and it doesn't look good. I've sorta known for awhile that we are destined to end up as "that family" on Nanny 911 (I'm actually more of a Supernanny fan, myself). I think anyone who has met our lovable, but poorly trained, dog Porter knows this. Neither Ryan or I are disciplinarians, in fact, we're both sorta pushovers. On top of that, we have the world's most silly-crazy, aggressive, and opinionated daughter. And, on top of that, I like my sleep--so I'll do whatever allows me the most of it, including spooning my daughter until she is 13 if that is what is necessary. Then, on the tippity-top, I'm not really a "self-starter." I have trouble doing anything but just hanging out and playing with Maizey when we're together. So, for me to get a structured routine going is kinda optimistic. I mean, she has a routine, it's just that it's not a very good one, and it usually includes: a bath, a book, a bottle, and an intense hour (or so) of sleep negotiations. The negotiations usually wrap-up when Maizey starts what I call her "drunk crawl." Where, because she is so over-tired, she crawls around the bed aimlessly and falls over and gets up and falls over again until she falls over for the last time, so exhausted that she can't get up again and passes out like a crazy, drunk frat boy who doesn't want the party to end.
So, you're wondering, how did I glimpse our future? Well, it was during one of my ultra-motivated moments today while Maizey was asleep and I was watching Nanny 911. The poor family had 4 children, including two toddler boys. It was in those boys that I saw Maizey's crazy eyes, the look that she gets when she's really over-tired but screaming and laughing and bouncing around. The look she has after I've been trying to get her to sleep for an hour, or more. The look she has when she's pulling my hair and saying "dadadadadadadada" over and over. I love my little diva, even if she's hard to put to bed, but those little toddler boys on TV scared the ba-jeebers out of me, they scared Maizey right out of our bed and into her crib (starting next quarter). I know my sister is somewhere reading this, thinking "yeah, right" but I will really start being more structured and disciplined starting next quarter (which is just over a month away), and Maizey will start sleeping in her crib. Life feels a little crazy when you are sure that your 9.5month old is manipulating you.
It's going to be hard, but it has to happen. What I'm going to miss the most is crawling into bed and snuggling up to my warm, little baby. When, even if she is in the deepest of sleeps, she reaches her arm out and feels for my face and then reorients her body to mine, so that she can have her feet against my belly. And, sometimes, on the most special nights, when she holds my face in her hot, little hands and sleeps that way until she wakes up in her quiet and calm happy, smiley, morning-mood. Ugh, she's too cute.
So, you're wondering, how did I glimpse our future? Well, it was during one of my ultra-motivated moments today while Maizey was asleep and I was watching Nanny 911. The poor family had 4 children, including two toddler boys. It was in those boys that I saw Maizey's crazy eyes, the look that she gets when she's really over-tired but screaming and laughing and bouncing around. The look she has after I've been trying to get her to sleep for an hour, or more. The look she has when she's pulling my hair and saying "dadadadadadadada" over and over. I love my little diva, even if she's hard to put to bed, but those little toddler boys on TV scared the ba-jeebers out of me, they scared Maizey right out of our bed and into her crib (starting next quarter). I know my sister is somewhere reading this, thinking "yeah, right" but I will really start being more structured and disciplined starting next quarter (which is just over a month away), and Maizey will start sleeping in her crib. Life feels a little crazy when you are sure that your 9.5month old is manipulating you.
It's going to be hard, but it has to happen. What I'm going to miss the most is crawling into bed and snuggling up to my warm, little baby. When, even if she is in the deepest of sleeps, she reaches her arm out and feels for my face and then reorients her body to mine, so that she can have her feet against my belly. And, sometimes, on the most special nights, when she holds my face in her hot, little hands and sleeps that way until she wakes up in her quiet and calm happy, smiley, morning-mood. Ugh, she's too cute.
This is what it requires to get her to fall asleep.
Our trip to the Children's Museum with Auntie Beth and Cousin Harper.
Aggressive? No, not my baby.
Getting an up-close look at the crazy lights.
9 comments:
Your daughter is precious. Thanks for un-privatizing (<--- Is that even a real word?) your blog-I missed it! Like a drunken frat boy....to fricken funny.
That picture of Maizey sleeping is SO me!I have to sleep with a pillow on my head,and rolled into my duvet like burrito,otherwise I don't sleep well.
My brother and sister both have problems with their kids and their sleeping situations,so you're definitely doing the right thing for you and Maizey.Will hopefully save you some trouble down the road.
Okay....the way you describe her hot little hands and her snuggly warm body, I would NEVER be able to put her in her own crib.....seriously, I know I'm supposedly the "super nanny" ha ha just kidding!! But I wouldn't be able to do it either..she's so precious...I want eat her up. Thanks for letting me watch her on Sunday! That was super fun. I know Greg loved it - he kept telling me not to get mad at him because she just wanted to go wherever he was...SO annoying...but she did want me when she was tired...See you soon!
i know exactly what you mean about snuggling her -- i cant put El in her crib either...everyone warns you not to let them sleep with you, but its seriously the best feeling in the world -- not to mention the fact that you do get your sleep, and i too will do whatever it takes to get it...lol...i think i will end up on that show too...HOWEVER, if you are about to put your wild woman in her crib, i have hope...we are too much a like lady!
Your little Girl is so cute. she sounds alot like my little girl except my little girl Skylir is two. She has been sleeping in my bed sence she was born, and still does, but ever sence her little brother was born I have been working with her to get her in her own bed. So I hope u have better luck than I am having.
lol, i'm not going to comment on the co-sleeping! my kids are still doing it, and i get about 10 hours of sleep a night! someday maybe this year i'll get at least one of them in their own bed, but i'm not even that concerned with it. I love waking up at 8:00am after going to bed at 9pm all refreshed ! and i also can't imagine not snuggling with D everynight, while he has to have his hand on my "mole" lol...
Ava and I need to have another play-date with Miss Maizey! Another one of my friends came over to visit and brought her little one and even though the baby's name was Victoria, Ava called her "baby Maizey" the whole time! Too cute!
I slept well when we had Emilie in bed with us, but at just under 4 months we said it was time for her to get in her crib and now, my sleep is EVEN BETTER (though the first two nights were harder for me than Emilie). Thankfully it was an easy transition for us. don't worry lana- just do whatever feels right for you and Ryan and Maizey. A rested mother is a better mother, IMO!
very cute...i need too...
Post a Comment