I Feel a Battle Brewing
I kind of feel guilty complaining about this as I know my sister-in-law, Melanie (a daily reader of my mind-numbing dribble), is at this very moment working on bringing another kid into the family. She and Brian are about to embark on the joy that is complete and utter lack of sleep thanks to a newborn.
But.
Alexis, for the love of God, WOULD YOU PLEASE LET ME SLEEP?
She's nearly two years old, and yet, and YET, she still randomly gets the idea in her little head that she needs to see me in the middle of the night.
This time it's my own fault.
While we were Indy, she slept with me. She would have been content to sleep in a pack-n-play, but I was far too lazy to go to the hotel's front desk and request one. Plus, I wasn't too worried about it. I knew she would happily return to her crib when we got back, and she did. For the first night.
The next night she fell asleep in the car when we were on our way home. Mr. Husband brought her in the house and set her on our bed. For whatever reason, she stayed there for the entire night.
The next night, Mr. Husband wanted to sleep with her. Fine. Whatever.
The next night, she woke up at 2:00 and I was too out of it to fight with her, so I brought her back to our bed.
Lather. Rinse. Repeat. More times than I want to admit. Regardless, I created a pattern and I knew there would be payback.
So, yesterday Not-Sleeping Beauty decided she would skip her nap. That led to her requesting to go to bed early (Yes, she asks to go to bed. As in she says, "Sleep, please" EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. That is why I am willing to forgive a night waking every now and then.). I figured that since she had gone to bed early, I would go to bed early. If she woke in the middle of the night, we would fight about it.
So 10:00 rolled around and she woke up for the first time.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOMMY!"
I went into her room (having JUST gone to bed myself, mind you), gave her a hug, told her to go back to sleep, and went on with my bad self. She went back to sleep a few minutes later and everybody was happy.
At 12:30 I heard "Mooooommy! Moooooommy! MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMY!" I got up, turned on her lullaby CD, told her to go back to sleep, and closed the doors. She kept yelling. And crying. And yelling. Just as I was beginning to wonder why exactly she only ever yearns for me at night, she changed things up a bit.
"Daaaaaaaaddy!"
I have to admit, that made me smile. Share the love, kid. Share the love. Of course, Mr. Husband slept through all of the drama. That is, he slept through it all for about 25 minutes. When he finally sat up in bed, I droned, "She's fine."
He replied, "OK" and went back to sleep. (BTW, Honey, I hate you for having the ability to sleep through a train going through the house. I mean, I love you for many reasons, but your ability to sleep through screaming babies makes me want to hurl Bulldogs at you.)
Alexis alternated between requesting my presence and her Dad's presence for a solid hour. At that point, I finally stormed back to her room and picked her up. Immediate silence. Two minutes later, bratty baby snores. So I put her back down in her crib and attempted to go back to sleep.
4:00: "MOOOOOOOOOMMY!" At that point, I gave up and brought her back to bed with me. I needed ten minutes of uninterrupted sleep if I was going to be even slightly pleasant today (which, for the record, I'm not).
Tonight, Alexis, it's on. I will not be broken. You will not leave your crib between the hours of 9:00 pm and 5:00 am. PERIOD.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Reader Comments (29)
Thank you for reminding me what's in store for me in another five months... Why did I want to do this again??? I'm dreading sleep deprivation. I have a very, very, VERY low tolerance for it. Which is why I had no problem letting JT cry it out when he was old enough - he's slept like a log ever since. 7:30p-7:30a, baby!
Good luck tonight - stand firm!!!
Hurl bulldogs - that cracks me up!
That is one stubborn little diva. All the advice I have is that this won't last forever. And you will NOT miss this someday.
SNOW IS NOT PURDY!! Why won't you understand that? We are not every going to see grass again!! HELP!!!
Hallie
I soooo wish you luck with that one!
Our youngest has had ferocious night terrors since he was only days old, and therefore has made a habit of ending up in bed with me when neither of us quite realize it. Because apparently, I sleep-parent. Who knew that was even possible?
He's 9 1/2 now. *sigh* Its getting better..... we're down to only about 2 nights a week now.
*Please don't let that be my future*
*Please don't let that be my future*
*Please don't let that be my future*
Sports Mama-I bow to your greatness and patience.
And this is why I'm avoiding the kid learning "mommy" at all costs. She can learn "daddy" and call that all night long. I have fantasies about waking him in the middle of the night (cause yes, just like yours, freight trains wouldn't even be loud enough), and telling him "honey, she wants you!"
