the simple joys

I feel like a new woman.

First, I got a new job that is for the most part a nine to five gig.  I do have to be on call a few nights a week, but I find it a small price to pay for a more normal life.  Being able to have dinner with my husband and put my son to bed every night makes me so very happy.  Ciel and I feel like newlyweds sometimes, getting to know each other again.  And newlyweds go have romantic dinners together, which brings me to number 2..

We have had a babysitter come over to watch Owen while we get things done around the house.  She is 16 and this is her first babysitting job, so we wanted her to get to know the ropes before leaving her here alone with a baby.  Last week we decided to go on our first "date" since our little Owen came along.  That's right, it has been nearly a year, but we finally made it.  A little Italian bistro for dinner then island style drinks near the beach.  Perfect.

 And the most wonderful thing happened last week.  After 11 months of sleep deprivation (minus a blissful 2 months early on) we decided to try "Ferberizing" one more time.  Basically it's a cry it out method to try and get your little one to learn how to go to sleep and stay asleep on their own.  It had failed us in the past after a teaser week or so, but now that Owen wasn't sick, didn't have any big travel plans, and didn't have any teeth trying to work their way through - I was hopeful.  I can't stand to let him cry, so I put a limit of five minutes before I would go back in and comfort him.  The first night took 3 times before he fell asleep, the second night was once, then the third night I gave him a kiss, told him I loved him, and left the room.  I could hear him roll over and watch me leave, but not a peep was made.  I kept waiting for the cry, but when I turned on the video monitor he was cuddled up with his stuffed monkey fast asleep.  HOORAY!!!!  So far he is sleeping all the way through the night until about 6:00am.  It's true that I have held my breath for a week wondering if it was another teaser, but I think that this time it took.

Sleep.  One of the simple joys in life that I will never take for granted again.