Babies of Oct-Dec /04

[Luisasmum]

Hi again. I came here to ask a bit of a question and saw this:

Is anybody else thinking about getting pregnant?

Well my answer would be a big NO! Not for a loooooong time! This one's driving me absolutely mad.

Anyway, thought I'd ask you all this question as our babies are about the same age. How much does or did your 10 month old eat and drink? My dd drinks no more than 360mls (about 12oz) of formula a day along with 2 spoonfulls of weetbix, half a small banana, 50g (1.5oz) yoghurt, 3 or 4 mouthfulls of dinner and maybe even a bite of toast and cheese. And that's on a good day.

I was just curious as she still isn't sleeping through the night and she's ever so slowly gaining weight (she's a bit better now she's formula fed). I'm not sure whether I should see a professional or just accept the fact that she's got a small capacity?

[Gigismom]

noelle-good idea about the salmon quesadillas...i have masked many a food with cheese for gianna!

sharon-i will def. try your recipe too! 

phoebe-i am not sure which fish to avoid but i am sure you could look it up online.  i know tuna is def. one to avoid, but i also know salmon is totally safe.  that's the main fish we eat anyway.

momtoree-yay for reegan's sleep!  that's great.  about the getting pg again, i actually wanted to about 2 months ago.  i wanted to have kids really close together to get all the hard baby years overwith!  dh shot down my idea though.  he looked at me like i was from another planet when i suggested it.  he wants to wait til she is about 3 years old.  so in the meantime, i am going to finish my degree (online) while my life is still somewhat sane with only one kid.

alli-you are a brave soul!  have you always wanted more than 2 kids or is it really so much easier the second time around that you are tempted for more?

luisa's mum-gianna rarely bf's anymore and will not drink formula or eat any food with formula mixed in.  so mainly she is all on solids.  here is what she usually eats:
breakfast-1/2 cup oatmeal or millet with rice milk, several chunks of fruit
lunch-1 cup yogurt and cottage cheese, several chunks of fruit or vegetable, 1/2 slice of bread, raisins
dinner-1/2 cup of pasta with cheese melted over it, 1 cube pureed veggies/beans, 1/4 cup barley cereal with rice milk, pieces of fruit, a cookie or teething biscuit
yes, she eats a lot!  but she is still very small.  but i would say as long as your dd seems satisfied and her doctor doesn't see a problem, then she is probly getting enough food.  just keep trying to offer healthy foods and maybe offering food in different forms.  for example, gianna would not eat scrambled egg yolks, so i dip bread in the eggs then cook it.  i then melt cheese on it and she loves it!  though we have had bad days where she would only eat a couple bites per meal.  i think that is normal too.

well i think gianna is finally sick too.  she is congested and her nose is running profusely.  both my parents are sick and i think they are the culprits who gave it to her!  i feel like setting up her crib at their house so they can deal with her at night...i just hope i don't get it so i have the energy and patience to take care of her.

[alligirl]

alli-you are a brave soul!  have you always wanted more than 2 kids or is it really so much easier the second time around that you are tempted for more?

I think I've always wanted several kids (somewhere between 3 and 5) and I've been blessed with easy pregnancies (for the most part) and easy kids (for the most part :wink: ).   I just know right now that our family's not complete.   I'm enjoying the heck out of my kids right now, and I'm so excited about adding more.  Being able to love two children is indescribable.   It's like trying to describe what it's like to love one child to someone who doesn't have any children.  I can't wait to find out what it's like to have a house full of that love.  It's so amazing....*sigh* Okay done with my sappiness! :lol:

It's interesting to see what your lo's are eating.  I think Z's middle of the road.  He nurses twice a day and has two 5-6oz sippies of formula.  He has three solid meals usually consisting of the equivalent of two jars of food, plus finger food and/or food from the table.  He will usually be the first one eating at a meal and the last.....this kid can EAT!!  Luisa'smum--I think if your lo is happy and healthy, I wouldn't worry too much about her eating habits.  She'd let you know if she's not getting enough.  Somehow as they get older, they just start eating less and less.  Our last pediatrician told us when Stephen turned 12 or 18 months (I can't remember) that if it seemed like a bird couldn't live off of what he eats, then he's probably getting enough! :lol:

[pdb]

My lo is eating 24 oz of formula a day.  She has about 1/3 cup of oatmeal/legume cereal in the morning with a fruit cube or two and 2 oz. of juice.  For lunch she has 2 veggie cubes and usually some oat cereal. In the afternoon, she has 2 more oz. of juice. At dinnertime she has a veggie cube and some cut up veggies, rice cake, fruit or cereal.

