I know some of you are going to think I’m crazy for saying this, but I’m going to say it anyway. Beau and I were actually just getting to bed at 12:29 a.m., when I heard a little voice whispering in the bathroom upstairs where Beau was. It was La Petite Belle! She was on the potty just chatting with Daddy as he was cleaning out the Roxy Belle’s kennel because she had vomited in it (whole other story … she is the most vomittingest (no, it’s not a word, but I like it) dog I know).
I love the little sleepy-eyed, puffy faces of my children when they have woken up in the middle of the night. They don’t wake up very often, unless they have had a bad dream or don’t feel good. So, I asked La Petite Belle if she wanted to come and sleep in the big bed with Mommy and Daddy. I love this!
When she was a toddler, I used to take naps with her every day and she was the best cuddler. She would not …. I mean, refuse to take a nap unless I laid down with her. And I was happy to do so. But after, she would fall asleep, I would ever so gently lower my legs off the side of the bed, carefully watching to see if she made any movements. If none were seen, I could then slide my back off the bed and my body down to the floor. I would breathe a sigh of relief and sneak out the door so that I could get housework done. This whole ordeal was somewhat of a chore for me, although I liked the initial rest, I knew there was stuff that needed to be done in the house.
Now, that she’s seven, I beg her to cuddle with me. I wish to have those times back. So, all you mothers who have little ones like mine that wouldn’t hear of taking a nap alone …. please for my sake, lay down with that baby. Go against the baby books. Be a rebel! With my first child, I lived “Babywise,” and other child-rearing books and was strict about scheduling and never, ever allowing her to sleep in my bed … always in her bed, despite the crying. Do you know to this day that my first child is more insecure about being alone in her bed than my second child, who didn’t sleep with me at night, but during naptime. Now if La Petite Belle were to fall asleep on my breast while nursing, I would not get up and put her back in her bed (A BIG NO-NO!). I guess I was just more tired with the second one. K Belle always slept in her crib in her bedroom. I just wonder if there is a correlation between their sleeping arrangements as babies and toddlers and the way they sleep today. Any opinions?
(This is the youngest pic I have of my kiddos on the computer. I’ll have to try to scan some baby pics of them so that I can show you all how adorable they were … and are.)
I’m kind of rambling on, but at 12:29 a.m. … PERFECT!! Actually Beau and I were arguing over whose arm she got to sleep on, which she totally loved, but said, “Hey guys, please don’t fight over me. I’m too tired.” So, I cuddled with her. It was wonderful until 1:35 a.m. when I realized I was still awake and she was smothering me. At that point, I kept pushing her closer to Beau, but to no avail, she would manage to make her way back to my side. I’m beginning to sweat now. She is making me HOT! Scoot over, child! I’m not sure if I slept much at all.
In conclusion, 12:29 a.m. = PERFECTION, but 1:35 a.m. until 6:00 a.m. = MISERY! By the way, after already deciding last night that K Belle would not go to school (told you I’d make the right choice), she shows up in my bedroom at 6:00 a.m. already dressed and ready for school, begging me to let her go. I didn’t. She’s here, but no fever as of yet today. Please tell me this child should have stayed home today and I didn’t make her miss school for nothing!
Love, Love, Love this story!
I love my babies snuggled up next to me…sleeping, watching TV, reading a book, etc. I never really followed any of those parenting books when my kids were babies. (I probably should have followed some of those rules.)
I am lucky enough to still have a toddler running around so she’ll snuggle with me in a heart beat. The older kids, not so much. But believe me—I take ALL I CAN GET!
You did the right thing!! 🙂 Also, I LOVED this post. All of it. So great. I remember the sliding out of the bed too to go and do housework. You worded that perfectly. I could SEE you doing it! 🙂
And something about this post makes me feel better about putting Xan in our bed at 4 in the morning after I’ve been up with him 3 times and he’s sick and not sleeping unless he’s between us…
Babywise Shmabywise
What a sweet story! I feel the same way you do! If my kids would let me take naps with them, I toootally would! They are only little once and you have to soak in all those special moments while they’re still here! But, like you…I need to get those little heat boxes in the middle off the momma or else I would die of heat exposure!
We have been sleeping with children for 9 years. We have a 2 year old and a 1 year old in the bed with us now. I’m kinda tired but I hope I can look back and say the things you said. That is really sweet.
This made me feel soooo good to hear!
Little Sister is still in our bed. She naps in there because I nurse her to sleep (hey, it works so fast!) Big Sister slept in our room until she was 6 months, then I put her in her crib, but she’d wake up six hours into the night and I’d bring her back to bed with us. I’m lazy, so whatever helps me sleep more, I’ll do.
She now sleeps in her big girl bed all night every night and is oh so happy to do so.
Little Sister has slept a total of two and half hours in her crib. And I would LOVE to get her there because the hubby and I would like some alone time. But anyways, It’s nice to have the support of other mommies who love to snuggle their kiddos.
I love snuggling with my kids at night too. Daddy not so much because they have a tendency to kick him (only him, for some reason – they don’t kick me).
We struggle with the whole 24 hour fever-free thing too. I usually judge by how sick they’re acting in general, how many sick days I have available, and how bad the fever was. I do have to say that I’ve given Motrin and sent them to school on occasion, but if they really are sick, then we keep them home.