Mmmmm, Cupcakes!

So apparently my boy likes cupcakes!

ONE!

My little guy is one today.  We had a small party for him, and boy, does he like cupcakes!  The past year has gone so fast (OK, I'll admit much of it has passed in a sleepless haze) but it's been so much fun too.  This little boy is quick to smile and loves to explore.  He is basically running these days, and is in to EVERYTHING.  I look back at the all the pictures and videos I have of Lexi at this age, and I feel guilty that I haven't been as quick to pull out the camera with him, but honestly it's harder to find the time.  For today, enjoy the pictures and videos!

12 months:

Weight: 23 pounds

Teeth:  7

Naps:  still 2 most days

Still up at night 1-2 times (c'mon buddy, figure it out already!)

Words:  mum, dadda, up, this, that

Favorite foods:  fruit, toast, yogurt

  

We've got a WALKER

 Ben took a single step over a week ago, but yesterday, he took several steps together!  I guess this means we officially have a walking toddler on our hands now.  Sniff sniff...

Four

It's been busy busy around these parts lately.  Early May always brings our anniversary (7 years this year), Lexi's birthday and Mother's Day.  Lexi had her birthday party this weekend and the weather was glorious.  We missed some familiar faces, but had a great time.  Can't believe my little girl is 4 years old already...

A Repost from February, 2009

Interestingly enough, I wrote this when Lexi was 9 months old, and we are at exactly the same junction with Ben at this age.  If the pattern holds true, it looks like I might be getting some sleep in another 2 months or so... Lord help me!

A Baby's Perspective on Sleep Training...

OK, here's my situation. My Mommy has had me for almost 9 months. The first few months were great--I cried, she picked me up and fed me, anytime, day or night. Then something happened.

Over the last few weeks, she has been trying to STTN (sleep thru the night).

At first, I thought it was just a phase, but it is only getting worse. I've talked to other babies, and it seems like it's pretty common after Mommies have had us for around 6 months.

Here's the thing: these Mommies don't really need to sleep. It's just a habit. Many of them have had some 30 years to sleep--they just don't need it anymore. So I am implementing a plan. I call it the Crybaby Shuffle.

It goes like this:
Night 1--cry every 3 hours until you get fed. I know, it's hard. It's hard to see your Mommy upset over your crying. Just keep reminding yourself, it's for her own good.

Night 2--cry every 2 hours until you get fed.

Night 3--every hour.

Most Mommies will start to respond more quickly after about 3 nights. Some Mommies are more alert, and may resist the change longer. These Mommies may stand in your doorway for hours, shhhh-ing. Don't give in. I cannot stress this enough: CONSISTENCY IS KEY!!

If you let her STTN (sleep through the night), just once, she will expect it every night. I KNOW IT'S HARD! But she really does not need the sleep, she is just resisting the change.

If you have an especially alert Mommy, you can stop crying for about 10 minutes, just long enough for her to go back to bed and start to fall asleep. Then cry again. It WILL eventually work. My Mommy once stayed awake for 10 hours straight, so I know she can do it. Last night, I cried every hour. You just have to decide to stick to it and just go for it.

BE CONSISTENT! I cried for any reason I could come up with.
My sleep sack tickled my foot.
I felt a wrinkle under the sheet.
My mobile made a shadow on the wall.
I burped, and it tasted like pears (I hadn't eaten pears since lunch - what's up with that?)
A dog said "woof" outside (I should know. My Mommy reminds me of this about 20 times a day. LOL.)
Once I cried just because I liked how it sounded when it echoed on the monitor in the other room.
Too hot, too cold, just right--doesn't matter! Keep crying!!
It took awhile, but it worked. She fed me at 4am. Tomorrow night, my goal is 3:30am.
You need to slowly shorten the interval between feedings in order to reset your Mommies' internal clocks.

P.S. Don't let those rubber things fool you, no matter how long you suck on them, NO milk will come out! Trust me.

Shenanigans

7 Months

We have got one busy little boy on our hands here!  I had forgotten how much can happen in a month's time with a baby.  Ben is now very mobile, crawling quickly, and just in the last couple of days is starting to pull up on things.  We found him kneeling in his crib, hands on rails the other day, so the mattress got lowered tout suite!  He is in the process of cutting FOUR teeth.  Ouch.  Sleep is a desperate situation here, but we are enjoying watching our two little buggaloos grow and play together.  Lexi is enjoying preschool, and is very much into playing games and using her imagination these days.  Fingers crossed that Spring is just around the corner, as we are tired of the rain and itching to get outside and enjoy our new deck!