A nice way to wrap up the year... (mostly baby themed, for the baby themed blog!).
1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? Had a baby!
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't make any that I can remember. Next year, I resolve to try to be a better wife and a better mother.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? I met a whole bunch of ladies that gave birth around July! Also two friends from work and one of our close friends. We also have another couple that are due very early in January!
4. Did anyone close to you die? Not anyone close to me necessarilly, but we did go to a funeral this year.
5. What countries did you visit? We stayed local.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? A bit more calmness in myself.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? The baby was born on 7 July (7/7 = easy to remember!).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Physically, giving birth was a big thing. I'm also pretty happy with how I have handled becoming a mum / stopping work / not going completely crazy and not going totally postnatal.
9. What was your biggest failure? Letting my temper get the better of me. And I still spend a fair amount of time mulling things over in my head until they become a much bigger deal than they really are.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I copped a few stitches when the baby came... I also wanged my back out while I was pregnant, and then I got the haemangeoma cut out of my finger.
11. What was the best thing you bought? We actually bought our second dog this year, which seems so long ago! I also really enjoyed all the Christmas shopping, and shopping for my sister in law's baby shower.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration? All of us! Overall, we are very lucky to have such a content and laidback baby. The husband did a great job of continually checking in on me, particularly in the early days. The dogs were quite excited by the baby at first but have calmed down a fair bit. And I haven't pulled out all my hair!
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed? Probably mine, of all of us. I spend so much time with me, so I know what I'm like.
14. Where did most of your money go? Medical bills! With the birth, the baby's hip and physio, my back physio, my hand operation and physio, and the husbands medical things this year (massive migraine that appeared as a potential stroke, a suspected fractured leg, and some sun damage), we've done a good job of boosting the doctor business. That and all the adorable outfits I've bought from Target....
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? I think I was really excited about the baby's first smiles and laughs. She seemed so serious for so long, it was just such a nice change.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? We were listening to a playlist of songs I'd collected while I was in labour, then the husband switched it over to the new Bon Iver album just before it was business time. So I think it will be that album....
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
(a) Happier or Sadder? A different kind of happy - while I was pregnant, I was hormonally happy!
(b) Thinner or Fatter? Thinner! I'm almost 20kg lighter than I was at my most pregnant (scary!) and I'm three kg lighter than my pre pregnancy weight. I'd still like to lose another five before my birthday.
(c) Richer or Poorer? Poorer.... half pay + few medical things + mortgage + baby will do that!
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Taking photos of the baby with a real camera, not our dodgy phone camera's.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Sitting on my butt looking at the internet instead of spendig quality time with my husband. But we're working on that. Part of me also wants to say 'eating less hot chips', but I enjoyed each and every one!
20. How did you spend Christmas in 2011? Christmas Eve at my eldest-youngest brother and his wife's house, with my family. It's become tradition and it's always good fun! Christmas day we unwrapped presents as a family, then went to my parent's house for lunch with the family and then to the husband's parent's house for dinner with his family. We will do lunch and dinner at the opposite house next year.
21. Did you fall in love in 2011? I did! Baby! Nawwwwwwwwwww!
22. How many one-night stands? Ba ha ha!
23. What was your favorite TV program? I reaaaaaaaaaaaally get in to MasterChef. We also really got in to Raising Hope and Community, and I powered through five seasons of How I Met Your Mother. And I need to restart 30 Rock (for the third time!) and catch up.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? I don't think so. I've seen some crazy behaviour, but don't think I really hate anyone.
25. What was the best book you read? I read a lot of Sookie Stackhouse books, the entire Black Dagger Brotherhood series and a lot of Marion Keyes - easy reads. And I found Kaz Cooke's Kidwrangling and Up the Duff to both be really helpful and entertaining. That said, I think Bossypants was my favourite book of the year!
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Holly Throsby's See!. The husband's sister bought it for us as part of our baby shower gift and the baby loves it (as do I!).
27. What did you want and get? A healthy baby and a not-too-scary delivery. Check.
28. What did you want and not get? A babymoon!
29. What was your favorite film of this year? I've seen New Years Eve twice - I just can't help myself, I'm a Zac Efron maniac...
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 29 and I don't really remember! I think we went out for lunch and for dinner (nom nom)...
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Immeasurably? I can't think of anything! And I feel like a sap for writing that, but it's true.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Ah ha ha! "Just woke up".
33. What kept you sane? Words with Friends and Tiny Tower on the iPhone...
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? There were a lot of celebrity pregnancies, that was pretty interesting. Though I didn't fancy them. I am still fancying Zac Efron though, I guess!
35. What political issue stirred you the most? I'm still waiting for gay marriage to be recognised.
36. Who did you miss? Every so often I dream about a school friend who passed away, and I wake up really sad and missing him. It would have been nice for my Pa (and for all my grandparents!) to have been able to meet the baby as well.
37. Who was the best new person you met? I met a stack of awesome women through the Essential Baby forum that have moved over to Facebook, and also a lovely friend who worked at my work and whose daughter is related to the baby (via the husband and his second cousin). A great year for new friends!
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. You only have time.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. “You are the only thing in any room you're ever in..."
40. What are your resolutions for 2012? To become a better mother and a better wife. And to lose 5kg before my birthday!
Saturday 31 December 2011
Friday 30 December 2011
Easy day
Thursday night, baby fed at 11pm (after family tea), woke at 4am and was resettled, woke at 4.30am for a feed, woken at 7.30 for a feed and woke at 9.30. We pulled her in to bed, the husband went to the tip and to do some groceries and the two of us napped on and off until 11.30 (when the husband called to see what we wanted from the groggo for new years)(!).
I headed out to do some gardening after both the baby and I had had something to eat, and she stayed inside with the husband to watch the soccer. The husband came out and gardened too on and off all afternoon, but I did about five hours work (with two quick breaks to feed the baby).
Now that she's started solids and is spreading her feeds out, the actual feeding thing is a lot less of a 'hassle'. Because we were at home and the husband was keeping her entertained, I didn't spend my time considering how much time I had between feeds and whether it was 'worth' getting out to hit the garden. I just did it. And it was good to be able to just do what needed to be done.
And to enhance it, she sat out on the back stoop in her rocker chair and watched us for an hour or two as well. She was happy enough to sit by herself and see what we were doing (mostly) and to keep herself entertained by making her inhaling screech noise (which doubled as a fun game for the husband and I where we'd guess what she was gasping at... 'Oooooooooooooooooooh! You got me what for Christmas?', 'Ooooooooooooooooooh! We're having bbq tomorrow?' etc etc).
It's the most 'normal' stuff that I've done in mooooooooonths.
I headed out to do some gardening after both the baby and I had had something to eat, and she stayed inside with the husband to watch the soccer. The husband came out and gardened too on and off all afternoon, but I did about five hours work (with two quick breaks to feed the baby).
