Violet takes the cake for climbing.  The girl is smart and strong and at 18 months it seems that one day she may give Spiderman a run for his money.

Usually she calmly swings a leg up until it catches on the top of the crib and then pulls herself to the top.  Then she swings both legs over and lowers herself.  As soon as she is down, she walks away to find a toy to play with.  Even if it is 3 in the morning.  The fit that results when we remind her it is bedtime is epic.  To say we are short on sleep these days is laughable.  I am a zombie.

I think she is tired too, because I finally got a video of her and today she fell.  Of course it did not bother her one bit.  Sophia thought is was hysterical.  Violet went on with her business of bedtime ignorance.  And I thanked God once again that she did not perish.  She is drawn to danger.  I am in trouble.

We went ahead and ordered a crib tent to protect Violet and the little sleep I currently get. I said I wouldn’t but she does not sleep through the night and she shares a room with Sophia so having her leap onto her sister in the middle of the night is not working. I guess it is just another reason not to judge the parenting decisions of others. You just never know when you will be stuck in the same position.

How did you keep your climbers alive?

I might be over it.  I am writing through a foggy haze of exhaustion as I try to figure out what to do about my dear, sweet baby Violet.   I need some advice.  I really need some sleep.

Just days after I got all mushy about our nightly cuddles Violet started waking up just 2 hours after she went to bed.  I thought she was just teething and I went with it.  I nursed her and cuddled her and put her back to sleep.  She would wake every few hours with a whimper and I would go to her, letting her know that Mommy loves her and that everything was okay.  At first she fell back asleep, leaving me with 3 hour sleep intervals.  That was enough…I thought it would pass.

That wimper turned into a wail in the past week and the baby who used to fall back asleep now wakes up at 10:30 p.m. and after nursing, she screams when she is put back in her crib.  And she won’t stop screaming if she is in that crib.  I got so tired that I began to fall asleep in a chair with her in my arms.  I would wake and find her in a dead sleep, but as soon as I placed her back in her crib the hysteria would begin again. 

I cannot bear to hear a baby cry like that.  Maybe it is a weakness but between my boobs leaking and my head pounding and my heart aching I must go to my crying baby.  We are so far from Ferberization it isn’t even funny.  Again, I thought it would pass.

I was wrong.  When we were at my in-laws house for Thanksgiving it just got worse, but because the crib is in the room where all the cousins sleep, I finally had to take her out and bring her into our bed.   She was waking everybody up and I felt terrible!

Guess who sleeps like a baby next to Mommy?  Yep.  Now guess which Mommy does not sleep at all while worried about crushing her child or having her husband’s pointy elbow knock her out or having her crawl right off the edge of the bed?  Right again.  It’s a no win here people.

And, it gets worse.  Violet started waking up – for good – at 5 a.m. this week.   Happy and bubbling with joy she sits up in bed and starts pulling my hair, crawling around and playing peek-a-boo like it is a decent hour in the morning.  To be clear, around here, it is not.

What are my options here?  I can’t co-sleep and I can’t no sleep and I can’t just let her cry.  What’s a girl to do?

Seriously, I know that I may have to either figure out how to co-sleep or I need to let her cry but if any of you lovely readers have any suggestions please share!  I can’t be alone in this, right?

Her screams are deafening and heartbreaking and they make my mommy brain crazy with that special combination of wanting to cradle her, wanting to take away her pain, contemplating whether or not she really needs teeth, wanting to go outside so I can get a 5 minute break and wondering…will I ever have my boobs back?

Anyhoo, I now have Sophia on my floor because she could not handle the screams (there are times when shared rooms suck) and my husband annoyed at my computer clicking because I think he is the most messed up by this time change of anyone (he did wake up with them at 5 am) and me just sitting here waiting for the almost exactly hourly screams to begin again.

Sounds fun don’t you think?

My headache is preventing me from anything more brilliant so tonight I will do what all we moms have to do…

Put away my original plan for the evening to nurse my baby, to handle her pain, to help her through this tough time.

Because my first priority can never get lost.  Sometimes for a moment or two I allow myself to stress out about the blog.  But I know that the most important thing is not the blog (or how my boobs look when all this is over)…but my baby, my kids, my husband…my family.

So goodnight all and sweet dreams. Here’s hoping these teeth come in tomorrow!

