Just When You Think...

As in life, with babies (I am quickly learning) that you must expect the unexpected. Just when I think we have it all figured out and before we even get a chance to revel in our parenting accomplishments, we are jolted back to the reality that we are just along for the ride and are completely at the mercy of that sweet little girl.

Many of you have heard us (ok, me) whine and strategize about Lily's sleeping habits. Well, for one blissful week we had it all under control and had moved on to focusing on getting her to eat baby food. Then came a weekend away and her first tooth. Although I was excited to see the little thing poking out of her bottom gum, that tiny little sign of development has totally thrown any normalcy in her routine out the window.

I am now left with deciding each day if she is hurting or if she has just gotten out of the habit of taking naps alltogether. Today it's the latter so she has been "working it out on her own" (our pediatrician's way of saying "let her cry") this morning trying to get her first nap in. I let her "work it out" for the arbitrary time limit I put on us and she used every second of it. I then gladly went to her rescue and she fell immediately asleep on my shouler and then slept in her bed for a meager 10 minutes while I took a shower. So by then it was time for her to eat and we gave up on the nap for now.

So did I cave? Absolutely. But at least I know that there will always be another chance to try napping independantly and it is too hard to pass up those outstretched chubby arms who, for this fleeting time of her life, illustrate her sole desire for me to reach back.


Here are a few pictures of us camping last weekend. It was too cold for Lily, but Cooper had fun!