Get your pads and pens ready because it’s time for the Week In Review.
The Week In Review is a list, in its purest form, not of the things you still need to do, but of all the things you have done in the last seven days. It’s an achievement list, an ode to yourself, a celebration of sorts, and a virtual pat on the back or smack on the ass. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
Need more details? Head here.
♫ You can do it, put your list into it. ♫
Last week was a tough one. Some people, those more dramatic than me, might even call it brutal.
Personally, I would describe it as a roller coaster ride with giddy highs, crazy lows and a healthy dose of delirium tossed in for good measure. I imagine this particular phase of parenthood is akin to an evening of LSD. I say imagine because despite my hippy ways and an affinity for The Grateful Dead and Phish, I never did dip my toe in that proverbial pond, ignoring those other bodies of water of course.
For those wondering what I’m babbling about, Ave is going through a sleep regression, which translates to her fighting naps and nighttime sleep. Let’s just say I was awake at 1 a.m. more times than I’d like and not because I was in the club. ♫ “Go shorty, it’s your birthday. We gonna party like it’s your birthday.”♫
If I have learned anything in the past year though, it’s that baby sleep is fucking weird. Bad sleep begets bad sleep. That and I’m jealous of those mothers who infants sleep blissfully unawares (Erin, I’m talking to you. Love you.)
(She did sleep through the night here. Not so much the two before or the one following.)
As such, the Hubby, the baby and I all spent a good chunk of time last week walking, rocking, nursing, playing, reading, and even driving around in the car at 2 a.m. Thankfully, the man drew the short straw on that last one. The Hubby and I have been like tandem wrestlers, tapping in and out, when we’re at our wits end. I have no idea how single parents do this or manage multiple kids. Mad props to owners of tiny humans everywhere; I’ve got all the respect for you.
(“Wasn’t me.”)
Despite the madness, I know I did lots of things last week, but I’ll be damned if I wrote anything down. I vaguely recall spending the vast majority of my few free minutes sleeping, eating, or curled up in the fetal position on the couch with a glass of wine and an episode of Downton Abbey. It is possible to drink while horizontal. I’m skilled like that. I even finished a whole bottle of vino (over the course of four nights; let’s not get all crazy). It was survival and self care at its finest.
(“Hey you guys”, she says in her best Sloth from Goonies voice.)
I also did a lot of muttering, specifically “this is a phase; it will pass” and “fuckity, fuck, fuck, fuck.” The latter occurred each time I very gently put my passed out baby in the crib only to have her open her eyes and mouth seconds later. It’s true though, this is a phase, and in twenty years I probably won’t even remember these sleepless nights. Then again, in twenty years I likely won’t remember much. I blame those other bodies of water.
ATTENTION, ATTENTION: Next week’s Week In Review will be on Tuesday the 27th. I have no intention of spending Christmas evening typing up a post, nor do I want you too. Enjoy the festivities and I hope to see you and all your holiday shenanigans on Tuesday.
It’s your turn. I want to hear from you. Link up and get yo’ list on.
What are three things you accomplished in the last week, big or small?
Dear Meg. How I wish I could bottle up some sleep and send it your way – in a nice pretty bottle. Oh and then the bottle could turn into a full bottle of your favorite wine, and then a handsome man would conveniently show up at your door with a plate of your favorite cheese and twisty nut rolls and all the Downtown Abbey episodes at the ready.
Having a kid is so bloody hard. I have no idea how anyone – let alone single parents, as you say – do it. I don’t know anything about this phase of sleep regression but I really hope it doesn’t last much/any longer. Wishing you all good thoughts for this next week and hope you catch up on your rest!!
Cora recently posted…Week In Review: The Mega ‘Last Week Before Home’ Edition
It is bloody hard; harder than I could ever say or one could ever imagine. That being said, she has slept through the night the last three nights now….knock on wood… and that helps a tremendous amount.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Sending lots of sleepy vibes Ave’s way. She’s a tad young for Ambien, but maybe hypnotism is worth a shot. Either way, I hope you both get some consistent sleep soon.
