Babies Born February 2007 #8

Hi All,

Jayne: So cute about Claudia doing peekaboo, Quinn stands up holding onto the couch and bends down and then pops up it's so adorable. he does loads of other cute things but I can't explain them, like when you tap your hand on his mouth he goes ooooooooh and it makes a oo oo oo oo like an American Indian noise - if that makes sense...probably not. He is into absolutely everything at the moment and I am worn out trying to keep up with him!!

Cate; You are doing an amazing job!! I don't know how you do it!

Kel: Quinn has been the same - very clingy and wants me all the time, unless daddy's around to play with, but anything else it's me and it's tantrums until he gets me!

anyway having said all that - I am home alone (with Quinn asleep) and I am going to go and park myself on the couch and finish my glass of wine then go to bed early - ahh such a party animal!

Centrelink: well the decision will be made by monday and then my local office will send me a yay or nay letter. So its just a waiting game. I also talked to the child support agency and with their determinations, neither Terry nor I have to pay child support. If you earn less than $19000 a year, then you don't have to pay anything. But CSA do do lots of things to support parents. If I don't register with CSA Centrelink will only give me the minimum of parenting payment single. So its all ok. I was told if I earn less than $700 a fortnight then I get the maximum payment. Which is at least $300 a fortnight, I'm not sure of the exact amount.

Elouise got a lovely little denim short sleeved dress from her secret santa. It'll fit her probably in autumn.

Tomorrow is a girls day out (Ellie's with daddy)! My friend's partner is now my good friend too and we're going S H O P P I N G !!!! We're both excited as we hardly ever if not at all get to go shopping with a girlfriend. Last time I went out with one of my girlfriends, we had our bubs with us. And I kept thinking about how much things were costing. But screw it. I need to buy work pants that aren't maternity (under bump is now under floppy belly) and some casual clothes that make me look hot so I can meet a new man!

Yes, Tilly is a border collie of sorts - she's actually a "short-haired" border collie.... They are an official sub-breed, but many city vets don't recognise it.... essentially they were bred with kelpies to give them short hair... so she's black with some of the white markings but a little less and she's really skinny! And I'm glad to hear that other peoples border collies still jump - we haven't managed to train it out of her and don't think we ever will!!

I am soooo glad to hear others are having trouble with sleeping / settling! (that came out wrong... I'm not glad you are having trouble, just glad I'm not alone!)

DH and I are just about at our wits end with Monkey - she's been a nightmare to settle for day sleeps and at night for the past 2 weeks or so... its actually getting worse, but I worked out she's about 41 weeks..... I've always wanted to buy that wonder weeks book and maybe if I had i wouldn't be so stressed right now! I have never seen her so hysterical when it comes to settling and Kel, I so know what you mean.... things that used to work just don't anymore - it's been very distressing for everyone concerned. I really hope its just a developmental phase, because I need to know there is light at the end of the tunnel! I feel so helpless at the moment because CC is not for me and never will be no matter how bad things get, but all the help and love in the world hasn't been helping either lately. I still haven't rung any of those at-home help services (and Pinky hasn't replied to my email, but I understand she is inundated), because I don't want to waste my money getting advice that we don't believe in.....

Bring on 44 weeks!!!!

am going to bed so reply proper tomorrow sometimes BUT all this 41 week talk has just made me realise... they (our precious bubbas) have been OUT more than there were IN (except Pubert who decided to stay inside Ryn for longer....)

Happy "been outside more than inside" Week babies!!!!!!

Kel, you make me laugh! lol After my night out last night with a few old work mates, my precious little angel decided that a 1am feed was on the cards. Usually I'd just give her water and back to bed, but I didn't feel like fighting (and I had a few beers under my belt!) so FF it was! Needless to say, she went straight back to bed afterwards and "slept in" until 6.15am!

She refused to sleep at her normal time yesterday too - ended up sleeping for three hours in the middle of the day and so didn't get lunch until 2pm.

Loved your old kitchen photos too - nothing like your new kitchen, that's for sure! Make sure you brag to everyone about your cool new pantry - I LOVE it!

Catherine - I remember having to go to the CSA as well, otherwise they wouldn't pay me my full entitlement. That extra few hundred helps. Are you going to claim rent assistance too? Back when I claimed, I think I got around $100 a fortnight which helped a lot on my measly income at the time! Have fun shopping today! Woo hoo!

Jayne - aww that's cute with Claudia playing peekaboo and waving! We just get the waving - it ropes all the little old ladies in at shopping centres, let me tell you! I hope her ears clear up soon.

Kirsten - I know what you mean about the indian thing! We do it to Isabella and she thinks it's fun!

Kym - I'm so glad I got the WW book. I think I'd be at my wits end otherwise! At least there's a reason behind them being impossible. So this phase for our babies should end - with up to SEVEN WEEKS! ARGH!!!! At least there's an end...! I hope things settle down for you soon.

Better go and watch Dora with Bella - I think she's just realised stuff appears on the TV (not been interested til now). She's now dancing to the song they're singing - cute!

Yep I'm claiming all I'm entitled to. I can't claim RA until I have a place but I'll really see the bills after a few weeks.

