Babies born May 16th-31st 2009 #3

I spoke too soon, Bailey woke from his morning nap all grissly and moany - LOL - Oh well, Funny story - I put him to bed about an hour ago and went in to see if he was asleep and he appeared to be then his little eyes sprung open - so I dropped to the floor commando style in an effort for him not to see me and decide to stay awake, I kept creeping my head up to see if he'd closed his eyes again (they were that sleepy half open) so ended up crawling out of the room slithering like a snake so he didn't see me - I was trying not to PMSL the whole time hahahahahahaha :ROFL: I am such a geek, the things we do to get our babies to sleep. After all that effort he decided he WAS awake so I had to get him up, and his just gone down for a nap now. Ahhh well I amused myself during this process!!

Well I took the little guy to be weighed etc and he is indeed a 'little guy'. He's still in the 3-10 percentile (as he was at birth), but he has been steadily gaining an average of 150gm per week - which the CYH nurse said was fine. I have my paed appt tomorrow to discuss his motor skills - eg lifting head from tummy time etc (as he is 'just' lifts his head). He is weighing in at 5900gms and 59cm long, I guess the good thing about my little boy is we are getting lots of wear out of his 000 clothes, his worn a few 00 now, I think we will start transitioning into those clothes into the coming weeks as a few of his clothes are now getting a bit on the tight side. Is Bailey the smallest baby - what are the rest of the babies weighing in at currently?

Bella - I think thats a great idea re the BM/colostrum, good on you! If I had a premmie and couldn't feed them I would want to use a milk bank so its great to hear that you have helped another baby!

Nicky - wow at the 2010 thread, it seriously doesn't seem 12 months ago does it? GL with the weight loss, I am on a health kick atm, but I am cheating a bit too - LOL, I am hopeless

DOH - the little guy is awake already - feed time, back later for some more persies

Naomi

Naomi- pmsl at your commando rolls! HAhahaha!

Krystie- Just went and had a look at your site! I like your spunkie butts!! The lime splice was my favorite. Good on you!

Bella

Naomi - There is a Coles right next to Southern Cross station, underneath DFO really which will be perfect for buying bits and pieces for picnic.

Bella - You are welcome to come to mine for dinner on Sunday evening, or will come out to dinner with you somewhere. Will have a think about what might be interesting for the Monday - depends on the weather - I enjoy the ferry trip to Williamstown along the river on a nice day. As you are here for a couple of days I would prob bring a stroller for when you are tired, carrying CJ already wears me out and makes me feel really hot I wonder what will be like in Nov. You are welcome to stay with us if you like but I only have a blow up mattress to offer you am afraid (Jemima would get a better deal as have a portacot :-)). I think it is great you gave your colostrum and breast milk, although I did taste my frozen milk the other day and it tastes off (apparently totally normal) I am amazed CJ drinks it!

Niadla - I was thinking of the cafe near gate A but setting up on the gardens behind it so are not near the water (Tennyson Lawn Area) - but let me know if you think is still too close too the water? The reason I liked that area is because for people on public transport is an easy walk from Richmond station with a pram, whereas the other end is a hike up the hill from a tram (which aren't all pram friendly) and also is good parking on Alexandra avenue for people in cars. There is loads of time for me to scope out another are if think that area isn't great for the toddlers. I also saw there was a May 2010 thread amazing! Actually I checked and was Sep 17th last year I made my first BB post.

Well have to go - CJ is fed up of being ignored!

Vic - thats handy that there is a Coles nearby, you are a wealth of Melb info - legend! I might have to nominate something reatively 'unperishable' for me to purchase on the morning - Perhaps Bella, Amy and I could get some nice Crusty bread and some nibbles - eg chips, nuts, lollies and some nice savoury bickies/dried fruit to go with Bella's cheeses etc. I make a killer potato salad but it just wont work long distance LOL :) Bella - you can add the above to the 'list' for me!! :) Bella I do have a fold up 'cold bag' I can pop in my nappy bag to bring for us to pop anything a bit 'perishable' in, let me know if you want me to bring it :) I also have this Green Bag that is actually a little backpack which folds up to nothing so will bring that so we can transport our stuff easily, also Baileys stroller has a pretty big basket underneath

Jess - glad to hear you and your boys are doing well. I have been thinking about solids - going to start them at 6 months but have been looking through the CYH website as they have excellent info of what foods to introduce and when. Although I am not looking forward to the mess, I am interested to see what Bailey will eat :)

Cathy - I agree with Bella - you are an amazing Mum bringing up your 4 beautiful kids, sorry to hear about the break up, I wish yoy love and happiness

Away I go again, someone pint sized wants my attention

Sorry to those I've missed - hope you are all well

Naomi
x

Naomi, what's the CYH website?