Now that she's started solids and is spreading her feeds out, the actual feeding thing is a lot less of a 'hassle'. Because we were at home and the husband was keeping her entertained, I didn't spend my time considering how much time I had between feeds and whether it was 'worth' getting out to hit the garden. I just did it. And it was good to be able to just do what needed to be done.
And to enhance it, she sat out on the back stoop in her rocker chair and watched us for an hour or two as well. She was happy enough to sit by herself and see what we were doing (mostly) and to keep herself entertained by making her inhaling screech noise (which doubled as a fun game for the husband and I where we'd guess what she was gasping at... 'Oooooooooooooooooooh! You got me what for Christmas?', 'Ooooooooooooooooooh! We're having bbq tomorrow?' etc etc).
It's the most 'normal' stuff that I've done in mooooooooonths.
Thursday 29 December 2011
Cooking
I got two cookbooks from 'the baby' for Christmas (as well as some awesome headphones!) - Baby Bowl (by the author of the 4 ingredients cookbooks) and Weaning by Annabel Karmel.
I did some groceries the other day and grabbed some chicken and some random fruit and veg, to see what I could pull together from these books. Success!
We made three recipes - a 'power puree' of pumpkin, apple and banana; Cheesy leek, sweet potato and cauliflower; and Chicken, carrot, rice and green beans.
It's been very handy to have all of these set up in the freezer - they didn't take very long to cook, are all very quick/easy and I know that they're all healthy so I feel good for it.
As an example, today she had some of the Chicken mix at lunch time, followed by half a baby yoghurt and then the other half of the yoghurt with the pumpkin, apple and banana mixed through. Tonight she had some of the cheesy leek mix followed by four soldiers of toast. I'm trying to make sure that she's getting protein, fruit, veg, grains and dairy each day (but trying not to obsess over that).
I did some groceries the other day and grabbed some chicken and some random fruit and veg, to see what I could pull together from these books. Success!
We made three recipes - a 'power puree' of pumpkin, apple and banana; Cheesy leek, sweet potato and cauliflower; and Chicken, carrot, rice and green beans.
It's been very handy to have all of these set up in the freezer - they didn't take very long to cook, are all very quick/easy and I know that they're all healthy so I feel good for it.
As an example, today she had some of the Chicken mix at lunch time, followed by half a baby yoghurt and then the other half of the yoghurt with the pumpkin, apple and banana mixed through. Tonight she had some of the cheesy leek mix followed by four soldiers of toast. I'm trying to make sure that she's getting protein, fruit, veg, grains and dairy each day (but trying not to obsess over that).
Wednesday 28 December 2011
Damned if you do, damned if you don't
We had a few overnnight wakings last night (as per usual) and got up to start the day just before lunch.
The husband's parents came over to drop off some more things (including Baby Wombat's Week for the baby from a family friend - so adorable!) and once they left I grabbed my things to duck out and do the groceries while the husband was home so he could babysit. Except he'd made plans with a friend and there wouldn't be time.
He was apologetic, and he had nothing to apologise for, but as I was unpacking the groceries in to the car with the baby sitting happy in the babyseat of the trolley, it struck me how life shifts so much - it seems silly to be upset that I didn't get to do the groceries alone. Like it would have been such a highlight (really, it was fine - it's nice to have her there with me!).
Later that night when the baby was in bed (and the husband was home!) I went to the movies with a friend. And while I was there, I found myself wondering what was happening at home. Should I message to see how they're going? What's happening? Would it be silly to ask for a pic of what they're doing?
You get so used to having her around all the time - you're damned if you've got her, you're damned if you don't.
(Plus, I like to have her with me so that when people see my paunchy tummy they should understand that I got all stretched out carrying her, not that I've been hitting the beer).
The husband's parents came over to drop off some more things (including Baby Wombat's Week for the baby from a family friend - so adorable!) and once they left I grabbed my things to duck out and do the groceries while the husband was home so he could babysit. Except he'd made plans with a friend and there wouldn't be time.
He was apologetic, and he had nothing to apologise for, but as I was unpacking the groceries in to the car with the baby sitting happy in the babyseat of the trolley, it struck me how life shifts so much - it seems silly to be upset that I didn't get to do the groceries alone. Like it would have been such a highlight (really, it was fine - it's nice to have her there with me!).
Later that night when the baby was in bed (and the husband was home!) I went to the movies with a friend. And while I was there, I found myself wondering what was happening at home. Should I message to see how they're going? What's happening? Would it be silly to ask for a pic of what they're doing?
You get so used to having her around all the time - you're damned if you've got her, you're damned if you don't.
(Plus, I like to have her with me so that when people see my paunchy tummy they should understand that I got all stretched out carrying her, not that I've been hitting the beer).
Tuesday 27 December 2011
Angry
I've had a few comments from a few people that I'm angry or grumpy a lot more often than I used to be.
I don't know what to do about it.
I've never been very good at being alone. And I know I'm not alone (and I definitely feel a lot less alone than I did a few months ago!), but I do spend a lot of time that is not in the company of other adults. And when I do, I'm usually trying to get stuff done as quickly as possible to maximise the time where I'm not feeding her, or where she's not crying, or not needing to be changed/burped, carried and bounced. So I'm probably bossy.
And I'm probably more flippant about having a baby than I really am deep in my heart. I find it easy to play up being the reluctant mother, perhaps too easy?
And I do get less sleep now. And the sleep that I do get is broken. It's been well over a year since I've had the recommended eight hour sleep that you're meant to get. And what impact does that have on moods? Seemingly, stress, anger, exhaustion, irratability, and short temper.
And in all honesty, I do find being vomited on to be a really unpleasant thing. Perhaps more unpleasant than most of the people I know. So if you catch me just after I've been spewed on, there's a chancee I'm going to be a bit put out. Never mind if I've had to deal with having to tackle an endless amount of dishes. Or found something else that the dogs have chewed on or having to put up with them running through the house or having a serious dog fight over a piece of carrot. Or being surrounded by mess and clothes that need to be washed a floor covered in dog hair and bird seed and not being able to get to cleaning it up. Or hearing about stuff that's happening at work that I could have helped with or that shows other opportunities I've missed. Or feeling like I have nothing to contribute to adult conversations or nothing in common with my friends or becoming that person that only talks about her baby. Or stressing about whether the baby is feeding enough or eating the right things or pooping enough or if her rash is something to worry about or what is going to happen with her hips.
And I often have periods with a crying baby that can't tell me what she wants and she has learnt a sad new whimper and doesn't like being left to her own devices.
I don't know.
I know that people say that you can't control what other people think. But where is the line that other people's observations are telling you the things that you should actually be worried about? I don't want angry me to be the only me.
I don't know what to do about it.
