Babies Born~September 16th-30th 2009 #1

[Lisa]

Oh Brooke I know! I had the hardest time coming up with a name for Anelise. I had Charlize, Vivienne, Veronica, Evelyn among others on my list. Charlize was 'the' name for ages and then I feel in love with Anelise.

[Oscar&Grouch]

i know i am loving soooooo many
i have 1 problem though DP, he only wants/likes AVA.
Ideally i would like that to be a middle name as im really liking
Charlotte
Zahlie
Georgia
Baylee
Ellah
Imogen
Sienna
Amelia
Mia
Tarlii
or Heidi

hahaha see my problem!!!!!

[Lisa]

I briefly liked Georgia for my first daughter but I wanted her to have the same middle name as me (Jane) which is a carried down name... Georgia Jane doesn't sound too good (she is Madeleine)

Off your list I love the name Zahlie.... I worked with a Zarlie once and she was the loveliest person, it is just such a pretty name!
I also love Imogen & Amelia. I liked Ava before it became really popular again, but someone we know used it for his daughter so I then liked Eva (prononuced Ee vAh, not like Ava), but I personally like names that can be shortened so that didn't stay on our list for long.

[Now we're 3]

Well its reassuring to know that Sam isn't the only one with a taste for facecloths :. I end up having to have two when I bath him now one for him to suck on and the other to clean him with.

Though to tell the truth he is sucking on everything he can get his hands on at the moment. I can't feel any little teeth coming through yet but I know they can take months to come through. I am sure the little bubs can feel them as they are pushing through. I got one of the frozen rings last week but think I'll have to get type as this appears to be just a little bit big for him at the moment.

Well Sam is getting used to his jumperoo though isn't really bouncing too much yet. I think he is slowly figuring out what to do and each time he uses it seems to try something else. I just keep showing him what the different toys can do and then leave him to try them himself. Really looking forward to when he will "get" it and hope we can get some funny videos of him going mad in it.

Well dont have rolling in our cot yet so sorry can't help you there Easha but we do have travelling up the cot. He starts off at the bottom and ends up near the top and out of the covers which is what wakes him as we've the air con on in his room so he gets a bit cool. I have just started him today at GymberRoo so I am sure the rolling will start really soon at the moment he only does it sometimes at tummy time. He does do a funny little shimmy with his hips when on his back though as he lifts his bum off the floor.

Has anyone else noticed any changes in the way their bubs are feeding and waking at the moment? Sam appears to be all over the place at the moment and it is very difficult to predict when he will wake, sleep or feed. He has also started whinging slightly at some of his feeds - I can't work out if he is getting frustrated that flow is to slow or if flow is a bit fast - he is sucking and most of the time doesn't actually come off but stays on but gives little cries when on there and sometimes will pull back when still attached to the nipple (ouch).

Any advice or thoughts on the best time of the day to offer him solids. I guess I should do it the same time every day? For those of you who have started already do you do full breast/bottle feed first and then offer the food or do half feed then solids followed by remainer of milk? You get advised to do both depending on which book you read. I gave Sam some rice cereal at the weekend and he had some of it. He definitely didn't spit it out but think he might have been a little bit more interested if he was hungrier. Though I really don't want to interfer with how much milk he takes as we had heaps of problems in the begining with his feeding.

Congrats Brooke on your pregnancy hope it all goes well.

[Lisa]

I feed Anelise solids twice a day now, she has some rice cereal mixed with fruit around 9am (after the big kids have gone to school) or just fruit, and at dinner time she will have vegetables, which is anywhere between 5-7pm. I usually give her solilds, then top her off with milk.
I don't know what time would be best to start Sam on solids for you, maybe just pay some attention to when he is displaying signs of being curious about food... like getting angry when you're eating, opening his mouth & mimicking chewing.

I have found that Anelise isn't sleeping as much through the day anymore, she is quite active through the day but will have a nap or 2. She does however sleep 12hrs or more at night if she is wrapped.

[Me+him+bub]

hey everyone long time no see!

so hard to catch up!

well jonathan is a big 9.5 kilo 5 and a half month old! his tooth disappeared, but will prob arise again some time soon...

Oh and I got a new job I started fulltime last week at greenslopes private in brissy in the neuro/stroke ward and I love it but my little one starts day care tomorrow 3 full days a week and I feel terrible about it but we need the money and I still want a career and now realise you CAN have both! its wonderful we also can't wait to try for number 2! one more year to go!!! then number 3 then the SNIP!

sorry for the me post but so so busy i have 10 shifts in a row starting tomorrow and have to get bubs AND DF organised!

take care everyone!

