Oct 2007 - This little piggy had pureed butternut squash and a slice of pear...

[alicet]

Well thought I should start a new thread in time to link it on the old one!!!

hi inzi
my ds is only one week older and i wish he drank as much milk as yours! He used to be a real guzzler but now prefers real food.... here's his average routine

6.30am 5-7oz milk
8.30 nap
9.30 weetabix with banana or porridge with fruit puree - both made from baby milk (SMA follow on milk, abt 5 oz)
11.30 nap
12.30 lunch - veg puree of some sort, or finger food with water or diluted juice (not his fav!)
2.30 nap
3.30 milk 5-7 oz
5.30 homemade rice pudding (make from baby milk) with fruit puree or finger food
Then nap for 30 mins
7.30 5-7 oz milk. Sleep until 6.30 am
Then it starts all over again.

Eren does drink enough milk so i have to put it in his food as much as i can. I was obsessing about this a week or two ago, but i've chilled out a bit now...
Hope this helps.
No ones routine is perfect, it just what suits that baby.
Plus, i have found that a 'routine' is a very fluid word!!! My ds changes the rules abt every 2 weeks..... no time to take things for granted. He is happy, healthy and enjoying life and new flavours.
I just have to keep reminding myself of that more often when i get stressed, or doubt myself on whether or not i'm doing right by my own child.

The mothering malarky is a stressful and worrying thing!!
Have a lovely day xxxx

HI all
Inzi - I saw that webpage and thought it fitted exactly what you were describing...

Hen's routin is;

7am wake
soon after breakfast then 8-9oz milk

10am -nap

12 noon - food

12.30 - 9oz milk

used to give a bottle around 3.30 but have dropped it but think will start giving 5 ozs for a drink especially in the hot weather.

5pm -food
5.30 - 8-9oz milk
6pm -bed

We're quite strict with the routine as I have the school run to do around it but food wise it's a bit tricky. Not sure whether to give milk before or after food as his nursery think he should be eating more solids so I've switched and he is eating loads more if I 'soild' him first then milk. His milk in take doesn't seem to be affected (my fat knacker of a boy!)
I think he's 29 weeks, must work that out and he weighed 19lbs 9oz 5 weeks ago.

Have exercise session with Darren the ex marine today at 11am. Will limp along later
x

Thanks for all those suggestions Muppet. I love the idea of a bedtime routine! Self care is so important but it can be easy to forget with a little one around. I do excercise a fair bit and it does help a lot when I do so got to keep that up and keep trying to do more.

The career thing is tricky. I am a trained teacher, got pregnant in my probation year and have completely failed to get a permanent position. I have applied for 14 jobs in the last year. Sometimes I have been unlucky - I think being pregnant didn't help! Sometimes it was nerves other times I just don't know why I didn't get the job. Not good for the confidence though. Anyway I have since decided that I am only going to go back part time but there are no part time jobs coming up. I may have to do supply but I am not confident that my nerves can handle that.

I am not totally anit meds - I have had them in the past. I guess I thought I was past all that if that makes sense. I had a load of therapy in the past and I am meant to be better now!

Can't help much with milk routines I'm afraid as BF so it's all a bit all over the place!

just quickly our routine is

5am-7am wakes up

8am 5oz bottle with baby porridge made up of the other 2oz of the bottle

9am nap

12 noon mush normally consisting of veg and whatever meat (pork or chicken) i was doing at the begining of the week to freeze and some type of fruit, strawberries, banana, mango, kiwi

hopefully some type of nap after dinner but not always

4pm 7oz bottle

5pm more mush or fruit or finger food (very very messy!)

7.30-8.00 7-8 oz bottle

then bed as soon as possible

the problem with my routine is that Shannon starts getting very ratty about 5.30-6pm so and sometimes falls asleep, so do i start giving her her bedtime bottle earlier and put her to bed earlier and risk her waking even earlier in the morning, what do you all think?

