So this weekend we all drove to Dallas to visit Jeff's brother and family, and check out some areas since we may be moving up there soon. Jeff's company us relocating up there... We drove up on Friday morning and are coming back now, on Sunday.
I was so nervous Gwen was going to sleep terrible, keep us all up, and be miserable during the day; I was preparing myself for the worst. But everything was fine. The drives up and back were great, with naps and feedings timing out perfectly. She still doesn't eat many solids, so that helped a bit.
We got there, and things were good. She got tired out while playing with her cousins, Grace and Hazel, and we stuck to our bedtime routine: bath, pjs, music, nursing. She went to sleep around 7, and everything seemed fine until midnight. She woke up crying loud. I ended up having to nurse her for the rest of the night. She wouldn't fall asleep for 2 hours! Not sure why, but thinking it had to do with teething and the new surroundings. It'll be much easier when she can tell us what the heck is bothering her!
The next day was great! She spent the day with Nana, who had driven up with us. She took a nap on a walk in the stroller, and played with cousins. Jeff and I drove around some areas, trying to get a feel for the neighborhoods, since we might he moving up there soon. We got home in time for her next nap, when I nursed her to sleep. Then we, the adults, had Mai tais, and played in the pool with the kids.
The second night went awesome! She went down easily and slept the entire night! Totally beat!
Got home and now I'm nursing yet to sleep for the night. The trip was a success and I'm do happy things went well!
Happy 1st Father's Day, to my amazing husband! (He got a massage for his gift from Gwen)
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Friday, June 8, 2012
52:23 Gwen is 8 months old today!
Learn more about my project 52 here and check out styleberry BLOG for links to more Project 52s.
Gwendolyn Mary, 6/8/2012 is your 8-month birthday! I can't believe it's been 8 months since I saw your little face held up above the blue curtain in front of me in the OR...I remember being pregnant and worried that I wouldn't "connect" with you right away...so silly...I'll never forget that instant love I felt when I first saw you! There's nothing like it.
You weigh about 22 lbs, and still wearing 12-18-month clothes mostly...although you do fit into 24 month clothes, too! My healthy little meatball.
You just started crawling well a few days ago, and you're now realizing you can explore! (you crawled into mommy and daddy's closet yesterday and had a good time playing with our shoes and making a big mess!) I need to upload video of your first time crawling.
You can pull up to kneeling, and just started pulling up to a stand yesterday in your crib, and now you want to pull up on everything! (Scary when it's a flimsy chair or stool that could topple on you) You can also sit yourself up and sitting on your own very easily.
You now take two naps instead of three, each lasting about 1-1.5 hours (sometimes it's still 45 minutes, but those are getting fewer and fewer), and you usually go down easily without crying (for daddy, it's a different story). You continue to consistently sleep 12 hours at night (7pm-7am)!
You have a new favorite toy- Bobo- a stuffed white and grey dog, who goes with you to take naps every day.
You still love bathtime, and have started to like stroller rides again.
You eat everything (although green beans gave you tummy problems)- you seem to love turkey with sweet potato and you LOVE bananas, apple-pear-banana mix, and plain yogurt!
You're in a "mommy phase" right now, where you want me close by at all times. You have started to cry when I leave you with Nana (which I know is rubbish because you love Nana). Yesterday morning as I left you panicked and started crying as you crawled toward me...heartbreaking, but SO adorable.
You love making raspberries with your mouth, especially when you're being fed...I laugh out loud when you blow into your food and it goes all over your face, and you look so surprised every time.
You babble quite a bit, and sometimes say "mommom". It melts my heart.
We love you so much! Every day is more fun because of you!
Gwendolyn Mary, 6/8/2012 is your 8-month birthday! I can't believe it's been 8 months since I saw your little face held up above the blue curtain in front of me in the OR...I remember being pregnant and worried that I wouldn't "connect" with you right away...so silly...I'll never forget that instant love I felt when I first saw you! There's nothing like it.
You weigh about 22 lbs, and still wearing 12-18-month clothes mostly...although you do fit into 24 month clothes, too! My healthy little meatball.
You just started crawling well a few days ago, and you're now realizing you can explore! (you crawled into mommy and daddy's closet yesterday and had a good time playing with our shoes and making a big mess!) I need to upload video of your first time crawling.
