Parenting a Toddler

The little guy is one in less then two weeks (EEKK!!) and can I just say.... this parenting a toddler busy is tough work.

Hubby has been away for 2 days for work.

The other night was a super long day. Malachi had been awake since 130pm.

Had dinner at 530pm. Became hysterical when I tried to tell him he has one spoon and Mummy has one spoon. Sobbing, gasping for air, tears rolling down his face etc. Got him out of his highchair, calmed him down. Put him back in his highchair where he decided to smear food everywhere, or just drop it on the floor.

Went upstairs to run his bath. I could hear him whinging downstairs so was taking my sweet ass time.

Came downstairs and saw him CRAWLING on our table. Yep, that's right. I didn't strap him in so he managed to wiggle his butt out of the highchair.

Soooooo lucky he didn't smash anything or fall off the table onto the tiles!

I'm trying to teach him that there are things he can do, and things he can't do.
The only problem is, he's not too keen on being told what to do.

Yesterday was a prime example.

* Pulls my hair *

Me: No Malachi, we don't pull Mummy's hair. That really hurts Mummy. We be gentle to each other.

Malachi: Bursts into tears and sobs hysterically.

Me: Picks him up and comforts him.

Malachi: Starts to pull hair again. Sigh.

And the other thing I'm struggling with.... the chaos a toddler creates.

I feel like all I do all day is try and keep the house somewhat tidy, just to have him come through and mess it all up again. I do not like vacuuming twice in one day!

I know we don't have the cleanest, tidiest house in the street. But I like a house of order. And I'm really struggling to keep on top of it all.

So I would love some parenting tips from those Mummas who have toddlers!

Hat trick fail

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Maybe this is how you get a baby to sleep through the night?
Just put them in a sink?

Malachi has always been an okay sleeper. He wasn't one of those babies who woke every hour for a feed as a freshie thank God. But he's never consistently slept through the night. I could count on three fingers one hand the number of times he's slept through.

I thought we were on to a winner. The beginning of continuous sleep thrus. He slept through after we went out for dinner Saturday night, and then he followed it up with another sleep through Sunday night. He was waking earlier though, but I thought that was a good compromise seeing as though I just got an 8 hour block of sleep.

With baited breath we went to bed last night, hoping and praying he'd sleep through again.... and of course he didn't.

It was worse then usual.

Normally, he'll wake for a feed once overnight and be back asleep in a matter of moments. I'd probably only be away 30 minutes max. Last night, oh last night he thought being awake for two fecking hours would be a good idea. We changed him, I offered more milk, I rocked him, I layed him on my chest. But he was just intent on piss farting around, squirmy and playing with the clasp on my maternity singlet.

GAAAHHHHH babies are so frustrating  adorably unpredictable. Even now the young one is fighting his second day sleep, you know, just to mix it up a little.

Babies, gotta love them.

A Mumma doubts herself

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Malachi has really slimmed down lately. He was 3.4kgs at birth and doubled his birth weight by 3 months.

Now he's almost 10 months and just under 9kgs (rough guess-timate I just put him on our crappy bathroom scales). I think he looks healthy but Hubby's making me doubt myself. He thinks he's really ...slim. Slim arms, skinny legs, little belly.

Malachi has 3 breastfeeds during the day and the last milk feed at night I've either been giving him breastmilk and then a formula top up, or just formula.

Last night I just gave him formula after the little pain bit me. He had dinner at 5pm, milk at 7pm and he only drank 100mls (he last had milk at 1pm). I know I cant force feed it down his throat, and he's weeing and pooing okay just what you wanted to hear right.

Hubby is somewhat suggesting that my breastmilk is dodgy and we should just switch to full time formula but I know that if I 'gave up' now while I still have milk available I would feel guilty.

GAH don't know what to do. Are we destined as parent's to always second guess and judge ourselves? I don't know what the 'right' thing to do is.

Have you had a milky's dilemma? Any advice to offer?

Monkey see, monkey do

With Easter just around the corner I've been racking my brains trying to find something for the wee little man. Being not quite 10 months old I was certain I wasn't going to be buying him chocolate, might leave that until next year.

