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Hello.Again.Kitty

Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 18:35
I had The Baby Whisperer, which I found really useful as she described what each subtly different cry meant, but then further reading gave me one of the biggest hang-ups of early motherhood, as she brands babies - according to her, DD was a Snacker, which was A Bad Habit that had to be cracked (turned out she wasn't, but the number of nights I cried because I thought I was doing something wrong was unbelievable). DD didn't fit in with the books' feeding pattern, but a few of the basic principles were good (like the EASY routine system - Eat -&gt; Activity -&gt; Sleep -&gt; You (or "Yawn"!)) None of the books have been written with you or your baby in mind and since we're talking about individual human beings and not robots, the gross majority (if not 99%) of babies are non-conformists... so the trick is to get inspiration and tips from a variety of sources and then forge your own way. Contrary to popular belief, there's actually no Right or Wrong way to bring up a baby. Anyhow, now, whenever I feel the need for some lateral thinking, I either browse books at the library, or sit in Borders and speed-read... or use sites like Babycentre.com. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 07/09/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 06 September 2011 - 21:41
My question in fact was: can parents be enough (and your answer clearly is yes) to raise an intellectually open mind bla bla bla in a situation which does not always favour and encourage free spirits? As always... yes and no. If every single parent could give their child a balanced, fulfilled and reasoned education, there there would be no need for schools... but that is exactly why we have teachers who specialise in certain subjects, in the hope and on the understanding that their research and knowledge in that area is broader than our own. You've probably heard the saying "jack of all trades, but master of none"... I do think, however, that the parents are critical in setting the tone of enquiry and enthusiasm... as always, we are role models in everything we do, so how can we expect our children to enthuse over school if we take no interest in it, say, or even worse by undermining what they're learning by saying "oh, but you won't use that in real life". The opposite is also true, of course - parents who are interested in things, who share their knowledge with their children and who work with the schools to complement their kids' learning will be reinforcing the fact (yes, you can tell what kind of family I come from) that learning is fun and fulfilling and that there's always something new to discover or to question and something else to share. Hand in hand with that goes the individuals attitude towards society and their role within it. Schools and parents should be complementing each other, both feeding and supporting their children's intellectual curiosity. When one or the other does not or can not do that, then unfortunately the child's education suffers.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 06 September 2011 - 21:27
Mine's due to glancing around for inspiration and happening on a Hello Kitty car sun-shade. Yes, it's that random! I also use it in most of my ME interwebz dealings (and sometimes when security guards ask me to sign in)... the "again" is self explanatory. First time around, it didn't work out...
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 06 September 2011 - 19:50
Yup, it's essential for the parents to support their children in their learning and not to assume that schools are going to "bring up" their children, but at the same time, just as schools shouldn't have to do the parent's job, parents shouldn't have to do the school's job and have to teach their children basic things that may have been left out of the curriculum. I too just feel a bit uneasy about the schools' ability to provide the education I would want for my children, so we've decided that we're moving back to the UK for when my eldest starts school... and they'll be going to a state school too. I too went to school in a foreign country (the only foreigner in the entire secondary and then sixth-form!), not knowing the language to start off with, but that was never a problem because the actual curriculum was complete, balanced and rigorous. In fact, more than the various facts that I learnt, it was the working methods and openness of enquiry that have been invaluable through my life... and yes, we also did philosophy!
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Latest post on 06 September 2011 - 17:44
I found the Bobbin one to ride up too much, but did see another where there was a strap that went between the legs, which struck me as much better - you can also get swim-suits with built-in removable flats. Alternatively, you can get arm-bands where the bit under the arms is flat, so far more comfy for little ones and are designed to offer more buoyancy. DS has been using these since we found that the jacket really didn't work for him and he absolutely loves the freedom. I would also highly recommend swimming lessons - they don't use arm-bands of floatation devices. DD was already trying to swim and tagged along to DS's and within one session, she declared she didn't need arm-bands any more... and she didn't!
