Babies born ~ September 16-30th 2010 #3

hi everyone, i'm back in town, 6 loads of washing later and two spewy children (at different times) yaaaah what fun. Not. I think I need a holiday from my holiday mwahaha! Seriously, it was nice seeing all my folks, they loved seeing the kids, but sleeping in the same room as Annika was a nightmare... I never knew a baby could suck their thumb at 30 decibels before. She was LOUD! I spent most nights dozing from 3.30am onwards - she didn't want a feed YET but she'd just let out the occasional squawk then suck her thumb... eventually I'd just get her up (she was still asleep) & feed her anyway! Plus I slept with a pillow over my head most of the time lol. Poor X vomited the night we got there, then didn't eat for 2 days. She vomited heaps last night but I think that's partly cos we're trialling her off losec (not great timing but she's been spitting so much of it out anyway it was kinda forced). I think she still needs it, she seems really unsettled off it.

So yeah...it's nice to be home. And they both slept on the plane home, that was bliss teheh. And I was just starting to think that this travel thing with 2 kids is fine hahah then all chaos hit! Oh and I'm STILL coughing. How annoying is that huh. On the bright side, while DH is now coughing too, he's still not as dizzy yay.

Re ergo's... I do have one. I used both a baby bjorn & ergo with X, but only the sleepywrap & ergo this time. I must say I'm not using the sleepywrap nearly as much now. I like the ergo but it's not nearly as comfy on as the sleepwrap. It is better for walking though as it's more rigid. If you want Bec, I can take a pic of me wearing it? I'm not very tall (5"2')and I find the normal ergo is almost too long, so I wonder how the performance would be (I haven't looked into that model tho!). I also used my ergo on the flights (can't during the flight, but on & off the plane).

There's heaps of persies I've missed but also yay re Isaac's Dad, that's great news.
Have skim read the rest, hopefully catch up over the next few days. House is disastered, should keep moving :rolleyes:

Bec - thats great for Isaac that David has wanted to make contact. That will make him happy when he is old enough to understand. Hope it just gets better from here. Hmm Africa - it sounds great but I think you are braver than me! I don't do dirt well haha. We use the baby bjorn air carrier. I like it, it works well for me.

Belfie - Oh no. To the spewing that is. Hope you get over the cough soon.

Wite - yay for clever little Harlow!

Chloe has also showed me how dirty our floors are. She is crawling everywhere. I had to mop. Today she had her second day of daycare. She wasnt crawling last week so they were surprised at her progress too. She seems to like it there despite not sleeping well and coming home with a few scratches from the other kids. Its funny actually - she came home with a laminated green card today. It has a doylie in the middle and a yellow paint smudge which they have drawn two chicken legs out of - an easter card to me!! Its on the fridge, haha its so funny.

Alright, going to run now. We had a horror night last night. Will she ever learn to sleep extended periods? I just cant imagine it

Hi ladies,

Bec - Great news re David - go to Africa I say - you would make it work with Isaac you are very resourceful and you could call it a business 'fabric buying' trip! My only worry is that you get all excited re David and he lets you down - he doesn't sound like he is very reliable so I wouldn't focus to much on him if I was you. I have a bjorn which I don't find very comfy. Yah for better nights! I reckon you can't go wrong with unprocessed home made food (as long as Isaac is satisfied by fruit and veg)

Belfie - sounds like a mess with kids spewing all over the place! Hopefully Tassie was restful for you. I find that it is hard work looking after P when we are away because I don't have all my stuff with me and our routine is out the window but hopefully your family was a help. I need to get my hands on some of that Losec serum - we are still dissolving in EBM here. Ha ha to A with her loud thumb sucking!! I am not very good at sleeping in the same room as P - every little noise wakes me up.

Fuzzy - bugger about still not sleeping - we are finding that treating P for silent reflux seems to be working wonders for us - from being up every 2 hours minimum last night she went down at 8:30pm, got up at 1am, then 5am! I am pretty happy about it and wonder if Chloe would benefit from some infant gaviscon (that's what we tried first and when it seemed to help a bit I took her to the dr and got a perscription. Also has a dr looked in her ears - is she in pain - is that why she is waking up? Does she cry tears when she wakes or just yell for you to come and get her? Does she want to feed all the time? that was another tactic that I think has helped us - when she stopped crying in pain and I could tell she was just wakiing out of habit I made a rule of only feeeding her if it had been more than 3hours since her last feed and if not I just tried to re settle her (even though I was up for a few hours in the middle of the night for a few nights it is now paying off). Sending you zzzzzzzz vibes!


Dory - Thanks! I got the job a while ago it is something I can do from home and will tie us over financially until I go back to work in Oct a couple of days a week.

Connie - thanks for all the solids info - you really are our solids guru! Bugger re the house - how is it going? any more luck? Just think when you have been living there a few years you will wonder what the big rush was (that's what I am telling myself about our new place - we are still waiting on the builders to give us a quote).

AFM as mentioned our sleeps continue to improve - I feel like I am coming back to the land of the living! I can't believe we have been struggling for so many months when it seems like all she needed was medication! Need to get stuck into the housework today. I have a training day for work coming up and DH is going to be in Adel so I haave booked P into family day care (there are no ch care centres here).

Thanks Chuckie - Last night she woke at 10 - 2 - then 6 so that was pretty good. She shouts for me. If I go in and try and resettle without feeding her ir progresses to tears. Even if DH does it. So she seems to be hungry. Hopefully she will just grow out of it with time and when she is eating more solids. I am glad the meds are working for Pearl and she is sleeping better!!

Feeling ok today. Just spent the morning at the beach and it was beautiful. Another magical day here. Off to MG now

Me post...hunkered down here..... H has poos and spews. Wait for a nappy explosion now so I can get a stool sample Dr Thinks it's an infection because of the mucous in the stool. Poor wee girl. I was at my wits end with grizzly bear today and am letting her watch some tv. I feel guilty but the break is good.

Belfie hope your two are better soon.

BBL

Oh no!! Poor little HB. Hope she feels better soon and you manage to keep her hydrated. Apparently a sip of apple juice is good to keep their sugar levels up when they are vomiting lots. hugs x

Hope everyone is having a nice easter. Not much happening here unfortunately. Mum has gone away for the weekend (left Thursday back Tuesday) so its just Isaac and I. I've been taking him to the park every morning to get out, lucky we have had some nice days. I hope my phone is broken, I have sent six text messages since yesterday and received no replies. All to different people btw, there's no stalking going on haha!

