N..A..P

NAP. I had no idea this word would be so powerful and have such a strong impact on our lives.

ME and NAPS

When I was a little kid I didn't like taking naps because it meant missing out on any fun activity that might take place while I was sleeping. I didn't want to miss out on a single thing no matter how tired I was. That would explain why I would often fall asleep in my highchair at supper time!

As I got older (late teen years, college and before I had a baby) I loved the idea of a nap anytime and anyplace if I was tired. This was especially true if I had been up late studying (or dancing).

After first having a child I learned that taking a nap was essential to maintaining my sanity, especially if I had been up at all feeding my little dude, or changing his diaper, or comforting him. I don't do well without sleep. I have tried to take advantage of the "sleep when the litte one sleeps" as much as possible since I am told that with the second baby you are too busy taking care of your first born to nap when your second born is sleeping! (Holy runon sentence!) It is definately hard to try and instantly "wind down" and fall asleep during the day when you know you have a thousand things you could be getting done. I have discovered, however, that if I am tired enough that I will sleep!

Now that my little dude is older and almost always sleeps through the night (unless he gets sick or has a poopy diaper), my naps have fallen by the wayside for the most part. However, if I happened to be out late, since the little dude still gets up at his usual time in the morning, I still try to take advantage of his napping time to get some rest myself if I can.

DYLAN and NAPS

Before I had Dylan, I knew that babies and kids took naps. What I didn't know was how important these naps (or lack there of) and their timing were! I now have a much greater appreciation for a parent saying that they can't go somewhere or do something during a certain time of day because that is "nap time".

When Dylan was little and portable (as portable as an almost 10 pound newborn can be) he would sleep almost anywhere. As he got older, of course, he had a little more trouble falling asleep in his stroller wherever he was. We needed to be home where he could sleep in the comfort of his own crib!

It is amazing how much of Dylan's day (and mine too) depends on when (and if) he naps on some sort of schedule (I say some SORT of schedule since he keeps teetering between two naps and one nap a day). A good nap can mean the difference between a smiling little boy or a wired and easily frustrated toddler. A good nap can mean smooth sailing (for the most part) all day and into the bedtime routine! Dylan is usually such a cooperative, playful and easygoing (as easy going as a toddler can be) kid that I can tell if a bad nap or lack of a nap is rearing its ugly head. I know that if he doesn't nap, or doesn't nap for very long (teething, loud neighbors lawnmower, obnoxiously loud middle-aged Harley Davidson guy that lives three houses down trying desperately to hold onto his youth, etc.), that it may not be smooth sailing ahead. Just like his mommy and daddy, he likes his food and his sleep. I also know that if Dylan doesn't nap that mommy doesn't get that "time to herself" to get things done that are difficult or impossible (or unsafet) to try and do when a toddler is awake and running around.

I think that is part of the reason I don't look forward to traveling a lot with Dylan. I know it is harder for Dylan to settle down and get the sleep he needs in a strange place or in his carseat while we are driving. I want him to be in a good mood and have fun with whoever we are visiting and that can be hard without proper sleep. Hopefully it will just keep getting easier to travel as he gets older!

Little did I know that one little three letter word (N..A..P) would affect our life so much!!