Babies born~May 16th-31st 2009 #5

[Snacks]

Hello Bridg!! Wowee, sounds like Logan is doing really well Glad his eye issues are righting themselves. Keep us posted after the specialist visit.
BG: Sorry E is a bit out of sorts. It can be so confusing when they don't do what they normally do, hey. Phoebe has got me shaking my head with her sleeping patterns - just weird. She's doing two sleeps / day usually now, but if she wakes early from her afternoon sleep she seems to want a third sleep but won't go down for it. Grrr! So when she finally drops off at bedtime... she wakes an hour later! AAAAAGHHH!!! Driving me mental. I'm hoping this is a phase too and that she's back to normal again soon... hoping this isn't the new normal, LOL!
Naomi: I read a bit of SOS when Natty was a bub but I worked out pretty quick that it didn't work for us. Natty just wasn't a routiner as a baby. Only when she got a bit older (like around the 10 month mark?) then she became a REAL creature of habit and thrived on her daily routine. By then she was sleeping pretty well most nights and was generally pretty settled through the day too. Yes, I reckon Hall is too rigid too. As well as the all-important self-settling advice, I have MAJOR issues with her feeding advice. I think she's not supportive of breastfeeding. (I know that's pretty irrelevant to where we're all at now, but that's my ideological problem with her routines).
Hope Bailey's coping better with that last adjustment now? I know it's not the same, but Phoebe now cries a lot if I'm not right there with her too. She's only happy on the floor for a short time unless I am there playing with and talking to her.
I hear you on the returning to work anxiety. It's so depressing, isn't it. I cried most of the night when the realisation hit me. IRT working out his routine so you can see him around work, I wouldn't stress too much. His routine may naturally change by then anyway, and he'll be that much older and probably that much more capable of staying awake a bit longer for you. Probably the excitement of seeing Mummy will keep him alert and awake for you
Vic: Phoebe is loving solids, as of the last 2 weeks or so. She's having a mixture of finger foods and food from the spoon. Generally if I am feeding her from a spoon it is straight from the fruit - ie I'll use a spoon to scrape off avocado from the skin or break of small mouthfuls of banana for example. Although we have tried yoghurt which she sometimes loves and sometimes passes on. She MUCH prefers finger food. Favourites here are steamed beans, zuccini, carrot, pumpkin, watermelon. She's also had pear, potato, sweet potato, grated cheese, mango, broccoli, cauliflower... but they haven't gone down as well. Big fan of the rusk... She practically eats the whole thing sometimes, LOL! Some days she eats more than others and I have to be really careful to make sure she's getting enough milk. Today she had a bit of a hard time doing a poo (unusual for her - I think her toileting habits are rather like CJ's. Phoebe often goes a couple of times a day which is fine except she'll often choose to go as soon as we drive out the driveway).
Nicky: Bepanthen has always been my nappy cream of choice here, but we've not had a bout with broken skin before The worst case Natty got was a stubborn one that needed some thrush treatment too - looked like lots of little pimples on her bot. Do the wipes you use have fragrance in them? That may aggravate the skin. I'd probably go for water and cotton wool... its more hassle, but it's gentler on her skin. Sometimes if Natty has a sore bum (like poo burn if she's done a secret poo and it has stayed in the nappy too long) she'll get upset if I use wipes because they are a bit sting-y.

Well, Phoebs has now started to get up onto her knees. She only rocks while she's up there and tires quickly, but it's another step towards getting mobile I guess. She's a lot more socially engaged now. She was charming everyone at church this morning, big grins all round except for one man... Our friend Bob who said, 'Boo!' to her... and FREAKED her out, LOL! He's such a lovely man and he felt soooo bad about it. Her little mouth turned down and she started to cry and every time she looked at him she'd turn her head and hiccup into the shoulder of whoever was holding her.
Tonight she was cackling with laughter at Natty... again. Neither Natty nor I knew what was so funny, but something took her fancy and she laughed her little head off for ages. They are becoming great mates. The other morning Natty and I were reading on the lounge and Phoebe woke up so I went and got her. When I brought Phoebe into the room Natty said, "Hello Phoebe! How are you, gorgeous?" LOL, it was soooooo sweet, I nearly cried.
Having said that, now Phoebe knows to kick up a stink if Natty takes her toy from her (which happens with alarming regularity). But also, she gets really cross if I take something away from her too. Like paper. (She loves eating it. And I'm not really fond of fishing chunks of it out of her mouth.)
Agh, it has gotten to pumpkin-time again. Must be off to bed. Hope everyone else is doing well. Love to you and your bubbies.

