#toddlermonster

[earlgbarnett]

It's the little successes (such as coercing #alastairbarnett to nap) are the greatest victories. 📸@florriebarnett #nap #naptime #toddler #toddlermonster #smallvictories (at Weaverville, North Carolina)

[annamannix]

My child, I love you more than air but if you ask me one more time what we are going to do today after receiving a detailed itinerary no less than thirty times I am going to eat you:

A memoir.

[annamannix]

The abilities of a not-quite 3 year old continue to amaze me on a daily basis

We've been having issues for a long time with Ro coming into our bedroom to cuddle. I'm not the type to yell 'go back to bed' at him, but we also don't want to let him stay at this point - if baby ends up cosleeping, I don't want him to feel totally replaced all of a sudden. He sleeps in a twin bed, climbs like a hot damn, and can open doors, so physical confinement isn't really an option.

So we've been taking him back, gently and immediately, to his bed. Anywhere between three and six times each night. for Months.

The other night was terrible. He came in hourly from 11pm to morning and we were so so tired and grumpy the next day (himself included). So last night at bedtime we talked about it, and I made him repeat a promise to me three or four times (In a happy way, not a punitive one) that he would stay in his bed until morning came.

And then he frickin' did!

He still woke up a few times and we went in to reassure him and tuck him back in, but he kept his promise. I'm so happy and proud and amazed that a kid this little is capable of entering into a verbal contract like that. I keep forgetting he's not really a baby anymore.

Gonna continue to reinforce the rule. Wish us luck.

[annamannix]

Today I won

A carefully orchestrated day in which the boy took no nap went fairly well. Around 3pm he was certainly grumpy and tired but we pushed on and he caught his second wind.

He was asleep tonight by 19:50. On days where he naps, he is guaranteed not to go to sleep until 21:30, maybe even 2200.

The mister and I watched a movie and I was going to do yoga but I am frickin' exhausted! no-nap days are a whole different ball game than having 1-2 hours of naptime to get things done and/or recharge. I think I like it better but it sure will be an adjustment, not least because I now know that if we take a car ride, stroller walk or wrapped walk anytime past noon he will fall asleep and be nearly impossible to wake, and also grumpy x1000.

Today we stayed home, it rained (hallelujah!) and we picked blackberries before dinner.

[annamannix]

On princesses

Ro: (referring to my skirt) mama, you look like a pwincess! Me: oh, thank you sweetie! Ro: I can't be a pwincess. Me: You can't? Why is that? Ro: (thinking, then rubs head) my hair too short, mommy.

[annamannix]

Kids, man.

Ro was trying to steal my book, and when I wouldn't give it to him, he said 'I need food, I'm huuuungry'. I believed him because he's had nothing but grapes to eat this morning and he flatly refused to eat supper last night. It was a ruse. When I came back with food, he was 'reading' my book and my offerings have gone untouched. Turd. Also according to him, 'the book thief' is about pizza. According to me, it might as well be because I'm finding the writing style wholly unmoving, despite the intended tear-jerkiness of the story.

[annamannix]

Blech.

I was so tired going to bed last night. As soon as I was dozing off, the coughing and crying started.

The boy is sick. He slept decently, although restlessly, in fits and starts all night. I slept barely at all. I know for sure I did not fall asleep before 3:30. Mister M tried to help but Ro was not having it at all.

This morning his fever is gone but his cough stays. He has near-normal energy, the only remaining sign of his bad night is in his constant requests to ‘hold mommy’s hair’.

Which, of course, never fails to send me into a white rage.

Send help.

[annamannix]

Currently feeding my 2.5 year old toast bite by bit because 'I can't mommy, I need help!'