How I got Sleep Trained :o)

Leia started off her newborn life as a great sleeper. The first night in the hospital, my amazing night nurse helped me work a solution that allowed us to get hours of perfect sleep. She swaddled her and put her in the crook of my arm and there we slept for hours. We repeated this same process until we were discharged. We repeated a similar process at home until her two week visit when her pediatrician expressed concern about her weight gain. I had to start waking her up every three hours for feedings. Yes, wake a sleep baby! Who does that? So slowly our nighttime sleep eroded and we had nighttime feedings.

After returning to work, I felt blessed that she only would get once or twice during the night which was fine. I am not exactly sure how long that last before a third feeding crept in occasionally right and then sometimes another...  So the months crept on and my fear of messing with my milk supply led me to continue to get up and nurse at each whimper until this week. I started to realize I beat!  And being exhausted was no better for my milk supply. After a few pep talks from a friend (also a co-co-worker) and a gal who rode home with me that  Tuesday evening, I knew it was time. I didn't need to set a date or read a book, just do it! 

We went through our normal bedtime routine, (thankfully she goes to sleep fine on her own), until about 10:15 when she woke up. I went in, gave her her pacifier, covered her up, patted her bum and walked out to a fussing baby.  I laid in bed for a minute and Daddy offered to rock her.  I sleepily agreed and he went into her room. A few seconds later, he come back saying tonight was the night to let her fuss a little and we closed our door.  I have no idea how long she cried, we feel asleep! The next thing I knew it was 2:27am and I woke up a little disoriented. I crept out of my room, peeked to make sure she was still in her crib (crazy, huh?), went down to pump, and then checked on her. She was spread out like a starfish, paci in her mouth, and sleeping like a rock.  I covered her up and she returned to sleep until 4am.  And guess what? The next next nights she didn't even bother! So all my worry and fretting was for nothing, this girl is amazing. She told me, "Hey mama, I got this..stop bugging me while I am trying to get back to sleep. " And now we are both happier, though I am still getting up to pump in the middle of the night for the time being which is fine with me. Once is way better than 3-4 times per night.

Sleep training for babies...for me it was her teaching me!

Could that be Spring?

I am checking back in after a few crazy weeks of life.  It is a gorgeous day here in VA and it looks like the upcoming week is going to be awesome! There is just something about nice weather that makes everything seem better. So here is what has been going on the past few weeks.

-We have visited urgent care 3 times, 2 times per kid. One group visit . E had an ear infection and then most recently was diagnosed with bacterial pneumonia. Two doses of IV antibiotics and he is back to his superhero self.  L has managed to limit herself to a cold for now and we think she is teething.

-Leia is officially crawling, pulling up, and generally moving at a rapid pace. She is making the switch from purees to more solids foods with great voracity. She is still nursing like a champ and wants to eat anything she can get her hands on. Watching her "chew" with no teeth is really cute. She is not sleeping well at night which stinks but Mama is going to work on that soon enough.

-Emory is doing great in spite of his sicknesses. He is excelling in school. He has mastered lots of Spanish words such as body parts, colors, and numbers. He is eating regular dinners with us on a frequent basis. He is taking swim classes and swimming like a fish.

-We made two big purchases at the end of  last month...a HARLEY and a playset for the littles. Yes, a Harley. I think I might be more excited than Daddy. It is a 2008 Nightrod. And the best part is we paid CASH. No debt makes it even more awesome. The playset was also paid for in cash.  We are trying to decide where to put in the yard and what work will need to be done to get  the spot ready. Grandad and Uncle Mike are standing by to help put it together.

-Spend free month went well though I did cave a few times however, I ate out WAY less and made only two trips to Target (one big trip and one for Easter). We stayed pretty close to our grocery budget as well. And another HUGE thing...we paid off two, yes two, credit cards! I am so excited to have that debt gone. We just have one more to go!

-I did not finish any organizing or cleaning projects but oh well! My kids are happy and fed. The cleaning will wait to my furlough days which start in late May, early June.

So life around these parts has been busy.  In fact, I am going to scoot now so I can get these buggers dressed and get OUTSIDE!

Happy Spring!