Hoorah!

in All Posts

For two months after Henry was born, I suffered with ‘phantom baby syndrome.’  This involves being ripped from sleep in a panic, gasping into a sitting position, and searching for my baby in my bed (because surely I had pulled  him into bed with me while sleeping).  He was always snoozing peacefully in his bassinet.  The syndrome even followed me on an overnight business trip – I was so excited for hotel sleep but woke up constantly checking on the imaginary baby next to me.  Crazy how biology works, huh?  Guess my body wanted me to make sure Henry was super safe.

 

Last night, I slept in a different room, sans baby monitor (Kristien had it covered), and I didn’t wake up once to check on my phantom baby.  That means that I slept an entire night for the first time in four months and two weeks.  DO YOU KNOW HOW AMAZING THAT FEELS?

IMG_2252

Worthy of a heel click!

 

I have so much energy right now.  I could run a marathon!  Do a triathlon!  Or… uhh… plan a Halloween party. Probably should do that.  Winking smile

IMG_2260

Breakfast.

IMG_2257

Pumpkin waffles with banana, almonds, coconut.

IMG_2258

For your viewing pleasure… heel click fail montage.

IMG_2254 IMG_2247

IMG_2248 IMG_2250

Post Follow-Ups

Our sexy Halloween costume discussion got picked up by a local Austin TV station

19909142_BG1

Also, really lovin’ the feedback on DadHTP’s poll watching post.  It’s fun to hear how other countries run their elections, so if you’re international, please weigh in!

{ 42 comments }

 

  • Natalie @ Free Range Human October 26, 2012, 9:13 am

    I love the way Henry is staring at you! That’s hilarious!

  • Sarah October 26, 2012, 9:22 am

    My son is a week older than Henry and I still haven’t slept a full night. I’m sure it feels amazing! I totally wake up thinking I fell asleep feeding and my baby is in the bed – too funny! Good luck with planning and enjoy that rested feeling:)

  • Suzanne October 26, 2012, 9:31 am

    Henry’s face in your heel-clicking photo is priceless!! So sweet 🙂

  • merry October 26, 2012, 9:33 am

    Oh my goodness, I’m so relieved to hear that someone else has phantom baby syndrome too! I’ve had it on and of for the 3 months since my twins were born and have felt totally crazy. Lately it seems that I (usually) only get it when I’m super sleep deprived…or have chocolate before bed. So glad you got a good nights sleep!

  • Lindsay October 26, 2012, 9:43 am

    Oooh it looks like they shot that clip in Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds! BEST costume store ever. It was so packed last weekend, I panicked and had to leave.

  • K October 26, 2012, 9:47 am

    How do you sleep through the night without needing to pump/waking up in pain? My baby slept for 8 hours the other night- yay!- and probably would have slept longer but I woke her just enough to feed her because I was ready I explode.

    • Caitlin October 26, 2012, 9:48 am

      Okay, this may sound gross, but I think I just have large capacity boobs. I mean, after 8 hours without pumping, yeah, they were firm and knotty but not insanely painful a la engorgement. I pumped off 10 combined ounces when I woke up. I usually pump once in the night because I am afraid of mastitis but sometimes I can get away with it.

      • Claire October 26, 2012, 10:42 am

        Yeah, the thought of going 8 hours without nursing sounds SO painful! I know two friends who got their husbands to cover a full night shift so early on (before 6 months) and they both ended up with mastitis (one has been on serious antibiotics for a few months now, has constant plugged ducts, etc.) so personally I wouldn’t even risk it!

        It’s been about a year since I’ve gotten a full night’s sleep, but to be honest, your body just adjusts to it and I never really feel sleep deprived anymore. I was so worried about feeling awful with the sleep deprivation before I had my baby, but, really, a healthy person can adjust and do well with moderate sleep deprivation for a long while. Of all of my mom friends, only one has a baby that sleep through the night at this point, and we are all amazed how much energy we have to work full time and take care of our babies and families – it’s just another one of the amazing things your body can do once you’re a mother!

