Well in the three weeks since I have posted things have changed quite dramatically. School was absolutely kicking my ass, so I didn't really have time to devote to updating the blog, but today is my last day (thank jesus, mary, joseph, and johnny walker!). I am really glad to be finished with this class, it was hard core. Thankfully it appears I will be able to maintain my 4.0...at least until the dreaded math class starts in two weeks (help me please!).
Anyway, after I wrote about our sleep struggles thinks progressively got worse, if that was even possible. I was walking around like a zombie all day and about one minutes more lack of sleep away from trying to start the stroller with my keys when we had a breakthrough! We decided to check out a sleep book called "solve your child's sleep problems" by Richard Ferber. As a big proponent of attachment parenting, I'd been scared off this book by the mistaken assumption being passed around to everyone that this is simply a lock-your-kid-in-a-dark-room-forever sleep solution book, but out of sheer desperation I clamored for anything that could help. Much to my pleasant surprise that was not the case. Ferber advocates something called 'progressive waiting' where you put the baby to bed and you come in at timed intervals that slowly increase over time. I was still trepidatious as a mother who cannot stand to hear her baby cry, but I figured that I needed to do something, and that she cries even when you rock her so it wouldn't really be anything new.
Well let me tell you, the first tme was horrible. I cried when reading her her story before bed, on the way to the drugstore (to buy alcohol, can you blame me?), on the way back, and as soon as I walked through the door. I actually relagated myself out front with my glass of wine in tow to avoid listening to it. Lo, and behold, after 45 minutes she was out. I couldn't believe it. I was sure she'd scream all night, which I knew I couldn't go for, and I'd have to give up. Well the subsequent times took 30 minutes, then 20, then last night 6! Yes, I said six! Six Tiny Minutes and she was out!!! and then she slept all night until 4am, nursed and went back to sleep till 9! I am amazed. This has the potential to change our lives.
Meanwhile, I tossed and turned all night, unused to the aby not being beside me. I hope Ferber wrote a book for grown-ups...
Welcome
Current mood:babyfied
Ten fingers, ten toes,
a perfect construction
A smile so large
one good introduction
Big wide eyes
knowing all in one look
A baby too beautiful
to go by the book
One candy nose
crinkling quick with such pleasure
and two ears follow suit
in a beautiful measure
arms that just grasp
with the greatest of ease
and the quick tiny fingers
just begging "mom please"
a tooth over gum
greets days with a smile
while love and pure laughter
lingers for awhile
little hands little toes
i cherish right now
pray your littles will last
for forever somehow
My camera does actually. But I can pass the skills off as my own. Today we went to the ocean inlet park to meet my friend Liz and her son Lucas. Getting there was a bit of a mission considering Lyla was not terribly cooperative. When we got there, Liz has gotten me a sandwich from the shop and Lyla was eying it right away. ((I feel guilty eating in front of her anymore) So I gave her some avocado expecting the same 'ick' face she usually makes but she was digging it. Then Liz gave her a rice cake which she loved. (Gotta bear that in mind, cheaper than baby food). After a while I put Lyla in the sand to play. She actually started crawling for real! This is the first time she's done that. Though she did clunk her head once and fall over once. She's actually got it though and before she could never really be bothered.
After awhile on the playground we stripped the babes down and put them on the beach. Liz's camera died shortly thereafter so I took all the photos. I got mad skills. Here are a couple of my faves:
The pics came out great but Lyla ate her weight in sand. I feel bad for her when that comes out the other side!
At least in our household. I don't pretend that I'm the only mom whose got issues with sleep with their kids, but it certainly feels that way when you haven't had a decent night's sleep in over 7 months.
When Lyla was born we made the decision to cosleep. Well, not so much made the decision as mommy had 7 hours of sleep in 7 days and couldn't take it anymore so pulled baby into her bed. Well fast forward 7 months and it used to go well. We'd sleep pretty good together but lately Lyla has been waking up every hour or so to nurse. Every time I blink wrong she wakes and wants to nurse. And now she isn't even sleepig in so I am getting 6 maybe 7 hours of interrupted sleep a night. I feel like I am losing my mind.
We decided to start getting her to sleep in her crib a couple weeks ago and let's just say it hasn't been easy. When she finally does sleep in there, I lay awake for hours just missing her. I never though MY ability to sleep would be an issue!
Well the middle-of-the-night waking have been awful as well. The hubby has been helping out but it's been ugly. Let's just say that neither of us are the nicest people at 2am. Add to that the fact that apparently my husband can't tell the difference between a full bottle and an empty one (somehow administering it incorrectly) and, well, this sleep situation has reached a fever pitch. As of the last couple of nights, she's been back to sleeping with me and at this rate I hope she goes to college locally because I don't want to have to move so she can go to sleep with me.
Oh well, maybe someday I will have a dream or two again. Not tonight.
