9-30-10

WHAT.A.DAY.

We are so unsure how it got to this point, but we had to start all over with the CIO at naptime/bedtime.  It has been absolutely exhausting!

Lately, Addi has been taking a paci to help soothe her to sleep.  Well, the past two days, it has literally been every five minutes of re-inserting paci.  Or, she wakes up mid nap and we put paci back in every five to ten minutes.  I finally decided this morning- NO MORE.  We cannot go running into her room every few minutes to reinsert that dang thing.  So, here was our day…

2 or 3 something this morning she was crying, and we got her back to sleep, five mins later, awake again, got her back to sleep.  On the third time- she went back to sleep.  I was expecting her to wake again at 4 as usual, but she didn’t wake again until 4:40.  This totally threw me off on what time to do her first feeding of the day because that would have been a mere one hour and twenty minutes later.  I decided to push it back just a little… of course I overslept.  So…

4:40 feeding

7:00 feeding, kept her awake for a good little while.  We were very happy!

Down for a nap relatively easily

9:30 feeding (had to push back because of the previous late feeding)

Down for a nap and CIO off and on.  Awake again at 11- ugh- started letting her CIO again, gave in and went to swing.  This is where I decided enough was enough and we were making a change!

12:15 feeding (late again to adjust)

12:40 I put her down.  This is incredibly short wake time, but she didn’t sleep much in her last nap, so I adjusted.

Played happily for twenty minutes, then CIO began in FULL FORCE!  Cried for 20 minutes, woke up, cried for a bit longer, woke up… I had to leave at 2:00 to meet Caren, so I left Joe with instructions not to rescue her if he could handle it.  He was incredibly sad looking when I left, but assured me that he would do his best.  (I noticed the couple of times I did go in there that as soon as she had me in her sights, she stopped crying- now I KNOW she is ok, just wants us L )

At 2:25, I was on my way home and knew that she had been crying the whole time.  I gave Joe the OK to go ahead and pick up.

2:30 feeding

2:55 put her back down CIO CIO CIO CIO CIO

I had to go to Cheerleading, so I again gave Joe my prayers and left him.  I knew this would be hard. Told him to try to make it one hour and then I would understand if he rescued her instead of letting her cry for the full two hours.  I hadn’t done that in all my days home with her- how could I expect him to do it? 

He made it until 30 minutes and couldn’t take it anymore.  I don’t blame him.  She slept on him the remainder of the time.  He said that if he even tilted her away from his body she would scream- so again we were confirmed our belief that she was just wanting us, there is nothing wrong with her.  We are doing the right thing (or at least this is our mantra for the next couple of days!)

5:30 Joe fed her a bottle

6:11 put her down- CIO CIO CIO.  By 6:41 she was crying in ten minute cycles (you could tell she was losing steam after this day long fight).  6:51 cry 7:01 cry, finally slept for a chunk of time from about 7:11-7:31.  I was planning to feed at 7:45, so I went ahead and got her up at 7:40.

7:45 feed, very happy when Joe and I were interacting with her- GOOD- SHE STILL LOVES US!!! J

Bath

Bedtime Routine

8:35 put her down

CIO for thirty minutes- we are getting better! 

10:45 Dream Feed, went beautifully and right back down to sleep.

Hopefully we will remember all this tomorrow and not have to start all over again with 2 hours straight of crying!  (we meaning Addison!)

I just PRAY like crazy that Joe and I have the strength to see this through! (and Kathy, Chelsea, and maybe Clint are coming tomorrow night… this means I really really have to be the bad guy and enforce them not rescuing her too J )

9-29-10

6:40 Very late on the feeding, we were so tired
tried to do awake time, she wasnt having it and neither was i
after I put her down- didn't peep
8:45 She woke on her own to feed
two poopy diapers
very happy girl
After putting her down at 9:43 (no yawns- I just made the exec decision), she played in her crib happily for 25 more minutes!  Then CIO for about 10 minutes.
Woke at 11:05, tried twice to comfort back to sleep- but then Daddy came home and we were gettng ready to go eat lunch, so we held her
12:00 feeding at Harvest Moon- bottle
nap
2:25 feeding
3:00 Dr's appt- didnt see doc until almost 4:00! 
fell asleep in the car, but that was the only nap (20 mins) she got this round!
5:00 feeding, then went to Schroders with me to Thank Debbie for subbing.  She was so tired, she slept in the car and nearly the WHOLE time we were at Schroders (in her car seat- strapped in! You know she was tired!!!)
7:15 returend home, I went ahead and fed her since her last two naps were not normal.  Good feeding, Bath, Massage, bed. Played in bed for a good 20 mins before CIO for 20 mins (comforted at 8 mins, then comforted at the next 10)
11:00 Dreamfeed