I considered one of those little bowl, spoon, cup type sets (there's a Thomas, a Peter Rabbit, and a few other ones) but he already received a Toy Story one at Christmas.

Then I stumbled across this little cutie and knew I'd found Master M's easter gift. Meet Cadbury:

Isn't he the cutest little guy you've ever seen!? I'm thinking he and Master M will be great friends.

What are you getting your little one for Easter?

Do you do presents for Easter or stick with chocolate?

Big FAT fail

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Our first big proper on our own as a family of three holiday was so totally crap. Whoever said holidays with a baby were easy were LYING!! Malachi got a pretty nasty cold on about day two of our week long holiday. Cue needy whinges, 2 hourly boobie feeds, pacing the floors rocking and bouncing a baby to sleep and not much night sleep.

Oh and I was about ready to divorce hubby!! We were both looking forward to a week of relaxing and chilling out. Reconnecting and all that jazz. Instead we were hit with the utterly exhausted stick, and were just snapping at each other over stupid things.

Oh and that's right it was raining, windy and overcast the entire time we were away so me being the good Mummy didn't want to take him out much in the cold. Guess it didn't help that I thought it didn't get cold at the coast so I didn't really pack many warm winter clothes WHOOPS!!

We went to the pharmacy as I left all my cold stuff (euky bear, nasal drops etc) here and they thought he could have croup. Went and saw a useless doctor who could barely speak English who was trying to tell me he had conjunctivitis. Um idiot it's just a blocked tear duct! So he wrote a script for some eye drops (which I just thought meh whatever dude) had a listen to his chest and said 'if it's whooping cough or croup you'll know tonight'. Thankfully it was just a cold. BLAH bloody useless doctors.

The cutest thing was we were sitting having dinner at a golf club, wolfing down our meal as the little one was so super duper cranky and whiny. A little old lady, who would have been around 80 came over and said 'oh you must never get to eat in peace I'll take him for a walk'. I thought it was adorable. Hubby on the other hand thought that a) she was going to run away with him or b) drop him. So the little old lady only got a 5 minute hug before hubby rescued Malachi away from her.

So we're home now. Totally unrelaxed and just as exhausted as we were before we left.

Looks like we'll be looking into another holiday sooner rather than later. Maybe for my birthday (which cough is in less than two weeks. April 3rd incase you wanted to send me a little parcel).

Please tell me holidays with a baby/toddler/small child gets easier?

A non Valentine's day post

** Yes I know it's Valentine's day but really, it's just another day for this here little blogger **

The lovely Racheous and Nicole awarded me this I'm sure you've seen it floating around:

My requested tasks to receive this award are:

* Thank and link back to the person who gave me this award.
* Share 7 things about myself.
* Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
* Contact those bloggers and tell them about the award.

 7 things about me:

1. Since having Master M I have taken to drinking all hot drinks out of my travel mugs. Not only do I get double the volume, which let's be honest who doesn't love a super sized coffee, my drink also stays hotter for longer. Win win I say.

2. I was a gymnast for 7 and a half years. I called it quits when my boobs got too big and the red witch arrived I decided to focus on high school instead.

3. I have been vegetarian for almost 10 years. I did try a chicken nugget about four years ago but the texture and all that chewing was enough to make me want to barf.

4. I always thought I'd have four kiddies two of each of course. I have since revised that back to 3 though I am yet to convince the husband about it! Ever the rational one he wants 'as many as we can afford' which is looking more like two.

5. Hubby and I met when I was 15 and he was 19 and we were working at the local Maccas together. He was my first serious boyfriend. We've been together for nearly seven years.

6. I am such a sook when it comes to creepy crawly things probably not a surprise if you knew me in real life. I duck and swerve when I'm outside so that bees, wasps, dragonflies and all those other nasties don't bite me.

7. I've turn into a cloth nappy snob loving Mumma. I feel like such a sucker when I have to use a disgustable disposable. I can't help but think I'm just throwing money down the drain.

