sydneygal | ExpatWoman.com
 

sydneygal

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Latest post on 19 April 2012 - 08:52
thanks luv I can't believe it either!! He took a few steps on his own last night...it's going too quickly. Is there a Clarks in MOE, and where is Pitter Patter?
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 18:34
well...his mates were more interested in them than him....so we'll try again tomorrow! ahhh these lads!
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 15:04
I wanted to try them as a snack type food....just made a small batch of mini apple, cinnamon and raspberry ones...they don't seem too soggy or flat. The recipe was 1/2 cup self raising flour mixed with half teaspoon cinnamon (I omitted sugar from recipe), 1 beaten egg, 1/3 cup milk, 1 grated apple. I then added a few raspberries and some oats too. We'll see how they go down this afternoon! those yogurt pancakes look yum....thanks for the link!
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 09:19
thanks kiwis, yes that's what I was aiming for - mini fat pikelet type pancakes :) thought I'd try some grated apple and cinnamon inside. He's also very fond of raspberries at the moment so might try some with those too and banana sounds yum.
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 14:46
you could try www.heidiandluca.com....she makes beautiful prints and frames. We have 2 in our DS's room that we got done when he was born and have bought a few as presents for friends
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Latest post on 04 April 2012 - 10:21
thanks ladies. I felt so bad this morning when I went to get him up....one whole nostril was so crusted over with dried snot, poor wee thing!! He does seem to like oranges so we're having alot of vitamin c rich food this week - even popped some goji berries into his porridge. twin-butterfly - the doc did prescribe Pediavit which he took for a while but it has got parabens in it so not too keen to give that too him all the time....the sleep issue is getting better, he's not fighting as much and as long as I stay there and have my hand on his back he goes straight to sleep, so am sure we'll be back to self-settling again very soon.
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Latest post on 01 April 2012 - 13:03
thanks kiwi....this morning I tried putting him down a little later, closer to 10 rather than 9.30 and he really fought it!! I was in the room and thought I'd stay there patting and he just kept fighting me and wanting to stand up....I knew he was tired so I just walked out for 5 mins and he then started getting hysterical so I went back in and lay him down and this time after about 10 mins he went to sleep and slept until almost 12. Normally he would have a nap at 1.30 for 2 hours but that's out the window now :) Will try and give him milk around 3ish and put him down for a shorter nap (normally has milk after nap). I am wondering about cutting one nap which is why I let him just sleep on this morning to see how long he'd sleep but I don't think he slept enough for the whole day....When your DS was napping from 10-1or2, did you put him to bed any earlier? Normally he sleeps from 7 to 7 beautifully....ahhhh! ah yes, waiting for the fussy eating phase...I'm just enjoying the fact that he eats well now! His personality is definitely starting to develop - he's got such a strong will!
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Latest post on 01 April 2012 - 12:58
hey kiwis....yes, our doc mentioned that a few months ago and we got a purifier back then (she was worried our cat was the issue) wihch seemed to help at the time. This seems more like a cold as he also has a cough now too :( Although could also be all the dust and weather changes that we've been having. He seems pretty happy and still full of energy though at least...
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Latest post on 01 April 2012 - 09:40
thanks shjbelle - I recently tried citrus with some mandarins which wasn't a hit...but I'll definitely give orange a try. Yes he can chew quite well so I will give him some small pieces.
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Latest post on 01 April 2012 - 08:20
thanks all....well we had a bit of a nightmare weekend regarding sleep as he has now also come down with a bit of a cold and runny nose so was waking up constantly. Fri night was up for 2 and a half hours in the night before settling :( This morning I ended up with him asleep on my chest for a few hours. Well...first have to get him better then work on the sleep again....
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Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 18:21
well funnily enough his nose is a bit runny today, but he's never been like this when sick before....I will try putting him down for his nap tomorrow a bit later, maybe 15-30 mins or so and see what happens.
