Say my name, say my name

An update. Monkey has revised her name of her baby sister.

She is now officially known as "jelly bean." And I have no idea why.

Five, Six, Seven, Eight, we won't nap or sleep in late!

Ugh. I was going to call this post "A death in the family" but thought that might startle readers.....because it's the death of the nap, the beloved beloved DEEPLY NEEDED nap. Not a human. Although it might be the death of me. Heh.

That's right. Monkey is on a nap strike. Commence wailing and gnashing of teeth and demonstrations of anguish and desolation.

On both Saturday and Sunday, the only way I could get her to go down for a nap was to hold her in my lap until she was asleep, and then gently lower her into the crib. I'm surprised that my legs are still attached; both times I stood up and almost keeled over, having lost all feeling in the leg that was under Monkey. Only the the unpleasant pins-and-needles sensation of blood reanimating my leg let me know it was still there.

Then, the nap strike bled into bedtime. Saturday night did not go well. She stood in her crib and screamed bloody murder. Last night was worse. We started the process at 8pm and THREE HOURS LATER she fell asleep. At least I think it was 11pm. It may have actually been later. I don't know. I should have been asleep at 9pm myself, so forgive me for being a wee bit tired. M was beyond exhausted, but managed to sweet talk Monkey into staying in her crib while he read to her from the chair. And she fell asleep.

I think our neighbors hate us; during that three hour period I think she may have screamed for an hour or two. Straight.

We figured she'd sleep in this morning, only to be summoned at 5:50am.(Daylight savings is not our friend.)

Here's hoping that this is a phase. A brattalicious hellacious phase. Please?

Building Forts. Or, how to make a shambles of my living room in 30 seconds or less.....

A story in pictures:

Going green

I grew up in a household that believed in saving on electric bills. Which is to say that an an early age, I got into the good habit of turning lights off that weren't in use. Of course now it is as much about going "green" as it is saving on bills, but still - now that I pay the bills? SO glad this is an ingrained habit.

Monkey, on the other hand, isn't quite as enamored of my frugality. Mostly because I turned the lights off on her last night when I walked out of the kitchen.

The indignant "lights, please?!!!" was priceless. I was still chuckling 5 minutes later.

It's a girl thing (or, are they related or what!)

The weather this fall has really spoiled us. I know, there's that lovely song about loving New York in spring....but fall here has spring beat every single time.

That is, until yesterday. When it was 40-some odd degrees out and raining sideways. Ugh. COLD!

I, of course, being of sound mind and body, have refused to break down and buy a maternity jacket. I suppose I was irrationally hoping to actually make it to 12/12 (and beyond, really, since I'm no Angelina Jolie and will still have a belly once I deliver BabyGirlCarter#2) without having to do anything other than wear layers. Under a bright red raincoat. Because that's the only thing that fits me. I know - what an image. I look like a bright red beach ball with legs. MMM, I'm bringing sexy back! (disclosure - I actually broke down and bought a jacket, recommended by my sister in law G, and am anxiously awaiting it's arrival from target.com)

However, this post isn't about my coat issues. It is about Monkey's coat issues.

See, this delusion that the warm weather would continue? Led to me not buying a new winter coat for Monkey. Poor thing.

So, we've been layering each morning to ensure she gets to school without turning into an ice block. She's just plain ole' cranky about having to put on two coats.

"Harrumph, one is enough, mom" is her attitude....and let me tell you, it is
capital A attitude! Bossy little thing.

I shared this tidbit with G, and turns out.........her insane toddler, HP, also has coat "issues" in the morning. Now, since Boulder is lovely and still warm out, this isn't an issue of preventing frostbite. Still, HP makes them go through 3 or 4 coats in the morning before she will actually put one on! "Developing a fashion sense already" is how her mother describes her.

They are so alike, it cracks me up. I forsee a lot of fun in the future, when HP and Monkey hang out. And either raid their mothers' closets for something to wear....or raid their mothers' closets so that they can roll around on the floor and say things like "I KNOW, can you believe she actually WEARS that?"