I hate this!

My daughter has stopped going to sleep in her crib if she can possibly avoid it. That means I've spent a good deal of time the last few days rocking her to sleep.

Now, this child is no featherweight. She's nearly two, she weighs about twenty-eight pounds, and she's 34 inches tall. When she uses me as a body pillow, it's usually in the office chair, which can lean back quite far, with her head pillowed on one of my shoulders and her legs hanging down below my knees. I'm sore from it - my back in particular is protesting this treatment, and my shoulders are aching.

So we're back to crying it out. Today at nap time was the perfect time. She had a late breakfast at Grandma's, so she didn't need a big lunch. That's good, because she has a tendency to cry herself sick. She's very tired from being up late two nights in a row (Saturday night we gave in because we had people over ("See friends, Mommy! See friends!") and last night Piet gave in because I was out and not available for the evening lullaby.) So I put her down at her normal time, just before one o'clock. We sang a lullaby, one of her favourites called, "Ma mère chantait toujours", and she sang along. We put Baby Pooh (so named to distinguish from Mommy Pooh - she is spoiled when it comes to Pooh characters) to sleep under the blanket, and then I tried to put Elizabeth under the blanket with him.

She screamed.

Since I started typing this two minutes ago, the screaming has stopped. I'm not getting my hopes up, though.

Still nothing, two minutes now. That's not bad. I'll give her three or four more minutes, then go in and cover her up properly.

Still nothing. I'm cautiously optimistic.

This is the third time we've had to do some form of cry-it-out. Each one works for a few months, before she develops a little further and tests us again. If it saves me some backache, it's worth it.

Welcome, page_4

My little sister now has an lj! Make her welcome, please!

She hasn't posted anything yet, though, so be patient. :)

My Easter Monday: A Synopsis

What I Did with my last day off for six weeks:

1) I wrote a thousand words of my dolphin book, and posted it. It's a good start. It doesn't matter that I have only the vaguest idea what happens next. I'm happy with what happened in that scene.

2) I coached page_4 through some tough emotional stuff. Be nice to her, everyone, she's had a rough weekend.

3) I finally got page_4 to set up a livejournal. Hi, Heather! *waves*

4) I let Elizabeth cry it out for her nap this afternoon. Stay tuned for the evening edition in about fifteen minutes.

5) I ordered Swiss Chalet for dinner. It was yummy. Elizabeth disagreed. She only ate the bun - after licking the butter off it.

6) After typing #5, I went downstairs at the behest of my husband. He had been lying on the couch with Elizabeth on his tummy, talking to her, when she threw up. On his face. Into his open mouth. (Have I grossed everyone out yet?) So Elizabeth and I came upstairs to get cleaned up while Daddy did the same downstairs. She's now fulfilling the prediction in #4.

7) I made a concerted effort to set up a pub night for some friends and I. anguine and artisticblur, have you got the emails yet? We've tentatively settled on the Firkin's at Bloor and Islington, April 8th, between 7 and 7:30, for anyone who can get there from the two gaming groups. Oh, and anidada, you're welcome too if you want to come. Ditto Senora Bitter. It's a gamers' social evening rather than an evening of social gaming. :)

8) Caught up on some emails with a friend. Clarified some of my thinking around issues at work in the process. That's always nice. The clarification, not the issues. I could do without those.

That's just about it. I hate listening to my little girl cry it out. At least I know she's unlikely to throw up again.

And it's back to work tomorrow. Oh, joy.

G'night, everyone.