You can pull up to kneeling, and just started pulling up to a stand yesterday in your crib, and now you want to pull up on everything! (Scary when it's a flimsy chair or stool that could topple on you) You can also sit yourself up and sitting on your own very easily.
You now take two naps instead of three, each lasting about 1-1.5 hours (sometimes it's still 45 minutes, but those are getting fewer and fewer), and you usually go down easily without crying (for daddy, it's a different story). You continue to consistently sleep 12 hours at night (7pm-7am)!
You have a new favorite toy- Bobo- a stuffed white and grey dog, who goes with you to take naps every day.
You still love bathtime, and have started to like stroller rides again.
You eat everything (although green beans gave you tummy problems)- you seem to love turkey with sweet potato and you LOVE bananas, apple-pear-banana mix, and plain yogurt!
You're in a "mommy phase" right now, where you want me close by at all times. You have started to cry when I leave you with Nana (which I know is rubbish because you love Nana). Yesterday morning as I left you panicked and started crying as you crawled toward me...heartbreaking, but SO adorable.
You love making raspberries with your mouth, especially when you're being fed...I laugh out loud when you blow into your food and it goes all over your face, and you look so surprised every time.
You babble quite a bit, and sometimes say "mommom". It melts my heart.
We love you so much! Every day is more fun because of you!
Sunday, June 3, 2012
52: 22 A Morning In the Life of Gwen
Learn more about my project 52 here and check out styleberry BLOG for links to more Project 52s.
Hello, good morning to me! Waking up to the sound of your baby pooping is hilarious. Gwen has a bit of diarrhea, so this is how it sounded: gurgle gurgle, squirt...long pause...SQUIRT...splash, gurgle. Then she woke up...
Good morning slimey diaper! We're is everybody? I'm still tired...wiggle wiggle my bottom.
Hello, mama! Stop taking pictures and pick me up! Never put me down!
Hello, diaper changing place! I'm going to SCREAM AND SCREAM! I hate diaper changes in the morning!!
Hello mama and dada's bed...mmm... I love nursing with mama.
Hello bathroom! I like playing with these bottles that I shake shake shake until mama is done washing her face! Oooooh! Now mama has that buzzing thing in her mouth (toothbrush)! What's that all about? I don't know, but I want one really bad!
Hello, big room with large black rectangle! I love to watch that thing, but mama always turns it off!
Hello my fun play gym! I love the music and my toys!
Hello mama! Never stop holding me!
Hello, my other fun play gym! I like this one because I get to stand, but I get tired fast.
Hello beautiful backyard! I love going outside!
Hello, Bobo, my soft doggie. You're my favorite. This means it's time for nap.
Hello, diaper changing table again.
Hello, Bedtime Peekaboo book. I like to see all the babies in this book.
Hold me mama, and hum to me. I like the lullaby song. It relaxes me, and I put my head on your shoulder. I still like the bathroom vent too. And I love you.
Hello crib. I don't mind being put down in here anymore. I know it's sleepy time.
:)
Hello, good morning to me! Waking up to the sound of your baby pooping is hilarious. Gwen has a bit of diarrhea, so this is how it sounded: gurgle gurgle, squirt...long pause...SQUIRT...splash, gurgle. Then she woke up...
Good morning slimey diaper! We're is everybody? I'm still tired...wiggle wiggle my bottom.
Hello, mama! Stop taking pictures and pick me up! Never put me down!
Hello, diaper changing place! I'm going to SCREAM AND SCREAM! I hate diaper changes in the morning!!
Hello mama and dada's bed...mmm... I love nursing with mama.
Hello, big room with large black rectangle! I love to watch that thing, but mama always turns it off!
Hello my fun play gym! I love the music and my toys!
Hello mama! Never stop holding me!
Hello, my other fun play gym! I like this one because I get to stand, but I get tired fast.
Hello, Bobo, my soft doggie. You're my favorite. This means it's time for nap.
Hello, diaper changing table again.
Hello, Bedtime Peekaboo book. I like to see all the babies in this book.
Hold me mama, and hum to me. I like the lullaby song. It relaxes me, and I put my head on your shoulder. I still like the bathroom vent too. And I love you.
Hello crib. I don't mind being put down in here anymore. I know it's sleepy time.
:)
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
52:21 It's never easy!
