Sleep Regression

All I can say is what is going on? There will be no sleep separating with Rowan until Avery's sleeping is back to normal. I don't know why, but she has been waking up between 4:30 and 5:30 am, the last week or so. She wants to be up for the day. We used to be able to warm her a bottle of milk, and she'd go back down until 7, but not lately. She's been cutting her naps short, which makes her over tired and cranky, in the afternoons. And now tonight, she would not go to bed.

We've reached our limits. We go in repeatedly, and she throws all of her blankets and soother on the floor, even though that makes her really mad, too. It seems like going in the room makes it worse. I don't want her in our bed. She wakes everyone up, and doesn't sleep; it's like total play time to her. I don't want it to become habit either because honestly, I haven't slept a night through in 2.5 years, and I'm looking forward to a night alone with my husband.

I don't mean to sound selfish. I'm into attachment parenting, wearing babies, cuddling, breast feeding in bed, but I have learned that not every element works for our family, and what works for us might not be the same as what works for other families. I don't want harsh judgements either for it, but the truth is we've let Avery cry it out now.

Avery cried for a solid hour this morning, and we just didn't go back into her room. It just makes it worse, and I think our biggest mistake was inconsistency. I am hoping she won't cry again tomorrow morning. As hard as it is to listen to, it was our decision, and like I said, it works for our family. I'm totally dreading doing it with Rowan. I know the longer we wait, the worse it'll be. Luckily, I've been able to lie her down when she's really tired in the day, and she'll go to sleep alone, in her crib.

Ahhhh!!! Maybe it's exhaustion, but having babies has made me face tougher decisions than I ever thought I'd have to make.

Rowan's New Bed

Here's Avery helping Daddy set up Rowan's new crib. Row's been sleeping her naps in it, and when she's tired enough, I've lucked out, and she's fallen asleep on her own in it. Too bad it's a total nightmare getting that baby down for the night!

Rowan's new annoying habit is to fall asleep for a nap around 6:30 pm, and wake up one hour later, flustered and cranky. She used to look up at me, know I was there, and go back to sleep, in my arms, and I would continue to spend the next couple hours with Steve, until we'd go to bed. Now Rowan wakes up, and will only go back to sleep if I lie in bed beside her. I am into co-sleeping, and I love the private parenting time to nurse between us, as it is really our only alone and intimate time together, but I also can't commit to being in bed at 7 or 8 daily, and I don't want this to become routine for her.

I have tried the transferring to her crib, once asleep, and it ends in chaos when she wakes up. I'm not exaggerating, she is by far the fussiest baby to live. Taurus Momma suck, who only wants me. It's a little draining. Everyone has their own way of sleep separating, and it's what works best for their family. I might try putting her down, at night, when I know she's really tired, and see how she does. It can't hurt to try.

On the bright side, it's nice to have her crib set up. It's a safe place for her to nap, as she's just getting way too heavy to wear, and cook, in the afternoons. I think because it's in our room, she is pretty content when she wakes up.

Daddy and Rowan enjoying an after dinner nap.

Lesson

So, I've been at home a lot the last couple of weeks. We've had crazy amounts of rain and storms, the town even flooded. Record amounts of rain. It's been kind of nice, even though I do have a bit of cabin fever. Like I need a break to myself. I haven't been to yoga in a couple weeks, and I'm still fighting off this weird infection, and I think I'd be too uncomfortable in class to go.

Being home so much, I notice that I have more time for one on one with the girls. And it's been a sad sort of realisation, but in the midst of day to day clean-up, cooking, chores, and Rowan, I hadn't been paying as much attention to Avery as she needs. I guess as babies grow older, we let them play independently, while we try to get 50 million things done. Those things are never done or caught up, and I'm really trying to let go of expecting them to be, even though that's challenging.

I'm lucky that Avery is such a little independent Aries, but during the times I'm usually trying to get something precooked, cleaned up, etc, I've been sitting on the floor with her and Rowan. She's been so much happier. We all are. I also did the whole dinner, clean-up, bathed both girls, dressed them, and put Avery to bed with her book, bottle, teeth brushing routine. Steve and I usually do that as a team because one or both girls is typically having a pre- bedtime melt down. I really enjoyed it. There was such a love feeling with Avery and I that night, I even had time to sing to her, and read an extra book, and Rowan just sat happily in her bumbo, like she knew I needed that snuggle with Avery.

It's funny how life is just whizzing by, especially with these two little girls. I'm happy to somehow find a minute to myself, and reflect on the life lessons right in front of me. Maybe my children will be my greatest teachers.

Spectacles!

Blurry vision, no more. Here's my new specs. I'm pretty darn excited! I love seeing everything look so crisp and clear. And my husband digs the new look. Oh boy!

Boat Rocking

I have been totally slacking on the blog, and I have a bunch of ideas for posts, so my apologies. I've been busy of course, but fighting an infection, too, and I'm all around lethargic, and just plain lazy. I've been napping along side the girls, daily.

I just want to quickly record that Rowan's been getting up on her hands and knees, and doing the rocking baby, before crawling thing. I haven't really been propping her up for sitting, she still just falls over, but she can slug crawl and roll like crazy. She also loves doing the rocking thing when she's on our chests.

The boat's rocking!

Woof Woof

This morning could mark the cutest thing ever so far in the history of my two girls. We started out with Avery in the swing, and Rowan on my chest, in her baby carrier. After about 20 minutes, we walked around the yard, and went to the fence to see our neighbour's chickens.

Our dog, Diogi, also known as Gogi or Pogi, started barking at the chickens. Apparently this was the funniest thing ever in Rowan's life because she was giggling hysterically, like I've never heard from her. Then I said, "Avery, puppy dog says 'woof woof'". Well, Avery turns and says back, "wooh wooh", and repeats it over and over. We must have stood there for about 5 straight minutes, Diogi and Avery woofing at the chickens, and Rowan laughing into baby hysterics.

You could say that was about the sweetest thing ever, and I'm blogging it, so I never forget it.

Puzzles

I have to say I'm amazed with Avery daily, but she really surprised me recently. She's had two wooden puzzles for a long time, and I didn't care if she chewed them up because they are wood, but I took them away, 6 months ago, with the intent she'd do the puzzles as she got older, and we'd have all of the pieces. I brought them back out, and she surprised me by taking all of the pieces out, and putting them back all by herself, with no help from me.

And like these puzzles, she is really into the stacking, building, and putting things together stage of development. A trick that has been working so far while grocery shopping is putting the canned goods by her, in the cart, and she stacks them while I get the shopping done. That is until we get a cookie from the bakery. I think that is probably the best part of grocery shopping to her.

Her obsession for the last couple of days is lining up the three pictures on my windowsill, in my bedroom, while I put on my mandatory daily mascara. I don't look human without it.

Lining up the pictures, standing on the head board

And so the tantrums can be a little wearing, but the best part of this growing little person is watching her become who she is. Be it motor skills, new words, a favourite book, or a rare kiss for Momma, I feel so lucky to be her first guide in life.

Can't forget Rowan, she plays in this noise machine, while Avery plays in the window