        • kathy October 26, 2012, 4:57 pm

          Claire I agree if I had to go that long when my kids were that age I would of been in so much pain.
          It is amazing how little sleep you really need once you have a baby. I really think they need to tell more pregnant moms not to expect a full nights sleep. Unless you have a nanny.

          • Claire October 26, 2012, 8:38 pm

            Yeah – not only tell new moms how little sleep they will get, but how your body changes once your a mom and you just don’t NEED as much sleep. I don’t know what happens or what it is, but I’ve averaged 5-7 hours of broken sleep a night for almost a year and I never feel any more tired or worn out than I did pre-baby (when I would get at least 8+ a night!). And I thought I would be so miserable since I was someone that really needed a good night’s sleep pre-baby; I’ve completely changed now. The human body really is an amazing thing. 🙂

          • Caitlin October 26, 2012, 9:47 pm

            I definitely feel like i can exist on less sleep, i just don’t want to 🙂

      • Irene October 27, 2012, 11:39 am

        So true! I went back to work this week and I didn’t know how I was going to make it and I did just fine. I sleep from 9-2 and wake up ready to rock. I usually get another hour in before work.

  • Kristy @ Kristy's Health Revolution October 26, 2012, 9:56 am

    The look of pure joy on Henry’s face in the heel click photo is beyond amazing.

  • Julie October 26, 2012, 9:58 am

    Wow, that’s cool that the discussion was picked up — but I don’t see it in the article? Is the website mentioned in the video? Or do you just mean that they happen to be addressing the same issue?

    • Caitlin October 26, 2012, 10:00 am

      They show a screen shot of the blog in the video 🙂

  • Amber @ Busy, Bold, Blessed October 26, 2012, 10:07 am

    Love those pics and Henry’s pure enjoyment in the background! Yay for a full night of uninterrupted sleep 😀

    Happy Friday!

  • Laura October 26, 2012, 10:14 am

    It’s irritating for women of all ages to find only “non-sexy” costumes (we don’t all want ’em!) so it’s annoying that that wasn’t addressed…but a “sexy” french maid costume for a young teenager? That’s horrifying! Yikes. I know the answer seemed to be that parents should try to rein in their kids, but kids can wear anything they want, they just change once they leave the house.

  • Katie @ Peace Love & Oats October 26, 2012, 10:20 am

    I’m glad you’re feeling so great today, sleep can do wonders! I can’t wait to see what you pull together for this halloween party!

  • Megan October 26, 2012, 10:27 am

    Is THAT what it’s called?!?!?! I swear, I thought I was the only one going through this!! I actually BREASTFEED my phantom baby!! It’s crazy and my husband still to this day laughs at me for that! However, my husband does go through the same thing. He wakes up in a panic asking where the baby is. LOL

    • Merry October 26, 2012, 10:53 am

      My husband totally caught me trying to breastfeed phantom babies in bed too! I was so embarassed…..

  • Jess@atasteofconfidence October 26, 2012, 10:29 am

    I love how Henry is looking up at you in the heel click photo. So cute!

  • Annette@FitnessPerks October 26, 2012, 10:31 am

    YAYYYYYY! That is awesome for sleep!

    Love the heel click & Henry’s face. Too cute.

    How cool that the post got picked up?! You rock.

  • Laura October 26, 2012, 10:32 am

    Love the fail montage! Congrats on a full night of sleep!

  • Tammie Grey October 26, 2012, 10:36 am

    LOL. definitely having fun there

  • Sara October 26, 2012, 10:37 am

    I did that when our dog was a puppy. I was terrified she’d be getting into something. I did that each time we brought home a new kitten too. I was scared the dog would get to the cat or the other kittens would gang up on it and slash its throat. I know, I’m ridiculous. I told my husband one of my fears is waking up and one of our cats will be dead. Either another cat slit its throat or a dog trampled it. So irrational! He told me cats don’t slit other cats’ throats. Ha. But yay, glad you got over it!

