So maybe....

we can hold off a bit longer. Last night, a warmer sleeping bag and babygro and the boy slept from 11pm till 9am. I don't really want to rush the solids, because right now, at least I don't have to worry about "balancing" his diet or finding something for him to eat when we are out and about.

Time Zones

I finally got around to changing the time zone setting for my blog. Unfortunately, this has totally thrown out all the time records for the old posts. Well, I'm sure you're not paying that much attention anyway...

Is it weaning time?

Well, Pupo is not yet 4 months and in theory is not ready to be weaned. In theory, "most" babies should be fine till 6 months on just breastmilk. In theory, "most" babies will not benefit at all from solids before 4 months and indeed, it may be harmful for their undeveloped digestive systems.

Pupo, as you may have noticed, is not "most" babies. Pupo is about 7kg. Pupo is now regularly in clothes for 6-9 month old babies, has grown out of his age 6 month sleeping bag (and all his 3-6 month dungarees). He has also stopped sleeping through the night after weeks of parental bliss.

I'd planned to introduce solids during our holidays in December when we would all be together and relaxed but now I don't think he can last that long. I'm trying to hang on till that magical 4 month mark at least. I'll call his nurse next week and see what she suggests. For every health professional, there are as many opinions. SAHM was warned not to give solids before 6 months at all costs or her baby would be permanently injured. (She ignored the advice, incidentally, and gave him some rice at 4 months; he's none the worse but SAHM nearly had a nervous breakdown such was the guilt). Other nurses suggest that some babies might benefit as early as 8 weeks. How do we know?

Meanwhile, one last ditch attempt on the night waking... I think he might be cold. So we'll try a thicker babygro and warmer sleeping bag and if that fails, call in the nurse.

Pupo the Active Citizen

Yesterday, the ladies of Iceland went on strike to protest unfair pay at work and an unfair share of unpaid labour.

Pupo came along with mummy to show everybody just how much work he was. Mummy didn't go on strike, exactly, 'cause hubby "had" to work till 6pm. Hmmm... but we were there in spirit.

All been madly busy here, sadly not with pupo, but with work (long story and yes, I am meant to be on maternity leave). Currently getting myself in a right old stress about weaning. Not quite there yet, but pupo is drinking so much that I don' t think I can keep up much longer.

Hope to post more when I'm not quite so busy.

Pupo's first protest

3 month old pupo will be one of the youngest at today's gender equality protest. 30 years ago today, all the women of Iceland stopped work, both paid and unpaid, and you can imagine the results. Complete chaos. Their demands were that their unpaid labour be recognised and that they get paid equally in their paid jobs.

Needless to say, 30 years later, it hasn't happened. But we are a bit closer.

So today, at 1408, the women of Iceland will stop work both in celebration of our fore-mothers and to remind our men, our Government - and not least ourselves - that we are still a long way short of equality.

Us breastfeeding mums can't exactly go on strike but pupo and I shall go along to the rally to share in spirit. It's a bit chilly today, but thankfully the rally is to be held indoors. Wouldn't want to get a chill now.

Oooh, I knew I shouldn't have posted that...

So on Tuesday night he decides he will wake for his "late" feed at 1030. Feed is delivered. He then proceeds to wake at 2, at 4 and a 5.45. Then again at 8.

Last night he woke at 4.45; I went through, told him it was still night, plugged him with a dummy, tied his arms up in the sheet and left. I didn't hear from him again till 8.30am. So whilst he has decided to wake in the night, he is admittedly very good at going back off to sleep again. Or at least lying quietly and not bothering his mum and dad.

Aha!

Just went in to check he was breathing. Yes, all parents out there KNOW what I'm talking about.

He is sucking his thumb! He's been sucking his fists for weeks now, but not quite sussed how to dislodge the thumb. Obviously keeping himself quite content. Think I'll invest in some breakfast.

Going to Regret this...

So it's now 9.20 and the boy still sleeps. He went down at 8pm last night and I woke him to feed at 11pm and put him back to sleep about 11.30. And he is still asleep. And I'm bored and impatient waiting for him to wake up....

Post-partum amnesia - or something!

