sleep

This is a warning to all babies out there. Please pay attention:

Sleep books are dangerous to your health,
especially when your parents read them and try to get
you to do what is in them.

I say this because, unfortunately, I've had first hand experience being traumatized by one myself. It all started after we visited that same doctor who suggested that my parents stick mushy stuff in my mouth. He told my mom that I shouldn't be nursing at night. He told her she would get in the habit of waking up at night too if she were served a Dagwood sandwich each night. And thus, it all began. My mother began graphing my eating, sleeping and crying habits to look for patterns to see where and how she could get me to sleep through the night and she began reading that book. She even called it her bible for awhile.

Well, I have put up a good fight. I wailed vehemently whenever I woke up and food wasn't on the menu, thus I got some. My mom kept telling my dad that she didn't think I was hungry and that I had just gotten used to eating every few hours, day or night. So, this past Saturday night they put that theory to the test. My mom told my dad to take care of me at night if (ha! when!) I woke up, but she wasn't going to because she would just end up feeding me. That night was a long one! They gave in at about 3 am and my mom rushed in to feed me so we could all get some sleep.

I thought that would have put an end to all these theories and graphs and analyzing. I am just a baby, I eat sometimes, I sleep sometimes. Come on! But it hasn't. I have been sleeping much longer stretches at night since they made me cry soo much on Saturday but I still don't like to go down for a nap on my own. My mom always wraps me up, puts on my light and music show (I've learned this is called a mobile) and then says she loves me and she will be back after I get some rest. I can't get rest anymore without seeing her lovely face. So, I cry and cry and cry. And she comes back and I stop. She says again that it is nap time, rubs my forehead a little and leaves. And I cry and cry and cry. And she comes back, I stop, she says...I think you get the picture.

Well, today guess what??? She didn't come back! I cried for almost half an hour and got no mommy! So finally I gave up and took my nap. Mom, I think I am ready for a lovey, since it looks like you figured out my crying game.

**This post was too graphic for any pictures.**