FEB 2010 DDC for September! - Page 3

[Nicole730]

Elsa had her 6 month check up today, she's a lot bigger than I thought she was, although staring at all her chub in the office, I realized why. She is 16lbs 9oz and 26.5 inches long. So, the doctor is completely okay with delayed vaxes, and actually recommends skipping Rotavirus and doesn't mind that we don't do Varicella or Flu shots. He used to attend homebirths. Told me to wait until at least 6 months until introducing solids. So, cool, right? At the check up today, said she looks good and didn't ask any questions about solids or sleeping, etc... Yay!

BUT - when we got in the room, there was a leftover Strep test on the table (which is cloth, so not changed b/w uses...) and they just said oops, and threw the garbage out. Hmmm... Kind of grossed me out. Then he didn't wash his hands when he came in or before he touched her. I shouldn't have to tell my doctor to clean his room and wash his hands! Ugh. I am so sick of switching doctors...but is it too much to ask for a doctor who realizes the importance of not spreading sick germs (by the most basic - HANDWASHING) and is 'crunchy'?

[Ninetales]

There's not much going on here. I'm trying to get into a housecleaning routine and start reading again during Elsa's naps but I don't have much time since teeth #5 and #6 are coming in.

We're going to try a baby sign language workshop on Saturday. I'm looking forward to that. My mommies group meets up tomorrow too, but my husband won't be home before then. It's the only drawback to having one car right now. My mom would probably let me borrow her truck but I hate asking.

[flavorfull1]

Nicole that sucks! Handwashing is so easy and super important! Hard to find someone that would be so good with all of the other stuff so it is a little bit of a conundrum.
Ninetales, do you know of a good baby sign language book? I am wanting to sign with DS and he is recognizing a lot of words now. I love when I ask if he wants milkies and I get a big smile and then attacked lol.
I have been looking for DS's two front teeth for a while and either he bumped his gums or one is really on the move. Last night his right upper front gum was bluish purple like a bruise not as purple today but still darker. I put some orajel on it and he laughed and then started playing. Hope this comes through soon! I have never heard of that before but who knows?

[Nicole730]

flavorfull1 - I have heard that the gums can look bruised before teeth come in. I haven't noticed it here though.

[aramat]

Originally Posted by flavorfull1

I love when I ask if he wants milkies and I get a big smile and then attacked lol.

Hee hee! It's funny how responsive and understanding our babies are becoming. They're really little 'people' now. Julianna laughs when we make funny faces at her, and it's just so funny to realize that she realizes those aren't our normal faces--that we are trying to be funny.

She is also refusing to let me out of her sight nowadays; anyone else? It's flattering, but not terribly practical. Sometimes I really just need 8 seconds to run down the hallway to put my toothbrush away, but Julianna starts wailing the minute I step out of sight. ...May be teething; she had three teeth come in in three weeks and is working on the fourth. If I'm with her, she's all smiles and laughter...

Tonight she fell asleep unexpectedly early, so I didn't get to change her diaper first. And she ate beans that were cooked with spices, so her urine/diaper has a very distracting smell when I lay down next to her. Blech!

Usually she won't sleep if her diaper is wet, so I've been unable to sleep for several hours, just expecting her to wake up and tell me to change it, arrgh. But don't know if I'd be sleeping anyway; her sister is in the bed, too, because they both like to sleep next to Mommy--yet they never leave ROOM in the bed for Mommy!

[SunRise]

flavorfull1; good luck with your move and exploring your new city.

Nicole730; sounds like Elsa is growing nicely and has a great doctor. I had just returned from our 6 month appointment and had read your post and wondered if our ped washes her hands ... I think she does but I don't always notice. Maybe your doctor did it in the hallway walking from one room to the next?

