Monday, August 27, 2012

Sleep, blessed sleep...

My 3-week-old cutie
 Over the years I've come to grips with the fact that I need sleep. And not just some sleep, I need quite a bit of sleep. To function properly, to keep my emotions in check, to simply enjoy life, my body really does need 8-9 hours of sleep in a night/day.

I was the boring one in college who would fall asleep watching movies with friends, or bum out of an event because it was too late at night. I felt like an old person. Now my friends just realize it's who I am, and we joke about "pulling a Carrie" - aka falling asleep at night while others converse, watch a movie, etc.

My husband is one who can get less sleep and still function well. He will often stay up an hour or two later than me at night, or during the school year will get up extra early (4:30) to grade papers and lesson plan.

Abby has always been a great sleeper. She was sleeping through the night (8+ hour stretches) at 6 weeks old. Even now she still sleeps 10-11 hours at night and 2-3+ hours in the afternoon. So when Ellie came around, I was dreading the idea that I might have a more "normal" baby who wakes up constantly in the night to eat.

The first couple of nights home were rough, but now she will easily sleep 3-4 hours at night and occasionally 5-6 in the first stretch. I've been nursing in the middle of the night and pumping & bottle feeding during the day, so for awhile my dear husband was getting up at 7 with both girls and feeding Ellie a bottle while I got an extra hour of sleep (school starts next week though...)

While I've given up on napping in the afternoons (Ellie's schedule is still pretty unpredictable), I'm doing alright overall in the sleep category. I might not be getting my 8-9 hours of sleep straight through, but I'm getting enough to function well. And so far Ellie is on the same track as Abby was for sleeping through the night early.

Are you someone who needs a lot of sleep or do you function well on less than "recommended"?

12 comments:

  1. I'm like you - I *need* my sleep! Thankfully Mila is a great sleeper. I mean, I'm really REALLY thankful! Glad to hear everything is going well!

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    1. I'm glad to hear Mila sleeps well for you too!

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  2. I'm definitely one of those people who needs a lot of sleep to function, too. In college, I always made sure to sign up for late classes so I could stay up late then sleep in. Haha. Hearing about Ellie's good sleep gives me hope!

    Lucy was a good sleeper right away too. I think we were going 6 hours in the first couple weeks. I really hope Baby #2 follows suit!!

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    1. Trouble is, I'm a morning person... So if I don't get to bed at a decent time, I'm still up with the sunshine! (and that was even before Abby started getting up consistently at 7...)

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  3. I can't sleep if there's things to do, so I do 'em instead of sleep. Now's a busy time of year, so there's bound to be a little bit of insomnia.

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    1. Makes sense. :) Thanks again for letting me sleep whenever I can.

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  4. Carrie, she is beautiful! I am def not a sleeper and can get by on abt 5 hours at times. Buggy was never a good sleeper/napper and still isn't. She still wakes up a few times at night and I don't nap during the day either. You are lucky to have great sleepers!

    Irene

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    1. Aww thank you!

      I knew there were some of you out there... :)

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  5. Your baby is such a cutie! =D You made me laugh with falling asleep in the movie house. That's so ME! haha... It still happens to me now once in a while =p

    Thanks for stopping by my blog! =D

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  6. Such an adorable photo :) I have always needed less sleep than my husband. I was always the one in grad school staying up late and getting up extra early. Saw your post on bloggy moms and following you now :) I look forward to your future posts!

    http://wvfrugal-wvsaver.blogspot.com/

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  7. I am one that has always needed more sleep than my husband. I did have a hard time having children and getting up frequently during the night. I just don't function well. I also have a dear daughter that has the same problem. I think she had a very hard time not getting a lot of sleep. I think I will send your link to her so she knows she isn't alone.
    Blessings to you and I hope you continue to get enough sleep.

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  8. I am just like you; I need a lot of sleep "more" than "normal." Nine hours is perfect. Unfortunately, nine hours, even eight hours is a rare luxury. Thanks to the Marine Corps, and a little to Flintstone, I've been functioning on 6-7 hours a night almost every night (even weekends! erg) for a few years now. Which is also why I can count the number of movies I've actually been awake for the last 5 years on one hand...

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