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Hello.Again.Kitty

Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 23:37
yeah, 1st birthdays are for the pictures and parents. Don't have many... even any - kids. Don't worry about a superfandango venue with balloon shapes, clowns, jugglers, petting zoo and all the rest - plenty of time to take out a loan for that in years to come!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 23:35
We had it done privately by an Iraqian doctor for £80 who came to our house and explained the whole procedure to both DH & myself. I'm not [i'>entirely[/i'> sure that's actually legal... sounds terribly like a backstreet ab0rtion procedure!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 23:23
Have you by any chance been reading The Baby Whisperer, Kie? If so, move on to the next chapter and forget the Branding Baby bit... it gave me the biggest hang-up ever as a first time mum because the Book told me DD was A Snacker and That Was Bad. She wasn't, she just happened to be a very efficient feeder. She only ever had from one breast per feed too (oh, shock horror - not sitting there for 20 minutes on each side?!) and by clinging resolutely to the 91st centile, proved that the Book knew jack about my own baby. Secondly, breastfeeding works on demand, or rather it's baby-led. Babies each have their own pattern of hunger and thirst, just as we do as adults, so by all means keep track of frequency and/or by-the-clock times, if it helps you to understand your baby, but the big trick is to juggle pre-empting (oo, nearly 10h, you'll be hungry soon) with the flexibility and observation to recognise when your baby's pattern changes (as they grow, it will space out more, completely naturally). Any number of us could say "oo, 2 hours"... "oo, 3 hours" or "only every 4 hours", but that would be based on our own experience with our own babies... which aren't the same as your baby. Lastly, really, the bottom line is that it doesn't really matter. If they're thriving and content, it doesn't matter how often they feed. That's my Top Tip as a second mum... with DD, I went as far as creating a colour-coded excel spreadsheet to plot her activities... with DS, I couldn't actually tell you how often he fed each day.. possibly every 3 hours, possibly not!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 23:06
hi! you guys are so helpful ,thankyou so much for all the info but i have to ask if someone like hello.again.kitty wants to sell the cake boxes because i donot want to buy in bulk .so, please contact if anyone can help. It depends how many you need really - if it's only a few, then it'll be fine, but I've got to be careful not to start passing them on to only go find myself short and having to buy another 100! I'll be having a massive sale of any surplus next year before I leave though. Cake bases too... I've "only" got something like 160 left! :\:
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 23:35
I don't know what planet the agencies are on but if they class 40 hours a week as p/t I'd like to know how many hours they expect their maids to work for full time :( I know my cleaner's (agency) working hours are 8h-18h, 6 days a week with babysitting of an evening as an extra. She's obviously travelling between houses during that time too, but still, hardcore, all things considered... and my agency is actually very fair to their employees - when I called once to ask for her to babysit on a Friday, her boss politely but firmly said "no" because it was her only day off which imo is completely fair play... I'm sure some would get the girls to work even on their days off!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 12:38
Unfortunately the options are: lose the bed to guests for a few days maybe twice/three times a year and have a camp out on a mattress in Mom and Dad's room or lose half her bedroom permanently to a younger sibling who will need night feeds until older or give up the playroom she uses everyday. I can't see us opting for a bigger house so we thought loosing her bed just a few days a year made the most sense? More so I think than a guest room standing empty for most of the year. edited by Clair K on 20/09/2011 true, although there'd be absolutely nothing wrong with the children sharing their room. It's a very modern (and wealthy) thing to have a room for every small child... it's not like they need privacy really, and I'm guessing you'd have the newborn in with you for the first few months while things settle. We've got both in the same room and it's so cute in the morning hearing them play together and then DD will say "shall we go and wake mummy up now?" and they both trundle out... and jump on me! At the end of the day, it's what works for you.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 10:57
I posted on the B&B forum, but the Life Pharmacy in the Dream Tower (big Al Maya) has them for 20-25aed. Thye Clear Blues are always more expensive, but if you get Random Brand, they're cheaper and do the same thing
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 10:55
Gas is useless, change your oven for an electric one if you are a cook. Make sure you get the gas pipes checked, you may have a leak or the gas is not turned on full at the tank. Not really... it's just different. Sure, the best ovens are fan-assisted electric because they give the most even heat, but gas still does the job although you have to be a bit more careful with cakes and delicate things. Strongly disagree when using calor gas, no comparison if trying to cook family meals. Hate the darn things, uneven cooking as you say and never can reach the temps of an electric fan oven, i say useless! My parents used bottled gas for years in France and even managed to do the full British Christmas dinner with them... my point of comparison for Utterly Rubbish Cookers is the ancient electric Thing we had at uni halls with the old-fashioned heating plates - took an age to heat up and then about 3 seconds to start burning! Never even attempted that oven...
