Another day, another sleep-deprived mom and kiddo. Makela has NOT been sleeping well since we got back from our trip back east at the end of November. At first we chalked it up to her being out of routine, on a different time zone, blah, blah, blah. And it did get better for a week or two. But the last couple of weeks have been rough again. It might be because she's using the potty now, and that's a HUGE change for any little kid. However, it's time to put the excuses aside, because we are all SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO freakin' tired!
Of course, Joe is also worn out, but for reasons that are (mostly) work related. He has a trial starting on Feb. 20, one which "only" has about $1.6 billion on the line. Yes, you read that right -- BILLION. So he's home this week, but working around the clock, and he starts traveling again nearly non-stop until the trial starts. Needless to say, it would be nice if he could get some rest when he IS home.
Anyway, so we opened our trusty copy of "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and read the chapter on preschoolers. Sure enough, it gave us some ideas.
I put together a "sleep chart" for Makela during her quiet time today, and Joe came home for a bit before bedtime so that we could both talk to Makela about some new "sleep rules." So we told her she has to stay in her bed and not leave her room after we tuck her in at night and at quiet time. If she wakes up, she is NOT supposed to come and get us or cry and scream until we go into her room (except in an emergency, of course, although I'm not sure that Makela understands that concept yet). Should she come out of her room, we are going to put her back in her bed without talking. Joe and I explained that talking makes her wake up more, so the less we talk and the faster we get her back in bed, the easier she will fall back asleep.
Makela and I also bought a new alarm clock at Target today (she picked it out -- it's purple, with Dora and Boots sitting on top), so we explained that the clock has to say "7:00" before she can come get us in the morning. If Makela stays in her room ALL night, until 7:00 am, she will get a sticker to put on her chart. And, each time she gets five stickers, she will earn a special treat from Mommy's "stash." If Makela can sleep completely through the night without waking up at all (not likely at this point), she will earn a BIG sticker to put on her chart and a special treat right away.
Makela seemed to understand all of this and got really excited about the stickers and the chart. We put it up on the back of her door, so that she can see it when she's in her bed. She also loves her new alarm clock. She told us that she's going to "sleep ALL through the night."
We shall see, of course. But it's a start. We are hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst -- at least for the next few nights. And of course you are all waiting with baited breath....
On another note, today was full of smaller questions. Mostly just me answering a question that Makela's already asked, followed by "why?" and then another answer, then "why?" and so on. Here's a sample dialogue from our late afternoon trip to Target, which started as we returned to the car:
Makela: "Why are those lights on?"
Mommy: "Because it's getting dark outside."
Makela: "Why?"
Mommy: "Because the sun is getting ready to set."
Makela: "Why?"
Mommy: "Remember Mommy explaining to you how the sunset works? The sun is setting because the earth turns around every day, and so now the sun is disappearing below the horizon."
Mommy: "Okay. I remember."
***Several minutes pass now, and we are on the freeway headed home, when Makela looks out her window to the west.***
Makela: "What's that blue stuff over there -- in the sky?"
Mommy (after a minute or so trying to figure out what she's talking about): "That's a little bit of light left from the sunset."
Makela: "Why?"
Mommy: "Because the sun is so bright and strong, it takes a while for the light to completely disappear after the sun goes down."
Makela: "Oh. [PAUSE] It's a good thing the lights are on, Mommy."
At least it SOUNDS like she's getting it....
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