Solo Time

For the past week Claire has decided NOT to take her afternoon nap.
I am pretty sure the time has come for her to transition to one nap a day. (insert *sigh*)
I knew it was coming...she is 17 months & Kate dropped her 2nd nap at 19 months, so it was only a matter of time.

The downfall to Claire not napping in the afternoon is that my "me time" in the afternoon is pretty much gone.
You know, the time I have to myself when I get home from work to check facebook, read blogs, edit pictures, pick up around the house, fold laundry, catch up on my tivo, start dinner, etc.

Don't get me wrong....I love my girls, but that one hour in the afternoon when they are both napping at the same time is PRICELESS! I can get so much done!
I KNOW I am not the only mom out there who feels that way....Can I get an "Amen"?

It was especially rough last week because Kate was sick & refused to nap and then I got sick.
Our afternoons last week were rough. REALLY ROUGH. Both girls did not nap in the afternoon for 4 out of 5 days last week. Kate was sick. I was sick. It was not fun.
The 4:00 meltdowns were in FULL force & I would look at the clock & count the minutes until Kevin would be home at 6:00. It was the LONGEST.WEEK.EVER.
The weather was yucky, the girls were crabby (because they were tired), which made me very irritable and frustrated that they weren't napping. Kate was sick & was so clingy.
I wanted my "ME TIME". (Hi, I'm Mel selfish have we met?)
I decided this week I NEEDED to change MY attitude & change my perspective.
Instead of getting frustrated that Claire wasn't napping, I needed to embrace the solo time I had with her. Because this little brown eyed girl is amazing & so much fun.
It is rare that I get solo time or 1 on 1 time with just Claire. Usually Kate is awake & wanting my attention. She wants to color or do puzzles or play a game. We usually just do Kate's agenda and Claire goes with the flow (as most younger children do)
And, Claire goes to bed before almost an hour before Kate, so she doesn't get the special one on one Mommy & Daddy time that Kate gets each night when Claire is asleep.
So, yesterday, when Kate went down for her nap, I didn't even try to put her down for an afternoon nap. Claire and I had some great solo time together.
I just wanted to soak in & enjoy time playing with my baby...who I am realizing is not a baby anymore...at almost 17 months, she is a full fledged toddler who is talking & walking (& climbing..everything!)
We played in the backyard and enjoyed the sun that decided to make an appearance.
We went on the slide. We ran. We played fetch.
I would throw tennis ball & she would run like a crazy girl & "fetch" it for me.
(Dogs & Toddlers have a lot in common, ha!)
This girl has A LOT of energy. Wow.
And, she let me take her picture.
Claire loves having her picture taken & kept running over to me so she could "see" the pictures of herself on my camera.
Then she spotted Kate's scooter. The scooter that she is never allowed on because Kate is always using it.
(Don't judge her part...I am TERRIBLE at doing their hair. As long as I am doing their hair, there will be crooked & ghetto parts)
My "baby" wants to be a big girl. She actually got the hang of it!
So now, after my internal attitude adjustment, I look forward to my solo time with Claire.
My special one on one time with my baby girl who is changing right before my eyes.
Instead of trying to push my "agenda" and trying to get my stuff done, I will cherish the special time I have with her to play, explore & relish in the pure joy of my youngest daughter. She is full of life and I want to make sure I soak it all in because before I know it these toddler years will be over & I will miss them.
As many seasoned moms have told me,
"The days are slow, but the years fly by"

I want to make sure I remember & enjoy these precious days.