Belle

I know you feel you've already paid out - b ut if you could get on a seminar with Nicola as mentioned above, th is could be a cost effective way of trying another route. I used her on a one to one basis and she was brilliant, and laid out a full spectrum of techniques - from controlled crying to v v gentle and she advised which was best for our son's age etc. Really helpful. I did do a v gentle sleep training wiht him at 5 months (didn't ever leave him more than 3-4 mins)and it was effective but we had since relapsed and Nic was fantastic at helping us (with a v gentle no cry technique I should add). My son had slept through maybe 3-4 nights in 13 months, and since I had my consultation with Nic he's started sleeping in his own bed (big breakthrough!) and sleeping through most of the time (only doesn't if ill/teething which is fair enough!).

When we've done it we haven't bothered with turkey as think it's a lot of money and hassle for something we don't even like that much! So we've done things like roast beef or a whole sirloin (sic - I'm not the main chef!!) and/or a roast chicken for people who prefer white meat, or before I was married I did a leg of lamb for my family which went down well. Or whole salmon. Makes the timing thing less stressy as in the oven for a much shorter time. Agree about writing out timings and dividing tasks up. Generally my husband does the meat, the roasties and the gravy, I do a starter, sides and puddings. For those, I've tried and found relatively easy either cooking ahead or on the day: - usual smoked salmon on bread thing or on blinis with cream cheese - smoked trout pate - from Nigella Express - so so easy yet such a crowd pleaser - soup in little dainty cups - I think I've done stuff like butternutsquash or sweet potato with honey, ie quite thick soup so it's just a couple of mouthfuls Sides - I usually do sprouts with chestnuts and pancetta, quite easy and can prep the sprouts day ahead, also red cabbage which is also easy and can do day before (in fact tastes better for it), also chantenay carrots roasted with honey glaze - yum. Puddings - have done cranachan (can be made ahead but actually tastes better done fresh) and just simple chocolate mousse with cream. Usually by then you just want a sweet mouthful, as you're so full.

Growlybear Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I've had my Kindle for about 2 years and I love > it. I particularly like the way that if I want to > continue reading a book on my iPhone or iPad, it > automatically takes me to the exact point I was up > to on my Kindle. Like other posters, I like > having it linked with my Amazon account. There > are so many free books on offer that I don't think > I've paid for a book for over a year- it's made me > read loads of books that I quite probably wouldn't > have tried if I'd had to pay for them. Wait - what is the iPhone thing?! that sounds awesome!

Yep I love my kindle. And find it dead easy having it all linked with Amazon account. I have a holder/case for it with an integrated light which is v useful for when I find myself sharing a room with one of the kids or I don't wnat to wake husband up.

I've been looking into this and the ones I know of so far are: the dish & the spoon, push studios, Jags sports club, Albrighton centre and possibly room upstairs at the Mag though I think it's closing?

Only just seen this - so glad you were able to pinpoint it in the end. Don't feel bad...we were so lax with T's diet, and for the most part got away with it - you only learn with stuff like diet by trial and error really, as is evidenced by the fact the dietician hadn't specified some of the steps you took which made all the difference. Really glad he is doing so well, you must be so relieved. xxx

I would say something far less tangible than the things on the list, particularly as I am still falling short of several of them. I think there's a def change of mindset.So anything from just noticing other kids when you're out without your own (and feeling sympathetic for the parents when they're having a meltdown), to being able to second guess what your child is about to do next. and spotting the risks in day to day life (as well as opportunities)you'd never have considered pre kids. I don't mean that in a neurotic way. But just instincts like moving hot cups of tea out of reach without even thinking about it or knowing that a snack with some life span e.g. box of raisins is going to help you on a long journey more than something that's gone in a flash. It's hard to come up with examples. But I definitely know I think like a mum now.

Poor little Strawbs and poor you too, it is so draining and I imagine the worst thing is not having answers. the impedance test is very clever and not as invasive as you might think, i do hope you get a date for it soon. Hope you managed to get some rest. At least be reassured that the best people are looking into it and trying to find the cause.

poor wee thing - kisses from all of us x

Oh Strawbs, sorry the barium didn't provide any answers. Really hope he get seen quickly and sorted as soon as possible. As you say, you just need answers don't you. Poor you. Feel for you all 3. keep us posted x

Yes, i think they prefer to hold off until 3 from what i've been told, and up till then it's 'viral induced asthma' or something if it requires an inhaler. I've asked about it a few times though mine have been fortunate to get off lightly in the chestiness stakes. I have chronic asthma myself so am on the lookout!

Ah - I'm giving Mr belle a lie-in this morning as he's been up in the night loads on sleep training duty! But would love to catch up another time. T had a barium too, so any questions about that just let me know. x

Strawbs I forgot to mention in my post the most importnat (and I hope encouraging) thing: baby T has stopped being sick, pretty soon after turning 1. This considering he was still vomiting signficantly (averaging 10 times a day) up to 11.5ish months. So there is hope! We've even now stopped his meds and no ill-effects. Sleep is another matter but working on that one...

verds, I had a similar experience to you - got swept along with my 3 yr old's excitement, and though he was quite happy to just hand out treats, when his dad got home we were able to leave the baby with him (whereupon they took up the baton with handing out treats) and we joined our neighbours to go down our road and back up the parallel street. It was loads of fun and made me feel more connected with all our neighbours and the next streets - what was relaly nice was having the door opened by some children who'd just an hour before been round to our's.

