It's all about her

But seriously, all of my pics nowadays are Paige. Which I don't mind at all-she makes me happy!

(this is when we were first trying to swaddle just no arms. that lasted about a day)

So when we last spoke, I mentioned we were about to stop the swaddle. Homegirl was getting out of it several times a night and my sleep is worth so much to me.

So we transitioned to a sleep sack, which to me is basically no swaddle at all. It's basically just a good extra layer. The first day she didn't nap as well. That night we prayed HARD! We were so prepared to have a long night of constant waking and fussing. But she woke up twice during the night and very quickly put herself back to sleep. It was amazing! Each night gets better and better and I am very glad that we are done with the swaddle phase.

She still looks so tiny in her crib! She always sleeps with her arms out like that.

She's been sleeping a good 10 hours at night. We put her down at about 7:30ish, I wake her for a dream feed, and then she sleeps till about 7:30 or so. But, the last week we've been having to wake her up between 7:30 and 8. So I've been pushing the dream feed up each night by 15 minutes. And we've still had to wake her. So last night I bumped it up another 15 minutes-to 9 pm. She fed great and went back to sleep.

At 2:50am she was crying pretty hard. Much different than just a normal fuss. So we changed her diaper, consoled her, she just would not go back to sleep. She wasn't hungry, so I ended up rocking her. But she didn't even get the droopy eye or anything! She just let me rock her, while she just laid their all quiet and content. But awake! So we put her back in bed and she cried again. We let her cry for a few minutes then Daniel rocked her. Within minutes she was out...it was almost 4:30 by this time.

(her bottom looks all big and squishy here because she's wearing an outfit she's growing out of with a cloth diaper)

Then 5:30 came and she was up again! But this time it was her normal "talking" and she put herself back to sleep pretty quick.

Then at 6:45 she was up and crying. I figured she might be hungry, so I went to pick her up. She was definitely ready to eat!!! I have no idea what happened last night, but i'm hoping it was a fluke and she goes back to her regular schedule tonight. I keep waiting for the 3 month growth spurt. The last one was so hard. I thought after last night she might be starting it, but she's been eating and sleeping close to her regular schedule.

Of course this all happens right after I tell my sister how great Paige sleeps at night, and how she doesn't wake up at all. Paige 1, Parents 0. (it's probably more like Paige-567, Parents-1)

(this is how we spend our friday nights. we like to live on the edge)

Mother's Day post coming soon!

love

laura

Looking Back-Paige's schedule

I know as Paige gets older her schedule will change-less naps, feedings, etc... But for now I want to document what we're doing so I remember.

This past week I got a true taste of what it's like to be a SAHM. Daniel was gone Monday-Friday from 8-5, which for us is very unusual. One thing I like about our lives here is that there is a lot of flexibility. We don't generally have 8-5's. So it was a bit different, but not bad.

Paige and I got into a good routine. After her first feeding which is at around 7:30, we do what I call "window time." We live on the 14th floor and have floor to ceiling windows in our living room.

(this is an old picture, but you get the idea)

Window time is when Paige sits in her bouncer, looks out the window, and I get to eat breakfast! Paige has been becoming so alert these days! She will smile and coo and is just so much fun. I love our daily window time!

Here is a pic of her smiling the other morning. 

When Paige goes down for her nap (about 8:30 or so), I do my quiet time, check email, clean up the house a bit-dishes, start laundry, etc....

After she wakes up and feeds, it's about 10:30 or so. Paige will usually be on her activity mat for a little while, then I'll take her into her room to read a few books. Usually around 11:30ish Paige goes back down for her second nap.

During this nap I try to get a lot done. I'll bake-this week it was granola bars, pumpkin bread, and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, or do a work out video and then shower. I have to be quick and try to use every minute of her nap.

Paige naps between 1-2 hours. On most days she averages at least 1 1/2 hour naps.

After her next feeding, I usually try to get out of the house for a bit. We'll take a walk, go to the market, go to the store....just something to be outside for a little bit. Usually by the time we're almost home I'm having to try to keep her awake. When we walk in the door, she usually goes straight down. 

During this nap is when I try to clean something. I make a weekly list and each day I choose one thing to clean-the kitchen, the floors-bathrooms, dusting, laundry, etc.... I'll usually check email again during this nap too.

After her 4 o'clock-ish feeding, she gets to sit in the bouncer in the kitchen and watch me get dinner ready. Usually around this time Daniel will get home and play with her while I finish cooking. She's usually back down for another nap by the time we eat dinner. I love this because then it gives me and Daniel time to have dinner and talk-just the two of us. This nap is shorter than the rest. 

After this next feeding, about 7ish, she usually gets fussy. If it's bath night, she will get a bath during this time. It's nice because it fills the time until her next feeding. I usually don't put her down to sleep in her crib...if she falls asleep it's usually while Daniel is holding her. 

I've been trying to cluster feed, so tonight her feedings were at 6, 8:15, and I'll go and wake her up for a 10:15 feeding. After the 8pm feeding, she goes down in her crib-technically for the night. I'll go wake her for her last feeding, then she'll sleep till about 7 or so.

What's hilarious about everything I just wrote-is that it's all about to change!

This week Daniel will be home a lot more, and we'll be doing more of these things together. I also hope to start back to class in the next week or so. Our plan is for Daniel to be at home with Paige while I have class. I'm not going back full time, just a few hours a week. My goal is to be able to take 6 hours a week. So I'll be using some of those naps for class and study time.

But right now, Paige is refusing to take a bottle. She used to take a bottle great, but we went several weeks without giving her one, and now she's not wanting it. So until I know she'll take a bottle, I can't really start class. She isn't really refusing the bottle, she just won't suck. She lets the milk run down her chin.....and I'm not a huge fan of wasting all of that milk. So hopefully we can figure it out soon. 

Tomorrow I'll post a recap of our weekend!

love

laura