March/April Thread #3

[solnme]

Good morning/afternoon!

Got xmas cards from Ankie and Micky (haven't ckecked today) Thank you.  Mine went out yesterday.

Lisa/Hannah - we've gone down to 3 feedings a day as well.  Mainly because Sol refused to take his 11:30 BF.  At first I was so frustrated and thought it was me cause it took a long time for me to get milk so I switched to a bottle.  Now he won't take that either.
He also decided that he didn't want to be woken up for his DF 4 nights ago so we stopped cold turkey.  THe first 2 mornings he woke early between 5-6 but has gone back to his normal wake up.  Here is our sched. now.
7:00 wake up-BF
8:00 solids
9:15 nap
10:30 rarely 11 wake up
12:00 lunch
2:00 bottle
2:30/3 nap
4:30 wake up
5:00 solids
6:30 bath/book
7 BF - bed

The trip to Seattle was fun, thanks for asking but we had some sleep issues when we got back.  Tried what Andrea suggested and OMG it is so hard!!!  But it did work and I found it took about 3 minutes for him to stop screaming and another 3 before he was quiet.

Micky - yay Jackson!  6 weeks did go by quick.

Hayley - I had to read that ditty 3 times to really let it sink in.  I don't like clutter or mess and lately DH has needed reminders of what he should be doing around the house.  I HATE that. Dh says: "Dah, ok... what needs to be done?"  How about LOOKING AROUND!  Not that hard to figure out. 

Uh oh... I feel a rant coming on.  Was really looking forward to going to my bros. in Portland.  He has his 2 daughters over the holidays.  We tried to schedule it so we have 4 days with them there and remain 3 more days after they return home.  Turns out dates have changed and we're all there on the same days. Love, love, love the girls but they are 9 and 13 and require lots of their aunts attention.  My brother and his wife like to disappear sometimes (like you wake up in the morning and they're gone. no note and cell phones off) so the girls end up hanging out with me most of the time.  But I soooooo need a break.  I just want to wake up and have people make me tea, nibble on breakfast chocolate and take a morning nap.  Last time we went in the summer and they did that I took a fit and everyone just looked at me and blinked.  It's pointless trying to change it but my relaxing week is now out the window.

Thanks so much for listening if you got this far.  Really needed that. 
Happy naps everyone!

[solnme]

Oh!  Missed some stuff while I was posting.

Traci - Look at you Super Mod!  So many babies to guide, you'll be great!

Nikki - way to sleep!

[Olivia's Mommy]

Macaire--thanks so much. I am feeling much better today. Every once in a while I'll forget that my jaw is tender and open real wide (to yawn or take a bite of something) and then I feel it! But as long as I take it easy, I'm feeling pretty good. I don't bf now, but I did for almost 5 months. I took prenatal vitamins the whole time I bf and now I'm taking calcium supplements. I guess one more way our bodies are affected by pregnancy, huh?

Hayley--thanks for the poem. Someone wrote that in my card for one of my baby showers. I had never heard it before, and I love it!!! Thanks for reminding me of it.

Micky--I laughed out loud at the mental picture of Jackson "listening to what his knees have to say." That's hilarious!

Well, I should go wake Liv, she's been asleep for 2.75 now, and it's time for lunch. We took her to the mall yesterday afternoon. She did FABULOUS, but it wore her out. She only got a couple SHORT catnaps in the stroller.

Have a great day everyone...off to make lunch for my LO.

[Little Bear's Mum]

Goodmorning/afternoon/evening. It's so much easier and quicker catching up when there's only 2 pages to read! I can't get on as much now cos DH is home on holiday for 4 weeks, so he SEES ME!!! And always comments.  :evil: He kind of jokes, but I think he thinks I'm on here a lot longer than I am. I tell him I might look like I'm on here for an hour but during that hour I'm up and down to Daniel I don't know how many times and doing other things.  :lol:

Thanks for the feedback on bottles, I realised Daniel was drinking lots, but it was such a sudden change. I've gone back to bottle first thismorning, but then I'll give him lunch first then bottle. So slowly change the pattern.

