Co-sleeping can be great. Some nights Guppy and I snuggle up together in bed and happily drift off to sleep. It is lovely and cozy and so incredibly sweet. I love to brush my lips across his fuzzy little head. I love to listen to his little sleep noises. I love knowing that he is safe. There is comfort in having my baby sleeping in my bed. I know that Guppy won't be this little for long, and I just want to savor these precious moments with him.
But sometimes, co-sleeping is a real bitch. Sometimes I just can't get comfortable with Guppy sleeping so close to me. Where is my arm supposed to go? It feels oddly out of place no matter how I position it around him. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, and I just really REALLY want to roll over. But the baby is in a light stage of sleep, and I fear that my movement will wake him up. I will literally stay awake for 30 minutes debating whether or not I should roll over.
Last week I was finally going to move Guppy to his own room. John was taking a week off of work, so I knew that he could help me rock the baby back to sleep if he woke excessively during the night. I had the whole process planned out in my head. I was going to have my bed back! But then, out of nowhere, my baby boy started sleeping for long stretches. He was only waking once at night. He was going to bed at 8:30 and not waking up to eat until 4am or 5am. I was absolutely amazed! I didn't want to rock the boat, so I pushed off the move to the crib until next month (when John is taking another week of vacation time).
Tune back in three weeks when I write a duplicate of this post. Who am I kidding? My baby boy is going to be in my bed until he is 23.
Showing posts with label Sleeeeeep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sleeeeeep. Show all posts
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
I hate naps
Life with three really isn't too hard. I am not trying to sound like I am super mom or anything, because I am not. But I feel like I manage day to day life fairly well. The only real problem I face is trying to get the baby to nap for longer than 45 minutes. Porgie rarely napped at this age and Izzy was also a cat-napper, so maybe it is a genetic thing?
I know it will get better with time, but it is hard to ever get out of the house with this current schedule. Our day goes like this: baby wakes up, nurses for 10-15 minutes, plays for about an hour, and then I nurse or rock him to sleep. Sometimes I put him in his swing and sometimes I put him in his crib. Despite where I put him to sleep, he usually wakes up 30 to 45 minutes later. If I put him in the swing, he will sometimes sleep for an hour or two, but this is rare (it happens maybe once a week). This loop continues all day, which means that my baby is going down for FIVE naps every day. It feels like I am constantly putting my baby to bed, which means that I am spending a large portion of my day in the baby's bedroom, which means my other children are spending a large portion of their day watching television. GAH.
I have tried going in quickly when the baby wakes and rocking him back to sleep. It doesn't work very well, and just ends up frustrating me and Guppy. After that 30 minute nap, he really struggles to go back to sleep. Last Monday John was off work, so I really tried to extend his nap. For his first nap, I spent 20 minutes getting him to sleep. He slept for 35 minutes and woke up. I rushed in and tried to rock him back to sleep. I spent 40 minutes rocking him! He finally fell back asleep and slept for 30 more minutes. So, I spent an hour of my time trying to get him to sleep for an hour. It hardly seems worth all the effort.
I know it will get better with time, but it is hard to ever get out of the house with this current schedule. Our day goes like this: baby wakes up, nurses for 10-15 minutes, plays for about an hour, and then I nurse or rock him to sleep. Sometimes I put him in his swing and sometimes I put him in his crib. Despite where I put him to sleep, he usually wakes up 30 to 45 minutes later. If I put him in the swing, he will sometimes sleep for an hour or two, but this is rare (it happens maybe once a week). This loop continues all day, which means that my baby is going down for FIVE naps every day. It feels like I am constantly putting my baby to bed, which means that I am spending a large portion of my day in the baby's bedroom, which means my other children are spending a large portion of their day watching television. GAH.
I have tried going in quickly when the baby wakes and rocking him back to sleep. It doesn't work very well, and just ends up frustrating me and Guppy. After that 30 minute nap, he really struggles to go back to sleep. Last Monday John was off work, so I really tried to extend his nap. For his first nap, I spent 20 minutes getting him to sleep. He slept for 35 minutes and woke up. I rushed in and tried to rock him back to sleep. I spent 40 minutes rocking him! He finally fell back asleep and slept for 30 more minutes. So, I spent an hour of my time trying to get him to sleep for an hour. It hardly seems worth all the effort.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Sleeping arrangements
Guppy and I started co-sleeping on the day he was born. When we brought him home, he slept curdled up right beside me in bed. After he was about 2 weeks old, he started grunting and straining all night long. It was really disturbing my sleep, but we muddled through a few more weeks of co-sleeping.
When Guppy was about a month and half old, I decided to put him to sleep for the night in his car seat (I thought maybe the gruntiness was due to reflux). I kicked John out of the bedroom, put the car seat on his side of the bed, and put my swaddled baby in the seat. The first few nights he slept great, only waking about 2 times. And because he was on my husband's side of the bed, the constant grunting and straining didn't seem to bother me as much. AWESOME! I thought our problems were solved.
But then about 2 week ago Guppy started having trouble at bedtime. He would go right to sleep, and I would transfer him to the car seat. But 20 minutes later he was screaming and crying. The only thing that would calm him was putting him into bed with me and letting him stare at a side table lamp. Over the past week, I stopped putting him in the car seat and just started letting him co-sleep with me again. But he is still waking 20 minutes later, and he is still grunty at night, which is still very disturbing to my sleep. He is better than he used to be, but between the hours of 4am and 7am he is the loudest sleeping baby in world. This basically means that I am awake from 4am almost everyday. UGH.
Now, the ultimate goal is to get Guppy into his crib (in his own room) within the next month or two. I waited until Porgie was 8 months old, and I was utterly exhausted by that time. With Izzy, we used the car seat for sleeping almost exclusively until he was 5 or 6 months old because of all his tummy troubles. He never really slept well in my bed (or in the car seat for that matter), so the transition to his room wasn't hard at all. I have started letting Guppy take a few naps in his crib during the day, but he never sleeps for more than 45 minutes. And he wakes up pissed off. UGH.
