ILX Parenting 4: We make our own people

And to start us of he's me boy looking pensive in Bethnal Green.
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/nedtrifle/2616255473/"; title="Untitled by Ned Trifle, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2616255473_6530d2de39.jpg"; width="500" height="375" alt="" /></a>

Oh, good start...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3030/2616255473_6530d2de39.jpg

Haha I just watched this ep of Seinfeld this morning.

...And to keep her happy here's the girl working hard at the allotment...
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Elisabeth flashing her knickers and checking out her sister.

I (perhaps ill-advisedly) posted this on another thread, but here we go again:

(It was taken with our eBay-scored 1980s Bronica medium-format camera on 6x6 slide film; the only digital camera here is the one Ava's using!)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3143/2614473724_c8dee17333.jpg

And Lulu packing her bags and deciding she's had enough...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3117/2618885649_03140901a8.jpg

(I can't actually recall whether we have two of those T-shirts or whether the one we have fits both).

hahah - excellent. Obviously not using vinyl in her sets though?

I can't believe 16 months ago he was a newborn...
http://lh5.ggpht.com/ColveyClan/SGaq1Y6JlpI/AAAAAAAAHRo/ap2HfErRVVM/s400/CIMG0529.JPG

OMG! hes grown up so much!

cute kids all over this thread already!

Now that we ditched the potty training thread, we started "officially". Urgh. Cleaning up wee and poop is no fun, esp if the dog has decided to join in: last few weeks she's been peeing and pooping in the house. ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stick with it, Nath - it gets better, honestly. And don't get too discouraged at further accidents beyond the point when you think you've cracked it, cos that happens too. Ava actually over-reports her need for the lav, included a panicked "I need a poo" at 5am on Saturday morning. No dice.

When did all y'all start potty training. I read something recently that said you can start at 18 months but that the average ages americans start is 36 months.

here is beeps in the car with suzy Qs up her nose(reposted from cellpwn pics thread)

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/1725/sqsq0.jpg

We started potty training with Ava at 31 months. She kind of "got it" in the space of a weekend but we had numerous accidents in the weeks that followed including a spell of 3-4 days where she totally relapsed and wouldn't tell us when she wanted to go, leading to multiple costume changes... She's been mostly fine since the beginning of the year (just before her 3rd b'day) but still has a bit of a fear of climbing up on the toilet (she's so small a simple step still isn't enough for her to easily get on there) and flatly refuses to use potties any more so we always have to help. Combine this with a genuine terror of hot-air driers in public restrooms and the Ava lav experience can be fairly fraught.

flatly refuses to use potties any more

Actually, that's not quite true - she's quite willing to use the porta-potty when we're miles from a public WC. Once on the Tube!

Here's Ben after munching on dried strawberries, looking like a baby dracula:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3010/2628543314_a2ee426439.jpg

aww! more foodface pics pls parents

Ben and Beats look quite satisfied with themselves, dont they?

It's Beeps. We voted.

;)

Ben Pickles and Beats Beeps look quite satisfied with themselves, dont they?

fixed

Oooh I love looking at all these cute kids - they seem more relevant now, ha ha!!

Marley doing what she does best: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3065/2628848462_5bb5abd9de.jpg

Beautiful shot of your kids with the camera, Michael. But now you've made curious of the photo Ava took! Or should I look for that (ten years on) in the 'Children of ILX' thread?

Ahh...shhhh everyone...don't wake the baby...

Ava's photo is still on the card in the Fisher Price...if she hasn't deleted it (she loves the bin icon and the crunchy sound it makes so she's constantly wiping pix).

Foodface!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/2628971862_221845b361.jpg

Okay seriously ilx parents statistically at least one of you must have a child that isn't completely adorable and awesome.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3115/2568121366_115f9ac675.jpg?v=0

this is Olli from about a month ago

no foodface pix, as he's still only on milk

pj have you ever watch the wonder pets? "Ollie Ollie Ollie to the rescue!"

Foodface pic from March 2004.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2628252303_22d4db168c.jpg

never watched wonder pets! I'll have to check it out. My older kids might be too jaded to watch something this cute and homespun-looking, tho.

Did someone say foodface? (age 10 months)

http://lh4.ggpht.com/ColveyClan/R3oLQrXXXzI/AAAAAAAAFrc/786ImC5qVtA/s400/CIMG1045.JPG

Ookay, having a major migraine attack and two kids: HELLISH. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband and the two kids were at the creche most of the time. But having to breastfeed with a migraine attack and the oldest crying cause she peed her pants: NO GOOD. :-)

When did all y'all start potty training. I read something recently that said you can start at 18 months but that the average ages americans start is 36 months.

18 months is okay. But they have to be able to communicate (preferrably verbal) that they need to go wee/poo. ALso keep in mind that this is VERY early so you're bound to take longer and have more accidents. Here they advise about 2,5 yrs old. 3 is still considered okay but a bit late. I think they prefer 2,5 yrs old cause that's before they go to the kindergarten. In the US kindergarten isn't that prevalent, I think, so the parents can wait a bit longer. The idea is that the longer you wait, the quicker the child will learn it. Hah. Ophelia still doesn't tell us. But she can hold her pee up longer than anyone, so we only have about two accidents a day. :-)

Beeps is soooooooooooooooooooo cute in that pic, SS. Those eyes!!!!

Rumps, dear, I am jealous of the beauty of your baby. Honestly. What. A. Pretty. Baby.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3140/2623410415_11a8684d46.jpg

I was freaking out that she didn't sit. Then I held her t-shirt (at the back) and realized she was able to sit pretty well. Tonight, my husband told me, she sat for about half an hour playing with her sister and watching telly. Hmm. Okay, I know, telly is bad, but she sat for half an hour. Silly me, always worrying. :-)

Peggy and kids are out at my Mom's place in Long Island for the month. I go back and forth on weekends. Got a call this morning from my breathless wife before I even sat down at work, telling me that Oliver (age 2) had fallen down a flight of stairs. Everyone says he's fine and okay and his normal little self, but I am beside myself. Going back out there Weds. night. CAN NOT WAIT.

Food photo, but I don't think it'll beat Meg's - avocado?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3286/2466535089_9c76c23d37.jpg

Does anyone know if flickr videos can be embedded in ILX? Anyway, here's the link to Aidan slurping away at spag bol http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsbrown/2589857110/in/set-72157603809350652/

I'm loving baby led weaning, we're getting to the point where most meals Aidan is eating what we're eating. Last night we had sausages and leek/onion/pepper tart with brie (bad mummy) all sat round the table together.

It always amazes me how gorgeous ILX babies/children are.

Alex, can't imagine what you must be going through. One of Aidan's friends fell down the stairs yesterday and escaped unscathed but the same can't be said about his mum, she's in pieces!

Yep, same thing happened with my daughter - a flight of stone steps when she was 4. She just got up and carried on the rest of us are all around her saying "have you got a headache/how many fingers am i holding up/do you feel dizzy/sleepy/grumpy/etc" - they are often more resiliant than you think.

Something like that seems to happen to one of our boys nearly every day. The only thing that has left a long-term mark is the cat scratch.

Alex, speaking from experience, you shouldn't worry too much when kids fall down stairs. Not that you shouldn't worry at all. It's when your parents fall down that you should start to worry.

Gosh, that's true, Billy :(

Lovely flash-bounce on that pic, Vic!

Thanks for the support, all. I've been repeatedly assured that he's okay. Still, can't wait to see the little fella tonight.

We took the boys pony-riding yesterday. And they got their first taste of jumping around in a bouncy house. Probably the best day of their lives so far.

Owen:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3038/2644490278_fae62d6623.jpg

Ben:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3014/2644495662_02a3009345.jpg

:D

Hey, Sterling, what year did Loveless come out?

http://www.douglasandlisa.com/sterling/s268.jpg

pony rides! they stayed on ok?

great photo, douglas.

Yeah - they get strapped-in a bit, but they can sit up on their own pretty well.

im so pleased flickr has video now. some july 4th weekend video of the beeps:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/equinestate/2642416069/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/equinestate/2643190500/

Damned canines -- Howie has just taken two hours (of screaming) to settle to bed (this after waking about six times last night). He has been dribbling rivers today so the teeth have got to be to blame.

Loving the pony rides!

awww cute videos

ian turned 2 last monday

http://bp1.blogger.com/_9fU1wm-nLUU/SGlJyG6-vZI/AAAAAAAADIE/rK5fDTK_xiA/s320/IMG_1114.JPG

we kind of started trying to potty train in earnest this weekend (by which I mean, we took the diapers off for the mornings and late afternoons). he's yet to actually use it; he seems to go on himself then declare he needs the potty. we probably aren't being as hardcore about it as we could.

Oliver & Charlotte this past weekend.

http://vassifer.blogs.com/.a/6a00d8341c18b253ef00e553a7cc648834-pi

Oh Sunny...Beeps in real time! They're terrific. What camera have you got. I got to get me one.

The fountain one is lovely. She is completely unfazed by the fact of arcs of water raining down all around her, she just seems in awe!

Beeps loves water pouring down on her. Shes a big fan of rain and showers. We were kind of umming and ahhing about letting her near the fountain. In the end I let her go at the bottom of the grassy slope near the fountain and she just ran to it.

The camera is just a Sony Cyber-shot. We have a video camera too but it never seems to be on hand when there is something to film.

Meg, Im feeling your pain. Beeps has only half a molar to push through and shes through with teeth growing until the 2 year molars. thank god!

The OC looks as gorgeous as ever.

Happy Birthday, Ian! is that the animal train i can see on the floor?

They look so much better than the video my camera shoots. Maybe I've got it set up wrong or something!

http://photos-358.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v208/213/42/619069358/n619069358_1099829_5297.jpg

They look like they're having fun!

How's Howie and his teething? Hope it's settled down

Aidan cut his first tooth yesterday, at the grand old age of 11 months two weeks!!! I say Aidan cut it, it's been hanging there for weeks and I had a feel yesterday and my nail might have caught the gum, but it's come down further overnight. It's not one of the front four so he still looks totally gummy still.

He starts nursery on monday too! A week of settling in then I'm back at work. We went in on wednesday and he was off playing within minutes so I think he should be ok. He'll be the youngest in there and the rest are all walking so I wouldn't be surprised if he starts walking sooner rather than later.

Howie's teething has settled down but now my own teeth are keeping me awake at night (I'm waiting for root canal treatment)... you can't win.

That sand looks lovely.

Got a call this morning from my breathless wife before I even sat down at work, telling me that Oliver (age 2) had fallen down a flight of stairs. Everyone says he's fine and okay and his normal little self, but I am beside mysefl

This happened a few days ago when I wasn't with O going down the stairs. Of course she fell the one time I wasn't in front of her. I was kinda waiting for it to happen. And she's fine.

Potty training is however a power struggle. Oh boy....

Beeps through the green plastic part of her kiddie pool

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/8259/photohe6.jpg

Guys, BHeeps is off the 16 month old height radar, registering as taller than 50% of 2 y/o. I know most people move their kids into toddler beds around 24months but Im wondering since she is so tall she might need to go in one sooner. I'm thinking:

Pro-Bed - She is almost able to climb out of the crib and she likes to land on her head.

Pro-Crib - Shes not really old enough to communicate clearly with so it might be struggle to get her to stay put.

Any advice?

ian is very very tall for 2years but he still fits in his crib so there he is staying. he likes it in there and hasn't tried to climb out though he probably could. I say don't move them until you absolutely need to or really want to deal with your kid getting up and wandering around their room at bedtime.

Can't offer personal experience as Howie is still in the cot and can't climb out yet. But I do know a few people who've put their kids into beds around this age. You could try a bed rail to keep her in bed? Or this kind of thing, halfway between a duvet and sleeping bag...

can they use pillows and comforters now?

akm, shes a climber

Belated food face:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2365/2269172141_0bd1abb8b2.jpg?v=1203197754

We're putting potty training on hold for one month. She clearly knows how to but refuses to.

"Do you need to do peepee? We should go to the potty."

"No, I don't do peepee on the potty."

Ooooooooooooooooookay.

We moved Elisabeth from her tiny crib to the big ole bed (which is like an XXXXXXXXXL crib). Of course the first nighth was HELLISH cause she moved about all the time, landing on her tummy and crying. I put a sheet over her legs - so she is not able to move as much - and has slept a little bit more. *sigh* I'm hoping she'll sleep through in a few months time. :-) Have to say though, I'm knackered beyond belief.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3179/2660695033_41a639de5a_m.jpg

omg!^^^

awwws alice foodface! Alice looks a lot like a girl in beeps' daycare class.

Nath yr making want new baby NOW

Are Alice and Ophelia in toddler beds?

People your kids just keep getting cuter and cuter. It's unrreal. I would babysit all these ILX babies and try my hardest not to steal them. ;-)

Child 1 and 2 in various modes on the Isle of Wight.
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sunny are you guys actually calling beats beeps now? i will not hate you if you arent, but you damn well know you should be

beeps = ilx
beats = irl

We all have our handles.

http://www.ireallylovemusic.co.uk/pics/kids.jpg

first ever exam results are in for the eldest.
in this modern world in the uk they hit 11 and bam into proper stress exams.
but of course, mine sailed through and got top grades across the board.
naturally his mother is claiming full responsibilty.
which is only fair i guess.

Ben runs around the house:

Link

PP we held a poll on 77, we voted in it, we made a choice for you

you have no honor sir

gah i cant see these flickrs at work.

deez lets compromise and call her Beets

http://www.southafricalogue.com/files/2007/08/mugabe-sleeping-magaisa.jpg

Good running, Ben! I like the way he hugged the walls like a good squash shot. And totally avoided the corners of that table.

Dithered between B&W and colour versions of these (taken in the garden this evening before I put them to bed) and went monochrome in the end...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3202/2674723447_6d87a4e3a9.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2675538944_3d3130d0bb.jpg

omg ben running is great but even better was owen jumping up and down with excitement in his crib every time ben motored by.

ava and lulu look beautiful as always. i think, looking up the thread, what i like best about ava and lulu photos is how lulu looks at ava. love for the big sister. make me want a girl for number 2.

mark e where are your kids there? i didnt know there were palm trees in the UK!

ned's kids should be CK Kids models.

mark e where are your kids there? i didnt know there were palm trees in the UK!

ah ha. well spotted. they are stood in front of the Infinite Pool in Gran Canaria which was truly fantastic.

webcam of the pool

hay guyz

guess what appeared on a certain indicator a few months ago

"+"

OMG! Yay!