I've never been very good at being alone. And I know I'm not alone (and I definitely feel a lot less alone than I did a few months ago!), but I do spend a lot of time that is not in the company of other adults. And when I do, I'm usually trying to get stuff done as quickly as possible to maximise the time where I'm not feeding her, or where she's not crying, or not needing to be changed/burped, carried and bounced. So I'm probably bossy.
And I'm probably more flippant about having a baby than I really am deep in my heart. I find it easy to play up being the reluctant mother, perhaps too easy?
And I do get less sleep now. And the sleep that I do get is broken. It's been well over a year since I've had the recommended eight hour sleep that you're meant to get. And what impact does that have on moods? Seemingly, stress, anger, exhaustion, irratability, and short temper.
And in all honesty, I do find being vomited on to be a really unpleasant thing. Perhaps more unpleasant than most of the people I know. So if you catch me just after I've been spewed on, there's a chancee I'm going to be a bit put out. Never mind if I've had to deal with having to tackle an endless amount of dishes. Or found something else that the dogs have chewed on or having to put up with them running through the house or having a serious dog fight over a piece of carrot. Or being surrounded by mess and clothes that need to be washed a floor covered in dog hair and bird seed and not being able to get to cleaning it up. Or hearing about stuff that's happening at work that I could have helped with or that shows other opportunities I've missed. Or feeling like I have nothing to contribute to adult conversations or nothing in common with my friends or becoming that person that only talks about her baby. Or stressing about whether the baby is feeding enough or eating the right things or pooping enough or if her rash is something to worry about or what is going to happen with her hips.
And I often have periods with a crying baby that can't tell me what she wants and she has learnt a sad new whimper and doesn't like being left to her own devices.
I don't know.
I know that people say that you can't control what other people think. But where is the line that other people's observations are telling you the things that you should actually be worried about? I don't want angry me to be the only me.
Monday 26 December 2011
Merry post-Christmas
The baby got seriously spoilt this year.
She slept maybe five hours over ten hours on Christmas Eva - the husband woke me up an hour before we were due at my parents house and it felt like I'd hardly slept at all. Of course, we had enough time to pull out the camera to capture her first Christmas morning - waking up in her cot to see her Santa sack, looking at the contents of it one by one on our bed, the baby got her presents from us, she gave us presents from her, then the husband and I swapped our own gifts.
And I captured a photo of her on her fathers lap, surrounded by presents, and realised that perhaps I had gone a liiiiiiiiiiittle bit overboard.
Santa gave her a CD of songs to dance to, Sophie the giraffe, two harnesses to secure Sophie to her hand so that she isn't on the floor all the time, a Tupperware Shape-O, some Cat in the Hat bookends, a chime garden toy, a teething bee toy, a cheese sorting toy, and a toy to stick to her highchair to keep her entertained a little longer.
We gave her a Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Learning Table, a flip out sofa seat (with numbers and letters on it) and 'If Kisses were Colours' (which I thought was lovely).
She was then spoilt by both sets of grandparents and her four sets of aunties and uncles. She got books, plates, bath toys, a ball popper, a shopping trolley toy, clothes, a handprint kit..... so much stuff!
She started to get the hang of unwrapping gifts in the morning, but then every time it was time for her to open gifts she was napping.
Then, the greatest gift of all, a sleep from midnight until 8.30am with only one resettling required, then another two hours sleep for me!
She slept maybe five hours over ten hours on Christmas Eva - the husband woke me up an hour before we were due at my parents house and it felt like I'd hardly slept at all. Of course, we had enough time to pull out the camera to capture her first Christmas morning - waking up in her cot to see her Santa sack, looking at the contents of it one by one on our bed, the baby got her presents from us, she gave us presents from her, then the husband and I swapped our own gifts.
And I captured a photo of her on her fathers lap, surrounded by presents, and realised that perhaps I had gone a liiiiiiiiiiittle bit overboard.
Santa gave her a CD of songs to dance to, Sophie the giraffe, two harnesses to secure Sophie to her hand so that she isn't on the floor all the time, a Tupperware Shape-O, some Cat in the Hat bookends, a chime garden toy, a teething bee toy, a cheese sorting toy, and a toy to stick to her highchair to keep her entertained a little longer.
We gave her a Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Learning Table, a flip out sofa seat (with numbers and letters on it) and 'If Kisses were Colours' (which I thought was lovely).
She was then spoilt by both sets of grandparents and her four sets of aunties and uncles. She got books, plates, bath toys, a ball popper, a shopping trolley toy, clothes, a handprint kit..... so much stuff!
She started to get the hang of unwrapping gifts in the morning, but then every time it was time for her to open gifts she was napping.
Then, the greatest gift of all, a sleep from midnight until 8.30am with only one resettling required, then another two hours sleep for me!
Sunday 25 December 2011
Saturday 24 December 2011
Sitting
Baby is a pretty good lap sitter - she's usually happy when we're out and about and sitting down to sit on you and just look around. I've also been sitting her up in front of me on the couch, just to practice.
Sunday morning, we sat her up on the bed by herself, just to see how she went.
She did it!
At first, it was more of a propped up lean - after we set her legs up like a diamond, she managed to hold herself in place on the bed. But with practice, she's getting better and better.
In a silly twist of events, I have been playing a game with her where she grabs on to my thumbs and she pulls herself up to a sit, then she lets go and falls back on to the bed and I tickle her so she laughs (rather than getting shocked at her fall). So quite often when she's sitting, she decides to throw herself backwards and laughs. I don't quite know how we're going to get her to practice sitting on somewhere a bit harder without this aftereffect....
Sunday morning, we sat her up on the bed by herself, just to see how she went.
She did it!
At first, it was more of a propped up lean - after we set her legs up like a diamond, she managed to hold herself in place on the bed. But with practice, she's getting better and better.
In a silly twist of events, I have been playing a game with her where she grabs on to my thumbs and she pulls herself up to a sit, then she lets go and falls back on to the bed and I tickle her so she laughs (rather than getting shocked at her fall). So quite often when she's sitting, she decides to throw herself backwards and laughs. I don't quite know how we're going to get her to practice sitting on somewhere a bit harder without this aftereffect....
Friday 23 December 2011
Spit rash
Ew!
Baby has had a funny red rash under her chin(s) for a few days.
It started when she scratched herself (baby nails get sharp quickly!) and it never seemed to heal, and has really ramped up over the last few days.
We got some cream to rub on there (sparingly) twice a day, but it's not easy with all her little face folds, her constant dribbling, and her recent rediscovery of how to blow raspberries.
I tell ya, she's totally taking after her mother with all her minor ailments....
Baby has had a funny red rash under her chin(s) for a few days.
It started when she scratched herself (baby nails get sharp quickly!) and it never seemed to heal, and has really ramped up over the last few days.
We got some cream to rub on there (sparingly) twice a day, but it's not easy with all her little face folds, her constant dribbling, and her recent rediscovery of how to blow raspberries.