I don't miss being pregnant. I didn't have a particularly bad pregnancy compared to some, but it was still rubbish. My bodyweight increased by a third and I was stiff and found it hard to do ordinary things.
I'm certainly not ready to have another baby. Pupo is quite enough for now, thank you!

But I have been thinking a lot recently about giving birth and how fantastic it was, how exciting. I'd love to do that again. This is definitely not what I was thinking the day after, as I recall lying in the hospital bed trying to imagine whether I'd want to do it again and thinking NOOO. NOOOOOOO. Absolutely NOOOO. It hurt. A lot.

But you know what? It's the most exciting experience of my life. There was a moment, maybe half an hour, just before the epidural, when I really felt I couldn't go on. But even when I was pushing and it hurt like nothing I've ever felt, it was so exciting. Just one or two more and it would all be over. And all just beginning.

Ah, the benefit of hindsight!

Pupo is being a petal; he went to bed at 8pm last night. I woke him to feed at 11pm and it is now close to 9am and I haven't heard a peep. Mornings like this fill me with love!

Heh heh! Bye bye diet!

The good news...

I can get into my suit trousers.

The bad news...

The jackets won't fasten... not much I can do about that for now.

At least I've got a bit more choice for Mr. President.

Kisses for Mummy

Pupo has recovered from his jags, or so it seemed. Yesterday I asked a friend to come over and babysit so that I could write a paper for a conference, and boy thought this would be an excellent day to cry constantly and insist on his mother's attentions. I think he was teething, 'cause his cheeks were all red and his chin was a bit raw from all the dribble. Not only did I hardly get anything done but I think I've lost my babysitter 'cause he was so horrid!

He's back to his usual cheeky self today, however. We were lying on the bed having a wee cuddle this evening when he lurched forward to kiss me. Really, not just a mistake. He threw his head forward and touched my mouth with his. And repeated it a few times.

No idea when I will manage to write this paper. I'll hopefully get some time on the weekend but the conference is next Friday so I'm cutting things a bit fine... could well be the worst paper I have ever given. And, of course, I have nothing to wear. I might have turned up at the conference in a sweater but we have a reception with the President afterwards and that is definitely a jacket event. All suit trousers in my possession, I now realise, are size 8s. Perhaps not by next Friday...

For his own good...

Jags on Thursday and a baby who slept, well, like a baby most of the day. Mummy thought, hey, this is easy. Friday, cried all day, explosion of nappy rash and one somewhat frazzled mummy who couldn't get out on what was probably the last warm and sunny day for some months. Dinner party which meant hubby cooking and mummy doing all the child care. I managed my one hour at the pool with a "can you be back by 5.30?" shouted just as I was leaving for my daily peace and quiet.

Hubby has gone off to a conference; pupo has been up since 06.45 and is now napping. I think he is chirpier today. Nappy rash has been something of an ongoing battle. No sooner has it cleared up in one place when it begins somewhere else, but it has never got so bad as to 'cause him pain again. I think the vaccinations just overloaded his immune system which is why yesterday it flared up. For sure, it is not humanly possible to change this baby's nappy any more than I do and he gets his daily "air time."

Tired tired today and in desperate need of some sleep. But that won't happen, so I might as well just get on with it.

Sweater Update

Now the proud possessor of a fleece cardi thing that is covered in baby poo. We went for first jabs today. As boy sat gurgling in his nappy on my lap, he exploded and covered said sweater, my jeans, the chair and the floor. I was secretly quite proud. Then we got our revenge by having a pin stuck in him. The baby sleeps. Long may it continue.

Numpty, eh?

Now the proud possessor of a fleece cardi thing in a girl's size :) So there, SAHM!

Woah, how much did my waistline expand?

Was at the mall today (said mall with 6 shops, I hasten to add) and they had a sale on trousers. I tried on some cords in a size 12 (UK, not US) and they were tiny. I tried the 14 and it went over my bum but was a long way off fastening. Demoralised, I gave some size 12 jeans a go. Nope, wouldn't even go over my hips.
Ouch ouch...
Then I noticed that the 12 and 14 were suspiciously different lenghts... they were KIDS'. It was age 12 and age 14 :)