Bug = 2 years 3 months
Bub = 5 months 7 days

Yesterday we were out at Mosgiel and Granny was holding Ada while we all sat around and chatted. Granny being Granny, she wasn’t sitting quietly on the couch using the baby as an excuse not to do anything; she was buzzing around organising and playing with Linus and chatting and finding toys for Linus and all sorts.

So imagine our surprise when – in a brief period of Granny sitting perched on the coffee table – Bob noticed that Ada had fallen asleep sitting upright and facing outwards in Granny’s arms.

We’re not used to Ada falling asleep anywhere that’s not the hammock or nursing, and she wasn’t even particularly tired (we thought?!). Granny must have a magic touch!

Bug = 2 years 3 months
Bub = 5 months 2 days

This morning when I went into the lounge, it was toasty warm. “Fire!” I said, then to keep the theme going, “Water! Earth!”

“Hat!” declared Linus, who’d just put on his favourite winter hat.

Bug = 2 years 3 months
Bub = 5 months 1 day

Ada:

• for the past few weeks has been straining to sit up when she’s reclined position (e.g. in her bouncer or the car seat);
• in the past few days has started arching her back while in the hammock, and that – combined with her size – has made the hammock seem a less secure bed for her (but when I get a chance, I’m going to try to remedy the situation with a needle and thread);
• has become very bashy, especially with her right arm – it strikes strongly and rhythmically at things (and people);
• is excellent at grabbing at things and holding them (like her swinging play-gym toys)
• is fascinated by her hands;
• still very rarely gives anyone a laugh, but gives Mummy and Linus the most magical smiles when we go in to wake her in the mornings, and positively beams when Daddy comes home in the evenings;
• babbles like crazy at us, especially at 11:30 at night when we think it’s time to go to sleep!

Bug = 2 years 3 months
Bub = 5 months 1 day

Last week was quite rough for me. Ada seemed to sleep less during the day, and Linus – who very consistently naps for 1 to 2 hours every day – decided to have no nap for three days in a row. Missing naps doesn’t actually seem to have too bad an effect on his mood, but it’s a disruption to our routine.

By Tuesday night, I felt like my mood was beyond tired or dejected, and I felt I was moving back towards post-natal depression. I had PND for a short time when Linus was little (funnily enough, according to my blog it started when Linus was 5 months old!).

I don’t feel like I need to go to the doctor yet, so I’m trying to tackle the issue by looking after myself better. This means first and foremost getting more sleep. I’m trying to go to bed at 9:30pm instead of 11:00pm, and I’m trying to get some rest during the day when Linus is napping. (I’m no good at sleeping during the day, but hopefully lying down on the couch and resting for an hour will be good for me.)

I’ll also try to eat better and get a little exercise. In theory. We’ll see how the sleep thing goes first!

Another thing I’m trying to do is to tell other people how I really am when they ask, rather than keep saying everything’s fine. It’s amazing how much this helps… maybe putting the feelings into words makes the feelings easier to deal with.

Bug = 2 years 3 months
Bub = 5 months (today!)

Progress Report

It’s been a week and half since I started trying some elimination communication with Ada. It’s going moderately well. I’m still holding her over the potty and getting nothing a lot… and having her nappy free and missing pee a lot… but as of Friday I had caught three poos in the potty (plus one on a nappy while she was lying on the floor) and had NO pooey nappies, which I’m very pleased about.

(Yesterday this excellent record was spoiled by a couple of dirty nappies in the late evening, but because I was so sick the EC was on hold, so I’m not going to count this!)

Daddy Does the Business

Daddy tried “peeing” Ada a couple of nights ago for the first time, and he got some. Which is cool and annoying. He now has a 100% hit rate, while I have a 20% hit rate!

Picture

Since I presume you don’t want any photos of what Ada and I are achieving in the potty, I’ve included a photo of Ada with her little friend JG (or as I call him, “Chuckles”!).