Sunday, May 5, 2013

Nap-time Is For Suckers




Last week, I laid Baby L (2) down upstairs in his crib for nap-time as I usually do after lunch. (Let's all give it up for nap-time! Woot woot!)

J (4) and I head outside to assemble his new big wheel courtesy of Nina (aka Nana, aka Tino, aka Wino, aka My Mom).

After working on it for a lifetime (which in actuality was 10 minutes), we headed inside looking for a hammer.

Upon entering the house, we found ourselves face-to-face with Baby L standing in the kitchen. He was just grinning at me and saying, "Mama! Mama!" He was so proud of himself.

Initial reaction: HEART ATTACK! This baby not only climbed out of his crib, but he climbed down the stairs by himself. He could have broken his neck! This must be what a heart attack feels like.

Second reaction: Hilarious. This crazy little guy climbed out of his crib, down the stairs and here he stands grinning at me like the Cheshire Cat. His hair is a mess, he is pantless and he is smiling that sweet baby smile. I can't make this up.

Final reaction: Sad. I know what this means. This means that we have to take the crib down today because it is no longer safe. Baby L will now be sleeping in a big boy bed. This ALSO means that the likelihood of him taking another nap is slim to nil. 

RIP nap-time.

Scooping up Baby L, I quickly (okay not that quickly because you have to catch them then try to keep them from squirming) put pants on him and sunscreen. We finally all head outside to play. 

If this kid won't nap, then I am going to WEAR HIM OUT.

Still in a state of shock, I text Hubby to let him know what has transpired here today. He texts me back to let me know that he is also shocked and will take the crib down once he gets home.

After playing outside for almost two hours (oh yes I did), we head inside so I can start making dinner.

While the kids are playing with their monster trucks and watching Wild Kratts, I decide this is an excellent time to partake of an adult beverage with the day I have had.

After working on dinner and keeping an eye on the kids, Hubby arrives home. He comes in from the garage, says hello to the kids, then turns to me.

Now Hubby is a wise, wise man. He takes in my harried demeanor and the beer in my hand. He simply gives me a hug and says, "Any more of those?"

So after a speedy dinner, Hubby heads upstairs to dismantle the crib. He takes it apart and lays the crib mattress on the floor. 

Viola! New baby bed! (At least until he gets the hang on sleeping on a mattress. This way, if he rolls out, he only has a 4 inch drop. No big whoop!)

After bath time, everyone gets their jammies on, brushes their teeth and heads to bed, with Baby L going first.

We read a story. I lay in there with him for a few minutes and he passes out. Baby L sleeps all through the night!

*Insert Roger Rabbit and running man here.*

Day 2: No nap. Passes out quickly at bedtime. Sleeps thorough the night.

*Feels like fitting into my old college jeans or I just won the lottery.*

Day 3: Super, super, super, to the infinity crabby. Try to get him to lay down because I can see he is exhausted.

I realize this may take a while so I prep J. I have him go to the bathroom. Give him his iPod, turn on the TV and tell him to STAY IN MOMMY'S ROOM while I put Baby L down. J agrees.

After reading a story to Baby L, I lay down beside him. It takes two threats of "I'm leaving the room!" before he finally settles down.

Baby L wants me to lay on my side, facing him, while running my fingers through his hair. (What's this deal?! Why all the stipulations, Baby L?)

He is almost asleep. J busts in with some random question. I mumble some response through gritted teeth and tell him to get back in my room.

Baby L sits up and is now wide-awake. So we begin the dance again.

Once he is asleep, I wait a few more minutes, then I make my move. I slowly get up and I am almost in a standing position when Baby L's eyes fly open! He starts screaming and crying like someone punched him.

And... the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Drama goes to Baby L in "Nap-time Is For Suckers"!

*Sigh.*

Forget it! I don't have another 40 minutes to go through this again. We'll just try at bed-time.

Bedtime rolls around. I think you all know what went down. More of the same.

This time though Baby L does pass out early.

I think I am home free but now he wakes up twice in the middle of the night by coming into our bedroom crying and screaming, "Mama! Mama!"

This pattern is now his routine.

*Another sigh.*

THIS is why God made coffee AND wine.

10 comments:

  1. They grow up so fast. Pretty soon you'll be up in the middle of the night waiting for him to come home from a date!

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    1. Gina, I cannot even imagine my kids being teenagers. I am breaking out in hives just thinking about it!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. We are SO in the same place right now. We're struggling to get my 2 y/o into a big boy bed...I can't take any more nights of inadvertent throat punches!! Cheers to coffee and wine!! P.S. I can do a mean Roger Rabbit too!

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    1. Jen, sorry to hear you are struggling with getting your 2 year old to sleep as well. It's rough going these days. My two year old is also in his separate anxiety phase so he never wants to leave my side. EVER.
      It's rough but cheers to coffee and wine is right!
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Awww :( That would've given me a heart attack too! My daughter never tried to get out of her crib, my son (15mo) hasn't tried yet, thank goodness!
    My daughter gave up all nap times a few months after her second birthday. I was pregnant in my 2nd trimester and just devastated that she gave up nap, but when my husband was in there trying to get her to sleep for 3 HOURS we knew it was over for good. Thankfully for us she'd already been sleeping through the night and no nap meant earlier bedtime...woohoo!
    And I can't tell you how happy I am that you referenced the Roger Rabbit...I thought I was the only person that even knew it existed!

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    1. Hilarious about the Roger Rabbit reference! Made me smile. :)
      Jenn, yes, no nap means earlier bed time but it can make for some long days! That's okay. I'm sure I will long for these days once they pass in the blink of an eye.
      Thanks for visiting!

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  4. This sounds so familiar. We have been sitting by the "big boy bed" every night until he falls asleep ever since the crib had to come down. It sucks. Massive massive suckage.

    Here's to getting some sleep. Or a venti. (Happy Saturday, stopping in from SITS)

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    1. Yeah! Misery loves company and chocolate and coffee. Or something like that...
      Thanks for stopping by!

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  5. Haha - I love how you wrote this one. I was SO sad when my son quit taking naps, I wanted to have a memorial service for my afternoon free time. At least it sounds like he's going to bed at night ok and started out sleeping pretty well. It is a process but it sounds like he'll be settling in well. Mine never did climb out of the crib, I can only imagine your face when you saw your little one waiting for you downstairs!

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    1. Anna, I can only imagine the look on my face when I saw him standing there downstairs. What a stinker! The loss of naptime is a sad day indeed. *Sigh.*
      Thanks for stopping by!

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Thanks for reading and commenting!