Babies Born May 2007 #11

Oh Jan that is horrific!!! Thank you for sharing that with us, it is so easy to assume everyone is a nice person and well meaning. I don't think I will let Noah out of my sight anymore now!

Tan, I get Vittoria(sp?) coffee, it is the only one that tastes any good that I have gotten anyway. I bought Aldi coffee and it is gross but I am too tight a$$ed to throw it out even though it cost 7 for 500gms I get the Espresso flavour because I need that strength to get me through the day :lol:

What is everyones plans for NYE? We are going out with Juz's parents but have no plans after that. I feel so old and like a homebody now :(

Jan - that's truly awful. You must have been really shaken after that. Someone grabbing Iz is my worst fear. When I went to the loo the other day at a shopping centre just before Christmas (so packed with people) a woman had left her kiddies in the pram/toddler seat in the corridor OUTSIDE the toilets - not even inside the women's toilets. I stayed with the kids until she came back and when she did, she was stunned I thought it appropriate someone be with them! On a happier note, it sounds like Julian was well and truly spoilt too - as he should be!!

Sarah - we're heading to a friend's who lives in the next street for NYE. I have my two closest friends each living in the next street from me (we're sandwiched in the middle) Another couple of friends live a 3 minute walk away so its really convenient for us all to just wander between houses. I'm so tired now though that I doubt I'll make it to 10pm, let alone midnight. I can't remember being this tired when I was pregnant with Iz - I really need my nanna naps each day!

Thanks for sharing your experience Jan. I am so use to people,cooing over natalie when we go out but have never thought they would do anything like that. (coz she is so little)...but there are sick people around..

Oh my GOD Jan... that makes me feel completely ill. I'm so glad nothing else happened but even still it is enough to make you seriously lose the plot (I know I would!) - You're a braver woman than I that's for sure. Thanks for letting us know.

oh jan...that is so scary :(

I went to our local shopping centre today, and every weird looking man that looked my way I got paranoid that they had an ulterior motive.

Hope you have a great new year!!! :happyforyou:
We are having a pool party bbq with about 15 people coming over

One week tomorrow I will actually be 2 hours into my first shift back at work :(. I can't believe it! I've had to start getting everything organised for work and Livvy and it's breaking my heart and I'm all teary. Poor Dave doesn't know what to do or say because everything he says makes me cry. Poor guy!! I know deep down that we will both be fine and Livvy will enjoy playing and socialising with other kids her age. On the upside I got to go shopping and buy her special day care clothes which she can trash with all the fun she is going to be having. I just need to keep telling myself this. Livvy is going to love it, she's going to have fun and she's going to miss her mummy and be so excited to see me when I pick her up!!! I'm going to be an absolute wreck. I have to call and organise our orientation days at the centre so I'm hoping that these few days will make me feel better and more secure in leaving her in someone elses care. I don't even know if she take a bottle or settle for someone else. I've got so many worries and the biggest list of questions that I am hoping will all get sorted out during these days. These poor carers are going to think that I'm the biggest paranoid control freak. LOL!
OMG vent over. That wasn't meant to be so long. OOPS!

Jan - OMG!! I think you handled the situation fantastically. How incredibly scarey though. I keep forgetting the sicko's that are out there and that not everyone's intentions are genuine. I hope that you are recovering and feeling safe enough to venture out by yourself with Julian.

I hope everyone has the most amazing New Years Eve and the new year brings us all lots to enjoy and celebrate. Anyone doing new year resolutions? Can't wait to hear what everyone gets up too. We are off to a BBQ at a friends house. It's going to be hot!!!!

Livvy is screaming so I better go and get her.
Catch up soon,
Luv Dan.

I'm off to an 80's themed NYE party tonight, lucky that fluoro is back in (I HATE it) but has come in handy to try and find something to wear. I have orange hoop earrings, one pink and one yellow perspex bangles, pink and orangE eyeshadow (with obligatory teal eyeliner) and a pink headband all in fluoro, and my top is black with yellow words saying LOVE IS HATE lol Should be a good night, hope everyone has a great time!

I haven't update but Scott kicked me out on Thursday because he said I wasn't "doing enough" and that if I went and saw my friend that night not to come back, so I didn't and my stuff was packed at the front door when I got home. If he didn't kick me out I was leaving again anyway, he turned into a control freak who tried to keep me under lock and key. Stuff him, I'm so much happier without him (even though it breaks my heart to know Blake won't have his dad around much).

HAVE A WONDERFUL NIGHT MUMS AND BUBS!

