When you have a baby most of your life revolves around sleep. Getting the baby to sleep, where they sleep, how long they sleep, how often you sleep, etc, etc. All you think about is sleep. I had made the decision from the get go to have Will sleep in a co-sleeper by our bed. I wanted him close by to minimize crying and make sure he stayed alive through the night. I was a big fan of constantly checking him since he was right by us, which I thought was calming my nerves, but may have been making me crazier. I wasn't sure when we would switch him to his crib but I wanted it to be gradual and on his terms to minimize stress.
I did some research to see when other moms make the switch and found that it really depends on you and your baby. Some do it during the first few months, while others co-sleep until there child is ready to move to their bed on their terms. Some even start the baby out in the crib after bringing them home from the hospital. I first set a goal for having him in our room for 3 months, then possibly start the transition.
Three months came, and three months went. At that 12 week mark I wasn't ready to move him out of our room. Even just the mention of it gave me anxiety. Brent would say something like "let's try him in his crib tonight" and I would scowl. My crazy mom hormones would flare up and I would think to myself "might as well just let him sleep in the shed!". Brent must have felt the tension and would let the subject go without pushing.
Around 14 weeks I started to notice he was outgrowing his rock and play sleeper. He would move around a lot at night and slide down causing him to be bunched up. Since he is a bigger than average baby I figured the switch to his much roomier crib was imminent and began preparing myself. Oh yeah, and preparing the baby. But mostly preparing myself.
We started by doing naps in the crib. He would usually wake up pretty quickly and we were lucky to get a solid 45 minutes out of him. After about 10 solid days of crib naps I let him sleep from 8pm until 11 or 12 in the crib, then would wake him up, nurse him, and switch him to our bedside. Then, at 16 weeks old we made the full jump. I chose a week where I only had half days at work so that I could get some extra sleep if he was up more than usual through the night.
Night 1: Rocked to sleep around 8, then he was up at 11:30, 2, 5, and up at 7:30 screaming his head off. He never wakes up sad so this kind of bummed me out and a part of my mom brain was telling me that he wasn't ready for the switch. My logical brain then reminded me that it was only night one and I need to chill out. I would still consider it a successful night.
Night 2: Rocked to sleep at 8, then he was up at 2:30, 5:30, then up at 7:30 with a smile on his face. Better.
Night 3: Rocked to sleep at 8:30, up at 5:45, then up at 9am. Did you catch that? Asleep at 8:30.....then awake at 5:45am. That is 9 HOURS OF SLEEP. What changed? I assume mostly that he was just getting used to being in the crib, and also I wedged him between a pillow and a blanket so that he wouldn't flail his arms. and wake himself up. Nothing near his face, just something that made him feel more secure if he did wake up.
Night 4: Rocked to sleep at 9, up at 4:45, then up at 9. This is the day I decided my baby is an f'ing rock star. Pardon my language, but seriously. My baby is the best baby.
So far he has been pretty consistent. There are times when he wakes up and starts to make noise. If he does this we will quietly go into the room, put a hand on his chest, and wait for him to go back to sleep. I want him to know that we are always there before he gets upset and this seems to be working well with him. He will stare at us and slowly drift off to sleep again. Once again, I am very aware that things could change next week or even tonight for that matter, but I consider our transition to crib a MAJOR success. It was harder for me than I ever thought it would be, but he loves to stretch out in his bed. My advice is to take your time and do what is comfortable for you. If you aren't ready then don't push it because you will only stress and your baby will know something is up. I will say that it is nice to have our room back and that one on one time with Brent where we don't have to whisper or tip toe around.
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Monday, August 13, 2012
Animals
I was thinking the other day about our pets and William. I realized that more than likely these dogs and cats will be a foggy memory in Will's life. In reality they have been through so much with Brent and I that I can't imagine life without them. As they age I begin to wonder what Will is going to remember about them. I hope that he can get some fond memories with these guys before they pass on. And William, if that's not possible, let me tell you about our pets.
First it is important to understand that I love animals. Most people do, and If they don't then they are probably weirdos, but I like to think my affinity for them is different than most. I love animals so much that I have made a career out of caring for them, and I love my job. Thankfully your father loves animals too, and throughout the years he put up with me bringing home dogs and cats left and right. Most animals were fosters who were only with us briefly before going on to their forever homes, but some stuck.
