FEB 2010 Teeth, nosh and smelly bums - it's all go, six months on!!

[InmaculadaConcepcion]

Where did the last half a year go??!

dd2 and I have come to an agreement. She can feed herself toast at breakfast with me sneaking in the odd spoonful of cereal. I then spoon feed her lunch, with her feeding herself some fruit or bread. At dinner we take it in turns with me spoon feeding if she is not too tired, or her feeding herself more bread, cheese bits, veg bits, fruit etc. Seems to work... She is getting very cross now if she can't have a taste of what we are having, so today she had a fair bit of falafel with houmous as well as fresh pineapple... Not exactly baby food but I did not fancy the baby tantrum if I had not let her have a taste.

I did a no-salt chicken stew thing - some skinless thighs and onions, carrots, beans, potatoes, leeks and celery. It was actually really tasty. I put it in the blender with some cooked brown rice and then chilled it in portions and froze some but I've just remembered you're not meant to re-heat rice are you? Oh bloody hell. I'm going to have to chuck it. He's had 2 helpings of it warmed up today. I hope I haven't given him food poisoning.

I have another cold. I never get ill and I only had one a few weeks ago.

I have read everything but I'm knackered so no time for individual responses - sorry.

Yesterday I took him up to Oxford St on the bus and he was a total delight. Today we went to a wedding reception and he cried quite a lot. I exited while the speeches were on because I didn't want to disturb them but beforehand I got myself a glass of wine and left it at my place to have after I'd given him a feed (he had a portion of the stew thing first that I'd frozen and the pub heated up for me - hope he's ok - god, I'm an idiot) so I missed all the speeches which sounded hilarious and I was a bit aggrieved and then when I went back in my bloody husband had drunk the wine I was saving. And the free drink had run out. I got quite cross. I think I called him a "fuckhead".

Ah. Baby crying - got to go.

bear I think the brown rice thing is okay? I have done it, too, and I am sure it's okay if it's been frozen. I think the rice problem is white rice that's just sitting round for a while...(someone please correct me if I am wrong)
at your husband having your wine!!! I would not have been amused either...

I remember it as being a type of long grain white rice, but can't remember

LO was not impressed with her dal yesterday, but surprisingly liked the plain courgette fingers today (which we had to give as DH 'accidentally' threw out the rest of the dal). I think he just didn't like brushing rice of her afterwards. Now that we've decided to wean proper, I've not had a problem with BLW, but maybe that's because I'm selective of what's offered

We're having beans on toast today, so for tomorrows lunch she'll just be having toast, very exciting.

We had a four stretch of sleep last night . I went out on a little night hike, so when I got round to feeding her she had a very big feed at 11.

BC the cold must be from wine deprivation, get DH to replace it pronto, better late than never

Any other BFeeders having problems with stray feet, a bit irrational but it really annoys me. This is a follow on from the previous foot in pit stage, which I thoguht was all over. Hair pulling don't have a problem with though.

hello hello!

sorry, it's been a while?. have read everything (pages of it!) just now, but need to get to bed, so will just have a quick whinge and be on my way - hopefully more soon!!

well? DH has stopped working again - last week was a shocker.. he was out of the house for 12+ hours a day, both kids in nursery full time, and me racing bout like a blue bummed fly trying to keep everything on an even keel - not good! we decided wednesday night that we couldn't go on like this, specially as he was only working to pay for the kids to go into nursery (as it worked out) so he spoke to the head of news thursday, and she said it was fine not to work the contract out (phew? don't think i could have managed another 7 weeks, let alone 8 months)?

am still full of cold (2+ weeks now) and both the DC's have it too - they're alternating who has the scary temperature tho - was DS this morning and DD last night, who also did an almighty wetting of the bed? (DS managed a projectile vom over the settee this afternoon, not to be outdone by his big sis) DH is also coldy, so we're a really fun house!

