November 9, 2009 at 5:20 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: bonfire night, breastfeeding, exclusuve breastfeeding, fireworks, Guy Fawkes, highchair, mum
Or normality might be a better way to put it. I have after all never considered myself to be ordinary or by another name completely sane. The point is that I am returning to myself, and with the added bonus of a decent nights sleep from the young man I am feeling pretty good.
With regards to sleep it was marginally better on Friday night and improved again on Saterday, with the minor detail that my hubby and I both stayed up stupidly late and missed out somewhat on the sleep slot. Then last night he was nearly back to normal with a solid sleep of 11pm to about 7:30am. Having said that I now hear jaws everywhere dropping at how good that is for not quite 5 month old, and it is, so what my friends was I complaining about having a sleep free week, well I guess the point is its all about what you are used to. Way back at the beginning I remember that 3 hours felt like magic, but now I have got used to much longer sleeps going the othe way was painful. I guess I was also getting desperate because with all the stuff about starting solids at 4 months I wondered whether his hungry feeding with zero sleep was going to last all the way until we started to introduce solids. This does not appear to be the case. The second issue was the sudden feeling of being totally alone on realising I didn’t know anyone who had got this far on exclusive brestfeeding. Ironically it was actually someone who had had to introduce a bottle feeding at 3 days. She for a whole host of reasons had been caused to doubt herself and just reinforced that I do know best and should believe in my self because I am his mother. She also said I am doing a good job which was a really important boost.
So I went into Friday afternoon feeling much happier. After a successful trip down to The Mall to get his BabyDan highchair (review to follow but impressed so far) I trundled across to darling hubby’s work and onwards to a friend’s for the weekend.
Saturday was the young master’s first Bonfire Night, for those of you reading from foreign shores this is the celebration of a cheery chap named Guy Fawkes who several hundred years ago had the bright idea of blowing up the king and parliament. Unfortunately for he and his chums the plan was foiled and they all met an untimely and rather unappetising end. We brits commemerate this event every year with large bonfires and accompanying firework displays all around the country and ranging quite frankly from the sublime to the ridiculous. The display we went to was at Christian Malford a little village in WIltshire and is one of the best village displays I have ever seen finishing this year with a galaxy of stars which floated through the sky taking at least a minute to finally fade.
The young man at only 5 months old was transfixed by the beautiful patterns and complained only when I tried to cover his eyes from one of the more intense strobe effects and with his earflaps down and my hands over his ears the bangs didn’t faze him at all. All of this was a huge relief as I love bonfire night and would be disapointed if he hadn’t too.
Well I think that is it for tonight I am off to do some tea got calamari from Morrisons yesterday so that is a bit of a challange. I will let you know how I get on.
Mama X
Leave a Comment
November 5, 2009 at 10:44 am (Uncategorized)
Tags: 4 1/2 month old, baby led weaning, breast-feeding, help, no sleep
After another sleepless night I have begun to wonder whether to consider adding a small amount of formula to our evening routine. I felt so desperately tired and feel exhausted by the amount he is eating. I also feel alone as I do not know anyone who has got past 4 months on breast-feeding alone with many introducing bottles by this point or starting on solids.
Now with all my reading on Baby Led Weaning I am totally convinced that until he is 6 months and sitting up he doesn’t need anything but milk and that of the various milks on offer mummy milk is the very best. So to introduce solids goes totally against what I believe is going to be right for us and there seems little good reason to switch to formula except for my sanity. This means that considering formula makes me feel weak even though I have actually come quite a long way.
I might give MOBS (support for breastfeeding mothers a call) and talk it through I think the big problem is that I don’t know if there will be light at the end of the tunnel because I haven’t found anyone else further down the same path as me.
There should be a page appearing on early month essentials by the end of the day and I am considering putting together my own hospital bag recommendations. But first I need to get a little sunshine on my skin.
Mama X
Leave a Comment
November 4, 2009 at 2:34 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: baby led weaning, baby signing, mum and baby group, routine, sleep
The little man managed to eat almost non-stop all night and didn’t sleep long enough to be put in his cot once. I think it’s mostly teeth. The thing is I am totally set on Baby Led Weaning for a whole host of reasons and part of me is thinking “6 weeks ’til he can have a go thats not long!” especially the way the days seem to zip by. But then another part of me thinks that if he is sleeping badly because he is getting more hungry then it could be a long 6 weeks.
I am thinking at the moment about trying to introduce some routine to get him down at a reasonable time, but he is such a happy and confident boy, and fits so well into our lifestyle, that I am not sure of the benefits. I guess it would be nice to know reliably when he might go to bed but equally its good that he deals with changing environments and daily routines without getting upset or mithering.
I have also started to use some bits of baby signing since picking up the book yesterday. It is a bit early for him to be learning but I don’t see the harm in using it when I talk to him. Besides which it makes him giggle.
This morning we did the Kingswood Mum and Toddler Group in the village hall, it was good although he was the youngest baby by about 11 months this time and people were being a bit cliquey. But it was good to get out, especially after the broken sleep it made me feel human and slowly but surely we will get talking.
Anyway I think I am going to start working on some of the review pages this afternoon and suss out how it’s all going to be laid out.
Tatty-bye for now.
Mama X
Leave a Comment
November 3, 2009 at 4:37 pm (News)
Tags: toy library, dursley, jimmy's toddler group, mum and baby, swimming, library, baby signing
Well we are back from our Grand Day Out and have had a great time. Got the bus out to the Dursley Toy Library, to the tune of “the mummies on the bus sing silly songs, all day long”. The people running it seemed to be really friendly we got our first toy out although it’s not been unpacked yet, so I am not quite sure how good it will be. Then it was out into the rain for a brisk walk down to Jimmy’s Toddler Group we were late due to all the form filling at the toy library but the atmosphere seems great and being greeted by sounds of giggling and chattering with a hot cup of tea to boot was fab.
We went out into a brief spell of warm autumn sunshine and on to Dursley Pool to check it out and get readdy for the 12 o’clock swim. Although it was only Public Swimming the set up was pretty good with a bit of space cordened off for children, and the water a reasonable temperature. We stayed in for 15 mins and he was fine with the tempreture and enjoyed it I think.
We finished off with a trip to the Library where I fed him and had a read then mooching round the shops until the bus left at 2:30. Then bumping along the country road he fell fast asleep watching the flickering sunlight coming through the trees.
See you tomorrow.
Mama X
All in all a very successful day although I will hold off on reviewing the things we did today until I have made a couple more visits.
Leave a Comment
November 3, 2009 at 9:12 am (News)
Tags: Hello, mama, mum, mummy, starting out
Mine not my darling boy’s. I have chosen to set up this blog as a record of my life as a mum and hopefully a reference for anyone who might have an interest. I am hoping to write reviews and articles and let you all know about my little view of the world. Hoping I will in the years to come offer a little information and entertainment. But now we are off for a grand day out so I will see you later. Mama X
Leave a Comment