5 1/2 hours!

That's right, I got to stay in my bed for nearly 5 1/2 hours in a row last night!!! After 7 months (plus the last few months of pregnancy) I have been getting up multiple times during the night and have rarely slept for more than 3 hours in a row! I've been doing alright and haven't been overly tired, but last week Jackson decided to start getting up 4 times instead of 3 times each night and I decided it was time to draw the line... the line of sleep training! I realize the picture should have been of me sleeping, but Jackson is much cuter. I risked waking him up for it (stupid me) but I only startled him as you can see from his hand, but he did stay asleep.
I'll admit, I didn't do any book reading and just talked to a few people about their experiences and decided to play it by ear to see what worked for us. This made me a little nervous because I'm usually a by the book person and "winging it" is not my cup of tea.
The hardest part for me was the anticipation and the mental preparation. Sunday night came and at 8:00 I was still saying to Adam "I don't know if I can really do this." I finally committed after he said he would be willing to get up every other time. Knowing I didn't have to do it by myself made it seem more bearable.
He had a long day Sunday without his normal naps so I knew he was totally exhausted and I had fed him baby food 4 times and nursed him a few times as well so I knew he had enough substance to last him a while and I didn't need to be worried that he would be hungry. He feel asleep at 8:30 and was completely out.
Adam and I went to go work on some things in the study and at 9:30 I hear him stirring and crying. I immediately thought this is going to be the longest night of my life...is it really worth it? I went into the bedroom and gave him his binki and Tigger. He threw both of them away and he was obviously upset. I felt his stomach and it was pretty tight so I gave him some gas medicine and continued to massage his belly. I gave him Tigger and his binki back. He continued crying and I tried to push on his legs to get some gas out but nothing game. I tried once more to give him Tigger and binki and this time he took it. I didn't pick up at all and once he started sucking on his binki I sang him a song and left. He was out pretty quickly. I knew that would be an easy one since it had only been an hour.
10:30 rolls around and Adam and I are just getting into bed, again I thought "this is going to be the longest night of my life," as Jackson began to stir again. Adam went in and within a minute or two he was asleep again.
I didn't hear from him again until about 1:00. I knew this round would be harder. He was already crying a bit when I went into his room. He cried a bit harder once he could see him. I gave him his binki and Tigger as we had done before. He threw both away and was obviously bugged. I started singing a song and gave it to him again. He took the bait and started to settle down. I sang a few more songs, gave him a kiss, and left the room. The crying started again. However, there were no ear piercing screams, or crying that said "YOU'RE THE WORST MOM EVER." It was just normal baby cries. I let him cry for about 20 or 25 minutes before going in and giving him his binki and singing another couple of songs. I gave him a kiss and left again. After 10-15 minutes he was asleep again. I got back into bed and shut my eyes. I was wide awake by this point since I had spent my time looking online for Christmas presents and emailing my mother-in-law.
Before long I heard Jackson again. I looked at the time and it was only 2:10. Since I was already awake and the first round of crying was doable I didn't wake up Adam and went in again. I continued the routine and wiped his tears. It only took about 10 minutes this time. I got back in bed and was still wide awake with my mind racing and couldn't fall asleep.
I begin to settle and there is my little boy again making himself known with some whimpering. I look and the time is only a bit after 3. Good heavens. Although at this point I realize I'm nearly halfway through the night and know I have the will power not to wake him up or feed him until it's time to get up. Again, I'm already awake so Adam gets yet another by. I go in and do my thing and leave. Only a couple of minutes pass after I leave and I don't hear a sound...
Until 7:15!!! Alright, I did it! The first night is over and it is not nearly as painful as I had anticipated or as the stories I had heard... why did I ever doubt that my little Jackson wouldn't pull through for me. I decided that since he did so well he and I were both ready for sleep training and Night 2 would commence on Monday night.
We followed the same eating routine and put him down at 8:30. He was out like a light and heard him give a little cry at around midnight. Which is to be expected since he normally went about 3 hours before eating. Adam popped his binki in and he was fine. 3:00am rolled around and he gave a cry. I got up and sang one song and went back to bed. I heard him again at 4 gave him one song with a binki and went back to bed. He got up at 7:15. Another night down and we made more progress!
Last night was AWESOME!!! He again went to bed at about 8:30. Whimpered at 11:30. I didn't hear him until 5:00am! IT WAS A MIRACLE!!!!! I could tell he was getting hungry because he was really crying but I still just gave him a song and it settled him down. I heard him talking and whimpering at 5:45 and decided to feed him. I knew he was still tired so I fed him and got him up like it really was morning knowing full well he wouldn't be able to stay awake long but I didn't want to confuse him and let him think that I was going to feed him and put him back to bed. He was out again by 7:00, and then got up for good at 10:00. What a treat!:)