Here in Switzerland (and Europe for that matter) it’s normal for the mother to stay at the hospital for 5 days after a vaginal birth and 7 days after a cesarean section. With this being said, daddy is playing executive along with taking care of my job at home (which is a full time job in and of itself!). Here is the email I received this morning (let’s just say someone is missing mommy):
Tonight is the night i am going to confront the 21 month old Bully, Thomas. No more 3am wake up calls to get a 1/2 milk fix and IPad cartoon in your parents bed. Sweetie, this is my gift to you while you are still in the hospital….
3:39 initial wake up and request from the 21 month old bully
3:49 went in after calls for mommy daddy too much…. Told him he could no longer bully mom and dad in the middle of the night – there is a new princess that will command things now! Changed to heavier sleep sac and rocked him walking in room. Told him we love him
4:01 laid him back in bed (I resisted telling him that “If he wants to cry; I will give him something to cry about”…I’ll let my dad know I thought of him
4:02 started again… If he could say insults he would … With only a 3 word vocabulary of “mommy, daddy, up and hold me” it is amazing the guilt trip he can throw.
4:06 intermittent crying – Henry hasn’t asked him yet to stop hurting his ears. I can feel him awake looking at me through the monitor… He knows I am here… Now I know what the Cuban missed crisis was like
4:15 good sign … Neighbors have not yet called police yet. More silence than crying…longest silence is 2 minutes, but even though the crying fits are short they are strong. I fell they are gaining less power similar to Germany’s last tired and empty assaults during the trench war of WW1.
4:19. Weakening cries. No victory dance yet… I anticipate he is regrouping and evaluating strategy
4:23: …. He’s Back… Pacing around his crib… Binki just got thrown out… I hope he doesn’t throw out the second one… I should have out in more back up. Cries are more pleading now; insults are going down
4:26 going back in.. I can’t predict my actions. Just like a Navy SEAL I need to be prepared for anything.
4:41 For the last 15 minutes he pulled out some of the best material including the Plead & Pout followed by the Opera High Pitch Scrietch & Claw. Thankfully he did not use his Dick Butkis head slap like last week. I never should have read him Calvin Coolidges quote “Persistence”.
4:44 I rested on my shoulder quietly while I talked to him. I don’t know if he was exhausted and nearing the end, or stunned by my morning breath. I laid him down – by the way can we get the bear to keep the music going longer than 60 seconds or put padding on the walls and ceiling.
4:53 quiet. I am going to shut off light and hope it is over. Ps. I suggest you stay one more night – it ain’t over.
4:55. Still quiet.
6:05. He’s back… Now I am going to give him breakfast and milk.
Maybe he naps before school.
Sorry for the format, I just copied and pasted so I guess it got a little messed up.
Haha 🙂 I can just hear Henry’s voice while I read his email. The life of a mommy isn’t always easy, is it Dads? Related: Andi brought home the “No Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers/Preschoolers” book yesterday and said this is his next book to read. He also has plans to re-train Tory the Bully while Mommy is busy with Baby Aden. We’ll see how that goes …
In the meantime, enjoy your (vacation?) stay at the hospital and soak up all the one-on-one time you have with beautiful Anna. Life is about to get crazy! Have the boys met her yet?
Oh man, this is so good. But I really can’t wait to see how this new little girl flips the boys’ worlds upside down! Hope you are well rested!
Henry is too funny!! This makes me nervous to even have my second child, haha!