[purple_daisy]

Hey ladies
The strangest thing happened here last night. DD is a fantastic eater and has never ever refused a feed but last night after her bath when I offered her some goodnight milk she just lay there with her mouth closed, happily looking up at me I even switched sides but she just kept her mouth closed and was not interested. What is that??? Is it too early for her to start self weaning?

She does eat a LOT of solids. For example yesterday in the arvo her menu was like this:
BF around 2:30 after nap
1/3 cup of yoghurt for arvo snack around 4:30
About a cup of mashed vegies and half a banana for dinner at 6.
Normally then she will have a goodnight feed at about 7, but last night she had no interest whatsoever.

Is this about the amount of solids your babies are having? Do you think she is getting so much to eat that she doesn't need goodnight milk and if so, is that ok at nearly ten months? She latched on like normal when she woke up this morning, so I am confused what to make of it all.

[ChantelM]

purple_daisy - I think just go with the flow. Sometimes Axel will skip an afternoon bottle and occasionally even the bottle when he first wakes up. He does eat a lot of solids though so I just let him decide. I do worry a little about dehydration but I just try to offer him his sippy cup with water as often as possible.

A cup of mashed vegies I think would fill their little tummies. Maybe she was just a bit full from dinner.

AFU - Separation anxiety is getting better and better. Some afternoons he still just wants cuddles, but mostly he is back playing with his toys without needing me to watch.

He gave me a heart attack last Friday! Axe was playing with his toys in the loungeroom so I quickly ducked into my room to get dressed. I was only gone 2 mins. When I came back he had climbed on top of his Dads ab circle. I panicked and he turned because he heard me running for him and fell. I kind of caught him mid fall so he didnt hit the ground hard. He thought it was funny though. My heart was pounding afterwards for ages. Cheeky little monkey!

ogglyn - Hope you had a fantastic child free night

[J.E.T.E]

purple_daisy- Just a tip about baking a number one shaped cake you can either do two things. You can make 2 seperate cakes with one being in a long flat loaf container and a shorter flat loaf container then place them together (you would have to slice part of the shorter loaf to make the tip of the one) or you can get a very large cake container and cut the one out and maybe use the excess cake to do little dots around the one to make it a little fun. That's just what I would do but I'm sure there are always plenty of other things!

We are going to make a cupcake tower with multicoloured cup cakes, also thinking of defrosting the top of our wedding cake to have for their first birthday.

ogglyn- Robin is so cute! Such a cheeky little smile on him aswell!
ChantelM- Nice to hear about the robotic vaccum, lol! How's that working out for you?
gisses- I'm sorry to hear about your MC, I hope your feeling better and I have my fingers (and that of Theo and Eb) all crossed for you for next time! Hope you had an awesome birthday bash, did anyone tick on that you wern't drinking alcohol?

AFU: I'm back at work now 3 days a week, Theo and Eb were sick on the first day that I was due to go back to work so luckily DH stayed home and took care of them for me. They are both crawling now and getting into mischief, I've nearly got the house full baby proofed. Our lounge room looks like a bomb hit it during most of the day because of all the toys they leave laying around, lol.
I'm excited for winter to come so I can dress them up in cute warm jumpers and fluffy beanies, etc!

We have decided to TTC come September this year so that the twins and their next sibling (hopefully one this time!) will be close in age. I'll probably regret it later down the track but we will see how we go.
Ebbie has 2 teeth now and she has the most gorgeous smile.. she's developed a bit of a weird laugh though, kind of a mix between her coughing and the noise she makes when she's doing a number 2, haha.

I can't believe that they are a little over 10 months old now, it's astounding how fast time goes! I'd best get my bum into gear and write out their party invitations this weekend. We decided to make them ourselves again and so as per my usual style there are lots of bright colours! I might post a picture of them once I'm done, lol.

That turned out to be a big post so I'll finish up now with a picture of my little monkeys!

Hope everyone and your gorgeous babies are well.

[Brownbear]

Hi all,

Haven't posted in ages, but I have been reading and trying to keep up with everything!


Emma_P, your two are just adorable! Exciting news that you're planning to TTC later this year. I hope it goes smoothly.

