"Four Month Wakeful"

So, there's this dreaded thing called the "Four Month Wakeful". Yeah, it's where your baby has been sleeping through the night since they were four weeks old, then, all of a sudden, they start waking up multiple times at night. Thank you, Jesus, that Joseph has mastered nursing side by side, so I don't even have to get up...he just lays beside me, nurses, cuddles up, then passes out. Usually leaving us with an extra little body in the bed by morning. I kind of love it, though. Madeline was not much on the cuddling and just wanted her own space. Joseph will scoot as close as he can possibly get and nuzzle up next to you to sleep. We have a king size bed, so there's definitely enough room and seeing his smile when he wakes up and realizes he is right next to us is beyond words...ugh, it melts my heart, for real. It probably will not stay like that, though.

I'm all about attachment parenting, though. I mean, we pretty much follow all of the beliefs, without even giving it much thought. They are all natural motherly/fatherly instincts, really...especially skin to skin, breastfeeding, baby wearing, baby-led weaning, positive discipline, parental presence...they all come very natural to us, so it just feels right.
But, I often tell myself or even speak aloud when someone asks my opinion, "everyone does things differently". That is almost my mantra, if you will, when I am in a situation where I want to speak my mind. It keeps me from forcing my beliefs on other people, especially those I am close to. It is so true, though. Everyone does things differently. Even when I am told something totally crazy that I think it is absurd, that is the first thing out of my mouth.haha. It ends the conversation promptly...perfect.

I guess I should go up to bed soon because in a few hours, Joseph will probably be yelling at me. That's the thing, the boy doesn't cry, he yells....or grunts. Yep, he's going to be just as vocal as his sister.....that's a good thing.haha. At Anthony's company picnic on Saturday, Madeline walked up to a pavilion of 30 or more and said, "Excuse me, but can you tell me where you got your big cookie?", when answered, she promptly replied with, "Thank You!!". haha. We are raising such vocal, confident children. There is nothing wrong with that!! That's where my husband comes in. I was always such a quiet, "speak when spoken to" type child, but I am SO loving that our kids will have his personality. No matter what anyone says, they look like me. I am glad they will have his personality, though.

I'll probably be awakened at 3-4 a.m., then have a little nursing/side by side/cuddle time, fall asleep and wake up to our little cutie pie smiling.
So, that's how we are dealing with the "Four Month Wakeful".

They love each other so much....and I plan for it to stay that way!!