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Naomi, what's the CYH website?

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Kat - CYH is Child and Youth Health - the same as the MCHN system in Victoria. I find it one of most valuable Mummy Online resourses, the SA Govt has really done a great job in supporting this website and SA Health

Anyhoo, their site is AWESOME, heaps of wonder week info, GREAT advice on introducing solids - if you google 'CYH SOLIDS' the first page that comes up is the one I was talking about. PM me if you need me to link you. It tells you what to introduce and when, and give you ideas of what to get bubs to try, and they recommend introducing a new food every few days (to see how the baby reacts, and also helps rule out any allergies, and it also helps them get used to different tastes rather than bombarding them with a whole lot of different tastes/textures at once.

There are 4 stages they recommend

• First Tastes
• Learning to Chew
• Self Feeding
• Family Diet (with some changes)

We talked about it in one of our CYH Nurse run Mothers Groups and I found it so informative. I plan to have a cooking day once a week and cook all of Baileys foods when the time comes, I'm not totally against using pre-packaged baby food for the occasional convenience when out etc, but I really plan to make as much freshly and preservative free as possible, especially while on maternity leave.

Hope it helps you guys

Naomi
x

hi all - just a quick one while DD is happy to snuggle with Daddy

Bella - what a lovely gesture - and yay to your dad for helping out! don't let anyone make you feel embarrassed for doing a good deed - and don't worry about people being judgemental about the surrogacy/paternity of your friends (and their surrogates) child - it doesn't make a rats difference as long as the children are looked after! it's annoys me when people judge - they're not living it! i guess i feel fairly passionately about this given i have lived the infertility trail for a reasonably long time - and you truly start to contemplate every option. i also have, at times, considered embryo donation to a friend in need if i could help them achieve their dream (not that i have the greatest quality embryos - but ykwim)

Naomi - love the commando crawling! sounds like something i would do lol as to weights - E was last weighed at 14 weeks (about 10 days ago) and was 5.426kg, gaining a little under 120g per week - so Bailey's weight and his gain sound pretty damn good to me!

not a lot else - just got back from my folks place where we had home cooked pizza for dinner. they bought a gas fired pizza oven a while back so we all rocked up there and had yummy pizza for dinner - was divine - best pizza i've had in a loooooong time!!! i even got brave and left DD there while i went to grab DH from the truck so he could eat there too. at least mum and SIL can't argue over who "babysat" first - they were both there lol she was asleep - wouldn't have left otherwise!

Hi Mummas and Bubbas.

Im feeling a bit better, so thought I'd pop in and say a quick hello.
Thank you to everyone for the thoughts and kind words.

Cathy- I left Jake and Zacs dad when they were 6m, so I can relate to being a single parent. As long as you and the kids are happy, thats all that matters.

I have been looking for accommodation in Melbourne for November, and think I may have found a place. Its just up from the Vic market. Its a serviced apartment, so has a full kitchen. We are bringing an esky with us, so we may be able to bring some cold stuff.

Bella- You can come eat with us on the Sunday night if u like. I was also thinking that if ur going to stay the Sunday night, I could get a room with an extra bed, and u and Jemima can crash with us. Im taking a portacot for Logan, but they have told me that the extra bed is a double sofa bed. We are staying the Saturday night and the Sunday night. Mum is having Jake and Zac for me, so it will only be me, leigh and logan. If u like, I could try and find a spare car seat for Jemima, and that way we could transport u guys around.

AFU, I had a good chat with a friend of mine today, about one of the issues Im having at the moment. It felt better to get it out. Im also really struggling with the boys behaviour at the moment, and thats what sparked the meltdown. They arent listening to me, and they seem to want to wreck anything and everything. After them seeing me crying on Friday night, I think they worked out I was serious, and that they had upset me, which Mum seems to think they might take some notice now. They stayed with my Mum on the Friday night, and we picked them up on Saturday, and they said they missed us, so I guess they really do love me.

Arrrgghh. Sorry for having a whinge. Might be back in the next few days to do some persies.

P.S. I missed u guys.

