I am still awake.

Pros and Cons of Co-Sleeping

While I had a really hard time co-sleeping with Shnook, I've been able to handle it a little better with Fuzz. That doesn't mean I don't have challenges, however. Check out my pros and cons of co-sleeping on Babble.

 

Top 7 Baby Sleep Myths

After having read so many books about baby sleep with Shnook, I've been much more relaxed about Fuzzball's sleep, despite the fact that he is also not necessarily a champion in this department (yet).

I posted on an article on Babble about the top 7 baby sleep myths-makes me want to give Weissbluth the finger, but I'm a little (just a little) too polite for that.

http://blogs.babble.com/babys-first-year-blog/2011/04/21/top-7-baby-sleep-myths/

There is a picture I have.

Back when Fuzz was a couple of weeks old, I opened my eyes in the middle of the night to see TSA propped up on some pillows next to me. He was asleep with his glasses on. One arm was wrapped around a sleeping Fuzzball on his chest, and the other was entwined in the Shnook, who was fast asleep face first in TSA's armpit. Shnook's arm was clutching TSA's belly and the rest of his body was just thrown where it landed. It was kind of like he was a bug that hit a windshield, but instead of a windshield it was his Daddy's body.

I smiled and thought about snapping this picture with my phone, putting it on facebook with a caption that read: “I need my own bed!” Alas, my phone was not in arm's reach. So, I closed my eyes and let it go. I still think about this moment all the time. Picturing the three most precious people in my life all smooshed up next to me, peacefully sleeping makes me soar with joy and love.

We've never been big Valentine's Day celebrators in this house even before kids. I remember when I was pregnant with Shnook and TSA went on a ski trip with his friend on Valentine's Day. I was really pissed, even though we never celebrated it-- probably the pregnancy hormones played a small part in that. But V-Day has passed us by throughout the years without any guilt or sadness- I wish I could've told that to my single self in my twenties—that it just won't matter.

However, this year I might have to contain myself because of the love I feel for these people. I'm pretty sure I can avoid buying them flowers and chocolate, but I might just have to make each one of them a hand made card from construction paper just because I'm bursting with love. I know the meaning will escape Fuzzball this year, but I'm ok with that.

I could make them a card every day, but today seems like the right day, don't you think?

Will you celebrate February 14^th this year?

 

The new beginning: The adventures of Fuzzball and Shnook.

Fuzzball is the temporary nickname of our newborn, also a boy.

Summary of week's activities: Fuzzball, TSA and I are discharged from hospital after planned C-section. Mom is feeling pain, but not that sleep deprived thanks to my new 2^nd child attitude: “It won't kill him if...” For example: It won't kill him if he goes to the nursery for 3 hours. It won't kill him if he has 1oz of formula since I've already breastfed him 11 times today.* It won't kill him if he has a pacifier and I'll just work extra hard to correct his nipple confusion tomorrow. This attitude has allowed me to get probably DOUBLE the amount of sleep I got when I was in the hospital with Shnook. So other than the fact that my gut was split, the resulting pain and thus resulting drug hangover, I'm feeling pretty good.

The Tuddles have become a Dictatorship.

I find myself once again at my mom's place while TSA is back in LA taking care of some work and house business. The Shnook now manages to take an astonishingly long time stalling while going to sleep which is making me worry again about his lack of sleep and consequently, his mental health...and mine.

All the pre-bedtime 'tuddles' and 'hold mommy's hand' may be cute and such, but kid really needs to just go to sleep. My mother observed the routine the first night I was here and said: “That is total bullshit.”