He woke at 6am thismorning, earliest in ages, wouldn't stop talking! 30 mins later when I went to him I found out what he'd been saying "Come and change my nappy - it stinks down there!!!" Oops, bad mummy!  :oops: He didn't pooh yesterday afternoon so I should have expected it. Wasn't so good as DH was out at an airforce end of year function and didn't get in until 2am so I spent a lot of time lying awake wondering when he'd be home. It was on base so I needed worry, but I do anyway. I knew the concert (Feelers) had finished about 10.30pm so you gotta wonder. I should have known a party had started up at someone's house.

Judy - whatever works I say!! I have to admit we use B.Einstein quite often during the 'witching hour' between 5-6pm. Daniel just quietens and settles as soon as it's on. And as much as my tree won't look perfect, Christmas with children makes Christmas even more special than normal, so I won't mind sharing my tree.  I guess......

Micky - how wonderful to have Jacks casts off on Monday. Now the adventures will really begin with having his legs back. It won't be long till he's moving, Daniel started by bum rotating too and within a short time.... today DH is hopefully doing some more baby proofing! Everything is now fair game!

Gotta go, someone's wanting breakfast.

Love to you all.

[Colesmom]

roz-so sorry about your relaxing week.  And good for you getting back on track with Andreas method.

Andrea-I was wondering about that-is it to settle for the night, or just for wakings?  Should I put him down and leave then and do the count?  I tried it for nap and it didn't work...but I think my A time was off, put down too early.  Maybe until I figure out my A times it would only be fair to stay with him.

Macaire-was it you reminding us to cuddle with our los?  Thank you for that.  Dare I say I needed reminding. I've just been so focussed on sleep that I've forgotten to enjoy my little boy.  We did cuddle the other day.  He sat in my lap while we watched BE Santas.  It was nice.

okay, poopy diaper and I'm heading to the mall.  Must get out and get a bit of shopping done.

oh-Holly is up north at her moms. Don't think she'd mind me posting.  She got Brady's cold so she's up there getting some much needed rest.  I think she'll check in Thursday or Friday.

[Little Bear's Mum]

Hi again. Another question for you all....

If I can join a toy library and get 'new' toys every 2 weeks for Daniel to enjoy is this going to promote the need for lots of new toys all the time when he's older?

I can see he's getting a little bored with the ones we have now that he's been playing with for a couple of months now, even the interactive ones that you push things and stuff pops out etc. But we don't want to fall into the trap of having hundreds of toys and a child that needs/wants different toys all the time. A friend has leant me some of hers which I need to give back (the more interactive ones) and they go to the library weekly for her 3 yr old. He's got soooo many toys they have to store them in a number of boxes.

With Christmas coming I'm sure he'll get a couple more, but it's more of an ongoing thing.

What's a sensible approach that isn't going to have expensive repercutions in the future, but at that same time keeps him interested and stimulated?

[Carter'sMama]

(Long Post!!)

Thanks so much for all of you condolences!  I talked to my Grandpa today and he said the funeral went as well as it could and that everyone is doing pretty good.  I feel abd about not going but a 4 hr car ride there and then 4 hours home with Carter doesn't sound that do-able to me especially since we have to do next week anyway!!

I mailed my international cards today!!!  The Canadian ones I mailed a few days ago and the US ones were supposed to be mailed last week but ...  DH forgot!  He was going to mail them from work (in Detroit) for faster delivery but he just  remebered today!!!!  I hope they all get there in time!  I got a card from Kate today and I love the picture of Ryan!!  So cute!!!

Micky:  YEAH ... no more casts (soon).  That did go by really fast!!  On another note, seems weird to think that we were in labour at the same time!!!

Roz:  I hope your holiday turns out to be relaxing like you hoped.  There is nothing worse than being stressed over the holidays.

Nikki:  Congrats and both sleeping through!!!!  Now, if they will only do it all the time!!   :lol:

Traci:  I was thinking about you and Cole today when I was driving home form the post office.  You are one very strong lady!!  When Carter starts nightwakings, after 2 days I am a wreck!  I have no patience when I am short on sleep.  I get cranky and teary and am just not a nice person to be around.  So, you deserve a medal or something for dealing with this for 3 weeks!!!  I truly hope it gets better and soon.  Maybe you should ask for that for Christmas!!!  :lol:   Oh ya, congrats on the Super Mod!!!

