Babies of Oct-Dec /04

[Gigismom]

hi lisa-i am afraid i cannot help you with the sippy issue as i have the same problem.  we have about 10 sippy cups that she is clueless with.  she is good at drinking water out of a regular cup with help.  i think that phoebe may be onto something though with sticking with one cup until they master that one.  i will try that next.  good luck and welcome to this thread...

phoebe-hope your dh is feeling better soon.

are any lo's drinking from a straw yet?  i would like gianna to use the sippy with a straw but i am not sure if she is able to use one at her age...she mostly just chews it.

[pdb]

Lindsey- We haven't tried a straw yet, but htis morning I was thinking we should.  Susana was holding her sippy cup herself and sucking away but couldn't get anything out because she couldn't tilt it up.  If I help her tip the cup up, she lets go.  I was thinking that a cup with a straw would work better because she wouldn't have to tip it up.  I think it's hard for them to grab those cups and tip them up.  They are not the right size for their little hands.

[hannah'smom]

jilly- Sorry to hear about Connor. I don't know what is going on but we are having the same issues. Hannah is a pretty happy baby most of the time. But lately she is a bear too. I can't put her down. She cries and then she throws a tantrum and hits her self in the stomach and bangs her feet on the floor if I do. I spent the night sleeping on her floor...WHAT FUN...
I think there may be some separation anxiety too because if she can't see me she starts to cry. I am convinced the neighbours are going to call Children Services soon....I hope this is just a phase....

Welcome Chrissy and Lisa!
lisa-It took awhile for DD to get used to the sippy cup. I used to take the pacifier and put it in her mouth then pull it out and put the spout of the cup in and eventually she got it.
cata-We still use a pacifier for naps and night time. SHe doesn't get it during the day anymore. I don't know when I am going to take it away. My cousin who is a dentist said no damage is caused by the soother as long as they don't have it when their permanent teeth come in..DD soother will be gone long before that happens
Lindsey-We have tried the straw however it doesn't seem to work. She just sees it as another thing to chew on.

Hannah still isn't crawling but she is catching on to many other things. She gets on all fours and then falls flat on her face then moves around on the floor like a dying fish screaming of course.  She will wave goodbye, play peek a boo, turn the lights on and off throughout the house as we enter and leave a room. She hasn't figured out how to clap her hands yet.

Hannah is going to run in her first race tomorrow. We are going to take her on the Terry Fox Run in the jogging stroller and then the plan is to take her out and get a picture of her crossing the finish line. DH wants to find a sweat band for her head but I haven't been able to find one yet.

Well I hope everyone has a great weekend.
Ange

[Xavier and Erica's mommy]

I usually just browse this thread, but I wanted to let you know my dd started using a straw at 5 mos.  She just grabbed my ds cup out of my hand and started to drink out of it.  I think she saw him doing it and I also use a straw cup for my water so she figured, my turn. 
With my son I taught him to use one at about 1 yr also.  I just sat in front of him with a straw cup and showed him very overtly how to use it and he got it pretty quick. 
I will warn you, with my daughter, because she uses the straw she refuses any other type of cup because she does not understand that you have to tip a sippy cup back to get anything out of it LOL

[jillybeansmith]

Hannah's mom - yeah...Connor is usually happy too...He was so pleasant this morning..went down for a nap on his own...was good and happy, went down for his 2nd nap...woke back up a raging lunatic again...
Oh yeah..and there is an element of tantrum...he will grab the bottle away from me like he wants it, then throws it as hard as he can...

Hey ladies...Connor says 'mom'  (not mama)...which is weird...and it's in context!!!...

[pdb]

Oh my gosh - it's days like today that make me glad I work. lol 

This has been an exciting nightmarish day all rolled into one!  DD woke up three times last night and wanted me to hold her.  I tried leaving and comign in to check on her and sitting by her crib, but she screamed like someone was killing her, so I started the day tired.  Then this morning she figured out  she could let go of things while she's standing and balance.  It was very cute to watch her figure it out.  She also learned how to walk behind her push toy.  Her morning nap was only 40 minutes and then I tried for an hour to get her down for her afternoon one, but she just screamed and screamed even with me holding her.  I finally took her out with me to try to get her to sleep at least a little in the car. 