am now also on my second course of anti-biotics to try and get shot of the outbreak of boils i've got in my groin (NICE!)? looking much better a couple of days ago, then i stupidly forgot to take any tablets yesterday and i woke up this morning with another 3 really bloody painful they are too, as well as making sauce of any kind the last thing i want to even think about, let alone engage in, and i'm really starting to feel the pressure? DH doesn't say anything, but it just kind of hangs there making me feel bad (probably says more about me than him or us tho!)

am also incredibly spotty on face and back, and have got greasy hair and dry hands? and am hating my saggy apron of tummy and my spotty saggy bum and, well, pretty much everything?

sorry? don't know where that came from!!!!

off to bed - need sleep!! hope everyone's ok and manages to enjoy the bank hol?. i'm just hoping for a decent kip and some less poorly kids (of course, i've got perspective on this - it's just a couple of colds- not the sort of trauma that some of you are going through ..)

night all xxx

Stoof sending lots of love - sounds like a nightmare all round. (From someone who has been doing nightmares for a few months now, on and off!)

I've actually come on to tell you about a couple of successes:
a) I managed to get DS1 to the doc on his scooter with DS2 in the backpack (and no vomit on my head ), balance DS1 on the toilet there one handed whilst catching the wee in a sample pot with the other hand and not spill it and then suspend DS1 by his ankles on the way back while he had a wee on a verge whilst still carrying DS2 (21 lbs) in the backpack!! That day, I felt superhuman if only for 10 minutes!!
b) On Friday, I entertained 12 children and their 6 mummies all morning whilst also minding two of my friend's children and my own two. Everyone got cups of tea, biscuits etc.. and the children had noses wiped, wet pants changed etc.. DS2 even got his lunch at the alloted time! In the evening we had some lovely neighbours over for dinner (cheated cos they each brought a course) and we had a fabulous time.

It's so nice to feel like I can do this every now and then. Having bored you all with my ongoing whinges in the last few weeks, I thought I'd share my successes, finally!!

DH and I have decided to delay me going back to work until January so that I can concentrate on getting my boys well and hopefully enjoy a bit of time with them without attending several medical appointments each week! Just have to pluck up the courage to tell my colleagues now. Hats off to those of you already working - I really can't imagine that at the mo.

DS1's appointment with the dietician has come through for 9 weeks hence! What a load of bollocks. I saw a paediatrician in 7 days! Will have to pay to go privately as I can't bear the idea of him being this pale and lethargic for that much longer. Another thing to sort out on Tuesday.

Wildlife park tomorrow - will try not to lose DS1 whilst feeding DS2!!

p.s. We're done with the breeding too. Two DSs is just right for us!

stoof Sounds like you're having a rough time at the moment. sending lots of hugs your way. Hope things get easier now that your LOs no longer need to go to nursery.

bethylou can't imagine entertaining 12 children and 6 mummies. I'd get way too stressed - even the thought of it

bear get your DH to buy you a whole bottle of wine (and chocolates to boot) to make up for drinking yours!

Had been feeling a little down yesterday and Friday as work was so manic last week. Not used to doing a 9-5 arrangement, there's just so much to fit in, plus it just happened to be a mad week of many fires to put out. Coupled with feeling sad that I'm missing so much of her development now that I'll be back at work 5 days a week. But after 2 days with DD, am feeling somewhat better and looking forward to more play tomorrow. Love hanging out at home when it rains!

On the plus side DD is taking to solids like a duck to water now that she's refusing to drink milk during the day on the days I'm at work. Dinner today: Roast chicken, sweet potato, carrots, courgettes, nectarine. Breakfast: Toast + butter (soaked in milk) with fruit puree on top + raspberry and grapes
Lunch: fish with potatoes and leek + papaya and grapes.
I get so worried that she's not drinking enough though during the day when I'm not around, but DH's doing a stellar job with the solids.

On the 2nd child, am planning to start trying again when DD's a year old!

Aw, stoof, sounds a total bummer (if you'll pardon the expression) all round - poor you. Likewise bc - I HATE colds - guaranteed no sleep for a few days for me when I get one, especially now with DD next to me (paranoia about waking her up with coughs and sneezes stops me relaxing, plus the usual irritants of sore throat, snotty, blocked up nose etc.....) - huge sympathy.

