Sleep, Glorious Sleep!

I've been afraid to blog about, thinking I may jinx it. We all know that Cam has super mind-reading powers and the minute we even THINK about his great sleep habits, he goes and changes them. But after a solid week of super sleep, I feel like it's time to celebrate our little man and document the journey we took to get to this point.

Last week Cam had his 4 month check up with his pediatrician and a follow up with the GI specialist. Both doctors gave him a gold star and said he looked perfect (we already knew that). They also both encouraged us to begin sleep training this bugger because he was big enough, healthy enough and his reflux is under control. Rick and I were eager to start that weekend because we were both exhausted and had had enough of waking up every hour for the past four months.

So, I did my research, talked to my friends asked my questions and Rick and I drew up a plan of how we were going to teach Cam to put himself to sleep and stay asleep. Our goal was NOT to eliminate a night feeding because he really hasn't been waking up all the time to eat. He's been waking up because he doesn't know how to get back to sleep on his own. For the past four months he had been relying on us to rock, bounce, shhhhh, and hold him to sleep. Rick and I formed a plan on Thursday night, and all day Friday I kept looking at my little muffin thinking, "poor baby has NO idea what's about to hit him tonight." I felt sad for him knowing that his life as he knew it was about to change, but I was anxious to get started because all I wanted was a decent night's sleep.

So, Friday night begins and it was horrendous. The kid cried almost the entire night and just could not get comfortable in the crib. Our doctor told us we needed to be consistent and do the training with naps as well, so by Saturday night, he was exhausted and cried for 8 minutes before falling asleep Saturday night. He slept all the way until 1:30 am without a peep. He had never done this before. Ever. After we fed him, he went right back to sleep. Until 6:30 am. He did the same thing the next night, and the next night and the next night. (Though his wake up times varied from 1-3 am).

Rick and I were beside ourselves with excitement. Not only was he catching on quickly at night, but his naps were also working themselves out. He maybe cries for 1-2 minutes now before "talking" to himself, rubbing his lovey against his face, sucking his thumb a bit and falling asleep. It's remarkable. Almost unbelievable.

We know we will have setbacks, as we have to still wean him from the Rock n Play that he sleeps in (an elevated cradle that has done wonders for the reflux). But as of now, he no longer uses a pacifier which we believe was the biggest issue holding him back from restful sleep.

I am so proud of him. I'm so proud of us. We did it, and the kid has been so happy all week because he's finally getting good sleep. Here's some proof:

It took us four months. Four long months, but we have reached a point where Rick and I are finally starting to see what all the doctors, friends and family were talking about when they kept saying, "it only gets better!"

No Judgment

My sister sent me this article a few days ago, and I had seen it before, but when I read it over again today it struck a chord. Hard.

I, like so many women, am guilty of judging those around me. I'm guilty of passing judgment on my family, friends and the ones I love. It's not something I'm proud of. In fact, I feel anxious and tense when I think someone is judging me so I feel terrible for inflicting those feelings on someone else. For some reason, we women are really good at passing judgment. And as soon as I became a mom, I realized that mothers are some of the worst judgers out there.

So, starting today I am making a vow to judge no more. I promise to remember that everyone's situation is unique and I'll never know exactly what they're each going through. I'll remind myself that when others want to judge me for formula feeding, it's because they don't know why I had to stop nursing. When they want to judge me for letting my baby cry it out to learn to sleep, it's because they don't understand why I've had to let him sleep on me for four months. And when they feel the need to look down upon my use of disposable diapers (which I realize are filling up a landfill!), I know it's because they can't comprehend how disgusted I am at the thought of putting poop in my laundry machine. I promise to remind myself each day that I'm just doing the best I can. Period.

To all you women out there, especially moms, I applaud you for doing the best you can. Keep up the freaking hard work!

Roly Poly!

Look who's moving and grooving!

How Do I Stop This?!?!

I asked my mom that question this morning... "how do I stop him from growing up so fast??" Our little Cam slept in his crib for the first night last night (pretty well, too!) and rolled over this morning. He's just getting so big so fast. I wanted to make sure I documented these momentous occasions despite not having pictures for proof... but here are a couple from the last few days:

The Many Faces of Cam

"How YOU Doin?"

"Yee-haw!!"

"Wassup?!?!"

"What are you staring at?"

"Yipee!!"

"Okay, enough already!"

4 Months!

Dear Campbell,

Another month has flown by... you are four months old today! You have grown so much this month. The beginning of February was rough for us. You took your first airplane ride to Austin and while we had a blast playing with Auntie Ash and Mimi and Poppy, the traveling wreaked havoc on the both of us. I got a terrible virus, then you got sick, then Daddy got sick, and then we spread it around again. You also regressed significantly in the sleep department. While you had been very easy to put to sleep at night previously, this month, it took us 3-4 hours a night to get you to stay asleep. Then you would be up 5-10 times a night. Usually, we could give you your paci and you'd fall back asleep, but a few nights you refused to sleep unless you were being held or rocked. It was a rough month.

Then, last week we decided to resume your reflux medication and that combined with some other changes (blackout curtains, a bigger swaddle blanket, bottle before bath, and new pacifiers -- MAM brand) you turned a corner! You've been napping a little better (still usually 45 minutes at a time but that's better than 10!). You also have gone to sleep very easily at night (6:30 pm bedtime) and you have stayed asleep. You have even slept through the night. See how much you have grown already!?!?

Aside from your sleep habits, you've changed in so many other ways, too. You have discovered your voice this month! You haven't stopped "talking", cooing and your new favorite -- squealing. Just last week you began squealing so loud it shook the house. We laugh every time you do it because it's so cute and so fun to watch you try to communicate. You've become very social, too. You love to be a part of whatever action is taking place. You have also become quite the flirt. You love to smile and giggle at the ladies. All the ladies. In fact, you gave your first real laugh for Mimi the other day.

Physically, you haven't stopped growing either! We had an appointment at the GI doctor today and they took your measurements. You are 16.2 pounds and 24 inches long! So big!! You are wearing mostly 6-9 month clothes right now and size 3 diapers.

You are holding your head up really well and love to sit in your Bumbo and Super Seat. You are tolerating tummy time a little more each day, and you are putting everything in your mouth. You especially love to put your fists in your mouth. You're favorite toys right now are your Buddy Blanket, your musical inchworm, and you still love to lay on your play mat to look at all your toys hanging.

Cam, you are such a little ham. Sometimes I just stare at you because I can't believe you are really mine. You make me laugh every day, and I love you so much. Happy 4 month-day to you!!

Love always,
Mommy

Look how much you've grown!

The Light

I can see it. It's dim, but I am finally getting a glimpse of the light at the end of this reflux tunnel.

I'm rocking Cam to sleep as I write this on my iPhone. Tonight is the 5th night he has gone to sleep without a fight. The 5th night he's snoring in my arms without waking to cough, spit, choke or cry. It's the 5th night I feel a glimmer of hope that my baby is finding peace and comfort in his sleeping hours.

Last night, he slept from 6:30 pm-4 am. I never ever thought that day would come. It may have been a fluke, but he did it.

He's waking up in the mornings with a smile on his face and squeals with delight until I unwrap him from his swaddle. His naps are no longer 10 minutes long. He still struggles to put himself back to sleep during the day.

I just can't help but sit here and smile. I could go put him in his cradle right now but I don't want to. I know not every night will be like this, so for right now I'm enjoying the quiet snuggle.

The light is getting brighter by the day.