ChantelM, we have also had climbing incidents. The other day, Toby climbed on top of his nappy buckets in the laundry (there are several in there stacked on top of each other - they are actually plastic box-type things) and dangled his arms into the washing machine, which was off at the time (I was there, putting clothes in). I have now vowed to always leave the laundry door shut and not let him in there unsupervised.

purple_daisy, the Women's Weekly birthday cake book has numbers in it. You could probably find it at most bookshops, and at least have a flick through it if you didn't want to buy it. As for the refusing a breastfeed, I wouldn't worry about it. Toby is all over the place with both milk and solids - sometimes he wants lots, often he refuses. I think it's a good sign that your DD can self-regulate her appetite.

Ogglyn, Robin is so cute! He's looking very cheeky in that photo! We are also having changing difficulties. Sometimes I get frustrated and just have to leave the room so I don't lost my temper (we change Toby on the floor). I have become very good at putting his nappy on while he stands up.

gisses, I'm very sorry to hear about the miscarriage. On a happier note, it sounds as though Leah is thriving at childcare, which is fantastic.

Mummyhales, beautiful photo! Yes, I have also heard that many people have different-sized pupils, and it's great that the specialist was reassuring and offered a follow-up appointment. Regarding the napping, Toby also sleeps for about 4 hours in total during the day (but in 2 2-hour blocks) and is pretty hopeless at night. I'm not going to try and discourage his day napping, but rather wait it out and hope that he starts to sleep less during the day and more at night. Sorry, that doesn't really help!

Toby is now doing lots of unaided standing but hasn't taken any independent steps yet.
He babbles lots, but I don't think he has said any meaningful words (at least, I haven't understood them!) and only has 2 teeth so far.

I am working 2 days per week, and am really enjoying my job. Toby is cared for by DH and my Mum over those 2 days. DH is looking to change jobs, so we may need to put Toby in childcare, and it's good to hear that some of your little ones are doing so well in that respect.

We go to baby gym on Fridays (heading off shortly) which Toby just loves! He's always a bit shy for the first 10 minutes, but then there's no stopping him.

I am starting to get a it bored at home and I think Toby is too. I have been trying to take him lots of places - the park, library, mother's group (once a week or so) - what else do you ladies do to keep yourselves and baby occupied?

That's all for now - here's a recent photo!

[runnybabbit]

Hello everyone!

Have been totally MIA, we have been having a tough time of it sleep wise. DH was away earlier this week for three nights, and of course that would be the time for Nathan to get his worst cold ever. He was so congested, poor boy, even with the vaporiser going full time. First night he was up every 30-45 minutes (!!!) for a cuddle so he could be held upright, second night every 1-2 hours, third night he did two 2.5 hour stretches... And as soon as DH was back he was sleeping 3-4 hours.

So I was feeling really exhausted, and his self-settling became non-existent because of the sickness. We've been working on getting him to self-settle and so far today he was held to sleep for his morning nap, but self-settled for the afternoon nap and bedtime. He has stopped sleeping through the night and has been very unpredictable sleep-wise, usually is up 2-3 times a night, sometimes four times. It's driving me a little batty.

We are officially TTC! I just had my second post-partum period, about 7 weeks since my first. So no idea what is going on cycle-wise. DH says the only solution is to have lots and lots of sex, which of course sounds FAB when I'm already feeling exhausted!

At the moment sex is like going to the gym -- I never regret doing it once it's done, in fact I quite enjoy it. But getting myself to do it is really difficult!

And yes I can't believe our babies are almost a year old. I'm planning Nathan's first birthday party and I think I am getting kinda carried away, but I can't help myself. Spotlight had 30% storewide so I bought up big on balloons and partyware. We are still unpacking so the house is still quite messy. I also had the $200 of toys from Amazon for Nathan's birthday arrive last week. Good grief I need to stop spending! I've unpacked most of Nathan's toys and already he has THREE Ikea toy baskets full of toys.

Anyway, a quick one from me, I'm going to try to get as much sleep as possible tonight. xo Sorry no personals, I promise I am still reading and still think of you all as my online mums' group!

[ChantelM]

runnybabbit - Good luck with TTC. Axel is also sleeping terribly, maybe it is just a developmental stage? I am finally able to keep him in his cot for most of the night but he ends up in my bed by about 4am as I am just exhausted from getting up constantly to re-settle.

Brownbear - Clever little munchkins they are. They figure things out so quickly! The photo of Toby is just gorgeous! They look like such little ppl now, our little babies are gone!