Oh Gwen, we love you so much. Thank goodness for that because this week, you've started a whole new slew of behaviors that are a challenge sometimes. You now scream when we try to change your diaper in the morning. No idea why...you just scream and kick your legs, and arch your back, like we're torturing you. It doesn't matter if it's mommy or daddy, or if we sing to you or not, or if we had to wake you up (because of work) or if you woke up by yourself...you just scream bloody murder while we change your diaper. SO fun!
And at night, we now put you to bed 2 or 3 times. The routine is always the same: bath at 6:00, cuddling in towel, music with massage, pj's, dancing with daddy, and a long nursing session that ends around 7:05, when daddy carries you to bed, and you peacefully lay down and go to sleep...until you wake up 5-10 minutes later, crying until we come get you. Then you stay awake for the next 30 minutes to 1 hour, no matter what we do. We rock, we hum, we jiggle,we I nurse, we shush. You just look up at us the whole time. You are beautiful to look at, but you won't go to sleep!
I have to admit, these are minor problems. Things could be much worse. You could be waking up in the middle of the night (which you did last night at 1:30 am, but quickly went back to sleep), you could have ear infections, you could be fighting mommy while breastfeeding, you could be having any number of issues that I've heard about from other moms...but you are doing just fine. We love you just the way you are, and we'll continue to rock, shush, and jiggle you to sleep at night, and sing through your screams in the morning.
I try to look at motherhood through the eyes of a grandmother sometimes. I try to see what I would want to do different, if all this was behind me. I think I do this because I know one day I'll look back and miss these moments, and I'll also wish I stopped stressing so much. Motherhood is supposed to be fun! And babies are only babies once...it's so fleeting, these moments. I try so hard not to be uptight, and most of the time it works...although I do still write out "instructions" to whoever watches her while I'm at work. That's normal, right? I wonder how I'll be with my next child.
On another note, Gwen had her first swimming pool experience yesterday! She wasn't sure at first, but after she floated in her "palm tree floatie", she liked it. Well...as much as a baby really "likes" any thing: she didn't cry or fuss. AND, we made sticky buns for breakfast yesterday. So yum! I consider this a successful Memorial Day weekend!
And at night, we now put you to bed 2 or 3 times. The routine is always the same: bath at 6:00, cuddling in towel, music with massage, pj's, dancing with daddy, and a long nursing session that ends around 7:05, when daddy carries you to bed, and you peacefully lay down and go to sleep...until you wake up 5-10 minutes later, crying until we come get you. Then you stay awake for the next 30 minutes to 1 hour, no matter what we do. We rock, we hum, we jiggle,
I have to admit, these are minor problems. Things could be much worse. You could be waking up in the middle of the night (which you did last night at 1:30 am, but quickly went back to sleep), you could have ear infections, you could be fighting mommy while breastfeeding, you could be having any number of issues that I've heard about from other moms...but you are doing just fine. We love you just the way you are, and we'll continue to rock, shush, and jiggle you to sleep at night, and sing through your screams in the morning.
I try to look at motherhood through the eyes of a grandmother sometimes. I try to see what I would want to do different, if all this was behind me. I think I do this because I know one day I'll look back and miss these moments, and I'll also wish I stopped stressing so much. Motherhood is supposed to be fun! And babies are only babies once...it's so fleeting, these moments. I try so hard not to be uptight, and most of the time it works...although I do still write out "instructions" to whoever watches her while I'm at work. That's normal, right? I wonder how I'll be with my next child.
On another note, Gwen had her first swimming pool experience yesterday! She wasn't sure at first, but after she floated in her "palm tree floatie", she liked it. Well...as much as a baby really "likes" any thing: she didn't cry or fuss. AND, we made sticky buns for breakfast yesterday. So yum! I consider this a successful Memorial Day weekend!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
52:20 Cry it Out for naps...
So I caved. My mom came to visit last week, and she casually mentioned on one of our back road drives so Gwen could nap, that usually babies sleep in their cribs. I argued and explained that Gwen required a lengthy soothing period of holding, shhhhhing, and walking so she would fall asleep in your arms. And many times, she would wake up and scream as soon as you put her down. It was time consuming and exhausting. My back was killing me and my wrists were developing carpal tunnel.
One night after I put Gwen to sleep, she was crying. My mom suggested I let her settle herself down, and I argued. This was not normal for her to be crying. At night, she usually now goes down easily, falling asleep in her crib with no crying. I went in and held her until she fell asleep in my arms. Holding her and watching her sleep melts my heart.
