let the crying begin...

For all of you out there who have babies, I pray that they will learn to sleep through the night on their own. We are approaching the 7-month mark and Gabe is still waking up 2-3 times a night. After listening to his poor little…or big cries makes me think that I really wouldn’t mind getting up with him 5 times a night until he’s 12 years if that’s what it took. Poor baby! I’m pretty sure he thinks we hate him! It absolutely breaks my heart to hear my sweet little baby so sad! I kept praying that one night he would just do this on his own, but no such luck. Everything we’ve read has told us that the sooner we do this, the easier on him and us it will be. So, we’ve taken the leap and it is harder than I EVER imagined! I know in the end it will be best for him but it’s a killer! It’s Jeff’s turn right now and he’s been crying for basically an hour. We are trying to break him of having a bottle when he wakes up at night…WAIT…I think he might be done. Yep, I think he’s finally fallen asleep. We have read soooooo many different methods of helping babies sleep through the night. One that suggests sleep sharing (where the baby sleeps in the parents bed) does not believe in any crying at all. It said that letting them cry is so wrong. It said that they finally give up because they know no one is going to come and help them!!! How sad is that!? I can’t get that out of my mind! My Mom has told me that babies don’t have the ability to think like that. I sure hope not! Well, now that sweet baby boy has fallen asleep, I’ll move on. So, Jeff writes his blog and I was just going to add this to his. He didn’t like that idea and wants me to start my own. I guess I could but he’s a better writer than me! I suppose I could write one dedicated to Gabe. I think that’s what I’ll do. I had planned on writing a letter to Gabe every month. I have been horrible about that! The first letter I wrote him was before we even knew that he was a boy!

I wrote it on May 22, 2006:

Our little peanut,
I have wanted to start a journal since I found out that you were going to be coming into this world. I don't know what took me so long! You'll find out for yourself that mommy is a bit of a procrastinator. Daddy and I have loved you from the second we found out you were in my tummy. We were soooo excited to find out! We pray for you every day. I know that God is taking care of you in there and you're growing healthy and strong. I never knew that I could have so much love for someone I haven't met yet, but I love you with all my heart. I can't wait to see your sweet little face. Pregnancy emotions have won me over as I sit here and tears stream down my face as I'm writing to you. You just wait and see...when you're all grown and your own flesh and blood is only months away from coming into this world, emotions can't be contained!!! It's just an amazing feeling! God has truly blessed your dad and I. We couldn't be more thrilled! We will soon be able to find out what sex you are. We don't care either way...just want you to be healthy. You are going to have such an amazing family to love you! Everyone can't wait to meet you! Today is your Daddy's birthday...28! He is going to be an amazing dad for you! He's such a loving and caring man. If you are a girl, I hope that one day you search for a man who is just like your father when you're looking for your husband. And if you're a boy, I pray that you will take after your dad and be the amazing husband that he is. Well, Sweet Baby, I should probably get some things done around the house. I'll write more later. Keep growing strong in there! I love you soooooooo much!
xoxoxo ~Mom

More to come later…..