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 06 September 2011 - 15:10
I think it'd also depend how big the rock is! lol! I wear all my rings all the time (I don't have that many!). I've only had 2 accidents (and both this year) - one where a tiny diamond fell out of a nearly-100-year-old heirloom ring, whihc was easily replaced at surprisingly low cost and another diamond that's fallen out of a channel-set half eternity ring (oh, the irony!) that was bought here in Dubai a couple of years ago. Obviously, I've stopped wearing the eternity ring, lest the other diamonds all fall out, but when I have the energy, I'll be piling back to the original jeweller and wrangling about it.
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Latest post on 06 September 2011 - 15:02
wow, no wonder you are in pain, thats a lot of feeds to suddenly drop cold turkey, not sure I'd be sticking with your "adviser", am guessing it wasn't an LC! Hope it all goes well from this point and fingers crossed the worst is over now. yes, ouch indeed! DS had dropped to only 2 feeds a day when I stopped and I didn't have any discomfort at all. DD had pretty much self weaned, so we were only down to a single feed by the time she'd had enough trying. Gilly, I think you really ought to work on getting your body to think your baby is just dropping feeds one by one over a course of weeks. You have a month, so a month you can have, so to speak... there's absolutely no point in putting yourself in pain to get it over quicker - and no benefit to either you, your body or your baby.
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 22:01
I would be grateful if you could let me know what your qualifications and experience are? Just personal experience... so feel free to ignore it. Simply Googling "breast binding to stop milk" throws up loads of links saying it shouldn't be done. A few: http://www.lactationconsultant.info/dryup.html http://www.babycenter.com/404_im-weaning-my-baby-is-there-anything-i-can-do-to-help-dry-up_8921.bc http://en.allexperts.com/q/Breastfeeding-1764/stop-breastfeeding-9.htm http://www.howtodothings.com/family-and-relationships/a1711-how-to-dry-up-breast-milk-supply.html http://www.breastfeedingbasics.com/html/lactation_suppression.shtml I'm not saying your opinion counts for nowt by any means, but research and thinking changes over time. What was recommended 25 years ago (like sleeping positions) is very different from what is recommended now. I too am in a profession where CPD is absolutely crucial and when new things come to light, we have to reassess our advice - 40 years ago asbestos was God's gift to man and used at every possible opportunity... then we realised how it could kill people. That's it really.
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 21:07
doesn't do any harm to the breasts. what, unlike the blockages the OP is experiencing? A badly fitting bra is a big cause of mastitis, and regardless of the OP's intent to stop, her body still thinks it's meant to be producing the same quantity of milk as normal, so the risk of blocked ducts is the same as during breastfeeding. I know that's probably what you were taught when you first trained, but CPD is a great thing. When my MiL first trained as a neo-natal nurse, it was recommended to give newborns rose cordial to "keep their blood sugar up"...
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 20:59
I don't agree with this purely because of the OTHER children. What about their future? He is 17 , nearly an adult - still part of the family, of course but...no...it is wrong to impact everyone for just one. I'm the same - at 17 he can drive, and pretty much live like an adult. He's also got his dad there, even if he's not your ideal role model (which is what I'm reading)... he's still the dad. In essence, you going back will deprive your other children of their father, in order to give your eldest - the one who's the most independent - both his parents to call upon. I saw plenty of young 18 year old lads at uni who hadn't got a clue how to fend for themselves learn pretty sharpish and step up to the mark, giving them a confidence booth like no other. Some lost their way, most didn't. Treat him like the young adult he is - ask him what [i'>his[/i'> plan is and expect him to have one. Support and help him carry out that plan, but don't break up your young family for his benefit. <em>edited by Hello.Again.Kitty on 05/09/2011</em>
Hello.Again.Kitty
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 14:25
I used Xclusive Yachts and got a better rate using the Entertainer voucher: 3 hrs, 12 people, under 3000aed. I brought the alcohol, they provided the ice, soft drinks, some snacks etc. I also got some finger foods from Lime Tree Cafe delivered to the boat. Great day. Same here - there are several in the Entertainer and all very worth it. Xclusive let you bring your own drinks and food, whereas the Yacht Club don't, but will provide a bar and hors d'oeuvres, so that it's a bit more "pro", depending on what you want, ofc.
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 14:21
I found some in Spinneys (Silicon Oasis) but not in the baking section - try the aisle that has tin foil/clingfilm. Honestly, that's where I found it purely by luck! lol - wouldn't surprise me in the slightest!
