This began nearly 2 years ago when we brought home this wee little bundle who, after 9 months snuggled against my ribcage, did not want to sleep alone. Early, tiny and so very dear, I willingly complied and she slept in my arms, literally, every night. She outgrew it, eventually, and moved from bassinet, to pack-n-play, to her own bed in her own room. For a long time she slept peacefully through the night in her own bed, but then began to wake up at 4 or so and wanted to be UP. I put her back in our bed and she slept till an reasonable hour (6:30 or so), but we snuggled the whole time. All this was working fine until I got pregnant.
Suddenly the need for sleep trumped all and she got the boot. I still gave in occasionally but she has this thing where she can't just sleep beside me, she has to have one of my arms underneath her and one over the top of her and her face smooshed against my face. For a pregnant mama struggling to keep feeling in her swollen carpal tunnel limbs, this does not work. I have to sleep with my arms just so or they go dead believe me when I tell ya, 'just so' isn't under a 25lb nearly 2 year old. I'm just sayin'.
This morning's episode began at 5am where uncontrollable sobbing from my girl woke me up. I got her, she said 'Mama's bed' and 'Snuggle you', so off we went where we slept for nearly 45 minutes until I HAD to move my arms. What followed was a kicking, screaming fit which got poor Matt kicked in the sleeping kidneys and wide awake. (He usually sleeps through this drama. Oh for that skill!) He tried to hold her while I snuggled NEXT to her. Nope. It's IN mama's arms or nothing. Screaming and more fits. Finally after several warnings, she got plunked back in her bed to throw her fit. 9 minutes of raging fit later she fell back asleep. I, however, did not. I cried for my sweet snuggle baby and I cried for having to help her learn things this way, which is, in truth, the hard way, but good for her in the end. I know I started it too! Her desire to sleep in my arms is from a history of being allowed to. I don't regret that time, (and would do it again in a heartbeat!) but it's just time for something new. So the battle isn't over. This is just a skirmish and one I am sad to win. There won't be room for a newborn and a 2 year old in the bed and it's for the best, but I will miss snuggling with my girl.
2 comments:
ug...my mama heart aches with yours. Well put Ariana...i know you love that girl and will miss her in your arms but i am a firm beleiver of what you are doing..."Training her to learn to sleep on her own"...it takes some cries and fits...we still have to do it from time to time too...but ahhhhhh..those nights are coming my friend..when you will sleep better and she will. I hear you about missing her near. ....proud of you though..and sorry at the same time cause i know its painful. my sister told me to drink some wine when we are sleep training the kids...ha ha...anyway..also sorry about your carpel tunnel limbs. i have it in my wrist from holding a huge baby....all day. i have clothes for your baby boy that you can sift through...
I'm so sorry. In the end, I don't think there's an easy way for everyone to get good sleep. It has to happen somehow. Thus all the books. And Grace. I think probably Grace helps more.
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