Somewhere along the way, it hits me that we are going to really have a baby joining our family in about a month. I alternate between thinking "I have plenty of time..." and "Gosh! There's stuff to do! I'd better get on it!"Last Saturday, I started digging stuff out of the storage room - cradle, swing (which I haven't actually set up yet because the moment I do, I am going to have 2 little girls trying to get in it), nursing gear, etc.
My thoughts have drifted to the reality of a newborn, and again I alternate: sweet, tiny fingers and toes, 3am feedings, funny faces while they sleep, crying, fussing, pooping, sweet new baby smell, burping, feeling attached at the hip (or I should say breast), watching their eyes fill with wonder at every new little thing, and feeling like I am living in a sleep-deprived, non-motivated fog.
Yes... they sure come with their pluses and minuses. Good thing that our love for them outweighs everything else, right?
So...as I ponder the first 9 months of my baby's new life, I wonder if there's a way to have it all when it comes to the sleeping thing. Here's what I mean: I wonder if there's some trick that will help my baby sleep just as good in her own cradle or crib as she would in my arms, in a pack-in-play, on a blanket on the floor, or in her carseat. With #3, it's unlikely that I will be home for all the naps - and we do travel to Richfield a lot, so how do I encourage her to sleep WHEREVER she is when she's tired without making her DEPENDENT on rocking, feeding, binkis, etc to get to sleep?
My girls have both done well getting to sleep on their own. I usually put them down before they're totally asleep, so they can learn to fall asleep on their own, but when they are out of that environment (crib/cradle), they do not do well. They have a hard time getting to sleep and staying asleep. This causes me stress. There's a lady in my ward whom I completely envy. Her children until they're like 4 just fall asleep wherever they are when they're tired and she can just lay them on a blanket and they'll sleep through anything. She has 6 children. I ask her how she does it, but she just shrugs and insists that they've all just "been like that."
I love "The Happiest Baby on the Block" and "The Baby Whisperer." The Happiest Baby is basically what I go off of for the first 3 months of their life, along with the E.A.S.Y. system of the Baby Whisperer. These give GREAT sleep tips, but the Baby Whisperer stresses routine and really "encourages" the baby to be home for naps & bedtime. The more children I have, the more I do not see that as being completely realistic.
So - any tips would be great!
I still have most of my baby "to-dos" unchecked, but I've started, which is good. Would be nice for this baby to have a name when she gets here, huh? We're workin' on it.
And...even though I've technically only got a month left, nobody go getting excited, OK? Remember I was late with both of my girls, so I'm not PLANNING on this baby coming early, or even on time. I can't say that I'm not jealous because it seems like everyone I know is going early, but I'm trying to be patient and have a good attitude.
And as hard as it is, please try to resist comments like these:
-"Wow, Heidi, it seems like you've been pregnant forever!" (really? huh, that's funny, because it feels that way to me, too!)
-(looking at pictures from last year) - "Geez, I didn't even recognize you in this picture!" and "Look how skinny you were!" (Big morale boosters!)
-"A month left?! Wow! Can't you just make them induce you?" (Not that I would anyway, but this is not an option with a home birth :)
5 comments:
Heidi, I got a real chuckle out of your blog. It brought back memories of my own-- decades ago! Thanks for reminding me.
Love, mom/sis
Ohhhh girl! I feel your pain. I loved the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child, when my kids were babies. It too stresses routines though and things to look for before baby is overly tired. I'm thinking, and this is just me thinking no expert or anything, but if the baby gets use to sleeping around noise maybe it won't bother them when they sleep. So put the baby to sleep right in the middle of things, pull out the pack and play and sleep in the middle of the room. Worth a try, however it goes against routines and knowing when to sleep and yada yada yada. Good Luck! I can't wait to see another cute little Hamilton girl.
I love "Babywise". I read it while i was pregnant with Kaleb. It worked miracles. Love that book. He was definitely my best sleeper and I owe it in big part to that book. I have it if you want to borrow it. And are you really doing a home birth?
I use the Happiest Baby on the block too. Really, I don't have a lot of advise. Jakob slept anywhere, Caleb doesn't. UNLESS, we have the crib, blanket, music, and binky. So, we just plan ahead and find a closet wherever we are. Crazy! Good Luck!!
I have done "Babywise" with all 4 kids & they've all been wonderful sleepers & eaters! With Ryan I rotate different places he sleeps(Mostly because we are on the go so much!). Crib, carseat, my arms, pack & play, etc. And I don't hush the kids around him when he's sleeping much. If he's tired enough I can hold him or put him in his carseat or put him down anywhere really to sleep. Its so nice! But, I do think that a lot has to do with the type of temperament the child has! Ryan is SO layed back & chill. Unlike my last one who was so busy from day 1 & would NEVER sleep in my arms & has to sleep with a noise machine in her room because she's such a light sleeper. Anyway, I can't believe you are almost due! I remember when you said you were first pregnant & I was about 4 months pregnant myself! Good luck with everything!
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