All Smiles

Caleb is learning what his voice sounds like, and he has found his hands. We have spending lots of time wondering around outside and this seems to instantly put him to sleep. Today we went for about an hour hike in the pasture next to the house.

We had a break through in taking a naps today. This morning while almost asleep I placed him in his chair and he drifted right off on his own. Then this afternoon after Caleb getting super excited I rocked him to settle him back down. As soon as I had him settled I had to walk away to take care of something. I laid him down on the couch just knowing that when I return, he would be right back to his super excited state, but I was pleasantly surprised. Instead of him boxing the air, he was fast asleep. Then this evening after his routine it took me about an hour of settling, but he is now fast asleep and has been for an hour. Normally he is awake in 30 minutes and I have to put him back down, but it doesn't seem so this evening!

It was such I good day today filled with lots of laughter, smiles, giggles, and sleeping!

The Crib

Last night was Caleb's first night in his crib. He slept there for five hours before waking. Then I let him sleep back in his bassinet with me. It's just easier that way for me. We then slept in this morning with Caleb sleeping for 2 hours on my chest.

Tonight was a ok. I got Caleb to sleep easily with our normal routine. Bath, lavender massage, read a book, feed, swaddle, and rock. We sit in the big chair in the living room. He slept well for about 30 minutes until the barking dogs woke him up, then Robert's meandering in the kitchen kept him up. Eventually I as able to get him to drop back off. We have spent lots of time traveling, but he's not getting any better in the car.

The smiles and giggles are increasing. He notices the ceiling fan and his mobile in his crib, plus watches me walk around.

I weighed him today at the clinic. 13lbs 7oz. 

ten

Well we were doing pretty good, but the past two nights have been a little harder. I get him to sleep fine, but then he wakes up in about 30 minutes and it takes me 90 mins to get him back to sleep. I think that perseverance is the key.

This morning he has played for almost 2 hours by himself, with at least 30 minutes of tummy time before getting to sleep on his own!

bottle time

Sleeping has hit a plateau. Some nights Caleb will go right down, and sometimes it's still a struggle. It's so frustrating sometimes. Both yesterday and today we went hiking. This seems to wear him out. I'm sure its the heat.

I introduced the bottle this week and that went well. This gives Robert the chance to feed him now.

I am amazed at how much Caleb smiles and laughs. He has really started to look at me, and has started to grab things, like my hair.

Eight

We've had lots of giggles and smiles lately.Most of the time Caleb is really happy. We went to another Rays game last night and he was awake for most of the game.

I started pumping last week, and today I started a bottle. I plan to introduce it every few days or so, and it looks like I need to pump more often. He took the bottle very easy, gumming the nipple for a minute or so and then sucking it down. Now hopefully he will go back to the breast with no problem.

He seemed really fussy today, or maybe that was just me.

Night before last he slept 7.5 hours. It was a record!! It was also his first Rays game!

seven

still reporting good sleeping! Last night was tough because of the six hour car ride taking mom home. He spent some of it screaming and in tears, but once we finally got home, he went right to sleep for a good 5 hours. I started not putting his legs in the swaddle (although they are in a sleep sack) and just wrapping his arms. Seems to help.

six

What a great day. We went to the park to get in our 2 miles, and then spent the day at the house. Caleb slept off and on like normal, and spent about 2 hours sleeping on my chest this afternoon (which was fine with me). I put him in the bath about 5:15 and before 6p he is asleep. About the same routine, bath, feed, swaddle. Again I placed his bassinet in the living room for this first leg of his sleep. I think he doesn't like to be isolated. The swaddle seems to make a difference in not only getting him to go to sleep, but putting him back to sleep if he wakes up! So He slept about 2 hours. I changed him, fed him and put him back down. It tool about 30 minutes or better to get him back asleep.

five

So far so good (crossing fingers and knocking on wood). I started pumping today so that Robert can participate in feeding. I think it will make him feel better. Caleb slept well today. After his midmorning feeding I put him in is chair for a few minutes and he put himself to sleep. He also slept for over an hour like that! We went to see mom and he slept the whole way there, and most of the way back. He had one break down in the car half way home and I stopped and feed him. After that he was awake the rest of the way home, but he was quiet and looking out the window.

Tonights routine of bath, massage, book, feeding, and then wrapping in the swaddle has worked well so far. I put him down in his bassinet, but in the living room. I think he wants to be with the rest of us. It only took me 20 minutes to put him down, but lets see how long it lasts!

It lasted for 30 minutes, but I instantly was able to put him back to sleep without even picking him up. After sitting with him, rocking him in the bassinet for awhile, he went back to sleep and has been sleeping for 90 minutes. 

Caleb then slept for 5 hours the first leg and 3 hours the next. It was so exciting!

four

Yesterday was a long day, but he was perfect. We spent the day visiting around town a lot including my mom in the hospital. It was long car rides, but Caleb was perfect. I bought a swaddler to use for night sleep. It defiantly seemed to help with the quickness of him falling asleep and sleeping longer. Of course I don't know if this is in relationship to the swaddle or the long day?

