2 months old!

I can't believe we are 2 months old already! And with it has come fun stuff like smiles and cooing but also some not so fun stuff like crying fits and nap protests! Our 2 month doctor appointment is on Tuesday so we'll see how big he has gotten!

We're just trucking along...

Sleeping at the hotel! I figured out if I put him on the pillow on my chest he would fall asleep like he was sleeping on my chest! He slept 2 hours like this!

What's that up there?

Oh I see it!

Hi Mommy!

We're just trucking along. We had our first road trip to Washington DC. Matt had an early meeting, so we got a hotel and spent the night up there. Unfortunately the weather was too cold with flurries so we didn't venture out on the town while Matt was busy. So we just hung out in the hotel. Good thing they had free internet since Ashton behaved so well for his nap. I'm not sure much is new around here. He continues to smile and "talk back" to us! He is starting to bat at his playmat toys... I think. He may just be moving his legs and arms and happens to hit the toys, but I can think he is batting at toys right?! He is also starting to realize he has hands. He can grasp them together and grabs at my shirt. I'm not sure what is next on the developmental list but I think we are doing well. Next on our list... Matt's parents are coming into town for Thanksgiving. I am making an entire dinner so wish me luck! I do it every year but only for Matt and I. I know he'll eat everything, so hopefully it comes out well! Then the following weekend, we head to California for 3 weeks! I can't wait!

It was premature!

Well, my posting last night was a little premature. He did fall asleep with NO crying at all only to be awaken first by hiccups which we let ride but then poopy diaper did not. Matt quickly changed it and put him to bed without much interaction but unfortunately it was enough to wake Ashton up. And he was up and crying... for 30 minutes! Then silence only to be followed by another 15 minutes of crying. So, our hour was up and Ashton was the winner of night #2. Matt went to get him and brought him into our bed where Ashton showed his victory by smiling at us! You know he was just thinking... hah! I won this time Mom and Dad. Same story this morning with his morning nap. He cried for 30-40 minutes but fell asleep to only be awaken 30 minutes later. So we are doing it, but his naps are short! He wakes up but I know he's tired so I tried it again but his crying won out! We'll try again tonight!

Whoo hoo!

Look at me! I'm standing... well leaning is a more appropriate term!
Yeah... I know I'm cute!

I'm flying!

Sleep training is going so well... at night at least! Matt put him down last night which lead to only 15 minutes of crying. He didn't sleep as well and woke up at midnight, but I still can't complain of a 4 hour stretch. Woke up again at 4am and then 7am. I didn't want to try putting him back in the crib and risk waking Matt up, so we spent the rest of the night on the couch. Tonight Matt put him in the crib again and this time NO... I repeat NO crying at all! But wait... I hear hiccups. His daytime nap has not been as successful. I think it's the difference between me putting him down and Matt doing it. He knows he's not getting any food from Dad. I put him down for his nap this morning and no crying initially, but then he started about 15 minutes of silent mobile watching. Eventually calmed down and slept but only for 15-20 minutes like yesterday. From my book reading, he will develop good night sleeping first, then the morning nap, then the afternoon nap. I just can't believe how well he is taking the crib sleeping!

Let the training begin!

Well, I have started the sleep training early. I got Ashton to fall asleep for his nap this morning and promptly put him in his crib. Too bad he decided to wake up 5 minutes later and cry. I knew I was in trouble and realized that he is getting too used to sleeping next to warm snugly Mommy. So, I let Ashton cry himself to sleep. It took ~45 minutes for him to only wake up again 15 minutes later. I tried to let him cry again but ended up picking him up since technically it exceeded the 1 hour limit (per Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby book). The rest of the nap day was unsuccessful as well. However, we just put him down for bedtime since he was falling asleep in Daddy's arms. And for the 1st 15 minutes, he didn't even cry at all! He was talking to himself and just enjoying the mobile in his bed. Then he cried for ~10 minutes and now we have silence. Not guaranteed that he is sleeping, but hopefully he trying to fall asleep on his own! Day 1 of sleep training... not so bad! Super good news... Ashton slept from 8pm-2am last night! That's 6 hours of straight sleep, although it was next to Mommy and 7 hours between feeds! He has potential!

Nighttime sleeping

Our nighttime sleeping has improved quite a bit over the past couple of days! We are now sleeping 4-5 hours between feeds (during the night)! Let me emphasize over the night! Maybe it's because we have resolved to sleeping with him until his is fully asleep. He still gives us daytime battles with falling asleep for his naps. We think he's asleep and down for the count when in reality it's only for 30 minutes. So, I have taken to reading sleep books for babies... Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby. It says when an "easy" baby is 8 weeks old, you should be able to start sleep training which means training your baby to fall asleep on their own. I don't really think Ashton is an "easy" baby, but he is by no means the terror child that is represented in the book. So, next weekend our sleep training begins. Matt is more excited than I am to start this because I love to snuggle up next to him at night, but I know that we need to start this sooner than later. I do not want him to need us to fall asleep when we are onto our next child. So, one more week of loving snuggling until the crying begins.

PS. This belly sleeping is not typical! He fell asleep on his stomach on my stomach and I set him down. He stayed... let a sleeping baby sleep right?! And it was only for a nap, and he hasn't done it since. So for all you warning me against SIDS and belly sleeping... yeah yeah I know! But I let a sleeping baby sleep!

Tummy time!

Ashton loves tummy times now

Parker and Ashton working on tummy time!

Look at me! I'm so strong now!

Ignore the spit up please