Sleep Training Day 2 - Bedtime

Okay, seriously, this cannot be this easy. There has got to be something wrong!

I just laid Annabelle down for the evening at 8:14 p.m., and by 8:15 p.m., she was no longer crying. I did leave the door cracked again, but I haven't checked on her for fear that the floors will creak, and she'll think that I am coming to her rescue again.

She finally fell asleep for her afternoon nap at 2:00 p.m., and she woke up from her nap at 3:50 p.m. She was actually in a somewhat good mood when she woke up from her afternoon nap too, which is very unusual for her. I had planned to wake her up at 3:30 p.m. so that she would go down easy for the evening, but I got busy trying to get a rebate out the door and also trying to get my hours entered into my time sheet for work, so I decided to hold off until 4:00 p.m. at the latest, and then she woke up at 3:50 p.m. instead.

Our bedtime routine now consists of bath (on bath nights...every other night), story time for 30 minutes to an hour and then I nurse her and then we "chat" for a little while. I rocked her for about 5 minutes after she finished nursing, and I told her that "Mommy is going to lay you down for the evening just like we did last night and also at bedtime today." I said, "You know Mommy loves you, right?" And, once again, she nodded her little head yes. Who knows if she really understands just what I am saying. I actually think that this "chat" time will be good for the both of us. I'm just not sure if I should change it up to include her Daddy in the room for this "chat" time so that she doesn't get so attached to her Mommy and the evening "chat" time. Maybe I should try that tomorrow night when he is home again. He didn't make it home this evening.

The screeching also was non-existent tonight. Thank goodness! If she only knew, the screeching is what really makes me want to cry and come to her rescue. Shh! Please don't tell her!

It is currently 8:21 p.m., and she isn't crying, AND I don't hear the Fisher Price Aquarium playing. She seemed pretty tired this evening. She actually wanted to end story time at about 7:45 p.m., but I encouraged and distracted her to continue until 8:00 p.m. at which time we called her Daddy before she nursed.

I try to read a little Sesame Street story I have to her every night called "Nighty Night." I bought it from Target in the $1 bins, but she was not interested. She just pushed it away and laid down, ready to nurse. She really doesn't like to read that book when she isn't tired though. She will push it away and reach for another one.

I suspect that weaning her is going to be my next challenge! Does anyone have any books they'd recommend on weaning a toddler? I really would like to wean this child before she starts asking for it by name. Right now, she will just say "Peeaaasss" whenever she is ready to nurse at night as she lays down in my lap. I only nurse her three times a day right now, in the morning after she wakes up, at naptime and then again at bedtime. That has been the typical nursing schedule since she gave up her morning nap around 14 months.

Okay, I just tried to check on her at 8:32 p.m., but it is too dark in her room for me to see her through the cracked door. I think I'll wait an hour or maybe two!

Thank you everyone for your comments! They are very much appreciated! I think part of me realized that "crying it out" was going to have to happen sooner rather than later because (a) I feared she'd start climbing out of the crib and (b) How many people can really continue to rock both children to sleep at night after a second child arrives? And, for the record, I am NOT pregnant (at least that I know of).

Sleep Training Day 2 - Naptime

Yes, I know, I wasn't planning to let Annabelle "cry it out" for naptime, but my gut told me otherwise...only for one reason though. She nursed herself asleep, and then she awoke when I laid her down, so I picked her up (I know, bad, bad), and I tried to nurse and rock her back to sleep. But, she only wanted to stay wide awake.

So, I told her, "Mommy loves you very much. Do you know that?" And, she nodded her head yes. I then told her that "Mommy is going to lay you down in the crib. If you need another paci, there are two more pacis right next to your bunny rabbit in the crib." Well, that set her off, and she wanted to get down from my lap to go and get the other pacis. I don't know why she needs to hold all of them at the same time, but once she sees or hears of another paci, she wants it.

