Asher E-is-for-easygoing Swint

Oh my. Bedtime and nighttime had reached crisis stage around here with Asher. I was trying to balance his bedtime with Owen's--both usually on my own--and was having to walk him around in the dark basement, making sure it was quiet, for a loooong time, and then most of the time he would wake up, need repacifiering 20 times and finally get to sleep 2 hours later. Let me tell you how much that is *not* compatible with trying to care for another child simultaneously. Asher also has not been napping well (swing magic is all worn off) and so that makes for a rough combo...extra tired baby does not fall asleep easily at night. I was waiting til hopefully he starts napping a bit better (they say around 4 months that happens, and it did with Owen) before I allowed him to go to bed by himself (translate: forced him to cry to sleep, yuck!) but I just ran out of options. So...night #1 he was still crying at the 1hr15min mark and I totally caved. Went in, but didn't let him see me, rocked his bed a bit and he drifted off amid sobs eventually. I was heartbroken and in tears. Also I was afraid all that crying had been wasted since I intervened in the end. Well, nights #2, #3, and #4 he has cried for 30 seconds, 0 seconds and 7 minutes respectively. WOW. That is some fast learning. He has also settled himself in the middle of the night on his own, sans pacifier, and let me tell you we'd been having some doozy nights of replacing that pacifier over and over and over. This is *way* easier than it was with Owen, further evidence of a very different temperament on this little boy! And even with all of these short naps, he is one happy kid (in general). Only one night after not a single decent nap all day did he really lose it...for about 5 minutes when I got him out of the bath. As soon as we get some independent napping going, it is going to be a seriously happy household. Now that the swing isn't working for us, I have been back to walking/holding that baby to sleep for 30-45 minutes each time, about 4 or 5x per day. Exhausting and nerve-wracking for both Owen and I. We can make it!!!