3 months old, Las Vegas, Bottle standoff and Covert operations

Yes, it's been an eventful week! The family took our first plane ride together. Chris' best friend, Josh, got married in Las Vegas to his beautiful fiancee, Carly, and we were there to celebrate with them. Needless to say, Chris and I were more nervous about the flying than Becca was. She was a dream!! She slept for 2 1/2 hours of the 3 1/2 hours out there; she barely peeped. On the way home, she slept for 3 hours of the 3 1/2 hour trip and hardly made a sound!

Vegas itself was a bit overwhelming for our just turned 3 month old baby. Lights, noises, smoke...it's overstimulating to me and I understand the world (sort of). BUT, Becca still did great; no major meltdowns, she slept well, enjoyed her first dip in the pool, walked the Las Vegas strip, visited several over-the-top casinos and attended her first wedding.

We were glad to share in our friends' special day, but super glad to be back and settle back into our Chicago routine....well, not until Tuesday. I worked a full day on Labor Day Monday and in my absence, Becca did not eat. She and Chris had a fun filled day playing, talking and sleeping, but no eating, that is until he brought her to the hospital for me to feed her at 12:15p. She is not taking anything substantial from the bottle, but we keep trying!

And for the big covert operations...the bottle training, though an operation of sorts, is not covert, however, Operation Move Up Bedtime (aka MUB) is taking place under the radar, as is NMRS (no more rocking her to sleep). It's true, we are working on two simultaneous operations and last night and today have been a promising start! Detail of MUB: Becca was going to sleep consistently at 10p with an hour nap around 7 or 7:30p so we have decided to smoosh it all together and shoot for a bedtime of 8p. Last night she went down at 8:15, slept for an hour and then fought the going to bed idea (in my arms) until she finally gave up at 10p. She did sleep all the way to 5:45a and then was back down for 3 more hours (I think she's still catching up from our trip and the eating hold out of yesterday). As for the NMRS op, a little more tricky...Becca is a snuggler and loves to be rocked and gently bounced to sleep which she has been virtually every time she's gone to sleep since she was born. Yes, it's getting a bit old for mom and dad :) hence the more intensive covert operation. Last night, I got Becca sleepy and then put her down. She cried, but I stayed very close rubbing and patting her back and stroking her cheek. After about 5+ minutes (Chris had to leave because he felt bad that she was crying), I DID IT! Well, actually SHE did it...but we had victory! She went to sleep!!! Today for her nap, which she is still taking, I got her sleepy and put her down; she got unsleepy and cried for about 5 minutes while I tried to soothe her--I aborted the mission temporarily to soothe her in my arms and once again get her sleepy then put her down and within 1-2 minutes with a little cheek stroking I had victory again!! Yipee!

Ahh, it's the small victories...