Babies Born in June 2006 #9

must be something in the air, Ceecee, I feel like crap too. Think it has something to do with going to bed at 10pm, feeding Flynn and 12am, waking at 2.30am to find he has totally wriggled out from under the covers and wide awake, getting back to sleep at 3.20am, waking at 5.30 to feed Flynn, and then again at 7.30 because he wants to play and feed. Last night I wished I was bottlefeeding - then perhaps I could get more than 4 hours sleep at a stretch.....

One thing is for sure - being alone with Flynn for a week has re-invigorated my desire to go back to work!! LOL!! Right now I couldn't imagine anything nicer than having 2 days supply of EBM in the freezer, getting dressed for work and waving goodbye, leaving Flynn with his dad. Bad mother? Who cares! He'll get over it!! :boohoo: Honestly, girls, I don't know how those of you who do this fulltime can handle it - I seriously have so much respect for what you do! Days like this I don't think I am cut out for this mother gig - which is strange cause I am such a good breeder (easy pg, easy birth, easy BF). Does anyone else lie there, listening to bub cry, and think of the endless progression of nappies and feeds that await? And to think - we want 3 kids!! Enuff ranting - I love Flynn to bits and often spend hours just gooing at him and playing, but sometimes the broken sleep gets to me

Rory: Um, yep... it's been 3 years in a row for me now... day in day out... not much difference between weekdays and weekends. You've uncovered the secret that most mothers won't admit to: going to work (no matter what job) is easier than being at home with children. By easier I mean: more mentally stimulating, more supported, more appreciated and less ambiguous... it's the ambiguity of being at home with children that gets to you... you just don't know what's around the corner... is there going to be an accident? Is the child going to sleep? Am I going to be able to do this or that? There's just no way to plan infact a 'good' mum doesn't plan too rigidly everything has to be flexible flexible. It's chaotic....and I don't mean chaos = noise and mess (although you get that too!)... I mean it's a life that you can't really forecast or have a set of solutions for... a lot of the time there is no solution and you just have to wait it out... and that's another thing: patience! OMG you have to be sooooo patient to be a "good" mum. This trait is being bred out of us i think as we more and more expect things to happen instantly at the press of a button. It's the single thing I worry about with DH: his lack of patience with the children... he just doesn't get "child time mode" ie "slowly slowly, whoops a mistake, try again, slowly slooooowly etc" Whereas at work, with most paid jobs it's "quickly quickly, how can we do it more efficiently and faster?" So many children where I worked were so rushed! All the time, it was so sad. Anyhow, DH is home from dropping DD off at a party... better get off here! Back later.

ETA: Rory I don't mean to imply that you're being a bad mum by going back to work :) It's fantastic that Flynn's dad is able to be at home with him... I'm sure it will all work out fine. Will you get to sleep through at nights? maybe you could express bottles for your DH to give at night... sorry if you have already mentioned that...

Hi again!

Well its a big change from yesterday here in Brisbane - raining, cold and miserable whereas yesterday it was about 24C and nice and sunny! I know we need the rain but I don't like cold weather that goes with it.

Can't be online long as Aleise's next feed is due so she'll start screaming any minute - although mum's here to warm up the bottle if she does! :)

Oh yeah- bottlefeeding doesn't guarantee your baby sleeps all night - 2 nights ago Aleise woke up at 3am and I made Matt do that shift! Probably though 'cause she didn't have a full bottle at bed time the night before. However most nights she's in the land of nod at least 7 hours straight.

Amanda and Jo: You free to meet up on Friday 15th in the city? I have an appointment at 10am so maybe around 11am if you can? Email me if you are interested: neeny1870@hotmail.com oh and of course if there's anyone else in Brisbane who I may have missed here - drop me a line.

Bath: Seaworld is great - its been 12 years since I was there last and a pity I haven't seen the polar bear - who's been moved to Alaska now I think. Gold Coast is only a 45 min drive from here so we could catch up if you do come this way!

Rory: I can't wait to go back to work too darls.. I'm going back end of October even if I can't get daycare for 2 days that I work (in process of trying to finalise it) 'cause our mum's can help out until we get the spot. Besides I miss my financial freedom and family allowance isn't much! Aleise seems fine with the day care at the gym - even though she's there only 1 hour a week - she doesn't mind who picks her up as she's really a "people" baby. Apparently I was like that so she gets it from me!

