160 + 156 Weeks

It has been a tough week, due to Carmen turning into an absolute monster.  Everything was fine over the week-end, then the devil in her came out for three days.  Luckily her US grandparents had taken a three day hiatus and weren't around to witness the unbelievable.  By day three I actually told her that if she threw one more tantrum I was going to take her over to the neighbour's to live with them, and I think I really meant it.  She was horribly sleep deprived, as she has started her old behaviour of calling out for hours at bed time, and now she keeps poor Arley awake because they are in the same room (so much for this solving the problem).  And then she has been waking up in the middle of the night, sometimes for 2 hours, because she can't find her teddy bear (which is always within arm's reach), or she has a head ache, or she heard a noise.  On the third night of calling out at bed time, Jeffrey took over because I was too angry, and he told her that one more noise and we would be moving Arley's cot out of the room (she thinks Arley protects her).  Well, at 10pm, after much screaming by both children, Arley was settled in to our study, and Carmen was in her bedroom screaming bloody murder all by herself.  We told her that because the monitor goes with Arley, we can't hear her.  Then she put in a 15 minute effort of hysteria before she went to sleep.  The following day she was an absolute angel, a different kid.  That night she went to sleep like such a big girl, with no challenges whatsoever.  So yesterday we moved Arley's cot back in.  Then last night Jeff went to a mate's house, and the kids were in their room when Carmie started it up again.  I didn't hesitate.  I got Arley out of bed and moved his cot myself, which was no easy feat, with both kids hysterical and Arley clinging to it as I was dragging it out of the room.  So dreadful.  Then I stayed with Carmie for 20 minutes because she didn't want to be left alone, and then I went to bed and cried, feeling like such a terrible mother.  What to do??

Arley had a good week.  He is walking everywhere, and is very careful about it.  Whenever he wants to get somewhere quickly he just gets down and speedcrawls.  He finally has said his first word besides MemMemMemMem which I think he says for Mummy.  When you ask him what a duck says, he says, "Kack Kack".  It is very cute, but only happens with lots of prompting.  Carmie was saying so much more at this age.  I try not to compare, but I think boys really are slower than girls!

Fingers crossed that we get this bed time issue under control, and we have a better week this coming week!