June 2008: the One Show (almost)

[Essie3]

Hi there, I've just realised it's bedtime (and besides, Iestyn is up at 6am these days). So I'd better get to bed, but I'll check out Sponge's pictures first!

Ali I only have mine done during uni vacations... I do pluck in between though. *That's in between threading, not in between my brows or anything monobrow-related.

Can I announce something? This evening I took my very last bottle of ebm out of the freezer. That's it, no more ebm (I stopped expressing...well, let's say it's been a while ). I'm feeling weirdly sad about it, despite all the expressing being annoying and messy. I sort of want to save this bottle for ever. (But I can't now because it's semi defrosted.) Am I going mad? It's like I'm losing a skill, or like my voice was breaking (if I were a boy) or something. So weird.

Morning everyone

Essie - I can understand how you're feeling re the expressing. I'm in no rush to stop bfeeding as Ethan is my last baby. Yesterday at swimming I had such a lovely sleep whilst feeding him - I'm going to miss that. Plus there's only me that can do it!!!

Well done Viva, an hour is good

Poppy - glad she dropped off eventually

Sponge - I looked at his site and spotted Alex

Essie probably better to use the milk. Saving it to show him on his 18th birthday would be a bit embarrassing. In all seriousness though, I can see why it feels a bit sad. It's the end of an era.

Quick question about dropping feeds. I went out on Saturday, and so James put Peter to bed without giving him any milk (there is formula he could have used, he just decided not to bother). He had his best ever sleep, going from 8 till 6am. So I was wondering whether to stop BF before bed? Last night I did feed him and he did the same 7.45 till 6. I thought it was the bedtime feed was the last one that you were "supposed" to drop?

Deb you mean after swimming - right?! I feel the same, won't be bfing again so am happy to carry on, but she is losing interest a bit. She seems to have hit a massively different stage since starting crawling, all of a sudden. Loads of little subtle differences, she is even sleeping in what I think of as 'toddler shape' - horizontally across cot with her bum in the air - rather than the baby arms-flung-up that she has done up till now. And I can about half the time soothe her back to sleep without a feed, which is quite new (and gives me hope!). My baby is growing up ....

Though secretly abdn I had kids so that I would have grown-up children! and really didn't know how I would manage the being children bit. I've been amazed at how much better it's been than I expected, but my forte will not come until they are a bit older - pre-school age up is more what I can relate to. Liam's getting to that sort of stage now - imaginative play, word games, humour, making sense of things verbally - and I'm really looking forward to them both being at it - but I'm surprised how bittersweet it is to miss the baby bit.

Ali on feeds I'd go with whatever suits you and him at this age, I don't think there's a right and wrong, so long as he's getting enough nourishment and comfort overall. I'd planned to keep morning and evening feeds till last, but C is missing a lot of first thing in the morning feeds because we run out of time and she isn't remotely bothered. There isn't only one way you're 'supposed' to do it. There are advantages to dropping the bedtime feed too - it's a very good way to break the milk = sleep association - and it means you can put him down with clean teeth, which is good. Particularly as he gets older, once you've stopped bfeeding and you really don't want him having milk after he's brushed his teeth.

Sponge the naming ceremony looked like a fantastic occasion, fantastic photos! I too spotted Alex on the website!

I though DS had chicken pox last week but it was a virus, really nasty and he didn't really mange to eat for 5 days. He's back to normal now. I'm pretty sure I had shingles though I didn;t get it checked out.

Going2 - glad you and your ds are better now

Ali - like Systems says - there's no right way. With both boys it was that last feed of the day that I kept going until they were about a year old. Now with Ethan he's still having about 3-4 feeds still and I can't see us dropping any at the moment. But well done Peter for sleeping at last.

Systems - I wasn't bfeeding him in the pool but here the bigger pools have sunbeds around, inside and out. We were in a nice quiet corner so it was ideal.

x

Just on to say hello and tell you what happened today.

Think Olis meds are starting to work though im shaking with fear typing that incase they arent or it changes again tomorrow

For the 1st time every today Oli held a spoon when I was giving her lunch, she held it for almost 10mins, then (i still cant believe it) started raising her arm she managed as far as her chest THEN she let me move her by the elbow and she got it to her mouth. Needless to say I howled with pride. My eyes are stinging typing this.

Just before bed we were doing physio things, I had her sitting but folded over touching her toes legs open IYKWIM, then I held her hips. She pulled her hands back to her knees then started pushing up, one by one she got her hands on her knees, pulled her back up straight stuck her arms out straight infront and almost got her head right up, only managed to sit with her chin resting, the poor wee lamb was shattered. Mummy was and so proud.

Sorry its a long ramble but needed to share.

Amber: are you trying to tell us something ? Been thinking about you today as you haven't posted for a bit. How is your sister?

Systems and Deb: thank-you. What you said makes sense and is broadly what I thought. i.e. there is no "supposed" about it, but it is usual to keep the bedtime feed and drop others. Anyway, it is slightly academic tonight as Peter got a feed before bed as he was really stroppy. It did the trick and was then calm enough for my Dad to read and put him to bed . Actually Systems what you said about it helping with breaking the feed to sleep association is true. A couple of months back when we started CC, the book I followed said to do the bedtime feed before the bath. It has worked a treat and is probably the reason why James was able to get Peter to sleep on Saturday without milk.

Going sorry to hear your DS was poorly, and that you had shingles. Hope this week is happier all round.