I have one word for you Kym: LULLABUB. At mother's group yesterday someone mentioned something about a product that mimics car movement for the cot. These cup legs go under the four cot legs, and lift and fall in turn, rocking the cot! But I'll warn you, on ebay they're around $100 so only get one if you fell its really worth a try. I'm not sure where you get new ones, perhaps google it. Hope this helps! You poor darl. If you ever need to get out of the house, come over to mine. It doesn't worry me too much if she's unsettled here, I deal with more unsettled babies at work! Oh its not that bad, they just start each other off! I can even try to get her to nap, the way we get bubs to nap at work, and perhaps it could work for you all the time.

Gotta go, gotta see when medicare and post office shut.

CATE- That thing - Lullabub sounds COOL! Wow, they really do thing of everything these days! I reckon get everything you can out of Centrelink, everybody else does!! I was actually told that I should be able to claim some type of single mothers because Alan is based overseas for work. I'm not sure, I thought about going to the Centrelink Office, but I'd feel horrible saying 'My DH works overseas, can you give me more money?'. LOL. I should just ring them.

IMPATIENT- LMAO, don't they ALWAYS pick their moments, when you need that extra time to sleep it off & she decides she's having a feed! LOL. I have to admit, that when I don't feel up to fighting her back to sleep, I just feed Claudia, it gets us all back to bed quicker. But then of course they associate being re-settled with a feed. It's never-ending.

SMYLIE - Tell me about your new pantry? It sounds intriguing that's for sure. Is Jem being any better for you? Have you tried putting her in the pram next to you & giving it a little push when she stirs? I know it's starting bad habits, but anything to give YOU a rest is worth a go?

IMPATIENT - Last week @ Woolies I had no less than 3 grandmas & 1 Grandpa tell me what a beautifu little chicken Claudia is. Jessica pulls in the grannies as well because sometimes she wears her fairy dresses or her dress up dresses shopping & it goes complete with a tiara, wings & a fairy wand!! The oldies always love the babies, it's beautiful! Ah, Dora is great! How gorgeous that Bella is dancing! They have really catchy songs on there.

KYMH _ How are you going honey? Is Monkey still having a rough time with sleep? I wish I knew what to tell you. We have some odd bad nights, but nothing to what you're having. Are you sure she's not going something else going on? Tummy ache? Sore ears? Teething? Have you tried giving her some Panadol to try & settle her down? or even a drive in the car? Anything to stop her being hysterical, that is scary. hugs to you honey, I hope that everything settles down really soon.

KIRSTEND - Yes! I know the Indian thing. We do that with Claudia, she makes the most dainty little sound & my little nephew who is just 5 months just lets rip with it. It's funny to watch! YOu ARE a party animal having a glass of wine on your own! I don't feel so bad now when I have a midori & lemonade ot myself while I"m making dinner sometimes!

ME/US _ We have had another full on day. My weekends are just crazy just lately! Tomorrow my parents are coming down to celebrate Jessica's birthday (which is Wed), because my mum goes into hospital on Monday & will miss her party & her actual birthday. So that is exciting. I wanted to put the Christmas Tree up today, but 1) I have no idea where to put it this year with all the kids toys & 2) I have to wait until AFTER jessica's birthday otherwise she thinks Santa has been! LOL. Claudia has had a few accidents today. she'll be sitting there, or even standing up holding something & she will just tip backwards like a domino & fall flat on her back. I think this is a vertigo related thing re: her ears. She has never done it up until now though, so it's a bit upsetting. She also has been climbing up against the tv cabinet & twice she has jammed her fingers. So first chance I get I'm goign to have to go & get some type of babyproof things for there. It's just a weird cabinet to get them for, the way it's positioned. But I'll find something, even if I have to put those magnetic things on it. Also, she found the stairs today & proceeded to crawl up them, so I'm in need of a stair gate as well! Phew! So much to do!

I hope you're all having a wonderful Saturday night & for those of you with little ones who are having a hard time with sleep, I hope the z's are finding you tonight!

Love Jayne

new pantry has fancy smancy doors and inside some really awesome drawers down the bottom right hand side and HEAPS of space the drawers have my babyfood tins in the top drawer so you can get right to the back without being on tiptoes it is HUGE which is great coz my last kitchen had NO pantry, the kitchen is still not finished yet as soon as it is before and after photos will be in my gallery.....

jemima woke HEAPS last night and doesnt go to sleep for benji which is draining but tonight will be different - she went to sleep REALLY well at my mums place with my mum nursing her! and then we went to a party with her, we expected her to be asleep and probably do her "normal" wakeup about 10.30 instead she woke up at 7.30ish when we got there and then stayed awake until 11.30 when we left but she3 didnt even cry that she was tired, she just chilled out and layed on people and tried to eat the playstation microphone and was adorable! oh and ate heaps of cake, HEAPS of cake that could be a problem but we shall see, so she is obviously asleep now she slept when her head hit the carseat when we were leaving and didnt stir getting transferred into cot so maybe she will "sleep in" in the morning??

once she is asleep in the day it is ok, but the getting her to sleep bit has been frustrating, Kym I'm with you with the CC so we call it Controlled Whinging, ie we let her make some noise working herself out that she is tired but dont let her cry and scream as such.... so i know EXACTLY what you are going through.... jemima will not go to sleep if i am in the room if i am not cuddling her unless she is HEAPS tired or she has fed to sleep...

damnit again i had so much to reply to and now i have left it too late and have to go to sleep....