Now I'm a bit of a loser and I don't have 15 blogs to pay it forward to so I'll just pass it on to those I love

* Cate at Keep Cate Busy

* Lauren at Ninja Tales

* The lovely Mama Bear

* Amy at Things I never knew

* Zoey at Ramblings of a wife and mama

* Amy at Love, bubs and life on our little farm

* Tamsyn at Max and Me

Holy Moley Man - a post for Lauren :-)

I've been a super duper slack arse blogger. I do have a few excuses reasons though:

* The young one and I made our first ever solo trip on an aeroplane together to visit the fam. It was shit average but Malachi loved seeing his Ma and Pop (hubby's Mum and Dad) and I'm missing them like crazy too!

* The boy also decided to cut his first tooth the night we got back from said holidays. We Hubby was up from midnight until 4am rocking and patting and soothing the very distressed bub.

* He also decided to catch a viral infection at the same time which saw temps hovering around the 39 degree mark. The viral infection saw the boy turn into a fresh air-atarian (as my friend Sarah called it). He went off milk, solids and water.... stressful fun times had by all.

* As a result of said fresh air-atarian diet my milk supply plummeted and I'm back popping pills like a druggie on the fenugreek and blessed thistle to increase my supply again.

* I went and saw my GP. I love have oodles of respect for this man.

I told him I thought I was struggling with PND. I told him I saw another GP whilst he was off getting a tan while he was enjoying his holidays and she wanted to put me on Zoloft AND Xyprexa AND she wanted me to stop breastfeeding (as according to this piss ant GP there's no benefit in breast milk after 6 months).

I think poor Richie nearly fell off his chair! But any woo, we have a plan. I need to find me a psych, he'll write me a mental health plan and I'll hopefully be back on track and loving life again soon.

* I've been too busy loving everyone else's blogs that I couldn't be arsed run out of time to write my own.

I'll try not to be so slack.... promise!

Christmas 2010

Was so perfect.

We had a fantastic day here. The weather was great.

We got totally spoilt by family and friends.

We had pancakes for breakfast, opened some presents and went to the park for lunch.

We've learnt that all you need to give Malachi is wrapping paper and he's happy. He was so intent on eating the paper, we spent most of the morning saying 'no, we don't eat paper!!'.

It was all a bit too exciting for him. He had to have a sleep between opening his presents, as he got a little too overstimulated.

A perfect day with my little family.

MMM paper...

MMM more paper

My little snowman

 yum yum... dribbles

Chilling at the lake

It's Christmas and I......

Have one of Santa's reindeer's in my house. Isn't he the cutest!!

I Stole this idea from Jaydee. Head over to her blog to check out her answers.

Wrap presents: Like a 5 year old child. Honestly, I detest wrapping presents, unless they are a nice shape. Like a CD, book, or a box of something. Everything else BLAH!!! I am actually a slight might embarrassed when I hand over presents that I have wrapped.

Have finished shopping? : Almost. Just need to buy the husband a few little things for his Christmas stocking. I was going to go to the Mall as what I need would be cheaper there. But I think I'll just buy it at the local shops. Less chaos that way.

Have on my Christmas list: Breastfeeding friendly summer PJ's, new clothes in general, pretty sandals, air conditioning, a new car and earrings. Not asking for much hey!?

Will be eating for Christmas lunch: A vegie burger at the park at this stage.

Cannot have Christmas without: Pecan pie and a Christmas tree of course.

Like listening to: Christmas with Frank and Bing CD.

Always: end up having a sneak peek at a few things under the Christmas tree. So far I already know we are getting towels from the Husband's grandparents.

Love: How mesmerised the young one is by the Christmas lights. Hello free babysitter!

Do not understand: The need for a hot Christmas lunch in Australia. Honestly the thought of eating that much meat makes me want to puke.

For the first time this year: We are celebrating Christmas as a family of three. WOOP WOOP!! Can not believe this time last year I thought I was dying from morning sickness. Now I have a sweet little (almost) 6 month old.

A new Christmas tradition: Having the little one see Santa with a Hawaiian shirt on. Have also stolen Lauren's idea and the Husband and I are buying each other:

• Something that starts with the letter of our first name,
• PJ's and
• beer/wine/spirits (or food for me as I'm breastfeeding).