So, I laid her down at 1:05 p.m., and I left the room with her screaming again in objection. Fortunately, this time she was not screeching like she did last night. We started the whole rocking and nursing process around 12:30 p.m. I thought a good nap from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. would be perfect in order for her to go down to bed this evening around 8:30 p.m.

So, I walked out of the room at 1:05 p.m. and closed the door behind me, but this time I left it cracked so I could watch her from a distance without her seeing me. At 1:06 p.m., the screaming has decreased, and by 1:07 p.m., she has completely stopped crying and she is laying on her stomach in the fetal position. I checked on her again at 1:15 p.m. because I heard her Fisher Price Aquarium start playing. She was still in the fetal position, but it looked like she was still trying to get comfortable as she moved around a little bit. Maybe she kicked the Aquarium into action?

I just got word earlier today that Annabelle's Daddy may be heading home tonight (earlier than expected). I hope that him being home doesn't actually make her think that if she screams longer, he'll come and rescue her. I know he's not going to enjoy the screaming either...it will break his heart!

Shall I go have some more Tutti Fruity Cake? I definitely should post that recipe for everyone. It is to die for, and I think my husband is going to request it every birthday from here on out. I've only been promising to make it for him for 8 years!

Okay, I better go run and take care of more wifely duties, like paying some bills before the little one decides to get up. I'm wondering if I should leave her in the crib for a designated length of time (such as 2 hours) until she adjusts to her new sleeping habits.

I just checked on her one last time around 1:30 p.m., and she was stirring again, but this time, I saw that her eyes were open. She looks like she's trying to go to sleep though. Again, still stirring at 1:37 p.m. I think I'm done checking for awhile.

Sleep Training Day 1 - Bedtime; Cuspid # 1

This is horrible! Why am I doing this? My daughter is screeching at the top of her lungs because I have finally decided that it may be in our best interest to let her "cry it out" before she learns to climb out of her crib.

I left her the first time at 8:36 p.m., and I told her exactly what I was doing. She nodded in agreement until I got up from the glider and proceeded to lay her down into her crib, and then the screaming fest began. I entered again at 8:41 p.m. She calmed down a little bit, and she tried to climb me to get out of the crib. Bless her heart! She was hot and sweaty too (probably from all of the crying).

It is 8:44 p.m., and I think I just heard a paci hit the floor. I left her with 3 pacis from the beginning because I knew she'd throw them on the floor.

Now it is 8:45 p.m., and she's stopped crying. She's probably just trying to catch her breath.

Did I mention that she went down for her afternoon nap today at 12:30 p.m., and she slept until 2:30 p.m. She normally naps between 1 hour to 2 hours, so I am not surprised at all by that. I was hoping with an earlier nap that she'd fall asleep quicker this evening.

It is 8:47 p.m., and she still hasn't cried since 8:45 p.m. Maybe there is hope that this only took 9 minutes? Seriously?!?! No way! I don't believe it. Her Fisher Price Aquarium is still playing, so she's probably just listening to that right now. Too bad I didn't get her Daddy to put batteries in it before he left to go out of town yesterday. It plays music, but the fish and octopus don't move any more, and it doesn't light up with all of the pretty colors.

It is 8:51 p.m., and she's still not crying!

I should mention in this blog that it took me the longest to get Annabelle to sleep last night, and I think that may have been the final straw for me. I started nursing her last night around 8:15 p.m., and I didn't lay her down for good until 12:30 a.m. And, when I laid her down at 12:30 a.m., she cried then too, but I think she was just too tired to continue crying. She probably couldn't even raise her little body up off of the bed.

I hate this! I really do! But, I hate even more how frustrated I have become with her over the past few months. Some nights I am fine with rocking her to sleep (if it only takes an hour), but when it takes 3-4 hours, I get so irritated, and I hate myself for it! It isn't her fault! She just wants her Mommy.

