So if I had to complain about one thing in my life right now, which I shouldn't even be complaining about, it would be bedtime. Not so much the getting-to-bed part, even though it takes way longer than it should to get the kids to bed. No, it's the when-we-are-sleeping part. Or should I say, when we are supposed to be sleeping. And it hasn't helped that Lillie has a cold which she got from her biggest admirer, Isaac.
Just to give you an idea, here is a scenario of what my nights are like: Imagine an 8 month old who has outgrown her cradle but is still not sleeping through the night, so she can't sleep in the crib in the kids room yet (we live in a 2 bedroom, what were we thinking?), and mom has gotten into the really bad habit of letting her sleep with her. So that means every two hours or so, baby is still waking up wanting to eat and mom complies because mom can't let her cry and wake up dad who leaves at 5:30 and really needs his sleep. Bad. Then, the almost 5 year old comes to get mom once or twice a night to come and sleep with her in her bed and mom complies. (Again, we can't have crying.) So dad ends up bringing baby to mom sometime in the night, which is usually not close enough for the alarm to go off for him to stay awake, but close enough that it's real hard to get back to sleep. Very bad. And maybe 3 or 4 nights a week the 2 yr old wakes up and won't go back to sleep unless he's in the 5 yr old's bed too. Bad, very bad. So... it is not unusual for dad to come into the kid's room to find mom and 3 kids crammed into one bed, whisper the morning prayers and say goodbye. And then it never fails that at the 2 yr old is ready to be awake and go downstairs at around 6:30 am. That's when mom is close to loosing it, but the 2yr old is happy with chocolate milk, cereal in a bowl to munch on, and "Petey" (the dog on Little Rascals movie) so mom can go join the slumber party once again. Only to be woken up at 7 by the 5 yr old who now wants to be awake and downstairs, but only if mom comes too.
So.........after who knows how many weeks of this, yesterday I finally did loose it. I sat on the couch with my kids while they drank their chocolate milk and munched on cereal, and I cried. Of course, this resulted in all of us crying cause they were pretty freaked out that mom was crying. It was quite the scene. I had to quickly reassure them that mommy was okay and that she was just REALLY tired! So when I "talked" to Brian later in the day, he informed me he didn't have to go into work until 3 the next day and he quickly volunteered to take care of the older kids that night. That was my saving grace. I almost couldn't wait for bedtime! Let's just say that I woke up that night wondering what time it was and why I had so much room in MY bed (Brian had gone into the kids room), and I didn't hear the kids all night. (except for Lillie who was sleeping with me and only woke up twice!) I finally woke up at 7 am feeling quite rested, and I couldn't help but smile as I welcomed the new day. I felt like a new woman! My hubby definitely earned the husband of the day award! Thank you so much sweetheart! (we even agreed that this will be happening more often in the future!!)
And to make the day even better, I woke up to beautiful blue skies and SUNSHINE! It was a gorgeous day! A much needed change from the crazy snow, hail, and rain we have the past few days. We took full advantage of it and packed a picnic lunch and took a walk to the lake near our home. The kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the water and we soaked in the much needed sunshine. We then said goodbye to dad as he left for work and the kids and I stayed at the park for a little longer, and even went for another walk. We weren't quite ready to leave the sunshine. Brooklyn loved cruising on her bike and kept saying, "I need to keep riding mom, I really need to get my exercise". We truly had a really great day! I am on my own again tonight, but after today's rejuvinating (is that a word?) all I can say is, "Bring it on!!"
Just to give you an idea, here is a scenario of what my nights are like: Imagine an 8 month old who has outgrown her cradle but is still not sleeping through the night, so she can't sleep in the crib in the kids room yet (we live in a 2 bedroom, what were we thinking?), and mom has gotten into the really bad habit of letting her sleep with her. So that means every two hours or so, baby is still waking up wanting to eat and mom complies because mom can't let her cry and wake up dad who leaves at 5:30 and really needs his sleep. Bad. Then, the almost 5 year old comes to get mom once or twice a night to come and sleep with her in her bed and mom complies. (Again, we can't have crying.) So dad ends up bringing baby to mom sometime in the night, which is usually not close enough for the alarm to go off for him to stay awake, but close enough that it's real hard to get back to sleep. Very bad. And maybe 3 or 4 nights a week the 2 yr old wakes up and won't go back to sleep unless he's in the 5 yr old's bed too. Bad, very bad. So... it is not unusual for dad to come into the kid's room to find mom and 3 kids crammed into one bed, whisper the morning prayers and say goodbye. And then it never fails that at the 2 yr old is ready to be awake and go downstairs at around 6:30 am. That's when mom is close to loosing it, but the 2yr old is happy with chocolate milk, cereal in a bowl to munch on, and "Petey" (the dog on Little Rascals movie) so mom can go join the slumber party once again. Only to be woken up at 7 by the 5 yr old who now wants to be awake and downstairs, but only if mom comes too.
So.........after who knows how many weeks of this, yesterday I finally did loose it. I sat on the couch with my kids while they drank their chocolate milk and munched on cereal, and I cried. Of course, this resulted in all of us crying cause they were pretty freaked out that mom was crying. It was quite the scene. I had to quickly reassure them that mommy was okay and that she was just REALLY tired! So when I "talked" to Brian later in the day, he informed me he didn't have to go into work until 3 the next day and he quickly volunteered to take care of the older kids that night. That was my saving grace. I almost couldn't wait for bedtime! Let's just say that I woke up that night wondering what time it was and why I had so much room in MY bed (Brian had gone into the kids room), and I didn't hear the kids all night. (except for Lillie who was sleeping with me and only woke up twice!) I finally woke up at 7 am feeling quite rested, and I couldn't help but smile as I welcomed the new day. I felt like a new woman! My hubby definitely earned the husband of the day award! Thank you so much sweetheart! (we even agreed that this will be happening more often in the future!!)
And to make the day even better, I woke up to beautiful blue skies and SUNSHINE! It was a gorgeous day! A much needed change from the crazy snow, hail, and rain we have the past few days. We took full advantage of it and packed a picnic lunch and took a walk to the lake near our home. The kids enjoyed throwing rocks in the water and we soaked in the much needed sunshine. We then said goodbye to dad as he left for work and the kids and I stayed at the park for a little longer, and even went for another walk. We weren't quite ready to leave the sunshine. Brooklyn loved cruising on her bike and kept saying, "I need to keep riding mom, I really need to get my exercise". We truly had a really great day! I am on my own again tonight, but after today's rejuvinating (is that a word?) all I can say is, "Bring it on!!"
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Some photos of our day soakin' in the sun. I can never get a decent picture of Isaac. He thought he was so funny the way he would say, "cheese!" The grumpy picture of Lil is what happens when you take anything away from her that she is anxious to sink her little teeth into. And for the GW Gang...yes, Brian is still sporting his lecture clothes!