Nice to hear some fun stuff from you, bethylou - and highly impressed at the parental acrobatics and child juggling

Weaning is a rather up and down experience for us. DD wasn't overly keen yesterday and hasn't been so far today either - neither the spoon foods or the finger foods have met with much favour (although she seemed to enjoy a bit of greengage, but found it difficult and slimy to hold once the peel had been removed!) Very impressed with how your LO's doing, rainbow.

Three poos yesterday, including two of a pretty decent size, so I think the six days-worth has now been entirely excreted! My book suggested a little bit of orange to encourage breast-to-solids constipation to shift, so I've been giving DD some of my freshly squeezed orange juice to suck from my finger. I know you have to be careful with citrus, but she seems fine. And if indeed it helped with the bowel situation, so much the better!

Sleep.... well, some SLIGHT improvement now. DD only woke 5 times last night and the night before - a lot better than the countless awakenings of the previous two nights. I'm still feeding her to sleep, but trying to detach myself from her more quickly and using a hand on her tummy to reassure. We had a nice long nap this morning, 1h25 in total, although I needed to send her back with a boob after 25 mins. DH pointed out that trying to wean her from feeding-to-sleep while also getting her used to her new mattress and sleep space was probably a bit much, which I've conceded.

Solidarity to all!

IC I've found that DD wakes up after 20-30 mins if she falls asleep before finishing a boob. But if she has a full feed of both boobs she stays asleep for her full sleep needs....well until she gets hungry again. Seems to apply for both naps and night-sleep. Though for night-sleep she'll wake up after about 2-3 hours for another feed.... Dunno if that helps explain the waking after a sleep cycle for you too. I won't count on 3 poos representing 6 days worth however It's quite astounding how much poo a baby's gut can hold!

I wonder if dd2 may be a little too attached to me. She does saucer eyes if dh changes her nappy (mind you, he's only done about 4 since she was born so she is right to be surprised) and totally refuses to take a bottle from him. The other day I wanted to finish my dinner and dh offered to start her on her bed time bottle. She kept looking from him to me and back and clearly thought that this is not the way we do things in this house!
I'm not really worried about her being very close to mummy... why would I not want to get the best smiles, cuddles, drools etc . She really is the most gorgeous little thing ever (but I may be somewhat biased .

BG my DS is a mummy's boy but I love it!

Today started again at 5.15am and I hope that at some point he'll go back to sleep a bit longer such as 6.30am... Who will have thought that I will consider 6.30am as been late in the morning

Waiting for DH to come home after work, he has finished an hour ago but he's still chatting with a friend who's been glassed last night in a pub! Thankfully the Police caught the guy who did it, but still you wonder what is happening to the world (or Guernsey)...

I'm starting to introduce DS to more structured food (ie less smooth) it seems to go okay but even if he doesn't have any teeth, he doesn't chew... I have to be careful.

Time to go and put DS in bed as he has fallen asleep on my lap.

Thanks for the tip, rainbowweaver! I probably leave it too late to feed DD to sleep so she nods off too quickly without enough in her belly - same applies to bedtime. Having said that, she's a little and often feeder still, so I'm not sure what difference it would make as she usually pulls off the boob and makes it clear she's had enough fairly quickly. Ten minutes is a long feed for her! Well, she's still growing okay, so I've ceased worrying about it. Probably a factor in the night wakings, though...

...on which subject, I just spent 45mins patiently doing a mixture of Pantley Pull Off and Pick Up/Put Down and Sssh/pat to finally get DD to fall asleep without being attached to my nipple or a dummy. A lot of frustrated and cross crying on her part, but we got there in the end. I'm hoping it will be a matter of days rather than weeks before she's got the hang of it, but I'm not holding my breath. As DH said, DD's a creature of habit and breaking those habits can be a long drawn-out process. Still, I've managed it before, so perseverance is the key....

