A frustration sandwich
7:30 p.m.: My husband and I start the bedtime CD and put our twins in their new separate cribs. For the past couple weeks, when we have finished the bedtime routine (solid food, bath, bottle, story, CD, lights out) the boys have gone to sleep without crying at all: The Holy Grail of Parenthood. But tonight something is different. Malachi is not happy.
7:37 p.m.: Malachi is still crying loudly and as this is very unusual, Matt goes to check on him. He sings and rocks him, but Malachi continues to cry and arches his back in his arms. Matt decides there's nothing to do but put him back in the crib and let him cry it out.
7:40 p.m.: Nerves frayed and CIO willpower weakened over weeks of (relatively) tear-free sleep times, Matt goes to check on him again. He concludes that Malachi is simply not tired and brings him out to me.
7:41 p.m.: I know better. I sing and rock him until he is calm. I lay him down at the very edge of his crib, his head and feet touching the long sides. Before he can get too upset, I grab his brother who is groggily awake after all the commotion and set him down in his old place at the other end.
7:45 p.m.: Malachi, seeing his brother in his rightful place, coos his approval. My heart melts at the first real sign that he recognizes and loves his brother. They both drift to sleep peacefully, safely in sight of each other.
...10:12 p.m.: Jaden screams awake because in his dreams he has managed to travel to the other side of the crib, flip himself over and is ramming his head repeatedly into Malachi's, which is, of course, precisely why we got him his own crib in the first place.
And thus parenting. A frustration sandwich with a heart-meltingly gooey center of utter adorableness.
7:37 p.m.: Malachi is still crying loudly and as this is very unusual, Matt goes to check on him. He sings and rocks him, but Malachi continues to cry and arches his back in his arms. Matt decides there's nothing to do but put him back in the crib and let him cry it out.
7:40 p.m.: Nerves frayed and CIO willpower weakened over weeks of (relatively) tear-free sleep times, Matt goes to check on him again. He concludes that Malachi is simply not tired and brings him out to me.
7:41 p.m.: I know better. I sing and rock him until he is calm. I lay him down at the very edge of his crib, his head and feet touching the long sides. Before he can get too upset, I grab his brother who is groggily awake after all the commotion and set him down in his old place at the other end.
7:45 p.m.: Malachi, seeing his brother in his rightful place, coos his approval. My heart melts at the first real sign that he recognizes and loves his brother. They both drift to sleep peacefully, safely in sight of each other.
 |
| Jaden and Malachi find themselves at the center of their crib every night even though Matt and I put them down on opposite ends. And yes, I realize this looks like a SIDS "what not to do" poster, but they won't sleep any other way. |
...10:12 p.m.: Jaden screams awake because in his dreams he has managed to travel to the other side of the crib, flip himself over and is ramming his head repeatedly into Malachi's, which is, of course, precisely why we got him his own crib in the first place.
And thus parenting. A frustration sandwich with a heart-meltingly gooey center of utter adorableness.
SO in love w/ this post. obviously not the crying/frustration part, but absolutely malachi's need for his brother. hope the transition goes more smoothly for you all.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It is totally cute now that they are starting to interact with each other. But I do hope that they can get used to sleeping separately soon!
ReplyDeleteWhere is the "like" button? I have become accustomed to the one-click affirmation of approval. Anyhow, I "like" this post, very sweet.
ReplyDeleteLove this post!! We also used to put the boys on opposite ends of the crib and every morning they would be snuggled together in the middle. Your picture brings back memories! So adorable!
ReplyDeleteThat's amazing and heartwarming to know that they love and miss one another.
ReplyDeleteIt's making me love and miss them too.
— Jessie
This one made me smile.
ReplyDeleteAwww, that picture is so precious! My boys never did like sleeping next to each other, they would just wake each other up with punches and screams. I hope your sleepless nights end soon! I feel your pain, I had to let mine CIO and ended up CIO myself, but at a year old they finally slept through, so there is light at the end of the tunnel! =) Hang in there momma, they are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAwwww, so sweet! Could you maybe put their cribs right up against each other so they can see the other through the slats? but yeah, they say twins share a special bond...
ReplyDeleteThis is great! They seem to have a very special bond at a very early age! Too cute! However it must be so tiring for you when they wake at night!I don't miss those days with my daughters!
ReplyDeleteAwww, he just missed his brother! So cute. I can only imagine all the fun (and exhaustion, lol) ya'll have with them :)
ReplyDeleteStopped over from FTLOB! Have a great one!
http://texagermanadian.blogspot.com/
That is so sweet, the two of them sleeping together.
ReplyDeleteOur twins wouldn't sleep any other way, either.
ReplyDelete:)
That's amazing and heartwarming to know that they love and miss one another.
ReplyDelete