Naps are not negotiable!

Little Mr. E missed two naps in a row though not for lack of trying on the part of the Mav and myself. Our boy is typically a good napper, racking up anywhere from 3 to 5 hours of nap a day split between a morning respite and a mid-afternoon siesta. When he's not ready to rest any attempts to go into his room are met with resistance (at least until he's sure we're not trying to begin our sleep-time approach). When he's ready though, he's ready. "Say night-night" I tell him, gesturing to anyone/anything around. When he is good to go, he enthusiastically waves to any and all and smiles up the stairs and into his room. There may be some resistance to being placed in the crib but that is usually alleviated with the proper amount of pre-rest cuddling.

Yesterday afternoon and again this morning we were all-systems-go for nap. Waving, smiling and cooing up the stairs we went. Not a fuss as I left the room. Ready to get to work, I headed downstairs to my laptop and switched on the monitor. My first mistake. E was singing along with the nocturnes playing in his room. Very cute of course but very hard to concentrate on work.

He continued to sing. We checked on him. Changed a diaper. Returned him to his crib. This morning, in my rush to wash my hands after the diaper change, I did not remove the rattle from his grasp. The rattle aids in diaper changes by distracting his attentions (and his hands) from the work zone. Back downstairs, I expected to really get some work done now that baby was clean, tired and ready to sleep.

He sang. And shook that rattle. For half an hour. Until I took the rattle away. Then he just sang.

He spent over 2 hours in his crib, both times, with no crying but also no sleeping.

But how can you get upset with he does this?


The darling is sleeping soundly tonight (he did finally take an afternoon nap, though not the 4 hour one I expected).

Accomplishments updates: E walks well when supported. He stands alone. He chases bubbles (he used to only really care about the bubble bottle). He recognizes dogs, cats, cows, pigs, Daddy, and Mommy (not, I hope, in that order). He quacks if confronted with a duckie, when he feels like it. He repeats sounds (time to really watch what we say!) and motions. He gives amazing hugs. He thinks blowing kisses is funny. He thinks the cat is hysterical. He can "shake it", whatever "it" is in hand at the time. He puts his bottom in the air and his head on the ground - I'm not sure if this is yoga or a misdirected attempt to get to his feet. He has the Mav and me wrapped around his little fingers and we've never been happier.