Parenting an adopted child is different from regular kids in that you can't just let them cry it out. Abby spent almost 9 months in an orphanage where she didn't learn that crying would get her needs attended to. She is just learning that and we are building a level of trust between us and we are in a crucial bonding period. So I must answer her cries. At first we went with her getting up 5-6 times per night. And then there for a while, she was up 5-6 times in the first 2-3 hours of her nighttime sleep. And she wasn't napping good during the day. I had a very sleep deprived baby.
A dear friend (thanks Sandy!) who adopted and who is a child pyschiatrist gave me some wonderful advice which we are following and it is slowly getting better. last night she went down at 8 and was up at 8:30 and then not again until 12:30 and then she slept until 6. I got her up and fed her and tried to start some housework with her in the carrier and she fell back asleep at 7:30. And now it's almost 9 and she is still asleep. The key to our success the past few days is that after she's up this morning (whatever time that is), I won't let her nap again. I will do everything in my power to keep her up. We won't do this on and on, I know she needs an afternoon nap, but we won't start those again until her internal clock is reset to sleep at night. I think a few more days may be all we need. Thank Goodness. Mama needs a break!
I also am feeling very lost without my exercise. I really need to get back into it and plan to try a trainer ride tonight after she eats just as Derek is coming home from work. I may not get an hour in, but I'll take what I can get. I've had several friends offer to come and sit with Abby so I can run (Thanks Missy and Jan!) and will probably take them up on their offer next week. When it warms up a bit I can take Abby in the jogger, but it's a bit too cold right now. I love training and racing, and I really want to be able to do that this year, though I realize I am going to be limited to sprints, 5Ks and 10Ks until Abby is a little older and we are in a good groove. Maybe 2010 is the year of short course and in 2011 I can move back to longer distances.
Now, back to Abby. Still no teeth, though I am sure they are just about to break through. She is not crawling yet, though we expect that to happen at any time. She is up on all fours rocking back and forth and pushing backwards. Very soon she will get the hang of it and be all over the house and then the fun will really begin!
That's about all I have time for right now... need to get a few more things done before precious wakes up. Here are some pictures to keep you entertained!
Suzanne
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