"If This Is What Happens After Dark . . .

I think I'll stick to my normal bedtime."

Duct Tape Would Be Appropriate, No?

The Pillow Snatcher. She's back. It's been something close to three months since I woke up, night after night, to find her sweaty little head on the middle of my down filled piece of heaven. Like clockwork, 4am comes and she thumps out of her own bed and creeps into our room. Some nights she makes it all the way into bed and under the covers before I notice. On others I'll sense her standing there and open my eyes to see her staring right back at me. Even better are the nights when I'm downstairs with MJ at that time and can hear the crash as she tumbles out of bed, and then I get to dread going back upstairs and having to haul her out of my spot.

I don't have the slightest clue what's so terrible about being in her own bed past 4am. If I dare to ask her, she'll either tell me she has to go potty, or that she's scared of the thunder (that isn't thundering at that time), or that the tiger is going to eat her (thank you, bed time stories). I am completely chalking this up to a "two" thing. And, I'm sure I'll be still chalking it up to a "three" thing next year . . .

Really though, it isn't so terrible. I could totally deal with having to give up my pillow every night in exchange for the snuggles I get. The giant problem we've got though, is the kid's inability to sleep past 6-something. And, her inability to wake up in a nice and quiet way. It's all "HI! I HUNGRY! MOMMY! HUNGRY! DADDY GET UP!!!! POTTY! HI! HI! HI! DARBY! OUT! MJ WAKE UP! MOMMY OPEN EYES!!!! MOMMY WAKE UP!!! HUNGRY!!!"

Yeah, so the whole "Shush! The baby is sleeping!" . . . not so much in the morning. MJ gets jerked out of her peaceful slumber right along with the rest of us. And she's getting less and less tolerant of that. I see lots of retaliation when they're older.

For a while there, I was terribly concerned, thinking there's no way they'll be able to share a room soon. But really, it should work out well. With duct tape. Lots and lots of duct tape.

(Semi) Wordless Wednesday: It Was Once My College Fund

But somehow that '67 Stingray stuck around, despite my bachelor's degree, and now . . . the toddler waves at middle-aged men that get whiplash and have to wipe drool off their chins.

It's summer time, baby!

It Was So Worth The Pain

9:45

That's what time the husband and I slept in until on Saturday morning.

Ah, sleep. Glorious sleep.

Sometime last week, we were sitting around the in-laws kitchen table when someone mentioned Miss E sleeping over their house. I'm fairly certain it started in a completely joking manner, but we jumped on that right quick. Friday night rolled around and we had dinner over there, hanging around till just after 8, instead of rushing out the door before 7 like normal.

Yes, I know. What jet setters we are, enjoying a night of babysitting AT the in-laws. I know you're all jealous.

E was enjoying a bath in their gigantic jacuzzi tub when we left. She was only an hour behind her normal schedule and we went on our merry way, trusting the in-laws to put her to bed at a reasonable hour.

Nope.

After our gloriously full night of sleep (apparently MJ will sleep all morning if she isn't woken up by E bounding into our room at 5:45 yelling "Hi! Hi! Hi!"), we headed over to pick up E. Instead of a perky and cheerful toddler, we found ourselves with a fragile, emotional, extra special clingy and ridiculously cranky one. Piece by piece, we figured out that not only did she go to bed waaaaaay late, but she was up twice in the middle of the night and woke them up at the crack of dawn.

There is nothing but pain and suffering to follow a toddler only sleeping for 5 hours at night. But it was so worth it to roll over and see that 9:45 in the morning. So worth it that I'm plotting how to do this every weekend while we're close enough to ship her off to the grandparent's.

Toddler Cool Down: Ohio Style

Start out with the "pool" your cheap-ass, redneck parents rigged up for you. Be careful not to rip off the duct tape keeping the drain valve shut.


Move on to bigger and better things at the local splash park in Amish country. It's great for your cheap-ass parents again, because it's free free free.


Make some new friends for about five minutes.


And wonder if she's thinking just how much it blows to be standing there in the 90 degree heat, stuck on the sidelines.


Spend the next afternoon lounging in the cushy new pool at Grandma and Grandpa's, while those lazy parents of yours sip margaritas with their feet up.


Then, cap off the week with some new friends at a favorite spot.


Contemplate getting soaked.


And, watch those pesky parents dunk the baby in the water - again.


It's been a good week.