March/April Thread #3

[mickymuscles]

oh yeah!!!  Thanks erin!!!!  :oops:  :oops:   I was wracking my brain trying to think of who hannah was but my brain is swiss cheese at the best of times lately!!  :oops:  :roll:

[Judy]

Hayley I find with Hannah especially if she isn't in her 'babyInABag' for naps/bedtime she just doesn't settle very well at all.  It really seems to make a huge difference.

Naomi I wonder if it has to do with your start back to work.  A big change for Ri and new sitter too.  Seperation anxiety takes lot of patience and time to work through.

[Colesmom]

Ankie-cute pic and congrats on the increased mobility. 

Lisa-was the 4am waking after the night with no bottle?  or the day after?  with regards to him being off his milk...I can totally relate and I'm thinking this might be the issue with Cole. 

Not sure if it's due to his teeth making their way through...but he is just not interested in his 10am and 2pm feeds.  I read up on self-weaning and he does one of the examples...drinks a lot for a couple of minutes and then pulls off and doesn't want more. The last couple of days I haven't been able to pump much but this morning 45 min. after feed I pumped 4 ounces!  Holy smokes girls...could he just be hungry???  He is only interested in about 6 tbsp of food too.  so I'm not sure if maybe there is late onset reflux and anything more is troubling his tummy, or if it's teeth.
Anyway, I plan on just feeding him in little spurts for a couple of days to see if the increased calories help his sleep.

Our night was semi-crummy.  He woke quite often but I settled him each time in his crib.  His longest stretch was 5:30-8:45 with one brief waking and 10:15-12:15 and then maybe up every hour with 10 min. to settle, then up for the day at 4:10 am.  He did go to sleep at 5:30 sooooo, I figured it was almost 11 hours :?  Now we're all screwed up because I told DH to keep him up until 8 to get him back on track to try for a 6-6:30 bedtime.  He fell asleep in his arms from 7-7:45 :evil:  :twisted: so now he's down for nap 2 at 11:15 and I fed him to sleep :oops:
He took 1oz of the EBM in his sippy but I had put 2oz into cereal of which he only ate a little bit :cry:   Okay-enough of my rambling.  I'm hoping to figure this out.

Naomi-when Riley self weaned...was it the daytime feeds? Did she take the bottle okay? 

I think I may have to leave the house for a day so DH can get him on the bottle. I just don't see him taking 6-8 oz from a sippy.  Unless I go buy a huge range of cups to try.  *sigh*

we had to cancel a brunch today too because of the messed up sleep.  oh well.

[Carter'sMama]

Wow ... lots to catch up on!!!  I had my work Christmas party on Fri night and it was alot of fun.  I got to dress up and go out with grown ups and eat fancy food!!!  Carter stayed with friends of ours who have a 10 month old.  We didn't pick him up until 11:00 but they said that he fell asleep in the playpen at about 8:30 so that wasn't too bad.  He went right to bed when we got home and slept until 7:20am. 

Nikki:  I always find Carter in the same position as I put him in.  Occassionally he is turned all the way around but he is still lying in the middle on his back.  He really isn't very active ... even when I was pregnant, I would only feel him move 4-5 times a DAY!!

Micky:  I love the mohawk!!  We used to do that all the time with Carter but now his hair is too long and it looks funny cause it curls over  :roll:   WHen are we supposed to get their hair cut?  Anyone had a hair cut yet for their lo?  My hairdresser recommends waiting until 1 year but if it's long ...   Also, I just noticed that Carter and Jack were born on the same day!!  Was that your original due date?  What time of the day was he born?  Carter was "due" on the 27th but I had him at 5:30pm on the 29th.

