Now I lay me down to sleep

    Paityn is a good baby. I often get asked if she is really as happy as she looks in all of her pictures, and the answer is yes. She occasionally gets fussy, but overall she is just a happy girl! I really can't complain about her - there is just one small problem......my child isn't into sleeping. If anyone knows me they know I am the queen of sleep. I wish I could say sleep is overrated, but not only do I need lots of sleep, I enjoy it. I often get I often talk to people and when I tell them that my 6 month old does not sleep through the night their eyes get wide and they say "oh really?" I usually then get the comments of how their child has sleep through the night since 6-8 weeks or whatever. My mom said that by the time she went back to work (when we were 3 months) both my brother and I had just "figured it out." My sweet little daughter has just not wanted to "figure it out." Would it be really nice if she slept through the night?, yes it would be great, but to Brian and I it is not that big of a deal. What I always tell myself is it is only temporary and it won't last forever.

   Paityn has always been a very "weird" sleeper since day one. Our originally plan was to keep her in the pack and play by our bed for the first few months. However, we hit a road block the first night we did not anticipate. We set the pack and play up on our room and Zoe went crazy. She was scared of it. She whined and wouldn't leave it alone. We didn't feel comfortable with Paityn in it with Zoe acting like she was so we took it down and to her crib she went. She has slept in her crib since the first night we brought her home. I had also read a book called 'The Happiest Baby on the Block' which people swore by. This book emphasized the need for swaddling for calming and sleep. I religiously swaddled Paityn and to this day we still do (although she breaks out of it most of the time). She was a typical newborn and woke up every couple of hours.

  Naps were hard for us. When we would try to put her in the crib she would just open her eyes and start to cry, unable to be soothed. If she did sleep, it was 30 minutes max, which is just not long enough for a newborn, so we held her. We held Paityn for every nap. It was the only way I felt that she could actually get the sleep she needed. By 3-4 months, Paityn had transitioned to taking a morning and afternoon nap and we had transitioned to co-napping on the couch. By doing the co-napping, she would sleep for 1-2 hrs at a time.

  The nights gradually got better and she got down to waking usually once around 1-3am for a feeding. Most of the time she would go right back to sleep and other times she would just be awake for an hour plus. At 4.5months we added cereal at bedtime. The comments I got from the majority of the people were "once you add some cereal, my baby slept through the night." Well, not so with Paityn. I did not notice any difference with the addition of cereal.

     Just before 6 months, Paityn started waking up in the middle of the night and not crying, but just "talking" and wanting to play for anywhere from 1-2.5 hours. Sometimes we would just feed her and she would go to bed, other times she would remain awake. I have no problem letting her talk, but I still can't fall back asleep. Eventually she would get frustrated and either go to sleep herself or I would give her the pacifier and she would drift off. She is very capable of putting herself to sleep and we put her to bed awake, but she is just wide awake in the middle of the night. Some people have suggested putting her to bed later. That is a great idea, but come 7pm Paityn is just done. She is so crabby it is hard to calm her. She rubs her eyes, yawns and is just dead tired. I talked to the nurse practitioner about her sleeping habits and she told me to cut out the middle of the night feedings. We tried....it did not go well. I also have changed her naps. I decided that although I LOVE to co-nap, she did have to learn to sleep in her crib so we have been having her take her morning naps in the crib. Her morning naps went from 1-2 hrs to 30 minutes on the dot. She wakes happy and we co-sleep in the afternoon so she gets more sleep. They say having an overtired baby can cause them not to sleep well. We thought perhaps she was getting too much sleep, so one day she did take 3 - 30 minute crib naps. She sleep through he night that night and we thought we were onto something. We did the same thing and the next night she was up and awake by midnight for an hour and a half. We have tried a bedtime routine, swaddled, not swaddled, noise, etc.

