I need sleep in a serious way...

I'm pretty much losing my mind over here.  


Blakely just won't sleep anymore.  I am totally kicking myself for ever even muttering the words "I have a great sleeper"...UGH!  


This all started when she turned 8 months old (about a month ago).  She also began pulling up and crawling then as well.  I figured it was just a phase but now I think it has become a habit.  


She goes to bed at 9...every.single.night.  She usually goes down great.  But she will wake up multiple times in the middle of the night.  She has always been really good at putting herself back to sleep but not now.  She wakes up hysterically crying...and I mean hysterical.  If it was just a fussy/whiny cry I wouldn't even go in her room.  


When it first started she would go back to sleep on my (or Lonnie's) shoulder pretty quickly and then we would put her back in her crib. Gradually it has gotten worse.  Sometimes she will go right back to sleep and others she screams until I give her the boob.  I try not to feed her in the middle of the night but sometimes I am just desperate for sleep.


When she does wake up in the night she is so so so sleepy.  She is just fighting it hard!  


I am not sure what to do.  I've tried just going in and reassuring her.  I've tried letting her sleep with her lovie.  I've tried feeding her more during the day.  I've tried feeding her less.  I've tried putting her to bed earlier.  I've tried to give her more naps.  I've tried giving her less nap time.


She has been napping much better this past week.  An hour to and hour and a half in the morning and in the afternoon.  That seems to maybe be helping.  And by helping I mean she is waking up 3-4 times a night instead of 6-7.


I just downloaded like 3 books on Lonnie's iP.ad.  I just need some ideas on what is going on and what I can do to help her sleep better.  I've never had to deal with this with her before.  She always put herself to sleep and slept through the night..since she was 8 weeks old.  


I wonder if she could be having like nightmares or something?  Or could it be like a form of separation anxiety?


I don't know if I can let her "cry it out" but I'm getting pretty desperate and so is Lonnie.  He is very helpful in the middle of the night.  But, he has a very demanding, high stress job.  He needs his sleep big time.  I feel terrible when he tries to put her back to sleep and it takes an hour.  Sometimes it only takes 10-15 minutes but not always.   


This is so much harder than the newborn stage....


Sorry for the ramblings...I just needed to vent!  Any suggestions are welcome!  


I'm going to have a glass of wine....yes, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon....

TVT

I feel like I haven't done a Thought Vomit Thursday in a while so HERE YOU ARE :)

• I miss my good sleeper.  Like in a serious way.  This month has been harder than any other month.  At least when she was a newborn I KNEW I would be getting up every 2-3 hours.  Not to mention I was still high from just having had a baby.  Now?  I am desperate for some sleep.  I am a zombie during the day and feel totally worthless...

• Lonnie's brother, his wife, and their two kids are coming to stay for the weekend.  I am super excited to see them but I can't quite get the motivation to clean my house.  Normally when they come I have everything all perfect for them and this time there is dog pee in their closet.  I don't care.  Also, I have no food whatsoever.  But mother in law to the rescue.  She is going to the store tomorrow for me.  Love her like whoa.  We will probably spend the whole weekend in the lake or on the boat.  That sounds amazing.  The last time they were here was when Blakely had salmonella...yuck.  So hopefully this time I will actually get to enjoy their company.  

• My sister in law thinks cloth diapers are completely disgusting and can't believe I am doing it.  She also made comments last time about me still breastfeeding and making Blakely's baby food.  I was totally caught off guard and couldn't believe it.  I am hoping this time to stand up for myself more and explain our choices a little better.  Oh, and I'll totally be doing diaper laundry while she is here :)

• I am so excited for the Olympi.cs.  Like a 12 year old at a Jus.tin Beib.er concert excited.  Four years ago Lonnie and I bought our awesome flat screen tv just because the Olymp.ics were coming on.  He loves them just as much as me.  I got a text just the other day from him that said this.   I AM OFF THE FIRST WEEK OF THE OLYMPI.CS!!!!!!!!!!  Now, if you knew my husband you would understand the excitement.  First of all he never uses all caps and wants to punch people who do.  Secondly, he never duplicates an exclamation mark.  Total excitement up in here.

