Sleep, how I've missed you!

 So I know that we are a little late in the game, 🙈 but I have to say how amazing it is to get a full night's sleep again! I began the weaning process with Owen last month with the goal of being done with nursing by his first birthday. Around 6 months, he was down to nursing only 1x a night but then we moved 2 months later and any sort of routine we had went out the window. I probably should've tried to pick it back up once we were settled, but then his daddy started a second job where he's gone 3 nights throughout the week so that caused me to have to get him during the night when he woke up and instead of being "strong" and putting him back to bed- I'd just let him nurse back to sleep....Ah, I know, rookie mistake Lol Anyway, this past weekend, my husband and I decided that we'd let this go on for long enough so Sunday we agreed to let him CIO until he fell back asleep.

  Owen's first word was "momma" but he only would say it when he was crying for me (usually after he woke up from a nap or during the night). Today he says "dada" all day long and my name only once or twice if he's whiny or hungry. He loves his daddy!! Sunday nights are a later bedtime for him since we don't get home from church until 8:30ish. Greg put him to bed and he fell asleep quickly. Around 11:40 he woke up and did his usual routine of standing up and going to the furthest left corner of the crib (closest to the door) and crying/yelling...We both woke up and Greg reminded me that this was IT and to "be strong"..Lol He continued to cry for ten minutes and as he got more and more upset, he called my name over and over "mama, mama..maaaa-maaaaa!"😢 Okay, that was pure torture..My motherly instincts were on high alert and I asked Greg if he could just pat his back or something-ANYTHING that would let him know that we hadn't abandoned him.😫

Another 8 or so minutes went by that felt like forever but by 11:55, we heard him lay back down and at 11:57 he had stopped crying and drifted off to sleep and I was relieved. He woke up again at 2:00 and cried for a short time and went back to sleep and then again at 4:00. At 6:30 he woke up for the day, I got him from his crib and was happy to know that he wasn't hoarse from crying hard and didn't seem overly tired. (2 factors I was worried about beforehand) That was Sunday night. Now it is Thursday and we have successfully made it through 3 nights.☺️ My husband and I used to go to bed pretty early with his work schedule and knowing that we'd have to wake up a few times throughout the night. So I can't tell you how nice it is now that we've been able to spend extra time together baby-free before bed and then feeling refreshed in the morning. Owen is still taking 3 naps a day too so here's to hoping that this new routine is it for us!🙏🏻

  I am having mixed emotions with weaning him still because there is such a special bond and even though he takes a bottle fine, there are days when he is teething hard and just wants to be comforted and nurse. If anyone has any tips that would help on those days, I would appreciate it. I am down to about 3 feedings a day and then I give him a bottle the other 2x plus snacks and table food. Also, he has an eye appointment next week that I'm a little nervous about so please pray with me that it is no biggie. Thanks for reading a little about where I am in "mommyhood" right now- I love this crazy journey!😊

                                                                   
                                                                    💜  Stephanie

PS~ Any tips for a 1yr old party? It's just family so I don't want to "over-do" it but yet he only turns "1" once😉