Conflicting schedules

I never really defined myself with schedules. Even with work. 9-5 was a big pain in the butt. I'm too "creative" and "flowing" to 1) sit in a chair all day and 2) to work the same shift everyday for the next ever. I kept to deadlines, but schedules? That didn't do it for me.

Then, I pregnant. I was sort of happy for the schedule I had. It meant that I could make an appointment, and be able to keep it. I completely stopped working a few weeks before Lovebug was born though. And let me tell you, it was so nice to go to bed when I wanted, and get up when I felt like it. I knew that wouldn't be happening soon. So I took full advantage.

When our daughter was born, I was a sleep deprived zombie from the get-go. I had spent the previous week in a state of sick, without electricity, and in a 3 am nesting phase. I got very little sleep while in labor. But, I do what Moms do, and I sucked it up.

Thankfully, Hubby's job was a P.I.T.A. and delayed his start day from Jan. 1 to the end of Feb. That sucked as we had no income, but I had him home with me for almost two months. We took shifts, and I was able to sleep.

I never planned on trying to get my daughter to adapt to our schedule. "On demand," was my new motto. If that meant getting up at 3, 4, and 6 to breastfeed, so be it. I felt like I was constantly hearing, "When are you going to get her on a schedule?"

Eventually, we sort of adapted to each other's schedule. Lovebug would sleep around 10-12 hours (waking only once or twice to eat) then awake for two hours, nap for two hours, awake two more hours, nap again for two, then up until bedtime.

That was great for me. Except, that "bedtime" for her wasn't until 3-4 am most nights. And, the time was never consistent.

I finally started trying to get her on "my schedule". With the help of daylight savings and "fall back" I was able to. I finally had one of those kids that went to bed at 7pm and got up 12 hours later (with a midnight snack) and went down for naps at a normal time.

It was awesome. Did you notice that I wrote WAS. As in past tense. That wonderful schedule lasted almost three weeks. Just long enough for me to get used to in, and revel in it.

Now? My daughter went to bed at 5 am this morning. Yup, you read that right. As for me? I haven't gotten more than 2 hours of sleep at a time in almost a week. I try to catch up when Hubby is home. But, really, you can't make up missed sleep.

Here I am, my daughter and I have conflicting schedules. I've tried tinkering with her naps and awake time, but all I get is one pissed off child. And if this is any indication of how she is going to be when she is older, the terrible twos might send me to the funny farm.