Yay for all the mobile bubs!

Dory I hope HB is better.

fuzzy I hope Chloe is sleeping a bit better now. Isaac is still feeding at night too, usually 2 or 3 times. I think they will just grow out of it eventually. That's what I'm hoping anyway!

Belfie - thanks could you take a pic of your Ergo? I still haven't bought one but probably will soon.

Chuckie - That's great Pearl is sleeping better, you must be feeling so much better now. Thanks, I'm thinking more and more about going. I'm not getting my hopes up about David, and I don't trust him. I know what these guys are like. He had a girlfriend (in the US) when he slept with me and I'm guessing I wasn't the first. Also I thought we had protected sex, obviously that wasn't the case. I don't know if he tricked me (known to happen) or if it was truly an accident. Either way, makes me trust him even less. Even before I went to Tz I was warned about the guys.. they are called fly catchers. They tell you they love you, shower you with attention, usually good looking with fantastic bodies, make you fall for them, all with the aim of marrying a foreigner - their ticket out of the country. Not all are like that though, there are some good ones.

That said though, David texted me yesterday. Finally have contact with him and his phone number! He apologised for not being in contact, said he wished he could be with us and to give Isaac a big kiss for him. I texted back and asked if he'd like to meet him but he's one of the ones I didn't hear back from.

Sorry for missing people, will catch up soon

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I need to get my hands on some of that Losec serum - we are still dissolving in EBM here.

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We're dissolving the losec too. I've read many things about the serum not being as good, so happy to stick with the tablets. Plus the serum is about 3 times more expensive. Yay for FDC for P. We use it for X and I love, love, LOVE it! I reckon they don't get nearly as sick in their first year with FDC too.

Well I hope everyone had a lovely bubby-Easter! Ours was lovely. Really nice to have DH feeling better & able to do normal stuff again. So we got really productive. I had to finish the BAS/bookkeeping, sorted out both our wardrobes (HUGE bags of stuff to get rid off!) and I fiiiiinnallly ditched all the mat clothes. Yay never again lol. Plus rearranged some pics, cleaned up the driveway, mowed the lawn... and of course X had an easter egg hunt, that was cute & fun. I swear he turns feral once he gets chocolate in him tho lol. Anni had her vacc last thurs (bit late) and hasn't been too bad at all, just some green poos. Everyone is coughing a bit, but I'm finally improving I think.

Dory - I hope HB is feeling better. Poos & spews are no fun at all.

Aaah gotta run, was hoping to catch-up on persies.. hopefully later.

Bec - OMG thats fantastics news! Would you take Isaac back there or would David come here? So glad he is interested in him. I really hope it works out! Please keep us posted if u mind.

Im on my iPhone so just did a quick read but hope everyones Easter was lovely!

Kids are in childcare next week :( I'm going to be a mess! I even almost cried 2 nights ago lying in bed thinking about it! :(
I went out last night for 5 mins and came back to Bella crying - was not nice.

Then start work the following week! That will be worse again but have to think positive cos it's to put this family together under one roof (scary!!)

Hope your all well xx

Buzzie - oh sweetie, I get an inkling of how you feel. I already feel sad about putting H in someone else's care when I go back to work and that's not for a while! But you're right to try and think positive.

Bec - very interesting about David...... did you get a txt back? How did the rest of your weekend go with your mum away?

Chuckie - how is Pearl going now?

Fuzzy - Chloe seems to be waking up a little less? I know what you mean about it just progressing to tears.... it's so hard when it's like that in the middle of the night.

Belfie - you had a cracker of a weekend! Awesome.

Wite - that is awesome about the commando crawling.... go Harlow.

AFM - well still hunkered down here. Hannah is still unwell. No vomiting since last Wed night/Thurs morning, but she still has diarrhoea, and lots of massive farts. Last night she must have had a bad tummy ache as she was awake every 2 hours with farts and crying. In the end I laid on the floor in the lounge with her. Watched a bit of tv as a distraction, then a BF and we both got to doze at least. Today needless to say I have felt just exhausted. Must remember to call the Dr and Pathology to see what the results of the stool sample were, if any. I may not have collected enough. Anyway, better go, shes not happy and needs a cuddle.

Hey dory...... I just realised.. Ur a moderator???? Lol is this new or am I being my usual dumb blonde and never noticed lol

Buzzie - LOL! Beginning of March it all came up. I am not a mod in this thread. It's interesting actually, I have never reported a post before, so it will be a learning process to report my first as a mod. I am learning my way with the whole mod thing.

I am watching the Wills & Kate thing on tele whilst I browse BB. I am just about to show my age, but I remember when Charles and Diana got married, oh the pagentry was amazing. Wonder what it will all be like for Wills and Kate. I love a wedding.... a chance for people to get together and celebrate the potential of love. Arggh, so mushy tonight.

Bec - thats great news from David! Did you end up getting a text back? Can you send photos to it? We used our pram snuggle for the first time on the weekend when it rained and was moderately cool for the first time in ages... Chloe LOVED it. She likes to suck on it.

Belfie - WOW that's a lot to get done! haha. sleep well afterwards?

Buzzie - I hear you on daycare. *sniff* Chloe had her 3rd day today. She goes once a week and for the first three times she has been there 8am - 2pm. When I took her the first day i ran out so they couldnt see me cry!! Then I rang them 3 times during the day to see how she was going and ask a million questions. They are so so used to it I think! I still ring once a day just to check on her. She doesnt sleep well there so comes home extremely tired and very clingy. She basically wont let me out her down or leave her for a second for fear I disappear again, bless her. Wishing you good luck with it. I hope that she loves it and loves playing with the other kids.

Dory - Poor little Hannah. Hope she improves quickly and you can all get some much needed sleep. Yer...chloe wakes twice every night (12 and 3) and has taken to considering it morning and up-time at 5:45. If it has a 5 in it its TOO EARLY.

Love to all xx

fuzzy - ooh that's awesome Chloe likes her pram snuggle!