Hayley:  I know what you mean about DH giving you a hard time about being on the computer!  Every time DH walks in the office and sees me on the computer he goes "So are you a moderator yet?" in this really sarcastic voice   :roll:   Men eh!??  I don't think he even knows what a moderator is! However, he does think that he is pretty funny  :roll:

Oops, someone's tired ... brb!!

Ok, Carter's down for nap # 2!!  By looking at everyone's schedule, I am feeling like a bad momma  :oops:   I keep Carter up way later than any other baby.  I hope I'm not doing something wrong     It seems to work, here's our schedule:
7:15-7:30 - wakeup and BF
8:30 - cereal & fruit
10:00 - nap
11:30 - wakeup and bf
12:30 - veggie/meat & fruit
2:30 - nap
4:00 - wakeup and bf
5:30 - veggie & fruit & 1/2 cookie
7:00 - cereal & bath
7:45 - bottle of ebm, bf and bed by 8:15 (at the latest)

I am trying to move his bedtime up a bit (it used to be 9:00pm!!) but then he gets up super early.  Now that I have finally gotten him away from early wakings and night wakings because of hunger I am going to try and move his bed time up a bit.  I have to go back to work in Feb and I won't get home at night until 7:00 and DH isn't home until 6:30 most nights so I don't want his bed time too early KWIM?

[Little Bear's Mum]

Hi Cathy

My day is kind of similar, but starts about 6.30am. Daniel's day looks like this:

6.30am wake up and talk in cot
7.00am bottle
7.45am yoghurt & cereal/fruit
9.00am Nap 1
10.30am wake up
11.00am bottle
11.45am lunch (veges and/or fruit and cracker/toast)
1.30pm Nap 2
2.30am Wake up
3.00pm Bottle
4.30pm Meat and veges
6.15pm Bath
6.50pm Bottle
7.00pm Sleep

Now this has been what's happening, but I'm just mucking around changing it so solids is first. Also, with his new movement in cot, sometimes he's taking longer to go to sleeps so everything is pushed out. I'm also finding he can stretch to 3h 15m betweeen the 2 naps now and he's settling quicker. I'm just reading that cue at the time.

Just put D down for first nap, wouldn't settle, very tired though. Suddenly realised I had him wearing more clothes than he did to bed a night. So got him up, gave him some water (2 slurps) stripped him down to nappy and back into his sleeping bag. I think he's now asleep. Phew! I thought  was in for a difficult one but it turned out ok after all. We've got coffee group thismorning, so didn't want him to start his nap too late.

Better go get ready for the day.

[Nikki~Nathan&Danielle]

Cathy, we have similar awake times.  Some babies like a shorter A time at the start of the day and long afternoon and others prefer long morning A and short A.  Ours is like this (long afternoons, sometimes she'll be awake for up to 5hrs from her 2nd nap) - oh and nothing wrong with his bedtime if it works for you and your family  :wink: :

6-6.30 wake
9am nap (1hr)
1pm nap (1.5-2hrs)
7pm bedtime

Hayley, don't really have any suggestions about toys, I found when Nathan was moving more (ie crawling/pulling up/cruising) he actually wasn't into sitting down and playing with toys anyway.  He got all his stimulation and learning about the house and about being active (drawers, cupboards, doors, curtains, pulling washing off the drying rack, pulling books off bookshelves) - toys would have been a waste of time. LOL :lol:

Judy, have you visited the Gentle Discipline forum at MDC?  There is a discussion there about Unconditional Parenting which is where I first learnt about that concept.

[kate585]

