I’m losing the battle with the daily nap. Stacia ditched hers at 18 months so I should be lucky I’ve gotten this far. Of course, her timing coincided with our move to a new town so I’m sure that had a bit to do with it. The difference here is Brenia is so well behaved* that she doesn’t just ignore her nap and play in (read: trash) her room like Stacia always did. No, she feels terrible that she’s disobeying so she cries. The whole time.

When I finally give up on the nap and tell her to play in her room for a bit. She says OK and stops crying altogether. She’s just completely unable to let go of the nap until permission is granted. Stacia, on the other hand, couldn’t care less what she has permission for and will do what she pleases at all times.

Is it any wonder that we waited 5 years to have our second child? It took me a while to forget the tortured years between giving up naps and kindergarten. At least when this one gives up her nap entirely, I should be able to institute “quiet time” with a child who may actually follow the title.

*This is not sarcasm you hear. It is shock and awe. She is (mostly) a strangely obedient child. I wonder daily where that came from.

I swear she is learning a new word every day. Just a few weeks ago, she only had a handful of words that were recognizable to anyone but me. Granted, I’m still the one who understands her best. She is two, after all, but the words are coming more frequently.

Yesterday she said Thank you for the first time. She also said I love you without prompting. She’s been repeating it for about a week, but this was different. She walked into the kitchen where I was fixing her lunch, stopped by me, said “wuvva” and walked off! I cried. A lot.

I seem to cry a lot these days (and, no, I’m not pregnant!) I bought her some adorable Carter’s jammies for her birthday. She chose to sleep in the “pwetty fowers” right away, and I cried when I tore off the tag. Their slogan gets me every, single time. “If they could just stay little ’til their Carters wear out.” I mean, really, is it too much to ask for her to stay little for just a few days past her birthday?

I know she can’t stay little forever, but somebody tell her she doesn’t have to grow up all at once. She doesn’t seem to be listening to me.