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Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 14:51
thanks, hoping it's a phase! Not sure whether I should try pushing his nap times back....today for example, he didn't go to sleep until ten to 10 and then when we put him down at 1.30, despite attending to him, didn't go to sleep until just after 2pm? any thoughts?
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Latest post on 30 March 2012 - 10:20
I think everyone's jealous of your lie-ins...I know i am haha :) Why don't you try taking her to some afternoon classes where you can meet mums that way? I take my 11mth old DS to a Junior Jingles music class at Family & Friends on a Tues afternoon at 3.30pm and a few of us often have a cuppa afterwards. I also take my DS to Favourite Things in the afternoons sometimes (at marina mall) for a soft play session and there are always some mums in there with kids....there might not be coffee mornings but there are other ways to meet Mums. Or like one poster said, start your own afternoon session. :)
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Latest post on 22 March 2012 - 08:10
I'm a firm believer in doing what is right for you and your bub. Co-sleeping didn't work for us....it made my DS sleep worse and he thought it was playtime! I also have a friend back home who cannot for the life of her wean her 4 year old back into his own bed and it has created issues between her and her hubby. But then I know people who swear by it (and who still co-sleep with older kids) and others who have no issues getting their kids back in their own bed when the time is right for them. Do what feels right for you.
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Latest post on 20 March 2012 - 18:07
bump?
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Latest post on 20 March 2012 - 14:13
Hi ladies, Has anyone had any experience buying from Marka VIP? Got some sales on there at the moment on the new ipad, just wondering if anyone has bought anything from there before and can share their experience? thanks! PS - not spruiking for the site in any sense, just wondering whether it is safe to buy from!!
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Latest post on 19 March 2012 - 13:48
thank you!
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Latest post on 19 March 2012 - 13:42
really, what difference would that make? I'm unsure as I know you shouldn't reheat something frozen more than once, which is why I'm not sure....
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Latest post on 25 February 2012 - 09:44
thanks ladies. Greenish, that's what I thought. i do think there is meaning behind some of his babble. Kiwis, would love to see that study if you are able to dig it up. :)
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Latest post on 24 February 2012 - 15:37
agree with kiwis as always. The reason I like the Barilla wholemeal pasta is because it's not too wholemealy :) It's the one wholemeal pasta I can get away with when cooking for DH, he doesn't even realise it's wholemeal. You will need to be more careful with a refluxer although all babies are different - I have another friend with a baby who was a bad refluxer (now 11 months) who has had no issues with any gluten/wholegrains. kiwis - you can freeze pasta? I am all about freezing too but have been boiling up the pasta each time in teeny portions. How do you store it? Agree on the finger food thing too. I also started mashing instead of pureeing around 7.5 months (vegies that is, I still puree meat) and offering fruit cut into teeny cubes which are gradually getting larger.
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Latest post on 24 February 2012 - 10:28
Hey M! I think I started around 7.5 half months....first grains i started with were rice that I cooked into a congee - so porridgey consistency which I then mixed into a batch of chicken casserole and quinoa which I mixed with a lamb stew. I also started randomly giving DS a chunk of wholemeal bread to suck on and when he started to get bits off I gave him toast fingers which he loved. He did gag a few times but learnt quite quickly what to do. I then started adding things like couscous and pasta after I noticed he took bread (ie gluten) without any issues, and started with the tiny pasta shapes (like orzo or small soup pasta) and now he has proper grown up spirals (I like the Barilla wholemeal ones) which I chop up or sometimes give him whole with a sprinkle of cheese on as finger food. Hope that helps....just go slowly, make sure she is OK with gluten before giving too much wheat based carbs and enjoy! DS now has things like risotto and proper oat porridge for breakfast which he loves with stewed pear and cinnamon :) Am sure Kiwis will be here soon to offer some more advice!
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Latest post on 23 February 2012 - 08:34
Latino Cardio at Exhale JBR - a fun class that really gets you moving to some great music! They also do loads of other classes like pilates and another one that looks fun called 80's cardio.
