Addison turned 7 months on Friday, where has the time gone? She's growing and changing everyday. She's still not mobile, which people tell me is a good thing and we should enjoy it while it lasts because our lives will change drastically once she starts moving! She's just starting to sit up with more confidence, not as wobbly and I can leave her sitting if I put pillows around her just in case she tips. She loves her new vantage point! I imagine lying on your back for 7 months can get old! She still hates being on her tummy, she immediately rolls onto her back whenever we put her on her tummy. Oh well. Sooner or later she'll like it.
Our biggest challenge lately has been sleep. Or lack there of it! I know it's my own doing, as a result of Chris' shift and my need to just survive, but we've created a situation that is becoming harder and harder to fix. Addison is nursing about 7-10 times per night, no joking. A couple of months ago, she started waking up constantly, and I was getting up multiple times per night to put her back down. I would nurse her (not every time) and then rock her back to sleep. After the 4th or 5th time of this, I would just bring her into bed with me because I couldn't physically handle the constant up and down all night. In my mind, I thought this was a temporary fix and that she was going through some sort of growth spurt and just needed me more. However, nothing has changed, if only gotten worse! At first she would nurse and then fall asleep for 2-3 hours and then nurse again, and this would happen a few times per night. I could handle it. Now I'm at the point where I need my space and I need uninterrupted sleep! She's nursing every hour, sometimes every 30 minutes! I've become a human pacifier! I seriously don't mind her sleeping next to me, but only if she would just SLEEP!!! I've tried putting her pacifier in her mouth when I hear her stirring, and she just spits it out and starts clawing at me, and eventually screaming if I don't nurse her. If I roll over with my back to her, she knocks and claws at my back. What have I created?? I've been holding it together these last few months, and now I'm falling apart. I can't go on with only 3 hours of sleep...my body just can't take it. So last night, my mom came and helped. I went to bed, turned the monitor off, and grandma took over. When Addison woke up, grandma put her back to sleep. She left around 2:30 and I brought Addison in with me at that point. What a difference I feel today! I actually feel a bit normal! Slightly refreshed! Tonight we're doing the same thing, except Chris is home. We need to break her from this habit, and I'd like to do it in a humane way, no endless screaming involved. The first big issue is breaking the "boob habit" then we can work on soothing herself to sleep in the middle of the night when she wakes up. One thing at a time. I think we're on the right track though! Ask me in a week...
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