It's a good thing they are so darn cute!

Ok, So I've been too depressed to write. We had 4 perfectly good nap days after the whole climbing out of crib incident and I thought we were in the clear. Then Ethan decided nap time was play time and wreaked as much havoc in a child proofed room as possible. I actually caught him climbing up the drawers of his dresser!! Thank God Seth had already anchored it to the wall, but I was furious. I have NEVER yelled at Ethan like I did that afternoon and it scared the living daylights out of him (and me!). I knew I had done the right thing, but I have never seen that look on his face. I wanted him to fear the act of climbing, not of me! On the bright side, I did get a nap out of him after that. Then we had 5 no nap days in a row and Ethan was miserable, and I was miserable because I just can't let it go! He needs his naps. I finally got a short nap out him yesterday (after 3pm), but that's because I bribed him with a star on his new star chart and a trip to the ice cream store:) Ok, So I know I can't take him for ice cream every day, but I needed a way to get a star on that chart!! The idea is, if he earns 3 stars he gets a treat (like ice cream or a new hot wheels car). So I figure if I bribe him enough, 3 times, to get those 3 stars and he gets a car out of it or something better, than he'll get the idea. Hopefully...

To answer Kelly's question in her last comment, no we have not moved him to a big boy bed. We are thinking, since night time sleep is still no problem, that we don't want to throw another wrench in the system and screw that up too. Once we have nap time down again and he's proven himself a "big boy" than we will reward him with the upgrade. That, at least, is the current plan. As I should know by now, I don't have control over everything (or anything?!) and plans could easily change...

In the process of writing this post, we have gotten nap number 2 started. People, bribes really do work! He's getting a "treat" (i.e. candy) today and another star on his chart towards earning a new car. (I think he may have thought he'd get a car for this nap...oops, my bad!) Hopefully, I can explain that he needs just one more star for the car and then, just maybe, I won't have to bribe him everyday. Maybe the idea of the star chart will sink in and we'll be back on track!

That's all for now, time to rescue Salla from the excersaucer...

Oh Dear God,

The inevitable thing that I've been in denial of actually happening, has actually happened. Our 2 1/2 year old son has figured out that he can climb out of his crib on his own. It happened during nap time today. We had done our normal routine and he had been in there talking to himself for awhile, close to an hour, when my hubby heard a suspicious jingling sound coming from his room. He opened the door and, sure enough, there is Ethan rolling balls down a ramp on the floor. Oh crap. I am not ready yet! Sure, lots of people (many of my dear mommy friends) have already moved their little ones to big boy and girl beds. I was just hoping I could stretch him out a little longer, (at least until Salla stopped giving me sleep trouble), because I don't think I can handle two kids waking me up at night. So, needless to say, there was no nap to be had today, and I am truly fearful that there will be no more naps from here on. My husband thinks I'm being slightly irrational and overreactive, but with the combination of his new "rebellious" attitude and the recognition that he now has the option to get out of bed, I just can't see it turning out any other way. Thinking about the big picture, I suppose I could handle giving up naps if we got him to bed earlier at night. But I think I might actually have a break down if I start seeing his face next to my bed at 4am every night. This whole sleep deprivation thing is for the birds...