8 week Summary

I have not been as good about blogging since coming home from my parents house.  I am so easily distracted here!  Even though it's 4 days after she has been 9 weeks old.  I will try my best to do an accurate description of how week 8 went...

Nursing
Nursing continues to o well.  We have been trying to give her a bottle once per day (breastmilk) in order to ease her into what will be three feedings from a bottle once she starts going to the sitter.

Waketime Length
Began to realize that I was keeping her awake too long (total of one hour).  I have backed it down to the very first yawn, which is between 35 and 45 minutes.  This seems to be helping her go to sleep.

Nighttime Length
Cannot really make a general statement here.  We started a new strategy this week.  Addison was sleeping through the night with only 2 feedings.  Now, I am attempting to put her down, dreamfeed her at 10:30, then she wakes on her own around 4, then I wake her at 6.  Seems to be going pretty well- I just have to be sure that she gets plenty to eat at the Dream Feed so that she makes it to at least 4.  Hoping to drop that 4 am feeding in a couple of weeks' time.

Growth
It seems that she grows every single day!  Anxious to see what the doctor will say that she weighs next week!  We are guessing 11 pounds and thinking that her height is now around 23 inches.

Swaddling
Still swaddling her to sleep.  She hates it at first, and adamently begins to get that left arm out (last one swaddled, easiest to escape).  I am toying with the thought of not even wrapping that one up anymore, or even not swaddling her at all.  Thursday night, I gave it a shot- but she seemed to wake more often.  Not sure if this is because of our drive home from Metter that night, or if it had to do with the absence of swaddle?  Went back to swaddling for the time being.

Wonder Week
It's wonder week 8.  I am just hearing about these WW's.  I want to get the book, I think.  She has been waking out of naps after only one hour.  Some people in the Babywise google group seem to think it could be because of Wonder Week 8 (Patterns).  I am not sure?

Our Schedule
Again- this is our first week of really trying to schedule.  At first, I was going to try a straight 3 hour schedule.  Then, I found a recommendation on the Chronicles of a Babywise Mom sight and revamped.  Here is our GOAL:
6am feed, swing so mommy can eat breakfast, nap (eventually to sitter)
9am feed, independent play (blanket), nap
12pm feed, playtime, nap
2:30 feed, afternoon errand or outing, nap (eventually home from sitter)
5:00 feed, family time, nap
7:30 feed, bath, bedtime routine
10:30 DreamFeed

Outings/Events
Very busy week!  Traveled to Metter just Mommy and Addi! Trip went really well.  On the way down, she only woke once to eat in Macon- right on time!
Tuesday, we met ALL kinds of new people, and some repeats. (Donnie, Connie, Travers, Lily, Amanda, Laura, Ben, Ellie, Paul, Frank, Kristy, Jessie, Anna)  AND we went to Hancock Fabrics, JoAnn's, Cheddars, and the ballpark to watch Pappa and Uncle Logan play softball.  It was EXHAUSTING!
Thursday, made the trip home and stopped at Cracker Barrel to eat.  God was watching out for me because she was an ANGEL while we ate by ourselves.  Took her bottle, sat in her seat while I ate, angel, angel, angel!
Friday night she had a sitter for the first time.  Joe was not back from out of town, and I had a football game.  Terry came and watched her until Joe got back.  It went well :)
Saturday night we went to Johnny's Pizza to watch our stinky dawgs play (loss to Mississippi State!) and hang out with Barry, Holly, Matt, Tiffany, Tripp, Brittany...Did great there too.  Even fell asleep for the night and sat in her carrier!

Helpful Books or Websites
I want the Wonder Week Book, and am obsessed with http://www.babywisemom.com/

9-21-10 Sorry baby!

OK- so today I totally stressed my little Addison out :( I paid for it at her bedtime!