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 10:51
Life pharmacy in the big Almaya in Dream tower... 20 or 25aed if I remember rightly... not the Clear Blue ones, but the cheapie ones. Saying that, I'd wait a week. I know it's terrible not knowing, but in the grand scheme of things, what difference does a day make?
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 10:30
I must admit *blush* that the double bed would also be for family and friends later on when we lose our current guest bedroom to a nursery for baby no. 2. Hmm.. so in that scenario DD would not only have to deal with all the emotions associated with bubs #2, but also would feel doubly "downgraded" by having her lovely Big Big bed taken over for guests? [i'>That[/i'> is properly setting yourself up for trouble!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 10:27
Gas is useless, change your oven for an electric one if you are a cook. Make sure you get the gas pipes checked, you may have a leak or the gas is not turned on full at the tank. Not really... it's just different. Sure, the best ovens are fan-assisted electric because they give the most even heat, but gas still does the job although you have to be a bit more careful with cakes and delicate things.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 10:03
seems strange that there's a fan with gas (blow the flame out)... However, yes, a few things that may help - turn your oven on and let it heat up to the required temp before you put your food in (a light usually is on while it heats up and then goes out when it's the right temp. - make sure there's no timer setting on (my electric has a different timer dial, so I need to make sure that's on 0) - make sure you've got it on the oven setting (often an icon with a bold line at the bottom). On my electric, I have it on top and bottom (which fires up the grill too, cos I need an even heat and don't have fan-assisted) - make sure the temp dial is on the temp you want. My one is very easy to turn and so sometimes I've brushed past it or a small child has turned it down (or up - yikes!) without me realising!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 09:38
Like HAK says, it's good to encourage the children's interest in animals, but under your terms + conditions. You need to protect your pets from harm but also nuture their interest so that they grow up respectful of animals. Be firm + confident in laying down the 'how to pet the pets' rules, then praise them when they are gentle. You'll be doing the animal world a service, maybe they'll go on to be loving pet owners themselves in the future. No education is ever lost. Re the mother, your friend, if you teach her kids kindly but firmly she'll no doubt be grateful. If it doesn't work at all then put the cats in another room when they come over for playdates, say they have been at the vets for jabs or something + mustn't be disturbed :) yup, it's not like it has to be confrontational at all - for example, if you see they want to play with the cats, get down on the floor with them and say "hey, shall I show you how they really like to be stroked?" as an opener and then things like " look, her tail's twitching now - that means she's had enough stroking and is getting a bit cross. Let's leave her alone for a bit and when she's happy again, we can stroke her again"
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 08:45
My goodness - this is such a no-brainer! Teach your friend's children how to behave around pets - teach them the golden rules of how to play with pets safely, what not to do and most importantly the signs that a pet will show to say "back off". If they were playing with anything else (newborn baby, something dangerous), you'd step in, no?! It's for the safety and happiness of all concerned. I have to admit, I did exactly this at a party where there were animals and one lad was just behaving shockingly (banging bird cages, banging upside-down tortoises, poking rabbits in their faces), so I literally took him by the hand and showed him how they liked to be handled - he was really receptive, because at the end of the day, he just wanted to play with them and the animals were less likely to die of shock. Win win! Maybe it's because I'm British, but everyone needs to teach their children how to behave around animals. I've seen children run up behind dogs, screaming their heads off... which is a one-way street to a nasty bite, and rightly so. It's our duty as parents. We teach them how to cross the road safely, how to behave with other people, so what's the problem with pets? <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 20/09/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 08:28
no, they delivered... get this... the NEXT DAY! :\: I think in the main, I prefered the look of the falcon ones, but they took a week to get back to me with a quote, whereas Al Bayader were on the case straight away, same day quote, placed the order and they delivered the next morning. I was stunned that that kind of efficiency could happen in Dubai. Al Bayader chaps, I salute you!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 22:02
Oh dear, just checked both LOs Clarks today (we treated the kids to proper shoe fittings at Clarks in the UK AND full-price shoes) and both have G width. Looks like a case of Shop n Ship... And my DH says that Dubai Mall sells EVERYTHING....Grrrr! If you have a Jones' near you in the UK, they have a loyalty card whereby if you buy 10 pairs of kids shoes over £15, you get the 11th free! I know, it's a bit "whoop-dee-doo", but at the rate they grow... Jones also stock Clarke's as well as Startrite.
