Toddler Batteries
August 4th, 2007
Today was a really good day. You know why? Because I painted for three hours straight. It was dreamy. I love our new one-long-nap-a-day routine. It’s not like I’ve got Baby Bug on a rigid schedule, it’s more like I’ve got my expectations in line with her inner schedule. It took me a while to get here (and I’m sure I’m jinxing it by writing about it) but it sure is nice.
The trick to this new routine is to read Baby Bug’s low battery symbol correctly. When she starts getting cranky, her battery symbol is blinking. It’s a warning. But it doesn’t mean to put her down right that minute. It means I have about an hour left to go.
Toby hates this low battery stage. Baby Bug is cranky and cries at every little bump and scuff. If you take a crayon away from her, while she’s coloring a masterpiece on the wall, all hell will break lose. She’s just generally a crank to be around. But it isn’t worth putting her down yet because she will fight a nap like getting a tooth pulled. She’s just tired enough to be cranky and sour but not tired enough to think of sleep as something that will probably feel good.
Toby always asks me, “What’s wrong with her?” (as if I have some great motherly wisdom that knows all). I try to explain to him that her mood is directly related to where she is in her nap schedule. This is where I break out the graphs and charts…
When she first wakes up she’s a little grumpy because she wakes up slow. About half an hour later she’s the sweetest baby ever. She laughs and plays and smiles at everything. This happy fun stage lasts for about two to three hours. Around that fourth hour, she starts to be a pessimist.
Putting flash cards in a box suddenly become incredibly frustrating and the baby that used to “try, try again” now wails and throws the cards on the floor in disgust. She doesn’t want apple juice or orange juice and when you tell her that it is NOT cookie time, she’ll throw herself on the floor and bemoan the weight of the world. The fourth hour toddler is not a fun toddler. She’s a pain in the neck.
However, if you can wait out that fourth hour, the fifth hour is divine. She wants to cuddle. She wants to read stories and sit in your lap. She wants to sing and before I know it she’ll start fingering her pacifier and rolling around on her bed (she takes her nap on the futon—the crib days are gone). Two minutes later her eyes are closed and she’s fast asleep without a whimper of resistance. I can put up with an hour of pessimist baby for this.
Not every day but lately she’s been taking longer and longer naps. The other day she slept for four hours straight! I think she’s growing. Sometimes, I swear she’ll wake up looking taller. She’s getting to be such a big girl.
This picture was taken half an hour after a two hour nap. You can almost see the fully charged green battery symbol on her forehead.
August 4th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
ha, ha, I so totally know what you are talking about. I had never thougth through the process step by step, but yup, you nailed it. Only I get 1-2 hrs max out of Kaitlyn. Ethan is another story.
Oh, and Coralee’s baner is super cute, even looks like her. Great job!!
August 4th, 2007 at 11:28 pm
Hmmmmm… I’m starting to wonder if I’m a toddler…sleep-wise anyway! ; )
August 5th, 2007 at 3:56 am
I remember those days well. Since we no longer have naps, there is no recharge battery notice anymore. It is just go go go until bedtime, then crash. Which is good too. It is great that you are getting three hour naps now though, so much gets accomplished :).
August 5th, 2007 at 5:17 am
Be grateful! My girl (who is expecting her own girl) used to take a 20 minute nap and be just as recharged as her older brother who took the glorious 3 hour naps.
August 5th, 2007 at 6:55 am
I LOVE the one-nap stage. I’m trying not to wish the two-nap stage away, but ONE is wonderful. And? BB’s a doll in that last picture.
August 5th, 2007 at 9:40 am
Wow, you have really figured out her schedule! I don’t know if I could articulate Annalie’s inner schedule like that. I just don’t think about stuff like that, though I probably should.
And I had to laugh at Toby’s, “What’s wrong with her?”
August 5th, 2007 at 10:11 am
I love that graph! I will have to do one to help explain my 14-m.o.’s moods to my hubby.
August 5th, 2007 at 10:24 am
Your Baby Battery Charging Chart is perfection - you should look into selling it to a parenting magazine or website, because I know many new Moms who would love it! It’s the perfect analogy!
August 5th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
Mine would get so tired they’d put themselves to bed. No joke. Naps are important ’round these here parts.
August 5th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Great Toddler Behavior Analysis…fits my little one to a T right now. Although, there are days when the patterns fly right out the window. One of those low battery sensors would be nice for those days.
August 5th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
This is hilarious….and so true!
August 5th, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Your graph is so so funny.
August 5th, 2007 at 9:27 pm
Oh, your chart nails it! I cracked up over how three hours of bug’s “joy to be around” phase is while she’s sleeping.
The road to one nap is rough, but as they extend that one nap… it’s… so… LOVELY!
She’s so dang cute.
August 6th, 2007 at 8:10 am
That chart looks a lot like our day, although we still are on the two nap schedule. I love that the Nap is in the “joy to be around” category. What is it with lunch time that is now a disaster? I miss the days of relying on the high chair for 20 minutes of fun.
She is adorable in the last picture. I am loving the side pony tail ; )
August 6th, 2007 at 8:39 am
The battery photo is completely priceless. Well done. The blinking charge takes the cake!
August 6th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
The graph and the Baby Bug w/Battery pictures are hilarious! That last one is just darn CUTE. :)
August 6th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
She’s beautiful.
August 6th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
You speak the gospel truth, sister. Let’s invent toddler battery patches we can stick on their foreheads. Forget dog paintings and Etsy - you’d rack up!
August 7th, 2007 at 11:30 am
Now I need that chart! Can I steal it for my blog and credit you?
August 7th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
This post is the funniest freaking thing I have seen in a long time! I have 4 of them, my youngest is nearly two, so I have seen A LOT!
August 7th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
It is totally on my blog now, I think you should actually go to Cafe Press and get little laminated cards of this chart made up for people to give to their families (you know like when they ask you “why is he so cranky”? you can just hand them the card). I already reviewed it with Dad! and it all makes sense to him now. Thanks a bunch!
August 7th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
Where did you find little flip flops? I’ve been looking for a pair for Dolly, but I can’t seem to find anything smaller than a size 10 and even those are outrageously priced.