HI Stefka - I supplied for a year before I graduated as we had finished our final teaching practice and were therefore technically qualified teachers. (I then did my year of solid music for the BA bit of my degree) It was tough but I did make some fantastic contacts as the Heads really get to see you in the thick of it. There were difficult schools -the boy who thought he was a dog, the girl who stole as she had nothing at home, the school were hardly any of the children seemed to have shoes on indoors as they only had 1 pair of shoes. But there were some fab schools that were very easy. I suppose there are 2 ways of supplying, joining an agency, I did this, and approaching a school directly. Also offering to do PPA is a very good way of making a more permanent job. My last job was to teach music through the school from yrr-yr6. I covered the other teachers' PPA. I taught for 2 days a week and boosted my income by teaching piano/cello so I got 3 days pay for 2 days work. I do get the impression that you are secondary though?
Did you complete your probationary year?
Can you tutor? Good rates of pay and you can again join an agency or tutor privately.

see you all later xxx

Also, could you appraoch the schools where you didn't get the job an ask for a chat with the Head? This will give you the reasons that you can tackle and change which may boost your confidence in other interviews. Hard to do but may be useful...

Stefka - Can second muppetgirl's on approaching schools for feedback on how your interviews went: I've made sure I've done that whenever I went for a job I didn't get ... and as a HoD now, with responsibility for providing feedback to those who request it, I'm amazed that more people don't - the last time we interviewed none of the people requested feedback.

A good idea too to look at covering ppa time - also, if you'er secondary, you could look at becoming a cover supervisor - the jobs seem to come up fairly regularly.

Hi All
Sorry not to be about for a few days...Alex and I both have got the lurgy and I have a Verdi Requiem tomorrow so I've been comfort feeding him every 5 mins(or so it seems), quacking myself to get my voice back and trying to relearn the role by listening to the cd ...sadly I think I need a miracle if I'm going to make a half decent job of itbut no one I know who knows it is either free or willing to do it for the money so it is me or nothing.

Stefka; terribly sorry to hear you suffering. I think the advice the girls have given you is wonderful so I'm not going to add my twopence worth, just say that any time you want at bend an ear you can get me at margotcampbell at hotmail dot com...really.. anytime.

Off to gargle and drink more water...

rochet - are definately up for the tiddly proms on the sun at 11am. Can you make that one? Can you recommend any nice hotels in cardiff that are great with children?

ds just ate a meal with meat for the first time!!!!!!!
Hurrahhhhh
He rejected all my efforts before but he took to my beef casserole very well (proud mum emoticon!)

Whats everyone else been up to today??

I have had feedback from most of them. There is only one where I didn't get feedback and that was the last one and I didn't ask partly because I was so disappointed, partly because I was tired of all the rejection and partly because I had a funny feeling from the whole interview - there were some odd questions about me being a mum etc. The feedback I get isn't bad - it's all you were good just not as good or as experienced as other people. The ones last year I was obviously pregnant and I was also sick which didn't help!

I am secondary muppet. My subject is drama so it is not in huge demand unfortunately. I was very stressed about it before. Now I am trying not to worry too much. No one will die if I never teach again. It's hard though! I did complete my probation year so I am fully qualified - just not go the experience people are looking for and now I am out of the game so to speak.

Hope you feel better soon Floria - I am totally jealous of your singing!

Hello lovely ladies!

Well I have managed to get on to catch up the last few days and then just as I have got round to posting something happens! Real life I guess - how out of order for it to interfere with MN!

So although I have read and absorbed all of your news I have promptly forgot it again! Rubbish - I'll do my best though...

Stefka really sorry to hear you're struggling... I am here too if you need a chat - I think you have my email address. FWIW I think muppet's advice is absolutely spot on and she knows better than most having been there herself. Sounds like you are already doing what you can to help yourself... I can second the fact that it is often people who are intelligent and successful in their life pre-baby who tend to struggle the most - they're used to being in control of things and used to being able to sort out stuff (OK not as eloquent as muppet but I try ) And then this lo comes along and throws a massive spanner in the works! I think though that it does become easier but appreciate it doesn't feel like that when you're in the middle of it and struggling.... Big hugs anyway.

Floria good luck in your concert!

Someone was asking about milk feeds? Our (approx) routine is milk on waking (6.30 - 7ish), solids at 8.30, solids at 11 - 11.30, milk on waking at approx 2.30, solids at 4.30, milk at 6.30, milk at 10.30 and then if he wakes. Touch wood he has slept from 10.30 till after 6 6 days running now!!! I don't give him milke with his meals - just water and this seems to work well for us.

