Friday, May 27, 2016

๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐ŸผDo We Let Our Babes Fuss to Sleep๐Ÿ˜ซ๐Ÿ’ค

My youngest babe, of my four boys, will be 9 months soon. I had been dealing with months of him sleeping terribly. Nights even waking up hourly......I was seriously starting to feel like a human pacifier ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ„๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿˆ.

I couldn't make sense of any of this......I thought I was an expert......I had 3 other boys that were amazing nappers. His naps during the day were worse.....15-25 minute catnaps during the day and then he would turn into a bear at night from being overly tired. I thought I was going to lose my mind......seriously๐Ÿ˜œ

I read every article I could get my hands on. Plus a bunch of moms, I don't know, wanting me to buy their book for sleeping advice. I tried sound machines, light projectors with floating stars,  an incline, dark room, night light, diffuser with oils, and so on. You name it......I probably tried it. I would've probably jumped through hoops to get that kid to nap. Thankfully a friend of mine (with years of childcare experience and 3 grown babies of her own) gave me advice I needed to here......let him fuss. Thank you Gaye๐Ÿ˜‰❤️.

I was worn out and we were both grouchy. I started with night time. I just let Maverick fuss/cry it out. The first night or two were long, but guess what, he eventually started
sleeping through the night. I turned my baby monitor off......that way I didn't wake up to every little squawk. I also got a rain app on my phone to help.....he's close to our bedroom.....and I wake up to a pin dropping ๐Ÿ˜ณ(Yes, I am an EXTREMELY light sleeper, one of the many things that happen when you become a mama).

Nighttime was MUCH easier than figuring out his naps.......LORD HELP ME๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ.........I literally thought I was going to loose my marbles ๐Ÿ˜œLOL!!!

Let's just say he's a stubborn one.......he must get that from his daddy LOL๐Ÿ˜‰. I decided to log my week of experience for reference to help all you moms who might 
be struggling with this and I am here to tell you that you don't need to buy a book to 
get it figured out:


Monday: Maverick went down for his morning nap a little after 9:30 after a morning of play, tummy time, and his baby cereal. He nursed and slept for about 25 minutes......let him cry for about an hour (I told you he's stubborn.....typical man LOL.) finally he went back to sleep for only another 20 minutes๐Ÿ™„. I then went to get him because at this point he is getting hungry  for lunch, and needs a diaper change. After lunch I changed him, gave him some play time, read to him, nursed him, and put
him down for round two of nap time. He was wide awake so I decided to use that light show I thought would answer all my napping prayers ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ. He fell asleep for a good 35 minutes, fussing for about 20 of them, but then going to sleep.

Tuesday: A 35 minute morning nap.....not great. I was forced to get him because my 5 year old son has preschool and I needed to go to the gym. At 12:45 we got home I read him two books, nursed him and laid him down at 1:15. He, of course woke up 30 minutes later crying. I let him cry/fuss for 20 minutes and he went back to sleep......for another 39 minutes......ugggggg. Fussed for only a couple minutes then I watched him in the monitor while his eyes got heavy and fell back to sleep.....omg......making progress๐Ÿ™๐Ÿผ

Wednesday: Morning play and breakfast. Put him down at 9:15 for his morning nap.......another 30 minutes minute nap๐Ÿ™„. I let him fuss for a little while to see if he would go back to sleep. Went to get him after 20 minutes to run our errands before lunch. Fed him lunch, read him books, nursed him, and laid him down for his afternoon nap. Pretty much a terrible nap, and even though I let him fuss, I was forced to put him to bed early tonight because he was so overtired and didn't sleep much more than an hour combined.....uggggg.

Thursday:  Morning play, breakfast, and books. Went down around 9:15 and slept for an hour......progress๐Ÿ’ƒ๐Ÿผ?!? Went down for his afternoon a little after 1. Woke up 25 minutes later fussing.......I am not going in there.....he's tired and needs to sleep 
more. Not a successful afternoon nap and was forced to put him to bed early again because he was overly tired.

Friday: Our morning routine followed by an amazing morning nap. Went down a little after 9 and slept till almost 11๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ. His afternoon nap was the same as Thursday. Less than 30 minutes and crying. Let him fuss again, but never went back to sleep. Fussy again and overly tired.....went to bed early....sigh ๐Ÿ˜”. Making progress slowly.
Saturday: He got the flu.....nooooooo๐Ÿค’
Sunday:.....followed by the whole family (except Daddy who was working in another state).......
Monday: ALL our routines out the window......survival mode๐Ÿ˜ซ
Wednesday: Our moving truck arrives ๐Ÿš›๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ˜ณ๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿผ.....did I mention that the routine was literally out the window.

