Battle of the Wills

Two weekends ago, after more than 14 months of sleeping in the couch in the living room, JK realized we have a convertible crib that can become a junior bed, not just a full size bed. This amazing discovery elicited both inspiration and nagging regrets that we haven't made Ethan sleep in his own bed earlier ... only if JW had told him earlier as he kept saying. JK wanted to be the guy in the bed, not his son. So the same day he made this discovery, he converted the crib to a junior bed and was determined to put Ethan in his junior bed and to reclaim his rightful spot in our bed. Those first few nights, which I have very vague memories of now, were on the whole quite successful. JK waited till Ethan was relatively tired, then drunk him with several ounces of milk while his eyes were still closed, then slowly but steadily lowered him into his own bed immediately next to our bed. JK slept between Ethan and me. It worked! Our heads hit the pillow and quickly sank into dreams in those early hours. Unfortunately, like an alarm, Ethan promptly made us jump from the bed with cries that sounded like he was being tortured. On the first night, my motherly instinct got me rushing over to hold him and JK was furious because that must have woke Ethan up completely. Then Ethan wouldn't let go so I had to hold him with him sitting on my 7th month pregnant belly. No, not so comfortable for me at all and God knows what our little girl was feeling. JK, as usual, got the milk and fed Ethan till Ethan sank back into his sleepy state again. Once Ethan went back to sleep, we both just slipped back underneath the comforter, desperate to catch some more sleep before it's time to wake up for work. Then on another night, it was cold and I just couldn't help but worry that Ethan was cold and I couldn't sleep because of that. So when Ethan cried a little, I tried to cover him with his blankets, which JK claimed to have caused Ethan to wake up and cry. So those were the earlier days.

Since my reaction was so unconducive to training Ethan to sleep in his own bed, JK took on the job of responding to him. Hey, no problem. Nothing like not having to get up in the middle of the night. Two nights ago, JK was so tired, he didn't hear Ethan's cries. I didn't know because I just assumed JK was doing what he was suppose to. So apparently Ethan just stopped crying on his own at some point. Then last night, Ethan cried at 12:30 am or so, then at 4:00 am or so, then at 5:00 am or so. Each time JK basically said we have to train him to stop wanting milk in the middle of the night because he doesn't need it and we could all use the sleep. So we did. We slept through his screams. Until about 6:30 am in the morning when Ethan was sitting up and screaming from the top of his lungs. Daddy's guilt came through and got him milk or water I think. In any case, Ethan was soon back asleep, this time Daddy put Ethan next to me and Ethan was quiet once his little hands found me. Feeling his spot was taken, Daddy went out to read and wash the sippy cups. Yes, we are taking Ethan off the bottle too. Why? All the milk Ethan drank to fall asleep in the last few months have our doctor notice we haven't been taking care of his teeth. If the doctor noticed it, then it must be a problem . . . Aaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!! Have we been doing everything wrong? So we have decided it's time for Ethan to grow up which he is completely capable of. We just have to let him.

So far, Ethan is drinking milk and water from the sippy cups and bottles with straws. We decommissioned our bottles. Hooray!! We were unable to make JK's mom surrender the last bottle, which she claims she needs to keep in case Ethan really refuse the sippy cup. Well, we can't start searching her apartment so right now we will let that go. Hopefully, Ethan will be trained to sleep through the night soon and we can enjoy two months of uninterrupted sleep before the next little night terrorist arrive.

JW