The Day...

Lina<3, you had a good day today. Your scheduled included, breakfast, playtime at home, went to playground, snack time, playtime, lunch, nap time, snack time, playtime, dinner, playtime, and bedtime.

You slept in late, as you were up very early in the morning. It was nice outside with a lot of sunshine, and less wind. Therefore, it was a good to to go the playgrounds and play. You love being outside, but at the playground, it was not so much fun. First of all, there was no other children at the playgrounds for you to watch. Second, the swing was not fun after a while. Third, you cried a lot after being placed down on the ground for you to encourage you to walk around. I tried chasing you around but you did not want to move at all from where you were standing, and just wanted to cry until you were picked. Fourthly, tried sliding down the slide, but that's did not stop your fussiness. Before going home, you had some snacks, and you were less fussy.

At home, you had your lunch but did not eat much of it. Mommy had made you chopped up beans with taco seasoning in it with brown rice. It had been three days of eating the beans and rice, and still, you do not eat much of it. You do not take more than a few bites. So Mommy gave your sweet potato, pumpkin, apples, and blueberries pouch instead from Ella's Kitchen (organic food) and you ate it all, as well as sucked the pouch dry. Of course, with your meals, there is milk. After burping, it was time to sleep.

The before and after nap routine is always the same wipe down, moisturize, diaper changed (if need to), and cleaned, brush hair and teeth (if need to); and sit on the potty chair for you to urinate. You slept for two hours.

When you woke up, you had some snacks, water and then it was dinnertime after some playtime. You had curry chicken with white rice for dinner and you loved it. The entire meal was gone, and that has not happen in a while. There was little to no fussing when it come eating tonight but there was a lot of mess. You like to eat rice on your own and feed yourself.

Playtime involved you playing with everything else but your toys.  There's the magazines, the newspapers, the kitchen utensils, pots and pans, and the computer. When Daddy or I try to take any of those things listed away from you, you get very frustrated and upset, and there's a lot of crying (tears streaming down your cheeks).

Bedtime was a little harder. The routine is the same as for nap time. You did not fall asleep easily, there was a lot of crying, and fussiness. After letting you cry it out for a while, Mommy checked on you, played with you, rocked you, and nursed you. Then you finally fell asleep.

There was some scratching through the day but that appears to be normal and it does not seem like you were itchy. Besides some occasional crying and fussiness, it was an overall good day.

Teething and Up for Hours

Lina<3, you have eight teeth in your mouth so far. Last night was terrible for you, you were up from 1am to 4am. It was very hard for you to go back to sleep, as Mommy had tried everything, from nursing, diaper changed, moisturizing, drinks of water, picking you up, rocking you, playing with you, bring you to my bed to play, bring you back you to your crib to play and let you cry it out. It was a cycle that was repeated at least four times during the three hours you were up. You cried, and cried, played a little and scratched a lot (good thing that you had the ScratchMeNot mittens on). The only things that was comforting to you was a pick up, and constant nursing (but that does not seem satisfying either, due to the fact that Mommy's milk supply appeared to be low). You also liked it when Mommy rubbed your gums, as it kept you from fussing. By the fourth time of nursing, moisturizing, drinking water, rocking you, playing with you in my bed and in your crib; you were ready to sleep. You were nursed for the fourth time in three hours, went back to your crib, and you slept with your bear bear (that's what Mommy calls your teddy bear) in your arms. Off to sleep you went for five hours (slept til 10am).

Another Bad Night...

Another couple of hours during the night time where you refused to go back to sleep on your own. I just do  not understand.
You went sleep after 8:30pm and slept until 2am. 2am, changed your diaper, cleaned you up, nursed you, and back to your crib you went. Slept for 15mins and then was up again, this time you did not go to sleep even after Mommy patted your back, and rubbed your head. So thought a change of scenery might help and into Mommy's bed you go, played, climbed, and tugged at Mommy's shirt for breast milk. Back to your crib you went after 3am, and slept for 15 minutes, up, and cried loudly. Mommy waited a while to check in on you. After 4am, you came to Mommy's bed, nursed and slept til 7am.