She was whiny and clingy all day because she was so tired.  But she was also into everything, I spent the entire day chasing her around with no break.  Add that to the fact I had to wait on my husband since he had surgery Friday and I am about to go crazy!  And of course every time I had to get something for him, dd would decide that she wanted me to hold her, so I'd either have to try to get things for him while lugging her around or listen to her screech while I tried to get him what he needed.   :shock:   I fed her early and had her in bed by 6:00, but she's already been up crying once.  I just hope she sleeps the rest of the night because I am exhausted. 

The last time dd was this clingy, she had an ear infection.  I haven't noticed her pulling at her ears until tonight, but if things don't get better I guess I'll go have her checked.  I just hate paying for the doctor visit if there's nothing wrong.  Wish there was some way you could know for sure whether or not it's the ears. 

Sorry to be such a complainer.  I just needed to vent.  Can't vent to dh or he'll try to get up and help when he should be resting.  I hear him in the kitchen now, so I better go make him lie down.

[MorganLeigh]

Hope everyone had a GREAT weekend. Morgan slept wonderfuly all weekend. Think we beat the nap problem for now and the night wakings are getting better! YAY. This weekend she started walking with a push toy, we dont have any of our own do she could have been ready a week or so ago and we just had no clue. She was walking so fast and she loved it. Im trying to hold off just one more month on new toys bc of her bday.
Trying the nubby sippy cup, it works for her if I tip it, if not she just chews on it . I know she will get it one day. Also Ive been putting a lil bit of milk in each bottle and she seems to be doing well with that. Its been about two weeks, yay!

[pdb]

Yesterday dd learned how to let go and balance standing and walk behind a push toy.  Today she learned how to stand up on her own, not holding on.  Can I just say, she's developing too fast for me. 

Sleep is no better, up five times last night.  Went ahead and made a doctor's appointment.  I think I just need to go back to the sleep training but I have a hard time being consistent and sticking with it if I have a doubt about whether she's sick or not.  Stupid I know. 

Morgan - I'm jealous of the good sleep.      Isn't it exciting to see them start walking?

[MomtoRee]

walking!  That is great.  We are just getting good at crawling here. 

With the paci, we still give it to Reegan at naps and at night.  I lay her down and there are 4 of them in teh crib.  If she wants them she can get them but I don't put it in her mouth like I used to do.  I don't see a reason at this point to get rid of it. 

The sippy cup.  We just used one until she got the hang of it.  The Nuby brand is great but I cut the slits a little bigger in one to make it easier.  NOw when she wants a drink she hands it to me and opens her mouth.  For some reason she dosn't want to hold it herself. 

We used to use a straw but haven't tried it in awhile.  She just caught on how to do it.  I need to get one out again to make sure she remembers how. 

Sorry that the weekend sleep wasn't great for all.  Our weekend was ok, but today was rough. Only 45 minute nap this morning and NO afternoon nap    I even tried to take her for a walk to get her to sleep.  Good thing my sister brought her threekids over to entertain her because she was a grouch! 

I know that I have said this before but I let Reegan cry for intervals.  Reegan just doesn't do well if we stay in the room.  Besides today's nap she rarely lets out a peep once I lay her down.  I know some think that this is horrible but you have to do what works.

Hope everyone has a good night sleep.

[jillybeansmith]

Finally got Connor to bed last night...I wasn't going to give in and take him for a drive in the car, and I wasn't going to let him sleep with me...
Lots of screaming and fighting...he get's so overtired.  I think it's a separation-anx thing.  The one time, he was at the end of his crib, looking over, crying 'mom-mom-mom-mom'....he's using his voice now, even if he only knows one word, he's quite effective.  He finally crashed, but I had to give him a bottle to suck on...Then he just got up at 12:30 and 4:00, so it was pretty good for Connor.   Still not great though.

