We woke up Saturday morning, and when I opened the front door, this spider had made its web from one porch post to the other. I thought it was very Halloweeny. (After I took this picture, Mr. Spider had to go. I'm sorry but anything that makes me scream when it moves is not welcome on my front porch.)
The three pictures I've posted with Jonah smiling (the two in the previous post and this one) are about the only smiles he had for picture time. He cried at The Pumpkin Patch the previous weekend, the night before Halloween the whole time we were carving pumpkins, and was pretty stoic throughout this photo session. He was not feeling Halloween. I have higher hopes for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Please excuse the green mildew on our porch railings. Power-washing is on my ever-growing list of things to do, but it's just not happening. I probably could have clone stamped that junk out, but I'm just too tired. Oh well.
Matt and I worked together on the pumpkins. (Jonah fussed and cried in his high chair.) I did the "We love Jonah" one, and we both worked on the other one. Matt did the majority of it, and I just kind of cleaned it up a little. Matt said, "Wow. Pumpkin smell. Every year it surprises me." And then the next morning, we thought Jonah's morning poop definitely smelled like pumpkin. (No, he hadn't eaten any.) I have no idea why, but we both thought it before either of us said anything about it.
Jonah didn't dress up this year, just the little "My First" onsie. I wasn't really motivated to find a costume (although I did look a couple places), just because I knew it would frustrate me. All the ones I found either had hoods, zippers, hard plastic or other things I thought would cause face / chin / ear blisters. Or they just looked super-hot. I just didn't think it was worth it for him to not know the difference. Plus, I loved that little onsie, so I'm happy with how all the pictures turned out. Next year, though, we'll definitely find something (or I'll have Katie make him something - she made Rory a Toodee costume from scratch, and she doesn't even really sew. Crazy girl.).
We had 72 trick-or-treaters and that's down a little from last year - partly because of the rain and partly because we had to close up a little earlier this year to put Jonah to bed.
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Jonah's eating a little better the last couple days (not more but easier). Yesterday he took seven and a half ounces completely awake and calm. It was amazing. Today he's kind of fallen back into crying until you get him to sleep and then taking the bottle, but I did get him to take about three ounces at his noon feeding before he fell asleep. I'm praying and praying that he'll continue to realize that eating is not so bad and start taking his bottles when he's awake. It's definitely a psychological aversion to eating and not a physical pain thing (or at least most of the time it's not).
He has not taken a nap (except the twenty minutes of sleeping when we feed him a bottle) for the last few days. And it's killing me. I'm so exhausted, and I don't ever get a break. Or if I do, it's shoving Jonah in front of the TV (which I hate to do too much) while I switch laundry, make phone calls, or check email. I'm determined to get him into a nap schedule again if it kills me. Every time I try to lay him down, his eyes pop open. But I'm going to sit in his room (to make sure he doesn't rub his face) and just let him lay there every day until he finally gets the hint. He has to eventually get the hint, right? He is so fussy at night between about 6 and 8 because he's so tired. But if we put him to bed earlier than about eight, he won't settle down until about that time anyway, and he wakes up super early in the morning (like pre-6:30). And he's so overly-tired by the time he goes to bed, he'll barely eat anything.
And I don't know if it's teething or the time change, but he's not sleeping nearly as well at night either. He was just waking up the one time when we were getting him up to eat, but last night he woke up and had to get a butt pat four times between 9 and midnight, and then screamed for most of the hour it took to feed him in the middle of the night. I was so on the verge of not posting tonight because I'm just so tired, but wanted to share those pics. Please don't worry if there's a night here and there over the next couple weeks where I don't post. Until he's sleeping better, I'm really going to try to get in bed earlier. I can feel the exhaustion setting in. And just ask Matt. I do NOT handle lack of sleep well. It isn't pretty.
Hope you guys had a Happy Halloween. I LOVE FALL.
26 comments:
I have three children. The first two slept well the last one did not. I tried everything and it was just his disposition. Finally, at 18 months, he slept and he slept and he slept. Now he is a good sleeper thank the Lord. Perhaps Jonah just isn't a good sleeper right now? I would stress and stress about it and it did no good. The exhaustion for me was difficult and hard on our marriage. Hang in there!!!
loved the pics...hope you get some much needed rest and I hope Jonah gets back on a schedule for you guys. Isn't amazing how very little it takes to mess up your kids whole routine. I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 11 month old and we are in a constanst state of trying to adjust back to a schedule do to something; holidays, birthday weekends, teething, colds, time change...I hope it is comforting for you all mothers go through SOME of the same stuff you are...
praying for you all
Praying that you get sleep soon!
I'm a brand new reader of your blog!
I have a 7 year old and a 5 month old, I wonder if I will ever sleep again-I feel your pain.
My 5 month old, Ruby, wore the same onesie for Halloween! She looked almost as cute as Jonah :)
I do not handle lack of sleep well, either. Everything is so much worse in the middle of the night, and when you're not getting breaks during the day it can push you to the brink of insanity! We've been there, done that, but have not had to deal with all of the extra stress you have. So take a break! We love reading your blog, hearing your updates, and seeing pictures of Jonah but you need to take care of yourself too. There is so much guilt that comes with being a mommy, so don't be too hard on yourself! You continue to be in my prayers!
~Amy
Good luck with the naps! N. did not nap more than 20 minutes for most of his first year, when our doctor said, "It won't hurt to leave him in his crib to cry for a whole hour!" Eventually, he got the hint (now he even seems to like naptime, and wakes up much more cheerfully). I completely understand that you have to worry about Jonah rubbing his face, but it sounds like you have a great plan! Can you sit so you are kind of out of his line of sight so he doesn't try to convince you to get him up?