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 13:54
Thank you both we found some in carrefour and we are going to try to colour it but if it goes wrong I'll be making it myself. Thank you again ladies xx whereabouts in Carrefour? I had a look in the home-baking section int he MotE one and couldn't see anything remotely like "big boxes" (only 500g ones)
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 13:52
there was a thread on this literally a couple of days ago. Basically, most supermarkets do small, expensive packs, but you could also make you own.
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 13:50
By expressing and massaging your breasts you are fooling them into thinking you are still feeding your baby so they will produce more milk and make the situation worse. Put on your bra as tight as you can (put breast pads in to catch any leakage). Pull the straps up tight and fasten it on really tight, and then don't touch your breasts for as long as possible. Take simple analgesia like paracetamol or ibuprofen. Epsom salts only work by dehydrating you so you don't produce as much milk - this method has not been used for many years due to the side effects, as you already found out. HTH I wouldn't put your bra on tighter because it'd be bloomin' painful and could do more harm than good. The cabbage leaves are meant to help, but they have to be savoy cabbage and you should crush them slightly (or so I've heard) before putting them against your skin. I'd actually say that the cold turkey approach is the least pleasant way to do it. In fact, there's pretty much no reason to go cold turkey and put yourself through it. Simply try to express when you're engorged, but only until you no longer feel engorged, so you never empty the breast as a baby would do. This will sent the signs to your body that you baby doesn't need as much milk and it will adapt pretty quickly... once you no longer feel engorged at all, simply don't express and your body will know that it doesn't need to produce any more milk... it may continue producing a little bit for a time, but you probably won't know because you won't be expressing it. Babies rarely go cold turkey from breastfeeding - they drop one or two feeds at a time over a series of weeks or months. Basically, it doesn't need to be painful... it doesn't even need to be quick really, just as long as it's comfortable and convenient for you.
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Latest post on 05 September 2011 - 13:35
only to a certain extent, because there's no interaction with a television, so unless s/he gets to use it or takes to making up phrases talking to him/herself, it'd be lost. It's the same as learning your native tongue through the telly - it's widely acknowledged that passive television-watching can hinder language and communication skills in children, unless that television-watching becomes an active experience where the kids actually talks about what they're seeing/learning with their parents/ carers. If there's the interaction, it can be a great learning tool.
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Latest post on 04 September 2011 - 17:14
right so heres the latest, my boobs arnt as sore as they were 2 -3 days ago, and ive got a bit of blood, not alot, and its a browish colour! sorry ladies to be graphic! What does this mean? i am dying to know the start of your period? I'm sorry, but there's no second-guessing and there's absolutely nothing that you or any of us can do to change whatever your body may be doing. Let it do what it needs to and if you still haven't had your period in a week, take another test.
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Latest post on 04 September 2011 - 17:00
I agree in principal regarding the theory of not having handles, but what happens if you live on an upper floor, hear the fire alarm, head into the stairwell (locking yourself in bascially if there are no handles to get out again) and the fire happens to be on a lower floor and some numpty has propped the stairwell fire door open (let's face it - it happens, especially in Dubai!). You are effectively dead, even if it's only from the smoke inhalation and not the actual fire. I wouldn't live in a building like that, no way! Don't the fire crews need to enter the building via the stairwells to tackle the fire without having to axe the door down to enter a level? They can't always do it all from the outside. And indeed, as someone else pointed out, just from the inconvenience side - what happens if the lifts aren't working on just an ordinary day, also happens a lot. How do you get back to your apartment if you can't get open the stairwell doors from the inside..? I agree... in principal they should have handles either way and be alarmed if it's intended for emergency use only because as the saying goes, when you make something fool-proof, along comes a bigger fool. There should always be emergency lighting in them though, as there should be in the corridors. Lastly, in high-rise, the stairs are basically designed to be only for emergencies, and a good building will never have a situation whereby all the lifts are out at once, and if they were, then arguably, it's a situation where you shouldn't really be going up to your apartment if at all possible. I know my building has 3 lifts and a rolling scheduled maintenance of them every couple of months. The only incident we had was when the rooftop water tank burst and there was water pouring down the lift shafts and stair-wells, for that matter, so they shut it all down. Saying that, their procedure was less than adequate because they never rang to see if we were in (and trapped)
