Our first vacation with Maddy is a little less then two weeks away.
I am not ready.
I'm a little overwhelmed at the thought of packing for our adventure. I hate packing as it is. Throw a baby in the mix and it becomes really daunting. Therefore I am procrastinating.
We are staying in a cabin on a lake. We aren't isolated, but trips to any real store besides the marina mini-mart require a 30+ minute trip, so I want to be prepared. I keep asking myself, "How many diapers?" "How much formula?" "How much food?" "How many outfits?" "What kind of clothes?"
She has to sleep in our room in a pack and play. I'm not looking forward to that. She's a light sleeper, so I worry about waking her. She also cries out in her sleep, so I worry about her waking me. CIO sucks if you're stuck in the same room with them.
I found a cheap portable booster high chair to use there. Other than that and the pack and play, I'm not sure what other big items we need.
Any tricks, tips, advice for a week long getaway with an infant?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Paci Wars
Maddy loves baby dolls. She will purse her lips and kiss them on demand and on her own. Kissing is one of the sweetest things she does.
She has a doll that comes with a paci. Recently she has recognized it as such and pulls the paci out and tries to suck on it. Hard to do considering the nipple is no more than a nub of hard plastic. Just the same, she pulls it out of the doll's mouth and attempts to suck on it whenever she's playing in the toy bin.
Lately (because this is where your mind goes when you are stuck at home all summer playing with an infant) I've been making crying sounds when she takes it out of her doll's mouth. She looks strangely at the doll and I say, "Give the baby the paci. That's the baby's paci." Of course she doesn't give it to the baby. She usually just pushes it aside when she's done with it.
Today, when she tired of the doll's paci, I put it back in the doll's mouth. She watched me do this from across the room. Maddy then crawled over to the doll and ripped the paci from its mouth to put in her own. Later, when she was distracted, I gave the paci back to the doll. This time she didn't see me do it. As she's playing I see her glance at the doll. She stops what she's doing, crawls over to the doll, gives it a dirty look and once again rips the paci out. This became a very fun game for me, one which Maddy repeated multiple times. She would not allow her doll to have a paci which she felt belonged to her.
I guess we're going to have to work on sharing.
She has a doll that comes with a paci. Recently she has recognized it as such and pulls the paci out and tries to suck on it. Hard to do considering the nipple is no more than a nub of hard plastic. Just the same, she pulls it out of the doll's mouth and attempts to suck on it whenever she's playing in the toy bin.
Lately (because this is where your mind goes when you are stuck at home all summer playing with an infant) I've been making crying sounds when she takes it out of her doll's mouth. She looks strangely at the doll and I say, "Give the baby the paci. That's the baby's paci." Of course she doesn't give it to the baby. She usually just pushes it aside when she's done with it.
Today, when she tired of the doll's paci, I put it back in the doll's mouth. She watched me do this from across the room. Maddy then crawled over to the doll and ripped the paci from its mouth to put in her own. Later, when she was distracted, I gave the paci back to the doll. This time she didn't see me do it. As she's playing I see her glance at the doll. She stops what she's doing, crawls over to the doll, gives it a dirty look and once again rips the paci out. This became a very fun game for me, one which Maddy repeated multiple times. She would not allow her doll to have a paci which she felt belonged to her.
I guess we're going to have to work on sharing.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
10 Months
Ever since nine months I have really noticed a movement from baby to toddler. Nine to twelve months is such a transition time. Pretty amazing.
Highlights:
Sleeping- You all know how that's going. . .
Eating- Loves finger foods (carrots, peas, green beans, toast w/cream cheese and butter, pasta, peaches, pears, cheerios, yogurt melts, puffs) Not so hip on pureed foods anymore but will eat them. I have to go shopping with her meals in mind. It's such a change. I offer her 4 six ounce bottles a day (one of these is usually breast milk, the rest formula). She usually ends up drinking anywhere between 18-22 oz a day. She eats three solid meals a day. All this and she's still tiny. That's just how she rolls.
Playing- She enjoys flipping through board books, especially the touch and feel kind. I know she needs more interactive toys now rather than those you chew on, but I have yet to fork out the money to go on a buying spree. Her first birthday is just around the corner and I'm hoping she gets some at her party.