TH: Is this the same good news that you, so one hears, casually broke to people in NYC who were so stunned by it that they didn't know how to respond, until you said something like '"Congratulations" would be welcome'?

If so, then, not for the first time (because your response rate to communications can be Nabiscoesque, though certainly it doesn't compare with that silent maestro's), sincere Congratulations.

What he said.

Thank you! pinefox, it is indeed the same piece of news. The Thing, as i am calling it, is due to arrive the first week of December. I hope the postage has been paid on it.

Congrats! ILX parents - how many are there now?!

ned's kids should be CK Kids models.

People do say that and then they look at me and you can see the gathering doubt...how can that fugly bastid be the father? Their mothers genes are beautiful.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/MarkGrout/BothSmaller.jpg

A recent 'language day' at school

OMG everyone be sprogging! Congratulations, Tracer.

Yeah it's like, the in thing.

congrats tracer. exciting times ahead.

That's what I'm afraid of.

Prepare to be unprepared. Expect the unexpected. There's no way you're going to know what to do, so just do the best you can.

These creatures are bred to survive. If there's ever a point where you're thinking, "this is too much, I can't do this", remember that every parent since the caves has had the very same thought.

Prepare to be unprepared. Expect the unexpected. There's no way you're going to know what to do, so just do the best you can.

moto for life.

i did a killer baby-save last week of my niece, she was in a cardboad box bopping around and suddenly slipped backwards & i did this dive where i cupped my hands underneath where her head was gonna land

EXCEPT she somehow held it upwards (i think) by herself! i still took full credit for the save because she cant talk that well yet

I was thinking of using a cardboard box too; cribs be expensive!

Congrats, Tracer!

My very own offspring just crawled out of bed at 1:15, damn her eyes.

Wow - congratulations TH. It's a baby explosion all up in this joint. I wonder who is next? Good thing my bc of choice is the next most effective after sterilization cause, as much as I'd love to, we can be having bebes just yet.

Yay! Congrats, TH!

From now on I shall call you Tracer Dad. Congratulations! Babies are so life-changing, but in a good way (except for perhaps the lack of sleep part).

And the screaming non-stop on the bus for 20 minutes on the commuter bus because they're dog tired but won't give in. I couldn't look the pregnant woman who was sat next to us in the face. Or any of the other passengers for that matter.

But then they go and do something cute and you love them again.

But then they go and do something cute and you love them again.

and thats the deal isn't it.
the good far far outweighs the "bad".
upcoming for me from this saturday, is a week when the kids are away. on one hand i'm shouting out
"hurray, loud music, lots of wine, more sleep",
on the other hand, by next thursday i'll be totally fed up and depressed cos my 5 year old hasn't been around to make me laugh, or my 10 year old hasn't asked me a deep life changing question that just makes my head cave in ..

Oh definitely, the good always outweigh the bad. Ophelia is going through a "rough patch" again. I'm not sure if other parents see this - I am sure they do - but sometimes we can see Ophelia struggling through a growth spurt. Not really physically, but more mentally. She's sleeping not as well, she wakes up cranky, she cries a bit more. The only thing I am trying to focus on: leave her when she pushes me away. I always want to cuddle and make her feel better but I have to respect that she can only manage this if I leave her alone (at times). So that's what I have to do. When she goes and sits alone, leave her and respect her "private space."

YAY TH! Congrats!!!!

I think one motto I have: as soon as you have it under control, something new pops up. Being a parent is forever loving, worrying and waking up at crazy early hours. hahah

Are Alice and Ophelia in toddler beds?

DO you mean just a small bed which she can crawl out by herself? No way. If that'd be the case, she'd never go to sleep. Now she's able to jump'n'down and push out her toys (until 9 pm! how times have changed!) but she can't crawl out.

damn.
that was a lot more emotional than i expected.
for 7 or so years my eldest has gone to a brilliant local primary.
the whole year have grown up together, with a lot of great kids amongst them most of whom i know really well.
anywaym today was the last day - and this afternoon there was a big send off.
he was all smiles and grins throughout until the last minute when the realisation that this is the last time he'll hang out with his mates (he's going to a different secondary school to everyone else), after which he just collapsed in a heap of tears.
it wasn't easy i can assure you.
parenting sure pulls you apart from time to time.

Oh, Mark. :(

Bloody hell, just thinking about school - sitting there at the orientation evening for the reception class at the local Primary - has us moist-eyed. Ava will probably start there (five mornings a week) mid-Sept.

hey michael no ":(" needed, but ta all the same !
its just the game of parental swings and roundabouts.
the kid has a genuinely great life, and so emotions are all over the place during times like this (ie. the x-over to secondary school).
oh and trust me, reception year is a blast, and a brilliant starting point for a better social life (a very much needed factor in our world) both for Ava and her parents !

Okay, guys, this is sort of apropos of nothing. I can't seem to take good action pix of my kids. I've been told tht this is due to my compact digital camera.

I crossposted this on another (digi.cam related) thread:

Okay, I'm looking for a DSLR camera. The problem is that I can't seem to take "proper" action pictures with my digital cameras. Yes, I have more than one, all seem to produce fuzzy pics. I've been told that a DSLR camera would alleviate this fuzzy problem. :-( Is this true? Family member said that digital cameras can never replace a proper DSLR camera in this respect: action pix are too hard to take with a compact digital camera.

HELLUP. What do you guys recommend? I want a proper body and also some good lenses. But I don't know where to start AT ALL. (I'm also considering enrolling in a photography course next year.)

As I said over the other thread, Sony Alpha 200 body plus old Minolta lenses might be the cheapest way into DSLR-land. The thing about the zoom lenses that are shipped with DSLRs these days is that they're quite slow (f/3.5 at the wide end, f/5.6 at the long end) - you may be disappointed with (say) Nikon D40 + 18-55 lens if it's good shots of the never-still children you're after. And you can't get a cheap, fast, prime for the D40 which autofocuses.

We had good results with our Canon compact...back when Ava was fairly static! I know what you mean about fuzziness.

As far as microphones go, I suggest something unidirectional, and maybe a couple of small boundary mics taped underneath the bed, behind the door, etc.

OK here's a question for you guys. What things did you tell yourself BEFORE all this happened that have turned out to be TOTALLY WRONG such that you now chuckle with nostalgia at your naivety?

Nothing to do with naivety, apart from all those 'make your own baby food' with lots of spicy pasta sauces you can make, etc. and even now Amber won't approach curry without a 'it has no hotness at all' waiver.

But then, never did make those recipies, went for the convenient jars anyway.

Also, you know those 'nappy pants'? (to wean them off and onto toilets for real)

They purposefully advertise those using babies that are wayyyyyy too young.

anyway, the biggest TOTALLY WRONG was 'oh they're lovely at that age'

because you are approaching
1) The TERRIBLE TWOS
2) the TERRIBLE THREES
3) At FOUR they go HAYWIRE
4) at Five, etc.....

So, A&A are 10 and 8 and still people say 'oh, they are lovely, outgoing, cheerful, funny, etc but WAIT until they become TEENAGERS OMG'

Still aint happened.

What, what ain't happened?

"We will never simply plonk them in front of the TV so we can get the dishes done/etc, cos we will always be up for playing and reading and interacting cos they will remain endless fascinating to us throughout their toddlerhood and those stinky dishes can just wait." Yeah, right. (Though we use the TV distraction much, much less than we did at one time).

"3am and 5am are magical times of day and spending those times cradling a mewling infant will surely be a magical experience." I think I kept that one quiet from Pam - she was already sure it would be brain-melting exhaustion.

stevie - I'm very happy with my Pentax K200D. MJ also suggested an inexpensive (<$200) 50mm f/1.4 prime that can take great pictures in low light.

We took the kids camping this last weekend. They had a great time getting dirty and running around the campsite. We actually brought Pack-n-Plays and set them up in the tent. Worked like a charm! They went down around 8 and slept til around 7. I'd post some photos, but Flickr seems screwed-up right this minute.

I still don't quite get what Mark G was getting at.

Also I'm surprised that Michael thought being woken up at 3 and 5 ay em was going to be a magical experience! Not even I am this deluded. Although I realize now that I have an unvoiced assumption that TV will be off-limits entirely for the first three years. This is based on a nebulous memory of a long-ago newspaper article, claiming that this was a good idea.

What's a Pack n Play?

(I just realized I am the pinefox of baby threads)

pack n play is like a portable crib/cot that has a metal frame covered by cushion material and usually mesh walls

Oh, hi again.

Um, the 'phase' where the kids become sullen, argumentative, shrieking, belligerant brats.

And the 'smug satisfaction' of those other people who are awaiting to use their 'told yer so' faces.

That's what hasn't happened.

I remember being overwhelmed by the giant piles of laundry a tiny person seems to generate, both of his/her own and from excreting various things onto other people's stuff. And the absolute MOUNTAIN of stuff that had to be packed and loaded if that tiny person was being transported anywhere outside the house. I was also very naive about how brain-numbing it was to stay at home with an infant - my own fault for not being particularly social, but I lived in an isolated place and had no car during the day, and was convinced I could feel my brain turning into oatmeal by the 3rd month.

Also I'm surprised that Michael thought being woken up at 3 and 5 ay em was going to be a magical experience!

Not so much the waking-up, but the once-up-stay-up sort of bonus time with your infant and how it might actually add something to your experience of the day. Well, it didn't really. In fact, I was quite alarmed at what a grouch I became through sleep deprivation and how sensitised I became to routine irritations. I think Pam both endured more and coped better with this period (and, tbh, we didn't have it that bad).

Mark I see. That's pretty cool!

Michael I'm steeling myself for that part. Already it doesn't take much to make me super-snappy. :/

Here are some camping pics:

Mommy and the boys out in a meadow:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3087/2688028162_2bf5bb2554.jpg

Dirty Owen:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2687213489_6fd9218374.jpg

Ben pets "fuzzy tree"
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/2687209779_521edd54e3.jpg

Beautiful pictures from the creek, Schwantz.

Brockwell Park hardly compares with all that wild nature, but here's Ava doing a bit of lil-sis wrangling at the Lambeth Country Show:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3036/2690398718_4ce7e6fc93.jpg

And here's me doing double-wrangling:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3127/2689639193_ae5f4ae2ed.jpg

Thanks. I didn't want to post pictures of my friends' kids, but there are some really cute ones in my flickr stream. I was fooling around with some desaturation/warming/tint-tweaking stuff to make the creek pictures look a little more magical.

How's the leash working out? We tried them once, and the boys promptly fell down.

a big wow to all the latest pictures of everybody's superstars, so much cuteness in one place. beeps in green, so soothing. douglas, nice to see sterling taking an early interest in history. and congrats to tracer hand! I have to admit that before ava was born I totally understimated how much I would no longer do as a result of that demon fatigue. reading the paper without drifting off was a task, operating a sewing machine or a hammer drill downright dangerous. and like mike says, we didn't have it so bad compared to lots of people I know.

schwantz, I took a gander at those pics of your friends' kids and they are so great. do the rest of you parental campers use tents or go for contained caravan-style camping? I used to camp when I was a kid and loved it but we had an old pop-up tent you pulled behind the car, so you weren't sleeping on the ground and the door could be locked. I'm a hard sleeper and I fear that in a tent we'd wake up the girls would have legged it in the night.

speaking of legging it, our monkey backpack/rein thing has been a godsend. lulu doesn't fall over in it as much as ava did when she used to wear it because ava was always a runner, no looking back, no concept of the slack in the tail running out (or busy traffic in our busy neighbourhood if she wasn't wearing it, scary!) I don't think lulu will end up wearing it as often, she stays a bit closer generally and is happy to hold hands, but in big crowds and on busy streets I take it instead of the buggy. lulu loves wearing monkey around the house anyway, and the tail snaps off for when you aren't using it as a rein. I do occasionally feel funny about her being on a leash, but that's hugely outweighed by fear of crushing by motorcar.

She sure looks like she doesn't mind wearing it!

We've got a turtle backpack for Howie, he squirms when you put it on but otherwise doesn't seem to mind it. It means we can go to the park without taking the buggy. I do have to allow plenty of time for his new interest -- picking up bits of litter and putting them in the nearest bin. He seems to be half-boy, half-Womble.

Oh I can't wait to take Marley camping! She's having a major growth spurt just now and is never off me, my nipples are almost the same length as her.

Look at all these gorgeous kids! I love the food face pics, absolutely adorable.

Nath, I can't believe Elisabeth is sitting up, what a big girl already!

Congrats Tracer, I still get a thrill when I remember the 'expecting' days :)

The only advice I can give you is to bite your tongue when one of the babies grandparents tell you that you are spoiling the baby. I'm going to do time if someone (his mum) says this to us one more time.

Oh, and I was under the impression that my life wasn't going to change *that* much, I reckoned I'd be lying around my sparkling clean house reading books while my angelic clean baby snoozed in a rocker. Boy was I wrong!

Pensive: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/2693013596_8484b76c24.jpg

Not so much the waking-up, but the once-up-stay-up sort of bonus time with your infant and how it might actually add something to your experience of the day. Well, it didn't really.

oh - i hear ya on that one.
6:15am sharp no matter what we bloody do to wear the little one out.
at least we have seen the future.
the big kid : 10am still no sign.
there is hope michael, be patient.

Ahh, rumpie, cool little quiff!

Oh, it's OK, Mark - they're mostly past the crying-in-the-night stage. Ava crawls in with us 5 nights out of every 7 but we barely notice. And Pam's in for a lovely lie-in tomorrow because, having crashed out for a rare afternoon nap today, Ava is raising merry hell upstairs (it's 10pm), stomping around and making her sister laugh, so they'll both be down for the count well past the time I leave for work. We hope.

I love the quiff but her dad keeps brushing it out, pah

Harry discovering ILX a month ago
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/2601510014_2e475314f0.jpg?v=0

Yesterday on his 1st birthday
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3124/2693178097_ab21666037.jpg?v=0

Beeps gives us her first impression of the kiddie pool while an inflatable sun cruelly mocks her

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/5209/poolsidejp1.jpg

happy birthday harry! has he figured out ebay bidding yet? I reckon it's only a matter of time in our house.

that picture of beeps is just great. if it was a 'what happens next?' vid on you've been framed, my money would be on her punching the smile right off of that sun.

they're mostly past the crying-in-the-night stage.

