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

Naomi, great news. If anything, I'm thrilled that you were able to have some questions answered and it really does sound like your head is in a more positive space, just from what you've written. Although I know it still sucks big time, I'm glad there's something good to hang on to. You are certainly not boring any of us. We want to know what's going on... he's our Bailey too.

Does it matter if we know who contributed which present? I ask because after this post you'll probably all know which one I put in. Thing is, my gift came with a little added extra that is too old for the babies. But I'm including it anyway (because it came with the gift) in the hope that whoever gets it can put it away for a bit later.
Yes, I am shy too. PMSL, here I was hoping that you would all be complete chatterboxes so that I wouldn't have to make too much effort ;) Nah, I am really hoping that we'll be able to just carry on IRL as we do on here. Am sooooo looking forward to it!
Really hoping Phoebe doesn't fuss as much tomorrow night as she has tonight though - or I'll be trashed! She has hardly slept all day (had two tiny catnaps) and I put her to bed at 6:30 cause she was just so tired. But then she woke at 7:15! Just had a nap! Little bugger wouldn't settle again (it is quite hot here... I think it's still 30ish degrees now) so I just got her out of bed and she kicked around for a couple of hours. Fed her and put her down about 15 mins ago. Finally I think she has gone to sleep... We will see how we fare tonight.
Tomorrow I have a family-lunch-relo-bash for my uncle's 60th. Am still making cupcakes :rolleyes: Better get off here and finish up so I can go to bed.

Oh, I forgot to confirm I'm due to arrive at Avalon @ 8:35. So a 10am meet sounds good.

Hahaha - I will be the bleary eye'd one - 3 hours sleep thursday, about 4 last night, hoping for a better night tonight. I'll be the 35 yo that looks about 55 :)

I'm going to bed - got to get up at 4-something in the morning to get to the airport on time. Shouldn't be this excited about a 4am wake-up! LOL! But I am ;)
See you all TOMORROW!!!

sweet dreams Amy - make sure you get some sleep hun!

Bridg, Cathy, Jess and anyone else i've missed - sorry we've taken over the thread with meet up chatter! we're so looking forward to this meet and disappointed you all can't make it - please don't NOT post cos we're all waffling - we still want to hear from you i promise!

baby stuff - my girl is definitely MY girl - we have some really noisy moving Christmas decos - some kids completely freak - E was trying to grab them for cuddles - so cute!

Setting the alarm for 515 here, c u tomorrow

hmmm, i didn't sleep so good last night - between listening to the rain (which i normally love but was cursing last night!), E waking (think she was a bit cold), then the alarm going at 6 to get me outta bed (which i re set for 6.30)... sigh. you never sleep right before a big event!

cracked the poos at mum this morning - she messaged before 7am - wasn't expecting it so my phone was still in my room. THANKS mum = NOT! luckily E only stirred, but i told her i was peeved and that she should be more considerate with her timing. apparently she must think i'm a clueless twit that hadn't been able to work out that it was RAINING! ummm HELLO! i can hear things just like the next person - and it's not like we haven't been watching what is happening all frikken week anyway. grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

We all had such a wonderful time today! Kyson seemed to love try to touch the other babies faces and hold their hands. He also looooves his new toys from "santa" (ok, maybe it's mummy that loves them so far because Kyson hasn't actually had a chance to play with them yet hehe). I'd actually been searching for stacking cups, so good work to santa!

Gosh we have a group of really cute babies! They are all so absolutely adorable. I'm so so happy that we got to meet some out-of-towners as well. Who knows if we'll ever manage to do this again, but I certainly hope so! Finger's crossed that next time Bridg, Cathy and Jess can make it too. We missed you!!! I'm sure we'll all post some photos. Maybe we can photoshop Andy, Logan and Cara into our group pic ;)

Thanks again for a wonderful day!!! xoxox

had a wonderful day - E travelled brilliantly (apart from the half hour or so before we got to the city) - slept most of the way home, and when she wasn't sleeping she was chatting away happily. was a lovely day (in spite of the weather and the "oops" fine we got - told DH to check the signs properly cos i couldn't see... ah well...)