Mobility- Yes! She officially crawls on all fours now. She pulls up on everything and cruises about. She's afraid to walk around any corners yet. So if she's pulled up on the changing table she has to sit down and crawl to get around to the other side. She also won't take any unassisted steps no matter how short the distance. She likes to be sure before she tries something.
She still has only two bottom teeth and she is not a big talker. We only hear mama and baba (not sure if this is her name for DH?) and that usually is only when she's tired. She's still working on waving and she'll only point if the object is very close to her. She does not clap. There are many things I'm looking forward to. This baby has her own agenda for sure.
Highlights:
Sleeping- You all know how that's going. . .
Eating- Loves finger foods (carrots, peas, green beans, toast w/cream cheese and butter, pasta, peaches, pears, cheerios, yogurt melts, puffs) Not so hip on pureed foods anymore but will eat them. I have to go shopping with her meals in mind. It's such a change. I offer her 4 six ounce bottles a day (one of these is usually breast milk, the rest formula). She usually ends up drinking anywhere between 18-22 oz a day. She eats three solid meals a day. All this and she's still tiny. That's just how she rolls.
Playing- She enjoys flipping through board books, especially the touch and feel kind. I know she needs more interactive toys now rather than those you chew on, but I have yet to fork out the money to go on a buying spree. Her first birthday is just around the corner and I'm hoping she gets some at her party.
Mobility- Yes! She officially crawls on all fours now. She pulls up on everything and cruises about. She's afraid to walk around any corners yet. So if she's pulled up on the changing table she has to sit down and crawl to get around to the other side. She also won't take any unassisted steps no matter how short the distance. She likes to be sure before she tries something.
She still has only two bottom teeth and she is not a big talker. We only hear mama and baba (not sure if this is her name for DH?) and that usually is only when she's tired. She's still working on waving and she'll only point if the object is very close to her. She does not clap. There are many things I'm looking forward to. This baby has her own agenda for sure.
Monday, July 12, 2010
CIO Update
It's going. . .
Let's see if I can remember.
Night 4- 26 minutes
Night 5- 10 minutes (woke up in the middle of the night for 50 minutes)
Night 6- 10 minutes
Night 7- 5 minutes
So nights are better. Naps SUCK! I think it has more to do with the teething and less to do with the new routine. She is now averaging about 10-20 minutes for naps but they are SO short! There were three days in a row where she only napped twice for 40 minutes each. Not enough sleep for sure. I can see her top front gums are swollen and red so I am really hoping it's any day now.
All in all, I'm glad we decided to change it up with her and go this route. I know it will be well worth it.
It already is.
Let's see if I can remember.
Night 4- 26 minutes
Night 5- 10 minutes (woke up in the middle of the night for 50 minutes)
Night 6- 10 minutes
Night 7- 5 minutes
So nights are better. Naps SUCK! I think it has more to do with the teething and less to do with the new routine. She is now averaging about 10-20 minutes for naps but they are SO short! There were three days in a row where she only napped twice for 40 minutes each. Not enough sleep for sure. I can see her top front gums are swollen and red so I am really hoping it's any day now.
All in all, I'm glad we decided to change it up with her and go this route. I know it will be well worth it.
It already is.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
CIO Night 3
Does this shit really work?
What is wrong with my daughter? Why does she have to be the most passionate, stubborn child on the planet? Thankfully her mother is a teacher and knows how to put her foot down, but geesh!
Last night she found a way to stand up again and screamed BLOODY MURDER at bed time. I'm not kidding. BLOODY MURDER. I had no choice but to laugh out loud at her antics. I could see her humongous mouth wide open eyes squinted shut profile on the monitor. I mean really, what choice did I have but to laugh? It isn't a torture chamber. It's just a crib and it's time to sleep. GIVE IT UP ALREADY! She finally fell down from standing and eventually fell asleep after about 40 minutes-up from 26 the night before. She slept straight through until 6 am but I knew she needed more sleep. I let her try to get back to sleep until 6:45 to no avail. So she started the day tired and grumpy. Joy.
Naps have been harder then nights. Just this morning she screamed for 40 minutes. Her paci had fallen out of the crib after the first 20 minutes. I was so tired of listening to it. I ran in threw a paci in the crib and ran out. This calmed her. I then watched her fall asleep sitting up and slump over.
She's on to us and isn't going to give in without a fight.