I'm getting a little scared about my sitter.  She has been so wonderful but I'm noticing that Susana's sleep problems seem to be falling on the days when she's there all day.  I'm not sure if maybe she's not getting enough rest and she is just overtired or if something else is happening.  I'm still not sure if it's stomach problems or not.  We have a new medicine to try and we're weaning her from her laxative.  It's weird though because I can always sense when she's going to have trouble going to sleep.  I could sense it tonight.  I actually did a big no-no.  Rather than put her down and leave with her crying then suffer through an hour or more of crying, I held her until she fell asleep. :oops:

As for thinking about getting pregnant.  I'm finally getting to the point where I would consider having another.  The first several months with Susana were so awful that I swore I would never even consider it.  My husband has some medical concerns though so I'm not sure we will.  I had always wanted 4, but I also thought I would have started sooner.  Even if we decide to, we'll probably have to wait a few years until Susana is in school.  We can't afford daycare for 2 and we can't afford for me to stay home.

[MomtoRee]

The one night of all night sleep was all we got.  Last night she was up at 5:30 for good.  I laid by her crib and let her hold my hand until almost 7 and then just got up with her.  Then two short naps today so I don't think that tonight is going to be any better.  But, I am proud of myself for not feeding her!

As for eating here I guess that she eats a lot.  I didn't think that she did but looking at what everyone else eats I have changed my mind.  She only eats table food and it varies on what I fix, no babyfood since like 8 1/2 months.  She eats at least 1 Yo Baby container of yougart a day, usually 2.  I know that we are still nursing too much  :oops: Today was a bad day and she nursed 6 times.  Usually we are still at 4 times a day but I don't know how much she takes.  She also takes 2 oz of juice before each nap. 

 I think that Reegan has the opposite problem of Susana.  She seems to take better naps and sleeps longer on nights when the nanny is here. 

Wishing good sleep for everyone this weekend!

[Mum to Ella Rose]

Hi again, sorry for the quick ins and outs these days... just wanted to say I posted the fish recipe in the baby recipe thread. "Sole, veg and cheese" it's called. I hope you like it!  must run again, dh just had major dental surgery and dd is teething... :shock: hope you're all well. Oh and has anyone heard from Kathy lately? Jaydn's mom? I hope she's alright... haven't heard much since her older dd came out of hospital...

Sharon

[Luisasmum]

Far out! Gianna eats heaps! Sorry to hear she is sick and I really hope you don't get it too. I had a really bad run over six weeks recently. I got the flu twice, strep throat, tonsillitis, a head cold and strep throat again one after the other. I was sooo run down from lack of sleep and my daughter was also sick, teething and on a nursing strike so my boobs were HUUUUGE. I thought I had died and gone to hell. I looked like a drug addict trying to smuggle watermelons down my top!

Phoebe, I used to rock my baby to sleep too. I really enjoyed it and so did she. She doesn't like it so much now so I don't do it anymore really. But once in a while isn't going to hurt anyone!

MumtoRee, I always wonder why my parents brought us to Australia! If we were still living in Europe, I'd have a nanny for my baby! Not to mention a live in maid too. I couldn't handle the weather though, but I guess if I lived in Spain or Portugal....!!! Is it fairly common in America for people to have nannies? I don't know anyone here that has one. A lot of people have cleaners though. Well, I suppose I do sort of have a nanny - my MIL helps out a fair bit and she was over almost every night for the first 3 or 4 months. DH hates people coming to the house that he doesn't know so I guess I'm on my own! Just to make you all sick, my mum's friend lives in Singapore. She has a manicure and pedicure every morning, followed by a facial and massage. She has a nanny for her kids and not one but two cleaners! She is such a relaxed person!