A bit of a dispiriting day in other respects as DD has also gone on weaning strike. She's turning her nose up at everything we offer her, whether on a spoon (including giving her the spoon) or finger food or licked off our fingers. She's been doing this for the last couple of days. I guess we just keep offering her stuff until she starts accepting it again and don't push too hard in the meantime so it doesn't become a big stress for us and a bad association for her.
Any experienced mummies out there had this situation? If so, what did you do? Up until two days ago, DD was getting quite enthusiastic about food, I'm not sure what happened to put her off.

DH is back to work tomorrow after a super long holiday with us. I've got so used to having him around helping out, it's going to be a bit of a shock to the system coping without him, if only for a few hours per day. Still, I'm very lucky that he's a) so hands on and domesticated and b) he doesn't work very long hours.

Almost nine - must be my bedtime....

afternoon all

not much to report, except that LO enjoyed her curry yesterday. It wasn't until afterwards that I thought that maybe there were too many foods in there, but I think she's had most of them before. Oh well, she's got it for the day or so, so we'll find out.

IC sorry no advice, but I'm sure LO isn't eating that much, just gumming (or not) it for a while

CC - what was in the curry? been trying to psych ourselves up to give something spicy to DD.....

IC - you're doing exactly the right thing on the weaning front. DD went through a couple of days when she went off solids, so we tried feeding her outside where she could see others eating, eating with her so she could see us eating, giving her a bit of our foods, trying different types of foods and textures, and even just not giving her any for a meal. But if she's not interested then just let her be... after all the best food is milk. Better to let her have positive connotations with food, and she'll take to solids sooner or later. What got us through was the thought that there are no adults that take milk exclusively....

IC could it be the heat? I know I'm not very hungry in hot weather... Maybe she might like something cold like yoghurt.

Could be teething or a cold, IC? You're doing the right thing by not fretting, but it's hard, isn't it?

We did curry as well CC. For whoever asked for a recipe, I soften a chopped onion, add some chopped tomatoes (skin and all) and veg (I used courgette on this occasion as MIL has a surfiet in her garden), and a pinch each of garlic, ginger, masala and chilli. If you're doing lentils, use the red ones and add now, if not cook for a bit, then add chopped chicken or fish and cook for a few more minutes, adding water if it looks too dry. Add some cooked rice, then blitz. When they can cope with lumps a bit better, add rice after blitzing. It's a winner with my DD2 as it was with DD1.

I've just made some sweet potato, salmon and broccoli, so I'm hoping that goes down as well as the others have (so far I've done chicken with leeks, potatoes and broccoli, and sweet potato with ham, carrot and courgette). The pear and nectarine with vanilla that I did last night was also a success, as was the apple, blackberries and cinnamon.

Do your LO have meat/fish once or twice a day?

At the moment DS is having meat at lunchtime at nursery and I only give him veggy dishes in the evening. So far at nursery he had spag bolognaise, cottage pie, chicken and mushroom pie, fish fingers... all served with potatoes and vegetable.

My lastest veggie dishes are courgette, red pepper and pasta, sweet potatoes, red lentils and leeks.

At the weekend, I'm going to do a mild chicken curry as I want to see how he's going to react.

IC hope your back by yourself day went fine.

Thanks GF - it was fine! Easier than prior to our holiday - mainly because DD will play by herself if left for five mins here and there rather than instantly yell for me as she used to - it means I can get more done without feeling neglectful of her.

Thanks also CC, BG, RW and watercress (can't bring myself to shorten that to initials!!!) for the suggestions and solidarity regarding the weaning. Today was actually a lot better. Fresh fig, although slimy to pick up has been a big hit, as was the chunks of banana and she enjoyed gumming on a bit of bread. She also happily swallowed a goodly amount of her baby porridge this morning and the Ella's Kitchen broccoli, pea and pear puree, but rejected DH's homemade tomato sauce (little traitor!!). Overall, much more encouraging, though.
Love the curry recipe, watercress think we'll give it a go...

More protesting as I tried to put her down sans boob tonight - in the end I put her back on to feed, then detached her and put her down, whereupon she was instantly asleep - although I'm not sure whether she hadn't already fallen asleep, so it might not count. Anyway, she's zonked now so that's a blessing. Last night wasn't brilliant, but she actually resettled herself at least once, so a smidgeon of progress (I hope).

