Clock Watching

As many hours as Archie sleeps I spend listening to the repetitive whoosh?of a dishwasher. ?Whether lying in bed, or listening through the speaker of our fancy video baby monitor I listen to it whoosh.

I?m not sure if our baby really is one of those who sleeps better to the sounds of white noise, or if it?s just such a habit now that we keep putting it on.

Our little guy has been a catnapper for as long as I can remember now. ?I think there were times in the early, early days that he slept longer than 20, 30 or 40 minutes at a time, but I?d be lying if I said I could remember much at all about those first few weeks of motherhood. ?Four and a half months later, when you?re rocking your cuddle monkey to sleep, for five or so naps a day, it?s very exhausting.

I?ve spent a lot of time talking to other mothers, to medical professionals, to my family. ?I?ve worried about possible medical issues, about negative sleep associations, and about our absolute lack of routine. ?My mind fights with my brain as I struggle between being the ?earth mumma? that I always thought I would be, and the ?by the book?mumma? that my old, school teacher self wants to be.

But if I really stop and reflect, Archie?s teaching me. ?We?re starting to get a random hour long, or even two hour long sleep every now and again. ?Sometimes he really needs my help to stay asleep, sometimes he doesn?t. ?Sometimes he?s happy to sleep in his cot, other times he needs to sleep beside me.

As adults we struggle with sleep too. ?Some people more than others. ?Too much sleep, too little sleep. ?Trouble staying awake, trouble staying asleep. ?Sometimes we need a good cuddle or a midnight snack to be able to relax as well!

I?m starting to find that happy medium between my ?earth mumma? and my ?by the book?mumma?. ?We?re starting to find a loose routine, but our days still follow Archie?s lead. ?I?m helping him and he?s helping me ? together we?ll grow up. Archie into a little boy, me into a more confident mother.

Although, to satisfy the teacher inside of me, I think I?ll continue to clock watch for a little while yet?

sxsw crystal cathedral st. patrick s day brandon lloyd brandon lloyd celtic thunder fabrice muamba collapse