It's so amazing to see how differently other babies eat at the same age! I guess I worry a bit too much because my MIL is always asking how much Luisa ate that day and it makes me more conscious about it. She doesn't mean it in a bad way. She's always telling me not to worry about Luisa not eating much.

And you're right Alli, if they are hungry, I guess they will eat. So I have officially stopped worrying and I'm now polishing off my daughter's yummy sweet potato and provoletta fritatta that she refused and it is soooo yummy!!! She's asleep now so I'll save her a bit for tomorrow!

Sweet dreams everyone!

[Gigismom]

alli-i always wanted 3-4 kids, but right after i had gianna, dh almost got a vasectomy... it was that bad!  i had a bit of ppd, and dd would not let me set her down for the first 2 months.  literally i held the kid 24 hours a day for that long.  i remember having days where i didn't get a bite to eat until dh got home from work.  it was really hard.  so we almost went with an only child.  but now that i have reached that "light at the end of the tunnel" and see that is does get easier, i think i will be happy with one more.  if the next one is easier like most people say and i have an easy pregnancy without heart complications, i MIGHT go for 3...don't tell dh though!  i am getting into the mommy thing and finally starting to find my niche.

phoebe-if you are really noticing a difference in susana on weekdays and weekends, maybe just try having the sitter accurately record everything susana does when she is there.  i don't think that is asking too much from her.

momtoree-when gianna first started sleeping through the night, she did so for a few days, then woke again for a few days.  i KNEW she wasn't hungry, so i would just briefly comfort her then lay her back down.  she finally started sleeping through each and every night in a couple of weeks.  reegan is just used to waking at that time, so it will probably take her body a little while to get used to sleeping through consistently.

sharon-thanks for the recipe.  no, i haven't seen or heard from kathy on this thread anyway for a long time...hope she's ok.

luisasmum-my MIL likes to make comments too about me starving gianna too since i ONLY feed her 3 solid meals plus bf's...everytime gianna cries, my MIL is like, "oh, i think she's hungry!"

btw, what does AF stand for?  since we are on the subject of TTC, has anyone heard of gender selection using the shettles method?  it seems a bit controversial i know.  but we were thinking of using it to get another girl because i really want gianna to have a sister like i do!  plus i thought if we got another girl, they could share clothes and a bedroom.  of course, i would be thrilled with a baby boy too, but it's just an interesting thought.

[Noelle]

AF = Aunt Flow (menstrual period) 

Off to check out that recipe......

Zoe eats 3 meals a day like us (all table food, no pureed) with a sippy and then a bottle of formula at 6:30...will be switching that to a sippy too in the next month along with switching to regular milk.  She's my little garbage disposal...eats anything!!  :lol:

[pdb]

Lindsey - I'm glad you asked about AF, I was wondering too.  That's too funny.  Oh and I feel your pain about  the holding dd for the first couple months of life.  I did the same thing.  In fact, I developed Dequervain's (sp) tendonitis from carrying her so much. 

Those of you who are feeding formula and have weaned to a cup.  How did you go about this, how long did it take?  I still give bottles in between meals.  I tried moving the bottles in with her solids but she wouldn't eat as many solids or drink as much formula and it made giving her reflux meds  too difficult.  Today I tried giving Susana her mid-morning formula out of a cup instead of a bottle.  She only drank 1 oz that way, then when I put it in a bottle, she still wouldn't drink.  I had to wait a little while and try again with the bottle.  Should I just keep offering in a cup once a day until she gets used to it?  She usually only drinks juice from a sippy.  I use a regular cup for water.  So I think she was just confused when something else came out.

[Jadynsmom]

Hi everyone!!!

Sharon - I'm still here but just lurking and not posting much these days.  Don't have as much time these days.  Thanks for asking about me.