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Latest post on 04 September 2011 - 14:09
I've lost 10kg just through tweaking my diet - not cutting things out even. Have a look at MyFitnessPal (or similar) - they're free, online food diary/databases, so you basically enter in your current details, goal details and it calculates how much you should be eating. Enter in a weeks' worth of warts-and-all and have a look at what you can tweak. For me, I was snacking far too much (just finishing off the kids' dinners... can't let it go to waste!) and was basically having double portions of rice and pasta! Congrats on your 10kg! How long did it take you to reach that goal? Er... about 6 months for the first 6-8 (with a 2 month plateau) and then the last couple have come off over this summer, and I've been doing for about 15 months now. Sure, it would have gone quicker had I been able to exercise too, but it was too much like hard work to even plan to go to the gym, let alone do it! The idea with MFP is that you also enter in the exercise you do and it adds on the calorie equivalent, on the understanding that you should eat most of them back in order to maintain a steady deficit. 1lb of fat gives off 3500 calories, so the theory is that if you're eating 500 calories fewer each day than your body needs, then you should lose that 1lb in a week. However, our bodies are a bit more clever than basic maths, so you have to be careful not to eat fewer than 1200 calories a day (as a guideline) or your body adjusts and slows down, thinking that there's some kind of famine out there... resulting in slower weight loss, rather than faster.
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Latest post on 04 September 2011 - 13:59
i really really hope so, been trying for 2 years now, as ive got PCOS well, usually, if there are 2 lines, then it's a positive, but ofc, if you're still a week away from your first [hopefully missed'> period, then you've been pregnant for about a week at most. Early days... just let nature take its course, give your body some time and try not to stress about it.
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Latest post on 04 September 2011 - 13:52
I've lost 10kg just through tweaking my diet - not cutting things out even. Have a look at MyFitnessPal (or similar) - they're free, online food diary/databases, so you basically enter in your current details, goal details and it calculates how much you should be eating. Enter in a weeks' worth of warts-and-all and have a look at what you can tweak. For me, I was snacking far too much (just finishing off the kids' dinners... can't let it go to waste!) and was basically having double portions of rice and pasta!
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Latest post on 04 September 2011 - 12:33
If there was a fire, would you really want to break off your evacuation at a random higher level or would you want to get out in the right place? The stairs, if indeed they've been planned as fire exits only, shouldn't be used ad-hoc, so I can understand why they don't have exit handles on upper levels. Sometimes these doors will also be alarmed, to notify whoever of misuse, but I doubt they'd wire them up here. The stairwell and doors *should* be fire-safe for at least 60 minutes and as such, in the event of a fire, you would get to them sharpish and get out of the building. Also, it a bit of an interesting (if morbid) fact that people panic in fires, even in a familiar environment and even when they know the drill - I was once in a seminar where the chap was explaining that sometimes people would desperately push at a door they knew opened inwards. This is why any fire exit door should open out, towards the outside, so that if the fire evacuation degenerated into a crush of people at the exit point, at least the door will fail safe, so to speak, and let them out.
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Latest post on 03 September 2011 - 19:51
Sounds as if he's just not quite ready for it all yet (the potty training)... BUT it will come, it's just about how you decide to get there. I actually firmly believe that pull-ups do hinder potty-training. My DD regressed totally when I had her in them and when I asked her why she was doing wees in her special holiday knickers, she turned round and said "they're not knickers, Mummy, they're nappies!". Well, that told me! Anyhow, if he's down to only one accident or two a day, then send him in pants with a change of clothes. You can also get training pants from Mothercare that are cloth, but with a Terry's towelling inner and a waterproof layer, so whilst they won't hold a full wee, they will save clothes from a "couldn't quite make it in time" accident. However, if he's having an accident every hour, then I'm afraid to say, he's just not potty-trained and it'd be unfair on everyone (including him) to expect otherwise. In this case, you'd either have to keep him in pull-ups (which will be treated by everyone as nappies) or put him back in a nappy for a few months until he is ready. Sorry to have to be so blunt about it, but if there's one thing I learned from the 16 months it took to potty-train DD, it's "don't even bother if they're not willing and able". DD would certainly get more upset, frustrated and would regress, the more pressure I put on her to perform.
