He did it! Buddy slept from 6:30pm to 6:10am. Heaven. He’s really late on this milestone, and it could be weeks before he replicates this behavior. Still, I am so proud of him!! He’s growing up.

To summarize Buddy’s sleeping evolution, because this is so interesting to you guys:
Month 1-2: woke up every 3hrs to nurse
Month 3: slept from 9pm to 6am, woke up once around 4ish to nurse – I thought we were amazing parents with a wonder child during this short-lived phase…ahh, first-time mommy optimism
Month 4: started early bedtime between 6-7pm
Month 4-5.5: Woke up 2-3x a night due to combination of early bedtime, sickness and school napping (or lack thereof – sleeplessness begets sleeplessness, you know) – I was convinced we were terrible parents during this phase…ahh, mommy guilt
Month 5.5: woke up all night long during two weeks of sickness. Would only nurse. This was special.
Month 6: woke up 1-2x between 6:30pm and 6am
Month 7: slept through the night for first time!!! Hoorah!!

During this evolution, I always read other mothers’ praise of their child sleeping through the night with trepidation, skepticism, and maybe a twinge of shame. I just wonder: what’s the definition? Bud slept 6-7hrs a lot at month 3, but it didn’t stick. Even recently, he’s slept 8-10 hours regularly. But I don’t consider waking up at 4am as ideal or brag-worthy.

Still, to all the parents who got their babies to sleep: I applaud with eager hope that a potential second baby Dowdell will follow in these advanced footsteps. To all the parents with babies who don’t sleep: you’re my hero for enduring many months of interrupted sleep to love and care for your little one in the way only you know and understand.

It’s amazing because what this extended timeframe of interrupted sleep creates is an amazing appreciation for UNinterrupted sleep. I know that now I’m going to miss the late night and early morning holding, as I miss nursing. But it’s a great thing for his little self to learn to sleep and be rested!

Now, to get E to sleep!!

Our happily rested baby this morning:

Maybe more like a snow bear.

This age is great: Bud learns new things all the time. I posted earlier about him learning to eat solids and use his tongue. Lately, he has gotten much better at playing with toys. It’s less me pushing and spinning and him doing it himself. So talented! I know that’s what you’re thinking.

This is the cutest outfit! He looks so grown up! Its a gift from dear friends, the Robinsons who are parents to one of Buddy’s future little girlfriends. I mean, he kinda has his pick of the chicks, as there aren’t too many dudes among our friends’ babies/toddlers. But little Charlotte is just adorable! And her parents are way cool and have great taste in clothes. So, she’s top of the list.

There are actually much cuter videos from the morning, but he had buggers in his nose. So I won’t embarrass him by posting those. 🙂

Christmas in Goshen!

Christmas in Birmingham & Macon!

Cousins

Papa is the only one who could get a smile from a very sick little Buddy on Christmas.

Mom and Dad’s 45th anniversary. Amazing. We love you!

This guy…

Trying to give him independent play time while working. He’s a bit distracting. If you listen, you can hear him clicking with his tongue. Since solids – yes, apples and bananas! – he has been trying to figure out all the things he can do with his tongue.

Selfies

Tasting the snowflakes

Well, I finally did it. I deleted the pictures from my iPhone to make room for more pictures and videos. The pics are on my computer but for months now, I haven’t been able to bring myself to delete from my phone, filling the storage space and preventing more pictures…and especially videos.

But it’s done.

And here’s little Buddy smiling and playing. In love, I am!