Jan/Feb 05 chat - Thread #3

[Daniel's mummy]

We're trying a new routine tonight.  Daniel was down to 2 bottles already (morning and bedtime) and he's recently started to not want the bedtime one.  So what I tried today was to make up a full bottle at 4pm which he took most of quite happily (about 6oz).  Dinner at 6pm and then we'll try to get him to finish off the last few ounces at bedtime.  It'll be interesting to see how this works over the next few days.

Heather, sorry Kelsey had a hard time over thanksgiving.  I often throw pity parties :oops:   Don't worry about it.  In fact I've decided that mums have every right to!  Hope the routine is tweaked soon.

Tarri - don't get me wrong, Daniel is not crawling yet, but I think he's 'moving in the right direction'.  He's just about mastered crawling, or at least pushing himself, backwards.  I'm loving watching him learn each day.

[thitz]

It's me again:)

I can feel the sharp edge of Emily's top tooth coming thru.  So far we haven't had any teething troubles though .

Also we're on the sixth night with no dreamfeed.  So I guess that's finished.

Yesterday we dropped by a playgroup for 5 minutes.  I left cause there weren't any babies her age and all the kids were running around with snot running out of their noses and coughing :roll: .  Eeeks.  I hope she didn't catch anything.

Have a good day everyone, Tarri

[dkjokisch]

We have poo!  I know it's silly to get so excited, but after four days of cranky constipated baby, it is nice to be able to rule this out as a cause of her fussiness.

Tuna - tuna is fine at this age, but you want the regular canned stuff packed in water, not albacore.  We tried it with Maya but she didn't seem to like it much.  We'll try again in another week or so.  She did like grouper, though.

Debra - Sorry to hear mealtime is such a hassle.  I can definitely relate.  Hope you're feeling better soon.

Branwen - We are going to stick with purees for a while yet.  Maya's doing really well with the finger foods, but I need to make sure she's getting enough calories with every meal.  It's easier to do that with puree, and since she still eats it, we're ok.  I do offer puree first, and before we bring our food to the table.  Also, we've been giving Maya her spoon from time to time, whenever her puree is something that sticks to the spoon well (like pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving).  It takes a but of contriving on her part, but she usually gets it in, albeit upside down.

There was one bright spot to Thanksgiving - Maya responded really well to one of dh's sisters.  She is also Maya's godmother, so it made us feel like we had definitely made the right choice.

[Schae]

Helloooo!

I got a job! I start work 3rd January 2006. AND we've found a place of our own. We're moving out of my parents house 15 December. I'm very happy!

The above is why I have been so scarce, been running around doing all sorts of things. hehehe!

JulieG: I've been thinking about you. Don't know how you managed without electricity for so long. Are things any better?

Hazel: WELL DONE ON THE WEIGHTLOSS! I've just joined Weighchers and have lost 1.7kg in a week lol! I feel so good. Can't imagine how chuffed you are with yourself. And yay on Daniel doing his own version of crawling. Too cute.

Deb: Are you feeling any better? Recovered from the cold?

We are in such a dilemma, I can't decide whether to put Luka in creche/daycare or get a nanny. Sometimes I lean towards a nanny because of the one on one stimulation but then I think how close Luka will be to another person and I get jealous  :oops:
But the idea of putting him in creche and him getting ill and not 100% attention. Yah. Dilemma.

Can't really stay on for long. Have started packing and have lots of loose ends to tie up.

Hope everyone is doing well.

[Leah's Mom]

Schae - CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW JOB!!!!!!!!!  How exciting for you! I had considered a nanny also, but couldn't really afford one - they are very expensive here in the US. I have Leah in an in-home day care setting. She is with a stay at home mother who takes in a few other children. I like this idea better than a group day care. It’s a personal decision though. This way she gets the stimulation of other children, but also gets more attention than in a group center.

YAY FOR BRANWEN ALSO ON YOUR MOVE!  Good luck, keep us posted. We can't wait to hear about your move, your new town, and your new house! 

[HeatherC]

CONGRATS, SCHAE!!!  I hope everything falls into place for you.  Keep us posted on your child care decision.

Us-the move to 3 bottles didn't work so well.  I'm going to hold off for another 1-2 weeks, refigured, and try again. 