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Latest post on 23 February 2012 - 07:05
Hi Emmess, I just wanted to let you know that I also found a lump in my armpit a few months ago and was terrified of course. I went to see my family doctor, Dr Priya Rana at Primavera Medical Centre who ran tests and then had me do a scan in the clinic with Dr Julia. She was not feeling very positive and didn't like the way the lump felt and we were both worried about it being in a lymph node, but the scan revealed that it was nothing but a sebaceous cyst under the skin which has now practically disappeared :) So please don't worry too much until you know more, as you said it could be nothing. See if you can get a scan done as soon as possible. Big hugs and hope all works out fine for you and your hubby.
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Latest post on 22 February 2012 - 15:10
my 9 and a half month old (and myself) have had this dreaded cold/flu for the past week and half too - it just won't go away!! Plumie, you mention suctioning the nose - can you recommend a good way of doing this? I've tried the traditional bulb syringes which seems to be the only thing I can find here and they do zip! Hoping all our LO's are better soon. Poor DS woke up this morning with dried snot all over his poor wee face :(
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Latest post on 10 February 2012 - 08:19
I agree with Kiwis on her first question - can he get down? I haven't been through this yet, however my DS who is just 9 months today recently started sitting up in his cot when I'd put him down at nap time. I have a video monitor so can see what is going on! The first few days he did this I would just go in quietly in the dark, lay him down and make sure he had his dummies as I normally do when putting him to bed, then walk out again quietly. I had to do this about 3 times at the start of each nap before he started to understand it was still sleepy time even though he could do this totally cool new trick. After a few days I just left him to see what would happen as I knew he could get down and was getting better at it and eventually he would lie down, sometimes sitting up again to play a bit but eventually lying down to go to sleep. I guess I was lucky that he wasn't having a hissy fit, just not going to sleep....his naps were a bit all over the place for that week but have settled back now. About a week or so before this happened he was starting to protest cry whenever I'd lay him down for a nap which may have been a prelude to the sitting up. Also agree on an earlier bedtime, he may go down easier if he is not too overtired and worked up? Good luck and remember to be as slow and boring at night time as possible - if they know Mummy won't play they eventually get it and go to sleep!!
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Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 19:08
It's amazing how many people ask if he's a girl....just do not get it! As for the maid thing, apparently people used to think my Mum was our nanny when my sis and I were wee ones too! And this is back home in Oz! The mixed race card always confuses people. Too hard to explain DS's background as both his parents are mixed...he'll have fun with that when he's older!
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Latest post on 09 February 2012 - 09:30
I agree with Shellly - they get it wrong anyway! My DS is a real boy, looks like a little rugby player and again this morning (dressed in navy) I get the question - "Girl?" Ok he does have lots of lovely curls, but c'mon! Then there's the other question...am I his maid but then that's another thread.... PS - He does have a hot pink shirt in his wardrobe!
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Latest post on 07 February 2012 - 08:19
bump....anyone got any recommendations?
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Latest post on 06 February 2012 - 10:13
has anyone seen these in dubai? http://www.bestbuys4baby.com.au/review/babybjorn-travel-cot-light
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Latest post on 06 February 2012 - 10:08
thanks luv yes that is the type I was thinking - just wondering if a particular brand was recommended. We thought we'd buy one to take to the UK as DH's mum doesn't have a cot so we thought if he got used to it we could then take it away on hols too. When we went to the Meridien in Fujeirah they had a horrible metal type cot which he didn't sleep well in at all. An extra mattress sounds a good idea too :)
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Latest post on 06 February 2012 - 09:16
on their own? I'd be too afraid to leave him on his own and don't want to get in the habit of sleeping with him for the entire month we're in the UK...
