Sometimes unlearning is more difficult then learning...

Today is my birthday! Happy Birthday me! I reflected on this day last year and today was the day that I found out that Mitchell (gender unknown) was in fact a viable baby. It was a neat day to say the least. We hadn't told anyone - and didn't plan to for a while (I think I was 12 weeks??) anyway, we had previously lost 2 so this was a bit of a surprise and it was still surreal.

Jump forward to today and I spent most of the day re-working Mitchell's routine. We (or should I say I) decided that as much as I like the sound of Attachment Parenting and all that it entails, co-sleeping with a rolling 6 almost 6 month old wasn't working out that well. That and the nursing to sleep every time.

As I have discussed before, the books I had read each have had their merits but we decided (yes after prayer) on the Baby Whisperer method. As she explains, she is middle ground. Without getting into all of the details (maybe later), I will say that it went well. We did go through some crying and that was tough. But I was with him and I feel good about that. Each time he went to sleep it was in fact easier and acheived more quickly. I did pray at this time A LOT. Mitchell last went down at 8pm within 5 minutes. It was really nice. I anticipate (according to the book) that he will wake up soon and I will have to intervene but we are on our way. And who would have thought I'd be here a year ago. So much change - and now here we are unlearning our bad habits and [hopefully] learning better, more improved habits. We will see.

Learning can be confusing and contradictory...

I think it started with the desire to EC. That led to a book on attachment parenting which led to the desire to co-sleep, baby wear etc. Which has been fine until just recently. Mitchell has been "up" a few more times then necessary the last few nights - and using me more as a soother then actually being hungry. It has made me think that I am going about it a bit backwards. I am no longer getting the best sleep with co-sleeping and am realizing that nursing him to sleep is not the best plan - especially when looking at our goals in the future and having a good sleeper. So I thought I should do some more reading. Some more learning. So I am now on my third parenting book in the last week to see if they have any suggestions. And of course they do! It is only that they are all completely different from each other. And each time I read one I think it might be the one. How did I become so wishy washy? They each have their merits. But bottom line is, I am going to have to learn to make a decision, and make it fast. We are getting deeper and deeper into our [poor] habits and it "ain't lookin good!"

I think I am leaning more towards the Baby Whisperer style from where I am. After reading about one woman's success I started reading Baby Wise - TOTALLY against attachment parenting (almost funny actually) but I am still not into letting him cry it out. And so now I am reading about the baby whisperer who is in between. She has a few pages which (embarrassingly) describe me and how I have come from the two extremes. Yikes. But I will know more after I continue reading. And learning. In the meantime, I remain a little confused.


Hey - look what timely post I just got in my email! Oh and the big point that lept out? Uhhh - pray about it! Why did I need a reminder?