Sigh. Nine months today and still not ready to sleep through the night.
Last couple of nights were HORRIBLE. Nothing helped. I tried letting her cry, giving her a Perdolan, breastfeeding,... NOTHING. I just put her in my own bed and that was sort of that. :-( I am a WRECK. She's the cutest baby you could ever lay your eyes on but the nights can be hellish. :-(((((

Some new pix...

Ben in mommy's shades:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2730765600_6c83d1b6ba.jpg

Owen doing his modeling face:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/2730765362_369f999587.jpg

Angry Owen:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3122/2729929555_bb544c4bb2.jpg

TS: Having an only child vs having two children? I'm really struggling to decide whether having another would be a good idea...

The theory is that they can keep each other company, right? Like cats.

That may be true, but I remember a LOT of fighting with my siblings. I never got on with my brother until he left home at 18. I was closer to my sister, but a lot of the time she wouldn't want her uncool little sister hanging round with her.

Hmm yes. I never fought with my sister, although we're not especially close today.

I think that people who have one child should have (at least) another, if (in various ways) possible.

I realize - as always in these discussions - that this is like saying that someone who swims the Channel should also swim back, when I have not been in a swimming pool for 15 years.

wow, all your children are gorgeous! i'm so jealous!

i have to say that as the middle of three girls, people should think long and hard about odd numbers of kids, but that doesn't mean you can't have more than one!

But why, Pinefox?

I keep thinking about all the positive things to having an only child. I never wanted a large family so it's one or two for us. I can see how life would be so much more complicated with two. But still there's this biological urge for another.

I feel sad about the tendency (fairly clear, I think, though I stand to be contradicted) for child-rearing among, at least, the English middle classes to contract - so that where it was a norm to have two children (as my parents did) or possibly more (and it was odd not to have them at all), and an only child was a bit of an interesting oddity (and an explanation of unusual self-absorption etc) -- it now seems the norm to have one. Many of my colleagues, for instance (academics) demonstrate this. And we know that, among middle-class people at least, it's become normal to wait much longer to have children.

There are good or understandable reasons for this, notably re. women's right to a career (which was not, I think, a prevalent assumption when my mother had to decide to quit her PhD to bring me up).

But I suppose I find it sad, too, maybe in a primal sort of way - as though a people's fecundity or fertility has dwindled (crikey, shades of the Arthurian Grail / Fisher King / Waste Land mythos); and as though we have gone from being a people who bring new life into the world and readily raise it along with our own lives (as my parents did), to a people who (pursuing our own projects, etc) delay this and then do it on a lesser scale. And I am aware that I am precisely a guilty party in this. If (as is quite likely) I fail to have children, I will think of my life as unfulfilled. So I undoubtedly tend to load the responsibility for making up for my own failure onto other people who can do so ... which is one, partially self-centred reason why in many ways I want my friends and peers to have as many children as possible.

On a more positive / practical note: my parents have told me that having a second child (me, come to think of it) was a big help, in the long run, as we two could play with each other and demand less of their time / attention. (I realize the equation must be more complicated than this, with two kids also demanding more time in some ways, but am still sure it's true, eventually.)

MB - I am an only child. This wasn't so much a conscious decision on my parents part at the time but rather a result of advanced maternal age due to years of fertility issues. If you don't want to read the novel that follows the short of it is that I loved being an only during childhood but wish I had siblings now.

As a kid I loved being an only child. My parents involved me in everything and were able to do a lot of things with me that they might not have done otherwise for a lot of reasons including financial ones. For instance, I got to travel all over the world with them which I'm sure wouldn't have happened if there had been more kids.

That said as an adult I wish I had siblings. I know that having siblings doesn't guarantee instant bffs for life and that many people aren't close to theirs but I wish I had the chance to find that out for myself.

I feel this way for a number of reasons but right now my parents are going through a really tough time and I'm the only one hear to listen/help out and it's been extremely tough on me. Also, it scares the shit out of me that when my parents die it'll just be me but then again that's also due to the fact that I have an extremely small extended family all of whom live overseas.

On the other hand I really appreciate all the experiences I was able to have as a kid and no I wouldn't be who I am today if I'd had siblings. I guess from my point of view that if you have a large extended family with whom your child will be close then I would say that the advantages might outweigh the disadvantages. This is esp true if it's something you're leaning towards anyway. I think some people might just be better suited to parenting just one child.

I wouldn't worry too much about the potential decline in population -- around this part of north London at least, there are plenty of young women making up for any shortfall in offspring on my part ;-)

I do wonder whether Howie could end up a little lonely without a sibling; as I was the youngest, I've no experience of what it's like not to have them. Would be very important to make sure he had lots of contact with friends, cousins etc, I imagine.

X-posted: ENBB, I think the pros and cons you state are exactly what's going through my mind. But then, as you say, there's no guarantee that siblings will have much contact as adults. I have only seen my brother once in the last two years, and my sister is about to move to Australia...

I suppose it would be rude to ask if you considered yourself at all spoilt/selfish as a child ;-)

You're right regarding siblings. My mom hasn't talked to any of hers in years and my Dad and his sister live in different countries.

I guess that by most people's definition I was definitely spoiled as a child in terms being able to have and do most of the things that I wanted as long as they were within reason. I think that my parents did set boundaries though which is important. I don't think I was any more selfish than any other child. It actually really bothers me when people talk about only children as little brats and screwed up adults because it's such a generalization.

Meg I think were set on having another assuming we end up being able to do it in time. The only time I get a real doubt is when I look at our poor dog, who was the baby of the family pre-beeps, and notice how on some days all she gets from us is "Veruca! Go to your bed!" because we are so focused on the human baby. I wonder if we have another will we be able to give Beeps enough attention. I also feel like if we have another one Ill miss a good chunk of Beeps early years while im changing this second kids diapers.

But then I see Beeps when she is around other kids and how happy she is to be playing with them, how much she learns from them and I know a second one is a good idea. Also, my niece is an only child . She is 7 years old now and BEGS her parents to have another kid because 90% of the time she is really lonely. I think as much as we want to be our kid's best friend we were not. We're their parents.

All that said, if you dont want another child dont have one just because most people do.

and pinefox you should go for a swim. its summer ferchrissakes.

but right now my parents are going through a really tough time and I'm the only one hear to listen/help out and it's been extremely tough on me. Also, it scares the shit out of me that when my parents die it'll just be me but then again that's also due to the fact that I have an extremely small extended family all of whom live overseas.

this is really important and something i hadnt really thought about.

also, Meg, remember you are going to have a lot of influence over how Howie and a second child will treat each other.

She is 7 years old now and BEGS her parents to have another kid because 90% of the time she is really lonely.

I think that depends on the child. I was curious about this so I asked my Mom if I ever did this. She said I asked once and she told me that it wasn't going to happen and after that I never asked again. I don't ever remember being lonely at all. I had school, friends nearby, activities etc.

I think as much as we want to be our kid's best friend we were not. We're their parents.

While I was really close to my parents they never tried to be my best friends in a bad way.

SS - I'm not saying these aren't valid points - they totally are. I just think it really depends on the particular parents and kids.

All this said, when I comes time for us to have kids I think we'll probably aim for two although I do sometimes still wonder about just having one. If I had a bigger extended family who were nearby I think having just one might be more likely.

Sorry if I reiterate what has been said, I'm at "work." So I'm not reading the posts now.

TS: Having an only child vs having two children? I'm really struggling to decide whether having another would be a good idea...

We went back and forth a few times but ultimately decided that we wanted a second one. It was something my husband really wanted (if we ever had kids). He was an only child and really missed having a sibling. (I never, even though I still wish my parents had mainly because my parents longed for more so much. I saw their grief and it was a VERY sad thing, especially when people commented negatively on them having only one child. Assholes.)

In short: YES. I do have to admit that having two kids in quick successing is EXTREMELY tiring the first year. (Probably tiring the second, third and fourth,... as well but I can only speak from first year experience. hah) But it's amazing to see children interact, form a bond,... Sure it could be they will hate eachothers guts but I'm willing to take that chance. ;-)

I think what really did it for me was reading an interview with two (semi-famous) sisters: They said they were so lucky having eachother because this way they shared memories. An only child doesn't (once the parents are gone).

Be warned: you have no clue what you're in for. One child is easy compared to two kids. I read this (before I had Elisabeth) and, well, I thought it couldn't be that hard. But boy is it true. :-) Also, your kids will get sicker much more: they toss back germs and bacteria back and forth (and also hit you with it). So you're sick the entire frigging time. But that's the downside, the upside is... well, another lovely kid. :-)

Meg, just do it. Don't think about it too much. We worry too much as parents. If you doubt, it means you want to. ;-)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3162/2733441156_60949f6381.jpg

I mean, look at her! What if I didn't have her! (Then I would have more braincells, I know, but I wouldn't have her!)

Are their any ILX parents who only have one? I'd love to hear their thoughts since this is something I think a lot about too.

Oops "there" not "their". I can't spell today - not enough coffee yet.

Nath, has O had any problems with not having your full attention anymore?

E, yeah I agree it definitely depends on the kid but it still scares me. My neice has a ton of friends and goes to three types of dancing, swimming, acting and surf lifesaving classes every week and she is still lonely! I completely missed the lonely gene myself and I suspect I passed that on to Beeps since her daycare teachers tell us she mostly just chills by herself.

While I was really close to my parents they never tried to be my best friends in a bad way.

yeah, I just mean that parents cant replace the interaction with other kids.

since her daycare teachers tell us she mostly just chills by herself

Hhahaha. I can totally picture her just hanging out. BTW, That picture in the kiddie pool is adorable. That belly!

haha shes got a lisa simpson figure going on

I am not sure that I could now cope in a swimming pool, much better than I could in a gym (an unthinkable environment for me).

My mother, an only child, finally became an orphan a few years ago. Now all she has is a husband, four kids, and two in-laws.

My friends who are only children seem to have the most house parties for some reason.

As I said above, I have three siblings and at one time, had two step-siblings giving me way too many siblings (just like this sentence.) The one thing I always kinda missed was having cousins. It would've been cool to have relatives my age with the same last name that I could be bothering for muffler repair tips now.

We just had one child, and it worked for us, and we think for the most part it worked for her. ENBB's points above are all otm.

I have a younger brother who I fought with bitterly growing up, and who I'm not in contact with much. (I also have an older half-sister, but she's so much older than I am that I don't have any memories of her at home. When we moved to CA in '68 she stayed behind in MS to start college.)

All told, I'm in the one-is-fine camp.

My grandmother had 6 kids, my mom had 3, and i think i only want 2 at most. it makes me a bit sad that we won't have that huge family feeling i had going to grandma's house during hte summer as a kid. anyway, i have to say that as much as we fought as kids, and still tangle occasionally, i really, really appreciate being able to lean on my sisters and that we provide support for each other as adults -- my older sister is currently housing my little sis through her post-college transitioning, and my older sister and i really depended on each other when my dad was going through a cancer battle a few years ago.

along those lines, i feel like when my parents really start becoming 'aged' i will be soooo glad to have siblings.

I think our own upbringings have a huge influence on how we feel about this. I grew up as one of three kids in a way too small house (my sister and I shared a box room for the first 13 years of my life) and was absolutely desperate for some space of my own, and peace and quiet. As I now live in a house that's not much bigger, I don't want Howie to have that same feeling.

Whatever you decide you do your best to make it work. I'm sure if we'd had only one he would be fine and so would we, but we always planned on having at least a couple.

We found having two quite close together (within 2 years) difficult at first as the youngest one needs more attention while the oldest demands it - having been the 100% centre of attention for his whole short life up to that point.

Once they grew a bit, and particularly once they could communicate, it was wonderful. They keep each other company, they have mutual friends and interests, they help each other and share things. They also fight over stupid inconsequential stuff but in that respect they're no different from me and my brother.

Having raised two boys to school age we decided we could probably manage a third. We'd forgotten how hard the baby stage was, but now she's almost two and sleeping quite well and learning to talk it's all good again. My wife sometimes looks after my brother's daughter, who is the same age as ours, and she says she finds it easier to look after two than one.

"Nath, has O had any problems with not having your full attention anymore?"

First few weeks a little, I think, because I couldn't pick her up that much anymore but she adapted perfectly. She never shows any signs of real jealousy. I mean, there might be a tinge, but who wouldn't? It's a normal feeling. I think what was good was that we really "prepared" ourselves. When E arrived we let her "slide" into our household. We didn't push O. Like we'd involve her but didn't suffocate her.

Signs how tiring two kids are: I called up the plumber and explained how I had solved a problem with the sewage. She interrupted me saying she had arranged the contractor and that I had already called her up saying it was solved. That's how tired I am. :-)

You guys are starting to make me thinks Beeps should be an only.

Also, I just flashed back to a memory of when my neice was visiting earlier in the year. I was on the couch with Beeps hugging me on one side and Clouds (neice) hugging me on the other when Beeps suddenly looked around at Clouds clinging to me and clocked her in the head then gave her a good shove away. Green eyed Beeps!

For my own history, my mom has a sister that she barely talks to. My dad was one of 3 brothers who were all very very tight their whole lives. I have 3 siblings - im the youngest of my fathers two children and the youngest of my mothers two children and the only child from my mom and dads marriage. my closest sibling is 6 years older than me and my oldest sibling is 19 years older than me (i also have a nephew who is 3 years older than me) so im all over the place on this particular issue.

We have three kids, and found that the transition from one to two was really hard, and two to three was really easy. Basically you muddle through for a while with one and just when you're getting the hang of it, you have to do everything you've been doing, and then muddle through infancy simultaneously. That's really hard for two years, and if you're in a relationship, you need it to be strong then. But after a couple years it becomes waaaaay easier than one was, because #1 is bigger and #1 and #2 can play together---and fight, but you can teach them how to cope with this and it's really not so bad. It is loud, though. And then #3 is like #1 all over again, except that you muddle through with a little more wisdom.

sure but what if you get twins the second time around. OMG.

Then you have a spare.

yeah twins in any circumstance seems like a brutal fate to me

I was on the couch with Beeps hugging me on one side and Clouds (neice) hugging me on the other when Beeps suddenly looked around at Clouds clinging to me and clocked her in the head then gave her a good shove away. Green eyed Beeps!

Omg that is so cute. Clouds was cruising in on her territory!

Lately, it's been me getting the green eye from Beeps.