Quick post sorry, I've got lots of things I should be doing while Isaac is asleep. All of a sudden his naps are only 30 minutes. Still three naps a day, but I can just about set my clock to his waking up after half an hour. I have no idea why. He just woke up after his morning nap and I spent 20 minutes bouncing him back to sleep (while he was still in the hammock, I didn't disturb him by picking him up), he is asleep now but random noises are coming from him so I think he'll be awake pretty soon again. Aaghh. Nights are great though and haven't changed. Could it be food related? He's still not eating much though, an ice cube or two in the evenings and only a couple of teaspoons in the mornings. He's not interested in any more than that.

Oh I didn't get a text back from David. I'm still planning on going to Tanzania maybe in July, just Isaac and I unless I can talk anyone into coming with me. If I can find cheapish flights that is!

Hope all you mamas and your babies are well :)

Buzzie - big hugs re childcare! It's a huge wrench leaving your littlies and I think the mummy-guilt of leaving them is really difficult to work your way through. Just remember that even if it doesn't happen straight away, before you know it, they'll both be loving playing with all their little friends. Plus having your family all under the same roof will be absolutely wonderful and well worth it. Plus I've heard that actually putting bubs into childcare at this age can be easier than when they're older. I have fingers crossed that it goes well for you all.

Dory - I hope that HB is better now, it's horrible when they're unwell. have fun watch the wedding, I remember watching Charles & Di get married (showing my age too ;)).

Fuzzy - oooh I'm with you on the calling daycare. First time I left X at FDC, I kept calling & texting. We didn't even do a 1-2 hour orientation - we just left him there & watched & waited. He's such a cruisy little fella he was just fine and did a full day. I'm not sure that Annika will be quite as cruisey as that. Every time I drop X off, I get my carer to cuddle her so she's used to it. Yesterday she was lying on their mat, and X said to me "mummy, leave baby with Jen?". LOL too cute. He'll be so happy once she's there too, and I hope they help each other. Oh and I hope Chloe's sleep improves, anything with a 5 is very ugly!

Bec - regarding Isaac not being very interested in food, have you looked into baby-led solids? I'd imagine that would be right up your alley. We're doing with Annika and she just loves it! I'm finding solids so much more enjoyable this way. If you are interested, let me know I'm happy to send you some links. That's so frustrating about the sleep. Do you think it's teeth-related? Certainly Annika has hit teething with a vengeance in the last two days. I can't see any coming through yet (apart from the 2 she already has) but apparently it's when they're moving in the gums (before they're visible) that they get the most discomfort - poor little mites.

AFM, more changes here. I've delayed Annika's family daycare start till July (1 day/week) then August is 2 day/week - with X (she was meant to start yesterday but we'd kept delaying it). She was initially only booked in for 1 day, but the extra day has just become available (yesterday in fact!) and my carer is happy to hold the spot for me while I try to get her onto a cup/bottle (she's managed to take 30mls but still doesn't seem to regard a cup/bottle as anyting from which to have a proper feed!). So I'm relieved about that. Plus I've organised to start my outplacement stuff then (part of my redundancy package) so at least i'll have the care lined up if I do find work quickly. Everyone is still coughing but no-one too sick. My cough is ridiculous... 5 weeks now, and I've got a referral for a chest x-ray if I'm still going next week. Not sure if I can be bothered tho, and the GP's reassurance that it was ok while feeding was a bit too cursory for my liking. Annika is teething and unsettled and very grizzly during feeds, leaping about like a jack-in-a-box! It's driving me nuts. But I guess it's driving her more nuts to make her behave like that. I had a very bad mummy moment the other day. Cut her finger (whilst cutting nails) not once but TWICE. And one bled & bled, all over her clothes, cot, sleeping bag. I felt so bad :( I daren't cut them again for a bit!

Oh and DH is still better. YAH! :dance:
Hope you're all going well, and bring on the weekend (gotta love a short week!)

Belfie - u should use the baby clippers. They are designed so u can't cut their fingers as there surrounded in plastic that sits under the nail. I love mine.

Thanks for all the childcare comments! Trying to keep calm, I know kids sense your stress so i don't want that. Bella is just getting so upset with other people ATM. The other night DP had her crying and gave her to his mum (we were there for dinner) and she was hysterical, (I felt so crap knowing if I had her she would be fine but didn't want to keep 'stealing her' as DPs mum will have the kids every Wednesday Bella has to get used to it but I took her and after I had enough listening to the poor thing and within 3 seconds she stopped and just clung to me then 5mins later fell asleep so she just wanted her mummy :( I know she will do that with childcare but I guess she will have to learn to cuddle/sleep with others too.
AND it's worse cos she can say mum now she cries "mummm" and it's so sad. Ok enough winging I want to stop thinking about it. (I think I'm so upset because DS screamed for me when i left for 10 MONTHS!! Before being able to wave and say bye mum happily.
We are going out tonight for a friends farewell party and my mum is having both for the first time.. $50 says I'll be home after an hour!!

Well time for a nap lol

Btw - for thoes who don't already know, pics in our signatures aren't allowed anymore!! Thankyou for thoes who complained about some ppls pics!! :( :( :(

thanks Buzzie, I thought I fixed my ticker, it was changed in lilypie but the change didn't go through to my signature for some reason. Just had to delete it and do a new one.

Buzzie and fuzzy - childcare must be so hard.. I don't think I could do it!

Belfie - oh no about cutting Annikas finger! This is probably weird but I have never used clippers on Isaac, I still bite his nails. I just do it while he is feeding, but it makes him laugh.. so cute, I think it tickles him. When I've finished he keeps reaching his fingers to my mouth and smiles. So cute.

Do you mind sharing the links to the baby led solids info? I've been doing a bit of that but I have frozen mush I don't want to waste so I'm doing both ways. I spoon feed him but also put pieces of food in front of him to play with. He has too much fun squishing and drawing in it so doesn't actually get any in his mouth yet. This morning was avocado and I think it was too slippery for him to pick up the pieces. Maybe I'm giving him the wrong foods (just veg and fruit so far).

