I. am. so. tired. I underestimated how much work it is caring for a baby. Kudos to the parents out there with more than one kid.
Brooklyn has some sleep issues. As in she has no pattern whatsoever! Can't predict naps, can't predict nighttime, can't predict her routine yet. Some nights she sleeps for 5 hours, others she's up every 3 hours. And then there are those nights she wakes up at 2:00 and stays awake until 5:00!
Two nights ago was one of those nights. If I wasn't so annoyed, I'd laugh. Okay maybe I did laugh eventually. But I'll admit, I actually cried that night. I can't go back to work this weekend and expect Roger to function at work if she's pulling stunts like that!!
I'll just say it...having a baby is overwhelming and consumes your life. Would I change it? Never.
At 3:00am, I cuddled with her. Tucked her on my chest and under my chin. I adore this baby, so much more than I thought I would. Yes, sometimes I feel like she is out to ruin my life (or sleep life at least). I can't get anything done. Some days I feel like a total failure at this. Am I normal? Sure hope so!
But she is our miracle, our little gift sent straight from heaven to teach us what is important. I'll deal with her random sleeping for as long as it takes. But someone tell me if my clothes don't match in case I was too tired to notice. Or remind me to brush my hair after lying on the couch with her.
7 comments:
I'm sure you have heard of people who use baby wise. I think it has some good aspects about it, but I think it's too strict to follow exactly. Anyway, I've done this with both my girls where they wakeup, eat, play, then sleep. Brooklyn's at the age where she probably only likes to be up for 1 1/2 to 2 hours at a time.
I put Nicole down for a nap about every 2 hours, sleeps for 1 hour and then it repeats. Wakes, eats, plays, 2 hours later sleeps.
When night time comes I just let her wake up how she wants. It might be something to try. Babies really like routines and find security in them.
Call me if you have any questions. I actually have something I could e-mail you if you want. Let me know
guess, what? i didn't read one baby book! don't tell anyone that. i read the pregnancy books but once the baby came i had to do what i FELT was right.
for owen it was letting him cry it out sometimes. on the nights he would wake up in the middle of the night and wouldn't go back to sleep (which were rare) but i put him in the swing and layed next to the swing and slept. i figured he wasn't going anywhere on his own and as long as he wasn't crying i didn't need to be awake with him too. maybe i am mean.
wanna know something else... owen never was on a set schedule. so many people swear by it, but i honestly let him sleep when he wanted. it now has saved my life because he goes with the flow so much easier. nap time isn't always right at 12:30. sometimes it is at 1 or 1:30 or sometimes 2. but he has learned to cope and not freak out because he isn't set on his schedule. for ME & for HIM it worked.
don't worry about the books. those first couple months are so hard. & even blurry when you look back on them. just take it day by day!! i'm always here for a little support if you need it.
i dug through my archives and found a couple good ones for you... enjoy my complaining!!
http://tjanderica.blogspot.com/2008/12/awake-awake.html
http://tjanderica.blogspot.com/2008/11/life-is-changing.html
http://tjanderica.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-found-person.html
Jenna doesn't have an exact set schedule either. I agree wholeheartedly with everything Erica said. You aren't alone in your feelings. Jenna's night sleeping has been off because of teething. I cried this morning because she wouldn't go back to sleep and I was sooo tired. I'm getting ready to go back to work as well and am not getting the sleep I need and want. But would I change having my baby girl, not a chance. I LOVE being a mom!
It's totally normal to feel so exhausted. I know I was with Hunter. The thing that seemed to work with Mckinley was just putting her in her crib at night and not holding her. it took her a couple of weeks to catch on, but it was so worth it. She has been a great sleeper ever since. Just let her know when it's day time, play, hold, love. Good luck.
I completely believe that a schedule is what kids thrive on. When they know what to expect and what is expected of them life is so much easier on the both of you. You don't have to follow exactly to a schedule all the time, but I always do for bedtime. If you implement a routine right at bedtime that lasts no longer than a half hour and do that same exact thing every night, the baby knows that it is bedtime. In the middle of the night I have learned to not take the baby out of their room, don't talk to them, don't make eye contact, and as little light as possible. You teach them that it is not time to be up. And if it is not a hunger issue, I won't even let them out of the bed. I can be there to comfort them, but don't pick them up. My kids where not "cry it outers". They would cry so hard they would puke all over themselves. I read a book that changed my life after sheer desperation for sleep. Having to go to work after about only 2 ours of sleep, not continuous sleep I found it. It has worked for everyone I've lent it to. It is a download only book from a sleeptrainer I found online. Her name is Dana Obleman and her download book is called The Sleep Sense Program. I am still amazed at how well it worked and how fast. Let me know if you want to hear more about it.
Wow, you were just given lots of advice! So I won't give you any!!! But let me just tell you that IT WILL GET BETTER!!! And once she's a little chunker like my once preemie baby, you'll have no problem and you'll be sleeping through the night too! Good luck!
You are so funny! Everything your going through is sooo normal! Luckily and sadly those moments don't last very long so love every minute of your non sleeping nights! She's adorable!
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