And, for the record, nothing that anyone has said to me has persuaded me to let her "cry it out." I have been contemplating doing this since December when she started this whole fuss of only letting me (and not her Daddy) rock her to sleep. And, if you know me, you know that I am VERY independent, and I will do things my way depending on what I think is best for my child. Fortunately, her Daddy has been very supportive with everything so far. He's a trooper! I guess he figures that this is my job since I am home with her all day. His job is to make the money and bring home the milk and bread!

The worst part about all of this is that I just noticed this morning that another tooth is coming in. It is her bottom right cuspid. Are those supposed to hurt like the molars did? If you are looking at Annabelle, it is the cuspid to the left of her mouth. Well, I believe it is the cuspid. It is between the molar and her front teeth.

Okay, it is now 8:57 p.m., and still, no crying! And, I believe the Fisher Price Aquarium has stopped as well. Seriously, this cannot possibly be this easy! I think it is because she was already exhausted. I just wonder how tomorrow is going to play out.

The main reason I decided to finally let her "cry it out" is because with it taking me 1-4 hours to rock her to sleep at night, I am unable to get anything done around the house. My husband has been traveling a great deal this year (although, I know it could be a lot worse), so it makes it that much harder to get things done at night when she takes so long to go to sleep. He left again on Monday (yesterday) for Charlotte, and he is supposed to be gone again next week and then maybe part of the next week, so I decided I needed to start this sooner than later. Not to mention, I am seriously considering trying to wean her as well, but I think this has to come first before I even attack that battle. It will probably be a few months before I do try to wean her though.

Annabelle, if you are reading this one day, please know that I love you bunches, and I truly hope that letting you "cry it out" has not warped you for life. I hope you will be a very happy adult, and I hope your self esteem will not suffer because of my own selfish needs.

Well, now I am going to go do my job as a wife (dishes, laundry, you name it), but first, I am treating myself to some leftover 30th birthday cake from my husband's birthday AND some Tuiti Fruiti Cake from my husband's birthday! Hubby, that one is on you!

I am just realizing that I am closing a chapter in my life. In the past (before the 1-4 hours of rocking Annabelle to sleep at night), I have LOVED holding Annabelle close and rocking her to sleep, especially to watch her as she slept in my arms when she was baby. I would often nap with her during the day by just holding her as we both slept for the naptime of two hours or less, mostly less (when she was very young). She always seemed to sleep longer when I held her (instead of laying her down into her crib after she fell asleep). If I laid her down, she'd typically nap between 30-45 minutes, but if I held her, I was sometimes lucky enough for her to nap for 2 hours. But, I am closing that chapter, and that sort of makes me very sad. I don't have my baby any more! It is really sort of bitter sweet!

Unfortunately, I know I won't be able to hold any future children as close to me when they nap because I'll have another older child to tend to.

I'll be back again later, after the birthday cake, with another update. Wish me luck!

Okay, I am back...now 5 lbs heavier. I have not heard another peep out of Annabelle since she stopped crying at 8:45 p.m. Yippee! Hopefully she won't wake during the middle of the night.

For fear that maybe she had fallen out of the crib (instead of another paci), I did go and check on her at 9:36 p.m. Of course, that was awhile after I heard the thump, but the thump wasn't loud enough for me to worry with (until I talked to my mom). She keeps me worrying about the smallest things sometimes. That explains why I have probably spent $80 more in medical bills in Annabelle's first 6 months of life than was necessary...because my mom said, "Maybe you should take her to the doctor just to get it checked out." Once again, I should have gone with my instinct.

When I checked on Annabelle at 9:36 p.m., she was sound asleep laying on her stomach in the fetal position. I was afraid the door would wake her when I opened it (we live in an old home and these doors creak and crack when opened and closed), but it didn't. She didn't budge. So, I covered her with a blanket and left the room. It is supposed to get down in the 30's tonight (around 38 - 40 degrees F), so I thought she really did need a blanket. Fortunately, I put her footed pajamas on her that I had not yet packed away. I am so glad I had not packed those away in the shed with her 18 month old clothes.

