8 Months Down

The 8 month milestone has come and gone and here we have Nye's latest monthly photo.

I realise I still need to do a major compilation of all of these washing basket photos but I've been in the middle of cataloging all our photos and it will take some time to get myself back on track.

EAT

Nye is still loving his food.  It took me a while to get into the routine of feeding him 3 full meals but we are on  top of this now and he consistently eats all his food.  He's never really turned his nose up at anything, he just gets frustrated and bored when he finds something difficult to eat.  

I often feel like he has quite a boring diet, but having spoken to others it seems he is quite the flavour and texture connoisseur.  Yesterday was a bit of a lazy day for me, so he's had porridge fingers, blueberry's and strawberry's for breakfast.  Then for lunch he had eggy bread with broccoli and for tea, tomato and spinach pasta, ricecake fingers with apple for dessert.

He still loves his water.  We got him a new sippy cup and he can now hold this himself and drink when he is thirsty.  His new cup allows the water to flow from it more easily than the ones we had previously and its quite amazing seeing him make his own choices about the food he eats first and when he needs a drink. (We lay it all out in front of him for him to get on with)

At the beginning of the month I was trying to give him milk before and after each meal but he was consistently throwing up huge amounts of it.  Because of this, I stopped topping him up, and reduced his milk feeds to once in the morning when he wakes up and once before bed.  Since he was born I have intended to breastfeed him until he no longer wants milk so I was surprised that he was stopping the majority of his feeds at what seemed like a young age.  However, recently he has been a bit grouchy in the day time and my last resort has been to give him a feed.  So far, he has not been throwing up his extra milk and has settled back into playing after a quick 2-3 minute feed.  I really have no idea what caused him to be sick before and what has changed now, but I am thankful we found a solution that suits us both.

SLEEP

When I last wrote, Nye was having very disrupted sleep after a previous period of consistent night sleeping.  I am pleased to report that the sleeping has now been cracked and we are back on track.  Friends have been commenting that I am looking far more alive, and I certainly feel better mentally and physically.  At the time, we tried everything we could to work out why Nye had suddenly stopped sleeping through. After eliminating all factors, one by one, food times, nap times, bed time, teething, temperature we were left in a situation where we felt our only solution was to leave him to settle himself.  As someone who has always gone to him when he is sad and upset it was very difficult, but thankfully after two nights we were back on the straight and narrow and he's been back to sleeping 6.30-6.30 consistently since then.  He also managed to do this when we went to stay at my mums house, which is uncharacteristic because he has never slept well when not in his own cot.

He now takes two naps a day of varying lengths.  These are usually from 9-10am and 1-2pm.  I might start testing out a short afternoon nap, but I worry that too much day time sleep will have a knock on night time effect.

Another big development has been the introduction of his new cot bed.  As he has been getting bigger, we knew that we would need something with a side that drops down.  It wasn't an urgent thing as he was still happy in his cot, but when one came up on freecycle we jumped at the chance.  A bit of scrubbing later, the cot bed above emerged.  We then got him a lovely coir and wool mattress (Kub Care) which should last him until he is 5/6.  It is beautifully soft but also firm.

BATH

Nye is certainly a bath lover these days.  He has gone through stages of liking water and hating water and  at 8 months we are certainly back to the loving water scenario and he gets a bath every other night.  Neil usually baths him and it lifts my heart to listen to the laughter and chattering coming from the bathroom as I prepare Nye's bed time clothes and bedding ready for him as he exits the bath.  In particular he loves being splashed with water and playing with his rubber duck.  We have a few bath toys, including a mini watering can.  As the water pours down on him from above, he stretches his body out to get as close to the water as possible.

The only problem here is his exit from the bath.  He hates getting changed.  I am actually quite tempted to write that in capitals, because that gives a better representation of HOW much he hates it.  He can sometimes be distracted for short periods of time, usually only if there is two of us on hand to sing songs and do actions in excited tones.  However, when you get to a point where you need to move him in a certain way to get his nappy on, he screams blue murder. Shouty, noisy, streaming tears and fights us off by turning over or tightening his entire body. Our neighbours must think we routinely torture him whenever we have to change him.  He seem to hate it so much, I started to wonder if he was actually in some kind of physical pain from lying on his back.  But, if you stand him up the tears and tantrum immediately fade and he grins at you as if to acknowledge that he got his own way.

PLAY

Nye still enjoys his usual toys, and has a few new ones to add to his toy box including a wooden ring stacker my mum bought for him.  He still loves to stand and now loves to stick out his hand for me to hold so he can walk back and forth across the room.  Every day his walking get better and better, but his balance is still not there.  He can stand holding himself steady with one hand and cruise around from object to object but he does have the odd accident.  He is currently experimenting with squatting down to pick things up, but hasn't quite got the hang of being able to do this every time.  Instead favouring to move on to the next object.

