Crocodile Dundee Impersonation

Sophie can do a good Crocodile Dundee impersonation.

5 Nights of Sleep Training

Problem: Sophie does not know how to go to sleep without someones assistance (ie. rocking, nursing, soothing). Sophie wakes up multiple times a night, wanting our attention, nursing with mom, and often ends up in our bed at 2/3/4am. All in all, mom & dad are left exhausted in the morning, with interupted and inconsistent sleep.

Resolution: 5 nights of sleep training directed from clinical studies. Now we've read all this in multiple books in the past months, and even started to do it with some success, then with regression back to the problem described above. Once and for all, we needed to create a habit for all three of us that results in quality sleep for all three of us.

Results:
Night 1: 5.30pm Dinner routine with solid food, followed by bath routine, change, pjs, and last nurse from mom. 7pm hits the crib with dad. Leave the room. Crying ensues. Checks at 2, 5, 10, then 15 min. intervals not staying for any longer than 5 seconds for quick reassurance. Minimal physical contact to allow Sophie to learn to put herself back down to sleep. Crying for 45 min. or so. 1.30am wake up, crying for 1 hour straight. 4am wake up, crying for 45 min. 6.30am wake up. Up for good, Goodmorning!
Night 2: Sleep at 7pm, wake at 1am again for 45 min., wake at 4am for 30 min.
Night 3: Slept 11 hours straight, 7-6am
Night 4: One small waking and put herself back to sleep
Night 5: Slept 11 hours and 20 min. straight!
Night 6: 11 hours.

Done.

When a Baby Claps Does Anybody Hear?

Playdate

M's Moms group, had a baby Xmas "play date" last week. I heard it went well. However after lining the guests up on the couch for a little Xmas photo shoot, it sounds like the date was over, especially for Sophie - take look ;)

My meeting with Santa Clause

Sophie met Santa Clause today at Cloverdale mall. She was all dressed up in her red christmas dress that Debbie bought her, and with silver shoes. Sophie was fascinated with Santa's big white beard right away and just looked up at him, gazing in amazement! Who is this guy!?

Talking, Eating, Sleeping

Sophie is approaching 9 months. She holds onto furtinure with one hand and turns around smiling very impressed with herself.

She deliberatley makes sounds, like "baa!" out of nowhere talking like she is trying to say something.

Sophie trys to climb up on things. She hasn't gotten very far yet, but we do have baby gates in the waiting should she soon discover how to climb stairs.

Sophie is lately taking a notice in dogs and cats. She watches them very closely when seen walking on the street.

7 Month Update

Wow, it has been a long time since this blog has been updated. Life has been so busy with work, keeping the house, and the two ladies in it happy. Work on the house includes getting our shower faucets changed to a modern on that works, and then re-tiling the 50 year old tile to seal things back up again. New windows, getting a new roof soon, and doing some insulation work in our garage to keep the rooms above it toasty warm.

Below are a few pictures of Sophie. Lately she is crawling forward with strength and direction, usually to some fixture where she can now PULL herself up to standing position. Now she likes to STAND anywhere she can, and however she can get to this position. Pulling up on a couch, some boxes, a chair, someone's body, anything goes. Just get me standing: