sleep update

Sadly, the nighttime crying is not short lived. It has become an every night event, but I am learning from my mom tips and tricks. I have a really hard time just letting her cry it out. I never had this problem when she was little so its all new to me, but I have learned from her first few nights of doing this that nothing is wrong she is just trying to get away with not going to sleep. So with moral support (aka mom) who came over to watch a movie Friday night we let Hailey CIO (cry it out). 45 minutes later after crying like I have never heard her before and lots of "mommy, mommy" she feel asleep. Saturday night the crying was a little shorter and the past few nights have gotten progressively better. We also have re-vamped her nap schedule as well. At my mom's she would sleep from 7-10am and 1-3:30p (I don't get it since she will never sleep that much for me when I am home ;-( Anyway, we shortened the two naps as of yesterday and I think it is helping because last night she only cried for about 5 minutes if that and was out! She does sleeps alot lighter than she used to as well and when I go in to check on her before going to bed myself she occasionally wakes up enough to stand up in bed and give me a hug. Then again, the crying starts when I put her down. I guess I need to stop checking on her. Another habit that is not easy for mom to break!

Well, we leave for vacation on Thursday so who knows how this will affect her sleep schedule and crying fits. I guess this all comes with growing up. She is learning early how to manipulate the system ;-)



Also, a short vacation update ... we leave Thursday as I said above - we can't wait! We are driving (about 8 hours) so wish us luck. Thankfully, my sister-in-law, let us borrow her dvd player for the car. On this trip we will be staying with great friends of ours in PA and will be visiting the NICU, and the physicians/nurses I used to work with at Johns Hopkins. I can't wait for everyone to see how big she has grown! Also, she was part of a study in the NICU to see how preemies of all gestations develop from birth to age 2. She will be getting an evaluation to end the study. I think she will amaze them all!

Then Saturday we are taking Hailey to Sesame Street Place and of course she will get to meet ELMO! I can't wait to see her face! We will be back in town Tuesday so I am sure I will have lots of pictures and updates.