An old Christmas tradition: Watching miracle on 34th street.

Before Christmas Day I always feel compelled to: Say I'm going to do heaps of Christmas baking, but then never get around to it.

This year I forgot to: Buy a nice Christmas decoration for Malachi's first Christmas. I don't want a standard 'baby's first Xmas' one. Something pretty, and unique and preferably with his name on it.

My wrapping paper is: Nothing fancy. Just red and white with Christmas trees.

Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope you enjoy the festive season with your loved ones. Will catch you in 2011!!!

A crap Monday turns fab

I thought today was going to be crapola. After the little guy sleeping 10 hours straight last week I thought it was the beginning of things to come. AHHH no. Last night he woke up 6 times in the space of 9ish hours. Not because he was cold, not because he was hungry, but because he thought it was play time. This here Mumma is pooped. Coffee you are my friend.

I entered a compition run by Close Parent Down Under to win one of their fab baby carriers. AND I WON!!!!!! I'm in shock. I never win anything, let alone something as bloody beautiful as this.

Check it out!!!

Oh so pretty. I have heard so many people rave about the close baby carrier. Hubby picked our carrier (a dodgy one I might add) that hurts my back and shoulders so I never carry the baby anywhere. Now hopefully I'll be able to baby wear to my hearts content.

Many many many thanks Close Parent Down Under.

** Photos are from their blog **

The day (a very tired) Malachi met Santa

Here's the photo of the little guy the day he met Santa.

I was actually pleasantly surprised when I went and picked it up. He had been awake for waaaayyyy too long, so I was expecting this photo to be an epic disaster but I quite like it.

He's got some crazy hair happening but that's nothing unusual for my boy.

I'm so tempted to dress him in a Hawaiian shirt every year, you know start a tradition and all that jazz.

Did you go and see Santa this year? Do you have any Christmas traditions?

I'm participating in flog yo blog Friday; play along too.

 

Spreading the Christmas Cheer

Just thought I'd spread some Christmas cheer by posting some recent pictures of our Santa's little helper.

Look at that pout

Who turned out the lights?

mmmm pom pom

My favourite

Gosh he's cute... if I do say so myself.

And do you know who else is spreading the Christmas cheer?

Some uber talented, generous and crafty bloggers who are doing a massive giveaway at Maxabella Loves.

Head on over and check out all the drool worthy prizes you can I will win. Nothing like positive thinking hey!?

Tired Baby + Santa

I've been meaning to take Malachi to get his photo with Santa for ages but just haven't quite gotten there. So today was the day. We were hoping that since it wasn't super duper close to Christmas the line up wouldn't be too bad... hahahaha yeah right!!

We decided we'd have breakfast out at a cafe since we hadn't done that for a while, do some shopping and then go and see Santa. Malachi had quite a big (well big for him) sleep in the pram of an hour or so, so we thought he'd be fine to see Santa.

We drove about half an hour to see Santa. We get there and ......... Santa was having lunch!! Even though he's only there for all of 3 hours!! Hubby wanted to leave and come back next weekend. AH no thank you! Not when the line up will probably be twice as long as it is now.

So we waited around for 45 minutes. Hubby just walking the store trying to keep the little one calm and happy. Me, just standing in line tapping my foot and watching the clock. By the time it was Malachi's turn to sit on Santa's lap he was so tired. His eyes were hanging out of his head.

So, no smiles for the camera. On the plus side though at least he was looking at the camera and not screaming the store down like the poor little toddler in front of us. Santa seemed a bit over it too by this stage. I put Malachi on his lap and he didn't even talk to my boy. How rude.

But I guess at least Malachi was happy and content, and a human!! The lady behind us brought her two rabbits to get their photo taken with Santa. I kid you not. She also decided she'd make a nice sweeping generalisation that all parents are on Centrelink. I felt like turning around and letting her know that actually I'm a nurse, and a damn good one at that. But I decided fighting some one while waiting to see Santa probably wasn't the best idea.