E is now snoozing in my arms and i'm about to upload the photos to facebook. will upload all the pics taken, even if they're a bit dodge - help yourselves to whichever ones you want

Also about to upload some piccies! I am still so excited, I had a wonderful day, thanks everyone!

I must say that I agree wth Krystie, our babies ARE cute, and I am not just saying that - what a bunch of adorable little people we have created!

I cant wait to do it all again - maybe we should have an annual meet up - I am pumped for the next one as this one went too quick and I never got to properly sit down and talk to everyone properly. You are all EXACTLY how I expeced, although I temporarily forgot Vic had an english accent until I met her HAHAHAHAHAHA

Thanks Vic for helping Amy and I around, and Bella for the hotel room (hope we didn't trash it too much) and everyone else for being your fabulous selves! And OMIGOD the quiches and the sausage rolls ROCKED

Naomi
x

i have created a private album for us to view with all photos - DH tried to catch as many of the kidlets as he could from the angle he was at - so there are a few that you may want individually

am uploading some i played with in the scrapbooking program (can you tell i'm teaching myself how to use it lol)

Grrrrr I just wrote a massive post and now it's gone, so this will just be quick.

Krystie - glad Santa did a good job. Santa was a little worried that he/she might get it wrong. LOL

Bella-thanks for having us!Sorry we left so much stuff behind. haha. You know, you think your brain goes to mush after one baby... wait until number 2 comes along! haha.

Thanks so much for putting up with us yesterday. I know we are a bit weird and slightly coutry hickish, haha, but we had a great time meeting all of you. I must confess I've already been thinking about the next meet up.... haha.
We got home eventually last night, and Allira did 11 hours before waking for a feed, then another 3 hours, so we got up at 10am this morning. Lachie slept 14 hours striaght and I had to wake him at 10. He's not so sleepy today.. I don't know what the deal was yesterday, but I'm glad he wasn't anywhere near as nutty as normal.... he couldn't put the fear of a 2 year old into eveyone. LOL.

Anyway, was awesome meeting you all. Thanks so much for having us, and I can't wait to meet up with some/all of you again.
xxoo

bahahah and my avvy looks NOTHING like me! haha

Was sooooo good to meet you gals yesterday! We had a fantastic time. So great to get to see all those beautiful bubbas - I got to have a cuddle of almost all of them! It always amazes me how different their little personalities are and the different 'energy' you get from them if you hold them or engage with them. Feel like I got to know them on a different level and also got to finally have a RL chat to most of you wonderful Mummies. Ivy seemed to have a ball and was so tired afterwards I just put her in the car seat and she looked at me, sighed and went to sleep instantly before I'd even buckled her up! NEVER happens!

Thanks Santa J! Ivy has been cuddling her little doggy all morning and had decided that his tail is very tasty... only slightly classier than sucking on people's toes!

Bailey slept so well last night too, all that play yesterday must have tuckered them out, he didn't wake for a feed at all, first time ever.

Re our brace fitting today - So far so good wth Bailz, he had a little cry when the brace was fitted but we think it was more because he was protesting about being face down on his belly for so long rather than the brace. He is currently fast asleep, its been a big morning

We are ok, I had a little cry as was a bit devastated to see him in the brace (and there is a little harness that goes over his shoulders to keep it in place so the metal bit does ride up his back that I wasn’t expecting), but we’ll get there

Of course he did a massive poo on the way home to test out our new nappy changing skills and even managed to get poo on the brace – perhaps its his way of saying this is sh*t hahahahaha

If he is ok when he wakes we are off to buy some new clothes, hardly any of his pants will fit around the brace - DOH. Also, I'd rather have clothes that cover the brace, just cos I dont want random strangers to stare and wonder. He is ok in the carseat and pram - he just touches the sides now, and as we have to sleep him slightly on his side so he is not flat on his back, (just rolled a cloth nappy up so he lays a little to the side, one leg is stuck up in the air a little which is kinda funny.