Thanks all for the support and suggestions. Things are really variable here at the moment..... there has been some improvement (usually when DH settles her), but every sleep is a new adventure, sometimes a good one, sometimes not!

And Catherine, thanks for the offer, will try to catch up soon....

I have heard of the Lullabub - saw it on the New Inventors actually! they are supposed to be fantastic, but something that I'd rather not get "reliant" on.... I have heard they are $250 new, but you can also rent them - a friend of mine was looking into it...

In saying that I don't want to get reliant on the lullabub, we do go for random drives in the car when it all gets too much (also a "bad habit" as some would put it, but I've given up on doing "the right thing"!!). I often question whether there is something medical going on, occasionally we do the panadol thing, often with little change, but at least then we know.

And Kel, it sounds like we do the whinging thing almost exactly the same way you do! I hope it will help her to learn that she's tired and what it's like to be frustrated etc.....

In other news.... I have mastitis - aaarrrgh! This is the 2nd time, but I have no idea how it happened really... I guess maybe feeding has been more up and down than I've noticed because I've been so focussed on the sleeping thing..... but when the going gets tough, the milk bar is open, so maybe to comfort Monkey I've been sending my body round the twist!!

This time is WAY more painful than the 1st time I had it, and I'm having huuuge trouble draining the breast at all and the GP has got me worried about an abcess forming if I can't drain it - I never knew it could get that bad.... oh well, not there yet.. just waiting for the a/b's to do their job and lots of feeding/expressing as well.

I've probably rambled for long enough. Hope everyone's wkend was good; ours has been fairly quiet, with me not feeling 100%, but we did manage to get the tree up today!

Oh, and Monkey is kinda, sorta, almost crawling!!!! She is now able to make some fwd progression, commando style, but I think that perhaps she won't ever be a big crawler, just do enough to get to things so she can pull up - she is starting to do that on me at the moment.

oh Kym that is awful! you poor thing!!!!!!!!! i hope you feel better soon, must be so hard, i have been SO lucky never had any problems so can not imagine the pain you must have, Mum said once it felt like your boob was going to fall off.... hmmm that doesnt sound like fun

Hi Girls,
Kym - You poor thing. I hope the a/b kick in soon. Is your DH going to stay home and help you out a couple of days this week? Maybe with trying to feed Monkey after solids confused the boobies too as she wouldn't be drinking as much per feed...Well done on the crawling.

Jayne - Tobi is starting to crawl and get into everything now too. His favourite thing is opening and closing doors. Luckily he hasn't got his fingers yet like poor Claudia, but it is only a matter of time. When Tobi falls and lands on his but he still cries. He is such a sook....the peek-a-boo thing is so cute.

Lisa - How is your diet going? I looked it up on the Internet and it sounds awesome. How much does it cost if you don't mind me asking. I am trying hard and have lost 4kgs now, but still have a lot to go.

Catherine - How did your girls day go?

Sally - Are you still reading our posts. How is your little one going? We want to hear all about Brendan.

Who said it was there birthday on Wednesday (same day as Jessica)? Happy Birthday.

US- Tobi has joined the tantrum train. He must have heard it was the in thing to do and we too are now having trouble putting him to bed at night. During the day he is fine and goes straight to sleep, but at night, we are pushing 1.5hours usually. Nothing has changed, some routine etc. so I think Michelle must be right, it is an age thing. He is starting to wake up during the night again too. Last night I went in there and he had pulled the sheet over his face, poor little guy was so distressed.
Have you guys noticed that they seem to be learning lots at the moment. Tobi seems to be doing something new everyday this week. We used to do the Indian thing on his mouth when he was crying in the car to lighten the mood a little and since then he has learnt to do it himself. He has worked out that if he does it, Daddy will always come running. He has moved on now though to smacking his lips fast together so they making a popping sound.

ME - I have been waking up feel like **** every morning. I really need a new pillow, but I want to try it out first. Do you know anywhere where you can lie down and try out the pillows like you can beds. I have bought so many pillows over the years and not liked them.

would they let you do that at captain snooze??

anyone in brissy check out the sunday mail - jemima is in the baby section!!! about time i sent her photo in about 4 months ago!

Oh nice Kel!

El has fights over playing versus having her milk. Its not like I can put it in the fridge, as its thickened. But today the woolies didn't have HAAR, so Terry got HA. She had a bottle, after fighting heaps, and drank it fine. Perhaps we'll be able to wean her off HAAR onto HA and then onto the ordinary stage 2.