Good luck with the battle. Stand strong!
And, well, be careful if it does come to hurling bulldogs. Meg looks pretty solid ;-)
Props to you -- that's tough!
My son just turned 3 and he still wakes up at night, sometimes for hours. He then gets up at the crack of dawn....agh!!!!
I'm still laughing at the comment about hurling bulldog at you hubby! My sleeps through everything too. Just last night Riley was crying -for 45 minutes!- before hubby even noticed. And he wonders why I talk about taking him out and running off with the life insurance money!
I have NO tolerance for not sleeping. That is why I am so miserable and cranky (oh, shucks! you didn't notice...how sweet!). I can't wait until Riley stops waking up in the middle of the night...you know, just because he wants to see his momma!
I love that Alexis shared the love with Daddy though.
Stand strong tonight! I'll be thinking of you....I'll be up with ya I'm sure!
Luckily, we never had this problem. Our kids were good little sleepers. My friend uses http://www.sleeptightbaby.com quite a bit, however.
Oh man...all I can say is good luck, I'm rootin' for ya!
As I sit and read your post Happy is yelling "Mommmy!". He's been in a twin bed for a year now because of baby coming along. I get upstairs and he says "Mommy Daddy's room please". Oh, so polite. It's not even nine yet. I'm worried, very worried.
Funny, our second born, didn't sleep through the night until two weeks before he turned three. Painful.
I wish you the best of luck. Hearing her cry will keep you up, but it's a different kind of up. I'll be thinking of you when I return Happy to his bed at 2am.
I forgot to say that I LOVE the look of your blog.
And it's just after 9. Here's hoping for an easy night. *crosses fingers*
The Toddler is sound asleep in her crib and I am dressed in my butt-kickingest pair of flannel jammies. Go ahead, Alexis, wake me up. *I can't hear you with my fingers in my ears. La la la la la la la la.*
Way to be. Love the resolve. I got your back.
I think all men sleep that hard. Mine? Would sleep through an atomic bomb.
You tell me where you buy those rabid bulldogs! I want a baker's dozen. Damn woman. You so make me laugh.
Yikes, I remember this time so well. Good luck mom, here's hoping it's not a bumpy ride.
Hurl bulldogs at the kid too :) Keep your resolve and find a way to get a nap!
Will hearing, "You have the rest of your life to sleep" help? Probably not. Just remember the 3 little letter N-A-P. I use to have to lie down every day, even a couple times. And BTW, my husband sleeps through everything, too. Even ME trying to wake him up! It's because they know we'll take care of everything. The only consolation to all of this - Women live longer than men.
Oh Lord, we've been through that SO MANY TIMES. But you have to cut yourself a little slack. It's not all you fault -- your husband wanted her to sleep with y'all that one night. So it's his fault too! :)
And what is it with guys being able to sleep through anything? And being able to wake up and then drop right back to sleep like nothing happened. That's so unfair! But here's a little secret I've learned. Sometimes she'll do what Daddy tells her (GO TO SLEEP) when she won't listen to a thing I say! Try it! Let me know how it goes!
Good luck! I feel for you.
You go girl. My kids are older now, but I just trained my cat not to wake me at 4 a.m. Don't recommend the covert water pistol for a toddler, though.
Sleep issues are the WORST! Hope it resolves itself with very few tears (for all of you!)
Ugh.
Full story to come. After I've had a nap or something.
Good luck! We are the sleep nazi's over here. Hopefully, we will continue to reign in the castle.
Oh no! I hope she lets you sleep. Good for you for putting your foot down now.
I came across your blog by accident when I typed my blog address in incorrectly and I have been stopping by occasionally because you are hysterical and we can all use a laugh once in a while. I also have a 'burgh baby' who didn't want to sleep last night. I feel your pain and hope tonight is better!
Why must you continue to badger me with comments about EVIL WHITE STUFF!! Couldn't you suggest that I go shopping for a new COACH bag instead of playing in that cold crap???
Would that be so hard?
Hallie
There was no sleep in my house last night...little man saw to that. Damn ear infections....so I am home today and boy are we both crabby pants! Hopefully your night was better....but I'm guess not since you said you need a nap.
Be STRONG!!!!
Hard when you're tired and they are apparently nocturnal monkeys, but sounds like you're doing alright standing your ground.