It's A Good Thing She's So Darn Cute

Last week, Baby Girl started the starve-her-at-night-so-she-eats-better-during-the-day diet. Slightly harsh, but proven to be effective when dealing with a nearly four month old whose nighttime habits still resemble a newborn.

Things seemed to be going well the first few nights. And by "well" I mean that her crying bouts went from interminably long to an appropriately obnoxious length of time.

Mama was pleased. Daddy was pleased. We hoped we were making headway.

But then, two nights ago, Baby Girl ramped back up her efforts BIG time. And last night, the chica cried for two and a half hours with only a couple, teeny, tiny breaks. TWO and a HALF HOURS, people. And she only stopped then 'cause I caved for the first time since the cry-it-out diet started, and finally picked her up to console her (rightfully so, in my opinion).

So today, feeling quite haggard and beat down, I called our pediatrician's nurse and said something along the lines of: call me crazy, but this ain't right. And thankfully (for my sanity's sake), she agreed.

So then we started running through what might have changed in my diet in the last week that might have triggered some abnormally fussy behavior, and it dawned on me:

My newfound cinnamon apple spice from Starbucks.

Apple cider topped with whipped cream and drizzled with caramel--or in my case, kinda sorta just apple cider since I can't have the whipped cream.

It's brought me SO much joy in the last five days, since I'd pretty much had to go cold turkey on Starbucks after the milk protein intolerance diagnosis ('cause who wants plain old coffee without some milky, creamy, frothy, goodness??).

But now, my newfound joy has been crushed as well, because according to the nurse, it's likely that the cider, day after day, has caused a build-up of acidity that's hurting poor Baby Girl's terrible, awful, horrible, no good, very bad SENSITIVE stomach.

:(

For anyone who's asking themselves WHY I don't just switch to formula, it's because I firmly believe breast milk is still the best thing for her at this point (and GEEZ, we've made it this far!), as formula would be hard on her stomach in different ways. And those different ways would also cost me major bucks since the specific formula she'd need is THE most expensive on the market. So we're standing strong.

But that doesn't mean I won't continue to dream of everything I'm going to gorge on when I can!

And in the meantime, I'll just bask in her ever-loving cuteness in order to keep my mind off my styrofoam and water diet.

P.S. My favorite comic relief moment of the day was when the hubby asked Baby Girl if she wanted some of his Zegrid.

P.P.S. Don't think I haven't thought about it!