surreal)

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z119/isherwoc2007/7weeks.jpg?t=1185182218

― Kiwi, Monday, 23 July 2007 09:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay! Scary though, twins, no? :-)

Ibuprofen is a modern miracle. I love the stuff.

Oh I know, but I don't think I'll be giving it any day soon to Ophelia. Then again she has already taken antibiotics and maybe those Perdolans contain a bit of it as well?

― nathalie, Monday, 23 July 2007 10:03 (seventeen years ago) link

From the internets:

Ibuprofen suspension such as Nurofen can be given to babies from the age of six months old. (NB: Ibuprofen should not be given to anyone with a history of asthma.)

Nurofen for Children is an ibuprofen based pain reliever which can get to work to reduce fever in just 15 minutes. An effective way to help make your child feel better, fast. It reduces fever for up to 8 hours, is effective but kind - and it can be used to treat babies as young as 3 months.

Ibuprofen is increasingly used in young children below the age of 6 months and even in premature babies. Over-the-counter ibuprofen is licensed in several countries, for example; France, Ireland and Romania, for children from 3 months.

― Mark C, Monday, 23 July 2007 10:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Why is it disapproved of? Urban myths, old wives' tales?

― Mark C, Monday, 23 July 2007 10:36 (seventeen years ago) link

I think here they are VERY weary of giving any type of pain relief for babies. (Especially sleeping pills, as they want to avoid crib death at all costs.) *shrug*
Maybe there's some in the Perdolan I give to O.

― nathalie, Monday, 23 July 2007 10:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes but Nathalie it's fine. Dutches want babies to suffer ;_;

― Mark C, Monday, 23 July 2007 11:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Belgiums, oops :)

― Mark C, Monday, 23 July 2007 11:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi everyone, finally caught up on this thread after being away for a couple of weeks. Everyone's kids looking great as usual. ILXors got good genes.

PJ Miller I have the same car rug thing as you. I'm hoping Megan wants to play with cars as the two boys never really did.

Megan learned how to climb stairs, the first time went something like:
Me: "Where's Megan?"
A: "I thought she was with you..."
We then find Megan at the top of the stairs laughing at us. I immediately start shouting at the boys
"Which one of you carried her up there? You've been told not to lift her when we're not there"
Boys: "We didn't touch her!"
Me: "Don't lie to me!"
Boys: "Really, we didn't!"

So I carried Megan back down stairs and put her down, she immediately turned around and climbed the entire flight in seconds while roaring with laughter at her latest trick.
Me: "mumble mumble sorry guys mumble mumble where's that other stair gate?"

― onimo, Monday, 23 July 2007 11:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Obligatory photo:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1123/830715906_4706cf1f18.jpg

― onimo, Monday, 23 July 2007 11:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Ooh Megan's going to be a tearaway isn't she, but what a gorgeous one :)

Alice was on both ibuprofen and paracetomol after her operation and although they were much needed and haven't done her any lasting harm, I still tend to avoid for anything else, because they really did upset her stomach and suppress her appetite :(

― Archel, Monday, 23 July 2007 11:41 (seventeen years ago) link

And GOOD LUCK to Vicky with the final fortnight or whatever it turns out to be!, Shakey+wife with the rest of pregnancy, and Kiwi+partner with more ILX TWINS yay.

― Archel, Monday, 23 July 2007 11:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Megan is so smiley for the camera! Once Mum or Dad disappear behind the viewfinder, Lulu's smile drops - that's why we have so few snaps of her being her usual giggly self. Bloody paparazzi.

We're all ill at the moment and there was no putting Ava to bed last night at all (she must've said "Cuddle?" 500 times during my various attempts to leave the room), so she slept with us. I was late for work this morning but she was still snoozing in precisely the same position she fell asleep in at 11pm last night. Poor, weary gal. Tixylix did the trick though - a night without coughing.

Congrats to Emma and Alan - ILXors of yore - on the (early) arrival of their first!

Meanwhile, here's Ava laughing at her dragging-not-crawling "baby sistah" in the garden the other evening:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1229/854246719_c94f954311.jpg

― Michael Jones, Monday, 23 July 2007 12:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Adorable! Blimey they grow up quick don't they...
I'm really not ready for a second, but I do miss Alice as a newborn already.

Here she is having an apparently hilarious time in her cot:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1170/875383127_5f7805c8f8.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Monday, 23 July 2007 13:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh and congrats to Emma and Alan wherever in the ether they may be!

― Archel, Monday, 23 July 2007 13:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Tell me all about "vocalizing, " I mean lanugage development. Ophelia spends hours looking in her books, either pointing out something and saying (sort of) what it is or pointing at it asking us what it is. Her pronounciation is cute and sometimes she makes up words for objects (most popular one is baba for ball). She understands a lot of words. It's so much fun asking her where mommy's brain is and then she shakes her head. Just kidding.

If all goes well, she's off to her grandparents (my husband's parents) tomorrow until saturday! EEEEEK! It'll be VERY strange for us. First time that she's away for a few days and we, the parents, are left helpless at home. ;-)

― nathalie, Monday, 23 July 2007 13:24 (seventeen years ago) link

HI THERE, THIS THREAD. look what we done made. (Ta, Archel and Mike)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/870545085_78d067c1ed.jpg?v=1185127843

http://www.flickr.com/photos/61898285@N00/sets/72157600948979368/

― Alan, Monday, 23 July 2007 15:39 (seventeen years ago) link

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v215/lynskey/bryher1.jpg

Despite not being around here much anymore you kinda need to shout from the rooftops on these occasions. Mrs. Lynskey gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl at midday on the 20th. Mother and child are home and well and we're currently settling into to ikkle bliss.

― Lynskey, Monday, 23 July 2007 15:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay new babies! Congratulations and well done everyone!

― onimo, Monday, 23 July 2007 15:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Hurrah! Going by the description of that photo, Lynskey - is that a Celtic name? One of the Scilly Isles, isn't it? I like it. (Apols if I've got the wrong end of the stick).

― Michael Jones, Monday, 23 July 2007 16:12 (seventeen years ago) link

new babies!

― sunny successor, Monday, 23 July 2007 16:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Saw this updated and thought it must be you, she's gorgeous!

― Matt, Monday, 23 July 2007 16:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Hurrah to Alan and Emma, needless to say I am very jealous that Emma gets to miss out on the misery of late pregnancy!

Congratulations to Lynskey and Mrs Lynskey!

Congrats to Kiwi on the twins too!

Despite the fact that the labour ward at our local hospital is overflowing at the minute I am SO ready to have this baby, but I have a horrible feeling it's way to comfortable in there :0( On top of backache and SPD I had a migraine today :0( I'm sure it will all be worth it when squirrel arrives though!

Lovely smiley fluffage of ILXOR childers!

― Vicky, Monday, 23 July 2007 16:38 (seventeen years ago) link

we need a 2007 ilx baby roll call

― sunny successor, Monday, 23 July 2007 16:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Instead of responding with "here" or "present", our Beeps would answer with a Pterodactyl call.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 23 July 2007 16:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, she's named after an Isle of Scilly. I used to go on holiday there as a kid and me and Mrs. Lynskey had a nice week on holiday there a few years ago. One of our friends is a proffesional photographer and came round this afternoon to take some snaps. Can't wait for the results.

― Lynskey, Monday, 23 July 2007 17:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, Kiwi - more ILX identicals! Good luck with the pregnancy! All sorts of cute babies today. Here's my contribution:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nLGXzd4YEmw

― schwantz, Monday, 23 July 2007 17:09 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost - there's a bit of a Pterodactyl call in that vid as well. Ben has a particularly ear-piercing shriek.

― schwantz, Monday, 23 July 2007 17:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Ha, youtube could open up a whole new can of cuteness on this thread.

Your boy made that shriek, and my dog's ears went up.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 23 July 2007 17:22 (seventeen years ago) link

I know... I think my only real ILX feature request would be for embedded video.

― schwantz, Monday, 23 July 2007 17:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Check these out. A friend is a photographer
http://northernskyphotography.co.uk/Bryher/

― Lynskey, Monday, 23 July 2007 19:06 (seventeen years ago) link

http://youtube.com/watch?v=nLGXzd4YEmw

-- schwantz

I like "ignores toys, reaches for remote" at the end :)

― onimo, Monday, 23 July 2007 19:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Lynskey - those photos are absolutely fantastic.

I'm really looking forward to be able to contribute to this thread properly.

also.... How many ILx babies being born right now???

― Porkpie, Monday, 23 July 2007 20:26 (seventeen years ago) link

oh, there are a few more. =)

― Kim, Monday, 23 July 2007 20:49 (seventeen years ago) link

i blame halloween sex

― sunny successor, Monday, 23 July 2007 20:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Thank you all.

Archel that shot is hilarious, "first we take my cot, then we take berlin", she's a breedin frenzy, congrats Alan and Emma and Mr/Mrs L!

― Kiwi, Monday, 23 July 2007 21:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, ILXors be spawning lovely babies! It's like a natural progression from the hottness all over the WDYLL threads. (congrats to the Lynskeys and Mrs & Mrs T)

Kim? Baby?

― ailsa, Monday, 23 July 2007 21:38 (seventeen years ago) link

(oh, and Kiwi too)

― ailsa, Monday, 23 July 2007 21:39 (seventeen years ago) link

congrats everyone

― Dimension 5ive, Monday, 23 July 2007 21:41 (seventeen years ago) link

also.... How many ILx babies being born right now???

under three months to go...

Photos are stunning, Porl

― Matt, Monday, 23 July 2007 23:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh yes, so so lovely! Should beg our friend to do the same. Never thought of it.

Sorry that I forgot to congratulate you, Alan! And Lynskey!

Three months to go and baby is kicking up a storm. As a result I have MAJOR case of reflux. Urgh! :-)

Ophelia is going on her first trip to her grandparents! Thom and I are nervous and excited. "What shall we do? GOOD LORD THE FREEDOM HOW WILL WE COPE!" hahah

― nathalie, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 11:06 (seventeen years ago) link

A friend was wondering if she really HAD to wait for her 12-week scan before telling everyone she's pregnant. Do ILXors have hard-and-fast rules about this, believing you should get everything properly checked out or does everyone advocate the "blurting it out" gambit?

Just out of interest...

― Matthew H, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 11:47 (seventeen years ago) link

For our first one we decided to wait until after the scan but both confessed afterwards to telling our siblings much earlier :)

For the second we actually did manage to wait until 12 weeks, I think.

For the last one we had to tell everyone after 6 weeks as we had a bit of a scare and it's kind of hard to turn up at your mother's in tears to drop off the kids so you can get to the hospital without giving them a reason.

― onimo, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 11:50 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I started telling EVERYONE after a week or two. Not necessarily a wise thing to do, because the highest risk (of miscarriage) is in the first three months hence why people tend to wait until the first semester has passed. There's no hard and fast rule on this, just that, if something does go wrong, then you will have to tell your friends and/or family which makes the healing process a lot harder. This is the main reason why people tend to wait those first three months. But I think it's entirely up to the person. I couldn't wait cause I was just *beaming* and so effing proud. :-)

So in short: of course not, she can do as she pleases! :-)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 11:55 (seventeen years ago) link

With our little girl, I think we left it for more like 15/16 weeks, mainly because it all happened a bit quickly...

It's a tricky secret to keep.

― Matthew H, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 12:00 (seventeen years ago) link

one of those areas where superstition actually makes sense

― Dimension 5ive, Tuesday, 24 July 2007 13:10 (seventeen years ago) link

So yesterday the twins saw each other for the first time. Until then, they just sort of ignored each other or just didn't "get" that there was another person there for them to play with. Ben looked at Owen, and Owen looked back, and they started smiling and giggling. This video was taken about 30 seconds later:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aG5z5dTlrIg

― schwantz, Thursday, 26 July 2007 16:11 (seventeen years ago) link

Brilliant!

― everything, Thursday, 26 July 2007 16:20 (seventeen years ago) link

kim wtf omg???!!!!?!!

congratulations everyone on the little ones in utero and ex utero!

― teeny, Thursday, 26 July 2007 17:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Hahaha, the Kim news is starting to spread at last. ;-) (I only found out via a Facebook photo that rather gave the game away...)

Congratulations to all new parents and yay babies!

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 26 July 2007 17:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia is now two days with her grandparents (and staying till saturday). It's a very strange experience. I miss her and feel a bit strange. Of course we're taking "advantage" of the situation and going out but it's still so weird.

Kim, sorry I didn't catch on. Congrats!!!

And David, taht is SUCH a cute video! My husband came to watch it as well. So utterly cute. :-)

― stevienixed, Thursday, 26 July 2007 18:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats, all y'all!

Ben and Owen are so cute I can hardly stand it. I love the bits where they look like "oh, a new hand to put in my mouth!"

― luna, Thursday, 26 July 2007 18:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Since we're linking to Youtube, I recently made this video of Ivy charging around. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un0eiQFXP68

― everything, Thursday, 26 July 2007 18:27 (seventeen years ago) link

She's adorable (and quick!) and the end is magnificent - that wee mug!

― luna, Thursday, 26 July 2007 18:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Hehehe. Very sweet. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 26 July 2007 18:36 (seventeen years ago) link

That is some CUTE stuff.

― schwantz, Thursday, 26 July 2007 20:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Ivy is adorable and the video of the twins discovering one another? Oh lord - might be the best thing ever.

― ENBB, Thursday, 26 July 2007 20:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, it's been so long since I put anything on YouTube...Ivy (lovely name; if it hadn't been taken by a friend, we might have considered that for #2) is a joy and the twins...marvellous. It's hardly a fair contest when Ava wrestles Lulu but when you've two the same size...

I can't even work out how to edit these little .avi files on our laptop, so I don't think I can be bothered waiting for 36MB of Ava dancing to a Sesame Street song to upload and I think the dancing to Propaganda on TOTP2 is too dark... I should take more video clips outside! I'll put something up tonight though.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 July 2007 20:54 (seventeen years ago) link

OK - this one features Ava shouting "Crescent moon" and making Lulu laugh like a drain while Julie London plays on the stereo.

And this one from a couple of months back features both gals getting into Captain Beefheart. And dad was having a dance too.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 26 July 2007 21:25 (seventeen years ago) link

=) no baby yet. probably at least another few weeks to go.

― Kim, Thursday, 26 July 2007 23:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Dicking about in Photoshop 7.0 Curves and even a Curves plug-in for Photoshop Elements 3.0 (which kinda famously lacks Curves) means I can now spend even more time making pictures of the kids look like they were taken on film... ;)

Ava engrossed in Letter Factory (for the 26th time...)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1269/920781232_440eb2f8ac.jpg

Lulu blissing out to some coruscating digital filth:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1127/919918641_4f860eca25.jpg

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 28 July 2007 15:03 (seventeen years ago) link

I love how Lulu is just watching Ava like "say it again, say it again!" and then gets interrupted, "hello Dad! you're here, what are you doing with that thing?" and the delayed giggle when Ava starts crescent mooning again. This has totally made my day and I haven't even watched the second one yet.

And now I have - dancing with Daddy! So freakin' cute I can't handle it.

― luna, Saturday, 28 July 2007 16:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, all these ilxor kids! It's so great.

Anyway, Nathalie how did you enjoy your child free week? I know we all love our kids to bits and everything but I have to say I very much enjoy the few days a year we get without them. I feel guilty a bit but the kids love it too and (I think) the grandparents do too.

― Ned Trifle II, Saturday, 28 July 2007 17:05 (seventeen years ago) link

At times it feels like walking with one shoe on and the other is missing. You can still walk, but, damn, it's strange. That said, we tried to make the "most of it" by going out most nights. I did enjoy the mornings: sleeping till 8:30! Woohoo! (half-jokingly) That said, I can't believe how fast time flew! She left on tuesday and tomorrow she's back. Wah?
Every day she emailed us a little message. Yeah, grandfather *typed* it. But isn't that the cutest ever? I found it so sweet of him to do this. We also called almost every day to check what she did and if everything was alright. As I expected, she enjoyed it. She went to the zoo, to her greatgrandmothers, going for walks and probably ate too many pancakes.
I enjoyed it, but I'll be happy she's back tomorrow.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1008/926662910_33621212de_o.jpg

sleeping on grandparents' bed. <3

― stevienixed, Saturday, 28 July 2007 18:06 (seventeen years ago) link

(BTW I don't think there's ANY need to feel guilty. Of course you want some time for yourself. There's nothing wrong with that. People without children and children themselves would probably think it's a strange thing to say, but I understand. It doesn't mean you love your children any less!)

― stevienixed, Saturday, 28 July 2007 18:08 (seventeen years ago) link

OH MAN is this thread ever making me want to have kids. I never thought I'd be like seriously hankering to have kids. We're gonna wait till we get graduate college, but man...

― Abbott, Saturday, 28 July 2007 19:19 (seventeen years ago) link

We're getting to go to Calistoga for 3 days/nights this coming weekend, courtesy of the mom-in-law and her sister. This will be my wife's first time away from the twins since they were born. I'm thinking we'll enjoy ourselves (we're planning on having a couple of over-the-top fancy meals and doing some wine tasting, and sleep-sleep-sleeping as much as we want!), but I'm sure we'll miss the little ones...?

In other news, we broke down today and got a bunch of gates and safety stuff. It's all pretty ugly and horrible, but... ya gotta do it, I guess.

― schwantz, Saturday, 28 July 2007 21:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Schwantz, I can highly recommend the Model Bakery in St. Helena for delicious treats.

― Jaq, Saturday, 28 July 2007 23:50 (seventeen years ago) link

guys i was just offered the interim job of manny to a <a href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_lb4sYscOLw8/RmLP0i8n5nI/AAAAAAAAAI0/8KB_eHKuLiU/s1600-h/DSC00698.JPG";>2-yr-old</a>. (the parents are friends of ours.) i am an only child. i have never even had a pet. the one time i babysat her (a year ago) she basically screamed for two and a half hours except for the small period when i sang to her--then she was quiet but staring at me like wtf?

halp?

― mookieproof, Sunday, 29 July 2007 00:43 (seventeen years ago) link

oops

― mookieproof, Sunday, 29 July 2007 00:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Don't do it, that's IFC-style fight gear she's putting on.

― Rock Hardy, Sunday, 29 July 2007 01:11 (seventeen years ago) link

On the other hand, you could duct-tape her to a chair and tell the parents "that's just manny bein' manny."

― Rock Hardy, Sunday, 29 July 2007 01:12 (seventeen years ago) link

oh, i can take her. but she's got an impressive scream.

(not sure her parents know about manny r., but hiring me is a green light for the child saying 'pop')

― mookieproof, Sunday, 29 July 2007 01:19 (seventeen years ago) link

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6920912.stm

― Herman G. Neuname, Sunday, 29 July 2007 01:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Haven't had much time to post recently but glad all the ILX babies are doing well. Howie is great and is just learning to sit up. In a few weeks we will be starting on food which I'm looking forward to, I'm gonna try this baby-led weaning thingy 'cause he'll be 6 months and hopefully able to get to grips with finger food.

His eczema is still bad but we have a hospital appt for the end of August so hopefully some headway may be made then. Meanwhile we are co-sleeping for most of the night which does make it easier to cope with the disturbed sleep caused by his itching. Still, having been a determined 30-minute napper since about 8 weeks, he has just started having slightly longer naps (has been napping for about an hour right now). Which is nice.

Also if I can get away with a quick plug, myself and some friends with similarly non-sleeping babies have set up a blog about it at Sleep Is For The Weak,,,

― Meg Busset, Sunday, 29 July 2007 10:21 (seventeen years ago) link

meg, is he teething yet? we are waiting for 6 months before we start food too.

― sunny successor, Sunday, 29 July 2007 15:47 (seventeen years ago) link

I wonder if any ilx parents use 'THE MAN' as a way of curbing their childs behaviour?

I hear this all the time and I think it's hilarous, but potentially damaging to the kids.

"Put that down, look, the man's coming!"

My friend has started it with her two year old girl, she says it works like a charm and so far the wee one hasn't shown any pathological fear of 'men'.

Isn't it better to teach her right and wrong yourself? I mused, but she becomes such a little angel when 'THE MAN' is around that I wonder if this is a good method after all....

― *rumpie*, Friday, 3 August 2007 08:46 (seventeen years ago) link

We use "Leatherface is coming!" accompanied by the sound of chainsaws. If this means Ava grows up afraid of Leatherface and chainsaws, I think we've done her a favour. May lead to some difficulties when Daddy gets out the hedge trimmer though.

;)

― Michael Jones, Friday, 3 August 2007 08:52 (seventeen years ago) link

I used to use "THE FOX" as the way to get my eldest daughter to do things, i.e. if she was dragging her feet in getting ready to go out, I'd say excitedly : "Quick, quick, put your coat on! THE FOX can't see you when you've got your coat on!". Distraction techniques are a good way to get toddlers to do things.

It worked well up to the age of about three, by which time she worked out the ruse for herself and realised with huge disappointment that she didn't actually own any magical invisibility coats after all. This made her sad.

― C J, Friday, 3 August 2007 08:55 (seventeen years ago) link

No, I give Ophelia the "look." Trust me, if I use it on kids, they know I'm the MAN. If I push it hard, I could make'em cry. I use this in the shop when some brats don't want to keep quiet or keep touching things. That said, my friend was right when she warned me it would be harder to use on Ophelia. So I have been practicing. ;-)

Ophelia has officially entered tantrum stage. I can laugh with it, even when she throws a tantrum on the street. We usually put her on the ground so she can't hurt herself. Usually it's over in half minute,but those 30 seconds are a sight to behold. :-)

Since coming back from her grandparents, she has learned the noises of particular animals (Ranging from lions to ssssssnakes.) We decided to add the Zombie routine. We ask her:"What does a zombie do?" And then we stick out our arms and mumble "Brains! Brains!" She has started to join in more or less. I am not sure if it is to please us or make us stop. ;-)

― nathalie, Friday, 3 August 2007 09:37 (seventeen years ago) link

You couldn't make children fear foxes in south west London otherwise they'd never be able to go out.

(p.s. Vic - just thought you'd want to know that Joanna had a healthy little girl this morning!)

― Mark C, Friday, 3 August 2007 11:00 (seventeen years ago) link

When was Joanna due, wasn't it after me?!

― Vicky, Friday, 3 August 2007 11:12 (seventeen years ago) link

That's what I thought too! Baby was 8 lbs 8 ounces so it doesn't sound like it was too early!

― Mark C, Friday, 3 August 2007 11:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Seriously, Vicky, enjoy your last days as much as you can. I'm not saying that having a child ends the PHUN LIFE, but the first few months will be hellish due to sleep deprivation and wacky hormone levels. Having your first child is really learning how to swim in the deep pool without any help. I mean, you'll have people giving you tips, but it's a bit "HALP" most of the time. :-) How manay days are you *over* your due date? I was about four/five days late. Which is completely normal.

