sleep training

We're doing two different types of sleep training in our home this week -

1) Emilia had a crazy May going to her sibling's end-of-year performances and having a rather busy schedule for a lil' 5 month old!  The result - her naps were thrown for a loop, and that girl was not as happy at naptimes and the end of the day for bed as she used to be.  I tried during the times we were home to get her to sleep, but she would cry and cry while I would hold her - when before I would hold her and she would fall asleep within a few minutes and then I'd lay her down.

Since she turned 6 months last week, I figured it was time to sleep train the lil' lady.  I started it a few days before the children got out of school, because I knew it would be hard for me to try to put her to sleep for the hour + it was taking once the kiddos were home for summer break.  Also, I was hoping that the sleep training would mostly be finished, as I had a hunch the kiddos would not like to hear her cry.

The sleep training is still going along, although each day is getting significantly better!  There are times when I put her to sleep and she cries for just a little bit, and then soothes herself with either her blanket, a binkie or one of the lovies in her crib (a little square of soft fabric, or one of her stuffed animals - she particularly loves the lamb that Madeleine gave to her a few weeks ago that Madeleine bought for her from her student store.  She has always been super thoughtful of her siblings - and since Emilia has been born she bought her first a little stuffed rabbit and then a stuffed lamb.  I thought both were great because I have called Emilia 'mon petit lapin' (french for my little rabbit) and 'my little lamb' since she has been born.  Such cute & perfect little stuffies for her!).  

Tonight was a great night - although she didn't have the best evening nap and she went to bed later than planned...I laid her down in her crib after singing her some songs, she gave me a big smile and then started to play with the lamb while I left the room.  I heard her cry out for a moment, and then all was quiet and when I checked on her she was all cuddled up on her side holding onto her blankie.  Her little legs make us smile - she is long & lean, but she has these little darling rolls on her upper thighs and her skin is super smooth all over.  We are so in love with this precious girl!

2nd) The other sleep training - or NON-sleep training is with the older three.  In one week (ONE WEEK!) we fly out for our bi-annual pilgrimage to Laie, Oahu, Hawaii.  The time difference is 6 hours behind us, and so I'm allowing them to stay up later than they usually would so that the first few days we can hopefully ease into the schedule and the drastic time difference!  I'm not as worried about the older three - they have usually handled the time change relatively well, but I am worried about the lil' babe, and so if the older three can get good sleep, they can play with her when I need to take a nap!  Also, Grandma Joy will be with us the first week, which between two adults we should be able to function during the day to get everyone to the beach, worn out and then come home to take a nap and get to bed at a reasonable Hawaiian time!

All in all, I'm so thankful that our family loves sleep!  Our children are not the type that have ever been first to rise with the sun...I think that would seriously take years off the life of me and Bryson!  They have woken up this first week of summer break between 8-9am which works perfectly to get things finished in the morning before we need to be out the door for Madeleine's volleyball camp at 11am.

I love my little sleepers!