7 Months

Jocelyn is 7 months old now and I must continue to say that I am Amazed that something so small can pack such a punch! Her cry is the most gut wrenching, tear your heart out sound I have ever heard in my life! Just like her Mother, she makes her feelings known and she doesn't give up on what she wants for anything. I can't believe how powerful my genes are, and I'm not sure that's a good thing! Why couldn't our children get JT's ever patient and optimistic perspective? Instead, Jocelyn got his narley feet and Boston is headed in the same orthodontic direction as JT (and let's just say they almost put him in head gear!) On the positive side they got his breathtaking eyes and infectious laugh (especially Mister Boss.. his laugh is priceless if you haven't heard it.. he has all of JT's tickle spots!)
So back to Jocelyn and her horendous cry. I am a firm believer in letting a child self sooth from an early age. Perhaps I read to many baby sleep books and articles, perhaps I'm just insensitive and I treasure my sleep too much. You could call me heartless that I let my babies cry it out and never snuggle them up in our bed or feed them during the night after 6 months, but it's a decision we've made. (I must say though, Boston is a champ sleeper in his crib as a result and the only time I ever hear him is the occasion in which he doesn't eat his dinner very well and he calls me in the middle of the night and requests "cereal?" I also have the benefit of snuggling up to my husband all night and not a toddler.) But, I'll admitt with Jocelyn I've been more lenient than I was with Boston. If she was hollering after about 2am I'd just feed her so she would go back to sleep and I could get a couple more hours of rest; but as of late her wake-ups have become more frequent again. Her cry has become even more powerful and her determination more persistant. What she doesn't understand is she has the most stubborn Mother on the planet.. so it's time for some tough love. I went to bed at 8:30 last night. Shut my door and I don't know when or if she woke up but I checked on her at 5:30 this morning and she looked snug as a bug and was sleeping soundly, so hopefully my persistance will pay off. I have a feeling it will be The Great Battle of Stubborness throughout both our lives concerning many issues. The thing is, I do have a soft side. I can't even bare to go in there because if I see her precious face I know I will cave. She gets me every time. I love nothing more than placing her cheek to mine, watching her nurse and then try to turn her head 180 degrees because she is so curious. I love her from the top of her little head to her itty bitty toes and the past 7 months have been the most challenging and rewarding months of my entire life. ( I promise to have JT post darling pics ASAP)