[MummyNaomi]

Amy - agreed, I dont much like her routines re feeding either, and agreed its very breastfeeding unfriendly, I am very glad I didn't read the book when I was pregnant or a new Mum. I am a great believer that babies have their hungry and unhungry days, just like we do as adults, and overall I'd rather respond to Baileys needs rather than my own needs to have him feeding, sleeping at a certain time, but mostly they normally fall into a pretty constant pattern. Two tips that I have taken from her book that ARE working well is that I have stopped wrapping Bailey during the day and just popping his little summer weight sleeping bag over his clothes for day naps and he has napped longer every time I have done this - seems to associate the sleeping bag with sleeping rather than catnapping which is fab! Also, by pushing his morning nap back a little (eg till 9am) he is sleeping longer and lasting out the day better. I am still cuddling and rocking him to sleep, he's usually asleep within 5 mins anyway so its really not a chore. I tried to let him self settle the other day as I posted and it doesn't work for us (plus I missed my cuddles hehehehe). I bought Pinky McKays book from Toys R Us yesterday, am loving it, it really reinforces everything that I am doing and has given me a huge confidence boost. So overall I have reminded myself that no book can tell me how to parent, but I am finding a few great tips and ideas to steal along the way.....

PS Bailey slept 7pm to 6am last night (he woke briefly at 3am, I popped him into bed with us and he went straight back to sleep), no bottle required, I was pretty damn impressed with that effort.....

[MummyNaomi]

Natty said, "Hello Phoebe! How are you, gorgeous?" LOL, it was soooooo sweet, I nearly cried.

That nearly made me tear up!! How cute and lovely is that

[Snacks]

LOL, it was very cute, particularly cause she can't really pronounce her 'g's properly yet - it was more like, 'dorgeous'. LOL!
What a fabulous night you had! 7 til 6 is indeed pretty damn awesome. Great about the sleeping bag! I wonder if I should try that with Phoebs. Her day sleeps are touch and go. Since we've lost that third sleep she's been sleeping usually one 1.5 hour sleep and one 40 min - 1.5 hour sleep, but some days she is just off and only has two catnaps of 20-40 mins. Frustrating! But maybe if I put her in her bag...
Did you get Sleeping Like a Baby? I should have a read of that one. Had a flick through Parenting by Heart but that was aaaaaages ago. Not sure that Pinky would approve of all my methods either - I don't think I'm a particularly gentle parent. But it's like you say, the books are there to give us ideas and support us, not tell us what to do.

I'm leaving Phoebe for the longest time ever this morning. Going to do the cleaning for DH's work and Mum's going to have her for me for half a day or so. I'm a bit nervous - not for me as much as for Mum. LOL! Not sure how she's going to go getting Phoebe to sleep. But she's usually happy just to have someone cuddle her and carry her around, so I think Mum's arms will get a decent work-out.

[MummyNaomi]

Amy - Ooooooh - I bet you will be so excited to see Phoebe when you have finished! When ever I leave Bailey I am always bursting to get home and see him, I think I'll be rushing out the door at work soooo quickly LOL, must be careful not to get a speeding fine on the way home..... LOL! And yes, it was 'Sleeping Like a Baby' that I bought!