I thought about drugging her one night last week, although I didn’t actually do it. Thankfully, she’s slept the past three nights so I’m really hoping this means we’re past the worst of the sleep regression phase. Knock on wood.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Hoping you Ava decides to start sleeping more, I can’t even imagine, I value my 7-8 hours so much! It really hopefully just is a phase and will pass soon!
Patricia @Sweetandstrong recently posted…Warm Cozy Nights, Holiday To Do’s, and other Weekend Highlights
Yep, I keep telling myself that and thankfully it’s true. It will pass.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
ohhh good idea for Tuesday next week! maybe I will have time to write up my week in review for our trip to Disney this week by then! I am so sorry for the lack of sleep. it truly is brutal. I never even believed the parents who said their kids slept through the night always at this age! lol
meredith @ cookie chrunicles recently posted…Favorite Foods From The Weekend
Yes, I can’t wait to hear about your trip to Disney, and thankfully Ave has slept the past three nights. Here’s to making it four tonight. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
You are a warrior. I read things like this is and I wonder “will I ever be ready to be a mother?” but then I see a picture like that one of Ave on the bed and say “oh I want one so bad.”
Pros and cons my friend, pros and cons, just like anything else. We’ve been having a blast today so that helps.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
I don’t sleep well these days, thanks to too much sugar and not enough discipline, all of which are my choice. You do not have a choice, which makes me feel selfish for such reckless abandon. Sending you sleepy vibes!
Brittany recently posted…Sayonara Sugar
one of us needs to have a little reckless abandon so I say live it up. Besides you should me some from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. I’m a regular party machine (cough, cough). 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Wow mama, it is pretty amazing how you keep loving that little girl and treasuring her, cause I know it’s not easy. But she will thank you so much when she gets older. <3
Emily recently posted…How to Receive a Gift This Christmas Season
She better thank me. Kidding….it’s my pleasure, even when I’m exhausted.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Oh my gosh, you poor thing! But boy is she cute, so I guess you can’t get too mad at her. I hope you get a good night’s sleep for Christmas!!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted…White Christmas in San Francisco, Bluestem dinner, Warriors game and weekly workouts
You and me both. Have a great trip to Florida.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Quite witty of you to bring that body of water thing back around. Despite a major lack of sleep, you’re still able to write like a boss. “In Da Club” was the song I had on repeat when I qualified for Boston in 2009. It’s funny how we have to qualify for a marathon, yet we can just become parents with not even a textbook to read. I think for each hour of sleep we lose as parents, we gain an hour of foot massages when the last one turns 18. There should be an island somewhere where we all eff off to get massaged. It’s the ultimate goal–the ultimate qualification.
Suzy recently posted…Mileage Monday
I can get down with this foot massage thing.
Also, I so appreciate you noticing the writing. Despite the lack of a list, I felt like this was one of my better WIR’s. Honest writing always feels right to me though. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Ew. Sleep regression sounds awful. And, yes, the ‘f’ word and sitting curled up on the couch sounds like an appropriate response. Ick. At least there’s a Christmas tree to look at when you have to be up at all hours? … :S
Joyce @ The Hungry Caterpillar recently posted…Week in Review: People Time and Alone Time
The Christmas tree does help. So does a little Top Chef. Ave watched the end of an episode with me last week when I gave up on rocking her to sleep. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Hoping Miss Ave gets a visit from the Sandman and starts sleeping for you! I don’t miss those days… it does get better, but I don’t know when exactly parents actually get decent sleep again. My biggest irritation lately is my 3 year old waking up at 9-9:30 and happily interrupting our episodes of Westworld or other inappropriate for children shows. She just climbs up in bed, looks at us both and is all, Hey, watcha watchin’? Is that an orgy on the screen? Yeah…
Yeah Ave watched part of Top Chef with me one night last week, although that wasn’t too inappropriate. Maybe she’ll learn to cook for me. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
I had such respect for single parents, grandparents and really all caregivers who have children. It must be even harder if you don’t get maternity or paternity leave. Ave will thank you both later (…or go to a lot of therapy 😉
Ellie Pell recently posted…Starting to run again and Holiday things
Probably both…thanking me and therapy. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
It took you FOUR DAYS to finish a bottle of wine?! It takes me less than 4 hours. You really do need help. 😉
It will pass. Really.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…High Protein Healthy French Onion Dip [Recipe]
Come drink the wine with me; that would help.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Boo to sleep regressions! Hopefully Ave rekindles her love of sleep (… or you know, kindles it… is that what you say) and gives you a Christmas gift of SLEEP!
