Finley the Elf

Name engraved into clothes by Aunt Rhonda H.

I know Christmas is over but he finally fits into these clothes and I highly doubt that he will coming Christmas. So....
Early Merry Christmas :D 
 

Battle of Sleep

You have this picture.... 

Holding your sweet darling in your arms, singing a lullaby while you gently rock your baby, helping him to enter into sweet Lalaland. You put him down into his cozy crib and watch him peacefully sleep with a lovingly smile in your face. At last you give him a sweet good night kiss, turn off the light and leave the room untill he may wake up for hunger. After 4 to 6 hours or so.

At least that is one of the pictures a you have in your mind. A dreamy picture. A beautiful picture. A picture you may have seen in movies before. But that's the thing with movies. There just movies!

Reality looks different. 

I didn't know that it could be quite a challenge if not a battle to put a baby to sleep.Well, I had some idea of it but clearly I didn't have a realistic view of it.

Night after night I put on my armor and prepare myself for a  new round of sleeplessness that has transformed into an "orge", a creature of the night, only alive in the shadows of darkness. I wouldn't be surprised if I would scare someone by entering the room, making them run for life.

I tried everything but no matter how much effort I put into it with a routine every night (which baby's thrive for, incl. a baby massage for relaxation) that helps the baby understand it is time for sleep he still takes hours to fall asleep. I put him down at 7 pm and he only starts sleeping deep and peacefully at 10 or 11 pm with lots of upset scearming and tears much to the frustaration on both sides, the baby and the parents. *sigh*

I asked the doctor for advise and researched in books. Everyone says something slightly different. Many advise to let the baby cry some at night so he will learn to soothe himself and fall asleep by himself other say that is cruel since babys can't soothe themselves untill they are at least 3 month. 

I tried to help him fall asleep by rocking him and singing for hours but everytime I put him down the moment he hits the mattress of the crib hell breaks loose. Now I try to let him cry some before I come to rescue him and comfort him, go out again and let him cry some. It seems to make him even more upset then the other method. *sigh* 

Crisis over crises. I feel bad everytime he cries so hard as if he is telling me "Why are you abondem me?" 

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa! with a very accusing face expression *sigh*

Well, I will keep trying untill I will have accomplished my mission in this Battle of Sleep and won the war. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, can I not? So here I come in my full armor, shiny in the sunlight, on my white horse ready for battle.