Well last night was even better - Bailey slept 7pm to 630am with a wake up at 5am - I chucked some teething gel in his gob as his second tooth appears to be coming through and he went back to sleep. Awesome! We are going to Perth for 4 days this Thursday (to see my little brother Simon) and Perth is 2.5 hours behind - that will be interesting, as Bailey will probably be awake 4am Perth time LOL

Bailey is obsessed with trucks and cars - typical boy! Mum gave him a mega blocks truck for chrissie and he has been playing with it constantly. I dug up some other cars that I had that I thought he was a bit young for and he is in love with them hehehehehehe

Krystie - I bought one of those reject shop letter play mats yesterday for our playroom, its awesome - will take a photo later of Bailz on it - seems to be a BB tradition hehehehehehe

[briggsy's girl]

E has the letter mat too - got it for Christmas! she loves chewing on the bits and pieces (sigh) - i put them together on the floor randomly the other day for her - and when i looked later (without a baby in the way) i'd come VERY close to putting a naughty word in there... ooops! i was just looking at colors so they weren't together - didn't look at the letters!

Amy - the "dorgeous" comment would have been so cute!

AFU - i had a night of being really unwell the other night and am really struggling now so not a lot to update - daddy is on bubba duty for the moment!

[Nicole S]

Hey ladies need some help so sorry to make this all about me
I can't get Aaron to bed before 11.00pm every night and it is slightly driving me nuts!!
I know I don't work but still him going to bed for final sleep is taking its toll on me.
We don't have a strict routine but a have put below how our day sort of works so if anyone has any other suggestions that would be great.
Mind you next week he will decide to sleep at 9pm again

* Wakes up anytime between 8-9am /BF and straight back to bed
* Approx 2 hour sleep

* Wakes up anytime between 11-12 noon /Farex play on his mat, BF back to bed (awake for 1.5 hours)
* Approx 45-60min sleep

* Wakes up between 3-3.30pm/ BF one side play time BF the other side Back to bed (awake for 2 hours)
Approx 45-60min sleep

* Wakes up anytime between 6.30-7pm/ Dinner (solids of some type) Bath, BF back to bed. (awake for 2 hours)
Approx 45-60min sleep
* Wakes up again last time thank goodness around 10ish BF back to bed (awake for 1-2 hours )
Sleeps till morning so approx 8-9 hours

So is this too many sleeps?? He actually wants to go to bed rubs his eyes, pulls his ears gets cranky?????

Again sorry to make this all about me, and PROMISE to catch up with everyone very soon

[~*Niadalla*~]

Nicole, I just wanted to sy I am jealous of you 8-9 hours sleep!! haha

Personally, At the 8amish feed, I would be keeping your little one up for 2 hours. I think that would change the rest of the days sleeps for you and then you could probably have him in bed by 8pmish.

I've just changed DD's sleeping routine to being awake for 2 hours in between day sleeps and it's working quite well. SHe doesn't do full nights though, still waking at least twice a night most nights.


Hi girls!!!!

BRB for more persies!

[Nicole S]

Yeah that might work, but to be honest I am a little selfish
I find that when Aaron has this sleep I can get so much done, have my shower coffee hot not warm or cold, washing, tidy up FB, BB
But I think he really enjoys this sleep as he is so happy to go back to bed after his first feed.
Mind you it couldn't hurt to give it a go

[briggsy's girl]

i was going to suggest the same hun - most babies have around 10 awake hours a day - if he's getting all his sleep time early in the day, he's going to need more awake time at night. as much as i love E sleeping in the morning so that i can get stuff done, i found getting her up in the morning (we still have a snuggly drink in bed but get up), she goes back down around 2 hours later for her first sleep, sleeps up to 2 hours (which i find is much better for her than 20-60min cat naps), awake for a couple of hours, asleep for about 1.5, awake a couple of hours, maybe a 40 min nap while we organise dinner, awake, dinner, play for a while, then into bed. she wakes around 11 for a feed and bum change, but is back asleep within half an hour. last night she didn't wake until 12...