Naomi
x

Naomi, you and Bailey are such troopers! As devastated as you must be, you sound like you are actually coping rather well! And good on Bailey for pooping on the brace, lol. He's such a good boy, and I think it must be a great sign that he;s able to sleep quite happily in the brace. Enjoy your shopping! You all deserve it. Maybe you should pick out something special for mummy too ;)

Lee - I need to gain inspiration from you, lol. This is the first year I really want to decorate the house fully for Christmas and I know that you are a super christmas decorator. Didn't you have photos somewhere from last christmas? I'd love to see them to get some ideas. I am totally clueless as to how to decorate for christmas. If it was left up to my creativity then ti would end up being just the christmas tree and some tinsel hung around the room. Boooooooring!

Well i think thats the first time i've ever been that busy that i didnt even use the net till now

awesome day yesterday all the bubbas were cute and very well behaved

i think santa did a nice job for everyone :)

ur welcome kat im lucky coz i got a discount on that one coz i bought it from MIL's shop i thought it was so cute jamie is getting one for christmas xoxo

im only tired coz i went out last night and saw new moon

naomi - good on bailey for being so awesome about the brace hopefully you dont have 2 much trouble with it xox

Naomi so glad to hear Bailey handling the brace well. I hope the brace journey is as smooth for you all as possible.

Naomi - glad Bailey isn't too distressed by the brace, and that, even though you're upset, you're still able to find humour! and yay for the little man sleeping through last night - maybe you need to come visit us more often lol

KL - i'm about to start an album on facebook - i have a lot of our decos up. i would like you to the photos from last year but ummmmmm, i seem to have forgotten the password (i put it on cos when you google E's full name, photos come up and there is no way i want DH's family to find them - freaks that they are!)

E has been really tired today - going off to sleep really easily - but not wanting to be left alone at all - and was refusing floor play - until daddy came home! apparently mum doesn't cut it - nappy free play time and she's tinkled in three seconds flat lol

Thanks for the support guys, sooo appreciated!

This arvo has been a little tougher, Bailey has a new cry which is this heartbreaking little frustrating/sad one which is obviously his way of protesting when he cant move the way he wants too. We went and bought a few new pants for him, I tried all his pants on and he only has one pair of warm pants that fit and about 3 pairs of shorts, all the rest have been packed up with his 'grown out of clothes' but sadly he hasn't worn most of them yet, never mind. They need to have a really stretchy waist (eg over 36cms) for me to get them around his brace - so he has gone from 000 pants to 0/1 in a day. Anyway this arvo he was really quiet and wouldn't give us any smiles, instead he was giving us this 'look' which was a bit of a 'what have you done to me' glare, Sean got very upset, so I rallied and we got through it. I dismantled his rainforest jumperoo, sat him up propped up with cushions and put the playstation bit of it over his head so he was able to play with all his dials, spinning bits etc and he seemed pretty happy, but he tired very quickly. The brace does help him sit up unassisted, but the pillows helped when he ran out of energy and started to topple over. Gonna find a beanbag, I think it will come in useful. Anyway he went to sleep very quickly tonight, its been a big day for him and he was completely buggered.

Although we can take the brace off for 30 mins a day, the orthotist said to wait until tomorrow night at least (unless he is clearly not used to it yet and then to wait longer until he settles with it), she showed us how to take it off and on and position it properly, its a bit fiddly but in no time we will be throwing him around - I feel like I am delicately handling a newborn again. She said he was the easiest baby she'd fitted, but its probably because of his poor muscle tone etc, he's a pretty floppy kid, but that will help us put the brace on and off. The annoying thing is this harness thing that goes over his shoulders, it gets in the way with nappy changes and it doesn't appear to make that much difference to the positioning of the brace. I mentioned in my last post that it stops the brace from riding up, but it actually stops it from riding down underneath the bum, but I dont think Bailey could move around to make it get down there anyway, but I'm no expert so will do what they say. I dont remember seeing it on Cerys's brace when I looked at your pictures Vic? Ooh and I will post the train pass back, I forgot to return it to you, sorry about that! All in all the day has gone ok, now we just got to get used to the practical side of it all, changing nappies is certainly challenging, but he's getting heaps of tummy time

