Love, Tears and Gyros

Josh and I caught ourselves dancing in the nursery to the tune of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" yesterday!  Ah, how sweet love is!  We giggle often at how much our lives have changed and just how much we love being a family of three.
I often fret about my parenting skills, both presently and for the future.  I so want good things for my baby!  I pray every night for his protection, character, and future as well as daily blessings and that Josh and I would be the best parents we possibly can be for him.  One of the most controversial topics in my heart is the matter of sleep and crying.  Before I get into this, let me say that I realize every baby and parent, and circumstances are unique, but I just want to pose an alternate perspective.

It seems the popular thing to do is to lay your baby down for a nap and allow him to cry himself to sleep.  I have had numerous well-trusted friends and acquaintances tell me that this was the only way to do it if you want to keep your sanity and for the well-being of your child.  Really, if you love them, you'll let them cry.  I also read several books on the matter including Baby Wise.  They all seemed to rub me the wrong way and I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that this was not right for us.
So I went with my gut and always responded to my baby's cries and tried to comfort him.  Obviously he still cries, but I want him to know that I am there with him and won't ignore him.  I am extremely blessed to have a very minimal work schedule, so I actually enjoy getting up to check on my little guy.  He's had his phases of sleep difficulties, but generally sleeps pretty good.  Nothing to make me feel like I'm loosing my mind.
Then last week I found an article confirming my gut feelings in Psychology Today (you can read this great article here: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201112/dangers-crying-it-out).   There's a gajillion references and resources with it.  Here's a couple quotes:
" giving babies what they need leads to greater independence later"
"Babies grow from being held. Their bodies get dysregulated when they are physically separated from caregivers."
"(When allowed to cry) neurons die...Disordered stress reactivity can be established as a pattern for life...trust is undermined...(and) caregiver sensitivity may be harmed."
"caregiver responsiveness is related to intelligence, empathy, lack of aggression ordepression, self-regulation, social competence"
Will I do things differently with subsequent children?  Probably to a degree, but it is important to me that my babies know that I will be with them through whatever they're going through.


Okay, off the soap box.  How about Gyros?  I think Josh introduced me to these first at a little hole-in-the wall place on the way to Whidbey Island.  So amazing!  I don't know how to get the lamb the right consistency, but we found that they still taste good with chicken or moose!  Here's how we do it:

Tzaziki

·         8 oz plain yogurt

·         1/3 c chopped seeded cucumber

·         2 tbsp finely chopped onion

·         1 garlic clove

·         1 tsp sugar

·          

Combine ingredients and refrigerate.

Gyros

Ingredients

1 lb. Chicken breasts

Italian seasoning

Pita (4)

Tzaziki

Cilantro

Diced roma tomato

feta cheese

 

Finely chop chicken, smother in seasonings (I use dried basil, oregano, salt, pepper, garlic, onion,and thyme) and cook.  Place on warmed pita, cover with remaining toppings, fold and enjoy!  So easy, SO good!