Three

I give up and and give in. The most sleep he has gotten today has been strapped to my chest. It works, I guess.

I was so excited with how the routine worked tonight. Fed, bath, sleep clothes, book, rock/pat and he was out in 20 minutes. Of course 20 minutes later, he was awake again. So I regrouped, started over, and got him back to sleep again 40 minutes later. This again lasted 30 minutes or so. I gave in and sat on the couch with him till  late then put him to bed. He was wired and laid there boxing for 90 minutes. I then let him fall asleep on my chest.

In the morning though, I woke up fed him, put him in his chair and he fell asleep on his own?

Two

Last night was good. He slept over 6 hours only waking once to eat. He was exhausted to say the least. In the early evening after his Marathon sleep, I passed him to his father so I could take a shower. He had been changed, feed and seemed content. I get out of the shower and I'm greeted by a crying baby. This is a common occurrence unfortunately.

After an hour of rocking he finally fell asleep on me. Of course by this time I was asleep too and my poor husband slept on the couch.

He slept about 4 hours and then It was up to Change , feed, and back to sleep. He slept on his bassinet well for another 2 hours. This time when going back to sleep he fussed, but I left him in his bed and he put himself to sleep. I wish he could do this in the day time. He slept again for 2 hours and this time we moved to the couch. I watched the news and Caleb drifted back off. Again 2 hours later he was wide awake and happy. He spent 30 minutes playing in his chair. After being awake for an hour I started the process of putting him back down. He was starting to yawn. We started by nursing and then went to rocking. He seemed to be settling down and drifting off, but it had taken over an hour. Then suddenly he started to push against me and fuss. I changed him and tried to swaddle him. It made matters worse. We moved back to couch with the pat rock movement.  With in 10 minutes he was out. Of course now I'm stuck with a baby on My chest again.

one

It amazes me that something as simple as sleep in a child can be so difficult. All the signs are there, the big yawn, the heavy eye, but still sleep is elusive. My five week old child refuses sleep. He fights it with boxing gloves and karate chops. We sing, rock, play crickets,  cry, and pray to no avail. We read books,  call friends and scour the internet, but find no relief. Is it a phase he will out grow, or are we doomed for years to come? 

After many nights battling the sleep monster starting around 6p and lasting till 10p, we finally asked the Pedi for help. He says, if he starts to get fussy at 6p, put him to bed at 5:30p. That sounds easier said than done. I also starting reading a book "Healthy sleep, Happy baby" suggested by a friend. The book said the same thing, Caleb is overtired at that point at night and to put him to bed earlier. So with gusto I started a new regime the next day.

Day one went so well. The book says watch for those sleep clues and put him to sleep. Don't let him stay awake more than 1-2 hours. All right that sounds easy. I got him to sleep easily during the day, and although it took me 2 hours in the evening to get him to sleep, by 7:30 he was out and I got the shower, cook dinner and eat with my husband. He slept till 9:30p, I changed him, nursed him and put him back to sleep. And so it went the rest of the night. He slept 4 hours after nursing, then 3 hours then 2 hours. This has been his normal cycle.

I had such high hopes for day two. Robert had stayed home from work and I was excited to actually spend some time with my husband. We woke up early about 7:30a, played for about an hour with big smiles from everyone, and then I proceeded as planned to put Caleb back to sleep. The plan quickly went down hill from there. For his first nap I planned on Caleb sleeping in his car seat on the jogger while I ran. This worked, but only for about 30 minutes. When I returned back to the house I tried to get him back to sleep to no avail. I continued this for hours. I sat in our bed next to his bassinet rocking him while playing crickets for whitenoise. This is the routine i have picked to use. He was never really that fussy, although obviously very tired, but he would never sleep for more than 30 minutes or so. Finally after a long day, I gave him a bath and we headed for a long drive to a friends.

He did not immediately fall to sleep in the car, but eventually drifted off and slept about a 90 minutes while we drove. Once we were at the party he stayed awake for probably 3-4 hours before falling into a deep sleep. He slept the whole drive home and all though he woke with his normal feeding schedule, he slept in with us till 10a.

Day three I again start with high hopes. We were up late and slept in late, but I had planned to stick to the only awake 1 hour plan. Caleb was tired. He would yawn and fall asleep on my shoulder, but as soon as I placed him in his bassinet, he would awaken. After two hours I gave up. I was so frustrated. I feed him, passed him to his father and I left the house to head to the grocery store.

Upon my return, Caleb still had not fallen to sleep well. He did for about 5 minutes before the dog woke him up. As Robert put the groceries away I sat down to nurse Caleb. He finally drifted off. For fear of waking him I didn't move for 2 1/2 hours, and so far he has been asleep for 3 hours.

I wonder if I am just rushing him to sleep. Maybe I should just let him fall asleep on me for a MUCH longer period of time before passing him off to his bed? He seems to sleep better with noise in the background as well??