So, I am working towards a goal and it is not going to be easy.
When Guppy was about a month and half old, I decided to put him to sleep for the night in his car seat (I thought maybe the gruntiness was due to reflux). I kicked John out of the bedroom, put the car seat on his side of the bed, and put my swaddled baby in the seat. The first few nights he slept great, only waking about 2 times. And because he was on my husband's side of the bed, the constant grunting and straining didn't seem to bother me as much. AWESOME! I thought our problems were solved.
But then about 2 week ago Guppy started having trouble at bedtime. He would go right to sleep, and I would transfer him to the car seat. But 20 minutes later he was screaming and crying. The only thing that would calm him was putting him into bed with me and letting him stare at a side table lamp. Over the past week, I stopped putting him in the car seat and just started letting him co-sleep with me again. But he is still waking 20 minutes later, and he is still grunty at night, which is still very disturbing to my sleep. He is better than he used to be, but between the hours of 4am and 7am he is the loudest sleeping baby in world. This basically means that I am awake from 4am almost everyday. UGH.
Now, the ultimate goal is to get Guppy into his crib (in his own room) within the next month or two. I waited until Porgie was 8 months old, and I was utterly exhausted by that time. With Izzy, we used the car seat for sleeping almost exclusively until he was 5 or 6 months old because of all his tummy troubles. He never really slept well in my bed (or in the car seat for that matter), so the transition to his room wasn't hard at all. I have started letting Guppy take a few naps in his crib during the day, but he never sleeps for more than 45 minutes. And he wakes up pissed off. UGH.
So, I am working towards a goal and it is not going to be easy.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Need sleep
This week has been kind of crazy. On a whim, I decided that I wasn't going to buy nighttime diapers anymore. Because I am a naive asshole, I was fairly confident that after a few days of pissing in their beds, my children would start to wake up dry. STOP LAUGHING AT ME INTERNET!
I know, I know, I am a moron. I have not gotten a full nights sleep all week. At least once (and sometimes twice) per night I am changing bed sheets and underwear and PJs. Ugh. What in the hell was I thinking?
So, I am tired. And this was the best post I could come up with. Sorry friends...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
I know, I know, I am a moron. I have not gotten a full nights sleep all week. At least once (and sometimes twice) per night I am changing bed sheets and underwear and PJs. Ugh. What in the hell was I thinking?
So, I am tired. And this was the best post I could come up with. Sorry friends...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Big kid bed!
Last Friday something bad happened. Izzy fell out of his crib and landed on his head. Ouch! My poor little baby. Since I love imprisoning my children in their cribs, I tried to convince my husband that it wasn't a big deal. "Honey, all kids fall out of bed periodically. Landing on your head isn't so bad." But despite my protests, John turned Izzy's crib into a toddler bed this weekend. Since he is still a little guy, I attached a bed rail to his mattress to prevent him from rolling out of bed while he is sleeping.
Izzy loves his new big kid bed! And best of all, he is sleeping like a champ. I can't believe how quickly my little baby has transformed into a big kid.
Izzy loves his new big kid bed! And best of all, he is sleeping like a champ. I can't believe how quickly my little baby has transformed into a big kid.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Say it ain't so
Naps have been kicking my ass lately. Izzy has decided that sleeping is for suckers. Instead, he likes to whine "Mommmmmyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy" over and over again. I have heard him call my name at least 600 times in the past 30 minutes. When this horrible trend first started, I would go into his bedroom and give him another drink of water or cuddle with him in the rocking chair for a few minutes. But that grew old really fast, so now I just listen to him whine for an hour everyday.
I know that lots of 2 year-olds don't nap, but my child cannot be on of them. NO! I refuse to even consider the idea. Did you know that my three and a half year-old still naps almost everyday? Yet somehow, my two year-old doesn't seem to want or need to nap. What the hell is up with that?
The world is a cruel, cruel place. I need quiet time during the day. Blogging time. Reading time. TV time. Sitting and staring into space without a thought in my head time. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be an annoying phase and not my new reality.
Go to sleep baby boy. And for the love of God, stop yelling my name!
I know that lots of 2 year-olds don't nap, but my child cannot be on of them. NO! I refuse to even consider the idea. Did you know that my three and a half year-old still naps almost everyday? Yet somehow, my two year-old doesn't seem to want or need to nap. What the hell is up with that?
The world is a cruel, cruel place. I need quiet time during the day. Blogging time. Reading time. TV time. Sitting and staring into space without a thought in my head time. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE be an annoying phase and not my new reality.
Go to sleep baby boy. And for the love of God, stop yelling my name!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sleeping too much? Is that possible?
My son wakes up at 7:00 am almost every day. Sometimes he wakes up at 6:30 am, which really sucks. But for the last few days, he has slept until 8:00 am. This would be awesome if my kids were flexible little people. But unfortunately, they are not.
Today Izzy woke me up at 8:40. Fuckity, fuck, fuck! This meant that we had 45 minutes to eat breakfast, get dressed, and drive to story time. Somehow, we managed to make it. But I felt disheveled and out-of-sorts the entire morning. When nap time rolled around, I knew that I was in trouble. Although I put the kids down 40 minutes later than usual, but they still weren't ready for bed. Izzy cried for an entire hour before he finally fell sleep. Porgie never slept. Since Izzy didn't fall asleep until well after 2 pm, I decided to let him nap until 3:30 (I usually wake him up by 3:00 or he won't fall sleep easily at night). And now, it is 9:00 pm and Izzy is still whining in his damn crib.
In summary, sleeping in is only fun when you don't have children. Otherwise, it is a pain in the asshole.
(side note: Porgie will sleep FOREVER if I let her. That is why she isn't mentioned much in this post. She is my good little sleeper.)
Today Izzy woke me up at 8:40. Fuckity, fuck, fuck! This meant that we had 45 minutes to eat breakfast, get dressed, and drive to story time. Somehow, we managed to make it. But I felt disheveled and out-of-sorts the entire morning. When nap time rolled around, I knew that I was in trouble. Although I put the kids down 40 minutes later than usual, but they still weren't ready for bed. Izzy cried for an entire hour before he finally fell sleep. Porgie never slept. Since Izzy didn't fall asleep until well after 2 pm, I decided to let him nap until 3:30 (I usually wake him up by 3:00 or he won't fall sleep easily at night). And now, it is 9:00 pm and Izzy is still whining in his damn crib.
