Cherishing Late Nights & Early Mornings

Sleep. It's something that I LOVE and don't get enough of. Before having kids, I enjoyed sleeping in. I loved the days that I could sleep in and not have to be at work until 11:00 a.m. Ah YES! Those were the days. 

I prayed and prayed that my boys would enjoy sleep as much as I do. Guess what!? They don't! :) Yes, my boys have been keeping me up late and getting me up extra early these days. Lincoln used to sleep from around 9:00 p.m. to 9:00 or 9:30 a.m. Now, I'm lucky if he goes to sleep before midnight. On the bright side, he does sleep in now until around 10:00 a.m. Gabriel used to go to sleep by 10:00 p.m. and he would wake up around 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. Now I'm lucky if he goes to sleep before 2:00 a.m. Seriously... what is going on!? haha. 

Last night, Lincoln would not go to sleep for anything! I was blaming it on his teeth, but the fact that he was wide awake and ready to play made me realize that his teeth were not the problem. Tonight, I put Gabriel in bed and started my nightly cleaning up chores and worked on a few orders. I went to check on him about an hour later and he had managed to get the iPad off of the bathroom counter where it was charging and take it into bed with him. He was watching Curious George on Netflix. So I thought, "Ok, he'll fall asleep watching this... he looks tired." About 30 minutes later I went to check on him again... this time he was in the bathroom trying to get the iPad back on the counter to charge because it had died. He's seriously too smart. How in the world does he know to do this!? 

What's a mother to do? I sent him upstairs to Jesse and he sat on his lap for about 30 minutes and passed out. Whew! I'm glad. 

You would think that with them going to bed so late, they would sleep in. However, Gabe NEVER sleeps in. Despite what time he goes to bed, he is always wide awake by 9:00 a.m. He sleeps in our bed... so I always here this sweet little voice saying "Momma...momma... play with cars!?" He doesn't sit still until I'm awake. Now, I will say that there have been some days when he'll sneak out of bed and go to the living room and play for a bit and then come back into bed and wake me up. But- those days are few and far between. And of course, when he goes into the living room to play, Lincoln hears him and wakes up. And SO the day begins. 

A few nights ago was the worst! Lincoln woke up at 2:00 a.m. I thought for sure that he'd go back to sleep. NOPE! He was wide awake and ready to party....despite all of my best efforts to get him to go back to sleep. Gabriel got woken up by all the "partying" (netflix) around 4:00 a.m. Again, despite my best efforts he didn't go back to sleep either. Can we say EXHAUSTED and MAD? I mean, who wants to be up at those hours? I decided to let Lincoln cry it out and took Gabe back to bed. Jesse couldn't take it and of course brought Lincoln into the bedroom. ANd so-  we were up. It wasn't even light outside. No one should be awake that early if they don't have to be. What's worse? Both boys were wide awake and ready to play! They weren't even tired. I brought a pillow and cuddled with my blanket on the couch while both boys played. I put the baby gate up and blocked the living and dining (Lincoln's room) off with his crib. I contained them to one area, turned on Mickey Mouse and laid down on the couch. I had bottles ready, food ready, and cheerios within arms reach. I told myself to give them an hour and they'd be ready for bed. NOOOO! Bring on 8:00 a.m. and Gabe finally laid down. It was another hour or so before Lincoln finally passed out. Now, someone please tell me the secret to getting them to sleep again! 

I know I may sound like I'm complaining... and let's face it, I am. However, I do realize that one day they're going to be grown up and they won't need me to get them back to sleep or cuddle with them. So even though I dislike those early mornings and late night... I am taking the time to cherish those little moments with my boys. After all, it's during these times that Gabe says the funniest things and he is the sweetest little boy ever! And Lincoln, well he's just as sweet too. They smile or laugh and it sure does make those late nights and early mornings worth it. 

I guess what I'm saying is... don't get too frustrated with your kids if they're not operating on "your schedule." Take the time and cherish those little moments. Those are the moments that count.