Bed Time...

For the past month I have had the internal struggle about our little one's bed time.  She has always slept in our room... and the week we moved to the new apartment (back in October) marked the time she started sleeping in our bed. Say what you will but I was getting to sleep for the first time since coming home from the hospital.  I loved it!  Not to mention Lillian (the real baby of the family) took over the bassinet and claimed it for her own.  It's not the best situation... But who am I kidding?  I love cuddling with Ainsley.  I love waking up to her smiling face.  It's like rainbows and sunshine in the morning.  I love holding her while she falls asleep in my arms.  I know this time is very short lived.  I am holding on to it as long as I can. Oh... and I love SLEEP! 

But... (and yes, there is a but) there is also the part of me that does not want her to be sleeping in our bed till she graduates college.  (OK, I know that's a bit extreme)  

So I made it a goal that by her 6 month "birthday" she will be sleeping in her own bed, in her own room.  

Baby steps... right?  I set a goal. Yay! The next step - - sleeping in the crib.

Tonight, I thought I would start trying.  This would give me a week.  (A WEEK?!?! I am insane... this is never gonna work!)  

First thought? Mistake #1: I am doing this solo as Daddy is driving back from Key West.  Where would be my support to tell me it will all be ok when she cries?   

I pulled up my big girl pants and prepared for game day!  I felt like a football player preparing for battle.  I had my plan... Mentally I said to myself "Ok Mom... we got our offense.  Bath, followed by pjs, and when we are 4th and inches we'll pull out the sleep sheep and story time.  Moms go on 3!".  Break!

We took a bath, put on our pjs, turned the lights down low, put on her sleep sheep and seahorse, and I nursed her one more time.  (Mommy is on a roll. I'm in her end zone!)

I put her in the crib and walked away.  (Score!) (?)

That's when you would say Defense sacked the quarterback! 

Because coming from the crib was nothing but... Whimper, whimper, whimper! 

The whimpers still break my heart.  Trying to remember all the advice I had been given on how to put her down... I went back in set on not picking her up. (Mommy game face) I rubbed her back, talked to her, and gave her the pacifier.  Nothing worked.  It's like she could smell the fear of a night time breakdown.  That's when it happened... the whimpers went right into a full out meltdown. (Interception! Ugh!)

I re-group, pick her up, and try nursing.  All I can say is her team is fierce! She's tough like the Raiders!  (Maybe I should have gone in with  a MMA game plan.)  

And then... she started to drift off in my arms.  I waited a few minutes... got up... laid her down (4th and inches again)... she started to whimper again (block, again)... I gave her a pacifier... silence... I step back... and more silence... and .... GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL! (ok I know thats soccer but TOUCHDOWN just didn't express the excitement I was feeling!) 

I did it!  I really did it!  (High Five, High Five!) 

She's a big girl! And I am sad... let's see if I let her stay in there all night or if I break down and go in and get her.  :) 

** Update: 12am.  Daddy Arrives Home.  Baby hears. Waaaaaaaaaaa! Now she is sitting on the couch with him having a good old time.  Starting to think Daddy is playing on her team!

Single Mom for the Weekend

This weekend is almost over. It's 6am and I've been up for an hour waiting (like a little kid for Santa) for Kevin to call. I was very nervous about being the only one to take care of the baby and how I was going to cope. The anxioty leading up to Friday was insane. I actually found myself an emotional rollercoaster for the past week just because I was really worried about how I was going to do.

Well... I'm proud to announce. We made it! And we made it without an emotional breakdown.

I have to give a major thank you to Manny and Yannery (& Ian) for coming over Saturday and watching Ainsley. This allowed me to go teach. I'm also glad Sommer and her mom stayed over Saturday night. And Faride allowed us to come over for dinner Friday night.

I was also surprised that everyday someone asked me to work for them. But it was nice to have an easy out. I can't Kevin is on the cruise.

I was worried I wasn't gonna be able to handle her all by myself with out anyone to assist/ relieve me if it got bad. Ainsley was amazing. She was such a good girl. The only fussy time she had was when we were at the party.

