What am I up to lately?

Assalam alaikum & Peace to all

Well what am I up to? Mostly taking care of our little six month old darling...lol.  So I started to give him solid foods...mashallah it has been going well.  He has had apples, peaches, carrots, pears, and peas - in that order! They say you should not start with 'sweet' foods but hey what do they know... just kidding...it just happened to happen this way. Next he will get butternut squash and later maybe avocado and bananas!  I must also say that I have been making all this food and not buying them pre-made - mashallah it has been easy so far - alhamduillah - I really hope to keep it up, as I do not like all the additives they put into it and the processing involved with it.  There is organic ready made baby foods - I may use those if we are travelling or something like that.  Life is interesting with a six month old - mashallah I am enjoying it!

So my next thing is Ramadan, I am very nervous and scared about it.  I know I probably should not say that as it is a very holy month - but it is such a long day this year.  Last year I did not fast because I was pregnant and felt very left out, as well at Eid hubby took off for 'home' so I was left alone with my non-muslim, non-caring-about-ramadan mother, anyways.  So I look forward to the month but with fear that I will not be able to fast for so long.  It starts at around 4:30am and breaking the fast is at 8:30pm - I just can't imagine it?? I am partially breast-feeding and my fear is that my supply will disappear (its such a small amount already) I know they say you can not fast if you think there is a danger to you or your child - but it is not a danger, it is just that I would like him to get as much breast milk as possible - inshallah my supply will not go. 

So that is what I am up to lately...not too exciting but its my life right now!

I hope to post more soon...inshallah!


 

Sleep training from a baby's perspective

 Assalam alaikum & Peace to all

Found this on an online group was really funny

OK, here is my situation. My Mommy has had me for almost 7 months. The first few months were great - I cried, she picked me up and fed me, anytime, day or night. Then something happened. Over the last few weeks, she has been trying to STTN (sleep thru the night). At first, I thought it was just a phase, but it is only getting worse. I have talked to other babies, and it seems like it is pretty common after Mommies have had us for around 6 months.

Here is the thing: these Mommies do not really need to sleep. It is just a habit. Many of them have had
some 30 years to sleep--they just do not need it anymore. So, I am implementing a plan. I call it the Cry-baby Shuffle. It goes like this:

Night 1--cry every 3 hours until you are fed. I know, it is hard. It is hard to see your Mommy upset over your crying. Just keep reminding yourself, it is for her own good.
Night 2--cry every 2 hours until you are fed.
Night 3 - every hour.

Most Mommies will start to respond more quickly after about 3 nights. Some Mommies are more alert, and may resist the change longer. These Mommies may stand in your doorway for hours, shhhh-ing. Do not give in. I cannot stress this enough: CONSISTENCY IS KEY! If you let her STTN (sleep through the night), just once, she will expect it every night. I KNOW IT IS HARD! However, she really does not need the sleep; she is just resisting the change. If you have an especially alert Mommy, you can stop crying for about 10 minutes, just long enough for her to go back to bed and start to fall asleep. Then cry again. It WILL eventually work. My Mommy once stayed awake for 10 hours straight, so I know she can do it. Last night, I cried every hour. You just have to decide to stick to it and just go for it. BE CONSISTENT! I cried for any reason I could come up with:

My sleep sack tickled my foot.
I felt a wrinkle under the sheet.
My mobile made a shadow on the wall.
I burped, and it tasted like pears. I hadn't eaten pears since lunch, what is up with that?
The cat said "meow". I should know. My Mommy reminds me of this about 20 times a day.
Once I cried just because I liked how it sounded when it echoed on the monitor in the other room.

Too hot, too cold, just right--does not matter! Keep crying!
It took awhile, but it worked. She fed me at 4 am. Tomorrow night, my goal is 3:30 am. You need to slowly shorten the interval between feedings in order to reset your Mommies' internal clocks.
 

Sometimes my Mommy will call for reinforcements by sending in Daddy. Don’t worry Daddies are not set up for not needing sleep the way Mommies are. They can only handle a few pats and shhing before they declare defeat and send in the Mommy. 

P.S. Do not let those rubber things fool you; no matter how long you suck on them, no milk will come out. Trust me.