May 06 Mamas Welcome to Week 2 in Toddlerland - Page 3

[ecoteat]

Oh, Amanda, that isn't what we want to hear! I'm gearing up to start nightweaning in a few weeks and I'm nervous about it already. I'd like to hear more about others' nightweaning experiences too. Every time I nurse her at night I think about what I'd be doing differently if I was withholding the boob. And it usually boils down to trying to calm a screaming baby. Last night at 3:00 she wanted to play--she was singing and crawling all over me and dh and the only way I could settle her down again was to nurse her.

Mia, sorry about your head-bonk, but that IS a funny story!

I'm trying to nurse Phoebe down for her nap, but she slept in and now her schedule is all out of whack. I need her to sleep soon though so I have enough time after she wakes up to get ready for school! (We are harvesting lettuce out of the school greenhouse this afternoon! )

[Hevyne]

UGH!! I don't want to hear bad stories of nightweaning I am planning to nightwean next week when Austin is at his dad's for the week and I am just going to sleep in his room so dh can work w/ Lukey in our room. I am hoping this works. I tried to nightwean w/ me in the room and it was NOT happening. Baby in bathroom GTG

[Shahbazin]

NYCVeg & Ecoteat, sorry to hear of the nightweaning problems One thing that's helped Annie to sleep, going down for the night, & if she wakes & is having trouble going back to sleep, is a lullaby CD that I play real low (it's a Johnson & Johnson CD I got at my shower w/some bath products ) We have a nightlight, the CD, & her furry blankie to hold. So maybe some special music as a sleepytime cue?

[~*max*~]

Oh Amanda, I am sorry to hear about the backtracking w/nightweaning. The only thing I can think of, since she was so hysterical, is that perhaps she was in some kind of pain, like from an ear infection or teething maybe? Rescue Remedy works wonders for these types of situations (for baby and mama - I use it myself quite often). I can sense your frustration & exhaustion. I wish there was something I could do to help.

[NYCVeg]

Originally Posted by ~*max*~

Oh Amanda, I am sorry to hear about the backtracking w/nightweaning. The only thing I can think of, since she was so hysterical, is that perhaps she was in some kind of pain, like from an ear infection or teething maybe? Rescue Remedy works wonders for these types of situations (for baby and mama - I use it myself quite often). I can sense your frustration & exhaustion. I wish there was something I could do to help.

That's very kind of you. I actually don't think anything was bothering her--I think she was just pissed that she didn't get to nurse, honestly. We're just kind of at a loss for what to do now. Since she no longer rocks to sleep and she refuses to accept any kind of comfort from dh...not sure what's left.

I'd love to get to the root of WHY she's so difficult with dh. This is true during the day, as well. She loves being silly with him, but rarely likes him to hold her and always cries if he tries to take her when she's the least bit upset or annoyed. She'll wail and fuss in his arms, and then the second I take her, she stops crying and settles down. It's been like this for months. It makes him feel absolutely awful and it makes it hard for me to do things like shower (or nightwean ). We're trying to set up more fun "just baby and daddy" activities, but it doesn't seem to be helping. I think if we could solve the daddy problem, it would give us a way to solve the nightweaning problem.

I dunno...dd has a ped appointment at the end of June, so I'll discuss some of this stuff with her (she's good n' crunchy).

panthera...sorry to hear about the problems your family is struggling with. I hope everything works out.

Shahbazin...glad to hear the pooch is on the mend! We use a white noise machine in dd's room for naps/sleep, and she has a "sleepy doll" that she sleeps with. The white noise machine does have a lullaby setting, so maybe I'll experiment with using that during the "nurse down to sleep" part of nap and bedtime, then switch the white noise back to lullaby when she wakes in the night.

[~*max*~]

Amanda, if it's any consolation, my LO is exactly the same way w/dh. She loves to play w/him for short periods of time, but if she is in any way, shape or form upset, tired, or not feeling well it's mama or nothing. I think it has to do w/being SAHM to the babes and Bfing - mama is just the total source of comfort. I know this doesn't make it any easier, but please tell dh it is nothing personal against him!

[mamacatsbaby]

Originally Posted by **Mia**

What's even more funny is that Seth popped up from his little bed on the other side of ours and asked DH why I was on the floor, and when DH told him that I had fallen off the bed, Seth asked, "did Selah push her off?"

: I knew there was something I was forgetting in my quick personals rundown . I'm sorry about the fall Mia but this made me laugh .