I think it helped me to have something planned for each of the days Kevin was gone. Almost like I had back up if needed. Also planning her favorite things to do and ending our days before normal time also helped out a lot. I would start bath time earlier and we played more in the tub. But that also had her falling asleep earlier so I didn't have to fight her to go to sleep. Plus when I put her in bed I went to bed too so I felt like I was more rested and able to deal with whatever she sent me.

This weekend has proved to me that I could do this! And... It also made me very thankful for all Kevin does and ready to have him back home!

But I will be very proud to say "we had a great weekend!" when Kevin asks...

My Saving Grace - The Sleep Sheep and Gentle Giraffe

I have to share my saving grace and new favorite baby item. 

The Sleep Sheep! 

When we registered for this item at Pottery Barn Kids and BabiesRus I didn't think this would be my life saver.  But it has.  To be honest, I just zapped it because I thought it was cute and would go with the crib set that we picked out.  And to be honest... I did not think anyone was going to gift it to us.  

Actually, the sleep sheep was one of the last items we got before Ainsley's arrival and everyday I say "thank you Abe and Doris" for this gift.     

 

I now understand why the Sleep Sheep (a Plush Sound Machine with Four Soothing Sounds) has received so many awards.  Awards including:  National Parenting Center Seal of Approval • 2006 Creative Child Magazine-Preferred Choice • iParenting Award Winner • Good Housekeeping Editor's Choice • Baby Talk Editor's Choice • Shown on the CBS-The Early Show.

IT'S AMAZING!!!!

This little Sheep is the perfect night-time (or nap-time) companion to ease your baby (or you) to sleep in a relaxing and calming way.

During my pregnancy I found it hard to relax and get to sleep at night.  Heck, there were some nights the baby was more up than I was.  Sometimes I thought she was having her own little party in there.  One desperate night (at like 3am) I picked up my iphone and searched itunes for a white noise album.  I came across the album "Help Your Baby Sleep Through the Night: Natural White Noise for Babies".  Listening to this album became a nightly thing.  I would even place my iphone near my belly the nights she was being the night owl and within minutes she would calm down. 

A few weeks before I had learned about the fabulous book "The Happiest Baby on the Block" from my dear friend Gina.  She told me about how this book explains the theory of the 4th Trimester and the 5 S's (shushing being one of them).  I quickly became a fan of this concept and adopted the "white noise" theory.   
So I don't know why it was such a surprise on how well the Sleep Sheep works on Ainsley.  Heck it worked in the womb... why not out in the real world.   

The Sleep Sheep is pretty much an adorable plush sheep with a sound box tucked inside playing three different sounds from nature and the sound of a mother's heartbeat. 

Sadly, our Sleep Sheep sat in the box for a week or so after our arrival home... then one night our "good" baby was having a fussy moment.  I couldn't get her to go to sleep and I was starting to become just as fussy.  As I paced around our bedroom trying to think of what to do... It hit me!  The 5 S's!   

I quickly swaddled her, gave her a pacifier, held her in my arms on her side, started to gently rock (shake) her, and shushed her.  It was working... but then after she fell asleep... I needed to put her in her bed.  How do I keep this up?   That's when I noticed the sheep.  Looking up at me and sitting there in its little box.  I quickly opened it up and pulled the sheep out and put on the "Rain" button.  There she was... sleeping like the good little baby she is.  And the Sleep Sheep has been used ever since.  
  

The Sleep Sheep (and other fabulous products) is made by the company Cloud B.  They have the idea that "When babies sleep better, parents sleep better".  And God Bless them for that!

The Sleep Sheep is ideal for newborns and up and features:  

• 
  
  Four Soothing Sounds (Mother's Heartbeat, Spring Showers, Ocean Waves and Whale Songs)
• 
  
  Simple push-button sound selection with volume and on/off controls
• 
  
  Two sleep timer options: 23 and 45 minutes
• 
  
  Velco tab to secure Sleep Sheep to the outside of a crib
• 
  
  Two AA batteries included

Both Kevin and I love this Sheep.  Heck, sometimes we turn it on for us... not the baby.   

