Sleep Sense Graduates - chat thread :D

[PieMistress]

everybody!

Am still at work (mwahhhh), so will make a pointed effort to read through the thread later when i've got a decent bit of peace and quiet!

Hope you are all well & fab thread idea! I can't believe Kyle is nearly 14 months old and I think I joined the SS group when he was about 4 months? Where have the past 10 months gone !!!! He is such a wee monkey though and we are having lots of fun at the moment - what kept me going at work today was the memory of him standing, naked, pressed against the mesh stairgate and laughing as he pushed him face into it - it was so cute!

Looks like i've got lots to catch up on so will have a read though and be back! xx

 

[history_girls]

Hello all

It is so lovely to hear from all the lovely people from sleepsense! I have been awol from the forum for what feels like a life time but not that long. OH is out and I've a , some choccie and a quiet house.

The report from HG household: Fibby is still a monster but a totally lovely one! She is 16 months tomorrow and is such a beautiful little person. She whizzes around the house, can do stairs no problem going up - can't come down Her talking is amazing and she yabbers away all day. She and the dog are the best of pals and she loves walking him in the woods. She continues to be the tallest baby in the planet - mistook for a 3 year old yesterday. I must admit I am just totally bowled over by how amazing she is. I was never like that when she was a newborn but I get more starstruck every day!

Sleep has been fab but this past week has been a disaster To such an extent I allowed OH talk me into CIO. After 90 minutes I went in and snuggled her to sleep. Next morning OH finally admitted that CIO doesn't work for Phoebe - which made me so happy as I have been fighting in-laws etc.. who say I should leave her to it now she is a 'big girl'. However last night she was a dream.

On the me front, I hate work even more for various reasons and have been thinking about giving up teaching. But the pay, pension, holidays are keeping me there. I just feel a bit hypocritical teaching when I disagree with so much of the latest educational stuff from the government! Anyway on Saturday I am taking 40 16 year olds to Berlin for 4 days - first time away from Fib the teenagers I can deal with but breaking my heart leaving Fibby.

Foogirl - Abby sounds so lovely that, and it is easy for me to say, I would just take every day as it comes and love her and support her through out. My cousin has cerebal palsy and she finished uni last year - it was tough for her but she achieved what she wanted. I ahve a boy in my tutor group with CP and other stuff and he wears a splint and he copes fine - and in a tough school with mean kids. I would go with you instinct on number 2!

On the baby falling asleep front - not a fan. I get cross in supermarkets in the evening when I see kids out and about when it is way past bedtime. I mutter i think at them!

 

[TennisGal]

Firstly - what on earth is it with these ghosts!? Are you both serious??? *scared face*

FG - One of DH's colleagues has cerebal palsy. Tbh, I'd just thought he'd got a slight limp, and you never really notice. He's sharp as a knife and has never faced any kind of issue getting on in life...and certainly sounds as though Abby is as bright as the proverbial button. Here's hoping it's just mild, and she grows into walking. One things for certain, though, she's certainly not going to be held back! I love her chat!!

HC - HAPPY BIRTHDAY RONAN!! Did he have a lovely day?? Did you?? It's quite an emotional one, isn't it? That time has flown SO quickly?

Polaris - I think we're nearing the end of BFing, too - we're kinda on one and a half at the moment! I'd really like to hit the 18 month milestone, and I think we will...but Lizzie is less and less interested in the actual feeding, more the comfort. She's just started to take cows milk...but it has to be from her doidy cup with a straw (straw being the most wonderful thing in the world, EVER, at the moment!) She still sits with one hand on boob for comfort, too - but has been hugely amused at how things have expanded with pregnancy - and loves to slap and laugh at the wobble

PM - :waves: I know, I can't believe I started this when Lizzie was five months. We've got toddlers now...how did that all happen SO fast?!