AFU - Axel is doing well besides for the night sleep problems. He had his clinic appointment last Friday and now weighs 10.2 kgs and is 73.5 cm long. He was still on 5 bottles a day including lots of solids so the nurse told me to cut it down to 3. Yesterday was our first day with only 3 and he went ok. Missing the 10am bottle didn't phase him but he was a bit cranky in the afternoon. I gave him plenty of solids but he uses his bottle as a comforter so I think that is why he wanted it.

A bit of a vent but I am missing my little man so much when I am at work the last couple of weeks. I am really struggling with it. I would love to find work that is 3 days. I am only doing 4 now, but I think that extra day with him would really help. Is anyone else struggling that has to leave them at Day Care? I know he loves it there so I am not worried about him not being looked after, its just me being sooky He is just growing so quickly and I feel like I am missing it...

[Small Potatoes]

Sorry I have been MIA. For some reason I stopped getting notifications and it just slipped my mind until now, apparently the last time I was here was mid Feb . Hope all are well

[MummyHayles]

Hello

Small Potatoes - that photo of Lachie is so cute - makes me want to just squeeze his cheeks!

ChantelM - I was still giving Ruby a bottle first thing when she woke up and after her next nap, then before her 2nd nap and bedtime, so she was having 4 sometimes 5 and I thought she wasn't eating a lot. Now Ive got her used to having weetbix and some fruit after she wakes up and her bottle at nap time and she is only having 3. Definitely eating heaps more solids now and she's content so I know she's not missing it.

runnybabbit - poor Nathan! I just think how crappy I feel when I have a cold and its hard to imagine them going through the same. We havent had a cold in this house for a while (surely I've just jinxed myself) but Im dreading it.

At the moment sex is like going to the gym -- I never regret doing it once it's done, in fact I quite enjoy it. But getting myself to do it is really difficult!

Hahahahaha - LOVED this, and so true - I feel the same

Brownbear, ogglyn & Emma_P - Gorgeous photos!

So many ready to TTC again - you brave souls you! DH & I know we want another child but as for when...? The age gap is 4 years between my two (though this wasnt the plan, I had a m/c in between - the gap would have been two years. It took me a while to get my groove back to want to try again) I'm thinking the end of the year....maybe....I'll be 28 and DH will be turning 31 then, I wanted to have all my children before I turned 30 so I guess I'll stick to that plan. Might try and gender sway for a boy not that we're bothered either way!

Ok, more housework is calling me - Night x

[purple_daisy]

Small Potatoes it is good to see you, I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering how your studies are going?

ChantelM Can you ask your current employer to consider going down to 3 days or even 3.5 so you have a little extra time with your LO? DD is in care 2 days per week and I find that is just a perfect amount to give both of us a break from each other. I think I could probably handle 3 days but 4 days I would be feeling the same as you, so it must be really hard.

Runnyrabbit how exciting about TTC again. Good luck, enjoy those gym-like workouts hehe.

Brownbear thanks for the tip about the women's weekly birthday cake cookbook. I found one on special at my local bookshop so grabbed it and I have spent hours drooling and cooing over the cakes! I think I will be making DD birthday cakes till she is 40 just so I can try all the different types. What 40 year old doesn't want a jelly filled "Swimming pool" cake complete with barbies in bikinis

AFM After three days of being in awful abdominal pain, nausea, feeling faint when BFing and generally thinking my stomach was about to explode............... AF arrived. First one since August 2010 I had been warned that some women find their post partum AF tough. That was the understatement of the year. Before AF showed up (this morning) I actually went to the GP yesterday to ask if I needed blood tests or an ultrasound as I was in such agony. I am hoping it is only the first one that will be like this. I have a pretty high pain threshhold, but this has taken me by complete surprise. Did anyone else have a terrible first cycle then all back to normal again?

Hi to all you other lovely ladies that I have missed!

[Small Potatoes]

Purple DaisyStudies are going well. Only part-time this year and next but will go full time after that. My first AF after bub was sensational, barely new I had it. I used to get quite bad pain before and all since have been very doable. I still don't have mine yet . I might need to keep breastfeeding Lachie until he is20 (that should get me to menopause LOL)
My sister makes cakes so she is doing a Mario Bros cake for Will and a Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit cake for Lachie

Mummy Hayles THanks

no more TTC for us. DH has had the snip and been given the all clear

Edited to delete double post

This post has been edited by Small Potatoes: 22/03/2012, 05:12 PM