Sleeping Arrangements

Before Gabriel arrived, I had planned on having him sleep in his bassinet for the first few months, then eventually move him to his crib around month 2, before I returned to work.  I did not want him sleeping in our bed, for many reasons.  Mostly, I thought that once I returned to work, mornings would be easier on both him and I if he wasn't awakened when I got up to shower.  He could set his own schedule.

I guess he had other plans though, as it often goes.  Just like the dogs, he quickly trained me.  Before I knew it, I was waking up to a little man nestled next to me.  And I loved it!  I could smell his head forever.  Turns out, it is much easier to get sleep when breastfeeding if when he awakes in his bassinet, you just put him in bed with you to feed, and then you both fall sweetly to sleep.  I was catching up on my zzz's and falling more and more in love with my guy.  Kirk, on the other hand, was becoming closer with the couch.

So my parenting skills were sucking, I was caving, and letting him have his way.  The pediatrician quickly pointed out the errors of my ways yesterday at our check up.  First let me say how proud I am of the little man for gaining almost 3 pounds in 3 weeks!  My breast milk rocks.  But the doc was quick rain on my parade by pointing out how having Gabriel sleep in the bed with me was not only unsafe, but probably causing both of us to sleep less sound.  I knew he was right, so last night I was bound and determined to have the kid sleep in his own bed. 

We started off around 11:00, late because he was actually sleeping with Kirk on the sofa.  So I fed him, burped him, cuddled him, and put him in his bassinet.  He fell asleep for maybe 10 minutes, and then woke crying.  I picked him up, rocked and soothed him, and then tried again.  Same routine.  The only break we had was the feedings that occurred every two hours.  I swear he only slept for about 45 minutes between the hours of 3:45 and 8:30.  I slept almost none.  But surprisingly, I didn't get frustrated.  Kirk eventually came in after some nice peaceful zzz's on the sofa, and took care of Gabriel so I could get a couple of hours of rest.  Luckily, we didn't have any plans today so we were able to chill.  We took a short walk, the first with both of the dogs, and it went really well.  Afterwards, we watched Love and Other Drugs, which sucked. 

Hard work paid off though, because he didn't sleep in my bed at all.  Wish us luck tonight.