Just an update on his sleeping patterns...since everyone seems to be asking: "Is he sleeping through the night?" I'm beginning to think that people just don't know what to ask about a new baby other than how they're sleeping. (maybe because new babies don't really do much else?)
He slept for 7+ hours for 3 nights in a row! He goes to sleep @ 7 or 8, wakes up at around 4am (eats then goes back to sleep) and doesn't get up until 7am. On Wednesday, he didn't get up until 9am! Just as I began to think I was getting spoiled, he didn't go to sleep until 9pm and woke up twice last night (1am & 3am) and was up for good at around 6:45am... I'm definitely NOT complaining about this though since I know it could be way worse!
I am working on getting him on a rough schedule during the day that repeats the EAT. WAKE. SLEEP. pattern. I read that it works MUCH better to keep them awake following their feedings and so far this has worked WONDERFULLY.
My "typical day" (i.e. it's more like a goal for a typical day) goes something like this:
7am- wake-up, feed
7-8:30am- AWAKE time
8:30-10am- Nap
10am- feeding
10-12pm- AWAKE time
12-1pm- NAP
1pm- Feeding
1-2:30pm- AWAKE time
2:30-4pm- Nap
4pm- Feeding
4-7pm- AWAKE time
7pm-Feeding
7:30/8pm- BEDTIME
I'm reading two VERY different books on parenting techniques (pretty much two extremes on the spectrum). The first book I am reading is the Dr. Sears "The Baby Book", he is an advocate of Attachment Parenting. I like some of his philosophies but definitely not all of them. It seems like with his method the baby becomes the center of the family (everything revolves around baby) which is something Matt and I have decided is not the model we want for our family. The second book I'm reading "On Becoming Baby Wise" has really helped me organize our routine and I think has really helped Reuben know what to expect in his day. I don't agree with all of his philosophies, however. I think I'm finding Matt and I fall somewhere in between these two extremes... more on this as we further develop our parenting strategies! :)
I better get to bed now, Matt's asleep next to me on the couch and we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow! Garage sales, strawberries and gardening... oh my! :)