I will have to put a photo up once we collect them in a few days time. At least when he's tired he doesn't scream and cry. He just starts to fidget and make the cutest little noises. I could tell he was super tired though as he was nestling into my shoulder and he never does that.

So I guess in short I'm grateful for a cute and cuddly baby who doesn't scream and cry like a banshee.

I'm also grateful that I have nearly finished all my Christmas shopping so I can avoid the masses of people who decend on the mall at this time of year.

I don't know what it is about this time of year but people seem to forget they have a brain and like to walk at the pace of a snail and either stop in the middle of the walk way to have a chat to some one or stop at the top of an escalator to have a chin wag.

What are you grateful for this week?

Cloth Nappying

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I have been persevering with Huggies disposables for a while now, but in all honesty I hate them. They don't sit on the little man properly. The grip tab bits sit right where his legs move so you can hear them slowly but surely coming undone and slipping down to expose his bum.

I wanted to try cloth when I was pregnant but there are so many varieties, brands, sizes, colours it all just freaked me out. I chickened out and went the disposable route.

Well not anymore. I did a bit of research and have decided to use the all in one cloth nappies, the non sized one so I don't have to continually up grade the sizes. The reason I'm looking at AIO's is less work for me, and I might have more luck convincing Hubby to go cloth this way.

He's been less than supportive of this, for God knows what reason. Every time I mention it he does this annoying laugh. So not funny. It's really grating on my nerves. He thinks they are expensive and a lot of work, and heaps of washing. I'm the one that does all the washing anyway. So an extra load every two days isn't going to kill me.

I did suggest if he's worried about the cost we could buy some second hand MCN's. There's a facebook page dedicated to buying and selling second hand cloth nappies. But no. Heaven forbid his son wears second hand nappies.


Okay Husband rant over................

A lovely friend Katherine suggested I give the dream dri version2 cloth nappies a go. They are on sale at the moment at Close Parent Down Under on facebook as they are trying to make room for their version3 nappies. I ordered 5 to try. I wanted 10 but the husband said no.

Fingers crossed I'm on to a winner and I can have a stash of cloth nappies for reasonably cheap.

This time last year

we got our positive pregnancy result!!! I would put up a picture, but I'm too lazy to turn on the other computer. That and the fact that really, all pregnancy tests look the same.

It feels like only yesterday I saw those two lines come up. But strangely it also feels like a lifetime ago. So much has happened in that one year. In the last 365 days we've:

* Bought our own house, well townhouse to be specific

* Celebrated our 6 year 'going out' anniversary, and also one year of marriage

* Hubby changed jobs and with that a slight role change

* I took on more responsibility at work and started team leading some shifts

* Convinced hubby to like lentils (well legumes in general)

* Only had one holiday, for only 4 days or so. Must have more and longer holidays in the next 365 days I think.

And how has my little Cherub thanked me? By continuing to wake up two hourly overnight. Thank God he's cute and thank you thank you thank you coffee making companies. I HEART YOU!!

Our first family trip

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We went back to QLD last week for our nephew's naming ceremony. It was nice to visit family and friends who hadn't met M before but I'm so glad to be home. It was very hard sharing a place with 6 adults, 2 babies and a toddler. Hubby's brother and his wife stayed with the inlaws (who camped out in their camper trailer as there wasn't enough room in the house for all of us) and there were times where I had to bite my tongue so as not to upset the peace.
 
Brother in law and his wife would insist we be quiet when their little guy was down for a nap (even trying to get us not to flush the toilet, yeah right!), but there were times when their toddler was SCREAMING his head off when M was sleeping and they said nothing to him, nor attempted to get him to quieten down. One time he actually did wake M up and my brother in law came out to tell us he was awake, no sorry or anything. GRRR!!

On the way home we were in a car accident on the way to the airport. This stupid B1Tch ran up the back of our in laws car. M was obviously in the back in his car seat and we got hit from behind and the force of that sent us into the back of a taxi. He screamed, more from being frightened I think. I was in the back as well and have some neck and shoulder pain, from the whiplash I assume. She was totally rude, even after Hubby gave her a serve, saying she was an idiot, we have a baby in the car etc. Don't know why she was rude to us, she was the one who hit us!!!

