Let the Sleep Training BEGIN

Last Month I mentioned that Nate was waking up alot but was starting to improve on his sleep, well that went down hill and has gotten worse. It got to the point that he needed to nurse or comfort suck all night to stay asleep. He was waking every hour looking for my nips and wanting to pacify on me. I tried the pacifier and he HATES it now, I tried the bassinett and he SCREAMED for me so instead I was just dealing with it and my arms, shoulder and nips were in pain. So the other day I tried NAP training and that really stressed me out, to the point that I threw in the towel after 1/2 a day, it was very stressful and I couldn't do it. So last night I said, THIS IS IT! I can't do this anymore, I don't sleep, I'm hurting and Nate isn't getting his full rest either so I started sleep training.

Here is what happened
10:30pm He fell asleep in the car and I left him in his carseat cause I was cleaning up and doing things around the house.
12am Decided to go to bed and took him out of his carseat and attempted DF (dream Feeding), its when you feed them in their sleep so they stay asleep longer, well it backfired. He wanted to stay latched on after he was done eating and the drama begins!!

12:15am: he was done but he wanted to keep sucking, I layed him in his bassinett and I offered paci but didn't want it. I walked away and I let him CIO (Cry it Out) for 5 minutes.

12:20am- (PUPD-Pick up, Put Down) Picked him up without talking to him, calmed him down and put him right back in the bassinett. CIO for 5 minutes

12:25am-PUPD, CIO for 6 minutes

12:31am- PUPD, CIO 8 Minutes---here he was already doing the Mantra cry so I knew the end was near, that is why I went longer with the CIO

12:39am-PUPD CIO for 4 minutes before he clonked out.........AAAAAAHHHHHHHH I was hearing the fall asleep cry and I knew this was it! and I'm glad it was

HE SLEPT TILL 6:30AM, I was surprised to see the sun out when he started to cry!!

Like I told Naty, it broke my heart to let him cry but it worked, we both rested and we're both happy today, it's really worth it.

Also, he's napping right now as I type. He's been out since 8:55am and it's 10:26am, it'll be 2 hours soon--

I'm NOT giving up! I already suffered the first night and I'm not going back, I just can't. I've been a walking zombie and its not fair to Bubbs and Audrey either. So, after success I feel like an expert! LOL just wait till he cries for HOURS-----uuuuuhhhhhh, I know it can happen, I just pray it doesn't happen to us.
So tonight he'll be sleeping in his crib for the first time, he was supposed to sleep in it last night but I still hadn't got it ready so I put him in his bassinett. But the bassinett is leaving now and that makes me sad, he's growing so fast :-(

Nate Loves his Walker!

One of my best buddies came over yesterday and dropped off a bunch of baby stuff for Nate. I couldn't wait to get him in the walker and try it out, so last night we popped him in and he loved it! He still can't touch the floor but I give him another 2 weeks and he'll be able to. Today he sat in it for 1 whole amazing hour! can you believe that!??! He sat with Bubbs and Audrey while they played and he kept talking and playing along, Thank you Vanessa!!

Nate's 1st Christmas

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

We did :-) it was very low-key and no where over the top  like in the past. Instead, we celebrated it at my Mother in laws and again I took everything over there and cooked. We had the usual goodies, but this year we had something better, little Nathaniel! Thank you God for our wonderful blessing, we couldn't imagine our lives without him, he is such a great addition to the mix and we're enjoying every minute of his presence.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Doc Appt. 4.5 Month Check Up

My chubby Nate weighed in at 16 lbs. 5 ounces and was 26 inches long! He was somewhere in the low 70 percentile for both weight and height and his head was in the same category so he's well porportioned, lol. His doctor wasn't concerned about anything and told me I was doing a great job in nursing him. He's obviously getting enough and growing at a good rate. As for solids, he's had tastes here and there but doctor said I can start at 5 months if I'd like so on Jan 3rd, he'll have his first bite of cereal. Soon after he'll have some avocado and sweet potatoes, the only fruit he'll be getting is bananas mixed with veggies, I don't want to do the same mistake again! Even though breastmilk is already sweet and it doesn't cause a sweet tooth, I think he'll benefit alot more from veggies than sugared foods. Another main reason is because I got Bubbs hooked on fruits and he didn't want any veggies. I still need to buy a little more supplies to get started so I'll be doing that today at my favorite place! TARGET!!
Some Info I thought I'd pass along when it comes to Breastfeeding and starting solids.