In summary, sleeping in is only fun when you don't have children. Otherwise, it is a pain in the asshole.
(side note: Porgie will sleep FOREVER if I let her. That is why she isn't mentioned much in this post. She is my good little sleeper.)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Getting comfy
I worry. A LOT. One of the big things I have worried about since the birth of my children is SIDS. That shit scares the crap out of me. So, I took every precaution - I never over bundled them, we did not use blankets or pillows, and no stuffed animals were allowed in their cribs. When Porgie was about a year old, I did allow her to take night-night (her favorite blanket) to bed with her, but I tied it into two knots, because it made me feel better about the whole suffocation hazard thing.
Yes, I am insane. I can't help it.
As you know, my baby girl is now 3-years-old. I decided that perhaps it was time to start letting Porgie use a pillow. We went to Target, and I searched the pillow aisle for a toddler sized pillow. But everything looked enormous. I knew that I couldn't confidently put a big fluffy pillow in her crib. As I was walking out of the pillow aisle, I noticed a pile of decorative pillows on calerance. And I found it - the perfect toddler pillow (and 30% off too!). So we bought it...
And because I was in a good mood, we bought a blanket for her bed too. A Hello Kitty blanket, of course (Porgie is currently OBSESSED with Hello Kitty). Here is the big girl trying out her new comfort items...
You'll be amazed to know that I even suppressed the urge to go check on her during the middle of the night. It was tough, but I did it.
My baby girl is growing up.
Yes, I am insane. I can't help it.
As you know, my baby girl is now 3-years-old. I decided that perhaps it was time to start letting Porgie use a pillow. We went to Target, and I searched the pillow aisle for a toddler sized pillow. But everything looked enormous. I knew that I couldn't confidently put a big fluffy pillow in her crib. As I was walking out of the pillow aisle, I noticed a pile of decorative pillows on calerance. And I found it - the perfect toddler pillow (and 30% off too!). So we bought it...
And because I was in a good mood, we bought a blanket for her bed too. A Hello Kitty blanket, of course (Porgie is currently OBSESSED with Hello Kitty). Here is the big girl trying out her new comfort items...
You'll be amazed to know that I even suppressed the urge to go check on her during the middle of the night. It was tough, but I did it.My baby girl is growing up.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Putting a big boy to bed...
I glance at the clock - 7:02.
"Time for your bath!!!" I announce with joy. It has been a long day. A day filled with whining and crying and demanding. I am ready for bedtime.
My babies race into the bedroom, already ripping and pulling at their clothes. I undress them, and they excitedly run toward the bathroom. Porgie jumps in, without any help. Izzy grunts and points at the water until someone helps him get in. They hang foam letters on the wall, they splash, they brush their teeth, they splash some more.
I lift Izzy from the tub and drape a towel over his head. He chatters happily, while running to the changing table. He adores our bedtime rituals. I diaper his little bottom and rub him down with lotion. As usual, he tries to eat lotion out of the tube, and gets very upset when I try to stop him. I manage to wrestle him into his pajamas just as Porgie and John makes their way to the changing table.
Izzy and I sit in the rocking chair together. I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, while Izzy shoves his chubby little fingers into the holes on each page. As John finishes dressing Porgie, we sing 5 Little Duckies.
I take my sweet baby boy to his bedroom. I turn on his sound machine and turn off the lights. He nurses, while I gently rub his fuzzy little head. He grabs a few strands of my hair and absentmindedly plays with them. After a few minutes, he is done. He rolls off my lap and runs across the room. I chase him down and deposit him into his crib, while singing Sweet and Low. He loves Sweet and Low. It always calms him down. I kiss his chubby cheek and whisper, "I love you Buddy."
Our routine is so easy and effortless. It is beautiful really. And so enjoyable. I wish I could freeze time, and stay in this stage forever. My little guy is so much fun.
"Time for your bath!!!" I announce with joy. It has been a long day. A day filled with whining and crying and demanding. I am ready for bedtime.
My babies race into the bedroom, already ripping and pulling at their clothes. I undress them, and they excitedly run toward the bathroom. Porgie jumps in, without any help. Izzy grunts and points at the water until someone helps him get in. They hang foam letters on the wall, they splash, they brush their teeth, they splash some more.
I lift Izzy from the tub and drape a towel over his head. He chatters happily, while running to the changing table. He adores our bedtime rituals. I diaper his little bottom and rub him down with lotion. As usual, he tries to eat lotion out of the tube, and gets very upset when I try to stop him. I manage to wrestle him into his pajamas just as Porgie and John makes their way to the changing table.
Izzy and I sit in the rocking chair together. I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar, while Izzy shoves his chubby little fingers into the holes on each page. As John finishes dressing Porgie, we sing 5 Little Duckies.
I take my sweet baby boy to his bedroom. I turn on his sound machine and turn off the lights. He nurses, while I gently rub his fuzzy little head. He grabs a few strands of my hair and absentmindedly plays with them. After a few minutes, he is done. He rolls off my lap and runs across the room. I chase him down and deposit him into his crib, while singing Sweet and Low. He loves Sweet and Low. It always calms him down. I kiss his chubby cheek and whisper, "I love you Buddy."
Our routine is so easy and effortless. It is beautiful really. And so enjoyable. I wish I could freeze time, and stay in this stage forever. My little guy is so much fun.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Too much information? Probably.
If you remember, I have been having lots of trouble sleeping lately. For weeks, I have struggled to get the rest that I need. But I think I may have found a solution - SEX. It is working miracles towards a peaceful night's sleep. So, I have decided that we have to have sex every night. That sounds manageable - right?
And this has absolutely nothing to do with sex or sleeping, but I have to mention it. Kate is hosting a giveaway. AND I WANT THIS BAG! Look how adorable it is...
