I think that when you have a baby...sleep training is inevitible (sp?). Coming up with what works best for your baby, you and the rest of your family is the tricky part. If you google "sleep training," you get a bazillion links with a bazillion people telling you why their way is the only way, etc, etc.
After my venting post yesterday, I got lots of emails, text messages, facebook messages, and so on, on what worked for people, methods they used, etc.
For the record, I love to hear it because sleep is something that I get so little of but is such a huge part of life right now. So even though it may or may not work for me, I always enjoy hearing peoples stories.
However, let me tell you that I have read, researched, bought, just about every sleep training method out there in hopes of finding the perfect one for us. I've even tried different approaches...with no luck. What I've determined is that no matter what anyone tells me, there is not one way that will work with every single family or baby. My children seem to be the exception to every rule out there!!! My mom as my witness!!!
Nathan was a terrible sleeper...I spent butt loads of money on books and things to help...I took everyones advice and nothing seemed to work. Eventually his sleep just evolved over time and we broke one habit after another, one by one and now he does great.
SO with Kendall, my husband and I vowed not to start with bad habits. So we have worked really hard at doing everything right...
-a consistent bedtime routine (which we also did with Nathan)
-putting her in her own bed to sleep (also did with Nathan...when he got older, he comes and climbs in bed occasionally.)
-dark room, white noise machine
-trying super hard not to associate sleep with eating...sometimes it just happens...not much I can do.
In the first month, she showed signs of being a much better sleeper than Nate. She could pull a three or four hour shift pretty consistently. I'm not sure if it was a growth spurt, gas, or what, but at some point she reverted back to waking up every hour. After a few nights, she slowly got back to two hours...and that's where we've been ever since. We haven't changed any of our good habits and have really maintained avoiding bad ones.
We've let her cry it out...she doesn't cry for very long, can put herself to sleep, but still doesn't sleep for any longer. I've tried making Cass get up with her...we do a "dream feed" in hopes of pushing her an extra hour or so...NADA!
I'm not done trying...I haven't given up hope. I'm just still trying to find what works for us.
Why don't I stick to strictly one method? Well, to spare judgment and offending people...there are just some things I don't agree with or know that I wouldn't be able to be consistent about with different approaches. TO EACH THEIR OWN! I have absolutely nothing against anyone who swears by a certain method, etc...it might just not be for me. And I'm being honest with you and myself when I say that there are certain things I just can't be consistent with. So maybe it's my own fault that certain things don't work...but I'm ok with that.
For now, I struggle. I keep trying different things. I'm trying to look on the bright side of things...TRYING! I know that eventually, Kendall will also sleep more than two hours at a time. This too shall pass...this won't last forever. I tell myself this over and over.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
On a more serious note...
Normally I don't like to complain or be a downer on my blog or my facebook...however, I feel like this is the best place for me to turn right now to get out what I want to get out. Maybe I'm feeling sorry for myself, maybe I need a higher dose of Lexapro, or maybe I'm reaching my breaking point...whatever the case may be, I have to get this some things off my chest before I explode!
I blame a lot of my emotions on complete and total lack of sleep. Kendall will be 5 months old in a couple weeks and has yet to sleep more than 3 hours straight. I've tried everything...I've read everything. I've concluded that my children have minds of their own when it comes to sleeping. However sleep training is not on my brain at the moment.
I mostly get 2 hour increments...and that's if Nathan doesn't wake up sometime in the middle to ask "is it morning yet?" Or hear my husband come in and climb into bed. I'm sleep deprived. However, my body seems to have adjusted...I somehow manage to get through each day. The human (female) body is amazing. My mind however seems to be suffering.
When I wake up (between 6am and 7:30am) with my kids, I try to be the best mom, housewife I can be. I clean up the mess that was left from the night before, play with the kids, make and drink coffee and try to catch up on the news in between Nathan's show and the wii. I nurse Kendall, and after a short time get her down for a nap. I then do a little more cleaning up, laundry or whatever needs to get done. Nathan also begs for more attention! I pump to prepare for later in the day when i have to go to work (volleyball practice). I make lunch for Nathan and myself, clean up after Nathan, get snacks for Nathan, pretty much cater to his needs since he is only 3! When Kendall wakes up, that makes 2 kids to cater too. Double duty.
