Sleep Training

Graham had his four-month appointment with the pediatrician last week. She checked his weight (17 pds. 13 ounces), length (26 inches), and head circumference (big). He got his latest immunizations (always difficult to watch). And Dr. Owens answered our list of questions (patiently).

One of our questions resulted in a reply we hadn't anticipated. Graham has slept so well for so long that we wanted to see if it was okay to continue using a swaddler with him. Not only were we told it's time to lose the swaddler, Dr. Owens also recommended we begin Graham's sleep training.

What is sleep training? In overly simple terms it means letting the baby cry himself to sleep at night. Were it a game show they'd call it "Torture the Parents."

We started Graham's sleep training on Friday. It took him some 40 minutes of crying before he called it a night.

For reasons I don't completely understand, I watched the entire process from across the room, just beyond Graham's limited field of vision. I suppose I thought it would be comforting for me, and to a certain degree it was. In hindsight, it might also have been wise to trade whatever amount of comfort I experienced for a healthy level of distraction.

On Saturday, Graham was down to 25 minutes of crying.

On Sunday, it was even less.

And as I sit here writing this post, Graham's been on his own for several minutes and made only the occasional peep ...

*Dad runs in to the bedroom check on his beloved son.*

And he's asleep!

We're learning that parenting provides a mixed brew of emotions - sometimes conflicting, oftentimes complicated.  For all the sadness and neuroticism we've experienced while leaving our little boy alone to "cry it out," there are seemingly contradictory sensations of pride along with an unanticipated exuberance.

This is Graham's first step - fittingly, a baby step - toward independence.

We'd experience Graham's infancy in slow motion if it were possible. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. So instead we make up for the lost joy of cradling him to sleep at night with extra expressions of love each morning. And we take added joy in having him fall asleep in our arms during daytime naps.

There's nothing in sleep training about the daytime. I checked.

Our little champ at his latest weigh-in.

Graham tries to charm Dr. Owens with his smile.

The Sweetest Sound

A few weeks ago while we were in Nashville, Graham laughed for the first time. We expected to hear regular giggles from that point on, but apparently, Graham had other plans. We went about four weeks without hearing that precious sound again...until Wednesday.

While on an impromptu trip to Kohl's to use an extra 30% off coupon before it expired, Graham decided to show off his laugh again. The first time he did it was inside the store as we were checking out. I looked at him and said "Boo," and he just started laughing out of nowhere. I kept doing it, and he kept laughing. Matt and I were both so excited to hear that sweet sound again.

When we got out to the parking lot, Matt tried the same trick and got the same results. Thanks to the wonder of technology, you can share in our joy (well, at least part of it) and hear the sweetest sound.

Road trip to Burlington

My last week at home with Graham was a busy one. Two days after our train trip to Greensboro we drove to Burlington, N.C., to spend time with my piano teacher, Dick Apperson.

Mr. Apperson is a former professor at Elon University and still serves as music director at the United Church of Christ in Burlington. We visited his church, where he provided a crash course in music theory and played a few songs on the organ. Somehow Graham managed to take a nice long nap as the organ resonated throughout the church. The stained glass windows were literally rattling at one point, yet still he slept.

The first song we heard was Bach's Toccata & Fugue in D minor. Here's a clip of what it sounds like:



Afterward, we headed to lunch at a local Italian spot where Mr. Apperson is a regular. We finished the trip with a tour of the Elon campus, including a visit to the performance hall where my teacher played as a student many years ago.

I've come to very much enjoy my Monday piano lessons with Mr. Apperson. It was great fun learning more about him and more about music with my little boy in tow.

Mr. Apperson's music set-up at his church

To Greensboro by Train

One of the things I knew I wanted to do during my paternity leave was to take a train ride with Graham. Erica knew it too, so she planned a special trip for us. I viewed it as my paternity leave final exam given that, among other things, it involved three bottle feedings on the road and lots of baggage on the train.

Last Tuesday, Graham and I took the 12:17 from Durham to Greensboro, N.C., where we visited the International Civil Rights Museum (Graham made it through the full hour-and-a-half tour even though it ran into his afternoon feeding); had a bottle (him) and a Red Eye (me) at a local coffee shop; wandered the city by stroller (him) and by foot (me); and  passed some peaceful time by the fountain in Center City Park.

Erica drove to Greensboro after work and met us at Smith Street Diner. After having breakfast for dinner - including a biscuit bigger than my fist - we took a family outing to a Greensboro Grasshoppers minor league baseball game. Graham lasted six innings this time around; between the Durham Bulls and the Grasshoppers, we've now seen a full minor league game.

A train ride, a touch of history, some great coffee, a diner visit, and a minor league baseball game. Most importantly, quality time with my son and my wife. That's pretty much a perfect day in my book.

Graham on his first train ride

Outside the Civil Rights Museum

Mmmm ... diner food

Mommy and Graham at the diner

Finishing up the day with some Grasshoppers baseball

Happy Mother's Day

Saturday in the park after the Farmer's Market.

Graham is one lucky little boy to have Erica as his mommy. And we're blessed to have him in our lives. Happy Mother's Day to all our friends and family who are moms.

Graham's First Baseball Game

We joined the Rutgers Club of Raleigh-Durham at the ballpark on Friday night for the Durham Bulls' game against the Syracuse Chiefs. It was Graham's first baseball game. A rain delay pushed back the start, but the clouds eventually gave way leaving a rainbow in their wake. We enjoyed three innings before calling it a night and getting Graham home for a good night's sleep.

Graham in his baseball cap and baseball outfit.

May all Graham's rainy days be followed by rainbows.