3 AM Shuffle...

As most people know, small people are notorious for waking up in the wee hours of the morning.  As they get bigger, these nocturnal awakenings occur less and less, much to the relief of the sleep deprived parental units.   As one of those sleep deprived parental units, I can assure – getting more than an hour of sleep at a time is AWESOME!

Our small people have always handled sleep in totally different ways.  Mr. D came to us at 11 months, so we missed a lot of the early hour feedings that come with newborns.  He did have issues with ear infections and sinus problems, so sleep was not one of his best friends.  Once we got him all cleared up, he settled into a very pleasant sleep routine.  He was the only child I know of personally who would come running to you and demand to go to bed.  Often we would go looking for him only to find him next to his crib, stuffed doggie in hand, letting us know he wanted in so he could go to sleep.  And sleep he did…I swear, nothing can wake that kid.

Miss A was different.  She came to us straight from the hospital.  Sleep was not kind to her either.  Hours of walking her around, cradling her, trying to sooth her tiny self into sleep became the norm for us until probably about 4 months old.  Finally she got into the routine of waking in the middle of the night once or twice and needing only someone to hold her until she fell back asleep.  In a fit of desperation and exhaustion one evening, I just gave up and took her to bed with us.  She settled right in and slept the rest of the night.  It was glorious.

Now that the kids are older, they have adjusted to bed times.    Miss A still wakes up at least once a night, but she is now to the point where she will get up, walk through the house and climb into bed with us.  Occasionally she will ask for a drink but most of the time this is just out of habit and she is asleep before we can get one for her.   Mr. D – he still sleeps as soundly as before, if not more so.  The dog was in his room, next to his bed, howling at the coyotes outside and the kid never moved. 

Last night, with a break in the gloomy cold weather, the kids got to spend a good deal of time outside playing in the snow after daycare.  Good thing too since they were both showing signs of being cooped up inside for a long period of time.  Lots of running, jumping, and scampering occurred.  This continued on into the house, where we finally settled in with dinner, bath and some quiet time.  Finally bed time came, and both kids went off to their prospective beds without too much hassle.  Mommy then spent an hour addressing various Valentine’s Day card for various small people classmates, cleaned up the house then wandered off to bed.  Daddy soon followed, and a gentle quietness settled on the house.  Everyone tucked safely away in their beds….even the animals were snoozing soundly.  Total bliss…..

Next thing I know, I hear the hubby’s muffled voice from across the bed.

“We have two of them”
Me: “Huh?”
Hubby: “We have two babies”
Me: “uh huh…two of them”

Let me just mention here I had been awakened from a sound sleep.

Hubby: “No, we have two of them…in here…now”

At this comment I opened my eyes.  I just managed to make out in the darkness a couple small forms moving about the bedroom.   The first form was dragging her ninnie (blanket).  She carefully managed to maneuver around a rather rotund sleeping dog, past her brother, up onto the trunk at the end of our bed, and then up onto the bed itself, past the other dog, over the cat, and over the tangle of blankets and parental unit legs.  Finally she reached her destination, which was the mound of pillows at the head of the bed.  Without missing a beat, she zoomed in on a pile of pillows in between us and kind of half dove/half lurched into a small soft pillow that she had apparently identified as her landing point.  Once down, she scooched about for a minute, then finally finding that ‘sweet’ spot, gave a half turn and let out a soft sigh…then totally zonked out.  I am not even sure she knew we were there.

While this careful dance was taking place, the other small person was moving past the said rotund dog to the hubby’s side of the bed.  Without a word he turned and walked back out into the kitchen, followed by the hubby.  I saw a light turn on and lay there thinking “I should probably go help”, but instead continued to lay quiet comfortably.  (I tell myself I was waiting to hear the small person next to me ask for a drink but that is total bull…I was relishing my warm  cozy bed and we all know it).  Finally the hubby came into the kitchen and turned on the light by the stove.  I realized he was making up a milk so I took pity on him and hauled myself out of my warm bed.  “There is a milk ready in the refrigerator – it just needs to be warmed up.  Where is he?”  The hubby thanked me and replied that the boy was in the bathroom.  “Is he wet?” I asked.  “Nope.  His curtains are open and the moon is shining in his room.” came the reply.

I wandered into his bedroom, thinking that maybe the bed was wet.  As I walked in said small person came in behind me, babbling about “lights” and “colors” and “monsters looking at me”.  I told him mommy was sorry she left his curtains open, and then pulled the drapes. 

“That better?” I asked.
“Yes, thanks” he said.  Then he wandered out of the room. 

I checked the bed – it was dry – then headed out to find that the hubby had made a small nest for the boy on the couch.  Confused I asked again “is he wet?”  The hubby then said he would sleep out there with the boy. 

“Want me to do it?” I asked. 
“Nope”
“ok, although the smart thing would have been to put him on the smaller couch and for you to take the bigger one.”  (I know this from experience).
“Yeah…it would have been the smart thing to do” he said as he went off for his pillow.

While he was gone I moved the boy to the other couch.  While I was getting him settled, the hubby came in, laid down on the bigger couch and promptly fell asleep.

“You ok?” I asked Mr. D.
“Yes.” 
“You need anything?” I asked Mr. D.
“No….” he seemed hesitant.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
“Monsters” he whispered.
“No monsters…” I said. “Besides, daddy’s snoring would scare them off.”  (To help illustrate my point the hubby rattled off a rather long and loud snore – although I doubt he was aware of that at the time.)
“See? “ I asked.

He seemed to think this over for a minute, and then nodded solemnly.
“Good night bug…sleep well….and if you get worried about monsters come get me.”
“No monsters.” He replied happily.

They were both still asleep this morning on the couches when I got up….guess snoring really does keep the monsters at bay.