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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 20:18
I see a business opportunity HAK :) I can see the card now,"parenting consultant, EW celebrity;) " rofl! If only you guys knew! I'm going to have to grow a few more heads for all the hats I'm juggling!
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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 20:15
no, you [i'>can[/i'> customise your FB page if you stick within their boundaries. Google "Facebook Landing Page" and you'll see. I looked into it but it all gets rather complicated with coding (although often sites will give you tutorials, etc... and there are people who will do it for you at a price). They do look very pro though. Wow, you were not joking about setting up a Facebook Landing Page being complicated. Any ladies out there that could do it for me? I would 'reward' you of course. yeah, lol! I kind of went "hey, that's so cool, how hard... can... it... be... yeah, standard is fine!"
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 15:11
[slightly surreal being requested! lol'> Tbh, start as you mean to continue and again, it's a very lucky toddler who gets a double bed to accommodate its shenanigans. If they hate their cot, then move them to a big bed. I went for low toddler beds in both cases just to make the transition easier. DD moved when she was 19 months old and DS when he as 2. Yes, they'll fall out a bit (so put a duvet underneath to catch their fall) and will sometimes sleep the wrong way round, but hey... as long as they're safe, it's fine. Getting out of bed repeatedly is always a potential issue, but my experience is that it really depends on the child. DD would always get out, put her foot around the door or whatever to get our attention and we'd need to march her back... to the extent that we put a stairgate at her door for the first few months. With DS, the stairgate was there, but after the novelty wore off (2 weeks), it wasn't needed - he's always been a creature of habit, so once he's in bed, he won't get out and will be asleep within 10 minutes (if he's left alone - the joy of 2 kids sharing a room!). Also, work out what you're willing to accept - kiddo climbing into the parents bed in the early hours of the morning isn't good, but climbing in to wake them up at the crack of dawn might be! Everyone will do mornings differently - some will teach their children not to come out of their room before 7 o'clock, others at whatever time, or others still will teach them how to turn the telly on by themselves! [guess which I fall into!'> Clair, as you say, get one thing out of the way and settled before you embark upon the next. There's no big rush.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 14:55
Are you looking for a traditional rich fruit cake style wedding cake with royal icing?
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 08:31
Hi lovely ladies Just wanted to add that I have 4 yrs old beautiful daughter n I'm trying for second one n it's just taking too much of time I Concieved my LO in just 2 months but this time....anyways thx all for your concerns :) it was very much needed. so you don't really have any fertility issues per se, it's just that it's not happening in the timescale that you'd like. Again, just to put a bit of perspective on it, in the UK, a couple would have 1 round of fertility treatment for free, but once they have their first child, if they want a second, they have to pay for it. I guess they reason that to be able to have one child is almost a human right, but to have more than one is a luxury. I know a good few couples who've had real fertility issues - huge ones, in fact - and every one of them counts their blessings for the child they have been able to have.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 22:32
thanks hello again kitty... havent tried sippy cups yet...would like DD to have the comfort of a bottle...how did you get your DD to take a sippy cup? :) I just gave it to her! It wasn't to replace breastfeeding though because I didn't need to get her onto bottles for any particular reason. She just had it with water in to go with her solid meals (yes, I weaned her at 18 weeks - eeek!)
