Normalcy, Phew!

I think we are FINALLY back to normal around here after a most disappointing return from a great adults only weekend. When I went into Madeline's room this morning to get her, she was all smiles, the Madeline that we are used to seeing each morning! What a great way to start our weekend! It only took 4 days, many tears, some choice words, and LOTS of patience. Our typically happy-go-lucky household was just not fun, and that just isn't good for anyone.

Eric and I were/are just disappointed -- hence the rant. For us, I guess it's the larger picture that's impacted, and this one specific event is just one boundary overstepped. In our minds, it's just not acceptable to change routines, schedules, or house rules when nothing particularly special was happening. It seemed to just be a normal, low key weekend. We realize special occasions call for bending routines, changed schedules, etc. because those specific times are indeed special. Eric and I always try to do what is in the best interest of our daughter, and if that means she has to cry it out at naptime, then so be it. In the long run, she benefits from the nap (we all do actually)! As she gets older, she will experience more tough love from us, and it's called tough love for a reason...we love her dearly and only want what is best for her well-being. Not everyone believes in tough love & that is fine, but our household happens to believe that a little tough love never hurt anyone. Therefore, we expect her caretakers in our absence to abide by our guidelines and/or rules whether the belief systems are the same or not. We certainly don't expect anyone to do anything extreme or to do exactly as we do, but we expect certain things to be consistent. We were just irritated to return to such an unhappy, sleepy baby after such a nice getaway that we in turn had to spend the week "making her right again".

I hate ranting and being such a downer on the blog. I've been "venting" to my husband for the last 4 days as I've tried to get our household back to normalcy, so for his sake & sanity, I "vented" on the blog. We have some fun family stuff planned, and I, for one, cannot wait to enjoy our family time whether it be just us or with our friends! The blog has been a little wordy over the last few days, so I hope to post some "good times" pictures soon!

Rarely do I Rant on the Blog as this Should be a Happy Place, but sometimes a Mama just has to go off!

To say that Madeline's Daddy and I are upset is a major understatement. To say that Madeline is completely, 100% out of sorts is also a major understatement. After a series of unfortunate events while we in Montreat having a lovely time, our daughter was NOT taking her 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon and basically not kept on her similar routine. This does not work well for a 9 month old that is used to her structured day! We were told that Madeline screamed for an hour at this nap hour. I'm not sure as to why that was the case as she does NOT do this for us. Play and sit herself up, yes. Scream, NO! Obviously some type of routine was not followed.***

Things were SMOOTH as glass for a solid couple of months before we went away for this weekend trip. Madeline was napping each morning and each afternoon. (If you have read other posts, you will know that naps were a struggle around here, so I was glad that things seemed to be finally falling into place. Apparently, I got TOO comfortable.) She was sleeping well during the day, so therefore, she was sleeping well at night. She was even getting to where she was snoozing until almost 7 AM each morning! Whew, what a blessing! We were passed all the 5 AM wake-ups when she was not napping well each day. It's funny how the better Madeline naps during the day, the better her nighttime slumber is and the later her wake-up time is.

Let me document our timeline since returning from this trip in order to fully appreciate this rant:

Sunday -- return around 4 PM, were told that Madeline had no afternoon nap neither Saturday nor Sunday, try to visit with a bleary eyed/overly tired/cranky baby, try to feed dinner but she's so cranky/overly tired she cries, try to cheer up with a bath (no cheer!), put to bed & baby falls asleep almost immediately for about 30 min., screams/cries/carries on until 10 PM Sunday night (VERY ANGRY parents!)

Monday -- Madeline rouses about 6 AM (much earlier than normal), cranky/fussy baby eating breakfast, cranky/fussy baby goes back down about 8 AM and sleeps the usual morning power nap (clearly not enough sleep for an overly tired 9 month old), stressed out Mama has to take this cranky baby to her dentist appt. around noon, fussy baby around 1:30 PM but doesn't fall asleep until 2:30 PM and wakes up around 4 PM (intermittent crying/wake up early -- she NEVER did this before this weekend), baby goes to bed at normal hour/seems to sleep okay until she wakes up at 4:45 in the MORNING

Tuesday -- It's 5:43 AM, and I'm ranting & blogging since I've been up since 4:45 AM! Tired & angry Mama decides she needs to vent!

Did I mention things were as smooth as glass before this weekend away? Did I mention we have an unhappy & out of sorts baby, an angry Mama, and an upset & stressed Daddy residing in our house? Did I mention we HAD one of the happiest babies on the planet? Did I mention how long it took me to get Madeline on this awesome schedule that was wrecked in a matter of 48 hours?

Enough said. End of rant.

Here's hoping that I can report Madeline going back to her normal self VERY SOON (and her normal self is documented in the post dinner fun over Memorial Day weekend entry below)!

***Disclaimer --- While I do not have the unrealistic expectation that whoever keeps our child for a weekend, do the things EXACTLY as I would do them, I do expect the typical routine to be followed and carried out as I do leave "directions/routines" (my inner teacher & sub plans come out). Clearly, as events late Sunday afternoon until now will prove, things were not kept routine. Routine is important around here...