Nic: Don't feel bad about Nixon's fussing - being a BF baby can't be the reason either 'cause Aleise threw a big tanti at the baptism lunch and it took a good 10 mins to settle her. However I think she may have been overtired. MIL's attempts of settling her by jiggling her up and down didn't help :angry: Needless to say I took her back and calmed her down! This is ONE reason why I'm keen to get daycare rather than have her look after Aleise. Not to mention the lectures I'd cop!

Can't think of much else to write - take care all and will post again soon.

Neeny xoxo

Well, it would appear that I typed too soon yesterday...Oscar slept from about 1 to 7.30. NOT GOOD! I woke up to two self-supporting balloons and I had some weird dreams that I wouldn't have had time to have had he fed during the night! His feeds are so erratic lately, so there's no tracking a pattern!
My mum was down for the weekend again, and I did the impossible. I implored DP to come to my parents with me for dinner last night, implored and implored. Could give no other reason than "I just want you to come with me" and no bargaining or manipulation would have worked, so I used all I had, which was "I realising what it is I'm asking of you, I'm asking you to do it for me first, Oscar second". Well, all were on their best behaviour and my dad asked me today how I did it. I feel so much lighter now after last night. It was becoming untenable to have my mum come down from the country, cook up a big dinner so that we can come over (and I'd rather go there, she cooks great and the house is toasty warm!) and I turn up with just Oscar. It just was feeling so weird doing that and made me feel so off-kilter, like I had done something wrong or like I was choosing. I can't explain it, but I felt whole last night, even though DP would rather not have been there.
I can understand the perspective of you girls who are itching to get back to work and are struggling to come to terms with the gap between the idea of a 'good' mother and the fact of the mother that you are. The latter is the important one, cos that's the one that your kid gets! Don't worry about anything else. I'm not being facetious, but I find myself being the mother I didn't think I could be to a little person. I'm loving it so much and I've taken to it really much better than I thought I would. I was holding Oscar today and I realised how much he's grown and I hoped that I had savoured the time that has just flown by in the way it should be savoured. And then there was the great morning we had on Thursday - that's got mileage! I'm absolutely flourishing in my new role, it really was time for Oscar to happen to me :) But I was in a position where I could afford to let go of pre-Oscar aspects of my life, or more appropriately, rework them into my Oscar-life! I dont' have a career yet, never really had great financial circumstances, so it's not like a lot of you girls, who have a lot of that to work through.
I think I need to get a dinner rolling...or I might get DP to think about it. Oscar is asleep in the HAB and wearing a fluffy white bunny suit, making great sleepy, snuffly noises!

Ooooh! Our team just won a finals game!!!! Thankfully it wasn't a nail biter (we won by 41 points I think) because we had to watch the game whilst meeting the needs of 3 children... kids will play quietly during the half time break but as soon as your team is about to kick a goal they will come out screaming that they need something or another. I tried to get Wade engaged in the game today: "look! can he catch the red ball???" (Wade loves playing catch) ... or "uh oh, look a big fight! naughty men!" LOL

IK: that's great that your DP was able to rise above the angst and go along with you. One of my biggest regrets as a parent was to have spoken badly about relatives infront of Verity (who now thinks she has an excuse to be disrepectful too) so it's good practise for him to role model "tolerance" for Oscar's sake.

Neeny: yep I'll back that up about bottle feeding... after my children self weaned at 9 - 10 months old they went onto formula and still woke up during the night... not just because they were hungry... also because they wanted to play. It's one of those things that doesn't have a solution... there's not just hunger, there's teething, illness, feeling too hot, feeling too cold, hearing strange noises, night-mares, feeling lonely, or as i said just wanting to play... sorry to paint such a gloomy picture but sleep after having a child is never the same again.

Ok... shower time with my little munchkin... btw, posted a piccy of us having another shower together last night... really shows how much he has grown!

Oh, and school holidays (yay!) for 3 weeks :) Unlike most parents I love school holidays because then I have Verity at home to help... means I don't have to juggle feeding Niall and dealing with Wade at the same time.

Hope we see Enigma in here next week....

Well our first trip away went fairly well, Tori didnt sleep much during the day but slept well at night. Her feeding was really fussy though and I was getting concerned because she was refusing the breast, but AF returned today so that solved that little problem, I was worried that she was wanting to wean but has taken a feed tonight- thank goodness, not quite ready to give up breast feeding yet.