[Me+him+bub]

omg I just realised my period is late and me and DF DTD on Sat night without protection although it would seem i would have not been ovulating that late ive been 28 days exact since well 28 days after i had jonathan! mmmmm i did have a preg dream 2 days ago too now im starting to worry..... I will keep you updated!

[Oscar&Grouch]

me+him+bub- ooooh how exciting!
Goodluck with the jobs and a huge CONGRATSSS! Oscar is in day care once a week atm as where i used to work our other female nutritionist has gone on maternity leave! and they were desperate! one day a week doesnt hurt i just hate leaving him! so i know how your feeling... plus the little extra cash goes a long way!!
keep us posted xxx

[AngelaK]

Hi All,

Hope everyone is well. Sorry, I haven't been on in ages!!!

TK - really sorry to hear about your struggles, I hope things are still going better for you, big from us all.

Easha - Emily also has 2 little buds on her gums, drooling like crazy as well.

Brooke - A big congrats on the pregnancy, my DH is pushing for us to start trying for #2 asap, but I'm putting it off as I just can't imagine having another one yet.

MHB - keep us updated with your news, I'm starting to think maybe it's a good thing having #2 so close - it would surely make it easier as they get older, keeping each other company etc .

Anyway, sorry no time to do personals to everyone, I'm sure you all understand!

[Easha]

Hi All,

Yay !! Got little girl down for a morning sleep so have time to post

Now were 3 - am having similar issues with sleeping and feeding. Yesterday Jaida only had 1 sleep of 40mins and the day before she didn't sleep at all. Its hit and miss sometimes. As for feeding Jaida is doing the same as Sam. Whinging and crying on the boob and when swapping sides. It think she is wanting more milk than I have. She seems satisfied after the 2nd boob though.

MHB - congrats on the job and keep us in the loop re: AF. DH and I have decided to wait until 2011 to try again.

Brooke - congrats on a new bub and hope she's a girl for you. How are you feeling??

AFU - being a single parent at the moment with DH away for work. It has been ok but certainly gives you an appreciation of having DH here to assist. Jaida is growing so quickly and is trying to sit, doesn't like being on her back at all. She gets frustrated as she pushes her toys away and then cant reach them. Yesterday you could see her trying to get on her knees....... my determined girl will be crawling soon.

Good to hear from you all

[Oscar&Grouch]

easha- Im feeling pretty good today, im going through a breakup with ex "fiancee" so its been a extremly emotional and tiring week! i have my sister coming up tomorrow to help me cancel all my wedding plans!
as for my pregnancy its going pretty smoothly so to speak my MS has died down ALOT which is great, im getting extra tired though! and im dying from the heat.
Oscar is getting so big now his sitting up on his own and ive started him on solids- (pureed) he lovesssss apples! i have been going to the organic fruit market every sunday morning and buying fruit and veg and pureeing it! its quick and its easy and most of all he loves it!
ive copped alot of slack off some people for starting him on solids at 5mths! but i havent payed much attention! does anyone think its bad?
i find his alot happier his sleeping better and interacting alot more not whinging as much and not as clingy! his FF also..

anyway enough from me hope your all having a lovely weekend!!

[Now we're 3]

Hi all - hope all and bubs are doing good.

BM sorry to hear about breakup and hope you get through it okay and cancelling all the plans are not too stressful. I personally wouldn't worry about starting at 5 months and basically advice seems to fluctuate between 4-6 months. I think the only thing that is important is that their milk intake doesn't drop as this is still where they get their main nutrition from. At the end of the day if the baby doesn't want it isn't ready they won't take it. Our paed advised us to start a few weeks ago and my LO is a few weeks younger than Oscar.

Easha hope the single life isn't too bad and your DH is home soon. Its funny at this stage that they can become bored with doing something so quickly. They certainly now require actual entertaining. Jaida sounds very advanced trying to get on her knees already - you'll have a crawler soon. Sam isn't anywhere near that. Not really that interested in rolling. We do quite a lot of tummy time but he is happy to lie there resting on his elbows looking around. Have just started taking him to GymbaRoo so hopefully this will make a difference. I guess they all develop at different times. He is pretty vocal and loves standing so am not worried about his development.

Lisa and Angela hope all is going well for both of you. How are Emily's teeth coming on Angela?

MHB any further news?

AFU well started Sam on solids which seem to be going down a treat. If he took to BFing as well as he has taken to solids life would have been so much easier in the begining rather than the nightmare that we had Had a bit of false start last weekend where he took it but didn't seem hugely enamoured by the whole thing. In hindsight I think i'd made it too runny. Left it for a few days and tried again and made it a little bit thicker well he gobbled it up. We did rice cereal for the first 3 days starting off on 1 teaspoon, then two and then a tablespoon on day 3. He is funny he is already grabbing my hand and pulling it to his mouth and whinges if I don't give him the food quickly enough. I gave him pumpkin today which he also seemed to like so will try that for the next few days and then look at introducing another veggie. I've a nice little batch of pumpkin freezing now. Decided on the evening feed (6pm ish) as the best time to start mainly because its the easiest to know that I will definitely be here for. Once we've done a week or so of evening feeds then I'll introduce another one in and probably try his second feed of the day. His BFs seem to have settled down slightly with no whinging over the last few days but in saying that he'll probably prove me wrong and be awful tomorrow.