― nathalie, Friday, 3 August 2007 11:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Only two days over, so not too bad at all. Have got plenty to keep me busy at the moment, so I'm pretty happy, it's just hearing about births from people due after me that get me all riled up!

I am enjoying my days, but it's a bit limited as to what I can do with them, given the SPD and my back and the fact that I can hardly walk upstairs without running out of breath! I'd love to blitz the house, but whenever I do a bit I just get really knackered. The internet has become even more of my best friend!

― Vicky, Friday, 3 August 2007 12:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Vicky, I didn't want to come across as a pedant (?). I know when people told *me*, I wanted to scream. :-) Now I know better. haha Pedant I am, I guess. ;-)

― stevienixed, Friday, 3 August 2007 18:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Don't worry about it, I've had a really enjoyable day today! I was feeling really impatient early on in the week but you're right, I should be making sure I make the most of this me time cos it'll be a long time before I get any again!

Wish I could spend all my time asleep though! I'm just too uncomfortable, waking up in the middle of the night and not getting back to sleep and not being able to sleep in, it's as though my body is already preparing me for those night feeds and nappy changes!

― Vicky, Friday, 3 August 2007 18:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Seriously. When I was in that last month and people would say to me "get plenty of sleep while you can!!" i'd want to punch them. have these people ever been 8-9 months pregnant? sleep=impossible.

― sunny successor, Friday, 3 August 2007 18:43 (seventeen years ago) link

i wonder if vicky has a babee yet?

― sunny successor, Sunday, 5 August 2007 14:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, you're right, I wanted to punch them in the face as well. The last weeks I didn't sleep for hours in the night time. Being pregnant a second time, I do still want to punch people in the face, but I also do sleep a lot more. Well, I try to anyway. I mean, I know what I'm in for. Which freaks me out a little - knowing I'll have two kids to take care of - but also I know there's a light at hte end of the tunnel. ;-)

I've been thinking about Vicky a lot, I'm pretty sure she's in the hospital! YAY!

― nathalie, Sunday, 5 August 2007 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Hey everyone, it's Pam here, wife of Mike and mum of Ava + Lulu. I'm posting under the husbeau's login since I don't have my own yet, but I've been lurking for a while and loving all of the pics of your gorgeous nippers, I've been meaning to contribute for ages. So I thought a fine way to say hello while I'm waiting for my own login from the moderators would be as the bearer of fabulous news about the arrival of Vicky and Chris's squirrel!

Aidan Paisley Brown was born at 12:20 this morning, weighing in at 8lbs 6oz, hurrah! They aren't home from the hospital yet and Chris has just sent me a picture from his phone which I can't seem to open. I'll post it soon if I can make it work!

xopam

― Michael Jones, Sunday, 5 August 2007 15:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Hurrah! Happiness to all! Welcome to Aidan and to Pam as well, as it were. :-D

― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 5 August 2007 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link

awwww...aidan!! yay!

welcome, pam! your babies are absolutely beautiful.

CRESCENT MOON

― sunny successor, Sunday, 5 August 2007 17:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Woohooo!!! Silly me is crying a bit!! :-D

She's leaving the hospital so soon???

― stevienixed, Sunday, 5 August 2007 17:36 (seventeen years ago) link

... and a few days before her birthday!!! What a PRESENT!

― stevienixed, Sunday, 5 August 2007 17:37 (seventeen years ago) link

Welcome to the world, Aidan! xxx

― luna, Monday, 6 August 2007 00:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations on New Baby Aidan! Yay!

― Sara R-C, Monday, 6 August 2007 01:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations Vicky and Chris and welcome Aidan! Ooh this is so exciting :)

― Archel, Monday, 6 August 2007 08:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay! Welcome Aidan! Look forward to seeing pics...

― Meg Busset, Monday, 6 August 2007 09:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Hello everyone, I'll post a 3 minute old photo below... Vic and Aidan are still in the hospital, he's got a suspected chest infection (some fluid on the lungs)but in himself is absolutely fine, as is Vic (a little sore though). The doctors seem to be playing better safe than sorry though, we're waiting for tests to come back tomorrow, if they're ok, Vic gets a wonderful birthday present and they come home for cake, if not, they're in til Friday and the party moves to the hospital :(...

so, I'm just talking to vic now and we've been completely under-informed by the doctors (they didn't come and see us at all today which we saw as a good sign) and a 5 day stay is compulsory in such casses and they're not coming home til Friday, always nice to be told isn't it?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1165/1022231539_931838225a.jpg
3 minutes old

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1058/1022237317_8ff9b7f81a.jpg
rocking out after 24 hrs

― Porkpie, Monday, 6 August 2007 23:23 (seventeen years ago) link

boo to having to stay in hospital yay to everything else!

haha i know it is silly to be excited by this but omg aidan looks totally like chris and vicky

― mark s, Monday, 6 August 2007 23:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Poor little lamb's just done his first projectile vomit, too! I'm liking this parenting lark, but would really prefer it at home... Am completely flouting hospital rules and posting from my mobile!

― Vicky, Monday, 6 August 2007 23:41 (seventeen years ago) link

happy birthday vicky!

― mark s, Monday, 6 August 2007 23:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats to the whole fambly!

― Rock Hardy, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 00:01 (seventeen years ago) link

yay! congrats!

and happy birthday!

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 01:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Yay! Shout at the Devil! Congrats...

― schwantz, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 02:00 (seventeen years ago) link

What a wonderful birthday present Vic, Aidan is just gorgeous! Sorry yor're still in hospital but hope you get some cake and presents in bed!

― Archel, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 07:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Vicky how are you holding up? Can you walk around? How was the delivery? TELL US ALL!

I didn't realize you can return home so soon in some countries. Well, I did but it always surprises me. We have to stay at least 5 nights, if I remember well, if you delivered "au naturel" (and more if it's a caesarian). In my case I doubt I could have returned before that as I had lost a ton of blood. :-( Anyway enough about me, Vicky those pics are so lovely and I am dying to hear about how it all went!

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 07:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, where do they keep you in 5 nights!? Sounds rough for all concerned. For child no.2 we were in and out in about 6 hours which was fantastic and kind of made up for child no.1 (36 hours labour, caesarian, couple days on hospital = aarrrgghhhh!)

Anyways congrats to all concerned - ILX babies rule!

― Ned Trifle II, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 07:22 (seventeen years ago) link

In Belgium. It's actually five days. I can't remember, I was too out of it at the time to count the days. :-) I do remember they counted the night of the delivery (and, prior to that, the labour) as a "night over" so I stayed one night/day less than others. Apparently you can go back home immediately after delivery and checkup, but I'm not sure if it's that common. It's most of the time a "special request" (or however you'd call it). So you can, but usually mother and child stay longer. If you had a caesarian, then you really do need to stay a bit longer as it's a riskier procedure.

I don't know if I'd liked to have gone home that quick. When I left the hospital, I remember being a little bit freaked out by it as I realized that I was no longer "protected" (no nurses etc) and I was on my own (so I felt).

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 07:40 (seventeen years ago) link

I stayed in four nights with Alice (not including the night I was in labour). That was because her birth weight was a bit low. I hated it but hospitals err on the side of caution I suppose, and on balance I'm glad they do!

― Archel, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 07:57 (seventeen years ago) link

I know what you mean (even with the big pack of goodies we got from the hospital - nappies and such like - it was still 'how do these babies work exactly?) but I think Mrs T was keen to get home after memories of the first time. It wasn't that the hospital was bad or anything, both times everyone was just great, it's just your own bed, your own food, hubby there to wait on you!

― Ned Trifle II, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 08:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Happy birthday!

― Stevie T, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 08:35 (seventeen years ago) link

What a handsome chap!

I came home after one night in hospital, and was glad of it. But did phone the midwives about 10 times a day for the next week. It's changed a lot though, when my mum had kids you stayed in for 10 days!

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 08:39 (seventeen years ago) link

Happy Birthday to Vicky! I can attest to the fact that she got the bestest ever living pressie a couple of days early, we trucked on over to the hospital to meet the babe this afternoon and lemme tell you, he is gorgeous.

Ava and Lulu were denied entry, being non-siblings and also walking/crawling towers o' germs but Chris took them on an ice cream errand so I could sit a spell with the birthday gal and young Aidan.

Vicky looked great, she was up and about and wearing real clothes! I was only in the hospital for one night after both Ava and Lulu were born but with Ava, I don't think I was out of pyjamas for a good three weeks after I got home!

― craft ho, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 19:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Aidan is just gorgeous. Happy Birthday, V!

― luna, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 19:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, what a great looking baby Aidan is!

I'm completely amazed by the long-seeming hospital stays; it's pretty much 48 hours in the US, unless you have a C-section. I lost a ton of blood with baby # 2 and they still sent me home after 48 hours. Baby #1 was a preemie and had a 21 day hospital stay; I was discharged after 48 hours.

I didn't enjoy staying in the hospital, but do think that in the cases with extreme blood loss that the insurance companies here are a bit too in control...

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 7 August 2007 20:00 (seventeen years ago) link

everyone's home :)

Toffee and Rhubarb (the cats) are a little discombobulated by the new arrival.

He's a very handsome boy (yes yes, it's my job to say that)

Mayday Hospital though - what a farce.

― Porkpie, Wednesday, 8 August 2007 23:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeeps re: hospital but glad to hear all is well otherwise -- so the cats can't decide if he's another cat or not?

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 8 August 2007 23:47 (seventeen years ago) link

porkpie the head of the complaints dept is one of my best friends!

― mark s, Wednesday, 8 August 2007 23:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Really Mark? they must be fucking busy. The communication there is appalling. We were told that we could go home at 4.45...... we left at 11.45!! Got our prescription with no paperwork, oh, loads of things, but at leastthey're both home and settling down for the night :)

― Porkpie, Thursday, 9 August 2007 00:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats!

― Maria :D, Thursday, 9 August 2007 05:58 (seventeen years ago) link

And just to spread around some good news further, veteran ILXors Mr. Noodles and Kim (who posted above a bit!) are as of a couple of days ago now the proud parents of Julia, who doubtless is a sweetie.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 11 August 2007 17:13 (seventeen years ago) link

congrats! and welcome julia!

― sunny successor, Monday, 13 August 2007 18:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Awesome! Julia is a beautiful name. I may be a bit biased toward it since my daughter is also a Julia. Mine will be 5 this week.... I think having a Julia in August is definitely a good omen. Hooray and congratulations!

― Sara R-C, Monday, 13 August 2007 18:07 (seventeen years ago) link

I love how my daughter likes to do more "advanced" things with others. It's not uncommon, I know, but it cracks me up to no end. First thing she did (with my mom) and not with us: walk on her own. Now it seems she has been going up the stairs at the crèche on her own for a while now. With us she always wanted us to hold her hands so she could just lean back and let us do most of the work.

Sadly she doesn't reserve the tantrums for others, just for us. hahahaha

Welcome Julia! Congrats Mr Noodles and Kim!

― stevienixed, Monday, 13 August 2007 18:17 (seventeen years ago) link

aww..happy birthday, Julia.

photo time!

beeps standing:

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/2712/beatsstandingqf1.jpg

beeps and mordecai:

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/4563/beatsandmordecaimq4.jpg

― sunny successor, Monday, 13 August 2007 18:18 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG soooooooooo cuuuuuttteee! That overall (?) is also very cute. How old is Beeps now? Cause it seemed like Beeps was born yesterday and now already stands!

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1203/1101563203_ad5b85693d.jpg

I'm prepping Ophelia for ILX. Srsly, she's listening to the Miffy (Nijntje) song here.

― stevienixed, Monday, 13 August 2007 18:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps is a little over 5 months old now. It has gone fast. Im so ready for baby two and crazy jealous of every pregnant woman i see. that includes you!

ophelia seems to have gone from baby to little girl overnight! her hair is so gorgeous.

― sunny successor, Monday, 13 August 2007 18:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Those girls are WAY adorable!

― Sara R-C, Monday, 13 August 2007 21:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Hey, thanks guys. =) Here she is, ILXOR 2.0, baby Julia - born Wednesday Aug 08 at 4:57pm weighing 6lbs 9oz

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/grimstitch/Julia0052.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/grimstitch/Julia0001.jpg

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/grimstitch/Julia0054.jpg

― Kim, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 09:12 (seventeen years ago) link

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/grimstitch/Julia0056.jpg

― Kim, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 09:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Is that daddy in the bed? :-)

Beeps is 5 months and wants to stand up? Woha! Talk about advanced. Well, from my point of view. then again it's all a blur really. Thank god my mom wrote everything down, cause if I would go on my memory I'd think she has only started walking last week. Just kidding of course.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 09:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations! Those eyes, they're fantastic! hope you're recovering well

― Vicky, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 09:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Looks like she has your eyes, Kim - what a beauty! Congratulations to all of you!

― luna, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 20:22 (seventeen years ago) link

She's gorgeous! Congratulations again.

― Sara R-C, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 20:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Now I'm singing that Cheap Trick song "Big Eyes." :-)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 14 August 2007 20:35 (seventeen years ago) link

thanks!

yep, that's a worn out, scruffy Zac there on the bed. we were far beyond exhausted after being at the hospital for a total of nearly 6 days without more than a few odd moments of sleep (had a few complications but we're all doing very well now.)

we're very happy to be home! =)

― Kim, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 03:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Aidan was up most of last night (so it felt anyway), here's the aftermath:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1246/1126524363_7d7db0d72f.jpg

― Porkpie, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 15:24 (seventeen years ago) link

blimey, he's a greedy little bugger, born at 8lb 6oz, was 8lb 11oz on Friday, now?....... 9lb 4oz!!!!!!

― Porkpie, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 15:28 (seventeen years ago) link

wow, he's only 3 days older than Julia and as of yesterday she was only 6lb 2oz (and she had gained weight from her low point!). I guess she really is a tiny wee thing.

― Kim, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 19:34 (seventeen years ago) link

BABY WEIGHT RACE.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 19:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia knows she will have a ~~brother/~~sister? Ah fuck it, I might as well say the gender. Well, she has been lifting my t-shirt or sweater to rub my belly. Sweetest thing ever. We tell her repeated, when she does it, that there's a sister in there.

Aidan is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute. :-) Mummy looks great! I wish I looked that grebt, but alas I looked like some pale caked-up zombie those first few weeks. :-) Not looking forward to that. Well, I am... in a masochistic way. ;-)

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 19:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Awwwww... hello new babies and congrats Nath on girl no.2.

Howie is 6 months next week, can't believe it! This last week or so he has started sitting up on his own. Not as good a stander as Beeps though, he can do it for a second then his knees buckle. Sleep (or lack of it) is still a big issue, but we are seeing paediatrician week after next about his eczema, and he is also going into his own room when we move house next week, so maybe those will help a bit.

― Meg Busset, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 19:59 (seventeen years ago) link

Nath and her brood of daughters. (Having met Mr. Nath I am trying to imagine the long-suffering expression on his face when he'll be dealing with a crop of teen girls all at once, every day.)

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 20:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Roffle Yes, he is aware of the pain he will go through once they hit their teens. In fact even now he sometimes says:"ARGH! A HOUSE FULL OF WOMEN!" :-)

Meg, I have been thinking of you. Especially after seeing a poor baby also suffering from eczema at the crèche.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 20:09 (seventeen years ago) link

In fact even now he sometimes says:"ARGH! A HOUSE FULL OF WOMEN!" :-)

And Lucy on top of it all! Well he can always step out and wander down the streets of Bruges and drown his sorrows in one of eight million lambics.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 20:11 (seventeen years ago) link

haha He could. But he prefers to stay inside. He's quit smoking and the thought of leaving thr house and not smoke is just too painful. :-)

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 20:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations on girl #2, Nathalie! How exciting!

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 20:19 (seventeen years ago) link

Thanks, Nath. We have got a humidifier for the bedroom which seems to help a bit, but it's not been easy for the wee man in the hot weather. But he is still a very happy chap. We have got loads of clothing from this website so he can't pull the gloves off and scratch at night!

I have a funny feeling that if/when we try for no.2 that it will be a boy as well. I just have this vision of living in a house overrun by boys...

― Meg Busset, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 20:29 (seventeen years ago) link

I realized it has to be eczema when I noticed his hands were wrapped. I felt so sorry for him (and Howie too!) because he must be itching so badly and as a parent you want to explain but you can't. And, yes, *duh*, summer must be hard on Howie too. Didn't even realize this! My cousin used to have eczema as well. I remember shaking her hand and noticing the dry and broken (?) skin. She's okay now though.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 20:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Jeepers, Julia! She's a smasher.

Here's Ava stealing Porkpie's means of seeing:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1395/1129825349_ab4d56ca44.jpg

And continuing the theme of blindness, I don't appear to have any eyes in this picture (but Lulu has, like, plenty):

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1333/1129851323_424aed457c.jpg

Lulu is cruisin' furniture like you wouldn't believe and stood upright today with just two fingers of support from her dad. I didn't think she'd walk before Xmas but she simply cannot be stopped now. Unless Ava puts her in plaster at some point, which can't be ruled out.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 23:40 (seventeen years ago) link

just a couple of random pixor updates

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1033/1130588510_c625613279.jpg?v=0
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1206/1129747887_9ebabc3f31.jpg?v=0

haha. he's due this sunday :-D

― Alan, Wednesday, 15 August 2007 23:59 (seventeen years ago) link

haha. he's due this sunday :-D

You should go into hospital anyway. Get a few hours of gas and air.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 16 August 2007 00:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats to the new parents! Here's a few more pix...

Ben:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1432/1133890346_3c8edefe58.jpg

Owen:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1064/1133888188_37a8b033fd.jpg

Owen stalking Ben:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1074/1133036323_913309f646.jpg

― schwantz, Thursday, 16 August 2007 04:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Howie has become a total wriggle monster, and has learned a kind of back-crawl version of crawling -- lying on his back, he kicks himself backwards at a surprising velocity. Means you can't take your eyes off him for a second -- I learned this last week when he was in his Bumbo and, in the literally two seconds I turned to open the door, he threw himself out of it backwards and clonked his head on the floor :(

Reminder to self: when choosing a high chair (for weaning which starts next week!!) get one with very reliable straps!

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 16 August 2007 09:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, all these babies and toddlers, it seems like yesterday and yet, here they are at 10 and 6, the 10 year old hassling me for a mobile phone and the 6 year old obsessed with Grease (she sings "look at me I'm Sandra D, lousy with virginity" very loudly at any opportunity).
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/1085087264_f8f90f5920.jpg
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1213/1036237379_c568b8aeb3.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 16 August 2007 09:53 (seventeen years ago) link

my six year old niece is also obsessed with grease! she saw the current oliva newton john on tv the other day and was horrified 'THATS SANDRA DEE?!?!?!'

i cant see any pics because flickr is blocked at work :(

― sunny successor, Thursday, 16 August 2007 14:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Woha! Could be worse! I was obsessed with Grease as well as a young kid. I had the singles and everything.

― nathalie, Thursday, 16 August 2007 14:30 (seventeen years ago) link

i still havent seen it right through. i have a real problem with musicals. congrats on another girl! i hope they dont steal each others boyfriends! ps: id bet money youre going with 'farrah'. why wouldnt you?

― sunny successor, Thursday, 16 August 2007 15:41 (seventeen years ago) link

ok, so american parents: what is/was your highchair of choice? i guess we're going to have to feed this kid something other than formula from a bottle some time.

― sunny successor, Thursday, 16 August 2007 15:41 (seventeen years ago) link

God, too long ago for me to remember. Probably some Graco model?

― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 16 August 2007 15:50 (seventeen years ago) link

I think we had a Graco one, too.

― luna, Thursday, 16 August 2007 15:52 (seventeen years ago) link

We got the fancy Svan ones. They are nice if you don't have a lot of room, and they are much less garish than most high-chairs.

http://www.babystyle.com/images/product/21066_MID_l.jpg

― schwantz, Thursday, 16 August 2007 16:48 (seventeen years ago) link

oh i saw those on ellen! but $250? I dont know about that. maybe if a grandparent purchases it. thats what theyre for. amirite?

― sunny successor, Thursday, 16 August 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link

I seriously think you are better off with one of these kind of things:
http://www.baby-equipment-rentals.com/images/booster-seat-in-chair.jpg
They are very portable and storable, you can take them to people's houses or restaurants where they don't have a baby chair and you can put them in the dishwasher from time to time.

― everything, Thursday, 16 August 2007 17:10 (seventeen years ago) link

(Grandparents DID purchase them :) )

― schwantz, Thursday, 16 August 2007 17:11 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost. Actually, that's not a very good one - get one that straps securely onto the chair and has a seat base that goes up and down as the baby grows up. But this is the general idea. They are ultra-handy.

― everything, Thursday, 16 August 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link

My wife said that one of the parents in her play-group had this, and that is worked well, and was portable.

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/410V5MRVHRL._SS400_.jpg

― schwantz, Thursday, 16 August 2007 17:29 (seventeen years ago) link

is=it

― schwantz, Thursday, 16 August 2007 17:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, that's the kind of thing you need. We've got a professional quality vintage-look high chair that's been completely shelved because of those things. Much handier.

― everything, Thursday, 16 August 2007 17:31 (seventeen years ago) link

We only have benches in our house, so we needed the chairs.

― schwantz, Thursday, 16 August 2007 17:55 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm like famous and shit

― Alex in NYC, Friday, 17 August 2007 00:49 (seventeen years ago) link

You sounded good! Good advice too. Of course when youre the one who is pregnant youve got to get the drinking and sleeping done 9 months before the kid arrives. the day you find yourself standing in the bathroom holding a stick with two stripes sure sneaks up on you.

― sunny successor, Friday, 17 August 2007 13:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Thanks, for the high chair suggestions everyone. Id ruled out the ones you put on an existing seat but they do seem to make sense now.

― sunny successor, Friday, 17 August 2007 13:23 (seventeen years ago) link

I belatedly agree with the booster-on-existing-seat suggestions, I got some enormo graco model from my mother-in-law and it takes up half my kitchen. Check out the book Baby Bargains from the library, it compares and rates both kinds (and a lot of other items as well); there is a toddler bargains version too. I got a booster but had to return it because it was only rated to 30 lbs, reached long ago. I have that problem with a lot of items unfortunately, this kid is enormous. I think he's 34 pounds now at 20 mos? I know he hit 20 before 6 mos and we had to junk some things (like the car seat) that we expected to use for a year.

Here he is with me recently, I feel like he's going to be taller than me any day now. :)

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1104/1121152076_1f2ac748c9_m.jpg

― teeny, Saturday, 18 August 2007 14:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh Teeny, your boy lookes so cute. I love his hair. I love his... EVERYTHING. I sometimes wish we could hang out (with the other mini-ILXors and their 'rents). :-)

We bought something like this:
http://www.dreambaby.be/dreambaby/dbad/957212_5.jpg

It's handy but difficult to clean. So much food, crumbs and *shit* gets underneath the cushion. But it's very stable and she loves to sit in it (even when not eating).

