I just put her in her bed for her morning nap at 10:10, it is now 10:13 and I hear no crying.... OMG.
Is this really happening?? Am I the luckiest Mom ever or is there something to waiting till they are this age to let them "cry it out"??
Friday, June 17, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Day number two! Easy!!!
So it's day number two, and we did the same thing for her morning nap that we did yesterday, nurse, rock, and lay her down. And she fussed and she threw fits, but she didn't absolutely break down and sob. And ten minutes later she was passed out. It was amazing. I couldn't believe it.
She only slept for 45 minutes but it's going to take some time, I know that. But we're off to a great start I think! I am so excited that so far I haven't had to listen to her scream for an hour! Knock on wood though. Cause we haven't started at bed time yet.
Afternoon nap, Same deal, very minimal crying, lots of fussing, but SEVEN minutes later she was asleep. Face down in her favoite position.
I am just in awe.
I really think the key to this whole thing was waiting till she was old enough to understand that just because she's in her bed and she can't see Mommy, that Mommy is still there, and will come back. If we'd done this when she was younger I think it may have been a lot more crying, which means a lot harder on me and her!! But it's still a work in progress. Who knows, tomorrow she could completely change it up and cry for an hour and totally break me.
She only slept for 45 minutes but it's going to take some time, I know that. But we're off to a great start I think! I am so excited that so far I haven't had to listen to her scream for an hour! Knock on wood though. Cause we haven't started at bed time yet.
Afternoon nap, Same deal, very minimal crying, lots of fussing, but SEVEN minutes later she was asleep. Face down in her favoite position.
I am just in awe.
I really think the key to this whole thing was waiting till she was old enough to understand that just because she's in her bed and she can't see Mommy, that Mommy is still there, and will come back. If we'd done this when she was younger I think it may have been a lot more crying, which means a lot harder on me and her!! But it's still a work in progress. Who knows, tomorrow she could completely change it up and cry for an hour and totally break me.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Nap one: HORRIBLE, and then Not too bad...
So the morning nap didn't happen, we attempted with the afternoon nap. I nursed her and then rocked her till she was just almost asleep and then I put her in her bed. When I laid her down she IMMEDIATELY started screaming and balling up her fists. And then her entire body started shaking and she cried so long and hard she quit breathing!! In my head I'm thinking, "Oh baby Jesus!!! I can't do this!!", So I picked her up! Bad Mommy I know, I'm not strong, but she was shaking and not breathing!! So I calmed her down and we tried again, I was comforted in how quickly she calmed down, and I knew she wasn't hurt she was just pissed off. So I laid her back down, kissed her on the head and left the room.
She cried, and she sobbed, and she screamed absolute bloody murder, and I laid in the hall DYING!! After what felt like an eternity I went in and got her. And we rocked and I held her tighter than I've ever held her before. And I felt like the worst mom ever. Because she clung to me like someone who thought they'd never see me again. It was pretty hardbreaking. I had every intention of never trying this again at that point. I think I even whispered to her that she could sleep in my bed til she was 18 for all I cared.
And then I looked at my watch.... It'd only been THREE MINUTES!!!!! She only cried for three minutes??? What??? It felt like forever!!!! Man my child can wind up fast. Wow..
So I decided she was totally playing me. And we'd try again. I did hold her and rock her until she stopped hiccuping out her last sobs, and then we started over. With my resolve being a little stronger.
This time I did not go back in. I did lay in the hall and peek my camera around the door so I could see that she was ok.
And 27 minutes later she was passed out! I mean passed completely out!! She slept for two hours!! It was a Christmas miracle!! For the first time ever when she woke up, she was not groggy, she was ready to play, and she was in the most fantastic mood!!!
And I'm thinking, I can totally do this. It will be worth it for both of us. I can't wait to see how tomorrow's nap goes!!
She cried, and she sobbed, and she screamed absolute bloody murder, and I laid in the hall DYING!! After what felt like an eternity I went in and got her. And we rocked and I held her tighter than I've ever held her before. And I felt like the worst mom ever. Because she clung to me like someone who thought they'd never see me again. It was pretty hardbreaking. I had every intention of never trying this again at that point. I think I even whispered to her that she could sleep in my bed til she was 18 for all I cared.
And then I looked at my watch.... It'd only been THREE MINUTES!!!!! She only cried for three minutes??? What??? It felt like forever!!!! Man my child can wind up fast. Wow..
