We are all doing wonderful jobs ... admist sick toddlers, forgetful partners and difficult in laws ... this mothering business is a tough job, but we are all getting there!!
It sounds boastful (but then again, my first 8 weeks were horrendous) but Willow has been just beautiful since the weekend.
I've managed to do some chores of a day, which is making me feel more productive and happier ... I even managed to water the garden yesterday with Will by my side in the stroller. It was awesome to feel like I did one other thing besides tend to the baby all day - and the fresh air did me a world of good.
Today so far we have been to the shops for morning tea with my SIL, did a spot of shopping for 00 winter clothes (I figure Will will be in them by mid to late winter), made a chocolate peppermint slice for my Mother's Group tomorrow and am now enjoying a cuppa while little Miss W is asleep in her cot. Ahhh ... now this is more like it!
Only taken me 9 weeks to get here!!
I tried both the sling and the Baby Bojrn yesterday and Will will still not have a bar of either of them. Annoying, as I'd be able to get so much more done if she would just settle in the sling.
I have a joint baby shower and birthday BBQ to go to this weekend, both DH and I are invited and the plan was for him to wear the Baby Bjorn with Willow in it the whole time, am thinking we will need to pram. Bugger. The friends house is right on the water, while impressive, I read this as VERY hilly and probably no good place to park the pram outside.
Anyone else planning on having bubs christened/baptised/naming ceremony?
We are in the midst of organising Willow's baptism, while I am Catholic am not practising but have reasonably strong Christian values, so baptism is important to me. However I don't want to dress her in the whole traditional garb with frilly lace, ribbons and a white bonnet ... anyone have suggestions on where I might track down just a nice pastel outfit as opposed to a while christening gown (websites or stores/chain stores).
A new thread, I have no idea what's going on.
Sorry to hear about some bad times but I am sure it will get better for everyone.
Lennox is going great, growing, growing, growing just so quickly. He isn't a new born anymore and I can't believe he is over 2 months old!
Good news is he is sleeping from about 7-8ish till about 2am and then up at about 5ish every morning for a chat and some little chuckles. Just sooooo cute. He is chatting away to me now as I type.
Oh he is such a quiet lil baby compared to DS1. He sleeps and eats and is happy most of the time and that makes me happy.
Off to fold up the load of washing and enjoy the beautiful sunshine this afternoon here in Brissy.
Cass - Soph seems to have roughly the same night time routine..
Thrilled - My husband is catholic and we had my son christened in a catholic church ( but didn't do it until he turned 6 months). Soph will be christened but will wait a bit longer for all to settle. At our church you had to wear white - no pastels allowed. We did not have access to a family christening gown and wasn't going to pay a fortune for a frilly piece. I ended up with a onsie from David Jones - BeBe from memory. It was just a bit fancier with a pattern (in white) embossed(???) into the material and nice finishing. For Soph I will just look for a simple white dress (easier than for a boy). It took me ages to find something for Will to wear for his christening!
Re Sizes –
Ciaran has been to long for the 0000 for some time now, so is in 000 but edging towards 00 soon as cloth nappies require a bit more space in the bottom end!
It is amazing the difference in brands for eg. Target is a lot smaller than Big W.
Re Drinking and Breastfeeding –
Since early on I will have a wine after a feed in the evening on occasion, however I have less than a ¼ glass (cant drink much more than than after 12 months of not drinking – it makes me to light headed otherwise!) so yeah im all for a sanity drink ladies. Plus if its with a meal (which I always do) the effect will also be less. Funny story though, once I was sipping on DH’s wine while eating, then bubs wanted a feed and I forgot to stop. So im sipping while feeding him – a huge vomit followed that feed – suffice to say I didn’t do that again (poor bubs).
Re – DH not being supportive/ bad mothers day experiences –
For those having challenges with you DH, a good long frank discussion may be in order. If they don’t truly appreciate (can any man??) what its like to be a mum (regardless of how many children you have), maybe we need to educate them a little in how we are feeling.
Re BFRP –
Polly - I also need to stop eating chocolate, icecreams and baking cakes, but I cant stop craving them just yet. Im so hungry! At least im exercising so that’s something
Thrilled – did you leave Willow in the sling for at least 10 mins to give her time to settle? Ciaran fussed the first 2 times but I just walked and jiggled and then he was fine. Since then he LOVES IT!
UPDATE ON US.
So our normal night routine for weeks has been feed at 1030, then again 230, then 630.
But the last 2 nights Ciaran has decided to wake up intermittently and feed almost twice as often. Gotta say im feeling tired as a result.. plus DH has been working afternoons this past week so Im home alone with bubs till about 10pm (can make preparing dinner etc difficult, and certainly makes me less inspired to eat well when im alone and hungry with a whingey/tired/hungry bub).
However on the upside, he has just started feeding less frequently during the day (still adjusting to this, its still weird) about 3/4hrly. And is also sleeping HEAPS during the day which he never did before. This has all been the past 4 days so will see if it continues into a new routine or is just a growth spurt…
For mothers day DH made me breakfast in bed and gave me a card. Nothing to flash (like an eternity ring!!) but it was lovely as I also went for a run and left Ciaran with him – was nice to just have some time to myself for the morning.