Laying down is for the weak.
It is getting worse before it gets better.
I am doubting it will get better. . .
What is wrong with my daughter? Why does she have to be the most passionate, stubborn child on the planet? Thankfully her mother is a teacher and knows how to put her foot down, but geesh!
Last night she found a way to stand up again and screamed BLOODY MURDER at bed time. I'm not kidding. BLOODY MURDER. I had no choice but to laugh out loud at her antics. I could see her humongous mouth wide open eyes squinted shut profile on the monitor. I mean really, what choice did I have but to laugh? It isn't a torture chamber. It's just a crib and it's time to sleep. GIVE IT UP ALREADY! She finally fell down from standing and eventually fell asleep after about 40 minutes-up from 26 the night before. She slept straight through until 6 am but I knew she needed more sleep. I let her try to get back to sleep until 6:45 to no avail. So she started the day tired and grumpy. Joy.
Naps have been harder then nights. Just this morning she screamed for 40 minutes. Her paci had fallen out of the crib after the first 20 minutes. I was so tired of listening to it. I ran in threw a paci in the crib and ran out. This calmed her. I then watched her fall asleep sitting up and slump over.
She's on to us and isn't going to give in without a fight.
Laying down is for the weak.
It is getting worse before it gets better.
I am doubting it will get better. . .
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
CIO Night 2
Last night DH and I lowered her crib even more. She was in no risk of climbing out before, but with all that standing it put our minds at ease. Looks like those last few inches made it too hard for her to stand last night. Score one point for mom and dad! So she only cried for 26 minutes. Quite an improvement from 2 hours and 20 minutes. She woke twice in the middle of the night (at 11 and 3) and only cried about five minutes each time. Then she slept until 7. Naps have been averaging 20 minutes of crying.
She is a smart cookie so I know it won't take long for her to get the hang of her new routine. Even last night as the song ended she was nodding off in my arms. Her eyes flung open when it was over. She was anticipating me putting her down and leaving.
All in all, better then I thought. I know we will have setbacks, but at least I know she is capable of doing it all by herself, even in the midst of teething. I feel more empowered and free. Thanks for all your encouraging words.
She is a smart cookie so I know it won't take long for her to get the hang of her new routine. Even last night as the song ended she was nodding off in my arms. Her eyes flung open when it was over. She was anticipating me putting her down and leaving.
All in all, better then I thought. I know we will have setbacks, but at least I know she is capable of doing it all by herself, even in the midst of teething. I feel more empowered and free. Thanks for all your encouraging words.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Operation CIO
I have a confession. . .
Up until last night we have been (gasp) still swaddling and rocking Maddy to sleep.
I know!
But had been working. She was sleeping through the night and napping for long periods. I was under the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. I always knew something would have to change. I couldn't possibly swaddle her forever (could I?).
Recently I had become resentful of naptime/bedtime routine. I felt I was doing a disservice to her, at now 10 months old, by not teaching her to sleep on her own. I was somehow always waiting for the right time. Last night was it. I had been psyching myself up for it for weeks. I knew she'd cry. She's always been passionate and stubborn. I was ready for hours of crying/screaming. I knew the first night would be the hardest. But that baby threw me for a loop.
DH and I did our normal bedtime routine of a bottle, a bath, a story and a song. The only things we changed were the duration of the rocking and, oh yeah, she wasn't swaddled. I did however have her in a sleep sack. I wanted to give her some kind of extra signal it was time to sleep and I figured still putting her in something would help. I rocked her for the bedtime song only, gave her a kiss and laid her down. I then started the song again (it runs about 5 minutes) and left the room.
The screaming started immediately (with cries of "mamamamamama" as an added bonus). No surprise there. The surprise came when I checked the video monitor and saw her STANDING in her crib!! Never in her life has she been able to go from laying to standing (sitting to standing, yes). She was in a sleep sack and still managed it! Well now I was stumped. I wasn't sure if I should go lay her back down or ignore it.
After 10 minutes I went in and laid her down without even making eye contact. She immediately stood up and screamed.
I waited 20 more minutes and tried to lay her down again. She immediately stood up and screamed.
I was extremely frustrated, agitated, nervous and upset by this point. Why the hell was she standing?! This was not part of the plan. The whole reason I started it now was because I thought she couldn't stand yet.