Anyway, enough about that. I am loving the photo's of our meet up yesterday and I seriously cant wait to do it all over again. I am happy to make an annual trip to Melbourne hehehhee (next time we should do it when the Crows play over there so I can head to the footy as well!!!! )

Amy - did you make it to the airport in time last night?

Bella - hope you and Jemima got home safe

BG - nice work for E doing a tinkle once she was pants free - hahahaha, Bailey did one while he was nappy free during his brace fitting - LOL, he wasn't about to go down without a fight hahahahhaa

Naomi
x

Will post more later

Naomi - CJ didn't have any harness with her brace it was just the leg cuffs and the bar. Didn't know Denis Brown came with harness was never mentioned to us. I know that she went straight into DB brace rather than a Pavlik harness due to her being big enough for the DB brace, but Bailey is bigger than she was when first when in it so not sure about harness thing sounds like a pain.

We never got smiles from CJ for the first day either, and I know what you mean about "the look". Second day we still got the look intermittently too but managed to coax a smile or two on the second day.

The harness and brace looks like this (look at the picture titled denis brown abduction brace) - Steps Charity : DDH: Conservative Treatment

A total PITA, never mind. Bailey's brace is almost the same as this picture, but it doesn't have the rounded moulding behind his bum - just the steel bar

So you can see why nappy changes suck !!!

ETA - perhaps the harness is needed as Bailey is older and has more movement? I dunno

Hi girls!
Naomi: Glad today went ok. I am glad you are feeling alright about it - from your posts at least you sound like you're making the very best of things, which is awesome. The shoulder thing does sound like a PITA... but I am sure that even with the brace Bailey will be moving around before you know it, so you'll probably realise the importance of the shoulder things soon enough. So sorry about his little cry :( That made me so sad. I am looking forward to reading in a few days how he has gotten used to it and is adapting. :hug:

We did make it home ok last night... For those of you who I haven't caught up with yet, I had a slight... ok MAJOR mishap with getting home. Missed the last shuttle out to Avalon. Got in a taxi though, after dithering about wondering WTH I was going to do! Just made it and thought I was going to have to ditch my stroller cause I'd missed the check-in cutoff time. But they took it for me. Actually, all the staff were just so lovely to me. Made me want to cry and cry.
Anyhoo, Phoebe and I had a ball with you ladies yesterday. Phoebe loves her books - we read them again today and she was very grabby with them (Kat, you mentioned Ivy doesn't really get the whole 2D thing... Phoebe is the same I think). I am very keen to get together again next year, hopefully with a full contingent! Imagine the chaos it'll be... 12 or so little semi-toddlers crawling/cruising/walking/falling about the place! How exciting :)
We had a very relaxed day today getting over our huge day yesterday. We both had a long nap this morning after DH and Natty had left, and Phoebe had a good nap this afternoon too.
Phoebe's become very rolley. Today she was going round and round on the floor: back/tummy/swim around a bit/cry/mummy helps to get back onto back/tummy/swim etc. Tonight I put her into bed awake cause she didn't fall asleep on the boob and she fell asleep on her tummy. I probably could've left her like that but I rolled her over again. I don't have one of those sensor mats, so I'd be a bit stressed I think. Plus, I imagine she'd CRACK it bigtime when she woke up!
There's so much more I want to post but I really need to be in bed. Suffice it to say, you ladies are all so very awesome, it was brilliant to hang out with you, I can't wait to meet up again one day and also meet those who couldn't make it. You are all tops. *MWAH*
G'night!

