To say I have an active child would be an understatement. He is insanely active! So active that he fights sleep like its no ones business. Every time I go to put him down for a nap or bed, I leave his room with scratches up and down my neck, drool and snot all over my shoulder and chest. It looks like I have been through a cat fight and lost. It's as if he is afraid he is going to miss something. Miss what? All the exciting things like folding the laundry, doing the laundry, cleaning, and housework. To be honest, I wish I were napping and missing out on all these things. All in all, napping and getting to sleep has been hell! But we have been lucky. It's usually just the getting to sleep part that is hard, but once he is down he is down for the count.
At the beginning, napping was completely out of the picture until he hit three months. But since then he has been awesome! Napping at least two to two and half hours at a time twice a day! It has been pure bliss. I can actually get things done, unlike before and I got a little peace and quiet to myself. Well, like they say all good things must come to an end. Dammit!
In trying to find our balance that I have talked about, Proctor and I wanted a little more freedom and decided a seven o'clock instead of a six thirty bedtime would be best. That way we could do early dinners, meet up with people; I mean we are his parents, we make the rules, he is just going to have adapt.
So for the first few days things seemed okay. His naps got shorter, but he was still napping over all and it appeared he had adjusted or so we thought. We suffered through another runny nose, coughing spell, four month check up, postponed his vaccinations until his nose cleared up, his ears and throat looked great, but something was off. Even though my pediatrician thinks I am crazy, I am convinced that he might be an early teether between the constant biting (biting any and EVERY thing!), the excessive drool and his little bottom gums, which are just slightly swollen but nothing piercing his gums yet. But I still couldn't figure out why Harvey was melting down? Screaming for an hour just to take a nap, I mean really? I kept racking my brain thinking, what's wrong with my baby? Who has possessed my child? What am I doing wrong?
Finally, I realized looking at his swollen eyes, he is overly tired. He is completely healthy, he's not in pain, he is well fed, but my child is spent. I felt horrible. Proctor and I had selfishly pushed up his bedtime for us, not him. Not even thinking thirty minutes would completely ruin his day. We never thought about how he would react. I mean he's just four and a half months old, how could this little change really effect him? He's just not ready and I now know that and feel guilty for pushing. I mean we are his parents, we know what is best for him. Of course for the obvious things, but what do we really know?
Sometimes I think it's Harvey who is teaching us more than we are him. He is teaching us the importance of patience, the meaning of true, unconditional love, the simple joy of a smile and the sound of laughter, but most importantly he is teaching us to slow down, enjoy life, and these special moments. Because lets face it in thirteen plus years, his only response to us will be "Nothing" or "I don't know". He won't want us around or god forbid be seen with Proctor or I and the only thing we will be good for is money and the car keys. So until that day comes, I am going to enjoy this because I know once he is older, I am going to miss it.
So one day we will rejoin society, have a later bedtime, join others for drinks and dinner, but until then Harvey, I give in for now and will just follow your lead.
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