Lucy had her 6 month appointment this week and weighs 15.4 oz, 24.5 inches tall and 16.5 head circumferences. She is doing great. She is sitting for a few seconds are on her own, and likes to practice. She lets go of my hand when she gets all her muscles to do the right thing. She makes nice squealy noises and waits for a response. And she loves her food! and yells for more until she has had enough. Surprisingly she rejected potatoes but everything else has been eaten with gusto. She even sucked and gnawed on a pickle for an hour!

[Lauren31]

Well, I am in America! DD and I survived the 9 hour plane ride! I can't wait to get some good Mexican food!! LOL.

[flavorfull1]

Wohoo Lauren! How did you entertain your daughter on the plane?

[aramat]

Originally Posted by Lauren31

Well, I am in America! DD and I survived the 9 hour plane ride! I can't wait to get some good Mexican food!! LOL.

Yayyy! So jealous! My husband comes back from the US tonight; I asked him to bring me Dr Pepper and PopTarts, but only because I don't think a burrito would survive the flight.

Yes, and how was baby on the flight? I am worried about making the trip (8 or 9 hrs) with Juju now that she's reached the grabbing-everything and tantrum-if-you-take-it-away phases.

[Ninetales]

Elsa's upper front teeth still are not in. I can see them, but not feel them. I've thought they were about to pop out for a week now. I hope that once they do, she'll go back to a regular nap routine.

Last night I had what I'm sure was a plugged duct. I've had them before, but only right at the nipple so it was just painful to nurse. But this time the top of my breast was swollen and engorged and super painful. It was so horrible. Luckily I made sure to keep Elsa nursing on it all night while we slept and thank goodness it's ok today. That's so freaky to feel like that and not have it go away.

We went to our last mommies group for infants on Friday. That group's for newborns to precrawlers, and Elsa's definitely past "precrawling." She just zooms around the room and it's hard to keep up with her and keep her from going after the itty bitties, so it's time to move up. Only with one car, I won't get to go very often since Jeremy definitely won't be home in time.

Just seems like the poor girl outgrows everything early. Clothes, her bouncy seat, her playgroup. I can't do a front carry in our Ergo for very long anymore. I can do it in a Moby, but because it's stretchy I still can't go for long walks like that. I have to use the stroller or a back carry and I miss the snuggles.

[jul511riv]

hi. long time no post. lots to say. We are still trying to build our house here...one step at a time. We are going stateside for my brother's wedding afterall in about a month. Looking for a "cheap" (read $5K is like a 17 year old car here in Israel) car. As far as baby boy, he's doing well. My first climber. Climbing E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G. And crawling...FAST. No teeth. Don't expect any for quite a few more months, though, as the others cut a first tooth around 1 year. A couple of nights ago, I woke up to him standing at the foot of our bed (he's 7.5 months) smiling broadly. He was like "see, Mom, I got off the bed feet first this time, just like you asked. Aren't you proud of me." I woke up my husband, who was sleeping on the other side of him. Bed is on the floor cause he stealthfully and quickly just crawls right off the end of the bed in the night. Surrounded by mattresses on the floor. Surrounded on 2 sides by walls and on 2 sides by people. I mean, if my kids make a sound in the other room, I'm totally up..but this guy is just stealth. Scary, but at least he knows how to go feet first off the bed now, so that's nice. And since he's got the standing thing down pat, he just hangs out there. Though it's weird to think that in total darkness he can crawl in silence off the bed, get off feet first and then, if he wanted, just crawl around the house pulling himself up on stuff and climbing the bookshelves. I swear to you ladies, I did not believe that this kind of kid existed.

The cute thing is that he's really charming and happy and focused about everything. He's not doing stuff in an out of control random way. Just very focused towards a goal kind of way. That kid. lol.