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Latest post on 06 February 2012 - 08:11
hi snoopy...try not to stress. Which hospital are you in? Can you ask to see a lactation consultant or even see if you can call one in to visit you? If you search on here there is alot of info on lactation consultants, I can personally recommend Paula Miller at Cooper Health Clinic. Have you tried lots of skin to skin contact? Perhaps the staff could help you try and use a pump to get things going with your colostrum to give this to baby instead of formula? There would only be colostrum at this stage anyway which is only very small amounts. Am sure many more ladies will jump on here shortly to offer more advice. Keep perservering and lots and lots of cuddles and skin to skin. HTH
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Latest post on 06 February 2012 - 08:06
ah they can be funny little munchkins! Maybe try giving her the dummy with cloth attached whenever you would normally give her the dummy first, so she can get used to it, otherwise she might just think it's something random in her cot! Good luck!
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Latest post on 05 February 2012 - 12:52
Hi tanya - think I could be the friend DC is referring to. My almost 9 month old DS has 2 cloths which I attach dummies to that he takes to bed. They make the dummies much easier to find and are soft and snuggly too. They are the HABA brand and I got them in the Kidz Inc store near Times Square - http://www.kidzincdubai.com/contact.html The ones I have also have teething rings on them - http://www.haba.de/haba/produktAnsicht.htm?c=PC_P_003385 but I cut these off as I thought he might whack himself in the middle of the night! He often has one dummy in his mouth and the other cloth clutched in his little paw! My thinking was that when he's older and I try and wean him off dummies he can at least still have his cuddle cloths. I also use the avent night dummies which slightly glow in the dark...not sure if that helps or not. When I started using the cloths I gave them to him with his dummy attached all the time, out and about or whenever he wanted his dummy so now I think he actually thinks its just the one soothing device if you know what I mean? Good luck and hope that helps!
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Latest post on 03 February 2012 - 14:50
hi luv - lucky you with family arriving! We did the AT recently at the O&O at the Palm but didn't like it as much as the one in the O&O Royal Mirage (I went to the one in the Palace foyer) - was more expensive, smaller and they didn't bring seconds whereas at the Royal Mirage it was something like 90AED a head which was enough for 2 people and they kept bringing out refills. This was about a year ago though to be fair so not entirely sure if the price is still the same. Still though, I preferred the Royal Mirage to the Palm...although the Palm O&O is very swish!
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Latest post on 26 January 2012 - 09:30
well it's a new day and I put him down for his morning nap 10 mins ago...he's almost asleep (been playing a bit) but no crying when I left the room this time thank goodness...hoping this continues!
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Latest post on 25 January 2012 - 19:58
seems to be equal fighting for both...but then when he does get to sleep he sleeps beautifully. Today at the lunch nap it was 10 mins of protesting followed by 2 and a quarter hours sleep and a big smile when he woke up! Before he goes down I generally let him sit in his bouncer for a while, sometimes read to him or let him watch some jim jam with the volume on low (and he generally has a poo then too LOL), so it's nothing too noisy etc. I also give him his cloth and dummy during this time and lately he's taken to flinging it to the floor as if he knows what is coming!! little monkey :) let's see how he goes over the next few days....
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Latest post on 25 January 2012 - 15:11
thanks for the reply as always kiwi...yeah now that I remember this did happen about 1.5 to 2 months ago and I then had to push his naps a bit later...he was able to stay up for more like 2.5 hours between rather than 2....so could be that or the seperation anxiety. Thing is, he doesn't seem to get anxious if I'm not in the room with him at home, or if I've had to pop out and left him with my good friend upstairs for a wee while. It's tricky to know what to do. The last time he did this we tried patting him to sleep (he would lie there with eyes open) but as soon as we'd take our hands off the protest crying would resume and it seemed better to walk out as he would then settle himself. We always do the same routine before naps - say good bye to whatever we've been doing, or even just goodbye to our cat LOL and I take him in for a snuggle, put him in his bag and draw the curtains. I always tell him it's nap time soon as well for a good 10 mins beforehand. hopefully it's just a phase that will be over soon!! poor wee mite! At least he always has a big smile on his face when he wakes up so I know he still loves mummy! :P
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Latest post on 20 January 2012 - 10:42
Another shout out for the brilliant Paula Miller - without her support no doubt i would have given up in the first few weeks of bleeding cracked nipples, lumps, blisters,...you name it I had it! I used to sit there bf-ing with tears streaming down my face from the pain not wanting to cry out loud and scare DS. She was fantastic, came over twice to see me at home, once at 5.30am to catch his first morning feed, and was always at the end of the phone, even via text when she was on holiday in Thailand! In the end I had to stop BF-ing around 6 months for my own health reasons which was very sad but I was so glad to have perserved for that long and wouldn't have been able to do it without her help. The LC at American Hospital where I delivered was also wonderful help getting us started...her name right now escapes me though!