With several nights traveling, and all of us overtired....our baby finally figured out sleep is a good thing as we were getting settled in South Dakota. I think letting Maverick fuss it out helped him learned to self soothe. He still nurses himself to sleep (which many books told me not to do), but that works for us. He officially has a great nap and night routine. He occasionally wakes up fussing, and now I can happily say he puts himself right back to sleep ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’ค


I really wondered through this process why my other three were such great nappers.....I felt like I knew it all. Then Maverick  came and I couldn't figure it out.....why? My 2nd born, Jaxton, had colic and it was basically survival mode everyday. Having a baby with colic and listening to 3 hours straight of crying (from 8-11 at night).......they were going to nap......period. I think with, Maverick,  I just got a little too soft LOL. I went in for every peep and he didn't know how to self soothe. Anytime he fussed in his swing I was right there picking him up.

So to sum it up for all you mamas out there......it's ok to let you babe fuss themselves to sleep. Sleep is important for them to grow, and learn to self soothe.......plus it makes both mama and baby happier. Sometimes that routine has to be put on hold if their sick and really need you, but having a schedule will help you develop a healthy sleep schedule. You'll know what works best for your routine (if that means nursing your babe to sleep-so be it.) You got this mama ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ˜ด.



Wednesday, May 18, 2016

๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿš›Moving a Happy Football Family๐Ÿˆ

I have had many coach's wives ask me over the years how my kids are so well adjusted after moving around for this football life......9 times in 14 years of marriage isn't exactly easy๐Ÿ‘ฐ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ’❤️๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ซ๐Ÿ›ฃ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿš›.

I try as hard as I can to follow these basic rules:

1️⃣. #1 and the MOST important.....stay positive. Kids follow your lead. It's not easy to find out you're not being kept on a staff when a new head coach comes in to a school. My husband and I first talk about it, then have a family meeting, and then get excited about our new adventure.....wherever that may be if we don't already know๐Ÿ›ฃ๐Ÿˆ. We stick together.....there's no "i" in team right๐Ÿ˜‰๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ. 

2️⃣. Start packing early. I started packing one day after my husband left to start work at SDSU and we moved 3 months later (I have four kids remember๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ). We have had fully paid moves, moves that haven't been paid for, and mostly partially paid moves over the years. It's very easy to get stressed when you're paying it all on your own, and doing all the work yourself. I have boxed up 7 of our 9 moves myself-having my husbands help only for the last day or two before the truck actually arrives (if I am lucky.) Start to pack early (crucial with a house full of babes).....I mean it. Things won't seem as stressful (for you or for them) and you can purge and get organized at the same time ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ.

3️⃣. Unpack the kids bedrooms 1st. I always get a shower curtain up, utensils out, etcetera, but my babes (kiddos) rooms are always the 1st to unpack. My 5 year old, Palmer just told me last week that his room feels like home now ❤️๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿก. I do it all: hang wall decor, place furniture, and decorate ASAP. It's comforting to them๐Ÿ”จ๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ❤️๐Ÿก.

4️⃣. Rome wasn't built in a day. I really like to set up my homes fast, because I hate boxes laying around. I also try to work on things room by room. .....I like seeing the results. Usually most wall decor is hung last-it gives me time to think things out. Just DON'T forget to get away from it all for your sanity.....and your kids sake....nothing good ever comes fast. Everyone deserves a break with a little fun.

5️⃣. Enjoy the Area. Having a big family we don't do a lot of vacations, but we do try and enjoy the area we live in with every move. We have taken our boys to the Pro football hall of fame, countless children's museums different places we've lived, professional sporting events, the ocean, Mount Rushmore, and last summer we went to Yellowstone national park and hiked while we were living in Bozeman, MT.....all because football took us there. Take in the land around you.....and your kids will have happy memories with each move๐ŸŽข๐Ÿ”๐Ÿ–๐ŸŽก๐Ÿ™๐ŸŸ

6️⃣. Move when it's best for you/your kiddos. Some wives swear by moving before the school year is out while others wait till it's over. I really think you have to do what works for you. We have done both. This most recent move to South Dakota-we moved 3 weeks before school let out. I think it's been great for them to meet kids before summer Vacation. Plus I like knowing that I am getting a little settled before the school year is over. Another reason, my son Jaxton is in baseball, moving this way helped so he could start right when his season began. I don't prefer moving right away. This way they still have a few months to say goodbye to friends and adjust to leaving.....which I also think is
extremely important. It gives us all closure. 