Hi, girls!
Cathy, I agree with Nikki.  Don't mess with your schedule unless you need to.  Seems like he's doing great to me!  Ryan goes down between 7 and 8:30 depending on his day, naps, activity level, etc.  Like this am, I woke him up at 8:00 and yesterday he was up just before 7.  So, this fluctuating wake up changes all his naps and bedtime.  Since I'm usually home, it doesn't really matter.  He sleeps about 1.5-3.5 hours during the day and he's getting 11-13 hours of sleep at night, so I'm not messin' with it!   
Andrea, great suggestion for the counting to 100 thing.  I am always waiting outside the door to see if he'll calm down, but have never "timed" myself to see how long I wait.  He usually cries a bit (like for nap # 1 it was "Wah!  Wahhh! Wah! and then silence) but if it's a HUGE cry, I'll let him go for about 20 secs. or so and then go in.  This will be nice to have more guidance and a way to measure it, if that makes sense.
Roz, sorry your week got mixed up.  I would talk to your brother about it before you get there.  Say, "Now that Sol is here, I won't be able to spend as much alone time with the girls.  Just wanted to let you know how much I've appreciated our quality time in the past, but it can't happen this trip."  Or some such thing.  Much easier to discuss it ahead of time so he knows what to expect.  Or, you could ask him what the plans are for the girls' trip.  See that he plans something special for them to do each day that he'll need to be involved in and you'll never get dumped on again (not that you seemed to mind, of course).  How's that for unsolicited advice!   :oops:
Ryan went for his 9 month check up today.  He is doing great, but is going down some in his percentages (Weight (23 lbs).:  80%, Length(30 1/4in.):  95%).  He used to be 90% and 97% respectively and when I asked the doctor if I should be worried that the #'s are getting smaller, he said, "He's just moving closer to normal."   :shock:   Excuse me, doctor, I believe the word should have been average, you schmuck!   
Other than that, we've done pretty well today.  I even took Ryan to see Santa and he did GREAT!  They let me use my own camera, so I'll post a pic later. 
Edit:  Here is a link to the pics:  http://www.babywhisperer.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=322984#322984
(for some reason it goes to the middle of the page...but there are a few other cute shots above.   :oops: )
Must go clean the bathroom...it's just not the cleanest place to be right now.   :?

[Colesmom]

kate-so was there ever a time you had to stay with Ryan to settle after doing pupd?  did you gradually wean the hand on the bum.  sorry if you've mentioned this, my brain is fried.

I'm making progress.  He fought nap 3 a little bit, but I didn't pat, just put my hand on his bum when he looked ready to settle.  And I only PD when he stood up.  he was crying at first then took to doing laps of his crib.  I was going to stop him but remembered the discussion here about los settling so I left him.  he then cried and stood up and I just said time for sleep and held his hip firmly down.  He grabbed at my hand, but not as much as before so I hope that within a few days he'll make progress to settling without me touching him at all, and soon enough i'll be able to get out of the room again!

to be honest, i like this 30 min. break for me too during catnap. I can get his dinner ready without him getting into things he shouldn't or me chasing him around.  and have my cup of tea while i'm at it.  okay, speaking of his dinner...should probably go get it ready.  gotta wake him in five.

[kate585]

Traci, in fact, I stayed with him to settle after pd for nap # 2 today.      I find that it helps him, but if he doesn't need any pu/pd I'm gone right away.  I do it just like you...hand on hip.  And, in the book, Tracy says not to get them unless they stand all the way up.  (Dh pointed this out to me...again too little information can be dangerous, but this time he was right.   :evil: )  That'll tire him out more, I guess.  And, when they get too tired to stand up and sit up, then you can put them down.  So, that was great to let him scoot around a bit.
GOOD LUCK TONIGHT!!!!  I'm hoping that catnap will be the perfect thing to get him to bed later, sleep longer through the night, and sleep later!  I know you said you're sort of liking his early bedtime, but a 7:00 bedtime and 7:00 wake up will feel simply divine!

[Erin M]

Hi ladies - well, Katie was at daycare for about 3 hours and I managed to go get my hair cut, get lunch, and clean my entire house.  I've gotten rather efficient these days!  Of course, that's only when Katie's not around.  I had to clean though, as Katie now looks at anything on the floor as fair game for a snack - lint, fuzz, cat hair, leaves, rocks, dirt...

Let's see....Hayley - this made me laugh

DH was out at an airforce end of year function and didn't get in until 2am so I spent a lot of time lying awake wondering when he'd be home.

as I am EXACTLY the same way (and really very laid back otherwise).  I have GOT to calm down before Katie gets old enough to go out with her friends. 

Judy - saw your comments on another post about discipline - to you and Nikki both - whose discipline philosophy do you like?  (Basically what books do you like?)  I'm beginning to realize that stage will be here sooner than later with how fast time goes these days!

Kate - our days actually look a whole lot like yours.  Katie goes to bed anytime between 7:15 and 8:30 and is up generally sometime between 7-8.  When I work on Mondays, I generally don't get home until 8:15 or so, and DH is no good at getting her to bed ontime.  He seems to wait for me to put her in her crib.  Weekends too tend to be later days. 

