Old Wisdom

There’s an old saying. Actually, there are a lot of old sayings, but I’m thinking of one in particular. You may have heard it before.

 

Keep your friends close.

 

But keep your enemies closer.

Roar.

New Bed!

Due to the generosity of some friends (thank you!) we recently acquired a new set of bedroom furniture for the girls’ room, including bunk beds.

Yesterday we set them up, and last night Veronica and Jacinta got to sleep in them. There was excitement all around.

 

Her first night in a bed, and she squishes herself into the corner.

I’m not sure where the random clothing items came from, but they are evidence of at least one out-of-bed excursion. We are thankful that was the extent of it. Not bad for the first night free from the confines of the crib!

 

Though Veronica was excited about claiming the top bunk, when it came time to climbing up a little coaxing was needed. But her initial nervousness didn’t seem to keep her from falling asleep when it was time.

And yes, that is a Halloween pillow on her bed. She also claimed that for herself back in October and I haven’t been able had the heart to take it away.

 

Dad checking on his girls. And admiring his handiwork.

 

He was tired after a long day of furniture shifting. There were lots of things that had to come together to make it work!

 

And as if being in the corner wasn’t enough, Jacinta then had to press her face into it.

Kids.

Art is Hard

We were overdue for a picture of Veronica falling asleep somewhere strange.

 

I guess coloring just got the best of her.

How does this happen?

I never get tired of posting these.

Sleepy

Some days are just too long.

Like Father, Like Daughter

If sleeping with one’s head under the covers is genetic, then I definitely know what side she got it from.

Sleep, Revisited

You may remember a post from a while back about Veronica’s sleeping habits. Whether bedtime or naptime, we have found her in a variety of strange places and positions, and now almost a year later…nothing has changed.

 

Around when Veronica turned two, we moved her from the crib into a bed. She had learned how to consistently climb out of the crib, and aside from the fact that it enabled her to continually come out of her room if she didn’t feel like sleeping, it also presented the opportunity for falling accidents. So – goodbye, Crib!

 

Of course, with the bed came all new occasions for Paul and I to chuckle as we peeked in on Veronica every night before bed. It’s bigger than the crib, so there’s more room for animals to cuddle with – or fall asleep on – as the need arises.

But perhaps the best new ability gained by sleeping in a bed is the opportunity to fall asleep outside of it.

 

So close.

 

Not so close.

 

Not close at all. In fact, another foot to the left and she would have been out of the room all together.

 

Like this, a sight that greeted us early one morning. The morning, in fact, when Paul and I decided we had to start leaving our door open at night. The better to hear you, little girl.

Though Veronica has managed some interesting bedtime antics, the strangest sleeping places of all come not at bed time, but during the day when Veronica just can’t escape fatigue any longer.

 

Like with Daddy on the couch.

 

Or the floor.

 

Whilst reading.

 

Or watching a favorite movie.

 

I don’t even know how this happens. But this is not the only time it has. Or the only kitchen.

And you know the old adage about how we hurt the ones we love the most? Adage, or song. One of those.

 

Well, it’s true. Sorry, Dora.

 

“¡Ayúdame!”

 

“No, seriously.”

 

“Help me.”

What’s black and white and keeps your children up at night?

Veronica has been refusing to go to bed on time all week. Long after lights-out, the sounds of Tuffins and her merry band of stuffed animals can be heard, despite repeated attempts to return her to her pillow. When she finally would fall asleep, it was on the floor surrounded by all her shirts she pulled out of her dresser, and we would try to gently return her to her bed before heading to bed ourselves.

Last night was different. Whether it was the culmination of several late nights and early mornings, or some other unknown quantity, it wasn’t long before Veronica was sleeping soundly with Lion tucked securely under her arm. When we peeked at her before going to bed, a slight shift to put her head back on her pillow was all that was needed.

Fast forward to 3:00 am. A shriek comes over the monitor, followed by calls for Daddy. Daddy rises and hurries across the house. Mommy follows groggily.

By the time I got there, Paul was headed to the kitchen to refill Veronica’s drink. That is not at all unusual for her to wake and cry about, so I sat on the bed next to her where she was eyeing her pile of blankets with trepidation. Maybe it wasn’t just the empty cup that was bothering her.

“Mommy, there’s a skunk in my blankets.”

“…”

While we had been reading a kid’s animal encyclopedia earlier that day, and we did come across the “stinky skunk”, there was nothing to indicate that it had affected her in any particular way. In fact, if she was going to have nightmares about anything, I would have expected it to be about this video we watched on the internet together.

But somehow the “stinky skunk” stuck with her, and she awoke thirsty and also convinced there was a large rodent in her blankets. Luckily Daddy managed to convince her that the skunk had gone home to sleep, and that she should do the same. We tucked her back in, and returned to finish our night of sleep.

She remembered the skunk when she woke up this morning, and I have a feeling that it will be a conversation piece for quite some time. Our nightly ritual will likely now include an inspection of blankets for sneaky skunks that will be told firmly to go home because it is bedtime.

So if your child awakes crying in the night, be sure to check her blankets for skunks. You never know when the little critters may appear, and vigilance is the only sure way to avoid their blanket-stealing antics. Which is why I feel this information is important enough to share with all you fellow parents, so you can be prepared.

You’re welcome.