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 21:55
yup, hate to say it, but it may be too late. I made that mistake with DD and she flat-out refused and never took a bottle. I talked to my mother-in-law about it at the time (who's very knowledgeable with small babies, if a tad Old Skool) and she said that the only way to do it is to hand your baby over for a couple of days and let someone else do it - someone who she doesn't associate with breastfeeding, someone who the baby trusts and most importantly, someone who isn't going to crumble when bubs screams. Yes, hardcore. Apparently, one of my nieces had to have this done to her, 'cos ex-SiL wanted to stop bf suddenly. Have you tried using a sippy cup? Both my two could use them from about 4 months, so that might do the trick. I do think it's important that you aren't the one doing it though - I mean, your DD knows that you have milk on tap and will protest if you don't give it to her, whereas if you're not around, she may be more willing to take what's on offer from others.
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 21:49
no, you [i'>can[/i'> customise your FB page if you stick within their boundaries. Google "Facebook Landing Page" and you'll see. I looked into it but it all gets rather complicated with coding (although often sites will give you tutorials, etc... and there are people who will do it for you at a price). They do look very pro though.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 16:45
I didn't look at the price of the Birkenstocks - I guess I shouldn't bother?! H.A.K., do you think it would be safe to order online and get Mum to bring them over? DS just wants to be out of the pram and running around but I'm a bit wary with no shoes on, unless he's on the sand or the grass. Or is there an Ecco store here? What's that one in Mercato on the upper floor? I have not idea, but I'm sure it's fine to buy in advance... well, I've got the kids' next size up in G width in the cupboard, because we're heading into winter and few places will stock sandals in their Autumn/winter collections! This is the one DS has - even though there's no apparent width fitting it's all really adjustable and flexible... [url=http://www.endless.com/dp/B0040SYBQM/ref=asc_df_B0040SYBQM1706770?tag=dealtimendles-20&creative=395033&linkCode=asn&creativeASIN=B0040SYBQM'>one shoe.[/url'>... costs a pretty penny, mind, but I'd buy the size up in a flash.
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 16:32
I know in the UK, they only really consider a couple to have issues after 2 years of active trying. sorry i had to comment, as this is incorrect. DH and I have been diagnosed as "infertile" after only 9 months of TTC, as we had 3 different things working against us which we were lucky enough to find out "early" on. If you EVER suspect something could be wrong, or treatments are not working, then PLEASE see your Dr. or find a new one who will listen! Happy to say i get to start IVF in December, now that i have saved $$ for it, after what will be 19 months of TTC! best of luck Zeynab! Hmmm, sorry. just what I've been told.
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 15:21
Tell your maid that you feel duty bound to inform the other woman - after all, it's her family at risk too if this maid gets caught. Your maid may then find it in her to be a bit more convincing in telling her friend to stop before it backfires. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 18/09/2011</em>
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 15:17
Get them from the UK! Both my two are a G/H width and Clarks here rarely stock anything wider than F. I got DS some really nice sandals that are the Ecco brand (from Jones' in the UK), so you may find them here - they're velcro adjustable over the top and behind, good quality leather with fabric inner. I found that Crocs were the only other wide-fit alternative really, but felt that the kids should both have something a bit more fitted and supportive.
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 15:09
DH and I had been together 10 years before having children. Really get all your travelling done before starting a family - you know, like backpacking in the Andes and whatnot?! I'd also say that if you're ready, don't make a decision to "start trying", but instead decide to stop trying not to! It's not a magic switch that you flick to turn on and I think if you do, you actually put too much pressure on and it takes over, so that you stop enjoying the experience. Making babies should always be fun and the element of surprise is the best bit ever!
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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 08:44
Aww, hun - I didn't want to leave you without a reply! I know 7 months must feel like a long time, but it's only 7 opportunities for the process to fire up. I know in the UK, they only really consider a couple to have issues after 2 years of active trying. Still, that's maybe not reassuring. In any case, don't feel down. All I could ever say is to try not to worry or stress (which doesn't help you mentally and physically) and to assume every month that you're not going to be pregnant - apart from one happy day when you will be staring at a positive test (oh, and don't test every week until you are - wait until you [i'>feel[/i'> it and then test to make sure). Basically, try to switch mental gear, so that instead of analysing exactly what's happening (or not), just let nature do its thing... because nature wants us to make babies and where there's a will, there's a way. Just enjoy the ride - when we're happy and content, we're generally more fertile too!
