OK, girls, I am finally back. I've spent the last 2 days trying to get caught up on all i missed, but when I realized a new thread was started and I was already 12 pages behind, I thought, forget it!!! So I'm glad everyone had a nice holiday who did...for those who didn't, I'm sorry--just think it's a new year and a fresh start.
Now, before I take my own advice...here's how our trip went. (Warning: Some ranting ahead) Liv did FABULOUS on the 10-hour trip. She was a trooper--she took pretty regular naps in the car, sang and played when she was awake, and generally did great...for 9.5 hours each way. Then she had a melt-down (both there and back) I figured she was entitled to it. She was a hit at my parents and at the ILs. She did pretty well with the new faces and loved "playing with" her cousins. HOWEVER, from the first night, she started waking SEVERAL times...and it's still going on. At first I thought it was just the new surroundings, all the excitement, etc. Then she started scooting and waving, so I thought it was developmental. But it got worse. Then I noticed she had 2 more teeth coming through. But it still got worse, and the teeth were all the way in. The first night she woke 2-3 times. By the next-to-last night, she was waking every 30 minutes all night long!!! DH and I are so exausted!! Between being up with her all night and trying to visit all day...we're worn out!! (We tried to take naps, but we had traveled so far to see everyone, we felt bad sleeping while they were all doing stuff.)
Things got so bad, we ended up cancelling the last leg of our trip. We had tickets to the KC/Cincinnati football game on New Year's Day. (DH and I are both KC fans.) We were supposed to drive to KC New Year's Eve and stay with my grandma (who was going to watch Liv while we went to the game). But we had NO sleep all week long and DH and Liv were starting to get sick. So Sat morning we decided to give the tickets to DH's brother and just go home. Liv did well Sat night in her own bed. Woke several times, but was able to settle herself. I didn't have to go in to her until 7am (although I woke up several times, but didn't have to go to her). Last night, however, was the WORST so far. We put her down at 7:00 (did regular routine). She woke at 8:00 and DH had to settle her. She finally went back to sleep about 8:45. THen woke again at 2:30 and was up till 4:00. I reached the point again last night (for the 2nd or 3rd time this week) where I just had to get DH to take her and I laid and bed and cried b/c I was so tired, I have no idea what's wrong with her (she's no longer sick, wasn't hungry, didnt' need changing...just awake), and I see no end in sight!!! I'm so completely tired, I've eaten nothing but junk and I haven't worked out in almost 2 weeks (that's usually what keeps my sanity), so feeling like a big, fat, tired slob!!! Sorry to just dump it all on you, but I think it's reaching a boiling point today b/c DH goes back to work tomorrow and I see no end in sight. (you know you're addicted when you can't wait to get home to gripe to all your BW friends about what's going on!)
Other than all the sleep deprivation, our holiday went well. We had a good time visiting family, Liv got a TON of great presents, and they all loved Liv...although I don't think they believe that she usually sleeps from 7:30 to 7:30 at home without waking!! I kept getting comments like "Do you think you're putting her to bed too early?" (after putting her down an hour past regular bedtime!) or (from my LOUD BIL), "That's so weird that she can't sleep through stuff..." (like his yelling right outside the door to her room) "...when [DS] was a baby, we just kept things loud and he learned to sleep right through it." I did give my sis the BW book for Xmas. She's expecting their 2nd LO in April, so we'll see if things change this time.
Well, I have a theory on all these wakings...I think it might be separation anxiety?! I noticed some of you were already talkign about that. I've noticed she's WAAAY more clingy during the day, and I read in BWSAYP that it can carry over into night wakings. Any one experiencing that? (TRACI, I couldn't remember if you ever figured out what was causing Cole's wakings...could be SA?) If so, anyone have any advice?
Well, hate to vent and run, but there are Christmas decorations to be taken down and groceries to be bought. I really did miss you girls...I'm glad to be back. I tried to get online once at my parents, but couldn't find enough alone time to do so. Sorry for the "downer" post...thanks for listening. You girls rock!
I'll post some pics of our holiday later...loved looking at all yours!