Both children woke before 6:00 on this frigid Saturday. I can't read the exact temperature on the thermometer because its still dark outside, but its close to ten below zero.
Winter is hard enough but add sleep deprivation to the mix and well, a mom can lose her patience. She can want to curl up in a ball and never come undone.
Olive still wakes every three to four hours, with occasional five to six hour shifts, but always, always these longer snoozes overlap with my late evening time awake with Nick. So for over a year now, I haven't slept for more than four hours without her siren cry interrupting my dreams.
Four measly hours.
Over 375 nights of interrupted sleep.
(And I wonder why I'm not able to write...? Or think clearly...? Or why I spend a few minutes each morning, multiple times, trying to remember where I put my coffee mug.)
But this is about to change. For one night at least.
One blissful night.
Grandma and Pop are picking up not one but both children today and taking them to Palmer for a sleep over.
Which means I get to sleep until I'm done on Sunday.
My birthday.
Not a bad present huh?
It will be my first night away from Olive, and since she still usually nurses to fall back asleep in those small hours of the night, I'm a little worried about it being a loooooooong 24 hours for Bruce and Kathy.
But not so worried that I won't be able to sleep tonight.
And at this time tomorrow, I'll still be curled up under the sheets, in the blissful morning dark of my dreams, with no one calling me to come undone.
Happy birthday to me!
sounds like heaven. enjoy and remember that grandma and pop can recover from their lack of sleep the very next night! you will be a better mommy and wife for it. xo and happy bday!
Posted by: fleming | 01/15/2011 at 08:30 AM
What a wonderful birthday present! My birthday was Wednesday and my three year old was up playing at 5:30ish and the 5 month old was up for the day at 6:15. It was NOT a good way to start the day! Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Bren | 01/15/2011 at 09:25 AM
That sounds like the best birthday present ever! Enjoy! I think I'll ask for the same thing when my birthday rolls around. :-)
Posted by: I Thought I Knew Mama | 01/15/2011 at 01:25 PM
Happy Birthday! Enjoy the sleep-a-thon!
Posted by: Shelley | 01/15/2011 at 03:44 PM
Happy Birthday! My younger son did not sleep through the night at 13 months, either. I was still nursing, too. My husband and I went out of town for a wedding, and he miraculously slept all night long for my mother-in-law. And weaned himself, too....
Posted by: Bobbie | 01/15/2011 at 04:06 PM
Enjoy your WONDERFUL birthday! Have faith that she WILL sleep through the night. My son didn't sleep through the night until almost 17 months and stopped nursing around the same time. He also started sleeping in the same room as his sister and that helped.
Posted by: Jessica | 01/15/2011 at 04:10 PM
Happy Birthday Christy! :)
Posted by: DiVaughn | 01/15/2011 at 05:01 PM
I hear ya', mama! Natalie is not sleeping for much more than 20 minutes unless nursing on mama. NO long stretches or stretches at all for that matter these days! I hope that you enjoy your evening and are able to sleep...I never can at times like that...just too quiet and I miss them like crazy. Oh, the irony. Love you, birthday girl! We will have to have our annual birthday chat soon! XOXO
Posted by: Anno | 01/15/2011 at 05:16 PM
Early Happy Birthday. How times change. We were told 20 some years ago to let them cry. But when it disrupts the whole household- it is hard to do so. Enjoy your sleep- you have totally deserved it and what darling grandparents to recognize the need. I know your parents would be there too in a heart beat if they weren't so far away. You are the best mother!!!!
Posted by: Noel Dennehy | 01/15/2011 at 05:36 PM
Happy Birthday! What a present. Just this morning my almost-two year old slept in for another hour and I lay in bed wondering if he was breathing. Ahhh parenthood
Posted by: Greta | 01/15/2011 at 06:14 PM
best. birthday. ever.
Posted by: Brooke | 01/15/2011 at 07:48 PM
Good for you!
Posted by: Kathy Sue | 01/15/2011 at 07:59 PM
Happy Birthday! I hope your sleep was blissfully uninterrupted and that your loved ones have also spoiled you with the outpouring of love you deserve!
Posted by: JenniferB | 01/16/2011 at 01:43 PM
Happy birthday.....I hope the sleep was everything you needed.
Posted by: Ginny | 01/17/2011 at 05:16 AM
Oh enjoy your sleep . . enjoy, enjoy. I remember the hunger for it so well . . five years later. My littlest was a non-sleeper hold-out too. And Happy Birthday!
Posted by: Mary | 01/17/2011 at 12:04 PM
happy happy birthday!! hope it was restful :-). xo
Posted by: elizabeth | 01/17/2011 at 05:37 PM
Oh the irony... of having a night to sleep, finally, after over a year of interruptions, and waking up at seven unable to go back to sleep. My boobs woke me up and once I pumped I couldn't fall back asleep--and Nick and I stayed up past 1:00 am. But hell, six hours is better than four and I loooovved having over 24 hours without children!
Posted by: Christy | 01/17/2011 at 08:45 PM