snoozin'
Since I have a baby and a toddler, they are the core that my schedule is wrapped around. It actually works out perfectly for me because my natural levels of energy are very similar to a toddler. I am just as ready for an afternoon nap as they are.
Nap time isn't always a guarantee for me. If one of them is up while they other crashes, I'm out of luck. If there is a pile of paperwork that needs my attention or a few unfinished chores that need to get banged out; they'll typically take precedent.
However, it is non-negotiable for Wes. He is 22 months (that's almost 2 for you non-mom's out there, I can't wait till he's 2 and we're beyond that month-to-month age label.) So he must nap. And typically is okay with it.
Since we have moved him out of the crib (way too active in his sleep. way too creative about trying to get out) and onto a twin mattress we keep on the floor (don't judge, I'd rather have him safe then on a bedframe till he's used to it) he has full access to get out. We have since put up a gate in the doorway of his room. He can move around his room as much as he wants safely (it's baby proof) and can't get into any rooms where he could get into trouble (and would.)
Initially he was stuck in the "i'm in a crib" mindset. He was put on his mattress and he stayed there. He would move around on his bed, but not venture off. He has books and toys he's allowed to play with, while settling down to sleep and so he was quite content.... well a few weeks of that passed and he would sneak off and grab an extra toy or another book and dash right back to his bed. Pretty soon he realized nothing happened to him when he stepped off his bed and we weren't around to notice if he happened to stay off a little bit longer than a quick dash for a toy.
This is when things became more 'fun' for Wes and more 'challenging' for us. The game of Go-To-Bed has begun.
"Okay Wes, go to bed." He dashes to his bed giggling. We turn to go. He dashes back to the gate.
"No Wes, stay in your bed." He runs next to his bed, but not in it.
"No Wes, IN your bed." He giggles again and flops his body into his pillow.
If I've had a quite a morning or a long day--I typically walk away shaking my head. But when I have extra time, I like to jump right next to him and give him a big kiss saying in Wes and my silly throaty voice that's kind of like yoda but not as deep "stay in your bed. stay in your bed. you must stay in your bed." All the while he is laughing and making throaty imitation of my words. This is making me crack up too.
Then "Okay Wes, now stay in your bed..." and give him one big kiss on his cheek. I slowly get up and then dive back down.
"Oh one more kiss!" and tickle kiss his face. He is giggling so hard now he has the hiccups. I get up from his bed walk towards the door and race back to his bed.
"ONE more kiss!"
Then up again. Walk towards the door. Swing one leg over the gate. Stop.
"Okay okay, just ONE more kiss!"
As I kiss him. I tell him how much I love him and how much he needs sleep so that we can have another fun day (if its bed time) or a fun afternoon (if its naptime.) He typically sighs at this point like he knows the fun is over, and how tired he really is.
At least that's what I assume he thinks. And sometimes, when his exhaustion level and bed time happen at the same time, at that point, he crashes. But typically, he spends the next hour or so finding new toys to bring to his bed, sets up forts for his little toys next to the night light (across from his bed) or the most pathetic pastime, sits at the gate and waits for us to come back.
On the afternoons/evenings when he decides to venture off his bed, he is not very good at knowing when to climb back into bed, and that leads to us finding him asleep in the most hysterical spots.
And with the sound machine playing the roar of ocean waves... the little man grabs his blankets (he is a two blanket baby just like I was) finds his pipe (what we call his pacifier) among his toys and curls up wherever and racks out. Then, after I have taken a few photos of his chosen spot, all the while attempting to hold in my giggle so I don't wake him. I lift him up and tuck him back into his bed thinking how sweet he is and how blessed I am that he's my Westley.
hashtag: itsgoodtobeWes'mom.
Nap time isn't always a guarantee for me. If one of them is up while they other crashes, I'm out of luck. If there is a pile of paperwork that needs my attention or a few unfinished chores that need to get banged out; they'll typically take precedent.
However, it is non-negotiable for Wes. He is 22 months (that's almost 2 for you non-mom's out there, I can't wait till he's 2 and we're beyond that month-to-month age label.) So he must nap. And typically is okay with it.
Since we have moved him out of the crib (way too active in his sleep. way too creative about trying to get out) and onto a twin mattress we keep on the floor (don't judge, I'd rather have him safe then on a bedframe till he's used to it) he has full access to get out. We have since put up a gate in the doorway of his room. He can move around his room as much as he wants safely (it's baby proof) and can't get into any rooms where he could get into trouble (and would.)
Initially he was stuck in the "i'm in a crib" mindset. He was put on his mattress and he stayed there. He would move around on his bed, but not venture off. He has books and toys he's allowed to play with, while settling down to sleep and so he was quite content.... well a few weeks of that passed and he would sneak off and grab an extra toy or another book and dash right back to his bed. Pretty soon he realized nothing happened to him when he stepped off his bed and we weren't around to notice if he happened to stay off a little bit longer than a quick dash for a toy.
This is when things became more 'fun' for Wes and more 'challenging' for us. The game of Go-To-Bed has begun.
"Okay Wes, go to bed." He dashes to his bed giggling. We turn to go. He dashes back to the gate.
"No Wes, stay in your bed." He runs next to his bed, but not in it.
"No Wes, IN your bed." He giggles again and flops his body into his pillow.
If I've had a quite a morning or a long day--I typically walk away shaking my head. But when I have extra time, I like to jump right next to him and give him a big kiss saying in Wes and my silly throaty voice that's kind of like yoda but not as deep "stay in your bed. stay in your bed. you must stay in your bed." All the while he is laughing and making throaty imitation of my words. This is making me crack up too.
Then "Okay Wes, now stay in your bed..." and give him one big kiss on his cheek. I slowly get up and then dive back down.
"Oh one more kiss!" and tickle kiss his face. He is giggling so hard now he has the hiccups. I get up from his bed walk towards the door and race back to his bed.
"ONE more kiss!"
Then up again. Walk towards the door. Swing one leg over the gate. Stop.
"Okay okay, just ONE more kiss!"
As I kiss him. I tell him how much I love him and how much he needs sleep so that we can have another fun day (if its bed time) or a fun afternoon (if its naptime.) He typically sighs at this point like he knows the fun is over, and how tired he really is.
At least that's what I assume he thinks. And sometimes, when his exhaustion level and bed time happen at the same time, at that point, he crashes. But typically, he spends the next hour or so finding new toys to bring to his bed, sets up forts for his little toys next to the night light (across from his bed) or the most pathetic pastime, sits at the gate and waits for us to come back.
On the afternoons/evenings when he decides to venture off his bed, he is not very good at knowing when to climb back into bed, and that leads to us finding him asleep in the most hysterical spots.
 |
| good thing his carpet is soft |
 |
| just barely made it off the bed |
 |
| this half on half off the rug is a popular one |
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| wedged in a nap nook |
 | ||
| his face is up against the pool noodles we have under his sheet to help keep him from rolling off his bed, they also apparently double as a pillow... |
 | ||
| at the gate. |
And with the sound machine playing the roar of ocean waves... the little man grabs his blankets (he is a two blanket baby just like I was) finds his pipe (what we call his pacifier) among his toys and curls up wherever and racks out. Then, after I have taken a few photos of his chosen spot, all the while attempting to hold in my giggle so I don't wake him. I lift him up and tuck him back into his bed thinking how sweet he is and how blessed I am that he's my Westley.
hashtag: itsgoodtobeWes'mom.
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