Mixed bag

Today was a mixed bag. The day began with big smiles.

Summer took off around 9 as I was trying to coax Madeline to sleep in her crib. I half-succeeded: Madeline took an hour-long nap, but she'd only sleep on me as I rocked in the corner of her nursery. So at least we're getting the schedule down, if not the precise venue.

After the nap, she was full of energy! In fact, all day was high energy. We're trying to figure out where the energy comes from: Summer and I tend to think of ourselves as bookworms, but maybe we were feisty babies?

She even tried to crawl commando-style, though she's not quite up to the task yet.

Bottle-feeding went well again today, though sometimes Madeline seemed too distracted by teething to even acknowledge the bottle's proximity to her face. More commonly, Madeline wanted to take an active hand in eating. I obliged (in small doses).

The noon nap went the same as the 9 AM nap: we're getting the schedule down but not the locale. Madeline vehemently rejected the crib and ended up on me in the corner. Happily, for the noon nap I'd planned ahead and planted a book near the rocker.

The rocker-nap ritual recurred at 2:45, after Madeline's protestations cut short my attempts at a walk, at outside time, at reading, at singing, at playing, and at tummy time. Teething strikes again. Alas, neither Sophie nor a frozen washcloth nor my fingers nor Madeline's could soothe her aching gums.

After the 2:45 nap, Madeline was significantly happier!

But still somewhat sleepy: both afternoon naps had been on the short side. Between insufficient sleep and teething pains, Madeline's temper curdled. Yet another nap was necessary around 4:30.

Thankfully, a package arrived at 5:30. What could it be?

It's Madeline's very most absolute favorite thing ever: a silver teether engraved with her initials that makes noise, too! She smiled as soon as I closed her fingers around the handle. She got even more excited when she realized she could control the noise -- she began each shake with a kick, putting her whole body into it! And she just about went bananas when she realized it felt good against her gums.

Perhaps that good feeling carried over to bedtime, which was as smooth as butter today. Or maybe it was the schedule, or the naps. In any event, our mixed bag of a day ended on a positive note: hooray!