I went to the animal fair.
The birds and the beasts were there.
The big baboon, by the light of the moon was combing his auburn hair.
The monkey he got drunk and fell on the elephant’s trunk.
The elephant sneezed and fell on his knees
And that was the end of the monk!
The Animal Fair (old minstrel song, origin unknown)
Well, today I feel like the elephant has knelt upon my chest as I fight this summer cold that Nik was so kind as to pass along to me. To add insult to injury (mine, lest that be in question at this point), Nik is no longer sleeping through the night. Well, sort of…
Nik has begun to “talk” and cry in his sleep. Not enough to wake him…just me! I find myself waking multiple times in the wee hours and stumbling, eyes half closed, to Nik’s door to wait for the escalation of cries that doesn’t come. I stumble back to bed with a not-so-silent prayer, “Please God, let him sleep throught he night quietly!?”
Alas, that prayer has gone unanswered lately. No, Nik is now actively waking at roughly 3:00 or 4:00 each morning and in the mood for serious play. I stumble to his room to put a toy in the crib. As I leave his room again, I hope in vain that he will get bored and go back to sleep. He does…around 5:00 a.m., a mere half hour before Niksdad’s alarm drags me from my newfound slumber.
Now, all of this would be mildly tolerable were it not for the fact that Niksdad is off to work most of these past few days leaving me to handle the monkey. Yes, the monkey. Pictorial evidence follows:
And he looks so innocent, does he not?!
If this keeps up much longer, I will likely turn into a raving maniac. Looking at the calendar of Nik’s appointments and Niksdad’s school and work schedules, I think I will be able to sleep on Thursday next. So if I ramble on in my comments on other blogs, have pity on a poor mother?
(On a serious note: I am complaining tongue in cheek, but I am also exalting in how very, very far my little monkey has come! One year ago, Nik wouldn’t even bear weight on his legs. Now? Motion, constant motion!)
Sometimes I also have a hard time remembering to be thankful that my child is driving me crazy.
Today my son was driving me crazy with everything. I had to just stop and take a moment and remember that the reason he is driving me crazy is because he has learned so much and can do so much. I am glad of this but it is hard to put the way he was actig into perspective.
So I am thankful but need a break.
I hope your sweet one sleeps better tonight.
Those nights with little sleep are hard
WOW…looks like my house!
Sorry for your exhaustion. I must say…he looks like he’s been having a swell time!
That is impressive—Curious George could do no better (worse)?
You should see our bed. All the blankets and sheets have pen marks and as soon as I make, Charlie climbs in and kicks everything around—including some random crumbs from something he just ate.
Get well soon! Sleep? Who really needs it?
(Charlie went to sleep at 2am yesterday.)
Wow!
One thing I like about going to lots of private therapy sessions is that it means less time with three boys taking the house apart. But then they come home and see an almost-neat house as a challenge.
Hope you get more sleep soon (someone recommended weighted blankets to us, but I haven’t tried that yet).
Sleep! What is that? Is sleep normal or healthy? LOL.
Your little one is so cute. He looks so happy. He reminds me of one of ny nephews–personality plus!
My house is always a disaster. Nothing is ever in place. I have to have things in an orderly way. Hubby does not–needless to say the kids do not either. I was one of those weirdos that would try to organize the toy box. I compulsively saved the empty “baby wipe” containers to put things in that went in the toy box. Categories are every thing LOL.
He looks like he has great fun!
Oh gosh, I know exactly what it’s like. [I think, home that’s not too presumptious?] If I can get a straight 5 hours a night, then I can cope, but if you start whittling away at the five, or chop in half or make it into five singles, somehow it doesn’t work any more.
Best wishes
I haven’t thought of that song in many years! My Mom used to sing that. I hope you get some rest, but rejoicing that your little one is able to do so much! Take care and God bless!
oh my! look at him go!!! i tell you, i am impressed. i may have to come over and steal some of his blood. i need an infusion of that energy!
Oh PLEASE do! The child has boundless energy! We like to say he has two speeds: “Catch me if you can” (from the Gingerbread Man story) and “Sound Asleep.” Pretty much says it all!
You remind me of when I’m desperate for sleep, but due to freelancing or getting up early or staying up late trying to get Maya to bed…it’s literally days until I can catch up on sleep. Drives me MAD. I loooove to nap and sleep and feel well-rested.
Feel better soon!