Let's see.  Quick rundown of what's happening.

Husband lost his job and will probably start a new job, less money, really expensive insurance that we have to pay for and no company car :shock: !!

I started working 2 days a week (Thurs & Sat) at a boutique and love it.  My SIL watches Jadyn on Thurs and she loves it since her cousin is 15mos and also a toddler (3yr old boy).

Lexi is back to herself, getting into trouble at school for not listening! :x

Jadyn is keeping me grounded these days.  She is soooo sweet and is so a mommy's girl    She has 8 teeth total and sleeps through the night & naps 2x beautifully without any crying or fussing.  I know.  I am very grateful.  If I can just fix the 6:33am wakeup every morning with her just happily talking. :wink: I'm scared of our time change! 
She is just cruising (not yet walking) everywhere.  Her favorite is our stairs (12 wooden steps) which she climbs all the way to the top grinning the whole way.  She babbles all the time but no mama yet.

I am nursing her 3 times a day and she's eating like a champ 3 meals very similar to a lot of you guys lo.

Congrats on the pregnancy!! 

I'm not going to count on getting pregnant.  If I get pregnant again, I will be sooo shocked.  Two miracles would be almost too much to hope for.  I would love to pregnant though.  I miss being pregnant.

Hope you guys have a good weekend.

Kathy

[zayandme]

Hey guys! Its been a long time- also don't get on here much anymore (all this cruising is keeping me busy, as well as a second bout of major separation anxiety!)
Just wondering- how much time do each of you spend with your little one, just one on one, interacting together (reading a book, playing peek-a-boo, etc) every day.
How much time does your little one spend all by him/herself- the only person in that room- every day?
Just an average would be great. Got a comment that I spend way too much time interacting and don't let him play alone enough and I'm trying to gauge if that's true or not.
Rough estimate would be wonderful from all of you! Much appreciated!
Thanks!

[pdb]

Kathy - Glad to hear from you!  Wow Jadyn sounds like the perfect baby. 

Sarah - Since I work, I spend pretty much every minute I am home interacting with my child.  I don't leave her alone in any room in my house because we have a very large German Shepherd and 3 cats.  My house is too small to seperate everyone, so I have to keep an eye on dd at all times.  I do sit back and let her explore on her own quite a bit but I enjoy watching her.  She doesn't really like to sit still very long to interact with me.  She has just recently started taking a step or two on her own and cruises everywhere.  I just kind of follow her lead.  If she wants to play on her own, I don't interfere.  If she seems to want me involved then I am.   

[zayandme]

phoebe-
thanks for your input with one on one time.

and my vote with the cup would be giving it to her once a day and over the next couple months increasing that. She's only 10 months still- just be consistent and give her some time.
Sarah

[Gigismom]

kathy-nice to hear from you!  i'm glad everything seems to be going so well for you now.  keep us posted so we don't think you fell off the face of the earth or anything...

sarah-i was wondering the exact same thing the other day.  i think gianna is way too dependent on me for entertainment.  i don't feel comfortable leaving her alone in a room yet unless she's in a playpen or crib, so that rarely happens.  i spend most of her awake time interacting with her or at least sitting on the floor while she plays with toys.  i realize this is becoming a problem though, because now if i am not sitting on the floor next to her or at least looking at her, she crawls over to me, starts pulling on my leg, cries and whines.  so while i will still interact a lot with her (that's why i chose to stay at home after all!), i am really going to start making more of an effort to encourage some "alone time" for her.

how are all the babies doing with the time change?  we changed gianna's clock about a month ago in preparation for this.  she was going to bed at 8:30 and getting up at 7 or 7:30, so now she is going to bed at 7:30 and getting up 6/6:30.  it's ok as is, but i would like to get her back to going to bed at 8:30 and getting up at 7.  maybe we'll work up to that.  this past month since she has been going to bed so late, we have had a great social life!  we were able to go to restaurants and friends' houses like we haven't done since before she was born!  it was great!  btw, she is SO good at restaurants.  we were pleasantly surprised.