Riley has always been such a good baby, since day 1. She's rarely cried, and if she did, there was always a reason (hungry, needed a diaper change, cold, etc...) As she's gotten older she's gotten slightly more fussy, and more particular about what she wants (being held a certain way, not wanting to sit on the couch, etc), but she's still a very good baby. But since we've been back from the US, she has been a nightmare. And at first I thought that she was having a hard time adjusting to the time change (hence the 3am wake-ups), but she's been getting progressively more cranky, not less. And today? Icing on the cake, my friends. Sure, she slept until 6:30, but only after waking up multiple times through the night. And she started out the morning okay, but only if I did exactly what she wanted, when she wanted me to. And pretty soon, she totally lost it, and screamed for HOURS. And I cried. And I called Mark, and made him come home from work. And I called the doctor, and made her an appointment for later in the day. Because something is wrong with my angel baby. It had to be. Is it wrong that I was hoping he would tell me she has an ear infection? Or that, yes, she is getting teeth? Because if nothing is wrong with her, then what in the world do I do to make her stop crying? I tried holding her all day, putting her down, wearing her in the sling, in the front pack, going outside, putting her in the swing, on her playmat, everything. I gave her baby tylenol. Nothing stopped the crying. She refused her pacifier. She was a fussy eater. And I was at a loss. So I cried. And then I went to the doctor, and he checker her ears and her throat, and her mouth, and a whole bunch of other stuff, and everything looks good. His diagnosis? Colic. Which pretty much means "unexplained crying." Just what every mom wants to hear.
I remember reading blogs when I was pregnant, and reading about only positive things and wondering if that's what life was really like with a baby. And I've had a very happy baby, so all the positive things I've said have in fact been true. But today? I'm being honest, and sharing that this is HARD. This week has been very hard (and it's only Tuesday). And when I put her down to bed for the evening, I pray that tomorrow is a happier day. That I get my happy baby back. Because this part of motherhood? Not fun right now. No pictures today because my poor baby looks like a raccoon with her red swollen eyes from crying so much.
I remember reading blogs when I was pregnant, and reading about only positive things and wondering if that's what life was really like with a baby. And I've had a very happy baby, so all the positive things I've said have in fact been true. But today? I'm being honest, and sharing that this is HARD. This week has been very hard (and it's only Tuesday). And when I put her down to bed for the evening, I pray that tomorrow is a happier day. That I get my happy baby back. Because this part of motherhood? Not fun right now. No pictures today because my poor baby looks like a raccoon with her red swollen eyes from crying so much.
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