Bumpkins & Babies Chat Thread

[colsy]

Flora, Monty was off his food yesterday lunchtime too. I always panic and think something's wrong but then I remember that sometimes I don't always have such a big appetite as usual, so there's no reason why babies don't have the same fluctuations too. I guess we could say the same re sleep -- like last night was a naff night for sleeping, as Monty ended up in with me and was tossing and turning all night. So there I was thinking OMG it's the start of another bad week of nights, but then I thought, 'well hold on, sometimes I don't sleep well either, so maybe it's just a one-off ...'

Chaos, I hope you're feeling OK. How are you coping with looking after Autumn whilst also dealing with being upset?

Aimee, hope you're all well. Haven't heard from you in a while. Guess the house-move is taking its toll ... plus maybe you've not got internet access yet.

Well we had a lovely long weekend. Friday we had the osteopath, and he seemed to agree that he had dislodged some tension, freeing up Monty's spine so he could roll and then sleep better. Since Friday's appt, Monty's had one OK night, one fab night and one bad night, so not sure whether the second appt has helped or not. We shall see. Then we stopped at the Ladybower and Derwent dams for a walk and a picnic on the way home. Then came home and started work on the garden - and after just a handful of hours, wonderered why on earth we hadn't staretd work on it sooner, because we managed to get so much done in such a small amount of time.

Saturday we did more gardening, and swimming lesson, and then tea and cake and a walk at the Longshaw estate on the way home.

Sunday OH was working, so Monty and I did more gardening, and then took a trip to Next in Chesterfield to finally spend the voucher he got when he was born. We got a sun/surf suit and a cute dungarees shorts and t-shirt outfit. I bought 12-18months but I gotta check they fit him before I wash them as they don't look that big. And then to finish off our weekend we stopped at a local village on the way home, as their allotments association had an open day, so we went for a wander around their lovely veggie patches

 

[Kte]

Morning all,

Wow thought it would pick up in here now the weekend is over . . . where did it go?!?

Flora: Chloe was also off her food yesterday, she took the usual bottles but even that was a struggle this morning. Think she may be teething again as I put some gel on her gums last night after a few wake ups and she was fine after that. Hope Harry's apetite picks up soon Glad your feeling better I agree with your comment, my house list gets longer and longer Still haven't managed to start decorating the bedroom, still on de-clutter mission and that's taking far too long!

Maffie: Did Noah give you a better sleep? I still can't believe how well he ate that banana, how he held it with some of the skin still on and everything! I gave Chloe the tiniest piece you could imagine yesterday but it just got smeared everywhere

Chaos: Thinking of you

Colsy: Sounds like a great weekend. What are you doing in your garden? Nij has suddenly developed green fingers, we have been after an allotment patch for ages but they are so rare. He decided to put out some tubs and planted all sorts, runner beans, carrots, butternut squash, tomato's, lettuce, and spinache. They are doing so well at the moment, just couldn't believe how quickly they have grown!

Kaites: How did the camping go?

Hope all the other Bumpkins who are 'MIA' are okay and hope to hear from you soon

 

[colsy]

Colsy: Sounds like a great weekend. What are you doing in your garden? Nij has suddenly developed green fingers, we have been after an allotment patch for ages but they are so rare. He decided to put out some tubs and planted all sorts, runner beans, carrots, butternut squash, tomato's, lettuce, and spinache. They are doing so well at the moment, just couldn't believe how quickly they have grown!

For now we're simply clearing out the garden. It was a mess when we moved in two years ago, but while we were doing up the house we had no time to spend on the garden, so it got worse and worse. We've got a tiny patch for veggies, but TBH it's a bit late for growing too much, so I'll prob get a few ready-grown veggies and pop them in. I used to grow everything from seed at our old house. OH and I are on the committee of our village allotments association. We don't have allotments yet, so it's more a campaign group to get them established.

 

[florabean1981]

Well, he ate some lunch today, so that's a start & has had 4 BFs already & now napping. He's a bit snotty again today so I wonder if he's feeling a little under the weather again?