You can enter to win too! But I wouldn't recommend it. That is just more competition for me:)
P.S. I am sorry for talking about sex in this post Kate. I know that you are a prude. Please don't exclude me from your giveaway.
And this has absolutely nothing to do with sex or sleeping, but I have to mention it. Kate is hosting a giveaway. AND I WANT THIS BAG! Look how adorable it is...
You can enter to win too! But I wouldn't recommend it. That is just more competition for me:)P.S. I am sorry for talking about sex in this post Kate. I know that you are a prude. Please don't exclude me from your giveaway.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Sleep problems? Seriously?
I haven't been getting much sleep lately. My kids are sleeping great. My husband is sleeping great. But me? I toss and turn all night long. Also, I am having lots of trouble falling asleep. I lay awake for HOURS every night. And my husband's snoring isn't helping the situation. When I finally do fall asleep, I wake up every hour or two all night long.
When I wake up in the morning, I am usually not tired. I feel fine and chipper...until midday. Then I crash. I lay lifelessly on the couch, while the kids wreck havoc on our home. To remedy this problem, I have been trying to leave the house in the afternoons. If you see a zombie roaming the aisles of Target, that would be me. Or if you see a woman at the park with toothpicks propping up her eyelids, that would be me.
I can't seem to break this cycle. I have tried going to bed earlier. No dice. I just lay awake in bed for 3 hours instead of 2. I want desperately to take some Tylenol PM, but I am still nursing. I also want to kick my husband out of our bedroom, but he isn't too keen on this idea. I guess I just have to wait it out.
When I wake up in the morning, I am usually not tired. I feel fine and chipper...until midday. Then I crash. I lay lifelessly on the couch, while the kids wreck havoc on our home. To remedy this problem, I have been trying to leave the house in the afternoons. If you see a zombie roaming the aisles of Target, that would be me. Or if you see a woman at the park with toothpicks propping up her eyelids, that would be me.
I can't seem to break this cycle. I have tried going to bed earlier. No dice. I just lay awake in bed for 3 hours instead of 2. I want desperately to take some Tylenol PM, but I am still nursing. I also want to kick my husband out of our bedroom, but he isn't too keen on this idea. I guess I just have to wait it out.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Crisis Averted
We have been having some napping issues with Izzy. You see, I have gotten into the habit of nursing him to sleep for naps. And for the last 15 months, this plan has worked perfectly. I would nurse him, while he peacefully drifted off to sleep. I would rub his fuzzy baby head and play with his little fingers. It was one of the highlights of my day.
Last Thursday, I nursed Izzy to sleep. When I stood up to transfer him to bed, he woke up. This happens frequently. He usually rolls onto his belly and goes right back to sleep, without any help from mama. But on this day, he decided that he didn't want to go back to sleep. He cried for an HOUR, until I finally rescued him from his crib. And the rest of the day was pure torture. He cried and screamed and demanded to be held constantly. It was exhausting.
He woke up during the transfer again on Friday afternoon. He cried for 45 minutes, before finally falling asleep. And he slept for a mere 30 minutes. DAMN IT! Saturday and Sunday were almost identical to Friday. It was rough. I was forced to make a tough decision. I decided that I was no longer going to nurse my little guy before his nap.
I have to admit, I was really sad about my decision. I love nursing Izzy to sleep, but obviously it was negatively affecting his naps. And he needs his sleep to be a happy and lovable toddler. I fretted about this decision all morning long, and then I had a brainstorm! I would just nurse him with the lights on and try my best to keep him awake. And it worked internet! He nursed for about 20 minutes, I laid him down wide awake, and he put himself to sleep. He has been sleeping for the past hour. I am so damn smart.
Last Thursday, I nursed Izzy to sleep. When I stood up to transfer him to bed, he woke up. This happens frequently. He usually rolls onto his belly and goes right back to sleep, without any help from mama. But on this day, he decided that he didn't want to go back to sleep. He cried for an HOUR, until I finally rescued him from his crib. And the rest of the day was pure torture. He cried and screamed and demanded to be held constantly. It was exhausting.
He woke up during the transfer again on Friday afternoon. He cried for 45 minutes, before finally falling asleep. And he slept for a mere 30 minutes. DAMN IT! Saturday and Sunday were almost identical to Friday. It was rough. I was forced to make a tough decision. I decided that I was no longer going to nurse my little guy before his nap.
I have to admit, I was really sad about my decision. I love nursing Izzy to sleep, but obviously it was negatively affecting his naps. And he needs his sleep to be a happy and lovable toddler. I fretted about this decision all morning long, and then I had a brainstorm! I would just nurse him with the lights on and try my best to keep him awake. And it worked internet! He nursed for about 20 minutes, I laid him down wide awake, and he put himself to sleep. He has been sleeping for the past hour. I am so damn smart.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Damn Stupid Sleep
Sleep training has been going well at night, but things have gone awry during the day. For the past week, I have not nursed Izzy during the night. He has been doing really well, and has been sleeping through the night. Although this is WONDERFUL and AMAZING, I still have a few complaints.
Izzy now wakes up for the day at 6:00 am. And 6:00 am is way too early to start the day. To remedy this problem, I decided to not get him out of bed until 7:00. This plan didn't work out very well, because he screamed like a maniac for the entire hour. In the process, he also woke Porgie up. And then I was stuck with two cranky babies for the entire morning. So, I have been letting him get up at 6:00 am.
The good news is that because he wakes up so early, he has been going down easily for both of his naps. The bad news is that he will only sleep for about 45 minutes. After those measly 45 minutes, he wakes up screaming. If I do not rescue him from is crib immediately, he will screech so loud that he wakes Porgie from her nap. I thought that perhaps Izzy was ready for one nap per day. I was hopeful that instead of taking two 45 minute naps, he would take one 2 hour nap. No dice. When I implemented this new plan, Izzy just took one 45 minute nap and was miserable ALL DAY.
Why does sleep always have to be a struggle?