Hope everyone had a safe and happy night last night. I did, had too much to drink, ate too much bbq and stayed up later than what I had hoped, but at least Ethyn slept in til 8am this morning!!! After midnight I went in and kissed him happy new year.
Well I am back to work tomorrow, I honestly don't think I am ready to go back, I'm a bit like you at the moment Dan all teary and emotional, just have to keep thinking that I am doing this for Ethyn, to give him the best of things, either buy a new house, or renovate this one.
Hope everyone is well :D

Best of luck starting work tomorrow Lee. It's hard (we all know) but like you said you aren't doing it because you want to you are doing to be able to provide Ethyn with everything he needs and a roof over his head and food in his belly. You'll have to pop on and let us know how you got on.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! I hope everyone had a better night than me. Mine sucked! We got to the BBQ at 7pm and were home at 1am and I spent 2 hours of that sitting alone in the lounge room trying to settle Livvy and the rest of the time was feeding and entertaining Livvy outside. Poor little munchin was so hot and it was so noisy. She's exhausted today but doesn't matter she can catch up on sleep today.

happy new year!

Dh and I spent the whole night fighting. It was so hot and poor Mason kept waking up repeatedly and sweating :(

Needless to say lets hope last night was not an indication of how 2008 will pan out for us :(

Happy New Year everybody!!! Here's to a happy 2008 with lots of sleep, smiles and fun times with our growing bubs!!! I'm sure there will be a few BFP's in our group this year too - how exciting!!!

It's so hot in Vic isn't it - no wonder a few bubbies are a bit unsettled at the moment. We had people over last night, my gf was actually due on the 30th and was here feeling sick all night so we are hoping things are starting for her. I sat in the a/c til about 2 then went outside by the pool with Izzy - we got her a clam shell and she sat in that all arvo playing with her toys and watching daddy in the big pool! It's way to cold for her to go in!!

We had a pretty tame night, the boys set off some firecrackers we got in Japan 8 years ago that I unearthed last night so midnight came and went with them whoooping like idiots on our street rather than kissing and hugging their wives!! LOL! We were all in bed by 130! I even had 2 glasses of champagne - felt a bit p!ssy even with that small amount! Amazing what not drinking does to you after 12 months.

Jan - OMG, that is so scary hun, I don't know what I would have done, and I tend to be far too trusting at times. Glad you are both ok though.

I'm back at work too in 4 weeks today actually. :( I know how you feel ladies, on the one hand I'm excited to get back into it, but on the other I'm worrying that I will be one of those people that doesn't do either thing well - I'm scared I will be stressing about Izzy and not be fully committed to my kids at school and wanting to leave early etc..or if I spend alot of time at school (inevitable :() I will miss things that she does - my biggest fear is that she will walk for the first time and I won't be there to see it. Silly hey. I know she will be fine and thrive without me there but I still worry.

Izzy is still feeding 6 times a day right now, plus her sleeping is all over the place - gotta love the silly season. At least she's not waking every 3 hours anymore but she is screaming the house down at every nap. If I go in she cries even louder so there is no settling her, we just have to let her cry it out. It's awful but feeding, rocking, patting all don't work. If I try to feed her to sleep -she just feeds but is wide awake at the end of the feed and still cries. It takes her about 10-15 mins to drop off. I was going inand trying to settle her especially seeing as she sits up in her cot now so I was going in and lying her back down again, but it just made her worse. She must sit up and then get so tired she eventually lies down again. It's all bit beyond me again right now and we hate hearing her cry but our alternative is not putting her down for a nap!
All of this makes me stress about work too because some days I wake up feeling like death and the thought of working on those days is horrible.

Blah Ive cr@pped on way too long! Enjoy the first day of the new year with your gorgeous kids - stay out of the heat Victorians and will chat soon!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! I hope that 2008 brings everyone their heart's desire and it's a sign of bigger and better things to come for all

Ash - Aw, I'm sorry to hear things haven't worked out again but it sounds like it all turned out for the best. You don't want to be around someone who makes you feel that way - you only deserve happiness.

Lee/Dan - eek, working!! I'm sorry to hear you're sad about going back to work but you know your babies will be absolutely fine and completely happy. I wish you all the best for your first day back too!

Danni - sorry to hear you had a bad night hun. Is today any better?

Tan - I hear you on the resettling. I have been doing SOS or Contented Baby type setting/resettling routines since birth and honestly, Mia is at an age now where when she's awake, she's awake. She generally now sleeps between 1-2 hours at a time (average around 1.5 hours) twice a day and that's it - then I just put her down at 7pm and she normally wakes around 6:30am. If she wakes during the day I just get her up and keep her up until her next nap time. It's the only thing that seems to work for us!



