Bed Time Blues: Day 3 and 4

Day 3: This was the night that I had to put Ellie down by myself. Erik was working that night and I was not looking forward to it. 7pm rolled around, I gave Ellie a bath, fed her, and read her two books. She still seemed pretty awake so we danced in the living room to N'SYNC (don't judge me). After that I put her down...and she was asleep within 15 min! She barely cried...it was a miracle! I was so thankful and she slept for 12 hours that night.

Day 4: Last night was a little different from the night before. Erik and I did our usual night routine with her. I think she is starting to read the signs that its bed time. She immediately started crying when we took her to the bedroom. We tried calming her down but it just wasn't happening. Finally she got quiet enough and we put her down. Quickly Erik and I ran out of the room, and she fussed a bit but finally she fell asleep.

Dealing with the crying is starting to get a little better, but I still don't like it. However since we started this Ellie doesn't wake up as often as she used to. So I know this is good for her and I'm glad we're doing it. Doctor Andy said it would take 5-7 days to make this a habit for Ellie so we only have a few more days!

Bed Time Blues: Day 2

On Sundays Erik and I usually go to church and then spend the rest of the day with my family. My sister and her husband come over and we all play games, have dinner, talk, and laugh a lot; it's kind of like a mini Thanksgiving every week! At any rate, yesterday we knew we had to go home early so we could get ready for our second day of sleep training.

We gave Ellie a bath and fed her. She still seemed pretty wide awake so we read her a book and sang her a song. She seemed really fussy and we realized that she just wanted us to put her down. As soon as we put her down, she fell asleep...as if that's what she was waiting for! Thank goodness, because I don't if I could have handle another night with the screaming.

Tonight however I am on my own with the sleep training. Erik is working tonight. I hope I can do this.

Bed Time Blues: Day One

Erik and I recently changed pediatricians. We are now going to my doctor I saw as a child. We love him! He really listened to us, he fell in love with Eliana, and he gave good advice! Pretty much we made a good decision to change doctors. One of the things he gave us advice on was Ellie's nighttime routine. If you remember I wrote recently about trying to put Ellie down before she falls asleep, and I mentioned how horrible it is to hear her fuss. Well apparently, we still weren't doing this whole bedtime thing right. He said that we needed to feed her, change her diaper, and read her a story...all without letting her fall asleep. Then you put her down (unswaddled, I might add!)and come in and comfort her after 5 min, 10 min, and then every 15 min for about an hour and a half. He said it would take about 5 days for her to get used to this routine, but in no more than a week...she would be putting herself to sleep. At first this sounded easy enough. Erik and I decided that tonight was the night...

We fed Ellie her last feeding, changed her diaper, read her a story, and sang her a song, and just as the doctor ordered we put her down unswaddled and wide awake. At first Ellie was fine. She was talking to herself and making gurgling noises. All of a sudden as if she realized what we were doing she started to yell. Like the chicken I am, I ran out of the room crying while I left my hubby to fend for himself. I know you all are probably shaking your head at me as you read this, but it was just too much. I am used to picking her up as soon as she gets upset and holding her till she falls into a coma like sleep. I know that I have to grow out of this, but it's just soo hard. At any rate, we listened for 5 min while Ellie yelled and threw a fit. Then I went in first and cuddled her and kissed her and when she calmed down I put her back down. This time we waited 10 min, while Ellie yelled and pretty much screamed bloody murder. I sat in the living room crying and praying that I could make it through these few min. This time it was Erik's turn to comfort Ellie (also I didn't think I would be able to put her down if I went in there). Erik picked her up comforted her and put her down, and this time she fell right to sleep. Thank you God! Seriously, I didn't know if could do the next 15 minute interval.

This was not a fun experience, and right now I don't really like Ellie's doctor :) However tomorrow night is night numero dos...hopefully it will only get easier with time. Pray for me!

Wet the Bed

Well I knew putting Ellie in the bed with me would come back and bite me in butt. I imagined that Ellie would 16 still sleeping in the bed with us, unable to be independent. She would live with us forever and use us as a security blanket. I thought I had years before I saw the effects...that is until this morning.

As usual Erik left for work around 6:15 am and as soon as I heard the door close, I tipped toed across the room and grabbed Ellie and brought her in bed with me. She smells so good and I love to snuggle her. (I realize I sound like a nut-job but I just love her soo much!) At any rate, there we were sleeping peacefully when I felt a warm spot pool over to my side. I knew what it was, but I didn't want it to be true. I looked at Ellie and she was awake (I'm sure because she felt the same warm spot) and smiling at me. I couldn't believe she wet the bed!

Now I am sitting here, listening to the washing machine clean my urine soaked sheets, and I am hoping that I have learned my lesson. We shall see

Don't Let The Bed Bugs Bite

Confession: I am totally addicted to holding Ellie, and unfortunately she is addicted to being held. So when it finally came down to being a tad more disciplined with her sleeping habits, I just couldn't do it.

Ellie is almost 4 months now, and we still haven't nailed the whole "put her down for sleep while she is still awake" thing. I usually rock her to sleep and sometimes hold through her whole nap. I know I shouldn't but I just can't help it. However lately it has been difficult to keep her asleep. Ellie hasn't mastered putting herself back to sleep without our help. So yesterday Erik and I decided to try to let Ellie put herself to sleep. I read it is crucial for Ellie to have a bedtime routine. We kind of had one, but lets be honest...it was more up to however Ellie felt that day.

Okay so back to yesterday...Around 8pm Erik and I gave Ellie her bath, then fed her the last feeding of the night, swaddled her, and sang her a song. She was looking sleepy and rubbing her precious eyes with her tiny hands...and we knew it was time. We each kissed her good night and then laid her down in her bassinet. Immediately Ellie began to fuss. She was kicking (luckily she was wrapped nice and tight), and yelling, and whimpering. For some reason (I'm going to blame my hormones which are not quite back to normal yet) I began to cry. All I wanted to do was pick up my little girl and hold her tight until she fell asleep. Erik had me wait on our bed for a few min till she calmed down. He even turned on quiet worship music to soothe her. Finally after what seemed like forever (Erik claims it was only 3 minutes)she fell fast asleep. I was a wreck. It took me several minutes, a few hugs from Erik, and 2 pieces of chocolate to pull myself together.
"Why can't she sleep with me for a year or two?" I asked Erik while munching on my theraputic chocolate
"Because she will be 45 still sleeping in bed with us." With that vision in my head I became determined to figure this sleep thing out.

Even though I had a small victory today (I put Ellie down for her nap before she fell asleep and she put herself right to sleep!),I still am not looking forward to bed time tonight. Wish me luck.