Bottom line. Kids will react a lot to you.....my kids were born into this football life and I want to make sure they are happy about it. It's easy to think a football family is the best when you're going to national championship games or the thrill of a winning season. I think it's most important how you react in the hard times......with a not so "perfect season".....that is sometimes followed by a move. 

So it has only been a few weeks since we began our new football adventure in Brookings, SD. We already are members at our local children's museum, have had baseball games, track meets, and have been to a handful of parks to blow off steam (remember the four boys.) Right now the kids are off to school, the baby is down for a nap, and I probably need to go unpack a box some where. 

You got this mama.....stay positive. Plus home is wherever your football adventure takes you.......GO JACKRABBITS ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿฐ๐Ÿ›ฃ.


Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Not quite "All About the Mama" on My Mothers Day......but blessed

After my Mother's Day weekend I really thought about how....no day is ever "perfect" or really "all about me." 

Our moving truck had unloaded a little over a week ago. Less than 24 hours later.....my husband went on the road recruiting......the life of a coach's wife๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿš›๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿ˜ณ.

Thankfully, he made up for it, when he came home last Friday. Surprising me with a DQ ice cream cake (my favorite) and also had big bouquet of flowers (someone read my blog)๐Ÿ’๐Ÿ˜.

On Mother's Day, I put our youngest babe, down for his morning nap (must stay on schedule๐Ÿ•—!!!!) Then we all got ready to go to brunch. As soon as we all sat down we ordered our drinks kiddy cocktails for kiddos, a beer for my husband, and of course a Bloody Mary for me......I love brunch!!! As the waitress set the drinks on the table  my littlest babe reached, in his high chair,  for the beer.....which then poured directly into my lap......uggggg. My dress was actually dripping. I, 100%, smelled like a frat house......happy Mother's Day to me๐Ÿ˜ฉ.  

Thankfully, my dress dried during brunch, so that we could go to Costco and run an errand (yup...I went smelling like beer......this girl goes the extra mile for a large pack of diapers ๐Ÿ˜‚). We, like always, needed things for the house.....food, wipes, dipes, milk, and with a family of six......so much more. Our baby, not being the greatest shopper and needing his afternoon nap, cried most the time in the store (uggggg......we didn't stick to the schedule๐Ÿ•—!!!!!)

On Mother's Day, I didn't want it to be about unpacking either, but of course having just moved in, there was things we just had to do. It is what it is๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ“ฆ.

Did I mention, on this mama's day, I also helped my husband wash....hang.....and load his car to be ready to leave the very next morning for recruiting.....remember  what I said about that life of a coach's wife๐Ÿˆ๐Ÿ‘ฐ๐Ÿผ.

I guess, I have to chuckle when someone actually says to me, "I hope your boys spoil you on Mother's Day." ๐Ÿค”

My Mother's Day was far from perfect, I don't think the day was really "all about me," or I was really "spoiled." I do know, however, all they wanted was for me to be happy. When my oldest said to me " I am sorry you had such a rough Mother's Day mom." It really made me think.....

There's always something......it's just part of a being a family. From the moving/unpacking, to laundry piling up, a diaper explosion, something broken, a baby off schedule, naptime, someone fighting over something being "not fair," errands to run, unpacking, someone sick, or things getting spilled.....even on my lap. It's just everyday life๐Ÿƒ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿš›๐Ÿ“ฆ๐Ÿ’ฉ๐Ÿค•๐Ÿ˜ด

My family made me feel loved any way they knew how to on Mother's Day. No one complained when I set out "fancy" clothes to wear for brunch (fancy in the Eck house=not a football jersey or an under armor hoodie), they all gave me the most wonderful cards, my 5 year old told me at least 20 times throughout the day "Happy Mudder's day mama," and they even got me that mani/pedi I so desperately need (whenever the boxes finally get unpacked.)

So as I sit, with my baby in my arms, nursing him to sleep.....I know I am blessed. I know how much they tried any way they could to last weekend to make me feel special/loved. I love Mother's Day.....because I have all of them. A big family is far from perfect and often chaotic....but I love them. I will always be there for them.....no matter what day it is......craziness and all. Some day I know I will miss that crazy. Plus
there's no use crying over spilled beer (or I guess they say milk) ๐Ÿ‘ถ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿป๐Ÿ‘ฆ๐Ÿผ๐Ÿ‘ซ❤️.