I have another nephew, born today.  Mom and baby are healthy.  Hard to get too excited, though, since SIL doesn't include me in her life.   

[Jaime]

CONGRATS SCHAE!!!  how exciting!!!   

Congrats to Branwen on your move too! 

and Heather, congrats to the new Auntie... i guess?? too bad about your SIL, although since you are a recently very experienced mommy, maybe the 2 of you will start to form a relationship?

Tarri - too bad about the cream.  we also discovered that if we don't let him scratch his skin, it got better.  since it had spread to the crooks of his arms, we covered them with wristbands - the kind tennis players wear!   :lol:  poor kid, he looks like a burn victim, but his skin is getting better by the day.  been covering his hands at night.  we were using burp cloths in the beginning, but are using little baby mittins now.

We survived Thanksgiving, and truthfully had lots of fun.  both kids seem to have the sniffles now, but oh well.  that's the price you pay to visit loved ones!   

[julieb]

Been busy preparing for Christmas!!  DH spent hours and hours trying to get these stupid special icicle lights to work.  :roll:  So we are still trying to finish the rest of the house.

 :oops: This weekend we were some of those annoying people we made fun of a week or two ago!  :lol:   We dragged poor Asher all over town not one, but TWO days, with no regard for his naps.  We kept looking at his sleepy little face and telling him, "Mama & Daddy are crazy!"  :oops:  :lol: Friday was all in the name of shopping and 50% off toys!  Got good deals and MEANT to be back by the morning nap, but didn't work out that well.  He fell asleep in the stroller at the mall, 45 minutes past nap time, and only slept for 30 minutes.   :shock:   Got home, ate, and put him down for a good afternoon nap.  Poor guy was stumbling all over the family room.  Then Saturday we headed out to get photos taken and meant to be back by afternoon nap time, but the studio was running behind.  At that point, I knew he'd fall asleep in the car on the way home, so I felt like it didn't matter much if we just stopped at the second hand store real quick since we were on that side of town.   :oops:   Yeah, realllll quick!  An HOUR later we were heading home, slept in the car, but woke shortly.  We decided to stop at a Christmas tree lot to pick out our trees so DH could come back for them himself while I tried to get Asher to catnap (didn't happen).   :oops:   He's still kinda recovering.  He was an emotional wreck yesterday, but he's better today.  It's times like these I wish he wasn't a screamer.  But would a high needs baby have any other cry??  :wink:

Anyway, we moved to three full feeds and it's working well so far.  He nurses when he wakes, around 2 pm before the afternoon nap, and at bedtime.  Just gotta remember the new routine!  Went out this afternoon and totally forgot the 2 pm feeding!  :oops:   Had to feed him when I got home which delayed his nap.

Tried ham on Sunday and he chowed it down.  He's quite the meat-eater!  :shock:  Also started steamed carrots and likes those.  He has a diaper rash right now but I don't know why.  Gonna wait on any other new foods until that clears.

JulieG, glad to hear things are getting better.  Sorry Matty had such a hard Thanksgiving.  Not really sure what it could be either.  Asher has good and bad days.  Takes him about 30 minutes to warm up to new people (meaning: everyone but mama & daddy), but seems fine in stores and restauarants (as long as no one talks to him!  :lol: ).  He does have an easier time if the new people are at our house on familiar turf and/or smaller groups of people.

Deborah, glad Maya may be starting to find relief!  Poor girl!

Hazel, I wonder about the nighttime separation anxiety vs. being cold as well!  I've been doing experiements with turning up the heat, putting him in thicker PJs, blankets, and just bought special overnight diapers (thinking making the wet diaper gets cold??).  Not getting consistent results yet.  These early mornings are killing me!  Hope Daniel is improving and congrats on your weight loss!

Deb, so sorry you have the cold now too!  Just seems like you all just finished being sick!!  Strange about Olivia's eating patterns.  Really sounds like she's got the same metabolism you have as you described.  Not sure about the watermelon, my mom always said it was just water.  But if she's taking enough formula throughout the day, I wouldn't sweat her choice of solids at this age.  I remember reading about a pediatrician who said their bodies will crave whatever food they need so current cravings (like toddlers have with cereal) won't last.  Not sure I completely agree, but interesting concept.

Asher is up, must go.