― stevienixed, Saturday, 18 August 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago) link

hay what do yall think of this

http://nymag.com/news/features/27840/

― cankles, Sunday, 19 August 2007 13:20 (seventeen years ago) link

It seems like really great, useful advice. It's one of those things that feels intuitive after reading it, but that maybe I wouldn't have figured out on my own. Thanks for posting that!

― schwantz, Monday, 20 August 2007 18:22 (seventeen years ago) link

We are also on the lookout for a highchair... gotta be one with a tray 'cause we are going down the baby-led weaning route. Gonna be messy!

― Meg Busset, Monday, 20 August 2007 18:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi everyone.

Just getting back to the land of the living after Alice's second operation, this one to repair her cleft palate. It went fine and she's very cheerful about the whole thing, but since getting home she just won't sleep (and since she was doing pretty much 8pm to 7am every night before it's been a BIG shock to the system). Also she won't drink liquids at all yet, whether by bottle or cup, so the only way to get milk down her is with a spoon, mixed with solids. Fingers crossed this is all temporary...

Re. high chairs, we just recently got this cheap and cheerful one from Argos which does the job fine (it doesn't fold away but it doesn't take up much room either). We'll probably get a booster type as well at some point.

― Archel, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 13:15 (seventeen years ago) link

We have something like this:

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/3754559/Trail/C%24cip%3D1500006108.Toys%2Band%2Bbaby%3EC%24cip%3D1500006115.Baby%2Band%2Bnursery%2Bequipment%3EC%24cip%3D1500006125.Highchairs.htm

Megan seems comfortable in it plus the top bit handily lifts out to become a low chair with the bottom bit flipping round to become a table. It's magic!

― onimo, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 13:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Quite at home in hospital:
http://photos-756.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sctm/v121/230/70/632911756/n632911756_214122_8302.jpg

― Archel, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 13:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice is such a doll!

― Jaq, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 15:02 (seventeen years ago) link

so happy!

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 20:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh she's gorgeous. Give her a cuddle for me.

― luna, Tuesday, 21 August 2007 20:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Where can I get an adult sized fleecy thing like that?

― Madchen, Wednesday, 22 August 2007 05:59 (seventeen years ago) link

yay for alice! she looks to be in a perpetual good mood! even when she's not sleeping at night I bet she's hanging out in her cot smiling. and huzzah on the arrival of julia with the amazing eyes!

we have done pretty much all baby stuff on the cheap and been pleasantly surprised at how long it has lasted. we bought the ikea blames wooden high chair in the winter sale back when we still lived in the flat where we ate at the coffee table every night and fed ava in the bumbo on the floor. she was itsy so she could still sit in it at a year old when we moved to a house that had room for a table. that ikea high chair has been fab! we didn't buy the tray but it pushes right up under the table and it's sturdy.

now that lulu's claimed the high chair and to give ava a break from standing on her knees on a big person's chair at the table, we've bought one of those stokke tripp trapp chairs: http://www.stokke.com/functionality.aspna=UK&la=EN&div=C&nr=01&p=TrippTrappFR

it's got the adjustable slats and should last her till she's 10 or so. but it comes with a high-chair bit for babies, if we had it to do over again I'd consider getting it as a high chair. they're outrageously expensive new, but ebay is totally your friend if you're hunting for a tripp-trapp, there are gazillions of them for sale and lots of people spell the name wrong, cutting down on the bidding competition.

if we were made of money, of course, the kids would be kitted out in mozzee nests! all you lottery winners out there will be pleased to know that the eco black nest is back in stock!

http://www.mozzee.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=24&products_id=30

(can you tell I don't know how to put images in here?)

― craft ho, Thursday, 23 August 2007 16:05 (seventeen years ago) link

My friend sent me a link to this site, which also seems great if you have money to burn.

― schwantz, Thursday, 23 August 2007 16:10 (seventeen years ago) link

we ended up getting this crazy thing:

http://www.coochicoos.com/images/BoonFlair_white_web.jpg

maybe a booster later for grandparent stays.

― sunny successor, Thursday, 23 August 2007 17:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Man, that is one fantastic booster!

― stevienixed, Thursday, 23 August 2007 17:29 (seventeen years ago) link

sunny, does that go up and down like a barber chair???

― Jaq, Thursday, 23 August 2007 17:33 (seventeen years ago) link

ive never been in a barber chair so i dont know but i can tell you it has a pneumatic lift (that button at the bottom. same thing?

― sunny successor, Thursday, 23 August 2007 17:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Ha-ha. That's hilarious. Is that some kind of pedal at the back? Does the tray come off? How does it work?

― everything, Thursday, 23 August 2007 17:46 (seventeen years ago) link

the pedal at the back is the brake. the tray comes off and has dishwasher safe liners.

its basically a boat seat - the padded part is the same material - so it doesnt absorb anything and there arent any nooks and crannies for food to fall into.

― sunny successor, Thursday, 23 August 2007 18:16 (seventeen years ago) link

Sweet, that's an e-ticket ride right there in the comfort of your own home.

― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 23 August 2007 18:19 (seventeen years ago) link

that is a fabtastic high chair! who makes it? am I the only one here who sees great baby stuff and thinks for just a tiny fleeting moment about having another baby just so I can have an excuse to purchase it? it's a disease, I know. in real life I'm trying to declutter like a fiend, giving away babe stuff as fast as it can be outgrown.

― craft ho, Thursday, 23 August 2007 21:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Haha craft ho! It's made me think that maybe nagging for a grandchild could have its rewards :)

― Jaq, Thursday, 23 August 2007 21:14 (seventeen years ago) link

its made by Boon who make like a total of 5 things

― sunny successor, Thursday, 23 August 2007 22:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Pam (right?), even now being pregnant, I am sometimes tempted to go for a third, but then I realize that I am not looking forward to the first couple of sleepless months. Certainly now that my husband is getting a job (leaving the shop), I am in serious denial mode about the sleep deprivation. But, honestly, yes, sometimes I think:"Well, three kids would be lovely as well!" But I gotta stick with the plan and that is two kids. Stop. No more.

So who do you give the *clutter* to? I am not sure who to. I don't know anyone who will be delivering after me, so the only option is the daycare. They are very much open to gifts (duh!). Anything from clothes to blankets. Not sure about furniture but I'll ask anyway. It's a bit silly to throw it all away.

― stevienixed, Friday, 24 August 2007 06:48 (seventeen years ago) link

I was the one of three and after a million supercramped car vacations and fighting over the treats in the cereal boxes, I think there was an implicit agreement we'd never have three kids of our own when we grew up. our cars were never made for long road trips and you could easily spend 14 hours with your brother's big stinky feet wedged a little bit too close to your nose. much like the pain of labour, I guess my sister forgot about all this, because her third (a girl) is due in about five weeks, yay!

if I was a little bit younger and we had more living space we might think about it, but once we get two or three dogs in the fam (right, mike?) it might be a tight fit in the manse.

in the effort to make more space for the dogs (just wait till I can get both girls to ask dad daily if we can have a dog, he'll crack then for sure, we've already been working on those "language lessons") I have been giving babe clothes to a few friends and rels who are due soon, and the rest are going to the charity shop or to people on the freecycle list who are looking for clothes and toys. it's a shame the kiddie clutter is only a drop in the ocean here.

― craft ho, Friday, 24 August 2007 09:00 (seventeen years ago) link

I do think age has something to do with it. Maybe if I was ten years younger, I'd have gone for a third. Who knows...

Ah a dog. Sadly, and I think it's always a bit morbid when saying this when our doggie is still alive, we won't get any other dogs after Lucy's gone. :-( We don't have the discipline to go for a walk every day and clean up the mess on a daily basis. On top of taht I'm extremely scared of having a new dog, you can never predict their personality. That said, I realize that (for example) Bassets are great dogs for kids. So Mike, get a Basset! :-)

I have just been looking at the websites of two schools in our vicinity. Next year Ophelia has to *enroll* in kindergarten and I want to be prepared. Maybe a bit too early, but I'm due in October and I don't think I'll have the energy to drag myself to a kindergarten the upcoming months when taking care of two kids and running the shop on my own. I feel a bit shocked and saddened at how fast (my) kids grow up. I can still remember being pregnant with Ophelia. Next year she's off to kindergarter. Maybe a third one is in order? ;-)

― nathalie, Friday, 24 August 2007 09:25 (seventeen years ago) link

im not even pregnant with a second one and im thinking about a third. im too old though, i think. too risky. even a second one feels like id be tempting fate right now. ive definitely gone baby crazy though. its hard to imagine a little over a year ago i thought kids were gross and annoying.

ive had some fun reading the old parenting thread (started when O was just 11 days old(!) and louis just 7 weeks awww).
Hello Mudduh Hello Fadduh: ILX Rolling Parenting Thread

― sunny successor, Friday, 24 August 2007 20:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh good God. I've been battling a pretty intense case of baby fever for the last six months or so until I just read the birth stories towards the end of that thread. I think baby temp has returned to normal, at least for the time being.

― ENBB, Friday, 24 August 2007 20:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Birth stories can do that to you. But don't let them put you off babies forever; birth is a relatively brief event. Plus, there IS pain relief available, you know. ;)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 24 August 2007 20:31 (seventeen years ago) link

(I say this with absolutely no intention of going through it again myself... but two kids seems to be the max I can handle. Others mileage may vary!)

― Sara R-C, Friday, 24 August 2007 20:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Two is the max I can handle, and I've got three!

― onimo, Friday, 24 August 2007 20:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Hmmm, maybe you should loan them each out, one at a time, on a rotating basis!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 24 August 2007 20:58 (seventeen years ago) link

I do try. Their grandparents never complain about not seeing enough of the kids :)

It's not so bad really, just that tonight I'm on my own and Megan decided she would take 2 hours instead of her usual 30 minutes to go to sleep.

I'm glad we waited until the two boys were at school before having a third, I think three young 'uns at once would have killed me.

― onimo, Friday, 24 August 2007 21:04 (seventeen years ago) link

ENBB don't let the birth stories put you off! Good births are possible, mine was ace! Water birth at the 'home from home' birth centre which is midwife led, no pain relief! I'm definitely going for a home birth if there is a next time.

It's the colic and seemingly constant feeding that's brought me back down to earth...

― Vicky, Friday, 24 August 2007 21:59 (seventeen years ago) link

There really is a huge range of birth options out there for you. I actually did have a pain-killer free birth with my second (not really my choice, but Julia was in a huge hurry to arrive). And I might even opt to do it that way again. It's really all kind of amazing.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 24 August 2007 22:13 (seventeen years ago) link

vicky, two words that will save you: GRIPE WATER

― sunny successor, Friday, 24 August 2007 23:20 (seventeen years ago) link

mmm gripe water best of all the waters

― mark s, Friday, 24 August 2007 23:41 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm with vicky, it's not the labour so much as the adjusting to being at home with a babe that eats 24-7 and prefers to keep you up watching crap middle-of-the-night TV instead of lovely afternoon morse repeats that knocks you for six. but if my births had been more difficult I might feel differently - nothing but a tens machine and gas-n-air both times (against my will, I should add, I was always all about getting the big drugs fast but was too far along when I wanted them).

people fear being induced because it's supposed to be more painful but lemme tell you when it finally kicks in it happens really fast and I reckon it may be worth the trade-off. I was in hard drugs-demanding-but-not-getting labour with ava for only about 90 minutes. and only about 10 minutes with lulu (though I was in the hozzie for days before that trying to get the induction drugs to take and battling high BP and having her wee heartbeat monitored because she wasn't growing, which was a real worry). I suppose you never know what you're going to get dealt but if we didn't forget about the pain eventually nobody would ever have more than one kid. I do remember telling mike during lulu labour that if I could go through this he could bloody well deal with a 2-second procedure to get the snip, so there was definitely some pain going on. I've just forgotten it!

lulu never had full-on colic but she stayed congested for weeks and it made it hard for her to sleep. infacol and gripe water didn't seem to help much at night. we eventually started bunching a pillow under her top half so she slept on an incline and that helped a huge amount.

― craft ho, Saturday, 25 August 2007 00:51 (seventeen years ago) link

im not even pregnant with a second one and im thinking about a third. im too old though, i think. too risky.

The risk is apparently somewhat exaggerated. My therapist said they overemphasized the risk. Of course you have to be careful, but you have to be at any age anyway.

Oh good God. I've been battling a pretty intense case of baby fever for the last six months or so until I just read the birth stories towards the end of that thread.

I'm less scared now, but still worried because, well, you never know and secondly I'm a total hypochondriac. That said, I know what's in store (if I have a natural delivery). Don't be scared though, even if you're induced, like I was, and bleed like crazy, which I did, it's one of the greatest experiences ever. There's nothing that compares to it. Giving life is such an amazing and surreal experience. Also, it made me laugh with the saying that men are the strong ones. Don't. Let. Me. Laugh. Women are the ones who are strong. :-)

― nathalie, Saturday, 25 August 2007 09:12 (seventeen years ago) link

I guess talent runs in the family

― schwantz, Saturday, 25 August 2007 20:56 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm pretty sure that's one of Ligeti's Etudes. Great stuff.

I can't believe Pam, when supposedly working, is posting on here giving me the hard-sell on dogs! We have a dog-on-wheels and a pair of Yoshitomo Nara puppy bookends, what more could we need?

― Michael Jones, Saturday, 25 August 2007 21:19 (seventeen years ago) link

HI DERE!!

http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/AGF/2794~Beagle-Pup-Posters.jpg

― Porkpie, Sunday, 26 August 2007 10:24 (seventeen years ago) link

GET THE PUPPY!

A question for everyone: What are your kid's favortite tv shows/dvds/videos etc.

Beeps isnt old enough to have a favorite yet, i guess, so shes forced to watch my favorite:

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/4316/144082934b633f79603rr8.jpg

― sunny successor, Monday, 27 August 2007 16:10 (seventeen years ago) link

my husband objects to wonderpets because one (all?) of them talk with a lisp. I object to Dora because of the SHOUTING! We both like Backyardigans. The kid only likes Maisy. I try not to do too much TV but I try not to worry too much about it either. Today the kid is sick and I am nominating Moose A. Moose for a Nobel Peace prize.

― teeny, Monday, 27 August 2007 22:44 (seventeen years ago) link

"this is sewious!"

im not sure thats a lisp but its something that probably requires a speech therapist

i haven't heard of moose a moose

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 03:15 (seventeen years ago) link

I object to Dora because of the SHOUTING!

Dora taught my two boys how to speak Spanish (or at least how to shout up to five!).

Come on, vamanos, Everybody, let's go! Come on, let's get to it! I know that we can do it!

These days it's all 'Ben10', 'Johnny Test' and 'Ed, Edd & Eddy' on Cartoon Network.

Megan doesn't even look at the TV, I think she sees it as something the boys look at when they're ignoring her and therefore is Bad.

― onimo, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 06:25 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I've noticed Dora on telly. My husband didn't much like it. But not because she shouts so much. I don't mind at all if my kid shouts, in fact I like it if she raises her voice (though of course not all the time). I even like it that she has (small) tantrums. It's good to let go once in a while. She doesn't have the ability to say:"I'm grumpy, leave me alone." so a tantrum does the trick now. ;-)

I'm also in favour of her watching telly. Not too much, but I definitely like her watching, say, Nijntje (Miffy), Bumba, Wawa, Teletubbies,... It's educational. She loves to point at objects and name them. She used to watch Teletubbies but now less so as she has moved on to Nijntje (Miffy) which she ADORES. She also quite likes the Disney programs but they are on BBC so she can't really understand it anyway. (Hey, maybe she'll learn English like me, by watching loads of BBC programs/films?)

Shows she loves/watches: Hopla, Bumba, Nijntje (Miffy, nijntje.nl is a grebt website I think),...

Scary experience: She climbs the stairs... on her own. We were literally one minute talking to eachother and not noticing what she was doing. We got up and looked in the hallway. She was almost at the top of the stairs. EK! The next day she wanted to step down the stairs. We don't prohibit it at all, in fact we want her to learn as quickly as possible. It's funny. The other day we said:"Shall we go to bed?" She ran off to the stairs, climbed up the staircase and went into the bathroom pointing at the bath. She used to be scared of a bath, now she LOVES it.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 09:12 (seventeen years ago) link

The latest in the "they're not babies forever, you know" series:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/aldo_cowpat/DSC00962.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/aldo_cowpat/DSC00984.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/aldo_cowpat/DSC01106.jpg

― aldo, Tuesday, 28 August 2007 13:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Earlier this week, giving me the ol' "whaddya mean there's no more ice cream?" look.

http://vassifer.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/08/28/img_6201_3.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 12:49 (seventeen years ago) link

That'll be the cover of their indie-rock album in twenty years.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 12:53 (seventeen years ago) link

aldo's kids should be models already

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 13:28 (seventeen years ago) link

hey, I recognise that "whaddya mean there's no more ice cream" look. mostly when I look in the mirror, ho! I really love how kids always manage to smear 90% of the contents of any bowl on their faces and the table in front of them. if you were a neat freak, I bet having kids could really push you over the edge.

I saw an episode of 'little angels' once (do the amuricans get this on bbc amurica yet I wonder?). two or three families go into a big retreat of a playhouse because they have food/sleeping/tantrum issues with their toddlers and dr tanya byron (who I have a lot of time for, I reckon she could take supernanny on in a duke-em-out) observes the whole family's behaviour for a week and fixes them all up with her big game plan of calming behaviour.

the mum of one especially cute youngster had been wiping his face so often between bites of food over the years that he'd developed an intense fear of any food that wasn't rock hard lest he make a mess. dr tanya asked him to eat some yogurt with his fingers and the poor little guy was just shaking with fear whenever his fingers got near the pot. mum didn't mean to scare the bejesus out of him, she was just tidying up! it was all ok in the end, natch.

ava's big into sesame street at the moment, I've ordered a bunch of the DVDs of the old shows from the states, episodes that I grew up on. I don't remember it being aware of it when I was little, but cookie monster has appalling grammar, the count is great with numbers but not so hot at stringing a full sentence together and bert + ernie inhale sodapop by the gallon. it's kind of refreshing and makes me feel better about hating those goody-goody tweenies so much. ava's other fave show is 'in the night garden' which is also pretty good. she's watching 'bobinogs' right now, it's edumacational and fun. 'peppa pig' is another fave, it comes in short bursts of funny which is the best kind of children's tv IMHO.

we listen to music more than we watch television lately because I've noticed that ava gets a bit wiggy and crash-tackles lulu a lot more when she's been in front of the tv for too long. I hope I'm not a bad mum for restricting her viewing to cbeebies shows or DVDs that don't do my head in. give me 'the herbs' to newfangled computerised noddy any day.

― craft ho, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 14:25 (seventeen years ago) link

It's ALWAYS good parenting to restrict TV access.

― Rock Hardy, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 14:38 (seventeen years ago) link

We don't have a TV so at least I don't worry about Alice seeing adverts, but she did spend her formative months absorbing old episodes of Buffy, Angel, Scrubs and The Office while I fed her in front of the laptop so god knows what damage that's done...

She is currently enjoying a Teletubbies DVD from the library, although gets fed up when they cut away from Tinkywinky et al and onto the Welsh kids feeding lambs. Real people = too much like boring old mum and dad I guess.

― Archel, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link

archel, ava doesn't like the real people bits of teletubbies either, and thanks to 'again! again!' you're always treated to them twice.

the adverts are insidiuos. we mostly watch cbeebies which doesn't have adverts because it's BBCtastic, but we don't have a freeview box upstairs where we watch peppa pig of a morning when I'm willing myself to get up and face the day. have you noticed how many crazy toys there are at the moment that involve dolls with their own plastic pets that poop and pee when you squeeze them?

look out vicky, when aidan gets old enough to watch these he's going to squeeze the hell out of toffee and rhubarb.

― craft ho, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 15:18 (seventeen years ago) link

So long as he can squeeze toffee when he's over the litter tray, it'd be an improvement.....

Is it sad that I'd already started collecting DVDs of 'classic' children's programmes? we've got the flumps and Mr Men, hurrah! Aidan was awake for his very first Liverpool match yesterday, Daddy was very pleased.

Haven't posted any fluff for a while....

― Vicky, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 15:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Lets try that again shall we?

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1347/1152140533_6be045e5f8.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1090/1203741548_fafb9db8a3.jpg?v=0

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1285/1202889743_8d2297e368.jpg

― Vicky, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 15:30 (seventeen years ago) link

> 'little angels'

'house of tiny tearaways'

― koogs, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 15:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw gorgeous pics Vic. He looks so much littler in real life!

― Archel, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 16:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Those Baby Einstein DVDs are like drugs for toddlers. I think they are well made and look pretty interesting. For adults who have to be in the room at they same time, the are quite restful compared to most of what else is out there. Just plinky-plonky versions of the Blue Danube etc while octopuses swim around. They call them "digital board books" which seems like an annoying marketing tag but it kinda makes sense as you can sit there and talk about what's going on, just like with a book.

― everything, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 16:36 (seventeen years ago) link

that third picture of aidan is the best thing ever. those cheeks!

oh, yeah, sorry koogs you're right! 'little angels' is the supernanny-style show she had before where she camped out with one family and sorted them out, my bad.

actually, I'm watching 'supernanny' as I type and she has done a cracking job with a family of two soft touches and the angriest child on earth. the WWF-style duke-em-out might have to be called a draw.

― craft ho, Wednesday, 29 August 2007 20:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Ok, this is pure selfishness but I'm bumping this; I'm only a lurker but your tales and pictures of the little'uns makes each working day a little sunnier...

― hejira, Monday, 3 September 2007 08:38 (seventeen years ago) link

I have just realised that I will have to knock up the missus pronto so I can watch 'Yo! Gabba Gabba' - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggrOcBWqHiU - with my firstborn.

― Stevie T, Monday, 3 September 2007 08:52 (seventeen years ago) link

I fear we are overexposing our Ophelia a bit too much to TV. She loves Nijntje - climbs up the stairs at full speed so she can watch the show every evening. I don't mind that much, I used to watch hours of telly when I was younger and actually learned English that way (from about the age of 8 or 9). So I can sort of understand the educational part of certain programs.

We are going to check out two schools because next year we'll be sending her off (hahah that expression) to kindergarten. We have two good schools in the vicinity, both a ten minute walk from our house/shop. They are both Catholic schools, but one's with a uniform (from elementary school) which I quite like. It's not a very strict uniform, the clothes merely have to be blue, but that more or less clinches it for me. We're still going to check out the otehr school as welll. You never know.

Last trimester of my pregnancy. I have gained much too much weight. Even the OBGYN commented on it, but he wasn't too *angry* about it. Just said I shouldn't be eating for two. :-( I'm also suffering from reflux again, but no pelvic pain yet. The baby's still in breech (?) but I'm not too worried about it as the baby's head can face down at the last moment. If not, then it's a caesarian. Not looking forward to it, duh, but if it needs to be a caesarian so be it.