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Latest post on 16 September 2011 - 13:41
I've always gone for sprung mattresses for the kids... apart from here in Dubai where I've just gone with whatever the second-hand bed came with! lol! (foam) Sooo... it really doesn't matter! Yay! Problem solved! Sure, you can go for a super-fandango breathable, hypoallergenic mattress, but then you may put a mattress protector over the top, which would cancel it out. In the UK I had our children's mattresses made bespoke (get me!) and they were spring, with a waterproof sleeve that lay underneath the "coolmax" (TM) cover. Lovely things those. Here they have standard foam ones with a waterproof sheet over the top... and thank goodness, 'cos if you manage to go the 2 years without ever having bodily fluids seeping into the foam, you'll be doing better than most!
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Latest post on 16 September 2011 - 13:35
My son is very similar to your daughter speech wise. The 50 words by two is based on averages only and once they have 50 words in their vocabulary, they then are able to string a couple together (like "more water" or "go play"). They don't actually have to be recognisable words too, just sounds that are specific for an object/ action. My son will only say maybe 10 recognisable words in English, but I reckon has nearly 50 in total, including his own. I took him to an informal speech therapy drop-in back in the UK when he was 2yrs 2 months and they said a/ he's very young still, b/ it's just based on averages, c/ there's nothing to really worry about until he's older. SHe gave me some top tips, like for example not having the telly on in the background (tellies don't interact) and to acknowledge what DS is trying to say, so if he says "Boooh!" and points to a clock (that's his word for clock... go figure), then I say "yes, it's a clock!" and not "no, not "boooh", clock!". Reading one-on-one is also really good, along with building on what interests them, so if they're playing with blocks, start building on their vocab surround that (child picks up a block, you go "oh look, a yellow block! Can you find a red block?") This is pretty much all that a speech therapist would do with them at this stage anyway. I may also be stepping out of line here, but try not to let your own frustration and disappointment shine through in your interaction with her. Few children actually hit the average milestones when they're meant to and although we'd prefer them to be in advance, it actually, really doesn't matter. It's not a failing as a parent, not something we could have done better... it's just that each child is an individual, with its own way of developing and its own skill-set. My DD was stringing 4 or 5 words together at 2 and had a (comparatively) wide vocabulary whereas my son isn't really making 2-word sentences at 2yrs 3 months but I've done exactly the same with both of them. They're just different and unique. I would also address her behaviour. You say it is "poor", which is quite a harsh thing for a parent to say. Sure, it could be a sign of something medical, but for me, I would consider that as a last option.
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Latest post on 16 September 2011 - 00:00
I heard on the radio today that the date will be extended again. What is going on now? can anyone tell me if this is true. lol - well, fancy that.
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Latest post on 15 September 2011 - 23:50
Yup, sometimes the pathways have been so badly designed that you can't cross the road and get onto them. There's one section by me where they've put a lovely hedge between the road and the path all the way along this particular stretch, so you're forced to walk in the road if you have a stroller because ironically, it's the safest place to cross (other choices are a blind corner or... another blind corner!) Anyhow, if she has a choice, then there's no reason why she shouldn't be on the pavement. I'm assuming that she doesn't run on the road for fun.
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Latest post on 15 September 2011 - 12:40
You still have many challenges ahead of the both of you in the parenting journey and he'd do well to stop playing the blame game and crank his skill set up a notch or two. word. :cool:
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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 23:02
Just say (rightly so) that it's not his to give. They can have a photocopy like everyone else - all the relevant information they could ever need is there... but they don't want the info, do they, they want it as collateral. Nope, nope nopety no no.
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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 23:00
P&T for me (waves at Green-ish) and my two are 21 months apart. Never had any problems with sitting in the bottom seat (they always have a clear choice - sit where I tell you to or walk!). However, DD used to slip out of the toddler seat in it's newborn configuration (probably more to do with DD that with the design), so I used to have DS in the maxi-cosi with the adaptor and DD in the bottom seat. The buggy was well-balanced and it worked well. I've only just, this very day, stopped using it as a double and DD is now 4... she's been chancing it for a while now, wanting to sit, but enough's enough, especially as they are both over 15kg, so over the limit (strictly speaking) for the bottom seat.
