Just a swanging.....

Do you remember that country song...."Just a swanging......" and my favorite part is when the chorus girls sing.."swinging....", anyway, I thought of that song as I tried to think of a title for tonight's post.  For the first four months of Jackson's sweet little life he did four things consistently....scream, poop, eat, and SWING!  It was the only way we could get him to sleep.  Then it became the only way we could get him to stay asleep.  My friends wisely advised me not to worry about this.  They promised me that Jackson would not grow up and become a teenager sleeping in a baby swing.  I was actually so consumed with worry about the swing that I dreamed that I myself slept in a baby swing.  I have to tell you that was a lovely dream, and if they made a soft, plush, warm, gently rocking baby swing in my size, I would jump at the chance to sleep in it!  Anyway, the more I began to let go of such worries, and the more anti-anxiety drugs I had pumping in my veins, the more I began to relax about the swing.  It just became part of our routine.  So you can imagine my alarm when last Monday night at 1:15 a.m. the swing swung it's last bit of life.  My mother-in-law was actually staying with me.  Jackson was crying, and she had gotten up to give him a pacifier.  She realized the swing had stopped, and began changing the batteries.  But even with new batteries, the swing didn't have enough life left to even sputter.  She woke me with a worried look on her face. Jackson was screaming in the background.  From out of nowhere some sense of unfounded confidence entered my body. I strode to the man room where we were housing the swing, put the pacifier in his mouth, gave the swing a few pushes, and he quieted. I returned to my bed and without giving myself time to worry, I went back to sleep.  This did not last long as I returned to put his paci in at least 8 more times that night.  The next morning when I woke up and began getting dressed for work, I thought, "Ok, I'll just go buy another swing at Wal-mart after work today."  Then I thought....."we've already made it through one night with no swing, why would we go backwards now?"  So that was it!  My mind was made up!  No more swing!  No more expensive batteries!  No more scrambling for a screw driver in the middle of the night when the swing always seemed to lose it's juice!  We were doing this!  I told Polly and she was on board!  Even willing to take him for the second night.  I called Jack and told him to put his game face on when he returned from his business trip!  We were going rogue!  We were going swing less!

I never really discussed the idea with Jackson.....Tuesday night, he went down easy enough, but he was up at least 8 times during the night.  Wednesday night when Jack returned was a little better, only 4 wake ups. Since then the boy has been swing less and wakes up 2 to 3 times during the night for pacifier!  AND he dropped his night time bottle in the process!  Not too shabby!  It seems silly, but I am really proud of the boy!  He looks so cute in his little crib now!  Mostly I am proud of us!  I feel like it was our first "parenting" decision.  The easy thing to do would have been to just buy another swing.  It was hard to hear him cry and know that he was uncomfortable; but it was for his good.

We've had a great weekend.  Mi-mi came to visit  and spend the day with Jackson so that we could spend some time with Jack's sister and brother-in-law.  Ross and Carmie will be leaving in a few weeks for the mission field.  It was great to spend time with them!  We are so proud and excited for their family, even though it is hard to let them go!  Tomorrow I return to the gastro doctor with Jackson.  I am praying that this appointment is a little more personable, but in the end I don't really care!  Dr. Hussain was right about Jackson's allergy to milk.  So basically, I'll do whatever the man tells me to do!  :)

Just pictures! :)

 Jackson's first visit with Mi-mi and David!

 Nanna and Pops Giving Jackson a bath!

 Nanna and Jackson

Sweet Boy!