I do not understand why you are unable to fall back to sleep on your own. It can not be because your tummy is empty and you are hungry. Could it be the drastic change in temperature, as a few days ago it was in the 40s, yesterday was in the 60s? Could it be your eczema symptoms bothering you? What is the reason? hmm...

Bad Night...

Ahh! go to sleep. You had a terrible last night, from 12am to 3am. Woke up and refused to go back to sleep. Did not want to sleep at all, although Mommy could tell you were exhausted. You managed to stay up for three longggg hours.
12 am, you woke up, Mommy went to check on you, changed your diaper and cleaned you up, nursed, and slept for 10mins. Woke up again, but Mommy waited a while to check in on you, hoping that you will fall back to sleep by yourself like you usual do around this time. Cried for almost 30minutes, but it was not hysterical or loud, it was a "eh, eh" cry, that is not suppose to last long or so Mommy thought. Went to check on you again after 1am, you were still lying down, cried, unable to fall back to sleep on your own, and scratched your head, thighs, and ankles a lot. Picked you up and brought to you Mommy's bed, you played, tossed and turned, and rolled over; climbed on Daddy and I; and screamed, smiled, and giggled. Brought you back to your crib after 30minutes of play, hoping that it will tired you out. Yes, you were laid down on your crib, patted your back, shushed you, rubbed your head and you drifted off. For five minutes only, you were up, cried out loud, and did not stop for a long time, as Mommy did not want to check on you right away, hoping that you will fall back to sleep on your own. Went to check on you. Changed your pjs, as it seemed like it made you hot and itchy, but did not relieve the scratching at all. So Mommy wiped you down completely with a damp cloth and moisturized your entire body from head to toe, hoping that it will cool your body down and bring back moisture to your skin so you will be less itchy. Thank goodness for the ScratchMeNot mittens, otherwise you would be covered in blood and scratch marks from all the scratching. After moisturizing and playing with you in your crib, Mommy patted your back, shushed you and hoped you go to sleep and left the room. Five minutes later, you were up again, argh. You came to Mommy's bed to sleep, no more playtime, as you were so tired. You managed to sleep next to Daddy and I, after Mommy's constant rubbing of head, rubbing belly, and pats on back. Slept finally after 3am to after 7am (then it was time to get up for the day).

Sleeping Better during Nap Times and Bedtime

It has been a long time since Mommy had wrote about your sleeping habits. You are sleeping better...yay! Applause please! lol.
Nap times, you sleep for about two to three hours at a time. Majority of the time, you have two naps throughout the day, one in the late morning and one middle afternoon, depending on what time you wake up in the mornings. Sometimes it is easy to put you to sleep without a nursing right before. Other times it is a struggle, and those times you cry it out but it does not last more than a few minutes. Tried experimenting with one nap during the nap and it did not work too well.
Lina<3, you are still not sleeping through the night, but you are sleeping more than two to three hours at a time. Some nights you sleep for four to six hours straight and that means Mommy feeding you only once a night. Night time nursing had gone from three to five times a night to one to three times a night. Your bedtime routine is more consistent, and almost around the same time every night. You are learning to fall back to sleep on your own, even if it means hearing you cry a little, and hearing you play with your toys on your crib before falling back to sleep by yourself. Falling back to sleep by yourself can sometimes take a few minutes or it can take up to almost an hour and as long as you are not hysterically crying, Mommy tend to let you do what you need to do.

Mommy is glad that Lina<3 did okay with the crying it out method even though it was hard to heard you cry and I hope that it was not too dramatic for you, (probably not, right?). I am still hoping that you will sleep through the night soon but for time being, Mommy will deal with whatever you throw my way, so to speak.

