Most people in my life are aware that Annabelle still rarely sleeps through the night. I mean, it happens. But not most of the time. Not even really 75% of the time. Dave and I have gotten into the rhythm of swapping night duty every month or so. In fact, on the occasions that she does actually sleep through the night, I wake up wondering if she has a fever or is catching a cold or something.
Then there's the whole rhythm of bedtime versus wake up time. If she goes to sleep right at seven pm, then she'll wake up at seven am. To sleep at seven thirty is a six thirty wake up. And if she stays up until eight? Up at six sharp. So we make big efforts to have her in bed at seven as regularly as possible.
In fact, it seems that compared to our parenting friends that Dave and I are pretty uptight about keeping a regular bed time. But those friends probably know their kid will just sleep in and everyone feels caught up the next day. That's not our reality. On my very tired days I actually convince myself that all those other parents aren't telling the truth, that most 3-4 year old children wake up during the night. On the flip side, I've heard Dave telling people that she's pretty good about sleeping through the night and wondered how he convinced himself of that.
Annabelle is aware that she wakes up in the middle of the night. She has the slightest bit of consciousness that night time is when certain things happen that don't normally during the day. The stars and moon are out, certain animals only come out then, the angels fly around, the fairies do a lot of mischief... and apparently she is also now starting to understand that when it's night everyone else is at home asleep.
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(In the car, driving down the freeway, after about fifteen minutes of complete silence.)
Annabelle :: I got a good idea!
(brief pause, putting her thoughts together)
Annabelle :: I could get up in the middle of the night... and check to see there's no traffic! ...that's a good idea, right?
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I guess if you put it that way, I suppose there are benefits to being up in the middle of night.
