Crash

Weekend naps can be pretty challenging with Oliver.  If Wes is home, and especially if Grammy Kay comes over, Saturdays are very full with landscaping.  We hate to make him stop to take a nap, especially because he behaves so well when he's out in the yard "working," but no nap also means a very tired and grumpy boy come dinnertime. He acts up at dinner, is mean to his sister, and is generally more difficult until bedtime.

A few weeks ago, we decided to make sure he went down for a nap every day he's home, just like at daycare.  Even if he didn't sleep, we figured, he'd at least get used to the predictability of a rest after lunchtime.  Saturday, in the midst of landscaping, we put him down for a rest at the same time as Emmeline.  He was quiet for a while, but then appeared downstairs a little while later saying that Emme's crying had woken him up.  We relented, and sure enough, he was grumpy that night.  He had an early bedtime (despite protests that he didn't want to go to bed) and was fine the next morning.

On Sunday, we put him down for a nap again.  He seemed to fall asleep for a little while, but then we heard banging upstairs.  Wes changed a poopy Pull-Up (yes, still a challenge) and tried to get Oliver to sleep in our bed downstairs.  Wes fell asleep, Oliver did not, and after a short while, they were both up again.

Wes sat on the couch watching a movie while Oliver played in the living room.  At some point, Ollie sat down on the couch and, according to Wes, actually fell asleep while claiming he wasn't tired.  He slept for almost two hours.

I'm not sure what else to do other than what we're already trying -- consistent nap times on the weekend, even if he doesn't sleep.  Multiple opportunities to rest, even when he protests.  Early bedtimes if he doesn't nap soundly.  I do wish he would rest on Saturdays, as no nap often means that "mommy time" on Sundays is less fun.  But at least this week I got a rare glimpse of big, little boy soundly sleeping.