[Snacks]

Naomi: Yeah, was very excited to see her after work today. Had forgotten to take the breast pump with me to work so my boobs were aching a fair bit when I got to her - it'd been around 6 hours. But then I had to wait another half hour after I got to Mum and Dad's because she was having her afternoon sleep. Was lovely though- we had really nice snuggles once she was awake.
What a great sleep from Bailz! How long will you be in Perth for? At least if he does wake for the day at 4 you will have lots of willing babysitters so you can have a nanna nap in the day
BG: LOL @ the naughty word! PMSL, that's funny. Sorry you were crook the other night. Hope you are back to good health soon.
Nicole: Yeah, sounds like he is starting his day at 11 and going down for the night at 11... not unlike the whole 7 til 7 routine... except 4 hours later Probably it's a choice between having your 'you' time in the morning or changing his routine so that your 'you' time is in the evening. I agree with Nicky, 8-9 hours is lovely! Phoebe rarely sleeps that long, usually it's 6 hours max before she wakes for a feed, and the last few weeks it has been more like 4 hourly.

Okeys, gotta go change a stinky nappy. Lucky me!

[MummyNaomi]

Nicole - we need to split the difference - me with my early riser and you with your late one LOL !!
I wont post further advice as I agree with the other girls with their suggestion to start his day earlier so it ends earlier! I so understand how tempting it is to have all that lovely free time in the morning to get stuff done, I'd not want to give it up either hehehehehe.
Amy - Ow re forgetting the breast pump!! I remember when I went to a wedding when Bailey was 4 months and I went 5 hours between his last feed and an express, was getting RATHER uncomfortable! (And then had to express in the car in the middle of the city LOL). We are off to Perth for 4 days, will be back about 10pm Sunday night!!
BG - Hope you are feeling better mate

Well DH and I just sat down and did the sums. Looks like I will be going back to work 4 days a week. We are trying to get the balance right between money vs family time (and being able to go back to saving a bit as we haven't while I've been on mat leave) I worked out that if DH works 3 days and me 5 we wont be much different off as if I work 4 (as I earn more), but selfishly I really cant go back to full time (from an emotional perspective). So DH will continue to work 5 days and me 4 (unfortunately my goal of only working 3 isn't possible). I have my meeting with my boss tomorrow so am going to also see if there are any tasks I can do as work-from-home. Its doubtful as I manage a team of people so its a bit hard to manage remotely, but its worth asking/investigating. I offered that DH can also work 4 days, but he is not happy with the drop in money, where as I can see where savings can be made for him to do that, but he's a bit stuck in the mindset about maintaining our standard of living etc (whereas I no longer give a rats toss, would be happy to buy a little house again and not work at all, but its not only my decision which is fair enough).

Anyway, best be off, DH has almost finished bathing the little guy so I best get organised for bedtime for Bailz and sort out some dinner

Naomi

[Bella29]

Hiya girls.

Well I am being naughty cos I should be doing stuff to help us get organised but I am procrastinating. There is so many little jobs that I haven't done but I just can't get motivated... I am really gonna miss my sister. I have never been close to her over the years, but it has changed this year and now I don't know what I will do without her..... crying whilst I write this. Oh dear!

Jemima is just pushing on with her development honestly!She has mastered the proper crawl and is onto furniture surfing... only moves a few feet on the furniture but she also lets go. She has no fear and KL I think she must resemble Kyson cos she has bruises on her face... I have to remember to put up the cot side cos she is always standing there now waiting for me to go and get her! Who would have thought she would push ahead soooo quickly!

We gave her a piece of apple 2 days ago and she devoured it!! very funny. Is was her first solids, she has just gone 6 1/2 months when we did. We were waiting so we don't introduce anything else into her life whilst everything is so chaotic for her but the CHN today. ( we gave her her 6month jabs today) said that the night waking she is doing is likely attributable to no solids so DH is keen. She didn't seem to have any adverse reactions to the apple so we will probably give her some more to help her cope with the energy demands of being a little dynamo!

BG an gf of mine was saying her little man went from formula to refusing formula in favor of solids back to refusing all solids, then back again. Ask your MCHN by all means by I wouldn't worry yourself too much. She would eat if she were hungry for it and whilst she is bf sshe will get all the nutrients she needs.

