The "Transition" - Do or Die

The relative success of my days has come down to one thing these days - the transition of Amelia's sleeping body from my arms to any stationary object (i.e. her basket, our bed, the non-moving swing). Yesterday, I went 0 for 6. That means that I swaddled, rocked, sshhhhed, kissed, whispered Amelia to sleep six times, waiting until she was in a seemingly deep sleep (i.e. 20 minutes), and then tip-toed upstairs to gently lay her down. All the while, visions of blogging with a cup of coffee, or putting the breakfast dishes away, were dancing in my foggy head. Alas, all six times, I had barely turned around before Amelia let out her rhaspy cry. Back to the beginning. Repeat. Not to mention that Joe was on a business trip yesterday, and we were alone until this evening. So, no relief. We did go out to dinner with my sister and a friend to celebrate Chinese New Year, though Amelia was not too happy about being out. She has a strong dislike of her carseat. (Meanwhile, I realized at the restaurant that I had lost all modesty as I breast fed her there with my tattered shirt, but I digress...) The evening ended with cops in our house at 4 a.m. because I swore I heard someone downstairs. I am embarassed to admit that I must have been over-tired and reacting to my next door neighbor's break-in (in the attached duplex) that happened mid-day when we were home a few weekends ago. Again, I digress...
Today, however, I went 3 for 4 with successful sleep transitions. Those three successes meant about 75 precious minutes of arms-free and quiet me-time!
At a "new mom's drop-in" today, we all shared our stories of transition and the sneaky ways we go about separating from our babies while they sleep.
Meanwhile, there are a few times each day when I do not even attempt the transition. Its usually during a good tv show when I don't mind sitting still, and I give into the sweet experience of snuggling, sniffing her breath (isn't that a strange fascination of mine??), and kissing her cheeks.