Traci:  Hugs to you and all the sleep issues.  We had about 3 weeks of horrible sleep (night wakings, short naps etc) when Carter was 7 months old.  Finally, after trying desperately to figure out what was worng, I just gave in.  What I mean is, when he would wake early I would go in and be all upset because I knew that I would spend 45 mins in his room trying to get him to go back to sleep, bent over his crib in horrible positions and it wouldn't work.  So, I started going in and as cheerily as I could muster I would just say "Good job Handsome, good sleep, let's go play".  Then I would pick him up, cuddle him and take him out of his room.  It took only 2 days and his naps were back on track.  He went down with no problem and slept for an hour and a half.  I think when he woke early he would be upset because he wanted to go back to sleep but he was afraid cause he knew I was coming in to try and get him back to sleep which would make him more upset.    Once he realized there was no "pressure" to go back to sleep he just slept ...  I don't know if this makes sense.  I don't even know if this fits your situation at all.  I alwasy compared it to my job.  If I did something wrong and my boss would always be mad then I would be anxious about when I would see him.  But if he came in one day and just said "that's okay, better luck next time"  I wouldn't be so worried ... KWIM??  I did the same thing at nights.  I would go in and feed him instead of doing pu/pd and he just stopped waking.  It was like a battle of wills.  He knew that if he needed food then he could get it when he woke, otherwise he could just go back to sleep.  Sorry for the rambling ...  Cole is a good little guy and you will make it all better in no time, I'm sure of it.  I always used to think there was something "wrong" with Carter and that's why his sleep was messed up (ie teeth, colds, developmental) and when DH finally said "Maybe that's just the way he is now, maybe there is nothing wrong" that's when things got better.  WHo knows with these babies eh???  Good luck all the same! 
As for day sleep, Carter's naps total 2.5-3hrs and nighttime is 10-10.5hrs.

Ok, off to boob feed my baby!!!
Have a good day!

[sophieandhannah]

Hey girls. 
Bummer about the chat Friday night everybody kept getting booted off and had a hard time getting back on.  I think I mentioned during the chat that dh was all excited when I got booted and the site froze.  He said "does that mean you have time for a quickie?"  :roll:

All of you ladies have been giving the most wonderful sleep advice/info/support.  I have really been enjoying reading the problems and the possible solutions.  It is helping me too!

We have had REALLY hard second naps here.  Yesterday, we had a bday party for Brendan at 3.  I planned it at 3 so that hse would be up from her seciond nap, or about to be up.  Welllllll....she was up, but not after her second nap, she was still up from her morning nap!  She never took a second nap until 4pm!  Argh.  While I was dealing with her, doing pu/pd etc. etc. I was reading posts.  (Kinda reminded me of you girls who said you were holding the crying baby in one hand and the BW book in the other.)  I was getting so frustrated with her for not conforming to MY schedule and what I needed her to do.  Anyhow, I read your post Nkki about Sep. Anxiety and it helped me a lot.  I softened my approach.  I basically just decided to think of it as "bonus" time for her and mommy...we came downstairs and snuggled while Brendan and dh watched School House Rock.  She was very good natured during the party and went down for a nap during the party...with a little fuss but she was definately tired enough to go to sleep pretty fast.

I have to mention it was nice to have MIL here.  Now that she has taken care of Sophie so much, she is really starting to "know" her and it was so cool to have another person besides myself and dh look at the clock and sat "Oh my she hasn't had her second nap yet?! Hmm I wonder what's up...Oh look at her eyes she is so tired..."  She was totally in tune with Sophie's schedule and cues.  This seriously warmed my heart.   

She is BTW totally crawling all over the crib and I think she must be a bit like Nathan...Nikki because she seems to be ok sometimes to just crawl around for a bit before she falls asleep....sometimes.  Like I said before, I think sometimes I screw it up by going in when I shouldn't because I feel like it's taking her too long to wind down and I want her to be sleeping.  How long would you let him crawl around before going in?  Or did you just leave him if he wasn't fussy?  I have tried to sort of immobilize her a little...kind of a la BW when she takes about holding there legs/arms (or swadling) to help them settle.  That just really es her off now.  SO....hmmm....

A little dh rave, then I gotta go do some lesson plans...this morning I asked him to go make a bottle and he DIDN'T EVEN ask me how many ounces?  I was absolutely shocked.  And you know, it was funny he only made a 6oz bottle whereas I would have made 8...and guess what, she only ate about 6.  I have to try to trust his instincts a little more. 