[Deb_in_oz]

Yay Schae!! I am sooooo happy for you guys - i can't wait until you are in your own place - i can imagine that must be exciting finally! good luck with the new job and the daycare decision - apparently nannies in Australia are more affordabl than people think (in light of how expensive and hard to find reagular daycare is it is probably better stress-wise as here if you are even 15 min late picking  up lo they start charging you astronomical penalty fees in 15 min increments  :evil: )

Branwen - Good luck with the move - let us know when you are settled and that you arrived safe and sound and sane  :lol:

I have decided (after seeing my Dr and thinking things through) to relax about the food issues and things are getting better for me at least. my Dr said that if she cuts back on the milk or really stops eating a variety of foods then i should just give her a multi vitamin for peace of mind, but otherwise don't sweat it  :roll:  she reminded me that there are cases of 1-2 year olds who survive on peanut butter sandwiches, etc + vitamins and that you just have to ride out fussiness...  I think it is just a control thing for Liv - she is not going to eat what i say just because i am the mommy - she really asserts her independence (i can already see her at 14  :shock: ) now for breakfast i am offering cheerios and 1 variety of fruit in pieces and she is happier.  as of Monday i stopped offering any more than 8 1/2 oz per milk feed and she was fine at all naps without the extra (her napping is actually been going really well), she woke both weekend nights around 10 looking for food and drank about 4 oz/ 120ml and we have yet to get rid of the Df agaiin - i don't really know when we will  :oops:  (since we started it up again she takes between 2-4oz and sleeps til 6:45 - 7:20am  )  WHAT DO YOU THINK?  also at Lunch and dinner she eats 90% finger foods and a few spoonfuls of food i can get in her - it takes forever but i can nolonger force her to eat according to my preferences - just have to keep trying new foods and hope i get lucky with some explansion of the menu (very limited right now -Dh even made a huge batch of meatballs for the girls - both rejected them!! they were yummy and i have a huge batch in the freezer to keep trying without much effort...)

Julie- you are a braver woman than me - i still can't do that too often and certainly not 2 days in a row

Deborah - yay for the poo! i cabn totally relate as we had so much constipation in the first 6 months - one positive effect of the solids is all the poo now

[HeatherC]

Julie-that is the 3 bottle feed I was trying with Kelsey-upon waking, 2 pm before nap, and then bedtime.  However, she was miserable waiting until 2 for that bottle and it wasn't worth it.  I gave it 4 days and went back to 4 bottles.  Now, I'm thinking of dropping the 4 pm bottle and giving a snack instead; which would leave her with a bottle in the morning, with lunch, and before bed.  I have a feeling this will work as she almost always leaves the 4 pm bottle unfinished.

[julieb]

I can't believe my baby is turning 10 months!  :shock:   :cry:  It suddenly sounds so grown up!  Like going to double digits suddenly makes it go by so much faster!

We had such a whiney evening.  I think because of the poor afternoon nap and he's still recovering with all our routine messing over the holiday.  :?   It wouldn't be so bad as he's decided that high-pitched screaming is now the new "whining."  I swear I hear it in my sleep!

DH is home sick.  :?   I haven't been sick since Asher was a week old.  DH & I have never passed illnesses between us, but I think I got that last one from DH (through Asher??).  Here's hoping neither of us get it!  We're going to Disneyland next week and I'd hate to be sick!!

Branwen, congrats on the crawling and the move!  I'm so excited for you!  Not sure what you mean about stopping the purees.  I mean, some things have to be eaten that way (squash, sweet potato, etc), even for grown ups.  So even with the conversion to grown up table food, we still have to figure out how to help them eat the runny stuff, right?  Or do people just forego the mooshy stuff until they're coordinated with the spoon?

Tarri, sorry about the wrong photo appointment!  They couldn't get you in anyway?  I got my date wrong as well!  Luckily, I called to check the time since I had forgot and they told me I wasn't scheduled -- but they were able to get me in that day since I was already prepared to go!  :lol:   Oh, our mommy brains!!