Wish me luck for tonight! Likewise to the rest of you with reluctant sleepers...

Our curry was that spice as we have a new jar and haven't found it's level yet.

Anyway I was lazy and used tin tomatoes (though I have made fresh salsa for today with chickpea burgers). Pretty much the same as watercress: soften onions, carrots, add cumin, coriander, garam masala and chilli, add tomoatoes and tinned beans (blackeye and borlotti I think) and simmer. Near the end add broccoli, runner beans, spinach, fresh coriander and courgette.
See told you it was a few ingredients, didn't add lemon though, remembered to hold off on that at least.

We didn't mash it up or anything, just put it on her tray, hence most of it she couldn't eat anyway.

I'm making beef burgers for DH so don't know whether to give her mine of his, but since his has egg in, think I'll stick with mine. The salsa also has lemon in (again fresh from the garden), but think I'll risk it for a biscuit.

All this food talk is making me hungry, time for lunch.

Oh stoof, meant to send some hugs, sounds very hard work.

Sleep, we continue to have 3 hours on odd nights, but always on nights where she wakes up for teething as well. She's normally happy to much on her freezer toy for an hour though, so isn't too bad.

DS2 has fish or meat just once a day at the moment, but I don't know why I've gone with that. I'm far less informed than I was last time round - less time to read etc.. I suppose. He seems to be doing well on it and DS1 eats a wide enough range of foods so I'm not too worried (in my grand scheme of current worries at least!)

IC with you on the getting to sleep without a dummy (DCs not us!). We're still working on the 'Pantley pull off', which I think I like more for the name than for anything else! Sometimes I can remove it when DS2's still awake (particualrly naps in the day) and yet at night trying to remove the dummy after about 4a.m. results in him waking up screaming for it again within 5 mins. Yesterday we went to Sainsburys at naptime and I forgot the dummy. After 2 shouts (him not me), he fell asleep and I had a quiet shop!

Last night, I managed a whole 4 hours' sleep, due to both DSs waking, and me not being able to go back to sleep (). Today has been a trial as a result, as you can imagine. I have also got to go to the dentist to have a hole in my tooth filled. I'm sure it's because I've been drinking a can (or 2) of Coke each day to keep me awake (as I don't drink tea or coffee) in the last 6 months. If the dentist (young, single, definitely not a mummy) so much as starts to tell me off, I shall probably tell her to come back to me in 5 years' time when she has 2 small children!!

DH is contemplating going away for a weekend in 4 weeks' time and I'm already dreading it. I used to hate him going away when I had no children, let alone with two to look after. The days in themselves do not worry me, but if I have bad nights then I will be stuffed! We have checked so far that DSIL is busy all weekend and so is DMIL so no help there. My mum is apparently available but she only ever comes over for an hour! (and I know some of you manage this regularly. I take my hat off to you).

Oh yes, and DMIL met us at the wildlife park the other day and stropped all the way round. It wasn't until we got back in the car that DH and I realised that his dad was supposed to have invited us for a roast dinner and we had turned up with a picnic!! I now need to add being psychic to the list of required traits for DILs!! FIL has a lot to answer for on the quiet as he is very unreliable about passing on messages.

that was suppose to read "our curry was not that spicy"

beth I sure don't mind living in another country to our ILs, though am not enjoying the weekly skype calls (i hide in bed and they still annoy my )

GF I do go for a gentler weaning a la francaise see here for recommandations www.doctissimo.fr/html/grossesse/bebe/nourrir/index_aliments_bebe.htm
the meat/fish/eggs once a day (usually midday) was because you don't sleep so well when you eat proteins (much more difficut to digest). Same with yogurt at night and save the cheese for the day time.
It is just common sense.
Do you sleep well after a BBQ? I don't (even when I don't drink)
I had weird disturbing dreams when I used to eat plenty of cheeses at diner time. .
According to my mum we were nearly teens when we started having meat at twice a day .
But on that site they say that high proteins (meat) diet in early days are linked with obesity later in life.
Not sure on that one, it might be linked to the fact that people couldn't afford meat twice a day or a lot of food.

