June 2008: weaning with every flavour baby rice . . . . and loving it!

[spongebrainbigpants]

new home!

PP, sorry you are feeling sad. Alzheimer's must be so hard, I often wonder what I would do without my mum around. I'd struggle!

Paro, don't worry about Fleur, she will be fine! I often think wouldn't life be so much easier if men still earned enough to keep a family. In the 50s when few women worked wages were much higher (proportionally). Now, with so many women in the workplace wages are depressed which means most men don't earn enough therefore both mum and dad have to work. If no women worked men would earn loads more! And I regard myself as a feminist too! .

Had trouble getting DTs to bed last night, prob cos we didn't get up till 9am yesterday morning so routine took a knock! I gave E a dream feed at 11pm but when I put her back in the cot she woke up and cried. She fell back to sleep in my arms as soon as I picked her up, but when I tried to put her back down again she cried again. So I picked her up again and she went straight to sleep again, held her for a bit and then put her down and put my top in the cot with her and she slept till 5.30am, fed and went straight back to sleep. Normally she doesn't fall asleep just cos I pick her up, so do you think it was cos she was in pain (her bum is really sore at the mo)

That sounds really hard PP Neenz No help on the waking but Metanium works really well on a sore bum. Ds's bum got a bit red when we staeted weaning. Sudocream didn't help but Metanium has really cleared it up.

DD1 is back at school today but she is still feeling really tired. I fully expect them to call me to pick her up but I think going back for half a day will help her as she has spent the last week just lying on the sofa.

PP sorry to hear about your mum but agree with you and katyjo that being a mum does make you more emotional - I think its a good thing too as makes me speak out.

And don't worry re militant poppy I'm sure she'll be back next time she has her special fuel (in her case its red wine rather than spinach like popeye )
neenz we too had amazing wakeful baby last night... as you say its the downside of a lie in..

bdq any improvement on poo situation?

HAve a grumpy S on my knee so have to be quick...

Had a great time in London, thanks. Poo situation continues, HV reckons its likely to be a virus although could be linked to teething. Metanium is a wonder cream though - his bum is much better so would also recommend that to everyone if needed.

Neenz sorry you had a tough night.

PP

Oh, and have been skipping the dream feed without any incident

S now trying to type so better go!

Thanks for tips, we are using Metanium and yes it is amazing! It is clearing up no problem. She had a wee on the mat with her nappy off yesterday and didn't cry so I assume it is not stinging... don't know why she was being whingy last night!

Sponge, are you out there? What did you decide re weaning in the end?

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

[PP] that is v sad, but also makes Ryder all the more precious.

I had a really wobbly weekend, I just didn't feel like I could cope very well with being a Mum. I made the mistake of calculating how many hours Mon - Fri i am the sole carer (60) and frightened myself silly about the enormity of it. I was also worrying about when and how P will ever become a bit less of a milk monster he still feeds v frequently. A bit like sponge RL people are already weaning and I am feeling the pressure which is daft, but I wonder whether I am just martyring myself. Sleep deprivation is probably the cause of all this self doubt: P's virus followed by my tummy bug took it out of me after about a month of bad nights. As a result I felt very tired and constantly feeding this hungry little soul is pretty relentless when you are under the weather. The good news is that I managed to get my head together yesterday. DH took P for a walk for a couple of hours, I had a hot bath and a lie down, and I felt more like me again. Last night P slept from 9 till 3 and then until DH got up. I was so happy!

Sorry- it's the iPod being tricky

Have to share this with people who will understand: first day back at work today and just been down to the nursery to give Caitlin her lunchtime feed, and she seems quite happy and completely unfazed. I am so proud of her!! She took lots of EBM from a cup in the morning (so I have spent weeks stressing over bottles for nothing), had a good sleep, and seemed to be really enjoying playing with all their lovely sparkly baby toys and having people play with her constantly (rather than having just me with my attention divided between her, toddler, housework, computer ....) She was pleased to see me, had a good feed, then was perfectly happy to go back to her keyworker and chew on something bright. She didn't bat an eyelid when I left. In some ways I think it's easier starting so young as she isn't so aware of whether I'm there or not.

alipalli so sorry you've had a hard time - it will get easier very soon. Know what you mean about pressure to wean early, I want to hold out to 6 mo. because ds has food allergies but it feels like it gets harder every week to stick to that. Glad you've had a good sleep, it changes everything doesn't it!