V, those pix are sooooo endearing!

― nathalie, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Also convince me that a second one will be as easy as the first one. :-) I am hoping that it will be an easy ride, but I fear it'll also involve a lot of adaptation. I remember freaking out the first weeks, being confronted with so much change, but that more or less disappeared after three weeks. (That 3 week period seems to be key: after that period, breastfeeding was just a breeze but I also felt more confident about taking care of Ophelia as well the pelvic pain that disappeared...)

― nathalie, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:07 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, second one totally easy, no problems, just relax...(laughs behind hand).

― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Srsly tho, you have seen most of the problems and things the first time round so it's let's freaky when, for instance, they get a temperature or something I think. Also, you've got a load of clothes possibly? Plus those things like pushchairs, babyseats, etc.

― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:17 (seventeen years ago) link

My 2 have taken to acting in front of the camera, this is their version of stuck in the jungle under a giant leaf, child 2 has really got it down...
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1315/1309598079_2007547f57_m.jpg

― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:19 (seventeen years ago) link

How cute!!! :-)

Oh yeah, financially it'll be a lot less demanding as we're having another girl. We're only buying two cribs (one tiny one for in our bedroom and another for the kid's room). Apart from that there's nothing much we need to buy, really. We bought another diaper cushion.

It's the sleep deprivation that I'm not looking forward to. hah. But that is more or less over in four months time,... I hope anyway. :-)

― nathalie, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:20 (seventeen years ago) link

I had forgotten about that! Yes, that is the worst. He had 4 years of it because child 1 started sleeping badly when child 2 arrived. In fact Mrs T was talking about having another child the other day and I need to remember to remind her about the sleep deprivation, that should distract her for a while...

― Ned Trifle II, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:35 (seventeen years ago) link

As much to cheer myself up as hejira and any other lurkers...

Ava dreams of a sewing future...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1037/1270069485_9973efd177.jpg

Lulu shows off her two - count 'em - teeth...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1134/1270103733_98f48e3e78.jpg

― Michael Jones, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:42 (seventeen years ago) link

How old is Lulu now?

I also dream of sewing. Alas, it's more nightmares... :-(

― nathalie, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Lulu - 10 months yesterday.

― Michael Jones, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:55 (seventeen years ago) link

How's Ava's sleeping pattern now? Better?

― nathalie, Monday, 3 September 2007 09:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, she still comes in with us almost every night but since dispensing with her afternoon nap she goes down much better at 8pm or so (so she at least get 4-6 hours in her own bed before diving in with us). We're seeing a slow improvement in her general behaviour too - I think if we can keep the domestic chaos to a minimum and engage with her as much as possible, it really helps curtail her sister-assaulting/130dB-screaming tendencies. Lulu is still in the constant-joy phase (though she can now climb stairs...) but she too will have us at our wits end before long.

(If Koogs is reading this - T4ms1n just had her third! A boy named Laurie.)

― Michael Jones, Monday, 3 September 2007 10:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Good lord. It frightens me a bit (to have a second) as I know I'm blessed with Ophelia's sleeping pattern. She slept through the night from the age of 4 months and now, if we keep her up until 7:30 pm, she climbs the stairs by herself, without a cry or whatever, when we ask her "Let's go to sleep!" She even points at the net, waves at us and says bye bye when we aren't quick enough. She rarely if ever wakes up in the middle of the night.

So maybe Lulu will be like Ophelia, Michael, you never know! :-)

― nathalie, Monday, 3 September 2007 10:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Thanks Michael, much appreciated. Lulu is pure innocent cuteness (going by her pictures...) but Ava looks like a future heartbreaker. Those eyes! I've really enjoyed watching them grow up in pictures on this thread - as well as all the others.

― hejira, Monday, 3 September 2007 13:19 (seventeen years ago) link

Charlotte and Oliver this past weekend...

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-09-02%2015.37.57%20-0700/Image-D15E196559A011DC.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Monday, 3 September 2007 14:08 (seventeen years ago) link

Drunken baby Rockettes!
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1205/1305472338_303645184e.jpg

Me and Ben
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1032/1236228740_2d69c31f4b.jpg

Piano lessons from dad
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1229/1232853846_7341d54d85.jpg

― schwantz, Monday, 3 September 2007 15:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Alex, I'm really looking forward to the days when Ava and Lulu are having a good old blanket guffaw together like Charlotte and Oliver, that's just awesome.

Nathalie, don't fear the arrival of number two, you've got no choice but to adapt and hopefully Ophelia will lead her by example into the world of sleep appreciation, it sounds like she could teach Ava a thing or two. The second time around so many things are just second nature and for me at least, I've been much more chilled out about everything. Dropped piece of bread? 5-second rule. A bit of a tumble? Big cuddle instead of a 3-hour wait at A&E to discover her wee noggin's a-ok like you instinctively knew it was. Borrow the car keys? Ok but be back by midnight, Lulu. And you can wipe that lipstick off right now, missy.

During the first few weeks I found it really hard to look after Ava and also meet the chow-down demands of Lulu so I didn't end up breastfeeding nearly as long as I'd wanted, but you go with the flow, as it were. The second time has just gone so dang quick, that's what kills me. Yesterday we upgraded Lulu into a front-facing carseat, she was just busting out of the smaller one. They're growing up so fast, sniff. You want it to last but at the same time it's also gotta be really fun when they're old enough to be giving it some fake fear for the camera, trapped in the jungle under a leaf.

― craft ho, Friday, 7 September 2007 13:41 (seventeen years ago) link

A question for everyone: What are your kid's favortite tv shows/dvds/videos etc.
OMG Molly is obsessed with "Teletubbies" and will totally make out with her Po doll. She does the same with Tinky Winky. I don't know what any of this means. Like, at all.

Also, the theme from "The Muppet Show" makes her dance like crazy but she doesn't really watch the rest of it, or any other show really including "Sesame Street."

― Dimension 5ive, Friday, 7 September 2007 14:26 (seventeen years ago) link

Drunken baby rockettes picture is awesome! Co-ordinated moves!

Here's on of my lot from late July.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1373/1343644844_143f2fd315.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onimo/

― onimo, Friday, 7 September 2007 21:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Wait, when was the weather like that in July (or this summer)?

― Madchen, Friday, 7 September 2007 21:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Photo properties say it was taken on 23rd July. You missed summer, that'll teach you to blink.

― onimo, Friday, 7 September 2007 21:43 (seventeen years ago) link

I R serious baby... lovely kids!

― luna, Friday, 7 September 2007 21:45 (seventeen years ago) link

I think I posted this before but I'm drunk and lookingat flickr so I'm posting it again coz Megan's gorgeous.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1081/537193047_02651507c0.jpg

It's her birthday next week OMG where did a year go?

― onimo, Friday, 7 September 2007 21:55 (seventeen years ago) link

She really is gorgeous.

I love the boy I have beyond all sense, but I admit that I would have liked a girl as well.

― luna, Friday, 7 September 2007 22:12 (seventeen years ago) link

I always said we'd have two boys close together then a gap then a girl. I'm kind of amazed it worked out exactly as planned. We had no idea we were having a girl until the birth. I'll never forget Anne's face when Megan was born, - she was scared to wish for a girl but when it became a reality it was amazing.

Boys are great too. I like that my two lads are still young enough to think I'm funny and clever and stuff and not just some guy.

― onimo, Friday, 7 September 2007 22:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Lately in my house it seems like the older Spencer gets, the dumber I become.

― luna, Friday, 7 September 2007 22:35 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1238/1342568408_56c164fdc1_o.jpg

Taken by my husband. She had a rough day (on friday). I think she's more or less over it. But for a minute we feared teh urinary infection was back. I think it was just some bug or something cause my husband and I had/have it as well.

― stevienixed, Sunday, 9 September 2007 14:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Oohhh these photos! Best thread ever. Cheered me right up I tell thee.

― Ned Trifle II, Sunday, 9 September 2007 14:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, the countdown now really begins. Braxton-Hicks and sleepless nights. *URGH* :-)

― stevienixed, Sunday, 9 September 2007 14:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Yuk - but it'll be worth it!

― Ned Trifle II, Sunday, 9 September 2007 14:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Step on it Nath, there hasn't been an ILX birth for at least three weeks now!

Alice has become such a poser:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1036/1355559502_cda2be0ca4.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Monday, 10 September 2007 13:52 (seventeen years ago) link

I know! It's countdown to delivery. There is no escape. :-) Just got results back that my blood plates (?) and white bloodcells are a okay. So I needn't worry too much about bleeding.

― nathalie, Monday, 10 September 2007 14:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Fun with animation...

http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m261/disbister/Rockettes1.gif

― schwantz, Monday, 10 September 2007 16:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia looks like a little angel.

― luna, Monday, 10 September 2007 16:11 (seventeen years ago) link

And Alice is quite the ham! So gorgeous, that girl. And the rockette twins!

I am in love with all these babies today.

― luna, Monday, 10 September 2007 16:11 (seventeen years ago) link

http://a505.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/82/m_344063b39a6f387467b8b4c98ce94280.jpg
http://a82.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/109/m_f28100f326f60d2a6759723f62298771.jpg

Cyrus and Rufus at the jobsite that is our new house.

― Maria :D, Monday, 10 September 2007 17:53 (seventeen years ago) link

More cuties! I loved the pics Scott posted on the other thread, Maria - especially the second one of Cyrus. So freakin' cute I can hardly stand it.

― luna, Monday, 10 September 2007 18:00 (seventeen years ago) link

from BabyZone's Newsletter <newslet✧✧✧@babyz✧✧✧.c✧✧>
to xxxxxxxxxxxx✧✧✧@gm✧✧✧.c✧✧
date Sep 10, 2007 12:30 PM
subject When everyone's pregnant . . . except you

― sunny successor, Monday, 10 September 2007 19:04 (seventeen years ago) link

all the babes above are just beautiful. that alice!

here's le beep on her 6 month b'day:

http://img516.imageshack.us/img516/2253/6months2go2.jpg

― sunny successor, Monday, 10 September 2007 19:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Those EYES!

And Alice. <3 I really wish we could have a gettogether!

― stevienixed, Monday, 10 September 2007 19:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Step on it Nath, there hasn't been an ILX birth for at least three weeks now!

I suspect there'll be another one before too much longer.

― Matt, Monday, 10 September 2007 19:54 (seventeen years ago) link

I thought you were showing, Matt, but I didn't want to say anything.

― Michael White, Monday, 10 September 2007 20:00 (seventeen years ago) link

I really wish we could have a gettogether!

BABYFAP

― sunny successor, Monday, 10 September 2007 20:01 (seventeen years ago) link

I want to smooch Beeps' face off (and I love her wee monkey wear.)

― luna, Monday, 10 September 2007 20:13 (seventeen years ago) link

(how has it been 6 months already? Holy cow.)

― luna, Monday, 10 September 2007 20:13 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah, time, hello? why you fly so fast!? our Julia is already a month old - two days ago in fact.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/grimstitch/smallbw2.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h186/grimstitch/smallbw.jpg

― Kim, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 01:18 (seventeen years ago) link

i just kissed my computer screen - so cute those cheeks

― Maria :D, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 02:12 (seventeen years ago) link

She is so beautiful Kim! That chin, yum!

― Archel, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 13:30 (seventeen years ago) link

she hasn't mastered smiling yet (even by accident) but she has these super serious concerned looks and heartbreakingly sad droopy cheek faces down pat. her burp face in particular is so abjectly pathetic that i crack up laughing nearly every time. and i laugh at her when she's eating too... making cookie monster munching type sounds. obv i'm a terrible parent!

― Kim, Tuesday, 11 September 2007 14:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Adrian (3) broek a arm = TEH SUCK

― Andy K, Monday, 17 September 2007 13:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Awww! Poor kid.

― Rock Hardy, Monday, 17 September 2007 13:48 (seventeen years ago) link

xp: ouch! how did it happen?

― sunny successor, Monday, 17 September 2007 13:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Technically his left radius. Sitting on a chair, getting ready to eat dinner. We were RIGHT THERE. It happened so fast -- he was tired and probably unable to react, given the several inconsequential daredevil falls he has taken before. Emergency room stay was not completely horrible. Went to second hospital for re-setting, had to leave room for five minutes during re-setting/X-raying, and of course it felt like an eternity. One of the drugs (*makes anxiety face*) he was given was Ketamine, and of course I felt the urge to make a Villalobos joke but no one would've gotten it -- not even Adrian. He has taken it very well considering but has trouble getting comfortable enough to sleep.

― Andy K, Monday, 17 September 2007 14:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Jeeps. Hope it all comes through okay for him (and you and Jodee as well!).

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 17 September 2007 14:12 (seventeen years ago) link

These are probably going to be huge but I'm at work with nothing to reduce them so huge they'll stay:

Beeps the pacifist:
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/9208/pacifistlm8.jpg

Beeps the couch licker:
http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/551/couchlickerxn2.jpg

Beeps the smileypants:
http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/6610/beatscriblb5.jpg

― sunny successor, Monday, 17 September 2007 14:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Poor Adrian.

Here's Lulu at her Nana's...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1133/1388287390_0498d3d58c.jpg

And Ava getting excited about a fox in the garden...

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1086/1387087375_9cda7e468c.jpg

Exciting news - we've started toilet training with Ava. So far, so good - more hits than misses. We're making a big fuss of her when she gets it right ("I've done it, Daddy!") and making light of her accidents. Keeping the use of pull-up pants to a minimum - hopefully she'll soon be in her Peppa Pig briefs...

― Michael Jones, Monday, 17 September 2007 14:42 (seventeen years ago) link

(post the flamingo picture!)

― koogs, Monday, 17 September 2007 15:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Beeps, Beeps, you are the cutest pacifist! Ava and Lulu have their pans ready for banging and have requested to join you on future crawls/marches. They've been practising the call and response technique. "What do we want? Chocolate milk! When do we want it? Now!"

Poor Adrian's busted arm, hope he's getting a little more comfortable as he gets used to it. I await our first broken bone with trepidation, but I'm reasonably sure it's going to happen, and probably earlier rather than later for at least one of our girl daredevils. The frenzied way Ava trampolines on the sofa to Kraftwerk, the naive way Lulu doesn't realise the dog on wheels will certainly roll when she's using it to stand up, it gives me the Fear. You want to protect them all the time but sometimes they just crash before you see it coming.

As Mike says, the toilet training with Ava is going surprisingly well. She spends most of the day nekkid as a jaybird which is her fave outfit anyway. Three days of doing this has taught me that if I use the pull-up pants she'll just use them like a nappy and ignore the potty. I did put some cotton pants on her a couple of times today but she just forgets to pull them down before she sits on the potty, ha!

I swore when I started that I wasn't going to use food as a reward when the girl done good but that went out the window on day one - we play with sticker books pretty often and she's just not wowed out enough by stickers for that to be a real incentive. So it's the forbidden tiny handful of chocolate buttons or jelly beans that's doing the trick, with an end-of-day toy car (50p at sainsbury's!) for an overall successful day (which is basically using the potty as intended instead of a hat for the majority of the day). if anybody else is conquering/has conquered this whole messy toilet thing already and has some tips, I'm all ears!

I took the girls to Chester Zoo when we were at Mike's mum's last week. I know we've exceeded our babe image quota for the day but here are the flamingos for koogs and a leopardtastic Lulu shot so she doesn't feel left out when she's reading the archives in a few years:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1351/1387455361_b2999caee5.jpg

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1179/1388177658_5e46182b86.jpg

hey nathalie, you any closer to birthing o's sister yet? I know you're not actually in the hospital yet because you've been pummelling the husbeau at scrabble, but here's hoping there's some action soon!

― craft ho, Monday, 17 September 2007 22:56 (seventeen years ago) link

wow @ leopard lulu! what gorgeous pictures.

― Kim, Monday, 17 September 2007 23:44 (seventeen years ago) link

The frenzied way Ava trampolines on the sofa to Kraftwerk

Awesome (but not for the danger part, obv).

(Thanks for the well-wishing, everyone.)

― Andy K, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 14:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Andy, man, I don't know how I'd react. I have TEH FEAR as well, but realize that, as much as I try to protect her, she's bound to fall down or even break an arm/leg. That said, she's surprisingly cautious: She could walk early on, but decided to hold on to my hand for the longest time. (As I type this, she bangs the door shut with an enormous thud. Cautious? Maybe not as much as I'd like.)

As always, the mini-ILXORs are too cute for words. :-)

No, I'm still more than a month off. I feel exceptionally tired, though, as I can't sleep at night. Our employee, who has a caesarian on the 8th, apparently had 3 minute contractions! They were just in time to suppress them. Now she's at home taking pills every two hours and lying down as much as possible. I do have to say that the latter, having a rest, sounds very appealing. Although I hate it, my husband has managed to convince me: I take naps during the day, as I tend to be awake during the night. *sigh* I shouldn't complain though, I am pregnant. :-)

Ah yes, I did pummel him for one game, but boy are you two beating me now! :-) I might sneak in the laptop when I deliver next month. :-) Hello, I'm Nathalie, I'm a scrabaholic! :-)

― nathalie, Tuesday, 18 September 2007 14:51 (seventeen years ago) link

The frenzied way Ava trampolines on the sofa to Kraftwerk

The Robots is still her favourite but she now has a soft-spot for Elektro Kardiogramm, especially one particular panning, swooshing noise that she imitates and then collapses in giggles - "Here comes the sound!"..."What's that noise, Daddy?" She's decided it sounds like elevator doors closing. I hope we've initiated a lifetime of musical appreciation based entirely on cool synth FX.

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 19 September 2007 10:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Owen trying on his Halloween turtle costume:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1193/1426613862_9deff62709.jpg

Both of 'em at the SF Ukelele Fest:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1228/1348633244_9ccd3a5f94.jpg

A piece for four filthy hands:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1390/1426616082_f55903f759.jpg

― schwantz, Sunday, 23 September 2007 14:31 (seventeen years ago) link

That turtle costume is fantastic.

― ENBB, Sunday, 23 September 2007 15:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Charlotte this weekend....

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-09-23%2016.17.37%20-0700/Image-58CD51806A2911DC.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-09-23%2016.17.37%20-0700/Image-58CE3EEC6A2911DC.jpg

http://homepage.mac.com/alexinnyc/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2007-09-23%2016.17.37%20-0700/Image-58CF43BD6A2911DC.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Sunday, 23 September 2007 23:38 (seventeen years ago) link

COVER CONNECTIONS...

<i>Naptime</i> vs. <i>NightTime</i>
http://vassifer.blogs.com/alexinnyc/images/2007/09/21/img_6011_2.jpg http://vassifer.blogs.com/alexinnyc/images/2007/09/21/s11402.jpg

― Alex in NYC, Sunday, 23 September 2007 23:43 (seventeen years ago) link

so great

― sunny successor, Monday, 24 September 2007 16:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Still my favorite ILXer.

― luna, Monday, 24 September 2007 20:36 (seventeen years ago) link

The 2nd link on this page ("Home birth heard over phone") is an audio clip of a home birth 999 call. I heard it yesterday on the radio and it's simply amazing (though not if you're a bit squeamish I suppose).

http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?scope=all&tab=av&recipe=all&q=%22home+birth%22&x=0&y=0

I think the first link is a news video about the same story but I can't watch it at work to check.

― onimo, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 13:07 (seventeen years ago) link

The transcript of the same call (probably? I haven't listened to check) was in the Guardian last week - it was one of their journalists it happened to. Eek!

http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/family/story/0,,2169286,00.html

― Archel, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 13:48 (seventeen years ago) link

prediction: esme and jessie will never have children

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 14:21 (seventeen years ago) link

Ooooooooooooookay, I'm not sure I wanted to read this before the arrival of the second baby, but I did anyway.

I gained SIX kilos in the last month which seems partly due to water retention. Harumph. And probably too many french fries. :-( But everything else is ffffine. Head turned down, good placenta and so on and so on. The countdown has begun. Eeek! I had a slight panic attack when I got a phone call from employee's husband saying his wife had delivered. She was due around the same time as I am.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 14:51 (seventeen years ago) link

what is your due date again, nath?

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 14:56 (seventeen years ago) link

25th of October. My husband hopes it'll be earlier, as otherwise it's so close to my birthday and he knows how much he'll have to endure the last weeks/days: me moaning and groaning. :-)

Ophelia probably has throat infection. :-( Poor thing. If it doesn't change after today, we'll go to the doc. But she's such a good girl, even though she wakes up and yells for us, she still doesn't cry.

― nathalie, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 15:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Aidan spent some time with his grandma this weekend:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1227/1434151336_073d509258.jpg
I think the look of trepidation is the thought of impending colic, which has been wracking him for the last few days :(

― Porkpie, Tuesday, 25 September 2007 21:42 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw he's looking great. Elbow dimple! Hope the colic doesn't last long, for all your sakes...

― Archel, Wednesday, 26 September 2007 08:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Is it just me or does Aidan look a whole lot like Tom Brady's new baby?

In other news Nath just took my number one spot for "Best Mother" on facebook:

Who would make a better mother
Rankings in your inner friend circle.

1 Stev1e N1xed Wins 5(83%)

2 K4th4r1ne B Wins 4 (100%)

― sunny successor, Thursday, 27 September 2007 02:52 (seventeen years ago) link

I think we've got a Lil' Louis on our hands: Tallulah (aged 10 3/4 months) now weighs in at 23lbs; Ava (aged 2 years 7 months) weighs in at 26lbs. (!) How long until Lulu closes that gap completely? And how long until Ava gets several months' of beatings revisited upon her?

Here's Ava enjoying her freedom while she still can, getting soaked in the water features in Sydenham's Wells Park:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1215/1414952288_a67d0bef8c.jpg

And a brief break from jumping on the couch:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1232/1429351061_e23b71c01a.jpg

That's my quota for the week, so Big Bertha will have to wait...

― Michael Jones, Friday, 28 September 2007 14:10 (seventeen years ago) link

beautiful!!

speaking of lil louis, beeps weighed in at 19lbs/2ft3 at her 6 month check up.

― sunny successor, Friday, 28 September 2007 14:14 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, that's pretty hefty too! Lulu is pretty much exactly 5x her birth weight - Ava probably won't hit that mark (30lbs in her case) until she's well past her 3rd birthday at this rate. I mean, they're both still within those upper and lower centile curves, but they couldn't be more different.

― Michael Jones, Friday, 28 September 2007 14:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh my god she's absolutely gorgeous and you're an amazing photographer MJ!

― ENBB, Friday, 28 September 2007 14:29 (seventeen years ago) link

The second one was by Pam!

― Michael Jones, Friday, 28 September 2007 14:48 (seventeen years ago) link

hey you guys just reminded me to weigh him! 33.5 lbs by the bathroom scale at 21 mos...his rate of weight gain has slowed down and he's getting taller too, so he's starting to look more like a little boy and less like a chunky baby. He's also started the "I don't feel like eating ever" thing, which I thought came later.

