Sleep Secrets

Marco and I must have done something to really make Annabella like us because she's been sleeping for at least 6 hours a night for the past week. Last night she went to sleep at 10pm and woke up at 6am. That's right. She went to sleep when it was dark outside and she didn't wake up until it was light outside, just like a normal person.

We barely know what to do with ourselves.

Our secret? We have no secret. The real secret is that there are no secrets. Every baby is different. Don't tell that to the bookstores that stock their shelves with books that claim to offer you the key to a good night's sleep. I have read three of these books so far and they all seem to have radically different approaches to the "sleeping through the night" issue. I found that ignoring everything they say and trusting my instincts works best.

Some people choose to have their baby sleep in their bed with them. We don't. Some people choose to let their baby "cry it out." We don't. Some people choose to drive their baby around in the car until he or she falls asleep. With gas prices as high as they are? Are you crazy?

If you're planning on having a baby you may want to buy a parenting book or two just to reassure yourself, but I don't suggest getting them before you've had some time with your newborn to see if you can't figure things out on your own. It's not rocket science.

Our friend Mike (the best man at our wedding) came to visit us this weekend. He has a 6 month old baby girl who has been sleeping through the night since she was 1 month old. I told him, "they say that most baby's have irregular sleep patterns until they're at least 2 months old." He said, "You know, I make it a point of not paying much attention to the 'they says.'"

Since he said that I have become acutely conscious of how many of my discussions about Annabella's health and well-being start with "they say." I think from now on I'll try my best to let her say.

Sleep Secrets

Marco and I must have done something to really make Annabella like us because she's been sleeping for at least 6 hours a night for the past week. Last night she went to sleep at 10pm and woke up at 6am. That's right. She went to sleep when it was dark outside and she didn't wake up until it was light outside, just like a normal person.

We barely know what to do with ourselves.

Our secret? We have no secret. The real secret is that there are no secrets. Every baby is different. Don't tell that to the bookstores that stock their shelves with books that claim to offer you the key to a good night's sleep. I have read three of these books so far and they all seem to have radically different approaches to the "sleeping through the night" issue. I found that ignoring everything they say and trusting my instincts works best.

Some people choose to have their baby sleep in their bed with them. We don't. Some people choose to let their baby "cry it out." We don't. Some people choose to drive their baby around in the car until he or she falls asleep. With gas prices as high as they are? Are you crazy?

If you're planning on having a baby you may want to buy a parenting book or two just to reassure yourself, but I don't suggest getting them before you've had some time with your newborn to see if you can't figure things out on your own. It's not rocket science.

Our friend Mike (the best man at our wedding) came to visit us this weekend. He has a 6 month old baby girl who has been sleeping through the night since she was 1 month old. I told him, "they say that most baby's have irregular sleep patterns until they're at least 2 months old." He said, "You know, I make it a point of not paying much attention to the 'they says.'"

Since he said that I have become acutely conscious of how many of my discussions about Annabella's health and well-being start with "they say." I think from now on I'll try my best to let her say.

the ten faces of a

the ten faces of a

On the Books

Annabella received her Social Security card today. I guess this means that now she can start looking for jobs.

Underneath her name is a place for her signature. I've been trying to convince her all morning to sign the card, but she just doesn't seem interested.

On the Books

Annabella received her Social Security card today. I guess this means that now she can start looking for jobs.

Underneath her name is a place for her signature. I've been trying to convince her all morning to sign the card, but she just doesn't seem interested.

Home Alone

In about an hour Marco is due home from New York where he's been since Friday afternoon, leaving Annabella and I on our own. Yes, we've been alone at home during the day for three weeks, but that didn't prepare us for full time single parenthood.

While you were out seeing the Matrix, Annabella and I were eating, playing, changing, crying, swaddling, swinging, sleeping, crying, eating, playing, changing, crying, singing, eating, changing, swaddling, pacing, dancing, swinging, sleeping, swaddling, crying, singing, eating, walking, changing, playing, changing, and crying.

Have you ever seen that movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell where he keeps reliving the same day over and over and over again? That's what this weekend felt like.

Home Alone

In about an hour Marco is due home from New York where he's been since Friday afternoon, leaving Annabella and I on our own. Yes, we've been alone at home during the day for three weeks, but that didn't prepare us for full time single parenthood.

While you were out seeing the Matrix, Annabella and I were eating, playing, changing, crying, swaddling, swinging, sleeping, crying, eating, playing, changing, crying, singing, eating, changing, swaddling, pacing, dancing, swinging, sleeping, swaddling, crying, singing, eating, walking, changing, playing, changing, and crying.

Have you ever seen that movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell where he keeps reliving the same day over and over and over again? That's what this weekend felt like.

Baby Stuff I Can't Live Without

Besides the obvious, (husband, extended family, friends, Chinese take-out, digital camera) here are the top ten things that I could not survive motherhood without. So far.

1. WiFi - I never know when I'm going to have a baby-free moment or where in the house that baby-free moment might happen. Since many of my baby-free moments are spent online, it's good to be able to get online anywhere. Plus, when we start baby-proofing we'll appreciate wireless for entirely different reasons. I assume it's understood that I believe no parent should ever have to suffer through the pain of a dial-up modem. Just as they don't let you leave the hospital without a car seat, they should also check to make sure you have broadband.

