We’ve accidentally pioneered a new parenting method that centers around compliance via exhaustion. I don’t know what happened, but Damon just took Alden down to bed. It’s 11:18. It’s hard for me to cooperate with Alden’s bedtime sometimes, even though it’s late for a toddler — between 8:30-9. Fridays are particularly difficult, because by then I’m excited that we’ll be together all weekend and am just really enjoying his company. So last night he didn’t get to bed until after 10. The fun part was that instead of needing songs and rocking, he was asleep on Damon’s shoulder before they reached the bedroom. It can be easy to push Alden too far, because he generally stays pretty cheerful. He wound up having a wakeful night, probably partially because his schedule was off. But he got up as usual this morning at 7:30. You can see where this was going. He was beat today and fell asleep for a second nap right before 5. He was so clearly tired, we didn’t have the heart to force him to stay awake. So tonight he was ready for bed even later. I’m listening to Damon sing “This Little Light of Mine” over the baby monitor now. Give me a few more days and we’ll have him partying until the wee hours like he did for the first year of his life. The song, by the way, works magic on me. I have to struggle to stay awake when I listen to the bedtime routine.
I am much more tired than Alden these days. I took both naps today right along with him, and still my eyes are stinging with fatigue.
I’m reminded a lot lately that this move to Knoxville was a good one. Work is going well, and warm weather is encroaching. I’m aware that soon I will need to turn my attention to the yard. If you can imagine the basest level of ignorance, apply that to my mastery of plants. I was looking at some small ornamental bushes at the front of our house today. They’re all brown and twiggy. Will they just turn green again? Do I need to do something to them? What kind of bushes are they? No clue. We do have a master gardener on staff at work. Maybe I’ll invite her over for dinner.
Speaking of entertaining: , please buy this house and invite me to a sleepover.
jaysaint 
Posted by yellowdoggrl on February 22, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I was looking forward to seeing what my next property was going to be, but it just took me to a search engine. Darn.
Posted by yellowdoggrl on February 22, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I was looking forward to seeing what my next property was going to be, but it just took me to a search engine. Darn.
Posted by jaysaint on February 23, 2009 at 3:39 am
Here is your new home: http://www.austinhomesearch.com/Search/Details.aspx?li=69701&or=1&cp=3
Posted by yellowdoggrl on February 23, 2009 at 1:58 pm
That is just down the hill from us. We walk down there all the time. It was built by two artists, and of course that is how it is said, every time, and apparently the only straight lines in the entire structure are those of a single shower door. They’d been trying to rent it out for months, and this is the first I’ve seen any mention of BUILD ON THE LOT (horrors!). We’ll just have to rush out and buy it and use it as our guest house; it’s literally a seven-minute walk or two-minute drive and that includes working your way up the steep hill in first gear.
Posted by jaysaint on March 2, 2009 at 12:55 am
Cool! The neatest thing we have near us is a train track.
Posted by jaysaint on February 23, 2009 at 3:39 am
Here is your new home: http://www.austinhomesearch.com/Search/Details.aspx?li=69701&or=1&cp=3
Posted by yellowdoggrl on February 23, 2009 at 1:58 pm
That is just down the hill from us. We walk down there all the time. It was built by two artists, and of course that is how it is said, every time, and apparently the only straight lines in the entire structure are those of a single shower door. They’d been trying to rent it out for months, and this is the first I’ve seen any mention of BUILD ON THE LOT (horrors!). We’ll just have to rush out and buy it and use it as our guest house; it’s literally a seven-minute walk or two-minute drive and that includes working your way up the steep hill in first gear.
Posted by heathrow on February 23, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Oh, man. I’m sorry he’s running you down so much! How old is Alden now? He might be ready to give up that second nap.
Posted by heathrow on February 23, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Oh, man. I’m sorry he’s running you down so much! How old is Alden now? He might be ready to give up that second nap.
Posted by jaysaint on March 4, 2009 at 3:22 am
Running me down so much it takes me more than a week to answer comments!
He’ll be 17 months old in a week. I would say that about half the days he’s down to one nap. Sometimes he tries to take a nap around 5, and we’re trying hard to prevent that one.
Posted by heathrow on March 4, 2009 at 4:24 am
It’s hard to get them to give up that nap, even when you know it’s time. (I missed having that 2nd break in the day!)
Posted by jaysaint on March 2, 2009 at 12:55 am
Cool! The neatest thing we have near us is a train track.
Posted by jaysaint on March 4, 2009 at 3:22 am
Running me down so much it takes me more than a week to answer comments!
He’ll be 17 months old in a week. I would say that about half the days he’s down to one nap. Sometimes he tries to take a nap around 5, and we’re trying hard to prevent that one.
Posted by heathrow on March 4, 2009 at 4:24 am
It’s hard to get them to give up that nap, even when you know it’s time. (I missed having that 2nd break in the day!)