The past few nights, I’ve discovered a new talent. Something that seems almost magical. Something that, I think, both impresses and annoys the hell out of Sarah. I like to call it the “magic touch.”
A few nights ago, Caleb woke up. Now, typically, when we go in, he’s fussing or crying…sometimes crying loudly…and we check to see if it’s a diaper that needs to be changed. Sometimes it is, so we’ll change a diaper, get a bottle ready, and then give him the bottle until he falls back asleep…it’s a bit of a process, and can take awhile. So, back to Caleb waking up. He started crying, so I went in, picked him up, and just held him for awhile. I patted his back, sang to him, and he was falling asleep in my arms.
Sidenote: Can we all just remember how freaking cute it is when a baby falls asleep in your arms…you can tell that moment when they just go limp, and you know they’re out…very cute.
So, back to Caleb. He was totally asleep, and then I laid him down…gently letting his head hit the mattress, and…BAM! Eyes wide open. Sad face. Crying again. So I picked him up. Got him to calm down. Did the same thing…BAM! Eyes wide open. Sad face. Crying again.
I didn’t really feel like picking him up again and trying that process all over. I didn’t really feel like going the bottle route…so…I just took his blanket from under him, laid it over top of him, gently held his arms for a bit…and then let go. He rubbed his eyes a few times, flailed around with him arms for about 10 seconds, rolled over on his side, and…
…
and…nothing. Out like a light.
I stood there for a full minute or two, confused by what had just happened. He was just fussing…and now he is asleep.
The next night, similar thing happened, although he wasn’t getting tired and falling asleep in my arms. He was screaming. I got tired of the screaming, and so I did the same thing. Put him in the crib, pulled the blanket up over him, let him flail around for about 30 seconds and then he rolled onto his side and conked out. I remember walking into the bedroom and Sarah had a look of confusion on her face. “Wasn’t he just screaming at you? What happened?”
I really didn’t know. Must just be my “magic touch.”
Same thing last night. He was really going for it – really screaming…and I did the exact same thing. Held him for a little while, rubbed his back (all while he’s still screaming), put him into the crib, pulled the blanket up, watched him flail around for about 30 seconds and then he rolled onto his side and conked out. Each time I walk out of the room, I figure he’s going to wake up again pretty quickly…there’s no way he could be asleep. Last night, I peeked back in the nursery after about 1 minute, and he was rolling around, side to side…but still, a few minutes later, nothing. Sound asleep.
Now, I’ve realized that you have to be careful what you brag about in these types of situations. Now, whenever he wakes up in the evening, I think the understanding is that the one who has the “magic touch” needs to go and deal with him. Now, evenings are normally more my time with him anyway, but…still. The magic touch makes it even more so.
Anyway – it’s probably something that works this week – and will stop working next week. But for right now, I’m enjoying it…
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