Hugs to PP, my grandfather had severe Alzheimer's, it's so hard to see people you love disappear bit by bit like that.

Deb my ds doesn't shout mummy, he shouts 'mummydaddycat'! and there was a breakthrough one night last week when he shouted 'mummydaddycatbaby'

system that is great..tbh edie is so into everythign at the minute I can see how she'd love a good nursery with all the stimulation - there -I'm admitting it, mummy is prob not as stimulating as a nursery ... my dad made a good point about stablility and affection being what htey needed at this age and not to forget that its as important when they're much older to be around in evening/morning... given the fact he is ultra cautious grandad (and his seen his fair share of kids aover the years in his job) this seems sensible view.

alipalli I knew you were back on your 'pod when saw teh multiple posts -sleep deprivation is definitely a killer and it will get better. I'm not weaning yet and don't htink loads of others are either. FWIW friend in baby group had similarly hungry baby who took very easily to weaning and is now happily swopping milk for puree/rice.

Have been very domestic goddess and just made mincemeat....

re metanium, is it prescription only? and glad things easing a bit Bdq

Poppy you can get Metanium in Tesco/Boots etc.

Oh Alli, it is the curse of being a mum to beat yourself up over nothing. Sometimes I wonder whether I do enough to stimulate the twins etc but then think my mum had two other children and then another baby 15 mths after me so how much did she stimulate me? I didn't speak till I was 2.5 but I got the best exam results of all my four sisters. They just want lots of love and cuddles and smiles, you are doing a great job. Sleep deprivation is a killer, can you go to bed in the daytime? Do it whenever you can or when your DH gets home in the evening get yourself off to bed.

Systems, that is so great that your LO has taken to the nursery so well. How do you think you are going to cope long term with being back at work? Was it hard?

AliP - I find weekends and esp Sundays a bit wobbly. As a result I now try and make sure I have plans for Mondays.

I also know what you mean about time spent being the sole carer and Neenz wages comments. As Poppy is stepping down from being militant, I'm gonna step up . Possible controversial bit coming up: I think the whole equality thing falls down once children come into the equation. Seriously, if your LO cries how many of you have DHs or DPs that hear it before you? And also how many of you have DP/DH's who go to them more than you?

I consider myself incredibly lucky with a really helpful DH who will actually being taking on more of the childcare than me when I go back to work. I really think he does alot, but he definitely doesn't do more. I know that ultimately in some way I am more responsible for Ryder than DH.

Militant Penguin puts down the bayonet and waddles away from her soapbox....

Weaning workshop was a complete waste of time. HV actually said that purees could replace milk feeds by 7 months.

Top bit of my post thanking you all for your comments about my Mum disappeared... I do appreciate you all.

PP, my weaning workshop was also a waste of time. HV had never heard of baby led weaning. 'Workshop' lasted 5 mins!

Er, no, DH doesn't do as much as me with the twins but then I am at home full-time so I don't expect him to do much, esp not get up in the night. He'll do anything I ask when he is here but he works long hours so usually does nothing in the morns and then is home just as I am getting them out of the bath at night, which is a massive help cos it means I don;t have to dry and dress both of them (ie dry one while the other screams )

Equality in the workplace is great - it's a necessity and I would fight for it all day long - but most mums don't want equality in the workplace, they don't want to be in the workplace

can anyone check that our webcam is working? I,ll try to get Ethan on it, when the snow come sit will be in the garden.

here he is

Neenz it's been lovely being back at work - an absolute luxury being in my office all day without constant conflicting demands from both children! but then I've done it before, I think it was harder coming back last time, felt more natural today. (But then I am a mum who actually does want to be in the workplace!) Will be more stressful when the workload ramps up but today was just about getting my head around what my current workload actually is, and processing my 15 pages of emails...

On equality, I have found my dp has taken on much more responsibility as ds has got older. I got v. frustrated when Liam was a baby that I was so much more responsible, but a wise woman told me to wait, that a lot of men really come into their own more once the kids are older. Def. true for us.

Webcam works Deb! He is so cute!!!

Neenz - I was referring to weekends or anytime when you both could be equally responsible. Obviously DH can't do as much whilst he is at work.

Thanks for your input Systems. I'm not as frustrated as I sound! Honest. With no RL examples to follow I don't know how the split will work when I'm back at work and DH is at home. Is it instinct/hormones that mean I do more when it could be more equal ATM or is it just because I'm a control freak? It coould very well be the latter reason BTW!

Deb - Ethan is very, very cute.