One year ago today I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. I remember the first night after Lily was born she was sleeping in the nursery at the hospital with the other new babies while Jake and I were itching to get as much sleep as we could in a hospital bed and fold-out chair. Since I had been in labor the night before, and therefore didn't sleep at all (Lily was born at 5:20am), we were craving a quiet, dark room. Needless to say, we were in dreamland before the last nurse left the room. Then, I awoke with a start four hours later and shook Jake. How could we have let the baby go for four hours without nursing?! How could we have let her spend four hours away from us?! We rushed into the nursery and asked for her from the night shift nurses who flashed the look of "you're just like every other annoying first time parents. Please go back to sleep." But they gave us the baby and we felt better.
Six months later, when Lily was going through her "six month wakeful" period, I was begging for four straight hours of sleep. She taunted us with sleeping through the night at a beautifully young age and then snatched it away. Jake and I spent hours kneeling by the side of her crib with our hands on her back. We spent what felt like decades standing, cradling, and bouncing her. What I wouldn't have given to have had a baby who was comforted by a rocking chair! Or even a baby that was able to sleep in bed with us. But no, she has always been set in her ways and she has never been interested in what happens to be easy for her parents. Good for her.
Now, my year-old toddler sleeps for 12 hours straight and I sometimes wish she wasn't such a sleepy girl! By the time we get home from daycare, eat dinner, and have a bath, she's ready for bed. To have just one extra hour to play would be the best! But I suppose that's what weekends are for. And it's definitely better than going back to the sleepless nights! She's walking (well, toddling), talking (in her own language), and fearlessly exploring (to the dismay of her mother's protective nature).
What's next, Lily? I can't wait to find out! Happy birthday, sweet baby.