So, I am hoping for a good night's rest, and we'll tackle this again tomorrow night with more updates on my blog (hopefully). I don't plan to let her "cry it out" at naptime, but that could be a mistake. Maybe I should let her "cry it out" at naptime too so that she'll be exhausted again at night (because I can almost guarantee she won't fall asleep for a nap during the day if I let her "cry it out.").

I Spy

Annabelle and I played "I Spy" this evening. I was completely amazed at how quickly she caught on to the game...instantly! And, I was even more surprised that she was able to find and touch almost every single word I said. I tripped her up when I used the word "wall" and "front door" and I'm sure a few others, but I cannot remember them right now. I'm not sure why she couldn't get "front door," but she kept going back and forth between the interior doors in the living room and dining room. I think that if I tried this game again tomorrow, she would instantly find the "front door" and "wall."

If only she could identify those same objects with words a little more.

Soon enough I am sure, and I know, I know, I am going to wish then that she didn't talk so much, but seriously people, I am ready for the conversation to not be so one sided!

"Bebe" and Ring Around the Rosie

Annabelle's new favorite word of the week is "bebe" or baby. We've spent the past four nights with Annabelle's Grandmama and Granddaddy (so that Mommy could go to the office and get some tax returns finalized before the 4/15 deadline). Well, Grandmama bought Annabelle a "Baby Born" from Goodwill awhile ago, and she found another one at Goodwill this past weekend, so she bought it as well. So, now Annabelle has twin "bebes." All weekend, she'd go running over to the baby dolls and say "bebe." It was so sweet.

So, when we left Grandmama and Granddaddy's house this morning, Grandmama asked Annabelle if she would like to take home one of the babies to look after at her house. Well, Annabelle jumped at the chance, and she also jumped at the chance to grab the best looking of the two dolls. She wanted nothing to do with me trying to get her to take the other baby doll. The dolls look almost identical, but the first "Baby Born" purchased came with what looks like the original outfit and pacifier. The second "Baby Born" was missing the outfit and the pacifier, so we had to make do with some doll clothes that Grandmama had at her house from Annabelle's Mommy's dolls when she was a little girl.

So, we took the "bebe" home, and as suspected, Annabelle lost interest in the "Baby Born" as soon as we set foot in our house.

Until...I decided that I wanted to play "Ring Around the Rosie" with Annabelle. And, it was at that time that Annabelle grabbed "bebe" by the hands to play "Ring Around the Rosie" with her. I said, "Oh, you want to play Ring Around the Rosie" with the baby doll. Okay, you hold one hand, and I'll hold the other."

So, that didn't go over very well at all. Apparently, Annabelle did NOT want to play "Ring Around the Rosie" with Mommy and "bebe." Instead, she only wanted to play with "bebe." So, I sang the song, and Annabelle twirled in a circle holding "bebe's" hands. And, she played "Ring Around the Rosie" with "bebe" several times over.

Slinkies and Belly Laughs

This evening, Annabelle pulled out a slinky she found in an end table in our living room. She loves to go through the end table drawer, and she loves the two slinkies I have in the drawer...a plastic, green one and a smaller, metal one.

She was standing on top of a Sterilite storage box at the dining room window (where she loves to look outside) holding the smaller, metal slinky. So, I decided to play a little game with her. I told her to hold one end of the slinky, and I walked away pulling the other end to stretch it out as far as it would go. Then, I told her to "wiggle it." And, she followed my lead and wiggled the slinky back and forth. Finally, I told her to let go of her end of the slinky.

She did, and she loved it! I immediately was blessed with sweet belly laughs from a precious little girl.

After she got so much amusement out of the first slinky, I pulled out the plastic, green slinky, and we "wiggled it" as well.

I just wish I had my video camera handy before the belly laughs subsided. I sure do love those sweet belly laughs!