tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523867.post8832695705440250492..comments2023-10-29T08:31:28.325-07:00Comments on James 1:27: Here Come the Mommy Blogs..Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07799698677074756334noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523867.post-81740314187482549532012-04-17T20:10:51.753-07:002012-04-17T20:10:51.753-07:00Amen, Amanda! Sounds like you are totally "ge...Amen, Amanda! Sounds like you are totally "getting" it! Can't wait to meet Baby Jordan. :)heidi r weimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11372113001140103639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523867.post-86061969284708244912012-04-09T20:47:40.388-07:002012-04-09T20:47:40.388-07:00Ok, well you didn't exactly ask for advice but...Ok, well you didn't exactly ask for advice but here it is. Take it for what it is. <br /><br />First, after 6 children--2 coming by way of birth and 4 by adoption--I feel like I am less of an "expert" than ever before! So, I say this to say my best advice is no book is going to tell you the best (or only) way. You are his Mommy and you know best! Don't ever forget that (or even let a pedi) tell you otherwise.<br /><br />So, I used Babywise with our first and he still woke up every night for 5 years. I am not trying to scare you. Honestly he had digestive issues that we didn't figure out until he was older. We were CLUELESS! I was 25 when he was born. I had babysat a lot and thought I knew babies. In my heart I felt it was digestive, but I should have pushed more with the doctor. Anyway, DH--God bless him--would get up most every night and get him back to sleep, often with our guy lying on his chest belly down. I am guessing this made our baby's belly feel better. And we wouldn't lie him down on his belly in his bed b/c they put the fear in you on that.<br /><br />Baby boy #2 came along and I used Babywise again. Worked perfectly! I mean, this guy was a dream sleeper. One thing though I did was I let him sleep everywhere. Not a babywise thing but I wanted him to stay asleep in his carseat, swing, where ever b/c I had a 4YO who was on the go and we couldn't just stay at home everyday during naptime. It worked great. Our Jackson would sleep anywhere, even stay asleep if I had to get him out of his seat to go into preschool and pick up his brother. Can I say dream sleeper?!<br /><br />Then we adopted our daughter Susannah at almost 3 and she had a 15-day hospital stay (and OHS) immediately upon coming home. I don't recommend this for attachment but it was necessary for her survival. OK, so we've always co-slept as needed in one form or another (see above to son #1). But with baby girl, we co-slept a lot. She would wake up multiple times a night and so after awhile bringing her into our bed just ensured sleep. Enough said.<br /><br />We brought our boys home at 10 and 5 years old and God have mercy, they have slept great from day one. Thank you Lord! At this point, we were still dealing with sleep issues with our daughter, so this was a blessing.<br /><br />Now we have baby girl, #6, and she is a good sleeper, but I'll be honest. I don't follow any schedule or book advice. I let her have her bottle in her bed--GASP!--and I never let her cry it out. I never really let our older daughter either but I did let our first son and I regret it. I don't know what to tell you, but maybe try letting your little guy sleep on a pallet on the floor where you are. Maybe he just needs to be close?<br /><br />I will say this and then I'll stop. If I had it to do all over (my first baby boy I spoke of above is 13 12/ years old! how time flies; ENJOY EVERY MOMENT b/c it seems like yesterday he was 4 months old), I would do a lot more ATTACHMENT parenting. I think we have some issues we do today with one of our bio sons b/c I didn't do enough in that. He was such an easy baby that I just didn't need to carry him that much or--gasp--wear him. Oh how I regret that knowing what I know now after adopting.<br /><br />I have commented on your blog before and you shared a precious blog I wrote about our littlest guy who we adopted from Feng Du (and he was visited by a VO team), so I hope you don't think I'm a total crazy for sharing all of this.<br /><br />I just wish I had done things differently sometimes and you have it all in front of you! Most of all, I say go with the flow, follow his lead, let him nap when he needs it (and not when he doesn't) and just ENJOY him way more than you worry. I wish I had done that more especially with my first!<br /><br />God's blessings,<br />LeslieLesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879841384249644425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523867.post-2869516755840245462012-04-07T07:33:55.043-07:002012-04-07T07:33:55.043-07:00I think this stage of parenting is challenging for...I think this stage of parenting is challenging for every mommy. We want to do it right. :) It is exhausting and rewarding at the same time. I am glad you are choosing to follow where the Lord leads!<br /><br />We kinda did a combo. It too was exhausting, but know this season does not last forever. When they were little, I would let them lay in the crib, and they would cry, but I would go in after 5 min and kiss their forhead, let them know I was there and tell them I loved them. Then I would wait 10 min and do the same thing. Then 15 min, etc. I wanted them to know that they had not been abandoned, I was there and I loved them, but they had to take a nap. :) When they moved to "big kid beds," I would sit by their bed and hold their hand till they fell asleep. I have been a tired mommy, but I am glad that I made the choices I did!<br /><br />God will give you the strength and wisdom you seek, when you ask! I am so grateful for that!Candicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14283012574238191092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523867.post-54663213384450806682012-04-07T07:32:39.727-07:002012-04-07T07:32:39.727-07:00I think this stage of parenting is challenging for...I think this stage of parenting is challenging for every mommy. We want to do it right. :) It is exhausting and rewarding at the same time. I am glad you are choosing to follow where the Lord leads!<br /><br />We kinda did a combo. It too was exhausting, but know this season does not last forever. When they were little, I would let them lay in the crib, and they would cry, but I would go in after 5 min and kiss their forhead, let them know I was there and tell them I loved them. Then I would wait 10 min and do the same thing. Then 15 min, etc. I wanted them to know that they had not been abandoned, I was there and I loved them, but they had to take a nap. :) When they moved to "big kid beds," I would sit by their bed and hold their hand till they fell asleep. I have been a tired mommy, but I am glad that I made the choices I did!<br /><br />God will give you the strength and wisdom you seek, when you ask! I am so grateful for that!Candicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14283012574238191092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8523867.post-15932896294368743712012-03-10T13:34:12.144-08:002012-03-10T13:34:12.144-08:00God bless your sweet heart Amanda! You are doing s...God bless your sweet heart Amanda! You are doing such a great job with Jordan - what a blessed little boy! <br /><br />Having the twins - who are SO different in their personalities and sleep preferences - has served to convince me even more that all babies are different with different needs and that there is no one right way/style/philosophy for parenting. Like I mentioned on the phone - we just do the best with what our instincts/hearts tell us. That you are so faithfully taking it before the Lord is wonderful.<br /><br />I heard recently of a book coming out soon called "Spirt-led Parenting" (I think there is a facebook group for it at the moment at least). It sounds very similar to what you are trying to do with Jordan.Jennifer Hansonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580329317499402399noreply@blogger.com