Friends Cut

[gen_here]

I hope that my child[ren], looking back on today
Will remember a mother who had time to play;

I've been debating about this for awhile now. I don't want to cut anyone, because I honestly like and am "invested" into each and every one of you on my friends list. I've found myself skimming entries lately, though, and that's not fair to you - to have a "friend" who can't keep up with what's going on in your life. I'm afraid, though, that until things settle a little, I need to cut some of my long-posters.

Please, please, please don't be offended by this. I'm hoping that you will have it in your heart to let me ask back on your lists when more free time is allotted me. However, that won't be for quite awhile, it seems, and my kids need me a lot more than my computer does. Know that I will still be thinking of you guys often - especially my friends that are expecting new little ones in the near future. I hope to still keep up on what's going on with you in communities we're both in when I have time to check in there.

I'm going to leave this up until about midweek, then take it down due to our lovely internet stalkers who have nothing better to do than follow us around. If you want/need more info about the cut, don't hesitate to email.

Thanks

Comments

Part 2

[gen-here.livejournal.com]

First, this might just be temporary. It's quite possible that he's going through a growth spurt. Physical is a little off schedule (but babies don't know there's a how-to guide on this stuff ;-) ). It could be a developmental growth spurt, too. Has he learned something new lately - or has his routine changed at all? He may be exciting himself - or worried that you won't come to him and is testing it out to make sure he's wrong. I'm really not a fan of letting a baby cry to get them on your schedule - I don't know where you stand on that. But if that's something that you've been trying recently, this might be his reaction to that, too.

You could try getting him attached to a "lovie" of your (or his) choice. Some parents don't like to do that for sleep time because of the SIDS scare. I'm not someone to talk to about that as M sleeps on her tummy with a small crocheted kitten that a friend made for her and has since birth. You can save this lovie for when he wakes up during the day (in other words... not an all-the-time toy) and give it to him when you know he's getting tired and would otherwise want to nurse. You may still have to nurse him for awhile, but it may help you gradually spread the feedings overnight a little.

He could be hungry. If it's a physical growth spurt, he definitely is. In general, though, breastmilk is easier to digest than formula is. It is absorbed a lot faster (and a lot more efficiently), so he's able to process it better and is hungrier again sooner. This is a GOOD thing, even though it doesn't seem like it when you're on the sleepless side of it. I'd still really encourage you to hold off on solids a *little bit* longer. When babies are newborns, they have "holes" in the lining of their stomach and intestines to help them rapidly absorb nutrients in their milk so they can get the energy they need to grow as quickly as they do. By right around 6 months, those holes are pretty much sealed up. Feeding solids before they holes are closed give larger molecules of foreign substances (cow's milk protein from formula, gluten from cereals, different substances from fruits and veggies) easier access to your baby's bloodstream. Not only are they getting more than they need (which some studies link to childhood obesity), but this can also predispose them to food allergies.

I know he's a big guy - I'm not sure how much M weighs, but she's above the 50th at least, I know. But I promise you that he's not starving if you hold off on solids for the month (he was born just before Nov, right? So you don't even have a whole month to go if you want to start right at 6 months). However, if you start him on solids a week or so early, it won't kill him =) Just be prepared that he may not be ready to start them - even if you are. My dear son, I love him, but he didn't even want to be tasting solids on a regular basis until he was well into his 8th month... eating meals of them until about 11 months. Drove me crazy, but we never pushed it. He now, literally, eats anything.

Follow your gut and his cues, hun. All the theories in the world are great, but no one knows him better than his mama =) And feel free to contact me again if I can help at all. Here or my email (this username at livejournal dot com). And please let me know how things go.