Napping News and More

Finally. Officially. I am pretty kind of almost completely certain that Sawyer and I have an understanding and agreement about naptime. After the recent post where I proclaimed loud and proud that I conquered the naptime struggle, Sawyer decided to laugh in my face and back pedal a couple of steps. It's all good now, though.

Steps to getting Sawyer to nap successfully:
1. wait until he's REALLY REALLY REALLY tired
2. wait a little bit longer
3. mmmmm.. maybe you might want to give it another couple of minutes
4. change his diaper (this step is optional depending on last diaper change)
5. feed him
6. give him pacifier
7. if he still seems to have much too much energy, sit with him for a few minutes in his nursery and allow him to zone out. (no talking, no toys, just quiet resting and cuddling)
8. place him in crib
9. give him stuffed animal
10. kiss him on forehead.
11. If he doesn't even glance at you as you back away - you are golden. If his eyes frantically follow you out of the room you most likely messed up somewhere in steps 1-10 and are in for a rough time.

Today I messed up on steps 1 through 3, and then didn't use the failsafe number 7 so for the first time in at least a week and a half my first attempt at naptime was a big FAIL. You know what, though? I did not assume the fetal position on the floor, curse angrily at the cruel world, or shed tears of frustration. I simply let him watch some tv with me hoping he would zone out sufficiently, but when he started smiling and giggling at me I realized something was amiss and Sawyer was not quite ready for naptime. So he played on the floor for awhile until we finally achieved steps 1-3 and I could go through the entire process once again. (this time he was absolutely exhausted and the process worked like a charm)

In other amazing sleeping baby news, Sawyer no longer sleeps in a pack-n-play next to our bed at night. I was keeping him in the room because though he hasn't woken up for feedings in the middle of the night in months, he still tosses and turns and moans when his pacifier falls out. Having him next to me allowed me to quickly place it back in his mouth so that he could roll over and fall back to sleep without ever really waking. I feared that having him down the hallway would mean I would be jumping out of bed in the middle of the night.  I finally just bit the bullet and put him in the other room, though, and it is going just fine. I have had to get out of bed on a few occassions, but generally he is able to find the misplaced pacifier on his own and put himself back to sleep. I don't go in unless he starts crying (which is so rare in the middle of the night that it actually warrants an immediate reaction) or moans and groans for so long that I just take pity on him. He's adjusting remarkably well, though, and I am super happy to have taken two big steps in the right direction these past two weeks.

My parents arrive in San Diego on Saturday, and I just Can. Not. Wait. for them to see Sawyer! No one in either of our families has seen him since he was one month old, and they are all in for such a pleasant surprise when they finally see him again. He is already so full of personality and charm at only 6 months. We are truly blessed.