Six Months
On Friday 23rd Dec Cooper reached the 6 month milestone. What a wonderful six months it has been! Cooper is getting so clever at playing. He can sit up, roll over, scootch around. Two days after his 6 month mark, he was up on his hands and knees, so I'm wondering how far away crawling will be. He moves towards and reaches out for his toys, swapping them around from hand to hand to mouth. He loves interacting with and being around people. Twinkle little star is one of his favourite nursery rhymes.
Of course, with the age milestone came the immunisations. He was quite sad on Friday.
Christmas
Cooper's first Christmas was not especially spectacular from his point of view. He had a cute little elf outfit that he wore to several parties. I don't think he was aware o f the outfit itself, but he loved wearing it because he got lots of attention, which he loves :) He slept through half the first Christmas party. When it came to pressies, he had a go at unwrapping them, getting better with each round, but was still generally more interested in the paper. He was very spoilt!
Drugs
On boxing day (Mon), Cooper began to crash. His eye that has been sticky on and off since birth got lots worse, so we started on the conjunctivitus drops that I'd fortunately brought along. (We were up at the farm for a week.) His temperature was rising, so we began to give him panadol. He was getting hoarse, which turned into a cough, and leaking snot. He was sleeping for hours on end. And worst of all, he was SAD! So so sad.
By Wed morning, his temp was over 38 degrees celcius and he couldn't even manage to muster up one smile. That's when I cried. When my happy, happy baby couldn't smile, I knew he wasn't good. I hate to see him so sad.
A trip to Bordertown to visit the lovely local doctor, and a dose of antibiotics was prescribed for a chest infection. He's had just the one dose so far, but is still coughing and sad. I'm hoping it starts to work really quickly. My poor baby :(
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
Tummy sleeping
By golly, he did it!! He slept for 4 3/4 hours straight!!! YEAH, BABY!!!
Now, that may not seem like a massive achievement, but keep in mind that Cooper has been waking approximately every 2 hours (that means only 1.5 - 1.75 hrs sleep between re-settling a baby) for 7.5 weeks now... not that I'm counting ;) He has managed up to about 3hrs a few times, but has also been shorter many times, even as short as 10 min. So, after almost two months of such incredibly broken sleep, this seems like a sleep marathon to me! I got over 4 hours, by the time I'd finished up in the kitchen and made it to bed myself.
So, what brought about the sudden blessing, you ask? I did one of the unforgivables, in the eyes of the maternal health nurses... I put him to sleep on his tummy.
I've had it drilled into me ever since I got pregnant... "you NEVER put a baby to sleep on their tummy! Even if you put them to sleep on their side so you can rub their back, you roll them back on to their back once they are asleep. This is the ONLY acceptable and safe way for a baby to sleep."
So I was somewhat terrified about breaking the rules. I know that Cooper can easily roll over, so I'm sure he could reposition his body if he was having trouble breathing, but there is always that fear. I've heard the risk of SIDS is highest between 2 and 6 months, and he isn't quite 6 months yet. But I know he likes sleeping on his tummy... that's how he sleeps on his dad in the evenings. And a friend said that the first time her unsettled bub slept through was when she put him on his tummy. So, with much fear and trepidation, I did it. And it worked!
Wohoo!!! Fingers crossed we do well tonight, too! Keep your eyes on the lookout for a more human Heather again soon! :D
Now, that may not seem like a massive achievement, but keep in mind that Cooper has been waking approximately every 2 hours (that means only 1.5 - 1.75 hrs sleep between re-settling a baby) for 7.5 weeks now... not that I'm counting ;) He has managed up to about 3hrs a few times, but has also been shorter many times, even as short as 10 min. So, after almost two months of such incredibly broken sleep, this seems like a sleep marathon to me! I got over 4 hours, by the time I'd finished up in the kitchen and made it to bed myself.
So, what brought about the sudden blessing, you ask? I did one of the unforgivables, in the eyes of the maternal health nurses... I put him to sleep on his tummy.
I've had it drilled into me ever since I got pregnant... "you NEVER put a baby to sleep on their tummy! Even if you put them to sleep on their side so you can rub their back, you roll them back on to their back once they are asleep. This is the ONLY acceptable and safe way for a baby to sleep."