Lina's Minimalistic Bedroom

Lina<3 you finally have your own room :) Yay!! Daddy and I are sadden that you will not in the same room with us (you had slept with us for 10 months), and happy that you have your own room. Although you may not be in the same room with Daddy and I, you must know that we are never too far away from you, and always a whimper away, lol. We are equip to hear your every squeals, cries, screams, giggles, and laughter through the baby monitor.

The room is not very decorative, but it is sufficient enough because all you really need is a crib to sleep in; an area for your toys, books, diapers, and moisturizers; drawers to put your clothes in; and a mirror for you to see yourself, and wave to yourself. I doubt that you notice the lack of embellishments in your room as long as you can play with your toys, and a mirror to look at.

Your first night in your own last night was worrisome for Mommy because I wanted to know that you were okay behind the closed door. Mommy managed to peeked in on you once and you did not wake up. I had hope that you would sleep well and not be afraid when you wake up in the middle of the night and not see Mommy next to you. You slept four hours straight, and then another five hours after a waking up and a feeding.

With your own room, Daddy and I hope that you will sleep better on your own, and sleep through the night.

Simply Adorable

My little Lina <3 is just simply adorable and I love watching you sleep. Yes, you can be a handful, and a little trouble-maker, but you are my handful daughter, and my little trouble-maker.  These last few nights, we had given you cereal in a bottle as your last meal, and as the second night, so far so good and hoping for the best :) And you do not fall asleep easily, it takes an hour for you to fall asleep, we played on my bed, you fell asleep and was transfer into your crib.
Once you fall asleep on my bed, I took a long look at my daughter and just watch you sleep which I love to do ever since you were born. Lately, I have not watched you sleep and I realize tonight how adorable you still are and always been. I noticed how cute it was when you toss and turn, and stuck your buttocks in the air. I wondered what you are dreaming about, and hoped that you are not having any bad thoughts or dreams. I giggled to myself softly as your facial expressions changes. I told you in a whisper that I love you very much and more than you can ever imagine. You are my baby, my daughter, my heart, my soul, my reason for living... Daddy feels the same way. Daddy and I love you very much and more than words can ever be express. Sweet dreams, my Lina <3

Sleepy Time

Lina <3 does not sleep through the night. She have not slept through the night since we came home from the hospital seven months ago. There are some good and bad nights, where she'll sleep soundly and others where she wakes up in the middle of the night screaming her head off.

Lina's <3 sleep habit is poor. In the beginning, she would sleep well, and longer periods of time. A couple of months after, she would wake up in the middle of the night screaming, and refuse to go back to sleep even after constantly rocking, walking back and forth the hallways, singing lullabies, and diaper change. We co-sleep with Lina's little bed (first years co sleeper) that would sit on top of our bed between us, so that we can keep a close eye on you. Later, you would sleep on my arms which made sleeping a little easier for all of us.

Now, you have your own crib. Half the time you would sleep in it and the other half you slept in
Mommy's arms. I still breast feed at nighttime through the night, while laying down, which Lina <3 grew accustom to because you would wake up crying and I would feed you. To this day, you have a very hard time falling asleep. Scream, scream, scream, and more screams! (Ahhh Mommy wants to sleep too.) Boy! can you scream. I tried to let you scream and cry til you fall asleep and it breaks my heart (and Daddy's). I feel so helpless that I could not do more to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. At times, you could fall asleep easily and stay asleep for a couple of hours. The good thing that you are learning to do, is fall asleep by yourself sometimes by you wake up in the middle of the night. The best nights for you are when you would sleep for three or four hours at a time (I love those nights!). 

Sleepy time is not only beneficial to Mommy and Daddy (because we'll be able to catch a break) but it is extremely good for you, for your development, and growth.  Most of the websites about babies' sleep habits states that you should be sleeping through the night, but I guess those websites were not talking about my little Lina <3 lol. I did not get that memo. I am hoping that you will out grow this and sleep better. And if you do not, it is okay and you'll be sleeping with Daddy and I.

Please comment if you have any suggestions/advice about sleepy time for Lina <3 Thank you.