Bestest thing I ever saw was my son aged nearly 4 taking flowers into mummy in the hospital after our daughter was born. He was so quiet and attentive to the baby. Just sitting there looking at her. Sooooooo lovely. I think I'm gonna blub.

awwwwwwwwwww

Having seen how Ava has coped with a sibling then I would be sad if we didn't manage to have another. But I think we're planning on having a longer gap as I have to keep working and we can't afford childcare other than my subsidised work nursery, so I think we're going to wait until we reach the point where Aidan would be starting school at the end of my maternity leave (which scarily is only 3 years away)

Off-topic, my boy is one year and two days old, how the hell did that happen?! As you may notice we've also had our first trip to A&E after he cut his face open falling down. It was all remarkably calm, no panicking at all and he was right as rain by the time we got to the hospital, cruising around making new friends in the waiting area.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3068/2736794700_d33b1da3cc.jpg

He just keeps getting cuter!

awww..ned

i cant believe aiden is one. happy birthday cutiepop!

Bestest thing I ever saw was my son aged nearly 4 taking flowers into mummy in the hospital after our daughter was born. He was so quiet and attentive to the baby. Just sitting there looking at her. Sooooooo lovely. I think I'm gonna blub.

A tale of two Neds:

When my sister was born (I was not yet 3), I apparently would have nothing to do with the new personage in the house, refused to look at her at all, and was only seen to acknowledge her some months later, apparently peeking into the cradle wondering at whoever or whatever she was. Though perhaps this provoked my parents to blub at that point.

awww

apparently the first thing my brother said when my mom called him over to look at his new sister (ie me)for the first time was "SHES NOT MY SISTER!!!"

haha the first thing my sister did when i came home from the hospital was look at me in the car and go 'SHE'S AWAKE!!!'

to this day, if i sleep late when at home/grandparents/relatives' houses i will almost certainly be greeted with "SHE'S AWAKE!!" when i rise.

'personage'

Entity. Creation. Thingamadooz.

i'm too young and immature to have kids (although that's never stopped anyone, i suppose) but i am an only child and i want to chime in and say that i desperately wanted siblings when i was growing up (it's a little late now, i'm 22). ultimately i think it's just a matter of personal preference but growing up i was so lonely and wanted just one brother or sister. my parents don't really get along and it would have been much easier for me to deal with their constant fighting as a child if i had someone my age to experience it with rather than as this third person who had to just be there and deal with it all by myself. from observing my friends and their siblings, even if you fight all the time, a sibling is still a friend that you can always ask for help or advice.

if you go the only-child route at least live near other young families so that your child can socialize with their kids. also, please be communicative with your kid. it's hard growing up without getting any advice on friendships, love, sex, school, emotions, money, you name it - if you have an only child, you have to answer those questions. i add that because i see people with siblings asking their siblings more than their parents about those things.

i also second the second the aging parents thing upthread. my parents aren't at the age where people in their families die yet, but i don't think i'll be able to take care of them all by myself in ten years.

even if you fight all the time, a sibling is still a friend that you can always ask for help or advice.

hahaha, NO.

okay

i mean, people sometimes ask me what it's like to be an only child, and i just say "i don't know, what's it like having brothers?" it's unknowable.

My step-brother once told me that after you get done eating pussy, her juice will be all over your face, so you go outside into the cold wind and let the juice dry, after which you peel them off like scabs of a sunburn and eat them like potato chips.

This is the heartfelt sibling advice you missed, elan.

isnt this the guy who broke his leg ice skating in iraq while fighting in desert storm?

(btw you just cured me of potato chips for life)

"pussy"

You don't call it pussy over there?

It was in Saudi Arabia, but yeah. xpost.

My boys lovin' on some Pete Seeger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7KtOIyUaZY

RH, it was a stupid try at a joke.

Can I just say: teething sucks for both kids and parents. Yikes. She was hysterical. In so much pain. So we gave her a Perdolan, hubby went for a walk and now she's sleeping. Crosses fingers this is until tomorrow morning but I have my doubts. Also, Ophelia will re-start potty training. *sigh* She's also hysterical when going to bed. She doesn't want to go to sleep. Oh I remember the days when, at Elisabeth's age, she'd sleep from 7 till 7 without any problem at all. haha Now I have my double dosage of crying. :-)

Amen. Both of the boys are getting their two-year-old molars, and they are MISERABLE. "Mouth fall down."

haha 'mouth fall down'!! poor kiddos

So to repeat what I mentioned about a month ago: experiences with potty training. I really am clueless about how to go about this. In a couple of weeks she's going to kindergarten. She doesn't have to be clean, still wear diaper, but y'know, I wanna get this over with. This is one of my phobias (as a parent). :-((( Maybe this is why this was unsuccessful a month ago. *sigh*

My boys lovin' on some Pete Seeger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7KtOIyUaZY

-- schwantz, Friday, August 8, 2008 3:22 PM (41 minutes ago) Bookmark Link

YOUTUBE says video no longer available!

Weird. It works for me...

And me. And it's great!

ahhh i love how the one in the foreground holds down the rhythm/bass section with his movements while the one in the background runs around like the melody!!

Hey now it works. So great! Is ben the one with the pacifier?

Ben's the one dancing around in the background (sans pacifier) who collapses in tears the moment the song ends...

August in the backyard:

http://img362.imageshack.us/img362/9140/beastiegirlbe9.jpg
http://img166.imageshack.us/img166/1291/lawnchairdt0.jpg
http://img509.imageshack.us/img509/3307/lookdj6.jpg

beeps has such a great wardrobe!

2023 ils poster

That second one is pure attitude.

I'm ashamed to admit this (to myself). But when Ophelia started dancing to the Sex Pistols I was so happy. I always told myself I would never force "my music" on'em and I don't, but she danced to the Sex Pistols! Maybe next week I could expose her to some James Chance? Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

"And now, class, what is your mommy's favorite song? Ophelia?"

"WHITE SAVAGES!"

Soon Stevienixed's phone rings...

the only music beeps really gets exposed to is in the car and when licensed to ill is on she is clapping and waving her hands about and wriggling about in the car seat. so she got a bb t-shirt. public enemy is next

Well. Turns out my concerns over whether to have a second baby may be, erm, moot... ;-)

Woah, really? Are you sure yet? :-)

!!!!!!

Test says big fat positive...

yay! congrats Meg!!

YAY!!!!!!!!!! :-) Congratulations.

Guess some things aren't always let up to us and are maybe just meant to be.

How do you feel?

i, for one, feel completely freakin jealous right now!

Woohoo! :-) Congrats. :-)

Aw sunny! Btw, as usual all Beeps pics are cute but the one in the BB shirt is ADORABLE.

SS, you trying for a second? It'll happen, I'm sure. :-)

not trying due to current temporary (god, i hope) financial situation but its in the mail we think

Congrats (if true), Meg!

did you have an idea you might be pregnant when you were debating a second kid, Meg? I mean, is that what got you thinking?

Yes, it was playing on my mind that I might be... turns out it was too late to worry about it!

It's very early days, though.

Funnily enough as soon as I saw the + any doubts went straight out the window.

That's wonderful. I'm really glad to hear it. :-)

Meg, having a second kid is 6487867867 times more exhausting than one kid, but it's 847867873468786 times more fun. :-) Yes, I keep mentioning it, I'm tired. Well, the other day she slept through from 7,30 am till 7,30 pm. What happened? At 3,3 am I heard a baby cry - not ours - so I RAN THROUGH THE HOUSE LOOKING AT MY KIDS WONDERING WHAT WAS WRONG. Then I suddenly realized it wasn't my kids, but someone else's. And I went back to bed. hah.

I wonder when Teeny is due. I keep forgetting.

congrats!!!

great news, meg!!

(hey congratulations meg!)

Back from our monthly pregnancy checkup (at 15 1/2 weeks) and everything is go so far! We were hoping to find out the gender today, but apparently all we can know is that it's not a boy...yet. Apparently testicles can descend as late as 24 weeks?

The funny thing is that, because all people ever ask is 'when are you going to know the sex?' it totally skews your view of these examinations. The doctor was really zooming in on the heart on the ultrasound, showing us the beginnings of ventricles, showing us the strong, steady beat--real amazing miracle of life shit--and all I'm thinking is, "come on! get to the genitals!"

Men.

KIDDING. Okay? Jesus.

hahaha

when we found out the sex of beeps they were so detailed about it i had to look away in embarrassment. luckily, we were given a dvd of the event with helpful arrows and circles.

its weird that they tell you different things in different places. here i think its pretty well accepted that they arent even going to try to find out the sex before 20 weeks and even then you might not know.

are you getting one of those 4D ultrasound dealies?

No, but apparently at some other clinic in town (we're in Podgorica, Montenegro for the summer) they have those.

Yeah, people seem to find out way early here (in Europe). Everyone told us *of course* you'll find out this time, and then the doctor was really matter of fact with her no-testicles-means-no-certainty routine.

is there an IL-Xpecting thread? Is it okay to post here in the meantime? ANYWAY, my fetus kicked my hand today. I had felt some flutterish movement before, but today it kicked my hand! CONTACT!!!

Yes, Dr Superman. I think Rumpie, who in the meantime "dropped her baby" made a Sister Pregnany Thread. Seek and yeah will find. But anyway yeah good to hear your foetus kicked you or shook your hand. Hoorah! Do you worry? In hindsight I don't think I did much but I am in denial cause I have to agree with my husband in saying that I worried.. ALL THE FREAKING TIME when I was "preggers" with Ophelia. Less so with Elisabeth. Maybe that's why she's so giggly and relaxed? Who knows?

Potty training is that, namely pointing at the potty saying what the use is but only sitting on it doing nothing except saying she has done peepee (but nothing really has been splashed in there). Long sentence which should convey my worry that she'll never really DO ANYTHING. But I know she will. We just have to have patience. :-)

Elisabeth is still not standing even though she's nearly ten months. Shouldn't worry but of course I do. :-) But she sleeps through the night more or less. Still breastfeed and probably will make it to the 12 month barrier (if not longer). I also got strange look from someone when I said I would still continue. Hey, fuck off, it's my kid. If she wants more mommy juice that's fine with me. It's healthy so there. :-)

Gooblar, in Europe, yes, they tell you pretty early on but you have to keep in mind that they do (or should) stress that it's not a certainty. I can't remember when we found out the sex, I should look it up but I am too tired. hah.

Those 4D ultrasounds rock. Had one for O and it was so great. Or was it for E? Shit, see what happens when you have two kids: you mix things up. hahah As long as I'm not breastfeeding O, I don't worry.

Gooblar, will mommy be breastfeeding? And is the room ready? DOn't worry if it isn't. In fact Elisabeth is still sleeping in the studyroom. hah. It'll be finished by the end of the this month. Hopefully.:-)

Yes, mommy will (try to) be breastfeeding. The room is most certainly not ready--but we've got a good 5 months to go. I'm focusing on securing some income before I start worrying about buying cribs, baths, diaper genies, etc.

I'm focusing on securing some income

Just knock off a few banks. What's the harm?

Hi guys - more news on Ben's brain... Rather than re-hash it all here, I'm going to point you to his CaringBridge site. In short, we've decided to go ahead with a relatively low-risk brain surgery some time next month...

Best of luck. Give the little fella a hug from me & Pam.

Thanks, man. It looks like it's going to happen on the 23rd of September. Now I just have to try and hold off the crushing anxiety as long as possible.

Wow. Im sending good thoughts your way, Schwantz. Will this fix the problem for good ie will Ben be able to be medication and seizure free?

That's the hope. I think there is about an 80% chance that it will do just that. He would probably be weaned off the meds over the next year.

Fingers x-ed for you guys, and especially for Ben's complete and rapid recovery!

More babies, baby.

Triplets this time, right?

I WISH

Bipps, Bopps and Bupps

Although, if you can get 5 or more you get to go on oprah and ellen and martha stewart and score a whole bunch of crap fo free.

Hey serious question. In my head ive always visualized Beeps' name spelled "Béatrice" but I guess on her birth certificate it just says "Beatrice". Will changing it stop people calling her BEE-AT-TRISS?

Wait, how is it supposed to be pronounced?

BEAT-RICE

BEE - uh - trice

Domestic discord.

really its beer-tris if you say beer like a new zealander

i thoguht u weres aiming for 'BAY-UH-TREES'

Whatever you do, sunny, don't watch :20 of this YouTube clip.

i cant see youtube clips!!

Oh in that case, watch as much as you like!

Best of luck with the op, Schwantz -- hope it does what it oughta.

Also: HI DERE MORNING SICKNESS

WOW. SO quickly!. How far are you along?

When Beeps was in me I had no morning sickness at all for the first three months but the next 6 six months was a 5-6 + times per day puke fest.

I'm 6 weeks. Last time I had all-day nausea (but no puking) from about now til about 4 months.

Good luck and bestest recovery wishes to schwantz and Ben.

More pictures...

Playing the mirror game, identical-twin-style:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2797959313_467d0de6b1.jpg

Ben as broseph:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/2785852574_0a50e021a7.jpg

Ben enjoys his brand-new Elmo doll:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/2785000145_64a3cb29e5.jpg

Sunny - You puked every day for six months?! Oh my God. That sounds HORRIBLE!!!!

David (?), best of luck with Ben!

Ophelia starts kindergarten next monday!

WHAT
THE
FUCKIO

How does this happen so fast?

Oh right, two kids. :-)

David, hope it's not too stressful waiting, and best wishes for the op. That 'mirror' photo is fab!

Meg, hope the m/s doesn't get you down too much. Isn't it funny how much time fades the horrors of pregnancy. We're still not decided on whether to try for no.2 but the thought of not being pregnant again fills me with sadness. And then I am reminded of just how horrendous it can be but that next time I'd have another little person to look after as well!

Hello to all ILX parents! Recent highlights include: Lulu destroying her cot mattress by the Power of Barf and Ava pooing herself at the beach. When they can control their bodily emissions, they're still damn cute and we won't be flogging them on eBay just yet.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3168/2775430153_a24dbaf36f.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/2775425489_cfd991af01.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2776275650_b6c0b0a016.jpg

When they can control their bodily emissions, they're still damn cute and we won't be flogging them on eBay just yet.

That's what you say about everyone.

Isn't it funny how much time fades the horrors of pregnancy. We're still not decided on whether to try for no.2 but the thought of not being pregnant again fills me with sadness. And then I am reminded of just how horrendous it can be but that next time I'd have another little person to look after as well!