Hey Bridg, babe. Good to hear that you're feeling a little better. Oh, I can so relate to having a kid that doesn't listen to you... but of course with two it just means double that frustration at times I am sure. I'm so glad you've got good support IRL to get you through. Of course your boys love you - you are the most important person in their lives. It's great that they told you they missed you. Sometimes we just need to hear it.
Your apartment sounds good. We stayed in places like that while on holiday in NZ when Natty was little. I reckon places with kitchens are absolutely the best. Sometimes you don't want to eat out - you just want a sandwich or a bowl of cereal.
Vic: LOL @ being a train/tram geek - I used to be one too :) (Well, we don't have trams here, but certainly I knew everything about traveling on the train!) I haven't been a public transport nerd for years though as the last two houses we've lived in have had hopeless or zero public transport options. I am desperate to take Natty on a train, though - given that she loves all things Thomas and Chuggington. Just don't think I can manage it with the two of them...
Okeys, I will note down that we'll meet up at DFO. As for exchanging numbers, maybe we can start up a big PM on FB? If I get on there tonight I'll start it up.
Kat: So glad Ivy is on the up-and-up. So stressful having an unsettled bub.
Naomi: I had a quick look at the CYH website the other day and it really is very good. I couldn't find the wonder week stuff though... although I didn't look very hard. The stuff I did read was good - read the toilet training pages and the article about yelling. (When I get frustrated with Natty I have only a small tether and I often spit the dummy :( )
I keep meaning to make an appt for Phoebe at the MCHN but keep forgetting! Will try to remember to make it later this morning.
Tops that we will be arriving in Melbs at a similar time. I am soooooo looking forward to this trip! Was telling DH tonight that we're starting to make more plans, and he's excited for me too :)
Nicky: All the best for the kick-starting the weight loss. I think the walks in the evening sounds divine... I'd love to be able to do that, but DH doesn't get home til Natty's bedtime. It's a bummer cause I'm so lazy in the mornings, so doubt I'll be motivated to get out. Lately I have taken the girls on a walk in the early afternoon, but on the weekend it was just too hot so I doubt we'll do that much once it starts being regularly that hot. I decided to weigh in every fortnight on the wii fit. The first fortnight I put on 200g, LOL! But the second fortnight I did well and lost 1.4kg. But this last fortnight I put on the 400g again. Am so crap at this.
Bella: Pfft, LMAO @ the super mum auditions! Sometimes it feels like that, but certainly there's NEVER a smile in place ;) If I've got two babies on one hip, am cooking and kicking the crap out of DH then I'm usually yelling about it too, LOL! Or crying.
I think you did a great thing re donating your BM. That's awesome. I hope that if I had a friend who needed milk that I'd be able to help them out. What a shame about her hip... Not only the sadness of not being able to BF but, wow @ having to look after a baby after surgery like that! I imagine there'd be loads of rehab taking place at the same time... Good on you for supporting her.
Jess: We have similar troubles at mealtimes here. I don't know what to do about it either. Sometimes I just think, it's a phase to get through... then I remember that my DH is an absolute shocker with food and I panic, LOL!
BG: Oh, I adore woodfire pizza! How awesome that your folks have their own pizza oven!!! That's tops. Can you cook anything else in there? I imagine it'd be good for bread too? Sounds like E is doing great with her consistent gains.

Well, I'm hoping my munchkin has gone off to sleep - fed her @ 3 and she was wide eyed and bushy tailed afterwards :doh: So after rocking her for a while to no avail, I just decided I'd put her in bed and see what happens. Haven't heard anything for a little while now so maybe I'm in luck and she's gone off to sleep.

Bridg - nice to hear from you (well, more than PM's on FB anyway!) - i can only imagine how difficult it is having little people rebelling against you - it's bad enough when it's one, but when it's two to stir each other along, it just sounds nasty. in a way, it probably is good that they have seen the impact on you, and, as much as it's a given that they love you, it's nice that they let you know

Amy - my folks got their pizza oven ages ago (before last Christmas) but hadn't really cooked more than one or two pizza for themselves, which didn't turn out real good. their "gotta have" people - have to have everything that they MIGHT use - but it usually just sits there after the novelty wears off. anyway, last night was the first night we'd all used it - and it works brilliantly - you just have to monitor it. last Christmas we cooked vegies and things in there for the roast lunch - worked ok, but again, they didn't watch it (i was too crook, and my bro had three kids to deal with) so stuff got over cooked a little. but only on one level - the others were fine (it has three shelves). they want to experiment with doing a roast in it (cos obviously the oven, the bbq with oven top and the other cooker for roasts aren't enough) - i'm sure it will work - i've just told them that they HAVE to put a lid on the roast otherwise it will end up mighty grotty and then no one will want to use it. we made garlic and cheese pizza to start, then the kids all made their own pizza (and ate it cos they knew what was on it) - and then we made our own pizzas - DH and I had cheese, bacon, chicken, capsicum, pineapple, cheese and egg - drooooool. loving the idea of leftovers for lunch!

well, not sure what happen with E last night. she woke during the night which is really unusual for her. i wish she could tell me what was wrong! i "think" she might have had a bad dream. she got a fright last night when i was putting her in the car - one of her toys touched her in the dark and she freaked out big time. she was unsettled until she went to sleep for the nigh - so i am guessing it's something like that...