Then on Sunday, my first Mothers day, after my mom had left, I decided to try 'check and console' for naps. It was horrible. She cried even harder when I would go to "console" her. She cried for 10 minutes each nap and I would go get her to nurse her to sleep.
I realized that day that Gwen had to learn to sleep in her crib. Being tied to her for naps while she nursed, holding her for 20 minutes, and going for car rides suddenly appeared crazy and unnatural. Plus it was getting harder to get her to fall asleep, and a babysitter might have to put her down one day. I decided on Monday we would try cry it out for naps...
The book Happy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child explained that full "extinction" was more effective than "check and console" and it produced less crying overall. I wanted my baby girl to learn desperately to fall asleep in her crib, and I knew she sometimes would scream in her carseat, and the next day she would be fine. She was smart. She learned that crying in her carseat caused no results- she could learn the same for her crib.
So the first day was hard. She cried for a full hour in her crib, and I went and got her. Then for her second nap, 20 minutes, and fell asleep!! I stayed in my room, with the door closed- reading, trying to distract myself.
We did sleep training for 3 days. It. was. hard. Listening to her cry made my body go into overdrive. I sweated, I cried, I shook inside. It overtook me. Her little voice sounded desperate and hurt. She needed me. I called my mom and friends and yelled, "why won't she stop crying?!?!" I tried to remind myself she was just protesting, and was not hurt. If she was playing with knives and I took them away and she cried, would I give them back to her? No. This was me helping her learn to fall asleep on her own.
It started getting better, when on Wednesday, she only cried for 10 minutes for both naps and then fell asleep. Until Thursday....oh Thursday. I went to work, but Jeff stayed home with her that day because his mom was sick. God must have known I couldn't have survived this. She cried for 60 minutes, 55 minutes, and 20. A huge set back. My willpower took a dive...this isn't working, I thought. I said I'd give her 2 weeks, but really? I was hoping it would be better after 3 days. I thought extinction was supposed to be effective!
Then on Friday, a miracle happened. I put her down for her morning nap (full of anxiety), and she cried for 30 seconds...and...fell asleep?!?! Second nap was even better- 5 seconds of crying and talked until she fell asleep.
I'm amazed. I knew it would work, but I had no idea it would go from 60 minutes to 30 seconds! I can't say I'm glad I let her cry it out, because I'm still regretting all the crying it produced. But I'm happy now. I now have some time to myself during the day! Thank you Marc Weisbluth and my mom!!
On another note, Jeff got his promotion, and it was more than we expected! And we made crockpot enchilada soup, and chicken stir fry this week. Very tasty!
One night after I put Gwen to sleep, she was crying. My mom suggested I let her settle herself down, and I argued. This was not normal for her to be crying. At night, she usually now goes down easily, falling asleep in her crib with no crying. I went in and held her until she fell asleep in my arms. Holding her and watching her sleep melts my heart.
Then on Sunday, my first Mothers day, after my mom had left, I decided to try 'check and console' for naps. It was horrible. She cried even harder when I would go to "console" her. She cried for 10 minutes each nap and I would go get her to nurse her to sleep.
I realized that day that Gwen had to learn to sleep in her crib. Being tied to her for naps while she nursed, holding her for 20 minutes, and going for car rides suddenly appeared crazy and unnatural. Plus it was getting harder to get her to fall asleep, and a babysitter might have to put her down one day. I decided on Monday we would try cry it out for naps...
The book Happy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child explained that full "extinction" was more effective than "check and console" and it produced less crying overall. I wanted my baby girl to learn desperately to fall asleep in her crib, and I knew she sometimes would scream in her carseat, and the next day she would be fine. She was smart. She learned that crying in her carseat caused no results- she could learn the same for her crib.
So the first day was hard. She cried for a full hour in her crib, and I went and got her. Then for her second nap, 20 minutes, and fell asleep!! I stayed in my room, with the door closed- reading, trying to distract myself.
We did sleep training for 3 days. It. was. hard. Listening to her cry made my body go into overdrive. I sweated, I cried, I shook inside. It overtook me. Her little voice sounded desperate and hurt. She needed me. I called my mom and friends and yelled, "why won't she stop crying?!?!" I tried to remind myself she was just protesting, and was not hurt. If she was playing with knives and I took them away and she cried, would I give them back to her? No. This was me helping her learn to fall asleep on her own.