Traci - good luck with your sleeping tonight.  I know you'll be an excellent sleep mod as well!  Oh, and thanks for the update on Holly - I was worried after she mentioned how sick Brady was and then disappeared!

Nikki - Hooray for the sleep.  Hope you get some more tonight. 

Kate - your pictures are great!  I love them!  I got one of Katie and Santa yesterday, but it's not digital, so I'll have to find someone with a scanner. 

Roz - I like Kate's (unsolicited  ) advice.  Maybe he's just needs it spelled out for him that things are different now. 

Judy - LOL about Dora.  Hey, look at it this way - she's learning Spanish!

Micky - Hooray for Jackson!  I too would love to see his reaction to getting his legs back. 

OK, I am apologizing right now for the late cards I haven't sent out yet.  The Kodak site is giving my grief about printing the pictures since they look professional (they were taken by a retired professional photographer, but I am related to him) and they need proof I'm not violating any sort of copyright.  So, I sent them the proof and they haven't gotten back to me :evil:  -- at this point, since the international ones are going to be late anyway, I'm waiting for the pics.

It's 5:30 and Katie is sleeping.  She took a whopping 20 minute nap at daycare this morning, then we had to drop DH off at the train (meeting in NYC tonight), so she didn't get down for her nap until about 4:15.  Since she's so short on sleep today anyway, I think I'll just let her sleep for a bit more and if she needs to stay up later, so be it. 

Thanks for being here ladies.

[Olivia's Mommy]

Hayley--I also lay and wait for DH to come home when he's out. I guess now I understand why my mom was always waiting up for me when I got home!

Cathy--our schedule is very similar to yours. Liv is up 2.75-3 hrs at a time. Otherwise, I only get 30-45 miin naps out of her. I agree, you shouldn't worry about the schedule unless it's not working. And it sounds like it is!

Off to make dinner...then making Christmas candy tonight with a friend. (She's coming here and we're making it after Liv goes to bed.) Not exactly a night out, but will still be loads of fun!

[Judy]

Judy, have you visited the Gentle Discipline forum at MDC?  There is a discussion there about Unconditional Parenting which is where I first learnt about that concept.

No I haven't but that gal in charge over there - is it Crystal?  Who wrote the book... anyway she's been to the Unconditional Parenting board and wow!!  Big nasty fight.  Sadie - is she there and pretty vocal???  She and Crystal really got in to it... Crystal doesn't bother with the UP site anymore.  There was a lot of TCS (taking children seriously) folks over at UP, they've left for now but they tend to go really far the other way - like if your child doesn't want to go in the carseat perhaps they don't go in the carseat??  Forcing them in or bribing them would be considered horrible things to DO TO a child.  I like the UP site because it stretches me WAAAAY the other way from timeouts and such but it goes much farther than I ever will be able to.  But as I said the TCS folks have left recently so the site's kinda boring now.  I liked the challenge they provided really. 

UP is so different than my upbringing which was the ultimate in control and manipulation.  It's hard, a struggle often but I'm really convinced the UP is a great way to parent.

That all said I did rant at Zoe tonight when she threw her mini go on the floor because she opened it and it didn't have water lying on the top??  I asked her to clean it up and she did.  *deep breath* then she refused the supper I made, again, got salad didn't like it so tossed it in the sink after I suggested leaving it for dh who might want it when he got home, then decided she was having raisins for supper :roll: (what could I do?  I was trying to eat my own salad while nursing Kaia and spooning food into Hannah) but then decided after eating a couple that they were meant for the garbage.. so I went on a bit of a 'you're wasting a lot of food' rant   miserable mother that I am.  I try to remain calm on the outside but sometimes I'm really ticked on the inside and feel rather guilty about that.      I'm really just so sick of making suppers - no one eats them or someone complains and I think I'm a rather good cook to be honest.  DH is extremely picky - casserole?  No way would he even taste one!!  So the girls are becoming more and more and MORE picky.  They had to open a can of soup last night because I told dh I wasn't interested in the whole hassle of thinking up a meal and cooking it anymore.


Wow - how was that for a rant, just from a simple question.  I guess I could have just said "no haven't seen the site"  sorry :oops: