Making the future happen - museumworker's MFW diary Pt 2

Brodiebobs

that made me laugh about new clothes.... my son is 3 and its quite embarrassing that he tells people about ebay, even said to his childminder to look after her toys so she can put them on ebay when she's too big for them

museumworker

bb - my old childminder still tells the story of how when DD was 3 she told some workmen spraying a bridge she was walking over to be careful, because she was wearing her best dress which her mum got from a charity shop :rotfl:! Apparently she said 'charity shop' with lots of pride, like it was harrods - much to everyone's amusement!

gg - isn't 'spirit breaking' the very essence of parenting - unless you are a bit odd like tom cruise that is! I already have one very spirited child, not sure I could cope with two like that :rotfl:!

May have to pop to a NEW SHOP myself though as started packing for DD's summer camp. She needs some sturdy shoes for outdoors which we definitely don't have; hopefully the local sports direct will have some reduced ones in. She also wants another pair of jeans, so hopefully the charity shop will come good on that. I have a bag full of things to donate too, trying to keep on top of the decluttering despite the vast amount of things that DS needs. Will be dropping DD at the local free summer playscheme for 2 1/2 hours, hopefully that will be enough time to do the trip into our local shopping centre and back. Determined to walk it and save on bus fare.

SJ1

Hi there

Just thought I would pop by and sympathise with the colicky baby - my DS was dreadful and would cry constantly from about 7pm to 9pm every night. It was very hard work so I hope that you find a solution for you. Infacol worked wonders for us although I hated the stuff. I did get some help with positioning for breast feeding which I think helped as well - not sure if you have a breastfeeding clinic near you but they had lots of good advice to try to stop the baby taking in more air than they had to.

I used washable nappies as well with my DS - couldn't with DD as her little bottom was just too big and they made her cry:(! I thought they were fab = if you had getting nappy rash are you using nappy liners? Not sure from what you have written if you are or aren't but these worked wonders for a friend of mine. Like other posters I cut out orange juice but also onions which helped - for me acidic food seemed to make things worse.

All the very best, give him a cuddle for me, there is nothing like a newborn baby - it's just hard to appreciate when you are there due to the sleep deprivation!!!

SJ

museumworker

Hi SJ, and thanks for popping by, sympathy always appreciated! Up three times in the night for feeds, and he was wide awake at 530 so got up then. Infacol didn't work when tried it, made him bring up whole feed , am getting on ok with Dentinox though so give him that a few times a day. Have spoken to midwife and been to breast feeding counsellor for advice - he has a very good latch so not taking in any extra air, just a very 'gulpy' baby. He is already starting to grow out of it, doing more farts and settling back down better (although he is grumping in OH's arms at the mo ). Had a pretty special baby moment yesterday, where he played in his baby gym for 15 minutes, cooing and smiling at the lights. OH was home from work just in time to see.

Will post about nappies in a mo, just came on to record have made OP of £2,043 :j:j, plus £300 into savings. This is OH's 'spare' month's salary as he gets paid 13 times a year, but we budget for 12 payments.

Interest paid out on 8% FD saver, was £170 odd which am pleased with. Will be transferring the total amount plus interest into the ISA I opened the other day, once I can work out how to do it!

Brodiebobs

wow fantastic overpayment, thats a very good idea about the 'spare' month, my DH get paid in a similar way have to look into that..... (he will be pleased!!)

And sympathies for the colic, both of mine had it and nothing seemed to help, they just grew out of it eventually, probably not what you want to hear right now but it will pass.

museumworker

Glad you like that idea Brodiebobs, hope it works for you too - and thanks for the sympathy, 'this too shall pass' is very reassuring when things feel a bit tough.

Called FD, and have transferred out the years worth of savings plus interest (£3774 or something similar), plus £600 from this months and last months savings - all gone into the 2.8% ISA.

Then FD lady asked whether I'd like to open another 8% saver - had no idea you could have one after the other, so have opened another one for the max £300pm saving.

We have £5K odd in our savings linked to the current account - have agreed to round that down to £2K in instant access. will top up my ISA to the max and then look at opening one for OH.

Friends due over in a mo - waiting for carrot cake to cool, DD is out a local free event with my mum. DS grizzling (again!).

museumworker

Not that I'm tired, but baked a carrot cake today - and forgot to add the carrot!

Forgot to say, yesterday signed up for this for me and OH - £10K of free life cover for the first year of DS life. http://www.postoffice.co.uk/insurance/life-cover/new-parent-cover
We already have life cover and not planning on anything happening to us, but in the event of the unexpected the money would come in handy.

CathT

That's handy to know about the FD regular saver. We both have an account and although don't fill it to the max it's nice to know the good rate might be available for another 12 months. Hope DS settles down a bit for you and enjoys some more good stretches of sleep.

museumworker

Off to meet friends at the museum of childhood today, weather so changeable is a good base. Hope it will be nice enough to go to try out the new playground in victoria park afterwards. Couldn't get back to sleep after 3.30am feed so v tired today, must not be too short with DD! Think may have to 'treat' ourselves to meal deal from Mr T or Mr S, can't face making sandwiches this morning!

icklehelen

Sure the [STRIKE]carrot[/STRIKE] cake was still nice?

You must have your pick of great (free) places to go being in London - rather jealous!

Most of the museums/heritage sites round here are not free (although get into the one I work in for free - does that count?:D)

Well done on all the savings - now I'm being paid again I have been able to set up the HSBC Regular saver!!

Hope you get some sleep later!

ickle