Sleep Training

What a Nightmare!!! At Reese's last check-up, her doctor said by her 4-month appointment (which is in June), Reese needs to be able to get herself to sleep on her own. Ever since that visit, I have been dreading the start of sleep training. I tried once before, when Reese was about two weeks old and it was too horrible, so I quit. Also, training Reese to sleep in her bed for each of her naps, and being consistent to that end would mean staying home pretty much all day, every day.

I haven't been too strict about Reese sleeping in her bed, especially for naps. Reese has been really good about sleeping in her bed at night--we had a routine where I would feed her and rock her until she was almost asleep and then put her in her bed and she would do the rest. When she would wake up in the middle of the night, I would do the same and she would usually go right to sleep. Love that girl! But, Reese has had a harder time sleeping in her bed during the day for her naps, and certainly couldn't get herself to sleep on her own. I didn't mind rocking her and even holding her for her entire nap some days. Other days I would get her to sleep and then put her in her bouncer or her swing. But now I have to mean business...and it is the worst! It is worse than those first few days of breastfeeding...worse than the baby weight that I can't seem to get rid of...worse than waking up more than once a night for the last 11 weeks.

With so many books and so many methods to teach your baby how to sleep, it is impossible to know which is the best. And trying to figure it out is completely, emotionally exhausting! We started on Saturday night and after an hour of listening to my poor baby cry, I sacked out on the couch...and it was only 8 o'clock! The naps on Sunday didn't go much better. Tuesday brought the first sign of progress when Reese went to sleep on her own with minimal protest, but she still woke up prematurely and had a hard time getting back to sleep. With a trip to Montana coming up next week, I seriously considered giving up again...after all, they say traveling throws your baby's schedule off. But the thought of starting Night 1 over again is just too much for me.

I have to keep telling myself that Reese won't remember this torture, or that I knowingly subjected her to it. When does it get better?

Reese's Laugh

Sorry this video is so dark. By the time Reese did her tricks for the camera, there was no time to open the blinds or turn a light on. Next time I will be better prepared. Enjoy!

Newborn Shoot continued...

Not to be completely obsessive, but my friend showed me the pictures she posted on her website from Reese's newborn photoshoot a few weeks ago and I couldn't resist. I thought I loved them before, but I love them even more now! If you would like to see them, click on the link below.

http://andreamariephoto.blogspot.com/2008/04/newborn-baby-reese.html

Reese's Blessing

Reese was blessed in church last week and she had visitors fly in from all over to be there! (such a popular little girl!) Michael's sister Lindsey and her son Tyson came to town, and my parents came with Dean for the momentous occasion. Another fun and special part of the day was that my mom made the dress that Reese wore for her blessing. It was gorgeous! My mom even included some of the lace that was used to make my wedding dress. Michael gave Reese the sweetest blessing...I started to get very emotional, but then had to get a grip so that I could concentrate on the words he was saying. And Reese, a trooper as ever, calmed down right before her blessing and even spit out her binkie so that all could see her beautiful face.

Unfortunately, we didn't take any pictures at church and Reese was less than thrilled to be woken up from a nap to be changed back into her dress for pictures. Poor little lamb.