Sleep Training Chronicles

We have friends who told us that sleep training would be a spectacular event in our lives as parents. They meant, of course, that the results of sleep training would be spectacular, provided that we were strong enough to handle the training. Sleep training requires titanium will power, which I do not possess.

We had a false start on Monday. Mike was getting ready to do the bedtime routine with Zeke and I panicked at the thought of putting my little baby in a crib, all by himself, in the (mostly) dark room, and letting him cry himself to sleep. Mike was very patient with me and coddled Z to sleep that night and then we had a good discussion and read passages from the books, talked about what we were trying to accomplish, etc., etc.

Tuesday night we really started, and Z cried and cried while I was busy attending to my burgeoning solo law practice. When that was finished and Z was still crying, I spent some time abusing Mike by telling him he was a vicious man and a mean father and that it would be all his fault if Z hated us forever. When the crying stopped after 20 minutes, I pestered Mike to go and check on Z to make sure he wasn't dead or carried off by silverfish (a personal fear). Mike waited a further 20 minutes and then carefully checked, reporting back that all was well.

Wednesday night Z cried for 25 violent, angry minutes.

Thursday night Z didn't cry at all.

Tonight Z cried half-heartedly for approximately 5 minutes in two brief spurts.

This is notable progression, even if it isn't linear. It is enough to support three further training nights. Sorry, no pictures of the sleeping Zeke.

Feet!

Zeke found his feet last week. This means he is developing awesome abdominal muscles and figuring out how to use them. He is very pleased with himself whenever he manages to grab hold of his feet, but he hasn't tried eating them yet.

Zeke also decided that he likes to brush his teeth. Er, his gums because he doesn't have teeth yet. He is getting very good at reaching out and grabbing things and when we play on the bathroom sink he is always reaching for our toothbrushes. I decided to give him his own toothbrush so I wouldn't have to say "no" all the time.

He sits up very well now - not quite on his own, but he is good to go with a prop like the boppy. Expected highlights soon to come: the introduction of sweet potatoes, rolling back to front, and the Sleep Training Chronicles...

Mt. Whitney

We have returned from the mountain humbled but with great stories to tell. Mike and I hiked to an altitude of approximately 12, 200 ft., which is higher than I've ever been before. We logged more than 12 miles on the trail, falling short of the expected 22 mile round trip. We started at 11:00 p.m. and hiked mostly in the dark because a low cloud cover spoiled my moonlight ascent plans. Later, the Treat told me it was a good thing we started at night because if he could have seen the route we were about to take he would have volunteered to stay with the car.

(Mt. Whitney is the far back mountain on the right. We had to hike more than 5 miles before we even got a glimpse of it. That's why Whitney is called a "shy mountain".)

We drank fresh water from a mountain stream without filtering it, we experienced altitude sickness, and Mike experimented with trekking poles (I opted for a traditional ascent). We know now that mosquito repellent is essential, the lead hiker should have a headlamp with working batteries, and the sound of a breast pump is substantially covered by the sound of snow melt and mountain streams. Some would say we missed a true Whitney experience because neither of us had to use our W.A.G. bags. (Phew!)

In the above picture, Mike was too sexy for his outer layer and had to remove it.

Below, Mike displays the beautiful Trailside Meadows, watered by melting snow:

During the trek, Zeke had a pleasant stay in Lone Pine with Grandma and Grandpa. He was starting to show some signs of teething (that have fully manifested today) but was a happy camper whenever anyone broke into song: "The wise man built his house upon a rock. The wise man built..."

No, Zeke did not get to eat ice cream. It's just a clever picture. We are still working on that oatmeal cereal.

Yes, I have already started planning my third attempt at the mountain. I was very close this time...12 miles closer than last time...but not close enough. (I might have caught that climbing bug again.) At the present moment Mike says he will not go again, that once was enough for him. We shall see.

Fourth of July, Again

Here are pictures from the 4th of July, as described previously.

Thank you Grandpa W!

Note: In this picture, titled Zeke's Big Laugh, there is a picture in the background of Zeke just hours after he was born.

You can't see the socks here, but you can see the red and white striped onesie.

Fourth of July Weekend

Zeke celebrated his first Fourth of July in DryWindyValley, visiting with grandparents and uncles and one cousin. He went swimming for the first time in his whole life in Grandma and Grandpa's deliciously heated pool. He looked very cute in his swim outfit and hat, but I was in the pool myself and did not get any pictures.

Zeke wore socks that identified him as "Red, White and Cute" and he wore a red and white striped onesie with blue overalls that got sopping wet with all his drool. The bib of his overalls was a little too close to his mouth and anything that gets close to his mouth will either be placed in the mouth or be generously drooled upon. Again, I have no pictures.

But here is Mr. Zeke in his new umbrella stroller with Mike presenting evidence that it was originally intended to be used by midgets.