Until next time…

Sincerely, Sleepy Rachel

So we stopped the Ferber Method because Jerry got a runny nose and started cutting his first tooth! But we definitely plan on starting it up again, possibly tomorrow, or after the weekend because he needs to get better sleep. It seemed like it was starting to work so I think it may be the route for us to take. Although it is so incredibly heartbreaking to hear him cry and not be able to help him, I know that I am making a good decision for him and for our family.

We also found out a few weeks ago that we are expecting our second child! We are so excited about it and have just recently started telling our friends and family. I had an ultrasound yesterday, and Im about 8 weeks along! I’ll go into more detail later but I just wanted to share our excitement as we start this journey again!

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, Rachel

Jerry was exclusively breastfed until he was 5 weeks when he dropped below his birth weight. Then I started supplementing with formula and after that my milk supply didn’t last but a month after that so he went to all formula. Ever since then he has been extremely colic. He would cry for a hour or two at a time and there was nothing we could do to soothe him. Then we switched to Similac Alimentum and he was a totally different baby it was awesome. He has always slept in our bed with us, and hasn’t been far away for naps. He has slept pretty good at night time up until a few weeks ago. Now he wakes up every 1-2 hours, sometimes even after 45 minutes and we are just so exhausted. We aren’t getting any sleep, we are on a horrible schedule. We go to bed anywhere from 3-6 in the morning and I believe that we as parents need to do everything we can to get this family’s sleep schedule under control. Jerry’s pediatrician recommended the Ferber Method at his 4 month appointment but I was not mentally prepared to do it then. Now that he is six months old (which is the age that the book suggests) and I have done a ton of research, I hope and I pray that this method works for us. Hopefully I will not break down. My heart aches when hes crying from the other room but his doctor made a good point that he needs good sleep for his development, and I honestly don’t believe he will get the sleep he needs if  we keep him in our bed. I don’t believe that the Ferber Method is for every baby, or every parent. Its very heartbreaking but hopefully it does not take the full 7 days for baby Jerry to adjust to sleeping in his own (very nice, might I add) crib.

So tonight is our first night of “Operation Ferberize” And its been about 2 hours since I first put him down, He cried for a half hour, slept a half hour, then cried for an hour and has been sleeping for twenty minutes. I know that its really important to follow through and that is the hardest part for me.. Hopefully by tomorrow or the next night he will be well on his way to sleeping soundly in his own bed.

Wish us luck tonight!

Sincerely, Rachel

So when I was pregnant last year, I joined a forum that was for ladies who were pregnant and due in August. Well then they broke it down into the weeks of August and there was a private Facebook group for the ladies due between the 9th and the 16th I believe. The women have gotten very close and its so exciting to see all of their little ones grow up along with Jerry. Well a few months ago I found out that one of the ladies actually lives in the same town as us. Small world! We finally got a chance to get together this week. She was so nice and her daughter is adorable! It was so nice to get out and hang out with someone who is actually in the same place in life as me. At least when it comes to having kids. And who knows, our babies might be going to school together!

We took Jerry to the doctor today. He is 17 lbs 3oz and 27 inches long! My big boy is going to be a basketball player one day! He got his shots and I have to tell you, it kills me a little inside every time I see him cry like that! He turned totally red in the face but he was easy to calm down afterward. He’s been sleeping a lot today which has been nice because I got to take a 3 hour nap with him earlier, and my husband is napping with him right now. He also has a runny nose and I’m hoping that it doesn’t turn into a cold because he’s never been sick before. (Knock on wood) .

Well I need to go catch up on my chores while the boys are still sleeping. Thanks for reading

Sincerely, Rachel

Baby Jerry will be 6 months old on Tuesday. Where has the time gone? (Isn’t that what everyone says?) His appointment is on Thursday, the dreaded shots! I always feel so bad for him and it is so hard to watch. When I was pregnant I did a lot of research about the benefits and controversies about infant vaccinations. I know quite a few people who are against infant vaccinations but I decided that I wanted baby Jerry to get them. I mean it really just came down to either risking him experiencing the side effects of the vaccines, or risking him not being immune to the illness and being exposed to them. Not to mention they are required for public schools and some day cares, both of which we plan to use in the future. He has been hitting a lot of milestones lately! He is a sitter now! He can sit well on his own for a good amount of time. He’s also finally rolling front to back and back to front on the floor (he was only rolling on our bed). He is also talking a lot more, and he recently discovered how to squeal. He’s getting so big, I’m excited to see how much he has grown in the past month. He is still blonde haired and blue-eyed, which is so strange. My husband and I are both dark-haired, he has brown eyes and I have green.

Anyway. We’ve got a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Thanks for reading!

Sincerely, Rachel

Sincerely,

Rachel