My poor Father in law (who drove us to the airport) had to wait around for hours for a hire car to arrive as he couldnt drive their car home (home being 2 hrs away). And my new baby car seat is going to have to go to the dump. Brand new!! EEEKKKKK!!!!!!!! I'm hoping the crazy's car insurance will pay for a new one, don't see why I should have to, if she didn't hit us I wouldn't have to buy a new one.

M was good on the flights, hated the descent part of the flight but settled very well with a feed. The flights seemed to have caused him some belly pain so he's been waking 4 times overnight, so roughly 2 hourly Not much fun at all!! The first day of the trip he pretty much didn't sleep from 7am-5pm. We have started wrapping again. We stopped because the MACH nurse said it's a risk when they start to roll. Well I think he lost his sleep prompt so just kept feeding and playing then feeding and playing and didn't get that it was sleep time without the wrapping. And at least he's sleeping now he's being wrapped, even if it's only for a couple of hours. We've also started double wrapping as we have a little houdini on our hands!!

Poor little guy has a case of the snotties really bad. He woke up screaming after his bath last night, not just whinging but 'come get me now something's wrong' type screaming! It took forever to calm and settle him. I've tried everything to try and get rid of it:

• Vaporiser, with and without some eucalyptus oil in it
• Vicks on his feet
• vicks on his singlet (not on his skin as it gives him a rash)
• saline drops and saline spray 
• Used a snot sucker, which he hates and thrashes his head around and screams the house down
• Used a cotton tip at the front of his nose to try and clear it
• put him in the bathroom when I'm showering so the steam can help 
• Tipped his head back after feeding to ensure it's not milk sitting in the back of his nose
• Raised his matress a little bit
• We've also put a hanky with vicks under his sheet near his head so he can breathe it in, but it gave his face a rash, even being under the sheet. 

In happier news, M is rolling now. Intentional rolling too not just an accidental occurance. It seems he's figured out if he rolls he gets out of tummy time. Its so fun to watch. I never thought I'd be one of those Mums that talk about their baby achieving milestones/pooping/talking/feeding/sleeping etc. But I can't help it, I'm uber proud right now :-)

You Again?

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It's back, in all it's ugliness.......... the anxiety.

I thought I was doing quite well, it's been three months since the birth of Malachi and not a hint of depression and or anxiety. But lately I haven't been sleeping well, and that's a tell tale sign for me. I've been lying awake in bed hours after the little tyke is fast asleep. I've been listening to him breathing and listening to my heart racing. I couldn't quite work out what it was that had set the demons loose. But then I realised.

My little babe has nearly outgrown his bassinet and because of that he'll be moving into his cot in his own room. I love hearing him breathing beside me, knowing he's okay. A midwife in one of our parenting classes said that a baby is safest when near their parents. And for some reason that has really stuck with me and I can't stop thinking about it. I was totally freaking out about having him in his own room where I couldn't see or hear him. Sure, we could get a monitor, but I can't shake that little fact the midwife said. Call me crazy but I couldn't live with myself if something was to happen to him while he's in his cot instead of next to me.

I've been so ashamed and embarassed to bring this up with Hubby. I feel like I've failed, like I'm slipping backwards. He was of course was fine with the whole thing, and suggested we move the cot into our room. But we love his room (even though it's not quite finished yet) so our compromise is that Malachi will sleep in a portacot in our room right beside me. I don't know how long this arrangement will last for. I'm sure he'll be in his own room by the time he's in preschool :-) But for now this works for us, and will hopefully help to lessen my anxiety.

All is Well

Boobie ultrasound went well. They couldn't find anything nasty which is great. So happy. The guy doing it didn't say a word in the beginning so of course I was freaking out! Doesn't explain the massive pulling I get from under my arm. Maybe I'm just super sensitive and can feel the milk let down or something?? Who knows! The guy also asked if I'd like a biopsy done if it looked normal. Yeah Buddy, shove a big needle in my boob for the hell of it. Of course I declined!!

