So this last week was a bit of a crazy one. Mr. Parker started out the week on a consistent sleep schedule, sleeping 4 hours, nurse, sleeping 3 hours, nurse, and then 3 hours again. Very happy Mama :) Then he decided sleep was overrated and for 3 nights in a row he would only sleep a maximum of one 2 hour block on his own each night. ZOMBIE MOM!! Our routine was diaper change, pj's, swaddled in a swaddle pod, nurse, and sleep in the Pack n' Play in our room. This had been the routine for a little over a week... nothing changed. For those 3 days though he decided he hated the swaddle pod and was fighting it, trying to break loose. This kept him awake which made him mad and over tired. For a new mom you would think "hey a 2 hour block, not bad." Well when you have been spoiled with 3 and 4 hours of sleep, it was AWFUL! On the last night at 2am, he and I had yet to fall asleep and the wonderful Hubs offered to sleep on the couch so Parker and I could sleep in the bed together (a place where he ALWAYS sleeps for long periods of time). So after an internal struggle I gave in and said fine, I need sleep. As a behaviorist this KILLED me. I am a firm believer in consistency is the key. I hated that after 4 weeks of being consistent with a sleep schedule and only changing the type of swaddle we used I was giving in after 3 nights. But being sleep deprived makes you do crazy thing. If I hadn't gone to sleep when I did that night, my next move was to order a rock n play with rush delivery to have it here that evening no matter the cost. I am SO glad I didn't do that. Last night as we were getting ready to go to bed, which with a newborn who is off on their sleep schedule feels like you are about to go to war, (you have no idea the outcome and you have no idea the journey, but you have to take it) I told the Hubs that we should just have him sleep in the bouncer in our room. Well the awesome Hubs that I have said no, let's just keep doing what we were doing. That was the fuel I needed to be able to make it through the night with an optimistic outlook. Last night was bath night (which we do every 3 nights) and then when I swaddled him I did it looser than normal and his right arm started to come out so I swaddled around it. He didn't fight the swaddle, but he did fight sleep at first. After I fed him it took about an hour for him to fall asleep, but then he slept for 3 hours, nurse, 3 hours, nurse, and I woke him up at 4 hours! And all of that sleep was done in the pack n play with his cute little arm out of the swaddle. It really is like a victory when your child sleeps for an elongated period.
Changes from last week:
Parker is smiling!! He will have one smile each day, but it is unpredictable :( It is beautiful when he does though, even if it's just a half smile it is adorable. He is staying awake for longer periods of time in the day. Probably an hour or an hour an a half after each daytime feeding. His neck strength is incredible, he lifts his head up all the time, it still will drop to the side if it's not supported but that is happening less and less. He is able to see further. His favorite thing to look at are can lights and other ceiling lights. We have LED lights in our kitchen that we hate, but he loves. We have noticed in the last day or two while we are in the living room he is looking into the kitchen at the lights! We went to my mother in laws over the weekend and he was looking up at the ceiling, all around and then would cry. I think he was looking for some kind of ceiling lights!
Well that's the update for the week, it has taken me almost 15 hours to write this post! I will leave you all with an adorable pic from my kid :)