Oh Josey, x-posted there. How amazing your little girl is. Well done Oli. Hope the meds keep doing their stuff.

josey that is fab news - am so glad oli is doing better.

aliglad things are improving on sleep front but it has got me thinking as I usually give edie her bottle after bath then cuddle her (She is usually sparko by then) and put her in cot. On the basis its not broken don't fix it (last night aside)I wasn't planning on changing routine yet (she doesn't feed to sleep for daytime naps). Apart from the tooth cleaning thing, what is rationale for stopping bedtime feed - again am looking hopefully at the old timers seasoned mothers like deb rolf etc...

ok I'm going to risk sounding like a complete spoiled cow here (which I suppose I am ) but I'm getting very worried about our holiday -which is a a trip of a lifetime thingy for dh's big birhtday. Basically we're going to south africa for the rugby to watch two of the lions games and then go to a game park. The rugby part of it I'm not so bothered about (edie has been to a lot of games incl internationals ) so is pretty used to it and if push comes to shove i'll miss it and stay with her. What I am worried about is fact that travelling as a tour party (so not so easy as making your own arrangements re car and hotel) and in particular the fact that I just think going to a game park with a baby is just stupid - at best I'll be stuck in a room with her as they'll be fuck all that is child friendly to do.

I know I'm very very lucky and lots of people would kill for this kind of trip, but i'm really quite worried about teh practicalisties of doing this with a one year old (the trip was booked a long time ago when we weren't sure we'd have edie with us). i know that I'm an ungrateful cow - but I'm very worried about this not least as I know dh is very very excited about it and I don't want to spoil things.

systems bittersweet is a perfect word to describe missing the baby bit - I'm so happy to be past it and yet...

josey I'm so pleased that Oli's meds seem to be working and absolutely over the moon that she's doing so well. The sitting up is really impressive because it would take so much strength and core balance - yeah Oli!

amber were you sending a kiss? Are you still on holiday?

poppy the holiday sounds wonderful but it does sound tricky with a baby. Could you post on another thread and ask for travelling advice? Maybe someone more adventurous than me could give hints. (Friends of ours took their three year old and 4 month old for a spontaneous trip to Kenya this year and had a great time so it can be done, just not by me). How long are you going for?

poppy and ali I didn't stop the bedtime feed with DS1 until he was 17 months when he happily replaced it with a book and a cuddle.

Nursery is going slightly better this week so I'm hopeful!

Poppy - I know two different people who have done S Africa with their one year olds. They had a great time from I can can recall. One lady went without her DH as she was meeting family, so it can be done. You take Edie to France all the time, so unlike most people you must be used to travelling with her. Before we went skiing I was stressing about all kinds of things, but it was fine and Peter was so much better than had expected. Try not to worry.

AH how was nurse and work yesterday?

Quickie for Josey - well done Oli - you must be so, so proud of your little fighter.

poppy could you contact someone at the game park in advance, explain you will be bringing a one-year-old and see what they recommend? Knowing a bit more about what to expect always helps with worrying.

There was a programme on TV a couple of years back about a vet couple who worked on a game park with their baby daughter; if I recall correctly (only saw 1 programme) she had a fantastic time spending all her days with them, it only became a problem when she wanted to run about on her own when she was about 2. Vet Safari it was called if you want to google it.

well done Oli, so glad she is doing so well!!

fab news josey xxx

Josey Oli is such a star, she makes everyone so proud!

Poppy I'm sure the trip will be fine but as others have said find out as much onfo as you can before going.

Amber Thinking of your sister.

I'm very excited as we are getting a tent today. I have only ever been camping at festivals so if anyone has any tips for camping with babies and children I would appreciate it!

I love watching ds grow but really miss the newborn baby stage and would love to do it all again but don't think there would ever be a time when I had had enough. I feel very sad about never doing it again but very lucky to have done it three times!

Hi all, was so tired I could only manage a quick kiss last night.

Josey - God bless little Oli - she is a marvel! Do keep sharing these with us - I love to hear them.

Systems - I thought you were going to say it only became a problem when she was eatedn by a lion or something!

Poppy - I was also going to suggest speaking with the travel company - also thinking about the insurance and stuff maybe?

Getting very jealous of the outdoor stuff for 1st birthdays as I don't have a garden. What to get, what to get...

My sister is in the same condition although baby one has no amniotic fluid left now. Thanks everyone for your thoughts especially Rolf - my sister has gone through everything in your email and has used it to speak with her french consultants about what happens etc so a massive thank you x

Amber - pop up tent/tunnel, easy to store and still provide physical play. How was the holiday? Hope your sister is OK, how long has she been in hospital now> Has her husband been able to stay with her?

Going2 - Neenz is the camping with babies expert.

AH - glad that nursery is slightly better

Ali/Poppy - I carried on with the bedtime feed whilst bfeeding, then when we went onto cows milk, the boys had it with a story , then teeth brushing. I don't remember it being a difficult transition - well maybe for me but not for them.

A tunnel - that might be fun. I wanted to get him something he could stand up and do so maybe a wooden activity station or something like Sponge has but again it takes up so much space in the flat.

The holiday was lovely thanks, Luke had a great time and is chubby from all the food. My sis is on day 10 now I think. her husband is there otherwise she would probably die from loneliness and boredom.

Amber - are there any activity things you could mount on the wall to save space?

Not really - I live in a batchelor pad!!

Had bad news - my sister is in full on labour. No chance of a miracle now. thanks for all the positive thoughts from everyone. Now comes the really hard bit.