Babies Born May 2007 #14

[LuluHB]

You'll all be pleased to know I'm not in gaol. DH has reverted to being his normal lovely self so his manhood is safe for the time being.

Sarah - very exciting that you have your trip booked now. I'm very jealous!!

Michelle - poo that Angus didn't like the egg and so sorry your night out ended up being a bit less than perfect. Try and get some rest today - hope you feel better soon.

Lis - nope. Still no discussion about names from DH. He is completely hopeless. I hope Elena sleeps through tonight for you. I know its going to be a huge shock when Ned comes along because I'm so used to Izzy sleeping through too.

For mums who are formula feeding - when are you going to start phasing formula out to be replaced by cow's milk? I have to admit I'm a bit confused by all this - if you breastfeed then it seems you get congratulated for keeping on breastfeeding past 12 months but if you say you formula feed after 12 months people jump on you for not putting your bub on cow's milk (or goat or yak or whatever). Izzy's solids eating are still so touch and go there is no way she could go without the nutrition in the formula. I know I should be asking this question in the solids/feeding forum but I don't want it to turn into a breastfeeding v formula discussion - again!!

[Liviam]

Hi mums and bubs,

Lulu - I've been thinking exactly the same thing. I was thinking that when Livvy is 1 I will start by giving her a bottle which is 3/4 formula made up as normal and then 1/4 milk and over the next 4 - 6 weeks slowly decrease the formula and increase the milk. Does that make sense? How many bottles is Izzy having a day? I am so confused too. Olivia has 4 bottles a day but I think that could be one of the reasons we are having so much trouble getting her interested in food so I am trying to cut her down to three a day but I just can't seem to get a routine happening. What do you do with Izzy?

Tan - YAY on Izzy's first sleep over. Olivia loved her first sleep over but nowhere near as much as Nan and Pa did. They had an absolute ball and keep asking when they can have her again. How is Izzy's walking going? Up and running now?

Sarah - I am so jealous!! You and Noah are going to have the best time. How is Juz feeling about you guys going away for three months? Good luck with your auctions. Hope you get some spending money.

Sangie - Hope Ellie pops through another tooth real soon and you can get some much needed sleep. Work is the last thing you feel like when you are exhausted.

Shell - I completely understand how you are feeling with washing/cleaning and housework. It is an endless cycle and a battle you can never win. I made DH take Olivia out for 3 hours on sunday just so I could do the housework without her 'help'. It's so damn cute but it takes forever to do it and I never get it all done. How you feeling? Angus sleeping better? Put anymore thought into switching to formula?

Hi everyone else!! Not much to report here. Had a few days off so we went to visit my sister and her husband which was nice. Now we are just bumming out at home. Olivia is getting so much more adventous and getting frustrated that other babies are walking and she's not. She is so close she just needs to gin her confidence and let go for longer periods. She barely hangs on anyway. She'll get there.
I haven't done my KK purchase yet but I'm doing lots of browsing and checking. I want to get something nice. It's $15 isn't it?
I have started a diet and exercise regieme today. I am so big! Never been this heavy before so I want to lose 5 - 9kg before June when we start TTC. Fingers crossed!!
I'm off to get everything organised for dinner. Have a great night and i'll be back soon to catch up.

[LuluHB]

Thanks Dan. Izzy is having 3 bottles a day of between 200 to 260mls per bottle, and I'm giving her the bottles immediately after breakfast, an hour or so after her lunch and then the last bottle just before she goes to bed. I'm a bit worried the milk might cause her reflux to flare up again so will definitely be doing like you said and mixing small amounts of milk with formula to see how she goes. I guess I'll just have to take the plunge and start weaning her off but monitor how her energy levels and weight goes.

Good luck with the weight loss - it must be hard for you balancing time with Livvy as well as working. If I could I'd give you my pregnancy diet - I've lost 2kgs over the last week to leave me with a total weight gain of 0.5kgs!!! Pity I know its all going to find me as soon as Ned's born :-(

[Liviam]

So Lulu do you give Izzy her breakfast first when she gets up. Do you mind sharing your little princess routine with me. I'm stuck at the moment and to be honest need some tips. All these changes are confusing me and Dave so much.
I am not going to lecture or add to list of people telling you what to do with eating etc instead send you heaps of hugs and please look after yourself the best you can. Any day now Ned is going to be safe and sound in your arms and you'll have your two gorgeous girls to enjoy and watch grow up together. Does DH know where he has to post to let us all know that Ned is here? Better write him down a list of instructions if he can't remeber or I'm more than happy to give you my mobile number and I can do the post.

Have a great night everyone,
Luv dan & an unsettled Livvy.

[sangie]

Morning all!

Dan I have given Ellie a little cow's milk in cereal but not in a bottle to drink yet. She also has reflux so I'm going to be careful introducing it. I was going to wait another few weeks and then introduce it slowly like you suggested: 3/4 formula, 1/4 cows milk, and then half/half etc etc. At the moment she also has 3 bottles (or more like 2.5 bottles). Two of 240ml and one of between 120-150ml. She has one first thing when she wakes up, one late afternoon (between lunch and dinner) and one before bed. Hope that helps! OMG you will be TTC soon, how exciting!!!!