I decided not to go back in. I wasn't going to get caught playing the standing game all night. I knew she could get down from standing because at one point I watched her sit down, get her paci, and then stand back up. Luckily DH was very supportive and on board. He said she had his stubborn streak and that I should go to bed and he'd wait her out. There was no way I could sleep though. I had to see it through.
TWO HOURS later she was still screaming, still standing, and totally exhausted. She would lay her head on the rail and rub her eyes. It was the saddest thing I ever saw. At one point I thought she was going to fall asleep standing up. I couldn't take it any longer. I went to bed and left poor DH to deal with it.
He came in 20 minutes after I went to bed and told me she was finally asleep. He couldn't take it. He decided to lay her down one more time and put her paci back in. He was in and out. She immediately fell asleep and slept straight through 'til 7 this morning.
I think she was too wiped out to even sit down. She was stuck standing. Poor little crazy baby.
Here's how it's gone so far:
Night One- Cried for 2 hours and 20 minutes (slept through the night)
Morning Nap-No crying, no standing, fell asleep after 20 minutes (very short nap)
Mid Morning Nap (needed because the first one was so short)-Crying, screaming, standing. I went in after 40 minutes and laid her down. She then fell right to sleep.(long nap)
We'll see what the next few days have in store for us. . .
Up until last night we have been (gasp) still swaddling and rocking Maddy to sleep.
I know!
But had been working. She was sleeping through the night and napping for long periods. I was under the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality. I always knew something would have to change. I couldn't possibly swaddle her forever (could I?).
Recently I had become resentful of naptime/bedtime routine. I felt I was doing a disservice to her, at now 10 months old, by not teaching her to sleep on her own. I was somehow always waiting for the right time. Last night was it. I had been psyching myself up for it for weeks. I knew she'd cry. She's always been passionate and stubborn. I was ready for hours of crying/screaming. I knew the first night would be the hardest. But that baby threw me for a loop.
DH and I did our normal bedtime routine of a bottle, a bath, a story and a song. The only things we changed were the duration of the rocking and, oh yeah, she wasn't swaddled. I did however have her in a sleep sack. I wanted to give her some kind of extra signal it was time to sleep and I figured still putting her in something would help. I rocked her for the bedtime song only, gave her a kiss and laid her down. I then started the song again (it runs about 5 minutes) and left the room.
The screaming started immediately (with cries of "mamamamamama" as an added bonus). No surprise there. The surprise came when I checked the video monitor and saw her STANDING in her crib!! Never in her life has she been able to go from laying to standing (sitting to standing, yes). She was in a sleep sack and still managed it! Well now I was stumped. I wasn't sure if I should go lay her back down or ignore it.
After 10 minutes I went in and laid her down without even making eye contact. She immediately stood up and screamed.
I waited 20 more minutes and tried to lay her down again. She immediately stood up and screamed.
I was extremely frustrated, agitated, nervous and upset by this point. Why the hell was she standing?! This was not part of the plan. The whole reason I started it now was because I thought she couldn't stand yet.
I decided not to go back in. I wasn't going to get caught playing the standing game all night. I knew she could get down from standing because at one point I watched her sit down, get her paci, and then stand back up. Luckily DH was very supportive and on board. He said she had his stubborn streak and that I should go to bed and he'd wait her out. There was no way I could sleep though. I had to see it through.
TWO HOURS later she was still screaming, still standing, and totally exhausted. She would lay her head on the rail and rub her eyes. It was the saddest thing I ever saw. At one point I thought she was going to fall asleep standing up. I couldn't take it any longer. I went to bed and left poor DH to deal with it.
He came in 20 minutes after I went to bed and told me she was finally asleep. He couldn't take it. He decided to lay her down one more time and put her paci back in. He was in and out. She immediately fell asleep and slept straight through 'til 7 this morning.
I think she was too wiped out to even sit down. She was stuck standing. Poor little crazy baby.
Here's how it's gone so far:
Night One- Cried for 2 hours and 20 minutes (slept through the night)
Morning Nap-No crying, no standing, fell asleep after 20 minutes (very short nap)
Mid Morning Nap (needed because the first one was so short)-Crying, screaming, standing. I went in after 40 minutes and laid her down. She then fell right to sleep.(long nap)
We'll see what the next few days have in store for us. . .
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