Blog Slacker

I never thought it would happen to me... I have become a blog slacker... My own blog is even boring to me. So let me just let you in on the life of the Haines family as of late.

First of all: Sleep. Or lack thereof...
At about 5 weeks old Caleb began to sleep 8 to 10 hours a night without making a peep. It was a miracle. The only way I can explain how it happened is that we would wrap him tight so his arms would not whap him in the face at night...

Then, one day I began to worry about his sleep and naps because he only napped when held, and it didn't last longer than 30 minutes at a time. So I began to research how to help him nap better. In so doing, somehow Caleb's entire sleep schedule got thrown off. So, at 12 weeks, the usual magic number for when babies START to sleep through the night, our baby STOPPED...

He started waking once a night... then twice... and every now and then 10 to 15 times a night. He wants his pacifier or wants to eat or wants a diaper change. I just have to say that this was probably the hugest trial of my life so far. Notice that I talk in past tense? Well the past two nights have been SO much better. Granted, he still wakes up about 6 times.

BUT he went from:

3 Months Old: 8 night hours of sleep SOLID with 5-6 cat naps (less than 1/2 hour)

to

4 Months Old: 10 night hours of sleep chopped up in 15 minutes to 3 hour increments with 3-4 cat naps

to

4 1/2 Months Old: 10-11 night hours of sleep (waking for his paci several times) with 3-4 real naps (1/2 hour to 1 1/2 hours)

The journey was a hard one, but I can live now. Those 6 weeks were SO hard. I thought I was going insane. Literally. I would cry every night around 3 a.m. when Blake and I had both been up half a dozen times.

How did his sleeping get better? Well... I have no idea! I started wrapping his arms tight again, and my mom babysat him a few times, and it just happened. Well, to tell you the truth, prayer was the only real solution. Praying to get through the trial and then praying that we could teach Caleb to sleep through the night and he would feel comfortable and safe.Second of all: Travels. Caleb has already been on 3 plane trips. We have been to Utah once, then Disney World, and then Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio. The reason for all the travels in these last few months is that my brother is going on his mission and we wanted lots of family time with him! Caleb does great at amusement parks and on planes! He's awesome.

Oh my goodness I love his little swimsuit his Grandma Haines got him!!!

Yay for bathtime!

Third: My brother is going on his mission in a week and a half. I have been really emotional lately, and aside from lack of sleep I think that knowing my bro will be gone 2 years has been a factor. He has been so fun to be with these last few months. He got his endowments out last week and that was awesome. He got his hair cut the night before the session. He was sad to lose those long locks of his.

But Terry looks great! He gave his farewell talk on Sunday, with the subject of search, ponder, and pray. I love my baby bro.