  I know a lot of people say "you just have to let them cry it out." I am just not comfortable with that at this point. I am sure there will be a point in time when I will be okay with it (when she can understand to go to bed, etc), but not right now. I am more than happy to let her talk in her crib, but I just want her to feel rested. I am off from work for 9 days now. During this time I am going to try doing the 30 minute naps, continue the night feeding, and see how she does. I know I have to not worry about what people think and do what is best for us and Paityn. As long as she is happy,  at this point I am not so worried about her being awake in the middle of the night - for heaven sakes I work night shift, she is probably used to if from when I was pregnant with her. I am going to try my best to just follow her cues and hope she is getting enough sleep - based on how happy she is I think we are doing okay!

 

Half a year

I can't believe it, Paityn is half a year old - 6 whole months. It seems like just yesterday that she was born. Time really does fly! She has been a busy girl this past month! In the past month Paityn has slept through the night 3 times (we are working on that and that is an entirely different post!), learned to roll from her back to her tummy, and in the past week or so, learned to sit up on her own! It really didn't take her long to learn to sit up, she was a little unsteady for awhile, but then one day she did it. I do put a pillow down when I leave her just in case, but overall she does great! She still continues to roll over all the time. She is becoming more observant. She wants to see the world around her. She tries to reach for things she sees and sometimes get angry and/or frustrated when she can't get them. She LOVES to watch the animals play. The other day we took her over to Maija's house and she had so much fun watching her two little girls play! When she gets a little older and more on a schedule I hope to take her to Early Childhood Family Education (ECFE) classes where she can see and play with other children her same age. I know it is not so much important now since she can't actually play with kids, but by the time she is a year I would like to have her going to some classes so she can get that socialization. 

  I took Paityn to the doctor on Monday for her well baby check up. We switched clinics to the partners in pediatrics in Brooklyn Park because it was closer to home. We did see a nurse practitioner who was really nice. Paityn is growing well. She is 27 inches long putting her at 75-90% of height. She was a whopping 17lb 12oz - making her 90% in the weight category! Everything checked out fine and she is a healthy girl. We did talk about sleep which I will make another post on someday. Currently, Paityn is getting up in the middle of the night (sometimes for up to 2 hours).....we feed her, but I think it is more to play. We talked about breaking the middle of the night feedings and adding some more solids to her diet. Before the appointment I was only feeding her oatmeal with some pears at night. The nurse practitioner recommended that she be up to at least two feedings a day.  For the last few days I have done oatmeal with or without fruit twice a day and one serving of sweet potatoes. They say to only introduce one new food every 3 days to make sure there is not a reaction. So far I am 1 for 1 - it was a score with the sweet potatoes. I have another day before I can try another food group. I was a little worried because she has started to take less from the bottle. Before she was taking about 6 ounces every 4 hours. Now she is taking 4-5 ounces every 4 hours. I have tried to give he more bottle, but she just gets mad and starts to cry. I talked to the nurse about this and she said that with the more solids the less and less of the bottle she will take. That makes sense, but I was just worried she wasn't getting the nutrition she needed with less bottle. I need to try and worry less! (Being a nurse I get these crazy ideas like she is going to stop eating and will need a feeding tube). As I have been told by many different people, she will eat when she is hungry! 

Six months and so beautiful!

Love this

   How come I start all these post out as "I have been meaning to blog for awhile.....?" We had to redo our computer and I had some trouble being able to upload photos, but it is fixed now so here we go.

     I have seen this ecard on people's facebook and I just love it. I have hesitated to repost it on my facebook because I know there are some people close to me who have adopted. Just because you have not physically carried a baby does not make you any less of a mother. In fact, I think it takes a VERY special mother to adopt a child. Adoption is not for everyone. People have asked me if I would adopt, and although I wish I could say yes, I know it is just not in my heart. So by no means and I saying that adopting a child makes you any less of a mother.