• Do you watch Big Br.other?  Well, if you do, it starts tonight.  I highly recommend this as the very best in mindless tv entertainment.  Four previous house guests are returning.  PUMPED.  My vote is for Janelle...please oh please be Janelle.  She was awesome.  Or Dr. Wil.l.  I loved him too.  Lonnie always says he won't watch this show with me but he always ends up watching.  He will for sure watch if Dr. Wil.l is on it, he is a little gay for him.    

• I swear I am working on a post about the shaved ice stand that we bought.  I know you're on pins a needles.

• Ok, I gotta go clean up dog pee out of the closet.  Totally unacceptable to leave it there right?  Have I mentioned that I despise my dogs?  Free to a good home....

The 4th + a great weekend

I thought I should share some pics of the holiday with y'all.  We didn't really do anything all that special.  Lonnie and I actually got no sleep the night before so we took turns taking a nap during the day...glory.

That evening we went to a get together at a friends house.  It was great fun but super hot.  Blakely had a great time playing with someone else's toys.  Apparently I need to buy her some maracas....she loved those!  She was a hit with everyone.  She smiled the whole time and just kept us all entertained.  There was supposed to be a fireworks show but we had to cancel that part of the party.  It has been so dry and we are under a burn ban so they banned all use of fireworks.  Boo...

This was actually the day before.  She, of course, had multiple outfits for the occasion so she wore red, white, and blue for days.  

Teeth!

This were on the actual 4th.  I forgot to take any pics at the actual party.  Something about zillions of kids running around trying to play with my child made me forget all about pictures!  

She loves to chew on her shoe!

 YAY!

This is her "I am so over pictures" look...

On Friday, we went to my mother in law's house about an hour away.  She has a fantastic pool and we love to just go hang out there.  She has a room set up just for Blakely...so sweet :)  We played at the pool all Friday afternoon. 

Friday night Bob (MIL) had plans to go to the theater with some friends.  Lonnie, B and I just hung out.

She was a little unsure about the hardwood floors...

Not for long though...

She explored Nana Bob's whole house and pulled up on everything she could find.  We could not take our eyes off of her for one second!

Yes, I know.  Cutest diaper ever...

I wanna go back outside!

On Saturday morning we had really great intentions to go to the F.armers M.arket.  But we didn't.  Lonnie and I didn't feel all that great...maybe a little hungover?  We were also up most of the night because B sleeps terrible.  So we lounged most of the day and Bob watched B while we napped.  

We also did a little napping like this....She is SUCH a snuggle bug these days!

We were supposed to go to my friend's 30th birthday party but we didn't make it.  We still didn't feel all that great and just wanted to lounge around the house with Blakely.  Bob made us her wonderful chicken soup...yums!

That evening we went swimming.  Blakely LOVED that.  NO sunscreen, bathing suit or shades??  YAY!  

That wore her out pretty good so then we all went to bed.  Once again, she didn't sleep great and then decided to be UPFORTHEDAY at 6 am...joy.  Blake and I let everyone else sleep in and we played in Collier and Syble's room with all of their fun toys.  

We did a little shopping for luggage and then had lunch before we left town.  We ate at a place called S.tar of Ind.ia and I can't even tell you how yummy it was.  I heart Indian food...

We were all happy to be home and enjoy our Sunday night together.  Blakely even broke out the beer...  :)

Blake on the lake 2

We've gone out on the boat a few more times recently.  This week it is just too dang hot to even go outside!  100 + every.single.day.  UGH!  Anyway, I thought I would share a few pics of Blake on the lake!  

These were taken right when she was getting over being sick.  We parked in a little cove very close to our house.  And, yes, we did take her life jacket off.  Don't freak out.  We were close to the shore and out of the way of any boats.  

Pretty girl...she just wanted to lay down at first.  

Can we talk about how cute this swim suit is???

Hey mom...I don't smile because my tummy hurts

Yummy toes...

Mama was TIRED

 After a bit she started feeling more like herself.  She wanted to sit up and play around.  I knew she was feeling better then :)

We went out again a few days later.  She was feeling back to her normal smiley self that day.  We went cruising around for a bit and she loved the wind in her hair!  

