Things I Said I'd Never Do

When I was pregnant I said:  "My baby will NOT sleep in the bed with us."  Lie.  "She will sleep in her Pack N Play for the first couple of months and then move to her crib."  Lie.  "She'll learn to self-soothe.  I'm not going to pick her up EVERY time she cries."  Another lie.  Starting to see a trend here?

We entered the 4 Month Sleep Regression (aka a little glimpse of hell) several weeks ago, and it has been nothing but an uphill battle.  Constant night waking, fighting naps and bedtime, waking up early.  What a tease she's been... sleeping so good at night.  Only waking up to eat once and then right back down.  Then it happened one night about 1am when she was fighting her sleep... I said "just put her up here in between us."  (desperation for sleep over powers the ability to think logically)but Jason said "no" twice.  She finally went back to sleep, but then awake again at 5am.  This time no words were exchanged, just a swift maneuver and she was in between us sacked out.  All thanks to her Daddy.  Fast forward to today.  I'm pretty sure last night was the 3rd night Jason slept on the couch and Elise and I slept in the bed.  Probably the best sleep any of us have had in 3 weeks.

So, tonight we'll put her down in her Pack N Play and try again.  You know that 2nd statement above about sleeping in the PNP for a "couple of months?"  Well, she just turned five months old and has slept in her crib one night.  I don't need to elaborate on that any further.

And now on that self-soothing business.  I admit I am pretty much at Elise's beck and call... a lot nicer way of saying I'm her b*tch, because basically that's what I am.  She summons, I come running.  Well, the intent was to try to let her cry it out occasionally (I say occasionally because I don't want her to lose trust in me and my ability to comfort her), learn to work things out without having to be held ALL the time.  Last week I was just finishing up drying my hair and she was propped up on my bed having a royal tantrum for no good reason.  All red-faced, tears flowing, spitting mad...  I go over, pick her up and look at her and say "what's wrong with you?"  She chuckled.  The child laughed at me and smiled.  What the....?  I have been worked by a 5 month old.  Forget that "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" BS... my 5 month old baby just pulled a fast one over on me.  Just perfect.

Bottom line; don't ask me for any parenting advice.