Holy Macaroni! Taylor slept 7 straight hours last night and 6.5 the night before that! We had family visiting from MS and we ventured all over the county while they were here. That didn't afford Taylor much time for a nap. She'll be 3 months old next week and I think she is finally getting the hang of this sleeping thing.
However, I try not to get my hopes up. I realize that just because last night was good, that doesn't necessarily mean tonight will be. For some reason and I am very nervous about tonight. Hopefully I am anxious for no reason.
If she does return to her sleepless nights, my family will just have to return to NC for a very extended stay. We are expecting Brodie's family to visit at the end of Sept. and I can't wait. It was so great having family here to help. It really made me realize how fortunate we are to have such a great family. We are so blessed.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
It's getting a little better!
A few days ago I didn't think I could do this anymore. Everything was just so hard. I had tried almost every sleep schedule I could think of. Finally my neighbor suggested that instead of putting her to sleep at 7, keep her up a little later.
I would give her a bath at 6:30, nurse and start putting her down at 7. Most nights she wouldn't get to sleep until 8 or 8:30. That means I am spending absolutely no time with my husband and the time we do spend together isn't quality time because I am so exhausted. I have to admit, I have been pretty difficult to get along with lately...BUT IT'S NOT MY FAULT, I'M SEVERELY SLEEP DEPRIVED!
Well, now I give Taylor her bath at 7 or 7:30, play and tire her out until 8 or 8:30. She goes to sleep so much easier and faster now. This allows me to finally be able to ask Brodie how his day went...and actually to listen.
Taylor is getting up 3 times a night now. She usually sleeps for about 2-2.5 hrs at a time. By now she should be getting into 4 or 5 hr stretches but not all babies are ready for that. For now I am so very thankful for only having to get up 3 times a night. I feel so much better and I am sure Taylor does too. We'll get to those 5 hour stretches, I'm sure. It just won't happen right now and that is fine. I have learned that motherhood becomes much easier when I let go of all of my expectations for my daughter. Just because last night was good doesn't mean tonight will be. I have learned to take one day at a time. This has really saved my sanity...and my relationship with Taylor.
She isn't an easy baby but my goodness, she is so awesome when she isn't tired.
Also, I put her on the scales this morning and she weighed 15 pounds. She was 13 pounds 2 weeks ago!
I would give her a bath at 6:30, nurse and start putting her down at 7. Most nights she wouldn't get to sleep until 8 or 8:30. That means I am spending absolutely no time with my husband and the time we do spend together isn't quality time because I am so exhausted. I have to admit, I have been pretty difficult to get along with lately...BUT IT'S NOT MY FAULT, I'M SEVERELY SLEEP DEPRIVED!
Well, now I give Taylor her bath at 7 or 7:30, play and tire her out until 8 or 8:30. She goes to sleep so much easier and faster now. This allows me to finally be able to ask Brodie how his day went...and actually to listen.
Taylor is getting up 3 times a night now. She usually sleeps for about 2-2.5 hrs at a time. By now she should be getting into 4 or 5 hr stretches but not all babies are ready for that. For now I am so very thankful for only having to get up 3 times a night. I feel so much better and I am sure Taylor does too. We'll get to those 5 hour stretches, I'm sure. It just won't happen right now and that is fine. I have learned that motherhood becomes much easier when I let go of all of my expectations for my daughter. Just because last night was good doesn't mean tonight will be. I have learned to take one day at a time. This has really saved my sanity...and my relationship with Taylor.
She isn't an easy baby but my goodness, she is so awesome when she isn't tired.
Also, I put her on the scales this morning and she weighed 15 pounds. She was 13 pounds 2 weeks ago!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
2 Months
Taylor's 2 month check-up was on Aug. 6th. She weighed 13.3 lbs and was 25" long. She is in the 94th and 101st percentile for her weight and height, respectively. That's the good news.