Okay thats all for now. Going to sit and watch a little bit of the Winter Olympics before I have to wake the little chap for his 10.30pm feed.

[Easha]

Hi All,

Long time no speak but very quick post

Brooke - hope you doing ok with everything you have been through recently

Now were 3/Brooke - my single parent lifestyle is over (for now), it nice having DH home.

Am going to be starting Jaida on solids soon as well - I'm quite excited and am looking at the Baby Led weaning method... am reading up on it now.

Any advice on good highchairs and do you ave any ideas about where I can get a spill mat for under the highchair?

Thanks

[Lisa]

Hi everyone

No real time for personals, but thought I would just pop in to say hello.

NW3 - We're doing well thanks hun

Easha - Best advice I can give you is to buy a high chair that has a removable tray for cleaning... and make sure it is easily cleaned... the places kids can put food are unbelievable. There is a chair that can be used as a high chair and later on as a booster type seat at the dining table... they look pretty good if you're into something that will last ages. I am using Harrison's old high chair for Anelise as it is in great condition still. We picked it up for fairly cheap too ($120?), it is a childcare brand one... unfortunately it doesn't have a removable tray on it though

Anelise is going great with her solid foods... she is eating pretty much everything we eat now (apart from meat). Tonight she had a treat of stewed apple, apricot & carrot... she loved it. She definitely perfers her vegies at the moment though. Hopefully she stays that way

[AngelaK]

Hi All,

BM - I agree with Now were 3 about solids, I hear differing opinions ranging from 4 - 6 months being a good time to start, my personal feeling is that if they are showing some interest in what you are eating then it is ok to start - they will soon let you know if they don't want it!

Now were 3 - Emily sounds pretty much the same as Sam, she isn't at all interested in rolling, and still doesn't like tummy time. We have also just started GymbaRoo which I think is already making a bit of a difference.
As for Em's teeth, not too much movement there, I can just see and feel them under her gums, but they don't seem to be doing much, nor are they causing her too much trouble. Just lots of chewing and drooling on things . I have been trying to find a teether that she can actually fit into her mouth, all the ones I have found are fairly round and as she only has a little mouth, she can't get them in far enough to chew on her teeth. Does anyone know where I might find something more suitable?

AFU - We have also had some trouble with feeding, whinging and crying on the boob and wanting to swap sides etc, I thought it must have something to do with my milk supply . I spoke with a mothercraft nurse at the local pharmacy yesterday and she suggested that I try drinking some stout (just a small amount, about 1 - 1 1/2 inch in the bottom of a glass mixed with lemonade or soda), she said to try this for two days, three times a day, apparently the yeast is really good in helping increase milk supply. I will let you know how it goes!!

Hope everyone else is well.

[Lisa]

Angela - Have you seen the recipe for Lactation cookies? They have brewers yeast in them as well as flaxseed... both are meant to help with supply. The cookies are really yum too.
I will post the recipe if you're interested and don't have it.

[AngelaK]

Thanks Lisa,
I don't have that recipe, it would be great if you could post it for me.

[Lisa]

Lactation Cookies

* 1 cup butter or marg
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 cup brown sugar
* 4 tablespoons water
* 2 tablespoons flaxseed meal
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 2 cups flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 3 cups oats, thick cut if you can get them
* 1 cup or more chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons of brewers yeast* (be generous)

Preheat oven at 180 degrees C. Mix together 2 tablespoons of flaxseed meal and water, set aside for 3-5 minutes. Cream (beat well) margarine and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mix well. Stir flaxseed mixture and add with vanilla to the margarine mix. Beat until blended. Sift together dry ingredients, except oats and chips. Add to margarine mixture. Stir in oats then chips. Scoop or drop onto baking sheet, preferably lined with parchment. The dough is a little crumbly, so it helps to use a scoop.

Bake 8-12 minutes, depending on size of cookies.

Serves: 6 dozen cookies

Preparation time: 15 minutes

*can be found at any local health food store. Don't substitute brewer's yeast for anything else... that's what makes 'em work!
*Raw dough works 10 fold apparently

I found that brewers yeast was a little difficult to find... we eventually found the little sachets of them in Big W. They are really yummy. DH & the kids loved it too. I ate them with a big glass of Activite which is apparently also helpful for your milk supply.