Sweet Sleeping Baby

It's been a crazy few months with Sarah's sleeping schedule. It is a constant struggle. She is in a very unique position in that she has an hour in the car coming and going from school. Therefore, she takes her nap after lunch and then also has another hour long nap in the car on the way home. So do you think she is sleepy at an appropriate time? Well, of course not!

Also, Sarah had been sleeping with us in our bed for about a month. We finally realized that she quit sleeping in her bed when we took the bumpers off of her bed. Well, we put them back on the bed and now she's decided to sleep in her bed again! Yea!! That means no more kicks to the head in the middle of a sound sleep.

Add to the sleeping craziness with a recent bout of croup (that resulted in an ER visit) and now teething is waking her up at night and I'm worn out! This post that I found describes our sleep "routine" with Sarah perfectly! The perfect post after trying to get Sarah to go to sleep around 7:30, her actually going to sleep at 9:00, waking up at 1:20, finally back asleep (thanks, tylenol) at 2:45, and mommy being forced to get up at 5:30. Have a great day. Don't expect me to work today ... I'll be under my desk taking a nap if you need something important!

(the following was originally posted at Buried with Children)

Finally after what seems like hours and hours of cuddling, singing and rocking the baby is asleep. He looks so peaceful, all silent and sleeping in my arms.

Is it time? Has he been sleeping long enough? Can the transfer from arms to crib take place?

This is the most terrifying part of the whole ordeal. Getting sleeping baby from my arms to the crib, all well keeping the peacefully sleeping baby asleep.It can go so well or it can go so terribly wrong if not done at the exact right time.

It would be a crime to wake him up.

He was to tired, well actually over tired hence the need for rocking in the first place. He was not going to succumb to sleep on his own come hell or high water.

But after some time all cuddly and warm with Mommy, rocking until she felt nauseous, sleep came.

Sweet beautiful sleep.

Now its time to get him in the crib so Mommy can have some much needed Mommy time. There was no blogging this morning and Mommy has not checked her email in at least an hour.

Time to sleep soundly in your crib, little man.

Slowly, every so slowly, one butt cheek at a time, slide to the edge of the chair.

Wait he moved.

Stop! Sit... very... still.

Silence. False alarm, it was just a sigh. Continue.

From the edge of the chair, we must stand. It is going to have to be quick. One fluid movement that won't cause the chair to squeak too much. Damn, squeaky chair.Where is the WD40 when you need it?

No time for that now, ready... one, two, three..... stand!

Perfect, still fast asleep. He did not even move a muscle.

Ever so steadily walk across the room to the crib, not too fast, not to slow, just the perfect pace. So close, almost home free.

Lean over....Wait!

Good God he is moving, stirring, eyes opening.

Sway!

Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

Shhhhh, little one back to sleep. That's a good boy.

Whew, that was close. His breathing has settled. He seems to be wrapped in the peacefulness of deep sleep once again.

All that is left, is to lean over, lay him down and run.

Pull him away from my body and quickly and gently, place him down as I pull my arms out from underneath him.

Then go, RUN, out of the room.

He will stir but if I am not seen, sleep will return.

There it is done!

He is asleep in his crib. Yippee!!!!

Now its time..... what the.....!

CRYING.

*sigh*

Back to the rocking chair.