One of the few perks of waiting longer to be parents is you see what you want and don't want to do when it's your turn. I knew I wouldn't like an ultra strict schedule (it's 8:47 so it must be snack time) and I knew we wouldn't be doing the cry it out method (nothing wrong with that IF your child is attached to you; the trainings we did last summer stressed it doesn't send the right message to a recently adopted child). Post jet-lag, Brayden kind of fell back into his schedule from the orphanage, but each night would be very inconsistent (fell asleep during his bottle, had to be rocked to sleep, held him until he fell asleep) and it was starting to drive me crazy, but on the other hand, we waited so long to be able to rock a baby to sleep, and on a third hand (???) I knew I wouldn't be able to rock for hours when I went back to work (which seems so far away, but I know will be here in no time). Sarah had recommended the weekend we all got home the Sleep Lady book, and I kind of brushed it off since I obviously wasn't exactly sure what I (we) wanted to do, but by Tuesday I was ready to give it a shot. Between having to read and a few glitches (falling asleep sweetly in Grandma O's arms last night! :) :) tonight was the night! I mentally prepared myself for two hours of screaming and it was only (?!?!) 30 minutes or so, with another 15-20 of rolling around in the crib and checking to see if I was still there (for 3 days you sit right next to the crib and reassure, then you move halfway across the room for 3 days, and then the door for 3....it teaches them to self-soothe and learn to sleep on their own, not needing sleep "crutches" would be the cliff notes of the cliff notes version. At one point I had put my hand in the crib to soothe (for 10 seconds only!) and he grabbed on to my finger and of course my heart melted as my brain was screaming, "No! You can't be his lovie/sleep crutch!" My brain won out after a few minutes, but I did put a baby panda in his crib and he's still holding it! This is the first time Brayden has held onto anything with eyes for more than two seconds before throwing it!
Benson admitted to me that he would have caved and picked Brayden up so I feel like Superwoman now :) I know, don't brag too much: it's only night one and it's only 9:40 ;)
One last thing: Brayden started crawling on hands and knees 99% of the time tonight (I think he was exhausted by the end of the night since we kept making him do it to check!)!!! :) With the doctor calling Friday night saying the blood work he had received back so far looked good and a developmental milestone reached today, I'm super proud of my little boy!!!! :) I'm curious if other adoptive moms think/do this, but each time he reaches a milestone, I send a mental note to his birthmother thanking her for leaving him in a crowded place to be found and reassuring her that he is amazing!!! Going to brag on Brayden one more time: he is signing more, all done, and milk. I'm working on eat and water with sleep coming up. :)
Prayers please for Benson as tomorrow he heads back to work aka leaves Brayden...and me! ;)
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