tired

Sleep. I miss it. So does Lofton. We are both blurry eyed and borderline irritable. You see, my delightful little baby has decided NOT to sleep through the night for the past seven days. That’s seven days of Lofton and I each getting up multiple times during the night to pat Reese’s back, re-position a blanket, and re-insert the pacifier.

We have racked our brains trying to decipher this new situation. Is he gassy? Nope. Teething? No. Cold? Hot? Hungry? No. No. No.

I think I have found the answer. You see, last week we decided to take him off (or really he outgrew) his wedge at night. He has slept on it since the first part of February when he got croup. It was a way to elevate his head at night and the sides kept him semi-confined in the bed. Lofton and I kept finding him half-on, half- off in the morning looking ridiculously uncomfortable and we just knew it was time to let him sleep “free and uninhibited” in the crib.

Reese has not been so happy about his newfound freedom. In fact, he hates it. I truly think when he wakes up during the night he feels lost and lonely. Which actually makes me a little sad for him. Many, MANY times last week I would finally stumble into his room around four and “throw in the towel.” I would scoop him up, grab his pacifier and walk back down the LONGEST hallway ever to climb back in bed. He would look up at me with those big blue eyes and I could tell he was saying “thank you for saving me from my big scary crib Mama.” We would settle back into bed and he and Lofton would drift back to sleep, while I lay awake uncomfortable and exhausted.

The solution, I believe, has been discovered. Saturday night we stayed in LaGrange with Sally. She has a pack and play that is identical to the one at my parent’s house. From experience, I know Reese rarely ever sleeps well in it. About 9:30 he started fidgeting and as I got up to re-pat, re-insert, and re-position, I spotted a large pillow on the ground. No, I didn’t suffocate my child. I put it next to him in bed. Safely positioned so it wouldn’t fall on top of him (although I did lie in bed worrying about that and I did get up five times to check on him), but close enough to him that he had a very limited range of motion. He slept much MUCH better.

Last night we rigged something much safer in Reese’s crib. Two towels folded long ways that are heavy and firm and a small pillow on top for added weight. There was nothing that could fall on him. He slept much better. I think he would have slept through the night, but he was a little tinkle machine and he soaked through his diaper and his new Taylor onesie. Funny side note: When Lofton went to check on him and realized he was wet, HE CAME BACK TO BED. I said, “What was wrong with him?” To which Lofton replied, “He soaked through his diaper.” Me: “Did you change him?” Lofton: “Nope.” Me: “Then get your butt back in there!” (That last sentence has been edited.)

Maybe we are on track to more restful nights this week. I certainly hope so, because although Reese’s night was full of sleep last night, Lofton and I’s night still was not. A terrible thunderstorm came through during the late night/ early morning hours. Raleigh is deathly afraid of storms and was pacing the bedroom. The clack of her nails on the hardwood floors was driving us CRAZY. Finally I just let her climb in the bed next to me. It was a tad bit crowded.

I'm praying for better luck tonight. Last Friday morning I went to remove what I thought were mascara smudges under my eyes. Nope. Just hideous purple circles. Thank God for Clinique!