I feeling a bit down today. My absentee brother randomly started emailing me (haven't seen him since sept & he's never even met harry) a few days ago saying he was depressed & stuff, so I told him to go to the Drs & ask for some councelling or medication or something to help. He then went on a massive rant at me about how I'm always telling him what to do, butting into his life (I never see or hear from him for months on end???!!!) & how I always think I know best & that actually I know nothing about him & what it feels like to be depressed... I reminded him he has a selective memory & I know only too well what it's like & that if he was having a 'nervous breakdown' like he claims he is (despite being on holiday with his GF in Arkansas at the moment having a whale of a time & not missing a single day of work in over a year) then he wouldn't be able to function as a 'normal' person & would need intervention, but hey, each to their own.... Then the next email was all, I loved my family & friends but I've been really ill & busy so that's why I havent seen 'the kid' yet... I reminded him he lives 8 miles away & that 'the kid' had a name... and that a card or text every once in a while would be something at least but it's a bit off he hasn't met his nephew yet, yet he has been round my sister's 4 times in the last couple of months & she only lives 20mins walk from me... He said that actually he hated me & wants nothing to do with me or my ugly son... then went on the rave about how awesome USA is. Talk about rollercoaster brain!!!

anyways, I was trying to be nice & civil, despite having a lot of pent up anger towards him & then thism morning he started going on about how I am rubbing my degree in his face by trying to analyse him (wtf?!) & that I'm a bitch who married Craig for money not love & that everyone thinks I'm a money grabbing whore...

So, I told him to fuck off & that we've lived this long without him & can survive with harry never knowing who his uncle is & that he needs to grow up, open his eyes, expand his horizons & help himself to be happier rather than bitching about it to someone he apparently hates... why contact me at all unless it was a cry for help or a way to wind me up???

So, apparently now i have no brother or sister & a mum who believes I dont love my husband but love his money & that by having the life I do I am lording it over those family members who dont have what we have!!! The way they talk is like we're millionaires or something, just because we dont have to rely on our parents to bail us out & pay off our debts or buy our child everything because we dont have the money ourselves.... what the heck? Is it pick on the oldest sibling month or something???!!!
(I'd like to point out that until March 2010, I was the higher earner & everything was in my name except for the mortgage which is joint... yes we lucked out with some inheritance that we used as the deposit, and yes since Craig started his new job in april, he is earning just about enough that I dont have to return to work, but it will be tight & we're willing to accept that)

I feel really empty because of all this... first my sister, then my brother... neither of us have any family nearby other than them, and I have only a handful of friends in this county & I'm trying to get out there & meet people (we go to 3 baby groups each week now) but it's so darn cliquey at the groups & they all seem to know eachother & while they're polite & friendly & harry loves playing with the toys at the groups, i wouldn't consider anyone from the groups as friends yet, you know, so I just feel very much alone down here... I can't wait for august when we go back up to Norfolk for a few days to visit family & friends so I can feel like I belong somewhere again!


Ok, so this has turned into a 'poor me' post... sorry about that! I'll shut up now!


Maffie, good luck with the scan tomorrow hun.
to anyone who needs/wants them
to everyone else

 

[florabean1981]

Colsy, we used to have an allottment- loved it. We have quite a few round here, but there's a 2 year waiting list for them!!! Which I suppose it a good thing really as it means people are out there, growing their own fruit n vege & using the land rather than it just sitting there.
When we get round to doing the garden, (prob march/april time next year I imagine)we're going to have a vege patch & get some nice border flowers & shrubs. I'm really looking forward to gardening with harry & watching him dig holes n stuff, lol!

For those of you with gardens, other than the obvious things like baby swings, slides & paddling pools, what outdoors style toys have you bought for your LOs? any recommendations would be gratefully accepted!

 

[Kaites]

Howdy ladies

Hope everyone had a good weekend Ours was awesome! Perfect weather and Emma loved camping- all round success and can't wait to do it again Emma loved sleeping in the tent and waking up next to Daddy (and I realized, I really do miss co-sleeping). I think all the fresh air did her good since she dropped one of her night feeds while camping. She had fun swimming in the lake and LOVED sand on the beach- she managed to get a couple fistfuls in her mouth when I was distracted She even enjoyed my dad's motor boat- I thought for sure it would be too loud and she'd hate her life jacket, but she stayed calm and had fun touching the fish that hubby caught. I brought along some jars of baby food for Emma since I was worried about her eating nutritious food and the whole food safety aspect of living out of a cooler for 3 days but she refused to eat jarred food so she enjoyed the same food as Mummy and Daddy (and we tried to avoid the potato chips too, lol).

