2 Months Old.

What!?!  2 months have already gone by...

Ty Johnson Brammer

9 weeks old, 02/20/12

13lbs 11oz 23 3/4 inches long

I don't think this little guy could be any happier.  The only day he has been overly fussy was the day that he got his 2 month immunizations and that is totally understandable.  He's getting better at tummy time and holding up his head but he still prefers to be on his back.  He's just starting to notice toys now.  We have one that's been around since Jace was a babe.  You lay them down on a blanket and it hangs over them with colorful toys that dangle down.  He giggles and bats at them with his fists.  He also really likes the smiley face rattle that hangs in his car seat. 

Bath time is his favorite time of the day.  We do a bath every night as part of his bedtime ritual.  He kicks and kicks and kicks and has the biggest grin on his face.  He's usually exhausted after about 10-15 min of splashing and then I lotion him down with Johnson + Johnson baby lotion and get him in his jammies. He screams and cries during this part because he's still mad about being taken out of the tub.  I think he would be happy to stay in their all day long.

  Just this last week we moved him into his own room and started sleep training.  It's been bittersweet.  His little noises don't wake me up all night ....  but I miss him.  The first night of sleep training was heartbreaking but I know that's it's in his best interest to be able to sooth himself back to sleep when he wakes up during the night instead of having to be nursed back to sleep. 2 months old is the best time to do this (for full term, healthy babies) because by this time most babies haven't associated nursing with falling asleep and they are old enough that they can sleep through the night without having to nurse.  I got this specific sleep training guide from a good friend in my ward, who got it from her pediatrician.  I will put the specifics for any other mothers with young babies at the end of this post.

His changing table is by the window and it's one of his favorite places to be.  He loves to look out the window and see the light.  Maybe it reminds him of heaven. :)  

He loves going on walks in the jogger to pick up big brother from school as well other adventures ... like trips to the grocery store.  He prefers to hang out in my stylin' Seven Sling so he can see what's going on.  He gets lots of OOOhhs and Ahhhs and smiles and he smiles right back.  

He's starting to coo and try to 'talk'.  It's adorable.  We all talk to him lots and then pause and let him talk back.  He likes being part of the conversation.  

What else can I say!?!   We love this little cutie pie.  Some of his nick names are:  Ty Ty & Tyder pants. 

Valley of the Sun Pediatrics/ Sleep Training Guide:

*Do the same bedtime routine every night. This makes bedtime predictable for your baby.  They will start to unwind and will learn that right after bath or story time is time for sleep. *Feed your baby in the nursery where they will be going to sleep in a quiet and dark environment with music softly playing. *If your baby falls asleep while feeding try to get them to be a little awake before you put them down in their crib.  You want them to know that you are putting them in a safe place to sleep.  When they wake up they should recognise that this is where they fell asleep, not in your arms.  *Always place them on their back to sleep with no other items in the crib.  *Begin your bedtime routine around 6:30-7:00pm and your baby should be in their brib my 7:00-7:30pm.  *Your baby should sleep around 10-12 hours in their crib.  *It is important to start the bedtime routine early so that your baby can be sleeping for 2-3 hours before you go to bed (typically between 9-10pm.)  * For the first month of sleep training you will be getting your baby up to do a "dream feeding" around 9-10pm before you go to bed.  This feeding will take the place of any other feedings from 11-6am.  After they have been sleeping straight through the night for a few weeks and they are over 12 weeks old you should let them sleep through/fuss through this feeding.  *After placing them in the crib you want to give them 20-30minutes of fussing/crying before going in to check on them.  Use your monitor to make sure they are alright but try to not go in until after 20-30 minutes.  After 30min. if they are still crying go into the nursery for a brief 30 second visit.  Touch their belly and head and speak to them so that they know you haven't abandoned them.  It is important not to pick them up, feed them, or place the pacifier in their mouths.  You are trying to get them to self - soothe and not need you to feed them/pacify them to get them back to sleep.  After 20 seconds leave the nursery.  You will see they will cry and fuss even more because they know you aren't going to help them get back to sleep.  It is hard to let your baby cry but it is important to teach them how to sleep on their own through the night.  * Every 30 minutes you will repeat the above and check in on them, not picking them up.  After about 2 hours of crying they will sleep through the night.  * The next night you will repeat the above.  After 2-3 nights of crying for about 2 hours they will learn to self-soothe and will sleep through the night.  * If you wait until 14-16 weeks it will take you about 3 weeks of 2-3 hours a night crying because they will have already formed their sleep habits and will have associated the need to eat, cuddle, and/or pacify to sleep and you will have to re-teach them which is much harder.  * If you have tried the above recommendations for one week and your baby is still not sleeping through the night without feeding please call your pediatrician.   * If your baby is ill, or has a fever please do not let your baby cry.  * Call 911 if your child is in distress.

Sleep Pea

Good Morning, Mom.  I slept great!

The sleep training worked great for Ty.  Really only the first night was hard.  After that he would cry for maybe 5 minutes before self soothing back to sleep.  He usually wakes up at 4:30am and cries again for a few minutes before self soothing back to sleep.  He's a great sleeper and I'm so glad that he's sleeping through the night!