Kokochi

Tesla on her own

Happy in her new bedroom

These past few weeks or so have been pretty tiring for both Dav and me. Until recently, Tesla was a pretty good sleeper. She would go down at 7:30 or so without much fuss at all. She woke up on average 3 x a night but for quick short feedings that I got used to and I wasn't bothered. I assumed we'd continue like that until she naturally slept all the way through the night.

Unfortunately, she started waking 4 to 5 times a night. Sometimes just an hour after a feeding. And if I tried to ignore her knowing she really didn't need a feeding, she would start wailing louder and louder. Both Dav and I are conscientious of our neighbors who all sleep on the same side of the building as our bedroom, so letting her scream at 4am was not something we wanted. I tolerated this for a few weeks hoping it was a phase. But I slowly got really really tired, and I blew up at Dav out of fatigue. So one night Dav took his turn at comforting her when she did her first awakening at night around 11:30pm. We thought that maybe daddy was key since mommy would make her absolutely want the boob. I lay down in the living room waiting while Dav comforted her for over an hour in the bedroom. He finally came out to the living room and let me go to bed. I heard her still cry for quite some time. They stayed sleeping (mixed with Tesla crying) in the living room until 4:30am when I heard her again, and realized now Dav really needed rest. I came and got her and fed her in bed. I realized we needed to figure something out.

The next day, we got out a folding crib, and decided all three of us would camp out in the living room so that we could begin letting her cry it out without having to worry about neighbors. We could comfort her as needed and my goal was to not feed her until at least 3am. Then I'd let her have whatever she wanted.

I'm thoroughly amazed - and half expect this to change - but she slept through the night until 3:30am! At that first whimper, I realized she skipped 2 normal awakenings, and I was more than happy to cuddle up and feed her then. Last night we camped out again. And she slept until 6am!! Sure I heard her rustle and whimper a bit. Several times I braced for a full cry session, but within a few minutes, she was back snoozing. I can't believe it.

My theory is that while we were there with her, and ready to respond so she wouldn't feel abandoned, we (or more specifically) I was far enough across the living room that she didn't sense me and thus cry for me. During the difficult past few weeks when she cried for me every hour, I knew she was still pretty much asleep, but automatically stood up in her crib wailing. I think she was as delirious as I was. Without me as a temptation, it appears she sleeps better.
 

where her crib was...

So...we officially moved her crib today into "her" room which as been a guest room/storage area. She's taking a nap in there now. And when we put her down in her new location, she spent a good 45 minutes happily playing by herself before crashing.

Part of me is excited that Dav and I will have our bed back! (ie. he doesn't have to sleep in the living room on intense work

Tesla playing by herself in her crib

days), and I am inspired to decorate Tesla's room now that she'll be using it. I am sad though...I still miss having her in our bed between us like when she was a newborn. I'll miss hearing her soft noises throughout the night, and waking up in the morning seeing her grinning through her crib bars. But it's good. We need sleep and I miss Dav time.

Tesla's tooth is coming!

As you know, every time Tesla had inexplicable fits of crying, I thought it was teething...but the reality was a tooth never came. Maybe the process takes that long...a little discomfort then it subsides over and over. It's been months though, and younger babies already have multiple teeth. Tesla was sure taking her time, but we knew it would be any day. Sure enough, I came home yesterday and Telsa's granny said, "guess what! There's a tooth!" I never imagined I would be as excited and proud, and even a tad sad about one tooth. Excited and proud that I'll be seeing my girl with teeth, imaging how that leads to eating different foods and talking. Wow, she did it! Sad because my baby is growing up. No more gummy smiles, and our bond with breast-feeding slowly changing. A mixture of emotions indeed, but I was so happy to hug and hold her as I tried unsuccessfully to open her mouth and get her tongue out of the way so I could see. You actually can't see the tooth yet, but there is a distinct breakage in her lower front left gum. And you can feel it. I continue to be amazed at watching her grow, and the deep feelings of love I feel for her. A tooth! How am I going to contain myself when she starts walking and talking? The milestones are arriving. At times with a sense of relief, at times with nostalgia. You see, Tesla is also reaching another new phase. We think she's ready to sleep in her own room. I didn't want to do this too early and expected to have her with us for a full year, but we've discovered she actually sleeps better on her own. We co-slept until after 6 months when she started sleeping in her crib that was right next to our bed. Then she came to bed only when I fed her during the night. Otherwise, she pretty much slept in her crib. However, she's aware that I'm right by her, which makes her wake up more to demand for me. It appears she sleeps better when I'm not that close, and it's a natural time to put her in her own room - for the first time. Boy, I'm gonna miss her!