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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 22:53
Thanks HAK. DH does not play and cuddle DD much when she is happy so will advise him. And DH does not have enough patience so I think can she can feel when DH is tense getting her settled. Indeed - with many of these issues, just put yourself in your baby's shoes - when she's crying, she gets given to a bloke who doesn't interact with her much, apart from getting angry at her crying! That'd be a bit unsettling for anyone. Getting them to have quality time together will, I think really help build their relationship and get them to trust each other. Your DH will discover that his daughter is capable of being lovely, charming and easy-going and your DD will realise that her daddy can also be happy and relaxed. Win-win. Everyone has their role to play and if your DH isn't currently the ideal candidate to settle your daughter, try not to put him in that position... until he feels more capable of doing so. It's not a failing on his part, it's just who he is. Ironically I could never settle my children like DH could - I'm the one with no patience in our partnership!
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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 22:45
No sh!t Sherlock! (Not you Cheche, but the lady who left her bag). Agree. No-brainer of the decade!
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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 22:44
14kg since march is really good! As Janesul said, it could well be that you're not eating enough and certainly that your body has adjusted to function efficiently on the number of calories you're giving it. I don't know what you started off with, but it could also be that you are at your body's optimum weight and that your weight-loss expectations are unrealistic. If it's the classic plateau, try shaking it up a bit - eat more than you currently do for a week or two and then stick to your calories again... or eat more and exercise more. If you've got even the slightest inkling that you're actually at a healthy weight and really, any more is simply ego, then try to ask yourself how you actually feel within yourself. Do you have more energy, feel good about yourself and the way you look? Do your clothes fit comfortably and look good? They should be the real indicators of success, not numbers on a scale.
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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 09:35
Can you ask to have a "sweep" first? It's where they sweep (not rupture) your membranes with a prostaglandin gel... then you trundle back off and hopefully go into natural labour. I had a natural birth at 40+2 with no sweep 4 years ago today (yaya!!!) and then my second was at 40+8, having had 2 sweeps, the first at 40+3 and then the second on the morning of the birth... in fact, DS dropped as I was leaving the hospital and I was in labour about an hour later (I had a home-birth hence why I *left* the hospital!). I was due for drip induction at 40+10, which I desperately wanted to avoid. Anyhow, there are a load of wives tales you can try out, which you can find by a quick google, but one thing that is meant to really help is acupuncture. I was booked in for acupuncture at 40+9, but didn't get round to it! In any case, you do have time. You're due and so it's a matter of days, not weeks... it may even be a matter of hours. I completely understand that slightly edgy, panicked feel of "I don't want to be induced", but even if you were to be, then you remain in control of your birth. Read up on it, inform yourself about your options and be at peace with the various scenarios that may or may not present themselves. Tell your DH what you want and don't want (like "I'm fine with X", "I'm ok with Y if it's really necessary" and "I categorically don't want Z and if anyone suggests it, step in and tell them not to (unless it's a medical emergency - not just convenience)"). Be realistic about what you may not want and keep that list to the barest of minimums. At the end of the day, regardless how how we do it, it's actually just about getting a healthy baby out safely.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 09:22
Basically, it's not a tantrum and considering she's so young, it's not down to habit, stubbornness, or something that she should "get over" or be punished/ disciplined for. Your DH should try really, really hard not to superimpose adult feelings and motives on her - young babies operate on survival instincts - I need to be loved, so that they will keep feeding me. The separation anxiety is completely linked into that - no mummy = no food = I'm going to starve to death! Yikes - that'd set me off too! Young babies also have no sense of time and object permanence, so when you leave the room, they really, really think you've disappeared and may never come back. I'm going to go out on a limb here and also say that your DH's frustration *may* not be helping either. Babies pick up on vibes, so if your DH gets frustrated, short and angry at her crying (yes, difficult not to sometimes) that is going to scare her and compound her feeling of wanting you and only you. Does her also play and cuddle her lots when she's happy? It may be worth building on the happy parts so that she knows that he too is a relaxed, cuddly and comforting person! Lastly, she's very, very young to have full-blown separation anxiety - usually babies only reach the developmental milestones of object permanence and a notion of self at around 8 months - before then, they kind of think they're part of you. Certainly don't change your feeding or sleeping practices because of it. Your DH sounds a bit like my dad - a bit Old School... I remember he once declared that, at about 8 weeks, DD was "bl00dy-minded" (ie stubborn), "wilful" and just trying to manipulate me because she screamed for 30 minutes in her car-seat... no, she was just uncomfortable and wanted to get out, but couldn't. If you brand a child, it clouds your interaction with them.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 08:40
