Monday, May 18, 2015

Weeks 13 thru 21

Our 1st Easter!
Yikes, it's been a really long time since I've had time to update this blog. 

Cameron is 21 months old and as adorable as ever!  Truly, I just love him so much and find joy in the most simplest of things with him!  I love our time in the morning where he holds my hand while feeding, wants to cuddle, and can't stop giving me kisses!  I love reading to him and going on walks!  I love having "conversations" with him!  I love watching the world through his eyes!  I love how his face lights up when he sees me!  I love his cute little laugh when I blow raspberries on his belly!  Life is truly good and I'm incredibly blessed to be his mommy!

Cameron & Mommy @Easter!
So, what has been going on these past couple months???  From the previous posts you can tell that we were having some major sleep issues.  We ended up seeing a GI specialist to rule out any medical issues and then met with a post-partum doula.  She was awesome and gave me the courage to start sleep training.

Hanging out with Mommy!
The night before I met with her, Cameron was asleep at 8 and up at 9, 10, 11:45, 2:08, 4:45, 6, and up for the day at 7.  This was night #9 like this and I was completely and utterly beyond exhausted.  I seriously thought I was about to lose my mind.

4 months old!
So we started sleep training.  I was at my dad's house and we started right away with naps.  First nap took about 25 minutes but he eventually soothed himself to sleep.  Each nap got better and less time.  So I was on my own and ready to tackle bedtime.  It took 45 minutes (with a couple checks) but he slept.  That night I fed him at 10:30 and not again until about 6:30.

Mommy and me!
Second day naps were much better but night #2 of bedtime was ROUGH.  I remember calling Lloyd from my parent's bathroom (on the other side of the house) and talked to him until Cameron finally fell asleep, one hour after I first put him down.  Lloyd came around dream feed time that night and was there for the rest of the weekend to help with sleep training.

I <3 my jumper!
All in all, it was a very smooth process and I'm so thankful I did this.  It has saved me so much energy and sanity and, most importantly, has helped Cameron to learn the skill of self soothing and being able to put himself to sleep.  Now, he takes 3-4 naps daily and sleeps a good 11-12 hours every night with only one dream feed at 10 pm!

Happy Mother's Day!
For those interested, I would change his diaper, swaddle, and place him in his crib (rock n play in the beginning but was easily able to transfer to the crib after 1 week of sleep training!) and give him his pacifier while patting his stomach and saying "night night time Cameron".  I also use white noise for all sleeping.  First check is after 5 minutes and consists of eye contact, words (night night time), and touch (patting stomach).  Next check is 10 minutes of continuous crying (if he settles the clock resets) with only words and touch.  Final check is 10 minutes (never had to do this one, thankfully) with only words, no touch or eye contact.

We are 4 weeks in now and things are so much better!  He's a much happier baby and I'm a much happier and healthier mom!  Oh, and we were able to change up his feedings so that he only eats every 3 hours during the day (compared to every 2)!

He loves his Gramma!
Basically, that has been our life these past couple weeks!  Besides sleeping we enjoyed our first Easter as a family of three and I enjoyed my first real Mother's Day!  Speaking of, Mother's Day was awesome just being able to celebrate with our little guy!  That day brought back so many memories of all we have gone through and to finally have our little baby in my arms and here...it's the best feeling ever! 

Everyone says that there is no love like that between a mother and child...I knew I would love Cameron but truly did not realize how full of love and joy my heart could feel!  Life is so good...GOD is SO GOOD!