Our (lack of) sleep story

Conversation yesterday morning:

PC:  "It's official."
Me:  "I know, can you believe we have a one year old?"
PC:  "No, that he hasn't slept through the night in one year and neither have we."
Me:  "Did you really think that was going to happen, like magic?"
PC:   "I was hoping." 


I'm really not posting our (lack of) sleep story for anything other than to look back on these days at some point in our lives and be proud that we survived it!  It actually has become quite comical... (or maybe we're just delirious) but either way... this is what it is.

LB's crib is beside our bed.  Been there from the previous nursing days when we just took better nightly "naps" when he was within arm's reach.  Somewhere between months 6-9 we considered a good night's sleep 8:30ish to 1 a.m. in the crib and then trying to get at least 2 more hours with him in the bed with us before he woke at 5:30.
From months 9-present, things went from bad to worse.  First of all, going to bed at 8:30 for me & PC started getting old.  PC and I were barely getting any time for each other or to even ask about each other's day and we just needed some down time without all-things-baby.  So we started going to bed at 9:30- woo hoo- livin' it up around here:]  But LB started waking up at 10:30.  So just about the time we were entering REM, we awake to LB's CRY.  I have given up on any and all strategies to get him back to sleep in that crib so he gets in the bed with us and that is when the fun begins.  LB goes right to sleep, he is in his cozy spot between me and PC.  But OMG.  He hates cover so we have him sleeping in as little clothing as possible (in the winter, yep) and he still kicks until he is out from any cover.  He likes his head up against the baseboard so he wiggles up until he bangs his head against it but not only does he want his head on the baseboard, he wants one or both feet on PC and his hands on me. So then the twisting and squirming begins.  Not only does he like his hands on me, specifically he wants them in my hair so he can "comb" it IN HIS SLEEP and, as painful as this could be, if I could sleep through it I did.  Until I started seeing the gobs of hair in his hands in the morning and the THINNING spots on my head.  Oh s#*t.  So I started pulling my hair back tight in a ponytail and putting clips across tight to hold my bangs back.  He likes his paci and wiggles and squirms to find it when it falls out.  So we keep extras on either side of the bed and PC and I have hit each other many times in attempts to locate that stupid smoothie.  Under an armpit?  Nestled in my ponytail?  Cringe if you must but, no, I do not get up to rinse it off.  Mother of the year.  Leaks?  At least once a week.  If it happens before 1 a.m., there is a middle of the night sheet change but if it happens after 1 a.m., pull the sheet off before it gets to the mattress pad and find the thickest, softest towel for a temporary fix.  Mother of the year again.  I have woken up to toes on my mouth and a butt in my face.  Snores and passing gas?  Talking?  Whiny, squealing-type noises?  Yes, yes, double yes.  I have had to pull his whole body off of my head like you might do a cat! All in his sleep.  All in our bed.  Until about 6:15 a.m., if we're lucky. 

A full night of sleep?  Remind me of what that's like because my mind is fuzzy from the lack of it! 
In some areas, we have been very fortunate.  But sleep is not one of them.  Whew.
  

A Birthday Boy!

This weekend we partied with our All Star who turned one today!  We had a great time with family and, although he is the only little one, he had a good time with the grown ups:) I can't believe it has been one year!  It just keeps getting better... And although I use a pseudo name for the majority of posts, this one deserves the special name that has made this year one to remember... Happy Birthday Hampton! You are so loved sweet boy!

Party Planning

A year ago today I was planning (and hoping) for a birth to take place any day!

One week from today, we will be celebrating a first birthday! 

Early birthday present... because a one year old just needs to go 4-wheelin'? 

A (small) party will take place this weekend.  The boy loves a ball so that's the theme, except we'll call it "All Stars" instead of "Balls" :]

LB hates being the center of attention anytime, anyplace so it should be interesting...

wish us luck!

However it goes, feeling very Blessed.

A little formula venting

This is what you see when you open our pantry door. 

When I was nursing, one of those silver cans lasted us a whole month or longer for just supplementing with a night feeding!  Now that we are completely on formula, we go through at least two a week- 27.99 a can.  I don't know why, but I became obsessed with keeping them a few weeks ago.  Maybe I am hoping for some great organizational idea that is p.interest worthy.  Any ideas?  Whatever the reason, this stuff is expensive and I feel for those who have had to use this particular formula the entire first year!  It also drives me crazy how far down the purple scoop is buried!  I keep the old one to use until I can dig down to the new one.   

Happy that we have a growing, healthy little boy but I sure do hope the transition to whole milk soon is a smooth one... so does our budget!   

Santa Pic... who cried?

Ended up at the mall yesterday with LB and my mom and she asked me if she could pay for a Santa picture.  I had no idea how it would go.  LB did not cry.  He was totally amazed at Santa and stared him down, we couldn't even get him to look at the camera.  But my mother let the tears flow.  And Santa handed the baby over to me and hugged grandma, asked if it was her first, and told her everything was going to be okay.  It was a sight to behold!  (Wish I had gotten a pic of that!)   

Then they rode the mall train together and I could not tell who was happier. 

My mom had just turned 18 years old when I came along and she was single by 20.  We grew up together.   Our relationship has been less than ideal over the years, but I do love her.  She is on a mission to be the best grandma she can be and LB and I are both grateful for that.  I bite my tongue a lot (basically she allows him to do anything and everything) but there is no doubt that she loves her grandson.