Sleeping update

Last night was night number three of putting Eleni in the crib on her own to go to sleep.

Night number two went worse than the first night. So bad that Ali even picked her up out of her crib once to rock her and calm her down and then he had to walk out because it was seriously killing him listening to her cry like that when he finally laid her back down. Poor baby.

I seriously battled a lot with making this decision. I CHERISH rocking my daughter to sleep. Those little quite moments with just me and her, seriously it is something very deep in my heart. I think the extended breastfeeding we did made her really attached to me and sometimes, that is draining. My poor husband has put her to bed maybe 2 dozen times in his life at night time. Not like he doesn't want to but she wants Mommy's skin. And until about 4 months ago she nursed and usually fell asleep nursing. But now, she likes to pinch my skin on my chest and put her hand down my shirt for comfort. God forbid my hair is in the way or I have on a turtleneck, she will be less than pleased.

The reason that finally made my decision to put her in her crib at night to go to sleep on her own is because of her waking up in the middle of the night since we moved. She needs to learn how to soothe herself back to sleep and this is the only way we can teach her. I would never let her cry hysterically, I stay in the room and sing to her and the last 2 nights I have even held her hand to calm her down, I am always reassuring her that it is ok, she is in her beautiful crib and we are right here and to just go nigh nigh. I always know her diaper is clean, her belly is full, she is warm enough and she is only crying because she wants to be held.

Well last night was different. We put her in her crib. She gave me a kiss, she said "Nigh, nigh daddy I ove you" then she kissed Ali goodnight. I turned on her lullabies, Ali closed the door. And she was quiet. She sat right down, she held my hand and within about 15 minutes she laid down and was asleep. We had a few whines in between, but NO TEARS!!! Wow, I couldn't believe it.

She has woken up the last 2 nights around 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. and I have tried to tell her to lay down but I don't want to make a huge commotion and wake up the rest of the house, so I have brought her in bed with us. But I do think that eventually that will go away. If it doesn't within the next week or so then I will work on breaking that as well. Baby steps!!

I think we have really made a lot of progress and I am so proud of her for adjusting so easily!! Hoping each night gets a little bit easier. The true test will be when we are away from home, how she does. But for now, I am a happy mama and feeling a lot more rested!!