YLLP and others with money worries big hugs. I am rubbish with money so nothing to help but appreciate it's a stressful time. We have 'struggled' while I've been on mat pay although it's in inverted commas as I am also appreciating we haven't really struggled - we always knew that when I went back to work things would calm down. Thinking of you...

Um.... Will try and read throgh again if I get a chancde but just off to dish up dinner... If not back later will def be tomorrwo. And sending massive hugs to the rest of you and also apologies for my manay typos that I can't be arsed to correct!

Winnie - hello! Glad things are ok with you.

Muppet - circus sounds fab. In the BBC Proms there's usually a children's one (Blue Peter I think it's billed as) - not anytime soon though as Proms are late summer. You have an exercise session with an ex-marine - does he still have the uniform???

Inzi - Anya's dropped back to about 25 - 27oz per day, usually over 6 feeds, plus 3 meals per day. Typical day is -

7:30 small feed - won't take more than 3oz
8:30 breakfast - toast & fruit
10:30 sleep
12:00 lunch - 4oz plus pasta or cheese on toast or meat+veg leftover from our tea previous night
2:30 sleep
4:00 feed - 6oz
6:00 tea - 4oz plus teacake/pitta bread & fruit/yoghurt/veggies
7:30 feed 4oz
8:00 bed
10:00 dreamfeed 6oz

Never works out exactly like that of course, but that's not far off. Not a million miles from yours I don't think. She has a bit of juice at each meal too but only a few sips.

FT - bugger - Verdi Req! Was going to come and see it but completely forgot. Too late now as parents going out so no babysitter. (You're probably relieved!!!) Lots of hugs, hope it goes well, I'm sure you will be great.

Mine - hurray for casserole!

Have been seeing a couple of recruitment agencies today and have 3 interviews for part-time jobs over next couple of weeks. Am very relieved it looks like things might get sorted out.

Must go and feed Anya now
love to all
x

ANother quick skim read....

Muppet pmsl at the image of you skipping !

Inzi sounds like you have had some good advice but sending you big hugs - I think it's harder to see a contented happy sleeping baby regress than it is to have one that is a shite sleeper and a bit crochety to start with but slowly improves...

Anyasmum great news on the job interviews! Everything crossed!

Oh and J2O I read somewhere that sometimes putting them to bed earlier means they sleep later in the am - I guess as they are not so shattered? Really worked with Sam too when we were at about this stage so maybe worth giving it a go with Shannon? Adam goes to sleep between 6.30 and 7 at night and sleeps till after 6 with a dream feed at 10.30... Might be worth a go anyway!

hi
Stefka/Inzi - 9 hope things are looking up.
Muppet the circus sounds like great fun for let alone for children.
Wish there was one in london!

Hi to everyone else. I'm so bad at remember anything bar the last few posts!

Eren rolled off our bed this afternoon... i took my eyes off him for 1 minute and he double rolled and ended up falling approx 2ft on to the floor. I'm not sure who cried the most.. me or him.
I feel so guilty even though it was an accident.
He developed a small bump on his head and a very red sore ear. Luckily the GP agreed to see him straight away and cleared him of any concussion, and most importantly i guess he didn;t break anything.
The hardest thing was calling to tell dh what happened!

I know he;ll knock, fall and bump himself a million times as he;s growing but i truely freaked out as it had never happened before.
I must buy a pair of eyes to stick to the back of my head!!!

Mine easily done.

Adam nearly flipped himself out of the bumbo this eveing trying to reach for a yogurt lid - on the top of our granite dining table!!!!! If I hadn't been there he would have really hurt himself. So no more sticking him on the table to watch whats going on then!

Mine we had a similar accident the other day. Off the sofa bed. It's not far from the floor but felt horrific. They grow so fast and all of a sudden they are doing things that they have never done before. I am glad he is ok. Dareh was alright as soon as he had had an emergency biscuit!!

I went to the gym today and ate chocolate tonight to cancel out the gym but both were nice. I like Friday's best which is daft because I don't work but I still get that Friday feeling!

