Pity party...

Jenn Barrette

Jenn Barrette

Sweet Shoppe Designer
I need to vent here...I am going on 4 weeks of getting no more than 3 hours of sleep in a row. My new DD is a very clingy baby, so during the day I have to have her in a sling with me almost all day or she just cries. I am feeling so guilty about not giving DD1 the attention she needs. It is her 2nd birthday tomorrow, and we are just really tight on money and time, so I don't really have a theme or great party planned for her. I tried to make her a special birthday cake (3D teapot - wanted to do a Tea Party theme) but the cake just looked terrible, so I started to cry...

I know it will get easier, but right now...man I am starting to fall apart...

Thanks for "listening" everyone. I am off to get some "sleep" (or a nice series of naps...) hopefully things will look better in the morning.
 
awww Im sorry!! I know how hard it is. My daughter's first birthday was awful. I wanted to make a teddy bear with brown frosting but couldnt find brown dye and I hate chocolate so I tried to mix food coloring colors and it ended up like a nasty greyish/green. I hope tomorrow looks better for you
 
Oh sweetie!! I so feel for you! I think I crumble and cry nearly every day cause I feel like my older ones aren't getting enough of me and I feel so bad because I can't do for them all that I wish I could. :( i think it will get easier...that's what I tell myself anyways, and in the meantime we have shoulders to cry on at least! {{hugs}}
 
((Big Hugs)) I hope you get some well deserved rest!! And just remember, the kiddos are just happy to get a cake, they don't care if it is perfect! All the little things are what counts!! I hope it all gets better for you hon!
 
Sending lots of {{hugs}} your way! I know it is tuff right now but this too shall pass and things will get better. I know that doesn't make the right now better but hopefully will give hope! The great thing about dd1 is that she will probably love the cake. Kids are so wonderful in that way. You can definitely make her and her day special without spending a dime. Something I have to keep reminding myself of daily.

I hope you can get some much needed rest and try not to stress to much or beat yourself up.
 
Hang in there! You are doing the best you can, give yourself some love! Maybe DD1 could help you frost the cake? gives her some time with you, and the cake will be perfect for her.
 
I wish I was there so I could give you a night off. I still remember the glorious feeling of having had a good night's sleep. It is an adjustment for everyone and you will do great. And if your 2 year old is like my 2 year old all they need for a party is a cake of any description, some attention and something that is wrapped up - even if it was their siblings toy when they were little. The best thing I ever did when I had my second and then third child was to stop stressing about being superwoman and just enjoying being a mom - makes a world of difference. Second best was to let people help - can someone watch the kids while you get some uninteruppted sleep?
 
I can't say I miss those sleepless nights. Mine didn't sleep more than 3 hrs at a time until she was about 5 months old. Almost 2 before she slept through the night :blink: So I can definitely relate to what you're going through. I swear I think it was the hardest time of my life living sleep deprived for so long. It makes even the most basic of things seem so difficult. But you know it will not last forever. One day you will sleep again, I promise! I hope you have a babysitter or somebody to lean on so you can get some rest.
 
Those early days of getting used to having 2 kids was soooo hard for me. I constantly felt torn between them and like I wasn't meeting either of their needs well enough. The lack of sleep really takes its toll, too. (Mine take forever to sleep well--they don't sleep through the night on a regular basis until about 2 years old.)

It really will get better, though! There comes a point where they start to have a good relationship apart from you, and it all seems worth it then. Your 2 year old won't care what the cake looks like or how much you spent as long as you make it a special day for her. And hopefully soon your newborn will begin sleeping better so that you can too.
 
Oh Jen! **big hugs**
You KNOW I am right there with you, girl. It's like we're livin' in the same house. I feel so awful for my 18-month-old sometimes. Phin is pretty clingy, too.
I'm sorry, I know exactly EXACTLY how you feel.
 
Oh sweetheart, Big hugs!! I know these early days are always so tough, I hope that you get a very well deserved break soon. Going from one to two is SO tough and I have been there with our finances too. Hang in there love!
 
Have you heard of the Amby Baby Hammock?
Noah.jpg

I tell you, it's the best thing since sliced bread. :thumbup: I used it for both of my girls, and they slept for 4-5 hours at a time right from birth. I would have to actually wake them up to feed them, to make sure they got enough milk during the 24hr period! They both slept through the night (12 hrs) from VERY early on, and have continued to be good sleepers. I kept them in the hammock for about 9 months each, then transferred them to a single bed with a safety sleep.

The US website for it is here: http://www.ambybaby.com/

Weighing only 8kgs I think, the hammock is easily portable around the house, and I would move it from room to room depending on where I wanted to put it. We would also take it away with us whenever we visited friends or relatives - that way baby was always in her own bed, and continued to sleep well wherever we were. When/if baby wakes during the day/night, their body movement causes the hammock to bounce gently, and often lulls them back to sleep. Gotta love that.

It is well worth the money - I seriously think it was the BEST thing I ever bought for my babies. Read up on the info on the website - it'll tell you how popular it is in preemie baby units in Australian hospitals, and for colicky babies too.
 
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Thanks for all your words of encouragement, or just sympathizing with me. I am feeling much better this morning. DD2 did the best thing last night - slept for 5 hrs straight! I keep looking at the clock well I was feeding her, I couldn't believe it!

I managed to salvage my cake, it is no longer a teapot, but a big pink ball cake...
DSC01308-2_sm.jpg


My DH works until 7 PM tonight, so we let her blow out the candle, open a present, and yes...eat cake for breakfast! It was either for breakfast, or right before bed, so I decided breakfast was better.

Oh and I looked into that baby hammock, it looks so great, but just too pricey for me right now :( We do have a swing, DD1 loved it, but DD2 will only sleep in it at night, not during the day. We are using it as a bassinet until we move her to a crib.
 
Aww sweetie! I am so sorry. I know it's rough, but perhaps you could let someone watch the kiddos so you can sleep even if the baby cries? I had to do that with middle DD.
 
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