Izzy now wakes up for the day at 6:00 am. And 6:00 am is way too early to start the day. To remedy this problem, I decided to not get him out of bed until 7:00. This plan didn't work out very well, because he screamed like a maniac for the entire hour. In the process, he also woke Porgie up. And then I was stuck with two cranky babies for the entire morning. So, I have been letting him get up at 6:00 am.
The good news is that because he wakes up so early, he has been going down easily for both of his naps. The bad news is that he will only sleep for about 45 minutes. After those measly 45 minutes, he wakes up screaming. If I do not rescue him from is crib immediately, he will screech so loud that he wakes Porgie from her nap. I thought that perhaps Izzy was ready for one nap per day. I was hopeful that instead of taking two 45 minute naps, he would take one 2 hour nap. No dice. When I implemented this new plan, Izzy just took one 45 minute nap and was miserable ALL DAY.
Why does sleep always have to be a struggle?
Friday, December 5, 2008
Sleep? I don't need to stinking sleep.
When I first started blogging, I often whined and complained about Porgie's horrible sleeping habits. I was desperate for answers. I just wanted someone to tell me how to get her to stay asleep. Although my readers did offer suggestions, the only thing that really produced results was not responding to her every whimper (AKA - letting her cry). Please do not leave a comment telling me that you could never let your child cry at night, because you have never walked in my shoes. And please do not discuss Attachment Parenting in the comments, because my children are constantly in my arms during the day. I have devoted my entire life to ensuring that they are happy and healthy little people.
When I was pregnant with Izzy, I was optimistic that he would be a "sleeper." You know, the baby who naturally starts sleeping through the night at 6 weeks of age. The baby who can sleep in the car, in the stroller, or even in a busy restaurant. The baby who puts himself to sleep without mommy's participation. I did NOT get that baby. Instead, I got a perfect little boy who liked to wake every hour or two all night long. I got a little boy who only napped for 20 minutes at a stretch. I got a little boy who would only fall asleep in his dark, quiet bedroom.
It has been difficult, but I have tried to refrain from discussing Izzy's sleeping issues excessively on my blog. No-one wants to hear me bitch and moan about sleep deprivation for an entire year. But I have had lots to bitch about, because Izzy has been an extremely wakeful baby. At one year of age, he still wakes 3 to 4 times per night. On a really good night, he'll only wake twice. But lately, we have been having 4 nursing sessions per night. And I am tired. Actually, I am exhausted.
I have re-read all of my sleep books. I have read countless message boards on sleep. I have questioned family members and friends. But despite my efforts, Izzy is still not sleeping. So, I have decided that it is time to stop responding to every whimper. It is time to teach Izzy an important life skill. It is time for mommy to get some sleep.
When I was pregnant with Izzy, I was optimistic that he would be a "sleeper." You know, the baby who naturally starts sleeping through the night at 6 weeks of age. The baby who can sleep in the car, in the stroller, or even in a busy restaurant. The baby who puts himself to sleep without mommy's participation. I did NOT get that baby. Instead, I got a perfect little boy who liked to wake every hour or two all night long. I got a little boy who only napped for 20 minutes at a stretch. I got a little boy who would only fall asleep in his dark, quiet bedroom.
It has been difficult, but I have tried to refrain from discussing Izzy's sleeping issues excessively on my blog. No-one wants to hear me bitch and moan about sleep deprivation for an entire year. But I have had lots to bitch about, because Izzy has been an extremely wakeful baby. At one year of age, he still wakes 3 to 4 times per night. On a really good night, he'll only wake twice. But lately, we have been having 4 nursing sessions per night. And I am tired. Actually, I am exhausted.
I have re-read all of my sleep books. I have read countless message boards on sleep. I have questioned family members and friends. But despite my efforts, Izzy is still not sleeping. So, I have decided that it is time to stop responding to every whimper. It is time to teach Izzy an important life skill. It is time for mommy to get some sleep.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Hello World
Sorry for the silence, but things have been a little hectic in Cakerwakerville. My Izzy Whizzy Woo has learned how to get into a sitting position from his stomach. Normally this would be a wonderful new milestone, but this milestone has enabled my little guy to pull himself up in his crib. And the child cannot get down from a standing position. Izzy has decided that 4 am is the perfect time to practice this new skill. I spend half my nights laying him down and the other half listening to him scream. Ugh. So, I've been a little tired. Actually, that is an extreme understatement. I have been completely and utterly exhausted.
I took the kids apple picking yesterday. It was very cute watching Porgie pluck apples off of trees. However, I was a little shocked at the outrageous prices at the farm. It was $3.95 per person for the hayride (Izzy was free) and $5.90 to feed the farm animals/play on the jungle gyms. YIKES! So basically, I spent nearly $14 before I even made it to the damn orchards. And the worst part is, I now have a ton of apples in my kitchen, which means my husband is expecting me to bake something yummy. This whole "going to the farm" trip has turned out to be a lot of money and work.
Today we stayed home. I hate staying home all day, but my house was filthy. Seriously, it was getting to the point where I felt ashamed of myself for living in squalor. So, I did some major cleaning this morning. I even scrubbed some of my greasy fingerprint covered walls. I love the look of flat paint, but my kids have wrecked havoc on my walls.
Yes, this post was fairly boring. I am sorry. To make up for my blandness, here are some pictures for little old you...
I took the kids apple picking yesterday. It was very cute watching Porgie pluck apples off of trees. However, I was a little shocked at the outrageous prices at the farm. It was $3.95 per person for the hayride (Izzy was free) and $5.90 to feed the farm animals/play on the jungle gyms. YIKES! So basically, I spent nearly $14 before I even made it to the damn orchards. And the worst part is, I now have a ton of apples in my kitchen, which means my husband is expecting me to bake something yummy. This whole "going to the farm" trip has turned out to be a lot of money and work.
Today we stayed home. I hate staying home all day, but my house was filthy. Seriously, it was getting to the point where I felt ashamed of myself for living in squalor. So, I did some major cleaning this morning. I even scrubbed some of my greasy fingerprint covered walls. I love the look of flat paint, but my kids have wrecked havoc on my walls.