The bad news is that she still isn't sleeping. We decided to put her in her crib in her room. The idea was that she was smelling me and waking to eat. I thought perhaps she wasn't getting satisfied when she ate, maybe my milk supply was low. I started drinking more water...much more water. I also stopped drinking caffeine products. I wasn't drinking that much to begin with but I just wasn't sure what was going on. We wrap her up nice and tight to sleep, turn the air down, turn her ceiling fan on low, she's burped, has a clean diaper, and is very well fed. Nevertheless, she still wakes up every 2 hrs, 3 if I am lucky.
I am utterly exhausted. I can hardly complete a sentence much less make it make sense. The only thing I can think that could be causing this is a growth spurt. But it isn't time for a growth spurt. Her next one should be at 3 months. Do growth spurts really come 2 weeks early? I don't know. I feel so useless and just plain ignorant. I feel horrible because I can't satisfy my child. Why won't she sleep? I beg her to sleep, I know she's so tired...but she just refuses to close her eyes.
She really is a good baby. I love her so much. But her inability to sleep and lack of parenting skills makes it so difficult to enjoy her because I know that in a matter of hours I will have to get her to sleep and I have no idea what I am doing wrong.
Everyone has suggested putting formula or cereal in a bottle with some breast milk. My pediatrician advised against this. He said among other things, it would inevitably be the beginning of the end of my breastfeeding. I guess sucking from a bottle is instant gratification compared to nursing which takes a little more work on her part. Also, cereal is believed to create allergies and lead to childhood obesity. Obviously not all children experience these side effects but I don't wanna chance it. Plus, we tried to give her bottle the other night and she DID NOT want it. She wanted her momma to go to sleep. She would not take a bottle of formula or breast milk.
If anyone has the answer and wants to come on out and help, I will pay for your plane ticket! LOL! This is very hard being so far away from family. I could really use some help. Everyone says it'll get easier. Well, it is only getting harder.
It's a good thing she is so cute.... I keep telling her if she doesn't straighten up I am going to put her on eBay! LOL!
Well, pray for us. We sure need it.
The bad news is that she still isn't sleeping. We decided to put her in her crib in her room. The idea was that she was smelling me and waking to eat. I thought perhaps she wasn't getting satisfied when she ate, maybe my milk supply was low. I started drinking more water...much more water. I also stopped drinking caffeine products. I wasn't drinking that much to begin with but I just wasn't sure what was going on. We wrap her up nice and tight to sleep, turn the air down, turn her ceiling fan on low, she's burped, has a clean diaper, and is very well fed. Nevertheless, she still wakes up every 2 hrs, 3 if I am lucky.
I am utterly exhausted. I can hardly complete a sentence much less make it make sense. The only thing I can think that could be causing this is a growth spurt. But it isn't time for a growth spurt. Her next one should be at 3 months. Do growth spurts really come 2 weeks early? I don't know. I feel so useless and just plain ignorant. I feel horrible because I can't satisfy my child. Why won't she sleep? I beg her to sleep, I know she's so tired...but she just refuses to close her eyes.
She really is a good baby. I love her so much. But her inability to sleep and lack of parenting skills makes it so difficult to enjoy her because I know that in a matter of hours I will have to get her to sleep and I have no idea what I am doing wrong.
Everyone has suggested putting formula or cereal in a bottle with some breast milk. My pediatrician advised against this. He said among other things, it would inevitably be the beginning of the end of my breastfeeding. I guess sucking from a bottle is instant gratification compared to nursing which takes a little more work on her part. Also, cereal is believed to create allergies and lead to childhood obesity. Obviously not all children experience these side effects but I don't wanna chance it. Plus, we tried to give her bottle the other night and she DID NOT want it. She wanted her momma to go to sleep. She would not take a bottle of formula or breast milk.
If anyone has the answer and wants to come on out and help, I will pay for your plane ticket! LOL! This is very hard being so far away from family. I could really use some help. Everyone says it'll get easier. Well, it is only getting harder.
It's a good thing she is so cute.... I keep telling her if she doesn't straighten up I am going to put her on eBay! LOL!
Well, pray for us. We sure need it.
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