I was blessed with really, really good sleeping babies (knock on wood). The newborn Kayleigh would get up 2 to 3 times a night on her worst nights, but by the time I went back to work (10 weeks), she was waking just once. Benjamin started making it all the way through the night around 5 weeks. At 3 months, he wakes for a middle of the night bottle MAYBE once a week. I know, it's insane. They've spoiled me. Kayleigh is still a girl who loves her sleep. She asks for naps and asks for bedtime. When she's short on sleep she is the crankiest toddler ever. BUT, when she gets her 7:30 bedtime, her 8:00 a.m. wake up call and a 2-3 hour nap in there ... wow! A dream come true. Today, since I'm blogging at 4:46 a.m., it was Benny's night to get up. He chose to wake up after we'd taken an evening trip to GR. His schedule was off (and has been for about 2 weeks now due to the fact he and his sister fall asleep for the night in the car about 3 days out of 7). AT any rate, we are now at my, honestly, favorite time of the day/night. Don't get me wrong, I'd MUCH rather be sleeping. BUT if I have to be awake, the time gap between when I place Benny down, relaxed, in his crib, until I check on him and find him soundly sleeping is easily my most productive time of the day. I know I can't bring myself to sleep until I'm sure he's out (what's the point of getting in and out of bed 100 times anyway), so I work. I will fold laundry, wash bottles, put away dishes from the dishwasher, straighten up the living room, pack up stuff for the next day ... and, of course, write a blog (if everything else is finished).

It's a little pathetic, but this time of the morning is THE ONLY time in the course of my day when a baby doesn't need me, my husband isn't awake, and there's nothing but chores and alone time. It's time for me to do exactly what I want. And, since my first choice of activity (sleeping) has been ruled out, I get to be productive.

Ahh well, since it's almost time for Benjamin's 15 minute check-in (and Steve has agreed to do the next half hour's worth of "waiting for sleep"), I'm going to get going. Here's to a productive, fun day at the Van Dyk house!