Thursday, September 23, 2010

Another Post on Sleep

Throughout this napping crisis we've been having (okay, it's not really a crisis, but it feels like it sometimes) one good thing that has come from it is a bedtime routine.

Eric's involved in a play so he has practice each night. Originally I thought this was going to be a problem but it is good for me and Eli to set up this routine.

The times may vary slightly, but essentially what we have worked out as follows:

-Eric and I eat dinner
-Elijah gets dinner (rice cereal and veggies)
-Playtime
-Bathtime (which is a whole post on its own!)
-Nakey time
-Outside for a few minutes of fresh air
-Reading time
-Nursing
-Bed

It's been working great for the last couple weeks. I'm lucky that Elijah still falls asleep while nursing so I just rock him for a few more minutes and then transfer him to his crib. Occasionally he wakes up a couple hours later to nurse again, but other than that it's going well. I know eventually we will have to work on him soothing himself to sleep, but for now I'm sticking with what works.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Monday Monday

Today was another good day in the life of Elijah Nies. He got to see 3 of his 4 grandparents!

Eric and I have accepted that no one will come to visit us anymore; it's all about the baby. And rightfully so - he's such a cutie!

As such, my parents came to see Eli and brought us lunch as well. Aside from my mother trying to ply my little boy with pizza and soda it was a delightful visit. We chatted, ate, and then assembled the small portable grill my dad won at a golf tournament and thoughtfully gave to us. I'm guessing there will be grilling going on this Friday at the Nies household!

Then Eric's mom came over so the two of us could (finally!) watch the last episode of Top Chef. She also brought pizza and fed Eli his first serving of green beans - which did not go over well at all. We'll try them again tomorrow and if he still doesn't like them, well, we'll hold off for some time and then try again. He started getting a little fussy at the end, so Kris and I couldn't have our usual in depth discussion about the show (although we both approve of the winner).

My sweet baby is finally asleep in his crib (after 1.75 hours of nursing and 10 minutes of rocking) and I'm off to crash in bed. G'night all!

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Napping: Update

We're still working on napping. Friday was a set back for me when I realized that Elijah will scream anytime he is in his crib. The last two nights he has woken up at midnight and instead of going back to sleep like he was before, he immediately started crying. And then the same thing happened in the morning, when before his morning awakenings were gradual and I heard him chatting over the monitor not crying. So rather than have him totally resent his crib I'm going to start over. Or at least try something else. I'll work on getting him to sleep and then laying him on our bed and sleeping there. Eventually I'll get him moved to his crib and then start on falling asleep there.

On the recommendation of a couple people, I also requested the Elizabeth Pantley book "No-Cry Nap Solution" through the SD interlibrary loan. It'll be some time before I get it, but I'm hoping not too long.

Other than that, we had a great weekend! Friday was relaxing in the house with the bad weather. Saturday afternoon was spent with friends and an excellent pot of chicken and rice soup and today we got to see Eric's family.

Here's hoping napping goes well this week!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Napping: Day One

Today I decided it is time for me to take charge of Elijah's napping situation. Of course, I choose to start the day after he wakes at 3am, nurses, wakes again at 5:30 and we sleep in the recliner until 8. But there will always be something to stop me so I went ahead with it.

Well I noticed he was yawning and staring off at 9:15 so I tried to nurse him and when he didn't want any of that I rocked him for a bit and put him in his crib. He immediately started crying, but I walked out. I let him cry for 45 minutes during which I started a load of laundry, cleaned the litter box, and did my bible study work for the day. At that point I couldn't take the crying anymore so I went in and picked Eli up.

Then this afternoon he nursed from 1-2pm and fell asleep on my lap. I rocked him for a few more minutes and then put him in his crib. He slept for 15 minutes and then woke up crying. I let him cry again for 45 minutes and when I went in to pick him up he was still going pretty strong.

I'm not sure if this is the absolute best thing for my baby, but I have to try something. He needs to learn to fall asleep on his own and naps are so important for babies. Everything I have read says good day sleep equals good night sleep and that babies who nap are happier. I'll give this a try for a while and if I don't see any improvement I'll find something else.

One thing that will not help my plan but something I have to work around is a bible study I'm doing on Thursdays from 10am-noon. It is a great program and I'm looking forward to studying Revelation. They also have a children's program and a nursery for babies under 2. Unfortunately Elijah spent almost the whole time last week crying. Loudly. Even though the sweet ladies held him the whole time. However, this was the first time he has been separated from me and not been around someone else he knows (Eric, Grandma, or Grandpa) so that is most likely the problem. Hopefully he will adjust soon. It's wrenching to know he'll start crying as soon as I leave him but it will be good for him. Right?

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Update!

Wow, it seems like forever since I last posted. The last 4 and a half months have flown by. Things are going great with Elijah and the new house. We've had our ups and downs but I wouldn't change a thing.

Eli is the sweetest little boy. After some initial difficulties, breastfeeding is going great. I wasn't sure I'd survive the first 6 weeks but I survived the pain and it was completely worth it. Pumping is going well too so Eric can feed Elijah or I can take him out with a bottle and not have to worry about nursing. We actually just started feeding him rice cereal yesterday too. He is your typical baby with food all over his face but I think he likes it. He's been staring at me every time I eat for the last few weeks so it was time to start him. I think the next foods I try will be carrots and peaches, then move on to sweet potatoes and such. I'm hoping to make a lot of the food myself.

My baby has already almost doubled in weight (8 lbs 15 oz to 17 lbs 6 oz) and grown almost 5 inches in length. He can fit in some 3-6 months clothing but has moved up to 6-9 months mostly. I have to say my arms are much stronger for toting him around in his car seat. (And I'm 2 pounds away from my pre-baby weight!)

Our current down is Elijah's napping. He used to only nap on my lap after nursing and would wake up if I tried to move him to his crib (which is what I do at night and works great - for now). He doesn't even do that now though. Granted, I have not been consistent in his napping routine (first vacation and then out and about running around since) so that is most likely a big part of it. My goal is to start putting him down for naps at 9am and 2pm (ish) everyday and letting him cry it out to learn how to go to sleep. We'll see how that works out.

Hopefully I will have more time to update now that things are a little most settled. Once Elijah naps I'll have plenty of time!