Changing it up.

Sorry for the long break from my last blog. Things were kind of dull on my end. Which is a good thing. DD has been feed free through the night for at least 4 weeks. No feeds at all. Shes been pretty consistent sleeping 10p-7a. She has woken but was soothed back to sleep either by herself or by a quick visit after giving her some time to sort it out. Its amazing. 

The swaddle has stayed. Crisis averted. We found a new swaddle that she loves. I didn't think to try it because DS hated it. The Woombie. Its got enough give that she isnt too constricted but it does allow her some wiggle room. I bought one, she loved it so much that i had to go out and get another one cause when i tried to launder it and i had to use the swaddle me, she would look at me like are you kidding me lady.. Needless to say we now have 2. (and a third winter one on order)

In the past 2 weeks My lil baby has transformed. It happened in literally a blink of an eye. She is no longer a newborn. She's transitioned to a baby and MY GOSH is she cute! The past week or more i have noticed that she stays awake easily. Is so observant. AND she doesn't want to take full 2 hr naps as she use to. Either she isn't ready to go to sleep and cries in the start of her nap OR she falls asleep fine and wakes early and cries to the end of her nap. Scratching my head i realized... this baby girl is ready to graduate to a baby schedule and not a newborn schedule anymore. Basically she would be dropping a nap (from 5 naps to 4 naps) and be staying awake longer then an hour at a time. I think i've known she was ready for a while but i'm deathly afraid of change. My DS held on to all his naps forever. He took 3 naps a day till 10 mos and 2 naps a day till 18 mos. 
Well this morning i woke up and the lil miss was so smiley and awake and cooing that i didn't want to put her back to bed. So i didn't. I brought her over to our bed where her brother and dad were and we had a big family cuddle watching Curious George. Somehow i got the guts to admit to myself... this baby girl is ready to graduate. So i kept her up to have breakfast with us and by the time it was time for her first nap... she was sooo ready. Slept like a champ the whole 2 hrs. Did the same for all the naps the rest of the day. Her wake up and bedtime will stay the same but heres hoping that it solved the short nap dilemma. 
I had to text Debbie today because i was in such awe. What a difference. I didn't start training (or even knew it existed) till my DS was 4.5 mos. The struggles i faced with him aren't even a thought in my mind. I literally feed her and put her in her crib. Awake or asleep, it doesn't matter. She does all the work. She's happy all the time. Not tired or cranky. I can see all the things i took away from my DS in rushing to him the second he squeaked. Picking him up and rocking him isn't want he needed or wanted. He needed to learn how to put himself to sleep. Not teach me how to do it for him. I thought i was helping him by rocking and holding him but now i realize that isnt at all what he was wanting. I guess its all a matter of perspective. Yes DD cries a bit. But by a bit i mean 5 min MAX. She doesn't even cry as much as shouts. Some people may think thats mean and horrible. I use to be one of those people. I remember before my son was born i vowed i would never let him cry. Well he was crying cause he was so tired anyway so really...i was no further ahead.
 I've learned so much about infant sleep and cues and what they are really wanting to say and need that i sometimes scare myself.  We have weekly clinics through PMB and im still doing mini training programs. Sometimes when i read a question or email and realize how common all the issues are i understand that its normal. BUT we can help create a new normal.

In other news. DD got to try out the jolly jumper yesterday. OMG she loved it. Can you believe it... my baby girl is almost 3 mos old. YIKES.. i had a talk with her today and told her to slow down.. stay small... not sure how much she will listen to me there.... but at least she listens when i tell her "I Love you, Goodnight. Go to sleep."

Stay tuned as DD has 4 schedules to get through till she reaches her goal bedtime. 

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