Yay Schae!!  Congratulations on the new job and home!!  Personally, I'd very much prefer a nanny, despite the jealousy issue (me too!  :oops: ).  You can have so much more say in how you want Luka raised if you're just dealing with one individual.  And with the high turn over in day care centers (at least, it seems like that here), I think it would be easier on Luka to have a consistent person he can depend on.  Change is so hard on little ones, and even more so when they're away from their parents.  And I'm with you on the sickness concerns.  My close friend's baby always seems to be sick.  Not only is it hard on the baby, but she has to miss many days of work to take care of the baby when she's sick.

Deb, your attitude about the eating sounds so greatly improved and encouraging!  I'm so relieved!!  The new plan you explained sounds manageable and makes sense.  Even the dreamfeed!  Heck, I'd gladly be giving Asher a DF if it'd make him sleep till 7:00!! :lol:   After a week or so of consistency (and now that she's feeling better?), if you're really concerned, you could try phasing it out again slowly, right? 

Heather, when you said Kelsey was miserable waiting, was she still hungry from lunch?  Or a comfort thing?  I don't think Asher notices, but he gets his panties in a bunch as soon as I sit in my nursing chair!   :lol:   Big change from his previous indifference!  I give a small snack (rice puffs and sippy cup) when he gets up from his naps while I'm getting his meals ready.  I just let him eat them off the end table and he seems interested enough.  He's still ravished as soon as he spots the high chair!  :lol:

[Daniel's mummy]

Time for a very quick post.

We are off to another playgroup this morning.  Daniel is nearly 100% now so we're gonna venture out and have some fun (he'll probably go and catch another cold now :x )

I actually had to wake him up this morning!!!  How things have changed.  It was only a fortnight ago that he was waking at 6am, but now it's anytime from 7 - 7.30    I've been trying to work out why and all I can think is it may be that his afternoon nap is a bit earlier.  His naps are usually about 9-10.30 or 9.30 - 11 (depending on when he wakes) and then 1.30 - 2.45 and then he's awake till about 7pm.  His afternoon nap did used to be more like 2.30 - 4pm.  I guess this may have made a difference to his night time sleep but I wouldn't be sure.

Our new routine seems to be working well.  I now give daniel a bottle when he wakes.  Then another full one at 4pm and then he just has a couple of ounces (sometimes only 1) before bed.  At least I know he's getting around 20oz of milk and usually another couple or so in his food).  Makes me a bit happier.

Had him weighed yesterday - 25lb 10oz :shock:   The sooner he gets crawling the better really I think    Speaking of which he is having so much fun wriggling all over the floor now.  It's so much fun to watch as well.  It just seemed to be overnight really.  I knew it would just click one day when he realised he could actually move around.  He's not 'crawling' as such. more rolling, squirming, rolling, squirming etc...  But he gets where he wants to be so that's good.  I think what made the difference was if ever I put him down before I'd put him on his back (because when I put him on his tummy he would always just roll over), but now I always put him down on his tummy.  I guess it's just got him more used to it.  More often than not now he stays on his tummy.

Congratulations Schae on the job and the house.  Exciting times ahead.  And good luck to you Branwen with the move.  Hope it all goes smoothly.

Must run now, so much to do while Daniel sleeps.

[Daniel's mummy]

We had a great time at playgroup this morning.  Was a small group of very friendly mums.  Lots of babies and not so many loud and scarey older kids!  Will def be going again next week. 

Just wanted to share that happy news

[HeatherC]

Julie-I'm not completely sure if the wait for the bottle was a hunger or a comfort problem.  I would tend to say hunger because lunch can usually be a problem with her; fusses and doesn't want to eat.  Also, she never seems to notice a schedule change with bottles, and only cries for it when I say "are you ready for your bottle?".  Then she starts "ba ba ba ba ba" with a sense of urgency.  Even still, she is only taking about 4-5 oz these days.  In the morning, when she pushes it away, I save the rest for about 30 minutes and she'll usually finish it.  But the rest of the day she won't do that.

[Leah's Mom]

Heather - Does Kelsey want a bottle immediatley upon waking? With Leah, we have gone to three bottles, but offer at 9,1:30 and bedtime.
6:30 - wake and breakfast
9 - Bottle and Nap
11:30 - Lunch
1:30 or 2 - Bottle and nap
3:30 or 4 - Snack with sippy cup
5 or 5:30 - Supper
6:30 - Bottle
6:30 or 7 - Bedtime
She doesn't seem to really want the bottle as soon as she gets up, so I offer breakfast first.