Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label parenting. Show all posts

Friday, November 4, 2011

Calling All Moms!!!

Ok, so ladies I am not sure where this came from, so I have no way to credit the author.  So if its yours, please let me know! But me having a 7 month old baby, this is a reality in my life. My little baby who slept through the night at 2 weeks (i know I should not be complaining) has begun her late night feeding sprees.  Ok, maybe I can nurse for 2 minutes and she will fall back asleep as my head is nodding down down down down......nope, full 20 minutes (doesnt even nurse that long during her daytime feedings).  As I here her gulps gulps gulps as she sucks the milk down like she hasnt eaten in days.  I think......wow......PLEASE GO
BACK TO SLEEP!!!  I laughed OUT LOUD for several minutes.  Enjoy, thinking of this at the 12:30am, 2:45 am etc etc night time feedings might just make them a liiiiitle easier.  Well, maybe not but enjoy!

Awake Training for Parents:

Dear Fellow Babies,


OK, here's my situation. My Mommy has had me for almost 5 months. The first few months were great – I cried, she picked me up and fed me, anytime, around the clock. Then something happened. Over the last few weeks, she has been trying to STTN (sleep thru the night). At first, I thought it was just a phase, but it is only getting worse.

I've talked to other babies, and it seems like its pretty common after Mommies have had us for around 5-6 months. Here's the thing: these Mommies don't really need to sleep. It's just a habit. Many of them have had some 30 years to sleep – they just don't need it anymore. So I am implementing a plan. I call it the Crybaby Shuffle.


It goes like this:
Night 1 – cry every 3 hours until you get fed. I know, it's hard. It's hard to see your Mommy upset over your crying. Just keep reminding yourself, it's for her own good.

Night 2 – cry every 2 hours until you get fed.

Night 3 – every hour.

Most Mommies will start to respond more quickly after about 3 nights. Some Mommies are more alert, and may resist the change longer. These Mommies may stand in your doorway for hours, shhhh-ing. Don't give in. I cannot stress this enough: CONSISTENCY IS KEY!! If you let her STTN (sleep through the night), just once, she will expect it every night. I know it's hard! But she really does not need the sleep; she is just resisting the change. If you have an especially alert Mommy, you can stop crying for about 10 minutes, just long enough for her to go back to bed and start to fall asleep. Then cry again. It WILL eventually work. My Mommy once stayed awake for 10 hours straight, so I know she can do it.


The other night, I cried every hour. You just have to decide to stick to it and just go for it. BE CONSISTENT! I cried for any reason I could come up with:


-My sleep sack tickled my foot.

-I felt a wrinkle under the sheet.

-My mobile made a shadow on the wall.

-I burped, and it tasted like rice cereal. I hadn't eaten rice cereal since breakfast, what's up with that?

-The dog said "ruff". I should know. My Mommy reminds me of this about 20 times a day. LOL.

-Once I cried just because I liked how it sounded when it echoed on the monitor in the other room.

-Too hot, too cold, just right – doesn't matter! Keep crying!!

-I had drooled so much my sheets were damp and I didn't like it touching me.

-I decided I was sick of all the pink in my room so I cried.


It took awhile, but it worked. She fed me at 4am. Tomorrow night, my goal is 3:30am. You need to slowly shorten the interval between feedings in order to reset your Mommies' internal clocks.
Sometimes my Mommy will call for reinforcements by sending in Daddy. Don't worry Daddies are not set up for not needing sleep the way Mommies are. They can only handle a few pats and shhing before they declare defeat and send in the Mommy.


Also, be wary of the sleep sheep with rain noises. I like to give Mommy false hope that listening to the rain puts me to sleep sometimes I pretend to close my eyes and be asleep and then wait until I know Mommy is settling back to sleep to spring a surprise cry attack. If she doesn't get to me fast enough I follow up with my fake cough and gag noise that always has her running to the crib. At some point I am positive she will start to realize that she really doesn't really need sleep.


P.S. Don't let those rubber things fool you, no matter how long you suck on them, no milk will come out. Trust me. 

Sincerely,

Baby J

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Small Victory

....or huge depending on the party asked.....
Every time John (the hubby) has kept baby G since she has been born for more than an hour at a time, without me anywhere near, she screams the entire time.  Now, this is extremely rare for her to really cry.  There are people who see us everyday who have heard my child cry maybe once.  Well, low and behold the day after she would always run fever, with an ear infection, pneumonia, sinus infection or some other infant ailment being the culprit. Even my mom "lala" cant keep her, she cries, sick or not.
Well last night I had CCD and we had another trial run.  Praying, checking my phone, and just overall nervous, John with a look of anxious horror on his face packed both kids up in the minivan to cart them the 15 miles home.  Country living has its unfortunate moments.  Anyway, I got a "shes doing good" text about 1/2 way through my 2 hour away from her time, and got home to 2 sleeping children and a happy hubby.
YAY!! Hubby was a little relieved, but I am exstatic!  I havent been able to leave her.  And as much as I love having her with me every moment of everyday, a chance to be able to go get a pedicure, grocery shopping, mall or some other short errand without a tag along that is under 21 years of age will be heavenly.
Though most of the day is spent in the mindset of small childrens needs, the occasional break from carrying a 18 pound 7 1/2 month old will give me a break.  So, to celebrate my new found freedom I will share a recipe

Chicken Pasta Salad
My VERY VERY VERY VERY picky 3 year old asks for this every single night.

1 box tri colored rotini pasta
5 popeyes spicy chicken strips (cut into bite size pieces)
shredded cheese
cherry tomatoes (cut in half)
sliced mushrooms
ranch dressing

You can also add all of the veggies you like depending on your taste.  My boys like these.  If you like a nutty flavor add sunflower seeds for a nice little change.  Sometimes we add bacon bits too.
Boil pasta, strain, rinse in cold water.
Add sliced chicken and veggies, and mix.
Then top with cheese to taste
Enough ranch dressing also to taste.
I dont know what it is, but this is like a food drug.  It is SO good!
Enjoy:)!