This month has flown by with the move and settling into our new place. It went very smoothly despite a few broken mugs, half of the keyboard not functioning anymore, and a broken couscous dish.
Madeleine has adjusted very well to her new environment, she seems to enjoy the fact that we have more space, more nature surrounding us. I remember one morning she was lying on our bed while I was getting ready, and just kept staring out the window at the trees in the garden. It must be so beautiful to her, since in Paris, all she saw out the window was construction work from when she was 2.5 months to when we left. July has been eventful as Madeleine has learned how to sit up properly (she started around 5.5 months). She can go for long periods just sitting on her own, playing on her playmat, and from time to time will look at me and smile to make sure I'm still around. This gives me just a little more time to do things because I don't have to hold her so much anymore.
Madeleine has adjusted very well to her new environment, she seems to enjoy the fact that we have more space, more nature surrounding us. I remember one morning she was lying on our bed while I was getting ready, and just kept staring out the window at the trees in the garden. It must be so beautiful to her, since in Paris, all she saw out the window was construction work from when she was 2.5 months to when we left. July has been eventful as Madeleine has learned how to sit up properly (she started around 5.5 months). She can go for long periods just sitting on her own, playing on her playmat, and from time to time will look at me and smile to make sure I'm still around. This gives me just a little more time to do things because I don't have to hold her so much anymore.
She's actually getting sick of her toys because they might just be a bit too "easy" for her. The picture on the right was taken at her 6th month pediatrician appointment. She loved his toys...she's gotten very good at grabbing things, like my hair, my face, Pookie's leash, you name it!
We still need to get more furniture for our new place, it's just so empty here but our we're on a rather tight budget these days...and will be for atleast for the next 3 to 4 months. But Saint Cloud is a lovely little city, with lots of greenery and loads of children. Madeleine has already made 2 little boyfriends here, Romain and Noah who are 8.5 months old and 7 months old. It's funny to watch babies play amongst themselves, I mean they don't really, they just grab at each others' hair and nose, and try to keep the most toys to themselves.
SLEEP/NURSING
At almost 7 months, Madeleine's sleeping in her own room now, but wakes frequently and when it gets to around 2 am, and when she's woken up at least 4 times, I just take her in with me because I NEED TO SLEEP TOO. So for anybody who's wondering, NO, Madeleine does NOT sleep through the night. She never has except at 2 months of age she did for about a week. When she did, I thought yes! My baby's sleeping through the night hooray!!!! Not.
She still nurses about twice per night. And I've been told most breastfed babies don't sleep through the night till they've been weaned....oh my. I'm ok with that, but it's so challenging some days, to hear other mothers tell you the goodness of bottlefeeding.
R.'s brother who is completely against co sleeping asked me how long I intended to breastfeed, I guess I don't really know myself. But as long as I can, I want to continue doing so. Yet, I've been feeling like my milk supply is low. Maybe it's just an illusion, but I just can't seem to pump very much. I'm pumping only for the bedtime feed, because I'm mixing breastmilk with cereal so I have to do it in a bottle. I'm hoping it'll stretch her feeds out longer at night so we all can sleep more. At first I thought it was my crappy manual pump so I got an eletric one, but I just can't seem to pump more than 60 ml at a time. Maybe it's because I've been feeling very tired lately because Madeleine has been having frequent wakes (almost every 2 to 3 hours). Maybe she's waking because she's hungry? Maybe tummy ache? I don't know anymore, she seems hungry all the time these days. Maybe growth spurt?
She has good weeks though where she won't fight naps, sleeps for long stretches...and then there are those other weeks.....it gets me down every time I hear a mom who's baby is younger than Madeleine say, "My baby's sleeps from 7pm to 7am." I just want to shove something down her throat. I'm coming to terms with the fact that my baby's just not a super sleeper....
She has good weeks though where she won't fight naps, sleeps for long stretches...and then there are those other weeks.....it gets me down every time I hear a mom who's baby is younger than Madeleine say, "My baby's sleeps from 7pm to 7am." I just want to shove something down her throat. I'm coming to terms with the fact that my baby's just not a super sleeper....
SOLIDS
This is it! We started out the month with just a few teaspoons of pureed food and she is wolfing down tablespoonful of mashed potato, pureed green beas, peaches, and figs! Not so keen on applesauce though. She's gotten so heavy all of a sudden my back is really suffering from her weight!
We still need to get more furniture for our new place, it's just so empty here but our we're on a rather tight budget these days...and will be for atleast for the next 3 to 4 months. But Saint Cloud is a lovely little city, with lots of greenery and loads of children. Madeleine has already made 2 little boyfriends here, Romain and Noah who are 8.5 months old and 7 months old. It's funny to watch babies play amongst themselves, I mean they don't really, they just grab at each others' hair and nose, and try to keep the most toys to themselves.
SLEEP/NURSING
At almost 7 months, Madeleine's sleeping in her own room now, but wakes frequently and when it gets to around 2 am, and when she's woken up at least 4 times, I just take her in with me because I NEED TO SLEEP TOO. So for anybody who's wondering, NO, Madeleine does NOT sleep through the night. She never has except at 2 months of age she did for about a week. When she did, I thought yes! My baby's sleeping through the night hooray!!!! Not.
She still nurses about twice per night. And I've been told most breastfed babies don't sleep through the night till they've been weaned....oh my. I'm ok with that, but it's so challenging some days, to hear other mothers tell you the goodness of bottlefeeding.
R.'s brother who is completely against co sleeping asked me how long I intended to breastfeed, I guess I don't really know myself. But as long as I can, I want to continue doing so. Yet, I've been feeling like my milk supply is low. Maybe it's just an illusion, but I just can't seem to pump very much. I'm pumping only for the bedtime feed, because I'm mixing breastmilk with cereal so I have to do it in a bottle. I'm hoping it'll stretch her feeds out longer at night so we all can sleep more. At first I thought it was my crappy manual pump so I got an eletric one, but I just can't seem to pump more than 60 ml at a time. Maybe it's because I've been feeling very tired lately because Madeleine has been having frequent wakes (almost every 2 to 3 hours). Maybe she's waking because she's hungry? Maybe tummy ache? I don't know anymore, she seems hungry all the time these days. Maybe growth spurt?
She has good weeks though where she won't fight naps, sleeps for long stretches...and then there are those other weeks.....it gets me down every time I hear a mom who's baby is younger than Madeleine say, "My baby's sleeps from 7pm to 7am." I just want to shove something down her throat. I'm coming to terms with the fact that my baby's just not a super sleeper....
She has good weeks though where she won't fight naps, sleeps for long stretches...and then there are those other weeks.....it gets me down every time I hear a mom who's baby is younger than Madeleine say, "My baby's sleeps from 7pm to 7am." I just want to shove something down her throat. I'm coming to terms with the fact that my baby's just not a super sleeper....
SOLIDS
This is it! We started out the month with just a few teaspoons of pureed food and she is wolfing down tablespoonful of mashed potato, pureed green beas, peaches, and figs! Not so keen on applesauce though. She's gotten so heavy all of a sudden my back is really suffering from her weight!
I've read up on baby led weaning, but have only given a few shy attempts with really really soft food like peeled prune. Im' just too afraid she'll gag. I think I'll wait a few more months. In the meantime, she'll just enjoy mushy food from a spoon...