Sleep is NOT overrated

It has been another long week, but not as long as the two that went before it. As you know, we have all been suffering under Elizabeth's new found fondness for waking at all hours of the night and refusing to go to sleep.

The good news is that after a lot of research we have made some progress. How did we accomplish this mean feat? Well it has been a hodgepodge of all the advice we have been given.

One thing I have learned is that when it comes to getting toddlers to sleep through the night, "everyone has got their own opinions". One side says NEVER GIVE IN, NEVER GO IN" lest you set yourself up for a lifetime of catering to a whining brat's wishes...she is just trying to control you. The solution from that camp is to gate the room and let her basically "cry it out". Even the pediatric sleep specialist we consulted recommended a modified version of the famous "cry it out" Ferber method.

And then there are the softer sided folks who wince at the thought of "caging" their child and abandoning them throughout the night. They recommend giving the child the comfort and support at night as long as they need it--everything from letting the child fall asleep with the parent in the room, to letting the child sleep with them.

It seems that beliefs in child rearing run pretty much along the lines of how people feel about their religions. Everyone thinks theirs is the best.

So, what have we done thus far? Well, firstly I will say that we have no idea if this is the best way to proceed and we admit that we may have to change course it this method fails us-but currently Marty is sleeping on the floor (on a mattress I might add) next to Elizabeth until the Supreme Leader (her new nickname) is asleep. Then he safely exits and returns either to have some time to himself or to go to bed. She usually sleeps till about 3 or so and then comes in looking for Marty. He repeats the process and she heads back to sleep.


Marty has taken the helm on the night time waking for now since he has a marvelous ability to be fully awakened--even startled and then go back to sleep. Once I am woken up in the middle of the night--that's it--there is no going back to sleep.


Is it ideal. Heck, no. But until we are rested enough to attempt some other solutions, we'll take it. She is getting about 10 hours of sleep this way and we are averaging 7 or so.

I haven't had much time to take many photos or update on too much that is going on around here but will fill you in more hopefully in the next few days.

Here is a video I took well over a month ago. I walked in the room and Elizabeth was playing her guitar. If I didn't mention it before--the girl loves music. Hey, her hair does look a little the Beatles, doesn't it?