March/April 05 Thread #2

[Colesmom]

Kate-not sure what you can do about the car.  Maybe sing his most favourite song while you're getting him ready. Make it into a game.  Also, remain positive and upbeat yourself.  if you're stressed maybe he's picking up on it?

Judy-thanks for the info on bottle acceptance/rejection.  You know what, I probably should just go, right?  I mean, I have to get out some time.  And if MIL has to hold Cole to go to sleep, then one night isn't going to undo all my hard work, is it?

Micky-thanks for the guidelines.

so is everyone letting their los eat cheerios or other similar finger foods already?  I saw the Baby Mum Mums the other day, but it says on the box to wait until they can feed themselves :?   Cole grabs the spoon out of my hand and shoves it in his mouth.  does that count?

please send encouraging vibes for me to get out of the house on saturday night.  on a positive note...I managed to find a spa to accomodate us so i'll be having a 1.5 hour massage that day at the very least (and lunch with my girlfriends)

oops, one more thing-Coles naps are getting closer to the 9 and 1 mark...for instance I just put him down for second nap because we were out and about.  I doubt I'll give him catnap today because he shouldn't really be tired for it.  is that how it's all working for everyone else.  Awake time longer=later naps=only time for two naps???

thanks

[solnme]

Richelle (right?  sorry if the names wrong. not on the scroll) - you crack me up!  I could write a book of confessions of a bad mummy.      I was so tired yesterday that me and sol looked exactly like Sophie watching tv!! 
In the beginning, I used to boil everything that touched the ground.  Now, I good wipe usually does the trick.

I have a simular situation to Lisa.  I'm on the same routine but I don't feed sol solids at lunch.  I find he's rarely interested in eating in the morning but does make up for it at night.  I tried giving him lunch and he would eat less at dinner, not take his 7:30 feed and wake up in the night. 
Now I don't know if I should re-introduce the lunch?
Anyone else not feeding lunch?

Tracy (cole's mom) - I agree with Judy about the missed feedings. little man also went on a bottle strike after I introduced solids. I'm out of the house 2 nights a week so I was really worried he 'd starve.  It took about a week to get him to take it again and he'd only take it from me.  Now he doesn't seem to care where his next meal is coming from.

Hope this question isn't 'too much information' but i really have no one else to ask.

My doctor said I'd probably be 'monthly visiter' free for as long as i'm BFing.  I got my 'visiter' after 4mnths and the PMS has been like nothing I've ever had before.  Even as a teenager!!  I'm not a fun person to be around and I feel like I could sleep for a week. 
Am I the only one?

[Richelle]

Roz - I swear I could have said that anout the PMS - so no you are not alone.  I got my period 3 months ago (while breastfeeding also) and have such raging PMS.  I struggled with it before, mostly moodiness but not like this (i am raving bitch!) and I too feel almost sick, very tired and headaches.  I got a low hormone birth control pill from my OB but haven;t started it yet, we'll see what that does.  Glad you said something thought that maybe it was just me.  phewww.....

[Colesmom]

Roz/Richelle, i haven't had it yet but almost wish I would get it.  my tummy is the only thing not shrinking and DH and I haven't been very careful. Could you imagine!  My kids would be as close together as Judy's!  LOL

[kq]

HAYLEY-thanks for the name of the teething powder. Will keep that in mind. Love the pic. Told dh about it and now I fear that I have given him ideas. He'll be looking for a Sam sized box next!
No go on the chat sorry guys but will be right in the midst of my first day back at work. Think about me while you are all catching up!
Thanks for the guide on feeding Micky. I keep wondering if I am giving him too much, not enough.
JUDY-fortunately Sam does not seem not to mind me leaving the house and will happily settle with dh..I certainly hope that this will continue when I go back to work. I have never been out of the house for longer than 2-3 hours on my own.
Must dash.
Karen

[Little Bear's Mum]

Goodmorning! Well, so far so good. I'm crossing my fingers for a better first nap for Daniel as for the last week we've had HUGE problems getting him down to sleep. I've wondered if he has been hungry, over tired, under tired, just being stubborn, teething, you name it, I've wondered...... :? I've tried to do a little more with him thismorning, even put him in the jolly jumper, also thinking he hasn't been worn out enough to sleep. He's been up for just under 2 hours now and not a sign of him being tired yet. I'm going to try watching cues for this nap to see what happens. His middle of the day wake is 2 1/2 hours, that's always fine, no dramas, just this one I can't figure out again. Grrrr.

We've had a couple of nights waking up again, but I'm sure it's because his food and milk intake hasn't been up to what it was. He's getting better with his solids again, so hopefully back to normal soon. He was going so well.

I'm off to my first Pilates class here tonight. Of course, DH happens to be working tonight, so need to find a babysitter for an hour. There should be someone around base that can help, after all Daniel WILL be asleep. I haven't been doing any other exercise except walking with Daniel so some organised class will hopefully help. I'm lucky and am basically back to pre-pregnancy size except for a little bump on my tummy. Some say it won't go away, I have other plans...... I just have to put them into action.