― teeny, Friday, 28 September 2007 15:04 (seventeen years ago) link

That second photo is simply great, MJ.

― Michael White, Friday, 28 September 2007 15:08 (seventeen years ago) link

In other news Nath just took my number one spot for "Best Mother" on facebook:

I definitely need all the help I can get. :-( Ophelia had a cold. Then we realized she was getting her molars. THEN the infection went from the ears'n'throat to her stomach and... pfff diarrhea today. There's nothing like changing five diapers in a row. One was on, pfff, another one needed. Ophelia also decided to test my muscle strength (because she was probably having painful bowelmovement) by kicking and flexing her muscles. Especially when you're also suffering from sleep deprivation and back pain, this tests your weaknesses. She also did a half dozen projectile vomits today (and yesterday). It freaked me out seeing it splatter all over. :-( Poor thing. We made the horrible mistake of giving her some OJ which we KNEW resulted in vomiting but it was the only thing she liked. Today she ate a banana. YAY, solid food. It's been a couple of days of milk and no solid food at all.

I hope the baby waits a few more weeks so I can catch up on zzzzzs. :-( I feel extremely CRAP. I am beginning to realize that two kids is a lot more than one. :-) BUt hey seeing Ophelia smile and clap her hands when watching Miffy warms my hart. I feel so sorry for her, having to suffer so much. Poor poor thing.

Oh yeah her weight was 13 kilos (28 pounds?) a week or so again. Probably less now but that doesn't mean anything.

― stevienixed, Friday, 28 September 2007 17:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Poor O! I hope she feels better soon.

Beeps went to bed last night with a 100.7F temp and woke up this morning with a 102F temp. I took her to the doc who took a chest x-ray and blood. Turns out she has pneumonia. Poor beeps. She's in surprisingly good spirits though and eating/drinking like a fiend. Today she weighed in at almost 20lbs. A pound up from 4 weeks ago.

Here is the sad kitten waiting for the doc:

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/5732/pnuemoniabeatsiu4.jpg

― sunny successor, Saturday, 29 September 2007 18:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Here are a couple of new videos. The nutcases were in rare form today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9vq_zkw3s4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1memr8SB0LE

― schwantz, Monday, 1 October 2007 02:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Great jumping - I love the hang at the end. And is that Flight of the Conchords playing in the background?

― Michael Jones, Monday, 1 October 2007 09:27 (seventeen years ago) link

awww, poor Beeps! Is she on antibiotics? Hope she's feeling better soon.

I'm on antibiotics again and these ones are going right through him poor little lamb. And as if that wasn't enough he's got his first jabs in an hour.

Nat, is Ophelia better? Hope you're managing to get plenty of sleep in, and aren't feeling too uncomfortable

― Vicky, Monday, 1 October 2007 12:04 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh poor Vicky! I really feel for you and have been thinking of you often. :-(

I'm doing relatively okay. The projectile vomiting and diarrhea are gone, but it could very well be that the viral infection was passed on to my mum and husband. :-( She's feeling slightly better but still needs to recover. She ate a lot the other day, but decided that she couldn't walk anymore. hah! Testing our patience, oh yeah! Today however she's a lot better. And eating. After not eating much for about a week, it really warmed our hearts. She did drink a lot the other week so we didn't worry *that* much. That said, it's so sad to see your child sick.

I'm now officially full term so counting the day. I have back pain, but, cross my fingers it won't change, not much pelvic pain! Yay! Sleeping is difficult though, and I always wake up with a massive headache. :-(

Slaps self to stop complaining. :-)

Positive news: Ophelia has started forming sentences! For example: "Papa, rolls!" and points to the door. (She loves those rolls from the bakery, oh yes, she does.)

― nathalie, Monday, 1 October 2007 13:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava looks just like her mom!

I've got some great pics of Esther and Abby. Esther just started preschool this month and LOVES it. Abby likes having those two mornings a week to play with toys unencumbered by worrying about boundary issues.

― mike a, Monday, 1 October 2007 16:05 (seventeen years ago) link

It IS Flight of the Conchords (thanks, Chaki!).

― schwantz, Monday, 1 October 2007 16:15 (seventeen years ago) link

"I don't feel like eating ever" thing, which I thought came later.

No, that's right on schedule. 21-month-old Abby's been going through just that phase for the past couple of months. Strangely enough, it mostly manifests itself at breakfast time: she won't eat anything besides a few Cheerios and turns away all offers of yogurt, waffles, etc. But she'll eagerly eat yogurt at lunch.

― mike a, Monday, 1 October 2007 17:31 (seventeen years ago) link

lil miss pneumonia:

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/3125/pnuemoniagirlug2.jpg

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 01:44 (seventeen years ago) link

Ava's eyes!!

― Maria :D, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 04:48 (seventeen years ago) link

My big sis has those pale blue with a dark blue rim eyes and I have always been jealous of them.

― Maria :D, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 04:49 (seventeen years ago) link

The stubborn fase has arrived in our household. Perfect timing really as a new kid will arrive pretty soon. hah! Ophelia stayed up until 2 AM. Around taht time she had a major fit. I had already taken her in our bed and around said time she finally, after lots of crying, she fell asleep. This morning she woke up screaming again. She has decided that she prefers rolls over bread. Sadly, we didn't agree with this. I don't have a really big problem with her crying, I can easily switch off my "hearing" which means that it doesn't have any effect. I learned to do this some time ago: when I notice it's for attention or influencing my decisions, I just don't hear the crying. She has to learn taht sometimes she doesn't get her way. But damn it is is "interesting". hah

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 07:23 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, I hear you on this. My 6 six year old is really going through a hissy fit phase but I can totally blank it out esp. when it's "I need more chocolate, where is my chocolate, WON'T ANYBODY LISTEN TO ME!!!!" sadly, other people don't seem as adept, especially when as I lead her (calmly) away from the sweets aisle she shouts "Stop hurting me - you're squeezing my arm to death!!!" Oh joy.

Anyway, good luck Nathalie, I keep expecting to see that you've taken leave of ilx for a few days! Keep us updated.

― Ned Trifle II, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 08:11 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm tempted to order the ipod touch so I can report "live" from the delivery room.

"BABY IS COMING COMING! AAAAAAGGGRRRGRGRGRGRGHHHHH"

hah!

― nathalie, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 09:07 (seventeen years ago) link

schwantz, that is one supercool turtle costume. what is ben going to be for halloween? not that many folks I know in london embrace halloween with the enthusiasm we had when we were kids, so we're forcing the holiday on the neighbourhood posse by having lulu's 1st birthday party a few days early and making it a halloween shindig. I don't know what the girls are gonna dress up as yet. mike is refusing to don so much as a hastily pencilled-in zipper scar or dame-edna-style drag outfit, the killjoy.

I love that second picture of charlotte against the big wall o' graffiti face!

I so wish I was able to block out that hissy-fit screaming, it still really goes through me, even when I know I'm totally justified in refusing ava and lulu access to the aisle of chocolate/toys/powertools/etc. whenever ava throws herself on the floor at the grocery store howling like she's being tortured, about ten mothers I know walk by with their well-behaved smily happy children, it never fails.

good luck, ophelia! my sister birthed us a new niece (ella) yesterday. she was in hard labour for less than 45 minutes this time, a 15-minute increase over her last labour. I'll ask her to send you some of that florida water she's been drinking.

hope beeps is on the mend!

― craft ho, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 16:34 (seventeen years ago) link

doyee, good luck NATHALIE and hope you're feeling better OPHELIA that should've been. I was working on the subtitles for 'frankenstein' last night, I think my brain got corrupted in the process.

― craft ho, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 16:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Esther getting ready for first day of preschool:
<img src="http://www.appelstein.com/esther.jpg";>

Abby attempting to use a fork:
<img src="http://www.appelstein.com/abby.jpg";>

― mike a, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 17:11 (seventeen years ago) link

argh! I give up.

― mike a, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link

here:

http://www.appelstein.com/esther.jpg

http://www.appelstein.com/abby.jpg

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 17:18 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG THAT BLUE DRESS!!

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 17:19 (seventeen years ago) link

craft: We are going to TRY and get Ben to wear this chicken costume:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1090/1426611744_dd85c86783.jpg

However, he started freaking out when we tried to close the chin-strap, so he may go sans-chicken-head hat.

― schwantz, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 17:51 (seventeen years ago) link

45 minutes of contractions?!? WTF! Hardly time to get to the hospital! I'm still having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions. Well, I think so anyway. I haven't timed'em. I'm also freaking out cause I can't remember how to breathe/push. I'll probably ask the nurse. "Uh, can you repeat what you said two years ago?" :-)

How is with you guys? Ophelia seems to advance so much quicker when my parents (and my parents in law) are around for an extended period. It's HELLAfreaky, really, but also a lot of fun. I'm not being subjective or positive thinking, it's maybe the way my parents (and especially my mum) *push* her. My mother loves nothing more than "teaching" Ophelia (like she tried with me but in my case failing miserably hahaha).

David - it is David, isn't it - those costumes are sooooo cute! Alas we don't have Halloween here. :-)

I finally put all the baby clothes in the commode. Damn, I forgot how tiny those clothes (and baby) were!

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 20:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Those are cheapo store-bought costumes, but they were cute, and we're self-aware enough to know we're not going to have/make time to make them ourselves.

― schwantz, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 22:40 (seventeen years ago) link

(and yeah - it's David ;) )

― schwantz, Tuesday, 2 October 2007 22:40 (seventeen years ago) link

OK, seconded on how much Ava looks like her mum.

― ailsa, Wednesday, 3 October 2007 09:57 (seventeen years ago) link

ava just came over to see what I was laughing at - the chicken costume might even be better than the turtle. but I guess there's a long history of humans in chicken costumes getting the official seal of comedy. I don't think either of ours will put up with headgear or ears or anything like that for very long, don't they realise it's a bit limiting?

which has me wondering - mike, how did you get esther to keep that excellent bow in her hair? what an ace first-day outfit she's wearing, your gals are supercute.

nathalie, my experience of breathing/pushing is that the second time around it'll just come back, don't worry! admittedly my breathing was mostly in, with my schnozz embedded in a funnel of life-affirming gas-n-air but still. I found it nearly impossible not to push when the time came, I bet your bod will remind you when it's time!

― craft ho, Wednesday, 3 October 2007 15:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Absolutely no idea. For some reason, E doesn't mind having bows in her hair. A sure won't put up with them.

― mike a, Wednesday, 3 October 2007 15:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Awww little Miss Pneumonia - how is she (besides totally gorgeous, good lord that kid is cute)?

I am totally impressed by Esther's bow wearing as well - it's adorable.

― luna, Thursday, 4 October 2007 16:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Also, Nath, how are you holding up?

― luna, Thursday, 4 October 2007 16:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Esther looks like a little girl from the 20s or 30s in that picture.

― tokyo rosemary, Thursday, 4 October 2007 17:15 (seventeen years ago) link

I know there are bumbo pics earlier on in the thread, so I'll add to them. Pam and Mike kindly lent us their bumbo, and for some reason I thought Aidan was still too wee, but I tried him in it yesterday, and he looks so grown up in it! I'm loving this stage (he's 9 weeks on sunday) I thought I'd be upset that he's no longer a newborn, but smiles are just the best and I've had time to get used to looking after him so it's not such a chore all the time. He's a greedy boy, he was 12lb 10oz last thursday so is putting on an average of 8oz a week.

I've made friends at the mother and baby group, we spent 3 hours in cafe nero yesterday, it's amazing that you can talk to total strangers for that long, but then again I was feeling rather starved of decent conversation and if that conversation was about 99% babies, well that's understandable at this stage!

Now I need to figure out what he can wear for halloween. The twin's outfits made me go look around, there are some fab baby outfits, especially pea pods, but would they get shipped over to the uk in time...

― Vicky, Thursday, 4 October 2007 17:36 (seventeen years ago) link

The chicken and turtle costumes are totally excellent.

Vicky, Aidan is just a beautiful wee boy.

― luna, Thursday, 4 October 2007 17:37 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1342/1477785997_0675b16da3.jpg http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1226/1478645414_e06abaa09f.jpg

― Vicky, Thursday, 4 October 2007 17:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Aren't those Gap soxors? I think I have the same. Yes, I'm a Gap devotee, which is hard as we don't have one here (in Belgium) but my parents live in Japan where they do have plenty of Gap stores. YAY!

And we have the same Bumbo. We figured it could be handy to use as feeding chair (in our house, where we didn't feed Ophelia that often) but she frigging HATED it so never really used it. Maybe for the next baby? I hope so. :-)

Also, Nath, how are you holding up?

I am trying to sit down as much as possible actually. Lots of back pain but I rather have that than the pelvic bone pain (which lasts until after the delivery as I experienced the first time). Next week is check-up time. I am trying to enjoy my last weeks... It's strange, really, asI know that this is my last pregnancy. (Then again you never know, right? Still, I think we'll stop after two...)

― stevienixed, Thursday, 4 October 2007 18:36 (seventeen years ago) link

I can't believe I missed a Wonder Pets discussion a few months back, btw. E was going through a pretty major Wonder Pets phase at the time. Her favorite was the NYC pigeon episode - I am guilty of talking NYC up to her way too much (note: we currently live in the midwest), and she was intrigued by the idea of the Statue of Liberty. It got to the point where she was asking us to drive her to NYC. It was scary when I actually went to NYC by myself for a mini-vacation - what would E think that she was at home? - but she took it surprisingly well.

Now she's into Curious George.

― mike a, Thursday, 4 October 2007 19:20 (seventeen years ago) link

nath, they're H&M socks - Vic sent me there a few weks ago, well of course I came back with loads of stuff I'd wear in my size :) Brown hoodie, combats, stripey socks and sweatshirt... all oh yes.

― Porkpie, Thursday, 4 October 2007 19:36 (seventeen years ago) link

a question for Dads - how old does Aidan have to be before I can buy him a Scalextric?

yes, I may have been looking at the website and drooling over the 70's muscle cars......

― Porkpie, Thursday, 4 October 2007 20:05 (seventeen years ago) link

I love this thread! More pix!! :-D

― KitCat, Thursday, 4 October 2007 20:53 (seventeen years ago) link

Just dropping by to wish Nathalie the best of luck with no.2! How long was your labour with Ophelia? Hopefully this one'll just slide right out...

Howie has been poorly this week with his first ever cold, and still has a nasty cough that has kept him up these last two nights. His eczema is pretty stable, the hospital have pretty much said there's nothing we can do other than try to control the flare-ups with steroids and wait for him to grow out of it. His sleeping is still not great but I can't/won't leave him to cry it out, so I guess we are going to tough it out until he is old enough to bribe to stay in bed ;-)

But I am finding 7 months a brilliant age, he is just so much fun to be with, such a funny lovely personality. And not yet crawling but trying damned hard to. I've a feeling when he does that our lives will get 1000% more complicated...

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 4 October 2007 22:01 (seventeen years ago) link

http://picasaweb.google.com/ColveyClan/HowiePhotoshoot23Weeks/photo?authkey=n8npT_9AhKo#5102714625210822658

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 4 October 2007 22:06 (seventeen years ago) link

http://lh4.google.com/ColveyClan/RtB76pHhsAI/AAAAAAAAEx0/sSH1C8m1dHg/s144/Nathalie%20%286%29.jpg

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 4 October 2007 22:07 (seventeen years ago) link

aidan and howie are such handsome little men!

luna, beats is taking her antibiotics and doing pretty well. not so many gasping for air coughs now. when shes coughing youd have no idea she was sick. she wants to play, not be a sickie!

also, wonder pets are still number one in our house! my favorite is the kitten in venice. beeps only likes the songs though. the middle part, where the actual drama happens, is so boring to her.

good luck NATH!!

― sunny successor, Thursday, 4 October 2007 22:14 (seventeen years ago) link

wonder pets stuff to mark a, of course

― sunny successor, Thursday, 4 October 2007 22:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Also BRING ON TEH CUTE WINTER OUTFITS

http://lh4.google.com/ColveyClan/Rvj7l9xQtjI/AAAAAAAAFGA/CUZ9GYrIikE/s144/CIMG0961.JPG

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 4 October 2007 22:17 (seventeen years ago) link

Look out you guys, they grow up when you're not looking.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v296/WilliamCrump63/IMG_0860.jpg

― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 4 October 2007 22:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Be careful with your Bumbos.

― schwantz, Friday, 5 October 2007 00:45 (seventeen years ago) link

straight hair!

(xpost)

we have two bumbos and we never really used them. i couldnt really think of any reason to just put her on the floor in it. the one time i used it was to sit her it in on the kitchen floor while i made a cake. other than that, id rather let her just squirm. it would have been cool if it was safe on the couch but obviously it isnt.

― sunny successor, Friday, 5 October 2007 02:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, the Bumbos are like the walkers: Easy but you can't ever leave your kid alone. This reminds me of last night. I was alone and O wanted to have a bath. I needed to pee. I really had to remind myself that, even though O looks so sturdy, she's still so very very small. I took nekkid O with me to the toilet and did my "bizniz". :-)

I woke up now - it's about 5 AM - and remembered all these things, like taking care of the navel (?) and stuff. OH NOES! Freakout session! :-)

Meg, my first time started on the 14th but appeared to be BH contractions (or they sent me home at least saying all was fine). Then the next time it started around 8 PM, I went to sleep, or rather tried to, got up around 2 AM telling my husband I couldn't sleep (due to the contractions) so we went to the hospital. I delivered at about 10:45 PM on the 16th of January. I had to be induced. As my water didn't break and I didn't have any effacement (?) at all but only had contractions. But that's considered normal for a first time, long period of contractions, I mean. USUALLY (but of course not always) the second time tends to be shorter. But hey you never know!

― stevienixed, Friday, 5 October 2007 04:04 (seventeen years ago) link

BTW O pooped today, during lunch, and it came out of her pamper all over the feeding chair. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Interesting. :-)

― stevienixed, Friday, 5 October 2007 04:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Aidan looks totally like his dad! Good luck, Nathalie!

― ailsa, Friday, 5 October 2007 09:32 (seventeen years ago) link

a question for Dads - how old does Aidan have to be before I can buy him a Scalextric?

About 6 weeks :)

I need sleep. Megan has a new hobby called SCREAMING ALL NIGHT FOR NO REASON :(

― onimo, Friday, 5 October 2007 09:56 (seventeen years ago) link

G, that reminds me, did we ask you if you wanted that unopened Scalextric that's been taking up space in our house for the last three years?

― ailsa, Friday, 5 October 2007 10:12 (seventeen years ago) link

No you didn't. Thanks for the offer - I shall ask A but I'm fairly sure the answer will be "and where do you suggest we put it?" and that "right slap bang in the middle of the living room..." won't be the answer she's looking for :)

― onimo, Friday, 5 October 2007 10:14 (seventeen years ago) link

O has fever again. :-( She has been sick off and on for some time now. :-(((

― nathalie, Friday, 5 October 2007 11:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh damn, now the fever has hit 39,5 degrees. :-( Any of you parents have experience with kids having infections this often? She was sick last week, was okay for two days and has return to sickie mode again. :-(

― stevienixed, Friday, 5 October 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link

Is she still going to daycare? Beeps is always getting sick and her doctor says thats typical for a kid that goes to daycare. he says if she wasn't getting these colds and infections now (didn't go to daycare), she would get them when she started kindergarten. it sucks but its how the immune system builds itself up.

― sunny successor, Friday, 5 October 2007 19:52 (seventeen years ago) link

how old does Aidan have to be before I can buy him a Scalextric?

Chris, if you're serious about this, it depends more on when you can buy a bigger house :)

Btw that Bumbo article may as well have just read OMG COVER YOUR CHILDREN IN 100000 LAYERS OF BUBBLE WRAP AND LIVE IN A BOUNCY CASTLE OR THEY'LL DIE !!!1!!1

― Mark C, Saturday, 6 October 2007 12:01 (seventeen years ago) link

xpost Yes, she is. I know it's "normal" but it pains me so much. It might be an urinary infection again. :-(

― nathalie, Saturday, 6 October 2007 12:47 (seventeen years ago) link

it is to laugh

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2367/1496187331_d6934c9e7e.jpg?v=0

― Alan, Saturday, 6 October 2007 13:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Oohhh these photos! Best thread ever. Cheered me right up I tell thee.

said like a month ago but still v v otm
i am filled with love

― rrrobyn, Saturday, 6 October 2007 13:35 (seventeen years ago) link

The main thing we used the bumbo for was letting Lytton sit on the kitchen floor while the rabbits played in there!

All the babies look 10x awesome - must bookmark this thread and not neglect it!

― Groke, Saturday, 6 October 2007 13:37 (seventeen years ago) link

mike/pam's photos also remind me that i shld make sure to buy a rad SLR camera before i have babies (and practice my photography skills beforehand too obv)
or have babies with a rad photographer
hm

― rrrobyn, Saturday, 6 October 2007 13:38 (seventeen years ago) link

http://freakytrigger.co.uk/lytton/AugStand.JPG

― Groke, Saturday, 6 October 2007 13:56 (seventeen years ago) link

Ooooooooh look at those legs! I wanna bite'em! :-)

― nathalie, Saturday, 6 October 2007 14:15 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh yeah there was an article about the yummy and slummy mummies in our newspaper. An interview with the journalist who invented teh label "yummy mummies". Quite interesting and OTM.

― nathalie, Saturday, 6 October 2007 14:16 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm trying to imagine the good citizens of Bruges 500 years ago grappling with these concepts.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 6 October 2007 14:17 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iw9ipfC3YQk

― max r, Sunday, 7 October 2007 20:29 (seventeen years ago) link

i understood about a tenth of that

― sunny successor, Monday, 8 October 2007 03:10 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw, loving the little ILX boy babies! They all look so chubsome and happy :)

A(li)ce of spades:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2356/1524179974_c4c04379c9.jpg?v=0

Read it or eat it?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2052/1524179994_85feff081f.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Tuesday, 9 October 2007 12:38 (seventeen years ago) link

haha. so cute!

its so not 2058, Archel. I mean it might be but thats one young looking 51 year old.

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 9 October 2007 13:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, we time-travelled for that one... apparently our house is still a mess in the future, woo.

― Archel, Tuesday, 9 October 2007 14:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh my god - she's so gorgeous and happy.

― ENBB, Tuesday, 9 October 2007 14:44 (seventeen years ago) link

What great eyebrows!

― schwantz, Tuesday, 9 October 2007 15:37 (seventeen years ago) link

i still don't have one...still trying. :(

looking into adoption now.

― thebingoisback, Wednesday, 10 October 2007 21:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Heya Chris. Hoping for the best.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 10 October 2007 21:46 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi ILX.

Ethan James Fallaize got himself born this morning. He's awesome.