glad Pheobe loves the books Amy - we have so many issues trying to find baby related stuff (that doesnt cost the earth) out here - E has a couple of those ones, and loves them to bits! her and daddy read them every night. most of the time she just kinda looks at him as if to say "oi, hand it over" cos she doesnt want to read just chew, but she will sit through a full read through some days...

e has had 3 sleeps of over 1.5hours today, so obviously still tired from yesterday. couldn't get her to sleep more than one sleep cycle though - been back and forth up the hall to resettle her lol

hope everyone liked the layouts i did last night - needed to stay awake while feeding the poppet, so decided to play (plus i'm teaching myself to use the program as i go lol

BG - DH and I managed to get ourselves a parking ticket too, lol! Oh well, it was worth it! Your photo layouts were lovely. I've been making a digiscrapbook for the grandparents for christmas. I am planning on having them made into a photobook (there's 40 pages), but I just need to get them printed now. I've been trying to do it on the bigw webpage because their big square books are the cheapest I've seen, but I'm having huge problems uploading the pics because they are so big. Takes forever for each picture and I keep getting an error as well. I've now given up and put them all on a usb stick and will take them into a store and hope it works better for me there. The pain with that though is that I can't modify the images if they are not the perfect size! I'll post all the pics on facebook after the parents get the books for christmas :)

Naomi - You are amazing! Bailey is amazing! Never forget that xoxox

Amy - Gosh you must have stressed with all the upsets on the way home! I would have been close to tears too, lol. Good thing that the staff were so lovely to you.

Sorry I can't do anymore persies. Kyson is sleeping and I have a million things to do. I'm multitasking though and also uploading a little video of Kyson crawling properly to facebook, hehe. Maybe I'll even try to add some photos too!

Things are going really well here, for those who haven't seem them, I have posted some pic's on facebook (also it was a good way to tell the masses, rather than have to rehash the story everytime someone see's Bailey in his brace for the first time, I stole your idea there Vic)

Krystie I have sent you another Spunky Bums order, they are really great for adding a little more padding between the bar and Bailey's Bum/Back - I reckon there is a whole market out there for you for braced kids and babies LOL

I think I worked out why the harness is useful hahahaha, Bailey managed to get his foot in his mouth which is a good thing as he is managing to stay flexible etc, but it meant that the bar kinda slipped under his bum a bit, so the harness stops it from going so far under his bum that he would get stuck folded over with his feet in his face IYKWIM, I'm sure he'd wriggle back into position but for a moment there it looked like he was gonna get a bit stuck

Off to take a nap


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

BG: I have been very slack with reading to Phoebe. I used to read to Natty before every sleep as our 'wind-down' time, but with Phoebs the settling time is just not as readily available, so a boob goes in her mouth, then bed. LOL! But was reading the books with her yesterday and she was grabbing at the things on the pages, wondering why she couldn't pick them up probably. Natty loves them too - she is a massive book-lover. I hope she stays that way.
Good work on the sleeping, E! Phoebe had a couple of good naps yesterday, was a little unsettled last night but managed to finally go to sleep properly around 10 then woke just before 5, so that was good. Even Natty was kind to me this morning - she woke at 6:15 (not so kind! I was just back to sleep) but we came downstairs and she watched a couple of Thomas episodes so I could snooze on the lounge. Then she came and demanded breakfast, LOL.
Krystie: TOPS video of Kyson! That's so cool - the crawling and the tipping the cups over! Sorry about your parking ticket.
Naomi: Some great pics of Bailey. I am so pleased he is smiling again today, even though you've had to work hard for it. Great that he's still able to suck his toes... what is with babies and toes?

I have uploaded pics from Sunday on FB, although I must admit I was a bit disappointed with my shots - I don't think there are any gold ones in there.
I am keen to do some photo books for Christmas too, although I doubt I'm going to get my act together in time. Big W have a great special on atm - 2 books for about $20 I think? Until the 15th Dec.

Hi Girls!

About time I popped my head in I know.