Then it's time to head to practice and deal with teenage, freshmen, girls. I used to have to take my kids with me so it was triple the stress. I love volleyball and love coaching...but dramatic girls with attitude make me really grumpy. Sometimes they make it really hard for me to do my job which is make them better players/individuals. I just hope I'm making some sort of impact on them...whether it's about volleyball or life in general.
Then I jet home. I need to get something ready for dinner, nurse Kendall, and get ready for bath and bed time. Once the kids are in bed (8pm) I watch a show. Eat. And then head straight to bed because I know that only three hours later, I'll have to wake up again. Kendall starts the nights pretty well and Cass gives her a dream feed of 2oz around 10...but she still wants to wake up every 2 hours. So If I go to bed in the 9pm hour, I'll be up in the 12am hour and so forth...draining...mentally, emotionally, physically.
I do this everyday and on weekends, it's filled with volleyball tournements or other going ons.
Tonight Cass goes to a graveyard shift so for the next four nights, I'm totally on my own. He will need to sleep during the day. When he wakes up, I head to volleyball, home in time to help with baths, then Cass will leave for work and I'm on my own again.
I love being a mom. I love waking up to my kids and their beautiful faces. They seem to be at their happiest in the mornings as well. As the day goes on, the coffee wears off, I become more tired....and sometimes bitter and angry.
WHEN IS IT MY TURN??? When do I get taken care of? I'm so busy taking care of everyone else in my life that I haven't exercised in weeks. WHEN IS IT MY TURN? To sleep in or sleep more than a few hours at a time without feeling guilty or ashamed. WHEN IS IT MY TURN?
I have roof over my head, food on the table, heat, cable, a car to drive, and a beautiful family...so should I really complain? Should I stop being so selfish?
I feel "weak" just in even writing this blog...so it may not stay posted for very long...
I blame a lot of my emotions on complete and total lack of sleep. Kendall will be 5 months old in a couple weeks and has yet to sleep more than 3 hours straight. I've tried everything...I've read everything. I've concluded that my children have minds of their own when it comes to sleeping. However sleep training is not on my brain at the moment.
I mostly get 2 hour increments...and that's if Nathan doesn't wake up sometime in the middle to ask "is it morning yet?" Or hear my husband come in and climb into bed. I'm sleep deprived. However, my body seems to have adjusted...I somehow manage to get through each day. The human (female) body is amazing. My mind however seems to be suffering.
When I wake up (between 6am and 7:30am) with my kids, I try to be the best mom, housewife I can be. I clean up the mess that was left from the night before, play with the kids, make and drink coffee and try to catch up on the news in between Nathan's show and the wii. I nurse Kendall, and after a short time get her down for a nap. I then do a little more cleaning up, laundry or whatever needs to get done. Nathan also begs for more attention! I pump to prepare for later in the day when i have to go to work (volleyball practice). I make lunch for Nathan and myself, clean up after Nathan, get snacks for Nathan, pretty much cater to his needs since he is only 3! When Kendall wakes up, that makes 2 kids to cater too. Double duty.
Then it's time to head to practice and deal with teenage, freshmen, girls. I used to have to take my kids with me so it was triple the stress. I love volleyball and love coaching...but dramatic girls with attitude make me really grumpy. Sometimes they make it really hard for me to do my job which is make them better players/individuals. I just hope I'm making some sort of impact on them...whether it's about volleyball or life in general.
Then I jet home. I need to get something ready for dinner, nurse Kendall, and get ready for bath and bed time. Once the kids are in bed (8pm) I watch a show. Eat. And then head straight to bed because I know that only three hours later, I'll have to wake up again. Kendall starts the nights pretty well and Cass gives her a dream feed of 2oz around 10...but she still wants to wake up every 2 hours. So If I go to bed in the 9pm hour, I'll be up in the 12am hour and so forth...draining...mentally, emotionally, physically.
