Operation Tough Love

I wanted to wait at least 4 days before I shared this news. Just in case it was a one time thing. Or a two time thing. But, because it is at the very least a four time thing, I feel confident in sharing...

BABY DAY IS SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!

And through the night means only getting up 2-3 times between 7 PM and 6/6:30 AM. This is miraculous. We had been averaging 10 times a night before we enacted Operation Tough Love. From 10 times down to 2 or 3 has changed my life. How have I functioned this long without sleep?

So, here’s how it went. Last Friday night was awful. Up every hour. Wiggling. Kicking me in the stomach and the boobs. Head butting me. At one point I just got out of her way and she stretched out in MY spot and was happy. At some other point she started her fussing business and I had already nursed her 135 times so I scooted her over to Ken and told him, “I am sick of nursing her. HELP ME!” So he was trying to soothe her and about 15 seconds later I grabbed her feet and pulled her back to me to nurse… yanking her FAST across the bed. She hushed (partly because she was startled by the scoot, mostly because she got what she wanted = NURSE), but I realized that I was MAD at her and that something had to change.

So, I staged my own intervention.

Some quick background info: Day has been sleeping in our room for 7 ½ months (her whole life). She started in her bassinet, then spent a couple of months in our bed. Then we moved her crib into our room. I spent another couple of months moving her from our bed to her crib every few hours, several times each night. Then over the last 4-5 weeks, she has been back in our bed full time. And just recently started waking up EVERY HOUR. I took it for as long as I could - maybe 3 weeks of that, then last Friday happened…

Ok, back to my intervention. Saturday morning I called Cindy and told her I needed advice. She said, “You don’t want to hear what I have to say.” I explained to her that, yes, not only did I want to hear it, but it was why I had called. I knew what she would say. She gave me a pep-talk, told me yes it would be hard, but MOVE that baby into her own room. She also told me that I was the biggest B*TCH she knew, so it was time for Operation Tough Love. That worked for me. No offense taken. Time to put the big girl panties on. After all, if I am honest with myself, I had her in my room more for MY comfort than hers.

And it actually has not been that tough. Obviously, we are all sleeping better. I did miss her pretty bad the first night, but one night of loneliness is NOTHING compared to months of sleeplessness. Now, when she gets up Ken or I go to her room and rock her (or I nurse her) back to sleep. It usually takes less than 5 minutes, then she’s back in the crib. Sound asleep. We’re living like normal people.

Philosophically, I believe co-sleeping is ideal. But if you will notice the root word there is sleep. That was not happening, so we were never really co-sleeping. We were co-laying in the bed and fighting. Nobody can say I didn’t give it everything I had. We tried.

Last night she went to bed at 7, got up briefly at 10:30, then not a peep until 5 AM. Even then, she went back down until 6:30. And yes, I did go check on her twice. At 4:00 had wiggled herself into the corner and was on her stomach with her butt in the air. HEAVEN! She could have never gotten into that position in our bed. So, I think she’s happier. I’m definitely happier. Ken gets a little less sleep, but happy momma makes him happier.

I’m sure that the next growth spurt, illness, or tooth will disturb our perfect pattern, but now I know that it CAN be better than it was. And I am stubborn enough that I needed to learn that lesson all on my own. It’s how I operate.

In other Big Girl news, Day is drinking her milk out of a sippy cup at daycare. She doesn’t look really thrilled about it in this picture, but Miss Jackie says she’s doing a great job.

And this was Monday… out enjoying the beautiful weather. She kept her leg propped up like that and her shades on the entire time. Hollywood.