Bec - you may have already seen some of this, but firstly the BLS section on BB, secondly google Gill Rapley & "baby led solids", wikipedia have some info, as well as babycenter dot com. There's some other things I stumbled across but to be honest I'm not sure if I'm supposed to link them here. I've just bought Gill Rapley's book cos I wanted something to give me some confidence, but you could try the library for it too. I guess other than lots of links, I can also tell you about my experience. I was keen to do this with Xander but he was such a snuffly gagger with a hypersensitive vomit reflex (boy we got some projectile vomits) and he started becoming very hesitant about trying foods, and increasingly distressed when he did vomit. We ended up seeing a speech path with him & going right back to basics (purees & such) at 10 months old.

Annika is a whole different story though. I'm offering her "chip-shaped" finger foods and she loves them . Because we're medicating her every day with losec I think she has quite an aversion to us "putting" stuff in her. When she's in control of what goes in her mouth she is SO much happier, to the extent that even if I have to give her nurofen, i let her put the syringe in her mouth (and I just depress it to shoot it in!). So foods we've tried so far - cooked carrot, zucchini, pumpkin, potato ("stick-shaped), corn spears, pear & avocado (both hard to pick up), baby mum mums (says 12 mths but she's fine with them - the speech path put X on them younger than 1 year too), pasta, banana (if you can afford it arrrgh!), watermelon (fave), broccoli... I'm also giving her some spoon food (yoghurt & some farex) but she puts the spoon in her mouth herself. I was actually amazed at how coordinated she was... I generally have 3 spoons on the go, and use a heinz unbelievabowl which rocks, first suction bowl I've found that works. It does get messy but I feel she's very happy with it. At the start it takes time for them to work out how to pick the food up, and sometimes I help put it in her hand, but no more than that. She also seems happier when she has at least 2 things to choose from - isn't that oddly interesting? I'm starting to try give her more of our meals when we cook them. She loves roast carrot, zucchini, pumpkin which was just what I'd cooked anyway. Other faves are definitely watermelon & corn spears. So that's my BLS rant, hope the rest of you don't mind... I was just keen to share what I've found with two very different bubbas! Also I agree that definitely some foods are harder for them to pick up (pear & avocado definitely!). I tried rolling them in dry farex cos I read that can help, but still not much joy with them. I think I had a sense from what you'd written about Isaac that maybe he would be more interested if he's in control, I'm not quite sure why I had that feel (might be projecting) but I guess that's why I was keen to share. I think doing some meals with spoons and others without is great. I usually do 1-2 fully baby led and 1 with her using the spoon (and I help). Ok i'll stop ranting now, hope I don't sound too soap-boxy!

thanks Belfie, that's really helpful. I had actually started a thread in the BLS section asking how do I do it, but was still unsure. Is it too early for bread? I haven't given Isaac anything with 'ingredients' before, but the MCHN we see said that he is old enough for anything I eat. Anyway, I gave him two fingers of toast with avocado on last night with his dinner and he loved it. He didn't eat a lot but he was very interested in it, holding it, putting it in his mouth and chewing. Mum usually comes over at his dinner time and feeds him for me, and I told her about BLS.. I don't think she gets it. She keeps saying but how will he get enough food? Anyway she spoon fed him some mushed carrot while he was playing with the toast, he ate it but was much more interested in feeding himself. I have run out of bananas (he loves them) so I'll have to give him avocado for breakfast today.. sooo messy!! I'll have to get one of those bowls you mentioned.

Oh my MIL doesn't get it either. The first time she saw Annika eating corn spears and she freaked out that she was choking and started thumping her on the back. I had to ask her to stop. I wish I'd explained a bit more that she was much MORE likely to choke if MIL kept thumping her! Regarding them eating enough, well I have found I see the food come through in her #2's... if you just tell your mum how you saw this & that in his poos maybe that will help her settle down? A few times I thought Annika had eaten barely anythning, but her poos said otherwise! As for bread, I just did that today. Toast with avocado after reading your post tehehe. I've been meaning to do it for a while. She liked it but didn't eat heaps. I still battle against my own hesitancy with doing BLS. I also plan to give her peanut butter (smooth) and egg in the next few days, because our paed was showing his neighbour (a mutual friend) lots of research showing that egg allergies are less with early introduction and obviously with X's allergies, we want to minimise the risk for Annika. Man it does my head in tho! Re giving stuff with ingredients, well I figure pretty much anything goes now, and I'm slowly trying to be braver in what I offer her. Oh and that bowl is usually for sale at Safeway (but not Coles). I've been meaning to go post in the BSL chatter too, to get some more ideas.

Belfie - didn't sound soap boxy at all! I am doing a bit of both, BLS and spoon. H loves bread, esp pita bread and I am going to give her some egg yoke in a couple of days. She already had some peanut butter when DH gave her some. Will try avocado and toast today! We had a a set back with it all here, as for 10 days or so I was just BF'ing H ( after her virus) until everything settled down and then only gradually re introducing bland foods. I was probably too cautious, and I also have to get over my fears of H choking.

About the corn spears.... do you do them fresh?

Poor X with his hyper sensitive gag reflex. You must have worn a fair bit of vomit in your time.

Interestingly I have only ever nicked Hannah's fingers when using clippers and never with scissors, whereas Buzzie says clippers are better. Guess different people do things differently. H usually is pretty good about holding still for me while I trim her nails.

Bec - that is so cute about Isaac - his food and nails.

A while ago someone mentioned that their bubs liked to suck their face? Hannah has just started doing that - leaning in and planting one on my cheek, and roaring with laughter. So cute.

She totally amazed us the other day. She turns the pages in her books when we read to her, but Dh asked her "Where's wombat?" And she pointed to wombat on the page in her book... not just once - on every page. And she's done it since and with other books. What a spin out. Who knew that she knew so much already? Still no crawling - lucky me!

This will be quick, Isaac has just gone to sleep and I have heaps to do.

Belfie - no you didn't sound soapboxy at all. Love the advice, I'm doing more BLS now, and its so much more fun. Isaac is really enjoying it.

Dory - wow Hannah Bear sounds like she's a very intelligent bub! Well done to page turning too. Isaac just tries to grab the books all the time but he does enjoy looking at the pictures and listening to all my silly voices. That was me about the face sucking, it's so funny! I've been thinking about egg too, and peanut butter. Is now ok to do that?

