Monkey House

I tried posting, but our internets have been lame lately. Here is tonight’s speed, which is actually a GOOD connection for what we’ve had lately:

At least that’s a connection. The last 2 times I’ve tried updating the blog, I haven’t been able to get the page to load without timing out.

So, yeah. Here’s what happened:

Day 35: Trial Daycare Transition

Cole starts daycare next week. After a previous conversation with our daycare provider, we set up today as a transition day. See how he gets along in a new environment, with the other 2 children, etc.

As it turns out, he decided to have a 2-hr nap in the morning. So we didn’t even get over there until 11-something. Spent a good while just yammering about things he likes, things that work at naptime, etc. Eventually it drew near to time for another nap. Figured I’d leave him with her to see how they managed. Went home and did nothing special (not even napping!), but was just so exhausted from some of his recent behaviour that all I could manage to do is stare at a computer screen.

When I went to pick him up, he was still napping. That’s good news! Apparently he wasn’t heinously difficult to put down, either. Another good thing! A bit more chatting, and we took our leave. Spent less than an hour at home before Mama Monkey arrived, having left early.

I don’t usually talk about the evenings in this log… but today, what will turn out to be a week of difficult evenings started. Little guy just doesn’t like to sleep.

Day 36: Lunch with Mommy

Morning was great! Basically, after only spending less than an hour with him following Mommy’s departure, he was ready for sleep. Went down fairly easily for a “chest nap” and exhausted, I napped with him (when he’s on your chest, it’s either that or watch TV. Wasn’t in the mood for more Olympic repeats anyhow). He stayed asleep for THREE HOURS. If you’ve followed this blog, you’ll know that this is only the second time, ever.

Met Alex at the hospital campus for some lunch. Some of her labmates/coworkers were there, and although we mostly talked about parenting and Cole, there was also some chatting about renovations. Made me want to bust out my renovation hat again. Won’t be long before we’re doing the upstairs bathroom! It was great to see Alex during the day. I should have done this a little more while I had my leave. In any event, he was starting to get tired and fussy towards the end of the visit, so I figured he would car-nap.

I was wrong.

He didn’t nap again for another 2 hours. In addition to the 2 he had already been awake, that was a 4-hour wakeful stretch. Which is way too much for him to handle.

I went through the usual calming routines, bounces, and walks… but nothing was working. During one calm and curious period, I tried some ‘leave him be’ time. This only served to wake him up as he explored his bed and practiced crawling and standing. Eventually he got tired of practicing (as well as physically tired) and the screaming started. I tried earplugs, but at some point it was clear that “Cry it Out” was yet again not going to work. In addition to other stresses, he was due for diaper change and milk, which ruins the whole “Cry it Out” thing.

After the change and milk, I tried the “normal” routines again, which finally put him to sleep. When Alie came home, I retreated to the basement with barely a word, and didn’t emerge until it was supper time.

During supper, he was being funny and charming. Sometimes that’s all it takes to bring me back to the same page as the rest of the family.

Then evening sucked. Thankfully there were 2 of us, but it was still hard.

Day 37 – Another Transition Day

Brought the Monkey over to our caregiver’s place BEFORE his morning nap this time, since that will likely be the pattern moving forward. This time I basically dropped him off, shared a few updates in his behaviour (ie. what might work for naptime), and headed home for 2.5 hours.

Should have been a productive 2.5 hours, but it was NOT. Played with a dog for a bit (but he wasn’t into it.. his routine is to just be petted and scratched a bit during the day, or walked…), started getting dinner ready (whole chicken in slow cooker), tidied up a BIT, and watched some Olympics.

When I went to pick him up, our caregiver reported that he was a bit tougher to put down for a nap. That sucks, but it’s what we expected—after all, he’s not easy for US, so there’s no real reason for him to be easy for anyone else, unfortunately. But, it didn’t sound like he was absolutely hellish. Only had a 40-min nap, but again that’s pretty normal. By the time we were leaving, he was again ready for his next nap.

And once again, it was hellish to put him down.

I don’t know if it’s something to do with his mind becoming alert during transit times (like yesterday when we went out for lunch), or what. But he was just super-resistant. It might also be that he’s so thrilled with his newfound crawling abilities that he wants to practice those whenever possible. He’s certainly at his “strongest” when he’s tired.

After some fighting, I went with the “chest nap” strategy. Not that I hadn’t tried it earlier, but I gave it a 2nd go and it finally stuck. My own nap was less pleasant. I was only wearing short-sleeves, and for some reason I felt cold. I had a warm baby on my chest, but that wasn’t quite enough to keep me warm. I eventually gave in and risked disturbing him by waking up and carrying him upstairs. That worked. Finally had some blanket, still had a sleeping baby… and then Alie came home and the dogs woke him up.

Undaunted, I let her take him (now awake and complaining) off my hands. And I napped.