Last Friday, March 4th, Claire turned four months old. How the time is flying. I bet I say that every post too. Sorry. It is. I can't believe it is now okay to start rice cereal and thinking about digging out our high chair from the very back of her closet. Really?
This last month has been a bit hard. As soon as I posted her three month report, all chaos broke loose. Seriously. I have a friend that would always tell me as soon as she posted progress on her blog, things would change. Well, it happened to us as well. In that post, I talked about finally having a routine and nighttime sleep was improving, etc. For about three weeks after that, we had many hard nights that led to tired and grouchy days for me, which also led to many headaches/migraines. Poor Cole. He wanted a playmate so badly some days and I just wasn't much fun. And there was one weekend in there that was not only Claire keeping us up. The first night it was Claire, then Cole (which never has issues going to bed) and then me the next night with heartburn. What in the world was happening? It was crazy.
Anyways...
Claire CAN make it all night without eating, so when she would wake up, it was very frustrating to say the least. She typically went to bed at around 10pm or so and would wake at 3:30am and then EVERY hour after that needing her pacifier, during these last three weeks. I often thought, "Do I feed her? Would that make her sleep the rest of the night?" Sometimes yes and sometimes no. Confused? Yes. Mad? Yes. I know, I know. You are thinking I am a horrible mother for saying I was mad and frustrated. It's true. It's honest. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my sweet girl, but we were ALL tired and in much need of rest. I needed her to sleep. She needed to sleep.
With Cole, I let him cry it out. With Claire, I was (until last month) afraid she would wake Cole up, so I was not so great about letting her cry it out. And typically, she really DOES need something, such as to burp. But after talking to another friend, with two older children and a baby, we decided to let her cry a bit more at night and not worry about it until it started to wake Cole. Has it woke him yet? No. He is one hard sleeper.
Also, my pediatrician has always suggested starting a 7 or 8pm bedtime from the beginning and going from there. That is not something I started with Cole but worked up to. I see her point of possibly interrupting deep sleep and the baby never returning that deep sleep if woken mid-cycle, but my concern was always would that mean more middle of the feedings? With Cole, waking him at 10pm to fill him up was never a problem. I think it was for Claire. Individuals? Yes. Can't treat them the same that's for sure.
Exactly one week ago, things started looking up around here. Sleep started to happen again in this house. We hosted our small group last Tuesday night. Claire ate about 5pm and was ready for a nap about 6:15pm. The first couple arrived just about then so she was not fully asleep so she required us to go in twice for a pacifier, but after that not one peep. Did I plan for that to be her going down for bed? No. Well, it was about 10pm when we were finishing up small group and I said to a friend, "What do I do? She is not awake. Do I wake her?" I went back and forth. And the reason it was such a debate was because Claire has this habit of waking up 45 minutes into her naps, pretty much every nap and we have to go in and re-swaddle or put her pacifier back in, but when it is bedtime, she does not wake up at the 45 minute mark, so the debate of "Did she think we put her down for the night?" began.
**Side note: Thank you for praying for me and my lack of sleep/headache problem. This week has been so much better. Not one headache! PTL!**
Brent and I decided not to wake her. I thought for sure she was going to wake up as soon as my head hit the pillow. She has done that before. Nope. She did not wake up until 5:38am!!! Are you kidding?! How wonderful was that?! Could we repeat it again??
The next day, I tried to figure out the timing to have her eating the last time about 8pm. On her previous schedule her last feeding would fall at 7:30pm but she has been showing signs and definitely able to go four hours between feedings. Plus, if we add cereal too, then she really will not need as much milk. Theoretically. My theories have been wrong a time or two though.
With all that said, Claire's new bedtime is between 7 and 8pm. And she has slept until 6 or 7am pretty much every morning without interruption!! I can't believe it!
I feel like every month end we are going to a new schedule. I am still learning about Claire. My baby girl is so unique and special and plain different from her brother. And I am completely okay with that and LOVE her for it. Tired? Yes. Ready to know what she needs (regarding nighttime sleep) without a doubt? Yes. Are we getting there? Yes. I am good with progress and progress we are making together, sweet Claire! Mommy loves you!
This week, her naps have improved as well. We have had several naps that were not interrupted by the 45 minute intruder and slept the entire 1.5 to 2 hours without much help. The initial put down is easy 8 out of 10 times. Just lay her down awake and she goes to sleep. She is also willing to take naps in her car seat, which happens a lot when I know we are about to leave for church or Bible study that fall right at nap time. It is my best option for keeping her asleep and not disturbing her. The hard part is putting her back to sleep when she does wake in the middle. I have almost started not to let her cry (very opposite of her brother) because if I can catch her at the first sound and stick her pacifier in she is almost instantly back asleep every time. It is when she wakes up fully or gets worked up that is difficult.
So here's what I am thinking for her schedule:
Option #1:
7am: Wake up, eat. Play.
8:30am: Nap #1 lasting about 1 to 1.5 hours.
10am: Eat + cereal. Play.
12pm: Nap #2 lasting about 2 hours.
2pm: Eat. Play.
3:30pm: Nap #3 lasting about 1 to 1.5 hours.
5pm: Eat + cereal. Play.
7:30pm Eat and Bedtime.
**We have not started cereal just yet. But just thinking and planning.**
Of course, this is just a rough estimate. The ideal plan. It is still flexible and adjustable according to activities outside our home, errands, commitments, etc. Tuesdays and Sundays with Bible study and church, it always is a bit off and that is okay. The main goal is to accomplish EAT, WAKE, SLEEP cycles. And we are there for sure. Exact times, that changes and that is just fine with me. As long as Claire gets the rest she needs. She definitely isn't lacking in the food area. :)
Knowing when Claire is tired is easy. It is so cute. She will put her hands over her eyes, palms out and open. I will have to get a picture of it. Precious. Or she will cross her arms over her eyes. There is no wondering if she is tired once she does that signal. Thank you, Claire for telling me exactly what you need! Love it!
Milestones:-Discovered her hands. To her, this is her favorite toy. She just looks and studies them for countless hours. Easy entertainment.
-Still drooling. I am talking soaking wet clothes and terry cloth bibs are needed. Something new and different for me.
-At the beginning of the month, there was a week of bloody murder screaming as I tried to feed Claire. I didn't know what was happening. This was definitely not her norm. I finally decided to take her to the doctor and acid reflux was thought to be what was going on. Of course, she stopped the screaming after going for her appointment. We had some things to try and meds, etc. but I am still not convinced that is what was wrong or maybe it was just a couple bad days of it. And now it's gone?
-Slept in crib for the first time February 6th (Superbowl) and every night since then.
-February 7th, started using Jumperoo. By month end, she can touch the floor and even bounce a little.
-February 11th, rolled over tummy to back to the right for first time.
-February 13th, used outside swing for first time and LOVED it.
-March 2nd, Claire has began to laugh, sorta. It sounds like a grunt or cough almost. She mostly just opens her mouth really wide and you can see it in her eyes. The best and only way so far to make this happen is tickling/shaking her belly.
-Still swaddling and using a pacifier.
-Pretty much only takes a bottle from Miss Connie at church, which I am totally okay with since that is pretty much the only time Claire needs a bottle. Miss Connie knows all the tricks! :)
-Supported sitter.
Features:-Dark hair.
-Blue eyes.
-Chubby cheeks. So cute.
-Wearing size 2 diapers.
-Wearing 3-6 month clothing.
Goals for Next Month:
-Still working on tummy time and rolling over more.
-Start introducing cereal.
