Sleep/Potty Training , Tooth Brushing and other updates ;-)

Gabdu,

Been intending to post this for long but keep getting lazy. When Nanu Nani were here there were lots of milestones/changes/updates that happened - heres a quick list of the one between Jan and now

1. You dropped one of ur two naps around Jan end or so which wud be around 18-19 months. Also you have started sleeping quite easily for ur only nap which is around 1.30 pm everyday, No more rocking/feeding/coaxing/begging/crying etc etc. You usually take a 1hr nap and wake up and after that it depends on whether mamma gets lucky. You could get up again after an hr or every fifteen minutes and eventually have a total of 2 hrs of sleep in bits or sometimes its 3 hrs with breaks every 30 minutes. How I wish this wud improve too.
2. You started speaking full long sentences and using words whose meanings are a little difficult to visualize as in words like Bhi, Gussa ( which u say Bussa for some reason), Dard, Khujali etc etc.This happened again beginning of 2007
3. You started climbing the steps leading to slide finally around Jan mid. Its a major milestone because we felt we would have to keep putting u at the top forever because u showed no inclination to climb !
4. You started to eat your fruit lik grapes/apple etc mostly on own if given in a chotta plate.You started using the spoon to have dahi and some solid stuff occasionally
5. Watching Aarushi Didi you wanted to drink water Aapi aapi and so you drink comfortably off the steel tumblers without spilling. You drink water on ur own but for some reason milk drinking requires quite some coaxing if aapi aapi so we just hold the cup for you to drink.
6. Your dislike for the tooth brushing reduced as you saw aarushi didi do it every night. So its pretty much a done thing before sleep. We are yet to introduce it as regular feature for the mornings.And did I mention 4 of ur teeth ( all incisors)sprouted around 18-20 months.The molars and premolars seemed to be sprouting from the looks of swollen gums for the past 3-4 months but looks like its just our imagination 'cos it can't take that long ;-). So on last count you have got a total of 8 teeth
7.You dropped from multiple night feeds to a feeds only after 4.30 to 5 am with water sessions in between if you woke up. This happened with sleeping with Nanu Nani for abt 4-5 days just before they left ( They told you I was at office if you woke up asking for me;-)). It had improved ur sleep quite a bit till there was some reversal because you were a little sick and also because mamma was at times too tired to put u back to sleep any other way and nursing while lying down was easiest.Anyways now we have started working towards changing it and for past 4 nights you have gone without "Mamma walla Duddhu" for the night and the first after wake up feed.But then you are quite a fighter and keep asking for it and keeping us as well as urslef sleepless for long periods in the fond hope that mamma papa will eventually give in. Lets see how that goes ;-). As of now only the late evening (7.00 pm ) feed is to be dropped which is quite an achievement!! So applause for both mamma and you !!
8. You can remove ur underwear urself so depending on ur mood and if u decide to be nice to mamma you often inform me abt 'susu' and we do it on the commode which has now a smaller seat that we put for u if you need to use it.Apart from 1-2 max accidents a day we mostly do susu on that but potty is a diff challenge and you insist that u will do it in the "front room" as u call the living room and in ur panties. Hopefully this will change too

i think this covers the key updates I wanted to pen.More later

Luv
Mamma

Tit Bits :-)

Dear Gabdu,

The topmost thing on mammas mind is accomplishing night time weaning and getting down to max of 2 regulated feedings ( by regulated i mean quick and continuous 10-15 minute nursing session as opposed to how it is now with u taking breaks and coming back at ur ease and screaming murder if Mamma asks if u are done and she can shut shop :-)), a day.
As I sit thinking abt it, I am looking back fondly on the nursing sessions we have had in the past. Abt how you literally do a joy of dance if Mamma says Chalo Beta when you say "Diddhu" in ur cute baby voice with a question mark.You hold Mamma and lead her to the bedroom these days and say leti leti and do a "Hu Ha Hu Ha " with a naughty and happy glint in ur eyes if Mamma complies with ur wishes. And everytime Mamma asks u " Duddhu Bas?" you look up while drinking and briefly disengage and demand "Aur Chahiye " with all the "its my birthright" tone .. and then continue without waiting for my response...And if Pappa dares says "Guddu Duddhu Bas - papa Godi?" to start his process of putting you to sleep you kick him so badly - that ouch it hurts badly ( when U laugh;-))). Even his presence anywhere close by spells danger to you and you think his sole purpose is to take you away from ur milk ! You give him glares and often kick him very hard with the slightest hint of him opening his mouth assuming he is gonna try to disengage you. And sometimes , if and only if you decide ( YOU are the supreme authority) you will say "Mamma Bas" and then as if to ask Mamma to hurry up if Mama is continuing to lie down without shutting shop as we call it, you say "Bandh Kar Lo !".And you have learnt to say this side that side and flip your back and wait eagerly on the other side for Mamma !

And I also remember the number of times you have bitten me and when mamma said "No biting" you often did not understand said "No biting " and continued and when Mamma said Ouch you realised the pain and wud start wailing loudly saying "Mammma no biting" !! And when Mamma is in pain for any reason and Mamma asks you to disengage saying "Beta Nikalo" you promptly do that which is sooo sweet and understanding !

Hmm ... so feeding you has given me fond memories for life but at the same time I have many back breaking tales also which I wud reserve for some other letter to you

luv
Mamma

Why Do You Breastfeed?

Why Do I breastfeed?
Time and again, friends and family have said various things abt continuing/discontinuing breastfeeding. Most people think the importance I attach to it is unnecessary and Nani thinks its become a little bit of an inconvinience for her daugther. Well I have been breastfeeding till now - ( Gabdu is almost 18 months old) and now its down to 2 -3 feeds in the day ( one in morn and one in late eve) and multiple comfort feeds in the night. I know I need to get the night weaning going soon - not because I think its wrong/or right but just because I feel both me and Gabdumms as well as papa need better sleep and I think it will help to night wean and only feed her first thing in the morn and last thing in the night. But as I get the process going for weaning in general by the time she is 2 years old, I feel the need to put down reasons why I breastfeed and the reasons that don't really figure in my list of why I do breastfeed
1. The foremost reason I have been breastfeeding is not because of all the gyaan on whether it makes the IQ of the kid better or how harmful formula is but because I believe that if breasts do produce milk they must do so for a good reason and I believe that nature shows us the way. All mammals feed their kids so why not human beings2. Because it gives me alone time with my daughter cuddling and being with her. So I just love doing it.. Being a working mother this is my opportunity for some me time with my daugther. I love the way her face lights up when I am ready to feed her "Leti Leti kar ke". How can I deny her smthng that makes her feel so thrilled !
The reasons that do not really contribute to my strong inclination to breastfeed but nevertheless are good brownie pts for breastfeeding
a) Its easy- less sterilisation and less headaches of packing n bottles on a trip.b) Its quick comfort for my daughter when she is in pain or angry or just plain needing mammac) It has helped me loose my post pregnancy weight pretty quickly
Anyways I do plan to wean by 2 years for primarily my own conveniece and I do not in any way look down upon anyone who does not breastfeed, breastfeeds for longer time or for that matter shorter ... i think each mom does whats best for her kids and family and its best to leave decisions to the mommy 'cos mommy knows best