Where is the time going?

I have been very neglectful of my blog lately. I don't know exactly what I have been doing, but keeping busy is one of them. We finally have warmed up a touch here in Wisconsin. In fact, Ella's Auntie took her to the zoo today because it was a balmy 40 degrees outside!! Sometimes I definitely think, "Why do we live here???" Don't worry mom I'm not moving anywhere.

Very exciting sleep update: Well, about 12 days ago I decided to give this whole "Cry it out" thing a go. The first four nights were absolute torture. Emerson cried each of those nights for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It was the type of panicked, awful, sobbing, hyperventilating cry that made every fiber of my being ache. I couldn't believe what I was doing. How could I be such an awful, terrible, uncaring mother. I just layed in bed and shook with self-doubt. I did not, however, go in her room. After 4 nights, I told Brian that this technique was clearly not working and we needed to come up with a new game plan. We decided to go in after about 20 minutes of crying and rub her back and calm her down. Well, the child decided that wasn't necessary and slept through the night for the next 7 nights in a row!!! Incredible! I can't tell you how thrilled I am to finally be able to get a full night sleep (well, in theory but now I have to learn to sleep through the night and turn off the brain, but that's a whole different subject!). The last two nights Emerson has woken up each night and only cried for 10 minutes and then put herself back to sleep. So that is awesome. The other huge thing I am doing is trying to always put her in her crib awake which is also working. So needless to say, I am still a huge proponant of "crying it out". It was pure torture and absolutely maddening, but it worked. I'm not saying we are completely out of the woods, but I do think she know gets that I am not coming to get her at night. YAH!!!!