Yes, this post was fairly boring. I am sorry. To make up for my blandness, here are some pictures for little old you...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
I jinxed myself
See this butterfly nightlight...
This little butterfly was supposed to save my sanity, restore peace and harmony in my household, and be a trusted companion for my wayward toddler.
After writing this post last week, I decided that perhaps Porgie's opposition to bedtime was stemming from a fear of the dark. So, I hunted around in my bedroom until I found the lovely butterfly nightlight pictured above. I plugged it in, and Porgie was captivated. I was certain that I had struck gold.
When we put Porgie to bed that night, she didn't cry or puke. It was a miracle. For the next 5 or 6 nights, Porgie went to bed without a fuss. But then I did something very foolish. I bragged. Yes, I bragged to Eva that I had fixed our bedtime problems. I think I even told her that I was a genius. Tsk tsk.
Porgie SCREAMED during bedtime last night. Porige PUKED during bedtime last night. I am not a genius. I am a jackass.
This little butterfly was supposed to save my sanity, restore peace and harmony in my household, and be a trusted companion for my wayward toddler.After writing this post last week, I decided that perhaps Porgie's opposition to bedtime was stemming from a fear of the dark. So, I hunted around in my bedroom until I found the lovely butterfly nightlight pictured above. I plugged it in, and Porgie was captivated. I was certain that I had struck gold.
When we put Porgie to bed that night, she didn't cry or puke. It was a miracle. For the next 5 or 6 nights, Porgie went to bed without a fuss. But then I did something very foolish. I bragged. Yes, I bragged to Eva that I had fixed our bedtime problems. I think I even told her that I was a genius. Tsk tsk.
Porgie SCREAMED during bedtime last night. Porige PUKED during bedtime last night. I am not a genius. I am a jackass.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Why do we keep procreating?
I have two words for you - POOP and PUKE. These seem to be the predominant themes in our household right now. My sweet baby girl has transformed into a little demon. Let me explain.
In the past, we always put Porgie to bed around 7:30. Sometimes she would go straight to sleep, and sometimes she would play in her crib for an hour before falling asleep. And life was good. This weekend, life as we knew it changed dramatically.
On Friday evening, we put Porgie to bed at 7:30. Thirty minutes later she started screaming, "POOP, POOP, POOP." Thinking that she had pooped in her diaper, I raced to her room. But Porgie had not poop, so I put her back in the crib and left the room. Ten minutes later I heard, "POOP, POOP, POOP." I went back and checked her again, but she had not pooped. I put her back in the crib and left the room. Ten minutes later I heard, "POOP, POOP, POOP." Realizing that she was just playing a little game with me, I let her cry. She became frantic, screaming louder and louder and louder. Then I heard the vomiting sounds. Yes, she made herself puke AGAIN. I went to her room, changed the sheets, and changed her clothes (and in case you were wondering she had NOT pooped). I put her back in the crib, and she instantly started screaming again. I didn't want her to scream and puke, but I also didn't want her up running around the house at 9:00 pm. So, I made the decision to just let her cry. I know I am a mean mommy - you don't have to tell me. She whined off and on for about 20 minutes before she finally fell asleep. The same exact sequence of events occurred on Saturday.
John and I discussed the bedtime routine, and decided to start letting Porgie stay up until 8:30. I really thought that the new bedtime would solve our problems and that Porgie would go down easily at 8:30. But I was wrong. I put her down at 8:30 on Sunday, and she played in her crib until 11:00 pm! I was annoyed that she was awake for so long, but I was happy that she wasn't puking and screaming. Then Monday rolled around. I put her to bed at 8:30. The screams and fake poop calls started instantly. Within thirty minutes she had vomited twice. Ugh.
So, the 8:30 bedtime isn't working either. Damn toddler. Everything is always a power struggle. It is exhausting. So, now I am thinking about ditching her afternoon nap and going with an early bedtime. I have no idea what I am doing here. I am just trying to survive.
In the past, we always put Porgie to bed around 7:30. Sometimes she would go straight to sleep, and sometimes she would play in her crib for an hour before falling asleep. And life was good. This weekend, life as we knew it changed dramatically.
On Friday evening, we put Porgie to bed at 7:30. Thirty minutes later she started screaming, "POOP, POOP, POOP." Thinking that she had pooped in her diaper, I raced to her room. But Porgie had not poop, so I put her back in the crib and left the room. Ten minutes later I heard, "POOP, POOP, POOP." I went back and checked her again, but she had not pooped. I put her back in the crib and left the room. Ten minutes later I heard, "POOP, POOP, POOP." Realizing that she was just playing a little game with me, I let her cry. She became frantic, screaming louder and louder and louder. Then I heard the vomiting sounds. Yes, she made herself puke AGAIN. I went to her room, changed the sheets, and changed her clothes (and in case you were wondering she had NOT pooped). I put her back in the crib, and she instantly started screaming again. I didn't want her to scream and puke, but I also didn't want her up running around the house at 9:00 pm. So, I made the decision to just let her cry. I know I am a mean mommy - you don't have to tell me. She whined off and on for about 20 minutes before she finally fell asleep. The same exact sequence of events occurred on Saturday.
John and I discussed the bedtime routine, and decided to start letting Porgie stay up until 8:30. I really thought that the new bedtime would solve our problems and that Porgie would go down easily at 8:30. But I was wrong. I put her down at 8:30 on Sunday, and she played in her crib until 11:00 pm! I was annoyed that she was awake for so long, but I was happy that she wasn't puking and screaming. Then Monday rolled around. I put her to bed at 8:30. The screams and fake poop calls started instantly. Within thirty minutes she had vomited twice. Ugh.
So, the 8:30 bedtime isn't working either. Damn toddler. Everything is always a power struggle. It is exhausting. So, now I am thinking about ditching her afternoon nap and going with an early bedtime. I have no idea what I am doing here. I am just trying to survive.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Stream of Consciousness: Part 18
So, I got a new bloggy look. Very summery and fresh! I went to Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates - and Lena IS fabulous! I have a link to her on the left sidebar, if you are interested.
