patience and love

Different people have different ways of doing things, no matter the job...it's no differnet with parenting. People always ask me if she sleeps through the night yet, to which I respond, "Heck no!". Then they proceed to tell me that I'm going to have to let her "cry it out". They say, "it'll be the hardest thing you'll ever do, but it has to be done". To this I say...POPPYCOCK! Others say..."well, it's good for her to cry, you have to let her cry some". Yes, she will cry when she wants something, but then it's my job, as her mother to nurture her, care for her, meet her needs.
Different techniques work for different people and all babies are different, but Patrick and I are not of the "cry it out" crowd. The only way Audrey can communicate with us is to cry or fuss. That's how she lets us know she needs something. No matter the time of day, she is not just crying to cry. She needs something: sometimes to nurse, sometimes just to be comforted, sometimes she needs a diaper change, sometimes she is down right uncomfortable or sometimes she is not feeling well. There are so many growth spurts and developmental changes going on in their little bodies, if I let her cry it out in her crib, how do I know she's not crying because she's going through a growth spurt and is hungry? or that she's cutting a tooth and in pain and needs to be comforted? It hurts my heart just to think of my baby being ravenous for milk or wants to nurse even if only for comfort, or in pain and crying and I am just letting her wail because I think she needs to learn. I cannot bare the thought of turning my back on her when she needs me. Poppycock I say!
We both have a few extra measures of patience with this I do believe, because although it's hard to get up several times a night, we do it with little frustration. We also take turns. She is very sweet about her cries at night too. She whimpers and tries to soothe herself, sometimes she is successful, but other times she needs us. Maybe it's the way she looks at us with those big blue eyes that melt our hearts, but whatever it is, she's our daughter, we have been put in charge of caring for this beautiful creature, and we will answer her cry with a soft touch or a snuggle and patience. Besides....she's only going to be little like this for a short while. I know there will be a day when I want so badly to hold her or stroke her cheek and she will be too busy to let me. I am going to soak it up now.