10 Months

I meant to update what yum-yum was up to every month. But from 6 month - 10 months, no a lot changes. In every single month, there are a few things that I can continue to say:

- she eats a lot
- she is very babbly
- she is learning little things every day
- she can't crawl or anything but she sure is trying

However, I can say a few fun things. She can make farting sounds with her mouth. I consider this paternity proof. She can make a lot of consonant sounds and can mimic sounds. She said "key-key" when talking about the kitty.

sleep

I feel pretty strongly that we shouldn't force you to do things simply for our convenience. But, sleep is probably the area where I'm willing to make an exception. You have been waking up every 2 hours or so for the past 5 months, and since Dad is gone at night, I'm dying. I look forward to Dad's days off, Thursday and Friday: the two nights I get to sleep. But, despite this, I haven't tried to "force" you to sleep, or let you cry excessively. If you need me, I am there for you. And I do it with a smile, often staying awake an extra few minutes to watch you fall back to sleep.

But, on 8/7 everything changed. (So far.) We set up your crib in the next room, so you no longer sleep next to mommy. You seem to love having your own space and go to sleep pretty well in there. And you have to really need me in order to wake me up enough to get out of bed and come to you. So for those times when you just need a little reassurance, you cry a bit, find your pacifier on your own, and go back to sleep. I am sort of aware that this is going on, but it's not happening loud enough to pull me into consciousness, so I am getting some sleep. And you are learning how to console yourself. It's win-win.

You still need me in the night, and I still get up with you. But the other night, when I came to feed you, you were SITTING UP! Of course, you have known how to sit up for a while, but you have not sat up from lying down by yourself that we know of until now.

It just feels like you are growing up so fast.

eight o'clock

Since you were two weeks old until just a week or two ago, you were extremely predictable. At exactly 8 o'clock p.m. pacific time, you would totally freak out. You relentlessly fussed, cried, punched the air, and otherwise lost your cool for about two hours each evening until you finally cried yourself to sleep. It was sort of funny to us, because from the moment you woke up until 8 pm, you could not have been happier, sweeter, and more contented with life. Until the Hour.

We tried everything to figure out what this was about. I stopped eating various foods in an attempt to see if you were having some kind of food reaction. We started routines to help you get tired and fall asleep easier in case you were just tired and not getting to bed early enough. We did tummy exercises in case you had swallowed too much air. We were stumped. And it was heartbreaking and exhausting to bounce, sway, sing, and console this poor, sad version of you when nothing helped.

Eventually, we just blamed the clock and made sure that we were well-rested and ready to do our best to make you feel comfortable and loved during this difficult time for you.

It's eight o'clock as I write this. We played toys until you were worn out, and you happily fell to sleep in my arms without a tear. You've outgrown 8 o'clock. I can't say I will miss the crying. But, I sort of got to enjoy the swaying, singing, cuddling, and holding that you don't need as much anymore. And it made watching you sigh in your sleep all the more peaceful.