__________
I really want patio furniture for our deck. Porgie loves playing out there, and I end up sitting on kiddie chairs. We almost bought a patio set this past weekend, but my husband is a picky ASSHOLE. We seen a 5 piece set for about $300, but John whined and cried about the chairs, so we didn't buy it. So, while he is at work all day, I'll be sitting on kiddie chairs in the sweltering heat. Thanks John!
__________
Did you know that your children can have different personalities? And napping schedules? And food preferences? You did? Well, why didn't anyone tell me? Since the day Izzy was born, I have expected him to be exactly like Porgie. I was shocked when he didn't look like her at birth. I was amazed when he actually wanted to nurse. And I was astonished when he gobbled up a bowl of pureed peas this weekend. In summary, my children are actually two DIFFERENT people.
__________
I have to get Izzy on a better napping schedule. Although I have been putting Izzy to bed around 7:00 pm every night, he still wants to sleep until 8:30 or 9:00 the next morning. Then his nap schedule does not coincide with Porgie's nap schedule. And this means that mama doesn't get a break. And this means that mama is cranky. And this means that the babies are cranky. And this means that life sucks ass.
__________
Last night Porgie took her baby doll for a walk around the block. It was too freaking cute. She was being very nurturing and loving, stopping periodically to check on her baby. I would show you a picture, but I am the jackass mother who NEVER remembers to bring her camera.
__________
I really want to go to the beach this summer, but it is probably not going to happen. The nearest beach is about an hour away, and with our current nap schedule, we would never be able to make it home in time for bed. We thought about renting a house for a week, but where would the babies sleep? I don't own a Pack n' Play or a portable crib. So, I guess we are not going to the shore this summer. I am very sad.
__________
We have several rooms in our basement. One of the rooms is our office. John and I rarely go down there, because we both use laptops. Anyways, I was searching the house for Izzy's scrapbook (it has been missing for approximately 8 months). I decided to check the office. I opened the door, and was greeted by one of my cats. He frantically ran out of the office and started gulping water from his dish. He had been locked in the office for TWO days. We are horrible, horrible owners. I am so thankful that I went down there. And in case you were wondering, I did not find the scrapbook. I am convinced that someone has stolen my scrapbook.
__________
Speaking of stolen things, I think someone stole my new pair of flip flops too. I could swear that I put them in the closet, but they are nowhere to be found. Why do people keep stealing all of my stuff?
__________
I almost forgot - Danielle won the "what is Izzy eating?" game. He was chomping on sand. I think I need to make a new rule - If I post a picture of Izzy eating something, it is NOT food.
__________
I really want patio furniture for our deck. Porgie loves playing out there, and I end up sitting on kiddie chairs. We almost bought a patio set this past weekend, but my husband is a picky ASSHOLE. We seen a 5 piece set for about $300, but John whined and cried about the chairs, so we didn't buy it. So, while he is at work all day, I'll be sitting on kiddie chairs in the sweltering heat. Thanks John!
__________
Did you know that your children can have different personalities? And napping schedules? And food preferences? You did? Well, why didn't anyone tell me? Since the day Izzy was born, I have expected him to be exactly like Porgie. I was shocked when he didn't look like her at birth. I was amazed when he actually wanted to nurse. And I was astonished when he gobbled up a bowl of pureed peas this weekend. In summary, my children are actually two DIFFERENT people.
__________
I have to get Izzy on a better napping schedule. Although I have been putting Izzy to bed around 7:00 pm every night, he still wants to sleep until 8:30 or 9:00 the next morning. Then his nap schedule does not coincide with Porgie's nap schedule. And this means that mama doesn't get a break. And this means that mama is cranky. And this means that the babies are cranky. And this means that life sucks ass.
__________
Last night Porgie took her baby doll for a walk around the block. It was too freaking cute. She was being very nurturing and loving, stopping periodically to check on her baby. I would show you a picture, but I am the jackass mother who NEVER remembers to bring her camera.
__________
I really want to go to the beach this summer, but it is probably not going to happen. The nearest beach is about an hour away, and with our current nap schedule, we would never be able to make it home in time for bed. We thought about renting a house for a week, but where would the babies sleep? I don't own a Pack n' Play or a portable crib. So, I guess we are not going to the shore this summer. I am very sad.
__________
We have several rooms in our basement. One of the rooms is our office. John and I rarely go down there, because we both use laptops. Anyways, I was searching the house for Izzy's scrapbook (it has been missing for approximately 8 months). I decided to check the office. I opened the door, and was greeted by one of my cats. He frantically ran out of the office and started gulping water from his dish. He had been locked in the office for TWO days. We are horrible, horrible owners. I am so thankful that I went down there. And in case you were wondering, I did not find the scrapbook. I am convinced that someone has stolen my scrapbook.
__________
Speaking of stolen things, I think someone stole my new pair of flip flops too. I could swear that I put them in the closet, but they are nowhere to be found. Why do people keep stealing all of my stuff?
__________
I almost forgot - Danielle won the "what is Izzy eating?" game. He was chomping on sand. I think I need to make a new rule - If I post a picture of Izzy eating something, it is NOT food.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Stream of Consciousness: Part 17
We have been having some napping issues lately. My darling daughter doesn't want to take a nap anymore. I put her to bed around noon, and she plays and laughs and rolls around in her crib for hours. Some days she completely refuses to nap. Other days, she won't fall asleep until 2 pm. When she won't fall asleep until 2 pm, she doesn't want to go to sleep at night until 9 or 10 pm. I am a selfish mommy, who likes to have some baby free time, so I want her to go to sleep around 7:30 pm. I am confident that she still needs her nap, so I am not really sure how to remedy this problem.
__________
I don't understand why some bloggers use comment moderation. What is the point? Even if someone leaves a comment that I don't agree with, I never delete it. Maybe you could explain its benefits to me?
__________
I also don't understand why so many people have that stupid word verification activated on their blogs. I understand that it prevents spam comments, but seriously, how many of you have been getting lots of spam comments?
