Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Sweet Sleep

Lord knows i need it... He really does, because i tell Him all the time.

The last 2 nights have been heavenly for me! Monday night i went to Zumba like usual and on my way home i picked up a few groceries. I didn't get home until 9:45 and wasn't able to put Isaiah to bed until 10:30. He didn't wake up once! When Dan got up to leave around 5:15 i was pretty shocked that Isaiah wasn't laying next to me. It was so hard for me to fall back asleep... i don't think i did. At 6:00 Isaiah woke up and i went and brought him to our bed where we slept until almost 9! This does not happen ...ever! The same thing happened last night, except we got up at 8 this morning. With Isaiah not being by my side made me feel like i was missing a lung, or half of my body.... dramatic, i know.... but that's how i felt. It was a sad feeling.

These past 16 months have been quite the struggle for Isaiah when it comes to sleeping.
There have been countless nights where i have rocked and nursed over and over just to get him to fall asleep. Being up in his room for about 2 hours is exhausting, especially when i know that it is past 10 o'clock and i really just want to go spend some quality time with my patient husband. Don't get me wrong, i absolutely love nursing and rocking Isaiah, but i do not like fighting with him to go to sleep.
Once he is asleep the fight isn't over either. He has been waking up AT LEAST 2 times every night for the last 16 months, and i mean at least, because there have been months where he would wake up 4, 5, 6 or 7 times during the night. I feel so bad, because its not just me that it is effecting. HE needs his sleep as well. He is growing and developing so much that it worries me that he hasn't gotten the sleep that he needs.
His naps aren't all that great either. Around 10 months he began only taking 1 nap a day that lasts only about 2 hours in the afternoon. I am still so very thankful for his nap time, because it gives me a chance to take a shower, relax, or take a nap myself (which i don't do very often).

On another note, he is still breastfeeding, YAY!, and going strong at that! I understand him waking during the night to nurse, which is perfectly fine to me, but to wake up an hour after he's nursed just doesn't seem right to me. Sleeping with me or not.

If your wondering, we co-sleep part time. Isaiah sleeps in his crib when its time for bed, and when he wakes up during the night i go get him and bring him back to our bed for the rest of the night. That way it gives Dan and i time to hang out or go to bed together. I couldn't be happier about our arrangement, and having a supportive husband is wonderful as well.

Anyways, i hope i don't sounds as if i am complaining, because i really am not. I knew motherhood would always be very tiring, especially the more kids you add to the mix. It just amazes me when i hear that other babies start sleeping through the night (On Their Own, and Naturally) when they are not even 6 months or so. It also scares me when i hear of other children not sleeping through the night until they are almost 4 or 5. I imagine my body would be pretty worn after that long of no sleep. Add a few more children (or maybe a lot ;-D) with the same sleep struggles as Isaiah... and i will be one tired Mama!
So maybe this is the beginning of Isaiah sleeping through the night, which would be lovely, or maybe it's not. If not, i will still put on my happy face and continue on as we've been because I'm so proud of my Isaiah baby. I am so blessed to have such a healthy, happy boy who simply may just want to be rocked in his mothers arms.

Monday, December 6, 2010

My little Sprout!

When Isaiah was 3 months old i remember very clearly the signs of teething. His gums were swollen, he was very irritable, and he was drooling everywhere! Before his first birthday he had sprouted eight tiny teeth in the front. Since then he has had no action going on. Like every new mom, i began to slowly wonder if there was any underlying concerns... but silly thoughts they were!
About 2 or 3 months ago i bought Isaiah and i matching Baltic Amber necklaces. (If you care to read more about them click HERE.)
Anyways, i was hesitant and not much of a believer. Although, whenever someone would ask what he was wearing, or make a comment like "your son is wearing a necklace?" I would boldly just explain my reasoning and purpose behind it.
I can now say that i have proof that they Work! At least it has for Isaiah! This past weekend i discovered 2 molars popping through the back of his mouth. I couldn't believe it, he hadn't acted any differently! Then on top of that this morning while changing his diaper i was tickling his toes and he while he was laughing i noticed MORE teeth coming through! Aaahh! I gave out a little shriek of joy. Soon after i felt my heart skip a beat.... a lump form in my throat and tears well up in my eyes. Its these little things that really get to me. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. I swear he has shot up an inch or two in the last month as well.
His new teeth are making me feel more comfortable about what he is eating though. I know he can handle more difficult food, which makes preparation a little easier on me.

If i could give any advice to a new mom expecting her first baby it would be to slow down! You'll feel such a need to get back in shape and get your baby all settled into their new home. You'll feel pressure to teach your new little miracle how to roll over, begin to crawl and stand on their own. Those big changes are SO exciting, but they also bring on all new challenges: gates, rails, outlet covers. I imagine it will be more difficult to just sit and soak up the beauty of your newborn when you have other children needing your attention and assistance. So get off the phone, get off the Internet, stay home from that unnecessary outing and just lay with your little one. Kiss those toes, and fingers... because they are only that small once.