HG - LOVE the new avatar. This age is just fabulous, isn't it? Lizzie has me in hysterics so much of the time. We went to play on the swings this week, and she spent a large amount of time pursuing this little boy trying to hug and kiss him. I had to remove her from his personal space, as he started crying!! She's chatting lots too at the mo - my favourite (which she's just started, practically overnight!) 'silly cat' (actually sounds like slee tat) She's clearly got that from me. Definite warning for me to ALWAYS watch what is said around her. I stubbed my toe the other day, but managed to avoid any expletives and just hopped around saying 'sugar lumps'.

Sorry to hear about work Are things just fighting your morals? I really hope all goes well on the trip - and just think how happy La Fib will be to see you when you return.

Well, reports from the TG household...apart from the obvious! Many thanks for your congratulations We're SO excited! Can't believe Lizzie will have a little bro or sis. Keep telling her she's going to be a role model We're going to keep the sex as a surprise, although we both seem to think littlie is a girlie. Don't know why! That said, we thought Lizzie was a boy - so this one will probably be a boy, seeing as my 'gut instinct' seems to be totally off!

I've been feeling ATROCIOUS! Symptoms 100% worse second time round - exhausted and nausea. Awful nausea. And some sick. I've literally stumbled through the last few months. I've kept going and made things fun for Lizzie, as I don't want her to think 'why is Mummy suddenly so dull'...so, by the time DH has got in from work...I've literally just dropped on the sofa and fallens asleep. One of the reasons I've been largely absent from here.

Anyway, we are so excited - and feel so very blessed with the ole ovaries etc.

Getting ready for the premature ageing process now ;-) Also, got to tell work...tell everyone who doesn't know yet. Not much hiding it this time round - bump popped MUCH earlier. I've hardly put on any weight, but I've got a big round bump!!

Poppy7 is due just before me, so very exciting to be going through everything with a fellow SS-ee.

Got a 'night out' tonight...so, anticipating keeping going until about 9pm...and then falling asleep in a heap.

Hope all are well. What an utterly MISERABLE Saturday!

Oh, and I have a worry question - can anyone reassure me if I'm being silly? I was craving a burger (!) so I got one from McDonalds (yes, really...) Now I'm worried that the onions may have been left around and got something nasty. I know you shouldn't eat salads etc. Do warmed onions count on a burger? DH thinks I'm being crazy...and I think I am over anxious...but I *am* a bit concerned?

Big to all xx

 

[hivechild]

I wouldn't worry about the onions. Heck, I ate salad, brie, runny eggs, peanut butter...you name it...when iou was pregnant with Ronan! The only thing I think i didn't have was sushi and that's because I don't like it!

The sugar lumps thing made me laugh too. I have a friend who once said, "For the love of blueberry muffins!" and it's stuck with me all this time. I find myself saying it more often these days.

 

[polaris]

TG, I think you are being a bit silly! I'm sure the onions will be fine. McDonalds use dehydrated onions usually and I think they are pretty safe. Mind you I was not very cautious during pregnancy and ate most things with no ill effects.

Well Thomas seems to have gone back to getting up at 6 a.m. or earlier, after a few blissful weeks of sleeping in until 7 or sometimes even 8. He started sleeping much later in the mornings when he moved from two naps to one, but it seems that it was just the adjustment process while he got used to it, and now he's back to his normal ways! I was out for a very rare night out last night so I am feeling a bit the worse for wear this morning. However I can't complain as Thomas generally has a two or three hour nap after lunch (on Thursday he slept for three and a half hours!) so I'm going to try and have a rest now myself and then we are going out to meet a friend who has a newish (3 month old) baby!

 

[TennisGal]

Blueberry muffins! Love it, that may be joining sugar lumps!

P-hope the head is better? Did you get a rest? How was the lil baby?

HC-have you got any pics from the first birthday party?

Thanks for the reassurance, ladies-I can be a real worrier. Did it again this morning, tucking into stuffed olives, realised they were stuffed with feta and another Greek soft cheese. Brain awol. Am trying to remain calm-as they were in a jar, not deli or cOld...from Tesco...and didn't say unpasteurised. So should be ok?? Can someone PLEASE give me some advice on how to stop fretting?! I just want to be a bit less anxious!

