Just wanted to give a little Duncan update...in my last post about my littlest man we were starting his rice cereal, and hoping that was going to help him get some more rest at night (and perhaps give mommy a little bit, too). Well...since then it's been up and down. After we started him on the cereal we went a few nights without a "nighttime" feeding (meaning he didn't eat between the hours of 9pm or 6am). That being said, it definitely didn't mean we weren't up with him - multiple times - between those hours. I think (and it's fuzzy) that he's eaten in the night three times since we've started the cereal...and usually around 3 - 4am and only when he has been absolutely inconsolable. We've had some interesting nighttime events...including last Friday night I went in to soothe him and found him only in his diaper...he went to bed wearing full-body pj's, and though they were new they weren't too big. The pj's were in the crib with him...still fully snapped around the legs. Ben was home that night, and both of us absolutely do not remember undressing baby D...so how he got himself completely out of his j's is a complete mystery. But he was definitely naked. And NOT happy about it, either. I continue to [try] and be positive, and I continue to hope that at some point very soon little D will realize that sleep is pretty darn awesome. He is, after all, eating cereal now three times a day. He can't get enough food. He is seriously one hun-gry child. I just hate to see him so unhappy, at whatever time of day, and wish I knew how to fix it. I know time will help and soon this will all be forgotten...but I'd rather that be sooner than later.
During the day we also have our ups and downs with Dunc. As you can see from the video above, Duncan does not like to be anywhere, really, other than in someone's arms or lap. Quite honestly he bears a severe dislike for any type of device that doesn't involve human contact...the bumbo, the highchair (unless there is a constant stream of cereal into his mouth) and he likes tummy time but not for too long. I guess you could say he just very social?
Anyway the days and nights have been kind of rough around here the past few weeks...Ben has been traveling a lot (trials, other work travel) and work for me has been slammed. I can't complain, as with this economy we are so very fortunate that our jobs are busy. And to say that we're "lucky" to have Ashley does not even begin to properly explain how much she does for me and the boys. But there have been mornings that after getting in the car and heading out I have forgotten exactly to which courthouse I am headed...and I've had to make some illegal u-turns because I have been heading in the absolute wrong direction. I've been in the Starbucks drive-through a couple mornings really needing some coffee and breakfast only to realize my wallet is sitting on the kitchen table. Last week I remembered Duncan's therapy appointment 45 minutes before it was to start (and given the distance, that certainly wasn't enough time to make it happen). Emails go unanswered, both work and personal. Griffin has started to expect dinner to come by mom bringing home a box or a bag or the doorbell ringing. I haven't been able to get regular runs or work-outs in and have felt really lazy in that regard. I even ordered paper towels online because we were out and I didn't have a chance to hit Target (no worries, I am loving Amazon's awesome discounts and free shipping so it was a great deal, but nonetheless I have to say it is a first for me). Basically, I have not felt I have been getting what I need to get done at home or at work, and I have not felt like I am doing either job up to my own standards.
But then I have a night like tonight where, after a very long day of work, some exhausting trick-or treating, a fussy evening from Dunc, and a two-year old on a sugar high, I turn and see this:
And my heart melts. How could it not, when looking at that sleeping angel face?
And then I realize, again, that I get to experience my everyday with two absolutely awesome little incomparable souls...
THIS is life. I get to be their MOM. It will get easier, and though we will still have these patches where things are crazy, this is the
fun stuff and this is where we make all of our memories. And I certainly wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world...not even a full night's sleep. :)