That spider web pic is amazing! I figured you photoshopped in some texture or something.
I don't do well without sleep either. I hope you all get some rest soon.
So glad to see more Jonah pictures tonight. Sorry to hear he hasn't been very happy the last few days. Lack of sleep is super frustrating and really takes a toll. I will be praying that Jonah gets back into a good nap schedule. I know it makes all the difference in the world to have a break during the day!
Thank you for thinking of us under your circumstances. We certainly look forward to all of your posts and everyone gathers around the computer to read them. I praise God for the food reports you have now! I pray that they continue to increase...along with your sleep.
Will Jonah sleep in your arms if you curled up in a big recliner or chair? I have always found that uncomfortable sleep is better than no sleep.
We love you.
will pray for SLEEP AT THE WILLIAMS RESIDENCE FOR ALL.
i didn't notice the mold on the pourch, thought Jonut looked great in his onsie, the pumpkins were great!
prayers always,
2shoes
I hate spiders, but love the picture! I love how the spider web shows up! Disgusting creatures, but their webs amaze me. =)
Beautiful pictures of your little pumpkin, as usual.
A friend just suggested the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Healthy Child" to me. I haven't read it yet, but she's been using it with her 7 month old twins who started waking in the middle of the night and stopped napping during the day, and she has found it helpful....just thought I'd throw that out there. (Not that you have time to read right now!)
Oh little baby Jonah, why no sleepy? What's that you say? You just love to look at your Mommy's pretty face too much to sleep? Well, she will still be there when you wake up, so night night little boy! :)
Hope you get some good sleep, and a good nap time!
Jonah sounds like my son when he was that age. I can relate to the exhaustion and frustration. Once he hit 18 months, everything smoothed over and he became a great sleeper, both nap and nighttime. I pray that it comes sooner for you. Hang in there. You're a wonderful mom. Jonah is blessed.
Your pictures with Jonah are lovely as always, smiling or not. In my experience it is very difficult to get a baby (or toddler for that matter) to smile for the camera on demand.
I pray that Jonah's eating and sleeping will improve exponentially over the next few weeks. Remember that we serve a mighty God!
He is so cute. Keeping you in our prayers for sleep to come to all of you, and for Jonah's eating better and during waking hours.
Blessings, Mari
jonah rocks the halloween look. he's so beautiful. and he'll resolve those sleeping issues. it's just a baby's way of trying to be the boss. ha! i'll be praying for rest and eating. . .
you're such a good mommy, and i wish i knew you in real life. you are a treasure. and i laugh every time i read your post (well, not at the unfunny parts, but definitely at the humorous parts. you have a real gift). hope you have a restful next few days.
Hi Patrice:
Jonah is looking so good. Love the pictures. Hope the eating and sleeping problems get solved soon. Will continue to pray for Jonah, Tripp, Samantha and especially Leah. God Bless the Williams family. Hang in there, it will get much better. Love Leah's Nana
With a newborn at home, I am again reminded why sleep deprivation is a form of torture :-) Our eldest ate and slept like a champ, our baby princess suffers from reflux so eating and sleeping are a whole other ball game... I finally caved and moved the cradle swing into our bedroom and that's where she sleeps!
I hope baby Jonut had a good night and that you were able to catch some zzzz's.
Blessings.
Loved the spider picture...he/she was a busy spider that night to have such a huge web so quick.
I feel for you Patrice. Sleep has never been a favorite past time for any of my kids...especially at night! Lucy has been waking up screaming in the middle of the night and wanting to be held for about an hour or so before she will let us put her back down. Since I have less than 7 weeks until my due date and I'll be nursing I won't be getting much sleep until at least mid 2010 I'm sure :) My husband does help with Lucy at night but sometimes he's just not good enough for her and I keep hearing, "Mommy, I neeeeed you!" I can't ignore that!
Hopefully Jonah will outgrow this and begin to sleep and eat better soon.
Just wait til next year when that baby gets some candy, then he will be into halloween!
My daughter was such a picky/uninterested eater that around 8 months or so we had to change things up a bit and 'surprise' her with a drop of chocolate or strawberry syrup in her bottles. Cant hurt - and you should've seen the look of surprise in her face when she first tasted it - ha! Whatever works?!? Right?
Good golly,we will SO understand if you don't post...a girl needs her sleep in order to function and be a good Mommy! Great Halloween pictures...I have yet to post mine on FB...gotta get moving on that! Anyhoo, here's hoping Jonut does better eating and sleeping these next few days in order for you to catch up! Take care and hugs and prayers being sent your way!
Being a mom is super tough. You have to daily question what makes the most sense at any given time, i.e, washing dishes or doing laundry--ironing or makes cupcakes--and it's a battle I fight on a daily basis. Something someone told me about a while ago was flylady.com
She helps you get your house in order without making you clean for 6 hours a day. Day 1 is just clean your sink til it's spotless--she even tells you not to do the dishes in them, just take them out, clean the sink, and put them back in!! I don't know about you, but I totally could not do that!!
Just do what YOU know you can handle. If your house is a mess but you've gotten some sleep to deal with sleepless nights, then who cares what people think. Jonah won't remember how clean the house was, but he will remember your disposition during the day. I have to remind myself this EVERY DAY. And it's tough.
Praying for you guys, and I hope Jonah's feeding issues settle for him soon.
I love fall and Sweet Jonah! Most adorable photos!! Thanks for sharing with us. Many prayers for you all!!!
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