  • Katya October 26, 2012, 10:38 am

    my son is a week younger than Henry….I haven’t experienced the bliss of a full nights sleep yet, but I’m glad you have now! woo hoo! there is hope!!
    have fun planning your party!

  • deva at deva by definition October 26, 2012, 10:48 am

    I love the series of pictures! So fun. Awesome on the costume conversation being picked up!

  • Sarah October 26, 2012, 10:49 am

    Yaay for a full night of sleep!
    For your party your should try to make some pumpkin whoopie pies. I make them every fall, they are super sweet but so good.

  • Sarah @ Yogi in Action October 26, 2012, 10:59 am

    I LOVE that the sexy Halloween costume discussion was picked up by a tv station! Shows the influence a discussion can have. Way to start important discussions Caitlin!

  • Andrea October 26, 2012, 11:32 am

    I find it interesting how new moms in the blog world talk about nights of totally uninterrupted sleep. I find that interesting, as I have never been a person who normally sleeps through the night without waking up…if I don’t wake up at least once during the night it’s soo weird, and sometimes I wake up three or four times! I wake up to either to drink water, go to the bathroom, etc – and I don’t have problems with feeling fatigued throughout the day. I guess I’m used to it. So when you say you had interrupted sleep, do you mean you actually don’t wake up at ALL through the night?

    • Caitlin October 26, 2012, 12:41 pm

      yes! it is GLORIOUS. well, at least i don’t wake up and remember it.

  • Stellina @ My Yogurt Addiction.com October 26, 2012, 12:06 pm

    AHAHHA! Love the heel clicks!!!!! So glad you got your sleep! I bet you feel great! I bet I’ll have that syndrome too when I have a baby…I’m always so paranoid, it gets in the way!

  • Irene October 26, 2012, 12:09 pm

    OMG my baby is 8 weeks and it happens to me a few times per week. Last night I woke up almost crying because I couldn’t find my baby. My husband came running in the room and she was in the living room with him.

  • Carolina John October 26, 2012, 12:41 pm

    Henry loves watching you heel click! ha, that’s great. Almost as great as a good night’s sleep.

  • Mary October 26, 2012, 1:11 pm

    Hahaha Henry looks so amused in the heel click photos. He probably thought you were jumping around just for his entertainment!

  • Andrea October 26, 2012, 1:25 pm

    OMG…I had no idea there was an actual name for Phantom Baby Syndrome. I did that ALL the time with my first son. I still recall the panicky feeling. It was horrible and lasted for a few months. I just attributed it to being totally sleep deprived. I honestly never had that happen with my second son and we now have baby #3 on the way and I’m hoping to not go through that again.

  • Ellen @ Wannabe Health Nut October 26, 2012, 1:59 pm

    Hooray for a good night’s sleep! PS. Be careful with the heel click. I sprained my ankle really badly once doing it and it makes me shudder just thinking about it!

  • Amber K October 26, 2012, 3:17 pm

    Yay! I have the worst insomnia and always feel like throwing myself a party for one when I actually sleep.

  • Jessi @ doctorate housewife October 26, 2012, 3:25 pm

    I live in Belgium, where voting is required by law – basically get your butt to a polling station or pay a fine. But I think my favourite thing is that the polling stations are all manned by 30 year olds. That’s right, if an election falls in the year of your 30th birthday, you’re required to “volunteer”.

  • Kim @ HealthyNest October 26, 2012, 3:40 pm

    HAHAHA I had no idea that phantom baby syndrome was a common phenomenon! I also did that for months with my son and thought I was such a weirdo! I even woke up at one point and found myself trying to stick a pacifier in my husband’s mouth! 🙂

  • Katie @ Talk Less, Say More October 26, 2012, 6:00 pm

    I love how Henry has the biggest smile on his face in your heel click photo. Talk about a happy baby. 🙂

  • Lori October 28, 2012, 6:55 pm

    Congrats!!!

Previous post:

Next post:

Healthy Tipping Point