A couple of nights ago Nate was really fussy. He wanted to nurse nearly constantly. “Okay, here we go, it’s the six-week growth spurt,” I thought. I resigned myself to the fact that I would be spending the night mostly awake on the couch, a baby on the boob, watching infomercials. He spent an hour or so cluster feeding, but then he went to sleep in his swing while I crashed on the couch. Three hours later he woke up to nurse, as usual. I was spared the hell of being up all night. I put Nate down in his crib at 3:00 and joined Graham in our bed. Nate didn’t get up again until about 6:30.
After his early morning feed, Nate slept a little longer, and when I went in to get him around 8:00, it was like we had a different baby. Instead of waking up to his hungry cries on the monitor, I awoke to the sounds of a little guy who was content to lay in his crib and stare up at his mobile and other colourful things in his room. He seemed happy to see me. He chattered away while I changed him and smiled up at me when I brought him downstairs to make coffee.
He’s doing things on his terms, now. He’s just so much more interactive all of a sudden, which is wonderful. Yesterday morning’s first real smiles at both Graham and I were among the most beautiful moments I’ve experienced as a mom so far.
That light? The one that is supposed to be at the end of the tunnel? I can see it’s really there. It’s more than just a tiny point of light, now. It’s growing brighter. What a beautiful sight!
That is awesome!
you're right at that point where they become so much more than a baby – an interactive little person!
I'm glad you're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. It really does get easier from here on out, I swear it.
I also wanted to say that some babies do just cluster nurse all evening, but then they sleep. My first kid was like that, I swear I was on the couch from 6-11pm every night nursing. But then I'd get actual rest, and it was lovely. My second child has never cluster-fed, and he nurses consistently around the clock. So the cluster nursing can have its uses.
That's a good feeling – seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, knowing that it's been hard, but it gets better. And those real smiles – magic!
That's wonderful! It must be so nice to see him coming into his own and to know how many more milestones you have to look forward to.
He's so beautiful!