Yeah, RR is some great stuff . Worth the price IME. Amanda maybe your DD is just all about mama for a while? I know I've read that the munchkins can get super clingy to one parent then switch it up and cling to the other at some point. In any case I hope it works out soon .

[mamacatsbaby]

Oh and just wanted to add my DS is all about the mama too. Daddy's great for playing and stuff but mama is, well, mama .

[Marylizah]

We slept last night!!!! Geo did a five hour stretch from 11pm to 4am!! He hasn't slept that well since he was three months old. I'm not sure what miraculous alignment of planets made that happen, but I'm hoping to get a repeat tonight.

Hugs to the mamas with night-weaning problems, I hope things get better for you.

Welcome back, Erin! We missed you.

Max, I'm glad your nephew is doing ok. I remember when he moved out, and I'm glad you still have a relationship with him.

Mia, your story made me laugh out loud. Funny the things we do in our sleep!

Gotta go make some pizza, have a good day everyone!

Mary

[JayGee]

Originally Posted by ~*max*~

Amanda, if it's any consolation, my LO is exactly the same way w/dh. She loves to play w/him for short periods of time, but if she is in any way, shape or form upset, tired, or not feeling well it's mama or nothing. I think it has to do w/being SAHM to the babes and Bfing - mama is just the total source of comfort. I know this doesn't make it any easier, but please tell dh it is nothing personal against him!

Ditto. Kirsten is just not a big fan of DH for anything other than 10 minutes of fun. He gets so frustrated that he can't console her .

[Vortexing]

FYI: cow's milk=BAD NEWS! Just thought I'd share.

I had a moment of clouded judgment and thought, "everyone else gives their kids TONS of milk, maybe my water or mama strategy is really flawed"... anyway, I gave her about 2 tbls of cow's milk, which she drank fairly well... then came some diarrhea, and the red bum, and just being overall not very happy.

Good part: DH has stopped asking if he can give her a sippy cup full of milk!!! yeah!!!!! I just feel bad for DD that it had to happen that way.

I'll be back for personals when I get a chance. This graduating thing is less than pleasant sometimes. I miss my baby!!!!!

[Marylizah]

Well last night was better than usual but not as good as the night before.... and Geo woke up at 6 (!!!).

Re: the DH soothing thing-- Geo LOVES his daddy. Loves loves loves daddy. Cries when he leaves for work, screams with joy when dh comes home. Dh used to be able to rock/soothe at bedtime or in the evenings when Geo woke up but recently that has been totally out of the question. Geo will scream bloody murder if DH tries to rock him and cry so hard he almost makes himself sick. And it escalates instantly-- we go from fussing to full-blown meltdown in like three minutes. It's been hard for DH because this is a new thing, but I think he realizes it's a phase that will pass. Maybe it's an age thing? Anyway, recently I've been the only source of nighttime comfort that has been acceptable.

Ooops, gotta run, Geo is throwing his toys out the window :

[~*max*~]

Nightweaning update: I only nursed LO one time last night! And that was only bc she got herself wedged between the safety bar and the mattress & was really upset. Then I nursed her back to sleep at 6am and she is still sleeping. Why didn't I start this sooner???? Now, if only my boobs could adjust a little more quickly. I feel like I did in the early days of nursing, all full & sore.

[~*max*~]

I keep meaning to ask, what is everyone doing for father's day? We are planning to go for a hike & picnic lunch at a cool nature preserve nearby. I want to get dh a gift from the kids, something camping related bc that is his biggest interest right now (other than us of course, ). But I am not sure what to get. I am hoping to do a little shopping today. Anyone have any inspiring ideas?

[TxMominCT]

Hi ladies!
I just finished my first test in my THIRD class this summer! I think I did well. My over achieveness is getting a little out of control though, last week I was SO upset that I got and A- in the last class because that is a 3.7, not a 4.0 a little ridiculous I know.

Don't have a lot of time, but I did want to say that night weaning is going really well. A lot of nights she goes from around 9:00 to 5:00 or 10:00 to 6:30. It's great! Sometimes she still wakes up about 4:00 and DH goes and sleeps with her, she usually doesn't need to eat then. The full boobs thing only lasted about a week for me. That was a nightweaning/being gone all day combo though! Man, I sure could pump fast then!

So anyone supplementing? We've tried to switch Clara over to organic whole milk for her naptime bottle (she gets everything else straight from the tap whenever I'm home) and she absolutely hates it! We've tried it in sippy cups, bottles, and regular cups, and even (I hate to admit this) with chocolate syrup! She HATES HATES HATES IT! I really really really really really want to quit pumping! It's only 1 bottle a day! Plus in 2 weeks when I start clinicals, I can't pump. Any advice?