__________
I am convinced that Izzy hates all pureed foods. In the past month or two we have tried rice cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, pears, sweet peas, and squash. And Izzy disliked all of them. After about 2 bites, he clamps his mouth shut. If you keep pestering him to eat, he will cry. But give the kid some cheerios or crackers, and he excitedly craves them in his mouth. This would be fine, except I am starting to suspect that Izzy is allergic to wheat.
__________
Now that Porgie's hair is getting a little longer, I had been getting that overwhelming urge to put bows and ribbons in her hair. I purchased a few clips from Target, but they kept falling out of Porgie's hair. One day I was reading Cagey's blog, and she mentioned that she uses No Slippy Hair Clippys in her baby girl's hair. According to her, they actually STAY in wispy baby hair. So, I bought Porgie a bow...
And Cagey was right - these bows actually stay put. I decided that Porgie needed a few more bows to accommodate her wardrobe. So, I ordered these bows this past weekend...
Although these bows are fabulous, I must warn you that they are INSANELY expensive. I bought the first bow at a baby boutique for $12. I bought the second two bows from the No Slippy website for $8 a piece.
_________
I already have a farmer's tan.
Okay, maybe it is not as bad as that guy's, but I still look silly.
__________
I gots to go. Peace out homies.
__________
I don't understand why some bloggers use comment moderation. What is the point? Even if someone leaves a comment that I don't agree with, I never delete it. Maybe you could explain its benefits to me?
__________
I also don't understand why so many people have that stupid word verification activated on their blogs. I understand that it prevents spam comments, but seriously, how many of you have been getting lots of spam comments?
__________
I am convinced that Izzy hates all pureed foods. In the past month or two we have tried rice cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, pears, sweet peas, and squash. And Izzy disliked all of them. After about 2 bites, he clamps his mouth shut. If you keep pestering him to eat, he will cry. But give the kid some cheerios or crackers, and he excitedly craves them in his mouth. This would be fine, except I am starting to suspect that Izzy is allergic to wheat.
__________
Now that Porgie's hair is getting a little longer, I had been getting that overwhelming urge to put bows and ribbons in her hair. I purchased a few clips from Target, but they kept falling out of Porgie's hair. One day I was reading Cagey's blog, and she mentioned that she uses No Slippy Hair Clippys in her baby girl's hair. According to her, they actually STAY in wispy baby hair. So, I bought Porgie a bow...
And Cagey was right - these bows actually stay put. I decided that Porgie needed a few more bows to accommodate her wardrobe. So, I ordered these bows this past weekend...
Although these bows are fabulous, I must warn you that they are INSANELY expensive. I bought the first bow at a baby boutique for $12. I bought the second two bows from the No Slippy website for $8 a piece.
_________
I already have a farmer's tan.
Okay, maybe it is not as bad as that guy's, but I still look silly.__________
I gots to go. Peace out homies.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Stream of Consciousness: Part 16
Porgie will be going to the pediatric cardiologist tomorrow. Because our health insurance sucks ass, we only had two options for doctors - one was about 10 minutes from my house and the other was about an hour away from my house. I had originally made her appointment with the doctor who is located 10 minutes from our house. But it turned out that they were incompetent assholes, so we are making the hour long trek tomorrow. The appointment is going to screw up lunch time and nap time. Ugh.
__________
For the past few days, I have been eating non stop. I am always hungry. I think I have worms. On second thought, maybe I am just fat.
__________
It turns out that Izzy hates pureed foods, but loves actual solid foods. So far he has eaten pasta, tortillas, rice, star puffs, and wagon wheels. I am kind of baffled. Should I just skip pureed foods? I know baby-led weaning is an option. Maybe I need to do a little reading on the topic.
__________
I took the kids to the Aquarium last Friday. It was such an awesome day. Instead of putting her in the stroller, I let Porgie walk around with me. She was sooooooo good. And I never heard a peep out of little Izzy. It was one of those days, where I felt like an awesome mother. I wish everyday felt like that.
__________
My little Izzy Whizzy Woo slept through the night for the first time on Friday, June 6, 2008. I was so proud of him. I put him to bed at 7:30 pm and he slept until 7:30 am. Isn't that amazing? Unfortunately, it has not happened since. In fact, he woke up 4 times last night. I think his tummy was bothering him, because woke up screaming bloody murder.
__________
We are in the middle of a heat wave here in New Jersey. For the past three day, the temperatures have come dangerously close to 100 degrees. I am not ready for summer yet. It has been so damn hot, I don't even want to take the babies outside. Damn stupid global warming.
__________
I am considering enrolling Porgie in a preschool program this fall. Every time I think about it, I get a little teary eyed. Is my baby actually old enough to go to preschool?
__________
For the past few days, I have been eating non stop. I am always hungry. I think I have worms. On second thought, maybe I am just fat.
__________
It turns out that Izzy hates pureed foods, but loves actual solid foods. So far he has eaten pasta, tortillas, rice, star puffs, and wagon wheels. I am kind of baffled. Should I just skip pureed foods? I know baby-led weaning is an option. Maybe I need to do a little reading on the topic.
__________
I took the kids to the Aquarium last Friday. It was such an awesome day. Instead of putting her in the stroller, I let Porgie walk around with me. She was sooooooo good. And I never heard a peep out of little Izzy. It was one of those days, where I felt like an awesome mother. I wish everyday felt like that.
__________
My little Izzy Whizzy Woo slept through the night for the first time on Friday, June 6, 2008. I was so proud of him. I put him to bed at 7:30 pm and he slept until 7:30 am. Isn't that amazing? Unfortunately, it has not happened since. In fact, he woke up 4 times last night. I think his tummy was bothering him, because woke up screaming bloody murder.
__________
We are in the middle of a heat wave here in New Jersey. For the past three day, the temperatures have come dangerously close to 100 degrees. I am not ready for summer yet. It has been so damn hot, I don't even want to take the babies outside. Damn stupid global warming.
__________
I am considering enrolling Porgie in a preschool program this fall. Every time I think about it, I get a little teary eyed. Is my baby actually old enough to go to preschool?
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