LLL suggests this progression when introducing your baby (6 months or older) to solid foods:

-Ripe banana, avocado, yam, or sweet potato (sweet like breastmilk)
-Meats
-Whole-grain breads and cereals (rather than baby cereals)
    [wheat and corn are usually delayed until baby is 9-12 months old]
-Fresh fruits
   [citrus fruits are usually delayed until baby is 9-12 months old]
-Vegetables
-Dairy products after 9 months
   [cow's milk is usually delayed until baby is 12-18 months old]
(source: kellymom.com)

IUD Update

I thought I'd update on my IUD. I get a little graphic here so if you can't stand to read about women issues then it's time to exit :-) thank you.

I'm really happy with my IUD and starting to feel like it's too good to be true and I might end up pregnant one of these days. I was reading on an IUD message board that some ladies were getting pregnant with the Paragard and that just scared me. I was letting it get to me too much that I decided to leave it in God's hands. I'm fearful of getting pregnant b/c I just had a c-section and I don't think that would be a good idea as for the baby, I'd welcome it with open arms but I want to be completely healed before getting pregnant again. Also, we're still up in the air about having more babies in the future, I'd love to have more but Naty says he's done, then I say I'm done when Nate is having a bad day then I change my mind so that's how we've been this whole time. I just want to STOP worrying so much and just pray to God for the right guidance.

As for the IUD, I did bleed for the first couple of days then it started to fade, then I got a really HEAVY period that didn't seem to be going away. I was clotting really bad and those were painful to pass.  The cramps were really bad and I felt like I was constantly cramping, like my body was trying to reject the IUD. I'm now period free which I think has to do with breastfeeding so I'm glad that's resolved. Another thing I experienced was Prego Brain, I felt like, "ddddddddduuuuuuuhhhhhhh" all the time. I'd grab something and drop it, or bump into things, trip, forget things and I just couldn't get it together. I'm happy to report that the Prego Brain is GONE and I'm now feeling NORMAL. So, if anyone is considering an IUD, I'd highly recommend it, well that's if I don't get pregnant ;-)

4 Months :)

Nathaniel is 4 months! He is currently going through some kind of growth spurt or teething episode that he throws fits and wasn't sleeping at one time. But we're going on day 2 that he's sleeping better at night. I'm also thinking our trip to vegas messed him up a little. There was one night that he woke up 6 times! I was walking like a zombie for one of my vacation days that I turned into a monster! Naty finally got the hint and took his mom and the kids on a lil adventure in vegas as Nate and I took a well deserved needed nap! I think it was like 2 hours but it felt like 8! Nathaniel continues to amaze us daily, esp. when he cries for his ma-ma, yup he said it! I'm pretty sure he does NOT know I'm ma-ma yet BUT he said it and it was so cute! Naty didn't want to admit it to me but when his parents told me he was yelling it when I left him with them one day, Naty confessed that he had said it already the day before. So, life is still a little stressed but wonderful at the same time!

At 4 Months You are:
1) wearing 3-6 months clothes but they're slowing getting shorter and snugger.
2) wearing a size 3 diaper! (wearing the last of your 2's)
3) still Breastfed!! and have the occasional bottle of formula (I think you had (2) 2 ouncers this month)
4) getting little tastes of food here and there (trying to wait till 6 months)
5) possibly teething, you shove your hand in your mouth and love when I rub your gums.
6) shedding! you're losing your baby hair and almost done losing your fur on your ears.
7) grabbing things in front of you and putting things in your mouth.
8) sucking on anything that goes in front of your face.
9) still sleeping with me BUT I decided to move you back to your bassinet cause its hard to sleep with a vampire next to me. Sometimes I wake up and your sucking on my chest or arm.
10) still super attached to me and I'm the only one that can calm you down.
11) so in love with your sister! You get so happy when you see her and as for Bubbs you love him too but I think you'll be the best of buds once you start becoming more fun, you're too boring for him right now! hah!
12) LOVING baths.
13) napping better, before you'd sleep for 5 or 10 minutes and be up looking for me.
14) noticing the TV and it has been your 10 minute babysitter, that's all you'll tolerate but that's all I need sometimes.
15) the same as last month with the swing.
16) Sitting pretty good with my help, I think you'll be sitting on your own by 5 months.

We LOVE YOU!