Well, we had a lovely night with friends...ended up at v nice restaurant after all, and chatted for hours. However, we were informed by Granny that Lizzie cried for us as soon as she realised we weren't there for bed time. She cried-while being comforted-for an hour! Poor darling! So, she has literally been glued to our sides today. Not much napping, either, so am wiped. Some ice cream and sleep, I think! Glad the nausea is calming!!

P-8 am must have been a treat? Meant to ask-how is work?

Hc-how is lil Ronan sleeping?

Right, ice cream...and trying not to panic about stuffed olives! Xx

 

[polaris]

TG - the stuffed olives will be fine too! I know it's hard not to worry and you can't stop yourself from having worrying thoughts but maybe try to just detach yourself from the worries a little bit rather than totally buying into them and treating them as if they were reality. You can't stop yourself from having worrying thoughts but you can choose to respond to them differently. So instead of latching onto a worry and working through all of the worst case scenarios in your head which ends up making you feel even worse, you can choose to step back from the worry and say "ok there's another one of those worrying thoughts, I'm not going to go down that road right now". Some people also find it helpful to set a 15 minute worry period at a specific time during the day, and postpone all of their worrying thoughts until that slot. So you're basically telling your worries "I'm not ignoring you, I'll worry about you later, but I'm just not going to waste all day thinking about you." Often people are a bit superstitious about worrying and have a sort of subconscious belief that if you worry about something it's less likely to happen or you'll be better prepared for it or whatever. But the majority of worrying is just repetitive and upsetting and doesn't help you in any way.

Well we have had a lovely weekend, but over much too quickly as usual. We met up with our friends and their baby yesterday which was lovely. Their baby is totally gorgeous, although I will admit to being amused that she was sleeping through the night at nine and a half weeks - Thomas just about managed that at nine and a half months, LOL. Then this morning we had swimming (waterbabies). I am enjoying it SO much at the moment - Thomas is really starting to know all of the songs and activities and respond to them. We have them swimming on their own for short periods just holding onto on a woggle which is amazing! It's expensive but I think worth the money, it's such a lovely thing to do with him each weekend.

So back to work tomorrow - I do feel that I have sort of adjusted to being back and it's not as hard as it was before Christmas. I still am not totally happy about missing so much time with Thomas but I have accepted it and stopped sort of fighting against it, which makes it so much easier, if that makes sense. I'm enjoying the actual work, the role is very challenging and there are not enough hours in the week, but very rewarding too.

Hope everyone else had a nice weekend.

 

[hivechild]

HC-have you got any pics from the first birthday party?


Hc-how is lil Ronan sleeping?

I do! You can see them here: https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=279624&id=536234212&l=9f9b5f928b

Anyone who wants to add me on FB, please feel free to, just let me know who you are!

Ronan's been all over the place with his sleep. Sometimes he sleeps great, other times he wakes randomly but I'm fine with how things are going. All week he's been waking up around 6ish in the morning and refusing to go back to sleep (but still sleeping through from around 7-7:30pm so can't complain too much), and then being exhausted and crabby and wanting a nap by 8:30 or so and our whole day has been out of whack.

This morning though he woke at 5:30, fed and went back to sleep by 6ish and slept until 8 and then had a single nap from 12-2:15 so I had a taste of how our days COULD go if he decided to drop to one nap and would sleep that bit longer in the morning without waking for a feed!

Anyhoo, on the fretting and worrying, I don't think there's anything I could add that Polaris hasn't already said brilliantly so I'll just say, "What she said!"

 

[TennisGal]

P - thank you so much. I started employing the 'worrying allowance time' today - and I've got to say it really helped. I gave myself 15 minutes while Lizzie was asleep, and went through all my worries. I then shook myself down, made a hot drink and sat down and watched an episode of 'The Tudors'. MUCH better. I even watched it all without letting my mind wander onto whether I'd washed my courgettes thoroughly enough...Really has helped today, and I'm going to do this everyday. Thank you!!

I'm glad to hear work is going well - I know exactly what you mean about the 'acceptance'. Once the mind accepts that 'this is what happens', and just gets on with it...things are just that bit easier, aren't they?

