When I say that I haven’t slept in five months, I really mean that I haven’t slept in five months. (Ok other than like, 2 nights.) We had a lovely timeΒ in JamaicaΒ followed by the mostΒ amazing trip to Paris (more on that soon),Β and while I had a greatΒ time with my family and Oliver was a total rock star baby traveler, I physically feel like I’ve hit a wall. Not the kind of tired that you feel after a late night or wakingΒ up for an early flight, but the kind of tired in whichΒ you’re running into walls, dropping things,Β and you feel like the neurons in your brain aren’t firing anymore. THAT kind of tired.
Now that the holidays are over and we’re back from travel and Oliver is 5 months old, our doctor and I feel that now is the right time to start sleep training Oliver. I have to say he does nap well during the day and bedtime is a total breeze. We take a bath, nurse, read stories, and I lay him down awake without a fight. But it’s the multiple wake-ups in the middle of the night that have me toΒ tears. I yearn to feel like myself again, to work out consistently, to eat at normal times, to tackle new personal projects, and to feel energized to take care of my family and home. And, I know Oliver needs consistent sleep just as much as I do. As another mom so aptly put it, being a mother is “terrifying and amazing…sort of a like a beautiful low-key acid trip that never ends.” HAH! Couldn’t have said it better myself.
So last night we didΒ anotherΒ go at crying-it-out. I gave him a big feed before bed, burped him, read a story, laid him down awake, and said goodnight. When he woke up crying in the middle of the night (which seemed to be all night long), I went to him, shushed him, and laid my hand on his chest or head but did not pick him up. I increased the intervals of time in which I went to him until I stopped going to him at all. It was a loooong night but we survived until about 5:30 am at which time he was rewarded with two (pardon me for being TMI) rock-hard boobies. He was very pleased and went back down again shortly.
Tonight will be our second night and I’m hoping we make a little more progress. Please say a little prayer for me! Any other advice or words of encouragementΒ areΒ appreciated as well!
“I’m an angry elf!”
xoxo,
