Every Day with Eli: September 16

This day?

Not fun.

Caleb was insanely fussy today. We were supposed to do our grocery shopping today; I had planned to go this morning, before lunch and naptime. But Caleb was so whiny and touchy that I had to postpone shopping. We did lunch at 11:00, half an hour earlier than normal. But it took the child forty-five minutes to eat his lunch, due to periodic tantrum breaks. In the end, I got him down for his nap at 12:05, which is when he normally goes down.

But then?

He didn't go to sleep. Just like yesterday. Again, it took an hour, but this time I wasn't feeling so sensitive and loving about the whole thing. I tried letting him talk and wear himself out. When it was clear that wouldn't work, I tried singing. I tried rocking. I tried holding his hand and telling him a story. I tried rocking him and telling him a story. I was in his room, I was out of his room. I finally lost it when I heard pounding coming from his room, only to discover that he was lying on his back in bed, with his feet on the wall, kicking the wall.

I confess: I was harsh with him. Oh, how I wanted to spank him. But I knew it would do no good in this situation. Instead, I moved him back to sleeping position, scolded him, felt bad, told him I loved him, and left. He cried.

And then he fell asleep.

*sigh*

I know you've been there, friends. And I know I'll be there again.

He and Daisy woke up at the same time, so I brought her into his room with me. All he wanted to do was snuggle her. When I tried to take her away to change her diaper, Caleb cried. So I let them snuggle. What mama is going to say no to that?

(You'll have to forgive the poor quality of these photos. It was still pretty dark in the room.)