To sleep, perchance to dream.

So, a quick update on the whole sleeping situation.

Well, not the whole sleeping situation of the world, just the bit of it going on at my house.

It's been 10 days now since I impulsively decided that I couldn't cope with 2 year old GG coming in to our bed in the middle of the night and spending the rest of the night kicking me in the back, putting her feet in my face and thrashing around so much she once gave me a black eye. For an account of precisely how much hell I unleashed upon myself that night, see here.

Well, I am so totally glad that we (well, I - hubby works most nights, so I am claiming this as my victory) stuck with it. After a few nights, GG seemed to realise there was a New World Order in place and was going down reasonably peacefully, A HUGE thank you to my Aunt who suggested I stand just outside her door, answering her occasionally so she didn't feel alone, but wasn't using me as a sleep prop. Genius. Of course, I spent the days running her ragged and didn't put her to bed til she couldn't have kept her eyes open had the entire Hi-5 troupe come through the door in all their multi-coloured warbling glory.

I should, of course, have realised that anyone sharing my DNA would not go quietly into that good night. About the 4th or 5th night in, she put up such a fight that by 1am I had totally thrown in the towel and was about to just haul her into the spare bed with me, already feeling the recrimination build up, but just too damn tired and emotionally spent to care. And here is why, despite all our ups and downs, I am still married... my husband, one the one night he was not working his second job, and having to be up in a few short hours, with perfect timing, got up from bed, came down to see how I was going right when I had admitted defeat - and took over. Knowing that I'd hate myself come the morning if I gave in, he sent me off to bed, and then lay on GG's tiny single bed with her til she fell asleep, whispering and crooning to her. I dug out the old monitor (which is still hooked up at her end for the nightlight) and fell asleep to the sound of his voice soothing away all our worries away. Bless him.

Anyway, after that night, she realised that she was no match for this team of parenters extraordinaire (shut up - is totally a word) and has progressed to going to bed easily and staying all night in her bed. I also inadvertently discovered the trick to a scream-free exit from the bedroom. I annoy her. tee hee. Just a little bit, honest! See, once I have sung her favourite song, I scooch over, give her a kiss on the forehead and whisper our special goodnight, staying right in her face. By this time, she's really tired and not into displays of affection, and just tells me to go wait outside. Score!! Apparently, like men, toddlers need to think everything is their idea. Whatever works.

So now my body is slowly getting used to getting actual sleep at night, and I am feeling more energised, although not particularly so when she comes bouncing into our room at an eye-wateringly early hour, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and singing her own praises... "I leep AAAAWWWWWLLLLLL night in my bed!! Yay GG!"

"Yay GG" I echo - making a beeline for the coffee.