He is still in pretty much the same place with regards to crawling as he doesn't get much chance to practice as he hates being laid down on his front or back.  The exception to this rule is if he is completely naked.  Whilst in the nude, he developes a new enthusiasm for rolling around and dragging himself across his room, as far away from the towel I have put down for him, to keep him (and the carpet) clean.

SPEECH

His talkativeness changes depending on the day.  His first proper sounds were Da Da but he doesn't yet understand meanings.  I have heard him say a few other things once or twice and I am really trying to push the M sound but so far, nada.  I'm pretty certain he knows his own name, but this could just be because he recognises my voice saying his name.  I think he may understand the word No, as saying it usually causes tears (again this could also be related to the fact I'm usually taking something off him!)

SOCIALISING

He is still the happiest chappy on the block and loves the attention of others.  He learnt at a very young age that smiling at people makes people smile back and he just loves it.  He also loves the sound of people laughing and gets so excited and shreaks, especially if he has been the one to make people laugh.  He has recently started to develop a bit of an attachment to me and doesn't like to be passed off on others. He is ok after he is warmed up a bit and loves to interact with others whilst glancing across at me from time to time.

He has now attended 3 weddings and the last one was definitely the most successful.  He hates to sit quietly, (who doesn't) but this time did very well, without having to be escorted out by daddy.  Apparently at the last wedding it was my turn to leave the ceremony if he did require a change of scenery so I think Nye must have taken this on board and kept quiet. That and the fact he was moderately bribed with apple biscuits...

We are very much looking forward to how the next month develops and already have some plans for his 1st birthday and first Christmas which are drawing ever closer.

Baby Routine?

STAGE 1 - Getting to know you

When a friend asked me what kind of routine I planned to do once the baby arrived I said I'd play it by ear.  I didn't really read about parenting techniques, managed to steer clear of baby magazines, and focused on preparing my mind for labour rather than sleep routines.

I did however, try to heed the advice of a few mums, who said they found once the baby was born they didn't know what to do.  I therefore chose to prepare myself for what I considered the scariest moments of parenthood; how to clean a baby, change a nappy and read up on techniques for calming a crying baby.

Lots of people talk 'baby routines' and in particular, friends and strangers frequently ask about Nye's sleeping habits.  It appears to be the 'go to' baby topic of choice for anyone and everyone and we always say we have no complaints.  And for a baby, I've always felt Nye has been pretty good to us.  I figured that babies need feeding lots so I willingly waved goodbye to a good nights sleep and tried my best to accept the eventuality of broken nights.

Now we are at 5 months, Nye's sleep habits have probably changed more times than I have fingers and toes and I've tried to let him take the lead on telling us what he needs and providing it for him.  As time has gone on, I've become much better and second guessing him and preparing myself for what comes next.  

I did however find it difficult after the first month or so to understand how much a baby needs to sleep.  So I downloaded and read Gina Ford's Contended Baby Book.  I managed to follow it for a few days but quickly decided that routine wasn't for us, I wanted something more flexible and I felt Nye wasn't ready to have his feeds dictated to him.  But, I am so glad I did have a look because it helped me understand how much and when he was likely to go down for a nap and what sort of time he should sleep in the evening.  It all seems so obvious to me now, but at the time I was clueless.  

I have continued to demand feed, I've slowly learnt that the way I have chosen to parent would be described by others as attachment parenting.  I really fell into it, it's what feels like the most natural way to parent for us.  This is made much easier by breastfeeding which means I can feed him instantaneously.  It's an amazing tool to have, it provides nourishment, calms and soothes him when he is in pain, and helps him get to sleep.

STAGE 2 - Growing Together

Roll on a few months (4 to be precise) and we as a family have really found a routine that fits with us all, and in the the last week we have even had our first glimpses of a full nights sleep.  I am grateful but trying to remain level headed, it can be taken me at any moment.  That's Nye's prerogative!

So here we have our current routine, which does not run like clockwork but is relatively easy to predict.

6.20am : Neil leaves for work, Nye awake in cot sucking on thumb

6.30 - 7am : Pick Nye up, change, feed.

7 - 8.30am : Put Nye on play mat, make tea and toast eat whilst watching and chatting

8.30 - 9.00am : Nurse in arm chair until sleeping

9-9.30-10am : Transport Nye to cot, get washed and dressed.

10-12/30 : Play in nursery, go for walk, head out to do chores

12.30-1.00pm : Nurse to sleep

1-1.30pm : Transport to cot, sleep

1.30pm-2.45/3 : Play, do chores together

3-3.20pm : Nurse to sleep, nap in arms/ put down in cot.

