Grubi - to you - that sounds really frustrating. I am honestly in awe of those of you with more than one child - you are fabulous people and I you!

In regard to the MIL thing - I'm soooo lucky. My MIL is great (a complete dag, but great!). I actually invited her to the birth, but the hospital I was sent to would only allow 2 birth partners in at a time, so she volunteered to wait out in the 'family room' so that DH & SIL could be there. She's never made me feel bad for it (even though I am sorry she couldn't be there) and was thrilled to just be able to meet him 10 mins after he was born. She's always baking up stuff for us (muffins, sausage rolls, etc) so we've got more time to spend with DS and she visits regularly (and is always offering to babysit). It's her 7th grandchild - but the first to 'her little boy' - my DH. I see more of DH's family than mine, but that's because they're in the same town. I am finding it very interesting which of my friends have visited or kept in touch actually. Not at all what I would have expected prior to the birth... At least I know who my real friends are now!

I'm looking forward to giving Liam farex as I think he'll enjoy it, but need to wait until I see the specialists at the cleft clinic in early Sept so they can 'teach' me how to feed them to him. If I just try doing it like you all do - it apparently just comes out his nose! That would be so cruel!!

**Double Post from other thread**

Liam's in a 'pattern change' - last night he fed at 6pm, fussed around until 8pm when he went to sleep (all of a sudden), we put him in his cot and he didn't wake until 4am!! DH went & checked on him a few times to make sure he was ok!! Then he had a feed, went back to sleep and woke at 8am happy as anything - talking & playing in his cot for 1/2 hour before he was ready for another feed. Through the day he was still on 2.5 - 3 hrly feeds, but he's had a feed at 7.30 pm tonight and we'll see how long he sleeps for... He's also been sleeping a lot which makes me think he's in (or getting ready for) a growth spurt.

Went out for a cuppa today with my manager (and friend) and we talked for about 2 hours... personal stuff (with a touch of work stuff!) - was lovely to catch up with her and I'll be going in to meet with her at work in the next few weeks to plan my 'comeback' in mid-September.

Also returned my breast pump this arvo I can still manually pump if I want to, but I haven't pumped for 3 days now (except to let some pressure out in the shower - a few squirts, that's all). I'm satisfied with what I've done though.

Can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can go out for longer walks. The cold is really messing up my plans! I'll be starting a diet next week however to try to shift some of this excess weight before my return to work - worried I won't fit in my work shirts!!

Hope everyone has a good weekend. I'm looking forward to seeing my sister & niece tomorrow. It's my Mum's birthday tomorrow and we usually try to get together for it (my Mum died in 1999) to 'celebrate'.