July 2007 part 2- 4 months in, doesn't time fly?

[Princesspowersparkle]

Hello July ladies, we are here now!!!!

Hi All- hope you are all well.

Milk is now back- yey! Plus we gave Seren her first lot of baby rice yesterday. It was really cute, when she had a taste she pulled a really funny face and then opened her mouth for more. Was adorable. Today we did it again and she got really excited in between spoonfuls and started flapping her arms when she saw the spoon. Very sweet and I'm glad she seems to like it. As she is only 17 weeks though we are only giving her a really small amount once a day and not introducing different things for a few weeks yet.

Wow thprecious, did your DS take the formula OK? If he did that was fab- I tried Seren on it and she was not amused... No idea about your AF. I've only had one sort of one since giving birth and that only lasted about 2 days.

Anyway- hope weekends were nice and you are all ready for another week,
xx

theprecious - You BIL has very good taste in names... and islands
No advice on AF though, I've not had one yet... and long may that continue...

Myfairone - I'm trying to avoid think about going back to work. I'm staying off until April but I'm dreading it anyway. Haven't cried yet but it's only a matter of time, I cry at anything to do with children and parents nowadays.
I keep showing DP how to do things with Bryher because he'll be looking after her for the 3 days I'm in work, but I hate doing it. Partly because it reminds me I'm going back to work, and partly because I'm trying to savour every moment with her.

My cheery little girl has gone AWOL at the moment and been replaced by a miserable one who is getting teeth. She's been dosed up on calpol, bonjela and had plenty of cold toys to chew but it seems her favourite thing to chew is my nipples. I thought she was feeding for longer because of a growth spurt but no, she's been gnawing on me and this evening I'm in pain.

We're thinking about spending the next few months until her teeth are through living in the bathroom. She's always happy in there. She can be bawling her eyes out, we go in the bathroom while I go to the loo or have a shower and she's all smiles.
At some point she's going to realise she doesn't always get to have a bath and the magic will be broken.

On a more serious, less pleasant note, and I can't remember if it's been mentioned before, but have you all done a will?
DP and I have spoken about it and asked my parents to be guardians if anything happens to us but haven't got around to putting it in writing.
My friend is a lawyer and she told me to get it sorted but I still haven't then yesterday I found out a distant friend has got leukaemia. She's a single Mum with an 18 month old child. It's shocked me into action. I'm going to get a form from the Post Office tomorrow.

Thanks for all the well wishes for my Dad. We're going over for a few days on Tuesday but I'll try to get online to check in.

Hi ladies and all the beautiful bubbas!

I can't remember if I even posted that I'd had my July babe, just tried looking through an old post but got to page 12 and gave up

Just wanted to say congrats to us all and can you believe just how quick the last 4months have flown? Not our little babies anymore.

Also just wondered if anyone has started weaning yet?

Oh and better add Isabel was born 24th July, 8days late, little madam! Well not so little, 9lb 4oz !

xx

Theprecious, I haven't had a visit from Aunt Flo yet, but I didn't until I had completely finished BF last time. But I think mine were surprising light and short when they returned.

Bilblio- we keep meaning to get wills sorted, but haven't got round to it. We were thinking more about the house - guess it would make sense for DP's parents to be named as guardians as they live in the same city.

Hi Ladies - we are just back from our USA holiday. It was great fun and Little O was a complete angel. The 5 hour time difference wasn't a big deal in the end - we just kept her up a bit longer on the first day, and I think our earliest morning was 5.30am, which is just about bearable! The journey was actually quite fun - we were treated like VIPs by everyone from the check-in staff at Heathrow to the immigration & customs people at Boston. We were magically whisked to the front of every queue - of course it helped that Little O was at her best, giving toothy grins to everyone in sight and not making a peep on the plane. Seems that everyone loves a baby! This is definitely the age to do it. Myfairone - i think you mentioned that you are off to the US soon - enjoy it!!!

The only downside was O's eczema which flared up horribly - it's all in her hair now too, which makes her thrash around quite a bit. We've got some steroid cream now so I hope that does the trick.

Theprecious, I think a couple of us have commented on how surprised we were by AF - for me it was almost as bad as the bleeding after the birth. However, the consequent ones have been fine - back to normal really.

Myfairone - I too am a bit teary when I think about going back to work - I hate myself for having to go back, but I really have to for financial reasons. I understand that the thinking about it is often worse that the actual going back. we'll see.....

