It's official, I am the worst sleeper in the history of the world. Mommy hasn't had more than 4 hours straight of sleep (and that is on a VERY RARE good night) since I was born 8 and a half months ago. I have had Mommy wrapped around my cute little pudgy finger. I wake up and holler and she comes running to soothe me back to slumber with cozy cuddles and yummy warm milk. I have been getting her to come visit at least 3 or 4 times every night, sometimes every hour! Now Mommy is so tired that she finally got desperate enough to try a horrible evil trick on me. This trick is called LETTING ME CRY IT OUT and it is the meanest thing I have ever heard of in my short little life. She let me cry for 5 whole minutes tonight before I finally gave up and fell asleep. Whoever thought of this crying it out business is a sick meany. Don't worry, I'll be up again in a couple hours, and I'll get her to come visit, just you wait and see!
PS - Note from Mommy - Annabelle's horrible sleep habits are all my fault! I have committed the cardinal sin of new mommyhood - soothing my baby back to sleep with cuddles and milk! UGH! Now I must pay for my crime! Listening to her cry for even one minute feels like someone is gouging out my heart with rusty spoons! I HATE THIS!!!! Last night I told Joel I would rather give birth again than have to let Annabelle cry herself to sleep. HELP!!!!
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Annabelle Maia, now 3 years old, blogs on life as big sister to Gabriella Grace, born 5/3/10
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6 comments:
OH no! Don't tell me it's worse than that weird "Rusty Spoons" character. Just kidding! Seriously, I'm so sorry that you have to try the cry it out method. At least she was soothed after 5 minutes and the torture didn't last any longer. I truly understand why you would want to just feed and cuddle, but I do hope that Annabelle baby will give her mommy some more sleep in 08! God speed! May the force be with you tonight while you catch some extra zzzzzzz's before school starts again tomorrow. I love you and her so much it hurts!
-"Aunt" Jerri
Oh Annabelle. You have learned the great art of imposing guilt on your mommy. Aren't you clever? Clearly, your tears affect her the very same way her's affected grammy. But, I must say, she was a much better napper and sleeper than you seem to be. Hmmm. What is the solution? To cry or not to cry? Your mommy used to punish me for leaving her for even a minute by clutching me close even while she held her face far away so that I couldn't kiss her...she had a very effective method of making sure I knew how unhappy she was with me. It seems you are very much like her. Oh dear. Oh dear.
To my very brave fellow first-time mommy, isn't it soooo difficult?! But isn't it more fun than you expected? The sleep issue is one that I am no expert, but you have me reading any book that I have, but when it comes down to it, you have to do what is right for you and Little Birdie. I swore I would not have my bed taken over by my baby, but now over three months later, I still have a family bed. The good news, my feet don't hit the floor all night! That may sound trivial, but how awesome to just be in bed all night! Note: I am nursing and Will goes to bed around 9:30 and is up between 2 and 6 times a night....who knows why. Christmas eve, bed at 11:30, up at 4am and 7am. Two nights later, up every 1.5-2 hours. 3 month growth spurt? We are trying to get him in his crib for his first sleep stint each night now. But it is worth more to me to be a (sort-of) well rested mom than a totally wrecked one, so he sleeps with us most of the time. Jeff does sleep in the other bedroom most nights, but Friday nights are mine. Will sleeps with Jeff and is brought to me to nurse until 6-7am when we are starting our day and Jeff gets to sleep in. And if it is a cardinal sin to provide our children with their needs, then bring it on!! I learned the first month of mommyhood that no matter what I read, the most important thing was to do what my instincts told me was right for my little guy. No way in the world I could let him cry....you are more of a woman than I! Hang in there good mommy. From all grammy has told me, you are a natural and beautiful mother! Love, joy, and sleep!
PS..."talk time" is Melissa Northey, current stay-at-home mommy of William (3 months) and colleague of Grammy.
What about some baby soothing white noise?
http://www.amazon.com/Babys-First-White-Noise-CD/dp/B000RV5HC8
http://www.purewhitenoise.com/
I can only imagine how upsetting it is to deal with a baby who seems so upset even when you know she's ok (a friend of mine has a hard time with her kids getting vaccinated)....hard to have to put them through things that are better for them in the end when all you want is to make it better right now.
One thought - I heard some years ago that by 5-6 months, babies are smart enough to understand that their behavior causes you to behave a certain way, and to adjust their behavior to get the results they want. Amazing little learning sponges!
Hang in there!
Hey Lady, Hope things are going well tonight. We just put William down for the night and I couldn't help but think of you. I asked him to sleep until 3am...fingers crossed!
I talked to my mother in law who taught parenting, childbirth and lactation classes for years and years. She mentioned that she doesn't believe and many of the LLL supporting doctors do not believe that it's good to let a baby cry. That babies cry for a reason and responding to them teaches them that they are safe and secure and will be loved and taken care of. She also mentioned that if you didn't want to bring her to bed with you, you could put a twin bed in the baby room and that way, you could at least lie down while you comforted her. Then you could either stay there or put her back in the crib and go back to bed.
There are so many opinions about what is the best parenting/sleeping "method", but if mom is happy and baby is happy, then who could argue that you are doing anything but what is best. If that is sleeping on the floor, in the living room, in the car, who cares!
By the way, I was trying to think of the best sleep that I have gotten since the little one arrived....in the hospital on pain meds when I had a colon attack when he was 5 weeks. I was on pain meds, and he slept with my mother or husband for 5 nights. But I would rather go through labour again than colitis...so, nevermind.
At least we didn't have twins! Good night!
PS...I'll stop with the long monologues. What can I say, I miss adult talk!
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