I tell ya, she's totally taking after her mother with all her minor ailments....
Thursday 22 December 2011
Germs
While we were with the pediatrican, we asked him about cold/fly and the baby - I've had a gross old head cold since Sunday, and last night we saw her coughing herself awake a few times on the monitor.
He indicated that she will get sick more often from now on.
He said to expect her to get sick 8 times in her first year, 6 times in her second year, 4 in her third and twice in her fourth.
He said if it's ear, nose or throat, we should ask the doctor if she really needs antibiotics, and to ask if we can just treat it with panadol instead. He said he's not specifically anti-antiobiotics, but that she needs to get this sickness to boost her immune system.
8 times?! That's gonna be a sucky year!!!
(She's been a little whingy all day, but not too bad. I really hope she doesn't get any worse!)
He indicated that she will get sick more often from now on.
He said to expect her to get sick 8 times in her first year, 6 times in her second year, 4 in her third and twice in her fourth.
He said if it's ear, nose or throat, we should ask the doctor if she really needs antibiotics, and to ask if we can just treat it with panadol instead. He said he's not specifically anti-antiobiotics, but that she needs to get this sickness to boost her immune system.
8 times?! That's gonna be a sucky year!!!
(She's been a little whingy all day, but not too bad. I really hope she doesn't get any worse!)
Wednesday 21 December 2011
Hip midpoint
We had an ultrasound on the baby's hip on Monday, to check out her progress. There was a part of me clinging to the hope that she would be able to come out of it, as one of the first timelines we were told was 6 - 8 weeks (she's know been in it for 6 weeks).
As soon as the scanner had a look and din't say a lot, I knew it wasn't going to be coming off yet.
Her hip coverage is at 46-48% (it should be at 50%), and with pressure it goes down to 42%. Her last scan had it at 45% coverage, so it is slightly improved.
We went to see the pediatrician earlier this afternoon, and he started by trying to get in touch with an orthopedic surgeon that has a 'pediatric interest'. It later prevailed that the Dr didn't realise she was already in a harness (instills us with confidence, right?!) and so he was worried that it was actually getting worse. We're actually a little confused by this because the figures were getting better, but somehow once he knew she was in the harness he was more confident that the harness is working. He then asked us why we had a scan and appointment at 6 weeks, because there isn't a lot of research in to how a hip in harness should look at this early stage (as if I had decided to get the scan and appointment just for fun). Hrm.
We have an xray booked in for her on the 20th of February (she's now at the point where she has too much muscle/fat over her joint so an ultrasound won't provide a clear enough picture) and an appointment with the pediatrician again on the 24th.
There's a few potential outcomes
- her hip could be fine by then, and she will be harness free.
- it may need a little extra, so she will get a different harness, to be worn only at night.
- it may not be good enough and she will need to see a specialist in Sydney.
- it could potentially be a degenerative hip thing, which will 'always be hard work'. The specialists would be able to tell us more about it then.
We'll see how it pans out in two months time.
As soon as the scanner had a look and din't say a lot, I knew it wasn't going to be coming off yet.
Her hip coverage is at 46-48% (it should be at 50%), and with pressure it goes down to 42%. Her last scan had it at 45% coverage, so it is slightly improved.
We went to see the pediatrician earlier this afternoon, and he started by trying to get in touch with an orthopedic surgeon that has a 'pediatric interest'. It later prevailed that the Dr didn't realise she was already in a harness (instills us with confidence, right?!) and so he was worried that it was actually getting worse. We're actually a little confused by this because the figures were getting better, but somehow once he knew she was in the harness he was more confident that the harness is working. He then asked us why we had a scan and appointment at 6 weeks, because there isn't a lot of research in to how a hip in harness should look at this early stage (as if I had decided to get the scan and appointment just for fun). Hrm.
We have an xray booked in for her on the 20th of February (she's now at the point where she has too much muscle/fat over her joint so an ultrasound won't provide a clear enough picture) and an appointment with the pediatrician again on the 24th.
There's a few potential outcomes
- her hip could be fine by then, and she will be harness free.
- it may need a little extra, so she will get a different harness, to be worn only at night.
- it may not be good enough and she will need to see a specialist in Sydney.
- it could potentially be a degenerative hip thing, which will 'always be hard work'. The specialists would be able to tell us more about it then.
We'll see how it pans out in two months time.
Tuesday 20 December 2011
Spread it out
Over the last week or so, baby has been stretching out to four hours between feeds.
I'm going to guess it's linked to her getting older and her increasing the amount of solids she is eating. This is why it's extra important that we ensure we do give her solids twice a day, and enough to the point where she doesn't want anymore. This is teaching her self-control in her eating, so that we don't overfeed her and so that she gets more understanding of the relationship between her hunger and her food.
It is making the day that much more enjoyable though - lovely to have that bit of extra time before having to rush to jam a boob in it!
I'm going to guess it's linked to her getting older and her increasing the amount of solids she is eating. This is why it's extra important that we ensure we do give her solids twice a day, and enough to the point where she doesn't want anymore. This is teaching her self-control in her eating, so that we don't overfeed her and so that she gets more understanding of the relationship between her hunger and her food.
It is making the day that much more enjoyable though - lovely to have that bit of extra time before having to rush to jam a boob in it!
Monday 19 December 2011
Chomp chomp chomp
Baby is making great strides in her solids.
Last Thursday night, after she'd been fed and had farex, she ate almost a full oven-baked potato (I got to eat the skin).
Sunday night, after she'd been fed, she ate a full jar of chicken, noodles and vegetables - her first taste of meat.
When I came home from an appointment this morning, the husband was halfway through a jar of beef and vegetables with her - before she'd even swallowed a mouthful, her mouth was open for more. And when she finished off that jar, she had two tablespoons of farex.
We plan to start baby-led weaning in January, when she's six months old. On the one hand, I think she's totally going to kick it's ass, but on the other I worry that she won't be coordinated enough to get enough food in to her belly to keep up with her demand!
Last Thursday night, after she'd been fed and had farex, she ate almost a full oven-baked potato (I got to eat the skin).
Sunday night, after she'd been fed, she ate a full jar of chicken, noodles and vegetables - her first taste of meat.
When I came home from an appointment this morning, the husband was halfway through a jar of beef and vegetables with her - before she'd even swallowed a mouthful, her mouth was open for more. And when she finished off that jar, she had two tablespoons of farex.
We plan to start baby-led weaning in January, when she's six months old. On the one hand, I think she's totally going to kick it's ass, but on the other I worry that she won't be coordinated enough to get enough food in to her belly to keep up with her demand!
Sunday 18 December 2011
Santa!
Baby got her first Santa photo today!
We arranged with a friend from mothers group (whose daughter is actually related to the baby through both of their fathers being related) to head down to a local shopping Santa for a photo that we could take ourselves (so we didn't have to pay the crazy amount that some of the places were charging).
