naptime musings

If I am ever going to get back into my blogging groove, I have to start somewhere.  So here I am.  Until I can get my momentum...naptime musings it is.  Random thoughts from my busy, exhausted mind during naptime.

1.  Speaking of naptime...naps.  Since going back to work, Adeline has had a very steady feeding schedule and goes to bed and wakes up about the same time ever day.  However, naps are hit or miss.  I've done research on both ends of the spectrum, because I find ourselves somewhere between granola/attachment parenting and the whole cry-it-out parenting method.  Both ends of the spectrum lobby for nap time...and not just naps...but napping routines.  The teacher in me loves the idea of a feeding, sleeping, playing schedule/routine, but then the free-spirit in me hates the idea of a strict time for everything.  So we're going in between.  Based on her sleepy cues and the times we most likely will be out and about this summer, I've devised a "schedule" that I'm going to try out from here until summer on the days I'm at home.  Once summer break hits (15 school days!!), I'm going to try to start getting a nap time routine down.  Two main things that tell me this needs to happen--One.  She wakes up crying from nap time.  (She's not getting enough sleep during a nap and can't get herself back to sleep after 30-45 minutes.)  Two.  Although we did some "sleep training" -- (I use that loosely) -- early on, she still won't go down for a nap without 20-30 minutes of crying/yelling (happy dance--while writing this, it has only taken her 17 minutes!!)  Bedtime is a breeze (knock on wood)...but naptime is a different story.  I read a quote I liked the other day...your child is a person, not a project.  Keeping that in mind, I'm setting out to declare naptime bootcamp here soon.  I'm raising a headstrong little girl already, I can tell.  She needs some boundaries set already.  She gets it from her momma. :)

2.  I have super, super exciting news about next year as far as my job goes.  I can't divulge the details yet.  But God has been up to some amazing things in our lives.  He never, ever ceases to amaze me! I am beyond grateful for your thoughts and prayers during this time of transition in our lives!

3.  We have most of our laundry clean....but it's all in clean piles...not folded....just collecting wrinkles with every busy day that passes that I don't fold them or hang them up.  If I could have a maid...this would be the job I would want her to take on.  Oh and maybe loading and unloading the dishwasher too.

4.  My name is Cait.  And I am a recovering Diet Coke addict.  It's true.  I have gone from being one who had to have a Diet Coke every morning and then one at lunch and maybe one for later in the day, to having just a couple once a week, if at that.  It's a combo of us trying to get healthier, they now give me a funky headache when I drink them, and trying to eliminate a lot of the extra junk and chemicals from food in our household.  We now drink "Ice" water (have you seen it at the store?) --it's carbonated, flavored water that is sweetened with Splenda (a safe sweetener)-- and I drink a hot, black breakfast tea in the morning for my pick-me-up.

5.  Cloth diapering & Target.  Two things I hold near and dear to my heart, have come together.  Word on the cloth diapering street is that cloth diapering is going mainstream at a Target near you.  (Supposedly select Targets are starting to carry a modern cloth diaper line!)

6.  I teach 4th grade.  My 4th graders (upon parent permission) are reading The Hunger Games.  I know the book is controversial, but I teach public school.  If a parent is going to send a child in with a book and it's on their reading level, I'm going to let them read it during their independent reading time.  This series has gotten some of my boys who could care less about reading so into reading.  No, I don't think I would let Adeline read this book at the age of 10...but to each their own.  So I wanted to know what all the hype is about.  I have never been one to be into these trilogies and series that others are into (well since The Babysitters Club in elementary school ;) I can't stand Lord of the Rings and I have never read or seen a Harry Potter movie or book.  But I had to see what The Hunger Games was about since half my class is reading it.  Well now I'm reading it and hooked.  I want to see the movie so badly...but I told Justin not to let me go see it until I finish the book.  A date night should be motivation!

7.  And finally, Sarah Ann of bon mot, is currently working on redesigning my blog.  This lady is amazingly talented and super sweet.  She quickly became one of my bloggy friends a couple years ago! Since having her precious little boy, she has now reopened her blog design business, Bon Blog Design.  Go check her out...she does amazing work! (She even has a giveaway going on that you can find details about on her blog!)

I'm off to go do a quick pick-up around the house while Adeline finishes her nap.  If I'm lucky...I've got 20 to 25 minutes left.  Happy weekend!