I now pine for a third (turd... hahaha) but we've decided we won't be going for a third. :-( If I had been a decade younger, I'd probably be already pregnant again though. Elisabeth sleeps through the night more or less - save a night or two once in a while - and I can't remember how horrendous it was to go without sleep. I think our brain just erases the bad sides. :-)

I remember, just after I delivered, how much I missed my pregnant belly. I had to wash away a tear or two. :-(

Ophelia has gone on the "big potty" with my PIL. Damn! Wish I was there but on the otehr hand I am so proud she's done it!

BFing includes a night time feed now and again. Also going for at least 12 months. haha I don't decide but it's more ELisabeth who still doesn't show ANY signs WHATSOEVER of wanting to stop. I'm okay with that. Totally cool.

The mirror game twin style - WOAH!

Michael do you use a particular filter or something to make those colors look so bright?

Sunny - You puked every day for six months?! Oh my God. That sounds HORRIBLE!!!!

-- ENBB, Tuesday, August 26, 2008 10:18 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Link

It was multiple times a day. Brushing my teeth was the worst because it would take 3 or 4 attempts. as soon as the brush would get anywhere near the back of my mouth puke would fly out and Id have to clean up and start all over again.

You do get used to it...sort of. Id go grocery shopping, get a few blocks away and have to turn around. Id run in the house and yell to PP "GOTTA PUKE!" then a couple of minutes later Id be running out the door yelling "Okay, Im out again!". Its like the worst feeling but as soon as you puke your absolutely fine.

I had acid reflux going on something bad which was probably 99% of the problem. They say acid reflux = kid with a ton of hair. guess what? out came a kid with a ton of hair.

SPeaking of puking, Beeps was sent home from daycare before 10am today for puking twice, not counting the puke she did in the car on the way there. Poor beeps :(

Well, Howie wasn't hairy (still isn't) so maybe there's something in it!

He is still breastfeeding twice a day so I might end up feeding two next year, who knows? I'd like to let him self-wean but we'll see how knackered I get...

The twin not-mirror thing is ace!

Michael do you use a particular filter or something to make those colors look so bright?

That particular Sunday morning the light was smashing PLUS I took the unusual step of whacking up the contrast/colour saturation in the camera itself and shooting with "Sunshine" colour balance (I usually don't do any in-camera processing and fiddle about in Lightroom afterwards; I did both on this occasion). Hence the colour pop and warmish skin tones.

lovely!

They say acid reflux = kid with a ton of hair. guess what? out came a kid with a ton of hair.

I had acid reflux. Kids had very little to no hair. Ah well. :-)

Well my mom had none with me and I had as much hair as Beats. Go figure.

Beep's version of the twin mirror game is really just her making out with herself in the mirror:

http://img171.imageshack.us/img171/3706/mirrormakeoutwx9.jpg

"I'll be your mirror... Reflect who you are..."

Oh man, don't you love it when she does it? Ophelia sometimes talks to herself in the mirror.

I went to the "open day" yesterday. I nearly cried when I visited the kindergarten class. Fuuuuck. Then I nearly cried again cause I got lost. I srsly need a GPS phone even in my house. Man... Oh yeah, I'll have that iphone soon. yay; :-)

My daughter always looks in the mirror when she's upset or angry to make sure that's got the "upset" or "angry" look right. If she doesn;t try and find a mirror to look at you know she's actually really upset or angry.

haha. thats hilarious.

this is a fairly accurate representation of how we spend our time:

http://img518.imageshack.us/my.php?image=burlsbeatsvu1.jpg

WHATEVS IMAGESHACK

http://img518.imageshack.us/img518/409/burlsbeatsvu1.jpg

omg, teach her a Harry Caray impersonation.

Well, Ben had his surgery yesterday. Preliminary pathology suggests that it was (WAS!) a ganglioglioma (very low-grade benign tumor). He is recovering now. His head is all bandaged, and one eye is swollen shut, but he's breathing without oxygen, and tubes are being removed every fee hours... Hopefully he'll only be in the ICU for another few hours, and in recovery for a few more days.

Best wishes to Ben for a fast and full recovery!

What he said!

holy crap. good thorts speeding you dudes' way!

Get well soon Ben!

OMG what a champion! Way to rock mfing brain surgery, Ben!!! <3<3<3

fo shizzle - hope everything's goin okay Dave, lemme know if me n Giz can do anything for y'all

I am still not a parent but I need to put my godson up here for a second:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/2870083553_77df918593.jpg?v=0

Are you kidding me?? I just saw him 3-4 weeks ago, he was still a baby. Now suddenly he's a Very Small Person?? Totally not fair.

aww lookit the little hippie

Obv I need to send that kid some actual clothing STAT.

Aw, all best wishes to Ben for a speedy recovery. Does Owen understand what's happening? i know they are very little, but my brother's GF has twins and they are always very aware of things going on with each other in their little twin-world, even if they can't verbalise it.

Laurel, he is beautiful!

Shitty news yesterday but I knew it for a while, cause, well, I'm a mother so you know if something's up with your kid(s). Elisabeth is almost eleven months and still hasn't reached the "standing"' milestone. Please don't tell me she's a latebloomer. If I hear another similar comment, I'll tear that person's head off. I really wanted to bludgeon my friend who stupidly said:"Everyone stands!" WTF. Idiot. I know she means well, but what the hell's that for a stupid thing to say? "Everyone stands!"???? So the doctor has said she's extremely late in her gross motoric skills (only in her legs though). But we just have to wait another two months,cause that's the critical point. I think I'll probably wait a month and if she remains the same - so no reflexes/intention to stand at all - I'll see a specialist. *sigh*

Here's my little gem with a cap I knitted:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2878664636_29eb30bd87.jpg

(Cap was hellahard to knit. Cost price of material? One euro. haha)

Definitely worth it!

Haha. Yeah, think so too. :-)

I know, Sunny, isn't it amazing? He has Ava-like eyes that are ridiculous, and his GRIN...well, I don't have to tell you parents.

you are so in love

Amazingly, Ben is back home. The surgery was successful, and other than a giant scar and a swollen right eye, he is his usual happy/sad/smiling/frustrated/sweet/crazy self. Yay!

awww...YAY!! I'm really happy for you guys.

So no more seizures? Or is it a time will tell situation?

wow amazing - glad to hear it Dave

Yay for Ben and omg cute to Laurel's newphew!!

Great news! Just in time for the weekend and decompressing after what must have been Stress Week.

It's a time-will-tell deal. We will slowly take him off medication (probably ramping down to nothing over about 12 months). There is an 80-90% chance that this has cured him of seizures forever.

schwantz that is so good to hear! All the best to all of you, and especially to Ben.

A quick photo essay

Before:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/2891074346_04c21d6265.jpg

In the PICU:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3279/2891078492_cf423015be.jpg

Ready to go home:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3148/2890249925_bbfcfef818.jpg

That first pic breaks my heart, but the last one brought me around again.

awwww, well done, ben!!!!

Yay Ben!

What is it about hospital cots that make even sturdy toddlers look like wee babies, though?

Wonderful news about Ben and heart-rending pictures. What a trouper. "Hard" on the PICU cot is right.

Nothing so dramatic to report here... Ava starts school (well, reception class at the local primary, just mornings) next week, and, in the realm of "WHAT did she just do?", a couple of corkers this week:

After a bit of a chucklefest in bed, I take Ava to the bathroom for one last wee before sleep; she gazes into the middle distance and announces, "Daddy, I don't like laughing. It doesn't make me happy, it makes me scared." WHA?

And earlier, watching the BBC tribute to Paul Newman, she sings along with Scott Joplin's The Entertainer...despite having never heard it before to the best of our knowledge. Freaky kid.

Here's a medium-format shot (Bronica SQ-A, Fujichrome Provia 400F, fact fans) of the gals from back when there was still time to mess around in a sunlit garden after getting in from work (and even set up a tripod):

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2846229423_59d168d134.jpg

OMG that PICU pic :(. You guys are so brave.

wait a minute, you took him home in a radio flyer wagon????

I still cant believe how much of a little girl lulu is now.

Nath, I know all kids are different but my BFF had her baby Louie oct 2006 and up to august of this year (almost 2!) he was saying anything but an occasional grunt and wasn't standing at all. not even crawling. kind of butt scooting. then suddenly in the last few weeks he is saying a whole bunch of words and walking. just bang like that. she had taken him for tests around 14 month where the docs said oh we think he has an enlarged liver and his pelvis is lopsided and that's why he cant stand because it hurts but hell lets do some tests anyway. turns out there was NOTHING wrong with him. drs can be cunts sometimes with their pretest guessing.

Is it really that big of a deal that she isnt standing yet? It doesnt seem that late.

E and A, September 2008:

http://www.appelstein.com/estabb.jpg

that's e. on her first day of preschool for the year, with sister a. getting ready to tag along in the car. a. just started preschool this year as well. apparently she's very quiet in class, which is odd considering her at-home persona (basically, the child responsible for most of the mischief and for egging on her older sister).

you can see their sisterly bond in the photo, though. we're very lucky that they get along so well.

I've not dropped in here for a while and am very happy to come back to great news about ben. yay ben! and yay for you guys for getting through it without nervous breakdowns, I salute you. ben's julius jammies are very cheery too.

yo mike, don't rush things. ava's not quite in reception yet, that's next year, this year is morning nursery. next year is when I'll have all day to hang out with lulu and teach her the joys of our television heritage. will law+order and inspector morse repeats still be showing next year, I wonder? I'm kidding, of course. I couldn't in good conscience raise them on crime drama.

mike a, your gals look like bestest friends, very cute. our girls have some hell brawls now and again over toys, but 99% of the time we're amazed at how well they get along and feel very lucky too. but I predict troubling times ahead if they have the same shoe size.

Sunny, the doctor was clear that Elisabeth was too late. But she stressed that the critical point is 13 months. Then it's off to the specialists and physical therapy. I am a lot less worried because she has shown signs that she wants to at least flex her legs which a week go she didn't do at all. I'm a terrible worrier. It's easy to say to a parent:"Don't worry! She'll stand!" if it's not your kid.

David, happy to hear your kiddo is doing fine! Christ, I feel nervous about Elisabeth not standing, I can't imagine the worry and fears you experienced.

I am trying to quit breastfeeding but Elisabeth refuses to even TOUCH the sippy cup. *sigh* When I google for info all I encounter are LLLeaguers wanting to instill this guilt in me for wanting to quit. Grrrr. I think BFing for 12 months is quite an achievement, but apparently they think I should continue another 15 yrs. (I'm half joking here).

fuck those breast nazis. do what you want to nath.

Alas Elisabeth has already signed up for that mob. hahaha She really throws away that sippy cup as though I'm some horrible mommy. hahaha

hahha. HOW DARE YOU SUGGEST A SIPPY CUP!!!!

so this is what it has come to:

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1488/abbycadabbyma6.jpg

Ahahaha the yarn headband gives her puppy ears. Did you just call her name and then snap the photo? She doesn't usually look that dumbstruck, I expected a much more calculating gleam in those eyes....

Hello, I'm Sebastian the Turtle.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3080/2870067589_23f5d4d3a5.jpg?v=0

we have to call her name a thousand times to get her to look at a camera. "Beatrice! Beats! Hey, Beats! Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeatie! click click click click hey over here etc etc"

i cant see your photo again ;(

Beatie! There's a children's story called "Playing Beatie Bow", I think it's English and set in London, I read it once a long time ago. A ghost story? Maybe. I never realized it would be short for Beatrice because I'm dumm.

Oh my god. Beeps and Sebastian are to die for. SO FREAKING CUTE!

(xp)it is required reading for australian kids. im pretty sure its set in sydney. let me check.

OMG yr right!! I only read an excerpt in a book of children's stories, and since it referenced Queen Victoria I assumed it was English but it's not!!

the late 1800s in australia were v. english

Nath, how old is Elisabeth now? I should think that if she's over 12 months and has plenty of dairy in her diet, it doesn't matter that much if she doesn't drink any milk in liquid form -- I know quite a few parents of kids who have simply refused milk from a cup when they've stopped being breastfed or bottle-fed. As long as she has milk on cereal, yoghurts, cheese etc and other sources of calcium in her diet then I wouldn't worry about it. Will she drink water/juice from a cup?

PS OMG that photo of Beeps. I was thinking I'd be quite pleased with another boy but then you can't really dress them like that (can you?)

oh sure you can!

when we moved pp found a huge box full of the cutest girls 0-12months clothes that i had been steadily buying throughout my pregnancy. i guess in the whole child being ripped out of me kerfuffle i completely forgot about it! i wanted a boy for number two but now i have this ridiculous amount of untouched girl clothes it really needs to be a girl!

ILX parents, I need some advice. (I lurk on this thread all the time, I just love the photos to DEATH)...

My best friend is freaking out, because her sister in-law's water just broke a full month before the baby is due. The girl is in hospital right now, but no-one knows anything yet. What little I know about pregnancy and childbirth is really not cutting it as far as trying to reassure my friend. Is this a dire situation? I guess for my own knowledge, how bad could this be? Are we talking premature birth here? If you've got any knowledge you can drop on me, I'd really appreciate it.

I always thought that if the water breaks, she'll have to deliver as there's so much risk for infection. I hope she's fine. Really. A full month before due date is not that bad, but of course it still means premature and that in itself causes some risk and (probably) some problems. It'll mean the development might be a bit slower, but then my friend had a baby three weeks before due date and that baby is doing so well. I know that means jackshit;, but I am trying to say that it doesn't necessarily means that the baby will be slow or whatever.

Will she drink water/juice from a cup?

haha No. Nothing. Y'know, I just frigging relax and go with the (milk) flow. Society here says 12 months is when you should stop, but it's all relative, innit? Some cultures will advocate breastfeeding until 2 or even longer. So what the hell, I'll introduce her to that evil sippy cup and just hope that one day, hopefully before she graduates uni, she'll decide to quit. hehe

Don't know too much about your friend's situation, VegemiteGrrrl, but hope things work out. For what it's worth, I have a friend who's having an elective caesarian at 37 weeks (can't remember why) so it can't be considered all that early these days. Another friend delivered twins at 36 weeks and after a little time in the special care unit they were absolutely fine.

Veggie grrl my best friend, after a really troubled pregnancy, had her baby OCT 20 when he was due DEC 16. He was off the breathing apparatus in a few hours but had to spend 5 weeks in the PICU because of the threat of infection. Every baby is different, of course. I think its fairly standard for twins to be a month or so premature, right? I wouldnt be frantic about your friend's situation, just cautious.

oh and like with anything possibly health and life threatening - DONT READ THE INTERNET

So so so true. :-( Don't read the internet. (haha does that include ILX?) If you do want to read up, I would suggest babycenter.com/babycenter.co.uk Those two sites are monitored and provide good info. :-)

First of all, a month premature is no biggie. Second of all, don't read the internet! You want to get scared, look up "infant seizures" on Google.

