MAXIMO

Growing up, I was very superstitious when it came to my sporting events - if we were on a winning streak, I wouldn't wash my uniform, I'd always have to wear the same warm-up outfit over my uniform or undergarments underneath. I also would use the same hair elastic in my hair, tried to eat the same thing every day, and I would always do the same thing as I stepped into the batter's box.
I find myself doing the same things to ensure a good night's sleep for Maximo. Sure, bedtime routines are important, but I am finding myself going over the top with certain things to make sure luck is on our side. It starts with dinner and the quantity that he eats, he gets his iron supplement, then we bathe him, then he drinks some of Momma's Milk, I burp him, play on the floor with him for 15 minutes, then off to his bedroom to read a specific number of books - always ending with Goodnight Moon. Luckily, on Sunday night, he didn't sleep super well and I had to crawl into bed with him- not in his crib - he has a single bed in his room too. This "bad" night of sleeping stopped me from putting on my rally hat, wearing my green socks and my gray sweatshirt, just to guarantee a good night sleep. Oh, the lengths we'll go for a good night sleep.
He's been consistently been sleeping a long stretch - about nine or ten hours. He has gone to sleep four consecutive nights without any fussing either. I think some of it was partially my fault as to why he'd scream when being put down to bed. Once we realized that Maximo needed to learn how to fall asleep on his own, I kind of became a robot. After books, I swiftly picked him up, popped a pacifier in his mouth and dumped him in his crib. I was trying to make him more dependent. Lately, after books, I turn on his music (he has listened to Mozart every night since he's been at home), cuddle him a bit, then I squeeze about 100 kisses in the last two minutes before I settle him into bed with his monkey. It's working out better - bedtime is a lot less traumatic now for everyone.
Developmentally, this has been a big week for Maximo. He had therapy three times this week. He is supposed to have therapy three times every week, but with the therapist getting sick and a couple long holiday weekends, it hadn't happened in a few weeks. It's amazing how much more beneficial the three days is from even two times (or even less) a week. After therapy sessions, he is more limber and can move around a lot easier. He is now fairly easily rolling over front to back and back to front. He's been doing back to front for a while now, but front to back has been difficult for him and sometimes at night he'd wake up frustrated because he couldn't roll himself back over. Ines (his therapist) is also helping him crawl. She gets him on his hands and knees, and then manually moves his legs to simulate crawling. He is getting stronger and tonight seemed to realize that he could move towards things he wanted which pleased him.
And, another tooth is breaking through his gums! We can only see one - it's his top front right tooth.