Amby Bed Night Report #3

When I decided to do the Amby bed nightly reports, it was because I thought it would take at least a week to make any progress getting Abby out of our bed. We tried unsuccessfully to get her to sleep in her crib, bassinet, car seat, swing, and bouncer chair. I am happy (might I add ecstatically happy) that Abby slept very well in the Amby bed again and only woke up twice to nurse and get a diaper change from the time we put her down until the time she woke up again this morning (around 9:30 a.m.). She even went down for nap time smiling after she played hard this morning during her tummy time. Yay for Amby beds and sleeping babies!

Amby Bed Night #2 Report Plus a Nap Time Special

How shall I describe Night #2 with Abby's new Amby bed?

Glorious!

(Abby sleeping last night right after we put her in the Amby)

Our little princess slept happily and peacefully throughout the whole night until 11:45 this morning... incredible! She only woke up 3 times for feedings/diaper changes (one of which I woke her up for) and settled back down quickly.

What We Learned: Bryan discovered last night that the people we had bought the bed from had set up the spring incorrectly. When he fixed the error, the Amby bed bounced 10x better and more smoothly, which Abby LOVED. Also, Bryan elevated the head of the Amby bed a little more to help her have less problems during the night with reflux. Since Abby hates being swaddled and is talented at finding ways to get out of a blanket, we tried a SwaddleMe velcro blanket that kept her tightly bundled all night long and used the Amby infant positioner to keep her stationary, so she wouldn't startle herself awake or toss her pacifier being difficult. All of these changes made a HUGE difference- we plan on implementing them from now on. Most of all, we are happier, because we FINALLY got a good night's sleep. Abby has been happier and more playful today, because SHE has finally gotten a good night's sleep.









Naptime Bliss--- sweet serenity!










Abby now loves her Amby bed so much that she has been SMILING when I have put her down to sleep again in it.. In fact, I just put her down for her afternoon nap, and she is peacefully snoozing away. Praise God for answered prayers!!!

Amby Bed Night 1 Report

Bryan brought Abby's new baby bed home last night- Amby Baby Hammock. This is my report on her first night out of our bed (well, mostly).

Abby started the night content like this. She fell asleep for about 30 beautiful minutes.

One outfit, many tears, and three solid hours of screaming later, she ended up in bed with us again like this...

However, whilst she was sound asleep in the morning hours, I transferred her back to her Amby bed, and she slept serenely until it was time to get ready for church.

The moral of the story: Mom always wins in the end- not baby (not even really cute baby).


What I learned: Abby can sleep happily and safely in her new bed- she just would rather sleep with me. However, I think she can be "re-trained" to sleep in her new space with perseverance, patience, and tough love. Say a prayer for us- we're shortly entering into Night #2.

Never Say Never

If you had told me 2 months ago that I would be co-sleeping with Abby, I would have laughed at you. Since our sweetpea has acid reflux, the ONLY way we can get her to go to sleep and stay asleep is propped up on me in bed with us. It hasn't been all bad even though I know the possible dangers of co-sleeping. It's been easier nursing her throughout the night and waking up to her cuddling beside me is beautiful beyond words. I will always treasure these memories. However, the screaming routines we go through nightly to get her asleep, I'll remember those too but not quite so fondly. However, I've been doing tons of research on how to help babies with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) to sleep better, and there happens to be a special bed out there designed for babies just like Abby. It's called an amby baby hammock. After pulling the money together, Bryan and I found one for sale in Slidell for half the price of a new one (it's only 5 days old). Tonight will be Abby's first night in the amby bed, and we are excited and hopeful. Maybe we can transition her out of our bed and into a bed she will like even better than ours! Say a prayer for us!

Be Sure Your Sins Will Find You Out

Last night, while I was busy caring for Abby, Peeperz became impatient for his supper. He climbed down from his window perch via the curtain and climbed up to the area where I keep my fruit and ate "my" last banana. Cunningly, he climbed back up the curtain to his perch when he sensed Bryan was coming to check on him. Peeperz was caught in the act (almost). I placed Peeperz beside his spoil for this photo. Note the apprehension on his face- he knows he is in trouble.

Baby Blanket Photo Shoot

I took photos of Abby on our old baby blankets yesterday... kind of incredible thinking that it was only 25 years ago when we were using the same blankets for ourselves. =c)

Why is it hard to believe the unborn is a baby?

<---Abby- 4 weeks old (left)

Abby at 30 weeks gestation in her 3D ultrasound (right)--->

<--Abby- 8 days old (left)

Abby at 30 weeks gestation in her 3D ultrasound (right) -->