8 Month Sleep Regression

After being an angel sleeper since she was 8 weeks old, Alexsa has decided to rebel at full force.  For about a week now, she's been waking up in the middle of the night. Sometimes its for a few hours at a time, sometimes it was just to be rocked back to sleep.  Some nights are better than others.  Well, I thought the night before last was the worst.  Up from from 11:30 to 1, then from 2-3:30, then again at 5.  The last night was just a play hour from 12-2... Then she slept until 10:30!!!!  So i was afraid tonight would be bad.  Well, here we are, 1:04 AM, and she's only slept in 2 small spurts since 3:00.  She went down at her normal time, around 8:00, but woke up at 8:45.  I decided to take her with me to go to the airport to pick up my Dad (back from Bolivia!) so she was up the whole time, and finally fell asleep on the way home, which was about a 30 minute ride.  We got home at 11:45ish and she's been crying ever since.  I read that this is called Sleep Regression.  They're little bodies and brains are going through such a hugh developmental push that they just can't take it and don't sleep.  So what do they suggest to help? Sleep.  Well no shit. If i could get her to sleep we wouldn't be having this conversation, now would we? 

I'm sitting here with ear plugs in my ears and I still hear my baby wailing.  Its breaking my heart.  I need her to sleep and i can't think of another way except to let her tire herself out - i've tried everything else: We rocked, she won't take a bottle, I gave her teething tablets, we took a lavender bath, I gave her tylenol, i just let her play.... nothing soothed her for more than a few minutes.  She doesn't want to be held, yet she doesn't want to be too far from you...  I feel like a horrible mother with these plugs in my ears, but its the only way i'm not walking in there every 5 minutes.  its now been 13 or so and i think she's finally calming down, then she goes for round 2.  Its a good thing you can't hear this blog...

*sigh*