sleep - where are you????

charlie is almost 8 months. i thought we would definitely have a baby that would be sleeping like a rock by now. i mean bill and i used to race each other to sleep before we had kids - we both fall asleep in seconds and sleep the whole way through. that does not happen for us (mostly me) anymore.

for awhile charlie was sleeping until around 4, eating and then going back to sleep until around 6:30-7ish (pre-daylight savings!). now - not so much. currently, he goes to sleep around 7ish and then ends up needing a few comfort pats before 11pm. he wakes up/gets restless at 11:30, 2-3, 4-5 and then wants to be up for the day at 5:50am! what?? it used to only takes a pat on the back and he was back to sleep, but lately it is requiring more effort. the issue i have is that i am a zombie at 2-3 am and cannot figure out if he is hungry, etc so i usually feed him because it is my easiest option and means i can go back to sleep earlier. however, last night he did his freak out at 11:30 (an hour after i had finally gotten into bed) and i was still somewhat with it. so i let him cry it out. i knew he wasn't hungry or sick (as the case has been the last few weeks). he cried until 1 am and then was out until 4:30 when he ate and went back to sleep. i think charlie is now dealing with more separation anxiety at night than before so once he wakes up and realizes he would rather have us with him he works himself into a frenzy.

as i was laying in bed trying to sleep through the crys i made some sleeping ground rules for myself so when i am delirious i can follow them. 1. once i hear him up i can go in and give him a "you're ok" back rub and pacifier. if he doesn't fall back asleep - i leave and let him go to town. 2. after i leave i can't go back in. easy to say hard to do.

one thing that happened last night is that he learned how to pull himself to standing in his crib (good thing bill and my dad put it to the lowest setting this past weekend). i had to go in and lay him back down and put the railing up. he really didn't like that, but at least i know he can't flip himself out of the crib!