My mommy group friends are well aware of our “issues” with Maya’s sleeping in the evenings. Ever since she started teething hard, she doesn’t want to sleep in her crib once bedtime hits. On me, fine. In the crib, not-so-fine. She can be out cold, but as soon as she’s within inches of the crib mattress, she wakes up. MAD.

Last night, instead of nursing, she was playing…and wanting to nibble on my nipple (OUCH).

“Bedtime!” I told her in a cheery voice.

We wandered off to the crib, and I sat (rather than laid) her down. “G’night, Peanut!”

Holding my breath, I left the room, and left my bedside lamp on its dimmest setting, so if she wasn’t ready to doze, she could see enough to play on her own. Within minutes, she started to fuss and cry. It wasn’t the all-out-my-heart-is-broken wail, so I left her alone. After about 10 minutes, just as I was about to grab her…silence. Baby had gone to sleep!

Perhaps 1-1/2 hours later, I heard a cry. Before I finished what I’d been working on, the cry ceased again. Hooray!

Later still, off to bed with me. As I peeked into the crib, here’s what I saw.

That’s a FOOT next to Maya’s head, people.

My poor baby had fallen asleep SITTING UP, CRYING. *sniff*

Amazingly, she was sleeping really soundly in this awkward position. I debated leaving her as is, but thinking of how sore *my* back would be after sleeping like this, I just couldn’t do it. After stretching her legs out from underneath her, I went to bed.

Yes, she still ended up in bed with me later, but I have no idea what time…without contacts, reading the clock is a challenge.