The mystery of naps

Yesterday: 5 1/2 hours worth of naps.
Today: 1 1/2 hours worth of naps.

????????????????

I think that if she is sleepy I should let her sleep AND last night she was awake for about 20 minutes once and when she got up again, I took her to bed and I had to wake her this morning to leave for a loan closing. It just makes no sense to me. There is no rhyme or reason to sleep and babies. A fact I knew before, but now I really understand. Sleep is something I miss. Don't get me wrong, I'm not missing sleep all together. I just miss 7 solid hours of sleep, or at least the opportunity to try. I think that before I had Lauren and said I was tired or sleep, I was just being a wus. Now I know what those word really mean.
I have been advised to sleep when she sleeps. I have a problem convincing myself though. I have always had trouble sleeping at night if I slept during the day. Maybe that was then and this is now so I should possibly try it. I might actually like being able to be a fully functioning adult again.
Have I mentioned lately how much I love Lauren? She is amazing, beautiful, funny, charming, sweet and completely kissable. She is all around my favorite thing in the entire world and up until now, chocolate and coke were very high on that list. She blows them out of the water. Now, understand that I love the rest of my family unconditionally, but there is no love in the entire world like the love for your child. Nothing compares...

Better sleep, sorta'...

Last night Lauren went to sleep OK, however, after 30 very short minutes in her own bed, she awakened screaming! I put her next to me and she went to sleep right away. Slept all night with her foot in my back, but she slept. Everything I have read says that she should be sleeping 11 hours a night and 3 1/2 a day. Yeah, right! We average 8 hours a night and 3 during the day. She is growing great, happy when she is awake and rarely looks sleep deprived. I guess she's OK.
Thanks to all of our family for the recent help watching Lauren for work or fun!! We really appreciate it!
Keep your fingers crossed thar all goes well with the AT&T/Cingular buy out. We've been here before. Happy thoughts...:)

It's 4:30 in the A.M. hour...

Early. That's when Lauren has been getting up since I got back from Chicago. Why did she sleep until 6:45 for John and not for me? He says sleeping dust, I say pure dumb luck. I don't know how to get her to sleep longer or where my baby who slept until 7:15 on a REGULAR basis went. Any ideas?
Oprah update:
I saw my elbow two or three times and the back of my head once. I also saw myself as a small speck in a long shot across the studio. I really want to go back sometime. Maybe I'll try to go next time when John can go too. I think it was a really neat experience. Maybe we could go to the Christmas show. Wouldn't that be great? $5,000 worth of free stuff last Christmas. I think I could handle that.
More later...

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Having said that, let me tell you about the whirlwind trip to Chicago. My mother and I left Thursday afternoon and got to Chicago by about 9:00 p.m. We got a SWEET deal on a hotel room at the Palmer House in downtown, ate dinner at The Big Downtown (a restaurant in the hotel), got back to the room and there was a voice mail message. It was room service. John had called the hotel while we were at dinner and ordered dessert to be sent to our room. It was snicker cheesecake and six cookies. Delicious and such a surprise.
The next morning, we got up at 6:00, left the hotel about 7:20 and arrived at Harpo Studios about 7:35. It was cold outside but thankfully, we got there after the doors open, so we waited inside. We went through the security check, waited a while then went to the studio, waited a while, Oprah came out, we taped the show, which will be on Monday, and when it was over, we got a bag of goodies, 2 actually, picked up our shirts and waited for a cab. Then it was back to the hotel to pick up our bags, get the truck and head back to Indiana. All in all it was a great trip, cold, but wonderful. Very surreal. Seeing celebrities in person is very odd.
I was very glad to see Lauren and John.
Don't forget to watch Oprah's PopStar Challenge on Monday and look for mother and me. OH! And don't forget to vote at oprah.com for your favorite finalist after the show.
More later...

Chicago here we come!

Well, it took what seems like an eternity for Shavaughn to call me back, but she finally did and mother and I are headed out for Chicago tomorrow afternoon. Yay!!!
How can I leave Lauren even if only for one night? I hope she cooperates with John. If only I were a fly on the wall...
More later...

WE DID IT!!

For those of you following along, I am referring to sleep. We did it! The whole night once again. We've done it before, and will hopefully continue. How exciting!!

NEWS FLASH:
I might have gotten tickets to go to the Oprah Winfrey Show. I'll let you know once I know for sure. What this means is my first over night without Lauren. That also means John's first night alone all night with Lauren. I'm sure they will be fine. Not so sure about me. However, it's just one night. Less than 24 hours. I'm sure I will call John mulitple times during the trip. That's what wireless phones are for right?

Sleeping, sleeping

Do you see a pattern in my posts? I am starting to. We slept most of the night. All but 45 little minutes. Didn't feel so little at 1:15 a.m., but hey, I promised to try. And try I will.

Today we are trying something new. We are going to go to the pool. It's indoor, don't worry. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. She loves bath time, therefore I have very high hopes for the pool. She has a sweet little two piece swimming suit with lady bugs on it so the camera will also be going to the pool. I will send out pictures if any are good.

Sleep, glorious sleep

Just when Lauren was back on a good schedule, John and I had to go and mess with it by leaving town for the weekend. As previously stated, if you mess with a babies schedule you've done it to yourself. Last night was pay back for messing with her schedule. SEVEN times awakening. SEVEN. That is a huge number of awake times. Tonight will be better. Tomorrow will hopefully be back to normal.
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Picture day

Today is picture day and I have no idea what she will wear. Maybe a diaper. Why not? We have plenty of them, they are very natural and I know that they fit. Perhaps I should have a fall back plan of clothes, but what fun would that be? Any way, say cheese...

Reading group at the library

We went to reading group today and I really watched Lauren from a "distance" and this is what I think. I think that the last ten months have been so fast that I don't know how much faster time can go. I also know that for every year I have lived, time speeds up. And speeds up and speeds up. Therefore, she will be graduating before I know it. Why? Why can't she stay small just a little while longer? I know I can't wish time to slow down, so I will do what I can to enjoy every day of her pulling up, smiling, crying, waking at night and try to be patient even when patience is the last thing on my mind. I will try to remember that sweet breath on my neck while she is sleeping on my shoulder when she is wailing because she doesn't get her way. I will try to remember the sweet kisses I get when she is screaming for no apparent reason. I will also try to remember that she is her own person and I am trying to rear her to have an opinion and express it even if it is different than mine. I will try.

Naptime

I don't understand the mystery surrounding naps and babies. Why fight naps? I certainly wouldn't if I were offered one. I have often heard that you go through stages with naps:
1. You need one but don't want one
2. You want one but can't have one
3. You take one but can't remember taking one, therefore you take another
Am I right? I think so. Still, napping is good for Lauren and for me. She gets rest, I get some other things done, and occationally I get to post to my blog and read e-mails. Naps are great. They also make Lauren A LOT more fun to play with since she is rested. I love naps, but not as much as I love her.