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 23:39
about 36/37 weeks - she'll be big, but still able to enjoy herself (as long as there's not too much jumping up and down) and you'll get in there early enough so as not to risk her having already gone into labour (well, there's always a chance, but 38 weeks is "at term")
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 23:30
Think about what you need it to do for you. Everyone is different and will therefore recommend different things. For example, I harp on about how much I love my P&T, but that's because I walk a lot and can load it up like a carthorse... if you were to, say, hardly walk at all and even then, only in malls, a P&T would be terrible overkill and you'd be better off getting an umbrella stroller that lies flat. Umbrella strollers for me and what I need, would be horrid. One thing you need to make sure of is that bubs can lie flat. Other things to consider would be: - do you need it to take a car seat? - how much walking will you do? - do you plan on having 2 close together (if so, get a P&T! ;) ) - how important is the weight (both light strollers and heavier strollers have their weight-related issues) - does it have enough storage? - does it have a high enough handlebar for both you and DH to push? - is budget important?
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 22:35
BM - how do you manage balcony safety with little ones? Do people have a dog in their apartment? Our dog never wants to be outside, but needs to be walked for exercise. It also depends on whether you can afford a villa - rent, DEWA, gardener (optional). I would choose a large spacious apartment in a great area over a small townhouse, but if I could afford a nice villa in AR then that would be a no-brainer! When you choose your apartment, choose it well and don't get blinded by the flash details. Our criteria were: - is it easily accessible with a buggy (yes) - are there loading bays for shopping (yes) - can the windows open and if so, am I happy with that - what is the balcony balustrade like? Discount anything with a step/ plinth, rungs... ours is laminated glass up to about 120cm - what is the fire procedure - is it clear - are you comfortable with the number of flights of stairs - what is security like? Do they seem on the ball? Ask them about routine fire alarm maintenance, etc... - are there good facilities for all the family? Does it seem popular with families with young children? Is there a supermarket nearby and is that also easily accessible? This'll discount quite a few buildings, but of the ones that are left, you'll find a lovey place to live.
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 22:01
for cake-pops? ;) I've just done my first batch with "cake covering" in the home-baking sections... it's basically the same as the Wilton's candy melts (easy melt chocolate) but generally only comes in choc and white choc, but you cna colour it yourself.
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 14:47
thanks for sharing your experience gilly 3..being the first baby i am extremely scared..im even scared of blood test so i really hope the epidural works fine as i see that as the best option so far you may not even need one, so don't worry too much!
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 14:46
they've actually recently redefined, or clarified the criteria for being ordinarily resident in the UK (where you qualify for the NHS et al), so if your visits follow a clear pattern, you have a house that you stay in in the UK (which needn't actually be yours), have family there and you spend a fair amount of time in the UK, then you *could* qualify as ordinarily resident (which actually sucks because by doing so, they're trying to get expat incomes taxed). The new guidelines state that a person can be "ordinarily resident" in more than one country, which I'd think was stretching physical possibility, but hey. I'm counted as ordinarily resident in the UK, btw. Anyhow, if you're staying at your mum's, say, go to the nearest GP and register. Answer their questions truthfully and they will make the call - either to register you or to charge you when you have an apt.
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 10:54
Nope! She always gets dressed for bed after her bath with me, then I put her to bed and I am the one who puts her down in the afternoon for a snooze too. My poor DH feels like she hates him! I have told him that it is just a phase and that soon enough she will be Daddy's girl and I will be the one left out in the cold, but thats not much consolation now. She doesn't hate him, that's for sure. If she loves playing with him and talking to him, encourage that. Encourage tactile games like tickles, round-and-round-the-garden, patta-cake... and later rough'n'tumbles. So that she gets used to him being close. It'll then only be a small step between that and doing the same thing in his arms. I could never settle my two easily... Daddy could get them happy again within minutes.
