Project Harley: A Three Ring Circus!

I feel like I just woke up from a dream. A scary one, involving my star act, Harley, and what looked to be a three ring circus or Cirque du Soleil extravaganza. Although,  there was nothing amusing or fun about this particular show! Call it  a “mother’s instinct”, but thankfully when I looked into my baby’s eyes this morning, I knew in my heart that my kid had returned to her body with her typical calm and serenity intact.

I don’t even know how the last five days unfolded, it started with a very out of the norm melt down at lunch with my mother and sister in law (of course!) at my side and ended five days later, two parents wiped to smithereens as we laid down for bed at 8pm (yes, 8pm) last night , praying this night would not be like all other nights and we would finally get some sleep.

I feel like my child was abducted by aliens or the Ringling Brother’s road show over the last week. In what appears to be a very successful “growing spurt”, Harley fed non-stop, cried at the top of her lungs, and reverted to the sleeping patterns of her first month all while she tried to get her mind and body in sync with the numerous developments that were happening internally and externally to her.

As I look down at my baby today in full smiles and giggles as she begs me to help her stand (at 5:40 in the morning!) and repeatedly coos while putting her whole foot into her mouth (yoga style), this girl is a totally different kid. She looks like an entirely different baby, round cheeks,chubby legs,  and a full belly. She’s “talking” up a storm, grabbing hold of things, standing (with the tiniest bit of help), feeding herself from a bottle, the list goes on.

No wonder Harley has been screaming with confusion and pain over the last five days, she was on an olympic spree in development. The crazy thing is, no matter how prepared you think you are and how much sound advice you have gotten, you can only question and OVER-analyze what in the world has happened to your baby all day, every day for as long as this goes on. Its enough to make you crazy and to believe that you are back to ground zero, with your confidence and conviction shattered and thrown to the wayside.

And then, the dream “or nightmare” is over, and poof, your kid is back. Your sanity and confidence soar as you see that big smile cross her face and those beautiful blue eyes connect. The alien ship has taken flight, the circus has packed its tents,  and I am looking forward to a great night’s sleep.