screaming competition

At some point I'm probably going to regret encouraging such vocalising. (Do you like the saliva splotches on my shoulder?)

*

So, things here have been a little exhausting the last couple of weeks. I have still been spending my nights alternately working on the school magazine (which goes to print tomorrow, thank GOD) and compulsively playing on Etsy and salivating on my keyboard over people's awesome skillz while attempting not to use our nearly-maxed-out credit card.

The real problem, however,is that Jasper's sleeping has gone to ABSOLUTE SHIT.

He is doing that thing in his cot where he cries and wants to be picked up, and when I pick him up he stops and goes back to sleep, and when I put him down he wakes up and starts crying again. He is waking up to five or six times a night and on a bad night it will take more than an hour to get him back to sleep. Of course, I'm paranoid that he's hungry, but feeding him doesn't stop it, so it's not that.

Some nights he is ok. But usually not.

The whole thing has become rather a point of friction in our house, actually. At 3am, it is just easier to go to sleep with Jasper on the couch. In fact, as I keep pointing out, co-sleeping is a valid parenting choice for a lot of people. So sometimes I do it. More than sometimes, if I'm honest. But T. is kind of cracking it with me a little bit about that, having been through sleeping hell with my step-daughter when she was little and not liking to be abandoned for his son, too, I guess.

So we have been having many circular and occasionally ugly arguments about it, that usually cumulate in me calling him by his father's name and accusing him of being rigid and 1950s and anti-attachment and so on, while he accuses me of wanting Jasper to be too dependent on me. Etc. Etc.

But such is the flavour of marriage post-baby for many people, I would imagine. We make up quickly, which is the important thing.

Anyway, blah.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Ms Prufrock of Barren Albion and the awesome baby food blog, Mush, is organising another Christmas card exchange for this year.

Head over and sign up.

Comments

[The Sister-In-Law]

O - M - G ! ROFLMAO I could have written that myself.

Don't get me wrong - J. is the type of dad that warms my heart every time he and the girls are together. They have so much fun together, so much so that their private little dad and daughters club often doesn't even notice mean old tidy-your-room-and-eat-your-veggies Mummy is there.

But sometimes, when I suggest some sort of family-orientated activity which may be more trouble than it is entertaining - to him anyway - like standing in line 40 minutes to visit Santa, or braving the crowds at the Royal Show...for the kids.... I'm forced to call him THAT VERY SAME NAME, and remind him why they're here.

My advice is...NEVER GIVE IN...we must break that demon S-gene, lol, that has been handed down from father to son - that selfishness that encouraged the MIL to have all four kids bathed, fed and in bed before the FIL got home, so that the peace and tranquility after a long day at work wouldn't be disturbed by unruly children. THEY MUST BE DISTURBED, and their children must grow up knowing they weren't just something their Mum took care of, and who were fitted in between dinner parties and golf games.

They'll take them on picnics, to the Pageant EVERY YEAR, and on holidays every summer, and lose sleep and, heaven forbid, money because of them. Because this generation is going to have memories of fun, family adventures and parental sacrifices - way more than the ones counted on one hand by the previous.

That being said, Jasper's reaching that age - the one where he developes a mind of his own which he decides he might take around the block, with you, for a spin. He will work out that you're way more fun with him than away, and the dreaded double-C word is bandied about by all seasoned parents and child nurses - controlled crying.

I've tried it and it does work, but where they say start with 5 mins and slowly increase the wait before going to them, I started at...errr... .5 seconds and worked up in 2 second increments, lol Pretty soon we were back to 12 hours sleep-throughs.

I wish you luck on your mission - and keep plugging that A word! It'll get the hackles up everytime.

[My Reality]

Jasper is cuter than ever! I hope you get things sorted out with T soon.

[Krista]

Good lord Jasper is adorable. I love that cabbage patch kid picture. So baby C has been doing that sort of thing lately too. I asked my doctor if it was just him learning to control his environment (finally figuring out the cause and effect between crying and getting picked up) or if there was some medical reason he would cry on his back. She said it could be either, but when babie's are teething their gums can throb (just like a toothache) when the are on their backs and all the blood rushes. Baby C doesn't show any signs of teeth breaking through yet, but that doesn't mean they aren't pushing down through.

And laugh out loud at your argument with T because I have had that argument at least a dozen times in the last 5 months!

[MsPrufrock]

Etsy is naughty, naughty, naughty. I feel simultaneous joy and sheer terror when I see that there are nearly 3000 pages of results in the Childrens section.

Thanks for directing people to my blog for the card exchange, much appreciated.

Regarding Jasper's sleep, have you read anything about sleep regression? Check out Moxie about that, though I attribute sleep regression to any sleeping issue. Either way, lack of sleep is a bloody miserable existence, poor dear.

[Becky]

Oh MEG, no! NO! It sounds like Alex has come over to Jasper to remind him THAT BEING UP ALL NIGHT IS AWESOME. NOOOOO! I *told* Alex not to use the phone for evil!

No, seriously, I feel for you. I have been dealing with this on and off since March and it's terrible. I wish that I had any advice for you because I would totally try and help.