Hey Tashie,

Yep still reading :) I've been very busy lately. Brendan is rolling all over the place now..... hopefully not long and he'll be crawling :D Still no teeth, but still teething (grrrrr) He weighs 7720gms and is 66cm long :)

Sorry for no personals, B wants to play! :)

Hi All,

Kym: You poor thing, I had mastitis twice but not as bad as yours sounds. hope you start to feel better soon.

Tashie: I have heard that there are pillow places where they measure you and test them out..I just can't think of the name of them - might be pillow science or something like that, if I remember I will let you know. And yes =- Quinn seems to be learning a new thing everyday, its so easy to teach things at this age too

We just got back from MCHN and Quinn is 76cm and weighs 10.275 His weight gain has really slowed down but his height is up in the 97th percentile...tall and skinny like his mum.

Hope everyone is well :)

ooh ooh check it out - I make a fahncy picture ticker!!!!!!! So advanced for my age!

Tashie: It is called pillow science and they have a website where you can find out your pillow number online...check it out

Ohhhh Kirsten... Quinn is a little hottie!!! lol
Well done on your fantastic ticker making skills ;)

Hi everyone :hello:
I will do personals later, I was just popping in to try to catch up... thats almost impossible. Off to the post office now.

Kym - I was talking with another Mum today about sleep problems etc. She said that she used a place called 'Hope Cottage' and they were really good and aren't that far away from us and it is a donation based system. Might be worth a go
Anyway, storm....gotta turn this computer off

hey kirsten, your baby makes me feel like i gotta get more fat on my girl, she is the same height but only 8.4kg, oh well she looks alright to me just buying clothes is a pain in the butt.... your boy is so so so cute, love your ticker, did you say that quinn is doing music lessons??? or that he had some maraccas or both???
i have heard about music lessons so am thinking about looking into that... especially at this stage bubs are going through when no toy is fun unless it makes a noise.... i think i was telling michelle that jemima found a stuffed toy and shook it.... no noise..... looked at me like "mummy it is broken" so mummy said "ding-a-ling" and then the toy was "cool" again , so now mummy feels like fool when she walks through the shops saying "ding-a-ling ding-aling'" in time with jemimas shakes of the toy..... the things we do

jem is sick AGAIN, know the doc so well we gave him a xmas card, he loved it - it has a pic of jemima dressed like an elf..... she has some viral thing, hot hot hot head, snot all sorts of colours and thick and gross and then normal and slimey and coughing up flem which is gross!

hubby just walked in with new sideburns, i LOVE sideburns!!! i got to go

tashie - how is tobi's eating??? jem only eating stuff at the moment it is cold STILL and yogurt still a big winner - does he have a favourite meal time?

ps - tashie why does your mood say you are ****ed off?

Hi girls. Not going to attempt to catch up, but want to say that Jayne, you are a legend. DS has an ear infection (he's so kind, he shared it with me) and I don't know how you have coped with so many.

Tree is up and decorated, we have 21 small daily stars and 3 big Advent Sunday stars left to place before the Angel goes on the top, I love all the counting down to Christmas! Seriously, it's better than counting down to Baby Jesus than Baby Liebling because at least we know we can celebrate Jesus' birth on 25th December, can't celebrate Lieb's birth on 31st of Jan when he was officially due now can we? I keep singing carols to Liebs, pointing out "no crying he makes. We love you, Lord Jesus... see, darling, we love no crying" and "Christian children all should be Mild, obedient, good as He" - although I hated the latter as a child. Plus any bit where Baby Jesus sleeps, that is bigged up too.

ALL the ticker babies are GORGEOUS. I have never seen so many good looking babies in one place. You usually get a few ugly ones but not here! Well done us. I should get DS a ticker with a picture. But he's so gorgeous how do you pic just one photo? Oh, he joined a facebook group - Derek Zoolander's Group for people who are really, really ridiculously good-looking because he just is. All our babies should join!

Oooh, DS is getting baubles off the tree again. Good old shatter-resistant baubles! I have large ones at the bottom so he can't swallow them or hurt himself. He's in the walker right now, he's cruising like a champion and getting better at standing alone, he has done 4 steps in a row before an almost-fall (I caught him) now and I am a bit too scared to let it continue - tbh, I don't want him fully competent at walking pre-Christmas because I want to relax a bit. And if he runs off my mother will give him chocolate and not stop him attacking the wine glasses (with wine in, obviously she'll take the empties away from him). But he doesn't like chocolate, I let him have a taste, so I'm thrilled about that: if I can't have it, he can't either.

Kel, I have to walk around the supermarket grabbing DS's feet and putting them in my mouth making "rarrr!" noises and chanting "eat sweet feet meat" every now and then. He loves it, I get stared at.

Best be off, love to all of you and all the beautiful babies!

