I'm stealthy

It has to be said. 

I'm like a mouse.  I can (usually) sneak in and out of the kids' bedroom while they're napping to check on them, put away laundry, whatever - and NOT wake them.

Everyone else sucks.  (At being stealthy, I mean.)  Sorry, that had to be said too.  In fact, if there were an award for being the least stealthy, it would probably go to Casey.

Being stealthy is really an art.  There's a certain way to turn the door knob, a certain pace to tiptoe.  You have to be observant; you can't be tripping over toys or stubbing your toe.  You can't breathe while you're in the nursery.  You have to be ready to dive into a closet the second an eyelid opens, so that you aren't spotted.

Some people find my methods to be a little extreme.  But, since I'm the one that has to deal with the cranky baby and/or toddler for the rest of the day, I'm allowed to be.  Nothing pisses me off more than when someone interrupts my kids' naps.  Consider yourselves warned!!

One nap isn't cutting it.

From what I gather, a lot of kids transition to one nap after their first birthday.  (Not that they HAVE to, according to this sleep chart.)  Lucy isn't one of those kids.  That girl needs her two naps, or she turns into a major fuss pot. 

Her schedule has been a little unpredictable the past two months...  Most days she takes two 1-1.5 hour naps, around 10:00 am and 2:00 pm; but there were some days that she would take one short morning nap (30-45 minutes) and one longer afternoon nap (1.5 hours), or only one looong nap (2-3 hours) in the middle of the day.  Then, a couple weeks ago, she changed classrooms* at school. 

Lucy's teachers felt that she was ready and would be happier playing with the older kids in the Trainer Room (18 months to 3 years).  Casey and I felt relatively comfortable with the idea, except for one detail:  Trainers only take one, scheduled nap per day. 

My poor, sleepy peanut...
Can't even keep her head up at the dinner table!

I'm sure most of my readers are rolling their eyes right about now, and thinking, "She'll adjust" or "She'll get over it".  And that may be true, evenutally, but, for the time being, my poor Goose is really missing her second nap.  And I miss my happy, well-rested girl! 

There is a noticeable difference in her disposition on the days she goes to daycare; she's whiny and clingy, impatient, and uninterested in eating her dinner.  There have even been times that she's fallen asleep on the car ride home from daycare...and we literally live across the street from the center!  That's how tired she is!!  I understand why daycare has to do this, but that doesn't mean I like it.  And you better believe when Lulu is at home, she gets her two naps!    

*Our daycare is the only center I've seen that does not have a One Year Old Room; instead it has an extended age range in the Infant Room (8 weeks to 18 months).

Lucy's Schedule

Lucy's schedule is non-existant.

......and its starting to be a problem.

Lucy's current caregivers (my dad, brother, and sister) tag team baby duty Monday through Friday, while Casey and I are off gallivanting 50 minutes west of F. Thrills.   

From the very beginning, Casey and I have leaned towards the attachment parenting style.  And we've followed the 7 B's to a T.  The 7 B's, for those not hip to the AP lingo are Birth Bonding, Breastfeeding, Babywearing, Bedding close to Baby, Belief in the language value of Baby's cry, Beware of baby trainers, and Balance.

Being sans schedule falls under the "Beware of baby trainers" category.  We have a nighttime ritual, but it doesn't commence at the same time every night.  We look for Lulu's cues to figure out when she's tired and ready for bed.  She recently started rubbing her eyes when she gets tired - which is adorable and a huge improvement from the spontaneous and inconsolable crying.

No one likes to see this face.

But like I said, being without a schedule is starting to affect everyone.  My dad/Fallon/Cole have to hold Lucy all day long or she gets fussy.  I'm talking can't put her down for ten minutes fussy.  And she's kinda heavy to be holding for ten hours straight.  Just sayin'!

I guess utilizing the Attachment Parenting style is great, for those who get to be a stay at home mom...but for those that have to continue working, it makes childcare a little troublesome for your daycare providers.  Back in the day, when I was on maternity leave, I was never able to accomplish a whole lot while Casey was at work (i.e.: showering, eating, using the bathroom....let alone anything truly productive - like laundry or cleaning).  So to impose that kind of responsibility on not one, but three people's lives, is a pretty craptastic feeling.

I have no idea what a good schedule looks like or whats to be expected from a 5 month old;  She's never been a very good napper.  But her lousy sleeping habits and constant need to be held have to be remedied.  I've done a little reading about infant sleep habits (which I shall post about later), but I'm trying to find some inspiration for a good, healthy schedule for Lulu (suggestions?).  I'm hoping to be able to persuade my Dad/Cole/Fallon to try out babywearing and this new schedule, because I think it could make everyone's lives a little easier.

What's your baby's schedule like?  Are any of you ladies following the Attachment Parenting style?