Stats 8.4kg
68cm height
and a boofy 46.5 cm head

Absolutely must go!!

Love you all

Bella

[MummyNaomi]

Bailey cut his 2nd tooth!! He was born with his first so this is very exciting - also explains why he was grumpy yesterday and today - poor mite!!

[*TripleJ*]

Jamie crawled today woo hoo

hes got 4 teeth he bit me today that'll teach me to put my fingers near his mouth

[~ Mylitta ~]

Bella - The bruises are so sad aren't they?! Poor mites. I guess they have to learn some how and we can't wrap them in cotton wool (although sometimes i think it would be a good idea!). Oh, and don't take the nurses word that solids will help Jemima sleep through the night. Kyson has two meals a day (brunch and dinner) and he still wakes 3 hourly for feeds during the night. He seems to be more wakeful if his belly if fuller from solids, so his brunch tends to be the bigger meal. Fingers crossed that the solids helps Jemima's sleeping for you though.

Naomi - Congrats on Bailey's second tooth finally making an appearance. That first tooth must have been feeling pretty lonely!
Definitely ask about working from home. It would be great if even you could get maybe half a day at home

Jacinta - Yay Jamie! Loved the video of him crawling. I was laughing at how you were pulling the toy away, hehe.

BG - Kyson's napping and sleep routine sounds very similar to E's. He wakes around 6.30-7am, DH gets him up for about 1 1/2 hours, then back to bed for a quick feed then sleeps for 1 1/2 - 2 hours. He then usually has two more naps, one sometime after midday, then another around 4ish. One of those naps is usually a single cycle and the other a double cycle. After his afternoon nap he turns into a snuggle monkey and loves to just be held and cuddled. It's vey cute. Then his bedtime is usually 7.30pm and he wakes for a feed around 11pm (any second now!). Then still feeds 3 hourly at night though.
Oh, and I hope you are feeling better!


There's the call! "Mummy! Milk time!"

Talk to you all soon!

[*TripleJ*]

KL it was a pack of chips lol elmo didnt cut it well i thought maybe if i put a toy far away from him and i worked then he turned on the chips

[Snacks]

Naomi: Ah, sorting through work and money issues is so depressing. I hope you can do some from home too. How long will your DH get for paternity leave? Woohoo @ Bailey's new tooth
Bella: Yeah, the bumps and bruises are all part of the ride - particularly for early walkers, I believe. Natty was 14 months before she walked and didn't have too many accidents, but at that age she had more spacial awareness, LOL! Hope the packing is going ok. Sorry that you're having to move away from your sister when she's been so close over the past year. At least now you have deepened the relationship you'll be more inclined to keep in touch. My sister moved to Cairns several years ago and has now moved to Cooktown. DH has a new phone plan where he doesn't pay anything for calls to landlines and other Telstra mobiles so I have spoken to her more in the last couple of months than I have in ages. I know it's not the same as being able to hang out, pop over, sit over a cuppa etc though.
Krystie: We had another little party today and was talking to a mum who's got an 18mo. She said she bought a couple of size 1 dresses and they were very short. I told her she needed some spunky nappy covers and told her she should look at yours Hope she does. She sounded very keen.
Jacinta: Yes, loved seeing Jamie busting his moves! Way to go!

I got a call this morning to arrange a job interview! Yay! It is next Tuesday - wish me luck.
Phoebe has been a darling today. She had a lovely big sleep this morning (cause DH was looking after her while Nat and I were at the party - little traitor!) and has been very happy and cuddly this afternoon. I'm a bit worried about the solids thing though... Today she's had quite a lot of milk feeds and a few spoonsful of solids (mango this morning, rusk early afternoon, little bit of potato, sweet potato and avocado this evening) but she's still struggling a bit with pooing. Not sure if we should give solids a miss altogether for a bit to see if she comes good? It seems like pretty firm poo... Sorry for TMI.

OK. Bathtime. Chat to you all later.