just out of curiosity sake.... do you think the chicken sold at the organic stores here are also being frozen, shipped over, and added full of stuff? I don't know, but it being frozen - if it is - isn't actually the problem. If it's good, healthy, succulent chicken to start off with, the freezing process isn't going to change that... the question is when it's just simple not good enough quality and[i'> needs[/i'> the gunk to make it edible. This is one thing - and one huge thing - that puts a big black mark against Dubai for me... the simple fact that I can't trust what I buy to eat. I mean, not only are the contents often questionable, storage is questionable (I won't buy anything from my local pork section at the moment because it's way too hot in there and the meat at the front of the fridges is at about 10-15 degrees, not 5) and things seem to be packaged and repackaged so many times, the dates may as well be useless. I bought some chicken from a place that I've come to trust and it was off - had that tang about it - and yet the "production date" was that day. No, you didn't "produce" it then, that was simply the day you wrapped it up... after I don't know what may have happened to it. I have a friend who "rescues" ex-battery hens (they're quite commonly up for sale) and they've been laying beautiful eggs for her. I plan to do the same when we're back in the UK, as well as starting up my veggie plot again. But in between time, I just really don't know what to do here. Our diet has become so limited, it's a tragedy... and at this stage, I'm not even considering the hormone treatments, antibiotic courses, etc that the animals have before they become meat! Big sad face. :(
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 13 September 2011 - 23:43
ho ho ho - you've got me started on the chicken! I once complained to the British Customer Services of a certain highly reputable British supermarket operating here about the ingredients list on the back of their allegedly fresh chicken breasts. Yes, [i'>ingredients list.[/i'> There was salt, emulsifiers, starch, gelling agent and flavourings. Fair play to the supermarket in question, they investigated it (in the UK, this scandalous practice came to light about 5 years ago and almost all the supermarkets responded by requesting their suppliers to stop, although they often still offer the Chicken+ as the value range (water and gunk is cheaper than chicken)... anyhow, the response from the inquiry was that the local supplier had to source halal chicken, but had chosen not to buy UAE chicken due to the high level of salmonella here (?! OK then!)... so they sourced it from nearby countries and it arrives frozen and apparently... get this... they have to marinade it in the gunk "to make it palatable" (and I quote on that). So, basically, unless they're pumped full of gunk and water, chicken here would be dry and unpalatable. My local butcher here has assured me that "everyone does it" and that apparently, I wouldn't like un-pumped chicken... funny how the UK seems to manage to produce succulent, properly fresh, unadulterated chicken. I swear, it's enough to make me turn vegetarian... and that would come a few days before h3ll freezes over.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 19:44
H.A.K...going completely off topic, well, sort of - but, have you ever thought of starting a parenting style blog? What, a bit like this one? http://livingwithherladyship.blogspot.com/ lol! ;)
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 19:41
:-) thanx for ur prompt reply. Will try the places in satwa too then :-) I'v seen the Bayder and falcon cupcake liners in c4 and lulu but both of them has only one type each. Where can i get a variety of cupcake liners? TIA I don't use cupcake liners - it's not worth me buying a box of 100 12-slot ones and another 100 6-slot ones and then have them cluttering up my house for the next 10 years - the cake boxes will be bad enough, but like you, A.Rancher, I couldn't find any other solutions that were practical, disposable and still looked good. Oh oh oh! You mean the cases, not the box liners?! I get them all over the place - a lot from the UK too. I find all the different brands here do slightly different sizes, some of which work for me and others that don't. It's about trial and error, experimentation and then buying up 100 when you find the ones you like! I loved the Lulus ones, but noticed the other day that they've cleared out that particular kind and have replaced them with slightly shallower ones. Not good! Yes I meant err....cases?? in which we put the cake batter,,, but i wrote liners. I dont know the difference :-( What are cupcake liners? the ones uv mentioned available in 6's and 12's. Thanx for ur guidance and tips. Learning lot from u. I'm sure... I thought you meant the box inserts which have circles cut out of them to space the cupcakes neatly for transport.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 18:52