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 08:43
I know we use a lot of water trying to maintain a garden in the desert but we are helping to some degree by planting trees which are taking in carbon dioxide during the day. . I'm sure you've looking into this, but for those who haven't, Dubai's environmental index is one of the largest in the world and planting a couple of trees (native ghaff trees would be best) in your back garden may help ease your conscience but is unlikely to make one jot of a difference environmentally. The more environmentally-friendly way to live would actually be in an apartment block, as the running costs are less, being able to use the construction's mass to keep the place cool. Villas here are completely the wrong design to be energy efficient for such a hot climate (big windows, poorly insulated, detached...). The ideal villa for here would be one that's centred around a courtyard/ garden, with few windows on the outside and lots of shade on the inside - just like most of the traditional architecture in the Middle East. Anyhow, I'm not trying to start a debate, but merely saying that the environmental aspect as a decision-making factor is tenuous to say the least.
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 08:29
I know a few people this happened to when Dubai was faltering - one even came out, had all their stuff shipped and was told 3 days into his new job that his services were no longer required. IN any other part of the world, the companies wouldn't be able to get away with it, but here? As the others have said, it's so disgraceful that I can't actually get my head around it, let alone being able to conceive how anyone could actually make that decision and not feel any kind of apology and help was also in order. But, and I will say this for others out there - it's a stark reminder that the ME is unpredictable and we all need a back-up plan... and a back-up plan of the back-up plan. Dubai loves to do "soft openings" where they never engage fully in doing something on one single date - dip a toe in the water, see how it feels and then slowly make your move. Above all, never set yourself up to lose money or get into debt to come out. I'm so sorry for the mess that you find yourselves in.
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Latest post on 02 September 2011 - 08:20
I've always found Haru in Rimal/JBR to be nice and there's also Itsu in Marina Walk, but I find their conveyor belt/ buffet items to be a bit samey (and sometimes using a lot of mayo or crabsticks)
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Latest post on 01 September 2011 - 21:01
I have been wondering about this - so glad to see someone has already asked! If swaddling - what temperature is ok for a newborn? I know 18 is way too cold but would 20 - 22 be ok? Personally, I wouldn't swaddle in anything over 20 degrees here (ie I wouldn't swaddle here at all). I'm roasting in my summer nightie, so would pass out in a straight-jacket! But then again, anything over 25 degrees is the height of summer as far as my British body is concerned!
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Latest post on 01 September 2011 - 14:52
I always go by the clock. There's a certain amount of adjustment, but things seem to settle within 2 or 3 days.
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Latest post on 01 September 2011 - 14:51
yes, it's on the hot side, but most of the recommendations aren't for living in a desert! In the UK, 18 degrees is considered perfect and is pretty much what natural room temperatures are for most of the year, but here, that would be such a shock to the system - imagine being carried from 18 degrees to 30+ as soon as you set foot outside! Always use common sense when it comes to babies and sleeping. If the room is hot and you can't do much about it, just don't layer them up in blankets, vests and onesies. My two have always slept in t-shirt and nappy/ knickers here, with a light cellular blanket that they can kick off when they want to. DS never wanted anything covering him, so he just ended up in his cot on his own... from when he arrived here at 3 months old. As a rule of thumb, bubs will be comfy in one more layer than you're wearing. Just also protect him from a cool draught.
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Latest post on 01 September 2011 - 13:34
DH and I came to blows about this quite early on and we kind of settled on saying that the kids were my job - but once he gets home from work, that's also my working day over, so just as we share the household chores (that's lets face it, neither of us wants to do after a hard day's work), we share the childcare. Thankfully DH loves being an active dad and will gladly play with them until way past bedtime. If either one of us has had a stressful day, then the other takes the strain that little bit more... and everyone gets down-time once the kids are in bed. If your DH is using his job as an excuse, use job terms to convey your working day - I'm "at work" from the moment DH leaves the house until the moment he comes back, and if he has to work late, I have to work late. If he has to work weekend, I work weekends. Do I get paid overtime? Nope. Do I do it for the pure love of it? That wears a bit thin after you've clocked up 60+ hours in 5 days... But yes, it's also highly likely that he finds it difficult to engage with her while she's not fully interactive. However, he needs to start somewhere and get to know her personality, because at 6 months, it is definitely there! I've also found that when he does do something with her, just let them get on with it. He won't do things the way you do and sometimes he'll do things that you would never do, but he's the daddy and can get away with being a bit "naughty"... it's what your daughter's memories will be made of.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 23:55
Child meals are only catered for child passengers, as in over-2s who have their own seat. Infant 'meals', as far as the catering department are concerned, are literally the jars of puree and that's it. So while it's a complete pain in the butt when you have a hungry toddler and no meal, it's standard! Why you can't book - and even pay for - an extra meal I just don't know. Charter airlines manage to work out who's booked and paid for a meal so surely it wouldn't be difficult for scheduled full-service ones to do it. Having said that, I only ever did one or two flights in six years where we didn't have any meals left over, even if they were in a different cabin. Handing over a spare should be no problem at all. Imagine the mayhem and confusion when I booked a seat for DD, then 18 months old, because I was 6 months' pg?! But she's an infant! But she has a seat! But she's an infant!... Argh! Besides, you still have to pay £50-odd for an infant, so they could at least give you a bloomin' meal.
