4 Month Old Schedule

Not that anybody cares, but this is basically my journal so I need to do my documenting.
Nora is 4 months now and I love every minute I spend with her.  She is so energetic, smart, smiley, advanced, adaptive, forgiving, sweet, cute and lovable! What a doll she has turned into and what a strong personality she harbors! I adore her and I couldn't be more happy with my life as a mother.  I love my little family!

I feel like we are finally into the swing of things.  I've said it before, I know, but now it's more true than ever.  We are on great schedules and enjoying more time with Nora because of her ability to self-soothe.  Since my last post we have implemented the Ferber Method.  I had a legitimate moral dilemma with the so-called "Cry-It-Out" method.  I hate not being there immediately to calm her fears and quiet her tears.  But I know that there are things she needs to learn as a baby that will carry into her toddler years and make life more enjoyable .. especially when a little brother or sister come along.  We started on Friday night with teaching her to self-soothe.  Stefan and I talked it out thoroughly before we did anything.  We decided on a strict bedtime routine so that Nora will become comfortable with bedtime.  We talked about the pros and cons of teaching her to self-soothe and we decided it was something we wanted to teach her even though it may be painful and rough.  We love her so much and we really needed her to be able to calm herself down.  It was becoming quite a routine every time she needed to go down for a nap or bedtime.  We decided that we would comfort her after 2 minutes, then 4, then 6 and so on and so forth.  The first night was hard - I was in tears and doubting myself as a mother.  She finally fell asleep after the 10 minute stretch.  10 minutes doesn't seem like much - but when there is a baby crying for help involved it seems like an eternity.  But she slept through the night and woke up just as happy as could be.  The next day her naps were wonderful and she went down easier as well.  The second night we only had to reassure her 3 times before she calmed down and fell asleep and the next 2 nights required no trips in to comfort her before she fell asleep.  I couldn't be more happy with the results.  Especially since the literature suggests that it can take up to 14 days for babies to successfully self-soothe.  14 days might have murdered me.  I feel so much more comfortable in my routine now.  I don't dread nap time or bedtime.  It's been liberating.

At 4 months - we have a very effective schedule.

9:00 AM - Wake up - Nurse Nora and snuggle
9:30 AM - Play time! - This includes tummy time, saucer time, swing time, toy time, giggle time, etc.
10:00 AM - Cereal - Nora eats 1 Tbs. of rice cereal or oatmeal mixed with a couple teaspoons of baby food.  So far she has enjoyed Banana's, Peaches, Sweet Potatoes, and Peas! - This kid loves to eat (:
10:30 AM - Nap Time
12:00 PM - Nurse and more cereal
12:30 PM - Playtime - A couple times a week this is when we have bath time.  This is Nora's FAVORITE kind of playtime.  She is always the happiest when she is naked in the tub.
1:00 PM - Snuggle time.  One-on-one time.  I talk to Nora, read to her, hold her and rock her.
1:30 PM - Nap Time
3:00 PM - Nurse
3:30 PM - Playtime
4:00 PM - Nap Time
6:00 PM - Nurse and Cereal
6:30 PM - Playtime - We like to add some "Baby First TV" Shows.  She especially loves the Color Crew
7:30 PM - Nap Time
9:00 PM - Nurse
9:30 PM - Playtime
10:30 PM - Cereal and Nurse
11:00 PM - Bedtime Routine : Change her diaper and put on her jammies.  Swaddle her and sing her a lullaby.
11:15 PM - Lay her down

And she sleeps ALL night long!  I am so blessed and I love the support I get from my sweet hubby!  We love our baby girl and have loved learning how to be parents together!