45 minutes later, and Santa still hadn't arrived.
Mrs Claus was there, and she was doing a fantastic job of trying to abate all of the other families, milling around the centre and looking for Santa. Whilst she explained that Santa wasn't there yet as he had been working late making all the toys for the girls and boys, she also confided that she believed he might have been up partying a bit late the night before.
So we headed off to another shopping centre to get proper photos done.
Of course, both babies were now tired and getting hungry.
And while the baby's friend was very well behaved and napped in the car and in the line, baby just wanted to check it all out. Until we were almost at the front of the line and she gave in to sleep.
So considering she was woken up, overtired, had her dummy taken off her and was dumped on to a crazy strangers lap, we managed to get an adorable photo of her, and a few copies of the adorable photo of her and her friend.
And you'd never know that it took almost 30 shots to get those pictures, and that she was sucking on Santa's coat and kept sitting with her legs sticking up so that her nappy was showing, and that the velcro on her harness pulled his beard half off as she left.
We arranged with a friend from mothers group (whose daughter is actually related to the baby through both of their fathers being related) to head down to a local shopping Santa for a photo that we could take ourselves (so we didn't have to pay the crazy amount that some of the places were charging).
45 minutes later, and Santa still hadn't arrived.
Mrs Claus was there, and she was doing a fantastic job of trying to abate all of the other families, milling around the centre and looking for Santa. Whilst she explained that Santa wasn't there yet as he had been working late making all the toys for the girls and boys, she also confided that she believed he might have been up partying a bit late the night before.
So we headed off to another shopping centre to get proper photos done.
Of course, both babies were now tired and getting hungry.
And while the baby's friend was very well behaved and napped in the car and in the line, baby just wanted to check it all out. Until we were almost at the front of the line and she gave in to sleep.
So considering she was woken up, overtired, had her dummy taken off her and was dumped on to a crazy strangers lap, we managed to get an adorable photo of her, and a few copies of the adorable photo of her and her friend.
And you'd never know that it took almost 30 shots to get those pictures, and that she was sucking on Santa's coat and kept sitting with her legs sticking up so that her nappy was showing, and that the velcro on her harness pulled his beard half off as she left.
Saturday 17 December 2011
Santa practice
We had a Christmas party this evening with my mum's side of the family, and it was pretty exciting to be involved in the present thing again.
When we were younger, this annual Christmas party was like the highlight of the year. My mum is one of eight kids, so there were always presents coming in from all directions. We'd hang out at my Grandmothers house, eat way too much, whinge at the parents that it was time for presents, get totally spoilt and then eat too many lollies before it was time to go back home.
As we've gotten older, we've progressed on to a Secret Santa with some of my older cousins. This is a lot more sensible for everyone involved.
But, the baby is now counted in with the younger cousins (although she is a second cousin/some other relation that I can't get my head around in terms of my aunts and uncles) and so she was back in and spoilt. So exciting to open the presents and to look forward to her development continuing to the point where she's actually going to interact more with these things!
The idea of her playing with a jack-in-the-box just thrills me to bits.
When we were younger, this annual Christmas party was like the highlight of the year. My mum is one of eight kids, so there were always presents coming in from all directions. We'd hang out at my Grandmothers house, eat way too much, whinge at the parents that it was time for presents, get totally spoilt and then eat too many lollies before it was time to go back home.
As we've gotten older, we've progressed on to a Secret Santa with some of my older cousins. This is a lot more sensible for everyone involved.
But, the baby is now counted in with the younger cousins (although she is a second cousin/some other relation that I can't get my head around in terms of my aunts and uncles) and so she was back in and spoilt. So exciting to open the presents and to look forward to her development continuing to the point where she's actually going to interact more with these things!
The idea of her playing with a jack-in-the-box just thrills me to bits.
Friday 16 December 2011
Where do we sit
We got to spend some time with two young boys last night - one aged 18 months and one aged 3 years old.
On the drive home, the husband asked 'just to know where we stand, do you think they were well behaved?'.
It's the first time we've really had a look at behaviours to try and determine what we think is appropriate and what is not. And it's interesting to have a think about what is or isn't acceptable, and why. And how would we change that.
For example, should they be up at 10pm?
Can we really critique that, having had a baby that goes to sleep on her own schedule, and that includes months of going to bed after that time? And they were visiting from out of state, so they were out of their normal environment...
And to what degree do you let kids do whatever they pretty much want, because they are kids?
And when you are at other peoples houses, should you come down harder on them?
And how do you make decisions about whether the child gets dessert, or has to finish their meal, or if and when they drink what?
I have many memories of going to my parents friends houses and getting the talk about being on our very best behaviour. I try to be on my better-than-usual behaviour when I am at other people's houses, and I would expect the same of my children - if not more! Children are more likely to be annoying or naughty than adults, so I think it's important from the get-go that your child understands this.
But then, how to implement that sort of thing!?
On the drive home, the husband asked 'just to know where we stand, do you think they were well behaved?'.
It's the first time we've really had a look at behaviours to try and determine what we think is appropriate and what is not. And it's interesting to have a think about what is or isn't acceptable, and why. And how would we change that.
For example, should they be up at 10pm?
Can we really critique that, having had a baby that goes to sleep on her own schedule, and that includes months of going to bed after that time? And they were visiting from out of state, so they were out of their normal environment...
And to what degree do you let kids do whatever they pretty much want, because they are kids?
And when you are at other peoples houses, should you come down harder on them?
And how do you make decisions about whether the child gets dessert, or has to finish their meal, or if and when they drink what?
I have many memories of going to my parents friends houses and getting the talk about being on our very best behaviour. I try to be on my better-than-usual behaviour when I am at other people's houses, and I would expect the same of my children - if not more! Children are more likely to be annoying or naughty than adults, so I think it's important from the get-go that your child understands this.
But then, how to implement that sort of thing!?
Thursday 15 December 2011
Not sleeping like a baby
You would think I would learn, right?
Crazy baby woke almost hourly last night.
It could be that her teeth are progressing ever higher - you can now see two little white spots and there are two raised rectangles on the front of her lower jaw.
That doesn't explain why at 5am her chosen method of entertaining herself was to shove her hand so far in her mouth that she was gagging. That's not lovely any time of the day, but it's particularly un-lovely when it blares at you through a monitor.
But it was the worst night sleep we'd had in quite a while....
Crazy baby woke almost hourly last night.
It could be that her teeth are progressing ever higher - you can now see two little white spots and there are two raised rectangles on the front of her lower jaw.
That doesn't explain why at 5am her chosen method of entertaining herself was to shove her hand so far in her mouth that she was gagging. That's not lovely any time of the day, but it's particularly un-lovely when it blares at you through a monitor.
But it was the worst night sleep we'd had in quite a while....
