Weekend of Decadence!

Steve and I had the very enjoyable opportunity to spend two nights in Courtenay for his Christmas party without children. We debated staying home… oh, who the hell am I kidding, we didn’t even blink before we jumped in the car and left them behind.
It was bliss.
I can sum it up for you quickly: we had many drinks, we danced, we frolicked. The end. Well, the end was actually being insanely tired and hung-over and a very vivid reminder of why I don’t drink. I mean, I knew why, but it was a head-splitting reminder and I’m good for a year (or, well, maybe til February, because in February? I TURN 35!). Completely unnecessary information here, but my boobs were amazing. Two days of no breastfeeding makes for some fabulous looking boobs that look, well, fabulous, in a nice dress.
Speaking of Claire, I am starting to formulate a plan to get her on a sleep schedule. I feel like I was slapped in the face this week and realized that she is EIGHT MONTHS OLD, and not sleeping well or predictably and that is not fair to her, and a huge pain-in-the-ass for me. And no, I have no idea why I insist on capitalizing our ages.
When I say “formulate a plan” what I’m really saying is bring in a solid pre-sleep routine and then cry-it-out. Yes, I am an evil, evil bitch of a mother but there is one thing I know about Steve and I, and it’s that we’re not capable of sleep training. Besides, this worked like a charm with Callum and you know what? He’s still alive and a fantastic sleeper so phfffft. I am toying with the idea of staying in the room while she screams as per Laura’s approach (and when I say we’ll be staying in the room, I totally mean Steve because damn, that would be excrutiating).
Even though I just laid out that plan, I may entertain other suggestions, so go ahead and suggest something. I should also say that we do have a pretty solid pre-sleep routine, but she is still being “put” to sleep either via nursing or Steve’s very patient boucing and walking. Yes, that is completely insane, I know.
Other than that, the only other tidbit to report is that my kids have been sick, pretty much solid, since September. They’ve had runny noses, eye infections, ear aches, and coughs. Is there anything left?!

6 Responses to “Weekend of Decadence!”

1. Angela says:

   December 10, 2008 at 11:27 am

   Never say is there anything left!! You might just be asking for Norwalk to hit your house, and that truly sucks.
   On the sleeping we did CIO with the boys and it worked but did not work with the girl. Just didn’t don’t know why. However if we let her cry for upwards of 10 min and then go to her for a hug she would fall asleep. But if you didn’t go in she would cry for a long time like over 3 hours. We just learned she won’t sleep unless you go in and see her, after about 10 min or so. With the boys your could never go in or it made it worse.
   Try some stuff see how it goes. Try Healthy sleep habits happy child by Mark Weissman. It worked well for us and it quite popular.
   Best of luck with the sleep thing. My sister with twins still struggles with her girl and she is over 2. Lots of the times they have to hold her or cry it out.
2. Amber says:

   December 10, 2008 at 1:24 pm

   I’ve let her cry-it-out a handful of times (in those moments when I was very close to losing my mind, this is what working + parenting does to you) and she screams like someone is poking her with needles. Often, she won’t go to sleep in my pre-determined timeframe, which has been as long as half-an-hour, and I’m back in. But if Steve puts her down and she happens to wake up and carry on, she will frequently fall back asleep in a minute. I feel like I am being out-smarted by an 8-mth old, and it also kills me to hear her screaming.
   The other problem I’m having with her is that she just doesn’t sleep well if she cries it out for a nap (I don’t think she’s ever cried-it-out at bedtime, she’s always snuggled). Then again, the kid is the world’s worse napper, I swear. This might be because she’s following in the footsteps of the world’s best napper so any glitch to the nap routine drives me a little batty.
   And I’m seriously worried about the lack of sleep she’s getting in 24 hours. She does sleep 11-12 hours solid at night, but even that isn’t enough, in my opinion. Shuffling back and forth between care and home during the week is rough for Callum’s sleep, too, but he is sleeping 12-12.5 hours every night at least.
   I do have Marc’s book, worked like a dream for Callum!
3. tarrah says:

   December 10, 2008 at 5:45 pm

   I did the pickup/putdown thing with Kailey from the Baby Whisperer… works for her (and me, I can’t do cry it out… 5 minutes max for me). Her naps are good as long as I’m a nazi about it, but they’re also never the same length, anywere from 1.5 to 3.5 hours… Nights are only 10-11 hours though.
   Kailey also plays us at night. Sometimes nothing I do works, and Jon will get her down in 20 seconds. Othertimes, its the other way around.
4. pogonip says:

   December 10, 2008 at 9:09 pm

   The little rugrats are born able to outsmart us, LOL! Good luck with your efforts–I say, what works for ya, works.
5. Laura says:

   December 11, 2008 at 3:30 pm

   Good luck Amber! I’m sure you will all do fine, there is no better judge than you of the needs and temperaments of your own child.
   Also, So! Jealous! of your weekend of decadence. And your fabulous boobs.
6. Anonymous says:

   December 12, 2008 at 11:18 pm

   Fabulous boobs makes for sad little baby!! Well, she did go to sleep, but Mammai has to walk and sing (poor kid, will probably be tone deaf) to get her to drop off. She is also very, very tired, so seems to sleep pretty quick. I would like to say it is all to do to my excellent grandparenting skills, but the truth is she is a snuggly little thing who loves attention! And how can a grandma resist!! Too cute. Her bro is a fabulous sleeper. 3 seconds of complaining and he’s a goner till morn! That must be due to exceptional parenting, yeah!?!?!?