For DD2 proteins at night are soft pulses or/and yogurt/ fromage frais.

It is amazing to see the difference in recommandations though, in canada they advises to started the weaning with high iron food, meat, fishes and lentils .

Living far away from everybody, it is not that nice after a while though , you will change your mind in a few years CC!

DD2 is a nightmare, an explorer without any caution she will try anything. Jumping of the bed, standing then deciding that if DD1 can walk so can she , of course she ended in a puddle on the floor. She is getting quite a few bruises to show of! She is practicing climbing as well She is supposed to take it slowly one thing at a time! To allow mum to follow!
DD1 was so cautious she will only do what she was able to do, very little fall and bruises. (then, now she is coverred, the doc call her a goat )

mamaloco that's what I'm doing anyway without knowing!

CC and bethy I know what you mean regarding IL. I just have a MIL but she is sometimes not aware of what goes on nowadays and it does annoy me.

DS is still trying to understand how to crawl or stand up by himself but he'll mange as he is soo determined. I would not have thought that a nearly 7 months old baby could have so much stubbornness determination. Night time is still odd, some good nights and bad ones... Wonder what tonight is going to be especially as DS slept for 1 & 1/2 hour this morning at nursery he never sleep that long during the day

DS at the present is chatting and blowing bubbles while on his door bouncer, I'll miss it when he'll be too big for it.

Good luck with that, bethylou!

Well, the last 24 hours have had their harrowing moments (overdramatisation alert!)

My efforts to encourage DD to sleep without being attached to my nipple has resulted in a lot of frustrated crying on her part, not surprisingly. Last night we had a nightmare 2 1/4 hrs resettle when she just wouldn't let go of my nipple without loud protests. DH went to sleep in another room in the end.

We tried again with the first nap which resulted in loads more crying and protesting (DH did the settling) - eventually she fell asleep, but only for 30 mins. We've since read that naps are in a different category to overnight sleep and it's not really worth doing any sleep-training as such with them. So now we know. I didn't bother for the second nap, just fed her in the usual way.

Anyway, I put DD to bed an hour earlier than usual tonight, fed her then unlatched her and put her down, kissed her and left her to it. She protested a lot, but the intermittent crying never got close to genuine melt-down level - she was crying for a minute or two then stopping and would start again if she thought she heard me close to the room. In other words, I'm satisfied it was protest crying rather than anything more serious than that. I would have gone straight back in if I'd felt she was getting really distressed. In the end, she gave up and fell asleep in less than 25 mins. Whether it will make any difference to the night's wakings and whether I'll have to go through it all again tonight remains to be seen. I suspect this battle of wills isn't over yet...

On a more positive note, she's been in a cheerful mood today, despite the disturbed sleep and lack of napping. And suddenly voraciously interested in the finger food I'm offering her. So much so that she's stuffing more in than she can handle resulting in a number of slightly worrying/slightly hilarious gagging incidents. I read in my baby book (which isn't a BLW book, incidentally) that babies have a strong gag reflex and it's part of how they learn to deal with food. So I guess that's alright, then!

Looked at some baby food for sale in our local supermarket here in Madrid, but it's all got salt and/or sugar added. So far DD hasn't been interested in our own efforts, but it's early days and if she continues to be as enthusiastic as today, then hopefully she'll acclimatise to non-commercially produced stuff.

Love the sound of those curries, watercress and CC! Think we might have a go at those.

Oh poor you IC I hope tonight will go better. And well done of the food front.

I'll have to reschedule my bedtime routine as for the last 3 evenings DS has fallen asleep while eating, so not finishing his meal and only having a bottle an hour later... and I wonder why I had to feed him during the last 2 nights? Maybe it's because instead of having veg then fruit then milk, he's only eating 1/2 of veg and his milk. So the plan is to put every thing forward by 30mn therefore starting the routine at 5.30pm instead of 6pm. Will see how it works tomorrow.