The structure of a book

This is the prologue to (what would be) the book of getting Madelyn to learn how to sleep on her own and sleep in her own bed.

So as most everyone knows, the idea of sleep training (making M cry it out) has me more stressed out than any tax season I have ever worked.

Okay, that was a bit dramatic.

It's not quite that stressful but it still isn't fun.

So the plan (that I created in my head) was to start on Friday so Andrew would have the pleasure of being involved and because I predict we'll be up all night long. I am setting low expectations. It is well known that M is strong willed. M can get herself all worked up into hysteria therefore setting high expectations would only disappoint.

Last night she went to sleep in the swing around 8:30 and woke up at 9:15. I decided that I would try to let her cry it out a day earlier than anticipated. What's the harm...right??? So I decided I would go in to her room in intervals of five minutes and check on her and try to comfort her. As predicted she was hysterical. Not at first. But eventually. It was terrible - absolutely terrible. After 45 minutes and her getting so worked up I chose to end the charade (we all knew I would lose in the end) and take her to bed with me. And then she slept.

I hope there is an epilogue to the story sooner than later and the epilogue reads that she sleeps in her bed without many problems (again - not shooting for perfection).

I will try again later but for now I don't have the heart to make this sweet nugget cry. Call me a wimp. I don't care.

But here is how cute she is this morning. Yet again watching TV. Don't judge.