In other news, friends at the campground decided that they wanted to sell their trailer (caravan) and it was a good price so we decided to buy it. I'm so excited- I grew up spending summers at the lake and now Emma will be able to do the same. We don't take possession until Sept 15th so really, we might only get one or two weekends out of it this year before the season is finished and we need to winterize but it'll be fun having a place to go every weekend next summer without the hassle of setting up a tent, etc. One of the guys I grew up with there bought a trailer too and he's got a 14 mth old, so he'll be a little playmate for Emma. Emma got to meet him this weekend and she was fascinated by him- I think she was watching him walk and thinking "hmm, how's he doing that?" I think we are supposed to be going camping with one of my friends at the end of the month and she has a boy who is 6 mths older than Emma. Should be lots of fun except next time 'round there will be a longer car ride for Emma and I'm not too sure how that'll go

Flora- Sounds like you are having a crappy time with your siblings- here's another In our garden we also have a little play structure for climbing- obviously Emma's too small for it yet, but it came with the house when we bought it. Emma's favourite thing in our garden is the "grown up" swing since she likes sitting on our laps and swinging.

Kte- Emma's got the same Jemima Puddle Duck How's Chloe's rash? Did it turn out to just be heat rash?

Maffie- Glad to hear the vomitting has ended- hope the nausea clears out soon too Hope the scan goes well tomorrow and they can finally settle on a date WTG Noah on hitting so many milesones this week too!

Sam- Hope you enjoyed your weekend and that this week isn't as hard

Colsy- Sounds like you had a lovely weekend I really need to get out and work on our gardens. Usually by the time I finish mowing the grass, there is no way Emma will let me then work on the flower beds. That's great that it sounds like the osteopath may have worked with Monty's sleeping. I always worry when we have a one off night of bad sleeping that we are going to be spiralling into another bad patch too

Chaos- hope you're doing okay and had a good 4th of July

Well, it's supposed to be going up to 33C but feel more like 44C with the humidity today so I don't think we'll be venturing out for a walk this aft. Might just have to hang out in the basement where it's nice and cool and tackle some of the laundry pile. Here are a few piccies from the weekend:

Our campsite:
https://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy65/kayjengirl/Emma%20for%20sharing/campingJuly10004.jpg

Emma ready for breakfast:
https://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy65/kayjengirl/Emma%20for%20sharing/campingJuly10005.jpg

Emma playing in the Mommy and Me float at the beach:
https://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy65/kayjengirl/Emma%20for%20sharing/campingJuly10014.jpg

Playing in the tent:
https://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy65/kayjengirl/Emma%20for%20sharing/campingJuly10008.jpg

Playing on the grass near the beach:
https://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy65/kayjengirl/Emma%20for%20sharing/campingJuly10018.jpg

With her new car:
https://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy65/kayjengirl/Emma%20for%20sharing/campingJuly10028.jpg

And on the boat:
https://i778.photobucket.com/albums/yy65/kayjengirl/Emma%20for%20sharing/campingJuly10039.jpg

(sorry it's so pic heavy, lol!)

 

[Kte]

Flora: Your best off away from them if they are being like that with you. It all seems a bit irrational and not realy fair to target you in the way they have done

When my sis moved away from where we live she also felt very lonely, she was quite surprised by it. It took her about a year to start feeling more comfortable. You are doing well by going to the groups and keep at it! She ended up going to a local church and started to help do coffee morning once a week. She also got involved with the school that my nephews go etc and they got a dog to keep her company in the house too but then again you will have Harry! Not saying you should do those things exactly as she did, just saying try lots of groups and get yourself out there, then you will suddenly make friends and not realise it.

We got Chloe a little watering can for the garden lol Our garden is tiny really and it's . . . hmmm the terminology has left my brain . . . well it's patio style but with bricks anyway (I really am ashamed). So we just have a 3-1 bike that she can go in when she is a little older. There is a park only a minutes walk away from the house so I don't mind that we don't have a huge garden for her. When she is a little older we keep on thinking we might get her a sand pit.

 

[Kte]

Kaites: The camping looks really fun, glad it went well and you can go back for many more visits now you have a caravan Love all the pictures

(Chloe's rash seems to of been a heat rash in the end as the spots had faded a bit this morning.)

 

[colsy]

Aww Kaites, so pleased you had such an ace camping trip BTW, how do you find the Totseat? Is Emma a wriggly baby? And if so, did she manage to sit happily in the Totseat or did you have to watch her every move?

