So it's 1:40am. I thought wow! She just might sleep the whole night but she DID wake up for a bottle. Steve gave her one not to long ago. He changed her as well but had to put her back in the crib with NO ROCKING in the chair.
Earlier tonight around 6:50, I took her upstairs and read her some books, gave her the passie and put her in the crib and said good night by 7:00. We waited 12 minutes and I went to check on her. Crying. Then we waited in 10 minute intervals and I would go check on her. WHY WHY did I wait so long to do this? Bc I thought I could handle her crazy sleeping and pulling my hair...forever. But now I just feel its UNSAFE.
You will be happy to know we have a RUNNER on our hands. So I am terrified she may roll out of the bed and take off and who knows what may happen like her falling down the stairs.
It took a total of 2 hours before I did not hear a peep. Waiting to see how long it will be for Steve right now. It's late so let's hope she passes out quickly.
Your never taught in society how HARD it is to have a child. They just make up tv shows and glorify being 16 and dumb popping out babies when they still ARE a baby. There is nothing easy about raising a child period. Sorry mom and dad for any EXTRA hard times I gave you as a teen. You put up with me not just as an infant but a teen!
But I am realizing through this she is helping to shape me as well. God is preparing us to stand firm NOW before she can talk back to us and demand her way. That we as parents won't give in to her crying ways. We love you, Ellie. That she won't come between Steve and I anymore, especially sleeping side by side. We love you, Ellie. Realizing SHE WON'T even remember this ((thank goodness)) but it's changing her ways of thinking for the future, gaining independence and self worth. We love you, Ellie.
I believe she is down again since I have finished this. Praying is totally acceptable from family and friends ;)
Give us much support and understanding when we look like zombies these next couple of days.
UPDATE!!!
ReplyDeleteSteve said it took her about 8 minutes to fall asleep. That is great! Who's to say she won't wake up again in a few hours but we know she is fed, safe and loved.
Good night again
Awww... My little girl is growing up...because HER little girl is growing up. God will bless your efforts to be good parents. Hats off to you guys for working this out. That's what good parents do, they work things out, even when it's hard. EXTREMELY hard. (Not that you're finished -- you'll still have many more nights, many more things to work out)
ReplyDelete6:50 seems like a little early for a bedtime. Maybe if you held her off a little longer she might get tired enough to drop off to sleep as soon as you put her in bed. We used to organize your days in preparation for your nights: bedtime at about 9PM with a bottle just before bedtime to "top you off." About a 2 hour nap during the day but no extended naps. If you got tired and wanted to sleep at other times, we'd allow a 10 minute refresher snooze, then we'd wake you up. By the time you were 3 or 4, you were ASKING to be put to bed at around 9 or 9:30. Schedules can vary some during the day, but work to establish a bedtime routine where she is sleepy and WANTS to go to bed.
But there are no hard and fast rules for this. The important thing is that you and Steve work TOGETHER to establish your own pattern. Ideally, children should pull Mom and Dad together for mutual support, thereby making the marriage stronger, but sometimes this is hard to see when it's happening. Later you'll look back and realize that God was molding you while you were molding your child.
Just know that Mom and Dad are praying for you guys. Don't give up now, because you're establishing a pattern for the future.