Love and hugs

Matt

― Matt, Saturday, 13 October 2007 00:31 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations!!!! All the best to you and Mrs. Coastaltown and wee Ethan!

― Jaq, Saturday, 13 October 2007 00:33 (seventeen years ago) link

:-)

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 13 October 2007 00:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Welcome to the world, Ethan! xxx Congrats Mr & Mrs Coastaltown!

― luna, Saturday, 13 October 2007 01:44 (seventeen years ago) link

awwww...congrats. PHOTOS.

― sunny successor, Saturday, 13 October 2007 03:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Congrats! Great name, too!

xpost to last dozen or so photos - Why are all ILX babies so adorable and happy looking?!

― Sara R-C, Saturday, 13 October 2007 03:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Because all other babies are full of the evils.

― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 13 October 2007 03:09 (seventeen years ago) link

i still don't have one...still trying. :(

How long have you been trying now? Maybe rude of me to ask... :-(

Matt, congrats! I thought she was due after me. Gah, I still haven't delivered. Then again, I feel a bit sick these last few dazzzzeee so maybe for the best, I can rest somewhat before the sleep deprivation really begins. :-)

Ophelia was sick last week. We called the doc on call and he claimed it wasn't anything specific, probably a UTI as he didn't notice anything else. We went to her pediatrician. She noticed an ear infection. I was extremely tempted to call him, ask my money back (46 euros) and demand WHY THE FUCK HE DIDNT SEE THE EAR INFECTION EVEN THOUGH HE LOOKED AT HER EARS.

― stevienixed, Saturday, 13 October 2007 08:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations Matt!

― onimo, Saturday, 13 October 2007 10:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations Matt!

Chris, I hope your journey ends happily soon. I wouldn't wish infertility on my worst enemy, it was a truly miserable experience and if my memory serves me right you've been trying for a lot longer than the two years it took us.

― Vicky, Saturday, 13 October 2007 13:48 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations - ilx babies rule ok.

― Ned Trifle II, Saturday, 13 October 2007 14:05 (seventeen years ago) link

go long!
http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4121/starlite10132007nb2.jpg

― sunny successor, Sunday, 14 October 2007 00:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Ben and Owen
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2272/1570695564_8dc37b3506.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2141/1569807151_82151b4715.jpg

― schwantz, Sunday, 14 October 2007 16:33 (seventeen years ago) link

look at all those toofahs! do they both have the same amount of teeth?

― sunny successor, Sunday, 14 October 2007 16:36 (seventeen years ago) link

Well done Matt!!!

― *rumpie*, Sunday, 14 October 2007 17:28 (seventeen years ago) link

They have different amounts of teeth. Owen has less on the bottom. Other than that, they are very identical. They have been within an ounce of each other for months now.

― schwantz, Sunday, 14 October 2007 22:12 (seventeen years ago) link

So, teething... Aidan's started chewing his hands lots. He's always done it as a sign of hunger but this past week it's really stepped up, and soon after he's been fed, which makes me think it's more likely to be teething than hunger. Particularly as he seems to be chomping down on my finger rather than sucking. Is ten weeks a bit early to start teething? I know it can take months before they actually come through. He has started dribbling a wee bit, but doesn't have red cheeks, and doesn't seem too distressed about it...yet.

I'm loving seeing photos of Alice, Beeps, Ben and Owen and all the other ILX babes, it's scary how fast they're all growing up now! I can't believe that Aidan's ten weeks old today!

We're trying to get rid of cradle cap at the minute. I'm trying the oil overnight then trying to get the scales off before washing his hair. It's pretty disgusting work! Not sure how many goes to give it before deciding to just use the dentinox shampoo.

When did people start introducing bed time, and what time was it, etc? Aidan's still not really in a routine - it all depends on feeding times and whether he sleeps or not - changes wildly from night to night.

Gratuitous fluff, of course

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/1536173876_cd0b35af1d_m.jpg

― Vicky, Sunday, 14 October 2007 22:34 (seventeen years ago) link

awww...Aidan! That nose and cupids bow lips! eeee!

Beeps actually started with the teething behavior somewhere between 8 and 10 weeks. Lots of biting and drooling. This went on until she was 4 months when her bottom teeth broke free. Now she is 7 months and it finally looks like the top two are about to pop. You can tell because they get this weird little pimple looking thing on their gums just before the action starts. The thing I didn't know about teething, and it may not be the case for all babies but it has happened for my friends with kids and us, is that before the teeth come though they are super fussy for 2 or 3 days then fine for 4 or 5 then fussy for another 2 or 3 days etc. I thought teething was going to be this fussy hell that would go on without a break for months. Beeps had a total of 4 fussy days/nights with her bottom teeth and that didn't happen until two weeks before the teeth came through. None with the top teeth so far.

Beeps started off with a real late bedtime. I guess we were working on the 4 hour theory. 11pm bedtime, 3am feeding, 7am wake up. She started sleeping through the night consistently at 5 weeks and her bedtime stayed at 11pm for a while but then edged its way down to 10pm and now somewhere between 8:30 and 9pm. Sometimes if she missed her last nap its more like 8pm but thats rare. Friends of mine have their baby in bed by 7pm but with work, the nightly feeding and bathing routine, plus wanting to spend time with her, 7pm is just not possible for us. Also, she's never tired that early.

― sunny successor, Monday, 15 October 2007 01:48 (seventeen years ago) link

She started sleeping through the night consistently at 5 weeks

WTF! She really started sleeping through the night (from about 8 till early morning) around four months. 4 months plus one day to be exact. I know this because I put her in her own room at four months. The first night she woke up once, the second (and following) night she slept through. But before that she had already a pretty consistent routine. Woke up at around 11 PM for a feeding and then maybe around... Ah hell, I'm feeling crampy and can't focus.

Oh yeah, first teeth was at four months which is considered to be VERY early. But the "fuss" starts a bit earlier. It all depends from baby to baby, but it usually runs in the family: I was early, so I kinda expected O to be early as well, which she was.

I've been reading up about breastfeeding. How quickly I forgot what I have to do. :-( I hope it all works out as well as the first time.

Damn, feeling so crampy.

― stevienixed, Monday, 15 October 2007 01:59 (seventeen years ago) link

My son didn't get his first teeth until he was over a year old! Admittedly he was a preemie, but only 6 weeks early. It was kind of crazy. And... I can't remember about Julia. :( Bad Mommy!

Breastfeeding the second time was a bit harder than I expected since I had last nursed a toddler, which is pretty different - and the new baby will be learning, too. BUT not to worry, Nathalie, I'm sure it will be fine.

Also - being crampy is a great sign (as long as you're not too early) - so go get some rest. (I never did that with Julia; I kept trying things to induce labor. They didn't work, though. One memorable moment - my FIL telling my husband that "sperm freshens the uterus." Uh... thanks, dude, I don't think we needed to hear that from you.)

― Sara R-C, Monday, 15 October 2007 04:38 (seventeen years ago) link

That's all right, Sara, presumably he was talking about how his wife's sperm freshened his uterus.

― Ned Raggett, Monday, 15 October 2007 04:40 (seventeen years ago) link

So MANY things wrong with that...

― Sara R-C, Monday, 15 October 2007 04:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Belated congratulations Matt! And well done Mrs Matt! And Ethan!

It's weird how much I've forgotten about the first few months with Alice already. I can't really remember when we started having 'bedtime' for example. I don't think it hit me for quite a while than even though she was going to wake for a feed at 11pm (and 3am...), I could still put her down in bed at 7pm and even go to bed for a bit myself if I wanted...

I know she slept through the night from about 4/5 months, and that she was teething at 3 months with a tooth by 4.

― Archel, Monday, 15 October 2007 11:42 (seventeen years ago) link

guys, recommend something for a 1 year old that i can get on amazon. like a toy. what were/are your kids 12 month favorites?

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 17:36 (seventeen years ago) link

I remember seeing a few photos of me at that age where it was one of those groups of rings one on top of the next around a little column -- about a foot tall. Each ring was a different size, soft plastic or rubber or something, different bright color, way too big to choke on but easy to play with. I'm sure there's a name for this!

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 17:42 (seventeen years ago) link

listen, raggett, i don't what kind of developmental slow track you were on as a kid but the average 1 year old is way beyond that colored donut shizz.

j/k! thats a good idea. keep em coming, please.

― sunny successor, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 17:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Our kids are major bookworms. They frickin' LOVE these ones:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/105-5794029-8592407?initialSearch=1&url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=peekaboo+dk&x=0&y=0

And they have spent many hours around this thing:
http://www.amazon.com/LeapFrog-Learn-Groove%C2%AE-Musical-Table/dp/B000ETRENI/ref=sr_1_4/105-5794029-8592407?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1192557508&sr=1-4

This one looks good for learning to walk - I haven't tried it, but the "push-resist" feature sounds good to keep them from face-planting:
http://www.amazon.com/Radio-Flyer-Classic-Walker-Wagon/dp/B00005AWB5/ref=sr_1_23/105-5794029-8592407?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1192557508&sr=1-23

― schwantz, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 18:01 (seventeen years ago) link

That's all right, Sara, presumably he was talking about how his wife's sperm freshened his uterus.

Woha. This is a KIDS related thread! :-)

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 18:23 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2240/1571504515_3ccb165b53.jpg

Reading with granny. <3

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 18:25 (seventeen years ago) link

VERY cool. :-)

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 18:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Owen making his biggest smile:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2164/1572375907_fd280d11ae.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2343/1573261508_060d702885.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2185/1573259590_0d1a177908.jpg

― schwantz, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 18:40 (seventeen years ago) link

He's actually winking! How cute! :-)

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 18:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Howie started having a proper bedtime around 9/10 weeks, I think. Before that he would just doze on us on the sofa til we went to bed. But he still doesn't sleep through the night at nearly 8 months!

He started drooling and gnawing around 4 months but no teeth til 6 months.

This week, he can crawl. Eek...

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 18:55 (seventeen years ago) link

chris bingo,

http://www.fcleague.org/

is a really really really wonderful adoption agency that handled my adoption into the US.they're fairly near you, and i can't say enough good things about them.

― remy bean, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 18:57 (seventeen years ago) link

But he still doesn't sleep through the night at nearly 8 months!

Crosses fingers this does not happen to our second baby. Ophelia was so easy, still is. We know that if she does wake up in the middle of the night, she's most probably sick.

― stevienixed, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 19:10 (seventeen years ago) link

He is actually getting better at night -- at least a hell of a lot better than he was 2/3 months ago. At the moment we are averaging 3 wakings a night, he is still feeding once a night but not til 4ish and I am gradually pushing that back so hopefully soon it will be phased out altogether. He's not really keen on solids yet so I'm not too worried about that one feed.

― Meg Busset, Tuesday, 16 October 2007 19:34 (seventeen years ago) link

wow...how long are you going to wait to give him solids. beeps got crazy fussy around the 6 month mark. waking up multiple times a night crying. suddenly we realized - she's hungry!! we started her on some cereal and all the fussing and crying stopped immediately. poor kid. we'd been starving her :(

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 02:37 (seventeen years ago) link

btw: thanks for your help schwantz and ned!

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 02:38 (seventeen years ago) link

Alice has been a good sleeper for ages, but suddenly she is waking up ridiculously early, between 4.30 and 5.30am, and won't be settled. It's not like the waking in the night she used to do when she was disturbed but still sleepy, she's just wide awake and ready to be up. Unlike me. Any tips?

― Archel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 09:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Sunny, I'm not waiting to give him solids... he's been offered them since 6 months old! But he's just not massively interested yet.

Archel, take it you have tried later bedtime/earlier bedtime/shortening naps?

― Meg Busset, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 09:12 (seventeen years ago) link

We have shortened naps but later bedtime is torture for everyone as she basically screams with exhaustion from about 7pm if not put to bed...

― Archel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 09:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Could be she's just in a next *spurt* (or growth, or whatever you call it) or maybe teething. The only thing which helped me is realizing that I had to *gently* send out the message that night time is sleepy time and that I wouldn't pick her up. Picking up a baby (at night) is not really advisable. Pat'em, talk softly to'em but don't pick'em up. In due time they will learn that they jsut have to go to sleep.

It's all easier said than done, I know. I count myself lucky that Ophelia was so easy! I mean, the first couple of months she woke up more than your "average" baby but then she was so grebt. Even now, she sometimes wakes up, but usually just goes back to sleep on her own.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 09:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Hmm, probably not a problem this time of year but is there any light that could be waking her -- street lights etc? If so maybe blackout blinds might help?

Would she settle back to sleep if you took her into bed with you?

Otherwise all I can do is repeat the mantras, "It's just a phase" and "This too shall pass"...

― Meg Busset, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 09:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Personally I wouldn't take her in bed with me, she has to learn to sleep alone. I know, I know, easier said than done... :-) Ophelia never wanted/wants to really sleep with us. She likes her own space.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 09:37 (seventeen years ago) link

We do a little cry-it-out when they start to push the wake-up times earlier than 6, and they seem to get it in a day or two. They don't sleep in our bed, though, so it's a bit less annoying if they fuss and cry a little.

― schwantz, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 16:48 (seventeen years ago) link

does/did anyone co-sleep here? i cant see the advantages.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 16:54 (seventeen years ago) link

A woman on that annoying TV programme was breastfeeding without waking up. I guess that's an advantage.

― Madchen, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 16:56 (seventeen years ago) link

From what I've read the BIGGEST advantage (apart from the emotional closeness value for some people) is not having to get up and walk around to breastfeed? The books say (I know, I know, "the books") that mothers tend to notice their babies' early fussiness and offer to nurse before a) the babies go to full-blown crying, and b) the mothers have to wake all the way up.

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 17:03 (seventeen years ago) link

The Books also say things about temperature co-regulation, ie when mother & baby are in close contact, her body temperature will judge baby's up or down by a few degrees to keep him warm. Also that the sound & physical movement of mom's breathing can keep baby breathing as well? It's actually presented as an argument for lowering SIDS rates, I'd check the research though.

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 17:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Aha! I have a book right here to mail to my sis so let me check...

There's reams of writing about how it's better for baby's danger reflexes, ie that it's unnatural for an infant creature to sleep unprotected, and that it's possible that mother and baby could both sleep more peacefully and not be awakened by random noises or anxiety if they're in close proximity. That seems like a plus.

Also, babies aren't self-stabilizing physiologically, ie when they get afraid & stressed, their heart rates, breathing, stress reflexes, brain chemistry, etc don't return to normal on their own (or not quickly enough to count). That means less oxygen to the brain and more stress hormones in the bloodstream, I think those things are probably a clear minus.

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 17:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Esther in silly mode, Abby looking on in mild embarrassment:

http://www.appelstein.com/eafloor.jpg

― mike a, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 18:48 (seventeen years ago) link

dont guys get grossed out by breast milk all over the sheets? stinky not to mention ewwww! right?

actually our hospital made it very clear when we left NOT to co-sleep because it can lead to suffocation. i know most people ignore this. new parents have very selective hearing. i know because i am one, of course.

my biggest problems with co-sleeping are a) i like the bed to myself, b) i just got used to sharing it with my husband and up to three cats...the kid wont fit, c) we are paranoid about making ourselves beeps' entire world and that even branches down to things like sleeping independently, d) we dont want to squish her and e) doesnt it become habit for the baby and wouldn't it be impossible to get them into the crib when you're ready to do so? it seems like if you're doing it to calm the kid at night you might be making it a lot worse for both of you and cause the kid an undue amount of distress in the long run?

then again i dreaded the day we would stop swaddling for the same reason and she just kept on sleeping through the night like she had never been swaddled.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:18 (seventeen years ago) link

mike does esther have a gap in her teeth?? i love those!! they're beautiful kids.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:21 (seventeen years ago) link

All I'm saying is the US has like the lowest levels of co-sleeping in the world, and the highest levels of SIDS. The whole enough-room-in-bed and when-to-move-them-out is of course up to parental discretion.

PS: Historically the hysteria about smothering babies that sleep with you is based on people "overlaying" their children as a method of after-the-fact birth control in medieval times, when there was basically no other option for family planning allowed by the church and any kind of "purposeful" exposure or infanticide was punished. A little drunken stupor, a little "accidental" rolling over, et voila.

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:22 (seventeen years ago) link

i dont know, smothering seems like a very real possibility to me. i dont know that i would call it hysteria either considering im the only person i know that seems to think this. ive never slept in the bed with beeps though. maybe there is some kind of subconscious reflex that keeps you from doing that.

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:42 (seventeen years ago) link

There is a subconscious reflex, actually -- mothers and babies are EXTREMELY attuned to each other, says um well, every source I can find? The governmental agencies, of course, have to be very, very overcautious in their recommendations for infant sleeping arrangements b/c really the only instances of overlaying in the modern US are among people with fewer resources for, say, buying child-safe bedding. People who might be sharing a living space with others and therefore sleeping on a couch or similar are also at risk, since there are lots of cushions the baby could slide between/under. Cases in which the sleeping parent is affected by drugs or alcohol are also a huge component. But for most people, under average conditions, there's no more danger than there is for any other component of an infant's daily life.

Soft bedding is a clear "no", as are gaps between the mattress and the frame, and adult clothing with long ties that could get tangled or wrapped around things (decorative night-gown ties, I take it?).

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:49 (seventeen years ago) link

There's pros and cons to co-sleeping. We tried with Ophelia but 1 she doesn't like it at all and 2 our bed is rather small (for more than two people) and 3 I am afraid of suffocation (which is a risk,albeit minimal). Also, I think from a few months onwards - about four months - they (midwives in our hospital) advise you to put the baby in a seperate room so they can learn to sleep on their own. This way the mommy (and baby) don't wake up that easily when the other fusses. From four months (or later, probably more six months) a baby doesn't need night feedings at all.

Suffocation is a risk especially if someone is in a deep sleep (mostly due to drinking/drugs). Otherwise it happens rarely. BUt I hate "rarely" as it means it happens. :-) So Laurel, despite every source you find, it does exist. It doesn't happen often, but it does.

SS, breasts don't leak that much. If they do, you can always wear pads (?). It happened at the hospital for me, waking up with a wet sheet, but after that there was minimal leeking (during the night that is).

Breastfeeding is ACE. I mean, after a few weeks of pain. :-) The night time feeding is great, very easy and quick, but then the mother is the only one who can do it and that is a factor why someone decide to do bottles. That way they can do *shifts*. :-)

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Also suffocation can happen when the baby crawls downwards and under the blankets.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Well, any of us could get hit by a bus on the way home, too, but I'm still leaving work eventually.

I mean, duh, co-sleeping isn't for everyone any more than bloody marys are (full disclosure: I do not like bloody marys!)! But "the worst that could happen might possibly happen" is no reason to do or not do something -- there's a reason the other name for SIDS is "crib death", y'know?

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Uh crib death rarely occurs in a crib.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Whatever, everyone is going to do what he or she thinks is best. But you have to know, sunny, that it's Laurel-bait when you say "I can't possibly imagine what the advantages would be to something that's been natural for human beings for a couple thousand years." I mean, what?

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:56 (seventeen years ago) link

I co-slept with both my kids, and never rolled onto them once! Probably saved Alex's life when he was 10 months old and very ill with croup; he couldn't breathe, but we were exhaustedly sleeping (because we'd been up with him for so, so long). He kicked Austin awake, and off to the emergency room we went. Not typical, but what happened with him.

I think it's a personal preference thing, really. Not dangerous (as long as you're not drinking or taking tranquilizers or drugs before bed).

My kids liked it and it was easier to nurse them (didn't have to get up, so we all got more sleep). Eventually they were each transitioned to a separate bed in our room, then into their own room.

― Sara R-C, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 20:58 (seventeen years ago) link

Thousand years of something doesn't necessarily mean it's right (for someone). We tried co-sleeping. (Hey they said sleeping on the tummy was great for so long, now it's a no no.) My husband was very much in favour of it, but I'm a terrible worrier. We tried it a few times and Ophelia just pushed us aside. hah. I can understand the advantages though. Honestly. Maybe we will with the second baby. But I worry so much and Ophelia didn't like it, so it was easily decided not to do it anymore.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:00 (seventeen years ago) link

I mean, duh, co-sleeping isn't for everyone any more than bloody marys are

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:01 (seventeen years ago) link

I read somewhere that something like 75% of "SIDS" deaths are probably homicides, but that they are not investigated.

― schwantz, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:26 (seventeen years ago) link

We sometimes lifted them and sometimes didn't. We've always played it by ear and attempted to judge their moods - sometimes starving, sometimes cranky, sometimes needing a wee pat on the back to get back to sleep, sometimes windy, sometimes just crying because they could. We've always avoided rules and formulas and it seems to have worked so far. We've had a few horrible nights along the way but the kids seem to have done ok out of it.

Photo time!
Megan, last month, on her birthday.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2090/1604623230_cb95909c7a.jpg

― onimo, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:29 (seventeen years ago) link

That baby is not real, she is way too cute.

― Laurel, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:32 (seventeen years ago) link

mrs o and megan in the park:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2395/1604645778_864a1c6c38.jpg

― onimo, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Also suffocation can happen when the baby crawls downwards and under the blankets.

What about when they start crawling across the ceiling while you're trying to dry out?

― Pleasant Plains, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:40 (seventeen years ago) link

Mark
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2099/1604914968_6b7cc0150b.jpg

David
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/1603989169_3a6cbcddcc.jpg

― onimo, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:44 (seventeen years ago) link

What about when they start crawling across the ceiling while you're trying to dry out?

Skeet shooting, duh.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Onimo do adorable grins come fitted with yr kids as standard?

Many thanks for all the congratulations and good wishes, as requested, Ethan:
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff107/Coastaltown/Ethan006.jpg

― Matt, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:56 (seventeen years ago) link

I do love that photo. Easily the winner of the bunch.

― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 21:58 (seventeen years ago) link

― Matt, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 22:05 (seventeen years ago) link

What about when they start crawling across the ceiling while you're trying to dry out?

You're joking at my crap English? :-(

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 22:45 (seventeen years ago) link

I think it was a reference to the creepy baby scene in Trainspotting.

― onimo, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 23:01 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh fuck, I remember that.

― stevienixed, Wednesday, 17 October 2007 23:18 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, I missed this discusion about co-sleeping! But essentially I second everything Laurel says. Saved my sanity when H was younger, now he stays all night in his cot, no probs. V safe IF you follow the rules carefully. And Howie is the least clingy baby ever.

dont guys get grossed out by breast milk all over the sheets? stinky not to mention ewwww! right?

^I really, really hope this was a joke.

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 09:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Sorry, I was tired this morning so my previous post came out sounding snippier than I intended. It's just that I'm sick and tired of the attitude whereby breastfeeding is seen as something 'gross', disgusting and somehow unnatural. See the horrible Claire Verity and even the supposedly 'moderate' Dreena Whatserface on that Bringing Up Baby programme, who were horrified at the idea of a woman breastfeeding in public. And Facebook's decision to remove images of women feeding their babies as 'obscene'. (I am not saying you hold these views, Sunny, so apologies if I bit your head off over nothing.)

