MAXIMO

Well, I put my complaining into action last night... and Maximo went 5 hours between feedings! It all started at 4:00 pm...We've been making sure he's up from at least 4 pm on... We kept him awake by reading, tummy time and he watched his first Baby Einstein yesterday too and actually seemed to watch it. Then bath, then feeding around 7:15. He fell asleep quickly, but deeply. We thought all was good, but I was asleep for about a half hour and then the crying started (9:30 pm). We let him cry for about 15 minutes, but it was just getting worse.
So, I got up thinking, here we go again. I picked him up and gave him a pacifier (he does not love them, but will take them after holding it in his mouth for a few minutes). He then started dozing, but would wake up when the pacifier fell out of his mouth. After a couple of times, I put him in his vibrating chair (I think he thinks he's still being held in it) and I laid down in the bed in his room to awaken by his cries at 12:30! I couldn't believe it! He ate well and was back asleep in his crib by 1:00. So, then I crawl into bed and wake John up because I'm so excited! He then slept until 4:00. Then he does this weird thing early morning, where he just eats a little, sleeps, eats a little, sleeps on Mommy for an hour, but then we were up for the day at 7:00. So, I'd love it if we're moving towards a schedule.
I'm sure I've actually created a bit of this anti-sleeping schedule. Often times, when he fusses I just pop a boob in his mouth. As a preemie he was supposed to be fed-on-demand and that's what I've been doing - filling him up at every opportunity. Now, I think I can relax a bit and try to get him on a schedule. So, now I'm going to try to wait it out, make sure he is completely full when he eats (even in that means waking him up), and get all the gas out.
We're on cloud nine. I know it's only been one time, but it's doable and I feel like a new person. It's amazing what 3 1/2 hours of almost uninterrupted sleep will do! (That sounds ridiculous!)