Sleep deprivation: it's not just for parents of new babies

I gave up trying to get Otter back to sleep and got up with him at at 4:15.

No one tells you that part of the excitement of language acquisition and co-sleeping for small children is the chance to kick mama --somewhat gently but definitely kicking-- repeatedly while chanting "kick kick kick kick kick."

And then saying "ow ow ow ow" and chanting "no no no no no" while signing "hurt" after Mama tells the child NOT to kick her ANYMORE because "NO kicking--OW it hurts mama".

This slides right into a deep and abiding love of music and rhythm when the child sits up, nestles into mama's shoulders and bangs on mama saying "dub a dub a dub a duh" (the generally understood toddler representation of drumming noises).

So we got up.

I changed Otter's poopy diaper and put him in one of his cutest outfits, as I needed a reminder why I love the child. Then I did laundry, Otter ate crackers (no trans fat!) and played his toy piano and "read" books, and we both crawled back into bed at 5:30am just as G got up for the day.

(I am grateful that Otter cosleeps with us so that I didn't have to wake up to a child screaming. Really truly I hate that, the waking from deep sleep to a wailing small one, more than any of the above.)

We got back up at 7:30 and I'm trying to be energetic and not cranky. I have succeeded in finding his antics marginally amusing but I think I'll need a nap before energetic happens.