Took him to the sitters yesterday to meet the sitter's helper.  Her mom helps when there are babies...Connor had smiles for both of them, and laughed at the other children.  He's going to like it there, so that at least makes me feel a little better.

Still not crawling yet, but get's up on his knees and rocks.  Even without the crawling, though, he is hard to keep track of, he wiggles and rolls everywhere and can clear a large room in seconds...

[hannah'smom]

Well the sleeping is getting better here. Thrush is going away but she still has a bit of a cold.  SHe has been going down at 7:30 sleeping until 5:30 eating and going back down until 7 (only for the last two nights). 

 My husband's entire family is coming for a visit (mom,dad and two sisters-who don't have kids but are experts). I dread these times becasue I tell them how much she eats, how to put her down, when she gets milk ect. It's like they don't hear me, I constantly here "Oh I think she needs more food"," She looks thirsty I think she needs more milk" it drives me BATTY. His sisters constantly question everything-why do you let her sleep with you, why isn't she aloud the pacifier during the day.....I think if they say anything this time I am lose it on them :evil:  :evil:  :evil:  usually I just sit there and not say anything....SORRY need rant before they get here.

It's great to see all the lo starting to stand and walk. Morgan is adorable-she doesn't look like a baby anymore, more like a little person.
Jilly-That must make your heart melt when he says mom.

[jillybeansmith]

Yeah...how can I resist him...his daddy is trying to get him to say dadada!!!...but he just repeats 'mom' over again....

Jealous of Morgan Leigh's good sleep too....I don't know what that's like...

[MorganLeigh]

Dont be jealous, I think its just a phase. Plus I think she is the the oldest out of the bunch, so its normal she grew out of it first. Just be patient. I dont work so I was able to stay calm and relaxed and go with it.
Yes she is a lil person now. I love it!

[dixiedutch]

WHOA .... what a lot of news....

Jaydyn's mom....so glad your older child is home again, but what a lot to manage....

Phoebe's Mom....What a day I just keep thinking that I don't know how you manage it all AND teach, too. I was once a kdg teacher in SC and it is no easy row to plow. Hope your dh is recovering well from surgery and that you are getting some rest....

Cazao...hope no one was hurt in the smash up...

Mimi....how is your transition to one nap going. We certainly don't have 5 hours of awake time in the morning yet.

We made it to sleep through the night (KNOCK ON WOOD!). The first night was miserable. I just sat by J's bed in a rocker while she howled and smashed her crib toy against the railing. This went on for an hour. I did not do PU/PD b/c she just gets more alert. After that, we've had a bit of crying but none of it more than 10  mins....

I thought we were transitioning to one nap, but AM nap comes at 10 AM  still. Sometimes she goes through the entire afternoon w/o a 2nd nap, but today she was soooo tired at 3 that I just put her down....

Caroline

[Gigismom]

ange and jill-we have had a couple of weeks like yours where i just could NOT put gianna down without her getting hysterical.  one week was definitely her top teeth coming through and making her grumpy.  other times, i think it was sep anx.  the times like this only last a few days though.  so hopefully your lo's will cheer up soon.  and jill you must be so proud of connor's "mom"!!

morgan's mom- she is SO cute standing there like that!!

phoebe-sorry about your crazy weekend.  hope it's getting better for you.

how are all the lo's doing with strangers?  gianna is absolutely terrified of them.  she will smile at them if they are at least 5 feet away.  but if they get close or god forbid try to touch her, she flips out, clinging to me like they are going to kidnap her.  then the person just looks at me like "what a brat!" and walks away.  i don't (and can't) push her into liking strangers.  i don't really know what to do.  any ideas of how to handle this??  we are not around lots of people a whole lot, but enough to where this is getting to be an embarrassing problem.