Oh dear, we seem to be having a bad sleep/nap 24 hours. Last night wasn't great, and today Monty has managed 30 mins and now 5 mins of naps! Byeeee ...

 

[Kaites]

Aww Kaites, so pleased you had such an ace camping trip BTW, how do you find the Totseat? Is Emma a wriggly baby? And if so, did she manage to sit happily in the Totseat or did you have to watch her every move?

Oh dear, we seem to be having a bad sleep/nap 24 hours. Last night wasn't great, and today Monty has managed 30 mins and now 5 mins of naps! Byeeee ...

The totseat worked really well in the camp chair since the chair sort of shapes around her bum when she's sitting, making it a bit more secure. She's a wriggly baby though, so I still had to watch her like a hawk. I haven't used it on a regular chair yet for that reason. I think in a pinch it'll be fine but I still prefer using a real high chair whenever possible.

I hope Monty has a better night tonight!

 

[Maffie]

A quick hello im plagued with really bad headaches, hoping docs can help tomorrow. Noah's teething badly and the crying is so loud (think the headache is making it 10x louder)

 

[littlekitten8]

Hi girls. Just a quicky as this week is manic manic manic! James's christening went well and it was a lovely day. Will have to try to upload some pics but may be the weekend lol. He was really well behaved but boy did he scream when the vicar poured the water on him! He got some adorable gifts which I will have to get pics of.

Urgh got to go pack the last bits, get a tv licence, buy contents insurance, arrange internet.....really ought to get off my butt but had a really crap day at work so need to destress first! Hope everyone is ok. We need to have some updated pics of the bumpkins hehe.

Kaites - cute pics of your camping trip. Emma looks very happy.
Kte - awww Chloe looks like she is having fun there.

 

[aimee-lou]

Hi everyone!

I made it!

I'm sorry I've not been around. It seems like a lot has happened - I'll try to catch up but I think my laptop is about to die

The move was a nightmare. We eventually osted the keys through the office door at 1.30am on Thursday morning! We got to Colchester (where MIL lives) at 5am and collapsed into bed! We had been down the night before(overnight) and left Earl with MIL so we could get things sorted. Had 4 hours sleep then got back to the house at midday. Did a trip to the tip (my god I was fuming- so much rubbish and all my parents'). It was a complete nightmare but we got there eventually.

My Dad is out of hospital but he's still nowhere near better. Off down to see him tomorrow (or should I say up! lol).

Earl is crawling, saying 'mamamama', pincer gripping, pulling himself up on furniture and waving hello and goodbye!

Ermmmm...we're skint, knackered, holed up in one room at MIL's and generally getting a bit stir but hey, it's rent adn bill free!!

Chaos - I'm everso sorry -

Colsy - thanks for the wishes. It was a bit much and we've only just gotten the computer connected. Just got to start the job hunt now!

Kaites - sounds like the camping went well! We are going to get a tent for next summer (not able to this summer) so that we can go away at the drop of a hat. I'm so excited!!

Flora - I feel for you with the family issues. I hope things are getting better.

Oh and re: toys - Earl has started to 'put' things into places. Onto chairs and furniture, trying to use his shape sorter, posting things through gaps. It's very entertaining but I keep finding dummies shoved down the sides of things randomly, and losing toys for ages before finding them down shoved behind cushions!

Best be off before the PC dies. Have a lovely evening ladies xx

 

[Kte]

Morning all,

Poorly baby alert She is covered front and back in a rash, totally different one to the other day Off to the docs asap when they open.

Maffie: Hope the head clears and the scan goes well

 

[littlekitten8]

Kte - aww poor Chloe. Hope she is ok

Maffie - hope the scan goes well

 

[Kte]

Hello again all :wave:

Aimee: Glad the move is complete Well done to Earl on his milestones!

LK: Glad the christening went well, looking forward to the pics Hope your pending move goes smoothly

Well back from the doc's. He said its a viral rash and pretty much she could a) come out with a cold or b) come out with a new tooth! So all in all she is okay and been given the all clear. She still a little short tempered but has had a few happy moments today. She was all smiles for the reception staff and nurse who watched her whilst I went for my 2nd smear. Thought as I can't get any other time off I would ask if they could do me today. When I came back out she had a crowd around her, smiles galore and one of those stress toy panda things to play with Here is a pic of her just before I took her to the doctors, made me smile!

https://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g110/Kitty_fantastic_o/BabyandBump/DSCF3065.jpg

 

[florabean1981]

Kte, glad Chloe is ok! I found a little church-run toddler group literally 5 mins walk from our house but they only take 1-3 yr olds at the group due to insurance or something? But I will defo check it out in 3 months time, lol.