Hi there, didn't realise you were with Babu too:) I saw your other post - do they think the vomiting is reflux then? sounds very extreme, poor you. right, we had the impedance study at about 10.5 mths. In the end we got bumped from our initial appointment (which would have been endoscopy _+ ph probe so needed a general and to be done in theatre) - so ended up splitting the 2 and doing the ph prob first, which just requires a nurse at Kings to do it so no general or theatre etc. In the event the results were such that we didn't need the endoscopy too. This also meant didn't have to repeat the no eating ritual we'd gone through for the appt first time round when we were bumped - so hard with a little baby as of course they get so hungry/thirsty. so the top line is - it was fine. It's distressing when they actually put it in, but that's over in a couple of minutes and you can wait outside (I did), the nurses are so, so used to doing this - the one I spoke to says she does 5 a week. Once in it doesn't bother them at all (or didn't T anyway). Then a quick x-ray to check it's in position. After that, although it LOOKS awful (i.e. baby with wire coming out of nose and lots of plasters to keep it stuck on!) it's like nothing has happened - mine carried on as normal - it was just a faff for me making sure the little bag was attached etc, I basically stayed in all afternoon the day we had it done and watched him like a hawk. He never even noticed it was there. Didn't try to pull it at any point. Was fine sleeping with it etc. the results were really helpful for us. They showed that actually he was very refluxy during the day (think he was 'moderate') when he's actually pretty happy, and not symptomatic at night, when he wakes up constantly which we had put down to reflux! Babu decided he didn't need further investigation as it was still 'moderate' rather than 'severe' but I found it v helpful. Any questions, let me know.

OOh was just about to post a similar t hing. I'm looking for judo,w hich my brother (who does a lot of martial arts) has suggested would be best. I know there's taikwondo but haven't heard of any judo locally, does anyone know (for an almost 4 yr old)

I think the doctors tend to help if after a year, def worth asking though. It took us nearly that I think with number 2, and I did get some tests run as my cycle was haywire post pill, they were all fine but it put my mind at rest.

I think I gave my copy of T&S away but know my mum still has a copy so will ask her, thanks blackkat!

Thanks, will have a look at both those stylists. I guess I'm not quite ready to have a whole styling /makeover session, not least as I'm really unfit at the moment so reluctant to spend too much without having resolved that, just always been a bit curious about working out which colours suit. Have tried looking online but it is SO, SO confusing! Clear and deep/dark and cold etc...baffling. I'm sure I've read contradictory stuff too. That's interesting that you could def see a difference with the colours you were advised to wear DVnewbie. Are they colours you'd have tended towards anyway?

mine at a similar time...

I've never really worked out which colours suit me. I'm really not keen on the likes of Colour me beautiful (no offence meant to anyone who is, just not my thing) but having said that, where would be a good place to get some pointers on this? Is there a good website? I do remember reading some stuff in the Trinny&Susannah book years back but I could never figure out which category I fell into. I worked out a while back I don't suit black or white but other than that I tend to slip into the same colours because I like them/once decided they suit me, but maybe I'm getting it all wrong. Have recently gone back to work so am attempting to rebuild my wardrobe... advice welcome!

I think I will give her a call - my 1 yr old has always been a terrible sleeper, and the whole family is knackered as a result.

I have the babyjogger glider arriving today hopefully, so will let you know how that one is...

oh yes with the quiet shouting! mrs f - i know it seems daunting but just as with number 1, you do adjust. I know with 1 you tend to think 'how will I cope with this X2' but it's not really like that - somehow you do get through and an enormous advantage is that the time just flies by, because it is so busy. A bit like when it's a hectic day at work, but you do somehow get loads done, whereas on quiet days you aren't so productive...

I am def of the muddle through ilk...though my mum reckons I'm organised so I guess there's a spectrum! The only things I really do are ensure the changing bag/toddler's rucksack are stocked with spare clothes, and wipes. I do snacks/cups/baby's bottle before we leave to go anywhere. I was way more organised with my first child - always had a clean muslin or 2 tucked away and TWO sets of spare baby clothes, nappy creams, calpol sachets - the lot! Second child I am winging it much more. with number 2 at 7 weeks you sound like you're doing brilliantly! totally agree babies don't need bathed every night (or even toddlers come to that) - and I basically tried to break things down to what was really necessary. Which was food for the toddler, and sleep/milk for the baby. So my absolute essentials, as i was bottle feeding from quite early, were to ensure I had some powder and bottles on me. Everything else could be improvised really. And even at that, I never went so far afield I was stuck anyway - def found I had much smaller radius of activity than with #1! If your oldest isn't at preschool, it's good to have a kind of timetable of regular activities where you know they'll be reasonably safe if you have to feed the baby etc. E.g. Tumble at the Albrighton Centre on Tuesdays (10-2, ?2) is great, really safe, lots of soft play type things for the toddlers to exhaust themselves on plus cartons of milk, and safe little corners for the babies. When the baby is older there's a ball pit too. The stage you mention of the baby wanting to be held all the time will pass...i used a sling a lot, and I also invested in a trip trapp (a bit late in the day - got one without baby kit) so that my previously encarcerated in a high chair son could get himself up & down from the table, one less thing to do when I had my hands full with the baby. I unashamedly used (still do!!) loads of telly. And an NCT friend advised me at the start (having had her 2nd some time earlier): just do one thing each day. i.e. don't set hugely high standards for trips to science museum and all sorts, just aim to get them out to the park or something once a day. Anything else is a bonus. Another very good friend advised me to avoid comparisons, and again that is such good advice: there's always going to be mums who are ostensibly doing so well etc, but everyone has good and bad days, celebrate the good and dont' dwell on the bad! edited apols for rambling & bad grammar...