Rory- I dont believe that there is anythign wrong with having a desire to return to work. You are in a really fortunate position like me where our DH's are luckily enough to beable to spend some time doing the stay at home dad thing. Not many dad's get the opportunity to stay at home with there children while the mum's go out to work.

Bath- I have to agree with you about being a SAHM it is the most unpredictable job in the world, I guess for me that is what I miss the most about working (out of the house) is the routine. I think stay at home Mums is the most UNDERVALUED job in the world. Many people that havent experienced it think it is all about coffee with friends, day time soaps and playing with your kids- and while these things may or may not occur that are the not majority of events that make up the lives of SAHM's. I have lots of admiration for people who choose to o it for long stretches of time, because as you have said sometimes it is easier just to go back to a regular out of the hous job!

IK- I am really glad that DP made the effort to go with you to your parents house for dinner- it was nice that he could make the happen for you, and that you felt good about it.

Anyway I am off to vegon the couch, feeling a little tired and out of sorts witht he return of AF, hopefully tomorrow I will feel better!

Ali: is AF heavier than usual? I think you're the 2nd BFing Junie to get her back... no sign of mine... can't recall how long it took last time to return... hope she stays away for a little longer yet. Great to hear your trip went well too :)

Well hello all, it certainly has been a while on my behalf. Have had a quick flick thru the posts in order to catch up but I think it may take me a couple of posts myself.

Have a quick 10 mins to myself whilst DH has taken the kids to the video shop. So this will be short and sweet!

Have been extremely busy the past coupld of weeks. Went to Perth and back which was great as everybody got to fuss over and have a really good play with Alex. It made me all sad again that we have chosen (albeit for work/money reasons) to move away from them all and that the grandparents/cousins etc are all missing out on time with the kids. But I grew up most of my life without close family in the same country and survived!

The big news here is that as of around a week ago Alex has decided that he doesnt want a bar of my breast. Very sad times, I tried almost everything but as soon as he would get his mouth on my nipple he would pull off. Very stressful for quite a few days there. Tried lactation consultant and spoke to ABA but Alex just didnt want it. So now we are bottle feeding, half EBM and half formula. Am not sure how much longer I will be able to keep the expressing up as he has up to 7 feeds ina 24 hr period and not only is it killing my nipples expressing but it is finding the time to do it. At least he got a good start off me I suppose.

Vital stats as of last week - Weight 7.17kgs and Height 67 cms. He is our little monster! We get so many comments from people on how long he is.

Anyway better start dinner whilst I have half a chance. Will try and hop on later tonight and respond properly to some of the topics!

Gabysmum- Alex is really long isnt he! sorry to hear he doesnt want your boobs anymore, Ive been having some issues to so you are not alone.

The latest in the last 2 days i think Nixon is refusing the nipple sheild. Not every feed just when he doesnt feel like it he wont take it! His first 2 feeds thismorning was in bed and me lying down, so had the sheilds on and he went fine, but the rest of his feeds today nup would not suck with them. so maybe there is half of the problem.
So Im slowly teaching myself to feed him without them, ive managed to get him on the "bad side" but i dont think i could do it in public, as ive said b4 its not just a matter of popping him on and thats it. So what i think i will be doing is breast feeding without the sheilds if i can at home and just take a bottle if he needs when we are out. Saves us both alot of stress and upsetness.

CeeCee- I am really glad to hear your sister bf for that long with her nipples, its given me a bot of encouragment to keep persisting!

DH went to the footy today, NRL Storm V Parra. He is a sharks fan but was going for Parra (why would u! sorry parra fans!!) I was hoping storm won because that means my team (Mighty Dragons) get to play Manly next week. Im pretty confident we can beat em! so i took myself to Chadstone (melb girls will know it) after dropping him at the train station. I looked for christening outfits in David Jones and Myer but did not like.
Found a shop yesterday with a nice one but i am tossing up between that (one pc outfit) and one i can get made in Syd which is a 3 pc pants shirt and vest which is adorable.

Ali- Yep it was me who got AF yesterday aswell. so do u think this has an effect on breast refusal? If so this would also make sence why ive had troubles with Nixon.
I cant tell if its heavier then usually cause its been about 13months since i last had them!
Kel also got hers a while ago even with bf twins! Speaking of which Kel where are u???

my silly sausage scratched his face thismorning, he made it bleed....his nails just grow so quickly!

