Fingers crossed for a repeat performance.

(I know there is snot. I'm chasing it constantly right now so no need to tell me ;0)

Let's just get to the truth of the matter. I've been trying to figure out why this sleep thing is so difficult for ME to swallow. I really don't sleep all that much myself. I have decided, it is the difference of being hypervigilant all the time that exhausts me. It will ease in time, I know this. Still, it doesn't make the present any easier. It is also the screaming. The Wing can go from a deep sleep to screaming her guts out in seconds. Yes, we have the orphanage scream that rings out and she goes right back to sleep but we also have an instant onset rage that has her red-faced and wadded up wailing in the corner of the crib in the time it takes me to walk to it. I would be lying if I said a few nights of this past week have been nothing short of hellish....the ninth circle of hellish.

We have the sound machine. She seems to like 'rain' the best but it is no panacea. It also has little discs that play nursery images on the ceiling. That part did NOT fly. That d*mn cow jumping over the moon freaked her out every time. So, we stay with the sounds.

Last night brought us one of the rages. She would glaze over red-faced screaming in front of me. Trust me, that's an awful thing to watch. Worse yet is that 'Sybil' like behavior when a cat enters the room. She will instantly quiet, smile and laugh. As soon as the cat walks away it is back to screams. I feel like putting the cat on a leash and tying the leash to the crib (kidding, people).

The bout last night had me so exhausted that I had to walk away, put my face in the pillow and scream myself. I cried for a few minutes and then decided to get the heck over it because my whining certainly would solve nothing. I began to claw frantically through drawers for the copy of 'No-Cry Sleep Solution' that this gal sent to me. I was determined to find SOME answers....or at least something to try. After a lengthy screamfest, the Wing went back to sleep and rather than sleep myself I read and read...the entire book. Many of the suggested behaviors are, indeed, common sense. Interesting thing is that nothing is common sense anymore when you are fried from exhaustion. I decided I was going to try a few of the techniques of staying quiet and in the dark as well as not spazzing about a diaper change unless it was an obvious issue. Sure enough, the Wing awakened with a scream about an hour later. I used these very techniques and it WORKED (of course, I think it was beginner's luck). Within 10 minutes, at about 130, she was fast asleep again and the screaming ceased easily (that time). I am shocked...still. This morning at 8:30 I awoke and realized I hadn't heard a thing. I peeked in the crib and she was stretched out snoozing on her tummy. Usually I find her wadded in the corner of the crib in the mornings. Wow, if only the fix were that simple. Never fear, I am not that gullible. I do have to say one glorious night of rest has me ready to deal with much, much more.

Here's my baby this morning. Remember, she could only sit up two weeks ago. Now she is pulling herself up and standing. She still doesn't look convinced that she can do it but I don't figure that confidence will take long.

She digs her Jake.