Cara is getting teeth!!! I looked at her gums today and sure enough you can see 2 little white marks under the gums down the bottom of her mouth. The one on the right seems like it will be first. I've been giving her bonjela. I tried these caffeine teething pills with Laura. I might try and get some of those too. She seems to like the bonjela which is good. Though tonight she was crying and wouldn't settle for sleep, pulling at her ears, so I tried a bit of panadol...but she sicked it up. Oh well. She's passed out asleep now!

She is becoming such a little character now! She notices everything and everyone. She is blowing raspberries and trying to do the indian call hehe. She's grabbing at stuff all the time (ouch! not my nose or hair Cara lol) She still does not sleep really well....wakes most often about 3 times a night. On a bad night...4/5 times. And a really good night is when she only wakes up ONCE between midnight and 5/6am!! Those nights I am soooo grateful for a bit of a sleep through hehe. She does not sleep long during the day either....her naps average 30-45 mins. Then she's be tired an hour or so later. I've tried keeping her up longer...for a couple of hours or more...and she still only sleeps 45 min. :( She may sleep the odd 1-2 hours...but that is such a rare thing. Maybe once a week or fortnight.

Alby (my ex) and I are getting along ok. We've had a few arguments here and there....but I hope things will improve next year.

Naomi: I'm so sorry to hear about Bailey needing the brace. Hang in there...it will be worth it in the end. He's such a champion! He always seems to have a smile on his face. :)

Krystie: I can't believe how fast Kyson is developing!!! He'll be the one to watch hehe

BG: I read to Laura every night before bed, and (if Cara is in my arms at the time) she will now grab at the book and takes a lot of notice hehe. So cute!! I have had some books in this family since my eldest was born (1997..Yasmin). I love the fact I still have the same SPOT books, Mickey mouse, Dr Seuss, Little Golden books, .etc to pass down. Some are sticky taped up from being ripped, but they were very much loved! Ofcourse Laura has a whole collection of her own new books as well. She sleeps next to a big plastic box full of books and she picks out what she wants to read. Some nights it's one book...some nights 3 hehe. She's doing so fantastic now not wetting the bed at night....goodbye nappies!!! So proud of my big girl. Becoming a big sister has made her grown up I believe.

I am so jealous you ladies all got to meet up!! The photos just look fab!! So cute to see so many babies in one room together. Cara sends big raspberry kisses to all the cute May babies xox

Hi Girls, just a quickish one cos I really should be in bed.

Naomi, honey you sound like you are doing really well!!! I am so proud of you. Maybe it is just because you are so real with us, but after your outpouring of grief, I worried initially how you would cope with Bailey in the brace, not physically but on the emotional side. I have to say the way you are talking now leaves me in no doubt that whilst it was a sucker punch to the gut when you were first told, you are one hell of a strong lady! So glad to see it and the humor in your posts. Bailey needs to see your smiling face and I think he will..... mmmwwaaahh to you and Sean!

Krystie- I got my Spunky bums and I am really happy with them! They are great! and thanks for the lollies too!

BG- Sorry to hear about your fine honey!!! Thats the last thing you need. Keep your chin up honey.

Cathy- Lovey to hear from you!!! I could see the same little white lines in Jemima's mouth before she got her two bottom teeth... Believe it or not I think she is now trying to get her top two!! Just be careful with the Bonjela honey! I can't remember what they found but there was a really bad study done on it in the UK which showed that it has some really bad side effects...... I think there was even an article here on BB somewhere if you want to go look.

Kat- it was awesome meeting you and Ivy, I realised I hardly cuddled anyone else's baby, unlike you! You are just how I imagined btw.

AFM- Well Jemima was a gorgeous piece of baby for the flights home... she had a big day cos we went on a train to meet a cousin of mine who I hadn't met for 14 yrs but to whom I was close to as a child, which was nice, but we didn't get home to Townsville till monday night at 9.30... poor little girl was tuckered out, but she still was more quiet than any other child on the plane and everyone kept telling me so:) Ok yes I am a proud mummy:redface:

I forgot to mention Naomi that my mothers group MOPS has a free give away table which I have gotten heaps of clothes for Jemima on and they are having the last meeting for the yr on Friday. I will search on there for little boy bottoms for Bailey in size 0-1, so before you buy up everything let me see what I can find for you.