I loved having her with me at night.  I have always cherished the wee hours of the morning with my babies.  With each of them, our time together in the silent and black night brought perfect moments of unity and peace.  I don’t worry about sleeping methods or letting them cry because, for us, it seems wrong.  There will be so many years of nights when we will no longer have those precious quiet moments.  There will be plenty of time for indpendence and training.  While they are babies, when they wake, I will lay them on my chest, cradle them and try to mark the feeling on my heart.  I never want to forget how much I love sleepy nighttime cuddles.   

The time comes so soon when they cease to wake, when they move into their own rooms, when they sleep without my arms and start to leave their baby days behind.   I still have these moments with Violet every night.  While I am tired, I wouldn’t trade these days.  

Lately, as I sit with Violet I remember Sophia and Miles as little ones.  I think about where we sat, how long our nightly rituals lasted, and how sad I was when they came to an end.

When Violet moved out of our room and into her room with Sophia, I got a few more moments with my firstborn.  When Ross travels, I let Sophia sleep in my room.  She is still my baby, and like her dad is a middle of the night cuddler.  So, when Ross is away I get to steal some of those moments back.  I get to snuggle my little girl without any of the commotion of daily activities or her busy siblings.  It’s a lovely thing.

In the still of the night, I am happy. 

Our first topic was Courage.   The second was Happiness.  The third was memory.  Today’s is Lust.

If you are already a regular Mommy Words visitor, I hope you enjoy these posts.  If you are here as a part of the Five for Ten, welcome!  I can’t wait to get to know you.

In the middle of the night I lay sleeping, dreaming of two bodies embracing, loving, and enjoying one another in perfect intimacy and with total abandon.  My eyelids flutter and I see my husband laying next to me and feel his leg draped over my own.  We always fit.  It always moves me.  I shift my body towards his and hear a soft moan.  My reaction is immediate.  My body warms in an instant and my breasts begin to tingle.   I let out a deep breath, a low groan, and unbutton my nightgown to free them for the soft hands that already are reaching out in hunger that only I can satisfy.

I roll over, scoop up my precious baby Violet, and begin to nurse.  My wild fantasies of passionate unplanned sex are smooshed by an irresistible 12 pound little girl.

Yes, things around here are a little lackluster.

When I feel a little frisky and hubs touches the tatas…they LEAK!  Horny mam or hungry baby…same reaction…breast milk let down.  (Truly a let down if you are feeling rowdy.)  These boobies also make a crinkly sound as all breast pads do when you caress them.   Not so hot huh?

I scream Yes! Yes! Yes! while Sophia does gymnastics instead of in the bedroom.

Can one without a strange fetish lust after someone who smells like baby puke and even sometimes has the scent of poop lingering?  With 2 kids still in diapers this is a common occurrence.

The last time I got  a wax was while preparing for labor.  Mama’s not feeling sexy.  Enough said.

After a hot date and a lot of wine (always lust inducing) I have to pump.  Milking oneself like a cow always kills that sexy feeling.

I sleep 1 foot from my infant and often wake up with my two year old in my bed.  Let’s just say I don’t wear lingerie to bed.

I think it might help to have a fraternity party where we could grind away in a basement like we did when LUST took over every night.  We could then forget that we are parents to 3 kids 3 and under but that’s kind of weird to have a mom of 3 in a beer drenched basement doing that so this scenario is probably out.  And more things would shake than just my tush.  And I don’t know any frat guys anymore anyway.

Now I am a little depressed about the lackluster state of things around here so I am just going to get out my pencil (no pen – you never know with kids!) and schedule me some lovin’.  You can’t always get what you want…you get what you need!

P.S. sometimes what I need is just sleep. 

Like this post? Don’t want to miss a Mommy Words Moment? Then subscribe via RSS or by email to get all the latest from this Mom’s mouth! You can also use the social buttons below to add this post to your favorite sites or send it to your friends. Please spread the MOMMY WORDS!

Sleeping with Princesses and Cars

Like this post? Don’t want to miss a Mommy Words Moment? Then subscribe via RSS or by email to get all the latest from this Mom’s mouth! You can also use the social buttons below to add this post to your favorite sites or send it to your friends. Please spread the MOMMY WORDS!

Miles Lost His Naptime Battle

Without a normal bedtime, a meltdown will follow.  The parent who is with the children in the days following a bedtime fall out know what I am talking about.  Your kids might be cute at night telling you that they are not tired, but it will not be cute when they are actually full out exhausted in the days that follow.  Last week Miles decided he was not tired.  He figured out that Mommy and Daddy were still awake long after his 8 p.m. bedtime.  He, unlike Sophia, had the nerve to come downstairs. 

I know – totally uncool dude – this is the time I pretend I am childless and free.  You just totally killed my vibe.