Isaac is really good at standing now while holding onto something, and he has even pulled himself up from sitting to standing by himself too, I'm just amazed how fast this is all going. His day sleeps are still short (half hour) although yesterday one of his naps was an hour and the day before that 2 hours. Not really sure how to keep him asleep so that he is happy in his awake time. It's hard with short naps, sometimes I can resettle him but most of the time he just becomes more and more awake.

Just very quickly... its good to hear how other people are trying solids. I've been trying to incorporate a mixture of both. Today I gave George toast with avocado for breakfast and he loved it, made a mess, but had lots of fun!
I feel like he is such a big boy now... he's been crawling for a while now, and is trying to pull himself up, but his little legs are struggling. He is almost 12kgs, and has been on 2 bottles per day for a few weeks.
Sleep is still great, sleeps 13 hours at night and approximately 5 hours in the day - down to just 2 sleeps. No teeth as yet!

Bec - I saw the pics of Isaac standing, I couldnt believe it, what a star!! Excellent news about his dad, it took a while, but its fantastic to hear that he is taking some interest now.

Isn't amazing how much our little ones are growing and how quickly? Remember the early days when you would put them down anywhere and they would fall asleep? Now I put him down and he could end up anywhere! Lol They really are a joy!

I hope you and your bubs are all well. :hug:

Hi guys,

Connie - WOW George does sound like a grown up boy! Toast and avocado.. ill have some of that. Awesome sleeping too. Cant believe I still get up twice at night - at least.

Dory - thats pretty impressive pointing at a wombat! I will have to try and teach Chloe. She turns the pages but thats it at this point. hannah is such a clever little thing!

Bec - can I order some seatbelt covers please? The pink + zebra ones? I will transfer cash straight away if you have them. THANKS

Chloe is going well. She is crawling and pulls herself up to standing and then 'walks' around things to where she wants to be. A bit wobbly so a few falls and tears. She has learnt to wave hello and goodbye which is so so cute and has taken to saying 'Gah' over and over. I think it is because we say 'good girl' to her a lot -haha. She has a rash on her cheeks so I am trying to figure out what food it would be. Have cut out the yoghurt to start with. I was giving her a little bit of the natural stuff for dessert. Hopefully that will help as I am not sure what else it would be... do you think maybe the baby cereal/porridge??

Oh yeh - still waking twice every night here *sigh*

Added later: Any advice on buying a baby helmet? We are going to Rottnest in July (she will be 10 months old roughly) and will be riding everywhere..

Fuzzy - OMG she's crawling and pulling herself to standing!?!? Wow that's impressive

Bec - same re Isaac, I can't believe he's standing!

Annika is such a sedentary little boofer, she can't even roll back to front yet (only does front to back) and can't stand that well anymore either (she stood better a few months ago).

Connie - wow, he is a big boy - 12kg is very impressive! That sleep is lovely too.

Dory - the corn spears were from a can, I haven't tried fresh ones yet. That's so cute about the wombat, she's a clever little mite! As for vomit, ah we just stand back & watch now (except when it lands on carpet - that's my least fave - anything else can be washed).

Buzzie - I've got both the plastic/baby safe clippers & the normal metal baby ones but I just couldn't seem to get the hang of the plastic ones... lol but maybe I should try them again! I use just normal metal baby clippers but I was doing it in a room with poor light... so my mistake. I haven't dared go near them since, but I really need to!

Speaking of vomit... we had our 12th wedding anniversary the other day, had a lovely day, out for lunch, shopping, cooked a beautiful prawn stirfry for dinner (kids had some of the veg & we ate the rest)... only I got food poisoning :( Vomited all night then runs. Gaaah. I swear I'm a magnet to gastro/food poisoning, so frustrating! Plus my annoying MIL... my DH rang to ask her for some help that morning (we'd both been up from 2.30am till after 5am) and she said she could come after 2ish (and she's all like oh-so-gracious I can help you guys out). Well she rings at 2ish and asks me do I REALLY need her cos she's got lots to do (wants to write up her committee meeting minutes... her VOLUNTARY committee). Hmm so I'm a soft touch and said no it's fine. But DH really needed to do some work and I was so wrecked. First I didn't care but then later we were both annoyed about it. What do you guys reckon? Is that lame or what?

Foodwise I've taken to givign the kids yoghurt for morning tea, and it's so funny, X is such a messy eater. But he starts telling off Annika for being too messy - it was hilarious... when he's sitting there with a big yoghurt goatee & dribbles all down his bib! Oh and we're good for peanuts yaaaaah! Next to tick off is egg... just gotta wait till X isn't here! Oh and we're getting lots of da da da DA DADDA dadda. Then X repeats it. Tehehe it's fascinating seeing her be so interested in everything he does... and he adores her, just has to give her cuddles ALL the time. The other day at daycare he asked if I could leave her there with him! tehe.

Belfie - that is pi$$ poor by your MIL, I know exactly how you feel... I wish people would decline rather than cancelling last minute.

fuzzy - is there any chance the rash on her cheeks is teething? I thought the baby cereal was meant to be 1 of the safest foods, so I wouldn't think it was that.

Just as I said G isnt pulling himself up yet - he pulled himself up today. I go to get him after a nap now and he is up on his knees with his arms hanging over the edge of the cradle. We have had him in a cradle from day 1 - we have planned to get a cot when we move into the new house. Well, since the house has been delayed by 6 months, he is still in the cradle, and now it is officially unsafe for his day sleeps, because he stands up in. I think the interim solution is the portacot we used when we went interstate. Grrrr stupid house!

Hope everyone else is well :)

Hi ladies,

Fuzzy and Bec - sounds like Chloe and Isaac are physical little bubs - Pearl is like Annika - not much interest in moving at all just sitting and (very occassional) rolling which is great (it's always much harder when they start moving around.

Belfie - grrr to you MIL - that would really annoy me and I would probably say the same thing and tell her it was alright and get annoyed later. It is particularly vexing when your own family is miles away and you know they would not let you down like that. Thanks for all the BLS info - I have been vaugly giving P bits and pieces for a while now (a chicken bone or piece of pear) and I should probably look into doing something more formal so I will have a look at the links you suggested. How much losec is A on?

Fuzzy - if it makes you feel any better we have started having some really bad nights here again - last night I lost count of the times I was up!