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Latest post on 19 January 2012 - 13:22
Big hugs Greenish - so so sorry to hear this news. As TanyaR said, you always provide such good advice and support to others - we are all thinking of you and sending you big hugs. take care of yourself x
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Latest post on 19 January 2012 - 10:01
hey Mols, we travelled to Italy when I was about 6 weeks. Stayed for 2 weeks and did a few short flights while we were there too. Was absolutely fine although the morning sickness kicked in while we were there! It helped having DH with me to handle all the luggage though. Am sure you will be fine, esp in Business!
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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 13:21
Hi lovely - DS was swaddled for AGES! I remember we tried his arms out around 3 months and he was still flailing and waking himself up so we had to put him in the miracle swaddling blankets as he could get out of a normal swaddle very easily. We then had him in woombies which zip up the front and keep the arms in but allow more movement (and arms out eventually) and amazingly he's only had his arms out completely from about 6 months (I was starting to worry he'd never get them out!!)....and his motor skills are totally fine!! I wouldn't worry for now. But if you want to try her, you can half swaddle or take one arm out at a time and see how she goes. I also used to tuck DS in which helped his legs from flailing as well. Have 2 miracle swaddling blankets you are welcome to try, as well as some smaller woombies (but these might still be a bit big for her)...
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Latest post on 15 January 2012 - 15:19
thanks kiwis - will def try this out. I'm all about freezing food too - my freezer is now full of food for DS, so much so that we now have another smaller freezer for our own stuff LOL! Second the fact that you can control texture too - am now just mashing rather than pureeing (except for meat/chicken/fish). I do have a load of sachets for emergencies that I bought when I started weaning, but have hardly had to use them. It's definitely not as time consuming as you would think. This morning I made a batch of lentils and veg and had them on the lowest heat and actually forgot about them eek but they were totally fine and then hardly had to mash at all lol!
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Latest post on 15 January 2012 - 14:26
thanks will give it a try! Are the eggs necessary? Was thinking of holding off eggs for a while as apparently I was very allergic to eggs as a baby although after 12 months and slow introduction again I was ok...
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Latest post on 15 January 2012 - 14:03
hi ladies, just a quickie M - a good friend of mine has a baby who has also always suffered with bad reflux (now 10 mths old). She has found in her experience that any packet food (organic or not) seems to cause issues and vomiting whereas when she gives him her own homemade food he is fine. Worth considering too! However he seems to be fine on yogurt and she often does cheese/milk sauces and has had no problem - so I guess they are all different too. kiwi - that rice pudding recipe sounds yummy, any chance you can post it?
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Latest post on 15 January 2012 - 08:47
unfortunately no....I had friends who ordered it in from the UK and had family bring it out...
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Latest post on 10 January 2012 - 13:04
soniaiq - I have one unopened box left over from my BF-ing days that you are welcome to if you want to pick it up? I am in JBR...you can email me on caterina underscore strano at yahoo dot com dot au
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Latest post on 08 January 2012 - 08:30
Greenish - try the frozen mango in Waitrose - it's cut in cheeks and frozen...yum!
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Latest post on 06 January 2012 - 07:51
Pottery Barn Kids have them in 2 sizes :)
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Latest post on 31 December 2011 - 07:54
Congratulations Greenish!!