Sleep Training

My way of sleep training has absolutely NOTHING to do with letting the baby cry herself to sleep. I know many, many parents who swear by this method, but it goes against every instinct I have as a mother, and I tend to trust my instincts.
My "sleep training" involves making night and day VERY different for TT (I did the same for Boo). Nighttime is always in the crib, feedings always in the rocker in her room. It's dark with very little interaction. Daytime is always more relaxed. Feedings, naps, etc happen where ever they happen. It's not always dark or quiet. I truly believe this helps them sleep through the night sooner. Both my girls slept 7-8 hours in a row by 3 months. I mention this because at 4 am, TT was laughing and smiling at me, and it was VERY hard to not smile right back. She was just being so yummy!
Also note, however, that I'm not bragging about my bedtime methods. My problem lies with when they reach the age of manupulation... I had to stay in Boo's room until she fell asleep, often laying on the floor and dozing off myself. Bedtime became a real issue for Boo once she stopped nursing at 16 months, partially because I allowed her to nurse herself to sleep, and lasted until her 2nd birthday. A mistake I hope not to repeat with TT.
TT does things differently than Boo, and doesn't often fall asleep while nursing. She does, however, want to be held while drifting off. I'm trying to follow the "experts" advice, and lay her down before she's fully asleep. It works most of the time. She also loves being swaddled, and the paci is a must right now for sleeping.

TT likes peas...

Can you imagine what

she'd look like if she

didn't like them??

My latest project...

So, years ago I bought a sewing machine, never having used one in my life, but having hand-sewn a few things (my Little Mermaid costume being my most memorable). Turns out it's not so difficult, and I made a door snake to keep the draft out of TT's room. Boo wanted a snake of her own, so I modified the design a little, and made her a bean bag snake. Now I'm starting a project I wanted to make when I first bought the machine. I've been saving special pieces of Boo's baby clothes and am making a quilt. It will be years in the making, with the finished project being something I can send off to college with her (FYI, I've started saving TT's, too, so don't think she'll be left out). Here are a few of the unfinished panels. Other things that will be added include her "I love Troy" shirt, her "I'm a big sister" shirt, etc. as she outgrows them. I have lots more to cut up and assemble that she's already outgrown, but it's working out pretty well, I think.

TT is 4 months old!

My little girl is growing up so fast. I feel like time is zooming by, and I am not ready to go back to work in less than 2 months. For some reason, it feels even harder this time, although I'm sure I'm just not remembering leaving Boo. Maybe it's because TT won't take a bottle, so I haven't even left her to go see a movie yet. Maybe it's because I know that once I'm back at work, my one-on-one time with her will be completely over, as Boo will be picked up from school at the same time I pick up TT. Maybe I just realize even more what I'll be missing.

I know I'm lucky to even get 6 months home with her. Too many people I know have to go back after the state-allowed 6 WEEKS! And I do love my job, even though I feel so incredibly disconnected from the classroom right now. I should feel less anxious, because we're leaving her with Boo at her daycare, and the people running it are like family. They've had Boo since she was 7 months old. They already love TT and hold and play with her when I pick up Boo. I don't know why I'm stressing about it now.

Edible Underwear

Hey, at least they were clean!

Car Seat Trouble SOLVED!!

TT would wail EVERY time I loaded her into the car... I tried everything! Loosening the straps, cushioning the straps, getting her a flashy, light-up remote control mirror, etc. What finally worked was when I discovered that her swaddling blanket was equiped with holes for her seat belt. Now she's happy as a clam every time we drive! Hurray!

Fuh-ood for thought

Here's a little phonics lesson from your friendly neighborhood teacher...
"M" does not go muh, it goes mmmmm.
Likewise, "B" does not go buh, "D" does not go duh, "C" and "K" do not go kuh, etc.

It's about isolating the sounds more. Let's use M as an example. Pay attention to your mouth as you say mmmmmm. See how your mouth stays closed through the whole sound? Now say muh. Your mouth opens at the end of the sound. Now think about words that have the M sound, but AREN'T followed by the short U. We don't say muh-oon. And how about words with M at the end? We say Tom, not To-muh.
Other sounds are harder to isolate. "H" is just a huff of breath. "C" and "K" are almost clicks of the tongue. Does it matter in the grand scheme of things? Probably not, but it makes it so much easier for early readers to sound out words. Which is why, although I'm so proud of my Boo for knowing letters and sounds, I cringe a little when she corrects me to tell me that "M" goes muh and NOT mmmm, because that's what she learned at preschool.