Sleep Training. Yuck.

Sleep training starts tonight for Danika. We, or I should say mostly "I" have been getting up with her anywhere from 1 to 5 times a night and the time has come to see if she can fall asleep on her own so that she may be able to get back to sleep on her own when she wakes up. I hate the whole thing. I really do, but we did it with Miles and it worked and he's been a great sleeper ever since. I just have to remind myself that she won't remember any of it and she'll still love us tomorrow.

So far it's gone well. I put her in her crib awake, she cried and then went back to sleep when Robert went in to console her after 5 minutes. Hopefully it will continue. If not I have plenty of booze and an ample supply of ear plugs.

Rockin the Talkin

Miles has made tremendous progress vocally in the last few weeks. All of the sudden we are having conversations with him. TWO sided ones. He's saying 3 or 4 words together and is really able to express what he wants. This is good and bad because it means I am forever responding to requests for this or that. I do draw the line, but some days I'm still figuring out where I want it. He's become very particular as well, wanting drinks in certain cups and for you to push him on the swing only by touching his feet. It trips me out to ask him questions and have him say "Yeah". "You're pretty hyper, did grandpa give you soda at his house?" "Yeah." "Did daddy have strippers here while mommy was at the store?" "Yeah".

I have been told that kids are great until they start talking, but so far I really enjoy talking with this kid. Sure he asks for more stuff and it's sometimes more work, but he can also say "I love you mommy" and folks there's nothing better.

Give me strength

Things are tough here lately. Miles is really struggling. He just does not want me to have anything to do with Danika. When it's just the 3 of us at home he has a complete meltdown when I go to hold / change / feed her. I am trying to use distraction and I have also committed to spending at least 30 minutes playing on the floor with him without Danika around, but so far it's not effective. It breaks my heart. I feel for him but at the same time I still need to meet her basic needs.
Normally this blog is just about me sharing my experience and I'm not really interested in commentary about my parenting choices however if anyone has been there and has any advice, I'm all ears.

No Go

I officially de-enrolled Miles from pre-school. He was so clearly traumatized that it wasn't worth it. I had always told myself I would try it but not push it if he wasn't ready considering his young age. If he was 2 and 1/2 I would say hey, we just have to get through this even if it's tough, but he's not. After only being left there twice for 30 minutes each time, he showed major signs of stress and he's still working through it. He started calling me and checking on me ALL the time at the house and he doesn't want to do anything alone anymore. Also if I leave him with Robert at the house he gets a little upset. The most disturbing thing was when I left him with my mom at her house and my dad called 30 minutes later to have me come back and get him because he was inconsolable. That blew my mind since he adores my mom and I've left him there tons of times. I'll try again around April and hopefully it will turn out better.

Poor little guy

I left Miley at preschool today for the 1st time. I left him at 8:30am and they called me by 9:15 to come and get him. When I arrived I could hear him screaming before I had even pulled into a parking place. He was officially upset. I asked for advice on what to do next time and they recommended I only leave for 1/2 hour on Friday and slowly increase the time I am gone to help build the trust that every time I leave, I will come back. I then had to get used to the fact that this won't actually provide me with any kind of a break, on the contrary it will be more work, for some time. I am nauseous and filled with doubt. Is this the right thing? It he too young? Do I need that second cup of coffee? hmm

Daddy's Girl

First Day of School!

Miles started preschool today. I stayed with him just to help get his acclimated with the place and the people. The kids are really nice and it all went pretty well. Getting out of the house was stressful - I'll have to learn to be a little more organized with that. Getting two kids under two out of the house by 8am means there can be no wasted motion. He's playing with his good friend Emily up top. The last picture is him offering play-dough to the fish. Naturally.

When he goes again on Friday, I'll leave him there by himself.

Probably.