{drum roll please}



Well... I've done it!!!!!! Business is officially UP AND RUNNING!!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!

My website is now live here - Children's Portrait Photography, Melbourne :: Kristen Cook :: Baby, Toddler & Children's Portraits For anyone in Vic, I'm having a launch special too if you visit the website for more details!! :D

Hugs to all,

xx

:hugs: Ash - I'm so sorry things haven't worked out hun - I hope you are ok.

:confetti: Kristen - whoohoo!!! The site looks amazing and Mia is the most adorable model isn't she! I'm going to email my Mothers Group and see if anyone is interested in doing a group session with you!! Otherwise I might do a family session with Al and I!! Your shots are so beautiful hun and really capture the personality of all the kids, you should be proud and I bet you will be run off your feet! You should get BB market place membership, you would be inundated with work!!

CONGRATULATIONS Kristin!!!!!!!!!!! Your website and photos are amazing. Well done on making the huge decision/step on starting your own business.

Happy New Years everyone!!!

Ash, sorry to hear things didn't work out. At least you gave it another go, now you can take the time to find someone who will make you happy and be a great father figure for Blake when you are ready to make that step. You are a great person inside and out and you deserve the best.

Danni, hope you kissed and made up. Sleep deprivation brings out the worst in us eh?

Tan, how is this heat!!!

Kristen, the website looks fab and I agree with Tan, MPM is worth it!! Did you design the website yourself?

Nothing much to report here, other than I put Noah in his cot tonight and I am determined to keep him in there for the night and not bring him into bed when he wakes. I have been giving him bottle of formula before bed and there was a slight improvement in sleeping but not much, I think I need to persist with solids and give him more through the day than I am. How do we feed them egg? I have given him a little of it scrambled but he gags on it so I gave up :( Sorry if I missed anyone but I am going to watch a movie and head to bed early, I need to regain my sanity with sleep.

Just a quick one but Sarah I think its egg yolk only at 8 months and then whole egg at 12mths!???? SOmeone correct me if Im wrong - will look it up and confirm for you!

ETA: The chart the the MCHN gave me definately says 8mths for yolk and whole egg at 12 mths - I think because white can cause allergies in some babies.

I've been told to give a pea sized amount of yolk and increase every couple of days from 8 months. Blake loves runny egg yolk, he just has a taste every now and then.

Anyone giving their baby cheese (I know Danni gives Mason cheese and he's fine)? Blake has terrible poo all the time when he is on cows milk formula (back onto Goat's after a month of disgsuting runny poo every hour) so I am very hesitant to give him any other dairy. What are your thoughts??

Has anyone moved onto lumpier foods? I bought Blake a few jars of the 7-9 month stuff and he loves it, we're way more successful with lumps than without, but he does have 4 teeth so I guess he can chew more??

Awwww, thank you everyone!!!! I might look into MPM - where's the info?

Sarah, yep - I did the website :)

Ash - I dont puree Izzy's food anymore I just fork it ;) Sounds rude! Haha! Last night I cooked up a heap of vegies like potato, carrot, pumpkin, brocholli, zucchini and beans and I just mushed them all up individually with a fork and froze into trays. The beans and brocholli I did puree, and now we just choose what combo she will have each day - today she had brocholli, carrot and potato for lunch and pumpkin and carrot for dinner! Not sure about cheese yet though - although I need to start meat soon I think! Thats a bit scary not sure how to go about that yet!

Tan, my MCHN said he can have whole egg if there are no egg allergies in the family which there are none. Oh yeah and the sleep only lasted an hour and when I tried making him CIO he was choking and vomiting, so now he is watching the movie with us... grrrr

Ash, I tried giving Noah tasty cheese but lump came off and he choked on it so I am hesitant to give him more. Sounds like Blake might be lactose intolerant, have you looked into it with the health nurse?

Kristen, great work!! I might have to get pointers from you, I don't like the setup of my shopping cart and I wouldn't mind trying to build one myself. You will find all the info for MPM here https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...ad.php?t=48598

Ok back to this movie and hopefully Noah will be tired after and go into his cot because I am exhausted and need to go to bed too!!

Awwww :hug: Sarah - I hope you find something that works hun - sounds like you definately need a break.

Yeah i still give mason cheese singles. its soft and easy for him to gum it down.

Tan: she will love meat! I just pureed a heap of mince beef, and chicken and froze it into ice cubes then each day I take a different combo out including the diff veges!

