Party!

Eli went to his first party today, a 40th birthday party for my cousin. He was a little overwhelmed by all of the people, and it was a noisy room, but that just meant he was very serious and had lots to think about! He had cuddles with Daddy while I ate my dinner - I got to eat first for a change! Many people assumed he was much older than he is, around the 6 month mark. Ah well, that's our big bubba! Later in the evening he fell asleep, and Jeanie put him in his carrier in the bedroom. Knowing his sleep habits I knew he wouldn't stay asleep in a new place for long. Sure enough, when we went to check on him he was lying wide awake staying at his surroundings curiously. However he wasn't alone - the birthday boy's parents were sitting on the bed either side of him, gently rocking the carrier and talking to him softly. They were enjoying a break from the noise and bustle also! On the way home I sat in the backseat, because he has only been in the car at night twice and fussed both times. I put my hand into the carrier to comfort him, and he immediately grabbed it and shoved my finger into his mouth! He gnawed away on my finger quite happily. Eventually I convinced him to take a dummy instead. By the time we got home, bubba was wide awake and cheerful.

Cot success!

I think overall my cot strategy is working (strategy being that we put him in there as much and as often as possible for sleeps, but don't make him stay there if he's unhappy). Until now he has always woken up within minutes in the cot - if not the second we put him down - regardless of how fast asleep or wide awake or anywhere in between he was when he was put there.

This morning he has gone down for his first cot nap AWAKE. And it worked. He slept in the cot for around an hour from 10ish - 11ish which is awesome. He didn't even have his dummy (he spat it out and I resettled him without it). I could hear him cooing at his mobile for awhile and then dropped off to sleep. :-) So that is exciting and means we are making progress!! Strange not having him where I can see him, but his little sighs in his sleep are cute. And great having my hands free instead of holding him the whole nap.

This afternoon I rocked and fed him to sleep, but he's been back in the cot for at least 20min now without waking. It's become a happy place for him.

Last night was a good night - he went to bed the same time as I did, I only had to get up once after 5min or so to stroke his head and reassure him then he was fine. All night long I kept waking up and thinking he was awake, and he may well have been - but he didn't call me. So I left him. I finally got him up at 4am for a feed as I knew he was hungry (gnawing on his fist!)

Then he was still asleep when his Daddy left for work, and didn't wake up until after 8am. (See previous post from today about that!)

I am so happy that my instincts were spot on, and glad I ignored all of the bad advice from people who insist upon routines and that nonsense. I'm not going to force him into something that doesn't work. I know I have awesome mummy instincts and I'm going to keep following them. Happy baby is the best kind of baby!

Words Words Words

Today was the first day I really knew that Eli understands the words I say.

This morning I was lying in bed and he called out from his cot, so I called back and he looked over and saw me, we had a little chat and a wave. But then I said "Would Eli like to come over to Mummy's bed and have some milk?" And he got this massive grin and excitedly waved his hands at me. It was instantaneous, and very clear that he knew exactly what I meant. I still hadn't moved from my bed either, so it was definitely the words.

Then later today he was a bit grizzly at one point around lunchtime, he'd had a long play with his toys on the floor. So I picked him up for a cuddle, but I needed to put butter on my toast for lunch which I can't do one handed. So I said "I'm just going to put you into your chair for just a minute" but before I could even get up to take him to the rocker he burst into tears. Again it was a clear reaction to my words, I was so surprised. I said "It's ok, you can stay up with mummy" and he stopped crying and was fine! Turns out he was really hungry too, so I fed him. Ok, I put him in the chair anyway and let him cry while I buttered my crumpet, then I fed him while I ate! And we were both happy.

Cleaners came this afternoon. And again it amazed me how uplifted I feel in a clean, tidy house. Part of that is all of the tidying I do before they get here - everything is in order! Eli helped me hang out the washing while they were here. It looks as though the sun has come out again, so fingers crossed everything dries and he has clean pyjamas (wondersuit) for tonight!

First public hissy fit!

Today was the first time Eli threw a tanty in public.

Because the school term has finished our "parent group" had decided to meet at a cafe for lunch instead, as there are no formal groups during the holidays. Most of our babies are too old for the official parent group now anyway - it goes up to 12 weeks of age.

Eli fell asleep and I put him down into his pram behind my chair for a nap. He slept peacefully ...until I was halfway through eating my meal. Suddenly he called, and I got up to get him. Before I picked him up he started bawling, and surprisingly didn't stop when I picked him up. I tried to offer him a boob, or a dummy, and he howled. I quickly stepped outside with him (after clambering over all of the other prams!) and he stopped. Once he was calm I took him back in, thinking I could sit down and feed him, but he immediately howled again as I took my seat.

So back outside we went, and enjoying some fresh air by the river. As soon as he was happily on my boob I headed back inside and sat down.

It was so bizarre being the lady with the screaming baby! I think perhaps he was hot, plus a bit bemused at being in the pram.

On a lighter note, at the end of lunch an elderly lady came up to our table and said "Excuse me, this has to be the most well behaved group of babies I've ever seen! And I've seen lots of mother's groups!" Very sweet. Still out of 10 babies mine was the loudest for once! Ah well, there has to be a first time for everything...

Bed shopping!

Finally went bed shopping.

Waaaay back before we got married we always said "When we get married we'll buy a King size bed!" Then we got married, and initially money was tight due to the mortgage and some unexpected wedding bills. Then we moved to Australia unexpectedly 12 months after our wedding - another hit in the pocket! The next 4 years we lived in a teeny tiny townhouse where our Queen size bed barely fit the bedroom. And then last year we moved here, and briefly considered it before deciding in a rare moment of frugality that we didn't really *need* a new bed. Instead we swapped our beds around, the ensemble I'd bought when I was flatting became the spare bed, and we slept on Shane's 16yr old slat bed with a firmer mattress. It was much friendlier to my giant pregnant self for getting in and out of bed!

But now we have Eli. And quite frankly, I'm lazy. Lying down to feed feels great, plus if I'm tired it's easier to let him fall asleep next to me and then move him. But somehow I'm the one who gets pushed out of the bed. There's the husband, and the baby, and the two cats... yeah we need some space for mummy!

So a day of shopping and testing out beds, we have a winner - mattress from Harvey Norman and a gorgeous base from Forty Winks. yay! Can't wait for delivery.

Here's some photos of Eli helping us test out new beds.

First Swim!

We went to the pool today! Sharon wheeled Eli in the pram, and the four of us (Dad, Sharon, me and Eli) walked down together. It was a really hot, bright day. The pool was empty apart from two guys swimming laps, so we had it to ourselves. Eli

Spew

Last night Eli did his first exorcist vomit. I had fed him lying down in bed, burped him, then gave him the second side. Afterwards I stood up and he was lying contented on the bed. Just as I was about to pick him up to burp him Shane said "oops he's spitting up" and sure enough there was a little sick on the bed. I lifted him and it all came flying out everywhere - hilarious! I was so stunned it took me a second to react. Good times.