So my thoughts:  Um…hello…toddler boy…mommy just spent the whole day entertaining you now it is my turn to relax so get your tush in bed.  I asked my husband to deal with Miles and get him back to bed.   Well excuse me – turns out it is March Madness and there is some daddy toddler bonding to be had a 9 pm on the couch watching basketball.  I tweeted my frustration.

I warned him this would cause problems.  I told him 23 month olds could not be expected to chill out on the couch until 10 o’clock and function the next day.  I knew this spelled trouble.  but I did peek in and Miles looked ecstatic.  My heart melted listening to him jabber on in unintelligible words about basketball.  Finally he fell asleep and Ross took him to bed.

The next few days Miles thought he never had to go to bed.  He even refused naps.  He just kept saying he was not tired.  He walked the hallways at night.  He thought he was all that.  But he became VERY crabby and mean.  And I was quickly becoming a very crabby and mean mommy as he became unable to handle his exhaustion.

Finally, on Saturday, Miles fell asleep.  On the kitchen table.  After screaming for apples. 

Toddlers Can Sleep Anywhere. I mean look at his ear!

I took a picture and glared at my husband for allowing this insanity.

He took a 3 hour nap in his bed and then went to bed at his normal bedtime.

When he came into our room Sunday morning he was all smiles.  Sunday afternoon he took a nap.  And went to bed with no fuss.

Thank God – Mommy needs Miles to nap as much as he does.  I need my little man to stay my little man as long as possible. 

Because you know – I already have a big man.  He’s called a husband and he watches March Madness – so named because it drives me totally flippin’ mad.  This same man thought a 2 year old could handle the madness.  I’m back to being the boss of bedtime.

*Sigh*  It’s a tough job but somebody has to do it!

My Little Man in his Big Bed

I finished building Miles his big boy bed the night before Violet was born, 8 weeks ago tonight.  He did not sleep in it right away.  We sang songs  in his bed.  We told stories.  We read books.  Sophia and Miles laid on the bed and talked.  They had picnics.  It was more like a fort than a bed.  Miles tried sleeping in his bed once after we came home from the hospital.  That night, he came into our room at 3 a.m. and asked for his crib.  With a days old Violet in my arms, we decided he could sleep in his pack ‘n’ play for awhile – just until he was ready – and we had a little more sleep!

Every day, we would talk about his bed and he would say he loved it.  Then he would put his puppy or his Dora in it to sleep and ask for his crib.  We spent more and more time playing in his bed and Sophia must have spent hours telling him cool big boy beds were.  I told him that I built the bed just for him.  He gave me a hug and said thank you, but he never slept in it.

Then, over the weekend, he laid down on his bed after reading books with his lovey and said goodnight.  I asked him if he wanted to sleep in his bed and he said yes.  And he meant it. 

Violet woke up 3 times that night.  Sophia woke up 2 times and ended up in my bed.  Miles did not wake up until breakfast.  He slept like a baby, my big boy, for the whole night.  I was so proud.  So was he.  He ran into our room in morning to tell us and we could see how happy he was.  It was a prefect family moment.  Sophia told him he was almost a man.  Ha!  Another milestone!

And now we return to our previously scheduled program – POTTY TRAINING!

If you are interested, here is a picture of  the very safe and easy to get into bed I built for Miles and here is the post on how you can build one too!  It’s cheap and easy and so chic!  And you can build it in any size!

Miles' Big Boy Bed

Like this post? Don’t want to miss a Mommy Words Moment? Then subscribe via RSS or by email to get all the latest from this Mom’s mouth! You can also use the social buttons below to add this post to your favorite sites or send it to your friends. Please spread the MOMMY WORDS!

My new baby Violet loves her new rocker!

Happy Baby

I am adding this rocker to things you should have when you come home with baby.  You can see my post of things I used in baby’s first 2 weeks here.  I am not a full co-sleeper or a full attachment parent, but I like to have my babies near me every moment.  I think it provides the littlest people with a sense of security and trust when they open their eyes and see a caretaker.  This little sleeper works perfectly for my schedule and parenting style as it is higher up than most bouncers and lets her sit right by me when she is relaxing or taking a little cat nap and gives me a little babywearing break.  I can easily rock it with my leg and it also slides easily across the floor when you tip it up so you can move baby from room to room without lifting the piece off the floor or waking baby.

While we do not use this sleeper at night, it meets industry standards for a bassinet and can be used for baby to sleep in at night in lieu of a co-sleeper or bassinet.  It elevates baby’s head which gives baby a better view and makes sleeping babies more comfortable.  Many babies sleep better with thier heads elevated.  This position can help both with breathing and with stomach issues such as reflux.