Oh yeah, one more thing,  and than I will wrap up the novela.  Yesterday when I went for my run dh watched baby einstein (we need an acronym for that ...be?  Anyhow, When I got home she was down for a nap and I asked him, did you wtach be? He said yes but she had only watched about half (uh-huh...surrrrreee...he was just saving it as an option for later knowing full well that I only like her to watch it once a day if at all) So anyway, later after she was up, I got out nof the shower and I heard...yup you guessed it, BE...so I said, "You're wathcing BE again?"  And he says "Yup, but this time we are watching it in FRENCH"...all proud papa-like...and I am like "Oh! Cool!"  And then it dawns on me that I am sooo gullible.  I only want her to wtach it once a day BUT if she's learning another language, well that's a whole differet story.  Does dh know me well or what?
OK, enough already.
Later
Hannah

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

Hannah, that's so funny about DH.

Yes, I used to just leave Nathan as long as it took for him to crawl around (unless he started to get really grumpy, a little fussing I didn't mind, but generally it would esculate anyway, so I generally went in right away because waiting made no difference), then I'd go in lie him down, say nigh nigh's and leave and repeat if grumpy, but if he was ok I'd leave him.  Generally I found though, he'd have a big crawl around session for 20mins, then would get grumpy and at that point was actually tired, so that's when I needed to do the pd over and over if needed.  But often he'd just need a quick resettle and he'd be off to sleep.  I think what I used to try and do to keep the actual "sleep" time back on track, was take him to his room a little earlier (since he was on timed naps), put him in bed 20mins before I knew he'd be ready for sleep, so by the time he roamed around he was tired "on time".  Maybe that could be worth a try, of course it could backfire and she might not buy it...

Unfortunately Nathan doesn't sleep longer or better at night without his nap (infact it's still true I think - sleep begets sleep) - so he's going to bed overtired which causes him to wake a million times (nightmares, terrors).  Judy, how do you get on in your house with Sarah not napping, I take it she still sleeps well at night?  How many hours does she do now?

Back to the Monday grind here...

[Richelle]

Hi,

I thought I would post a couple pic's as I am loading them onto to my mom's computer.

Nancy - Speaking of chubby babies, check out Sophie's 'bubbies', we weren't even at a topless beach!!  :wink:

[becca24]

Hi Chicks,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA !!

Great photo's everyone I love seeing all the pics. Richelle that beach shot followed by the snow shot is just so funny. I can't imagine how cold that must be. brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr I hate cold!!  :shock:

Well, I can't work this little girl out at all !! Yesterday we had no routine at all because we had to go chrissy shopping. So her morning nap was about 20min in the car. Then when she would normally have had a BF, DH gave her some yogurt instead while I shopped. Shopping for a few hours then 10 min nap in the car on the way home. Then she had a BF instead of lunch :roll: Took an unheard of 2 hour nap at 1pm Up at 3pm for BF. Then we walked down to the pub for DH cricket team chrissy party/Mum's staff chrissy party.  Ate a little bit of vege's for tea at the pub. Walk home, really overtired by this stage. I manage to drag her out to 6.15 for bath, bf, bed. Slept from 6.50pm to 5.30am without a peep   :shock:  :shock:  :? Maybe 'going with the flow' is the way to go?

[sophieandhannah]

I forgot to say Happy Bday to Lisa!!!

[becca24]

Oh and Happy Birthday Brendan !!

[james030405]

Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone.  Having a quite one.   

Traci:  could coles problems be formula related ie. could he be needing a formula that is for lactose intolerance.  I know we are able to get it here in Australia.  I think there are even ones based on soy.  could he been allergic to cows milk?  Just a thought.  sorry if you have already covered this base.  In regards to James 4:00am wake up, he didn't have his bottle on the Friday night and the early waking was on the sunday.  I think it may have just been having too much stimulation with the inlaws here etc.  Will have to watch him over Christmas.  today was 5:30am so a little better - didn;t get him up till 5:50am. 

