I’ve got nothing, friends. There’s not a thing to complain about. My sarcasm has run dry. The baby is sleeping like a champ, and while my body isn’t quite in sync with sleeping through the night, I am getting more sleep than I’ve had in eight months. It’s undeniable—I am ridiculously happy. My only regret is that my peaceful, easy feeling may not make for great blog fodder.
I worked the sleep training like nobody’s business this week. Once I decided to go for it, a switch inside of me flipped. Suddenly, I could handle the crying. I felt confident that painful nights would make way for pleasant ones, and I was right. By the end of the week, Linus was putting himself to sleep in less than five minutes.
It’s not that the baby was ready for this. Hell, I wasn’t ready for this, either. I guess if I learned one thing this week it’s this: Sometimes, you have to do something that makes you feel like shit to get to the good stuff. Sometimes, you need to go for it, even when you don’t think you’re ready.
As I packed up the bassinet this weekend, I felt like my heart might burst. Our little guy has left my side of the bed to share a room with his big sister, and while I know it’s a positive step, I miss him. But he’s been sleeping through the night, and this morning, he woke up giggling in his crib. You can’t beat that.
Meanwhile, our dear girl Linnea is my hero. She has welcomed her new roommate with open arms and slept through hours of crying this week. Plus, she continues to amuse me on an hourly basis. During our family Super Bowl party tonight, I asked if she wanted to dance with me during Madonna’s halftime performance. She stood up on the sofa wielding a bowl of potato chips and shouted, “No! I don’t want to dance. Let’s throw chips at someone instead!”
Okay, so Josh and I have plenty of parenting challenges ahead of us.
I have had it in my mind to do a “happy” post as well lately; I swear we are living parallel lives right now. Glad the sleeping is going well.
I love your line “sometimes you have to feel like shit to get to the good stuff. This is basically what I say to a good number of patients when we are starting therapy and the more I do this work the more true I think that statement is.
Oh, that line totally works for therapy (at least in my experience). It must be super interesting to help guide people through that experience!
Aww! I love this!! I am so happy you are happy and things are smooth sailing right now. It’s those moments that I realize I just need to cherish it and embrace it, as sometimes it can be a fleeting feeling. What a big boy you have, he’s growing up, isn’t he?!
Totally. I just sometimes forget to document these moments of smooth sailing.
A famous man used to say too often, It’s supposed to be hard, otherwise, everyone would do it.
Unfortunately, not enough people get that and too many jump into all sorts of things without realizing they will be difficult.
I tend to mix up all sorts of metaphors, and during the first mega-stressful period of my work life I could not think about how to explain this phenomenon. I finally settled on something like, It felt like pressure, pressure, pressure, like being squeezed through the eye of a needle. The feeling of expansion and happiness when you burst through is just the best thing
So are you saying that you’re a famous man? Or, to use another favorite saying, a legend in your own mind?
But seriously…yes. Of course you and I both thrive on the pressure part, too, but enough is enough after a while!
Isn’t it wonderful when they start sleeping? And you definitely cannot complain about this winter! Well, unless you like ice fishing and cross country skiing… which I don’t.
It’s true. This winter has been crazy. I had such a nice walk today, and the kids even got to go out in the stroller. Pretty nice!
Nuts, that didn’t work. I was trying to post a fist bump emoji. Way to go baby Linus! I hope you are sleeping the sleep of the righteous, Emma.
“The sleep of the righteous.” LOVE this! Thanks, friend.
I’m happy for you! Our girls share a room too now and it was a painful transition, but well worth the end result. Sweet dreams
Thanks, Rose! I’m glad to hear that the end result has been good. I think the kids will have fun sharing in the long run!