Whoa!

Naptimes are becoming an issue again, and it always seems to be that way after we return from a trip to Iowa. Just when I think she's gained independence, and we're able to read her a story and lay her down, all in about 5 minutes if need be, we go to Iowa, where EVERYTHING changes, and BAM! we're back to square one. It sucks. Today was a prime example of a horrible naptime...

I sat on the floor of Maya's room, reading "Mother Goose" and "You're My Little Love Bug" for about 15 minutes. Liam was crawling around, and Maya was paying attention to the story about 75% of the time (the other 25%, she was playing with her brother). When we were done with the stories, I turned on her fish (aquarium light/music machine inside her crib) and turned out the light. Promptly, she started crying. I sat in the rocker with Buddy on my lap and pulled Maya up to join us. She stopped crying and started hugging her brother, which ticked him off because he was already exhausted and more than ready for bed. That considered, I sang "You Are My Sunshine" two times, as I said I would, then got up to put Maya in bed. She laid down. I tucked her in. We said good night/I love you's. I walked out the door. "Mommy!!", I hear from the other side of the door. I opened the door back up and walked to her crib. At this point she broke down and started crying. I was finally able to coax her to lay back down and told her that I'll see her after she wakes up, that I'm not coming back in until she goes to sleep. I went into Liam's room, sat down in the rocker, and started feeding him his bottle. Suddenly I heard, "Mama!" Then, "MAMA!!" Within a few seconds, she's escalated into screaming at the top of her lungs, "MOMMY! MOMMY!" Finally, she gave up on even screaming for me, and she started just screaming. And screaming. And SCREAMING!!! The louder she got, and the more she carried on, my blood began to boil hotter and hotter.

Liam finally finished his bottle, and I laid him in his bed with paci and blanket. I turned his fish on and walked out the door. I never heard a peep from him. I never do. He's a dreamboat when it comes to bedtime. It seriously doesn't get easier than him. Anyway, I marched down the hall, ready to battle and talking myself down at the same time. Babies and toddlers are a true reflection of our own behavior, and this screaming behavior is not one I want to reinforce by acting the same way. I took a deep breath and walked into her room. As soon as she saw me, she held out her hands for me to pick her up, and she was sobbing, trying to say something. Instead of picking her up or letting her talk, I held both of her hands, got down on her level, eye to eye, and began to explain in my most serious grown up voice, "Maya, you DO NOT scream at me like that. I was feeding your brother a bottle and laying him down for a nap." She tried to speak, but I cut her off again and continued, "I don't scream at you, and you DO NOT scream at me like that. That is not nice. Sometimes I have to help your brother, and I can't come right away. I will come help you, but sometimes you have to wait a minute. It makes me VERY upset when you scream like that. Do you understand?" She looked at my with those beautiful brown eyes, and through her erratic breaths and sniffles she said, "Mommy.....sing.....me..one....more........song."

I hugged her and kissed her on the head. I pulled her out of her crib with her blanket that she had been clutching the entire time and sat in the rocking chair with her. I started to sing "You Are My Sunshine", and she put her head down on my shoulder. Once that song was over, I sang "Three Little Birds" (not actually called that, but that is what I've always called it to the kids) by Colby Cailet. She was sleeping before I got to the second verse. She was exhausted. I just can't believe all that screaming for one more song? It times like that when I don't know whether to be mad or flattered! Today, and truth be told, most every time, I pick flattered. I took the opportunity to snuggle with my baby girl, who I know will soon be too big to snuggle on my lap, nor will she be interested in listening to me sing a song. I have to relish the moments while I can because they are flying by way too fast.