So I was somewhat terrified about breaking the rules. I know that Cooper can easily roll over, so I'm sure he could reposition his body if he was having trouble breathing, but there is always that fear. I've heard the risk of SIDS is highest between 2 and 6 months, and he isn't quite 6 months yet. But I know he likes sleeping on his tummy... that's how he sleeps on his dad in the evenings. And a friend said that the first time her unsettled bub slept through was when she put him on his tummy. So, with much fear and trepidation, I did it. And it worked!
Wohoo!!! Fingers crossed we do well tonight, too! Keep your eyes on the lookout for a more human Heather again soon! :D
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Getting Active
Boy is Cooper on the move!! He has, of course, been scooching for ages. Has also been rolling around like mad for a little while now. Gotta be careful where I leave him now!
His latest achievement is sitting. Of course, he isn't particularly steady yet, but is improving dramatically each day. He is so excited and happy with himself! For a while now, he has liked me to sit him up and help support him so that he can play with his toys while sitting, and he is just so pleased to be able to do it with less intervention from me.
Sometimes I'm not quick enough to catch him when he topples, and he occassionally seems to hit the floor fairly hard, but he appears not to be bothered by it. He simply lies there, lifting his head, straining to be able to sit up again.... got a long way to go before he is strong enough for that, however.
He is also showing signs of trying to crawl. He has been tucking his knees up under himself for a while, but not actually doing anything with them, and certainly not lifting his upper body at the same time. Last night, though, he was on his tummy, reaching for a toy out in front of him. He tucked his knees up, then propelled himself forward! Obviously still has a way to go, but with the rate that he is developing, I'm hoping it won't be too long before he is up and crawling!
*Another disclaimer: don't bother saying "Oh, don't wish him crawling, b/c babies are so much easier when they can't get around" or similar, because I disagree. The more mobile and active Cooper gets, the happier he is and the more fun I have with him. Babies are cute, but, to be honest, I find them a little boring. I am getting so much happier now as he gets into things more, and have stopped talking about wanting to go back to work or pestering Jason to have another baby. :)
His latest achievement is sitting. Of course, he isn't particularly steady yet, but is improving dramatically each day. He is so excited and happy with himself! For a while now, he has liked me to sit him up and help support him so that he can play with his toys while sitting, and he is just so pleased to be able to do it with less intervention from me.
Sometimes I'm not quick enough to catch him when he topples, and he occassionally seems to hit the floor fairly hard, but he appears not to be bothered by it. He simply lies there, lifting his head, straining to be able to sit up again.... got a long way to go before he is strong enough for that, however.
He is also showing signs of trying to crawl. He has been tucking his knees up under himself for a while, but not actually doing anything with them, and certainly not lifting his upper body at the same time. Last night, though, he was on his tummy, reaching for a toy out in front of him. He tucked his knees up, then propelled himself forward! Obviously still has a way to go, but with the rate that he is developing, I'm hoping it won't be too long before he is up and crawling!
*Another disclaimer: don't bother saying "Oh, don't wish him crawling, b/c babies are so much easier when they can't get around" or similar, because I disagree. The more mobile and active Cooper gets, the happier he is and the more fun I have with him. Babies are cute, but, to be honest, I find them a little boring. I am getting so much happier now as he gets into things more, and have stopped talking about wanting to go back to work or pestering Jason to have another baby. :)
Starting Solids
I had a friend stay recently. I was totally blown away by watching her little 10 month old eating. Tiny hadn't been interested in food until 8 months, and yet just 2 months later, here she was, munching on butter chicken and steamed snow peas and carrot with the rest of the family!!
Tab told me about "baby-led weaning", where you basically let your baby play with food instead of mashing it all for them, and they just learn to chew and then swallow. They may play for quite a while before actually eating, but as they are getting all their nutrition from breastmilk (or formula), it is just about experiencing food.
I was so totally impressed by Tiny, that I decided to give it a go. Pretty much whenever Cooper grabs for my food, I just let him, to see what he does with it. Food he has tried so far:
- apricots (probably his fave, although not if it is mashed... must be whole)
- yoghurt
- sweet potato (both mashed and in chunks - didn't like it either way)
- mashed potato (liked it plain, not so much with garlic and chives, lol)
- steamed carrot sticks and beans (great for holding, sucking and gumming, but couldn't actually eat... sooked a bit about that, so we gave him yoghurt afterwards)
- raisin toast (loved it)
- white bread (didn't mind it. Was at a party, peeled it off my sandwich for him... not sure what was in the sandwich (some kind of paste puree type thing) but he got a little red mark and a tiny bit of eczema on the side of his face after that... oops :-/ )
- kiwi fruit (um, yeah, I know now that is prob in the category of strawberries as far as allergies go and will avoid for a while)
- watermelon
- sausage (absolutely loved that! Give the man some meat!)
