New Shoes

Check out Ethan's first pair of big boy shoes. Thanks, Uncle Dan!

Hartman Creek State Park

Our first camping trip with Ethan was a total success. We got to cook (and nurse) under the open sky, play in the sand, make a fire, pick wild berries, practice our new walking (and chasing) skills, and "hike" through pine forests and rolling prairie. Wee Ethan even slept reasonably well both nights. Sweet.











P.S. Please ignore my crazy bed head. Even my support team of valiant bobby pins couldn't quite tame the beast.

That thing most people do at night...

I think it might be called "sleep". Whatever it is, it's been in short supply at our house for the last 8 months. Since October Ethan has been waking up every hour or two at night either to nurse, flop around like a fish, play or scream/cry/fuss in our arms. For a while, I accepted nursing as the best option. Often I loved the closeness, the sweet baby nuzzle, his little feet and hands stroking my belly, the total interconnection between us. Other times I would be so cracked and tender that I would let out a little cry of pain every time he latched on. And other times I just wished we could all sleep.

In January we made the first of several attempts at night weaning. For us, this meant no nursing from 11 PM to 5 AM. Cuddling, rocking, patting, shushing, but no milkie. While this seems a reasonable request (who doesn't enjoy having his back rubbed when he wakes up at night?), Ethan clearly didn't agree. Many January nights of crying and rocking made no effect on how frequently Ethan woke up. It just made all three of us much crankier during the day. So cranky that Ethan all but refused to be put down during the day. So cranky that I struggled to find safe outlets for my intense frustration and impatience when Ethan would scream and scream in my ear several times a day at "nap" time. So we went back to nursing at night and resolved to try again in a few months. We reasoned that he just wasn't ready and we'd rather wait for the right time than spend weeks in a home full of so much sadness and anger.

Attempts in March and May also ended with a return to hourly nighttime nursing.

Then, two or three weeks ago, we started our night weaning ritual again. I think the transition to medical school (which is approaching in a few short weeks!) will be much easier if we can all get enough sleep at night. I also know Ethan will be a much happier during the days, which he'll be spending with Nana and a yet-to-be-determined childcare provider, with a little more sleep under his belt.

Unfortunately for Jeremy, Ethan has made it clear that he will no longer tolerate my presence at night unless we're nursing. So nighttime shush-pat-rock-soothing is 100% Papa's responsibility. And nobly, he's shouldered through the sad and sleepless nights.

Then last night something magical happened. Ethan slept from midnight - 5:30 AM. Let's call this "sleeping through the night-ish". There are no guarantees that this will happen again. But even one night of good sleep is reason enough for me to celebrate!

Walkie walkie