Change is Good

Since Annabelle stopped napping completely in July 2009, I have stayed in her room every single night until she's fallen asleep. I never meant for it to turn into that routine as I struggled and conquered the "cry it out" method with her at 18 months when I could take no more.

When she first stopped napping, she was so exhausted that she would fall asleep within minutes of me singing to her while rocking her. Those were sweet moments because they reminded me so much of her baby days. But, since Annabelle has never been a child that likes to sleep, she slowly has learned to survive off less and less sleep. She is now down to only needing 10.5 hours of sleep at night (again, with no naps during the day). According to "they," most kids her age require a total of 12 hours of sleep per day. Not my Annabelle!

Well, this bedtime routine has taken its toll on me. It is hard to get anything else accomplished when hubby isn't home until 6:30 or 7:00 or sometimes later (and, believe me, I am not complaining...I used to leave the office at 6:30 and that was on a very good day), dinner is served and the bedtime routine begins between 7:30 and 8:00. I have not typically left Annabelle's room until she is asleep between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. And then there is time for what?

Keep in mind that only Mommy has been the one able to rock Annabelle to sleep or stay in the room until she falls asleep. I probably only have myself to blame, but it is hard to change a routine, especially when hubby travels periodically.

Well, over the last month (especially since she started climbing out of the crib and has greeted me every morning on her own), we have started discussing the "big girl bed" with her. I've started telling her that "big girls" who want to sleep in "big girl beds" have to fall asleep on their own without their Mommy's in the room with them.

So, Monday night was our first attempt. I told her that if she fell asleep on her own without Mommy in the room that we would go the very next day and buy her stickers to put on a sticker board. I told her that once she gets 5 stickers in a row, she and I will visit the dollar store for her to pick out a prize and that Daddy can also start working on her "big girl room" and "big girl bed."

She seemed alright with the idea until a few minutes after I had left the room. I told her I would set the timer for 5 minutes and come back to check on her. I set the timer for 5 minutes. She started crying after about 2 minutes. The timer went off, and I took the timer with me still beeping so she knew that I had kept my promise. When I arrived to her room, she whimpered to me, "I was just a 'ittle bit scared. Dat machine scared me." Apparently, something had interfered with the noise maker and made it make funny noises which scared her.

So, I told her I would sit right outside her door where she could see me. She didn't like that one bit. She wailed for the next 5 minutes. The timer went off, and I went back and checked on her. That was a mistake because she had just started to calm down, but I was determined to keep my promise. I sat right at the entrance to the door again where she could see me, and she finally calmed down within 5-10 minutes.

Easy enough for the first night, right? It didn't qualify for a sticker in my eyes though.

Tonight, I spoke with her again regarding the "big girl room" and "big girl bed," blah, blah, blah, and I told her that this time I would sit right outside her door, but with the door closed. Again, I promised to check on her after 5 minutes. She wasn't thrilled, but she requested that I turn off the noise maker which I promptly did without question. I left, sat outside her door, set the timer for 5 minutes, let the timer beep so she could hear it as I knew she was still awake, and I then went back to check on her. I told her I was so proud of her and that she was being such a big girl. Then, I told her I'd check on her again in a few minutes.

This time though, I didn't sit outside the door, and I set the timer for only 7 minutes. When I went back in to check on her, she was asleep! And, the best part, it was somewhere between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. Hurray! Granted, I did shoot for an earlier bedtime this evening since she woke up around 7:50 a.m.

So, I think we'll be buying stickers tomorrow if she's feeling better. She seems to have come down with something (an upper respiratory infection) as this morning she was complaining of a sore throat and earache. Poor baby! I hope she didn't catch it from me.

And, as for the next child, whoa be unto him or her as he or she will NOT get away with as much as this first child. I know that is typically the opposite with most parents, but I've been very "attachment parenting" with this one, and I don't think I can take 3 years of "attachment parenting" with a second child! I've learned some lessons on this poor guinea pig child. Perhaps that is why the first child typically seems to be more selfish than the second? No offense if you are a first child, but that is just my observation.

Here is to hoping that Annabelle will go to sleep on her own before Beebo arrives! Otherwise, this Mommy is going to be completely overwhelmed and tired. Oh wait! That will probably already be the case, but at least maybe I can prevent a nervous breakdown.

And tonight with such an early bedtime for Annabelle, I accomplished my grocery shopping without child (well, without one child) AND snacked on pita chips and hummus and Dove caramel chocolates at midnight! Because I can (at least until March or April)! I really wanted some kettle corn popcorn too, but I refrained. Perhaps it isn't smart to grocery shop while you're pregnant?

And, a big thanks goes to hubby for cleaning the microwave while I was gone grocery shopping! And you thought I didn't notice?

P.S. Hubby, I am NOT sharing the Dove caramel chocolates with anyone besides Beebo! They were a steal, and they are mine, all mine! Go cut your own coupons!