One Nap It Is- 16 Months

The one nap/ two nap conversation started much too early in our house, if you ask me. If you ask my husband, he gives you a blank stare which translates into... "If you ask me about sleep stuff one more time it might actually induce vomiting" or something like that. 

And even though I know this, I still cannot help but discuss, re-discuss, speculate, and re-speculate until the blank stare finally becomes actual words which sound more like this... 

"Kelley, I do not want to talk about sleep anymore... she is a live human being, you cannot control a human being that is constantly growing and changing... the variables are too many". 

Tell that to the sleep trainers, dear. They would all say your wrong, and this I know because I invested the equivalent of what it will take to one day send our cute 16 month old to college in their books and methods. 

So there.


The problems began around 10 months when my baby who loved sleeping and consistently took 2-2 hour naps a day decided some days she really only wanted to sleep once. Then my same, precious baby, who I know has my wants and needs in the back of her head, decided she wanted to wake up at 6:45 instead of 7:30. For those of you worried you are missing something at 6:45, let me assure you, you are not. 

After countless hours spent discussing it with very avid listeners, such as other mom's, and not so excited conversation participants, such as my husband, it was decided her teeth were probably the culprit and that she was simply too young to drop a nap.

So we waited, and battled it out. Her wake up time moved back to a more suitable 7:45-8:00am and sure enough eventually she got back on track with her naps, only to derail a couple of more times, before I decided the time had come to surrender my morning shower, eat breakfast, maybe take a nap if I really need it time... also known in mom world as the morning nap.


After our Thanksgiving adventures in Texas and Louisiana we came home, spent a few days recovering at the house, and dropped the morning nap for good. I have since only managed to shower once before the 1pm hour where the aforementioned nap has now relocated too. 

Showering and looking like a respectable human being in public aside, I love that we can now go to library time, that when running errands I no  longer feel like I am trying to set some sort of Olympic record for time, and that in general we just get to hang out more during the day. We've been using our time pretty wisely filling it with things such as... box pushing, ball throwing, Otis chasing, cart racing, closet hiding, word rambling, and as always book reading.


Our ramblings include: 

*Mamamama- directed at inanimate and animate objects alike

*Dadada- said aimlessly throughout the day or shortened to a simple "Da" when looking at pictures of John or asking him for help


*Mmmm- a sound made with such precision her mouth never opens, this my friends is very obviously what a cow says


*O dis- a word we have heard only a couple of times but are certain is in reference to our black and white ball of fur Otis


*Yes- the first of the bunch to be said, the girls in the church nursery were super excited when they learned Mia talked- only to find out her parent's were not aware of this skill


*Hi- the second to be heard among the nursery crew on the same day "yes" was revealed some many months ago


*Aaaple- while apples have not yet made an appearance on her menu, she seems to be ready for them


*Dis- code for "this" or "tell me what that is right now you big person", regardless it is said when pointing to items in a book or when inquiring about surroundings


*Aou se- when pushing on the backdoor and demanding to go outside where it is currently 31 degrees. Sorry Mia, maybe if you begin saying outside correctly we can make a deal and I will take you out there as a prize, but until then I am not a fan of having to defrost frozen baby hands and big momma bottom from the cold.

*Uh-oh- makes me smile every time I hear it and is often said while imitating a broken record. The best occurrence of this to date was when I turned from the computer after hearing about 9 consecutive uh-oh's to find cheerios strung out all over the bedroom floor. The uh-oh's turned quiet pretty quickly when it was discovered the cheerios could simply be eaten off the floor.




*Grrr- the sound Mike the Tiger makes, possibly the best sound in the world!


Funny Things Worth Remembering:

*Changing your diaper has become much like I would imagine WW3 to be.



*Wiping down your face and hands after you eat is closer to a WW4 encounter, but if you pick up a washcloth or paper towel you immediately begin wiping your own face in a pleasant manner.


*Keeping in the desire for less personal hygiene, brushing your teeth is a small nightmare, but when asked to brush your teeth you put your finger in your mouth, move it back and forth, and make a sound very similar to brush, brush.


*After a lifetime of eating anything you were given, you decided to exercise your freedom of choice and have started revolting against some veggies. We discovered some of it was a presentation problem when you refused to eat pears cut up into little pieces but loved gnawing on a bigger slice.


*You love the vacuum cleaner.


*You discovered the pantry and will stand at it saying "aou se" until it is either opened and you are given what you want or you are removed and the crying begins.


*We are starting to see more "tantrum" like behavior from you when you don't get what you want, or don't get what you want fast enough.


*You love emptying the wipes out of the container.


*While this has slowed down a bit in the past month, since the moment you began walking our closet has been your favorite place to play. Hiding behind Dada's clothes, you would wait there until you were ready to pop out, laugh, and turn around to do it all again. It's hysterical to watch.


*Your newest "melt Momma's heart in a second" trick is picking out a book to read and bringing it to me while plopping yourself (most haphazardly) in my lap. You seem uncertain of how to actually get in my lap, and your approach varies every time. Some days you back  in and others you simply do a forward body dive into my person, hoping I will catch you on the way down. After getting out of your crib in the morning you will do this until I pry the books out of your hand and say it is time to eat. 



We love you little girl and are so blessed to have you in our lives. Happy 16 Months and a very Merry Christmas to you!

Mommy and Dada were so excited about the Tigers win after Thanksgiving they decided I could try my first beignet to celebrate. I loved all the sugary sweetness.

After traveling for 2 weeks over Thanksgiving we decided to keep it local for our Christmas tree search. What exactly is the definition of farm again Dada? Do most Christmas tree farms have their own BP's?

Um, can anyone give me an estimate on how many of these I will be endured to take over the years?

Now let's see, how to get this tree out of the bed of this truck...

Hmm... that could work... yes, yes.

Maybe if I just stand here and smile someone will get it out for me.

Plan B- Get this tree out of this truck people!

I mean... I love you and please.

After we got the tree unloaded it was time to party. I spent all my time hanging out with the big girls at the Eanes' Family Christmas party. Oh my gosh... you would not believe... did you see that today...

Oh stop... you are cracking me up.

After all the partying I needed a down day in a comfy t-shirt and jeans. So proud of my Daddy and his willingness to give his time and resources to others.

Doing a little last minute shopping after resting up. Must there be paparazzi everywhere I go, this must be what famous people feel like. I said no comment.

Why is it ok that I am sitting on a strange man's lap right now?

Ahhhhh....have you even seen how terrible your vest is in the mirror? Ahhhhhh.

Well you see, I poured all my ice out so clearly I need more.

So nice of these girls to keep my ice source full.

What do you mean it's too cold to be outside?

Thanks for putting this bed in the kitchen for me, all the festivities have worn me out. It's so cozy on here.

Demonstrating the one finger touch.

Oh... what's in there?

Expert paper ripper.

This one is big.

Who needs wheels and a top?

I'll have a cheese stick, with some milk and a side of blueberries please.

I've got to get the salon, this thing is killing my perfect hair day.

It seems we need to review the true meaning of Christmas with this one. Presents, presents, presents, presents.

Cooking with my pot.

Bathing with my pot. It's a miracle Daddy, floating peas!

Is this for me? Owen how did you get in there?

I've got to get to the store straight away- thanks Aunt Libby.

I love my 16 month birthday!

Paper hats huh Mom?

I've got them all right where I want them... wrapped around my finger

Merry Christmas!