Yay to the swannies beating west coast!!! Bath are you a WB fan?

very quick one from me. I found out last night that my horse was put down the week after Ryan was born. No-one consulted me & my mum decided not to tell me "because it would upset me" doesn't she think that finding out in a round about way from my sister months later would upset me more?? so I cried most of the night & when I was asleep I was having nightmares which has lead to me waking with a migraine. And now mum and dad want to come down next weekend but I just don't care. I feel like they don't think about me, why think about them?

nickers - Samuel's always scratching his face no matter how often I attend to his nails - his determination to put his fists in his mouth means he has little scabs all over is face. The other day I picked him up after sleep and he had this huge pool of dried blood on his face - I freaked but when i wiped the blood away it was this ever so tiny scratch. and just another go nickers you are doing an outstanding job with BF.

anyway we had a lovely weekend - after me chucking a narna early last week about DH in front of TV and our poor/lack of family time - he is putting in the effort and helping out and spending time with the kids and restricting his TV watching until after bed or shows that we let DS watch. We went to the markets, out for breakfast and to an Apex kids day where they had free train rides, and other rides and food. What I would expected would be a one hour trip out turned into a whole day. Unfortunately DH has also injured his neck/shoulder muscles so really can't move - it was getting better but last night got really bad again and he can now barely move without severe pain so I have to give him some slack cause he's in so much pain.

IK - glad to see DH stepped up

Ali - glad to see your trip went well - the first one is always an entry into the unknown but after a such a success it won't faze you next time I"m sure.

anyway one child calling so had better go for now - hope everyone had a good weekend

ETA - Candy sorry to hear about your horse - I am confused as to why they wouldn't ask you/tell you that there was an issue with his health - I'm assuming it had to be an immediate decision if they didn't ask you but they should have at least told you - yes I'm sure you would have been upset but maybe only the natural upset of losing him (which as a big girl I'm sure you would have been able to deal with in your own way) rather than the additional furious feelings you now have toward your parents as a result of their withholding- I hope you are feeling a bit better as today goes on and your migraine doesn't hang around.

Good morning everyone :) A sunny but cool Monday here... should be able to get the washing done.

Sad anniversary hey? I wonder if any September Babies will be born today... shame everyone will associate it with tragedy.

Candy: That's terrible about your horse? Did they tell you why? Very odd that they didn't tell you at the time.... like Jaspen said, treating you like a little girl. Once somebody does that to you it really erodes the level of trust between you. And yes, we do support WB, or "Footscray" as we still call them. Looks like we are playing West Coast over there next week... no matter, we have beat them on their own turf several times before.

Ok... kids to organise here... back later....

yes bath - very sad day in history today. yeh I still think of the bulldogs as footscray as I have a family friend who used to play for them (back in the days when you didn't get paid for playing football) so they will always be footscray to us.

Cool - its even cool up here in Townsville today (for townsville that is) - or should I say the wind is cold so once it drops or changes direction it will probably go back to being pleasant to stinking hot or somewhere in between but a great day for drying clothes. That's one thing I don't miss about the southern weather - the ability to get clothes dry in about 15mins outside at any time of the year is great.

Indeed a sad day in history.

I don't remember them as Footscray more because I was pretty much union only until Matt and I started seeing each other and we have now had to accept each other's codes :) We get a week off now which is nice :)

I honestly don't know what my family were / are thinking. I just don't know that I care anymore.

hi girls - all lower case cause flynn is on my lap

candy that is so awful - i can only imagine what it is like for you.

girls, thanks for the reality check on bottles - i have only ever heard "my baby sleeps thru, why doesn't yours" from mates who don't bf - i thought it sounded like paradise! that said, last night flynn slept from 11.30pm rill 6 am, fed, then slept till 8.30am. and that's with a phleghmmy chest! it os amazing how good you can feel after a decent sleep!

better go - bub getting narky!!

rory - ryand is FF but doesn't sleep thrugh all the time either. I can often have a week, where he goes back to waking 2/3 times a night for a feed or to play.

Those friends of yours just sound competitive Rory... what's their definition of "sleeping through" anyhow? MCHNs say that sleeping through is offically considered to be midnight (last feed) to 5am for a baby the same age as ours. Also from my experience it's rubbish... babies never consistently sleep through... as I said, there are other reasons for waking up during the night, not just hunger... are your friends saying their babies don't wake when their babies are teething etc? pffft. These are the type of people who say: "my baby is walking/ eating 3 square meals a day/ ready for university"... just nod and smile and say that yours isn't and you'll have just as many grateful mums overhear you and feel better because they have babies that are normal ;)

ETA: that's not to say you can't celebrate when they DO sleep through! Occassionally Niall sleeps from 10pm to 4am. As long as I go to bed at 10pm too it's a fantastic sleep!