3.20pm-4.30/5 : Play together

5-5.30pm : Neil home, go for family walk to park.

5.30-6pm : Hugs and tickles with Daddy

6-6.15pm : Run bath, naked play time on mat

6.15-6.30pm : Daddy gives bath, lots of kicking and splashing

6.30-7.00pm : Ready for bed, Daddy reads a story whilst I nurse to sleep.

7.00pm onward : Sleeping Nye laid in cot for the night

10.00pm : Sometimes wakes for night feed, nursed to sleep

Breastfeeding 999

photo by Keli Hoskins

It is a new day and like every day with a new born baby each is a surprise.  But today I am specifically wanting to reflect on my experience of breastfeeding.

I have found breastfeeding to be a challenge.  When it works it makes me feel so proud, empowered and happy that I'm giving Nye the best thing I can to keep him healthy.  However those thoughts fly out of your head quite quickly when you start to reach a rocky period, whether its aches and pains or feels neverending. Breast feeding often tricks you into thinking you have mastered it only for something to come along and knock you off track.  Then just as you are despairing once again everything clicks into place and you feel elated and greatful and full of joy that you didnt give up.

So here I am in bed at 8am with a sleeping baby.  I cannot tell you how wonderful that feels to write after several days of constant feeding from around 7am every morning until 11am.  I was getting so concerned last night about his unsatisfied nature that I wrote down a details diary of feeds and sleeps to take to the Health Visitor today when I go and get him weighed.

It's funny this always seems to happen, just as I get to the point of asking for help everything resolves itself and I feel like we as a duo are back to ourselves.

I am thankful that there is so much support available online, but what amazes me is that although there are so many people out there who will be able to explain what you are experience and empathise as they have been there before.  There will be as many people who are experiencing the exact opposite.

There are ladies on the forums I read who are concerned that their babies are not eating enough.  I always smile to myself because this is certainly not my son's problem.  I think his main problem is that he doesn't know when to stop feeding!  With breastfed babies you are told you cant feed them too much and that if they want to feed you should let them but if I let my son have his way all the time I would be in agonising pain! And then of course you go to the weigh in and he's loosing weight and you feel like an evil mother for not feeding him 24hrs a day. But on reflection everyone needs to find their own way to cope, there has to be a middle ground.

Week 3 of parenthood

Well, lots has happened in the last 3 weeks and already my time with Nye seems to be going too quickly.  He'll be a month old next week and that is a bit terrifying.

I am amazed at how quickly I feel I have got used to having him around, I have found lots of different ways to occupy him and learnt to mould myself around his routines.  Of course there is no set path, sometimes he settles easily after a good feed, giving me time to run round like a crazy woman trying to remember all the things I need to do before he stirs.  And with every sleep you have no idea how long it will last! (As luck would have it he just started whimpering from his bouncer chair, however a quick stroke of his face seems to have cured his problems and he's not silently sleeping again. Oh wait no, he's just started squeaking again.)

The main thing I haven't had time for has been making and writing his thank you cards, for the last week I've been saying to myself that they must be done.  Yesterday I really thought I had it sorted but unfortunately not as although he slept for 4 hours in the morning he didn't settle for a prolonged period until 7pm whilst we were making Tea.

I am pleased to say there isn't a lot we didn't have once he arrived, in fact we have an awful lot of things we cant even use yet.  However there have been a few godsend items that really help me get through the day.

Firstly an amazing vibrating bouncer chair given to us by friends.  I do have to prop him up in it with a blanket but if he's seeming sleepy but not yet screaming he is either lulled into a deep sleep or sits there happily looking around.  This isnt our exact one but ours is from Mammas and Pappas and exactly like this but different colours

.

And secondly this Early Learning Centre Blossom Farm Clover Cow Sit Me Up Cosy.

This is what I tend to use in the mornings whilst I run down stairs and make breakfast.

And my final purchase which I have been so pleased with has been the Nappy Bag I got for Christmas from Neil.  I have to admit that I did pick it myself but it was a bit of an odd choice as it isnt actually a 'Nappy Bag' but to be honest after visiting the Nappy Bag section of John Lewis I think mine is a much more practical bag than the ones that are supposedly 'fit for purpose'

Ta Da - It's a fossil Key Per Messenger Bag and they come in an enormous range of colours and patterns.  They have a magnetic latch, fit perfectly over a buggy handle with a really heavy duty strap, wipeable outside with a perfect number of pockets for mittens, hats, cotton wool, etc. etc. etc.  They even fit an A4 folder so I can carry all his notes around with enough room for my keys, phone, oystercard and wallet. = PERFECT!