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Sleeping like a baby
I have no idea what prompted it, but last night the baby went to sleep at 8pm after a 7pm feed, and slept through until almost 5am.
If only I hadn't stayed awake until almost 1am in anticipation of her recently favored 1.30am feed.
Tonight she slept from 6:30-8:30, as she had a quick nap in the stroller while I had lunch at mothers group, a quick nap in my arms at a work Christmas party, and a quick nap in the car on the drive home.
I hope she does 9pm - 6am.....!
If only I hadn't stayed awake until almost 1am in anticipation of her recently favored 1.30am feed.
Tonight she slept from 6:30-8:30, as she had a quick nap in the stroller while I had lunch at mothers group, a quick nap in my arms at a work Christmas party, and a quick nap in the car on the drive home.
I hope she does 9pm - 6am.....!
Tuesday 13 December 2011
Help it along
Hey baby?
If there was as much carry on for me as there is for you when you're trying to poop, nothing would ever get done.
Where's my hugs? Where's my dancing and singing around the loungeroom to my favourite songs? Where's my belly rubs?
If there was as much carry on for me as there is for you when you're trying to poop, nothing would ever get done.
Where's my hugs? Where's my dancing and singing around the loungeroom to my favourite songs? Where's my belly rubs?
Monday 12 December 2011
Shower gifts
At the shower on Saturday, we gave a gift of a bundle of things we found most useful once the baby arrived.
Whereas previously I would have gifted an outfit, there were two hurdles - one: we don't know the gender, and two: we received so many outfits that I loved, but I really appreciated being given the things that I didn't realise I'd need.
We gifted:
- The Skip Hop baby log (I wrote about how useful we found it here)
- Big facewashers (because catching baby vomit in those thin little soft ones is grooooooooooss)
- Baby Panadol (whether or not you choose to use it is entirely up to you, but I do)
- Dummies (again, we fell in love with them on this night)
- Nappy Sacks (they smell lovely and are very handy!)
- Curash cream (for all those wet poops in those first months)
- Bath thermometer (not to hot/cold for the baby!)
- Bedtime bath wash (we'll take whatever help we can get!)
- Huggies wipes box (they come in a resealable box you can put your cheaper brands in to but still keep them moist).
Her other sister-in-law also gifted things she found useful - the only crossover item was the baby Panadol!
Whereas previously I would have gifted an outfit, there were two hurdles - one: we don't know the gender, and two: we received so many outfits that I loved, but I really appreciated being given the things that I didn't realise I'd need.
We gifted:
- The Skip Hop baby log (I wrote about how useful we found it here)
- Big facewashers (because catching baby vomit in those thin little soft ones is grooooooooooss)
- Baby Panadol (whether or not you choose to use it is entirely up to you, but I do)
- Dummies (again, we fell in love with them on this night)
- Nappy Sacks (they smell lovely and are very handy!)
- Curash cream (for all those wet poops in those first months)
- Bath thermometer (not to hot/cold for the baby!)
- Bedtime bath wash (we'll take whatever help we can get!)
- Huggies wipes box (they come in a resealable box you can put your cheaper brands in to but still keep them moist).
Her other sister-in-law also gifted things she found useful - the only crossover item was the baby Panadol!
Sunday 11 December 2011
No thank you
We've finally hit a few foods that the baby really was not keen on.
Baby yoghurt makes her cry. I think it's to do with the cold? And also it's a pretty new texture/taste sensation for her. The husband was pointing out just how different it is for her - she would never had had anything like it in her life. She bawled while she had it yesterday, and she pulled a LOT of faces this morning, but she managed 1/4/ of the mini tub. Then the husband sat and ate it in front of her, overacting in just how much he was enjoying it.
We also tried banana yesterday and she didn't want a bar of it. I had just mashed it up in the bowl with a fork, and I thought that seeing how she powers through her pear and banana flavoured Farex that she'd be keen, but no dice. I might give her a piece she can hold herself, so see if that interests her more.
On the plus side, it's probably going to make me eat more fruit as I clear up her leftovers!
Baby yoghurt makes her cry. I think it's to do with the cold? And also it's a pretty new texture/taste sensation for her. The husband was pointing out just how different it is for her - she would never had had anything like it in her life. She bawled while she had it yesterday, and she pulled a LOT of faces this morning, but she managed 1/4/ of the mini tub. Then the husband sat and ate it in front of her, overacting in just how much he was enjoying it.
We also tried banana yesterday and she didn't want a bar of it. I had just mashed it up in the bowl with a fork, and I thought that seeing how she powers through her pear and banana flavoured Farex that she'd be keen, but no dice. I might give her a piece she can hold herself, so see if that interests her more.
On the plus side, it's probably going to make me eat more fruit as I clear up her leftovers!
Saturday 10 December 2011
Shower
Today we went to the baby shower of the baby's first cousin (to be!) - my sister in law is due in mid February - and we can't wait!
I was dreading leaving the house though - the baby was moody and whingy all morning, and we couldn't work it out. She was a little gassy mid morning, but then she would just switch between happy-chatty and cranky-cryey at an instant. We gave her some panadol and put her down for another nap, and she magically sorted herself out.
There were a lot of babies at the party - one who was only two weeks younger than her, and one that was only three months old. It's just so interesting to see how many different sizes and temperaments the babies come in, as well as the different habits and styles of the parents.
We just can't wait to meet the new arrival!
I was dreading leaving the house though - the baby was moody and whingy all morning, and we couldn't work it out. She was a little gassy mid morning, but then she would just switch between happy-chatty and cranky-cryey at an instant. We gave her some panadol and put her down for another nap, and she magically sorted herself out.
There were a lot of babies at the party - one who was only two weeks younger than her, and one that was only three months old. It's just so interesting to see how many different sizes and temperaments the babies come in, as well as the different habits and styles of the parents.
We just can't wait to meet the new arrival!
Friday 9 December 2011
Feet
I've always loved seeing babies holding their feet - something about them laying on their backs, so fascinated and entertained by these things they've had the whole time but taken months to notice.
The baby has started grabbing at her right foot, as of today.
I don't know if she'll be delayed in getting any further with it - whether she'll be physically able to rock side to side and/or put her toes in her mouth, but it's pretty freaking adorable. And good to see all her practice of splaying her legs up in the air was actually going somewhere.
The baby has started grabbing at her right foot, as of today.
I don't know if she'll be delayed in getting any further with it - whether she'll be physically able to rock side to side and/or put her toes in her mouth, but it's pretty freaking adorable. And good to see all her practice of splaying her legs up in the air was actually going somewhere.
Thursday 8 December 2011
Food, glorious food
We took the baby in to the clinic to be weighed a fortnight ago, and she had gained a little less than 100g in two weeks. The nurse seemed a little concerned, but indicated that breastfed babies don't necessarily follow the percentile curve, and have more of a step-up pattern in their growth (a quick google backed this up).
