A Sleep Story

Once upon a time there was a 22 month old boy named Barrett. He was a terrible sleeper. For naps, we had to hold his hand through the slats in the crib. Before we graduated to the crib we had to take him for walks in the stroller, drives in the car, or rock him and rock him in the infant car seat. When we transitioned to the crib, he would cry unless you were holding his hand. Sometimes getting to sleep lasted for an hour or more. It was rough.

Then one day, I decided to just let him go to sleep on his own. He was 21 months old, seemed capable and ready so we tried it. I gave him 2 pacifiers, told him to cuddle up and that I wouldn't be back in to give the pacifiers back if he threw then out of the crib and then left.

He cried for 15 minutes, then fell asleep. This same process repeated for several days. Now, with minimal crying, he goes down for a nap. He sleeps for 1-3 hours and (usually) wakes up rested.

Then one day, about a half a month ago, he slept through the night. THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! This folks was the second time EVER in his 21.5 months. Since then, I would say we have had 5-8 nights where he has slept through the night. Let me sit back and say that again. 5-8 nights where he slept through the night....ah. Magical words with a wonderful ring. Through...the...night.

No sleep training.

No cry it out.

(Don't worry, I am a mom of two boys 19 months apart. I don't judge ANY parenting decision, we are all just surviving)

But here's my take on the matter anyway.

Some kids are just poor sleepers. Maybe they are hungry, scared, hot, cold, startle easy...whatever. So because Johnny over there sleeps through the night from the get go and Jimmy doesn't...well it's the luck of the draw. In my opinion, sleep training doesn't work. If your kid is like mine and is a CRAPPY sleeper, they will remain that way until they are ready to be a good sleeper. Who knows what caused the switch. That's like trying to figure out why some kids wet the bed for a long time and why some kids don't. Biology. I never sleep trained Barrett and honestly, I can almost guarantee it would not have worked. For whatever reason, Biologically he wasn't ready to sleep "through the night." And as his mom, I just had to deal with it. (It was hard).

Enter baby 2. Mr. Gentry. He sleeps great at 2.5 months. Like really super great. If he would have been my first the moms in mom groups would have HATED me because I would have been like, what's the big deal? Just put them down (not swaddled or anything) and they will sleep really well. Gentry wakes up 1 time per night and sometimes max 3. And no swaddle, no arms wrapped around my neck co-sleeping, no super crying. Wake. Eat. Sleep. Instant. The good news for all moms is that I got my reality check on sleep with Barrett. Oh boy did I ever.

Like I said. Biology. Not sleep training. Not parenting style. Not genetics. Individual kids are individually different. With individually different problems.

But anyway - the end of my story is BARRETT HAS SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT SEVERAL TIMES!!!!!! CAN I GET A WHAT WHAT!!!!!!!!!!

Backyard - Then and Now (progress)

A lot will change with our backyard over the next several months, especially with the addition of the shop and (hopefully) either a greenhouse/playhouse/or garden shed in the ugly area by the garden. However, I was trolling through the blog here and found this picture from 2008 of our backyard. Below it is a picture standing in the same spot. 

It has come a long way. 

I need to do a better side by side because the one i have of today was taken as the sun was going down with lots of shadows. Once the shop is built, all the "stuff" you see at the bottom wont be sitting around at the bottom of the property which will be sooo nice. 

Changes include new garden beds, removal of chain link fence, update gravel road, remove plants and re-grade the yard, new deck, new patio with fire pit, new walkway along fence (also new), removal of a ton of blackberries, addition to tons of trees plants and flowers, paver path, bark, etc. So much has been done and yet, there is still a lot to go...