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| I read these on iMom.com--great ideas! |
1.31.2012
We Have a Schedule! (Sleep Training Continued....)
We finally have a semblance of a schedule in place.
At about 4 months, when Will started to resist naps in my arms or the swing, etc., and when I knew he was biologically ready to settle into a rhythm, I paid close attention to his sleepy signs. When he got tired, I put him in his crib to sleep. He would often cry--miserable.
BUT, we're past that and he's sleeping great now! I kept a sleep log and identified times of the day that Will most often fell asleep. Then I also noted that more important than that, just about 2 hours after he woke up from a nap, he was fussy again. Like clockwork.
So, now we have some predictability and NO CRYING at nap time! Or bedtime, for that matter.
7:00am: Wake up
9:00-10:30am: Nap #1
12:30-1:30pm: Nap #2
3:30-4:15pm: Nap #3
6:30pm: Bedtime routine begins (bath, pajamas, nursing)
7:30pm: Will falls asleep nursing and I take him up to his crib
This varies some, but most days, this is what I can plan on. He is getting up once in the night, anywhere from 2-5, and going back to sleep after a feeding.
I really can't complain. And I have Dr. Weissbluth to thank!!
At about 4 months, when Will started to resist naps in my arms or the swing, etc., and when I knew he was biologically ready to settle into a rhythm, I paid close attention to his sleepy signs. When he got tired, I put him in his crib to sleep. He would often cry--miserable.
BUT, we're past that and he's sleeping great now! I kept a sleep log and identified times of the day that Will most often fell asleep. Then I also noted that more important than that, just about 2 hours after he woke up from a nap, he was fussy again. Like clockwork.
So, now we have some predictability and NO CRYING at nap time! Or bedtime, for that matter.
7:00am: Wake up
9:00-10:30am: Nap #1
12:30-1:30pm: Nap #2
3:30-4:15pm: Nap #3
6:30pm: Bedtime routine begins (bath, pajamas, nursing)
7:30pm: Will falls asleep nursing and I take him up to his crib
This varies some, but most days, this is what I can plan on. He is getting up once in the night, anywhere from 2-5, and going back to sleep after a feeding.
I really can't complain. And I have Dr. Weissbluth to thank!!
1.30.2012
Two Minutes
I got a new toothbrush. A sonicare electric toothbrush. The thing works really well, but part of its trick is that it forces you to brush for a full 2 minutes. As soon as you turn the brush on, it vibrates for exactly 2 minutes before it turns itself off.
This is a great feature, but it annoys me! Why? Because those 2 minutes seem like an eternity. Because those combine to be a total of 4 minutes of my day (2 minutes in the morning and 2 in the evening) when I can't do anything else besides brush my teeth. It seems like such a waste of time. I can't chew on the brush and make the bed, or separate the laundry, or clean up the counter. I have to actually hold on to the brush and I have to do it for a full 2 minutes.
This should not annoy me. I need to change my attitude. Rather than cramming so much into my day, I need more minutes where I can just do one thing, and think. Pray. Be. I need to embrace the time I have nursing and sometimes just be quiet. Soak in the moment. Recharge. I do not have to be multitasking every minute of the day.
See? These are the lessons I learn when I take 2 minutes to do nothing but brush my teeth. What else could I learn if I just slowed down?
This is a great feature, but it annoys me! Why? Because those 2 minutes seem like an eternity. Because those combine to be a total of 4 minutes of my day (2 minutes in the morning and 2 in the evening) when I can't do anything else besides brush my teeth. It seems like such a waste of time. I can't chew on the brush and make the bed, or separate the laundry, or clean up the counter. I have to actually hold on to the brush and I have to do it for a full 2 minutes.
This should not annoy me. I need to change my attitude. Rather than cramming so much into my day, I need more minutes where I can just do one thing, and think. Pray. Be. I need to embrace the time I have nursing and sometimes just be quiet. Soak in the moment. Recharge. I do not have to be multitasking every minute of the day.
See? These are the lessons I learn when I take 2 minutes to do nothing but brush my teeth. What else could I learn if I just slowed down?
1.29.2012
My Favorite Time of Day
My favorite part of the day is singing to Will before nap times. He usually gets 3 naps a day (we have finally settled in on a schedule!) and before each one, I strap him in the baby carrier, take him up to his nursery, bounce him a little, and sing. He will often reach for my thumbs and wrap one little fist around each one. After a couple songs, he'll lay his head on my chest and I will rest my cheek on the top of his head. It is such a content, safe feeling. I soak in his smell. He hears my heartbeat. I could hold him like that for hours.
But I have to put him down. And then used to come the WORST part of the day: Listening to him scream as he resisted sleep! But we're pretty much past that now, thank goodness. I can enjoy the soothing rituals without fearing the tears.
And so that's why it's my favorite time of day.
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| This photo is a little old now--my, how he has grown! |
1.28.2012
Do the right thing?
Twice now I have lived this scenario:
I go shopping with Will in the stroller. I shove things to buy in the basket underneath, hang some things on the stroller handle, hold some things in my hands. I pay and leave.
As I load Will into the car I notice there are items in the bottom of my stroller basket that I did not pay for. Oops. I am faced with a dilemma.
In both cases, the items totaled no more than $5. In both cases it was cold (January in Chicago) and I have a baby who wants to get home and eat. In both cases, of course, I'm parked far away from the store entrance.
In both cases I went back into the store and paid for the items. I know that my behavior as a mom is setting an example for Will. I also know that he is 5 months old and can't understand what's going on, but I want him to be a person who always does the right thing. And so I must also be that person. All the time. Even now. Little eyes are watching.
I go shopping with Will in the stroller. I shove things to buy in the basket underneath, hang some things on the stroller handle, hold some things in my hands. I pay and leave.
As I load Will into the car I notice there are items in the bottom of my stroller basket that I did not pay for. Oops. I am faced with a dilemma.
In both cases, the items totaled no more than $5. In both cases it was cold (January in Chicago) and I have a baby who wants to get home and eat. In both cases, of course, I'm parked far away from the store entrance.
In both cases I went back into the store and paid for the items. I know that my behavior as a mom is setting an example for Will. I also know that he is 5 months old and can't understand what's going on, but I want him to be a person who always does the right thing. And so I must also be that person. All the time. Even now. Little eyes are watching.
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