The problem with having kids who generally sleep through the night is that you come to expect it. Then, when the baby decides to ruin his record stretch of quiet 9 to 12 hour nights, to practice his new skills, Mama Bear gets cranky.
You see, my Arlo is a genius (humor me, will you?) For the past few weeks, he’s been saying “Mamamamama”. I wasn’t convinced he was actually saying Mama until yesterday when he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Mum-ma!” When I looked at him, he smiled knowingly and did it again. Clear as day. Mama.
Sadly, he felt the need to show off his new word during the hours I have reserved for slumber. At 9:30 while I was trying to actually talk to the husband, he awoke. Daddy had been at work all day and he wanted to see him. He stayed up for 2 hours. Then, like a fool, I figured he’d be sleeping forever after that disruption to his routine. I tried to reclaim my alone time by watching a riveting PBS documentary about Ralph Nader. (I wish I were joking. It was seriously fascinating. Just crown me Queen Nerd.)
Then, I was all wound up and couldn’t get to sleep until one. At four, it started. “Mama! Mum. Mum. Mum mum mum. Mum-MA!” I thought he would talk himself to sleep, but when I finally raised the white flag and went in there, I startled an awake Elliot. She had turned the lights to the Retina Burning setting. She had set up camp beside her brother’s crib. Her pillow and blanket were on the floor. And she’d been standing on a chair to have a chat with her noisy roommate.
Jason and I did our usual tag-team. He gave Elliot a quick cuddle. I brought Arlo back to bed with me and tried to wave my magical boob wand to morph him into Sleeping Beauty. It always works. Always. Last night, though, my magical powers were scoffed. He ate distractedly, and rotated this activity with his newfound love of drumming on the blanket, kicking his feet as though in the swim match of his life, and hitting his head like Rain Man (Remember the scene where he freaks out and yells, “Hot water burn baby?” Just like that.)
After an hour of this ridiculousness, he was finally sleeping. I was wide awake, of course (having no one with magical powers to lull me back to sleep). The next several hours were a write-off. I don’t think Elliot ever went back to sleep. I kept hearing her playing and every once in awhile she would try and perfect her new fake cry while begging for someone to come and cuddle her. Do you have this noise in your house? Isn’t it charming? (I am seriously screwed if she figures out how to defeat the Baby Gate that keeps her in her room.) And if I dared to move (oh, the joint stiffness!) Arlo would wake up and insist on eating again. And again.
I foresee a grumpy day ahead. One in which the children continue to gang up on me.
Save me, Santa! Save me!
He’s lucky he’s so cute.
Oh, the total and supreme cuteness of that boy!
I’m laughing, because I watched that same documentary. The scintillating lives we lead… His spots on SNL *were* pretty funny, though.
Arlo’s probably going through a language growth spurt, and sleep does fall by the wayside.
Poor mama!
He looks just like his Dad!
We’re in sleep deprivation land too. It isn’t pretty. Huge, huge sympathies…and I hope the kids go semi-catatonic from lack of sleep and that you have an easier day than you expect.
I think he woke up cos he missed his g.a.s.
I wish i could feel sorry for you, but I don’t. I went through 15 months of sleep hell, so all I can say is welcome to my world. Only repeat this night 457 more times.
I hate those nights! I’ll take Arlo and Elliot so you can sleep if you take mine so I can go to the foodstore in peace!
OMG He is adorable!! Wow you sure make cute kids!
So when you were laying stiff and trapped under your baby in the wee hours this morning did you find yourself composing this blog mentally?
Thats what I was doing at 3am.
Dear God. If you keep up with these posts, my Ava might be an only child.
i’m right there with you on this one mama.
First of all, we don’t have to humor you, he is in fact, a genius. Adorable, too, but I have to agree that he’s probably much less adorable at 4 AM than say, NOON.
My children are down right UGLY at 4am, and ANNOYING and RIDICULOUS. At 7am or after, they’re cute. Sometimes.
And I now pronounce you Queen Nerd (can I be your humble servant?)
Easy, just buy some sound-proof doors and you’ll never know your kids are awake.
Kidding! I’m just kidding!
Hmmm, or am I?
Oh he’s SO CUTE!
I often tell mine that it’s a good thing they are cute or I’d sell them to the gypsies.
My kids were not cute at 4 am either. When Parker, who is now 5, came to my room at 3 am to tell me he wanted a hug, I yelled at him. And didn’t give him a hug.
For four nights now, Bub has been sick and up throughout the night (not barfing, thankfully, but WAKEFUL). And yes – I’m so spoiled now, I’m totally not handling it.
when my daughter doesn’t abide to her sleeping schedule, I am the grouchiest person on this planet. I, too, am terribly spoiled by the slew of nights she gives me where she sleeps umpteen straight hours.
“tried to wave my magical boob wand”
LMAO
I totally do that all the time with my little one. Ha!
Here’s to hoping there is more sleep in your future. And mine too!
I feel your pain. Been up with the toddler two nights now due to fever & stuffy, snotty nose.
Here’s to sleep in the near future …!
(i hope)
I haven’t had a decent night’s sleep since I was pregnant with Miss E – so I hear ya!
He is so unbelievably cute though – really!
There is nothing more beautiful than a sleeping child.
I’m sorry your kids are tag teaming you, that’s how it works here too, but the fact that you watched a riveting Ralph Nader special at 11:30? That’s awesome. It makes me love you even more.
Yeah, nights like those are the worst. They definitely make for very long days the next day. There is a good reason that they’re so cute when they’re young!