Dory - what a smartypants HB is! I think she was the one who was looking at daddy early too?

Connie - 6MONTHS!!! makes my pipe dream of being in our new house (which hasn't even started) seem ridiculous! 12kg! what a healthy boy!


Soo tired today - just had a little nap while P was asleep but think it made me feel worse. Have started my census job and it seems pretty easy to do from home so far so that is good. Went and saw another dr the other day (she was excellant) and told me not to worry too much about feeding P solids yet also said to stear clear of grains with her intolerance issues (so no bread and avo here!) The dr is still bf her 3year old so was totally on the same wave length. She told me to see the paed about P's flat head (and sticky outy ear) and losec dose. I rang to ask about our paed appt and they hadn't even put us on the list!!! I have to fax the referral to them! WE went there (110kms away) almost a month ago and we havn't been on the waiting list the whole time - how annoying!

Connie - wow 12 kgs! And go George with the crawling and pulling himself up! That's no good about your house being delayed by 6 months.

Fuzzy - I have the pink/zebra strap covers here (pretty sure, if I don't I'll make some for you), I should still have your address to send them to. And wow Chloe is such an active little bub! Two night wakes here still too, you're not alone! No advice on helmets sorry. Have fun at Rottnest, I remember riding around that island, very nice :)

Belfie - A similar thing happened to me not long ago (cancelling at the last minute).. it is so annoying and inconsiderate, especially when you really need help. Did you try peanut butter with Annika? I bought some today so I'm thinking of giving some to Isaac. What do you look for to tell if they are allergic? Also thinking of trying egg. How do babies eat egg? Do you boil it, scramble it or a different way?

Chuckie - your dr sounds great! Bummer about not being on the waiting list though.

As for me, having a bad week here. My XH had a baby with his new girlfriend, I am happy for him as it's what he always wanted and I thought I wouldn't be bothered as we are still friends but I'm finding I keep thinking how easy she is going to have it.. she has him to help (which I know he will, he'll do a lot and look after her as best he can, he's just that kind of guy), she also has a 10 year old daughter who will help her too. I have never met her but finding myself resenting her a little and feeling jealousy for the first time in a long time. Is that wrong? Maybe I should just stop thinking about it.

Having second thoughts about going to Tanzania, might delay it.

Isaac had a horror day today, I don't know why. He didn't sleep during the day and he cried a lot which I didn't cope with very well. Tomorrow is a new day.

I think I'm getting petty in my old age. My MIL just rang (finally) to see how I was and offer to pop around to help tomorrow (she's actually babysitting Sat night as we're going to a 40th b'day - see, old ;)).... and so I told DH to say no I was fine, didn't need any help. Now I'm thinking that was really stupid of me. I should always say yes when she offers. I just get sick of doing the big grovelly thank-you dance that she wants. But honestly I'm feeling fine again and relatively on top of things. It's amazing the difference it makes having DH well again and not having to look after him too. And as for actually getting a night off... OMG... don't get me started on that. It's a miracle, and I've made a deal of saying how we've RSVP'ed, and are expected etc. Hopefully it doesn't go pearshaped at the last minute, especially since Annika still doesn't feed from a cup or bottle (they're considered strictly novelty - for 10-30mls only!). Thanks for the understanding about MIL, it helped to make me feel like I'm not going nutty, she really is truly annoying. Speaking of Annika, my 365 pic today is of her having peanut butter (smooth) toast... teheh she's such a little fatty boomba and she was eating it SO ferociously, cracked me up!

Connie - that's awesome about G pulling himself up today - too funny about the timing tho! Bummer re it stuffing up the bedding arrangements though. Maybe if you ask around would someone have an old cot you could borrow? I reckon it's so annoying when you have your first bub, often you don't know many folks with baby equipment... but then once you have a second, you seem to know HEAPS of folks with all this spare stuff lying around but now you don't need it cos you already bought it for the first bub! Seemed to happen to us anyway lol.

Chuckie - phew, I'm relieved to hear I have got the only sedentary little chubba! So saying, Annika doesn't even sit all that well, she flops around like crazy and I still have to put lots of cushions around her. Does Pearl sit entirely independently? Losec-wise, Annika is on 5mg (half a tablet per day). My paed reckoned that was the therapeutic dose whether she was 3kg or 10kg. I thought I read in the reflux thread that Pearl was on 10mg, is that right? That's so annoying about not being on the waiting list! I hope you can get in sooner, do they have a cancellation list? Bummer re the grains too. Do you need to avoid anything else, or is it just those? And how did they work out that she had an intolerance? (sorry you might have already said - vague-brain here!).

Bec - I'm sorry to hear you're having second thoughts about Tanzania & mixed thoughts re XH.... it's sounds so understandable though. I really think I could post every day to say I think you are doing an amazing job doing it on your own, and I can't think of many people I know who would tackle it with such positivity, bravery AND start a little business on the side too! You really are superwoman! But you are also allowed to feel a little jealous of someone else having things a bit easier. I've spent 4 months being jealous of girls with DH's who are well & able to help... and while you're superwoman, you're human too! Looking after bubbas is wonderful, rewarding, challenging and relentless. And everyone has down days/hours/months etc! I know I have days where I feel more than a little gaga... and funnily enough I was talking to a friend of mine who's bub is the same age (her first) and she's suddenly feeling very flat, a bit PND-ish. I reckon it tends to hit just about now. It's like we psych ourselves up for pregnancy, birth, newborn hell... and then when the bub is about 6-7 months (just coming into winter for us - not great timing) i think it sinks in that this is it. That it's not just a short-term challenge, that our life HAS changed, and it isn't changing back. I think it's not uncommon to feel a bit trapped or disillusioned (and then the guilt that goes with feeling like that - "if I was a better mother I wouldn't feel like this", "look at everyone else, they all love this life, but I'd just like a break sometimes"). I think I felt it a lot my first winter with Xander. I loved him to bits but I felt my life was just GONE (it didn't help that DH had done his back and my car was crashed into and took 5 weeks to be repaired)... I felt horribly house-bound and trapped in my life. And I think it's really important to talk about this kinda stuff and let ourselves be human. And lets face it, it is a HUGE adjustment with your first baby... and for example, me before having Xander... well I had a sweet old time poncing around the CBD in a suit, "lunching", getting my hair done, going to the gym... it was pretty sweet. But this time around with Annika, it's not changed my life nearly as much and I have found it much easier. I think there really is such a huge first time adjustment. Now I realise I've probably digressed a little from my original point, because in your case, the mixed feelings about XH are even more complicating! And while I could say "yeah, don't think about it".. ah easier said than done isn't it! So explore it here, or with friends - whatever works for you. I guess I just want to make the point that it's natural to have mixed feelings... oh and a big hug for you Ms Superwoman :hug:.

