Whining (mine, not hers)

I whined last night.  I told Daniel that I needed to whine.  He said, "Okay, whine." And I did.

As much as I relish my hours with Noodle, there are still days when I crave Daniel's arrival from work with such zeal that I am sitting with her on the grass in the front yard as he drives up.  We are feigning an interest in the grass, the leaves, the sky...but really, the clock is ticking.  The minutes are passing until I will be able to share in her care, go to the bathroom with the door closed, and make a snack without simultaneously singing "Twinkle Twinkle."

It is on these nights that I lurk near Daniel, waiting for his chest to be flat and free...and once Nugglet is down, dinner is eaten, and teeth are brushed...towards him I fall.  Nuzzling into the crook of his arm, asking him to touch my hair, and so I can begin my sad sad tale.  It usually goes something like this:  "Nora didn't nap well today.  I just don't know why.  Nothing has changed.  Maybe she's teething or having a growth spurt.  She doesn't want to be put down.  I am so tired.  I don't get enough sleep.  I am so tired.  I want to go to bed early.  I have to pump now.  I hate pumping.  I feel like a cow.  I hope she sleeps for a while. I am so tired."

Then one of us reaches for the video monitor.  We stare at her sleeping.  We comment on how we love her so much that it hurts.  One of us imitates her sounds, her faces, her toe wiggles.  Daniel squeezes me tight and I soon I am falling asleep.

Nothing wrong with a good whine (wine) now and then.

One of my favorite videos lately...a freshly fed Noodle, showing her buttery sweetness...and never-ending appetite.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                           And here's a video of her laughing at her dad tonight while enjoying some pears. You can really see her two pearly nubs. Those sharp nubs make for interesting feedings at times!

Comments

[Claire Bidwell Smith]

I remember those days and nights so well. I used to wait at the top of the stairs with Vera and thrust her into Greg's arms before he'd even taken his coat off.

I think that the 6-9 month period of V's life was some of the hardest. She was still a terrible sleeper then and the accumulated months of sleeplessness had really caught up to me. The newness of being a mother was kind of edging out and I felt very imprisoned by my current state.

But remember this, the most amazing thing about kids is that they change ALL the time. You'll look back a month from now in a totally different place. Hopefully a more rested one.