Monday, May 11, 2009

Sleeping Beauty / Sleeping Beast

It is the wee hours of the morning. The baby is starting to stir and awaken while sleeping in bed beside me. The hubby is yet again absent from our bed, because he fell asleep in Jonah's bed, while trying to calm him from his numerous night awakenings. I am calmly awaiting the baby to fully awaken, wanting to eat. And shortly I know, the boy will come bursting in the room, wanting "juice" and "Movers" (Imagination Movers) and "lunch" (any time he eats, he calls it lunch). I pray his requests will be cheerful, meaning he got enough sleep. If not, his crabbiness generally lingers on through the morning hours, until I can convince him to take a nap, then sometimes the day improves. If the weather cooperates, then we can play outside and that always makes him feel better.
Lately, I have been trying to stick to a somewhat strict schedule overall regarding our daily routine. Jonah's sleep habits have gotten out of hand and his severe attachment to Daddy is making life just plain nearly unbearable. Ever since Lily was born, Jonah has been clinging to Todd. I know, it;s understandable, and even if you ignore how much it absolutely breaks my heart that he generally wants nothing to do with me, it is still making it tough to function. Todd cannot be out of Jonah's site for a single second when he is home. Mornings can be rough, and Jonah hates when Daddy leaves, and cries and cries for him long after he is gone. whenever he bumps his head or skins his knee, he cries for "Daddy". I am simply just not good enough for him anymore, and a piece of my heart breaks each and every time I cannot console him or make it all better. I long for the days of my little Mama's Boy, but I am afraid they are long gone.


In regards to Jonah's sleep habits, I have enveloped a strict routine starting about 5pm each night. Since he wakes up SO EARLY, he is just plain not getting enough sleep. Maybe I am secretly hoping his attachment to Daddy is a direct result of sleep deprivation. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but either way, he isn't getting enough sleep. So Mr. "Early to Rise" is gonna have to go to bed earlier. Here is our schedule:



5:30p-6:00p ~ Dinner
6:00p-6:30p ~ Playtime with Daddy, no tv, preferably low-key activities
6:30p-7:00p ~ Bath
7:00p-7:30p ~ Books, Lullaby music playing, calm and low whispering voices
7:30p ~ LIGHTS OUT! No more talking, MUST lay down. Daddy is in room with him until he falls asleep, hopefully just sitting on the edge of the bed, NOT laying down.


Now remember, I also have a 9 week old baby. Although she is pretty flexible, and goes right to sleep right around 8pm, I find it a struggle to do it all alone. With Todd wanting to implement all bedtime activities with Jonah and staying pretty much as far aware from Lily as possible (he is petrified of her, being so small and fragile...he was the same way with Jonah until he was about a year old), I am having to care for Lily 24 hours a day. Now, I know, she is my daughter and I love her dearly, but there are two reasons why it is difficult.

First off, I dearly miss my special alone time with Jonah. He and I used to be the best of friends. Now, I feel as though he just tolerates me until Daddy gets home, and after that, I am forgotten. Yes, I am jealous, and I fully admit it. And I miss my boy.

Secondly, caring for a newborn day in and day out, 24 hours a day can be exhausting, all you mama's out there know what I am talking about I am sure. And Todd DOES help when he can, but with the constant demands of Jonah and he fear of Lily, that time is limited, and when he is with her, it is out of me forcing her upon him, because I need sleep or want to try to spend some time with Jonah.

Now, on the topic of, IF this schedule is working. YES, it is. Slowly but surely, I am seeing improvements in his attitude and demeanor. He isn't as crabby during the day, he isn't rubbing his eyes and laying on the floor at 9:30am, he isn't whining as much, and he is even taking to me a little bit more and more each day. I am seeing slight success and it feels good.

I wish I could say the hubby is taking to it just as well, but that is for another day and another blog post.

1 comment:

Love said...

glad you found me!!! yes, i left thinking, "i don't even know her name!" mine's Lovelyn. =)

that is so hard w/ adjusting to him being such a daddy's boy now when you two used to be best buds. our 3rd daughter was our first daddy's girl and i totally get the jealousy thing.

we do a pretty scheduled bedtime routine out of necessity for their happiness, too! all of them are asleep BY 7:00 most nights.