Sleeping through at 9 weeks?!?! Lizzie was still feeding about 9 times at 9 months! I'd just remembered her manic growth spurt that lasted for an age...I think I was just in a daze!

I'm wondering when the sleep catching up will happen when baby arrives...I'll have to post a picture of my bags to give you all a laugh heheheh

I'd love to take Lizzie to 'Water Babies' - unfortunately, we've got to let her ears mature a little bit longer. Such a shame, as she adores the water....and such a nice thing to do, even on a rotten day.

HC - LOVE the pics!! Aw, he's such a cutie!!! I think Ronan and Lizzie would get on famously...with a shared love of cake Lizzie would be delirious with joy at that spread...the seal is just amazing! Beautiful.

I'm actually not on FB, just a complete luddite according to my sister!

Well, quick one from us tonight -as I'm feeling sick and I am actually considering going to bed in about half an hour! Lizzie has been super clingy today, I even had to give her dinner on my knee (that was interesting - with fish pie and spinach on the menu!) She would not let me out of her sight, and preferably had to be on my knee at all times. She's fine in herself, just the last couple of days has wanted her mummy and/or daddy all the time. I think she's still a bit cross about us not being there at bed time, and having the audacity to go out

Still, we had a fun walk around the town today...and my lady did some shoplifting. Had to return some licorice to Holland & Barrett!

I feel a bit lousy..am really tired, and I thought the nausea had gone (more fool me...) I think I'm winning awards for bland carb consumption

Big hugs to all xxx

 

[history_girls]

Just a quickie from me ladies

-20 degrees in Berlin on Monday night!!! Kids on the trip were great but missed my Fibby like nobodies business!

Totally whacked so will chat more tomorrow!

Hope all well

 

[Cattia]

Hey everyone,

SO EXCITED to find this thread! I have not been on the SS thread in a while and always feel guilty that I am not catching up with all the posts I missed! It's so nice to see you all.
CONGRATULATIONS TG
So exciting!!!!!!!!
Good to hear that everyone else is doing well too. How time has flown since we all started SS!
Things have been going well here, until the past week when Abigail suddenly seems to have turned into a nightmare Somebody tell me that it's just a phase please!
She is normally such a happy little girl, but we've had tears over every single little thing. The other day she couldn't turn the page in her book and she just had a meltdown. This morning it happened because I wiped her hands after breakfast. She wants to be picked up then she wants to get down so I put her down then the minute she's down she cries and wants to be picked up again! She's also off her food apart from yoghurt and fruit pot and is drinking loads of water. She seems tired a lot too. She has no temperature - the only thing I can think of is teeth? I am wondering if the top molars might be on the move. I am really hoping this doesn't last long. We have baby number 2 on the way in just 9 weeks and I really don't know how we will manage if she's like this!
Anyway, thanks for letting me offload. We are going away tomorrow night and leaving her with my mum for the first time. I wish she was on better form.
Well, lovely to see you all, I am so happy we can all keep in touch

 

[Arcanegirl]

I read something about that age, how they want to have control over independance so they "want"something, but dont actually want the end result if that makes sense?

Alex used to do it all the time!

 

[polaris]

I read something about that age, how they want to have control over independance so they "want"something, but dont actually want the end result if that makes sense?

Alex used to do it all the time!

Thomas does the same asking for something and then he doesn't want it. For example he will ask for a banana and I will have a feeling that he's already full after his dinner but he'll be going mad pointing and saying 'nana' so I'll give him the banana and he'll eat maybe one piece of it and then won't want it after all. It's one of his only words so I think he just likes using it!

 

[TennisGal]

Lizzie does the same - today she wanted to be picked up and then wanted to get down again about 10000 times. She also has *real* diva moments, definitely amplified when she's tired, but I think she sometimes gets frustrated that she's trying to talk to me...and I don't understand all the words!

Like P, Lizzie also asks for things she's not really that fussed about. She says 'isss' and 'dat' and points. So I pass, she grins and then shakes her head

Also, that's good to know about the independence thing, AG - makes a lot of sense!

(thank you for the congrats Cattia - can't believe you are due in 9 weeks!! How are you feeling?)