Anyway, must sign off now as O is stirring and testing out her new found vocal skills!

Hope you are all well - catch up again soon.

Hi all. Hope everyone is ok.

Sorry I haven't posted for ages (two weeks!) but I have been keeping up to date with you all.

2+1 DS is growing well (just like my dd - 15lb14oz last week at 18 wks and 67cm!) She's gone up from 25th to 75th in weight and from between 50th & 75th on length to somewhere in the red box at the top! . She wasn't even big at birth (7lb 3.5oz).

theprecious I can't help on the AF question as I haven't had a visit yet either. whenever I think of giving up on the bf'ing, I remind myself of this and how painful they have always been.

Right. Better get ready for my pnd group again. Only 2 more to go then I am on holiday. Going to visit my cousin and his family again in Germany. Any suggestions for christmas pressies for them? He is dd's godfather and his ds is nearly 3. I never have any idea what to get people.

Oh and does anyone have any tips on flying with lo's?

Thanks and hope you all have a good day.

Hi Melissa,

Tommee tippee do sterile bottles you can use on flights. Big supermarkets sometimes sell them. So You don't have to worry how long they've been out of the fridge. If you take a carton of formula with you, you can just make up one when you like. Offer a bottle on take off and landing to help little ears with the popping. But don't do what I did and offer the bottle when the plane's starting to taxi and then find you're held in a queue, your LO has guzzled the lot and there's nothing left to offer! I flew with mine at four months and it was fine.

No help on the present front, though!

Thanks for the advice cakehead. Unfortunately our attempts at bottle feeding haven't been great. At least I don't have to worry about my boobs completely running out though if we end up stuck in a queue. I'll remember those bottles though if we can every get Evelyn to take a bottle!

meant to say before - well done on getting Serene to take a bottle.

Hi all,
I left LO for the first time today as i went on a course for work. Im not back at work officially until march tho. I was dreading it yesterday but James was fine, I knew he would be I was worried about myself.
The child minder I use is the one I have for my Dd so she is like part of the family anyway. Once I was about three miles away I was ok the sickness feeling had gone and i had stopped crying. The day was fine because I was occupied so it was a success. I had gone back to work when DD was this age 19wekks I cant imagine it yet with James he seems a lot more needy than Sophie was, and hes not sleeping through yet grrrr.
Got to go and dress him now hes finished his bath with Daddy!!

Justabout - thanks for kind words re returning to work. What makes it extra hard is that I have never really enjoyed what i do - I just fell into it when I left college. The thing is, it is secure and pays quite well so you sort of get stuck in it. The great thing is I may have the opportunity to get a local job in the near future (later next year) so this would be better. I love the nursery that we have O's name down at and do feel comfortable with the care there, but will be keeping an eye on things.

Melissa - we just got back from long haul flying and would back the advice of feeding during take off and landing. However if your LO is sleeping, we were advised not to wake them but just to pop a dummy in her mouth. This worked fine. Also, if you are planning to take a stroller with you, don't check it in at the desk, wait until you get to the gate so that you don't have to hold your LO for ages. Otherwise, just use having a cute baby to your advantage! It worked for us! I'd love to go to Germany before Christmas to go to one of the Christmas markets - lucky you!!! No help on the pressie fron though.

Durr just found this thread over a week after it started.

On returning to work, I'm having a mid mat leave crisis. Would I be completely mad to retrain?

Hello all, it is really hard anticipating leaving your LO to return to work, even part-time. I found it very hard with DS, started off doing 3 days a week for a month (when he was 6 months old) to ease me back in before going full-time- and he spent those with my MIL, then started nursery when I went full-time as MIL lived an hour away and the commute etc. was too hard. I had no choice but to work full-time for financial reasons and at first found it really tough, but the nursery staff were fantastic which helped enormously. DS wouldn't take a bottle but they would take the time to spoon in & syringe my EBM and he still fed well from me evenings, once at night and first thing- was exhausting though! I kept expressing at work for first 6 weeks but after that stopped as it was too hard to fit in, especially if I had to be out on fieldwork or at meetings! I'm lucky now that our circumstances have changed so I can just work part-time, although I am currently trying to finish my PhD so already a friend is taking both DS & DD for 3 mornings a week. Felt awful at first as DD was just under 4 months but she sleeps most of the time she's there and it's only round the corner so doesn't feel like she's really apart from me... And my friend is so good I have no worries. Although it always seems a huge undertaking to get us all out for 9am!! I am lucky that I do mainly love my job (& even my PhD) which helps a lot, if your heart's not in it, it will be so much harder. It is never too late to re-train- I know a few people who have changed careers since having kids, mainly because they needed something that fits in better with the kids and also to do something they really love...

