mean reds
Yesterday was one of those days. A Terrible Awful No Good Day. Or at least, it ended badly. Bridget did not nap. Not a single wink. Boy did she need a nap, too. By three she was bouncing off the walls and driving us all crazy. Poor Johnny is working on a tooth and so he's been cranky and not wanting to sleep a whole lot and generally needy. The snow was falling and blowing and we were all inside. Together. For the fifth day.
There was a brief point where the snow ended and the sun came out briefly and so I went out and shoveled the drive. I'm sure this is why my mother always shoveled when I was growing up: to get away from us. Plus, it's quiet outside just after the snow stops. I thought, maybe that break would be enough. But alas, it was not.
By 4:30 and after a whole lot of whining we had all (and by we I moslty mean myself) had just about enough. So I got Bridget in her PJs and fixed her some eggs and toast and had her ready for bed by 6. Man did she need to sleep. Of course, she fought it the whole way. Johnny went down at about 6:30 and she just started yelling for her Dad. She'd already tried Mom and I told her that I'd have to take "her guys" (whatever stuffed animal she's picked for the night) away if I came back in. Switching it up was her way of trying to get around that.
But I went in instead and she was not happy. I had her hand over her guys and she just started bawling. Asking for dessert. Wanting her Dad. So I asked her, "Why do you want Dad?"
"Because I love him. You're mean to me. You only love Johnny."
That killed me. So I explained to her that I am not mean because I like it, that there are rules and she has to follow them. It's bedtime. After some hugs and assurances that yes, I do love her, Johnny just needs extra attention right now, I back-tracked a little and let her have just one guy (instead of the usual two) and promised her I'd tuck in the other one after she went to sleep.
And of course, by now it was around 7. Her normal bedtime.
Beer and some emails to friends and family made me feel a little better.
We are on-track for a better day today. And that's all I can really ask for.
big stuff
We got Bridget a bed this afternoon (from IKEA of course).
We thought we were being all slick and wouldn't have to get a new mattress with a toddler bed. No such luck. Her crib mattress is about 10 inches too short. Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a toddler bed? So it's back to IKEA for Brendan for a new mattress and some sheets.
And we also planned to keep the crib together and just move it to the guest room. That plan was also foiled. The crib wouldn't fit through the doorway. So now it's in pieces. I hope this transition goes OK.
Did I mention Brendan's going out of town tomorrow evening?
bizarre
stubborn
I don't know how she got so stubborn! She certainly didn't get it from me. Or her father.