Saturday, February 16, 2008

Sleep

Sleep - the holy grail of new parents. Will the baby sleep? Is the baby sleeping? Why isn't she sleeping? Why isn't she waking up? Oh god why won't she just sleep already? When on earth will she sleep? Oh no, she can't be up AGAIN?

Sigh...

My children are now old enough that once asleep (albeit a challenge for my youngest, but getting more manageable lately) they tend to stay asleep until morning (and in their own beds at that, unless they are sick or something else strange is going on). Heck, I can even pick my youngest up out of bed and help her to the bathroom, all without waking her up. Staying asleep? Not a problem. An earthquake would not wake up either of them in the morning. Alarm clocks certainly don't. Buckets of ice water I'm not sure about, but I've been awfully tempted to find out some mornings.

As he approached his seventh birthday, my oldest suddenly started to change his long-held sleeping patterns. After years of sleeping through the night, we're now getting a middle of the night visitor. I suspect that he is so busy being a Big Kid doing Big Kid Things during the day that the little kid he still is inside still needs those nighttime snuggles.

As for me, the lost sleep is worth it. I know these moments won't last forever. I treasure them while they're here, knowing we're creating loving memories to last us both a lifetime.

The Sunday Scribblings prompt for this week is sleep.

17 comments:

Becca said...

You're so right about that, Robin. And when they're teenagers, they'll want to sleep all the time!

Fairly Odd Mother said...

I wish I could look at this nighttime wakings with more fondness. Right now, I'm in the "you're fine; get back to bed!" mode. You will hear me whining though when my littlest leaves our bed for good. . .

Anonymous said...

Those days - sorry nights - have long passed for me. I can't honestly say I have fond memories of being woken up in the early hours of the morning.

UL said...

Hey, this is such a sweet post, I never thought of my daughter's sleeping pattern as a memory, one i would cherish in years to come...your post just had me nodding my head :) Thank you.

paisley said...

and right you are... cherish those little boy moments while you can.....

Anonymous said...

shhhhh, Boo has slept through the night for the last 2 weeks.

Unless he is up and I don't know it....

I haven't been able to blame my crankiness on sleepnessness, but thankfully I have that old standby 'hormones'

Bwaaaaa haaaaaa haaaaaaa

Lilibeth said...

I remember rocking my eldest in the middle of the night. She was three months old. We were so comfortable in that chair. Her hair was black and curly, and her little body heavy with sleep...and yet, I didn't go back to bed.

Lucy said...

you're so right about that, treasure every snugly moment Robin! ( your fairy advice was awesome)

LaLa said...

Oh,I love a cuddle with my little one too. I think when she "joins" us in bed is some of my favorite times. Enjoy!

Anonymous said...

I'm no stranger to no sleep. Bridget has slept through the night only once in her 2.5 years, and she is in bed with me every night. I'm not sure how I would be with more than 1.5 hours of consecutive sleep at a time (she's still a voracious night nurser). Hannah has always been a great sleeper, and Jacob, only within the last two years. When he calls for me in the middle of the night, I'm glad for the opportunity to snuggle next to him.

myrtle beached whale said...

you are definitely a mom. nice post.

Tumblewords: said...

Ah, a sweet post with warm images and wise with passing time spots. It all moves so fast...

Lifeless in Ohio said...

I find it amazing that as babies they keep us at night because they can't sleep, then as teenagers they keep us up at night because we can't sleep worrying about them. But love it while you can - they are gone before you know it.

anthonynorth said...

Ah, the joys of nights with babies. Boy, am I glad they're over!
But you've reminded me now. Hope I can sleep :-)

Anonymous said...

I simply loved this post. Kids grow up so fast.

snooze time, baby!

Anonymous said...

yes, michael still gets in our bed every single night, any time from midnight to five am and sleeps there for the rest of the night. I keep insisting once he's five it's got to stop.....yeah, right. sweet post.

Janet said...

What a beautiful story :-)