For all who were under the assumption that I have a good handle on this three kid thing, let me tell you, you are wrong. I don’t really understand most of the time how to best manage everything. Honestly, God gives me grace for each day, and I mess up all the time but I am always learning. I have an awesome support network, but still, I am outnumbered.
This last week has been a stellar example of how crazy it can get. Just when I think I am starting to get used to three rugrats, something else comes up. For example, this week Peter decided two things. 1) He wanted to crawl out of his crib. All. the. time. and 2) He was done with his nap.
To a mommy, a nap is a precious thing. Particularly with two year olds, who are so intense and self-focused, it’s wonderful to have an hour or two in the middle of the day when your little dear is recharging his batteries. I worked hard to get Vivienne and Peter to nap at the same time most days so that I could use that hour or two to fold laundry or get other non-baby friendly chores done, or simple zone out on the computer while Todd builds a three foot high Duplo stack. I also use part of that time for my special mommy/Todd bonding moments of reading or coloring or other quiet talking activities.
So Peter quit his nap. Then Vivienne decided my week was not challenging enough so she decided that she didn’t want to nurse to sleep like she has for the past many moons. She nursed, then wanted to go play in her bassinette. Our bassinette is actually an Arm’s Reach co-sleeper that attaches to the bed and has been responsible for my good rest for the past ten months. Anyway, like most 9-10 month olds, she wants to conquer the universe, which begins in her cosleeper. She wanted to play and pull up and crawl back and forth from the cosleeper to the bed.
Sleep? Who needs that? Not Vivienne! But she was tired, ohhhh so tired. So when she started being sleepy around 11, I put her down, but she wanted to play. So I brought her out to play in the living room, and she got cranky. So I brought her back in to the bedroom, but she wanted to play. This went on for two hours where I got nothing done but holding the baby and trying to nurse her to sleep. Finally, so exhausted she was nearly bawling, she dropped to sleep. This happened three days in a row before she finally decided the cosleeper was sufficiently conquered.
So with Peter, we decided it was time to move him to a toddler bed. So that meant we had an extra crib which we decided would go to Vivienne so she wouldn’t topple over the side of the cosleeper. So Peter will not stay in bed, we keep having to put him back in it, and Vivienne has decided that she now needs to conquer the crib. Sigh. Pass the coffee, please.
Sleep. Why do little rugrats resist it and parents crave it? I have no idea. But it sure explains a lot of the insanity around here.
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