Jamie is 4 months today woo hoo xox

Congrats Jamie on reaching the four month mark - I bet you are proud as punch Jacinta

BG - the pizza sounds yummy, its making me drool LOL. Poor E and her restless night, hope she doesn't have any more nightmares

Bridg - great to hear from you, glad to hear things are better for you, we missed you too. I hope your boys listen to you a little more - it must be a tough gig with three little ones. Feel free to whinge or vent to us anytime :) I hope we can be of some support for you

Amy - yeah, its handy that we will arrive at a similar time. I remember there was a Starbucks or Gloria Jeans in the DFO entry from the train station side (I think), maybe we could all meet there. I'll be the one with the red stroller (instead of a red rose like in the movies when strangers meet LMAO)

Well we had our paed appt today and I'm still processing the info our lovely paed discussed with me. He is a bit concerned that Bailey is so little, and the delayed gross motor skills - but more in the sense that by his measurements Bailey has dropped a percentile from a length perspective, he feels that he is growing 'ok' and feeding is not an issue but we talked about family history etc as Bailey may grow to be on the short/little side. He sent us off to the womans and childrens this afternoon for some xrays on femur, spine, skull and whatever the arm bones are called and has referred Bailey for some physio so just need to wait for the hosp to call us to schedule him in for that. (Interestingly Baileys femurs measured on the small side inutero at the 20 week scan but at the 32 week scan they seemed to think all was fine). He suggested I promote tummy time as much as possible - and said the time is right for Bailey to start solids to help accelerate his growth, but reasured me that the breastfeeding is perfect, but as we are 5 months next week to get started with solids. He was really positive and said that Bailey may catch up in a few months or may take longer but in the overall scheme of things its not a life impacting issue. His social skills and fine motor are normal. So pending the outcome of the xrays (as that will give some further indication of growth etc) we will go back to see him in 3 months at the latest, unless of course the xrays outcome generates a call back earlier. I was a bit teary when discussing it with DH as although there is nothing 'dramatic' wrong, I would like him to be growing and developing at the 'normal' rate, and we always worry about our little ones, and these issues have been worrying me for a few months, I feel really flat and worried, although the Paed was so lovely and supportive. I guess I was hoping the paed would send me home and tell me to stop being a paranoid mother but instead congratulated me for picking up on these things - DOH! He also talked about some techniques to try to get Bailey sleeping for longer through the night as he feels 10-12 hours of uninterrupted sleep is important for growth and development too, so hopefully with the introduction of solids and settling through instead of feeding I can gradually drop one feed at a time - I dont want to introduce too many changes at once as its unfair to Bailey so will just plug away.

So anyway, I tried the little guy on some rice cereal after his afternoon feed and he ate about half which was good, so will try again tomorrow and follow the CYH 'solids' guidelines and ramp up the solids as we go. It was funny as he screwed up his face as we were feeding - I must post a little video on facebook, have posted some pic's

Whew, sorry for the long post, had to get that out

Naomi
x

Hugs Naomi.
DS was 9 pounds (just over 4kgs) at birth. At 6 months, he was below the 10th percentile for weight. I was slightly worried, but my MCHN said all was fine.
At 12 months, he weighed 8.6kgs. He was doing really well with most things, but just a bit scrawny. He was comp fed... I breastfed when possible and I gave him some formula when required. You would think that the formula may have added some extra on his bones. He never had bones poking out. He rolled after 4 months, sat just after 6 months and walked at 10.5 months (which is pretty early) and did everything he was meant to by 12 months of age.
He was always average length and he has always had a big head.
At 2 years of age, he had hit 13 kgs and was spot on 50th percentile. He was just one of those active kids who took a while to take off. He's a very happy healthy boy who is still quite slender, but looks healthy.
I dont know if any of that helps. My MCHN was never worried because although he was dropping percentiles, he was never losing weight. He always gained. He always had wet and poopy nappies. He ws doing things he was meant to do in his own time (which mostly was quite early I spose).
They all have their own growth patterns, their own time that they decide to do things. Every child is different and what one can do another won't be able to.