Neeny I have sent you an email just now.

Candy that is no good, you would have thought that it been your horse someone would have consulted you about it's welfare not just your parents.

AF I never get her back until after I finish bf be it 3mths or the longest was 8mths so am not expecting her back just yet.

As for us it's another wet and cold day in Brissy, we went out 4WD yesterday in the rain wasn't bad lots of mud to play in. Other then that not alot has happened here. Kailen has his operation this Friday as long as it doesn't get cancelled again, so won't be here on Friday may be on at night but all depends on how he feels.

Better go and get some washing on.

hugs xoxo

Candy - What a terrible, terrible night you must have had! I totally get that you have a migraine. I know that distinctive gutted, hollowed out feeling very well, but you must feel it even more knowing you couldn't be there with your pony, I just want to cry with you :( Yes, of course it would have upset you, but you might even have felt a bit better knowing Ryan was coming along to help alleviate some of that pain. Now you just have secrecy and that's making me angry. Children are often mistakenly shielded from the mortality of animals, but not adults!! I'm so, so, sorry that you've lost your buddy (let's treat it like it just happened, cos it essentially has for you). I'm about to go out and see mine, so I'll give him an extra hug in memory of your pony and the hug you couldn't give him, ok? I'm so sad. I'd love to provide a balanced view from your parents' perspective as to why they would keep it from you, but it's pretty indefensible. But DO think of this, they wouldn't have done it to hurt you, they were actually thinking of you (even if the end decision was a complete dud), AND, whatever he had to be put down for is not bothering him anymore (in the end we act for the horse's welfare, don't we?). It would have been very hard for them to do, too, even if it's not your responsibility to think about what they went through to do it they actually did it for you. You will feel like riding again, so even though you're going back to work to pay for agistment, buying the horse is the cheapest part, so don't feel defeated. You'll get another one...in your own time (I know what this is like...took me 6 months before I decided it was time again).
I'll reply to everyone later, I think I may have missed the farrier...

I've had him since I was 9 :(

Aurora – don’t feel bad about wanting to go back to work– sleep depravation is so bad it was outlawed as a form of torture by the Red Cross - glad you got a better night last night.

Baths- you so hit the nail on the head re: the difference in pace btw. paid work and SAH.. I love lentils, I make lentil sheaperds pie and lentil soup.

Ali – I think AF is on her way for me too – had one of my ‘hormonal’ headaches last night…I was hoping to get at least 6 months off…darn..hope your feeling better today.

Gabysmum – I’m sorry to read about the breast refusal – expressing is such a pain…are you going to keep trying? Or is there no point? Good news about the stats though!

Nic – hang in there honey, every day Nixon gets your milk is a blessing. BF is hard. For me it is cracked nipples.. I constantly have scabs on my nipples and get that needle pain afterwards - even though my LC said that I do attach Ally properly... I just count every day as a positive.

Candy – I’m so sorry about your horse…I’m sure they meant well, even though I agree that they should have told you. We are not children. I’m really really sorry…My parents put my dog down when I was 29. I had been living in the US for a year, they decided to put the dog down the day before I got home as they did not want me to see her like that. But I would have liked to say goodbye, to thank her for being such a good dog – lets make a pact that we will not do that to our children.

Me - had a bad night as we went to a friends house for dinner and she also invited another couple with kids, who screamed all night (nothing agaist that - kids were just having fun) but it meant that Ally could not get to sleep, she is not used to kids screaming....so she was up till 11pm (with two 10min cat naps).. they had let their kids sleep during the day so they could stay up late. Errrr... She is a mess today as well and will not go down... oh well. I would like to say it was worth it, but it wasn't.

I've joined another group: InnerSydneyMum's, they meet once a week at the Union Hotel in Newtown. I'm looking forward to real live chats, I love you gals, but it will be nice to meet some more mums - given most of you are all in Melb. Is there anyone else in Sydney?

Candy, I am so sorry to hear about your horse, that is so sad, I would be pretty angry if I was you too.

Neeny, can't make it this Friday, but would like to arrange a meet up with you & Amanda (and any other Brissie girls!) for another time.