Mine - I'm just waiting for the first time Anya falls off something! I know it will happen, probably several times - first time's bound to be the worst. Babies are very resiliant - they bounce you know . Glad Eren's ok.

Anya's chattering very loudly on the floor - it seems her toes need a really good talking to! DH is taking her into town later so I get some R&R .

Have a good weekend everybody.
x

ning all

i bet none of your lo's can beet the amount of accidents Shannon has had! It is horrible, but the doctor at hospital said they really do bounce, but he doesn't recommend it!

i've got dd1 this weekend so we're going to go out, hope you all have a good day xx

Stefka, sorry you're going through a tough patch. Hope you have some lovely supportive people around you.

J20, your accidents with Shannon are almost funny. She'll end up a stunt woman!

Muppet, enjoy the circus!

Alice, cant believe Adam nearly fell onto that table - it's really hard!

Anyasmum, good luck with the interviews and glad things are slotting into place.

Hi Winnie!!! Nice to hear from you.

Crochet/Strawberry/Floria, more blw questions from here.... Rebecca likes to self-feed Weetabix very messily with a spoon, but she doesnt actually eat very much of it. She also likes sucking on strips of pitta bread. But so far she has picked up other food, put in mouth, pulled horrible face and thrown down in horror. Any suggestions as to what to try??? I've done carrot, sweet potato, banana.

Sleep. It couldnt get worse but it has. I know you're all sick of me moaning about sleep but I was barely coping with the nights I was having and now it's so much worse. This is the pattern of the last three nights:

7.30 go to sleep
8.15 wake up and cry until soothed, goes back to sleep
9.15 repeat of 8.15 [this has always happened, so nothing new so far]
10.15 see 8.15 and 9.15
11.15 wake up, scream, refuse to go back to sleep, DH takes her downstairs and cuddles her for a while till she goes back to sleep; brings her back to bed at 12.15
1.15 wake up, cry, I feed her as she seems hungry, she goes back to sleep
2.15 wake up, cry until soothed, back to sleep
3.15 wake up scream, refuse to go back to sleep, cry on and off till 4.30, when becomes hungry, I feed her, she goes back to sleep about 5.15
6.00 wants to get up and attention

The waking up frequently always happened but the not going back to sleep thing is really shattering... I think it might be teething but meds arent helping...

OK, rant over. Hope you all have a good day!

Oh dear Choc, I really sympathise with you. You ought to go and see a doctor, there must be something they can do. My sil had real problems with sleep with my second niece, she is two now and they still have the odd bad nights. It does eventually get better but my sil nearly had a breakdown with the lack of sleep.

Hi all
Choc - you poor poor thing Rebecca really is the sleep avoider isn't she? I do remember repeating my 7 x's table over and over when Ollie went through his 'cream till I pass out with exhaustion' faze. I't really tough as you;ve never really had a good sleep patch. Things will get better...

Alice - Hen can do the starighten legs thing whilst in the bumbo which makes him tip up slightly. We're not having him on surfaces any more just the floor. We were at the gym this orning when I was feeding Hen whilst Ollie was having his breakfast and while I was seeing to Ollie, Henry decided to push his tummy out meaning he fell off my legs onto the floor he was a little shocked but okay. He did eat scrambled egg though which is fab as neither Ollie nor Dh eat anything to do with eggs.

Well, Ollie was fab at tennis and even managed to listen and do a couple of things asked We are all back home no having showers whilst Henry has his nap then the dreaded shopping in the supermarket -well it has been ages since I last went and did a big shop! Wish us luck!!!

Love to all
x

morning all

choc - have you tried keeping rebecca up later or is she tired by 7ish? my dd never needed much in the way of sleep. friends with 7through7 sleepers used to think i was insane when i told them when she went to bed. once when we were on holiday with a big gang of friends when she was about 2, dd was so knackered she was asleep by seven. great, thought i, until she was up for the day before four, before 'the boys' had even gone to bed! dd used to wake in the night, be fed, and then be awake for hours. twas a nightmare. big big hugs to you!

bug waves to everyone. one-handed typiong doing my head in

a xxx