Hopefully we can get out some more soon.  We definitely won't be going out tomorrow because everyone else will be.  I hate being on the boat when there are hundreds of other boats out too!  But maybe next week.  And maybe we will get in the water :)

Happy Tuesday!

Memorable Moment Monday

I am linking up with PAIL bloggers today for Memorable Moment Monday.  I actually have two pictures to share because I couldn't decide on just one.  


The first is from last night.  Blakely has been sleeping terribly for about three weeks now.  She wakes up multiple times a night and she is almost inconsolable.  It hasn't been very fun.  But there is a huge upside to this.  She has become a total snuggle bug!  She wants to fall asleep with us holding her.  She will nap so good like this.  We have to very carefully place her in the crib without waking her.  I do love her snuggles so I am just enjoying them while they last.  I do hope to get my great sleeper back soon though.  Lonnie has been a huge help through the sleeping troubles.  He  rocked her to sleep last night and I took this picture.  It just absolutely melts my heart....

This photo is from this morning.  My grandfather who we call Oompie (don't ask...long story) has been bringing my cousin over to see Blakely about once a week.  You have to know Oompie to understand him.  I could write an entire post about him but I won't bore you with that.  He's a very interesting dude.  Long story short he's a busy guy...ya know, he has girlfriends, and places to be.  So he doesn't really do babies.  But since he's been coming around recently he is definitely starting to enjoy my little Blakers.  He even wanted to hold her today...GASP!  I think he looks forward to our little visits.  She even cruised around the coffee table for the first time while they were here today...he was impressed!

Happy Monday!

Seven years a few little things

Seven years ago today I went on a first date with this handsome guy...

I can't believe it has been 7 years!  That sounds like such a long time!  It has definitely been the best 7 years of my life and I look forward to many more memories with my Lonnie.  I am so lucky that he chose me :)  He will be happy to know that he can start to forget this anniversary now though.  I told him we had to celebrate it until we had been married 5 years...which will be in October.  Although I am now rethinking that...I might make it 10 years.      He will be so thrilled ;)




In other news, I had a heart attack today.  Well, ok, not really but it felt like it.  Blakely and I were at the grocery store and all was going swell.  I was trying to find DRY sloppy joe mix amongst the eleventy billion dry sauce mixes.  So, I guess you could say I was a wee bit distracted.  Blakely took this opportunity to steal my grocery list.  She knew I wasn't looking.  The next thing I know I look over at her and she is making this awful gagging sound with a bit of paper hanging out of her mouth.  I realized she ate the paper and freaked.  I swiped her mouth and was about to start the damn hei.mlich when she did a big swallow and started laughing.  Oh it's so funny...so very very funny.  She ate the entire list except for a small corner.  So I'm thinking we will be having quite a bit of orange paper in the poop for a while.  I guess I should warn my husband so he's not concerned when he changes her.


Oh wait, I forgot, SHE ONLY POOPS WHEN HE'S AT WORK.  


All kids eat paper right???  No need to be concerned?? 


Also, we are planning two trips at the end of the summer...before B turns one.  Both will require flying.  I am very excited about it but also a little nervous.  Some people might think we are crazy for wanting to take a 10 month old with us.  But we really enjoy traveling and we want her to as well.  Obviously she isn't going to remember these trips but we will.  We will be making memories.  I feel like if going places and experiencing new things is important to us then that is what we should do.  No matter what age our child is.  I may change my tune after the first trip...I'll be sure to let ya know ;)


One last thing.  I have gotten back on P.interest and started pinning first birthday party ideas. HOLY.  Did you hear that???  FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY.  That is just strait crazy people.  My child will be one in less than 4 months.  Party planning has officially begun.  I promised Lonnie myself that I wouldn't get out of control.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!  That is a complete joke....  I have been dreaming about party ideas, party food, party favors, party themes, party outfits, party pictures.  You get the idea.  I am consumed and it is a problem.  Please tell me I am not the only one.....

Wordless Wednesday (sort of!)

This is how she crawls on the tile...I swear she is just going to stand up any minute!

We do a LOT of this every day....

daddymobile

Look Mom!  I'm big!

Happy Wednesday!