I took her in again today and she had gained more than 200g over the last fortnight, which is great. She's currently weighing in at over 7.5kg, but 150g of that is her harness.
I told the nurse that I was relieved - I was worried that her slow weight gain the other week meant that we were doing something wrong with the solids. I told her that we've been feeding her twice a day on most days, with farex and with pureed vegetables.
The nurse told me:
- it's time for us to move away from puree and on to mashed foods - we need to leave some lumps in, but we could transition by mixing puree and lumpy (otherwise she will have trouble moving off puree)
- we should give her water with her solids, so that she gets used to drinking water
- twice a day is fine, at six months we should move on to three times a day and more 'finger' food
- she doesn't have to stick to veg now, we can give her pretty much anything (other than egg white, honey or peanut butter)
- she suggested we try yoghurt, custard, tuna mornay, casserole meat...
It's crazy to think that it's already been a month that we've been doing solids. It feels like we had been progressing nicely, but seems we could have been moving faster - things are really about to ramp up.
I had a rough idea this might be coming after another friend had indicated that while at a stay-in sleep clinic the nurses were giving her 5.5mth baby toast, muffins and cake. She now gives her baby three meals a day - for breakfast the other day her baby had toast, rice cereal and half a banana.
My baby could be eating toast in a fortnight...!
I took her in again today and she had gained more than 200g over the last fortnight, which is great. She's currently weighing in at over 7.5kg, but 150g of that is her harness.
I told the nurse that I was relieved - I was worried that her slow weight gain the other week meant that we were doing something wrong with the solids. I told her that we've been feeding her twice a day on most days, with farex and with pureed vegetables.
The nurse told me:
- it's time for us to move away from puree and on to mashed foods - we need to leave some lumps in, but we could transition by mixing puree and lumpy (otherwise she will have trouble moving off puree)
- we should give her water with her solids, so that she gets used to drinking water
- twice a day is fine, at six months we should move on to three times a day and more 'finger' food
- she doesn't have to stick to veg now, we can give her pretty much anything (other than egg white, honey or peanut butter)
- she suggested we try yoghurt, custard, tuna mornay, casserole meat...
It's crazy to think that it's already been a month that we've been doing solids. It feels like we had been progressing nicely, but seems we could have been moving faster - things are really about to ramp up.
I had a rough idea this might be coming after another friend had indicated that while at a stay-in sleep clinic the nurses were giving her 5.5mth baby toast, muffins and cake. She now gives her baby three meals a day - for breakfast the other day her baby had toast, rice cereal and half a banana.
My baby could be eating toast in a fortnight...!
Bed time
We still don't have a set routine/bed time for the baby - she's started to work out her own.
We had a few rough weeks of her waking every three hours during the night, coinciding with me finding it a lot harder to get to sleep - meaning I was getting sleep in 1.5 hour pockets. No fun.
The last few nights, she's going up to five hours between feeds at night - last night she fed at 8pm, 1.30am and 6.30am. This has been good in that we can sit with her on the couch for a little bit, then settle her to sleep (quite quickly now!) and have some time where the husband and I can sit and catch up and watch tv with all four arms free.
She did wake up for the day at 7.30 the other morning - I finished feeding her and she just had no intention of going back to sleep. She lay in the bed next to me, all wrapped up, singing and cooing and being adorable. I managed to trick her in to napping twice for about 15 minutes, but then she decided to wake me up by whacking me in the face. Both times.
It's probably a good idea that she goes to sleep and wakes up earlier - it would be no good to have a todder/small child up until 11.30 at night and starting her day at lunch time. It also means we'll be able to get out and get more done when she's actually able to do more things.
The only difficulty being that we head out for family dinners twice a week, and don't get home until after 9pm - but we're very lucky in that both sets of parents have bought portacots, so we can still get some of that earlier sleep out of her.
We had a few rough weeks of her waking every three hours during the night, coinciding with me finding it a lot harder to get to sleep - meaning I was getting sleep in 1.5 hour pockets. No fun.
The last few nights, she's going up to five hours between feeds at night - last night she fed at 8pm, 1.30am and 6.30am. This has been good in that we can sit with her on the couch for a little bit, then settle her to sleep (quite quickly now!) and have some time where the husband and I can sit and catch up and watch tv with all four arms free.
She did wake up for the day at 7.30 the other morning - I finished feeding her and she just had no intention of going back to sleep. She lay in the bed next to me, all wrapped up, singing and cooing and being adorable. I managed to trick her in to napping twice for about 15 minutes, but then she decided to wake me up by whacking me in the face. Both times.
It's probably a good idea that she goes to sleep and wakes up earlier - it would be no good to have a todder/small child up until 11.30 at night and starting her day at lunch time. It also means we'll be able to get out and get more done when she's actually able to do more things.
The only difficulty being that we head out for family dinners twice a week, and don't get home until after 9pm - but we're very lucky in that both sets of parents have bought portacots, so we can still get some of that earlier sleep out of her.
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Dear Baby - Month #5
Dear baby,
Happy five month birthday! Your father and I were just talking the other day about how it doesn't seem like you've been around for five months; but then it seems so long ago that I stood at the end of our bed, flicked on the light near the wardrobe and announced to the husband: "it's baby day".
We've had our most eventful month yet. You got your hips scanned the day before you turned four months old, and you've spent most of the month in your pavlic harness. Well, most of the month in most of your pavlic harness - you spent the first two weeks slipping your feet out of the stirrups so that they slid up your leg, but the physio turned the leg pieces around and now you're properly jammed in there. I also had my turn at being the patient and had my hand plastered up - you were very spoilt by your daddy for those two weeks!
It's been weeks since you had your last bath, and you've only really had a few sponge baths too. It's not as much fun for either of us, but you do make it easy by cracking up whenever we undress you. Your father worries that this is something you need to grow out of soon!
We've been powering through with your eating too - we're currently working on peas and (unsurprisingly) you're not really falling for them. I don't blame you because they're squishy and gross and contain the most 'solid' type texture with that icky skin, but we have to keep trying until you 'like' them. You're also getting through 1.5 tablespoons of that sweetened farex - I'm going to need to do some reading as we're rushing towards the six month mark where it starts to become more important for you to eat! It's not long to Christmas and then all of a sudden you'll be six months old.
I'm seeing more and more what a happy, lovely and contented baby you are - quite a few people have commented on how you're smiley and chilled out. It's funny (well, 'funny') to remember how worried I was about you not smiling. How worried I was that I was boring you, or not smiley enough for you, or not enough fun. And now you'll smile so often, so easy.
In the last few weeks, you've really been getting this day sleep thing down pat. And it's helping us both. Not only are you less likely to be feral of an evening, I can count on my little 45 minute windows to get stuff - do the dishes, hang out the washing, tidy the bathroom. And on days when the house is already tidy (like today!) I can sit a little longer and check out my email and facebook without feeling guilty. It helps me to feel that I'm more on top of it all - that I've got a better understanding of being a mum. I'm no longer asking you if you love me, I'm telling you how we've both got it under control.