10:30 Dreamfeed- first TRUE dreamfeed.  I was amazed at what she did while still asleep. 
right back down
11:55 woke to feed- I must not have pushed her hard enough to eat during the dreamfeed.  Learning.
right back down
3:15 woke to feed
6:15 Feed
we stayed awake and played.  She was incredibly happy!  Got a super cute picture to send to Joe while out of town :) She was trying hard to suck her hand/thumb but was so busy smiling she couldn't.
6:45 back down after yawns
9:00 woke to feed (she was making suckling noises in her sleep, so I went ahead and got her up)
stayed awake while I packed stuff for a day trip.  Laid on Nana's bed while I folded clothes and got ready.
9:40 she began to fuss and we were about ready to leave
9:45- in the car and fussing to go t osleep until 10:15 when we FINALLY got on the interstate- a fussy infant + road construction= an unhappy mommy!
11:30 woke when we arrived at Amanda's house.
stayed awake while mean ole mommy made her wait to eat.  Had to be bounced, walked, swayed to keep from wailing!
11:55 I broke and fed her
12:30 back in the car traveled to Cheddar's for lunch- stayed awake until we got there (12:45ish)
12:50 fell asleep while I held her at hte table
Then, I laid her down in her carrier. She slept the whole time we ate, I was suprised
Woke and fussed a little while we buckled, but went back to sleep
2:15 woke as I put her carrier in the buggy at JoAnn's fabrics and crafts
went back to sleep with me swaying her in my arms.
3:00 fed in the car (late)
3:30 back to sleep as we started moving in the car again
4:30 woke as we stopped at McDonald's for Amanda's addiction! then as we arrived at Laura's
5:00 fed from bottle (early)
diaper EXPLOSION!
5:50 back to sleep when we got in the car
6:30 woke as we arrived at Amanda's- again I made her wait to eat and swayed with her
7:15 I fed her (early, but from a very full source!)
7:45 fell asleep in the car
8:00 woke as we arrived at Frank & Kristy's
stayed awake through our visit
8:30 MAD little girl as we loaded the car.
she screamed and cried all the way to the ballpark to watch Pappa and Uncle Logan play softball
8:40 got her out of the car and saw that she had scratched her face in her little fit :(
8:45 fell asleep in my arms at the ballpark
we stayed and watched long enough to know that their "Hidden Talent" team has NO hidden talent :)
slept through me putting her back in the car seat, going in the gas station, pumping gas, and getting on the road again!
9:55 woke up in the car mad again that she was strapped down :(
I sang As the Deer (our new night time routine song) about 153 times until we got to Nana & Pappa's at 10:15. 
10:15 fed
she was gross because it was bath day anyway, but also from all of the days activities, hands on her, and being at the ballpark- so I bathed her even though this should have been her "dreamfeed" time.
11:00 Put her down for the night.  She CIO-ed for less than 5 minutes (to Nanna's disappointment- she was just SURE she was going to get to rescue her and rock her... which I told her she could do if she cried more than 10 mins, I felt like I had made that baby suffer enough!!!)

Whew!  I was exhausted after this day- I felt terrible for doing this to her.  I will think twice before making THAT kind of day trip again.

9-20-10

Last night was AWESOME! So proud of Miss Addison!

10:00 dreamfeed
straight to bed, no fussing
3:10 stirred, and I picked her up and quickly realized she could still sleep, so I laid her beside me and she slept until 3:50.
3:50 MOTN feed
straight to bed, no fussing
6:00 woke on her own, feed
kept her awake until first yawn
6:35 put her back down- less than five minutes of wimpering
9:00 woke on her own, feed
played. yawned at 9:30, but I second guessed the cue and kept her up until 9:45
put her to bed, she cried for 8 minutes
woke 10:05, 10:15 and put her self back to sleep- likely just a light sleep phase, but I went in and laid in the bed where I could watch and see why she was waking.  It seems that it was her arm out of her swaddle, when she would lay it down beside her she would jump.  I wrapped arm back in, gave paci, and rubbed her tummy at 10:20.  Slept after that.
Woke at 11:15
11:50 feed (fussy the whole time she was awake, including the feed)
12:30 put down for a nap (after 2 yawns)
1:25 woke up
Nana picked her up and held her to go back to sleep
2:30 woke on her own
Nana walked outside with her
4:10 went to sleep while being rocked
5:00 woke on her own to eat- Nana gave her a bottle, finished 4 ounces
5:30 put her down
screamed bloody murder.  I went in twice, but to no comfort.  Finally gave in and held her so she could get some rest.
7:00 woke on her own, nursed
7:45 put her down following new bedtime routine (sans bath tonight)
cried for 10 minutes, I comforted, and then she fell asleep.
Planning to Dreamfeed at 10:30