DH did the sweetest thing, he didn't have time to make me anything for my birthday on Monday (I wasn't upset we aren't big into getting eachother stuff), but he did stay up until all hours at night and made me bread for my lunch today (I hate the cafeteria) and chocolate muffins! I haven't eaten them yet but it was a great surprise! He's such a great guy! (he did need some brownie points (muffin points?) for being such a slacker around the house lately I do have to admit! )

Which brings me to Father's day! I think I'm going to try to make hime a cute picture w/Clara's feet and hand imprints on it and her coloring on it. Then print out recent pics to put in his mini album for when he goes to Italy in a few weeks. We'll probably eat out after church, Mom will be here, so she'll probably pay for it!

I hope everyone is starting to feel better! Hi to the long time no post mamas! We're glad to see you again! I gotta get back to class soon!

[ecoteat]

I'm not sure about Father's Day. Last year I made him a card with Phoebe's footprints that he ended up framing so I'll probably do that again. He's not as sentimental as I am, so I don't think he's expecting much. Maybe I'll wrap up some garden tools too. We need them anyway! His mom will be here and she'll probably take us out to lunch too.

Kathryn, have you tried any other milks? Maybe she'd take goat or soy milk or something. Would she take the cow's milk at a different temperature than she's been offered it? Do you have a freezer stash? Could you pump in the morning before going to school? I've been thinking a lot about this too since I don't want to pump next school year. I don't have to deal with it quite yet, but I want to get her used to something else this summer.

I am going crazy with the nightwakings. It amazes me how well I've adapted though. I'm tired, but generally cheerful and functional most of the time. I don't think I've slept more than 2 hours at a time in weeks. We keep saying "maybe she realy IS teething this time!" Then we check her gums and... nothing.

Crap--I just remembered I have to get some paperwork ready to work on my kids' report cards. Gotta run!

[Blue Lotus]

Just time for a quick thought for max on the fathers day giftie - what about a rolling ice cream maker? They sell them online & at REI. I'll try to find a link, but I have to leave the house in a few minutes. They are VERY cool for camping & a total blast to play with. OK, here is the link.

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...:referralID=NA

Oh, and DD is all about mama too as far as consoling goes. It really upsets DH too, but he is trying to keep in mind that it will pass eventually. And I keep reminding him that he may regret it when she is a total daddy's little cling-on girl

[mamacatsbaby]

Originally Posted by BambooMama

FYI: cow's milk=BAD NEWS! Just thought I'd share.

I had a moment of clouded judgment and thought, "everyone else gives their kids TONS of milk, maybe my water or mama strategy is really flawed"... anyway, I gave her about 2 tbls of cow's milk, which she drank fairly well... then came some diarrhea, and the red bum, and just being overall not very happy.

Amy my DS breaks out in hives if he gets cow's milk/yogurt on his face. He doesn't seem to have an issue with cheese unless it gets on his face . And he doesn't seem to have a problem with butter . He also doesn't seem to have an issue with goat's milk, though I'll have to get more and make sure.

So I take it none of you read as children? J/K No favorite books anyone read as a child that they want to share?

We're very big into books and we loooooove that there is a library right up the street from us . They even have a fantastic children's play/book area!

[~*max*~]

Originally Posted by panthera28

Just time for a quick thought for max on the fathers day giftie - what about a rolling ice cream maker? They sell them online & at REI. I'll try to find a link, but I have to leave the house in a few minutes. They are VERY cool for camping & a total blast to play with. OK, here is the link.

http://www.rei.com/online/store/Prod...:referralID=NA

Thank you Panthera. We do have one of those already though. Anyone who doesn't, they are way cool & make yummy ice cream!

[JayGee]

Yummers! That ice cream ball looks like fun! For Father's Day we are painting a large terra cotta pot with the kids' handprints and planting "something" in it.

Kirsten is doing much better, but is working on molar #4 which is making her miserable nonetheless. She's been waking 3 times which is up from her usual once. Yesterday she started running! I was pretending to chase her and she took off across the driveway. It's so cute! And her new favorite activity is climbing the steps (and saying "UP" as she does it) and then turning around and going back down the stairs on her bottom (saying "DOW" on the way). I need to spot the down process though. She's still not 100% sure how to make it down all the steps without tumbling.