DS was FULL on. He never really slept very well which I acutally think did really hinder his growth, because once he hit 12months and started sleeping, he started growing.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know about my experience. That just because they drop a percentile, it doesn't mean that there's anything wrong:) (heck, DS dropped from above the 90th to below the 10th in a matter of months.)

Hi everyone! All going pretty well here... same old. Hope you Melbie girls had a gret catch up today!!

Nicky - thanks for sharing about Lachie - its really reassuring and it made me feel better, you are too sweet. HUGS x

No worries. I hope at least some of it was helpful. I remember him walking around at 13 months, and people asking me how old he was. When I replied with his age, they all looked at me like I was on drugs. Many people commented he looked like he was only just over 6 months old! So get used to people saying how 'skinny' or 'little' your man is, and just ignore it. I used to comment that 'he must have got the awesome metabolism that I missed out on', or 'lucky, because at least that way he'll never get as big as his mum! '

Oh and forgot to add, He's just as big if not bigger height wise than others his age. He doesn't look any different.

I just added my first videos to FB! haha. Chubba is still waffling on 30 minutes later. Blabber mouth.

Naomi: Wow @ your paed appt... Lots to process there. All I can do is offer my thoughts and virtual hugs as you try the new things and get the results of the imaging (the arm bone is the humerus :) ). I am glad the paed was supportive - I think that makes all the difference. (FWIW, Natty never stayed on the same centile either. She went up to the 50th, then down to the 25th... but no one minded I suppose because the 25th isn't that small.) Had to LOL @ the vid of Bailey eating solids. I have photos of Natty pulling the same face! "OMG, what is this crap in my mouth?". Natty's fave first food was pear. That's what got her convinced that solids were a-ok. Really, I hope you are doing ok after the appointment. :hug:
BG: We have done a roast in a camp oven in the fire before when camping. So yum.
I'm sorry about E's bad dream :( I remember talking to a friend when Natty was about this age and her little bub had been waking screaming. She thought bad dream but couldn't work out what would scare her enough to have nightmares at this age? It is so hard to know what gets into their minds. But my friend half-jokingly suggested a squirt of milk in the face! (She did it several times to her DD who cried her little heart out each time, poor poppet.)
Nicky: Love the videos! Allira is just gorgeous. Watched them @ 4am this morning while settling the girl so didn't comment, but I thought they were great. And wow @ the footage of her getting up on her knees :) The back arch she has going is just great!

Had a bit of a rough one last night. Phoebe went to sleep under the playgym at 6:30-ish. She was so tired after catnapping all day yesterday. I transferred her to bed without any problem, but I think I should've had a go at feeding her first. She slept til 3:30 which was great, but then woke every hour after that. Not so great, LOL! Tried to book in to the MCHN this Thus but couldn't get an appointment. So we are going on Monday. We haven't been for a month and a half, so I'm really keen to see how she is getting on. Will have to see a different nurse though, which is a shame. I really like the Thursday nurse.
Natty and DH are playing trains and singing the theme to Playschool. Ah, they crack me up sometimes. She is very like him. He also has a similar whinge going - "Oh, no! I don't have enough track pieces! This was going to be the best track ever, but now it's just ordinary..." *Sigh* Just as well all three of my children are cute. ;)
Oh yes, loved the pics from your meet-up yesterday, girls! Those babies are gorgeous! (And their mummies too:) )

Just a quick post before go to the cinema - The Young Victoria this morning - a few of us from Mothers Group are going as have been waiting for this one to come on mums and bubs. CJ is still asleep though for her morning nap, as usual sleeping for longer because I am waiting to go out, so now I either wait and put up with her crying while walking to the cinema, or wake her and feed her so she will be happy till get there. (Ha can't remember if mentioned it here but she now will day nap in her cot because I have made a string of AFL Tazo things that you get in crisps for her to look at - maybe by the age of three she will be able to sing all the AFL songs too!)

BG - I don't know if CJ is having bad dreams either, at both night and during the day she has started letting out this "I am really scared" cry - but she doesn't wake in - I have rushed in to see what is up and she is still asleep, or putting herself back to sleep. She has done quite a few times so doesn't worry me so much any more as is always ok. The only other time I have heard the same scream is when she hears the water go down the plughole - she seems terrified by it.