sleep training my (almost) two year old

As I've mentioned before, I've been rocking/gliding/singing/holding Patrick to sleep since he's been born.

He's also been waking up in the middle of the night since he's been born.

Yes, the two are related.  Yes, it's my fault.  And no, I don't regret it.

However...

Around the 21-month mark I decided to give it a shot, this "sleep training" stuff.  Ya know, put him in his crib and let him fall asleep on his own.  We did everything the same:  story time, prayers, iloveyou's and kisses - except instead of rolling him onto my chest I set him in his crib.  The first time I put him in he screamed.  Like, WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?  HOW COULD YOU?  THERE ARE MONSTERS IN HERE.  HUGE, ONE-EYED MONSTERS.  I pulled him out and we went back to our nightly routine in the glider.  The next night we did it again.  He screamed, but only for a few seconds.  He then laid down, flopped around for a half hour and finally fell asleep.

It's been like that now for a few months.  Surprisingly easy.

Okay fine, we've rocked to sleep a few times because it's so much faster and so much easier.  Bad Mommy.

Now that Patrick literally cannot fit in the chair with me comfortably, we are obliged to the crib right away.  But it's getting easier because he understands. 

Now for sleep training step #2 - stop singing.  And step #3 - walk out of the room after we say our goodnights.  You guys, I just don't think I can hear myself sing this same lullaby anymore.  And I can't sit on the nursery floor for another half hour and listen to him flop around.  OH YEAH, AND I'LL HAVE A NEWBORN TO TEND TO.

That's really the only reason I decided to make a change in our routine; nothing bothered me about occasionally being up during the night with him.  And nothing bothered me about rocking him to sleep.  In fact, I cherished it.  Although it was becoming a tad selfish since I knew he'd feel better if he could stretch out in his crib.  So anyways, that's where we are with the whole toddler sleep thing.  It's in a pretty decent spot, but wow, if we could just set him in that crib, say goodnight and peace outta there, we'd be in a great spot.  Especially so we can start this shit all over again in two months.


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A cute story from the other night:

Me:  In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Me:  Who would you like to pray for tonight?

Patrick:  Pat-pick

Me:  Anyone else?

Patrick:  Mommy, Daddy

Me:  How about your baby brother in my belly?

Patrick:  Okay.  Baby in there?

Me:  Yep.  Anyone else?

Patrick:  Jesus.




I cried.