So when it came time for me to buy a gift for Alisha and Eric's little boy I was thrilled to see they had the Sleep Sheep on their registry.  Kevin and I both agreed we just had to get it for them.

But while we were shopping we came across the Gental Giraffe.  I was trying to decide wither or not to get it instead (not sure if Alisha had seen it when registering).  While asking Kevin his opinion he says to me "I think we should get it!".  As I put back the Sheep and grab the large Giraffe, he grabbed the On the Go Giraffe and the large Sheep.  I realized at that moment he meant "WE" as in for US...  Not for Alisha and Eric.  They were getting the Sheep.  He wanted the Giraffe for Ainsely.    

At first, I didn't understand why we needed another one.  The Sleep Sheep works great!  Then Kevin starts going over the Gentle Giraffe's features and after playing around with it I am suckerd in!  We opted to get the Gentle Giraffe On The Go (Travel-Size Plush Sound Machine).

Gentle Giraffe On The Go (like the sheep) helps recreate sleep time routines by bringing familiar soothing sounds but making it easier to achieve this while away from home. The selling factor for me was that the Gentle Giraffe has four unique Serengeti sounds that are not just to put Ainsley to sleep but are also designed to entertain and educate. 

We, like the kids that we are, had to test the sounds out in the store.  And instantly I fell in love with the "PLAY" button.  Also called the Safari Groove, it plays rhythmic drums of a native tribe.  As soon as I hit the button I could see that Ainsley was reacting to it.  So needless to say I lost the debate with Kevin and we bought it for us.

Now, we don't go anywhere with out the Gentle Giraffe. 

Just recently I have noticed Ainsley becoming more aware and reacting to the Sheep and Giraffe.  Today as we were walking around Target and listening to the "Play" Safari Groove.  It's was nice to have a soothing sound for her to listen to and at some point I could hear her cooing.  And when we play with them her little face lights up and smiles (something she has not done with her other toys).    

The Gentle Giraffe On The Go is ideal for all ages and features:

• 
  
  Four peaceful sounds: Safari Groove (Play), Victoria Falls (Sleep), Safari Trails (Calm)  and Gentle Stream (Relax).   
• 
  
  Push-button sound selection with volume control
• 
  
  Two sleep-timer options: 23 and 45 minutes
• 
  
  2 AA batteries included           

Also... on the Cloud B website the Gentle Giraffe On The Go is part of the Cloud B Endangered Species Series which helps bring awareness to our animal friends who need our attention. A portion of your purchase will go to an international wildlife organization.

 
These products have made my life easier these past 7 weeks.  And needless to say I have also found my new favorite Baby Shower Gift! 

Now... I just have to refrain myself from going on a shopping spree and buying all their other products in one purchase!   

It only took 1 week...

I will be the first to say that this pregnancy was not the easiest. Morning sickness all day for the first 4 months, the pre term labor episodes, and the painful last 10 weeks. Kevin was beginning to wonder if she was going to be it. I was miserable except for the 10 weeks in the middle. I was starting to wonder myself.

One evening while we were at Gina and Eric's this discussion came up. I stated how I didn't think I could do this (physically) again. Gina just laughed and said "Just wait! The curse will hit you!" The curse? What curse? Gina goes on to explain the mommy forgetful curse... "It's makes you forget all about the pain of pregnancy and delivery and you'll think I could do this again."

In my head I'm saying "yeah, right! Like I'm gonna forget this!"

Well... Ainsley has only been here for a week! I delivered her 6 days ago... We just left the hospital 3 days ago... And as we drove down Kendall Drive towards Outback I felt this wave of peace and happiness come over me. I started laughing to myself. Kevin asked what was so funny. I couldn't tell him... I thought to myself... The mommy forgetful curse had struck...

I could do this again!