Hello.Again.Kitty
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 23:47
Hi ladies, just wondered if any of you are struggling to settle back in after being away for the summer, I have returned after being in the UK for 8 weeks, had such a lovely time I am finding it hard coming back here, I know I will be okay in 3/4 weeks ( I hope) :) OH, I am exactly the same! I got back on Monday and just feel totally "meh" about it... went to the shops and got the shock of the state of fruit and veg - it isn't a surprise, but hey, 2 weeks ago I was out with the kids picking raspberries at 30aed per kilo, not 30aed for a punnet of 10 about to go off. Anyhow, yes, once I get back into the swing of things, it'll be fine, but both DH and I are increasingly aware that Dubai can't actually "do" what we need it to. 9 months and counting 'til we move back to the UK for good.
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 23:36
no way in h*ll am I giving him the Qatar Airways "child" meal. Without exaggeration, its chocolate, pastry and a flavoured drink!. Oh gosh! Emirates is invariably pasta bolognaise. chicken/fish fingers & mash, but they always come with veg, a salad starter, water, the normal adult pudding (sticky toffee pudding and custard on Monday, which neither child touched - RESULT!) and a snack pack to stash for later with a pack of hula-hoops/ mini cheddars, a pack of dried fruit, a mars/ boost bar (RESULT again, swiped that) and a toothbrush! lol They only randomly get the later "tea" meal though, so sometimes will get the strangest of sausage rolls (with some kind of brown sauce baked on top) instead of the sandwich and scone we get - or sometimes they just have to go without - and on one occasion, DD was given a tub of ice-cream.
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 22:18
Normally you don't test til the day you're due or after, but it is known to show earlier. If you want to test yourself (as you will be dying to do) now, don't be too down if it's negative - false negatives happen then show positive when the levels are high enough around your due date.! Yeah, I knew about 2.5 seconds after The Act that there was no way I wasn't pregnant, but when I tested when my period was due, it was negative. I knew that wasn't really possible, so re-tested a week later and it was positive.
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 22:12
Literally just got off the phone with qatar airways as I'm trying to buy/organize a regular fresh (non infant/child) meal for my 12 month old and I don't seem to be able to do so, but I've ordered a special salt/msg free meal for myself which I plan on giving to him and trying to see if they can give me a spare regular meal for myself. We used to have such a battle trying to convince Emirates that my 8 month old wanted solid food and not the pots of purée that they provide. I remember a slightly heated conversation with a particularly jobsworthy woman who was adamant they would only provide purées to "infants", which they class as any child under 2 years old. She finally relented (after checking with her manager [rolls eyes'>) when I asked her if she though it acceptable that a young child should go for 7 hours without any food, when a child over 2 would get a full meal and a snack. Still, they've always had the child's meal, which isn't actually that bad. I think I once asked for a low-sodium alternative (before I chilled out and realised that a single meal wasn't going to harm them), but that was way too much to process and I think they just ended up with nothing, so I went ballistic (as if a toddler about to eat someone's arm wasn't hint enough at how serious the situation was) and they gave whatever was spare. Anyhow, on the "Random stuff I wouldn't give my baby" subject, when I first arrived with a 1 year-old DD, I was having coffee and a very nice waiter wandered off with her and re-emerged having given her the biggest marshmallow I've ever seen. I was still at the no sugar, no salt stage and she'd never had a sweet before, let alone a choking hazard sweet! We also had peanut cookies, big bowls of ice cream... and yet I'll always remember one incident in a supermarket when I asked for fresh bread and the chap replied, "this bread is fine, it was baked yesterday! What are you going to do, feed it to the baby?!" and was astonished when I said "yes".