I knew ILX Parents would be the right peeps to ask. Most reassuring and panic-free. Which is exactly what I was angling for. Schwantz you'll be happy to know that I resisted the temptation to google search, Praise jebus.

I finally got an update from my friend today after what seemed like an eternity of waiting...baby was born and is doing well (as is the mum, yay)...HE (it's a boy) came in at 3.8 kgs (so 8.37 pounds)...which doesn't seem too crazy small to me. So at this point it's all's well that ends well. Storm in a teacup after all that...and what a relief.

Thanks again guys. I shall continue admiring your beautiful progeny unabated.

No wonder her water broke! An 8.37 lb. baby is ready to be born!

yeah, seriously! imagine if he'd gone another month! that poor woman would have been miserable!

Sounds like the original due date estimate was incorrect. Congrats to your friend!

yeah 8.37lbs isnt small. i was 8.93 and i STILL hear about it.

what is this new babes name?

incorrect due date actually makes a ton of sense. how do they end up a month off, though?!

menstrual lies

or may have gotten period when pregnant. this happened to my grandmother in the first month.

hmmm. i thought in ultrasounds they measured the fetus, etc. to verify age?

^^^not a real period btw because no more eggs to send out obv. probably preg bleeding that looked like a period.

oh xp to me

some people refuse ultrasounds

and tests, and doctors and hospitals. go figure.

Come to think of it, 8.37 IS on the large side. If memory serves, I think *I* was an 8 pounder. Young lad just wanted to get the heck outta dodge, I guess! Baby's name is Darcy...so maybe brooding good looks in his future?

ooooh i like that! darcy as a boy first name! i am reminded of how i had a mad crush on the guy who played darcy when we were forced to workshop a musical production of pride and prejudice. lol.

On the beach, last week:

http://lh4.ggpht.com/ColveyClan/SOO9MgfOLtI/AAAAAAAAHzk/gweE9GyOpbY/s400/CIMG0662.JPG

GAH! So gorgeous!!! I want a little boy. NOW.

BTW how is number 2 cooking? How far are you along now? Will you find out the sex? Does Howie know theres a kiddo in your tumtum? Are you getting excited? Can I live vicariously through you?

No.2 is doing fine, as far as we know -- got the first scan on Monday. Although I am kind of done with feeling exhausted by 5pm and throwing up at random moments during the day. I'm 11 weeks so hoping that the ol' second-trimester energy burst will kick in soon.

We are going to find out the sex, I think -- I just can't imagine not asking (too curious). The hospital wouldn't tell us with Howie but they've since changed their policy. We do keep telling Howie that there's a baby in Mummy's tummy but he just looks at us like, "Yeah, right."

Wow, there are hospitals with a policy of not telling the gender? What's the logic? That they can't ever be sure?

Maybe too many court cases? hah.

or may have gotten period when pregnant. this happened to my grandmother in the first month.

I think it was more "settling in of the foetus" (is that how you say it in English). It's not uncommong for pregnant ladies to bleed. (I did the last couple of months, profusely. First time I freaked the fuck out naturally.)

It seems we have been a bit too worried: Elisabeth is starting to stand. Sort of. Well, she's standing on her legs a bit if we hold her. Which wasn't the case three weeks ago. So what the hell, she's going to be alright. But she's still waking up for a night time feeding and flatly refuses to drink anything but "boob milk." I am ready for a good night's rest after 11 months. I'm slowly unraveling at the seams. :-) She also flatly refuses to eat anything but carrots, tomatoes or fruit. If it's chunky she hates it and starts gagging like Linda Blair. Not a pretty sight. hah

BTW who can beat my grandfather's weight at birth: FIVE KILOS! (a little over ELEVEN POUNDS!) His mommy delivered him through her VAGINA! I mean, WHAT THE FUCK! Five! No wonder he remained a single kid. hahahahaha I was almost 4,5 kgs. Little blimpie. :-)

G00blar, apparently the policy was because of fears that in certain ethnic groups where boys are favoured over girls, people might choose to abort if they found they were expecting a girl.

Anyway... tonight I have officially taken part in one of the essential rites of Being A Parent. I have booked a holiday at Center Parcs :-0

Oh shit, I should have known that--I read a piece a while back on India, where there are apparently soooo many more boys being born than girls, and so they've banned the practice of telling future parents the gender country-wide.

o_O at Nath's grandfather!

i think they at least TALKED about doing that in australia (they may have, i dont know) but it was less about ethnic groups and more about "designer babies".

http://img390.imageshack.us/img390/357/horsetrainingft5.jpg

omg!!! i want to live that moment like 94/7

<3<3

God damn it, Sunny. We just said goodbye to our doggie. :-( Just half an hour ago.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/98/260700245_a864e4d338_m.jpg

Oh, Nath, I'm sorry! I'm sure you and you're husband are heartbroken. How is O taking it?

We haven't told her. In a minute we're gonna get her from kindergarten. Don't think she'll understand. But we do want to tell her. This is part of life.

if it helps any my niece took the passing of their family cat way better than her parents did. she was about 3 or 4 at the time. they just laid it out straight for her.

Number one (and only) son is off to Germany on a school trip. Five days of wine, women and song down the Rhone Valley. He left yesterday and Mrs D is extremely broody as he hopped on the coach with barely a look back and hasn't replied to any of her texts yet.

If they've got time he's due to stop off in Bruges on the way back on Friday, so Nath can you keep an eye on him that day?

Sorry to hear that Nath. I still miss our dear old cat who died at Easter.

Here's a pic of no.2 taken today...

http://lh6.ggpht.com/ColveyClan/SOo6SSsuHxI/AAAAAAAAJVg/oZQL1YMb3mc/s400/12wkscan.jpg

i like that they label not only the body parts but as a baby.

Make with the photos.

(or is everyone waiting for Halloween?)

My camera is busted.

So it seems that all it took to get my boys to stop being totally psycho was for me to go back to work. Now that they are back in their routine, they have mellowed out a bit. Ben is doing great, other than a tilt to his head that we are trying to get rid of through massage and craniosacral therapy.

Ben riding the plastic zebra:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2928540904_159a1d7e14.jpg

Owen gets a shot at the Paul Frank PJs:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/2928555096_eac269791d.jpg

Ha, that zebra lives in our house too. The other night, Beeps stood up on top of the saddle like she was in the circus and hopped up and down.

Sunny says those tunes that play are the Sonic the Hedgehog songs from the early 90s. My memories are foggier than hers, but that sounds about right.

Lulu offers emotional support (with the help of the everpresent Rabbit) on Ava's first day of (pre-)school (not yet in the standard-issue sweatshirt as even the smallest size is too big for her):

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pernfors88/2910012089/"; title="First day of school by JerryBones, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2910012089_be44a40245.jpg"; width="500" height="468" alt="First day of school" /></a>

(Photo by Pam, who is so overcome by the kid+hound pics, she can't bring herself to post!).

Aargh, it's a looong time since I did that...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3053/2910012089_be44a40245.jpg

oh god im dying! so sweet. the twins and girls make me want beeps siblings. how far apart in age are ava and lulu?

21 months - Lulu will be 2 next month and Ava's 4 next Feb. This is a pretty good phase, I think (though Ava's school schedule means they're earlier to bed than they used to be so I don't see them as much in the week as I used to).

well, it's a good phase except for the brief bit in the morning where you have to take them both to school but come back with one. ava's loving school and is very happy for us to drop her off and skedaddle, it's lulu that's having a hard time adjusting. this morning she pulled a chair up next to ava like she was staying, so I had to scoop her up and carry her out. cue a whole bunch of kicking and dramatic weeping, with lulu reaching out toward the school entrance as we walked away shouting, "ava! aavaaaaaa!" like I was separating them for life. but she snapped out of it when I said we could go visit chris+vicky's cats.

which makes a strong case for my already long-term existing case to get ourselves a hound to shack up with us, doesn't it? that super picture of beeps and her canine buddy isn't changing my mind one bit, that's for sure. and nathalie, so sorry to hear about your dog. saying goodbye is a fact of life but it really sucks. I still miss my lab that I raised from a tiny pup, and these days every dog in the park that looks just like him always runs right up to me for a squeeze, it's like they know.

Ha, that zebra lives in our house too.

blurry dismount:

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5965/zebno8.jpg

hound in full flight:

http://img160.imageshack.us/img160/5326/godoggodp6.jpg

with lulu reaching out toward the school entrance as we walked away shouting, "ava! aavaaaaaa!"

This is hilarious.

Pam, you should get a hound pronto. Imagine the puppy fun!!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y176/edwardiii/hithere.jpg

ha

and schwantz, ben looks fantastic! kids just bounce back, dont they? (no bouncing zebra pun intended)

omg i want your dog, sunny!

yay!

I want Beeps' chubby legs! Howie is such a skinny thing, there's barely any chub left on him :(

Nath can you keep an eye on him that day?

No problem! :-)

Ophelia has only mentioned Lucy's absence once. She kept saying: "But Lucy will come back. Lucy will come back. The shot will make her better and she WILL come back." Argh! My husband and I looked at eachother and wanted to both run away crying. It's so utterly devestating. :-( More so because we had decided not to take another dog. I think if we hadn't made that promise, a new puppy would already be in the house. It's so lonely in the house. :-( I have such a hard time sitting on her couch. :-(

Elisabeth is standing a little. Just a little. We're sensing it's her "laid back personality": why stand when you can sit. hah. Switching to the bottle however is a whole different game. Yikes. Have any of you guys here stopped radically or *pushed* hard? I know the La Leche League would hunt me down and stuff a big ole bottle up my arse, but I do want to quit in a month or so.

I'm still feeding Howie in the morning and at bedtime (though it hurts my sensitive preggo nipples like hell, so I want to stop soon!) but did drop the daytime feed at about 13 months when I went back to work part-time. I offered his favourite snack (grapes) when it was time for his feed.

It took him a while to get the hang of a cup -- for ages he would refuse to drink from a lidded cup but would happily take swigs from my glass, so I let him!

In terms of dropping his last feeds, I have let him choose a cup from the shop and am hoping to get him to take one of the feeds from it in the next week or so. What I'll do if he refuses, I'm not sure...

Ultimately, if you want/need to 'force' the issue then I would imagine the simplest thing might be for you to not be around for a couple of days. Let her pick a cup (I wouldn't bother with a bottle at this age) and arm your husband with it, then vanish!

Owen in his meerkat costume:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/2948884060_bc5bc2df97.jpg

Ben at the pumpkin patch:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/2932520038_d25f74e0c6.jpg

omg i just died a little at ben's pic!

oh my goodness ^^^^ so cute.

here some video of beats dancing to run dmc

http://flickr.com/photos/equinestate/2967562488/

Ten days ago, when it was still summer:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/ColveyClan/SQDa1jfvGZI/AAAAAAAAJZo/f2MH8dV_VIc/s400/lolly.jpg

Yesterday:

http://lh6.ggpht.com/ColveyClan/SQDa1XxE0mI/AAAAAAAAJZg/Al65tEW3nfY/s400/leaves.jpg

aewwwwwwwww

Arkansas State Fair

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3147/2967682953_66a93b3180.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3057/2968522640_d1c42ed1b5.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3146/2968522746_d6f7bd84ff.jpg

^^^^^^having a great time!!!

We saw that look a lot at the state fair.

"It's no Wisconsin State Fair, that's for sure."

She is reminding me so much of my friends' daughter who they have nicknamed Firstname "Don't Fuck With Me" Lastname because she's so suspicious like that. He said if you move her snacks while she's playing or get too close to her stuff, she slings her head around and says "HEY, THAT'S MY COOKIE" accusingly.

I bet you can't wait.

Okay PopsicleHowie is killing me. Really.

K (to doctor): What's that?
Doctor (staring an awfully long time at an unidentified something on the ultrasound): That's the mouse.
K: What?
Doctor: That's the baby's mouse.
K: Ah, ok.
(pregnant pause)
Me and K: Wait, what?

(It was the baby's mouth.)

Heheh, the scan can be the worst. Sometimes you get a doctor who just loves the whole thing and is all "wow, technology..." and all you're thinking is "tell me has it got all it's bits!" or you get someone who has seen this a millions times before and is all "[sigh] there's the babies head...there's the babies leg...there's the babies others leg...I really need to get some veg on the way home...and there's the babies other leg...hold on...I meant arm...any questions?"

Wink!
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3273/2973029638_43ae68c1fb.jpg

Owen checks out a lion at the zoo:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/2972179753_102ff987fe.jpg

im still in absolute AWE of ben's post BRANE surgery bounce back. I mean holy crap! Ive been a freaking mess over sore ears for the last 5 days.

I know! I was in panic that E didn't stand at 11 months. She's sort of standing... all the time. Wants to be held up (under her armpits) while she throws blocks around. Cutest thing ever. Not so cute? Fever, waking up in the middle of the night,...

Breastfeeding will continue for a lot longer, I fear. I suddenly realized: so what if she's older than 1 year. She doesn't know and obv still wants some boobie milk. :-)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3039/2955302900_ec3b340ef6_m.jpg

I know this isn't quite suitable for the thread, but it's a serious question--we have attempted to make our own person and had a miscarriage, which is freaking me out: the whole process is way more complicated (surgery, infection, etc) and traumatic than we had expected, having not (somewhat foolishly, in retrospect) really expected it. Anyway, I'm wondering, how common is this, and should we be chilling out about the possibility of going through it again?

I hope that made sense.

Really really really more common than you think.

Oh, man, that's awful; I'm so sorry. I think it is pretty common--in our first three months, when we were particularly sensitive to the possibility of a miscarriage, almost everyone we talked to either had had one, or had a mother, or sister who had at least one.

Wikipedia says, with the caveat that stats are difficult to confirm: Prospective studies using very sensitive early pregnancy tests have found that 25% of pregnancies are miscarried by the sixth week LMP (since the woman's Last Menstrual Period). Clinical miscarriages (those occurring after the sixth week LMP) occur in 8% of pregnancies.

xpost

what's that comma doing after 'mother'?

There was a really good programme on Radio 4 about this recently, I think you can still hear it here...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/am_i_normal.shtml

Basically it says that maybe 50% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage with some woman miscarrying before they even know they're pregnant. Also, as a side issue, with pregnancy testing kits now available which tell you if you are pregnant really early the official number is bound to go up (leading, no doubt, to shock horror headlines in the Daily Mail.)

