UPDATE: Sleep for Baby

I will continue to update/edit this post (UPDATE: Sleep for Baby) each night, so keep checking back if you'd like to see how the sleep process is progressing.

6th night-seemed to fall asleep in under 8 minutes with a little crying, but then 5 minutes later when I checked the moniter she was awake. Quiet, but awake. She repositioned herself and was back out in a few minutes. The whole process was between 15-20 minutes so still really good :) I continue to be surprised at how well this is working.

7th night-it's officially been one week. Tonight her sleep schedule got messed up because she fell asleep in the car at 6pm and didn't wake up til 6:40ish. Usually, we start putting her to bed at 7pm. After nursing her a little, she was ready to go...play, not sleep. 8:15pm rolls around and she's still happy as a clam, talking loud and playing. I thought okay let's try to get her relaxed and sleepy, but didn't really think it'd work. She was content as I read to her in the rocker and when I brought her back to nurse her again. I walked, rocked, and bounced her until she was very drowsy. As I laid her down, she immediately flipped over onto her tummy. I thought oh no, here we go. Usually, she flips over on her tummy and starts crying as I set her down and leave the room. Not tonight. She flipped over and stayed there! I patted her back and left the room. I could see on the moniter that she sat up, repositioned herself once, and fell asleep. No crying, no fussing, just right to bed. She did wake up earlier than usual, at midnight, but momma was still very impressed...and pleased!

8th night- today she only took two naps, rather than her usual three or four. She refused to take her afternoon nap, though I tried. Put her to bed at her usual time following our usual sleepy time routine. As I set her down, she flipped over and started her initial crying while I tell her I love her as I leave the room. Within two minutes, she'd stopped crying, found a comfy position, and was asleep...or at least looked to be asleep on the moniter. I was extra tired tonight so I went to bed early which turned out to be a mistake. A little before 10pm, she woke up and noticed momma in bed and, thus, wanted to come to bed with me. If I hadn't been in there, I know she would've fallen back to sleep on her own with minimal crying. C'est la vie! I enjoy cuddling with her warm little body as I go to sleep, but I never sleep as sound as I would if I could sprawl out. So she put herself to sleep in record time tonight, but still ended up spending the whole night in bed with me and my husband.

9th night- fell asleep in about 5 minutes with some initial crying after our usual nighttime routine

10th night- cried for the first two minutes after I laid her down, but had put herself down to sleep in about 5 minutes. She squirmed for a few more minutes trying to get comfortable and then was sound asleep.

11th night- I was so enjoying cuddling with her and looking at her precious face while walking/rocking her into a sleepy lull that I didn't want to set her down...but I knew I had to. She only did her initial cry right as I was leaving, which is heartbreaking. I can practically hear her saying, "No, momma, please don't leave me!" However, by the time I had walked to the next room to grab the moniter, she was already done crying and was on her belly in sleep mode position. Within a few short minutes of trying to get comfortable, she was asleep :)

12th night- barely let out a little fussy sound as I laid her down. She rolled over on her side and ran face to face into her fave teddy bear--and that's where she stayed :) She seemed to fall asleep immediately

13th night- tonight was a bit different. She fell asleep in under 30 minutes, but she spent that time amusing herself with her teddy bears, mini dollie, and binky before falling asleep. She spent a lot of time with daddy today so I think she was more happy and energized than usual (OH how she loves her papa!)

14th night-it's been two weeks! She was so great tonight :) cried only when I set her down, was done by the time I shut the door and got the moniter. Rolled over on her tummy and stayed put. Night night time for baby!

15th night- she had a lot of excitement tonight. Her two aunties from Cali are up and there were lots of people over visiting. It took her about 30 minutes of on again off again crying to fall asleep. She was partly sitting up cuddled up on one of her teddy bears. I think she could hear some of the excitement, even with the bedroom door shut, the hallway door shut, and her sound machine playing.

16th night- she had another full day today playing with her aunties, but when it was time for bed she was ready to sleep. After getting her drowsy, she barely made a sound when I laid her down. She went right to sleep :)

17th night (I think!)- she had another easy night. For the first time, she actually stayed put when I layed her down on her back--closed her eyes and sprawled out. She had rolled to her side when I checked the moniter, but still an awesome first. She went right to sleep without a peep. I rocked and walked her for a lil longer than usual which I think helped her be more relaxed.

18th-22nd nights- so I think this is where I shall stop updating. I realized this week has been going so great that I've been forgetting to write it down :) I'm taking that as a sign to stop the updates. She no longer does the initial wail when I leave the room. This last week she just goes right to sleep without a sound. What a good girl! I'm SO proud of my baby! Anyway, I was hoping to chronicle our progress for a month, BUT I wanted it to be completely accurate and I've messed it up this last week. It would bother me too much to continue with that week as kinda a hole in the information and accuracy. P.S. I think night 17 is actually night 18 or 19...like I said this last week was so great I forgot to record it!