Bath, you have once again articulated perfectly the lament of the SAHM...I have been doing it for nearly 2 yrs now, and I feel just like you. It's so hard to explain to those that haven't experienced it...when I tell my working, childless friends that work would be a welcome break, they just don't get it.

Well, my little gal slept through last night for only the second time in her life (and bear in mind she has been FF since day 3!) but what a whopper - 7pm till 6:30am! Wow, what a difference that has made to my day today! I won't get my hopes up for a repeat performance of that, but just doing it once reminds me there is light at the end of this hazy, sleep-deprived tunnel!

Jo- yeah!! that is great.. how many times did you get up to check on her! He hee (or is it not as bad with number two?)...

Well, off to eat cake, I made my friend a birthday cake but it stuck to the bottom, so I had to make it again (this time with baking paper on the bottom)...so we get the broken one! Yummy, carrot cake.

cee cee you are so thoughtful baking your friend a cake!!

Jo - I'm glad you got to sleep through!!! The first night ryan did it I had to keep getting up to check on him and I still do it now!

Oh, Candy, those childhood friends are the hardest to move on from. I'm so sorry, again. Gave my pony extra loving today. When my first horse had to be put down I wondered after if I had given him as many cuddles as I could have, so now I make sure I take the opportunity with my dog, with Dante (horse) and with Oscar to kiss them whenever I feel like it, cos you never know. Honestly, though, I think when you're ready you could try to think about what happened and that it would have been hard for your parents to make that decision and that it may have clouded their judgement re: letting you know. It has probably even affected how they relate to you since (and account for some of the angst you have between one another). Do you think? Well, regardless of what your relationship is with them, it would have been sad for them, too, wouldn't it? Especially if he was living with them and they saw him and talked to him everyday? That's gotta be hard, too. All you can do is just send a thanks to your pony for all the great memories you have and the lessons you learned from him...that always makes me feel better. Each animal friend I have teaches me something new and I have so much gratitude to them, especially when I have to let them go. It's probably too soon for you to see this, as it has effectively happened to you today. Anyway, I thought of you this morning.
And I did miss the farrier! Oh, well, they understand - the farrier has a 6 month old child!
Fabulous day today. Gotta take this dog and boy to the reserve. Right after I've swatted a few of these flies...

I still lept out of bed with Wade when he was a small baby but Niall is sleeping closer to me more often so I don't have to (when he has a marathon sleep). What I really love these days is when Niall will wake me for the 3am feed from where he is sleeping in the cradle next to my side of the bed... then feed quickly... and then let me lower him back into the cradle and sleep until 7am... I just love it when that happens but it's only about 1/2 times a week... the rest of the time he stays in with me.

Ok it's official, Wade is having a birthday party this year... I've been wondering whether I was up for all the extra work... then as I was talking to a neighbour and her little boy i mentioned it and gave her an invitation. It's for the 7th of October so I've still got a few weeks to plan. If everybody comes i could have 30 people here! Argh! I've allowed Verity to invite 2 of her friends (responsible ones) and they can come early and help me out! I'm also right onto good supervision (old habits die hard form working with little children) so I'll need some extra eyes. Unfortunately even amongst my friends you can't count on parents to watch their own children all the time (especially if they get involved in a conversation with another adult).

Jo: I said to a lady in Myer the other day (we got chatting about stuff): "Geeze I envy you working here all day" (i had both Wade and Niall with me) and she said "I know! I come here for a break from my 3 kids!"

Speaking of which Wade and verity are just starting to be silly.... they were peacefully occupied in the garden digging whilst I was cleaning the house and doing the washing... now, as soon as I sit down for a break they decide to start running through the house screaming in between demanding food and entertainment "can we go to the park now?"
Me (Dragon Mummy); "No! I need a break... Niall's asleep now so just let me sit!"

Baths - I'm glad wade is having a party, i've been reading (in Sydney's Child) just how out of control they can get, with jumping castles, performing artists, presents for guests and food for child and parent... they can get out of control.. no wonder you were in two minds - if his friends are having HUGE parties it would be hard for you to compete (I'm assuming you are not going to do all the aftorementioned things)...but even food for 30 will be expensive - I saw a cute finger food idea for childrens parties, it was different fruit cubed on sticks (like kerbabs) - cheap, healthy and they looked great. Good luck with the planning.

