The above pic is a great visual description of our little Lexi. If she's not happy, you will be told. Since I last posted we have gone through a bit of an adventure in making Lexi happy. Not by giving her what she wants, but by giving her what she really doesn't want- a nap. As the days got warmer and Lexi became more active, she continued with her lack of interest in naps. Around dinner time, which coincides with daddy's arrival at home, she would start screaming, crying, stumbling, etc, indicating to us that she was beyond tired. We knew the only thing we could do was make her nap. I re-read a few books on sleep for kids- No Cry Sleep Solution, Baby Whisperer, Healthy Sleep Habits- Happy Child, and I had a real punch in the gut moment. I am in charge of Lexi's naps, not Lexi. All this time I have let her get away with her refusal to nap because her way of saying she was unhappy was loud. Now, once a day she will be in her crib for an hour. If she screams, cries real tears or is inconsolable, we go right in to comfort her. If she yells cause she doesn't think she needs a nap or she'd rather be doing something else, we leave her be. She has figured out that we aren't coming to get her, so, most of the time, she actually naps. It's usually only about an hour, but it's something. I learned that the key to a good nap is finding that moment BEFORE she's actually tired. It's a small window when she starts slowing down, looking away from me etc. By the time she's blinking hard or rubbing her eyes, it's too late.
My dad had heart surgery in the farthest away place possible, Cleveland. The surgery was April 29. I am happy to report he was discharged from the hospital Today!!! It was so hard being so far away and not being able to be with him as he recuperated. And more so my step mom Gail who had the task of being by his side through it all. She deserves a trophy for keeping him calm and inspired, keeping the family in Spokane and elsewhere updated, and remaining sane.
I feel overwhelmed and all over the place by all that is going on right now, but at the same time I am happy. The videos below will give a glimpse of the reason for some of that happiness. - Jenni