RYN _ Oh no, poor Liebs. I can safely tell you I know how you feel. We have had double ear infections for almost 8 weeks now. We are going back to the specialist tomorrow & he told me he's put a booking in at the hospital for 17 Dec but if they are bad, he'll do the grommets next week. I'm not sure if you have them over there, but we have some drops here called Auralgan. They are meant to numb the ear to block the pain. I drop them in when I"m feeding Claudia & the sucking action & being on the side helps them go down really well. I also put her up on a V-Shaped pillow when they are really giving her hell, like last night! She had her hands over her ears like she was at the speedway & screamed her lungs out for TWO HOURS solid. There was nothing I could do so I ended up sitting on the couch & holding her really tight until she exhausted herself. She also just cross-cut her top teeth, the ones either side of the middle ones, so she was a pretty picture last night with sore ears & teeth. I really hope he perks up soon & I bet that's just lovely of him to share the ear aches around! LOL @ Liebs with the tree, I can just imagine it! & YES, our babies are certainly the picture of gorgeous-ness!!!

TASHIE _ I got a really good pillow from the Chiropractor & I loved it to death, but Alan took it to China of him! I couldn't believe the nerve of him! I hope you get it sorted too. I know I have your e-mail sitting there, I've just been so flat out I haven't had a chance & I have lots to write to you!!!! I hope you & Nathan are getting on.

SMYLIE _ I"m sorry, but your post had me PMSL. You are a crack up. I have this mental image of you now walking around doing everything singing 'ding a ling'. It's priceless. But yes, I have the same problem, if toys don't have flashing lights or make music - BORING!!!!!! I'm going to make you gasp, but Claudia was 8.9kg @ 7.5 months. BIG BOOFA! It's weird, Jessica was sooooo skinny, like a skeleton & she was formula fed. Claudia is a booby girl & is soooooo fat compared to her sister & Claudia is still bad with food where Jessica ate like a horse from the word go! Weird!

KYM _ How are you with the mastitis? Lucky for me I"ve never had it, but they say to put bubs on your boob all the time to unblock it? I bet that's freaking excruitiating! I cringe at the thought. I hope all is good VERY soon!

BRENDANSMUM _ WTG on the rolling! That's awesome! Sounds like he can get exactly where he wants to with the rolling & so great that he's going up so big & strong!

ME/US - We had a REALLY bad night. I was up to Jessica taking her to the loo twice & Claudia screamed for 2 hours solid with cutting teeth & her ears. We now have 4 teeth today & she has been a bit happier & went to bed with no drama's, so here's hoping. Claudia has her ENT appt tomorrow to schedule her grommets as her ears are still infected after 8 weeks of AB's. It's also Jessica's birthday. My goodness, my baby is THREE! It's unbelievable. So we have swimming in the morning, then we are off to Fremantle to take Jessica to McDonalds (she says Don-Don's or Old Macdonalds Farm) for lunch, off to Myer to get Claudia her first Christmas bauble engraved, then off to the ENT in Fremantle, then back to Alan's parents place for a family dinner. Phew! It's going to be MAD. I have just put together her musical stuff - hi-5 guitar, microphone, keyboard & drum kit so she can play it first thing before we leave otherwise she won't get to play it until Thursday. I also write her a letter each year & seal it & I will give them all to her when she is 16. I also buy her a gold charm every year, one that somewhat represents the year that she has had. When she is 16 she'll get a nice gold bracelet with all the charms soldered on. I'll do exactly the same for Claudy. This year she got a big sister/little sister break pendant which of course Claudia will get her half on her 1st birthday. Claudia is getting up & walking behind the walkers but won't walk IN the walkers? how weird is that?

I must go & write this letter. Have a fantastic day tomorrow girls & babies!

Love Jayne

I feel like I've been run over by a truck. I woke Monday with a cough, it was bad but I was coping fine. Yesterday it was a worse cough but I managed ok at work. And today begins the runny nose and dizziness. I hope I'm ok later. I feel hot and cold a lot, so not sure what work will do with me. And the funny thing is, the sweet kids gave this to me.

Jayne :hugs: hope Claud gets good news, ie grommets in asap. And :happybirthday: to Jessica!

Kym, oh damn about mastitis. Hope it clears soon.

Sal, good on B for rolling! Now he's on his way to getting into everything...

Ryn, :hugs: dang ear infections. Boy I hope the kids don't give me one too...

Hi Girls,

Its been a very long time since I posted so I have just spent the last 1/2 hour reading back and catching up on all the goss. Well we have just moved back from the country where hubby was stationed as the Police Sgt and have just moved into our new house we have built. I was really sad to leave the good friends we had made but is nice to get back to our families and friends in Perth.

Erin has just started sleeping through the night again since we have been back so we normally get form about 7.30pm to 6.30am so I feel like a new women. I had been feeling a bit flat and down last week then AF came back on thursday so that explained it !! Gave Erin FF for teh first time this week as it is hard to get enought from expressing.

Other news I just resigned from my job. The company had been taken over whilst I was on maternity leave and I could only go back fulltime, It actually felt good to resign and made the decision about going back to work alot easier.

Look forward to keeping up and chatting alot more.

Welcome back Kristy!

Hey Kristy, good to have you back; I had wondered where you had gone!

Ryn and Jayne, hope bubba's ears are better soon - there is 1 mum in my Mo gp whose little boy has had recurrent ear infections for about 2 months now (it actually prevented them from going to UK for a family visit) and just had grommets put in this week - I didn't realise it was so common in bubs....

Catherine, hope you are feeling better soon.

