Sheep

"He leads them and they follow because they are familiar with his voice. They won't follow a stranger's voice but will scatter because they aren't used to the sound of it."

-John 10:4-5

Read this today and it made me glad to know that we are made to follow our Shepherd's voice and that we won't follow other voices. God is good.

First Sentence & Other Accomplishments

"Momma errand run."-Chloe (20 months)

Slept 7:45pm-5am with a dream feed at 11pm & a dummy re-plug at 4am: Claire (4 months)

Notable tactics:

Toddler

*Converse with toddler at mealtimes, asking questions, recounting her day, leaving space for her to talk.

*Use puppets who only know how to say "yes." They are her instant, at-home friends and she wants to do what they want to do.

*Initiate a snack or activity with toddler such as play dough or coloring in the highchair before settling newborn for sleep. Keeps the newborn's sleep area quiet and decreases toddler's irritability surrounding all the attention baby requires at that time.

*I use a hand stamp as a reward for cooperative tooth brushing as it was an area of struggle for us for her to let me brush her teeth. It can be useful for other struggles, too.


New Born

*It is true that you can lay baby down sleepy but not asleep. I wait for that first slow blink when she's pretty settled. I did not learn that with my firstborn and am glad to know it with my 4 month old. She may grizzle for up to 15 minutes off and on, but eventually gets to sleep without all the rocking/bouncing/etc.

*I find that at 4 months she goes to sleep easier at night if she's gone to sleep in her bed each time all day. If she's been out in the car seat then transitioning to the bassinet isn't as easy.

Sleep Deprived Moment

We all have 'em. Mine came while showering. I reached for my face soap,
filled my hands, applied to face, only to realize I'd lathered up my skin with
Pantene conditioner. Nice. Creamiest scrub I've ever experienced. Hope
my pores survive it!

3 Months 3 Weeks and here's her schedule:

7AM Awake/Feed
9AM Sleep
10AM Awake/Feed
12PM Sleep
1 PM Awake/Feed
2PM Sleep
4PM Awake/Feed
5:30PM Sleep
6:30PM Awake/Feed
7:00PM Bedtime

10:00PM Feed
2:00AM Feed
5:00AM Feed
7:00AM Feed

Perhaps the conditioned skin is now understandable.