Love to you all, it was great to meet you all....... I had been feeling a little wasteful for having a hotel room all to myself, but with the way it worked out I felt better about indulging my own need for privacy..... and I got the double pay off of feeling like I got to contribute something useful.

Bella

I didn't know about Bonjela...I will check it out. Thanks for letting me know Belinda!

I look forward to seeing more pics of Jemima..she's such a cutie! (ofcourse I would say that considering she is JUST like Cara in some pics hehe). My Mum would have LOVED a little red headed baby. They are such a rarity....cute as!! Mum wanted me to name my baby girl Bailey....it's a family name from Ireland hehe. Ancestors from there had long red hair (apparently). My Mum was apparently born with red hair, but it dropped out and grew white blonde. Mine was white blonde too..til about grade 2. My son Ronan is the only one to have had hair as snowy white as mine was though. It's gone darker now though.

Oh I am raving..time for sleep!!!

Cathy - I was checking out the Bonjela thing as someone at Mothers Group was asking. It appears that if is called Bonjela Teething Gel is fine, but if is Bonjela or Bonjela cool they are the ones they are saying to avoid for under 16 year olds, due to salicylate salts which have same affect as aspirin which also not recommended for under 16 year olds. Found an article on Yahoo - says is a theoretical risk and the advice from the UK has been to avoid Bonjela and Bonjela Cool as a precautionary measure.

So good to hear from you Cathy - glad to hear your Cara is doing so well - aaaah teething, hope it doesn't cause her too much grief

Bella - thanks for your lovely comments (and everyone else asl :) ). You are right though, I did hit rock bottom when I found out and I certainly used BB to pour out every emotion, but once you hit rock bottom there is only one way out - UP!! My little boy has certainly taught me though that if he can deal with it, his Mum can certainly toughen up a bit hahahahha

We've had a definate shift in the sleeping habits here, Bailey no longer naps for 45 mins, he seems to be doubling or trippling that so getting more like 2-2.5 hours. He was showing signs of this as we were starting to get some longer sleeps, but since the brace I think he is using alot more energy. His brace is 220 gms which doesn't sound like much but in comparasin to his body weight its heaps. I did a quick calculation to ratio is body weight and brace etc and every time he is moving his legs and the brace it work at the equivilent of me lifting 3 kgs with my legs every time I moved them, no wonder he is tuckered out. The brace has slowed him down certainly but he is lifting his legs a lot more than I expected so thats a good thing

Gonna try to clean this house today, I have certainly let things slide in the last week, its a bit of a mess.

Have a great day all
Naomi
x

Vic: I just checked the tube and it is called Bonjela Teething Gel. So that is a relief to know. I haven't given it to her that much yet...maybe 5 times so far? She's only ever had panadol 3 times so far too. I'm one of those people that will wait a headache out, and only take panadol if I really need it. But if it's a migraine coming on..well thats different. I have to hit it on the head at the first sign of the funny vision or WHAM massive headache/vomiting etc. Luckily I rarely suffer from migraines.

Thinking of putting the christmas tree up today. One month to go! I always figure you may as well get some mileage out of the tree..it has to go down new years day or whatever. I once left the tree up ti march just for fun LOL.

I have Laura and Cara's pressies sorted...Cara is getting lots of fisher price stuff ...one is a crawling baby that babbles hehe. Laura is getting mostly Toy Story toys...woody with pull string, Buzz Lightyear with all the lights and buttons hehe.