Kristy from Southern In Law recently posted…Recipe: Kofta Pitas with Tzatziki Dipping Sauce
She’s been sleeping pretty good this week so I’m hoping she’s through the regression now. If not, there’s always wine.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Well I am so glad I spotted on snapchat this morning that Ave slept through the night – I can only imagine how tough this period must be.
Hope you are still enjoying Downton – I had to laugh yesterday, I was checking out a christmas recap post from 2014 and reading the comments… You mentioned that 2015 was going to be the year for you and Downton Abbey… Don’t you hate it when life gets in the way of a good tv show 😉
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Week in Review – Back to paradise…
Hey I’m only a year behind and since we had an unexpected addition this year, I’d say that’s pretty good!! 🙂 🙂
She’s been sleeping pretty good this week. Hopefully the worst is past. Fingers crossed.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
And there she sits looking like a little angel…
In 20 years time you could also guilt trip her with all those sleepless nights. It probably won’t work though ;-P
Hang in there! It will pass. Also wine sounds lika a fab idea! Self care!!!
Hope this week is waaaay better! Hugs and kisses :-*
Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…A Day in Toronto – Eating, Drinking and Exploring
She’s sleeping better this week so that’s a huge help. Wine definitely doesn’t hurt either.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
For me the phrase was fuckity fuckity fuck fuck fuck. The extra fuckity really helps.
And one thing about more than one kid–apparently they tend to do the tandem wrestler thing, too. They are not simultaneously trying to ruin your life–they take turns. Kids are sweet like that.
Kirsten recently posted…Carrot and Celeriac Fritters or Latkes (Gluten Free)
Oh yes an extra fuck always helps. 😉
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Babies can get away with anything, it’s crazy. All that cuteness and charm is reallly a disguise for the ninjas they really are. I’m sending you all the sleep charms and vibes. We’ve had our own battles with this cold virus that’s lasted since November 6. Seriously how do we have this much brown phlegm inside our bodies?!!! Thankfully lulu is much stronger than her pathetic wimpy parents. I’ve been sucking her nostrils out daily to the point she whimpers when I get the nose freida. She knows it’s for the nose lol.
They’re so damn cute though. I just stare at her and wonder how she formed in my tummy. These little miracle ninja babies.
Danielle recently posted…WIR sleep less play more
The nose Freida is magic. I don’t think we could have survived the first few months without it.
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway
Baby sleep -is- a science akin in terms of incomprehensiblity to quantum physics or any of those. Actually, I was terrible at any kind of scientific subjects in school so that probably doesn’t say a lot. But even the fact that a certain technique doesn’t work the same way for two different babies, heck, not even always for the same baby is proof of how weird it is. Like P. never falls asleep in cars. In fact, he hates driving with a passion. Fingers crossed for tomorrow!
Anyway, even if you had accomplished nothing else keeping a child alive, happy and well fed is a major achievement. I totally mean it and doubt I’d be able to. Or get through it …
I’m sure you’re not really buying this anymore from how often I’ve said it before but Ave is such a cutie. Seeing her grow up is amazing so I’m happy you’re sharing pictures on the blog.
Miss Polkadot recently posted…Seeing the glass half full
Yeah the phrase ‘sleep like a baby’ is lies, except my girlfriend has this baby who just sleeps blissfully unawares of anything and everything around her, so I guess there are a few out there who do.
Thankfully, Ave has slept through the night going on five nights now. Daytime naps are still crap, but I’ll take what I can get. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Happy Holidays and a Swanson Health Products Giveaway