I also pureed some fish as well for some variety.

So in my freezer I have ready to go frozen beans, zucchini, pumpkin, potato, apples, pears, bananas, beef, chicken and fish!

Plus he has custard, tin fruit salad, rusks, cheese and bread.

I have just started giving him bits of my food too

Kristen: well done on the site. it looks awesome!! I really wanna get some pics done but I seriously have no room left on my wall and I still have a free sitting with Kelly! I dont know what to do :(

Thanks Danni! DId you use chicken breast or thigh?? We use thigh alot around here- so do you just steam it and puree, or pan fry with no oil?? Im clueless - I ordered a First Foods book from Huggies the other day - can't wait to get it! and what about the fish- what type and how did you cook it - would just steaming then pureeing do?

Hope you are ok BTW after last night - you and DH sort stuff out today?? :hugs:

Danni - easy! Find a new wall! LOL

Tan - I'm hopeless with Mia's foods, I'm very boring, I'm sure she's sick of me giving her the same things over and over but we don't own a food processor! I don't know what the alternative is!! haha

Kristen - congrats on getting your business officially underway. I wish I was in Melbourne so I could book you!!

Dan and Lee (and Tan soon too!) - :hugs: for you all. It must be an awful feeling to be going back to work and leaving your little ones behind. You're right though - its for the best of reasons and who knows, maybe it will make you even better mummies than you already are!

Ash - sorry to hear things haven't worked out but you sound as if you are going to be much happier without him. Blake will adjust to not having his daddy full time, and I'm sure he will know his mummy and daddy both love him, even if they're not together.

Danni - sorry you had such a cr*p NYE. Something about New Years - they're either very, very good or very very bad in my experience (either that or you just become the boring old git I am and avoid them altogether!)

We ended up not doing anything for NYE - my gf who was going to have a bbq was sick so we stayed home. I was heading to bed at 10pm (I know I know, I really shouldn't party so hard!) when Izzy woke up and didn't stop screaming, not crying but screaming, until 12.09am. I joked to my DH that at least we were awake to see in the NY!! I think the poor little poppet is having teething issues so I felt awful for her. Will definitely be putting her to bed tonight with a nice big bottle and a dose of nurofen.

Can't remember who asked about solids, but I've never pureed Izzy's food, even at the beginning - just forked it (love it Tan!!) and added a bit of formula to make it mushier. Now she doesn't get the formula mixed in, and her food is either forked or cut small, or broken into fist size pieces in the case of cruskits. Like Mason, she now gets bits of chicken, fish and mince mixed with her vegies. Haven't tried egg yet - bit worried about allergies given that I know she already has some issues.

ARGGHH SO MUCH TO CATCH UP ON!!! Firstly Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!!

Where to start.....

Am going to be really selfish cause I am sooo tired I need to go to bed!! We had a huuuge night last night!! Was my birthday NYE also, so we went to my Bro's for BBQ and drank and drank and drank! I put Angus in their room in a port a cot and he slept. He woke a few times but settled without BF (not that he was getting it anyways full of wine haha!!). Was such a nice night, all the kids swam and played and partied till midniight as well!! Needless to say we were all tired and cranky today, sent the girls to bed early, and hopefully my boy will sleep well also! I think we are all over the festive season now, and need to stay at home and get back into some sort of routine!!

Just quickly though, I fork Angus's food also. Not quite as organised as you Tan and Danni, but will get there one day!!

I go back to work in 2 weeks also - yikes!! Am really nervous, but my DH is applying for some more higher paid jobs, so hopefully work will only be temp for me (fingers crossed!!)

Good night all!! Be back tomorrow, lots to catch up on!!! Mwah!

:happybirthday: Shell!!! Glad you had a fun night on Monday!!!

Wishing you a belated :happybirthday: Shell. Glad to hear you had a great day.

Hope you had a great bday shell!!!

Tan: I used chicken breast and thighs as well. I just steamed it then pureed it. You could try stringing it into small pieces if you used the breast instead.

Just buy any fish fillets (i prefer australian fresh ones) and make sure there are no bones. then i steamed those as well. You dont really need to puree the fish as it is mushy anyway

Happy belated B-day Michelle!!!!

I think it might have been Kristen who said shredding chicken breast with the grater? I thought that was a great idea anyway and after our next shopping trip I will be stocking up on things to cook for Noah. I have about 20 cubes of pureed stuff atm that I need to get rid of so I want to get it out of the way.