2. Swing - The baby loves to move. Maybe it was because I never really stopped and sat down when I was pregnant. Either way, the only thing that really seems to calm Annabella is to be rocked in our arms. Thankfully, right now she can't tell the difference between our arms and a plastic swing. I should be insulted, but I am not.

3. The baby sleep positioner - A is also fooled into thinking that these triangles of foam are her parent's arms. My mother and I had a fight in the store about whether I needed this. She said I did. I disagreed. I gave in and bought it. My mom was right. Always trust your mother.

4. Snugride Infant Car Seat- Don't even think of getting a car seat that doesn't pop out and turn into an infant carrier. We pop our seat into the Snap 'N Go Stroller and use it as our only stroller. I'm not listing the Snap N Go, because I haven't been thrilled with it. It's very light and easy to use, but it feels a little flimsy. We'll suffer through it until she grows out of it in 6 months.

5. Nuk pacifiers - We waited about two weeks before we introduced the pacifier because we didn't want Annabella to be confused when she was nursing. I used to think pacifiers were a crutch for lazy parents. I used to be stupid.

6. Blankets, blankets, blankets and more blankets.

7. Clothes that snap up the front. There is almost nothing that A hates more than having to suffer through me putting clothes over her head. I think that only parents can truly appreciate the goodness and beauty of the snap. Everyone always raves about the onesie, but to tell you the truth, I'm not that impressed.

8. Really small clothes - I read somewhere that you shouldn't buy too many newborn clothes because your baby might not ever fit into them. A was born on the large side (8lbs, 3oz) and when we got home from the hospital all our clothes were too big on her. In fact, she's still too small for a lot of her 0-3 month clothes. Babies are small, people!

9. Huge Costco package of baby wipes - I've accepted the fact that baby wipes are going to be part of my life for a long, long time. Sure, I could use warm wash clothes, but then I'd be doing another load of laundry right now instead of writing this.

10. CD Burner - In just under 6 weeks I have taken 317 photos of Annabella. Not only am I running out of hard drive space, but I know enough about computers to know that I should back the files up on a CD every week. What if my hard drive crased and I lost all these photos? A might grow up thinking she was second child.

Baby Stuff I Can't Live Without

Besides the obvious, (husband, extended family, friends, Chinese take-out, digital camera) here are the top ten things that I could not survive motherhood without. So far.

1. WiFi - I never know when I'm going to have a baby-free moment or where in the house that baby-free moment might happen. Since many of my baby-free moments are spent online, it's good to be able to get online anywhere. Plus, when we start baby-proofing we'll appreciate wireless for entirely different reasons. I assume it's understood that I believe no parent should ever have to suffer through the pain of a dial-up modem. Just as they don't let you leave the hospital without a car seat, they should also check to make sure you have broadband.

2. Swing - The baby loves to move. Maybe it was because I never really stopped and sat down when I was pregnant. Either way, the only thing that really seems to calm Annabella is to be rocked in our arms. Thankfully, right now she can't tell the difference between our arms and a plastic swing. I should be insulted, but I am not.

3. The baby sleep positioner - A is also fooled into thinking that these triangles of foam are her parent's arms. My mother and I had a fight in the store about whether I needed this. She said I did. I disagreed. I gave in and bought it. My mom was right. Always trust your mother.

4. Snugride Infant Car Seat- Don't even think of getting a car seat that doesn't pop out and turn into an infant carrier. We pop our seat into the Snap 'N Go Stroller and use it as our only stroller. I'm not listing the Snap N Go, because I haven't been thrilled with it. It's very light and easy to use, but it feels a little flimsy. We'll suffer through it until she grows out of it in 6 months.

5. Nuk pacifiers - We waited about two weeks before we introduced the pacifier because we didn't want Annabella to be confused when she was nursing. I used to think pacifiers were a crutch for lazy parents. I used to be stupid.

6. Blankets, blankets, blankets and more blankets.

7. Clothes that snap up the front. There is almost nothing that A hates more than having to suffer through me putting clothes over her head. I think that only parents can truly appreciate the goodness and beauty of the snap. Everyone always raves about the onesie, but to tell you the truth, I'm not that impressed.

8. Really small clothes - I read somewhere that you shouldn't buy too many newborn clothes because your baby might not ever fit into them. A was born on the large side (8lbs, 3oz) and when we got home from the hospital all our clothes were too big on her. In fact, she's still too small for a lot of her 0-3 month clothes. Babies are small, people!

9. Huge Costco package of baby wipes - I've accepted the fact that baby wipes are going to be part of my life for a long, long time. Sure, I could use warm wash clothes, but then I'd be doing another load of laundry right now instead of writing this.

10. CD Burner - In just under 6 weeks I have taken 317 photos of Annabella. Not only am I running out of hard drive space, but I know enough about computers to know that I should back the files up on a CD every week. What if my hard drive crased and I lost all these photos? A might grow up thinking she was second child.