Ive also started to revise my HypnoBirthing study so I can start practicing in another month and bring some money in – we have recently spend over $3k which was not planned on various things that have broken down etc so some extra cash would be great now my paid leave at work has finished.
Aside from that we are all well and healthy, and approaching 2.5 months on Monday. Wow time is flying….
I spoke to my CH nurse at the clinic today and told her I was worried that Robert wasn't getting enough because he had only put on 10g last week. Well, we weighed him and this week he's put on 310g. She's thinking that something was wrong last week when the other nurse weighed him because it would be way more likely that he gained 170g each week. So he's now a healthy5.64kg (12lb, 7oz). I also asked her about feeding and sleeping. I told her about his pattern last night (same as your's Breesa) and she said she wouldn't expect anything more from him at his age. She doesn't think much of a lot of these "sleep programs". She said they are more for formula fed, not breastfed babies and it will only do my head in trying to get him to go along with it. You can follow them, but there's no need to be so rigid about it. She also suggested that the "we'll just try again tomorrow" philosphy always works too! Today I wasn't stressed at all about him getting proper sleep in his cot and he's had 2 really good sleeps in his pram and is napping again now. I think it's time to throw the books away and just go with my instincts. Yesterday I was so concerned about doing it the "right way" that I forgot to enjoy having a wonderful baby who just loves me unconditionally.
Good point Cass - just enjoying the whole process can make a huge difference!
Im all for throwing the books away, and just doing what works for you, your baby and your family - Instincts rule my world, especially when it comes to parenting
What a day! It started this morning when the microwave broke (which I use constantly for bottles etc.). Had school drop off, kinder drop off and feed at kinder using their microwave. Then off to the shops (which is a 45min drive) to buy a new one. The good news is Tobi slept in the car(I have been putting off long car trips due to the spew). Then kinder pick up and feed at Mum and Dad's and left the boys with them whilst I picked up DD from school. When I got back Tobi started screaming after a minute, I think because I left him with my Dad and I didn't pick him up straight away. I don't think he likes my Dad. Once he was in the car with DD & DS he was back to gooing and gaaing again. When I got home he was very unsettled, all whilst I am trying to feed the hungry hoards, install and work out new microwave and wash and sterlize the bottle. AAAHHH! To make matters worse DH has hardly been home this week and he worked late tonight too. I am throughly exhausted. Everyone is in bed now and I might go to bed too.
QB - What a day!!!! I hope you got to bed at a reasonable time and a decent sleep.
Cass and Bree - I am completely with you on following your instincts! I think that is what I learnt with my son (and why I love Pinky Mc Kay's literature as that is basically what she says to do). When you get too hung up on the "supposed tos" it gets stressful!!! I vowed to chill out with Soph and just enjoy a happy baby...so I do what she likes. I find the babybliss routines helpful as a guide and Pinky McKay has some useful strategies but otherwise I do what is working on the day. I said to my husband recently - best to have no expectations for a day..it makes it easier. If it is quiet or flowing I do something from my job list for the week - some days we do alot...others nothing. Bree, if it is quiet at 9am - I make dinner then.
Planning on a restful morning - toddler with MIL and he won't be going to kindy again 2morrow as still too sick - so this is my only break from him for three weeks now. I have done anything beauty routine wise with the kids being sick - so when this load of washing done - thought i would go get a dvd and do my nails etc. Hopefully Soph co-operates!
LJ, I like your idea of having a weekly job list - so much easier than planning on getting something done today. I think I'll do that too. With regards to cooking dinner at 9am, well last night I prepped my veges and meat for a casserole to put in the slow cooker this morning. I did this after bubs was fed and in bed, dinner was done and cleaned up and I'd had a shower. This morning all I had to do was pop it in the slow cooker and turn it on low. Tonight we will have a delicious beef & vege casserole with minimum fuss and I look like a domestic goddess!!
I am very much a go with your gut, trial and error Mum.
I think it is so important to be relaxed and trust to yourself as well. Miss P certainly is better off for it and while she doesnt have a routine we are kinda in a pattern.
She is still sleeping wonderfully overnight but that lead up to bedtime is basically constant feeding. From about 7pm till usually 8.30 - 9pm when she finally drops off but then she sleeps through till 5am. And man its cold at that time. Not nice having your boobs out when its bloody freezing!
I went to see a friend today who has a two week old and Peppar looked like a toddler compared to her. There is 8 weeks between them and man what a difference. Mind you in a few months I dont think the difference will be quite so noticable.
Yesterday the CHN also suggested maybe dropping the "dream feed" at 1030 to see what he would do. Well I did. I fed Robert at 630 last night and tucked him up into bed by 7. He didn't wake then until just after 130! He went a whole 7 hours. After I fed him he slept for another 3 & half hours. Mummy was impressed!!
There is 8 weeks between them and man what a difference. Mind you in a few months I dont think the difference will be quite so noticable.
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