…it looks like Ella is smack-dab in the middle of one. She’ll be 6 weeks next Tuesday, so it stands to reason that she’s right on par. The last two nights for us have been incredibly rough. Vann has been giving her a bottle before bed and she just hasn’t been able to settle down after that feeding. After our “de-briefing” yesterday morning, we decided she might be better soothed if I do the feeding myself. No dice. She cried and cried. I tried to hold her off to the next feed and both of us ended up in tears.
She woke up from her 11 pm feeding after an hour and a half, when previously in the week she had been extending up to 4 hours. Naturally, when I heard her cry after only an hour and a half I was very discouraged. I fed her at 1:30 am and she went back to bed, sleeping until 5.
I know we aren’t the first to go through this and we won’t be the last…but I feel as though I am unraveling. I find myself forgetting to eat. I haven’t written a single thank you card. The desk in the office is piled up and I hate being so disorganized.
Today, with a clearer head (and after much reading online), I’m pretty convinced that Ella is in her 6 week growth spurt. She’s super fussy, waking earlier from naps, and is generally fretful and impatient during feedings. All of that coupled with the no-sleep thing is leaving me exhausted and feeling a bit crazy. “They” say that these things generally last 2-3 days, and it’s the baby’s way of increasing your milk supply to meet their growing demand. So, it’s a good thing, but Lord, if I’m still alive in 3 days, it will be a miracle. I’m to feed her when she’s hungry, which is ALL THE TIME.
Please pray for us as we navigate through this very trying week. Pray that I am able to find some time to sleep and that Ella starts extending her nights again. Pray that we can survive as Vann heads back to work for two days this next week.
On another note, we have received so many wonderful gifts for the girls, and I am unbelievably thankful. Please know that I fully intend on getting thank you’s done, it just might take me until Ella’s 1st birthday to do so. I continue to say it, we are incredibly blessed by our family and friends…
you are doing great mama! I still cry over Reeve's fussiness and unpredictable-ness! Oh, and yes, it does seem like Reeve was born yesterday. Maybe it is all the sleepness nights and the fact that the days just roll into each other but, I feel like the time is flying by. Although these are hard times, I am sad the are going by so fast and I won't get them back. Especially the moments that are passing with the older ones. Have a Merry Christmas with your gorgeous family of 4!
don't write me any thank you notes! I know you are thankful and that's one less thing on your plate to worry about! 🙂 Hang in there!