I do this everyday and on weekends, it's filled with volleyball tournements or other going ons.
Tonight Cass goes to a graveyard shift so for the next four nights, I'm totally on my own. He will need to sleep during the day. When he wakes up, I head to volleyball, home in time to help with baths, then Cass will leave for work and I'm on my own again.
I love being a mom. I love waking up to my kids and their beautiful faces. They seem to be at their happiest in the mornings as well. As the day goes on, the coffee wears off, I become more tired....and sometimes bitter and angry.
WHEN IS IT MY TURN??? When do I get taken care of? I'm so busy taking care of everyone else in my life that I haven't exercised in weeks. WHEN IS IT MY TURN? To sleep in or sleep more than a few hours at a time without feeling guilty or ashamed. WHEN IS IT MY TURN?
I have roof over my head, food on the table, heat, cable, a car to drive, and a beautiful family...so should I really complain? Should I stop being so selfish?
I feel "weak" just in even writing this blog...so it may not stay posted for very long...
Friday, September 17, 2010
Stats: (so I've apparently misplaced the paper they gave me...but I'm almost positive these are the stats)Nathan: 45 inches tall = 88th percentile
33lbs= 60th percentile
Nathan makes us laugh all day long. He says the most hilarious things.
He loves to talk about poop. For me, that's not so hilarious...he totally gets it from his dad!
Loves to exercise with us and run laps around the block. I need to get him into some active things this winter since we'll be stuck inside a lot. I'm thinking Lil' Kickers or swim lessons.
Loves his cousins Kelsie and Maggie. All his stories involve them...he even tells me that he has dreams with them in it. Wish they lived closer.
Is such a good big brother. He ALWAYS tells Kendall that he loves her, kisses her, hugs her, tells her "sweet dreams" in his precious soft voice, and "good morning Kenny B" every morning.
He tells us that he loves us at least a dozen times a day. It NEVER GETS OLD!
Kendall: 25 3/4 inches= 90th percentile
15.2 lbs= 66th percentile
She's my big girl!!! Still doesn't sleep through the night but I got a couple of three hour stretches out of her and it feels great. She is also in her crib in her own room now. Maybe that will help her sleep longer. She started rolling from back to tummy a couple weeks ago and I'm pretty sure she'll scoot or crawl really soon. She puts her but up and her knees down...all she has to do is figure out her upper body!
We still swaddle her at night. We've proven to ourselves over and over that it still helps her sleep better.
She is eating rice cereal. She does pretty well with it. I'm going to introduce her to some veggies in the next couple weeks.
She coos, smiles, and giggles all the time. Is already very aware of when I'm in the room or not. Her nickname is Kenny B (well, Nathan and I call her that!) or Kendall Roo.
In other news:
I'm totally looking forward to Fall! I love it! Some things are tainted however...last Fall I was pregnant in my 1st trimester...so some smells will forever bring back that morning sickness memory! But it can't ruin my love for this season! Pumpkin patching, peppermint mocha coffee creamer, Fall colors, rainy days cozied up inside, football, HOLIDAYS, Christmas movies and music (which Nathan has already asked for! He loves this time of year as much as I do!), yummy comfort food, and I could go on and on!
I also LOVE having our own home! DUH! It is so nice to come home after a long day or time out and about. We have worked really hard to make our home comfortable and cozy and I would say we are doing a good job! We still have projects but that's alright and I really need some home decor for the walls. We are in the process of painting Kendall's room and organization is an ongoing process. I'm hoping that once vb season is over, I'll start really going to town on all of that!
Cass starts his graveyard shift on Sunday. I think there will be an adjustment period but also think it is going to work out for us! He'll be here most weekdays to be with the kids while I'm at volleyball and he's home until just about the time kids go to bed. He has worked so hard to make life for us more comfortable and we are so proud of him!!!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Have you seen this boy???
Happy Birthday little man...how fast time flies when we are having fun!!!
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