     I love this ecard for so many reasons. For one, it is true, Paityn is the only one that knows the sound of my heart from the inside. They listen to it for months and are comforted by it. I also love it because I believe no one can know the love a mother has for their child. I know Brian loves his baby girl, would do anything for her. But it is just something different for a mother. I am very protective of her. I don't want anyone else "trying" to be their mother - and maybe to a fault. Being pregnant, you have such a special connection with your child, you care for them and nurture them 9 months before anyone else does. I never want to lose that special bond! I feel so privileged to be Paityn's mom and I truly hope that someday she will know the depth of my love for her. It is a love that comes straight from your soul,  a love that you would do anything for her and want nothing but the best for her! She is such a special little girl and so loved!

Christmas

  We had a wonderful Christmas as a family of THREE this year! Last year we were so blessed to have this little one growing in my belly. This year we were beyond blessed to have Paityn here with us! My most precious gift I have and will ever receive is our daughter. I can't help but to feel so overwhelmed with love, joy, and pure happiness for our little family we have! I know I am truly blessed to have my wonderful husband and daughter. We are also blessed to have families that love us, and especially Paityn, so much! Everyone said how much fun the holidays were having her here and they really were! Paityn was beyond spoiled by both sides of the family. She got tons of new toys and clothes! She also got lots of love and attention! Santa even made a stop by our house! :)

I think this is what people refer to as a "photo bomb!"

Opening presents from Grandma and Papa

Hanging with Uncle Ron

Cousin Dylan and Uncle Ron

Zoe and her "woofie cushion"

Bella checking out her new toy

Great-Grandma and Paityn

Great Aunt Laura and Paityn

Brian and Rocky

Opening presents with mom

Check out my new hat!

Uncle Dan's thumb tastes good!

Hanging with Grandpa

Santa came!

Dad helping open santa's present



Zoe in the mix and Paityn eating the paper!



Milestones

   We have had a couple of new milestones in the Hime family over the past week and a half. The weekend before the holidays, Paityn slept through the night for the first time. And when I mean sleeping through the night she did it from 7:30pm to 7:15am! She had previously slept until around 4am a couple of times, but for the most part she had just been getting up around 2:00am to eat. Even after we introduced oatmeal, which so many people swear by that got their kids to sleep through the night, she would get up. Brian and I were both amazed! Yes, I did check the monitor a couple of times and even once staggered into her bedroom to listen to hear breathe. I did sleep better than I usually do, but my body is still so much in light sleeping mode that I wake up several times through the night. After the first night, Brian asked if I thought it was just luck or if she was onto something. I told him surely it was just luck and it wouldn't happen again. Sure enough, the next night same thing! We were both overjoyed and very well rested! I thought for just a minute that this might be the new norm....WRONG! She has been getting up later to eat, around 3:00-4:30. Sometimes she goes back to bed, sometimes not for a few hours. The other night Paityn was awake at 4:30 and very stuffy. I know she hates having a stuffy nose because it scares her to not be able to breathe. I don't blame the little girl. I got up with her and took her downstairs to play for a little. I thought to myself, I may be up at 4:30 in the morning, but I sure am lucky to have the chance to even get up with my little girl. She eventually took a really long morning nap and mom got some sleep too. The holidays had her sleeping schedule all screwed up and she gets VERY fussy when she is tired, but I am sure after a few days of getting back "into the swing of things," she will be a little happier!

 The other milestone Paityn has conquered was that of rolling from her back to her tummy. She has been able to roll from her tummy to her back since she was 5 weeks old, but now she FINALLY was able to get over onto her tummy. We brought her home on Christmas day and we were winding down for bed when Brian told me to come quick. We both watched her finally get all the way over. She has been trying really hard for weeks, but never got all the way over. Since she has rolled over that is all she wants to do. She has a little harder time going to her left onto her tummy and will get frustrated, but since the first time last night, she has rolled over like 6 times! What is really funny is she wants to crawl in the worst way. She pulls with her hand and moves her butt up, but just can't. She get so frustrated and just get all out pissed! She won't even attempt to roll onto her back, she will just keep trying and trying to crawl. I have just been rolling her back onto her back for now, but I hope she can go both ways smoothly soon. I bet before we know it she will be crawling.