Also, breastmilk on the bed is not confined to co-sleepers! We didn't co-sleep with Howie til his sleep went wonky at 3 months, but in the very early weeks when my supply was being established, I would always wake up in puddles of milk. There would be a little trail of milk drips from my side of the bed to the cot on the laminate floor every morning. Luckily my husband found this hilarious rather than gross.

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 12:11 (seventeen years ago) link

I would certainly not find it "obscene", what a strange choice of words, but I am not in favour of breastfeeding in public at all. I think it's just a little... I'm not sure, I don't like seeing breasts in public, however they are used. I think inappropriate would be the word. And probably awkward. I never breastfeed in public, not even with a blanket over my breasts. I stayed at home to breastfeed.

― nathalie, Thursday, 18 October 2007 12:30 (seventeen years ago) link

How is it inappropriate? Do you think it is inappropriate to bottle-feed in public? Then why not feed as nature intended? It doesn't have to mean showing your nipples off to all and sundry, can be done with discretion and if people don't like it they are free to look away!

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 12:32 (seventeen years ago) link

oh I don't check in often enough but I have to chime in on the co-sleeping discussion because we do it. Laurel already said just about everything I wanted to though, everything she says about safety etc is OTM. Definitely a personal preference for everyone's behalf--I know parents who did it with one kid and not another because the kids (shocka) were different personalities. I know people who happily had the kid in bed until they were (X), people who miserably had the kid in bed until they were (X), people who easily transitioned the kid out, people who had a hell of a time transitioning the kid out. You know your own family best and know what's going to make everyone happy.

For me and my family, we love it. It gives the kid and hubby a chance to cuddle when hubby works long hours and doesn't get the chance to hug him when he's awake, it makes nighttime nursing and getting through illness easy, and everyone sleeps. I never thought we would be cosleepers but I found out quickly it was the thing that worked. Lou was a heavy baby and I threw my back out too many times getting him into the crib
(nb I am also incredibly weak), and he has a sensitive gag reflex and would vomit if left to cry, so those two factors really sealed the deal. He does still wake up a bunch at night (to change position or sometimes to nurse a bit), and usually wakes me up too, but that is just because I am a light sleeper--I'm used to it and it doesn't bother me. Your sleep cycles kind of sync up so you go into light sleep at the same time anyway.

I think the most important thing is not how they sleep or where they sleep but that they are understood and loved by their parents. And I doubt any of the kids here have much to worry about on that count!

― teeny, Thursday, 18 October 2007 12:58 (seventeen years ago) link

^^What Teeny said.

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:02 (seventeen years ago) link

in the very early weeks when my supply was being established, I would always wake up in puddles of milk.

Me, too! I took to sleeping on towels. This didn't happen nearly as much with baby #2.

As for breastfeeding in public, I did it when I needed to; my kids were exclusively breastfed, but that was no reason to confine myself to the house for almost a year. I certainly attempted to be discreet, but one discretion is another person's... uh... not discretion. But if you don't feel comfortable nursing in public, there's no reason that you must, either!

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:20 (seventeen years ago) link

Breastfeeding in public is inappropriate? Wtf? Fine if you don't like it (LOOK THE OTHER WAY, something you say often enough on ILE Nath) but it's the epitome of appropriate behaviour! My god!

― Mark C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Mark is SHOCKED!

― onimo, Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:31 (seventeen years ago) link

I AM!!

― Mark C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Inappropriate may have been the wrong choice of word. I would def feel very awkward. But, hey, that's my personal opinion. I am entitled to have my own personal opinion, no? And, I def look the other way when someone does.

― nathalie, Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:33 (seventeen years ago) link

We did cosleeping with both our kids. E took to it very well, but A was never really comfortable. From about 6 months onward, she'd thrash and roll around and have trouble getting to sleep. Once we moved her into her own crib, she calmed down immediately. So it's not for everyone, but I'm convinced that cosleeping helps bonding and (ironically?) has enabled both our kids to feel secure and independent.

I'd also like to recommend the Miracle Blanket to all new parents out there. Naptime would have been much harder without it.

― mike a, Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:35 (seventeen years ago) link

Yup, that's a gap between E's teeth. Just like her dad and maternal grandmother. A's got the same thing.

― mike a, Thursday, 18 October 2007 13:37 (seventeen years ago) link

I hate my gaps :(

― Mark C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 14:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Will Ava always be this gappy? I was kinda hoping they'd sort of crowd together a bit.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1186/1387119763_34d750c17c.jpg

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 18 October 2007 14:37 (seventeen years ago) link

They will, remember she's got a bigger second set to come in in a few years.

Gappy while young > crammed together and overlapping.

― onimo, Thursday, 18 October 2007 14:43 (seventeen years ago) link

Yeah, of course - the adult teeth are wider, aren't they? It's thanks to Ava's gap that Lulu's bite-scar is so noticeable - it's the raised bit in the middle that catches the eye. Not literally.

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 18 October 2007 14:52 (seventeen years ago) link

They say a gap is a sign of future (financial) riches!

― nathalie, Thursday, 18 October 2007 15:50 (seventeen years ago) link

Then I better get a high-paying job after I graduate law school (or wait for my daughters to take care of me in my old age, I guess).

― mike a, Thursday, 18 October 2007 16:21 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah. i love the gap!

a zillion xposts to laurel: i wasnt trying to bait anyone. sometimes the reasoning behind what people do escapes me. it was a genuine question. i always want to know what other parents are doing and why they do it. i am like nath though in that if theres even a small risk and its easily avoidable, then ill probably avoid it. its good to hear there is a subsconscious instinct not to squish the kid though. beeps wont even nap on a bed with me let alone co-sleep but maybe the next kid will be all about it.

xxposts to everyone talking about nursing (esp. meg): let me say right now that i did not and do not breastfeed. its a personal choice and probably the only selfish choice ive made since beeps came along (although i do believe she is no worse off for bottle feeding). it certainly doesnt gross me out when other women breastfeed but the idea of me doing it i just cant stand. if that makes any sense? that kind of sounds condescending like "its good enough for all of you but not me!" but thats definitely not it. its more like im fine with watching other people eat zucchini but the thought of me eating it makes me shudder. im making no sense. anyway, meg, the whole stinky eww thing came from conversations ive had with my best friend who had her baby a few months before i had beeps. she was always saying how she, her clothes, the bed and well, everything, reeked from breastmilk. actually, her baby daddy didn't care at all, i dont think. but, you know, there is a whole world of stinkiness and ickiness brought into your life with kids, stinky/ickky that would have horrified you before kids, that you just don't care about now. so it was half joke, half curiosity, half instant superficial reaction (which im often prone to, if you hadn't noticed). 3 halves.

― sunny successor, Thursday, 18 October 2007 16:39 (seventeen years ago) link

also, matt, ethan is beautiful.

― sunny successor, Thursday, 18 October 2007 16:42 (seventeen years ago) link

SS, that is totally fair enough. I guess you just unintentionally hit a raw nerve when I was feeling cranky this morning.

And Nath, of course you are entitled to your opinion, and everyone is entitled to feed their baby however they choose :)

My issue is when the way I choose to feed my baby -- in the most natural and, as Mark C said, appropriate way that a human possibly can -- is limited by people who don't get that breastfeeding in public is not being exhibitionist, or sexual, or anything other than just a mum feeding her baby. Sadly in our country there are too many women who are put off by the culture of unacceptability around feeding in public. I don't feed in public very often and have never been asked to leave a cafe or restaurant, but it has been suggested to me that I feed him in a cafe toilet. Would you like to eat your lunch in a toilet?

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 18:44 (seventeen years ago) link

having a place to do it was one of the reasons i chose not to do it. i actually went back and forth about it for a long time while i was pregnant to the point where i bought all of the equipment just in case. what sealed then deal to not do it was that i knew beeps was going into daycare at 6 weeks and it seemed too difficult to ween her that quickly or go through the stress of trying to produce enough milk for the the 8 hours a day she would be there. it was a decision i didn't make until the nurse asked me at the hospital when i was in labor though. i was pretty torn about it even though i really didnt want to do it.

i think what nath means (and if shes not giving birth as we speak she can correct me) is that it is a really intimate thing which makes it weird to see in public so it feels awkward. i look the other way but mostly because i dont want to seem like a freak staring at someone nursing.

also meg, before howie started crawling did he get in the crawling position and rock back and forth a lot? beeps is doing that now but she doesnt seem to get the whole arm leg coordination bit.

― sunny successor, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:05 (seventeen years ago) link

but the idea of me doing it i just cant stand. if that makes any sense?

I think this makes total sense; I think it would be hard to overcome that, even if you wanted to, Sunny.

I don't know why your friend's milk is causing everything to stink, though; unless she isn't washing things - or possibly she herself is ill? Any kind of milk left sitting will start to smell sour after a while, but breast milk really doesn't have much of a scent - If I'm Recalling Correctly (it's been a few years!).

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:09 (seventeen years ago) link

Yep, he did that a lot and seemed to be able to do the front or back of him but not both at once. Now he still can't lift his tummy off the floor but kind of slithers across the floor.

Funnily enough, before H was born I bought all the equipment for bottle-feeding, just in case there was some reason I couldn't breastfeed! We shoulda swapped...

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:11 (seventeen years ago) link

it is a really intimate thing which makes it weird to see in public so it feels awkward

I think part of this comes from culturally not seeing it very often - but even after nursing two kids, I can still feel awkward about seeing it myself. Oddly, after a few weeks, I never felt awkward about nursing in public myself - it kind of went from feeling intimate to being entirely mundane.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:13 (seventeen years ago) link

To be honest, so many random strangers had their hands up my fanny during Howie's birth, breastfeeding in front of other people seemed like no problem! I think the fact that I had seen a lot of my friends/family feed in front of me helped, too -- as Sara says, the more you see it, the less of a big deal it becomes.

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Yes, it is a very intimate experience. I also feel extremely self-conscious about breastfeeding (and my breasts, esp when they were so huge hah!) when others are watching. I still remember my MIL getting up and having a look. Then her mother also wanted to peek. It felt extremely awkward for me. I do understand it: it is a wonderful thing to see (and experience), feeding your baby. Once I felt comfortable (physically), it was such a joy to realize that Ophelia was growing up with my milk. That said, I never breastfed in public and never will. People do watch and I don't like to be on display so to speak.

Also, I didn't feel confined at all, as I live in the city and can easily nip out between feedings and do some shopping or whatever.

Culturally it is also frowned upon here. I don't think I have ever seen a woman breastfeed in public. So, yes, that may be a factor why I don't do it.

A lot of my feelings towards breastfeeding and people who defend it, are more "grayish". I I feel really sad when people say=" it was a decision i didn't make until the nurse asked me at the hospital when i was in labor though. i was pretty torn about it even though i really didnt want to do it." You really shouldn't. It wasn't a selfish action in my opinion, but a practical one. We live in a world where it is much harder to breastfeed and, even if you do have the time/place, and decide not to, then this doesn't make you a bad mommy. I am not going to be delusional and say bottle feeding is as good as breastfeeding. It isn't. Breastfeeding is the best option (if your body lets you). But bottle feeding is a good alternative. Don't ever secondguess your choices, SS, you are a great mommy. :-)

That's why I like to get defensive: Many women I know who decided to bottle feed are bestowed (?) with such a guilt trip by breast feeding advocates, that I feel like defending these mommies.

I am sorry for being snippy - guess those hormones are raging a bit too much - but I hope I explained myself well enough to show I certainly don't look down (or at! hah!) mommies who breastfeed in public. I understand your point extremely well, but I rather not join you in public. I'm a bit of a prude. ;-)

Just came back from the OBGYN. Teeny weeny opening but that's it. Guess that 26th of October due date is going to be reached. Unless my water breaks. Y'know, it's the second time but I am still nervous about the whole experience. :-)

Our colleague came around to show her tiny baby. I totally forgot how small babies can be. :-) She was not a preemie, but still very small. Such a cutie. I hope mine will be as well. :-)

― stevienixed, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:32 (seventeen years ago) link

Aw, Nath, your baby will be adorable. Look at Ophelia!

I think it is really easy to be defensive about parenting decisions of any kind. I know I was (and am!). I had the opposite issue with breastfeeding than you, Nath - my mother could not have been more repelled by it. I have a couple of pictures of me nursing the kids in my scrapbooks and she always looks at them and kind of sniffs at them as in, "well, if you have to do it, WHY can't you do it where NO ONE CAN SEE?" It really is part of my personality to react against that - probably why I nursed my kids for so long, ha!

Parenting choices are really personal - to both parents and the kids - and I just don't believe that there is one right answer to any parenting question. Personally, I get defensive about wanting to give birth using epidurals.

Nothing is the right answer for *everyone*.

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Nath, you are absolutely right, no mum should ever be made to feel guilty for her feeding choices and I hate the holier-than-thou breastfeeding brigade too :)

Having said that... in my experience, for every woman who doesn't want to breastfeed (for whatever reason), there are more who would *love* to breastfeed but never do, or give up after a short time, mainly because of inadequate support in the crucial early hours and days -- an even bigger issue here than a woman's right to feed wherever she needs to.

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:43 (seventeen years ago) link

X-posted Sara, although my mum was very pro-breastfeeding, she still raised an eyebrow when I told her he wasn't going onto a bottle at 6 months...

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 19:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh well, Meg, MOMS. ;) That is kind of funny though. Especially because it seems like you'd have to go through weaning TWICE!

(Someday our kids will be talking about us... this is a frightening thing to imagine.)

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 20:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah, to be fair to her, she hasn't criticised me about it, I just think it was an assumption that you just don't feed past 6 months. But yes, having got this far I am way too lazy to bother with bottles...

Someday our kids will Google this thread and read what we've been saying about them -- even scarier!

― Meg Busset, Thursday, 18 October 2007 20:13 (seventeen years ago) link

Okay THAT is a scary thought!!!

― Sara R-C, Thursday, 18 October 2007 20:28 (seventeen years ago) link

hey everyone
dont come around much these days
your kids are all ace

― Dimension 5ive, Thursday, 18 October 2007 20:30 (seventeen years ago) link

My wife and mother-in-law took the boys to the pumpkin patch today:

Ben:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2093/1626613864_f732026ad4.jpg

Owen:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2051/1626607022_fc4c3bac00.jpg

Ben's gonna get you!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/1625699213_76f2432271.jpg

― schwantz, Friday, 19 October 2007 02:29 (seventeen years ago) link

those are great shots!! esp. the one of owen. i like how theyre color coordinated with the pumpkins too! when did those kidlets start walking?

― sunny successor, Friday, 19 October 2007 02:49 (seventeen years ago) link

They're not quite walking yet - just lots of pulling up and "cruising."

― schwantz, Friday, 19 October 2007 02:57 (seventeen years ago) link

Wow, mini people are so weird and amazing. Congrats to all!

― Laurel, Friday, 19 October 2007 03:39 (seventeen years ago) link

I remember saying to my mother when I was, like, 14, "it must be so hard to STOP having babies when you know that each one will be a whole new person!" I think I was onto something....

― Laurel, Friday, 19 October 2007 03:40 (seventeen years ago) link

wow. you really were.

― sunny successor, Friday, 19 October 2007 04:55 (seventeen years ago) link

Sometimes I think about the people I'm missing by not having any more kids and I'm kind of sad about it - but realistically, I know I have all that I can handle.

― Sara R-C, Friday, 19 October 2007 04:57 (seventeen years ago) link

It's time for Ben to feed himself:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/1718884559_715d686159.jpg

Hanging out with Shakey Mo at the park:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2350/1719741082_261228b06e.jpg

― schwantz, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 02:17 (seventeen years ago) link

That picture of Ben through the haystacks is great. Also, lucky Shakey Mo gettin' to hang out those cuties!

― ENBB, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 02:20 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.appelstein.com/edad.jpg

E. and I on a spectacular autumn afternoon.

― mike a, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 02:24 (seventeen years ago) link

(i'd just gotten home from work)

― mike a, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 02:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Gorgeous. An advert for parenthood if ever there was one!

Alice gives the thumbs up to having a cold:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2157/1725632957_14e749efa8.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 10:25 (seventeen years ago) link

Even snot can be cute!

― hejira, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 10:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Poor thing, my lot are all full of colds at the moment too. Something satisfying about doing a good job of picking out their crusties, isn't there?

― NickB, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 10:49 (seventeen years ago) link

Lulu is a mucus machine right now; Ava seems to be on the mend. I'd be home with them but for the fact that the rest of my department is ill too...

Here's a little series entitled Autumn With Ava...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2337/1707232755_c89eeab796.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/1623396866_8422d1dc58.jpg

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 11:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Awww, poor Alice! Aidan has a cold too, but fingers crossed isn't as snotty as that.

Lovely fall/autumn photos! There's something very pleasing about bundling Aidan up to go outside, in cute coats and hats.

― Vicky, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 13:03 (seventeen years ago) link

Ophelia still has a runny nose, but at least no more ear and throat infection. YAY.

She's been expanding her vocabulary and grammar skillzzzz at rapid speed (mostly thanks to my mother who's keen to teach her new things). First sentence she used: "You 're not allowed!" (to Lucy, our dog, because she likes to steal O's cookies).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2053/1727290497_d65a312bc3.jpg

She went to the beach yesterday, with my parents. :-)

― nathalie, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 13:07 (seventeen years ago) link

it's been too long since I've visited here, all these beautiful babes cheer the soul, don't they? poor alice's nose! lulu's got a snot fountain going on 24-7 too, she's finding eating and drinking a challenge since she can't breathe well with anything in her mouth. it's good to see folks getting autumnal! there's nothing better than kids in a pumpkin patch. we're getting in the halloween mood ourselves and made scarecrows this morning:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2292/1730140599_749f4784cf.jpg

I was trying to make our scarecrows friendly instead of scary (friendcrows? maybe not) so they wouldn't freak out the younguns coming to lulu's halloween birthday bash on saturday, but in retrospect faceless = scary. adjustments will have to be made.

we do have another daughter besides ava, she's just too fast to get snapped lately. I put lulu down next to ava and our faceless galpals about 10 times today but by the time I'd backed up again to take the photo she had already powercrawled over to my feet. but she digs autumn too, I can tell by the way she was eyeing my candy corn breakfast of champions this morning.

about the teeth, I happen to be fond of the gap! I won't be all that sad if ava keeps it for a while. who didn't envy the pool kids who could shoot a perfect arc of water through the gap in their teeth?

― craft ho, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 17:17 (seventeen years ago) link

lulu is about to turn 1?? that went by quick!

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 17:23 (seventeen years ago) link

too quick! the year has been one big blur. and I'm so conscious of the fact that with the eldest tasmanian devil to look after who doesn't take afternoon naps any more, I don't get much one-on-one time with lulu at all. I'm really looking forward to january when I'm doing mum-n-tot swimming classes with them both - the leisure centre I just joined has a creche, so you can drop one off at the creche for an hour while you do a swimming lesson with the other one. can't wait!

when we were at the leisure centre joining up, we went to the cafe which has big glass floor-to-ceiling windows that look onto the pools and ava said she needed a wee. I had no idea where the loos were but I had the porta-potty with me so she dropped trou and sat down right there to do a wee in front of an entire swimming class of kids who looked about 7-8. they all literally fell over laughing and pointing at ava. not that she minded, thankfully. when do they start to get embarrassed about things, I wonder?

― craft ho, Wednesday, 24 October 2007 17:53 (seventeen years ago) link

I haven't been on this thread for ages! How do you all find the time to post so much with young children??

Madeleine Alice was born on 1 July so she is already more than three months old; I can't believe it!

Here she is at a few days old:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1028/714691342_7bb8213ff8.jpg?v=1183551651

and here's one of her showing off her red hair with dad:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1366/1462322422_46204faf99.jpg?v=0

Congratulations to Vicky and all those others who've had babies recently - I guess Nath must be due any minute so good luck with that.

I'm going to make sure I check this thread more regularly, so many great photos.

― liz, Thursday, 25 October 2007 09:28 (seventeen years ago) link

Any minute? Yep. Tomorrow is my due date. *sigh*

Also, be warned: Miffy will TAKE OVER YOUR LIFE if you don't watch it. O is obsessed with Miffy and Hello Kitty. :-)

― nathalie, Thursday, 25 October 2007 09:54 (seventeen years ago) link

Hi Nath! Good luck with that...

We went to Amsterdam just before M was born so we already have many Miffy things and we are going to Japan in a couple of weeks so I guess the Hello Kitty avalanche is on its way!

You went to Japan when O was quite small didn't you? How was that? How are things like breastfeeding in public looked on there? I am going without her dad as he'll already be there so any tips on surviving an 11-hour plane trip with a four-month old will be welcome (not sure whether I am mad to even contemplate it but...).

― liz, Thursday, 25 October 2007 11:48 (seventeen years ago) link

I haven't done this thread for too long either. Anyway:

Hannah is Sharpay.

― Noodle Vague, Thursday, 25 October 2007 13:22 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh my god. That viseo is amazing. SO CUTE!

― ENBB, Thursday, 25 October 2007 13:30 (seventeen years ago) link

Thanx. She is in serious High School Musical mode at the moment.

― Noodle Vague, Thursday, 25 October 2007 13:34 (seventeen years ago) link

Trust me you'll do fine. She was already about a year old and by that time I wasn't breastfeeding anymore. (I stopped around ten months.) But our employee went when her baby was just a few months old and now again with her second baby being a month old. Y'know, I think it is actually easier when the child is a baby, it's not as if s/he will know s/he's on a plane. That said, of course take-off and landing might create some problems due to changing of altitude. I did the horrible mistake of loading Ophelia up with food PRIOR to landing which caused her to do some multiple projectile vomiting. ROFFLE. Otehr than that it wasn't a problem at all. She wanted to crawl, so I let her. She didn't want to sleep in the crib, so I took her and let her sleep on my shoulder. I didn't get much sleep, but I didn't care.

In Japan they don't really breastfeed in public, but according to my mum they have a lot of rooms where you can breastfeed. (I didn't notice this, but I'm sure she's right.) Japan is very much pro-breastfeeding so don't worry if you don't find a place: it won't be frowned upon if you do it in public. Even if they would mind, they won't gawk are you, that's just not in them to do such a thing. :-) (Funny story, my mum once saw a six year old lift his mum's top to suck on her nipple!!!! On the metro!!! WTF!!!!!)

Don't fret, just go to Japan!!!! Be assured, you'll have a lot of people going:"OH KAWAI AKACHAN!" (Cute baby.) :-)

― stevienixed, Thursday, 25 October 2007 14:41 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh, ask for a crib before you go on the plane. Another tip: maybe breastfeed while taking off and landing, it makes the change of altitude much easier on the baby. It's like chewing gum and swalling for us: it makes our ears pop (or however you say it). :-)

― stevienixed, Thursday, 25 October 2007 14:43 (seventeen years ago) link

True about babies being easier when traveling than toddlers. E. went to Florida when she was 5 months old and had absolutely no problem. Then she went to Seattle just before she turned 1, and that was a miserable experience. There's no way I'd take her 3-year-old self on a plane now (or her sister, who's going to be 2 in December).