It started getting better, when on Wednesday, she only cried for 10 minutes for both naps and then fell asleep. Until Thursday....oh Thursday. I went to work, but Jeff stayed home with her that day because his mom was sick. God must have known I couldn't have survived this. She cried for 60 minutes, 55 minutes, and 20. A huge set back. My willpower took a dive...this isn't working, I thought. I said I'd give her 2 weeks, but really? I was hoping it would be better after 3 days. I thought extinction was supposed to be effective!
Then on Friday, a miracle happened. I put her down for her morning nap (full of anxiety), and she cried for 30 seconds...and...fell asleep?!?! Second nap was even better- 5 seconds of crying and talked until she fell asleep.
I'm amazed. I knew it would work, but I had no idea it would go from 60 minutes to 30 seconds! I can't say I'm glad I let her cry it out, because I'm still regretting all the crying it produced. But I'm happy now. I now have some time to myself during the day! Thank you Marc Weisbluth and my mom!!
On another note, Jeff got his promotion, and it was more than we expected! And we made crockpot enchilada soup, and chicken stir fry this week. Very tasty!
Saturday, May 12, 2012
52:19 Gwen you're 7 months old!
On May 8, you turned 7 months old! You are so much fun, and love to be around people!
You weigh about 21 lbs (wearing 12-18 month clothes!)
You can now sit up independently for a while, and can rock on your hands and knees a bit. You also enjoy doing the plank position.
You wear your sunglasses now, but refuse to smile while wearing them.
You have eaten these foods successfully: carrots, pears, peas, etc.
You now have your two bottom teeth!
You reach for, and put, everything in your mouth!
You love taking baths!
You cry when we put you down, because you love to see what's going on around you!
You have gone to sleep on your own the past two nights and sleep about 12 hours, but fight naps during the day (you take naps in the car a lit because its the only place you won't cry).
You have the prettiest, happiest smile.
You weigh about 21 lbs (wearing 12-18 month clothes!)
You can now sit up independently for a while, and can rock on your hands and knees a bit. You also enjoy doing the plank position.
You wear your sunglasses now, but refuse to smile while wearing them.
You have eaten these foods successfully: carrots, pears, peas, etc.
You now have your two bottom teeth!
You reach for, and put, everything in your mouth!
You love taking baths!
You cry when we put you down, because you love to see what's going on around you!
You have gone to sleep on your own the past two nights and sleep about 12 hours, but fight naps during the day (you take naps in the car a lit because its the only place you won't cry).
You have the prettiest, happiest smile.
Monday, May 7, 2012
52:18 My Little Roller
So Gwen has been rolling for a while now, and has started to lean forward and rock back and forth in her arms! Crawling is coming soon!
Grandma is in town this week!! What's more fun than that? She's like Disneyland, and Gwen is soaking it all up. I love when she's here so much!
There's a possibility we may be moving to Dallas this fall, and I'm excited, but also very nervous. I may not have to work, but I know no one, except his brother and sister in law, and a few other randoms that I don't know very well. All my close friends are in San Antonio or RI. Not sure how I'll cope with the move, but it'll be an adventure.
I had my first night away from her on Saturday! It was Shelley's wedding, and I had a blast, but as soon as we got back to the hotel, I got a bad cold! Instantly!! I was so disappointed, but at least the ceremony and reception was a success. Plus I met a possible new friend from Dallas!
Gwen turns 7 months old tomorrow! Update later!
Grandma is in town this week!! What's more fun than that? She's like Disneyland, and Gwen is soaking it all up. I love when she's here so much!
There's a possibility we may be moving to Dallas this fall, and I'm excited, but also very nervous. I may not have to work, but I know no one, except his brother and sister in law, and a few other randoms that I don't know very well. All my close friends are in San Antonio or RI. Not sure how I'll cope with the move, but it'll be an adventure.
I had my first night away from her on Saturday! It was Shelley's wedding, and I had a blast, but as soon as we got back to the hotel, I got a bad cold! Instantly!! I was so disappointed, but at least the ceremony and reception was a success. Plus I met a possible new friend from Dallas!
Gwen turns 7 months old tomorrow! Update later!
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