Baby - you're adorable. You're cuddly, you light up when I come to get you out of bed, and you'll sing and screech and squawk. You cry when it's time to sleep, you laugh when I give you upside-down-kisses, you'll sit and ponder my clothes when I hold you on my lap. You pull faces when you eat, you sit in the sunshine while I hand out the washing, you look at me in the mirror when we pass.
These are the days and the moments I always want to remember.
Happy five month birthday! Your father and I were just talking the other day about how it doesn't seem like you've been around for five months; but then it seems so long ago that I stood at the end of our bed, flicked on the light near the wardrobe and announced to the husband: "it's baby day".
We've had our most eventful month yet. You got your hips scanned the day before you turned four months old, and you've spent most of the month in your pavlic harness. Well, most of the month in most of your pavlic harness - you spent the first two weeks slipping your feet out of the stirrups so that they slid up your leg, but the physio turned the leg pieces around and now you're properly jammed in there. I also had my turn at being the patient and had my hand plastered up - you were very spoilt by your daddy for those two weeks!
It's been weeks since you had your last bath, and you've only really had a few sponge baths too. It's not as much fun for either of us, but you do make it easy by cracking up whenever we undress you. Your father worries that this is something you need to grow out of soon!
We've been powering through with your eating too - we're currently working on peas and (unsurprisingly) you're not really falling for them. I don't blame you because they're squishy and gross and contain the most 'solid' type texture with that icky skin, but we have to keep trying until you 'like' them. You're also getting through 1.5 tablespoons of that sweetened farex - I'm going to need to do some reading as we're rushing towards the six month mark where it starts to become more important for you to eat! It's not long to Christmas and then all of a sudden you'll be six months old.
I'm seeing more and more what a happy, lovely and contented baby you are - quite a few people have commented on how you're smiley and chilled out. It's funny (well, 'funny') to remember how worried I was about you not smiling. How worried I was that I was boring you, or not smiley enough for you, or not enough fun. And now you'll smile so often, so easy.
In the last few weeks, you've really been getting this day sleep thing down pat. And it's helping us both. Not only are you less likely to be feral of an evening, I can count on my little 45 minute windows to get stuff - do the dishes, hang out the washing, tidy the bathroom. And on days when the house is already tidy (like today!) I can sit a little longer and check out my email and facebook without feeling guilty. It helps me to feel that I'm more on top of it all - that I've got a better understanding of being a mum. I'm no longer asking you if you love me, I'm telling you how we've both got it under control.
Baby - you're adorable. You're cuddly, you light up when I come to get you out of bed, and you'll sing and screech and squawk. You cry when it's time to sleep, you laugh when I give you upside-down-kisses, you'll sit and ponder my clothes when I hold you on my lap. You pull faces when you eat, you sit in the sunshine while I hand out the washing, you look at me in the mirror when we pass.
These are the days and the moments I always want to remember.
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Looking out
We moved the baby out of her bassinet attachment on the pram so that she's forward facing now.
It's a little sad to not be able to see her peering up at me, so every so often I sort of peer around the top to see what she's doing.
She is happier in it though - sitting there, looking out at the world, holding on to her shoulder straps like they're little baby suspenders. Although she doesn't sleep anywhere near as well in there - there's just too much to see!
It's these little things that make me realise just how much she's growing up - I don't have a newborn anymore!
It's a little sad to not be able to see her peering up at me, so every so often I sort of peer around the top to see what she's doing.
She is happier in it though - sitting there, looking out at the world, holding on to her shoulder straps like they're little baby suspenders. Although she doesn't sleep anywhere near as well in there - there's just too much to see!
It's these little things that make me realise just how much she's growing up - I don't have a newborn anymore!
Monday 5 December 2011
Compare the coast
We got back yesterday from our coast trip with friends - it was lovely and quiet!
The boys were able to get out fishing, and the girls and babies did manage to get out of the house for a bit (not easy to coordinate the different feeding and napping times!). We did a lot of sitting and chatting and eating (tsk tsk!) and I'd gladly go back to the same place - very well set up for a group like ours.
It was also really interesting to see the differences between the baby and the slightly older (boy)baby.
Our baby is generally smilier and lower maintenance, in that she's happy to sit on your lap and just chill for a bit. She's less coordinated, flappier with her arms and toys, and sucks her hands/toys a lot more. She has way less hair and way more fat rolls. She's easier to get to sleep. She doesn't eat as many solids. She doesn't say 'mum'. She spews a lot more!
It will be interesting to look back on this later in the month and see how much she has caught up.
The boys were able to get out fishing, and the girls and babies did manage to get out of the house for a bit (not easy to coordinate the different feeding and napping times!). We did a lot of sitting and chatting and eating (tsk tsk!) and I'd gladly go back to the same place - very well set up for a group like ours.
It was also really interesting to see the differences between the baby and the slightly older (boy)baby.
Our baby is generally smilier and lower maintenance, in that she's happy to sit on your lap and just chill for a bit. She's less coordinated, flappier with her arms and toys, and sucks her hands/toys a lot more. She has way less hair and way more fat rolls. She's easier to get to sleep. She doesn't eat as many solids. She doesn't say 'mum'. She spews a lot more!
It will be interesting to look back on this later in the month and see how much she has caught up.
Friday 2 December 2011
Holidays
It doesn't seem like all that long ago that we were at the beach, but we're headed off again.
We have hired a beach house for the weekend with three other couples - we'll have 8 adults, our almost 5 month old, an almost 6 month old and a 2.5 year old, all under the one roof.
Unfortunately, it's only meant to get up to about 21 degrees the whole time, but it will be nice to have company around the whole time.
I hope!
We have hired a beach house for the weekend with three other couples - we'll have 8 adults, our almost 5 month old, an almost 6 month old and a 2.5 year old, all under the one roof.
Unfortunately, it's only meant to get up to about 21 degrees the whole time, but it will be nice to have company around the whole time.
I hope!
Thursday 1 December 2011
Foods
Cauliflower!
She loved it!
Its only been in the last few years that I've been able to enjoy cauliflower.... nice work, baby!
We try each food for 3-4 days before trying a new one - I guess at some stage I'm meant to double back and start revisiting and/or combining them?
I have some reading to do though - when to start fruit, when to start proteins.... and as a vegan, heaven help me when I have to start cooking meat again for her!
She loved it!
Its only been in the last few years that I've been able to enjoy cauliflower.... nice work, baby!
We try each food for 3-4 days before trying a new one - I guess at some stage I'm meant to double back and start revisiting and/or combining them?
I have some reading to do though - when to start fruit, when to start proteins.... and as a vegan, heaven help me when I have to start cooking meat again for her!
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