Progress...

Just now as I was rocking Ryan to sleep for his afternoon nap, I had a realization that we have made some great progress!

From birth-3 months old, when Ryan was tired he cryed  (and cryed and cryed and cryed).  In order to get him to sleep,  I would have to pace with him through the house for a very long time while he looked up at me with tears dripping down his cheeks, hyseterically crying.  I would literally pace and do walking lunges and squats until he eventually settled down.  Laying him down in his crib to nap was totally out of the question.

From 3-4 months old, Ryan would still cry when he got tired (it would happen out of nowhere, he didn't give many tired signs before the tears started).  But at this time we realized if we held him very close and rocked him even though he would be crying hysterically... eventually he would take a breath and start sucking on his pacifier.  Then a few minutes later he would fall asleep.  But we still couldn't lay him down anywhere.  We took turns holding him for nap time.  He would also sleep in a moving stroller or car, so we frequently resorted to that because we knew he would at least get a nap. 

At 4 months, the crying started to get a little better.  It still happened before every nap but it didn't last as long or get as hysterical.  At this point we could bring him upstairs, rock him in the glider, while playing lullabies, and he would eventually fall asleep.  After asleep we could even lay him in his crib.  Everything was getting better... only problem now is that he would nap for exactly 32 minutes every time.  So when he woke up he was still a very tired and cranky baby.

And here we are at 5 months.  For his naps today I was able to walk in his room, close the blinds, rock him for about 5 minutes or less with just a little bit of fussing, and he was asleep.  Then once he was in his crib he actually slept!  For more than 30 minutes!  He has the ability to take over an hour nap!  Woo Hoo!

I guess this is officially proof that things are getting better.  Next step, putting him in the crib while he is still awake and letting him fall asleep on his own.  My fingers are crossed!