Candy - I always make food for my friends birthday - home cooked meals are a dying art. I also bought her a facial and a baby sitting voucher (for the duation of the facial) so I can mind her 3yo while she enjoys herself. She loved it.. Hard for her being born on 11th of September.

In the USA they make "Christmas Cookies", and hand them out to all their neihbours and co-workers...I think I will make them this year as gifts for my friends - saw a great Chocholate Chip and Macadamia nut cookie recipe in Better Homes and Gardens mag that I want to try.

Baby Bjorn - well today Ally decided she LOVED it, we went for a trial quick walk around the block, but she liked it so much she feel asleep, so doggy and I went to teh dog park and his best friend was there and they played in the mud - doggy style... should go wash him off now..he is covered head to toe (labs are self cleaning, but I think he will get cold).

Just back from the park...

Bath good luck with the party, the 7th is also DS2's birthday so we will also be having a party, only family so not as many as you.

We I got the dreaded call this morning, hello Mrs James, I'm sorry but your son Kailen operation has been postphoned, it's to be resheduled sometime in the next two weeks will send you a note in the mail.

Well I must say I'm totally ****ed off as this is the second time it's been postphoned, his hearing isn't getting any better he's nearly finished yr 1, and I don't want him to be kept back. I just wish that they would keep to the day that they say so that it will help him.

hugs xoxo

Having a pretty tough day here, Tori is being very difficult to feed- she cries and cries when I try and attache her to the breast, it is so upsetting, eventually she will attach and feed, but not after a great deal of protest- I am pretty sure that it is related to AF.

Candy- So sorry to hear about your horse. It must be so much more upsetting finding out so long after the fact as well. Any news on your job interviews yet?

Bath- Good luck with Wade's birthday party, hopefully the weather will be great and the kids well behaved.

Amanda- How frustrating to have your sons operation postponed for a second time.

Cee-Cee: I am glad that Ally enjoyed her walk in the Baby Bjorn, we have been taking Tori out in hers more often to try and get her used toit before we go to Bali, as I dont think the footpaths/roads are going to be that great for navigating a pram around.

Anyway off to organise dinner, and finish putting the shopping away.

Ali, you reminded me - anyone who doesn't already should consider doing a fortnightly shop...it really does save money! Of course, you need to top up your fruit and veg, but just about everything else can be taken care of every fortnight. I only just started doing this and i spend significantly less on the off week cos I"m not being tempted by the other things calling to me from the aisles!
Park - had a lovely walk with the dog in the arvo - I just sat and watched him take himself for a swim (he's really taken to that caper!) and sat in the warm sun with Oscar asleep in the HAB.
OK, gotta get a quick dinner on so I can go and meet up with the girls at a local cafe (they have GREAT hot chockies!)...

Hey does anyone have Candy's mobile phone number? Enigma just sent me an sms requesting it... she also says "Hi Junies" and that her laptop is out of action....
Send me an email with Candy's mob # if you have it! Thanks :)

ETA: or of course you could sms Enigma yourself if you want... just let me know... ta :)

Regarding Wade's birthday party: it's just going to be a traditional affair: cake, party food, party games like pass the parcel (but with a small surprise in each layer - toddlers don't understand the nature of anticipation! LOL). Yes we have had jumping castles at other parties in our street but I don't think it's expected or probably safe at this age. Also, it's best to save your pennies until they are older... kids this age are easily pleased... and I also think at the end-of-the-day he would enjoy it more if we could afford to go to SeaWorld at the end of the year. We went for the first time when Verity was the same age (just turned 3yo) and she absolutely loved it. Even though we've been 3 times already they have a new shark enclosure that we haven't seen.

Bath- I just emailed you Candy's mob number. Hope the party organisation comes along smoothly, well now you can use 'the party tool' as a way of Wade behaving lol! Then after that it's onto Santa only coming when your a good boy!
Ali- I am having the same issues as you are atm and seeings we both have AF maybe your right. So yesterday Nixon didnt want a bar of the sheilds, today at one feed he just didnt want a bar of it at all. This is after i thought i did really well that i bf him when we were out in the mothers room and he was great. Got home for following feed and it was a disaster.....
then tonights feed he was going down the same path, i pulled him in really close to me and held his legs tight around my side and then he was ok (he was wriggling lots and everytime he wriggled he'd slip off)

it was a cold morning here but such a lovely day, on my way home from the shops (had my eyes re-tested and what do u know they have gotten worse so another new prescription needed! apparently eyes can get worse after having bub) i stopped at a big park and went for a walk, it was so peaceful however would have been nice to have someone else to chat to.Amanda- I'd be annoyed if they kept delaying the surgery too, i guess you know it will come but you probably start preparing him and telling him what is going to happen and then it doesnt... hope it is re-scheduled and sticks soon
Gabysmum- so how long did you persist with bf before making the decision to express and formula?
Candy- i hope your feeling ok today, i can c where your family did not want to upset you right after the birth of Ryan but at least they should have told you the week after or something, not months later and by accident.