Well last night was ok, I held Noahs hand through the bars of the cot for 35 minutes until he fell asleep and he stayed asleep until 2am when he woke for a sook. I stuck the dummy back in and sat next to his cot until he was asleep again and went back to bed until 4am and did the dummy and sitting next to the cot thing again. At 5am he woke up and wouldn't take the dummy and continued crying so I fed him and he went back to sleep until 7am. So I think his first whole night in the cot was a success to an extent. Somehow I will have to push that 5am feed to be the 7am feed though. I am sure he will learn to not wake up the other 2 times :lol:

It's such a bloddy hot day that I am going to drink bottle after bottle of water and sit in front of the air cooler and watch the cricket. Have a great day!!!

Happy belated B'Day Michelle!

Not coping well. Blake was up at least 10 times last night, and has been awake since 6 (is now 10.30). At my wits end, so tired, unsupported, unloved :( Total downer, sorry guys, but I just need to put it somewhere. Anywhere....

Happy belated birthday Shell. Great to hear you had such a good time.

:hugs: Ash. Sorry to hear you're feeling so down. We're all here for you if you need to chat.

hey everybody im really wanting 2 find some friends that enjoy a great coffee over even better convo so plz let me know b4 i go insane!

Hi Yates, welcome to BellyBelly I am in Horsham but I don't drive but I know it is close somewhat. Have you checked out the member meetups section on the site? https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...play.php?f=193 I see you have posted there already :lol:

Movie time!!! BBL tonight or tomorrow!!

Thanks for all the birthday wishes guys!!!

Ash - how are you?? Hope you are ok. We are all thinking of you, and just do what is best for you ok. Must be hard, but you are a great Mum and I know it can be trying but hang in there hun!!

Sarah, love your new ticker of noah!!

Oh Dan, when did you say you were going back to work?? Have you had your orientation at the day care yet?? Hope it all goes smoothly for you, I know it must be sooo hard.

Tan, did you get your car fixed??? Are you going back to work full time???

Lulu, OMG, I can't believe you are 23 weeks, yikes!!!!

Hello to everyone else!!! I am just doing a quick catch up cause I have 5 kids here tonight OMG!!!! Both the girls have a friend over to have a sleepover so is a tad crazy!!! We are onto ice-cream atm, so will try and check back in later!!!

Oh, almost forgot, ANGUS IS COMMANDO CRAWLING!!!!!

Ooh happy belated birthday Shell!!

Danni- good point about the fish, I didn't think of that!

Sarah & Ash - hugs girls. Sorry to hear the babes aren't behaving themselves with sleeping. It's so tough isn't it?! And then they grin at your with those adorable faces and you feel so bad for being angry... !

Lulu - has she improved?? How is the teething going? I know how you feel!!

Hey Tan - Ivy emailed me!! If she ends up booking I'll give you half off your session if you want one!! (plus the print credit if you book in Jan) GO YOU!!!!! Champion!!!!

Look at the mad frenzy in posting, movie is delayed because Juz is ranting bout missing taping something about the war :lol:

Michelle - Lucky you to have a full house :lol: I don't envy you but I do at the same time, I am having such a rotten time with Noah I don't know how I could handle 3 plus 2 others that don't belong to me. You're amazing to cope!!! Thanks about the ticker too! In the local paper they do a Babies of 2007 and that is the photo I have entered into it.

Kristen - Sounds like you are getting busy!! I so wish I was in Melb and able to afford such things!!!

Speaking of affording things... Guess who is going to Canada in May??? My mom is paying for the flight and now I have to try and save up as much money as possible so I can enjoy myself there. I can't wait!!! I only wish my gramps could have held on until then but unfortunately he passed on Dec 30th, lets hope my grams can hold on until then. Baby screaming once again, must go..........

Oh Sarah - Canada - lucky you!! Bet you are excited, it isn't really that far away! Sorry to hear about your gramps. Having 4 girls is interesting!! Shay has a firend over who is 8 also, and Joey is 3 and her friend is 5, so we have a bit of variety!! They are having fun, onto movies now, DH isn't impressed he is kicked off the TV. Better make them popcorn!!!

Thanks Kristen!! How's business going?? Love the website!!

Anyway, I bettre get that popcorn, food is the winner at having quiet kids haha!!!

OMG SARAH!!!!! How exciting!!!!!!!!! But I am so terribly sorry to hear about your gramps :(

Shell - excellent! Mad rush at the moment as I sent around a huge email the other day which has lead to a few bookings which is lovely! It will slow down shortly I'm sure of it once the hype is over LOL

Welcome Yates!