Oooh FG, you're so right! Puppies it is.
Leo, I don't think I really worried too much about the baseline thing either, but I didn't feed before 11pm after their 7pm feed. It was dummies and cuddles in darkened rooms, or if DT2 was really going for it he did occasionally come downstairs with one of my friends so I could sleep upstairs! After the dream feed which I generally did in the dark they'd go back to bed with dummies - I remember having to make sure that they were fully burped before going to bed (generally still do!). Then they'd wake somewhere between 2 and 5 for another feed. If it was 2, I'd hang it out by dummy plugging because I didn't really want them feeding again before 3, otherwise they'd be up in the morning before I wanted them to. However I always started the day between 7 and 7.30 with feeding babies and story for DD as the story is part of her day. One of the reasons that it now takes me 3 hours to get everyone up, read to, nappied, dressed, breakfasted, cleaned, renappied after the boys have pooed, and out of the door to pre-school. At least with the warmer weather the boys aren't wearing so many clothes so it doesn't take so long to get them organised.
Sorry, back to night times. I think the 7am/7pm thing is the most important with the babies - getting them into that routine for me was the crucial thing, and then the rest followed. I think I felt that I was properly making headway by about 12 weeks, but the lunchtime naps still come and go a bit.
On a different note, DD had her first afternoon at Big School today. I was soooo proud of her! She's been really excited about going as she already has some friends that started this year, so we've been talking about it for about a week. We got there after lunch (picnic in the park). The reception teacher came out with name stickers for the 5 kids starting today, and asked them if they could find their name - DD hung back for a few seconds to see if anyone else would go first, but then went and got her sticker so we went in first. When she got in she spotted a friend and got all excited, and her friend got excited too; then she found the playhouse and that was it! Mummy not needed! So I told her I was going to go, and I'd see her in about an hour, and she gave me a big kiss and a goodbye, and I was off. She is such a star at starting new things! And I love, love, love her for it! Now I shall stop extolling her virtues and calm down a bit ! We had extra time reading in my bedroom tonight as a well done, and she was really pleased with herself. As she went to bed, she said, "Mummy, have I been a dream today?" Love!
Hrrmmm. LGT - that's such good news! I'm really pleased you're allowed to do it how you want to! I'd also like to know how you manage to look so gorgeous after all those children? I've been looking at your profile!
Leo - what a shame that the Leo's ill. Poor love. Don't worry if any routine stuff you try to do goes pear-shaped while he's ill, you'll be able to get it back afterwards. My DH is also not so passionate about bfing, because he has no idea what it does! All the baby stuff is entirely left to me to research and do, and I just tell him what's happening. And the osteopath just got all my energies in the right place again after birthing, and helped put back bones and organs that had been squished out of place into a good place for healing. Just a general MOT kind of thing, but very worthwhile doing. While I was pregnant she helped keep my pelvis where it should be (together!), because it was trying not to be. That and tying it up kept me on my feet until the end!
hum. Long post again. Too much to say and not enough people in RL to say it to!