Monday, November 28, 2005

Sleep deprived

I remember being at a party once where one of the guests walked in with her family in tow, looking very cross indeed. When I asked her why she wore such a sour look she told me, gesturing impatiently at her sullen-looking daughter, "I don't like her very much right now." That was a revelation to me, that not only could you be mad at your kids but you could also tell someone and no one would smite you down or call child protective services.

That party was some years ago now and as a fairly experienced mom I am now perfectly comfortable telling you that I am mad at the baby this morning. Not so mad that I'll do anything horrible, of course. But our little bundle of joy hasn't slept well AT ALL since we went to Atlanta for Thanksgiving. I feel like I'm nursing her around the clock. She "only" woke up 3 times last night to nurse, and for that I feel grateful, that's how bad it's been. She's spent the morning screaming at me because she is also, of course, quite sleep-deprived. And she just now fell asleep after more screaming, literally MINUTES before I was going to walk out the door with her to go have a cheering lunch with Sister at school. I haven't seen Sister in days since she was spending Thanksgiving with her dad this year. I miss my child who is only sarcastic at times and never screams at me anymore.

I'm looking forward to tonight when Husband will be home to take over babycare and WON'T be hogging the computer for work-related projects. I will most likely be enjoying one of these after the baby goes to sleep:

Sidecar

1-1/2 oz Courvoisier
3/4 oz Cointreau
1/2 oz freshly-squeezed lemon juice

Shake with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into a sugar-rimmed martini glass.

(Note to my oh pie maker, if you're out there: I am lamenting the apparent loss of my perfect Singapore Sling recipe. I can't find it anywhere! Guess I'll have to reinvent it as best I can and I'll post it once I'm successful. Sniff. This day sucks.)

3 comments:

Phantom Scribbler said...

Oh, boy. I hear you on this one today. I sang Baby Blue several choruses of a sweet little ditty I call, "You totally suck, and have to go live with the gypsies now, sweet baby girl!"

The song helped. But not so much as a stiff drink, you know?

Anonymous said...

sorry to hear you're having a rough day; but enjoy that drink!! and don't fret about the singapore sling recipe - let's just make a plan that when we're both done breastfeeding our sometime monsters, we'll get together and enjoy some semblance of them out here at lizard leap while the kids cut down a tree or something with papa. . . .
hang in there.
now go have that drink.
and some ice cream too.

Mommygoth said...

After 6 months of ear infections, I deeply sympathise. Bean needs an attitude adjustment. May I suggest duct tape?