Quote:
Originally Posted by
Baby_Cakes
Aw, JJ. Take a few deep breaths. Things WILL get better. You're not a bad mama. If you're at the end of your rope, take a break. Getting angry with her isn't a good place to be, so breathe deep. This too shall pass.
Maybe don't try to get her to sleep. Let her play. Let her get exhausted. Wear her out. You know, there's a reason why I run myself ragged all day -- if I don't tire these kids out, they don't go down easy. Did Ten nap ok today?
Sometimes in the middle of the night, if/when they wake, if I'm angry, I make myself laugh. I think of a good thought. I know it'll pass and I know that they will outgrow it.
One of the posts I'm working on for my blog is about how different it is this second time around. With Nora I worried and got angry when she would wake thru the night, or not go to sleep. With Finn, I take it for what it is, and work thru it and try not to get angry b/c I do know it will end.
I'm trying to apply that same logic to Nora now, as she goes thru what she's going thru, her growing pains. I wonder why I freak out about her hitting, for example, or throwing fits, or not listening, and wonder "What am I doing wrong, how do I fix it!?" when I don't worry about those things with Finn. If I apply the same logic, things WILL work out, she will outgrow whatever stage/funk she is in, she will grow and change and evolve. If I don't worry about Finn doing these things, I can't worry about Nora doing these things.
Oh I'm rambling. But. Point is == don't WORRY. You will survive this, she will survive this, and it'll be ok.
I love this quote:
"Don't stand unmoving outside the door of a crying baby whose only desire is to touch you. Go to your baby. Go to your baby a million times. Demonstrate that people can be trusted, that the environment can be trusted, that we live in a benign universe." = peggy o'mara
Gah. Ok, she's sleeping. I could hear her starting to quiet a bit, and I didn't want to risk her falling asleep after crying. While I totally know my limits and when I need a second away, I also know that I couldn't stand to let her fall asleep all alone and sad like that
Her naps have sucked too. She's sleeping 20-30 minutes, and then waking up wide eyed and not going back down, even after nursing. Today though she did actually get a one hour one in, but then basically didn't nap at all in the afternoon- 15 minutes maybe at about 530?
We've tried keeping her up later, but she starts to absolutely melt down at about 715pm every day, sometimes it's not even that late. If we wait longer she's pretty much inconsolable. Last night was the same with getting her to bed, and then she finally fell asleep, slept for 10 minutes after I put her down, and then woke up wide awake. I brought her out here into the living room, and tried to put her down to play, and she was a shrieky mess. She wouldn't even sit with DH while I poured myself a drink and got myself ready to bed. I took her to bed with me, thinking maybe a change of scenery would help. Even nursing sidelying, it still took three switches of sides and about 30 minutes to get her to fall back asleep. DH slept on the couch because he didn't want to be in there with us. I don't blame him, I kinda wanted the couch! lol
I've been trying to keep her busier, because I thought the same thing, and DH has asked it too, that maybe she's just bored during the day and not getting enough excitement, but we've been going outside, and we got a new toy we've been exploring (it's one of those big wooden cubes with different things on each side), and every day this week we've had an aunt come over to play and visit... but none of it seems to be making a difference. I don't know if going out out would help, as in going to the mall, or somewhere on the bus or something. I may have to try.
I totally totally get what you mean about not worrying. It's just the lack of sleep. I try so ahrd to stay positive day to day, but I am so freaking tired, and then nighttime rolls around, and I start out so positive that tonight will bet he night, she's going to sleep well, and we're going to get rest, etc etc etc... and then she starts up again, and all I can think is "I'm literally too tired to walk the house with you baby, I'm going to fall over!" Sometimes when she cried in the middle of the night, honestly the thought of having to go to her makes me dizzy. And I know the obvious answer for most AP parents is to bring her into the bed, but it's worse. I barely slept at all last night. I was hoping maybe that would be the magic key, but I keep trying it again and again, and it just doesn't work.
Anyways, I'm just saying, I get what you mean, and I think if I could just get enough/more sleep, then I wouldn't care. I know that developmentally, she's going to get through it, and it's all good and normal etc etc. It's just that that doesn't help when she's going on 90 minutes of fighting sleep, or her 8th wakeup of the night, and I want to cry I'm so tired, kwim?
And yes yes yes! Love that quote. That's why every time I leave the room, I come back as soon as I can. I'm frustrated. I need a break. I need to collect my thoughts. But I don't for a second look at it as her needing to just push through it and fall asleep. That makes me sad.
I like when she falls asleep in my arms, cozy and dreaming peacefully!
ok, now I'm gonna go eat the food I cooked and burnt 45 minutes ago, and take some more deep breaths. I feel like sometimes all I do is vent to you guys, but you keep me sane, honestly. <3