Tuesday night, 7 p.m. The divine miss m goes to sleep after much cajoling, rocking and Benadryl.

10 p.m. RM and the Mr. go to sleep.

11 p.m. M is awake again and manages to settle down for 10-minute stretches--just long enough for one or both of her parents to settle back into their own bed. Then she wakes up again. Much muttering under the breath. More medication. Nursing mother gets bitten. Parents turn on one another; sleep deprivation combined does this, especially when combined with desperate, helpless feeling. RM kicks over a sippy cup and later steps in an ice-cold pool of water. More muttering.

12:45 a.m. RM gets the baby to sleep again. and finally realizes that it would be better not to go back to bed if she's just going to wake again in 10 minutes. So she stays in the room, rocking in the glider for 15-20 minutes.

1:15 a.m. RM is satisfied that the kid is asleep for good. She staggers to bed.

1:25 a.m. There is a light outside the bedroom door. RM enters the hall bathroom to find little she-who-is, nighshirt hiked up and standing in a huge puddle of pee.
C: Sorry Mommy.
RM: actually trying not to laugh at this point because it's SO bad Did you wet your bed too?
C: No.
RM: Thank God for small favors.