Lulu I will be crossing all fingers, toes and any other body parts possible so that Ned doesn't have reflux too. And yes Dan has a good point, make sure you tell somebody when Ned arrives!!!!! I hope you are taking care of yourself and resting as much as possible, you will need your strength for the labour. I can't believe you have hardly put on any weight, but I think it is common to lose a bit in the last couple of weeks.

BB is looking strange today, all posts are off to the side on my computer. Hhhhmmm hope its not just my computer? Gotta go, have a lovely day all!!

[Beach Mama]

LIs - thats weird? I keep looking at the ads down the side wondering what they are!

Lulu - Im glad you havent been arrested hun and DH is back to being lovely! They drive you crazy don't they!! You can have some of my weight hun, I've already put on 8 kgs I did the same with Izzy though and now that Im feeling a bit better Im hoping it will ease off now, although after the 5 tim tams I ate last night Im not so sure!!

Dan - Izzy has a breastfeed first thing (at about 630ish) thn 3 bottles during the day, Im wonderingif I should start cutting one out but she finishes the whole 200 mL each time so I don't know? Izzy has had cows milk on cereal, yoghurt and cheese for a while now so she should be fine.... I just wonder if she will need the nutrients in formula for a bit longer as she isn't a big eater either (not sure who else mentioned this?) So I might go to toddler formula for a few mths maybe? So hard to know isn't it!

Shell Shell Shell - Missy are you eating your vegies or taking some sort of vitamin suppliements hun? I know you work in an environment like me where people/kids are GREAT at spreading their germs and you are always sick, but look after yourself woman.... I know what you mean about house work, this house with this little miss is so messy ALL the time, just when I put all her toys away she decides she wants them all back out and spread around the lounge and kitchen, and I vacuum but somehow she drags stuff on her clothes from god knows where so it looks like I did it a week ago instead of 5 mins ago Sorry ranting but just wanted you to know you are so not alone and heres a bit and if you aren't feeling well -STUFF THE HOUSEWORK. Sit on the couch, and play with your gorgeous lil man.

Well we are off to the pool today! Yay! Also Izzy just walked by herself from the kitchen into the lounge room - I just looked up and thought OMG look at my toddler! She takes about 4-5 steps now before losing balance and resorting to crawling as its easier! She will occasioanlly pick something up and stand up from squatting, fall down and stand back up again on her own!

Ive also nearly finished Izzys birthday invite! It has photos of her at 0, 3, 6, 9 mths and a big one at 11 mths! and is brown and pink with spots! Heehee it's been fun working on it but stressful too!

Ok Im off! Have a great day all and to all you quiet ladies out there - hope you are all great!

[LuluHB]

Dan - Izzy's routine is like this, and thank God its pretty consistent these days.

Wakes 7.30 - 8pm.
Change nappy but stays in PJs. Have solids breakfast (Rafferty's muesli or similar) then a piece of toast or crumpet.
Play time
9.15 or so - 260ml bottle. She'll have anywhere from 200mls to the lot
10.00 am - upstairs to get changed out of pjs, short play in her room while I tidy up in there and then bed.
Between 11.30am to 1pm (depending on how lucky I am!) - wakes from sleep, short play then lunch (sandwich, tuna & veggie pattie or who knows, fruit).
Play
2.30 pm - 260 ml bottle
3 - 3.30 pm - down for a nap
4 - 5pm - wake and play
5.30 pm - dinner (meat of some sort, mashed vegies, fruit)
Play with daddy
6.30 pm - bath
7.15 pm - 260 ml bottle
7.30 pm - bed

TBH we didn't have a great routine until it really sunk in that Ned was going to be here, and soon! I figured unless I got Iz into a better routine I'd go completely nuts and it hasn't taken long for her to get the hang of it all. It makes it so much easier I'm annoyed with myself for not doing it earlier!

Lis - my BB is looking odd too. Makes me feel a bit lost! Ellie's bottles sound like Iz's, only smaller - she's obviously a much better solids eater than Iz is.

Tan - yay for Izzy walking. I don't know about you, but I feel its all a bit surreal watching MY child walking. I mean, she was only born a week ago wasn't she???? So lovely to see them exploring and being so proud of themselves though. So glad you're feeling better. And hey, tim tams are a pregnancy staple as far as I'm concerned. Have you tried the new Tim Tam Crushes? OMG they are amazing. I came home from shopping with them the other day and ate the entire packet!!!!

Never fear ladies, you will all hear of Ned's arrival. I'm ashamed to say that texting is a bit beyond me with my new mobile and its definitely way beyond my DH (scary when you consider he's a software engineer!!) so I will get him to email. I have Dan's email address so if you don't mind doing the honours for me again Dan, that would be great - sort of like tradition!! If you wouldn't mind posting in my belly buddies group too that would be brilliant.

Anyway, must go. Finally going to think about packing my bag today - maybe . . .