Getting a photo of all 4 kids done on saturday as a christmas pressie for some relatives. I can't believe I have 4 kids! I never imagined I would have 4 kids one day hehe

OMIGOD - you gotta read this
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...4-5-weeks.html

:rofl: naomi ur so bad

Is quiet in here - maybe everyone is out christmas shopping or visiting santa? We aren't that into Christmas here really and benefit of being over here is hardly any gifts to buy! Will be taking CJ to see Santa somewhere though. We were in town and so walked past Myers window which was very good but not much good for babies as is Olivia helps with Christmas all about this pig. There is a free Thomas Tank Christmas show on at Docklands so will head down there next week - I keep telling people CJ loves Thomas, but really is me that loves Thomas she is too little. I have made her a pink taggy blanket with Thomas sown on (she will prob grow up hating Thomas!)

I am trying to get CJ to develop some more strength in her legs anyone know any good games exercises that are good for leg strength? (not keen on jumpers/walkers as I know are prob ok for most babies but with her hips and lack of leg strength I think may not be the best).

CJ will be six months on Mon, and on Tue we are going to see if she will try any solids, we are doing the Baby Led Solids thing have got Gill Rapley book from library and is very interesting reading - Krystie is that what you are doing with Kyson?

Naomi - I wonder if being in brace helped CJ with her sleeping in the early days - now I think about it her longer sleeping did coincide with the brace going on.

vic - have you got anything that you can try to get CJ to kick at - we have a bouncer that has dangling toys that make noise when you kick them - once E got the gist of it, she would kick a lot and it helped her legs strength. we encourage her to kick at our hands (toys hanging on our hands as targets) and feet (we push a little and get her to push back) when she is sitting in the bouncer (she doesn't do it when laying down - apparently that is boring!)

we also encourage her to pull herself up from sitting - i sit cross legged on the floor and get her to push off my legs. we do a lot of dancing to music (most mornings music is on from when she wakes through until her second nap) - so we dance sitting on the floor together with her sitting or standing. or she will stand on my knees and dance

DH lets her sit on his lower leg and puts toys just out of reach so she has to lean and push herself up to try and reach them

we've obviously not had the issues that CJ has had, and E has always been very strong in her back and neck and hates laying down unless she is asleep, so that has probably helped a lot.

ok, enough waffle!

E is hopefully goign to sleep now. bad day. she hasn't had a dirty nappy in 9 days, and as much as it's normal for BF babies to go up to a fortnight, she is not feeling great with it. seems to have a pain and can't pass it. not loving the way it's making her hurt - poor bubba! talking to the GP about it next week when she gets her jabs - it's become the norm to go a week or more - that doesn't mean that normal is good for her ...

hmmmm - think i best head to the bedroom - DH was putting her in bed and i've been listening to the baby monitor. her sound and light show just finished, no noise from her - but he's not down here so i guess he's fallen asleep on the bed watching her... lol

LOL @ your DH, BG! That's v cute. But actually I almost did the same thing at my folks' this afternoon - fed P while lying on the spare bed while mum was giving N a bath... It was only Natty's babble and occasional shrieking that kept jerking me awake!
Vic: Not sure about leg strengthening exercises... I would've thought practicing weight-bearing would be good. Maybe like BG suggested, pushing against her feet to encourage her to push back? Phoebe likes to do this lying down. I make her legs 'run' sometimes and she cacks herself. Then if I do it more slowly she will sometimes push against my hands.
LOL @ not having many presents to buy. I am really racking my brain as to what stuff I can buy reasonably for all my nieces and nephews, plus extended relos. I have a VERY limited budget this year, so it is going to take some planning.
Naomi: How is Bailey doing?
Hi Cathy! Glad to hear Cara is doing great :) Enjoy seeing her picture on FB.

Sorry - I had intended to write a nice long post with lots of persies... but... It's nearly 10pm again!!! I am not going so well with my sleeping. Staying up a bit too late, then being woken a couple of times a night by Phoebe and then early in the morning by Natty. Am quite tired. Will be back on tomorrow hopefully.

he reckons he wasn't asleep
i reckon he lies!

E went down for her dinner time nap at 7 and is still sleeping. hope she's not planning on deciding it's play time in the middle of the night...

ahhhh always the way - i post, she wakes up lol