With cousin Ava

Ava is just 2 months younger than Tesla. So cute see them together. But they move around so much that it was real hard to capture them both!

Happy in daddy's arms

double duty

I am babysitting Charlotte tonight. These pics are from early in the evening. Now both Charlotte and Tes are sleeping, thank god. I have no idea how Ruth was a nanny for both babies all day. I'm wiped out! At first the babies played together and it was adorable to watch. However, bed time was tough. One baby's crying would lead to the other's. Tes dozed off, but I ended up carrying Charlotte on my back for over 2 hours. She just wasn't ready to sleep, and wanted to be held. I can't imagine having twins and caring for 2 babies 24/7 Luckily, Elida came over for dinner. I envisioned we could share dinner and catch up after the babies went to sleep. She ended up helping me by looking after Tesla while I comforted Charlotte. Thank you, Elida!

Tesla goes to a birthday party

Tesla attended her first birthday party. Lucia turned 1! Amazing. Katia and Pete got pregnant about 3 months ahead of us, so it's been helpful to see what's ahead in terms of baby development. But I don't think I'm ready for baby Tesla to be 1 quite yet... Lucia's party was beautiful. Cute Asian theme, tons of yummy food, and amazing wine. Once a few babies arrived, it was all mayhem. Babies everywhere! Tesla enjoyed all the excitement and new toys. I noticed for the first time Tesla not wanting to share a toy. And I noticed her constantly wanting to be in where the action was. Hmmm, her personality is emerging....

Trying some art

For Luci's birthday.

Clown fun

At the neighborhood library lapsit.

Tesla's loving grandmother Marie

Tesla's grandma Marie takes care of her while I'm at work 3x/week. 1 day a week, we have a nanny share. Ruth (a truly great nanny) - look how chubby Tesla is!!) just moved, however, so Dav's cousin's wife Gaby started. Today was her first day. We've had several "test" days, and I knew Gaby and Tesla bonded. I knew Gaby was playful and loving...but still. She does not yet have a lot of experience, so I was a tad worried until I heard that today went super well. Tesla was a happy baby. ahhhhhh. But what I really wanted to write about was the beautiful note that Marie wrote for Gaby. Gaby had already spent a full day "shadowing" Marie to see how Tesla is cared for, but Marie wrote it all down in detail the other day to ensure Gaby knew the details. I was deeply touched by this. I have to say that Marie taking care of Tesla, her grand daugher, is what enables me to comfortably go to work. I swear, Tesla is thrilled when Marie walks in the door.Tesla is beginning to protest when I leave, but as I put my shoes on at the entrance [we are a no-shoe household], I hear Marie distract her with playful singing...and I then hear Tesla giggle. Anyhow, I simply loved this note that Marie wrote. I will treasure it and show it to Tesla when she is older.

Tesla enjoying cousin time!

We went to my bro's place this Sunday since they live in the cutest family-friendly neighborhood EVER, and there was a street-wide traditional egg hunt going on. Oh boy, did the kids love it! It was quite the egg-hunt scene! I kinda forgot about Easter as an adult. I do have fond memories of painting eggs, hunting eggs, and treasuring my basket of chocolate as a kid in Connecticut. Then we moved to Japan and Easter never happened again. Last year I got a tiny bit excited and bought cute bunny chocolates for the dining table and paint to paint eggs. I never got around to that. But I think having babies/kids inspires you to want to give similar fun memories to your kid too. Note: I'm not religious and have memories of just the fun part; never really learned about the religious meaning. In all honesty, I just want the fun part for Tesla...and seriously, of all the holidays, Easter seems the cutest. Not too obligatory or stressful, it's outdoors and celebrates spring, and geez, how can you beat bunnies?? Anyway, we went over to Alemada to enjoy the festivities. Obviously Tesla didn't care for the egg part. But she sure enjoyed the attention she got from cousin Tyler (who kept checking in with her and mocking how she sucked her thumb all the time), cousin Julia (who played with her and made sure she wore a hat in the sun), and the neighborhood kids. There really is something about kids loving babies, and babies loving kids. Several times when Dav held Tesla, he would soon be surrounded by the boy kids (I swear, the boys were more interested in Tesla than the girls - except Julia). p.s. that Mickey Mouse hat? Julia brought that out because Tesla kept taking off her regular sun hat. That is toooo sweet!! p.p.s. Ian has cute pics too!