I will admit I have it good, my daughter is a pleasure. I can read her cues and know her needs.  Abigail has settled into her routine.  I can count on her going down for a good 1-2 and 1/2 hour morning nap...and afternoon nap like clockwork. Her bedtime has adjusted to 7 as well...unless something comes up and our schedule needs to adapt. Life as you call it.  As you know, I decided to wait until she was 6 months to start her on food because of the benefits I learned of holding off. So far, her taste buds have discovered the mushy world of rice cereal, mashed bananas, pureed peaches, and today mashed Avocado...which she LOVED!

So, why was I up with her at 12:30 am last night and 5:15? Now, I know if she did a straight shot from 7pm to 5am that is not something to complain about. However, normally she is waking between 3-4am to eat. She is easy as pie, it's all business, and she goes right back down. She seems legitimately hungry too, because will fuss if I ever try to change her before feeding. Unless soaked, I let her diaper go now. Afterall, once she IS sleeping the night, that will be the case. She doesn't try to talk to me or play, she eats. As soon as she's done, she snuggles back into her crib content. She wakes for good around 7:30...happy as can be..and not necessarily starving either.

I just recently switched the feeding sessions of solids to lunch and dinner instead of breakfast and dinner. I found she was impatient in the morning and didn't last long before her first nap. Lunch and dinner were much more successful. On top of that, she also nurses in-between feedings and whenever she goes down for a nap or at night. At this age, milk or formula is still suppose to be their number one source of nutrients.

So many people say, "If you want them to sleep the night...start food early."  She eats solids for dinner around 6...and nurses before being tucked in at 7. Funny, right around when she was about to turn 5 months, she gave me a tease of a few nights of solid sleep. It wasn't long lived. It made me wonder if people associate them sleeping with eating because it happens to be around the time most are introduced to solids. I was hoping the food would have that affect too, but no luck yet. I have talked to a lot of moms who said it made no difference...the night wakings passed on their own...no thanks to increasing food intake.

So here I sit wondering when my time will come.  I have no problem letting her cry for a stretch if I know she will go back down. I have tested it a few nights..and have seen her go down..but pop up again, sitting in her crib fussing until I head in. I can deal with anything for a time...but just as it interrupts her sleep...let's me honest...it interrupts mine and my husband's.

As her appetite is growing...and her belly stretches...hopefully our time is near when we can both wake up to the sun and start our day fully refreshed after a long, restful, night's sleep.

Are others experiencing this or have experienced this as well?