tired, in three part harmony

(Parts 1 and 2 are below. I'm taking a page from Emily's book and posting Part 3 tomorrow, because it is its own story, and I'll lose you otherwise.)

Part 1: 2 pm

I just realized Silas isn't napping well because he's too tired.

Which is funny, because today I'm too tired, too.

I joined a Bible study (and it is so interesting, and I can't wait to tell you all about it, when I have more time and energy), and last night they didn't start until 8. PM. Those are college hours, guys. By 8 pm I'm scheduled to be in front of the t.v. with the dishwasher running. I am definitely not supposed to be starting a group activity.

Which means - of course - I didn't get in bed until after midnight, which is fine if you're just trying to make it to the next day's 10 a.m. class in your pajamas, but I'm not. Silas was up at 2 a.m., and Asher was up for the day at 6:30. All day I've been functioning by riding that fuzzy line between too much coffee and just a little more.

Silas isn't sleeping well because he's too tired, and I'm going to do my best to help him get onto a better nap schedule. Tomorrow. Today, for once, I'm just going to let it ride.

Part 2: 5:30 pm:

Let it ride? Riiight.

When I said we were all tired I wasn't kidding. Nobody took a nap worth mentioning this afternoon (everyone is overtired, remember? And one of the ironies of young children is their ability to be too tired to sleep), so everyone reconvened teary and grumpy. Silas wanted to nap again at 4 but I would not put him down. A long late afternoon nap is part of the pattern that is making him overtired. Because he is so good-natured, he didn't seem to mind, and was content to play with toys on the floor. Like so:



When he lost interest, I put him in his bouncer. Silas loves to bounce. Loves it deep in his soul. Loves it so much that both tiny little big toes have had blisters from bouncing too much. It's not that he hangs out in it all day, but he really does love the thing, and every mom knows if a baby is happy, Mama is happy. There he hung in the doorway, bouncing and grinning at the Christmas tree, while Brian played guitar and Asher and I read books. A few minutes later, I looked over and realized the boy bounced himself to sleep. Like so:



And so he dangled and slept for about 45 minutes. Thankfully our house is a big circle, and we could walk around the hallway to avoid disturbing him. Because if a baby's not complaining, Mama's not complaining.