sethrak

::sighs:: Well, my idea of ensuring a decent-length nap by keeping Mark-chan in his chair a little longer didn't work. Fifteen minutes after I got into bed, he woke up in full cry. ::whimper:: Granted, he had good reason - his diaper was both soaked and full, poor little guy.

Cuddling and a meal later, and he was still in full cry. >_< Wriggling, flailing, brick red face, arching back, the whole nine yards. For nearly an hour. I felt like Pierre's mother in Maurice Sendak's story of the same name.

Me: Would you like me to read you a book?
Mark-chan: ::sssssssssssssssssssssssssscccccccccccreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:: (Translation: "I don't care!")
Me: Would you like to have some milk?
Mark-chan: ::all-too-brief period of nursing, abruptly interrupted by sssssssssssssssssssssssssscccccccccccreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:: (Translation: "I don't care!")
Me: Would you like to dance about?
Mark-chan: ::sssssssssssssssssssssssssscccccccccccreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:: (Translation: "I don't care!")
Me: Why must you scream and shout?
Mark-chan: ::sssssssssssssssssssssssssscccccccccccreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:: (Translation: "I don't care!")
Me: Would you like to play with Tigger? ::enticing waggle of his newborn-safe stuffed Tigger::
Mark-chan: ::sssssssssssssssssssssssssscccccccccccreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm:: (Translation: "I don't care!")
Me: >_< God I can't wait until you are bigger....
Mark-chan: (You know the drill)

After getting punched in the face by a one-month-old fist a few too many times, I gave up trying to console him. I plopped him on my bed, settled in next to him with a blanket and pillow, and prepared to wait for him to tire himself out. That took almost another hour. I rubbed his tummy - the only bodypart that stayed still long enough for me to stroke or otherwise cuddle, cooed to him, and sang snatches of nursery rhymes. When he got particularly brickred-faced and his screams got particularly shrill, I informed him that I'd had nearly thirty years' practice being stubborn, whereas he'd had less than a month, and he was bound to lose. This did not go over well, but in the end I was right. Once he fell asleep, he stayed that way for nearly two hours. Thank God. I needed that nap sooooo bad.

Since then he's gotten back into more normal sleep and feeding patterns, for which I am deeply grateful. I love the little guy to death, but I'm soooo glad he's calmer now.

Now I'm poinging between CNN, Fox News, and once five o'clock hits, the local news stations. My version of an election night party will involve making chili and cuddling Mark-chan as I wait for the returns to come in - or for the two of us to get worn out and need sleep. Whichever comes first. ^_^