AFM I'm feeling so much better. I went shopping this morning with Annika and she slept in the stroller. I think it was the first time in months that I've just sauntered round the shops, no rush, no hurry... did some "browsing" cos I didn't want to wake her. Didn't have anything urgent to do at home (X was at daycare), it was really nice. Plus she's been pretty feral with teeth (I found it really hard to cope with on Tuesday) and today she seemed a bit better, man it was a relief. I'm thinking of getting her an amber teething necklace. Anyone else using one? opinions? I haven't tried one before.

Belfie - I have visions of Annika scoffing peanut paste on toast hehe. I think I would have done the same thing as you have with your MIL. She should have been more reliable in the first instance and as she wasnt, well its hard to hope she would be for the next time. Does that sound bad? Didnt mean it to - just that I would be skeptical too. ahhhh browsing the shops...have not done that for ages. Must have been nice! CHloe has a teething necklace. I got it online somewhere...cost $15. Cant say it has worked as she has no teeth haha - or maybe its worked a treat!

Connie - I guess she could be teething. She doesnt have any yet.. It seems to be a little better today since I stopped giving her yogurt though. I will wait a few weeks and try a small amount again. What a good strong boy George! When will your new place be ready for moving into?

Chuckie - I hope you gave her an earful! That is unacceptable and really frustrating Grrrrrr.

Bec - Awesome re: seatbelt covers. I will transfer cash now. Its totally normal to feel jealous but then would you really want to trade positions? Thats how I try and look at things. Sometimes I think "I wish we had a life like that.." but you always assume people are happier and have things easier than they actually do. I honestly think you are doing such an amazing job. You have Isaac all to yourself and you have started a small business (which is going great guns) and you are talking travelling too! I bet I dont even know the half of it :). It makes me happy to think there are mums out there like you.

Dory - hows things going?

AFUs - well I am now working 2.5 days per week which, surprisingly, feels great (on top of being president of the largest netball club in perth - not so great *sigh*). Chloe is saying 'gah' and 'dah' and LOVES watching birds. Last night she woke only once for the first time in her short little life. 2am then 7am! I cannot believe it. Hoping she does the same tonight FX. Got my appt with the endo tomorrow to get my thyroid checked again but I feel completely normal so I hope he is going to give me the a-ok. I start playing netball this Saturday too which will be a bit of a shock to the body - eep!

thanks Belfie and fuzzy. Can't write much as I am cuddling Isaac but just want to say thanks. Belfie what you said makes so much sense and describes very well how I am feeling lately.

sounds like all our bubs are making similar sounds, so cute. Isaac is doing the da da dadadada da and gah gaga's. I'm telling myself he is bilingual and is saying sister in swahili (dada) but he doesn't have one of those either so my theory makes no sense haha. I think its just the easiest sound to make.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

I can't believe I am the first to post this!

Got really spoiled this morning. Pearl has been busy shopping online she got quite a few things for me that you can't buy in Streaky and DH put together a 40 minute DVD of all of the vids of Pearl - I am going to have to start planning Father's Day already to keep up with the high standard!

I hope you are all having a great day - especially those of us celebrating our first mother's day!

Hey All

It has been forever since ive dropped by.
How is all the babies and mums going?

Blake is doing great. He will be 8 months in 4 days. Where has the time gone? lol.

I hope you all enjoyed mothers day and ive missed you all so much.

Hi girls,

Just crashing your thread. I know some of you from my pre-ttc and ttc days! Alannah was due the beginning of October but came three weeks early but I stuck with the same group of girls as we had formed a great friendship. Buuuuut, Alannah is a bit older than all of them (aside from little Noah who is about 2 weeks younger) and sometimes find it hard to relate to stuff....not sure if that makes sense.

Anyways, I decided I might pop in here from time to time...if that is okay with all?!

Alannah was born by -section on the 19th Sept, 3 week early. She has two older brothers (one who was born the 14th Sept 2006! - gonna be a busy and exxy week that week every year!!). She has not learnt to crawl yet or even commando crawl but does roll all over the floor. Rather funny sometimes. Last week she started clapping which is so cute and then on the weekend was sitting on the floor and suddenly said 'hi' as clear as day! DH and I looked at each other and looked back at her with a big 'Hiiiiiii'!!! Prefer she said "mum' instead though. :-D

Well, best go and get the kitchen organised before dinner.

xxxxx

Welcome Vixstar :D Maybe we should swap groups lol (just kidding, I'm sticking around haha), Isaac was due on 23rd Sep but he was late, born on 6th October. I know what you mean, I am the opposite position as Isaac is younger than most of the babies in this group, and I always feel a bit behind, especially at the start. You're more than welcome, it's a great little group in here :)

Welcome back Deana, we've missed you!

Isaac had the worst tummy pains last night, constipated again. He hadn't done number 2's in about a week. This was normal when exclusively bf, but now he is on solids too so I thought he'd be going every day. Do you think I should be worried? I gave him some egg yesterday and he was ok with it. How old can he be before I try peanut butter? I'm running out of food ideas for him. He would be happy to just eat apple, pear, banana and yoghurt! I cooked some broccoli, cauliflower and chicken for him last night, he ate the broccoli himself, great. But he wouldn't touch the cauliflower or chicken until I put it in natural yoghurt with pears.

Not much going on here, mum has gone away again so it's just Isaac and I until Sunday. I'm hoping I don't go insane. Thinking about going to the travel agent today to book an escape from the winter. I have decided to put off going to Tanzania though as it really is a huge trip, maybe next year.

Hoping everyone had a great mothers day xx

Thanks for the welcome Bec and yes, we are at opposite ends!