The other two are doing well. dd is officially homeschooling, though we still haven't received "permission" from the government. Social services was called out to our house by a "concerned neighbor" who felt that homeschooling was not good for the kids. I schooled the social worker...let her know that it is AGAINST THE LAW for her to come on a homeschooling call. She was like "oh yea, but they heard you and your husband fighting loudly one night." I was like "uh-huh..and..." she was like "how's your marriage?" I was like "nice try." Haven't heard from her since, but realize now what CAN happen if the neighbors meddle. At anyrate, she was careful to say that the "concerned caller" had never even heard me so much as yell at my children, and certainly nothing more than that, so thankfully that wasn't called into question. She kept asking me "well, doesn't your daughter ask to go to school (she would be in kindergarden, if she were in school, by law)?" and "what would you say if she asked you to go to school?" I just kept saying "well, that's none of yoru business, isn't it?" and "again, I'm going to remind you that it is against the law for me to discuss homeschooling with a social worker, I can only discuss it with a representitive from the ministry of education, which I am more than happy to do, and look forward to doing shoudl they ever process our paperwork in a timely manner, but I certainly wouldn't want to break the law and I'm sure you don't either..." it lasted 1.25 hours. :/ But eventually, she left.

My almost 4 year old has a love/dislike relationship with the baby. Waiting for the weather to change. Gearing up for the last stretch of Jewish Holidays. Enjoying watching the kids speak more Hebrew.

I really hope that all of you are well. Haven't forgotten you! Want to hear what is going on..espcially with this NYC move...what ever happened to your husband...gotta run. xoxo

[loulie]

Hi everyone, long time no speak, so to speak!. So lovely to read and catch up with you all, aren't our babies doing well! it's weird how I remember your birth stories as I read about your babies.

Saffie is doing well, much the same as everybody else, crawling already which I wasn't expecting, or prepared for, as DD1 crawled at 8.5 months! She's a very placid little lady, until (like Aramat said) i leave her side for a second, then she's very good at yelling till she gets what she wants.

And now i'm having to think about going back to work... i\m not sure i'm totally ready, but have basically been told if i go back now i can have part time, if I wait till my full year is up that's probably not an option. So i reckon it's the best plan, she'll be with my mam 2.5 days and in a nursery 1 day per week. I think she can handle it, it's me I'm worried about!

I totally agree with linchi and happileigh about the post-baby-happiness, i'm totally all grins and loving loving loving every minute. Life is busy, but brill.

Hopefully won't be so long between check in's next time (I have been lurking every now and then when i've had a spare sec but never enough time to post)

ta ta for now (bet you guys don't say that lol)

xx

[Lauren31]

Honestly, I think we were just lucky that DD had such a great time on the flight! It was about 9.5 hours and she slept for about 40 minutes every three hours, so she did not sleep nearly as long as I wanted her to. She was a lap infant and I brought her boppy which REALLY helped bc it gave her somewhere to sit while on me and to lay on. That was key. Besides that I brought her sophie, a couple soft books and just nursed her whenever I could. She loved all the people on the plane and never cried ONCE. It was amazing. haha

[hapersmion]

We've been crazy busy with DS1's "practice school" around here - jul511riv, how horrible to have a social worker called on you. That's always been my biggest worry with making alternative choices (like homeschool, extended breastfeeding, etc). Good job knowing your stuff - I didn't realize it was illegal for a social worker to come for homeschooling. I'll have to learn more before we start homeschooling for real, I guess.

Ben is trying really hard to climb, the last few days! It's very funny. Also, I'm missing the exclusive-breastfed diapers (of all things to miss!) - the ones he has now that he's getting solids are way more yucky. I may have to get a diaper sprayer or something. He really loves his food, though. I gave him oatmeal for the first time yesterday, and he stuffed it in his mouth with both hands, rubbed it all over himself and everything he could reach, and grinned.

[Lauren31]

Originally Posted by hapersmion

We've been crazy busy with DS1's "practice school" around here - jul511riv, how horrible to have a social worker called on you. That's always been my biggest worry with making alternative choices (like homeschool, extended breastfeeding, etc). Good job knowing your stuff - I didn't realize it was illegal for a social worker to come for homeschooling. I'll have to learn more before we start homeschooling for real, I guess.

