It was a windy night at the Milner house.
And when I say "windy", this is something that you just cannot comprehend in Jacksonville. It is rare to find a house here with all its shingles. The wind is SO violent and loud that it is SCARY! It seriously sounds like you're in a tornado. Last night, while I was on the computer, I actually saw the monitor shake while it felt like the wind was shaking our house. The winds here can reach tropical storm force and last night, I'm pretty sure they did.
So, as we were getting ready for bed, we decided what to do with the kids. Colin has bars on his window that have been "released" (there's a knob inside the window that can unlatch the bars so that you can escape in case of a fire... the previous owners had them unlatched and we don't have a ladder to latch them back), so they bang against his wall when it's really windy. It's quite scary... especially for a 3 year old. So, we decided that Colin would sleep with us and Harper would stay in her bed. We figured she'd sleep better in her bed than in the bassinet where she takes her naps.
We all got in bed and turned the lights out at 9:30.
Colin kept tossing and turning.
"Colin, you need to be still."
"But I'm trying to get comtorfa... com... for... ta... ble."
Daddy chimed in, "That's a very big word and you did a great job with it!"
He continues to toss and turn for a bit, but finally settles down. By this point, Daddy has fallen asleep (it doesn't take much for him these days).
Stillness. Quiet. Ahhhhh.
Foot. In. My. Neck.
"Colin, while I appreciate this amazing demonstration of your flexibility, you need to keep your legs down." Seriously, how he managed that position is a miracle.
"I want to share Daddy's pillow."
"Okay, but you need to be still and quiet because Daddy needs his sleep."
Stillness. Quiet. Ahhhhhh.
"Seriously, Colin... stop putting your foot in my face. If you can't keep your legs down, you'll have to go back to your bed."
I hear a big gust of wind and Harper starts crying. This is going to be a LONG night. I decide to wait and see if Harper will settle herself down. She does. THANK GOODNESS!
Again, finally, I have stillness and quiet.
And then a foot in my face. How does he DO this?!
Finally, after about two hours of this, I decide that Colin and I will both sleep better if he's in his bed. I carry him upstairs and tuck him in with his toys (a basket of nascars that he wanted to have in bed with us). Then, I turn on a movie in his room (Lion King 1 1/2) with his portable dvd player to help hide the sound of the wind. It works. He goes to sleep.
Just as Harper wakes up hungry. Sigh.
After feeding Harper, I go downstairs and get in bed.
I have about 4 hours before Jamey's alarm goes off. Will I REALLY get some sleep??
No.
Colin starts calling me. He's thirsty. I get him a drink and go back downstairs to get in bed. The wind is so loud, I'm afraid it will scare Colin too much, so I can't settle down. I keep listening for him to wake up and call me. He doesn't. He's out. I start to settle down and I hear whining.
It's Frankie. She wants to get in bed with us. I have learned a trick. If I look her square in the eye and point my finger at her and say "No!" VERY firmly, she keeps whining. BUT, if I keep saying no, she eventually gives up. So, after about five minutes of "No!", she goes to a pillow on the floor to sleep. Scratch, scratch, scratch. She's trying to smooth out the pillow. She'll be done in a second. Nope. It continues for two minutes.
Stillness. Quiet. Ahhhhhh.
I sleep... for about an hour. Then Harper wakes up. This wind has really messed with her schedule! I feed her.
I start to go back to bed but realize that I forgot to make Jamey's lunch! Oops! So, I head to the kitchen to make it. I'm putting it in the refrigerator when I turn around and see Jamey. His alarm went off and he's getting ready for work. Where has the night gone?? He tries to be quiet and use as few lights as possible so that I can go back to sleep, but I tell him it's pointless. I'm awake. Just as he's about to walk out the door, I start to think that maybe I'll get some sleep after he leaves. No such luck.
Colin comes downstairs and wants me to tuck him in his bed again. So, I head up to tuck him in. I stay with him for a little bit until he settles down and then I go to bed.
Hooray!! Sleep!! Well, for a little while. Harper starts crying again. I know she's not hungry, so I wait to see if she settles down. She does. But I'm not convinced just yet. So, I stay awake for about half an hour wondering if she really is asleep for good again. That's when I hear it.
"Mommy!!! I want you!!!"
Colin is up for good.
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