Due January/February 2015

[Amber]

Congratulations Heidi - I hope all is going well at home.

[laura R]

Congratulations heidi. Fab news. Hope your all doing well x

[Jaffa1]

Congratulations! That's a lovely name. I hope your birth went well, and you've settled in at home. Do you have a picture?

Jovie is 6 weeks old today and about 6 or 7lb, she is being weighed this week so I'll find out then!

Hope everyone else is doing well. I am finding the lack of sleep and the crying baby hard work right now. Xx

Sorry the picture is absolutely ginormous!

[Amber]

Hi Jaffa - That picture is so cute, it reminds me of Helaina a few weeks ago. I can see the flapping arms!

Ditto the lack of sleep, people keep saying it gets easier after 8 weeks but I have yet to experience this. Helaina is always hungry and there is no way she is going to sleep until she is satiated. To make matters worse the cat is now insisting on coming upstairs again at night time (meowing loudly and bashing the door downstairs!) so I then have a wired baby and a wired cat. If I could catch up in the day it would help but Helaina doesn't sleep long enough and is more likely to sleep if I take her out!

[Jaffa1]

Oh goodness it's hard isn't it?! This little monkey has been screaming this morning but is now sleeping on me. Going to see if I can put her in her bed so I can shower! I hope the cat calms down soon that can't be helpful at all. How long does she sleep for at a time? The most Jovie has done is 2.5 hours but mostly 1-2 hours this week. She is 6lb 4oz so still the size of a newborn really. I hope it gets better soon I'm tired! Xx

[Amber]

Hi Jaffa

Helaina can sleep 3 to 4 hours at night now but that has only started happening recently before then it was round 2 to 3 hours. She did even manage nearly 5 hours in one stretch once last Thursday (and the cat behaved herself!). I felt so much better on the Friday for it. Unfortunately the Friday night was back to shorted sleep periods but then last night was better. I think now she is 9+ weeks things are beginning to turn around, however I know there will be some good and some bad nights for a bit. I think you just have to hold on to that thought that it won't last forever and it will get better eventually even though at the moment it seems like eternity (bit like the pregnancy sickness).

xxx

[Amber]

Hi Jaffa

Just read your post on another thread and thought you may be interested in the link below:

http://www.purplecrying.info/

Apparently 8 weeks is the peak which is where Jovie is at the moment.

[Jaffa1]

Hello and thank you! I read some bits on that site a couple of weeks ago and thought it was interesting, then forgot about it! I'm glad you reminded me of it. I'll give it another read! I also read about a theory that babies go through developmental "wonder" weeks and this is a bad week so I'll know if it's nonsense sooner or later as it predicts that I'm due a happier week starting in a couple of days. I like to read theories about the angry baby I currently have as it gives me reassurance that it's not something I have done to upset her, and it's normal and I can cope.

[Amber]

Hi all

How is everyone getting on with motherhood? Has Jovie calmed down Jaffa? Laura, Heidi and Blossom - how are things going?

Helaina is growing fast and even the 0-3 month clothes are getting tight on her. We have just transferred her from her crib to her new cot in her own room. I have been getting better sleep too, except for last night as she woke up twice instead of once - maybe the move to her own room? Still got some sorting out to do in her room as I didn't get a chance to before because of the SPD/PGP so now keeping myself busy with this when she isn't feeding or being entertained. She has found her voice and has learnt to squeal much to her delight! Only ten more weeks and it will be time to start the weaning. Hopefully going to a workshop on, this run by my local children's centre, next month.

[Jaffa1]

Hello everyone! Amber so sorry I haven't replied sooner. I felt like a zombie until recently. Jovie is much happier now, and sleeps much better too. We moved her into her cot two nights ago and so far it's going well. I wanted to wait until she was only waking once or twice a night. 6 hours sleep in a row feels amazing! She is 18 weeks old and has doubled her birth weight so we are thrilled. I think you are probably nearly weaning helaina by now? How did the course go?

I hope everyone is happy and healthy x

[Amber]

HI Jaffa

Glad to hear things are going well and you are finally getting more sleep. It certainly takes its toll doesn't it. In general Helaina is sleeping well, however she had a cold last week so she started waking more in the night. She has also hit the 4 month sleep regression and is waking in the night but doesn't need feeding. She wriggles, talks and does the leg slamming for about half an hour before going back to sleep.

We have just started weaning but it is only tasters at lunch time of pureed food. Hopefully over the next couple of weeks she will get used to the flavours and the process of eating. She is now 21 weeks so there is no rush as 24 weeks is the current recommendation for weaning.

I have also just started to take her swimming which she loves though her first lesson didn't wear her out like the other babies - she was wired for the rest of the day! I am hoping she might decide to take a nap after her next lesson on Tuesday.

I can't believe she is almost 5 months and almost sitting up. Time has gone by so fast and it only seems like yesterday she was a tiny newborn.

[Jaffa1]

How time flies! I can't believe how long I've left it to write here. I feel bad as I leant on you all so much back in the pregnant days. I guess I'm a bit busy!! Hope you are all well and babies are fun and happy. I love being a mummy so much but it's still tiring. Jovie still hasn't slept through and has recently decided that 6am is the morning which I'm not happy about! But other than that it's brilliant with lot of smiles, laughs and her funny personality shining through.

How are you all? X

[Amber]

Hi Jaffa

We are doing fine, waiting for those pesky teeth to appear! We have some good nights were Helaina sleeps through to about 7am and some not so good nights (blaming the teeth). She is now sitting up by herself and now she wants to be able to walk and crawl. I am enjoying being a mummy but also looking forward to going back to work at the end of next month. I have managed to get reduced hours and found a good childminder so all is good on that front. I am back doing my university work so counting on regular naps to get my work done - obviously doesn't always happen.

How is everyone else getting on?

xxx