I / my boobs are feeling better. After spending most of Sun racing around looking for an electric pump I could borrow or rent, I finally tracked one down and by the time I got it on Mon afternoon, Monkey virtually and finally was able to clear the blockages the very next feed, so I prob didn't need it in the end!! (Sod's law....!)

We had our "sleep consultant" here today.... She was really good and understanding and supportive with lots of good ideas for us to try and I think well worth the embarassing amount of money we spent on having her here. I guess time will tell!

Tired now, DH is out at a Christmas party, so I might go read my book......

Take Two - Yesterday I spent all day writing up a reply with the five minutes I had here and there, and then my DH turned the computer off before I got to finish and post it!!! How annoying...

Why have I been ****ed off? My DH is in the dog house. The full story is in the punching bag forum if you want to read it, otherwise, the moral of the story is, he isn't getting laid for a while because I am fat!!!

Thanks for all your ideas with pillows. I might go out looking tomorrow and see what I can find. Mum is going to get me one for Christmas. Yeah!!!

Tobi is eating really well now. Still doesn't have a lot for breaky, but the other meal times, he is loving filling his little belly. I have just learnt to listen to what he wants. Sometimes he is happy to be spoon feed, other times he wants lumps and for me to pop them in his mouth, other times he wants lumps to feed himself (and his lap). His favourite foods are yoghurt, vegemite and cheese sandwiches, shepherds pie, burrito mince, cheese, beetroot, banana, avocado and of course anything that we are eating. He is loving water now too and drinks a whole bottle throughout the day, especially during meals. He only has boobie 3 times a day, but not a lot at lunch, so that one will be easy to drop when I wean him.

It was a good thing I was on the ball this morning. He picked up a ****roach. We got pest control done yesterday, so it must have come out to die and Tobi picked it up and was about to put it in his mouth. On the bright side, his pincer grip is getting better.

Another funny thing he did was crawl into my shower fully clothed the other day and then sooked because he got wet!!!

Oh and he has been doing the indian thing for a while. We used to do it to him when he was crying in the car, just to lighten the mood a little, then he started doing it himself. He worked out that it would always get Daddy's attention. Now he has moved on to slapping his lips together so they make a pop pop popping sound. Very cute.

Sally - I am sorry to see that you have added an angel to your signature. Are you ok? We are all here for you if you need us. How is Brendan going? He is growing up fast and a great weight for a prem bub. He is only a kg behind Tobi and Tobi was 2kg heavier when he was born. He must love his food. I wouldn't worry about not having any teeth yet either. Tobi still hasn't got any.

Catherine - I hope you get better soon. How did you girls day out go?

Jayne - How was Jessica's birthday. Did she like her musical pack? How is Claudia going? Poor thing. I am very proud to hear that you didn't freak out with all her crying the other night and just sat and cuddled her. I am sure there are a lot of other Mums out there that wouldn't be as strong as you, especially with Alan away... That is such a good idea about the charm bracelet, I might steal that idea for when I have a little girl. At my baby shower everyone did up a birthday card for Tobi for each year until he turns 21, with a story about me or advice etc in it. I can't wait to open them. Jessica and Claudia are going to treasure their cards so much. It is such a lovely idea.

Kristy - Hello again. Hope you settle into your new home soon. It will be great to be closer to family and all these babysitters : )

Ryn - I hope Liebs feels better soon. How is his walking going?

Kel - I am glad to hear that I am not the only one that does silly things in public. I always thought some of the things that parents did was really strange, now being one myself, I am just as strange and pull myself up for it all the time. It is just like the rest of the world isn't there sometimes. Is Jemima settled down with her sleeping again or still fighting it?

Kirsten - I agree with Lisa, you have a little hottie in your house. What out for when he wants to play doctors and nurses or the like when he is older.

Michelle - Does Bella stand up when she is dancing? It must be so cute to watch her dance. Do you have a jolly jumper by any chance? I wonder if that is the first step to dancing? Tobi doesn't jump, just stands in it wondering what he is supposed to be doing.

Kym - Don't worry about how much it costs to get a good nights sleep. It is worth it in the end... Have you tried white noise yet. You MUST give it a go. It really really works...well it did with Tobi

Lisa - How is your diet going? I checked out the web page you suggested. It sounds great. Is it really expensive?

Love and Kisses
Tash

My day out was great! Our feet were very sore by the end of the day though. I have to go return a dress though. I tried on the 14, too tight to do zip up over my chest (surprisingly!) so I bought the 16. And the straps are too long. I don't want to tack up the straps, I wasn't completely happy with the print anyway. I'll do personals later, this is my sickie day. I feel quite ok, but there was no way I should go to work.

Thanks Tash. I am ok... just trying to keep busy. If i don't keep myself busy i'll get depressed and thats no place i want to be atm. Brendan needs me, so am i am strong for him.

