Sleep Training Update

Heading out to Easter Brunch 2014

So it has been roughly 7 months since we began sleep training Sloane at 8 months. We used the Sleep Lady Method, with our own little tweaks that worked for our family.

So from her 8th month thorough her 15th month we would hold/cuddle with Sloane until she was drowsy, but not completely asleep before putting her in her bed. We now thought it was time to transition into putting Sloane down fully awake, and she would then put herself to sleep.

We didn't change our nightly routine: bath, story, prayers, cuddles with MaMa, then cuddles with PaPa, who would then put her down to sleep in her bed. The BIG change was PaPa would only cuddle/hold Sloane for 5 minutes, place her in her bed wide awake, then leave the room.

So....Sloane did AWESOME!

The first night she fussed for only 30 minutes, and we did check-ins at 10 and 15 minute intervals. For naps it was the same thing. By the second week, we had no fussing at nap-time or bedtime.

YES! Points for MaMa and PaPa!

We did have some regression, which is to be expected at the third/fourth week mark, and also due to teething. Sloane has been teething NON-STOP since she was 4 months! She already has her first set of molars.

However, with all of that being said, Sloane has REALLY done well! We are pleased with our approach to sleep training our little Sugar Foot!

Sloane is also on a new nap schedule. She only naps once a day for two hours, typically 12-2 p.m. Her bedtime is still the same; roughly 6:45 p.m., and she is normally asleep by 7:00 p.m., with a wake time between 7-7:30 a.m.

So this method worked for Team Sharp!

My advice to ALL parents is to ALWAYS do what works best for your family! Read ALL the books and then you can tweak/alter the method to suit your child.

For us, the less Sloane cries herself to sleep the BETTER!

Every child NEEDS a structured routine, as do parents. However, the key is to follow your heart and do what is best for your family to bring and maintain peace and love to your home, along with a GOOD 10-12 hours of sleep for your precious little one.

There is NOTHING but Peace, Love and continued Blessings for Team Sharp's household.

Forever I am...Sloane’s Mommy

Discovery

Her future is SO Bright she has to wear shades indoors!

Sloane continues to bring pure joy to our daily lives. It is a challenge being a stay at home Mom, and it is the HARDEST job I have ever done! I totally understand why women who work at home, because it is a JOB, still need a Nanny AND a housekeeper every now and then!

I am responsible for "entertaining" and teaching my child her necessary skills to grow and mature on a daily basis. Let me tell you, it can get a tad bit boring at times! I never thought I would spend my days watching a 13 month old eat their breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, with the sole purpose of making sure she does not choke! Lol! But here I AM!

I wouldn't have it any other way! I want Sloane to always look to her MaMa and PaPa for ALL things that she needs, not another care giver. So, though I am bored at times, I am so HAPPY that I am at home with my little Sugar!

Now that Sloane is fully walking on her own, she is into ALL that she can get her little hands on! We need to go back and TRULY baby proof this house! I'm just worried that her vocabulary will be limited to 5 words/phrases!

1. NO!
2. STOP!
3. DANGEROUS!
4. BE CAREFUL!
5. Sloane, where are YOU?!?!

However, it is so FUN watching her little eyes and hands explore the simple things in the world that we as adults take for granted. Seeing things through a child's eyes is truly AMAZING.....

Cheers to discovery and the adventures of being Sloane's Mommy!

This discovery stuff can be tiring!

Forever I am...Sloane’s Mommy

12 Month Candids

Our little reindeer helping with the decorations.

Getting used to the Christmas Tree.

Ok. It can stay!

Ummm....Header Gone WRONG! 

She Loves her peas!

PaPa's cleaning helper.

She didn't want him to put her down while he vacuumed the room. So...

Wait Mama let me fix my bow!

My sweet little Sugar!

Joyeux Premier Anniversaire!

WOW!

WOW!

WOW!

I cannot believe that our little girl is already a year old! Where did the time go! It seems like only yesterday I was holding this little six pound Blessing in my arms at the hospital...and up every two hours for breastfeeding!

Now she is 12 months old, a year old...walking, talking, letting us know her true likes and dislikes! It is AMAZING! I wouldn't change one event over this past year. Even the nights with sleep issues due to teething, sleeping in the bed with her parents, sleep training (Oh what a time!), not wanting to take naps, I wouldn't trade any of it! I am so happy I was there for EVERY moment! Literally!

We didn't do the normal first big birthday party, which is really for the parents. Instead I had the babies and their Mom's over that were in our parent support group for a light lunch and cupcakes for the Mom's. They played and we ended with a hilarious photo and sang "Happy Birthday" to Sloane.

I am so happy we had this type of party for Sloane. I read in Parent Magazine, that the best "First Birthday" parties should be limited in numbers. Though I had envisioned the typical large, grandiose party for Sloane, I'm happy we took this route. It was PERFECT!

Later that evening once Ash arrived home from work, Sloane had her "smash" cupcake session. Let me tell you it was even messier than her professional photo session, and definitely FUN for her!
Afterwards, we literally put her directly in the bathtub!

Happy First Birthday Sloane! We Love you You Beaucoup!

Forever I am...Sloane’s Mommy

11 Month Candid Shots

Papa's starting her early! Oh Goodness!

Helping Mommy fold my clothes

Hey, I can read these books!

Yummy Cherrios!

Carrot sticks are a hit!

Sloane STANDS for Beyonce!

Uh-Oh Papa….Sloane has her eyes on your iPad

Knocked out on Papa...

Let's Geaux!

Heureux Anniversaire 11 Mois Sloane!

Look at our Big Girl!

So, Sloane is now 11 months old, and is on the Geaux! She is crawling, walking with her walker, standing almost on her own, and so independent! We just LOVE Her!

She now has her own space besides her bedroom. We decided to turn the spare bedroom into her play room. This allowed us to move her toys from the living room, and give her a safe space to crawl around and play with all of her toys. She loves it and so do we!

She continues to eat well, and it is fun exploring new foods with her. She has now had dry Cherrios cereal, cooked carrot sticks, blueberries, and she LOVES her mini rice cake snacks! She does well with drinking her water on a daily basis, and she can now drink from a straw! She only breast feeds 3 times a day now. She will have her fist cup of whole milk when she turns one, and I hope she likes it and it likes her!

Sloane now has 6 teeth, with two more bottom teeth coming in as I type this blog entry. With this round of teething we had some yucky diapers (which is not fun with cloth diapers!!), beaucoup slobbering, as well as little dry areas around her mouth that would turn red from all of the saliva. However, she has not been in as much pain, and we sure hope that continues!

In regards to sleep, Sloane has done very well! We did have a minor set back due to her having her first little cold. Our poor baby was so congested, and Mommy and Daddy were sick as well. It was a rough two weeks for Team Sharp, but Sloane pushed through and she is back to sleeping in bed instead of in Daddy's or Mommy's arms in her rocking chair.

Finally, in her 11 month Sloane threw her first tantrum. Mommy was not happy about this at all and was shocked that her sweet little girl who is in a home filled with so much happiness and love would do such a thing! Well she did… and Mommy handled it with some good old fashion love and discipline. Tears were shed by both, and both survived. Daddy did as well =)

We are looking forward to celebrating Sloane's First Thanksgiving, and especially her birthday next month!

Forever I am...Sloane’s Mommy

Sloane's Football Teams

Football is BIG for Team Sharp! We are raising Sloane properly! Look at our baby cheer for OUR Teams. Win or Lose we are Proud Hokies, Saints and Redskins. Sooooo.....

Let's Go Hokies!

Who Dat!

#HTTR!

Forever I am...

Sloane’s Mommy