Monday, October 26, 2009

The Show Must Go On

Life continues here at the Culver abode. Edie is continuing on her nightly scream fests, but at least her sleeping is getting better (for now). She slept 7 or so hours straight last night which was a nice treat. We've deduced that the evening crying doesn't seem to be related to pain or discomfort so much as boredom. We're wondering if 8 weeks is too early to diagnose ADHD? Joking.

Kind of.

We basically need to mix up what we're doing with her in 5-10 minute intervals to keep the crying from escalating. So where we used to be able to watch some tv together in the evenings while I bounced our happy baby on the yoga ball, now that only works for 5 minutes or so before she's raging pissed. Then we can set her on the floor and dangle toys in her face while she stares raptly for 5 minutes before she gets angry again. Then we'll walk around the house carrying her in her new favorite seated position, facing out and she's happy as a clam. But if I stay in the same room for too long like that, she lets us know by wailing like a banshee - but the banshee imitation stops immediately if I start the house tour again. Pretty sure if it was pain, leaving the living room for the kitchen wouldn't cure it. To be fair to Edie, she is pretty effing cute during the day. She likes sleeping in with me and then she nurses in the bed all cute and snuggly. Once she's full, we dink around in the bed, giggling together until she loses patience and we get ready for the day. During the day, we go to Mom's groups (We now have a second Mom's Group that's neighborhood specific on Tuesdays in addition to First Weeks on Wednesdays), matinees, meet friends for walks or sometimes we just stroll around the neighborhood the two of us. We're hoping that this nightly "chaos" predicts that Edie will finally start holding her head up more easily. She seems a bit slow to hold her head up compared to a lot of the other babies in my groups, and she's fighting really hard to do it without wobbling so much, so maybe that's what all this is about...

3 comments:

Erianna said...

Ah, I well remember the evening cryfests... basically the hours from 5-8p were fair game (all of them). Hang in there! Just think, when she's two, it'll be tantrums at all hours about all things! You'll love it :P

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the "witching hour" always stinks. I remember it well. It's awful. hang in there. Have you started moving bedtime to earlier a bit yet? Just a thought. Maybe she's getting really tired and then can't fall asleep.

lindsey. said...

My mom insisted upon buying a swing for us and said it would be a lifesaver. When Marina is fussy and nothing seems to soothe her, I put her in her swing and it is like instant peace. She loves it and is mesmerized by the motion. She napped in her swing yesterday. You might consider getting one.