How is everyone?

 

[history_girls]

Cattia - oh yes Fibby had this phase (I still have the mental scars) but it was short lived. She eats everything but for about two weeks before her 3rd tooth appeared (she still only has 4) she didn't eat, was a little moo and I was contemplating selling her on ebay!

Fibby is very independent now and gets cross if I interfere. She insists on putting her own coat and shoes on - which always goes wrong and ends up with a stamp of her foot to summon servant mummy.

We've been enjoying what is left of half term and went swimming with her cousins at the local pool. Littledippers has spolit us -it was freezing in there. But Little Miss Phoebe showed off her diving skills. She has now conked out and has been for over an hour. I've cooked dinner, cleaned the kitchen, done sainsburys online and I'm killing time! The dog had surgery yesterday and is at the in-laws for his own protection from Fibby (He has stiches and she isn't delicate).

Can we still discuss sleep? Fibby is getting too big for her sleeping bag - supposed to go to age 3 but not with my tall lady. Anyone transfered to duvets etc...? Seen some grobag bedding which looks good as pillow is attached to sheet etc.. I am not going to take down her cot sides yet as she doesn't complain about them! Any thoughts?

Hope you are all enjoying Friday. Term starts next week and there were no new jobs in the TES today to apply for. Must buy euro milions.....

 

[polaris]

Hey everyone!
Yay it's Friday! I love the weekend! If only it wasn't always over so quickly!

Exciting news - we have two new words today - buggy (buhbuh) and teeth (teesh). So he can now say fish, banana, mama, buggy, and teeth. Is it just me or is that a very random list of words?? LOL.

HG - oh no, bad news about the sleeping bag, I don't know what I'll do when Thomas grows out of his. He's still only little so hopefully not for a while. I don't really fancy moving to duvets/blankets as I don't think he would have the sense yet to keep himself covered. Let us know if you do go for the Grobag bedding how it works out.

Just wanted to say thanks AGAIN to TG for starting this thread! So good to have a place to keep up to date with all my best B&B buddies!

 

[history_girls]

Polaris - enjoy the weekend! I am gutted the bag is getting to small. She is a wriggler and I know she won't keep a cover on her. Also the bag is the only thing preventing her escaping from her cot each night! I've spent well over an hour trying to purchase said duvets etc... but I am very indecisive.

Fibby isn't as refined as Thomas and has decided that new noises are better than words. Raahhhhh is her new noise every time she sees a lion in her books. But it comes with mouth wide open and spit. charming.

 

[hivechild]

HG - They have a brand here called Halo that do toddler sleepsacks in humungous sizing. They even do ones with little feety bits for when they start walking. I don't know when/how we'll switch to a duvet since he's all over the place throughout the night in his sleep. I can't imagine a duvet staying on him long.

How's Maxy doing? What did he have to have an operation for? Fingers crossed he has a speedy recovery.

Polaris - That really is a delightfully random list of words. As for weekends, I'll enjoy them a whole lot more when I'm not looking at a high of 26F on Sat and snow on Sunday. Bring on Spring already!

 

[polaris]

Or maybe even just a regular child size sleeping bag without the arm holes? I remember sleeping in a sleeping bag as a child (with a duvet over the top - very cold house!) for years.

Hivechild - yeah we had some weather like that before Christmas - very unusual for us in this country to have so much snow and daytime temperatures that low but I guess it's pretty standard for you. It's a real pain because it's too cold to even go for a long walk comfortably. It's getting quite spring like here, warm days and crocuses coming into bloom. I have to say that I really appreciate it after an unusually cold winter.

 

[hivechild]

We had some fantastic warmer weather earlier in the week, followed by rain all day (friday) and then in the evening it turned to snow and we got about an inch or two. So now we have snow over frozen rain. Bleah! I slipped last weekend and hurt my back under the same conditions. I'll definitely be watching my step a little more carefully this time.

I think I'm going to do some making this weekend. I made some banana bread muffins last night that are ok at best. I deviated from my tried and true delicious recipe to try a new one and it just wasn't as good so now I feel obligated to bake more and put these other ones to shame!