Mairi is now 12lb 13oz (she's 21 weeks but they take off 4 weeks for her being early, so really 17wks) so hasn't gained quite as much as they'd like, she's dropped off from 50th centile to 20th... But she has been suffering with a bad cough/cold for over 2 weeks now which has probably affected her weight gain- her length is still on 75th centile. I've been advised to start solids so tried some butternut squash last night (which DS always loved) but she wasn't too impressed. She'll suck on an apple happily though! I might try making it runnier then try again later. DS really didn't like baby rice mixed with just milk, he'd only take it mixed with a fruit or veg puree so wanted to get DD taking these purees first but might just try plain ol' baby rice with milk... I wanted to do baby-led weaning but she can't 'do' finger foods at all yet, just too young (although she tries) as due to her CF they are pushing us to wean so it'll have to be purees to start with.

Also she now has to use a nebuliser which she isn't too impressed with, but does seem to be helping her cough more effectively. Find the reality of her CF is kicking in a bit these days

Doris- how is your DD2? Hope the winter bugs aren't affecting her too badly. I really do hate winter as there's just no avoiding colds especially with a toddler in the house to bring them all home!!

hugs to you all xxxx

madmum - sorry to hear that Mairi hasn't been very well. Hopefully she will be much better soon.

Cakehead - thanks for the tip with the dummy. I'll make sure I have some with me. My hv yesterday said to give her calpol when we've gone through security as it really helps some babies (including her dd). I bought some sachets the other day so that I don't have to take a bottle with me.

What do people think to huggies nappies? We've made the decision to use disposables while we are away because we won't have anywhere to wash them for 4 days after leaving my cousins. 1. we don;t have enough washable nappies for 4 days, and 2. we don;t want the car stinking of dirty nappies (and we don't have the room). Or has anyone used Boots nappies? Or does anyone have any other suggestions?

For those of you having to go back to work and dreading leaving your dc's, I am sure they will be fine. My dd protests when I leave her in the creche for my pnd group but as soon as I'm gone she is happy. I think she does it to make me feel bad. I hopefully won't be going back to work until July but I am already dreading it. We keep working through the numbers to see if we can afford for me not to go back, but I don't think it will work out. Keeping my fingers crossed for redundancy though!

Hope everyone is having a good day.
x

Melissa- I think Huggies nappies are the best in terms of not leaking. Boots ones don't seem to hold much and leak when there's a power poo. We also use Pampers and Tescos own which are fine too.

I am not looking forward to going back to work (next march). DS is actually starting nursery in January (1 day a week) so I have a day a week to myself and I guess I could pick him up early if I miss him too much. I know its a bit extravagent as its £37 a day. From March he'll be in 2 days a week, and I'll be working 3 days a week (DH will have the DCs one day a week).

Does anyone else feel really bad about eating in front of LOs - my DS is watching very closely and looks like he wants to join in at mealtimes. I want to wait til 26 weeks (5 weeks to go) to wean him, but keep thinking about giving him some baby rice. I've been sitting him in his highchair just so we can chat to him while we eat, but maybe its a bit cruel!

Pulapula, so with you on the eating-infront-of-the-little-ones thing. Feel downright cruel. Have started LO on some solids though - she was so miserable and always sicking up stuff, plus her mouth was on mega-drool and my mum just finally snapped and said 'for god's sake, give her someting to eat...' Although I didn't go for the full roast my mum would have liked to see her chugging down, we did try some banana and purees, and LO nearly bit the spoon in half in her eagerness. I think she was well and truly ready.

Feel a bit guilty though as with DD1 I was forever steaming organic plums and whatnots and this time, with a toddler to feed as well, there are a few more jars being cracked open. Hmm. Have the nanny starting in a few weeks so am hoping my motherly pride will rise to me cooking a bit more. It's just that at the moment I'm preparing nine different meals a day for all of us. And although I do try to make the same go round, it never quite works like that. Any one else feel like the Gordon Ramsay's poor relation?