Maki
When I moved in with your father Maki came with me. She had been abandoned at the animal hospital I worked at when she was only 8 weeks old. He came to my work and I brought her up to him and told him that she needed a home. She wrapped her little puppy dog arms around his neck and the rest is history. Maki has a special place in my heart. She is sweet and calm but doesn't go out of her way to make new friends. She loves the people she loves deeply and likes her routine. If something is askew she worries and frets. Maki has been with us from the beginning. She has made the move from apartment to apartment and house to house. She was sitting on the couch when your dad proposed and she was at my feet as we planned our wedding. When I took the pregnancy test to see if you were coming she paced the floor with me. She has sat by my side through tears and through joy. In the year that you were born she will be 9. It pains me to think that she is old, and if I could thank her for being such a good dog I would. I hope that you can look back and remember her in some way.
Maebe
Maebe was a spry 6 week old kitten when we brought her home. A friend that I worked with found a litter of kittens under her house and brought them into work. They were all pretty cute, but Maebe stuck out because of the orange dot on her head. Your father wasn't a huge cat fan, but I talked him into bringing her home. She won him over quickly and her and Maki really like hanging out. To this day they still snuggle with each other. As far as cats go, she's a good one. She turned 8 this year.
Ricky
Ricky is your father through and through. We rescued him after he was abandoned at another clinic. He is a big tough guy but super sweet. He is goofy and funny and sure thinks you are special. He likes to give you kisses but we have to watch him because he gets very excited and won't stop kissing you. Today you were laying on the bed and he wanted to be touching you so he almost laid on your head. Ricky is five this year, and I think once you start crawling and walking you two will be the best of friends.
Shirley
Shirley is very,...peculiar. I bottle raised her and she turned out a little crazy. She LOVES me, but usually hides under the bed when other people are around or if your dad is home alone. I was worried that she would lose it when you came around, but she has actually become a little nicer. She really likes you and has let you pet her on multiple occasions. Cats tend to live longer than dogs so I have a feeling that you will actually remember Shirley and Maebe more than the pups.
First it is important to understand that I love animals. Most people do, and If they don't then they are probably weirdos, but I like to think my affinity for them is different than most. I love animals so much that I have made a career out of caring for them, and I love my job. Thankfully your father loves animals too, and throughout the years he put up with me bringing home dogs and cats left and right. Most animals were fosters who were only with us briefly before going on to their forever homes, but some stuck.
Maki
When I moved in with your father Maki came with me. She had been abandoned at the animal hospital I worked at when she was only 8 weeks old. He came to my work and I brought her up to him and told him that she needed a home. She wrapped her little puppy dog arms around his neck and the rest is history. Maki has a special place in my heart. She is sweet and calm but doesn't go out of her way to make new friends. She loves the people she loves deeply and likes her routine. If something is askew she worries and frets. Maki has been with us from the beginning. She has made the move from apartment to apartment and house to house. She was sitting on the couch when your dad proposed and she was at my feet as we planned our wedding. When I took the pregnancy test to see if you were coming she paced the floor with me. She has sat by my side through tears and through joy. In the year that you were born she will be 9. It pains me to think that she is old, and if I could thank her for being such a good dog I would. I hope that you can look back and remember her in some way.
Maebe
Maebe was a spry 6 week old kitten when we brought her home. A friend that I worked with found a litter of kittens under her house and brought them into work. They were all pretty cute, but Maebe stuck out because of the orange dot on her head. Your father wasn't a huge cat fan, but I talked him into bringing her home. She won him over quickly and her and Maki really like hanging out. To this day they still snuggle with each other. As far as cats go, she's a good one. She turned 8 this year.
Ricky
Ricky is your father through and through. We rescued him after he was abandoned at another clinic. He is a big tough guy but super sweet. He is goofy and funny and sure thinks you are special. He likes to give you kisses but we have to watch him because he gets very excited and won't stop kissing you. Today you were laying on the bed and he wanted to be touching you so he almost laid on your head. Ricky is five this year, and I think once you start crawling and walking you two will be the best of friends.
Shirley
Shirley is very,...peculiar. I bottle raised her and she turned out a little crazy. She LOVES me, but usually hides under the bed when other people are around or if your dad is home alone. I was worried that she would lose it when you came around, but she has actually become a little nicer. She really likes you and has let you pet her on multiple occasions. Cats tend to live longer than dogs so I have a feeling that you will actually remember Shirley and Maebe more than the pups.
So that's what you are surrounded by. Our house will never be without animals, so I hope that you love them as much as we do.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Too much information
Seriously. Boys probably don't want to read this. So if you are a boy and you do read this and you think "gross" then you can't say I didn't warn you.
