Aching

As I sit here and type this my body is aching from the lack of sleep. Maximilien is on a sleep strike. And last night he pulled his grandest coup ever, awake at midnight then 2am, 3am, 4am gave us a break at 5am and then up and ready to go at 6am.  It's 7:30am right now. He's been laying in his bed awake for nearly an hour now.

What is the deal?! 

He was sleeping 10-12 hours straight a night up until about two weeks ago.  Has our luck run out?  I can not wait until he can talk to tell me what is going on in his little world? Maybe it's the teeth but they are out. I obsessively check his mouth now to see if there are others making their way down but no dice just those two little ones on the bottom. Those two little dents de laits  that have changed things so drastically lately.

I thought I was done being that crazy sleep deprived zombie mama.

Just now, I stop to listen and I hear silence coming from Max's room. I rushed to check to make sure all was alright (I still do it, I don't think mama ever stop doing this, right?). The little booger finally fell asleep. Spread eagle, head wedged in the corner of his crib.

Sleep, baby. Sleep...

Comments

[Riana]

We need a baby whisperer! Amaya did that twice this last week. (are they smsing each other?) I had a headache all day from lack of sleep. It must be something to do with the teeth. I just nap when she naps. Its the only way I survive at all.

[Aimee]

Ah, Riana... you don't know how good it feels to read your message just now. I'm not alone... Amaya and Max have to have been up late SMSing each other. Staying up late already.... maybe we need to get those two together and let them play it out while we sleep.

Yep, I'm back to napping when he naps. The house is a wreak and I need a shower. Still haven't unpacked from our trip yet...

[Irene]

Aimee, Sean and Will did the same thing, you needn't worry at all.

I thought that as soon as they would be sleeping through the night I would be saved from hell forever, but I learned the hard way that it doesn't work like that. when they were little, sometimes they would fall asleep right after I put them in bed, sometimes I would have to stay in their room holding their hands, I remember when they were about 9 months old or so they would scream as soon as I would put them in bed, then everything would be fine for a couple of months, then they would have nightmares, teething, a little cold, a bad day, etc.

I've learned that I absolutely cannot control nor anticipate what kind of day I'm going to have with my sons, and it was so so hard because you know I'm a control freak. but I promise you it's getting easier as you get to know your baby and yourself better. you're doing a great, great job Aimee, you're a wonderful mom. and yes, nap when he naps.

[Jennifer]

I'm with Irene 100%. Always expect the unexpected. Once you've internalised that and accepted it, things start coming up roses...

My daughter woke us up every night until she was 18 months old. I thought I would go absolutely raving mad and I could have throttled her [happily] when she once wailed and wailed at 3 am only to say "Ca va, maman?" when i finally went to her.

Max of course is not a devious little girl... but he is probably uncomfortable because of his teeth (some teeth take absolute ages to come in)... Nap when he does. But agree... that ache from lack of sleep is so awful...

[Jiwon]

I think it's some five month syndrome! Avery suddenly did the same thing at that age, and I've spoken to other moms in the neighborhood who went through the same ordeal right around that age. It's like something clicks in their brain at that time and they decide they just don't want to sleep anymore. You can never get it all figured out, Avery still goes through new phases all the time with her sleep, every couple weeks she'll change something on us just to throw us off.

Anyways, I totally feel your lack of sleep pain. Pregnancy insomnia has been keeping me awake for the last 2 hours, despite being dead tired. And I think I feel a surge of nesting coming on too, I'm itching to start preparation for the new baby.

[antipodeesse]

When I get home tonight I'll scan and send you a magazine article about why babies' sleep patterns are so varied and unpredictable... It'll be a small consolation!

[andie]

Gab totally did this around the age of 6 months. I remember waking up numerous times per night. Then, he got back on schedule. Then, a few months later he would do it again. He had a paci so I just gave him that and then after consoling him for 5 minutes let him cry it out to learn to soothe himself back to sleep.

We've been really lucky with Louise in that she's always been a great sleeper. Sometimes, like last night, she'll wake up crying but she's getting some molars in, so that's gotta hurt.

Do you have a sleep machine or a doudou- have you tried giving him one of your shirts that you've worn? That really worked for Louise.

[Penny]

Yes, they really do go nuts about that age. My first, Lily, slept through from 9 weeks to 4 1/2 months and then not again till 22 months when I finally nightweaned her. My second, Jasper, has never really slept longer than about 5 or 6 hours and many nights still wakes after 3 hours but at least he never suckered me in like Lily. Hope you can get some rest soon :)

[Mary Anne]

yep...we did that last week....and through this week until last night...finally, a night of sleep.
Could he be growing...a growth spurt will do it...or I notice Katy does it when we really throw the schedule out the window...anywho...they all do it...last night, it was Jack...uhg...

Mary Anne

[gleek]

you're not alone on this one! oh god, it's been weeks of sleep hell here. the peanut is constantly waking at night no matter what we do. i suspect it's teeth but she has yet to show any. i just took a 45 minute nap and i still feel utterly exhausted and the house is a mess :) i wish it was all a little more consistent but i guess that's wishing for a miracle!

[Leigh]

My girl went through this stage too and I'm most certain it was her teeth. Hylands teething tablets, nursings, and a close late-night rocking were the only things I could do to get her back down. And I'm going to be dealing with this again? AHHHH!!
xoxo

[shakesrear]

I don't think it's so much the teeth as the new mobility. Daphne has been doing this too, sometimes really ready to party at 2am. She rolls and rolls around in our bed all night long. Don't worry, at every stage in development, there are sleep issues to conquer. I don't think you can ever relax and say that it's all sorted.

[Carla]

Hi Aimee,
I came across your blog awhile back and check in sometimes so see little Max; I have a 9 month old son. I know what you're going through! You are not alone. Sleep deprivation is hard, very hard. I wanted to tell you about a blog I read that is very helpful will all things baby, it is called moxie.blogs.com/askmoxie. If you've never been to her blog, I highly recommend it. Her's is a very non-judgemental place to go for help, advice and general commiseration about how hard it is sometimes to be a mommy sometimes, as well as the joys of being a mommy. She has the best commenters. She has a whole category on babies/children and sleep, it is a big help to read what her and others have to say about it.
Also she has a lot about breastfeeding, which I know you are doing with Max.
Sorry if this is unasked for, but I really like her site and think you will, too.
I like your blog, your writings about Max are beautiful, as well as the photos.
All the best to you!

[SusieJ]

Yes, this happens, and so soon, it will be over again. I think they get really hungry at this stage, and who knows what else.