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Two important events happened last Monday. BB received her first bike (and has since been tearing down hills scrapping up her legs even further) and I made a real, concerted, conscious effort to start night weaning.

I adapted a plan from this article* in which the main difference is the extension of each stage for as long as it takes for all parties to feel ready to move onto the next. Time limits stress me out, I prefer to work at my own pace – usually a slow one.

When putting BB down on Monday evening I explained she would be having boobie when we said goodnight, but then when waking at night she can have only a little bit of boobie and then I'll rub her back. I wanted to make sure she understood what we were doing and felt part of the process. I explained carefully and she listened earnestly, and when I asked What's going to happen if you wake up at night? she looked me square in the face and said Uuuummm, ride a bike mummy!

I was terrified that it would all go pear shaped but actually, she accepted it, even when transferring to our bed at some point in the night we keep the same thing going. She has a little feed, rolls over and falls back asleep, and I don't have to sleep with my arm up accommodating her head anymore. My back is thanking me. Thanks Anna, hi fives!

The next stage is to cut out the night feeding all together, and just rub her back, hoping that eventually she'll sleep through. The first few days she woke often (6 times in 2 hours!) but generally the periods of sleep are getting longer, and the first stretch has extended to about 6 hours rather than the usual 3. And on Friday night, she didn't even want to be fed down to sleep. First time ever (!!!) She asked for a drink of water and Mummy rub a back. I was shocked, happy, sad and proud. Mostly I couldn't stop grinning, which makes me think it's the right time for both of us to commence this slow and gentle process.

So that's where we're at for now. Tonight she fed a little to go to sleep and then asked for her back to be rubbed, and next week sometime I'll try and encourage her to stop feeding at night and wait till the morning.

Needless to say, despite the success it's been an exhausting and emotional week, so please excuse these ramblings. But for those people that have supported me and asked, I wanted to let you know how we were doing.

* which I'm pretty sure was left by a reader in the comments of a previous post – thank you.

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Jill, her kids, my kid and finally – the pineapple skirt.

We've got a good early Saturday morning routine going lately, I'm so lucky to be able to hang out with these guys and partake in their malarkey.

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Our weekend is a Monday, one measly day that usually goes tits-up.

But today we managed to get it just right.

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BB: Mummy, check the time is?
Me: What is the time?
BB: I don't know have no got a watch on.
Me: Have a look at Babcia's
BB: (glancing in general direction of my mum's arm) Fiiiirrrty minutes!

BB: This one not a blue leggings mummy. This one a white leggings. White leggings – Yay!

I have to keep noting these things down otherwise I'll forget them.

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There's a slew of photos from the last week with Babcia, but for now her departure is too fresh for me to sit down and edit them without tears (and hysterical sobs). I have, however, been trying to get around to THIS post for a while now, but not quite known how to approach it. (So please excuse me as I fumble my way through).

With the recent onslaught of emails from PR agencies (some of which have very clearly never read this blog) I'm becoming much more aware of how powerful a marketing tool blogging can be. Owning a small business has been a bloody hard slog for us this last year, and without the kind support from friends and strangers it would have been even harder.  During my recent conversations with Amy from Jonah and the Girl and The Horse I realised that I have a small opportunity to help out other people having a go with their own businesses, so I've decided to make a bit of space for some Rummey Bears sponsors, and I'm chuffed to have them up there to start it off.

And, whilst I have no issues with people selling ad space on their blogs, it's something I don't feel I could do for this particular space, so no monies have or will be exchanged. Any of the ads you see here will be a result of a fair-dinkum love and sincere thank-you.

Top: When not leaping from heights hanging around my legs. 
Bottom: Our (incomplete) Polish Easter Basket. I so earnestly tried to dye my eggs in beetroot and failed. Luckily Babcia succeeded with her onion skins. 

UPDATE: PB thought I was a little vague with my explanation so here I am to clarify. No, I'm not selling ad space for cold hard cash, but yes, I'm trading it for goods/services. (Kind of how we started out with the cafe – Want to make us a website? We'll pay you in dinners!)  These ads will always be relevant and something I sincerely love, and for now they're just a way say thanks to people who have kindly sent us something, and help support their businesses.

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PB decided to open the cafe over Easter, so we're bunkering down with Babcia (who flew in a couple of days ago), cooking up a Polish Easter feast and hangin' in the Autumn sun.

I hope you all have a happy and safe long weekend, and thanks so much for the comments lately. I know I haven't been able to reciprocate them as much as I hope to but I read and appreciate every one.

xxx

PS. Unsurprisingly, today's backyard session ended like this:

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Inside or out, always naked, usually jumping.

Today marks the end of daylight savings and the end of my favourite month of the year.
So long March, see you in 2013.

xxx