See, supernanny! :) yeah, I've watched FAR too many! lol
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 17:03
hehe - here I am! DD - same same. Gosh, it brings it all back... woah! Anyhow, step back a moment to assess the situation from his perspective - he knows what the fun grown-up thing is meant to do, but by golly it's not working properly. Yeah, sure, there're all these multi-coloured things, but it's not what mummy and daddy play with, is it?! I'd be frustrated! Heck, I get frustrated at objects now when they don't work properly... I also may get a bit frustrated if they don't do what they should do right away... and sadly that also goes for people, if I'm in a short-tempered mood. DH occasionally likes to be smug (from a safe distance) and make some kind of comment like "the apple never falls far from the tree"... [cough'> yeah, whatever. So anyway... it's difficult because you've got a toddler who wants to be independent (it's instinctive and A Good Thing), but hasn't yet got the tools to allow him to do so. That in itself must be so frustrating! It's up to you, therefore to a/ decide what stance you're going to take on it and b/ how you're going to cope with his melt-downs. For the stance, I just go on "is it dangerous?". Is walking around with the phone a real problem? You could unplug it at the switch for a few hours or whenever he wants it... If it is a problem for you, then move it out of his sight - he'll probably go back to the original location a few times, realise it's gone and move on to the next best thing - the TV remotes are always good "phones" too... For the melt-downs (and gawd have we had several hundred!) the best ever bit of advice I ever read, which made such a difference after 2 years of "just ignore the tantrum" was... "ignore the behaviour, but not the child". Tantrums are a misplaced, or inappropriate expression of a message that is very important... for your child at least. We may think that being given the blue car instead of the red one isn't a big deal, but hey, if you were in a shop and asked for a croissant but the assistant insisted on giving you a muffin instead (when the croissant was right in front of you), you'd have something to say about it too, no? It's like really good customer relations. To sway someone, you need to start by understanding them and confirming to them that you understand them... so you'd say something like "OK, X, I understand you really wanted the blue car, but Y was playing with it." You can then try different tacks "how about playing with the red one now and swapping later?", "How about asking nicely if you can have the blue one and giving Y the red one" or "Fine, let's play with the trains instead"... sure, you could discipline in whatever way you see fit, but what exactly would you be telling him off for? To come back to the croissant, it'd be like the assistant telling you to leave the shop - at which point you'd kick up a bit of a fuss, probably shouting "I only wanted a friggin' croissant!" over your shoulder. BUT there's discipline and "an opportunity to calm down". I will always take my kids away from the problem scene if they're launching into a tantrum, just so that we can focus on expressing ourselves appropriately and calm down before going back. I'm currently finding it difficult with DS, because he's not talking clear English at 2 years old, so how exactly can I expect him to express himself other than with the tools he has?! I am, however, trying to instil in him some basic signs, although he laughs whenever I try to get him to sign "sorry"! Anyhow, long post, and the short answer is that you just need to work through it as patiently (but firmly) as humanly possible! ---- oops! Forgot your second point! Hitting, hair-pulling, biting even if well intentioned, isn't acceptable, so it simply has to stop. In a way, it's more "dangerous" when it's an expression of affection because the victim will be unsuspecting - if a child is aggressive, others will steer clear, but if they're being loving buddies and having a cuddle and one turns to hit the other it'll be melt-down time. It's also mortifying when your child does that to another. So... 0 tolerance... and again, lead by example and shown him what is appropriate. Time and reinforcement will make it gradually sink in. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 12/09/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 16:25
that is one great post HAK.. your inputs are just too good! i am having my share of problems too but i think i should start a new thread and will wait for your reply! gosh, it's all flooding in today! Seriously, I'm not Supernanny... I've just had a bit of a rollercoaster ride with DD and spent a lot of time getting advice and reading up on issues. It would seem as if she actually touched base on almost every issue that anyone seems to have - apart from sleeping problems - so I've gone through it all! Wow, lucky me! lol
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 16:20
Depends what kind of stuff you're hoping to have included or not. I've used the new Family&Friends centre in JBR/ Al Fattan Towers for DD's 4th because they're the only place that seems to offer room-only (although I didn't look tooooo hard!). I like the home-grown party feel and want to do the catering myself and rope DH in to do the games, although Jo (the manager) is really lovely and said she'll gladly help out. http://www.dubaifamilyandfriends.com/
 
 
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