New Schedule

Dear Ayden,

Ok, so yesterday I started trying to get you onto a new schedule. You eat every 3-4 hours, depending on how it works in accordance with the bedtime feeding, and we bedtime and quiet time starts at 8pm. It went better than planned! I was so worried because you had stayed up until 1:30 the night before and then had slept for about 8 hours. Then you had two long naps during the day, so you hadn't been up much at all. However, we got you home from Grandma and Grandpa Bartholomew's and I started our new bedtime routine at 8:00. Here's how that routine goes:

1. Bath time (which at this point you're not a big fan of)

2. Then get a diaper on ya quick (you've pooped on the towel before haha I wanted to snuggle you a little too long I guess)

3. Then wrap you up in the towel and sway with you to calm you down (you love when I lay my face against yours)

4. Rub lotion on you and massage your adorable little body

5. Get you in some warm PJs

6. Wrap you in your blanket and turn on lullabies

7. Give you your Vitamin D drops (you like those a lot)

8. Feed you and help you to sleep

Once you're older, we might add a bedtime story in there somewhere too-we definitely will :)

Anyway, as I said, it went better than planned. So, every night these constants in the routine should definitely help you switch around your sleeping schedule, so you're not backwards and sleeping all day and staying up all night! I found a new way to get off the couch that doesn't jostle you quite as much and I think that helped you stay in a more sound sleep (it involves an arched back that keeps you flat and little movement from my upper region haha). I put you down around 10 (I lay you on my belly after you eat to help you to sleep and you were twitchy for a while so I knew you weren't ready). You slept until about 2:00. Then I fed you and got you down around 3 and you slept until 6:00 (when you were getting to sleep during this one, you threw up down my shirt haha I didn't even move cuz I didn't want to wake you). Then I got you down at around 7 or so and you woke up at about 8:40 and you're now sleeping in your bouncer because I knew you weren't ready to get up! It's now daytime so I am being louder, I talked to you louder while you were awake and I don't keep myself all that quiet. I used to walk around on egg shells but I don't think that was gonna do you much good in the long run, you need to be used to the noise. You need to know the difference between night and day, so even if you wake up, that's the way it's gonna be!

I'm going to feed you at 10:30 so that we can be ready to go with dad when he gets home from tutoring around 11. We're going to take some papers to my work to have my boss confirm that I don't get healthcare from them (Medicaid thing) and also to talk to her about my staying home!!! When Sam gets home, we'll take a look at the budget, make sure that that's a feasible option. I might even choose to take just like a 5-hour shift once a week to bring in a couple extra hundred bucks per month to help out with groceries and the utilities and such. Sam will be getting a work bonus soon and we'll be getting our tax return soon after that! So, if we're smart, (and we are) then we can stretch that money and make this work!!

I was so worried when I brought up staying home the other night. I know that it's Sam's responsibility to provide and go to work and it's mine to stay home and nurture you but, I hate to leave him alone with that pressure. However, when I brought it up, he was on board with the idea and willing to make it work! :) I am so excited!! It's hard for me to let the job go because they've been so good to me and the extra money is nice but, man, I really want to be home with you!! I've dreamed about it my whole life. I know it will make things a bit tight maybe but, it's so important that it's me raising you and not someone else! Aunt Necia offered to watch you whenever I need it so, if I do take a shift per week, it wouldn't bother me that it's Necia watching over you! I trust her to raise you right in my stead for a few hours :) She's a wonderful mother!

So, I guess we'll see what happens and whatever we choose, we'll make it work! You'll come to find that your father and I are a good team. We make a budget and stay within it, we talk things out and work it out together. Your dad goes to work and does his best, though he'd definitely love to be home with us. I stay here with you and do my best to be a good mom and wife. I try to clean up and make dinner and keep you happy all at the same time. May not seem like much, but you're quite the handful little missy :)

I'd be willing to never go out to eat again if that's what it took to stay with you, my angel! I would do anything, anything. Besides, I worked at a daycare, and I'm not sending you to one of those for a little bit more wiggle room! Heck to the no. Even though the daycare workers at my work are nice and it's affordable and I'd use it if we had to, I'd prefer not to. You're just gonna have to deal with being stuck with big, bad mommy :) I promise to make it worth your while!

I can't wait to be here for every moment of your childhood. To see every milestone with my own eyes, with nobody else texting me to announce your first step or something, that would kill me. I'm going to be here for you, Ayden. Just like my mom was for me. She did what she had to do to be home (in-home daycare) while we were little and I'll do likewise, whatever it takes :) I love you so much little one!

Love, Mommy