Peanut Butter and honey are very much recommended to be left until 12 months of age to reduce the risk of any reactions and allergies, even if there are no food alergies in the family. I have not tried Alannah on egg yolk yet....just not something I have gotten around too. She is having spaghetti bolognaise tonight! Have you tried baked beans? I gave Alannah some last week slightly mashed and she devoured them for lunch! Not so nice nappies the next day though! lol Today for lunch she had big bow pasta (she can hold these better than the smaller types of pasta) with mashed up peas and yoghurt mixed through...I was too lazy to make a white cheese sauce! lol Oh yer, grated cheese is another one he can have too, better than sliced fingers of cheese which is more than likely to stick to the roof of his mouth!

Wow Tanzania!! That would be one heck of a trip, esp with a bubba! I have trouble getting three kids ready for preschool twice a week. *blushes*

Have a great arvo.

Welcome Vixstar! George was born 7 weeks early, but I have stuck with these girls. He fits better in here developmentally.

They really advise against honey before 12 months old, apparently their digestive system isn't able to de-compose it properly at this age.

For lunch I have been offering George - toast with avocado fingers, vegemite sandwich fingers... today I gave him steamed broccoli and caulfilower. For lunch, I tend to give him some yoghurt with fruit which I feed to him, and then something as a finger food that he can feed himself - just for a bit of fun.

For dinner he has vegies, with rice and beef, or cous cous and chicken... I have also given him fish. I have tried pasta a couple of times and he hasnt liked it, I might try again soon.

Oh, I have also given George weetbix for breakfast. He likes them!

Bec - Just be careful that he isn't developing a sweet tooth, and thats why he is wanting the yoghurt and fruit. Keep trying with some vegies I would say.

Thanks Connie. Alannah had weet bix last week......wish i had the camera! The faces she pulled were priceless! Do you use the kids weet bix (less sodium)?

Apparently Vegemite is now not recommended for under 12 months and even the news kids vegemite (My First Vegemite) says not for under 12 months......but I say pooey to that! I put it on so lightly that you almost cannot see it. Yesterday I used some Heinz Pumpkin and Cous Cous to spread on her toast!

Best go and do something about these two noisy older children!

xxxxx

Vixstar - welcome! I had wondered why you weren't in here, so I'm glad you're here now :) that's so funny you have a busy September week for birthdays! We do too. My two were born 17th & 25th. And my DH is 4th Sep. And then I'm 5th Oct. Lol it's gonna be a busy month! I figure I"ll do all the parties then put my feet up in Oct and make them wait on me hahaha.

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How old can he be before I try peanut butter?

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Sorry Vixstar, I disagree with you on "no peanut butter before 12 months". We've had lots of conversations about those things given my DS is allergic to treenuts and eggs. Everyone (Royal CHildren's Hospital allergy dept + two paeds) have told us that risk of allergy is actually lowered with early introduction (ideally before 6 months :rolleyes: I found out recently). So we're doing egg this week with Annika, and have already done peanut butter, and ABC spread (almonds, brazil nuts & cashew nuts). For those who are BF'ing, introducing these foods while bub gets BM is great, as the BM has a protective effect on the gut. This also goes for gluten when there's a family history of gluten issues, earlier introduction while feeding is associated with lower incidence of coeliac disease. Obviously if you've been told something different by your dr or whoever, go with what you're comfortable with, but I'm keen to share our experience of this stuff. Re foods, Annika loves carrot and has been pretty happy with zucchini too (very mushy tho!) and loves toast!

Deana - g'day, nice to see you back in here again.

Connie - does George just love his food? It sounds like he's pretty happy with it all which is great! I'll have to try Annika on weetbix, I have some in the cupboard ready :) Do you let it go soggy? or does he have it more crispy?

Hi to everyone else, hope you all had a great Mother's Day! Well we finally got out for our wedding anniversary (no more food poisoning lol) so that was nice. Annika has been pretty unsettled with teeth, yowling in evenings and doing about half her normal day sleeps. So I caved and bought an amber teething necklace (never had one for Xander) but of course it arrived today and she's just improved a day or so ago lol. I guess it's murphy's law, but either way it's nice to see her happier again. She was a grumpy little bear, it was doing my head in.

Oh and re bubs being at the opposite ends of the spectrum, well Xander was always just so cruisey I think I've gotten used to having kids that just do things in their own sweet time (seriously he was late doing everything... but just SO happy, really it didn't matter!). I think I'm kinda expecting Annika to be the same, since she certainly isn't on the move! I took a pic of her today (for my 365 project) and I think she looks so OLD! It does my head in... she's 8 months old next week, where is time going?!?!?

Connie - thanks I tried potato, pumpkin and brocolli tonight, and he ate nearlly the whole lot. I mixed yoghurt in with the potato to make it not so dry, but the yoghurt isn't sweet so I think that's ok. I give him natural (biodynamic?) yoghurt that I eat, it's a little bit sour not the sweet stuff, so I'm surprised he likes it. Must try weet bix too soon :)

Vixstar -haha the faces they pull are just so funny. Sometimes I have to turn away because I can't help laughing at him!

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Wow Tanzania!! That would be one heck of a trip, esp with a bubba!

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Yeah it is a huge trip. Just to fill you in, Isaacs father lives in Tanzania and I was thinking of taking him over to meet him, and I also wanted to visit friends there and do some work for the NGO I worked for. Not somewhere i would normally go for a short trip!! Maybe I'll do it next year though :)

Belfie - thanks for that about peanut butter, I think I'll give some to Isaac on Sunday when mum is back. Just because if he does have a bad reaction I'd rather someone else be here too in case I panic. My nephew stopped breathing the first time he had peanuts, he was 4 though. Scary stuff. Your 365 pic today is just gorgeous, and I know what you mean how old they look now - have a look at this one from the other day! Looks more and more like a little boy and not a baby.

I got my new Ergo Performance today! Very happy with it. I was worried it would be too long but it's perfect. Oh and I booked a trip for Isaac and I, we are going to Thailand in 5 weeks! 9 nights in Phuket with a 3 night stopover in Kuala Lumpur on the way. I am so excited, going to get Isaacs passport sorted tomorrow. I'm a bit nervous, it will be his first overseas trip, and the longest flight I've been on with a baby but I think if I don't get out of here during the winter I am going to go insane. I can't wait :D