Sleep is Soooooo Overrated When Cuddles Are Involved

I also thought I could title this blog entry as "Other Jobs I Could Do That Require No Sleep." 

I guess I just don't know how to use "The Secret" correctly. And praying for sleep just isn't getting it done either. All three kiddos were up at some point last night (deja vu? I think I've posted that exact sentence way too many times). 

I like to sleep. Who am I kidding? I LOVE to sleep. I could sleep 12-14 hours, if a few little people I know would let me. 

And I know, I know. This is just that stage of parenting: little kids don't sleep well and we have to wait until the stage when they do sleep. But surely there is a way to TEACH them to sleep better. Or better yet, a way to teach them to simply go back to sleep after they wake up in the wee hours of the night. 

A conversation with my four-year-old:

Me: So, Alex, why do you think you keep climbing into my bed in the middle of the night?

Alex: Because, because . . .because . . .you keep carrying me back into my bed when I get into your bed, but I want to cuddle you. Don't you want to cuddle me?

Me: Of course, I want to cuddle you . . .I just prefer to cuddle in the middle of the day. 

Alex: But I like to cuddle you always! . . . I love you, Mama.

OK, OK . . . I know. My kiddos are pretty freaking awesome. And I'm lucky and blessed to have them. And I want to appreciate these middle of the night cuddles because I know they won't last forever. Yeah, I may be able to sleep through the night then, but I'll be honest, I will miss the cuddles. 

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As a friend said to me yesterday: "Being a mom is fun; being a parent is a pain."

An Update on Sleep (or the Lack Thereof)

Sleep remains elusive. Well, let me clarify that. GOOD, quality sleep remains elusive.

While Maddie tends to sleep well 9 out of 10 nights, she has nightmares, walks in her sleep, talks in her sleep. You name it, she's got it. Not bad though. I can handle that one night every so often.

Alex . . . oh, Alex . . . why won't you sleep . . . in your own freaking big boy bed?! My little man turned four on October 16. Alas, my dreams were dashed when Alex did not suddenly turn into the world's best sleeper once four years hit (at 10:50 a.m., I might add). No, no. He's still making his way into our king-size bed at least once, often twice, a night.

Nate turns two years old in two weeks. Crazy! And his sleeping (or lack thereof, lest we forget) habits are pitiful. Pitiful! He falls asleep like a dream, but he too is up once or twice a night.

I'm tired. Being a mommy means being tired. I know that. I realize that. I'm living that.

It helps that I love these three little ones with my whole (and tired) heart.

As a little girl, I always dreamed of having children. And now I'm living the dream . . .I just never knew the dream would be this tiring.

Don't get me wrong -- being a mom is one (well, three ;) of the most amazing things I've ever done in my life. It's just that, well, quite honestly, I like sleep. I like it a lot. I need sleep. But I'm not getting enough sleep . . .and I probably won't for a few more years.

And that's OK. My kids are my priority right now. That's this stage of life for me. And while exhausting . . .it's the best time. And in the scheme of things . . .hoping to raise three happy, healthy kids . . . getting good sleep isn't quite as important.