One of the worst things about it for us was going to the hospital to have a scan to confirm what we already knew had happened, surrounded by happy, smiling parents-to-be and pictures of babies. At time like that you think you'll never put yourself the chance of that happening again, but (see top of this thread) you do, and it's worth it.

Damn, I can't type to-day. I hope you understand the gist of what I'm saying. It's awful but it's definitely not the end of the story.

Just to confirm that that link does work, it's the second story down. I really recommend listening to it.

Thanks, guys. That BBC thing was useful.

One of the worst things about it for us was going to the hospital to have a scan to confirm what we already knew had happened, surrounded by happy, smiling parents-to-be and pictures of babies.

You're not kidding!

Yeah, it makes me sad now to think of it, even now 12 years hence, so I can only sympathize with you, but it did serve a useful purpose of putting a line under that particular pregnancy and making us think about what we wanted to do next. I have to say the hospital was very supportive and gave us as long as we wanted with the doctor, but, yeah, there is no easy way through that particular bit.

Yesterday at the school costume party, Rufus won "funniest costume" for his age group (a Jimmy Neutron costume I found at the costume with huge rubber Hershey-kiss hair) and Cyrus won "scariest costume" for his group (a back sweat pant suit with wings I found at the thrift shop and then ears made up of cut-up knee guards I found on this beach this weekend):

http://photos-a.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v348/157/68/767115907/n767115907_1580432_5485.jpg
http://photos-c.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v348/157/68/767115907/n767115907_1580434_6248.jpg

where they have these trees:
http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v348/157/68/767115907/n767115907_1580433_5980.jpg
and the day before which Rufus (5) lost his first tooth:

http://photos-g.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v348/157/68/767115907/n767115907_1580438_7379.jpg

James, as Ned said, this is quite common. Many women don't realize they were pregnant, only thinking their period started later.That said, the pain and grief must be immense. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you. Lots and lots of hugs. :-( I remember when we tried for a baby, it was so painful to look at mothers with babies. I can't imagine how it must feel knowing you lost a baby. Friend of mine her daughter also had a miscarriage. Both her sister have very young babies so she's having a terrible time.

Elisabeth has a near ear-infection which leads to crying fests at 4 am in the morning. We've decided to opt for antibiotics as the pain was horrible today, worse than yesterday when she was at the doctor. She was pulling and scratching at her ears. Poor thing. She refuses to eat any solid food so I decided to breastfeed as much as possible cause she has a fever as well. :-(

Thanks, Stevie--hugs appreciated!

Amber is 10 1/2 now, but here's her rendition of Rudolph when she was 3 1/2..

NAMES! :D

Oh God that video is so cute.

my baby turns one tomorrow!!

Awww happy late halloween AdRock birthday, Elisabeth <3

I wonder how Rumpie is doing.

And Meg! Howie is killing me with that iceblock thingy upthread.

Belated happy birthday from me too! Our boys turn two on Sunday, and we're having a big party tomorrow. Pictures will be posted, of course.

Yay!

Happy belated, Stevie!

Our Tallulah was 2 last Sunday. Last Saturday saw the absolute carnage of 20 kids running riot in our house for her Halloween birthday party; last year it was 10 toddlers, 10 babies - now it's 10 kids, 10 toddlers (and a coupla new babies)...much more noise and mess. Sunday we opened presents, including this smashing hat knitted by a friend. Best Card Ever (from koogs) also depicted:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3277/3001067704_c2de507482.jpg

Awwww Happy Birthday to Lulu too! shes looking more and more like blonde Ava, no? maybe its the photographs i see.

looking for an early bedtime:

http://img381.imageshack.us/img381/6327/btbhg9.jpg

Happy belated birthday Lulu! You look so cute. :-D

shes looking more and more like blonde Ava, no?

Quite a few people have said that but we just can't see it! They seem so different to us, not just physically, but in terms of character and behaviour. Ava's a Mom-lovin'* leftie and Lulu's right-handed and only has eyes for Daddy*. (* In times of crisis, that is).

I really don't see Ava in her. But then that's just me... :-)

Lots of pictures from their birthday

Happy Ben:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3295/3017370946_43f729ce3d.jpg

Messy Ben:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3180/3016585357_bb7ecb71a5.jpg

Owen using a fork:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3251/3016582791_3db50470af.jpg

And here they are dancing to some musical cards they got for their birthday:

ha. ghostbusters. cute!!

chillin

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3223/3025300510_f770cbfc74_o.jpg

Happy birthday to Elisabeth, Lulu, Ben and Owen!

Good news: morning sickness seems to have passed and I am feeling a little less bleurgh. Have been feeling the littl'un wriggling about, which is nice. Also, managed to stop breastfeeding Howie about two weeks ago with no great upset.

Bad news: since I stopped breastfeeding, Howie's sleep has gone to shit. He takes a lot longer to settle and often wakes once or twice in the night, standing in the cot and crying. As soon as I go into the room he stops crying and goes "Shhhhh!" Which is entertaining (while knackering).

awwwwww!

Scene: Late at night, in bed, lights off

My wife: So the pediatrician told me that the boys might be wheat-intolerant. That could be why they aren't gaining a lot of weight.

Me: Really?

My wife: Yeah. So he said you could dump their poop into the toilet, and if it floats, and looks all greasy, they could be wheat-intolerant.

Me: OK...

My wife: So Owen had this poop today, that was all pale, and didn't smell like anything. So I dumped it in the toilet. It floated, but it didn't look greasy.

Me: This is the worst conversation ever.

We'll sometimes find Beeps standing up, but still pretty much asleep in her crib. We'll lay her down, put the blanket back over her, give her Turtle (pictured above), and go "shhhhhhh."

Recently, we were playing in her room and I was laying on the floor. She put her blanket over me and gave me Turtle and went "shhhhhh."

I thought it was cute, but keeping with the role playing, I sat up and started mock crying a little bit. She pushed me back down to the carpet hard and went SHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Lovingly, of course.

They're watching every move.

poopwatch

Howie pooed in the bath yesterday. One floater and two that sank to the bottom. I can't report on the greasiness or otherwise because I ran out with wet toddler and left my husband to deal with it.

We call that a "Code Brown."

we had a code brown last week. it was my own fault. she was making poop faces and i said are you pooping? and she looked up and said 'yea' but i didnt believe her. so now well, i didnt want to believe her so i ignored it. bad move. on the upside she has very disinfected ducks and a very clean bath now.

Howie was doing a poop the other day (not in the bath).

I said "Are you doing a poop?"

He looked at me with the biggest poo strain face you've ever seen and squeezed out a "Noooooooooo!"

He is not a very convincing liar.

Schwantz, I hope this is an improvement on the poop pillow talk

Aw man, guys, I can't wait for the baby to come!

poopwatch '09 here we come

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/1778/abb751d5783cyv2.jpg

The Beeps

Supermodel in training.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3210/3031767003_149cb06dd9.jpg

Drinking from a sippy cup? Are you MAAAAAD! It's so much more fun to see it dribble on my Pooh pants.

hahaha. I cant believe how big she is already. I mean DRINKING FROM A CUP. Seems like she was born only a couple of months ago. Time why do you fly?

btw my moms bought beeps that house too. I think PP and I like it more than she does. We spin the hell out of the night and day wheel and stuff anything we can though the mail slot..."OH MY GOD THERES A DRAGON IN YR MAILBOX!!!"

and i cant tell you how satisfied she seems when she slams that door in our faces.

Howie has got a similar house-type thing. He uses it mainly as a repository for toys:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Q2cuqOo8v8M/SQDZO3FpDkI/AAAAAAAAJYk/OQ3h6rW-mpw/s400/CIMG0679.JPG

Getting off the train at "Kidville Station":

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3031/3041842795_1a35149412_o.jpg

Giraffe impression:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3042685894_d220b7871e_o.jpg

Chillin' with the felines:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/3042685844_b7c0bc7ba2_o.jpg

Aidan is acting as though he doesn't understand poo, thank god nursery will bear the brunt of potty training! Luckily we've only had one code brown in the bath.

He was a cowboy minus the hat at halloween

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/3011536692_abee1e080e.jpg

I think it's fair to say there's not much if any baby left in him any more!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3272/3019534032_c24b9bab17.jpg

Aidan's going to be doing his second transatlantic flight in his short life before Christmas, any tips for a 16 month old on a 7.5 hour flight?!

Basically, be cool!

We flew with Amber quite a bit when she was a baby, and it was easy: Long delays? played with the kid, time passed quickly.

One tip, keep him/her awake for as long as is fair before take-off, the plane movement chills the baby off to sleep.

Some planes have fold-out cribs up front, so ask about this.

Unfortunately Aidan was all but too big for the cot when we flew in March when he was 7 months, but we'll hopefully get bulkhead seats again so he'll have a bit of space to play on the floor. I've also ordered a pouch sling so that I can walk him around the plane if he needs it without having to carry him in my arms. (I have turned into a crusty babywearing momma since going back to work!)

I think you've hit the nail on the head with the be cool tip. If I'm uptight about the trip then he'll pick up on it!

Yeah, up to...say...about 16 months...they're fine - it's when they can charge around it gets trickier. After that though it gets easier again!

Deer stalking...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3005/3035711652_da465e50f7.jpg
Rock climbing...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3034863999_1b54a17836.jpg

Together...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/3038543149_44557a1435.jpg
The boys hair is out of control!

whoa, it is!

It's all (the other) Ned's fault (and Eds) - once he saw pictures of them there was no stopping him.

its the best color!!

aiden still looks like a lil baby boy to me. so beautiful!

Ah, this thread is back. Question: If I was to take my four-year-old to a rock show, what precautions should I take? This came up when we went to an in-store at a local record shop, and the band played a full-on electric set; hardly MBV in its volume, but much louder than an acoustic set. Are there earplugs made for toddlers/preschoolers? Does this make me a negligent parent for even asking?

Maybe over-the-ear headphones? You're not negligent.

You could get a pair of ear muffs - we bought some when we took the boy to an airshow - which was probably louder than your average gig, very effective. I would have thought a bigger problem was their getting bored.

apple martin prefers pink:

http://www.aolcdn.com/aolr/gwenth-paltrow-apple-400a050307.jpg

Peltor makes these junior sized ear defenders. We saw lots of infants and toddlers and pre-schoolers sporting them at a festival earlier this year.

which i believe are these:

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/ejuearmu.html

xp

Also: "Great for taking the kids hunting and protecting their hearing from dangerous gun shot noise"!

ahhh yeah what Jaq said. Much cheaper on Amazon too, i see

god forbid their hearing should be harmed while they are being taught murder

This is funny:
http://www.momlogic.com/2008/11/review_lilys_cafe_resturant.php

Lily: Order something, please.
Mom: OK, do you have coffee?
Lily: No. No coffee at the Cafe Restaurant. Only water and tea.
Mom: OK, tea please.
Lily: No tea. Only water.
Mom: OK, water.
Lily: Do you want coffee?
Mom: Well ... actually, yes.
Lily (Handing me a toy tomato) Here.

lolz

Owen:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3269/3033175052_ea1b58ac28.jpg

Ben:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3142/3033185204_ef08c44736.jpg

Ben getting some air on a mini-trampoline:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3241/3033182298_10a231f1c9.jpg

woah! that must have been a superfast exposure. awesome shot!

little socks!

"any tips for a 16 month old on a 7.5 hour flight?!"

Just relax. Ophelia did the flight to Japan a couple of times now. Only mistake I made was filling her up with food before landing which resulted in projectile vomiting. Just be ready for no sleep. That's what happened: no sleep at all for me. But what the hell, could be worse, no? :-)

woah! that must have been a superfast exposure

I like to think Ben just held himself there for a while, gymnast-style, eventually supporting himself with just a single finger before executing a perfect dismount.

seriously schwantz how did you get that photo.

also Ive seen those trampoline things in kid catalogs and i always think the kid will go flying over the bar. i take it that's not the case?

oh and Ben looks so punk rock right now.

If Ben's at the top of his jump, he'd be moving slower than on his way up or down -- not to take anything away from Schwantz, because it's still a great photo.

It was a combination of what Madchen said, and me holding down the shutter release, and picking the best picture out of 20 (generally an easy way to get good pictures, especially with digital photos).

It was at a friend's house, so I don't know if, given time, Ben would have launched himself out of it.

http://web.glamour.nl/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/bugaboo.jpg

so apparently childless kanye west is going to buy this marc jacobs designed ltd edition bugaboo. there i was thinking *i* was a snob for having a regular bugaboo. haha

quit growing up so quickly pls thx:

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/5958/kidfacexs8.jpg

Nina Louise

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gdPyyGc5A7c/SRnYlbA48oI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/gw4XYvBToKI/s320/IMG_0077.JPG

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nina sure is a happy baby. i think all beats did at 8 wks was scream, puke and sleep. also rainforest jumper A++++

I was sad the day that I finally packed the rainforest jumper away.

13 months old elisabeth still refuses fluids except boobmilk. even soup turns into a screamfest. LE SIGH.

im not sure how this breastfeeding thing works but cant you just refuse? or is it likely she'll win the battle of wills?

we should be swapping food ideas here. all beats will eat is stuff that she can pick up with her fingers and usually it involves cheese. i swear if she didnt get 2 meals + snack a day at daycare she'd be half her size (why she eats there i dont know - peer pressure??). anyone have suggestions for healthy appealing finger food?

carrot sticks? apple slices? orange segments? rice cakes? granola bars in pieces?

Chicken fingers? I do this recipe a lot:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/george-duran/guiltless-oven-fried-chicken-fingers-recipe/index.html

It's pretty tasty, unlike the gross frozen chicken nuggets that they have at the grocery store.

sunny: she eats at daycare cause the refusal to eat there isn't as powerful. :-)

in regard to bf and refusal of fluids: our colleague stopped breastfeeding but didn't notice that her kid was not getting enough fluids. baffles me a bit but then i wasn't in her position: stopped bf, went to hot japan and *BAM* dehydrated. kid had to go to the hospital.
refusing to breastfeeding is not really an option: you can't explain to a kid that she won't have enough fluids if she doesn't drink from a bottle. so breastfeeding is continued. :-) elisabeth is a very relaxed baby: why change if i can do this forever?

well if it not a problem then theres no need to fix it!

beeps eats the frozen chicken pattys a lot. neither of us have a clue how to cook. i guess it might be time to learn a few thinks. she does eat carrot sticks, most fruit (although she has suddenly started refusing strawberries for some reason). she gets those nutripals granola fruit bars which she'll eat. rice cakes is a good idea! do they have a lot of carbs though. we try to cut carbs at night. if we give her pasta or something similar and she actually eats it she wont go down until midnight or later. its like laps around the sofa for 3 hours.

