Wailing Jada, Screaming Aaron

The first few months of our tenure as parents of two was tough, as Jada struggled with having to share our attention and we struggled with Aaron needing to be fed every three hours.  Once we got Aaron to sleep through the night, things settled down a bit in terms of our sanity, and we also noticed some thawing from Jada as well.

Lately, though, it seems we're heading into another trying period.  Jada's struggled to get to sleep and stay asleep at night.  I think she's having some nightmares and/or fear of the dark, as she insists we leave the light on, and will cry for us if we turn it off after she's fallen asleep and she wakes up to find the light off.  Also, her progress in potty training means she's increasingly uncomfortable with any wetness in her diaper, so now she's calling for a diaper change in the middle of the night where before we'd be more than fine waiting until the morning.

As for Aaron, he's found his voice again.  His every-three-hour feedings in our first few months were announced by piercing wailings until we could get his bottle the right temperature and in his mouth.  Now he'll wail at the same decibel and pitch for a number of other reasons, most notably when he doesn't get what he wants.  So this is now no longer the siren of a hungry belly but rather the beginnings of tantrums.  Unfortunately, he's learning that tantrums work: when he wants something and doesn't get it and turns on the siren in response, he usually gets what he wants.  We're at a loss as to what to do: don't give in and we're subject to indefinite screeching, or give in and we're hardening his inappropriate understanding of how to communicate.

Anyway, between interrupted sleep and loud yells, Amy and I are becoming increasingly cranky and deaf.  Please have sympathy for us; and speak up if you're trying to tell us something!