I can't wait to start O on solids - it just seems such a milestone. I bought some baby rice the other day, but am planning to wait for at least another month as O is only 18 weeks. Although she's a big girl, she doesn't seem to be showing any signs of needing solids yet, although like you Pulapula, we do have lots of drooling and being sick, but she's always had a bit of reflux .... If anything, her milk intake has reduced over the past few weeks - I fill her bottles to 6oz and she's regularly leaving 2oz. Anyone else experiencing this? I haven't been to the weigh in clinic for 3 weeks now, but am going this morning. I suppose as long as the weight is going on there's nothing to worry about.

Although I vowed I wouldn't, I bought a "My First Christmas" outfit yesterday and am planning to get a few photo cards made up!!! Thing is, O's eczema is quite bad on her face and scalp so she's not looking great at the moment. Maybe I could do a bit of airbrushing !

MadmumNika - hope Mairi (I DO like that name!) is feeling better and getting on with nebuliser.

Hope everyone well and looking forward to the weekend.

Durr didn't put this thread in my favourites so missed all the posts again. Ordered a university prospectus yesterday......

HI all..

Goodl uck on the weaning.. lee hasnt started toi yet have tried him but it upset his tummy he couldnt settle for hours.. will try again in a few weeks..

Sorry ranting again... hubby as you know got back of his course last week.. to start his Afghan training this week.. was supposed to have yester and today off.. he got yesterday.. from 11am I am still waiting for him to come back today!!!.. He is on 24hr duty tommorrow so we wont see him, then flies back to the UK sunday afternoon till Froiday.. I really am ready to pull my hair out.. The DC are missing him terribly and Scott doesnt know whether he is coming or going..

Sorry to rant just need to vent.. I knew what i was getting myself infor when we got married.. but I (and others) just really feel they are taking the p*ss out of us now..

I had the DC photos done the other week.. will put it in my profile when I get it back.

Hope everytone else is fine..

Have a good weekend.
Take care all

K.x

2+1 sorry that you aren't getting to see much of your dh at the moment. Hopefully things will settle down soon and you get to see more of him. I sometimes wish i saw less of my dh but know that I am lucky that he is around most of the time. So glad he's not in the forces (but then so is he as he doesn't like being told what to do )

Evelyn isn't on solids yet either - she is 19wks. She seems quite happy bf'ing at the moment. She is still piling on the weight. There is lots of drool, but then she is constantly eating her hands. She doesn't seem particularly hungry as she doesn't completely empty both boobs each feed. Currently she sits in her bouncy chair next to us when we eat breakfast. Sometimes she is sat on my knee of feeding while I have my lunch and whilst she watches, she doesn't try to grab the food.

Pulapula - thanks for the advice on nappies - I tried huggies yesterday and was very impressed. Bought some tesco's own today as couldn't find the right size huggies and someone else told me they are pretty good. Seemed really strange with dd in disposables as they are so tiny compared to reusables!

Right - neighbours coming for dinner tonight (with their ds who is 13 wks) so best get the fish pie made - oh and the nappies dried.

Have a good day all and great weekend (cos I never have chance to catch up when dh around).

Sounds tough 2+1. Lucky you have three lovely children to keep your hands full while DH is away! Hope things improve soon.

I got O weighed this morning and she's only put on 3oz in three weeks . Seems the vomiting may be having an effect then. The HV says she may be off her food because of teething - I've got to go back in a couple of weeks to see if she's back on track.

MelissaM - very impressed you are using reusables. It must be a lot of extra work - you put me to shame!

Right off now for feeding time....

Hi All, has been great reading all your messages and catching up - have been totally rubbish at posting since July but have found that life has got extremely hectic with two! We are all fine - Owen is a total cutie, very good - been sleeping through since 9 weeks on breast feeds only, already in 6-9 month sized clothes , bit of a change from DS1 who was still in that size when he was over a year old! Not started weaning yet though Owen looks VERY interested, hoping he will last out until just after Christmas as DS1 has suddenly got very into sitting on the potty so hoping to get him trained before we start weaning! DH managed to get a longer contract so he is working full time till the end of Jan and I go back full time in the middle of Feb - can't say that I'm looking forward to going back much but we need the money - will miss my boys though .

Hope everyone is well!!