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Last night was the annual Christmas musical program at church, hosted by the praise band that my brother co-founded and includes my mom and local sister. I offered to babysit Lizzie and Lee Lee for her so she could go and my brother-in-law, who works overnights, could get some sleep. Since both girls would be in bed by the time I arrived it simply meant taking a new novel over and reading it under her lamp with the family dog, instead of my lamp and two cats.
Upon arrival, I was given a set of rules:
Lee Lee will wake up about 8 for a bottle. 4 ounces water, 2 scoops formula.
Do not speak to her & she will go right to sleep.
Feed her 3 ounces, burp her, and give her the rest of the bottle. She shouldn't need to burp again.
Do not unwrap her.
Do not change her diaper.
If she's fussy, rock her.
and yes, you can kiss her; it won't wake her up.
My sister hadn't been gone a couple minutes when the phone rang. "Don't turn on the bedroom light; she's got a night light." she added.
Right on cue, at 8 I heard rustling coming from the baby monitor and her cute, adorable squeaks. I mixed up a bottle and went up the stairs to feed her. Lee Lee took the bottle with her eyes still closed and was quite a happy baby. Give her 3 ounces, burp her, give her the bottle again.
That's where the routine schedule ended. Lee Lee was gassy. My brother dubs it "fire in the hole" and she was full of it. I laid her back in her crib and was about to leave the room when she began to fuss and cry.
I went over, picked her back up, and patted her bottom while I swayed her. She continued to fuss. In fact, she began to wail. And then she was MAD wailing, flailing the arms and the big tears came.
What's an auntie to do, especially with big sister sleeping next door and a sleeping daddy across the hall? She whispers "please tell Auntie what's wrong, Sweetie."
No sooner had I whispered to her than she burped a big one, but by then she's moved the burp cloth on my shoulder so my turtle neck absorbed it. Still, it wasn't enough. Even in the night light, I could see she was turning red with frustration.
I unwrapped her swaddling blanket. I bounced her; I kissed her; I whispered a song to her; nothing.
After about 20 minutes of this I was getting desperate. The poor thing was just beside herself! So I laid her down on the changing table and unwrapped her. Still arm waving and wailing. I decided to check her diaper, even though usually she's just full of gas and nothing happens. I couldn't feel anything, and Lee Lee HATES having a wet diaper.
No sooner had I popped the buttons on the feet of her sleeper than it was like flipping a switch. She stopped crying; she didn't even sniffle. She closed her eyes, her arms dropped to the her sides, and she was out, just like that. I hadn't even reached the diaper yet! It was dry as a bone, and it wasn't too tight, either. I taped it back up, buttoned her up, made a lame attempt at trying to wrap her up and laid her back in her crib. Still not a peep from her.
I didn't hear another peep from her the rest of the evening. Then again, Mommy came home shortly after that and was amused by Auntie's evening!