I think that's about it. It is so much fun to watch his face as he experiences the different temperatures, tastes and textures. He is really enjoying the food experience, as are we!
*Disclaimer... I thought about not posting this, as some people may be horrified at me letting a 5 month old chomp on all kinds of whole food, but this blog is primarily for me to remember what it's like while Cooper is little. So I'm recording the memories here for me. If you're horrified, don't read it! :)
Tab told me about "baby-led weaning", where you basically let your baby play with food instead of mashing it all for them, and they just learn to chew and then swallow. They may play for quite a while before actually eating, but as they are getting all their nutrition from breastmilk (or formula), it is just about experiencing food.
I was so totally impressed by Tiny, that I decided to give it a go. Pretty much whenever Cooper grabs for my food, I just let him, to see what he does with it. Food he has tried so far:
- apricots (probably his fave, although not if it is mashed... must be whole)
- yoghurt
- sweet potato (both mashed and in chunks - didn't like it either way)
- mashed potato (liked it plain, not so much with garlic and chives, lol)
- steamed carrot sticks and beans (great for holding, sucking and gumming, but couldn't actually eat... sooked a bit about that, so we gave him yoghurt afterwards)
- raisin toast (loved it)
- white bread (didn't mind it. Was at a party, peeled it off my sandwich for him... not sure what was in the sandwich (some kind of paste puree type thing) but he got a little red mark and a tiny bit of eczema on the side of his face after that... oops :-/ )
- kiwi fruit (um, yeah, I know now that is prob in the category of strawberries as far as allergies go and will avoid for a while)
- watermelon
- sausage (absolutely loved that! Give the man some meat!)
I think that's about it. It is so much fun to watch his face as he experiences the different temperatures, tastes and textures. He is really enjoying the food experience, as are we!
*Disclaimer... I thought about not posting this, as some people may be horrified at me letting a 5 month old chomp on all kinds of whole food, but this blog is primarily for me to remember what it's like while Cooper is little. So I'm recording the memories here for me. If you're horrified, don't read it! :)
Sleeping like a baby
Cooper has passed the 5 month mark now, and overnight wakings seem to be finally settling down. We usually just have 2 per night now. Thank goodness. Still hoping that will soon reduce down to one!!
He has just started sleeping in his own room, too.
Ok, so I started writing this post a while ago. Cooper is now 5 1/2 months, and the wheels have well and truly fallen off the sleep wagon. We're talking about waking every hour overnight and needing to be held during daytime sleeps again. I've given up on his cot and had him back in our bed the last few nights... this has resulted in one slightly longer sleep each night.
Oh the tiredness! This is what I was expecting at the start, and pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as bad as I thought. I wasn't expecting it now though, and it's killing me!
I took him back off solids, as I thought maybe that was somehow disturbing him, but that wasn't it. For a little while he had nappy rash and pink cheeks, so I thought it might be teething. He is still chomping really hard on my fingers, so that might be a factor. But I'm starting to think that maybe it's just all that he is learning at the moment... his brain is just too fired up to sleep.
Ah well, this too shall pass!
He has just started sleeping in his own room, too.
Ok, so I started writing this post a while ago. Cooper is now 5 1/2 months, and the wheels have well and truly fallen off the sleep wagon. We're talking about waking every hour overnight and needing to be held during daytime sleeps again. I've given up on his cot and had him back in our bed the last few nights... this has resulted in one slightly longer sleep each night.
Oh the tiredness! This is what I was expecting at the start, and pleasantly surprised that it wasn't as bad as I thought. I wasn't expecting it now though, and it's killing me!
I took him back off solids, as I thought maybe that was somehow disturbing him, but that wasn't it. For a little while he had nappy rash and pink cheeks, so I thought it might be teething. He is still chomping really hard on my fingers, so that might be a factor. But I'm starting to think that maybe it's just all that he is learning at the moment... his brain is just too fired up to sleep.
Ah well, this too shall pass!
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