Already seeing improvements from this schedule!  So excited about it. 
Joe is out of town, I wonder if she was so bad at that 5:30 nap because she is use to Daddy putting her to sleep in the glider at this nap. Sweet Angel!

Weekly Summaries, A good idea

Also on Chronicles of a Babywise Mom, I see that she has done weekly summaries of her babies' development in several categories.  I would like to try this as well. Here are the categories-
Nursing
Waketime Length
Nighttime Length
Growth
Swaddling
Wonder Week
Our Schedule
Outings/Events
Helpful Books or Websites

Sunday 9-19-10

4:30 fussy feed
stayed awake content for a while
started screaming
tummy tonic & paci
slept for 30-hour
7:00 feeding
immediately slept
9:15 feeding
independent play in the swing
10:15 nap began as we hit the road for Metter
12:30 feeding
napped immediately as we continued travel
2:30 arrived in metter and woke up
3:15 feeding
wake time on blanket
4:15 nap
5:15 awake
stayed awake, Charity held her, she dozed
6:10 feeding
6:45 bath time
7:25 bed time
8:15 awake
Nana rocked her back to sleep, put her down, woke up 15 minutes later, Nana put her back to sleep and held her.
Planning to feed her at 10:00 and put her straight back to bed.

Schedule, not Pattern

Ok, the more I read about Babywise scheduling- I realize that I have not had her on a schedule, but rather a pattern.  I have been worried about 2.5 or 3 hours, instead of what time of day she eats.  Realizing that I only have 16 days left to be with her consistently, I want that schedule set!

Recommendations I have read suggest the following steps... Here goes!

Pick a Waketime: Considering my work schedule- I will have to be at work at 7:40.  This means I will have to get her to a sitter around 7:30, leaving my house around 7:15. SO- I am thinking that I want to feed her, lay her down for independent play on a blanket, then start her first nap of the day in the car seat on the way to the sitter.  For this to be an hour of wake time, I will need to wake her up at 6:00 and begin nursing at 6:15.

Pick your bedtime: Bedtime should be 10-12 hours before wake time... so, 12 hours would be 6:15pm.  10 hours would be 8:15.  Considering I don't even get done with cheerleading until 6- let's go with 8:15.

Set your feedtimes: I want her to nurse her before she goes to bed, and I would like nurse her when I come home from work, but I don't know if that will work during cheerleading season because I wont even get home until after 6.  So, let's say one feeding at 7:15pm.  Back that up 2.5 hours and she can eat at 4:45pm.  That should be right after one of us gets her from the sitter, if I have a good understanding of the way these sitters work. Now, I want to work forward from the morning feed... They say the first nap is usually a good one, so let's say she can eat at 9:15, which will be 3 hours after that first feed.  Two more feedings should go in between that 9:15 and 4:45... So, 12:00 and 2:30??? Dreamfeed sometime between 10 and 11.  Let's start with 10:30? 

Figure waketimes: At this point, Addison is generally awake for exactly one hour after she STARTS feeding when she starts yawning and fussing a little.  So, I will set naptimes (next step) based on how long she will likely stay awake.

Figure naptimes: Instead of writing it down, I am going to just type up the whole schedule based on what I have done above:
6:00 WAKE
6:15 nurse
7:15 nap- leave for sitters
9:15 bottle @ sitters
10:15 nap
12:00 bottle @ sitters
1:00 nap
2:30 bottle @ sitters
3:30 nap
4:45 nurse or bottle
5:45 nap
7:00 nurse
bathtime & bedtime routine
8:00 bedtime
10:30 dreamfeed
Middle of the night feed until she starts sleeping through the night

Let's see how it goes!

Having Second thoughts about those late afternoon/early evening times!  Maybe 5:00 and 7:30.  That way none of htem are less than 2 hrs.