Crying it out

I recently realized that I created a monster by feeding my baby every time she woke up during the night. How was I supposed to know that by eight months she would have it figured out and start waking up every hour to get a little snack? For some reason I just assumed that this was what I was supposed to be doing. That is, until my daughter's 6 month appointment when her pediatrician told me that she no longer needed that midnight feeding. She disagreed. It was too late. I tried to get her back to sleep by rocking and soothing her but it was useless, so I went the easy route and just gave her what she wanted: the boob. Not a smart move. But at 3 am a battle of wills between an exhausted and desperate for sleep me, and a determined, very loud infant seemed pointless... I would never win! It got so bad that there was a night or two that I found myself BEGGING her to sleep, I mean crying, making promises to God if only she would sleep, begging. That was when I decided that it just wasn't worth it and did the easiest thing possible.

I feel that I have suffered enough. Every 3-4 hours was manageable, but every hour and a half is NOT, it's torture. I know what I have to do, the scariest parenting thing I have had to face so far, let her cry it out. I have tried, I really have and so far have failed... miserably. I always go into it with a plan: 5 minutes then 10 then 15 and so on. I always give in. I know that eight months is probably a little late to really get serious, but I am. Because if I don't get serious now I'm afraid I'll be doomed to live life as a zombie, surviving only by ingesting massive amounts of caffeine on a daily basis and having to write myself reminder notes to put on a bra and shoes before leaving the house... seriously. It's now or never.

If anyone has any advice please let me know!