The only thing I can say is that I'm sorry, and do whatever you have to do to keep him sleeping WITHOUT going insane. Alex slept in his swing until the motor burned out (did you know that could happen? I didn't!), and is now sort of sleeping in his crib IN his bouncy seat. It's helping a little, but at 7.5 months old, he should be sleeping better than he is.

Good luck, Meg, good luck.

(and if you find anything that works, PLEASE let me know!)

[Mary Ellen]

Love the picture Meg.

[Mary Ellen]

Love the picture Meg.

[beagle]

I hope this is not too glib . . . but the reason they feel abandoned is that men can be such babies themselves!

I love etsy! Buying and now selling too.

Your Jasper is adorable.

[Bugsy]

haha if in doubt I always try the feeding option too although they say to make that your last option at 3 in the morning it is sometimes my 1st option if Alex won't re-settle. Jasper is so cute.

Etsy is fun isn't it? My friend has her own hand dyed yarns on etsy and I love drooling over them - www.kattwings.etsy.com I have thought about putting some embroidered items up there if I can get my act together and make some. One day. lol.

Take care and hope to catch up soon.

[Em]

Yes...we went through this. I had a day seeion at the O'Connel Family centre at it was very helpful. They show you how to do the controlled comfort. The dr or maternal nurse can refer you. See you soon chick!

[Em]

Yes...we went through this. I had a day seeion at the O'Connel Family centre at it was very helpful. They show you how to do the controlled comfort. The dr or maternal nurse can refer you. See you soon chick!

[Em]

Yes...we went through this. I had a day seeion at the O'Connel Family centre at it was very helpful. They show you how to do the controlled comfort. The dr or maternal nurse can refer you. See you soon chick!

[Sassy]

Can you make it to a meet up in December?

[Planet Reverse Positioning::::Your infertility was favor, for the gods were granting you more time i]

Planet Reverse Positioning::::Your infertility was favor, for the gods were granting you more time in hope you could get out "before" this obligation forced you to stay.
The Italians bred like rabbits:::That they got "pregnant immediately" illustrated their undesirability.
Your children are the ones with the opportunity now. You must sacrifice to give them the best chance possible.
It's children who go to heaven, not old people.

This is the REAL battle of good and evil:::Me vs. god. Of course I'm trying to help you understand that you are corrupted, fell for temptation and are going the wrong way::::WE are the ones who are evil. (While executing the battle of good and evil the gods do some evil things, like role play their clone host tools to disceive you, forcing thoughts into your head, etc.)
The gods tested us and we have failed, scapegoatting their tools to ensure people never become god-fearing. Learn what I teach and try to uncorrupt yourselves. NOBODY IS GOING TO SAVE YOU!! You have to save yourselves by repairing your relationship with the gods.
Cashier@GSqfamilymemberreincarnated.com

This is how the gods do business:::::They use temptation and deception to compel people to chase something that has already been decided. It's children who go to "beaven". OLd people have to come back. The gods will use their power to contradict this, corrupting people and compelling them to incurr evil::::They used the Italians to ruin life in the 20th century, cost you the Final Prophet and the result will be death as you wait for the Italian Second Coming of Christ to save you.
This is the god's positioning and it IS going to be enforced. Never forget::::The gods have always offered "protection" to those genuinely religious. It is something that was always respected, even in the wicked 20th century.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As people begin to age the gods employ corrupting tactics. They ultimately begin to look down on the children and the wisdom they recently understood:::
They voluntarily turn their back on their opportunity to ascend and instead embrace evil.
It's not old people who go to heaven. Old people must come back because of the mistakes they've made throughout their lives. Children are the ones who have the opportunity to ascend.

Children are discounted by adults in society. The gods corrupt people as they age, use trust-building tactics and soon adults view the children as ignorant, yet to understand the god's system, and subsequently look down on the children. This is one of the most bitter, painful ironies the gods employ, for people consciously turn their back on and lose their opportunity to ascend::::
Religions teach that old people to go to heaven when they die. They don't. Old people are reincarnated. It's the children who go to heaven, those who have a chance at immortality.
The wisdom the gods impart to children, either through their innocence/purity or religious-based educational pursuits are the gods sharing the truth with their most favored people::::It's the children whom the gods teach the right way for it is the children who have a chance. For example, they teach children to have faith, for understanding the god's geographical clues hurts people by illustrating negative things, opening the door for the god's to employ deceptive tactics.
Old people don't go to heaven. Old people must come back because of the mistakes they've made throughout their lives. It's the children who have the opportunity to go to "heaven". They must behave apprioriately, think correctly and be genuinely god-fearing. Their innocence and lack of desensitization ensures they have a real opportunity to achieve this goal.

[tracey]

hope you don't mind me commenting on an older blog entry but

i was looking up 'sleep regression' because my son, also named Jasper, is going through it right now.

i can really sympathise with 3am *grumbles* and i would most definately define his sleep as GONE TO SHIT.

off to read your blog properly now! hoping to read that things are better!!