Wednesday, July 01, 2009

a dilemma and some eye candy as a reward

So my child is a little bit making me crazy. His sleeping schedule has been kind of off ever since he was sick. For the two-and-a-half weeks that he was actually sick, he slept fine. But once he went on the antibiotics things started to go downhill. I guess the medicine leaves a really yucky metallic taste in your mouth. I didn't know this at first, but once I found out I realized that that must be why Baby G seemed so ravenous-- he constantly wanted food in his mouth to try and get rid of the lingering taste of metal. At night when we put him in bed he would cry and beg for pink cookies and popsicles. When that didn't work his wish was for a new glass of water. And then another one. And another one. We catered to these needs because we knew the reason for them. However, since he has been off the medicine (over 2 weeks), the bedtime routine has been the same. It is one thing after another to delay him being left in his room alone. It is making me crazy because he had seriously been the easiest kid to put to sleep before-- he would ask for his bed, even tell us to leave the room and go shower (don't know why he said that), and then quickly and quietly fall asleep. Where did that easy sleeper go, and will he ever come back? Tonight we started bedtime at 8:15, but after the yells of "another water in the PINK cup, Mommy!" and "My feet are hurting, Daddy!" and "I want to hug you, Mommy! Give you doggy kisses, Mommy!" it was at least 9:30 before he was actually asleep. We have been going into his room to remind him it is bedtime every so often (and make sure when he claims his feet are hurting that they aren't stuck between the bars or something), but now I am thinking that is counterproductive. Just please don't tell me I am back to the beginning of letting him cry it out. We are thinking that if we can just get him back on a schedule of getting enough sleep at naps and at night (the last two weeks have been kind of all over the place--summer is tricky), maybe he will fall back into the routine. Any of you have any experience here? The frustrating thing is that we are going out of town for a week on Saturday so it seems like all our scheduling efforts will be in vain anyway. But I really am not loving this yelling from his bedroom for an hour. Any suggestions would be very welcome. :)

I'll leave you with a few photos of this naughty little sleeper. We go running on the Jordan River Parkway by our house every morning and it is lovely. I was admiring the light there one day and decided to come back that night with my camera and see if I could get any good shots. Here are some of the better ones (and NO, I certainly am not aiming to be an actual talented photographer here-- just a mom who likes to take pictures of her child).







10 comments:

Amy said...

I love the pics, Liz! Gorgeous!

I feel your pain with the sleeping. Ruby has been sick and now that she is getting better, I feel like we are at the beginning too. I went back to the beginning with doing checks, etc--and I can see that she is getting back to normal. Good luck with everything, especially going on vacation--just remember that his sleeping routine WILL come back..this is just temporary!

Ani said...

Liz, you are getting so good! I am inlove with those photos!

Unknown said...

My friend said what will really work with baby G's hour long incessant calling is 10 good spanks. I can't tell you who she is, but her name rhymes with BAM!

Mom

By the way, I love you pix!

Mama Janet said...

I love the picture of him in the wheat with a hand up...
Yes, after the attention getting from a sickness it's like starting again to get them off their thing.

The Edwards Family said...

Ooo...that's a tough one. We've experienced ups and downs with sleeping habits, but not like what you're describing. Although there are days that Emery will just play and talk in her crib for an hour or more and never really take a nap. I just leave her in there for at least an hour and then if she's still not sleeping and seems antsy to get out I'll go in there and get her up. At least it gives me an hour to myself though. If he's mad though that's a different story. She's not ever really mad, she just talks away to her stuffed animals. Sorry I'm not much help! Hopefully he'll get back into his routine soon! Good luck!!!

em&m said...

I almost can't stand how beautiful your pictures are. You do a great job! And G is of course the darlingest.

Lemme said...

he is the most beautiful child ever...i love him

the mama monster said...

liz those pictures are so great! i love them! baby g ( or should i say big boy g?) is getting so big and little manish. i love your birthday reflection post. you are such a good mom and person liz, i admire you!
love jackie

Brooke and Eric said...

That first picture is absolutly beautiful!!! You're very talented

Katrina said...

great photos!!! eye candy, indeed.