So I decided she was totally playing me. And we'd try again. I did hold her and rock her until she stopped hiccuping out her last sobs, and then we started over. With my resolve being a little stronger.
This time I did not go back in. I did lay in the hall and peek my camera around the door so I could see that she was ok.
And 27 minutes later she was passed out! I mean passed completely out!! She slept for two hours!! It was a Christmas miracle!! For the first time ever when she woke up, she was not groggy, she was ready to play, and she was in the most fantastic mood!!!
And I'm thinking, I can totally do this. It will be worth it for both of us. I can't wait to see how tomorrow's nap goes!!
Here we go, Something I said I'd never do...
I have always been strongly against the cry it out method, otherwise known as Ferberizing. My Pediatrician has told us from the time T was three months old that we needed to do it. I've researched and concluded that it was just not for us. Fast forward to now, when T is three weeks away from her first birthday, and thinks a thirty minute nap in the morning and afternoon is good enough and here's where I am. ready to give it a try.
My problem with doing it when she was younger was based on the thought that she is still learning to trust me. And how is she going to learn to trust me and know that I will always be there for her when I put her in a strange, dark, lonely room, in her crib and let her cry and scream herself to sleep?? That is not how I wanted our relationship to start.
She's slept comfortably and snuggly in our bed for the past year, and we have loved every minute of family bed. We adore waking up with her every day and having that family snuggle time. It is one of our favorite things. And I wouldn't trade those memories for all the comfortable sleep in the world.
As a little baby she would take the occasional nap in her crib or swing but never for more than thirty minutes or so. Now as a bigger baby, she'll sleep in her swing for an hour or less for naptime. And most naptimes she does sleep in her swing. But I've noticed more and more lately that when she wakes up she's still showing signs of sleepiness, eye rubbing, laying her head on my shoulder, that sort of thing. She never seems to wake up refreshed.
So today, after much conversation with my sister, and even more inner soul searching I decided today is the day to start letting her cry it out. My plan is to just do it for her two daytime naps and once she gets used to that, then I will start at nighttime.
I know this will be the best thing for her, and for my back, I wake up every morning smushed up against the wall with a back ache or a headache or both! She's a bed HOG!
So here goes! Wish me luck, and I'll keep you posted!
My problem with doing it when she was younger was based on the thought that she is still learning to trust me. And how is she going to learn to trust me and know that I will always be there for her when I put her in a strange, dark, lonely room, in her crib and let her cry and scream herself to sleep?? That is not how I wanted our relationship to start.
She's slept comfortably and snuggly in our bed for the past year, and we have loved every minute of family bed. We adore waking up with her every day and having that family snuggle time. It is one of our favorite things. And I wouldn't trade those memories for all the comfortable sleep in the world.
As a little baby she would take the occasional nap in her crib or swing but never for more than thirty minutes or so. Now as a bigger baby, she'll sleep in her swing for an hour or less for naptime. And most naptimes she does sleep in her swing. But I've noticed more and more lately that when she wakes up she's still showing signs of sleepiness, eye rubbing, laying her head on my shoulder, that sort of thing. She never seems to wake up refreshed.
So today, after much conversation with my sister, and even more inner soul searching I decided today is the day to start letting her cry it out. My plan is to just do it for her two daytime naps and once she gets used to that, then I will start at nighttime.
I know this will be the best thing for her, and for my back, I wake up every morning smushed up against the wall with a back ache or a headache or both! She's a bed HOG!
So here goes! Wish me luck, and I'll keep you posted!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Delicious and Healthy!!
Here's a super helpful thing that I'm sure I'm not the first one to think of. Add lemon juice,fresh or bottle, to your ice cubes for your water in the summer!! I just started doing this and the ice melts so fast that I get a nice subtle lemon flavor. Makes it a lot easier to drink the water I need on a hot day when it's so delicious!!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Tenley's 1st Birthday!!! AHHHHH!!!
Well it's coming up on Tenley's 1st birthday. I cannot believe it. So that is why this is my first post. Who has time to post when you're chasing a crawling baby everywhere!! It is so bittersweet, her birthday, I delight in watching her grow everyday but I am sad because it is happening way way too fast. I'm sure all you mom's out there know how that goes. The past year has gone by in what seems like a matter of weeks. And now she's about to start walking! That is ridiculous!! My angel, she's growing up. She's beautiful, healthy, intelligent, and so so happy. And I could not ask for anything more out of life then to continue to be able to watch her grow.
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