My Child Doesn't Sleep (Venting!)

I was always under the impression that little kids/babies like to sleep. I have been more than surprised for the past two years!!

While I was pregnant with Ryenne I enjoyed 9-10 hours of sleep. This was quickly followed by shock and surprise when she was born that she only slept a maximum of 3-5 hours nightly followed by sporadic naps. While everyone else's babies were sleeping most of the day, I walked as a zombie, and have been for the past two years.

This time around I am hoping and praying that P-2 is a mellow, sleepy baby. Since Peter has left I haven't slept more than 5 hours each night. The nightly ritual of trying to get Ry to sleep starts at 10pm and finishes usually around 12 - 12:30am. By this time the moment my head hits the pillow I'm about to crash and then I hear an annoying scratch on the door or thumping as Chico wants out or some other thing that I really could give a crap about.

So the moment I do fall into a nice, relaxful sleep Ry wakes me either talking in her sleep or waking up with a nightmare or needing milk. Then the annoying night peeing needs to take place as P-2 likes to wake and kick the crap out of my bladder.

Then back to a nice, peaceful sleep for a few hours and then the day starts with Ry waking me up "Mama, couch. Wake up. I want couch." She is obsessed with starting the day sitting on the couch watching cartoons. I realize this is now my fault as I used the tv to babysit her while I packed the house.

So out of bed I roll feeling like I had just hit the pillow the previous night. Ry has been so active that it's just non-stop from the moment she wakes up. Her naps have been 20 minutes tops once per day. I don't know how she manages to stay so active from 6am to almost 1am in the morning each and every day!

I told Peter that when we get to Texas I'm handing her off to him so I can have a day of full sleep. I just need it so bad.

It's hard to get help from anyone because Ry is being super clingy to me. She wants to be carried everywhere and doesn't want to be left with anyone. I had a wedding last night and she cried the entire 5 hours I was gone. I just don't know what I'm going to do when P-2 gets here. I told Ry that Mommy is going to need to carry the new baby and she's going to need to walk or ride in the stroller. I think we'll be dealing with some regression issues when P-2 gets here.

At least we'll be back together with Peter again and I can get a little help. I seriously don't know how single parents do it with a child and no help.

I love my sweet girl to pieces. Can't imagine my life without her in it. She brightens my day... I'm just a tired mama!