Growing

I'm pretty sure we're smack dab in the middle of a growth spurt over here. Today has been quite a frustrating one. I started putting Robert in his crib a few nights ago and it had been going pretty well. His most difficult time of day is the early morning hours, around 2-6. If you remember, that's when I woke almost nightly while he was still inside, so I've not been surprised a bit.

I've been bringing him to bed and nursing him when he wakes around that time because he's just so fussy and doesn't settle easily or sleep more than an hour or so otherwise. It works great for us and did for Clara also those first couple of months. The only problem is, I don't sleep as soundly with him in bed. Well, last night I had the bright idea to try to get him back in his crib. Yeah, he showed me. He woke after only 5-10 minutes of sleep or sometimes as soon as I laid his little body down on the mattress. After, oh, I'd say about 10 rounds of this, I regained my sanity and finally brought him to bed with me around 6:30. I got a little bit of sleep before Clara woke around 7:30.

Chris got her some breakfast and put a movie on for her before he left for work so I could sleep a little since Robert was still sound asleep next to me. We woke around 8:45 and this little boy did not go back to sleep until after 3:00! He has been eating non-stop and would not go to sleep. I tried unsuccessfully about 5 times to put him down for naps and am just plain worn out now. He's been attached to my body for the better part of the day. He's finally getting some much needed rest (in my lap) and I just hope he lets me have mine tonight. Man, growth spurts are killer!

When he was first born, I thought he had some of Clara's same newborn tendencies. However, after getting past our first week with all the sickness and adjustment and stuff, I'm finding that he's a much easier baby than Clara ever was. I wouldn't call him an easy baby because nursing tends to be the only thing that will calm him down most times, but I can tolerate that. I realize it just comes with the territory sometimes.

He does sleep better though and we're able to comfort and settle him down easier. Clara wasn't colicky, but I would label her high needs. Everything had to be just right with her and Robert seems to be much easier in that respect. He'll take a pacifier on occasion and he tolerates his swing and bouncy seat. I can hold him more than one way, he will stay asleep in his car seat and has made it through eating out and church without making a peep, etc. That stuff never happened with Clara the newborn. It has been a very nice surprise, let me tell you. I had mentally prepared myself for another Clara and he really has been a breeze in comparison, so I just need to give him a little more time to adjust to his new home outside the womb before expecting complete compliance to my nighttime wishes.