I haven't got this..

We have been so lucky with Teddy in terms of his sleep routine and general temperament. He's never really been a "crying" baby. When he does you know something is wrong. He's so happy, cheeky and generally always been a very easy baby. I've always thought right from day one "when is this meant to get hard?". I'm not suggesting, in the slightest, I am some wonderful and perfect Mum. Im far from. I didn't have a clue what I was doing. It was all either guess work or my inner voice asking "what would mum do?".

Just before Teddy was born, Adam got a promotion which meant from Monday morning through 'til Thursday he was working away. It was a pretty scary knowing after his paternity it would be just me and this tiny little vulnerable bundle for the majority of the week. The silver lining was it was from day one, so Teddy and I soon got into our own little routine (and it helped Mum was just round the corner!). It was all we had ever known so we just went with it.

But sometimes, it all falls apart and goes to pot. I'm used to getting a full nights sleep. Teddy goes to bed around 7.30pm, and wakes up 12 or so hours later. It's what he has done since he was 3 months old and went into his big cot in his own room. Yet occasionally, because he's ill, teething, out of routine, having a growth spurt, or just because, we have a "bad night". Obviously on each occasion this happens it can vary on just how much a "bad night" it may be.

Last night for example. He's full of cold, perhaps mixed with a little growth spurt and a hint of teething. If we rated it out of 10 (1 being a bit poop to 10 being OH MY GOD MY CHILD IS POSSESSED AND I JUST WANT TO SLEEP!), I'd probably rate it a good 9. I tried everything, and everything again. I always start from the top; cuddle, drink, food, In The Night Garden, story, bed. Nothing worked. He cried because the photo of his cousins wasn't where it usually is (he insisted on carrying it around with him earlier in the day rubbing his nose on it and lost it). He cried because I put In The Night Garden on and he wanted "coco!". Pocoyo obviously, what was I thinking?. He cried because I wouldn't let him roll off the edge of the bed. He cried because I wouldn't let him go outside, in the dark, at 2am. Adam was away and I was loosing the will to live. Eventually, at 3am he went to bed peacefully after having warm weetabix and a barney bear. I'd lost the strength to argue and ability to try and trick him into something more appropriate in the middle of the night. I woke up this morning feeling very beat, tired and in need of a hug.

I had high hopes of a better night tonight, but I already have a little bear out of bed. Wish me luck!

Teeth and Scribble

Last week we had another first. Not exactly one I was looking forward to or particularly happy about. It certainly is true what they say, when a child is quiet, they are usually up to no good. 

Teddy and I had been colouring away on the floor, happy as larry. He loves colouring and has been perfecting his circles for the last week. As usual, he got distracted by another toy and off he wandered, so I took the opportunity to do some writing at the dining room table whilst he was happy entertaining himself.

After a while Teddy pops up beside me, and begins a game of hide and seek behind my chair, giggling every time I turned around. I twist round in my chair shouting "peep-bo!" for the millionth time...Where's Teddy? He was there a second ago... The curtain flutters. Ooohhh hiding behind the curtain now are we? No. No he wasn't. Out he runs, giggling with crayon in hand. In a split second he had grasped a crayon from the floor and scribbled on he wall behind the curtain. He knew perfectly well what he'd done by the look on his face and how he jumped when I pulled back the curtain. Thank goodness it's behind the curtain so you can't see it (I'm sure we will get round to painting it over eventually. Maybe. One day).

On a more sympathetic note...Teeth. What a pain in the bum those little pearly whites are. Teddy hasn't suffered too badly with his teeth coming through, but he has had his moments. From 3 months old he's been munching on his fingers (he never did really take to a teether), drooling bucket loads whilst having burning red rosy cheeks. He didn't cut his first tooth until he was 7 months and some popped through with hardly any trouble at all. 

The poor bear has been so off these last few days, with all the usual symptoms of teething. Sadly it's something us parents can only guess at as he can't tell us what is hurting, how he feels, and what he needs. All is pointing to his second set of molars coming through, but he's been so unwell you begin to wonder, is it his teeth? Is he poorly too? All I feel I can do for him is keep him dosed up on Calpol and offer lots of snuggles. You can never have too many cuddles in my opinion, and I'm getting them whilst I can.