Where We Use the Rocker

The rocker’s height is great for being next to me while typing or eating lunch, but it is not really high enough to go near my bed.  Violet would be much lower than my mattress height, so I prefer the co-sleeper as I can make it level with my bed.  However,  I think this is a great option if your bed is lower, you are not co-sleeping or you need the elevation.   Still, we use this everywhere but by the bed!

Newborn Rock 'n Play Sleeper

As a travel bed for little ones, this rocker was awesome and can hold babies up to 25 pounds!  It weighs almost nothing and folds up to almost nothing in a flash!  We took it to Charleston for an overnight and it easily slipped in the back of the car next to our suitcase and easily fit in between the bed and the wall in the room.  It took about 5 seconds to fold it up versus 5 minutes (or more if you hit a snag) with a pack ‘n play.  In your home it could just as easily slip under a bed or in a closet for storage.  This is a huge plus! 

Fits in Tight Spaces

We also take this to restaurants and love having Violet out of her car seat and in her own place next to us.  You can easily carry it with one hand and it is so convenient and so much safer and more comfortable for babies.  It fits easily next to the table and lets mom enjoy her meal!

Basically we use this rocker all over in the house and out of the house because it works so well for our little one.  I would say we use this more than the swing or the bouncer because it puts baby Violet so close to us and provides such a calming and safe place for her.

Great Things About the Rocker 

The rocker took all of 5 minutes to put together.  This includes taking the tape of the shipping box.  It was that simple.  There were no screws or strange small parts to figure out. 

Miracle of all baby gear miracles, the cover easily attaches to the frame and stays attached and just as easily comes off for washing.  Finally! 

The rocker is lightweight, compact and extremely easy to move around or store.  You can (and we do) take it anywhere!

This sleeper is a jack of all trades.  Baby can sleeep, baby can relax, baby can play! 

There is a cute little toy bunny and a pocket on the outside for baby stuff.  I keep a burp cloth, some wipes and a paci in there with the bunny!

The high sides are fabulous for newborns.  I have a Fisher Price bouncer upstairs that we have had for 5 years and used for all of our kids and passed around to other babies and everyone loves it.  They no longer make it and I was really trying to find one for downstairs.  It too has wonderful high sides for extra support and a feeling of safety for babies.  They just came out of the womb and many babies prefer to be in tighter spaces.  This is why we swaddle them!  In the picture below you can see violet in the standard style of bouncer these days and you can see that she is falling a little to the side.  You can also see how the product comes and the size versus the bouncer.  We weren’t using the bouncer much because she seemed uncomfortable at her young age.

Bouncer Lacks Support

In the rocker she does not fall to the side at all and while she has freedom to move, her neck and torso are fully supported.

Violet Chillin' Out in Rocker

The design is simple and does not require batteries.  I will admit sometimes I miss the good old vibration feature but after much thought and observation of my 3 and 1 year olds I have decided it is wonderful to have something that does not fascinate them.  Sophia and Miles can help to gently rock her, but there is no music or toys on it to make them go crazy!  You can see Miles “helping” violet above.

Things I Would Like to See

The legs attach to the rocking frame with the standard pins and I would love if the height was adjustable.  Just a couple of inches would provide a lot of versatility for moms who wanted to sleep next to their babies.  An extra couple of inches would make a big difference.

The color and design is gender neutral and very cute, but I always like when a product is available in a “natural” color.  Creams and beiges and browns are also gender neutral but feel more modern and more easily blend in with home decor.

I would love a toy bar that could attach to the sides when Violet gets a little older.  This would give her a little entertainment while not leaving her on the floor when my kids and dog are running around!

Overall Opinion

I love this rocker from Fisher Price.  It was exactly what I was looking for to keep Violet near but give me some hands free time.  I have used in more places and situations already than any other piece of baby gear, and that is saying a lot.

You can purchase the Newborn Newborn Rock ’n Play Sleeper for approximately $50 from many baby stores and online retailers. 

I would highly recommend this product.  The Fisher Price Rock ‘n Play Sleeper gets a big Mommy Words Woo Hoo!

Disclaimer:  Thank you to Fisher Price and MomSelect for providing me with this product free of charge in exchange for my honest review.  The opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Like this post? Don’t want to miss a Mommy Words Moment? Then subscribe via RSS or by email to get all the latest from this Mom’s mouth! You can also use the social buttons below to add this post to your favorite sites or send it to your friends. Please spread the MOMMY WORDS!