Sleep School

School is in session at our house...sleep school that is. I had the idea that mommy would be the teacher and baby would be the student. It's a rookie mistake, right?


I tried for a week and a half to get Carter to sleep 10 hours at night without waking and take 2 naps during the day, lasting 1.5-2 hours each. We were both pretty miserable and exhausted during those days and nights! Plus he came down with a cold, which just made everything harder for the little guy to deal with. And lots more crying for me to deal with. It got to the point where I would feel sick to my stomach as naptime approached. Not good!


So yesterday, I just gave up. Really, I said a prayer (OK, many prayers) and gave it over to God. And wouldn't you know things have been so relaxed around our house. Carter even slept for about 11.5 hours last night without making a sound!! (I slept for almost 7 hours without waking up myself.) Now he is an hour into his first nap of the day without waking. Can you tell I am one relieved mama? I am good student and I have learned my lesson.



Here is a happy baby after a full night's sleep...

Our litle fish

Whether it's bathtime or we're in the pool, Carter loves the water! Trey took him under for the first time this weekend. I was too scared to help, so I thought I would take a little video to commemorate the moment no matter how it turned out. Watch out Michael Phelps...here comes Carter Barnes!

PS Thank you to everyone who gave me day care tips...keep 'em coming.

Big Week

This has been a big, busy week for little Carter.

Sunday - swimming and dinner at the Jackson's with the Germanas and Jill

Monday - Carter is 5 months old today! (He would not sit still for a good photo, so you get the 2 above from that day.) Met Dale's sister and dinner at Grammy and Poppa's. We stayed too late.

Tuesday - visiting some freinds in the Rec Center at 1st Pres (church) and checking out the nursery situation for Mommy's Bible Study

Wednesday - Spent a cranky day at home, Mommy went to join the Y in the evening!

Thursday - Carter's very first day in a daycare-type place. He has never been with a sitter other than family or with other kids. Mommy was nervous, but Carter did great! The ladies in the nursery loved him...said he was very sweet and so cute sucking his thumb.

Friday- We'll meet Kirsten, Matthew, Carole, and Paige for coffee and a walk on Park Ave. Then see Shea for a little bit afterwards.

Whoa, I really packed this week with lots of activity!

Wanted to comment about the nursery at the Church and get some feedback from my mommy friends...

What do I really need to take for Carter? I took 2 of his favorite toys, but when I went to pick him up, another kid was carrying one of them around and they had to find the 2nd toy. Now I feel like I need to boil them before giving them back to my baby! He doesn't really need his own toys there, right? Also, I was a little concerned that I saw one child hitting another (not Carter) and nobody seemed to notice or do anything about it even though the one getting hit was crying. Should I say something or ask about it? There were 2 care-givers in the room with 2 babies and 2 toddlers - all 16 mos or younger.

Please post a comment or send me an email about your childcare experiences, what I need to pack in Carter's bag, and what to do when I see something I'm concerned about. Thanks - R

Too busy to blog

I guess I'm not really a very good blogger...like you hadn't noticed! I am not actually too busy, blogging isjust not that high on the prioroty list these days. When Carter naps or is playing by himself here are the things I usually choose over blogging:

Washing bottles and pump parts
Taking a shower
Eating
Cathching up on shows I've DVR'd (I would need a week or two without a baby to catch up completely)
Making phone calls - lately it's been to our health insurance...I'm still trying to figure out the bills from March/April when Carter was born, UGH!
Checking and replying to email

My goal was to post once a week. So I'm going to set aside one day a week that I will post something even if it's "I don't have time to write anything good today." Hopefully that will get me in the habit and I will start to get more regular for all you blog watchers!