Ok, now that the boys are gone I'll tell you my story. It all started this past weekend. I had been all mopey and down in the dumps for no good reason. I would tear up at the drop of a hat and just wasn't in a good place. It all came to a head on Monday night. After a long day at work I came home and was even more tired than usual. I was sad and exhausted and bummed. I don't remember exactly why I started to cry, but I did. There I was crying on the couch with poor Brent wanting to help but not knowing exactly what to do. I told him that I am just overwhelmed and I've been so sleepy and sad but I can't figure out why. We had a long discussion and began talking about how it could be post Partum depression and we discussed ways that Brent could help me to make sure I take care of myself. Have I mentioned that my husband is amazing? Anyway, I went to bed that night thinking that maybe I was struggling a little and tried to get my head in the right place.
The next morning I woke up feeling good. I went to work and was feeling great, when all of the sudden it happened. I started my period. Then it hit me. That sneaky bitch. I haven't had my period for over a year now so I wasn't even thinking that could have been it. When breastfeeding you actually prolong the time before starting your period again after pregnancy. Some woman go months with nothing, so you never know when it will come back. I have never been so relieved to start, well, ever. It explains my tiredness, my sadness, and my mood swings. Here I thought I might be going off the deep end and it was just damn mother nature being her usual jerk self.
So that's my story. I do know that I still need to make sure I take care of myself, but it makes me feel so much better that it was just normal symptoms.
Ok, now that the boys are gone I'll tell you my story. It all started this past weekend. I had been all mopey and down in the dumps for no good reason. I would tear up at the drop of a hat and just wasn't in a good place. It all came to a head on Monday night. After a long day at work I came home and was even more tired than usual. I was sad and exhausted and bummed. I don't remember exactly why I started to cry, but I did. There I was crying on the couch with poor Brent wanting to help but not knowing exactly what to do. I told him that I am just overwhelmed and I've been so sleepy and sad but I can't figure out why. We had a long discussion and began talking about how it could be post Partum depression and we discussed ways that Brent could help me to make sure I take care of myself. Have I mentioned that my husband is amazing? Anyway, I went to bed that night thinking that maybe I was struggling a little and tried to get my head in the right place.
The next morning I woke up feeling good. I went to work and was feeling great, when all of the sudden it happened. I started my period. Then it hit me. That sneaky bitch. I haven't had my period for over a year now so I wasn't even thinking that could have been it. When breastfeeding you actually prolong the time before starting your period again after pregnancy. Some woman go months with nothing, so you never know when it will come back. I have never been so relieved to start, well, ever. It explains my tiredness, my sadness, and my mood swings. Here I thought I might be going off the deep end and it was just damn mother nature being her usual jerk self.
So that's my story. I do know that I still need to make sure I take care of myself, but it makes me feel so much better that it was just normal symptoms.
Friday, August 3, 2012
Teething and a Giraffe
I had not read much about teething. All that I knew was that it normally begins sometime between 4-6 months and one of the first signs is drooling. When Will started drooling like crazy around 11 weeks I didn't think anything of it. Then, at 12 weeks old, we realized he had a tooth erupting. Brent mentioned that earlier in the week Will was chewing on his finger and he felt something sharp. When he told me I thought he was crazy. I opened Will's mouth and sure enough there it was on the bottom row.
My first thought was something about hoping he doesn't bite my nipple off, and my second was to figure out how to keep him comfortable.
I began researching what to do. It wasn't as easy as giving him a teething ring and letting him be. At only 12 weeks he isn't coordinated enough to hold something and put it in his mouth to chew. He can hold things and he can chew things, but the combination is still beyond him. I had a bunch of teethers from the baby shower but they were too big around for him to even hold. I then read online that you could tie a washcloth into knots for them to chew. This worked decently because I could lay the washcloth around his face and he could push it into his mouth. Still, he wouldn't chew on it for very long. Another article said that I could use one of those mesh things that you put fruit in for older babies to chew but instead of fruit fill it with frozen breast milk. That way they can have something cold to soothe the gums and swallowing the breast milk wouldn't hurt anything. I had a few of the mesh things from our shower so I gave it a try. After a few minutes of me shoving it into his mouth and Will looking at me like I had lost my mind I gave up. I think it was too cold for him at this age.
Well crap. Sometimes a pacifier seems to help, but he won't keep it in. Over the past week we have had more baby meltdowns then he has had in the past 3 months combined. He will scream his giant head off and once we calm him down he shoves his hand in his mouth and rubs his gums. I feel terribly for him. Besides the fussiness his sleep pattern hasn't been thrown off too bad. Last night was the first night that he has ever gotten up at 4am and STAYED up. Usually he wakes me up to nurse and passes out while nursing. I can carry him and lay him down without him even opening his eyes. But last night he stopped nursing and was wide awake. Not necessarily fussy, just restless. Meanwhile, it was everything I could do to keep my eyes open. After an hour of trying to get him back to sleep I called for backup and tagged Brent in. I'm so lucky to have a great husband, he took over and got him to sleep while I passed back out.
