OMG

Mr. CP put Baby CP down tonight...2-3 minutes of crying (more like whining) tops. UNFAIR! I guess it just means that Baby CP loves mommy best and can't bear to have her leave him alone...

Still Sleep Training

It's been another 5 nights of sleep training...Baby CP still needs to cry for about 7-8 minutes before falling asleep at bedtime.  When he wakes up for his middle of the night feeding, he can sometimes fall back asleep on his own in his crib with the seahorse after about 3 minutes (though once it took more like 15 min).  I was really hoping there would be more progress within a week, but I guess we'll keep trying for at least another week.

Today was the first time I had to put him down for a daytime nap, which I already knew would be harder because of the light.  Somehow, the nanny is able to get him to sleep in his crib during the week without crying.  Other times, we used to rely on things like planning walks with his stroller or the ergo or holding him at naptime.  I will have to have Mr. CP learn the nanny's secrets because Baby CP clearly will not let mommy leave him in his crib without sad eyes, outreaching arms asking to be taken out and eventual crying and screaming.  Today when I went into the room to turn on the seahorse music again he got even louder and angrier, so I ended up turning on our Logitech Squeezebox which plays lullabies through Pandora.

He just fell asleep...it took 6 minutes of whining and another 18 minutes of crying and screaming to get there...sigh...

25 Weeks Old

Today, Baby CP is 25 weeks old.  I had just spoken to Grandpa CP on Sunday and told him that no teeth had yet erupted only to find a bottom front tooth had poked through on Monday morning!  I felt it by sticking my finger in his mouth but it was hard to get a good look, because Baby CP will stick his tongue out if you put things in his mouth.  Mr. CP had the camera ready though and this distracted Baby CP long enough to get a shot, albeit a blurry one.  It looks like the second bottom front tooth will be coming in within the next couple days.  No wonder he's been EXTRA drooly the past few days.

I know it's impossible to see in this photo, but trust me, it's there (his bottom front left)

Ever since Baby CP was little, he's basically been nursed to sleep except when he went through a few short phases where other things would work:  pacifier, holding him, and singing to him.  He will fall asleep in the carseat and the ergo, but that's not something you want to be relying on regularly.  Also, since Baby CP hit 4 months old, he started waking up twice a night instead of once, which is tough to deal with now that I've gone back to work.  So, I decided that Mr. CP should sleep train him come mid-December. 

Despite those plans, Mr. CP decided that two nights ago at 5am was the right time to start training with a little cry it out.  I was not mentally prepared, and we didn't do it "by the book" as Baby CP was in our bed at the time.  Mr. CP wouldn't let me shush him or pat him or anything!  But since he was in our bed, at least he knew we were there and had not totally abandoned him.  I felt bad because Baby CP looked so sad.  He was crying and would reach for me and tried to touch my face and would roll over to me, but after about 15 minutes, he seemed to have tired himself out and fell asleep.

Last night, I put him in his crib and turned on the musical seahorse.  Baby CP cried for about 7 or 8 minutes and then got quiet.  I peeked in through a little crack that I left in the doorway and saw him watching the belly of the growing seahorse (though he did look sad) and when the light faded, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.

Poor guy doesn't look comfortable here.

In order to stay consistent, I placed Baby CP in his crib again tonight and turned on the seahorse.  He cried for about 6 or 7 minutes, then it got quiet and when I peeked in, he was asleep.

He rolled around a bit more tonight and ended up at the foot of his crib.

Although it took about the same amount of time for him to fall asleep two nights in a row, I think it's working.  I'm grateful that he isn't one of those babies that carries on for hours and I suspect that the fact that the nanny has been able to get him take his naps during the day have eased him into sleeping without me around to feed him.  I hope within a couple more nights, Baby CP can learn to fall asleep on his own so that the tears will be worth it.

5 Months Old

Today Baby CP got his second round of vaccines - 3 shots....I was expecting the worst since he cries much louder nowadays, but he really surprised me.  He didn't make a peep during the first shot though he whimpered a little afterwards.  He did start crying for the second and third, but not too loud and he stopped once the band-aids were put on.  He fell asleep on the way home like last time...I wonder how much discomfort he'll feel later.  Last time he was a bit needy for 2 days.

Baby CP weighed in at 18 lbs 3 oz and measured 26.5 inches.  A couple weeks ago, when we weighed him at home, he was over 19lbs, so there must be some scale inconsistency and maybe he's been more active yet eating less - the Baby CP diet.  The doctor tells us that he's in the 70s as far as percentiles go and that Baby CP seems to be doing very well developmentally from the few minutes that the doctor spent with him.  He said baby CP is a very active guy and that active babies are more likely to be lean and have lower risk of heart disease when they grow up, but the cons are that they tend to get into trouble and nurse injuries more often...haha.  We gotta keep an eye on this little guy!

This week Baby CP  will officially started hanging out with his new nanny.  She starts today so that mommy can show her the ropes before returning to work.  It's good to get him acquainted with his caretakers around now before the separation anxiety phase starts at around the 7th or 8th month mark.

22 Weeks Old - The Big Apple!

Baby CP is in NY!  Mommy was a little nervous about Baby CP's first flight, a red-eye (as I am sure our neighbors were as Baby CP cried for a few minutes before takeoff), but luckily after eating a couple ounces, Baby CP passed out and slept for almost the entire flight.  He woke up an hour before landing to poop, but even then was quiet and smiling at people seated nearby.  People commented on what a good baby he was as they were leaving the plane.  I'm hoping for a similar act on the way back to SF on Sunday, but the travel times are a little different, so I might not be so lucky.

Baby CP at Bouchon Bakery at Rockefeller Center

Mommy enjoyed yummy ramen at Menchanko Tei with Aunties L, K and J and then a delicious chocolate tart at Bouchon Bakery with Auntie J and Auntie E.  (Ah, how I miss the delicacies of NYC!) Baby CP was well-behaved all day.  Afterwards, Baby CP had a laugh-fest with Winnie.