As for bottle feeding, yeah well.... still not much luck. But I'm hopefully about to order a B-free bottle, (previously Dr Brown's) I'm hoping it's going to be as good as they say. They give a money back guarantee if you're not happy.

Gotta go, things to get done. Yay, Daniel went to sleep without too many tears. 

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

Bianca, yay Si for rolling!

Traci, yep as they extend their activity time out you run out of time for a catnap - that was my delimna with D which is why I ended up keeping her up for a long stretch in the afternoon and she amazingly does it fine.  Also, from experience with Nathan when he also dropped to 2 naps a day his 3x45min naps automatically adjusted to 2 x 1.5hr naps at 6mths - so I think it's an age thing.  Oh and finger foods would be fine from now on, I was giving Danielle crackers prior to her eating her puree properly and she self-fed herself really well (I've had to stop them until I find a wheat free variety in the supermarket this weekend).

Richelle, glad you shared the story behind the TV watching. :wink:  Not that I thought you were a bad mum anyway! LOL.  The times that I have left Danielle purposefully in front of the TV with Nathan she's often still been strapped in her carseat since I've rushed in to cook dinner (and then the other day I heard Nathan saying "handstands" and turn around and D's tipped upsidedown in her carseat - just as well I'd left her strapped in!  :shock:  :roll:

Karen, good luck with work on Monday.

No AF here either, I didn't get it till Nathan was 12mths last time (which was a pain cause I wanted to ttc as soon as I could from when he was 9mths old - fortunately it happened the first month after it's return).  But this time, I'd do anything to not get pregnant ever again (poor dH is certainly missing out in that dept) LOL.

I was so grossed out when I dropped Nathan at pre-school today, I left D parked outside the door in the umbrella stroller with no kids around her and put his bag on the hook and heard all this sneezing and turned around to see a kid on a ride-on sitting right in front of her - hopefully it was HER sneezing and not him. Blurchhhhh.

[Judy]

yay for Sienna!!!!!!!           

Haley - have you tried having Daniel nap in his box?       Worked for eating - and hanging with dad!!       Sorry - It just struck me funny.  You should video him and send it in to America's Funniest Home Videos and win $$$

Bottles - I pumped 10oz out of these poor boobs only to have the bottles completely rejected and the 'gold' dumped down the sink.  :cry:  :cry:

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

LMAO Judy at the box idea!  :wink:

How dissapointing with the milk going to waste - I must admit that's why I never did a bottle with Nathan, I tried it once, took me ages to pump a small amount of milk and he wouldnt' take it, I know I could've persevered, but.....

[Colesmom]

oh judy, that's a drag!  i hated dumping my 6oz last night too.
a girlfriend of mine suggested just giving it to Cole cold.  that way no dumping if he doesn't take it.  I've never tried it, but wonder if it would be worth a try :?

okay ladies...here is the gift I did for my friends 1 year old.  It's basically a simple scrapbook page in a frame.  I'm pretty proud of myself.  It's the first scrapping I've done!

[Jayri]

oh traci that page turned out so nice.

okay, I have to throw this out there for you all, as I am a little lost as to what to do.
As I have metioned before, we have had to get back on the routine wagon as we had majorly fallen off it.
The food thing is going good, we are mostly on a EAEAS routine, fine tuning the times, but we generally have the right order.
The problem we are having is the pd at any sleep time, she goes NUTS when we put her down. It is pretty much as soon as she notices she is being pd in her crib. She is used to be wonderful at it, but since she discovered moving and everything around her, it has become very tricky.
I do try to wind her down as best I can, but that involves me having her on my knee to have "quiet" time, and usually watching Jay play.
Bianca Nikki and Judy, how do you get your lo's to settle on their own without neglecting the other one(s) from your supervision.
TIA for your suggestions girls

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

That looks great Traci!

Naomi, sorry no wonder tricks here...Danielle has always just gone into bed pretty much by herself with minimal patting needed.  I'm thinking because Riley used to do it well, that it's developmental and due to her moving around more.  I have a feeling we're gearing up for that stage though, just today, D's grumbled her way to sleep with me going in there to give her the odd jiggle, she wasn's upset, just not going to sleep without a peep and was turning around in her cot - she's actually in a safe-t-sleep that keeps her in place on the mattress though (fortunately Nathan was at pre-school for the 1st nap and 2nd nap he was also in his room for his nap so I was able to do it uninterrupted).  I'm not sure how I'd deal with it, but are you able to explain to Jay that if you help Riley go to sleep faster, then you and him will have playtime once you're done?  Also, Nathan now gets to have a hot milo (hot chocolate) in the morning once D's down for her nap and I think I'd use that as an enticement if needed (I won't withhold it, but just as something to look forward to).

Not sure if that helps, so hopefully the other gals have some good suggestions.