Today I did finally find something that he can hold AND chew. It's called Sophie the Giraffe and it is deemed as the best teething toy. Actually I didn't get the original Sophie, but a smaller version with a handle. The reason I didn't get the original is because it squeaks like a dog toy. I don't even let my dogs have squeaky toys, let alone my baby. I really like this teether because it is small enough for his fat little hand to hold, lightweight, and it is rubber so it doesn't slip out of his hand and he loves the texture. I'm hoping this little giraffe has saved the day.
Teething has been the first event where I realized Will is growing up. Yes, I realize that he is still only 3 months old, but getting teeth is kind of a big deal. One day I'm going to wake up and he will have a full set of teeth and a beard (probably next week) and I'll be bummed. The other day I caught myself saying "who told you that you could grow up?", and I thought of how many times my mom had said that to me. Yet here I am, a grown ass woman with a toothy man baby.
My first thought was something about hoping he doesn't bite my nipple off, and my second was to figure out how to keep him comfortable.
I began researching what to do. It wasn't as easy as giving him a teething ring and letting him be. At only 12 weeks he isn't coordinated enough to hold something and put it in his mouth to chew. He can hold things and he can chew things, but the combination is still beyond him. I had a bunch of teethers from the baby shower but they were too big around for him to even hold. I then read online that you could tie a washcloth into knots for them to chew. This worked decently because I could lay the washcloth around his face and he could push it into his mouth. Still, he wouldn't chew on it for very long. Another article said that I could use one of those mesh things that you put fruit in for older babies to chew but instead of fruit fill it with frozen breast milk. That way they can have something cold to soothe the gums and swallowing the breast milk wouldn't hurt anything. I had a few of the mesh things from our shower so I gave it a try. After a few minutes of me shoving it into his mouth and Will looking at me like I had lost my mind I gave up. I think it was too cold for him at this age.
Well crap. Sometimes a pacifier seems to help, but he won't keep it in. Over the past week we have had more baby meltdowns then he has had in the past 3 months combined. He will scream his giant head off and once we calm him down he shoves his hand in his mouth and rubs his gums. I feel terribly for him. Besides the fussiness his sleep pattern hasn't been thrown off too bad. Last night was the first night that he has ever gotten up at 4am and STAYED up. Usually he wakes me up to nurse and passes out while nursing. I can carry him and lay him down without him even opening his eyes. But last night he stopped nursing and was wide awake. Not necessarily fussy, just restless. Meanwhile, it was everything I could do to keep my eyes open. After an hour of trying to get him back to sleep I called for backup and tagged Brent in. I'm so lucky to have a great husband, he took over and got him to sleep while I passed back out.
Today I did finally find something that he can hold AND chew. It's called Sophie the Giraffe and it is deemed as the best teething toy. Actually I didn't get the original Sophie, but a smaller version with a handle. The reason I didn't get the original is because it squeaks like a dog toy. I don't even let my dogs have squeaky toys, let alone my baby. I really like this teether because it is small enough for his fat little hand to hold, lightweight, and it is rubber so it doesn't slip out of his hand and he loves the texture. I'm hoping this little giraffe has saved the day.
Teething has been the first event where I realized Will is growing up. Yes, I realize that he is still only 3 months old, but getting teeth is kind of a big deal. One day I'm going to wake up and he will have a full set of teeth and a beard (probably next week) and I'll be bummed. The other day I caught myself saying "who told you that you could grow up?", and I thought of how many times my mom had said that to me. Yet here I am, a grown ass woman with a toothy man baby.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Missing In Action
I haven't posted in 11 days. Turns out being a mom is pretty time consuming. I've started three other posts but only get about half way through before I get sleepy and give up. I go back and read what I've written and it's neither interesting nor funny. My brain is turning into mom mush.
Some highlights to hold you over:
Baby is giant. And teething already. And just really cute.
I am staying busy with work. Once again thankful that I have three day weekends to enjoy with Brent and Will.
And now I'm tired again. Will has been sleeping like a champ, which is awesome, however I am still exhausted during the work week.
I promise I'll post more when I can think of something interesting! Here is a picture to hold you over.
Some highlights to hold you over:
Baby is giant. And teething already. And just really cute.
I am staying busy with work. Once again thankful that I have three day weekends to enjoy with Brent and Will.
And now I'm tired again. Will has been sleeping like a champ, which is awesome, however I am still exhausted during the work week.
I promise I'll post more when I can think of something interesting! Here is a picture to hold you over.
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