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 21:52
-1kg! I went back to the UK to avoid take-aways, buffet dinners, and gorge on wonderful fresh soft fruit! Now my only challenge is keeping it off. Last night's buffet seems not to have had any effect so far! :cool:
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 21:31
No problem! It usually takes about 10 minutes of proper gym-workout kneading (I've got great biceps!). The only thing is that it's difficult to get the really deep colours that you sometimes see commercially without pouring the whole bottle of colouring into it. If you do need a lot of colouring, balance it with kneading in some cornflour to try and keep the consistency. Tavola will do some gel colourings, which are helpful if you have any specific colours (like purple or peach) or want deep ones, but if you just need pastel colours, supermarket bottled colourings will be just fine. In general colourings marked "artificial" will be more vivid than natural ones.
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 21:24
I'm sorry to go slightly off track here. Are we sayign there are no schools in Dubai that cater for special needs children? Does anyone have a child who has Down's syndrome and if so, what school do they attend here? What are facilities like for them? Sorry if I've hijacked the thread! From what I know, the mainstream schools (who choose their pupils) prefer not to have to do over-and-above, so will often not offer places to those with special needs. If they do, the onus is on the parent to employ a shadow for school hours to help support their child. The school is under no obligation to do anything. :(
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 21:21
The one for the Souks is argh... the one near the Burjuman centre. The one that crosses with the green line, I think. As for the rest, the Marina stop will drop you off at Marina Walk and the JLT stop (sea-side) will drop you off opposite the yacht club, and is possibly the best to go to the beach with: hop off the metro, cut through the little park by the side entrance, you'll then be standing facing the Yacht Club, turn left, walk to the end of the road, turn right onto the bridge and carry on straight until you get your feet wet (it's about a 5-10 minute walk). Alternatively, get off at the Marina stop and get the F37 that will take you all the way around the Marina, with several stops along JBR (The Walk, hotels, restaurants and the beach)
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 19:49
I've never found any coloured fondant commercially and the small packs of white that are available in the supermarkets are exceptionally expensive. Lulus, however, *may* have a Dr Oetker brand of coloured icing - it comes in a box of 4 bright colours, but they're small packs, mainly for detailing. Alternatively, you could make your own, which is easier than you may think: to cover a 20cm round cake: - 450g icing sugar - 1 egg white - 50g corn syrup/ liquid glucose - flavouring and colouring Sift the icing sugar and mix in the other ingredients as best you can. Scrape anything that's clinging to the side of the bowl away and then turn out on to a clean worktop. It will be bitty and powdery and you'll wonder what on earth has gone wrong! Press it together and knead it, scraping up any powdery bits from the edges and kneading into the mix. Put some wellie into it, kneading it with the heel of your palms and pulling it back for more punishment. At the end you should have a nice, homogeneous ball of fondant. When it comes to rolling it out, I've found that a generous amount of corn-flour is better than icing sugar. HTH!
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 14:29
How can you mistake the moon for Saturn??? :\: well, it's the new moon, so strictly speaking, it's all dark because it's in the full shadow of the Earth. Even so, I would have to question the confusion too - kind of basic.
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 14:13
thanks! Looks like we'll be heading down to a Mall to see what's happening!
Hello.Again.Kitty
1861
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 14:02
it's entirely up to you. Organic milk has apparently been proved to have something silly like 3 times the amount of Omega-things in it, compared to normal milk and that's what we drink in the UK where there's now only a few pence difference. Here though, I find organic milk prohibitively expensive - we get through about 2l of milk a day! Do though, stick to full-fat milk for the moment. We only drink full-fat in house house anyway, so it's normal for us, but toddlers need the goodness that comes from it. Some doctors/ people advise switching to low-fat when they're 2, but I personally think that's a load of rubbish because if the family's worried about obesity, maybe they should cut out the fat-laden junk-food first. [cue image of pudgy kid sat in front of the telly noshing a big bag of crisps with a glass of milk, but hey, it's low-fat - part of a healthy, balanced diet!'>
 
 
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