Nomad's Land

To Nap or not to nap

That is the question?  Bryce is going through a funky little phase right now with his naps and it's making me BONKERS.  I have no clue what to do.  He's resisting his morning nap now and will sometimes take a  longer afternoon nap.  Sometimes he's so tired he'll take a morning nap and no afternoon nap and by the time dinner time rolls around he's so cranky it's ridiculous.  I know he's trying to transition to the one big nap in the afternoon but shit, can we please just get this transition over with! This wonky little phase has been going on for a couple of weeks now and I have no clue as what to do about it?  5 days last week he had no morning nap and took an hour and a half to a two hour afternoon nap but Friday he was so tired he fell a sleep at 9 am in the morning and slept almost two hours.  And then today.  He had a 45 minute morning nap and  has fell back a sleep this evening.

Any advice from those of you who have been through this or are dealing with this?

Another thing is and hopefully this will help the nap transition also.  He's moving up to the toddler room in daycare tomorrow and they only take one afternoon nap after lunch.  They also don't rock the toddlers down to sleep which is going to be a huge problem for Bryce as we rock him for 7 to 10 minutes for naps and night time sleep.   They also rock him in his previous classroom(infant/baby classroom). I know the rocking is a bad habit but he's my only child and I probably will not have another so what to do?  I talked to his new daycare teacher and she assured me that he'll get on their schedule and he'll eventually go down without rocking.  That several of the other toddlers were the same way, when that happens they will lay down beside them on the little cots and rub their backs or pat their bottoms until they eventually fall a sleep.  She said it might take Bryce a little longer to get use to that method but eventually he'll get use to falling a sleep like that.

I don't want to quit rocking my son!  I enjoy it and for me it's bonding time for us.  I mean he's been off the bottle since the day after his first birthday.  I don't have much "baby" stuff/time left if you know what I mean.  I swear I'll rock him until he's 21 if he'll let me.  Plus, I ENJOY it. 

I guess I'm screwed as I've caused my son to rely on rocking to fall a sleep.  What's strange is that if he wakes in the middle of the night he can get back to sleep without the rocking and most of the time I'll put him in the crib and he's not a sleep from the rocking so I know he's capable of falling a sleep without the whole rocking thing.  Who know's?  I guess we'll see but I would appreciate any of you guys commenting that have been through the whole nap transition thing.

My Thoughts

To believe that my child/our children can live in an America where any child can dream to be anything no matter what their skin color is simply has reduced me to tears today.

I've had so many people say so many foul statements to me over race, color, etc... with regards to this election. Even knowing that Bryce is part African American. I know that Obama will not and can not change the racism that still exist in this country but it simply warms my soul to know that my son can look up to an African American role model and can dream to be anything that his little heart desires. I didn't vote for Obama because the color of his skin. I voted for him for what he said and stands for.

I only pray that he really moves us to a new place in the world, and there is CHANGE.

Trick or Treat

Bryce was absolutely adorable last night.  I've never seen a one year old actually stick their Halloween bucket out for a treat like he did.  We visited Bryce's grandparent, great-grandmother, and his God parents.  His God Mother(my best freind) actually asked me if I taught him to stick his little pumpkin bucket out like that and I told her no.  It's crazy he did it all on his own. 

I will say it was so very nice being able to enjoy Halloween this year.  Halloween was always one of my favorite holidays but when we were in the thick of infertility I dreaded it.  It hurt so much to see all the little ones dressed up knowing I might not ever get to experience taking a child of our own trick or treating.  I literally would hide out during Halloween.