  With all this being said I know the time is coming soon when I will have to break the swaddle. Right now she is just sleeping better and I hate to see what it is going to do when she is no longer swaddled. Some kids love it, some hate it. She loves it! I just hope that when I do there won't be too many sleepless nights! :)

5 Months

Wow, I can't believe that I am actually writing that she is 5 months. I know I say this every month, but it is just so amazing how the time does fly. I can remember back to this time last year and just telling people I was pregnant. I was excited, but wary because I was so early. It is amazing how in just a few short months my life would change forever. My mom wrote in a baby shower card something to the effect that my life will never be the same, it will be better than imagined and boy is that so true. It is so amazing the love you have for your child. I knew I would enjoy being a mom and would love my child, but I never thought I would be so absolutely in love with her. I cherish every minute I get to spend with her. Looking back about 5 years, my idea Friday night would be going out and having some drinks. Now don't get me wrong, I still like to have drinks from time to time, but it is amazing how things have changed. My idea of a great Friday night is having a glass of wine and enjoying being with my family. Being with my husband and daughter who I would do anything for! Life really is beautiful!

Look at how she has grown!

 

     I took Paityn to see santa. My friend Maija set us up with the "Santa Experience" at the Mall of America. I am telling you, that is really the way to go. You have to make an appointment way in advance, but by making an appointment you avoid the lines. I just read on facebook that someone took their baby to go see santa and they had to wait in line for 2 hours. With the santa experience, you show up for your appointment and I think we waited about 5 minutes. I know some people have commented that this santa is a little "creepy" (he is, I do have to agree), but he is really good with the kids, especially ones that are toddler age and a little wary. Paityn did fantastic and we got this really great picture!

   We had a really fun time at Mall of America. It was just fun to be pushing Paityn around in the stroller, she was so good!  I met my friend Maija and her two girls there and my friend Erika came with me. Maija and Erika are my two very best friends and we don't get together nearly enough, so it was so fun to get to spend time with these girls. I have talked about my friend Erika's journey with infertility here, and it breaks my heart to know what she is going through. She just did her 4th round of IUI and unfortunately it was unsuccessful. Her and her husband are going to take a little time off as Erika has gotten a promotion and will spend some time focusing on her new job. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers. I know it is hard for her that we don't hang out as much, but she is a strong woman and an incredible friend! Like I said, time with these two is precious and they are the best friends a girl could ask for.

    After we all saw Santa we attempted to do lunch. Lunch with a 2 1/2 year old, 15month old, and 5month old is a little tough, but we thought if we went to the rainforest cafe it would keep them entertained. 3 adults and 3 highchairs later and it was a salvageable disaster! They liked all the fish and the animals, etc, but about every 10 minutes these 5 large gorillas come to life and move and make noise. The first time it happened, Austin, the 2.5 year old started to cry. Maija picked her up and instantly the 15 month old started to cry. Paityn was tired and hungry so she was crying to. So here are the three of us, each holding a crying child trying to calm them down. You couldn't help but just laugh!!!! They got used to the gorillas and Paityn fell asleep and we were able to eat lunch, but for a minute there I thought we were going to have to just get up and leave!

  I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. I look forward to celebrating Paityn's first Christmas. I know she is blessed and going to get way more toys and clothes than she needs, but it is going to be so much fun. Santa will be visiting our house (I know she is too young to know), but I just love all the magic surrounding Christmas!