LK- glad James's christening went well. I hope things settle down for you & get less hectic soon!

Happy late 4th July to bumpkins in the US.

Maffie, sorry to hear about your headaches. That must suck, espcially in this heat & with Noah crying, bless you! Feel better soon!

Kaites, the camping trip sounds ace & I'm glad Emma enjoyed herself. The totseat looks cool; i debated about getting Harry one, but figured his babypod is still fine for now, so maybe when he's bigger. I'm gonna do a camp-out in the garden at some point this summer & force OH to 'slum it' in a tent so he can see it's really not that bad. We've got so much camping stuff it's crazy & it seems a shame to waste it just coz he doesn't 'do' tents, lol.

Aimee, glad you're done with the move; I hope you're able to get settled in quickly & find a great job for yourself. Does Drew still start uni at UEA in sept/oct time? And way to go Earl with all the developmental milestones! And I hope your dad starts to recover quickly too.

Hmmm... wel family stuff is still crap. My mum phoned last night & was moaning because the wedding photos she ordered only came in a normal envelope not a padded one, which in her eyes was unacceptable & somehow my fault coz I chose the photographer (?!) but didnt mention anything about my bro or sis. My dad's being good & staying out of everything, although he did agree that my brother is being a dick, & that his side of the family have long since 'given up' on him, lol. Harry still has a cold, but I'm over mine now, thankgod, but hayfever is still driving me nuts...
My Plec (big fish thing) died yesterday out of the blue, so that was a bit gutting & my stepmum's mum had a fall & ended up in hospital with bruising & a broken wrist. She seems fine & will be out of hospital today, but they were concerned because she doesn't avctually remember falling So my stepmum's going up to Nottinghamshire to stay with her for a couple of weeks to make sure she's coping being on her own (she's 89) or whether some intervention might me needed. She's starting to get a bit forgetful & clumsy, but seems otherwise fine.

anyways... better get my butt in gear & do some housework. OH is working away again now till early hours fri morning, so it gives me a chance to get the house clean n tidy for a few days before he's home for the weekend to ruin it, lol.

 

[Kaites]

How's everyone doing today? It's another steamy day here so we're pretty much just hanging out inside. I worked on cleaning out the pool a bit with Emma in the carrier on my back and now she's passed out, still on my back. Poor pumpkin found it too hot last night despite us having central A/C. I think the problem is that the thermostat is on the main floor but her bedroom is upstairs, in the sun all day and probably the hottest room in the house. I've got the pack 'n play set up in the basement in case she wakes up a lot tonight since it'll be cooler down there and I can sleep on the futon. She's been super needy in the heat though- driving me crazy since she won't let me put her down for more than a couple minutes.

Maffie- hope the scan went well and that your headache is gone and Noah's teeth are a bit better

LK- glad to hear Jameschristening went well. Hope the move goes smoothly too!

AImee- Bet your happy to be done with the move! Sounds like Earl is keeping you busy too Emma has traded "mamamamama" for "dadadadada"- traitor! She also loves to put stuff places now that she's mobile too and I can't find the baby hairbrush- she had it about a week ago and must have found a really good hiding place for it because hubby and I have looked high and low and can't find it. I'm sure there is other stuff that has been tucked away too.

Kte- Glad to hear Chloe's rash isn't serious. Cute photo of her!

Flora- Enjoy the backyard camping! I'm sure that would be fun for Harry and a good way to ease Hubby into more rustic camping. Emma loved the tent and trying to crawl on our air mattress. Sorry to hear about your pleco

Hope everyone is well!

 

[florabean1981]

thanks- and Happy 9 months to Emma today too I only just realised Harry turned 9 months today, lol!!!

 

[Maffie]

Happy 9 months Harry and Emma

Doc was crap at hospital he was moaning to a midwife he was late for lunch so ignored me when I tried to discuss my headaches (transferring to a new hospital)

I'm now due on the 7th Jan (thats if they let me go full term this time)