Brendan is doing really well... he is 9.5 months (7 months corected) :D i'm not liking this teething business. i'm findin i have less time to myself now. the teeth have ruptured the gum, 2 little splits in the bottom... so won't be long and i'll be replacing bottle teats!! LOL brendan loves food... hes a little piggy :D he's having 4 bottles a day of 200-250ml and 2 solids feeds. he gobbles it all up :D I've only just managed to get him onto vegies.... i found i wasn't pureeing them enough. haven't got to the lumps yet... he wants it all finely pureed. He's still only rolling. He's not yet even trying to crawl or sit... but he will get there! He needs to gain some balance first... lol.. he just topples over :)

Catherine, I hope you feel better soon, :hugs:

hi to everyone else :D

i heard some babies will ONLY eat pureed stuff until they are older than 12months so that makes me feel better when Jemima has her "off" days and will only eat yogurt or apple or whatever

sally were you also single sahm as well?? sounds like you have been through a lot the last couple of months, i hope you and Brendan have an awesome christmas ready for a brighter new year

jemima's sleeping different at the moment coz she is sick, basically just passes out so that is a little less draining than what she was doing.

was my wedding anniversary yesterday and mum babysat, it was awesome, benji worked his butt off all day so that he could bring home my car that i broke at least 8 weeks ago maybe more and when i hoped in there was a red rose on the front seat and he took me to dinner and a movie when we got home jemima stirred so we let mum go and cuddle her and then put her backto bed and she slept til benji's alarm went off in the morning

will when i have time put photo of jemima with new hair clip in gallery - CUTEST thing ever, i got stopped a million times today with people looking at her clip that just happened to match new dress, and these awesome little red shoes.... i am so glad i had a girl so i could spoil her and dress her up!

gotta go find something for dinner, the cupboard is bare.............. ho hum

is anyone going backto work soon??? the 12months maternity leave for some would be running out??

hey lisa - is harrison walking yet??? he must be close i remember ages ago you said he was standing up by himself..??
jemima did that yesterday or maybe day before so so cool.
anyhow i updated photo gallery with cutest ever hair clip pic! these ARE the important things....

Jayne, I have a charm bracelet, I asked for one for my 21st. I am now trying to backdate the charms, so it's great you're already doing charms for your girls, I am sure they will love them. I love the letter idea too, do you mind if I use it? I did write a lovely letter to my DH, a thank you letter after the wedding, but even though it is in the wedding memories box he has never gone in there and never found it. I guess he may read it after I die and he's sorting stuff out. I hope he does look in the box and not just chuck it now! Liebs also likes to walk behind his walker.

Kristy, welcome back!

Cate, you get well soon, do you hear? Look after yourself.

Sally, yay for little Brendan, he sounds like he's really coming on.

Kel, I'm glad I had a boy because of all the money I save not getting matching outfits and pretty bows! Saves me a fortune. Just one look in Disney Store and I can feel my bank account turning from black to red just thinking about having a girl LOL.

As for us, just a couple of snuffles and that's it! Ears are all OK again. DS is back talking again too, I really missed that. He's on his mat drying out, he did a monster poo this morning during breakfast so needed a proper clean up. I'm a bit narked with my boys because DS woke up during the last 10 minutes of the last episode of Heroes (series 1) and DH was too busy watching Simpsons DVDs on his laptop to just see what happened for me. I'm so mad. We now HAVE to buy the DVDs so I can watch them properly without DS interrupting all the time. DS also clapped yesterday, he did it again this morning but is a bit confused by the whole business. I don't care, he's clapping before Christmas, no-one can say he's slower than Niece! Oh, I hate competitive families because I hate having to think what DS "has" to do because Niece did and I don't like him being put down already, but he does something earlier (like talk, she still doesn't) and it's ignored.

my friend has asked me to write a letter for her girl's first birthday she is putting it all together in a big box for the baby and giving it to her when she is 16, so i better do that!

oh yes ryn - i am broke totally broke but my daughter looks gorgous!! no one looks at me that way and so i can get away with looking frazzled

Hello Ladies,

I have good news. Claudia's ears are on the mend. One side is 70% better, the other 80% better. Although they are still holding a lot of fluid, they are no longer bulging at the eardrums, which is always a good thing! So I feel much happier knowing my little one isn't having grommets or going under an anaesthetic just yet! Woo Hoo!
It's been so busy here my end, with Jessica's birthday & getting ready for her party tomorrow. I also went & watched my niece's dancing concert last night with the two little ones. Interesting to say the least! Jessica loved watching her cousin & Claudia loved the lights & the dancing but there was too long a pause between one act & the next in which she got restless.

SMYLIE _ I was thinking of you yesterday! I went to Pumpkin Patch, bought both the girls a beautiful outfit each & then the lady said 'that will be $170.95 please'. I said 'Pardon me?' thinking she had said $70.95 but oh no, $170.95 for two outfits! MInd you, both girls got a cardigan & Claudia got the most beautiful shoes & headband & Jessica got some hairclips. So I dressed them in their clothes at the concert last night & they were the best dressed there for sure! SO I felt better. LOL.

I have got to go, I've just come up here to do some filing & I have to get ready for the party tomororw. SO much to do!!!

Love Jayne

PS _ Hello to all the beautiful babies!