― mike a, Thursday, 25 October 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm still dithering over whether to take (2.5-y-o) Ava on a long train journey to see her grandma in a couple of weeks. It happens to be a day when the West Coast mainline is riven with engineering works so I've actually booked to Birkenhead North (walking distance from the homestead) with three changes of trains cos it's quicker than going to Liverpool. Aside from the backpack of supplies/porta-potty/her clothes and the lack of any time to myself, I just wonder about keeping her occupied (and not chasing up and down the aisles) in that environment for so long (the longest leg going up = 2 hours, but coming back = 3.5 hours). I may need another backpack for the books...

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 25 October 2007 15:56 (seventeen years ago) link

take the kid on the train, michael jones! your wife might like a break from 2-tot-wrangling and trust me, your daughter will love the train trip. she's better behaved these days than you think. but as a biased party needing a break from 2-tot-wrangling I would say that.

today I just needed a quick dart into the post office from a parking space nearby so I didn't bother putting the buggy together, I just carried lulu and let ava walk. and she didn't run away from me once and she put all the candy back when I asked her to when it was time to go. (mark steel from telly was behind us in the queue, perhaps she was starstruck?). the train seems easy to me compared to a plane, I salute all you jetsetting parents.

you tube isn't cooperating and I can't see the hannah video, boo hiss!

― craft ho, Thursday, 25 October 2007 16:17 (seventeen years ago) link

also, congrats on the arrival of madeleine alice, she's a beauty!

― craft ho, Thursday, 25 October 2007 16:30 (seventeen years ago) link

yay! maddy a. so beautiful. All these babies are beautiful!

here's a vid of beeps looking not so beautiful as she suffers through a dinner of green beans. added bonus: me making the stupid noises i have to sometimes make to get her to open her mouth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-RHtyQPxgE

― sunny successor, Thursday, 25 October 2007 18:29 (seventeen years ago) link

and some pics

beeps and her friend the horse dog:

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/5100/beepsandverucalb1.jpg

just beeps:

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4914/beepsinthesunuz7.jpg

― sunny successor, Thursday, 25 October 2007 18:34 (seventeen years ago) link

once again beeps does not disappoint in the cuteness stakes. did you try to get a picture of her riding that fab unnaturally ginormous dog?

we went to a friend's house today where about six crazed 2.5-year-olds and their baby siblings all regularly meet for lunch and fighting over toys, and her jack russell was all over lulu like she had baby food smeared on her face or something. lulu was in dog heaven.

― craft ho, Thursday, 25 October 2007 20:58 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG Beeps is soooo cute. <3

― stevienixed, Thursday, 25 October 2007 21:25 (seventeen years ago) link

<3 <3 <3

How much does she look like PP?? Holy moly.

― Laurel, Thursday, 25 October 2007 21:29 (seventeen years ago) link

Thanks for the Japan tips. I'm sure it will be fine & I'm looking forward to it actually.

Cute picture with the dog!

― liz, Saturday, 27 October 2007 21:43 (seventeen years ago) link

We went to the SF POM (parents of multiples) Halloween party in a park today. Here are a couple of snaps:

Ben as a chicken:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2045/1780859694_efe4d44ed5.jpg

Owen as a swinging turtle:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2019/1780014721_2df2643615.jpg

― schwantz, Saturday, 27 October 2007 22:24 (seventeen years ago) link

Much cuteness all round! And congrats on Madeleine liz!

Alice eyes up an unsuspecting friend's drink:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2185/1799058910_896b40dc45.jpg?v=0

A cunning plan is hatched:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2219/1798193457_6526f472f3.jpg?v=0

Success!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2068/1798193461_4818521f13.jpg?v=0

― Archel, Monday, 29 October 2007 13:44 (seventeen years ago) link

All Alice needs now is a white persian cat to pet while she hatches her schemes.

― sunny successor, Monday, 29 October 2007 16:51 (seventeen years ago) link

chicken and turtle twins look cute! do they eat candy yet?

― sunny successor, Monday, 29 October 2007 16:52 (seventeen years ago) link

Oh look at Alice! She's also dressed so adorable. Those tights! That skirt!

Ophelia is sick again! She's been good for a week or two but has a cold again. :-( Poor thing. I guess it's normal, but damn building up that immune system is really not that much fun for her. Apparently I was rarely if ever sick as a kid which frightened my mum. hah! Then when I was about 15 I was sick all the time (chickenpox! ear infections! lots of other things!)

I went on the monitor for the second time. On wednesday they'll be inducing the delivery. Hurrah? Yeah, but also frightening prospect. :-)

― stevienixed, Monday, 29 October 2007 16:57 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm willing to bet that from the time your contractions start to when the baby is born will be under 4 hours.

― sunny successor, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Good luck nath! Here's hoping nature takes its course before Wednesday...

But I was induced and it wasn't that bad (not that I have anything to compare it to!)

― Archel, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:02 (seventeen years ago) link

how long was it from first contraction to delivery for you archel?

― sunny successor, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:05 (seventeen years ago) link

http://www.appelstein.com/rake.jpg

raking leaves this weekend.

― mike a, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:06 (seventeen years ago) link

I THINK I got my first proper contractions about 1am, and Alice was born at 6.25am. So yeah, not long!

― Archel, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:07 (seventeen years ago) link

I only had the prostin to induce, didn't progress to needing my waters broken or the oxytocin drip. It's the drip which is meant to make labour more sudden and so more painful, I think? But mine felt sudden enough - I didn't have any gentle build-up contractions at all, just instant agonising ones.

― Archel, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:09 (seventeen years ago) link

yeah me too! for me the first contraction was at about 10:30am (actually the first few showed on the monitor but i didnt feel a thing - about an hour later it started to hurt) through 6:30pm when beats was born BUT i had one hold up that nath wont have and i took 3 hours to deliver her because i refused to push the right way out of fear id go number 2 on the delivery table. :(

― sunny successor, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:11 (seventeen years ago) link

inducements seem relatively quick

― sunny successor, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:12 (seventeen years ago) link

So you two had to do "everything?" I mean, I had (natural) contractions with Ophelia but the rest they needed to induce (so also breaking my water and *opening the hatchet* har har). The total amount of hours? Uh, 27 hrs? Something like that. I have read that inducing is more painful. So uh EPIDURAL PLEASE.

― stevienixed, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:34 (seventeen years ago) link

I have to be at the hospital at 7:30. They'll do a "lavement" (cleaning of... sorry to be so blunt... bowels). Urgh. The previous time they also give me one (a pill which I had to shove up where the sun doesn't shine hahaha) but I felt so awkward - as the toilet was an open one in the room - that I didn't do much. hahaha TMI anyone?

― stevienixed, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:36 (seventeen years ago) link

good luck nathalie! I was induced both times (two weeks late with ava, two weeks early with lulu, with oxytocin gel rather than a drip) so I don't know any other way but induction gets two thumbs up from me. if it's going to hurt like hell I'm all for being in the express lane.

however long it takes you're soon to have another gorgeous girl for your troubles, can't wait to see the pictures!

― craft ho, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 16:45 (seventeen years ago) link

Sunny, I read a memoir of an L&D doctor who called that the "positive poop sign" and used it as an inducement to get teh mommas to push the RIGHT way! Hmmm. I wonder if the enema or similar is actually helpful in freeing people up to push, or if it's just ONE MORE INDIGNITY on poor body in labor.

― Laurel, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 16:50 (seventeen years ago) link

I was in labour so bloody long without really eating anything that there was nothing to come out by the time it came to push. My friend had warned me that she hadn't pushed like the midwife told her too and ended up having a forceps delivery because she wasn't pushing properly, so I made sure that I did!

good luck Nath! Got everything crossed that it goes quickly and well and we'll be waiting for fluff of you're new little one!

― Vicky, Tuesday, 30 October 2007 17:02 (seventeen years ago) link

Our baby is away at college and is sick, and I'm all sad because I can't take care of her.

God. Getting old and having your kid grow up is... hard. Better than the alternative, though.

― Hey Jude, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 04:47 (seventeen years ago) link

Howie had first proper fever yesterday, v worrying (especially after I Googled 'meningitis symptoms', BAD idea) but much better this morning.

Sending good birthing vibes Nath's way, looking forward to meeting the new arrival!

― Meg Busset, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 09:43 (seventeen years ago) link

It never ends, Meg. My baby is 19 and when she reported cold/flu-like symptoms yesterday my first panicked thought was "OMIGOD! They get meningitis at college and DIE!"

*headdesk*

― Hey Jude, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 15:57 (seventeen years ago) link

awww...she'll be fine, I'm sure.

Hey, any more Halloween kid pics? Beeps was the only kid in daycare not dressed up today :( BAD MOM

― sunny successor, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 16:26 (seventeen years ago) link

happy halloween, everybody! here are some pics from lulu's halloween birthday bash on saturday, when bee and cat put aside their claws/stingers and felt the love.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2123/1810767746_a787980352.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2159/1809930679_5f67cdb917.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2175/1809938293_9808594073.jpg

tonight, on actual halloween, ava wouldn't put the bee gear back on and lulu's catsuit was in the wash for our trick-or-treat excursion to two nearby friends' houses. instead ava wore a ladybug hat and antennae (she told me at dinner she was a "ladybug monster, rrrr") and lulu went as a baby.

― craft ho, Wednesday, 31 October 2007 23:17 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG! so gorgeous!

― sunny successor, Thursday, 1 November 2007 02:13 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm going to nick a photo off Mike's flickr account... Aidan at Lulu's party

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2371/1810831894_304c30d4be.jpg?v=0

And when we were trying it on a few weeks earlier, good old Sainsburys, six of your english pounds:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2027/1577529317_f7640db44d.jpg?v=0

I've been away from the net, still no word of Nath?

― Vicky, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:16 (seventeen years ago) link

HAHAHA! Look at the cheecks on Aiden. Also, they're both adorable as always but that pic of Lulu from behind with the little tail just kills me.

― ENBB, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:27 (seventeen years ago) link

oops - cheeks.

― ENBB, Thursday, 1 November 2007 14:27 (seventeen years ago) link

Is this thread officially "wieldy" yet"?

― mike a, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:22 (seventeen years ago) link

We knocked the other thread on the head after just over a year and 1,585 posts; this one has been going 9 months and I think this will be the 1,416th post. I dunno, either NOW (before Nath's babe arrives) or in the new year, whaddya think?

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:28 (seventeen years ago) link

I'm up for a new thread! I'm gonna let someone else start it, since I kind-of jumped the gun on the last one... A nice way to celebrate Nath's new kid.

― schwantz, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:38 (seventeen years ago) link

How about "ILX Parenting Thread: 100x BETTER than a Clown Car"

― Rock Hardy, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:48 (seventeen years ago) link

How on earth did you get Chris to let Aidan dress up as a little Red Devil? I love looking at all your kids, it allows me to be a little vicariously maternal without actually wanting to go through it all myself.

― ailsa, Thursday, 1 November 2007 15:59 (seventeen years ago) link

As long as we're sure everyone has seen the wonder of Aidan in his ~~Man Utd~~ devil outfit and that Nath can find us in our new home.

How 'bout ILX Parenting 3: Back In (Potty) Training?

― Michael Jones, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:01 (seventeen years ago) link

That's great.

― ENBB, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:05 (seventeen years ago) link

Ah, got it. I like the finesse of closing it off at year's end myself, but Nathalie's impending birth would also be a good mark. (And both titles are great.)

I have great pix of E and A in their costumes, but they'll have to wait 'til I get home. I will say that both girls were still holding on to their embroidered trick or treat cloth bags this morning at breakfast.

― mike a, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:13 (seventeen years ago) link

(yeah, i said "embroidered" and "cloth." my wife couldn't resist.)

― mike a, Thursday, 1 November 2007 16:18 (seventeen years ago) link

I was thinking about a new thread too since the first thread started around the tiome Ophelia was born.

Maybe: "ILX Rolling Parenting Thread: Poo, Parents and Power"
(the name of a study I remember reading in high school)

I cant see the fliker pics on the work comp :((((

― sunny successor, Thursday, 1 November 2007 18:34 (seventeen years ago) link

I think we should wait on Nath. She'll be here soon enough I'm sure. It might be a nice way to round off the thread.

― Ned Trifle II, Thursday, 1 November 2007 18:49 (seventeen years ago) link

oh, the pond.

http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4486/pondvt7.jpg

― sunny successor, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:16 (seventeen years ago) link

aww...aidan!

― sunny successor, Friday, 2 November 2007 14:17 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2339/1831890786_8492e4d1e8_o.jpg

Induction is both GREBT and URGH. But actually, no, it was FUN (thanks to epidural). :-) Delivery was again ten minutes (push push push and out she came) but the contractions were very heavy and quick in succession. Anyway blabbering on and I should be sleeping. heh. I'll talk more LATAH Thanks for sending good vibes, it worked!

― stevienixed, Friday, 2 November 2007 20:55 (seventeen years ago) link

OMG she's GORGEOUS!

I love the sleepy infants... congratulations again, Nath!

― Sara R-C, Friday, 2 November 2007 21:09 (seventeen years ago) link

That sound you can hear is several dozen ILXors uncrossing their fingers and sighing with relief. Yay! When did she arrive, Nath? 31/10?

― Michael Jones, Friday, 2 November 2007 22:00 (seventeen years ago) link

she's beautiful, Nath. good job!

― sunny successor, Friday, 2 November 2007 22:23 (seventeen years ago) link

yay pretty healthy baby! congrats, nath and fam!!

― tehresa, Friday, 2 November 2007 23:25 (seventeen years ago) link

We couldn't get Megan to keep her hat on because crisps were more important:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2165/1834342594_bff3d211aa.jpg

L-R Wolfman - Witch - Anakin Skywalker
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2281/1834350104_119c29d222.jpg

Oh noes! Wardrobe disaster! You go to a party and another girl has chosen the same dress!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2418/1833524009_667d8b464c.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onimo/

― onimo, Saturday, 3 November 2007 00:29 (seventeen years ago) link

!!! wau!

― tehresa, Saturday, 3 November 2007 00:46 (seventeen years ago) link

it's like 8th grade prom all over again!

― tehresa, Saturday, 3 November 2007 00:47 (seventeen years ago) link

When shall we four meet again?

― Madchen, Saturday, 3 November 2007 09:38 (seventeen years ago) link

big congrats nathalie, woo!!! hope you're recovering well and catching up on a bit of sleep here and there.

I love megan's coven photo! in junior high school we did that kind of thing on purpose, except not with witchy costumes.

ava and mike are on the train to go see his mum right now, I miss her already! I'm not sure she realises that unlike the test run last weekend on the train, she's not coming home tonight. we haven't spent a night apart since I was in the hospital having lulu! lulu is of course loving life, chirping like a happy bird and playing with her toys unhindered and with a marked lack of crash-tackling.

― craft ho, Saturday, 3 November 2007 10:11 (seventeen years ago) link

When did she arrive, Nath? 31/10?

Yep. I arrived in the hospital around 7:30 am. At 1:10 I went into the delivery room and by 1:20 I had pushed her into this big cold crowded world. :-) My OBGYN was on his way but too late. The assistant said to the midwives, who wanted to wait till his arrival:"I can do this, y'know! PUSH!" Funny really, cause I already had to push on the bed and then in between contractions I was quickly put on the table. I was so out of it, I was apparently trying to get on the table even though the bed was like half a meter away. My husband was saying:"WAIT! Don't fall in between!!! Be careful!" I was srsly tripping a bit. :-)

― nathalie, Saturday, 3 November 2007 14:30 (seventeen years ago) link

ger those photos are brilliant

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 3 November 2007 14:34 (seventeen years ago) link

akshully this thread is all brilliant photos right?

― Noodle Vague, Saturday, 3 November 2007 14:34 (seventeen years ago) link

congrats!

― mike a, Monday, 5 November 2007 03:06 (seventeen years ago) link

Congratulations Nath, she's absolutely gorgeous!

Someone else needs to get knocked up now, fast :(

― *rumpie*, Monday, 5 November 2007 09:34 (seventeen years ago) link

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2199/1871421841_74038f1031.jpg

I have TWO kids, people, this is srsly positively freaking me out! :-)

Oh yes, let's do a debate on pacifiers. Tips, hints, opinions are MORE than welcome. Ophelia didn't like it, she sucked her thumb but a few months ago she discovered the pacifiers (thanks to the crèche). Now I really want Elisabeth to NOT discover her thumb. The midwives are vehemently against introducing pacifiers this early on as they can mix up the pacifier and breast. (Sucking a nipple is harder and different than sucking on a pacifier for example.) But she's already noticed she has a thumb so I really want to avoid that.

― nathalie, Monday, 5 November 2007 12:53 (seventeen years ago) link

How 'bout ILX Parenting 3: Back In (Potty) Training?

I love this title!

― nathalie, Monday, 5 November 2007 13:00 (seventeen years ago) link

Nath, I think it's really hard to persuade a newborn not to suck their thumb if they really want to.

Aidan didn't suck his thumb from birth (he's discovered it now, but only when his dummy falls out and he still hasn't really got the hang of it) and we didn't give him a dummy until he was about three weeks old. I wasn't going to use one, but got sick of being a human dummy so decided to throw my unrealistic principles out the window. At three weeks it didn't make a jot of difference to the breast feeding for us.

I know quite a few people who have given their babies dummies earlier than this and not had any problems - one of my best friends gave her daughter a dummy when they were still in the hospital, much to the disgust of the midwives, and she successfully breastfed for a year.

Here's an anti-pacifier and breastfeeding article though, from Kellymom, which does have some fantastic advice for breastfeeding mothers what should I know about giving my breastfed baby a pacifier

― Vicky, Monday, 5 November 2007 14:11 (seventeen years ago) link

nathalie, great pictures of your gals. that's a superfine moment of sisterly love to look back on, awww.

ava got hooked on the dummy relatively late. she used to suck on our pinky fingers as a newborn and never was much of a thumb-sucker. but when she started howling on a regular basis at night, we tried the dummy again and it worked a charm, hurrah! it worked too well - heaven forbid I'd be out shopping and without a dummy if she needed to sleep, it would cause a total meltdown. recently we decided she had to kick the dummy habit, mainly because she'd come to bed with us in the middle of the night, get under the covers and then start bellowing for her dummy. if I I couldn't find one withing reaching distance I'd mumble, "you left it in your bed, just go get it." "no, mummy, YOU GET IT!" the 3am battle of wills and the eventual trek to the next room to root around for it in her covers was causing too much sleepus interruptus. I'd wake up cranky and unable to cope every morning, every little thing would wind me up.

so not long ago we told ava that the dummy fairy was going to come that weekend, and if she left them all in a bag under her pillow the dummy fairy would bring her a present. she left her bed and crawled in with us at 3am as per usual, we put the bag o' dummies under her pillow and the next morning she had a brand new set of flannel peppa pig jammies. everybody was a winner! it really surprised me how absolutely okay she was with this arrangement. it probably helps that lulu hasn't taken to the dummy, so ava's not been reminded of them.

so that's my tip for getting the babe off the pacifier when the time comes. as far as thumb-sucking goes, I don't personally have a problem with it. but I'm a kind of keep-the-peace parent. I'd rather have lulu suck her thumb than start screeching in the middle of the night when she wakes up, because we don't live in a detached house and it's not just our sleep being disrupted if the girls are screaming like they've been branded. I reckon if lulu starts sucking her thumb she probably won't still be sucking it when she's in high school.

this is the same reasoning by which we decided ava could come to bed with us if she woke up in the night even though my fave midwife said basically "mary mother of god don't do it, you'll never get her out of your bed ever". but crying it out didn't work for us, what can you do? now that we're keeping the peace, everybody's sleeping more and I really feel like I'm a better, happier parent during those oft-demanding daytime hours.

midwife sue may have the last laugh when ava's 18 and still sleeping with us and lulu's wearing braces on her teeth from 16 years of sucking her thumb but for now we're going with it!

― craft ho, Monday, 5 November 2007 14:35 (seventeen years ago) link

that pic of O and E - OMG!!! Breaks heart.

Beats is a bedtime thumbsucker. I was so pro pacifier but she just never liked them so we gave up offering.

My niece was a pacifier kid and so sneaky with it. They tried to phase them out by just taking obne away at a time but the problem was she would appear with another one only a few minutes later. Apparently she had them hidden all over the house. In the end they took her to NYC at xmas with all of her pacificers and told her that she should give them to santa so he could give them out to new babies who needed them on his christmas eve present route. So they went to macy's and did just that.

Ive also heard of people tying them to balloons and getting the kid to let the balloon go. symbolic gesture, i guess.

How 'bout ILX Parenting 3: Back In (Potty) Training?

i third this

― sunny successor, Monday, 5 November 2007 18:33 (seventeen years ago) link

Done.

― schwantz, Monday, 5 November 2007 19:51 (seventeen years ago) link

Ive also heard of people tying them to balloons and getting the kid to let the balloon go. symbolic gesture, i guess.

It must be interesting when they finally have toput a pet to sleep.

― Pleasant Plains, Monday, 5 November 2007 19:55 (seventeen years ago) link

three months pass...

Things my baby seems to enjoy listening to:

- dub reggae
- the Beach Boys

― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 3 March 2008 20:48 (sixteen years ago) link

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2312/2277359607_b8baa06021.jpg?v=0

lookin suspicious

― Shakey Mo Collier, Monday, 3 March 2008 20:51 (sixteen years ago) link

one month passes...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/2402013066_219a0cebe4.jpg?v=0

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 21:57 (sixteen years ago) link

unlesss anyone objects it looks like this is quickly going to turn into the "pictures of Shakey Mo's daughter" thread

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 21:57 (sixteen years ago) link

aw! What's her name?

― ENBB, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 22:28 (sixteen years ago) link

Veronica Rose (altho Ronnie is also acceptable, and Ronnie Rose also okay if she ever goes into full-on Southern Rawk mode)

― Shakey Mo Collier, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 22:32 (sixteen years ago) link

Cuet bebeh!

― Rock Hardy, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 22:48 (sixteen years ago) link

Aw!

We did have a part 3 parenting thread but it's become a bit neglected of late...

― Michael Jones, Wednesday, 9 April 2008 23:20 (sixteen years ago) link

Here's the new thread.

― schwantz, Thursday, 10 April 2008 02:21 (sixteen years ago) link

Good name - it was my grandmother's and is also my confirmation name.

― ENBB, Thursday, 10 April 2008 03:17 (sixteen years ago) link

five years pass...

effective parenting.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BgEQigEIUAAYLom.jpg

useful guidance.

― Daniel, Esq 2, Monday, 10 February 2014 01:17 (ten years ago) link

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