I'm pretending Maddox is saying, "Dear mama, please forgive me. I love you and appreciate you.".
This post is coming to you courtesy of a 5am wake up call. After a
long night of many wake up calls I decided to quit going back to sleep
and just stay up and do work. Sometimes going back to sleep makes it
worse. It's those mini sleep sessions like an hour here and there that
make me more cranky and tired. The feeling of hearing your baby start to
whimper, looking at the clock and realizing you've only been asleep for
45 minutes. Yeah, that hurts.
Are you
in the midst of your child's sleep regression too? If yes, im sending
you a virtual hug, a bottle of wine and an endless tab at Starbucks.
Lord knows you need it.
If you
aren't dealing with a sleep regression and your child is sleeping
through the night I beg you to feel some compassion and let me whine. I'd also like to hit you, but I won't.
Maddox used to sleep through the night. Starting at 5 weeks old he was like the poster child for sleep. Moved into his nursery, in his crib, going to bed at 8:30pm and waking at 6am for a feeding and then back down until 9am. I had it made. Now he has absolutely no schedule and is waking multiple times a night making this OCD planner, sleep loving mama cray cray! Literally no night looks the same. Let me rephrase that, literally no day OR night looks the same. We had a neat and tidy schedule of sleep, daytime play, naps and feedings. It was quite easy and always on the dot. Now I'm going by his cue's for everything because it's all tossed up in the air. This all happened around 16-17 weeks. He will be 20 weeks tomorrow. So it's been less than a month of what feels like torcher, but nonetheless it's tough.
Occasionally on a weekend Jon will ask me what's the best time to go out and do something and I simply scoff at him, "like I have a clue?". Last night I was finally so over it. I had dinner ready when Jon walked in the door. Maddox had skipped his pre-bedtime nap (typically around 5pm) so he was already a bit cranky. I was hoping he would make it another hour to our "typical" bedtime... He didn't. He had a meltdown in the midst of dinner so I left my hardly touched plate of hot dinner and took him upstairs and nursed him to sleep. As I was finishing up said dinner, now cold, he woke up. I looked at Jon and told him I simply couldn't make another decision. Whether to bring him downstairs and let him stay up or rock him back to sleep, that was the question and I made Jon decide the answer. I physically felt like I couldn't make yet another decision. I went from days full of no thinking, just following the schedule to days filled with questions and only having myself to look towards for the answer. It's exhausting.
I will survive. "This too shall pass" says every mother all around the world.
Maddox used to sleep through the night. Starting at 5 weeks old he was like the poster child for sleep. Moved into his nursery, in his crib, going to bed at 8:30pm and waking at 6am for a feeding and then back down until 9am. I had it made. Now he has absolutely no schedule and is waking multiple times a night making this OCD planner, sleep loving mama cray cray! Literally no night looks the same. Let me rephrase that, literally no day OR night looks the same. We had a neat and tidy schedule of sleep, daytime play, naps and feedings. It was quite easy and always on the dot. Now I'm going by his cue's for everything because it's all tossed up in the air. This all happened around 16-17 weeks. He will be 20 weeks tomorrow. So it's been less than a month of what feels like torcher, but nonetheless it's tough.
Occasionally on a weekend Jon will ask me what's the best time to go out and do something and I simply scoff at him, "like I have a clue?". Last night I was finally so over it. I had dinner ready when Jon walked in the door. Maddox had skipped his pre-bedtime nap (typically around 5pm) so he was already a bit cranky. I was hoping he would make it another hour to our "typical" bedtime... He didn't. He had a meltdown in the midst of dinner so I left my hardly touched plate of hot dinner and took him upstairs and nursed him to sleep. As I was finishing up said dinner, now cold, he woke up. I looked at Jon and told him I simply couldn't make another decision. Whether to bring him downstairs and let him stay up or rock him back to sleep, that was the question and I made Jon decide the answer. I physically felt like I couldn't make yet another decision. I went from days full of no thinking, just following the schedule to days filled with questions and only having myself to look towards for the answer. It's exhausting.
I will survive. "This too shall pass" says every mother all around the world.
While
this stage of no sleep and lack of a schedule sucks, it's a phase! A
phase that's going to bring great new developments. And there will be
many more of these phases along the way (from what I've read - thanks Wonder Weeks).
Welcome to parenthood. Now pass the wine.

You got this girl! I'm not a mama so no advice but your baby is beautiful!! <3
ReplyDeleteHer Heartland Soul
http://herheartlandsoul.com
Hang in there Mama, you will all get through this!!
ReplyDeleteWishing you lots of wine and endless starbucks!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry mama!! Praying for you during this phase. I hope you get a nap today [and a large glass of wine]!!
ReplyDeleteNo advice here {other than keep the wine and Starbucks going} but I do really enjoy learning the challenges {and smiles!} that are up ahead. It's good to know that things don't always pan out like we think they should. I mean, we all KNOW that but still helpful to read about your experiences. Now here's some prayers for Maddox to sleeeeep!!
ReplyDeleteI'm sending thoughts and prayers your way, mama!
ReplyDeleteYou can do this mama! It is exhausting and stressful but just know you were made for this! Just keep following his cues of sleeping, eating etc. He will go back to his routine, and usually this means he is hitting a development milestone! You will be amazed at what he will be able to do once he gets through it :)
ReplyDeleteSending you all the Starbucks, wine and good vibes your way! Hopefully Maddox starts to sleep soon and you can get back to sleeping for longer than 45 minutes at a time. You will be amazed at what he can do after this is all over.
ReplyDeleteaww hang in there lady!! we have been dealing with sleep issues for months. but i'm happy to report that we finally nailed down a nighttime routine that seems to help Vi sleep longer. That and overnight diapers! Try them if you dont use them already. I've read that during these sleep regressions the babies make a lot of developmental advances -- Vi has been rolling around like crazy! It's so exciting to see them grow and totally makes all the crankiness and sleepless nights worth it. thankfully everything is just a phase and I'm sure your little man will start sleeping through the night again soon! til then take all the naps you can and get your coffee on!! xo jillian - cornflake dreams
ReplyDeleteAwe, hang in there friend! I'm sure this phase will pass ... in the meantime, pour yourself a large glass of vino (or get a large Starbucks depending on the time of day) and try to soak up as much shut eye as you can. You can do it!
ReplyDeleteI'm obsessed with Wonder Weeks, it always encourages me that 'this is just a phase' over and over again. I swear sometimes I feel like we're in one looooooong regression. You can do this, though!! Maddox is lucky to have you as his mom :-)
ReplyDeleteI remember those times with my boys. I hope Maddox starts back on a schedule soon and you can get a full night of sleep. I am sending you hugs, wine, and some starbucks.
ReplyDeleteI have some totally unsolicited advice so take it with a grain of salt! I have loved the baby wise method, which I totally know isn't for everyone, but it's focused on helping kids sleep so I thought I would mention it to you. If you're curious it might be worth a read or check out some blogs about it. Again, I hope this isn't out of line and I totally understand if it's not for you! I hope you get some sleep soon! Those late nights/early morning are the worst!!!
ReplyDeleteHey its Sara from my way to fit and fab.. Oh my gosh! It has been so long since I have blogged! You have a babby!!!! ahh congrats! I am back and I have a new blog! You should follow it! I would love to chat and catch up!! www.thenannysaga.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete