Nate's Schedule

I wish I had a schedule from the start but since I refuse to live in the past all I can do is look forward and do my best as a mother. Here's a typical day for Nate.

7am: Wake up Time (Nurse him) and he usually comes to the Kitchen and sits in his high chair while I run around like a mad woman trying to get the kids ready for school.

8am: He gets his solids to eat, a fruit mixed with Oatmeal.

8:40am: We go for our walk and explore the world

9am: Nap #1 (Nurse 2)

11am: Wakes up from nap (Nurse 3)

12pm: He gets his lunch and it's usually a Veggie and Chicken Breast, after he does a lot of playing, he rotates from walker to floor, on my hip, or on my bed jumping!

2pm: Time for Nap #2 (Nurse 4)

4pm: Wake up (Nurse 5) Usually sits with me in my room and "helps" me fold clothes, plays with Audrey, or visit his Grandma and Grandpa, and play with his toys in the living room.

5:30pm: Sits at the table with us and eats whatever I made (healthy stuff only).

6:30pm: Has a snack, either a biter biscuit, rice cakes, cheerios or puffs

7pm: Start Bedtime Routine which is Bath, Massage w/lavender baby cream, dress, read a book and nurse 6.

7:30pm In Dream Land :-)

5:30am Wakes for a feeding and goes right back to sleep, in his CRIB (nurse 7)!

(Note: times vary all the time, this is a usual and perfect day for us)

Sleep Training 101

So I just HAD to start ST Nate b/c he just wasn't sleeping. I blogged about it before and never continued with it cause it wasn't working with our busy schedules but then I got smart and realized that my life is revolving around Nate's now. Sleep is VERY important, it helps them grow (physically and mentally) and makes them happy. I knew Nate's attitude had to do with his lack of sleep so I finally did something about it. A friend of mine (thank you Kim) lent me her book on ST and that's where it all started. After gathering my tools and strength I dove in head first.

Nate did really good right from the start and by the 4th night he was sleeping almost the whole night without waking for a feeding. At his age, he is very capable of not waking for a night feed and at that time he was just eating, to eat. Now, 2 weeks into it he's a superstar sleeper and hardly cries when I lay him in bed.

As for the approach that I took, it was on the stricter end of the CIO method. I figured out right away that Nate did NOT do well with checks so I slowly pushed them further and further away b/c when I'd check on him he'd start all over again and be a complete mess. I can't tell you which is better b/c every baby and parent is different but what I can tell you is, whatever approach you take, I wish you the best of luck and stay strong and positive!

Just Something to Read on ST

A walking, we will go!

Nate LOVES being outdoors so I had to incorporate that into his busy schedule, so the best time for that is before his 1st nap. It's the perfect time for the right amount of air and sun. He just watched everything around him and soaked it all in. He went down really easy for his nap and I know it had to do with being outside.

The End

Watch me Grow

I made a collage today on photobucket of Nate's first 9 months and thought I'd share. I'm making another one when he turns 1 for his birthday party.

Chicken Veggie Pasta Soup

Thought I'd share my recipe with you.

You can use any veggies that you have in your fridge, I used potatoes, carrots, cauliflower and zuchinni.

Boil Chicken with Oregano and Basil (no salt).
Once it's cooked add potatoes and carrots.
Once those are done add other veggies and pasta (I used shells).
Let it boil till veggies get all mushy so that it's easier to smash everything up for baby.

Let it cool off then store in containers for the freezer.

I just smashed down on it after this pic with a fork. Nate had NO problem eating this and LOVED it! success

ETA:
Maybe I should have posted the amounts.....hmmm (for you Tutsy!)

3 Chicken Breast (no-bone)
1 Zuke (diced)
3/4 cup baby carrots (sliced)
1 cup of cauliflower (heads diced)
1 large or 2 small potatoes (diced)
1 Cup of uncooked pasta
1 tsp. Oregano
1 tsp. basil          (and any other spices you'd like to add)

Nine Months!

Nate turns 9 months :-)

At 9 Months you:

-wear 18-24 month clothes

-wear a size 3 diaper that's starting to get snug

-started wearing cloth diapers again and LOVE them.

-are still Breastfed and still nursing about 7 times a day

-are sleeping through the night

-taking 2 naps and not needing to pacify on me anymore!

-are officially SLEEP TRAINED

-sleep in your crib

-run all over the place in your walker

-still hate being on your tummy

-can play by yourself for a lot longer time now

-love being outside

-love being around other small kids

-talk a lot!

- love drinking out of your sippy cup

-love drinking water

-sit in a big boy carseat now

-sit in the front of the shopping cart which makes it so easy for me to go shopping now

-are LOVED by everyone around you!

Happy 9 months baby, we love you so much!