Thanks for the Welcome Back girls,

Kym - So glad to hear the blocked duct is better, that must be so painful. Great about the sleep consultant as well. Hope it all goes well. You can't put a price on a good nights sleep sweet !!!
Tashie - Don't blame you at all for putting DH in the dog house!!! Is he out yet?? Sounds like Tobi is a great eater. Erin is a little piglet, doesn't stop eating!
Sally - So so sorry about your angel baby, sending all our love to you.
Kel - I just handed in my resignnation, teh company has been totally restructured and I wouldn't have my old job back and had to go back full time. I actually feel a big weight off my shoulders since I resigned! Love Jem's picture!!
Caryn - Glad Leibs is all well now,very clever clapping!!
Jayne - Pumpkin patch is so nice but so expensive hey!!! I got 3 x $50.00 vouchers for Erin from interstate rellies so have only just used one as she still has so many clothes. One thing the stuff really washes well and lasts as well. ( so it should!!!)

I've worked at a volunteer crisis line for the last 5 years and ha dthe Xmas lunch for that on Friday it was lovely Erin was really good for my friend who looked after here which was a relief. Just finished writing Xmas cards out, what a relief thats finished they started neat the last couple proably are unreadable.!!!

Hi Girls,
Looks like everyone had a busy weekend as there hasnt' been many posts the last few days. We went to visit rellies and had a really good weekend.
DH is out of the dog house and back into the bed and we are all happy again.
Tobi has been a HUGE sookie baby. Went to the hair dresser on Friday and he HAD to sit on my lap the entire time while I got a cut and colour. I did manage to get him to sleep by walking around the shops with foil in my hair, but he woke up after about 30 minutes, just long enough to get the colour washed out.
He is climbing really well now and starting to walk along the lounge a little.
Anyway, that is all my goss. Hope everyone had a good weekend.
Take Care
Tash and Tobi

Where is everyone? Hope your lack of posts doesn't mean that your bubs are all sick.
Thinking of you all.
Take Care
Tash

jemima ALWAYS sick, she has a dodgy mother..... hehehehe
she is rattly and a bit snotty but heaps better than last week....had to miss mothers group, swimming lessons and nursing home xmas party oh well
i will post photos later but had lovely time at beach yesterday - hint to those who have not taken child to beach yet - i did not realise their heads could get sunburnt, while in the water jem got pink head.... she is ok but that was lesson for me.... oh well
she has finally started eating normal amounts of food again... which reminds me she is in highchair gotta go!

Have to be quick, will post properly later... don't want you to think we don't love you Tash!!

Sleep consultant went really well last week; she was really willing to work with me, not just give me a standard "program".... And things have improved, especially in the day....

Having said that, Monkey is now truly sick - has spiked 3 temps since yest morn, so despite new strategies, we have had rotten nights, but at least their is a reason and I have no problem giving lots of cuddles when there's a reason!!! Went to Dr today, but he thinks prob just a virus....

Gotta go, need to pay for some ebay wins - am new to this whole game and thouroughly enjoying it!! (have bought some clothes for Monkey)

My cold is almost gone. Just the odd cough and feeling sniffly. AF MUST BURN AND DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate getting AF. It hit right when I was on the bus today. The pain came and I just knew I didn't have long before a mess. Got home just in time, yet knickers had to go into soak. GRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! I HATE IT!!!

Ellie is doing so well, forgot to mention, she waves now! She started doing it last tuesday. Its a limp dangle hand wave. But oh so CUTE!

I got my hair cut today and finished off the gift shopping. Geez Christmas is expensive! Even with small budgets set for each person, it adds up. I spent less on some people than what I had previously budgeted, so that was good.

I've been sleeping well, but it takes some effort to get tired enough to go to bed and I can lie there for ages awake. Perhaps I need to wind down earlier or take some herbal sleep remedy. I'll try the former first.

Poor Monkey! Just as the sleep is getting better, she gets ill again! Oh poor sweetie :hugs:. Kym, you gotta love ebay! I have bought heaps of baby related things over the year, saving so much money. Some things really don't need to be brand new.

Tashie, glad that things are good between you and hubbie (forgot his name, its not Alan, that's Jayne's husband). I think he just needed to have time to soak in how much his words hurt you, and the withholding of dtd made him realise that he really did want you and had to make it up to you. Glad that it wasn't for too long.

Poor Jem. Its not good always having a sickness. I used to have just 1-2 colds a year but this year I've had about 6 colds, a gastro bug and some sort of lethargy bug. Its driving me nuts. My immune system just needs to build up again. I guess so just Jem. Not much we can do about these things.

Jayne, I never shop in Pumpkin Patch. The clothes are nice and good quality, but I feel its just not worth it. Target have better quality than BigW and Myer are better than Target. So if I needed something really good, I'd just go to Myer. Or shop ahead and get it online off Ebay. Most of the mums in my mother's group get their baby's clothes from PP, Myer and those other baby clothes shops. I just can't relate. I know they're nice and good quality, but believe me, Ellie will dirty up and make all clothes grubby, especially the knees, so its not worth it (for me anyway).

I've been going on BB everyday, but just don't have much to say, or feel like saying much and I guess everyone's been busy this weekend. Welcome back to the working week.......