Ben is trying really hard to climb, the last few days! It's very funny. Also, I'm missing the exclusive-breastfed diapers (of all things to miss!) - the ones he has now that he's getting solids are way more yucky. I may have to get a diaper sprayer or something. He really loves his food, though. I gave him oatmeal for the first time yesterday, and he stuffed it in his mouth with both hands, rubbed it all over himself and everything he could reach, and grinned.

Two questions (anyone can answer, lol)

1) why would a social worker find it bad you are extended breastfeeding

2) Is oatmeal appropriate for a baby at 7.5 months? I really want to give it to DD but I thought all grains should be kept away for about 10-12 months.

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by Lauren31

Two questions (anyone can answer, lol)

1) why would a social worker find it bad you are extended breastfeeding

2) Is oatmeal appropriate for a baby at 7.5 months? I really want to give it to DD but I thought all grains should be kept away for about 10-12 months.

1) I could see how a social worker might intervene at 3 years and older. I don't agree with intervention, but I could see that it would happen.

2) It just depends on what info you read. I gave oatmeal before 10 months, but not wheat.

[Lauren31]

Originally Posted by Nicole730

1) I could see how a social worker might intervene at 3 years and older. I don't agree with intervention, but I could see that it would happen.

2) It just depends on what info you read. I gave oatmeal before 10 months, but not wheat.

I think that is what we are going to do. Can it just be regular steel cut oats or should it be specifically, baby oatmeal? We have been doing Baby led solids more or less so maybe oatmeal is not appropriate? She loves to eat but does not actually ingest a ton, is that normal? She has no teeth and loves to put things in her mouth and tries her hardest to eat it. haha. We have given DD whatever we are eating. So far she has liked and tried zuchinni, yellow squash, portabello mushrooms, ginger stir fried veggies (eeek! My inlaws thought that was crazy!), lentils, sweet potatos, roasted potatoes, bananas, avocado/guac.

[Keeta]

Hey ladies. August has been getting into the food lately, too. Here's a pic of Avocado Face.

He's got the sniffles right now, so no one slept very well last night, but other than that he's doing well. He can sit up by himself now, and is really trying to *crawl* instead of army man crawl. Oh, and he's really into trying to pull up. It's so cute. Except when he does a faceplant. Ouch.

He's got the two bottom teeth, but nothing up top yet. Did I mention his hugeness? He's in 18 month clothes! Mostly the upper half of his body is huge, he can still wear 6-9 month bottoms ironically. Beer belly, not baby booty.

[Nicole730]

Lauren31 - I used organic baby oatmeal last time. This time I will probably just put some regular oats in the VitaMix, if I don't think she could handle the bigger size of regular oats.

[Perdita_in_Ontario]

There's some info here on making cereals for babies - they do say you can use steel-cut oats but suggest you grind them up first:

http://wholesomebabyfood.com/cereals.htm

***

DS is still not doing much on the eating front - just like his sister. He'll eat the pre-packaged baby cereal cookies, but not much else, and I'm not keen on giving him more than half of one of those per day. We're doing BLW, so I'm letting him play, but not much is going down. That's okay. Early days.

EC is going well - we only had 2 misses today - and he pees every hour or so, so that's pretty great. He's not crawling, but he's rolling like crazy and can cover the entire living room in about 30 seconds. Today I caught him yanking on the curtains... eek. I'm going to be starting with the official baby-proofing next week - moving all the cleaning products up, closing doors, etc. We've put away his baby gym since he doesn't stay on it, and next to be put away is likely his infant/toddler rocker, since he's hell-bent on tipping it over forwards. We're keeping the exersaucer out just to keep him contained. I really need to unearth our Leapfrog toys and find him something to keep him in one place for more than 10 seconds...

We have decided that I am going to stay home once my maternity leave is up - I'll be giving up our place at DD's daycare next week. I'm terrified and thrilled all at once. I haven't been without gainful employment in more than 20 years, so this is a huge change. But I desperately want to savour these few years with my children and now that we can swing it, we're taking the leap. Eeek!