Becca, I know what you mean about "going with the flow".  I try and keep as close to our routine as possible, but on the days we are unable to, I also find they seem to go pretty well.  Great photos too.

Well, must go.  Should be doing housework, but don't think I will as it is my birthday :lol:

Have a good day/night everyone.

Lisa mum to James my textbook/spirited koala

[FrasersMum]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA!!!!

Hope you have a great day!!

Hi to everyone else - I am at work so I can't do a long post.  Just wanted to let you all know that I haven't quite gotten around to those Christmas cards yet but I am going to - hoping to post them tomorrow or Wednesday.  They might be late but they will come I promise!!

Speak to you all soon

[Colesmom]

Hannah-a very wise DH you have there.

Lisa-Happy Belated :oops:   No housework for you!

Nancy-I've posted twice since your exciting news about the "all done" sign.  So cool-yay Olivia!

Richelle-Found the Kolik brand Gripe.  Thank you so much.  That dill crap is nasty!

Bec-we had a very "go with the flow" day today too.  Early 45 min. nap, early 1:20 nap then up from 12:15 until 6:25 bed.  That means he was up for over 14 hours.  Fed him in the CAR a couple of times, BF and oatmeal and sippy cup.  He fought me a bit for bed for 25 min. but surprisingly no crying just thrashing around trying to get comfy and forgetting the day.

Thankfully Cole had a decent size poo today and actually mushy this time.  Yes, more poo talk.  I am really hoping this means that he is feeling better.  Lisa-thanks for the idea about the formula.  He has taken it before without ill effects so I'm not sure it's that.  Gave him oatmeal with apple and cinnamon today so maybe that got him moving.  He also drank a lot of water today too. 

Okay, after a couple of DH rants I must do a rave.  Today we spent the afternoon labelling, organizing and delivering 63 gifts and a few hundred dollars in gift cards for a needy family.   DH suggested that instead of Secret Santa this year his department participate in Adopt A Family.  Their family was a 23 year old woman with a 5 year old boy and 3 year old girl.  I so wish I could be there to see their little faces on christmas morning.  I am so proud of DH for implementing and organizing this event   He ended up writing the
charitable organization a note saying they could redistribute some of the gifts to other families if necessary.  He looked at the drop off sheet and some families only got 2 or 3 gifts.  The next highest number was 31.  Not that it's about quantity...but I guess DH didn't know the type of response he'd get. They are usually pretty cheap people and the reason he didn't want secret santa.  he usually gets something that goes straight in the garbage.  Okay, so that's my Rave :lol:

Cathy-interesting ideas about the battle of wills.  I'll see how it goes tonight and maybe feed him when I normally wouldn't.  Thankfully he is doing great for naps.  I have to stay with him to settle but he is often doing 1:00-1:30 for both naps (exception this morning in DHs arms)

okay, off to enjoy the evening (hopefully-all body parts crossed).  Putting on chrissie music, DH is doing the tree and i'm finishing the cards.

good night.

[Little Bear's Mum]

Oh no.... I had just about finished writing my post and I went back a page too far to check something and lost it! Poo!!!!!!!!!

And now I can hear Daniel. Oh double pooh!!!

Well, my short version is a great night here last night, and Daniel's settling better today for naps due to it being a little bit cooler and going straight into his sleeping bag.

I love all the photos that have been posted.

Cathy, as for the haircut comment from your hairdresser.... strange, surely you'd cut any babies here when it's needed???!!!!

Better go. Bye everyone.

[Little Bear's Mum]

Ok ladies, I've just made a big stuff up! I was sending you all an email christmas card that I'd made and didn't realise until I hit send that it was 7 MB!!!! Oh crikey. We've got high speed access so it's not so bad, but that's huge if you're on dial up. It's currently in my outbox and I can't stop it from there, but I think once it's sent then I might be able to retract it so it doesn't go into your inbox. Oh dear I'm so sorry if I cause problems at your end. I was just trying to make up for not sending one snail mail!  :cry:  :oops: