Sleeeeeeep...

It's not that the baby doesn't sleep. She does sleep. A lot. She's slept 16 hours in the past 24. You'd think that with the average adult needing only 8 hours a night, this would be no problem for her intrepid parents. But she doesn't do it all at once. And it's making us a little crazy.

We're very lucky in that I'm on summer vacation and able to help with the daily routine. Being a public school teacher doesn't pay much but if this time with my daughter is the trade-off, it's worth every penny I'm not making. I'm able to do the little things with her: feed her, bathe, let her fall asleep in my arms. Even changing her diaper is nice to do, if only because it means my still-recovering sweetie doesn't have to do it all herself.

The constant activity, though, leaves little time for a solid block of sleep. We're like doctors on call, only doctors actually get off call every now and again. Neither my wife nor I can imagine how single parents do it. Or, for that matter, how married couples without an external support system manage.

I've read in several places that children place a huge strain on a relationship, especially if that relationship wasn't terribly strong to begin with. I can see the wisdom firsthand in that. My sweetie and I talk constantly, work together, plan together, and are as much a team as we can be and we still have disagreements, exacerbated by lack of sleep. How it must be for couples already having difficulties I can't fathom.

I'd keep writing but I'm sleepy and actually getting to go to bed. Goodnight.