Megan eats pretty much everything so my problem is trying to stop her from eating dog food out of the dog's dish.

Hadn't thought of dog food yet.

strong bones + shiny hair

What more could a parent ask for.

I guess it could be considered finger food.

My wife makes some mean chicken fingers with leftover pretzels for the crust. I'll try and get the recipe from her and post it. Our kids also dig fish sticks, but they have been big fish-eaters their whole lives (??).

Some kids like steamed broccoli ("look, treetops!") with a bit of ranch dressing.

Howie is a fussy bugger when it comes to food but loves fish fingers, any kind of bread, rice cakes, cheese, sweetcorn and peas. Also most fruit apart from melon.

He is allergic to egg which is a pain in the arse -- otherwise omelette/frittata would be a great finger food.

I have heard from many parents that kids who are fussy as hell at home, will wolf down anything at nursery. I think seeing other kids eat, plus not having a stressed parent hanging around, must help.

Also how about gnocchi instead of pasta?

This is a good book for finger food recipes.

sunny: she eats at daycare cause the refusal to eat there isn't as powerful. :-)

I think seeing other kids eat, plus not having a stressed parent hanging around, must help.

we have actually noticed that when we dont look at her and pretend we are engrossed in something else when she has food in front of her, she starts eating. well, sometimes.

i thought gnocchi was pasta? see - we are food clueless.

I tried fish sticks once and she wouldnt even try it. Maybe I could try again.

Any easy recipes are appreciated.

We still give her 16OZ of Step 2 formula each day because im sure her brain will stop growing from malnutrition if we dont. (sorta j/k)

I'm going to get this when it comes out; he's a really good writer, and I've always loved Iris's appearances on his blog.

Gnocchi is made from potato. So still carbs but might not have the same effect as pasta.

I tried fish sticks once and she wouldnt even try it. Maybe I could try again.

I read somewhere that a toddler needs to see a new food up to 10 times before they become familiar enough with it to try it.

All the gnocchi recipes I've seen have flour and eggs added to the potato to bind it into a dumplingish noodle. I thought potatoes, rice and flour all were similar simple starches that break down into sugars pretty quickly.

yeah we say no to sugars. at night anyway. meg, beeps is more like eats it the first ten times then never touches it again. fish sticks might be different though.

anyway, heres alice in wagonland:

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/6991/aliceinwagonlandzo8.jpg

Baby no.2 sucking its thumb this morning. We did find out the gender... anyone care to guess?

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_Q2cuqOo8v8M/STfdSjFr36I/AAAAAAAAJiw/L94yz4WZ9fY/s400/20wk_scan.jpg

wow thats insanely clear. i dont see anything to suggest it but im going to guess boy.

im so jealous, btw

does howie understand whats going to happen in 4(?) months or so?

four legs? It's a horsey!

I'd say boy too, gorgeous photo!

We've been so lucky with Aidan and food, I'd definitely recommend baby led weaning (i.e. not doing purees but giving finger food instead) to anyone who's got weaning ahead of them. http://forum.babyledweaning.com/viewforum.php?f=2 should be a good place to find finger food recipes.

I'm very sad at the minute as Aidan seems to have dropped his bedtime feed, which just leaves a feed first thing in the morning. Of the two I'd much rather he'd have given up the morning feed - we get up early enough as it is without having to fit that in, and I really loved our bedtime cuddles and putting him into the cot all dozy and sleepy. I'm sure I'll be devastated when he eventually gives the morning feed up though.

Beeps has really grown up in the last couple of months, hasn't she?!

I want an Alice in Wagonland.

I think she's suggesting that it would be unhelpful to your health to attempt to come any closer to her animals.

Howie would love Beeps' owl, he is obsessed with them. We're getting him one of these for Christmas, it has a real hoot and everything.

Sunny and Vicky both OTM re: gender of no.2, by the way.

Hi all, last time I was on this thread we were preganant with twins and I posted a ultra sound pic the twins died at 7 weeks, sadly they died at 13 weeks, not much fun at all, especially after seeing the two little heart beats. ANYWAY, we now have a beautiful daughter Abigail. The ancient strait jacket contraption was her mums as a bub.

http://gp9xua.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pqL5r5cRi5PKQ6meT9jF41AAe0il4IlmjDm2NCKSP0bwXZR6YFEs6yKNgh0ay0JDOdP1dkFLZhEXSL0O8koDOaA/Picture%20074.jpg

Cute eh!

they only died once/ 13 weeks.

more ABI

http://gp9xua.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pc6Mks9RFF_Qx80vUyIHjnBqVU6I1n30Qiz_bbkeuWPeDMPjrOOVG1CUXzk0SQT6E7rljNjr1j8W_t1h2B8Skxg/Picture%20048.jpg

One last pic

http://gp9xua.blu.livefilestore.com/y1pM94EXiIESsF-Faai8u7svbvCRTW4ekTMAUk_WmVF16Y5MLuM6wV909RlhX0JhnWBaBI00kW_hOQ/Picture%20123.jpg

So sorry to hear about the twins, must make you even more grateful to have Abi, she's such a cutie pie!

Meg, two boys, that'll keep you busy! How are you coping this time, being pregnant with a toddler to look after?

thanks Vicky yeah damn theyre fun little critters alright. just realised that second photo she is gettin her nappy changed, naked baby it is.

Kiwi, I can't even begin to imagine how saddened you must have been with the loss of your twins. :-(

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3086/3086955838_3451b11e23.jpg

This little angel still refuses fluids of any kind. Soup? No thanks. Even pudding is frowned upon. So BFing it is. Grrr. :-) Also she still wakes up for a feeding during the night. LE SIGH.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3037/3086955624_7e722b2252.jpg

This angel will be three in January.

omg so cuet!

so grown up!

This is what happens when we let the girls dress themselves for a trip out on a wintry day:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/3106747101_ec6cf95264.jpg

Lulu, dressed slightly more conventionally, in Crystal Palace Park a few weeks ago:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3046135807_9fd10cbacc.jpg

Ava, same day, with a pasta necklace of her own devising...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3151/3046976504_6f47ca2a3c.jpg

Ha! Fluffy purple hats!
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/47/136501815_b4b102c3cb_m.jpg
She calls this hat Felicity Bumpot.

Cole 3 months. <img src="http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/8027/dscn0564hs4.jpg"; alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us"/><br/>By <a target="_new" href="http://profile.imageshack.us/user/cmvenuti";>cmvenuti</a>, shot with <a target="_new" href="http://profile.imageshack.us/camerabuy.php?model=COOLPIX+L11&make=NIKON";>COOLPIX L11</a> at 2008-12-15

http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/8027/dscn0564hs4.jpg

the last bunch of pictures are adorable!

Kiwi, sorry for your loss and congrats on Abi!

The boys got to meet one of Santa's clone helpers yesterday (that's how they reconcile so many different santas)

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1586/157/68/767115907/n767115907_1793466_9585.jpg

Bingo pic is awesome. :-D

awww...all these pics are beautiful <3!

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y161/MarkGrout/Christmas2.jpg

Great pix, all! Here are some recent ones of the twins...

Owen:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3108045144_b4babac041.jpg

Ben:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3099/3108044556_4f09448dc5.jpg

Owen and Rudolph:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3090513109_a4d4b69776.jpg

omg

Ha! Wonderful.

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/6913/dscn0549im9.th.jpg

http://img373.imageshack.us/img373/6913/dscn0549im9.jpg

Aw, those are adorable. We didn't take Megan to see Santa last year because that was still back when she was very colic-y and would just cry for hours straight, so it seemed like it would just be torment for her and Santa. I am going to take her this week, though.

Yeah. Owen wouldn't even go NEAR Santa, and Ben tolerated it just long enough to get a hilarious (non-digital, unfortunately) shot of him about a nanosecond from screaming.

...hardest 8 days of my life...
after a normal first 3 days she lost a lot of weight (more than 10%) and didn't poop for three days. But now she poops a lot and is packing on the pounds again thanks to a lot of work (and no sleep) from momzor and dadzly.

here is a link to video of molly being a bossy little top chef contestant: http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=78170ee35ecd0e9cb7c84c&skin_id=801&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=text_url

glad yr daughter is pooping again dr. supes!

hi all, i am officially joining this thread! i can already severely empathize with the HORRIBLE ANXIETY and PARANOIA that accompanies little babies. i mean, for something so everyday and eternal, why does everything involving babies seem constantly on the verge of possible DISASTER?

here is a pic:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/3120360478_2436e4387d.jpg

(yes, we are getting a new camera)

!

So little!

6 1/4 pounds at birth! he's already past 7 now though, and it's just been six days.

Wow. And has breastfeeding improved? (We fell asleep last night to our breastfeeding dvd, which is actually reassuring us that we might actually be able to figure it out.)

Aw. Looks like one well-swaddled baby.

PS don't worry about the anxiety. By the end of the first year (and after your first few trips to A&E) you will be totally blase.

Congratulations, Tracer.

Beautiful, Tracer.

OMG so cute. Is babby a boy or girl? Name? I want one!!

his name's LOUIS. pronounced "louie".

the best advice i could give any new parents about breastfeeding is that IT WILL HURT AT FIRST ALMOST CERTAINLY despite all the books saying "if it hurts you're not doing it right". that was our biggest stumbling block, thinking it was all going wrong when in fact it all just needed to get broken in. it doesn't feel as though it will ever get any less painful until one day, almost certainly - for us it came on day four - suddenly it magically doesn't hurt that much.

the last two nights have gone great - we're sleeping fine, just a couple of wake-ups for mealtimes. piece o cake!

and yeah the swaddling thing is working out awesomely. once his other needs have been met, if he's still fussing, i swaddle him up, lay him on his side, shush him a lot, and after 5 or 10 minutes his little neck just relaxes and LOLLS back and he's ready for another nap.

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Hand! I trust he has been named in honour of L Jagger?

Nicky D proposed Louis - pronounced "Lewis" - for our imminent arrival the other day. (Did I mention we are expecting? In April? No? Apparently Mrs T is in the same mumsnet crew as Meg B from this thread!) But I suppose that one is now no longer an option...

It went better after FOUR DAYS? WTF. It was hell for about three/four weeks for me. :-( Now it goes so well, we keep on doing it even now she's 13 months. Nearly 14 mo. haha Also, I can't remember the last time I slept 8 hours straight. Maybe 15 months ago? Last few nights were hell cause they woke up, sometimes simultaneously. hahah

PS don't worry about the anxiety. By the end of the first year (and after your first few trips to A&E) you will be totally blase.

I'm still awaiting that day. THen again I am a constant worrier. Like this night when Ophelia was crying her belly ached. I was imagining Alien type chest burst scenes. Contemplating driving to the hospital begging for a full check-up. But apparently she was just in need of a good poo. :-)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3253/3120301014_7b6dc3d84e.jpg

This is what happens when you play with the settings of a Canon 1000D. :-)

(what, you need a good poo?)

My overriding advice: To all those who will tell you "woh you're making a rod for your own back", tell them to mind tf out.

Days can seem the same, but months are always different.

anybody have any advice about babies sleeping on top of you at night? this really "works" but i phj34r the weaning-off process bigstyle. and WE don't sleep very well this way, i think because subconsciously we're looking out that we don't roll over on the wee man

You let him sleep on your chest? I did this with Ophelia but would transfer her to her own crib after an hour or less. I remember reading in a free magazine for young parents that this was a big fat no no. Uh yeah, sure, y'know, whatever, dudes, I did it and Ophelia quickly learned to sleep on her own. In regard to co-sleeping they tell you not to worry, you won't roll on top of'em, unless you had a drink or are a (legal/illegal) drug user or a "deep sleeper." I'm not but I still managed to roll on Elisabeth's legs one time which confirmed my fears. hah. When it comes to weaning: you never know until you go through it. Some wean easily, some don't. Ophelia was terrific in sleeping on her own, Elisabeth is a different story. In a way I think it's best to think of "now": what works best for you now. What makes you more comfortable. Listen to your heart. Sappy and silly, but it usually works for me. :-)

This morning Ophelia recited her New Year's letter. I nearly cried. Christ, am I a crybaby.

Also, look at Louis. This kid will one day, in the not so distant future, TALK. Crazy huh? You take it granted so quickly but I remember looking at her when he was a baby and could not imagine she would ever talk. :-)

Congratulations, Tracer! And also to Stevie T. (You don't get the exclamation mark until the actual birth.)

I trust he has been named in honour of L Jagger?

My head is spinning.

(At this rate next time I'm in London the FAP will have to be in a pub with a nursery next to it!)

You mean the bars in the states don't have nurseries attached? Privatized health care! When will they learn???

Louis is a doll! Swaddling is really the greatest thing...I don't think I would have survived the first three months without it.

it seriously is like voodoo.

oh ok right.. so.. anybody with a boy have any tips on how to ensure he doesn't PEE ALL OVER HIS SHIRT/FACE the moment you remove his diaper?? it is driving me LOCO. it's like he times it.

Make sure you tuck it down when you put the diapers on. Eventually it will stay that way.

Also, get lots of burp rags and use them for everything (including stuff like this).

well my son's testicles are naturally so massive that it won't go down.. i think i'm going to need to start holding a rag over it

anybody with a boy have any tips on how to ensure he doesn't PEE ALL OVER HIS SHIRT/FACE the moment you remove his diaper?
You need one of these -- Pee-pee Teepee

Howie loved to sleep on top of my chest when he was teeny-tiny. I would enjoy it while it lasts, they don't stay that tiny and snuggly for long. Soon they get too big and wriggly and prefer their own space. Mainly when we co-slept I would be on my side with my arm above my head and Howie snuggled in the crook of my arm. The main thing to be aware of is that he can't get covered with a blanket or pillow, or roll over and get stuck down the side of the mattress/against the wall, and of course do not co-sleep if you have been drinking, smoking, are overweight or on medication or exceptionally tired.

Apparently Mrs T is in the same mumsnet crew as Meg B from this thread
Tell me more...! We're also due in April so we might be on the same ante-natal thread...

at last! a bullet bra for the penis!