Also had mother's group Tuesday morning which went well. Sucks being somewhere at 930am though!! Around 75% of the Mum's there had an emergency C Sections!!! Crazy!!! All the bub's were super cute and around the same age which is good. One lady even had twins. Of course my little man just snobbed all the babies. I put him down on the rug on the floor and another Mumma put her daughter right next to Malachi. He just ignored her and continued on with sucking his fist.

I am going out tomorrow night (sans baby) to see Melissa Ohden speak. Melissa is the survivor of a failed saline infusion abortion at approximately six months gestation. If you want to hear more about Melissa's story, this is the youtube video.

Oh baby!!

Image from here

Two posts in a week *GASP* I can't believe it!! I thought I better do something while the little guy protests sleep... again!

I thought I was on to something this morning. It only took 15 minutes to get him to sleep with just the dummy. Sometimes its dummy and rocking but not this morning. I did a little happy dance and then of course, I jinxed myself by texting Hubby about it. He woke after just one sleep cycle and the other sleep of the day has been CRAP!!

He is currently in his basket having a whinge about sleeping, even though clearly he is tired. GAH! Babies I tells you. I am at my wits end with the unpredictability that a baby brings. So I had heard many people talk about Save our Sleep by Tizzie Hall so I borrowed it from a friend and read most of the relevant things last night. Three words - What a Nutter!! I was annoyed at her after oh I don't know 20 pages? Does this lady even have a degree in anything baby? I read the author's note at the beginning of the book and she claims she's been a baby whisperer since 9!? Yeah okay.

She also says feeding your baby everytime they cry will mean he'll be an emotional eater when he's older. UMMM sure okay. I'd like to think that if my baby isn't hungry he won't eat. And I have noticed that if he isn't hungry he'll just pull on and off the boob. Cue me trying to find another solution to the crying. I'd also like to think that I'm smart enough to know that if it's only been an hour after his last feed he's probably not hungry and perhaps it might be something else wrong with him.

So now that I've crossed this book off my list of books not to adhere to I'm stuck as to what to try next. You hear so many good and bad things about different routines it's hard to know where to begin. I have heard of babywise and no cry sleep solution but don't want to fork out the money to read these books incase it's not what I want to follow. I think it might be time to get a library card so I can start borrowing books. Old school hey!? Can't remember the last time I borrowed a book from the library.

In better news, I think he's asleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No dummy and no crying he just moaned and grunted a little and is now (fingers crossed I don't jinx myself) ASLEEP!! Oh thank goodness. Let's hope he lasts more than one sleep cycle. One can dream right!?

Now off to tidy the house.

Parenting Choices

Image from here

I was going to write this post yesterday but we had a pretty crappy day. A certian baby of mine decided sleep was for the weak and only slept maybe 2ish hours (and not all at once) between 7am and 8pm. I felt like all I did yesterday was try and get him to sleep, with obviously limited success. I even went to the mall and met some friends and drank coffee over his head while he was in the sling. **Gasp** what a bad Mummy. Anyway, that wasn't what I was going to ramble on about I was going to talk about people's need to offer advice.

Before I had a baby I heard from other Mummies about (mostly) well meaning people trying to help out and give advice. I too have found that since having a baby everyone loves to give you their two cents worth. It doesn't matter that they had a child 5, 10, 20, 30 years ago they'll still dish out the advice whether you ask for it or not. I find it so hard sometimes to just smile and suck it up and listen to them bash on about breastfeeding/using a dummy/cloth nappies/co sleeping etc or whatever it is they feel like going on about. So this is my advice to those people:

Please stop!! No I do not care that you never used a dummy, had a perfect angel child who slept for long periods in their cot, breastfed for a gazillion months etc. You telling me these things do not help me. I am doing the best I can for MY child and for the moment that involves using a dummy and letting him snuggle up to me in our bed at 2am in the morning when I am sick of hearing his noisy grunts. If you don't like it, I DON'T CARE!! You did not carry this baby in your womb for 9 months and then labour for 22 hours and push him out of you! He is my baby and I will do what works for me.

If you want to help I have stacks of washing that needs folding and I can't remember the last time my floors have seen a mop.

That is all.... carry on!!!