[Erin M]

Naomi - Have you ever tried giving Riley a quiet toy to have in her crib while she winds down?  It works for Katie sometimes.  Love Riley's butterfly costume too.

No AF here for me, though I'm getting anxious for her reappearance...would like to start work (so to speak  :wink: ) on #2 in the not too distant future...though I never was one for regularity in that department

Judy/Traci - do you ever pump and try to feed just an ounce?  That is what I did with Katie when I was getting her to take the bottle - that way I wasn't dumping all my hard work down the drain - make sure it's nice and hot too - I can't get Katie to take it any other way.

Richelle - love the pic!

Hayley - I think that our LOs just like the shake things up a bit every time we think we've got it down    - I find Katie does that periodically and I just have to go with it the best I can for a bit and then it gets better.

Roz - we only started lunch a few weeks ago and Katie will be eight months on November 6th, so not to worry.  I think about three weeks ago I started giving her a jar of veggies at lunch and she loves it. 

Hope everyone is well!

[Judy]

Traci  LOVE that scrapbook page!  Looks awesome.  You should be very proud.

As for the milk - it's my understanding that, warm or cold, once their lips touch that nipple saliva gets into the bottle and the digestive enzymes work their 'magic' and bacteria starts to grow within a few short hours.  Isn't the official word 'an hour'?  Little one's tummies are so much more susceptible to this that we are.  Same reasoning for not feeding right out of a baby food jar unless you intend to use the whole jar at one meal - which having never used them I've no idea how much is in one jar.

Bianca Nikki and Judy, how do you get your lo's to settle on their own without neglecting the other one(s) from your supervision.
TIA for your suggestions girls

Gosh Naomi - well, during the day it's not so bad because the babies go down not too bad.  Kaia puts her finger in her mouth on her way down to the mattress and rarely lets out a peep.  Hannah is a bit tougher and often needs about 5 solid minutes of patting.  Zoe and Sarah are usually fine during this time although fights do erupt often.  :roll:  and then I just tell Hannah that I must go check on her sisters and I'll be back.  Sometimes she's fine and drifts off, others I have to run back and pat some more - I just tell myself that rather than 'leaving her alone' I'm letting her 'work off some steam'     I think in my case it's a bit easier as my girls have a playmate and are not alone (although the fights...).  When I just had Zoe and Sarah, Zoe would often come in the room with me and sit quietly (the girls have done this together this time round too for awhile but it's become boring now). Although by this age (6months) Sarah too was a breeze to put down.  Just plop her in the crib and walk away - no wind down time necessary.  It's the fingers/thumb sucking I tell - if only Hannah would figure it out.

Now as for bedtime - it's a real REAL problem.  I cannot for the life of me figure out how to put these babies to bed.  I don't get it.  I've tried early, late, in between.  Feeding to sleep, feeding an hour before sleep.  Hannah invariably wakes up (if she fell asleep eating) once she hits the mattress and then she's fussing/talking/crying/angry for a good - well it's been two hours right now.  I'm feeding them now for the third time since 6.15pm just hoping they'll go to sleep.  Zoe's gone to bed sad because she really really really wanted to read books with me (dh is out of town) but the babies needed me instead.   :cry:   I really hate that.  And with dh away I end up having to threaten the older girls to go to bed and stay in bed and not cause more noise.  The babies were, tonight, left to cry long enough for me to tuck Zoe in.  Sarah went to bed on her own earlier with a quick tuck in.  (she's pushed Zoe down pretty hard - unintentional I think as Zoe was wearing slippery nylons on a very slippery wood floor - and felt bad that Zoe cried and that I gave her a scowly "your sister did NOT deserve that" and it all left her feeling rather sad I think  :cry:  :cry: )

I think the worst part of it all is that my stress level is sure to be felt by everyone no matter how much I try to hide it.  Heck maybe that's the problem with bedtime.  I'm sure if I had someone monitor my blood pressure all day that it would start to go up as 5pm neared.  *sigh*

[kate585]

Naomi:  I am SO GLAD to see your post.  Not that I have an older one to contend with, but Ryan has started going postal whenever we go into his room...even for a diaper change.   :?   I know it's a rough few days (cold, flu shot, starting to commando crawl  , and I've messed up his schedule in anticipation of time change), but I'm worried it'll be his new thing.  Glad to know it's not just us!  Hopefully they'll both grow out of it soon!
No AF here...I'm on low estrogen bc.  I just got a 3 month supply and then I'll be done.  Hopefully I can get right back on a regular cycle and get crack-a-lackin' on # 2 (after a few months, of course). 
Traci:  Such a great present for your friend!  She'll love it!  Add that to your other small business ideas and you'll be the richest SAHM around!   :wink:
On the homefront, Ryan was up for over 5 HOURS!!! this afternoon.  Ugggh!  Dh called to check in, heard my stess, and managed to come home a bit early to help me out.  Of course, Ryan was in a fabulous mood by then.   :x   Never fails!!!
Lost is a rerun, so I might be around for chat tonight.  (How sad is that statement?)