Thanks Nic :) That was quick! I've passed it on to enigma... she seems ok... hope she get's her laptop back or fixed soon!

I've promised the family I'd make hot chocolates (I have Horlicks these days instead - thanks to In-Liven) back later....

Good Morning everyone. Well we have a beautiful sunny 31 degrees here in Karratha, it is starting to really warm up already.

Nickers and Ceecee thanks for your kind words about the breast refusal. It did upset me quite a bit. In answer to your question Nickers, Alex right from the beginning wasnt that keen on feeding off me so I have been struggling ever since then. The last week or so it just got worse with me and him constantly being stressed out and DH telling me to give him the bottle (he comes from a family of bottle feeders). In the end am so glad that I did give him the bottle as we are all so much happier now. He feeds up to 7 times in a 24 hr period but I am only managing to express 3-4 feeds, it is finding the time with a toddler around that is stopping me! I will keep going until it gets too hard- I am not going to stress too much about it.

Candy sorry to hear about your horse. I hope you find out why your parents decided to try and shield you. Am sure they thought they were doing the right thing at the time and am sure as parents that we will also make mistakes with our kids over the years.

Ali I hope today is a better day for you feeding wise. How long now before your Bali trip?? How exciting for you all!

Jo am very envious of your good nights sleep there with Freya! Hope that she keeps that up for you!

ANyway am off now to do the weekly shop. Isnt it funny how I really enjoy getting out and doing the food shop, must be about the only one who does. Suppose am lucky that Gaby doesnt really play up when out, in fact she loves going shopping too and is a really good help.

Morning all, will be quick the boy needs a feed. It's once again blowy today and overcast and cool so not much going on here.

Gabysmum have fun shopping, I also love getting out of the house to food shop, that's tomrrow tho and my boys aren't always as well behaved as they should but thats kids.

Be back later the boy is screaming for his feed.

hugs xoxo

Beautiful day here - trying to get the bare essentials done before going out to the pony to take his thick rug off. Must do washing and put it out - can't miss that opportunity!
Boy is still asleep (since about 9am), so I've had time to have shower, wash hair, wax underarms and legs, have cereal, put on a load and bring in some washing from the other day...how considerate of him! He is such a cherub.
Hate the flies but I want to keep the front door open for the fresh air (as I won't waste today on being inside vacuuming, dusting and mopping), but the screen door has been 'modified' by the dog and lets in flies with the air...
Will Oscar give me time for toast???? We'll see...

optomatrist rang me thismorning and my new glasses are ready already! Man that was like 20hrs since i went they are ready! will pick them up tomorrow, i also got new frames, ive had my blue ones for a few years now it was time for a change, im getting some funky green ones!
Got mothers group today.
also bought this easy shaper. you may have seen it advertised on kerri-anne (i did lol!) anyway set it up last night and its great. i got 2 videos one for legs/but/abs the other upper body. So i am determined to do atleast 1 video a day (20-25min work out) you can really feel it working so hopefully i can tone my arms etc back up like they used to be not so long ago.....

Just back from PlayGroup, took Verity along too today... she was a great help as they had extra activites like biscuit making that she was able to help Wade with while I fed Niall. Am thoroughly exhausted now. Looking forward to the boys sleeping so I too can do the washing. Cuppa time...

Got the most important load done...the nappies! Oscar's clothes are in the wash now. No, didn't have time for toast...just as I pressed "Submit Reply" I heard him cry out as he woke up. He was a cheerful feeder today...then threw up twice - Mummy got got! Oh, well, it was my singlet that's under my summer top, can't be bothered changing especially as it can't be seen :)
Just eating a sandwich and have an instant coffee here that I think I'll take outside before heading off to see my pony. I think I'll have to take the dog, too, so that I can take him to the park afterwards, or I'll feel guilty!
Glad you had a helping hand today, Bath! Nice day for bikkie making :)
Nic - enjoy your exercise!