Crying it out

~Sigh~ Well, I am trying to let Lauren cry it out at night now. I guess it is about time to. She is 11 months old and soon won't need my milk anymore. That doesn't mean I am making her stop nursing at a year though. I am going to do extended breastfeeding. There, I said it. So anyone that thinks that is weird can shove it! :-) BUT, I do want her to give up nursing in the middle of the night and using me as a pacifier. She has been waking up three times every night since I can remember, to nurse. Ha! I did everything right with Leah as far as teaching her good sleep habits. She was sleeping through the night at 2 months (6 hours stretch) then again at 5 months for 12 to 14 hour stretches. She has been consistent with that since then. One thing that was totally different this time was the sleeping arrangements. Leah was in her own crib in her own room from 6 weeks on. Lauren has only slept one night of her life in a separate room than me...last night. WOW...I am amazed at my bad parenting! ha! The reason is this....When we were in Texas, we only had a two bedroom apartment. I didn't want the girls to be in the same room because Lauren actually NEEDED to nurse at night then and I didn't want to disturb Leah's sleep. So she slept in the room with me and Jeremy. Then we went to Michigan for a month and a half. So she was in a pack and play next to me. THEN I should have put her in her own room when we moved to Georgia. Well, she is in her own room...but so was I. I was sleeping in the full size bed in her room until last night. That worked out fabulously for Jeremy! He got the queen size bed to himself! But I missed sleeping with my husband. So I moved back in last night. Lauren cried all night for me. Poor little baby. I was so sad for her. But I need to stick it out and let her cry. I had to stay on the phone with my sister a couple times when I started letting Leah cry it out. She had to keep me from going upstairs and hugging Leah as tight as I could. But I am so glad that she is a good sleeper. At least one of the kids is! Poor little Lauren cried so much that she ended up taking the longest nap ever today! I had to go and wake her up. I guess in a strange way I have done the whole attachment parenting thing that I used to get so annoyed with people about! I have let Lauren sleep with me for most of her life...it is definately a child-lead house. Wow...again I can't believe it. I never wake my kids up in the morning...they sleep until they wake up. I let Leah decide when her nap will be (for the most part). I think she must think I am a servant to her too. HA! I will make her something to eat....10 minutes later after I make it she wants something else. She has had this little attitude lately too. It is kind of funny. But she wants to do everything herself until I want her to do something. THEN she wants me to do it. (Me)"Leah go put your shirt in the dirty clothes." (Leah)"NO! MAMA do it!". (Me)"Leah let me put your pants on you."(Leah)"NO! ME do it myself!". It is so frustrating sometimes. But it can be amusing. But back onto the subject of letting Lauren cry it out. I should have done it months ago. Wish me luck as I try to stick to my guns. Hopefully by a year she will at least be sleeping through the night. I am not done with nursing and neither is she. But I am SO done with night feedings.