<p>It's hard to believe that it is exactly six months since our family expanded to include Lara, but there you have it. Six months old already!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Having listened to the Healthcare Professionals about the advantages of breast feeding over formula feeing, including the promise of significant weight loss, I played the good soldier and have followed the 'Breast is best' mantra to the letter.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br />Through all the initial trials and tribulations that go hand in hand with doing the right thing by my baby, the next biggest prize was that promise of lost weight. If I'm honest, that was probably <em><strong>the</strong></em> only incentive to carry on, when I could so easily have given up and resorted to formula feeds.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br />Imagine my dissappointment when the promised weight loss continuously fails to materialise. I keep delivering my end of the bargin but the scales keep saying 'One at a time,<strong><em> please!</em></strong>'</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>However, things appear to be on the move at last. I've noticed a significant change today, for today is the first day in eleven months that I have looked down and the first things I see are my breast and not my abdomen. I chose to share this observation with Hubby.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>'Why have your breasts got bigger?'</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Good job I'm not hormonal and have a good sense of humour.<img src="plugins/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Image courtesy of Phil Clayton 2010</p>

<p>By definition, tradition implies an action that is carried out through practice, as part of a ritual or custom etc, etc.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>For example, Christmas.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>There are so many traditions associated with Christmas from attending Church services, singing carols, hanging mistletoe, dressing the tree... the list goes on. These are all actions that we learn from a very early age and pass down though generations.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Whatever you choose to call them, be it traditions, rituals, habbits etc, somewhere amongst them is one that becomes every parents bug bear,'The early morning wake up call.'</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In the past, I have always related it to Pavlov's study of dogs, where he rang a bell at feeding time. The presence of food caused the dogs to salivate. After a while the dogs associated the bell with food and automatically produced saliva in anticipation of the meal to come, even if it didn't!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So surely the same theory can be applied for children and their associated responses. With all the rituals that we carry out on the run up to the 'Big day' is it any wonder they get restless and can't sleep?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>As I said, that was my response in the past. Now I'm not so sure.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>In order for the above theory to be correct, a child would need to experience the stimulus a repeated number of times to develope a link or association, thereby promting the response of waking up early.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So why is it that a 13 week old baby, who has been sleeping through the night from 8pm-6.30am, solidly for the last 3 weeks, with no previous experience of Christmas rituals, tinsel, trees or fairy lights to cause over stimulation etc, still manage to wake up at 3am on Christmas day?</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Oh what joy...<img src="plugins/tiny_mce/plugins/emotions/img/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" /></p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>I've often heard people say that children grow up "Too quickly" these days.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>So it would seem, some obviously develope quicker than others!</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Images courtesy of P.Clayton</p>