There’s nothing quite like the feeling of climbing into a bed made up with freshly washed, crisp, white sheets. No wrinkles, plump duvet, you can just feel the stresses melt away.

Isn’t it just the best?

Well, that was my night last night. I climbed into bed, eyelids heavy with exhaustion and I plumped up my pillow and turned to one side and shut my eyes. And then I turned to the other side. And then I opened my eyes. And then I stared at the ceiling for a while. And then I rearranged my pillows and tried sleeping on my tummy. And then I went back to my original side and tucked my legs up. And then I dozed for a while…but wait, did I hear crying? Yes? Yes?

No — just the sounds of the night. And then I watched the monitor with its green eye and then just as I my eyelides were starting to close, the monitor perked up — beep beep beep — with a lost signal. So I hopped out of bed and fixed it.

Back into bed. Looking at the ceiling. Is the nursery to warm? I’d better go check. Temperature fine. Baby breathing. Check, check.

Back into bed. Looking at the ceiling. Checking the clock. Tick tock, another sleepless hour logged. Turning to my side. Plumping the pillows. Counting back from 20. I hear the songs of the They Might Be Giants ABCs soundtrack. It’s rocketing around in my head like … rocks. Check the clock. Check the monitor. Close my eyes.

And the monitor perks up and lights flash blue, the wailing begins. Over to the nursery for a feeding. Baby up, baby fed, baby down.

Back into bed. Looking at the ceiling. I close my eyes. It’s almost 4 a.m. Sleep descends And then, good morning! It’s time to wake up, it’s 6.15 a.m. on a glorious Monday. Up, out of bed, off to the nursery to collect the squawker.

Who needs sleep anyway?

Tags: Mother, Sleeping