To teethe or not to teethe?

OK , really, we *think* we're seeing red, swollen gums on the bottom where her canines will be coming in soon. We *think* this would explain her recent clinginess (I mean, super clingy...I can't even put her down without a fit...or leave the room before she comes running while whining my way. You get the idea). We *think* this would explain the all-night party she had with us last night, which started at 12:15 am, and was NOT coughing-induced. We *think* this would explain the cranky-pants attitude for the past few days.

I wish I were certain. At least we'd know what we're facing. When I took a good look while doing the usual hold-Anna-down-while she's-screaming-because-tooth-brushing-is-non-negotiable routine this morning, I was relieved and excited that this time I'd swear those gums are red and swollen. But there's not much drooling (yet) or much hand biting/finger sucking (though some this morning). So I kinda second guess myself.

Trust me folks, this clingy, cranky child is not our Anna. I can see little glimpses of her here and there, though. Like through the Motrin, which I broke down to give her his morning before summing the energy to take her to the Little Gym today.

She has been napping for the last 45 min. And now she's just coughed herself awake. She's sitting up. Crap. Please go back to sleep...Lord knows you need it, kiddo. OK, there she goes...whew.

Anyway, last night was a fun flashback to months and months back during her previous teething bouts, though I can say she really wasn't all that bad in the sleep disturbance area with teething. Waking every few hours to cry and then go back to sleep was her usual practice during teething. But other sleep challenges included the time she learned to roll over in her crib in one direction and then called for help to get turned back over. Or when she learned to pull up in her crib...that was a neat new trick she liked to try at 2am, and again, she'd call for help because she didn't know how to get back down. Or when she started learning to crawl. Or started learning to walk...making the inside perimeter of her crib. All the major milestones have come with some kind of sleep disturbance, which is not unusal.

The best investment we have EVER made in the baby equipment area was a video monitor. We can see what all the fuss is about without her ever knowing we are peeking in. So we can't ever get busted. It's wonderful, wonderful, and like watching an addicting reality TV show, only better. We have come to know her sleeping patterns and preferences. We can see if she's safe while she's screaming for us. We can see if she needs help or if she's thrown all her stuff out of the crib in anger. We can see if she really needs us to interfere. We can see what time she really falls asleep and wakes up in between playing in her crib. We have been able to watch her sing to herslef while playing with her feet. Now I can see if she's sleeping on her hands, or if she's in a good position for me to go up and clip those fingernails she fights me on when she's awake. If you're reading this and you're about to have a baby, or have a young one right now, go and invest in the video monitor. It will buy you HOURS AND HOURS of comfort and entertainment :).