Had to add this picture, it is just too cute!  :)



 

So Fun

  I think about updating this blog all the time, but when it comes down to it, I tend to get lazy. I think why not go to bed early, or work on my Christmas cards/shopping, etc. I finally got all (well, almost all) of my Christmas cards done and have made a good dent in my holiday shopping. I have been doing a lot of online shopping this year, which I have never really done before. So far I have been pleased with what I have been getting. Hopefully there won't have to be too many returns, I have a feeling that could get confusing and time consuming, but all and all online shopping has been a good experience!

  I was bummed this year that I couldn't make it to Brian's side of the family's Thanksgiving. I worked the night before Thanksgiving and the night of Thanksgiving. As sad as it is that I don't get to see everyone, I do like to make the double time :) I also missed their annual bread tradition too since I worked the weekend before Thanksgiving. I always really enjoy going to breads. What breads consists of is all the women from Brian's side of the family get together and make banana bread, cherry bread, cranberry bread etc. This has been a tradition from Brian's grandma and they have carried it on even since she has passed. It is such a fun time to drink some wine, catch up and just chat. I love getting together with all of those ladies, they are so fun. Luckily I will be able to make it to some of the Christmas festivities this year so I will get a chance to see everyone. Paityn did go with Brian to his family's Thanksgiving, but it was during her nap time and I told she was rather fussy. Brian was kind enough to take her over to my parent's house for Thanksgiving evening where I stopped by before work. I basically ate and ran, but it was great to get some good food and see my family, if just for a bit. We did get a good family pic minus my scrubs :)

   We got a new Christmas tree this year (I am not even going to tell you how much we paid because it is ridiculous). Our old tree was coming apart and with the animals we don't do real trees. We ended up getting a pre-lit tree (thank goodness since lights take me forever) and it looks really nice. Paityn really enjoys looking at all the lights. I did snap a few pictures of her under the tree.

   She is at such a fun age right now. The smiles and laughs just keep on coming! She also does a lot of talking. I think she must like to hear the sound of her voice because she talks a lot and she is LOUD! She talks to us, to the dog, to herself! She has also in the past week or so started to squeal. It is so funny because sometimes I think she even surprises herself with how loud it is. Just in the past week I have notice how much she is looking at things and trying to grab at things so much more. She is now becoming very interested in her toys (well, to eat that is). If I hold something out for her she will almost always try to grab it. A few weeks ago I know she could try and grab it, but she was just not that interested. Now she is grabbing for toys and if I set a toy down will follow it and try to grab it.  I don't know what it is about that stupid Sophie giraffe but babies sure do love it! She has also done a lot more sitting up lately. She has always preferred to lay on her back in the gym and grab for toys that way. Now, she is doing a lot more sitting up in the bumpo, jumperoo, and exersaucer and she is content. In fact, she is doing so much sitting up we went through 3 different outfits today from poop explosions! She is getting better with tummy time even though she is not a fan. Most of the time she just rolls right out of it onto her back. She is constantly moving, but still hasn't rolled from back to front. Maybe no motivation. She will probably crawl and sit before she does that :)

 She has been a big eater lately. We went from eating about 3 ounces ever 3 hours to getting 5 ounces ever 3 hours. She is still getting up once in the middle of the night anywhere from 12-4, but usually falls back to sleep after her bottle and gets up for the day around 6-6:30. She seems to be most content right away in the morning and around noon. We decided to add a little bit of oatmeal to her diet. The doctor said to add some around 5 months and she will be 5 months on the 12th. The verdict is still out where or not she likes it. We feed her about half a tablespoon (right now that is all she is interested in) right before bed around 7pm and then follow it with a bottle. Sometimes I feel like she is too tired to be interested and gets crabby, but I know it is supposed to help them sleep better if given at bedtime. I don't want to give it too early and have her feel full and her not want her bottle, because that is the most important source of food. We are just taking it slow and when she is interested in more, we will give her more. I don't think we will start to add other baby food until she is closer to 6 months as I know their digestive systems is not always ready for it before then. I am not going to lie, it is fun to feed and watch her eat! We did snap a few good pictures of her trying the oatmeal for the first time.