The power of positive thinking

I am really very disturbed at how many of you had babies who gave up the afternoon nap instead of the morning nap. I didn't think this was a possibility. I had never heard of this. Such a predicament never entered my mind. 

AND YET. There was no afternoon nap today. Again. OH DEAR GOD. 

I haven't quite come to the point where I've decided that this IS what's happening, that she IS transitioning to one nap and she's doing that by dropping the sacred afternoon nap. But once I do - IF I do - I will probably attempt to push her morning nap later and later. Where I bump into trouble is the fact that I pick up Molly at 12:30 three times a week. So. Afternoons are just gonna blow, huh? 

Emma's also not EATING. It's been about two weeks now. She'll have three or four or five bites of something, then refuse the rest. Her disdain doesn't seem to be directed at any particular food, just food in general. Unless I give her chocolate chips. Which I never do. But she never turns down chocolate chips. Not that I give her chocolate chips. I'm just saying. 

So can someone list out all the possible reasons why a baby, who seems otherwise perfectly normal, suddenly refuses to eat? I'd like that list so I can properly fret. My "eh, it's probably teeth, I don't know, she'll get over it" outlook is feeling unnaturally and uncomfortably calm, completely out of character. 

Speaking of that sort of character, I saw the brain doctor on Friday. I sat in Friday rush hour freeway traffic until I absolutely could not stand it, then I crossed over to Aurora and sat in THAT traffic, then I found my way to the doctor's office downtown by a little method I call Driving Towards The Building That I Think Is His. I actually drove straight there, I was 15 minutes late, I'd already called to warn them - and then my appointment was all of ten minutes long and could have been handled completely over the telephone. But I suppose they don't get to bill telephone calls? 

ANYWAY, we (he) made some modifications to the Treatment Plan and, like always, we'll try that for a few weeks and see how it goes. I also vowed never to schedule another appointment at 4:30 on a Friday. I am also staying away from fancy dark chocolate, I am making extra sure that the barista heard me when I said "decaf" (and ignoring the Looks of Judgment), and when I start to despair about the business travel, I start thinking about the frequent flyer miles. 

Our ten year anniversary is next summer and Phillip is all about zoning out on some Mexican beach, sans children obvs, for as long as possible. And I... I sort of want to do a FAMILY trip. Is that weird?! The original plan was to take everyone to Hawaii and hang out with my old college roomie and her husband and new baby. The kids LOVED Hawaii when we went for her wedding. We had such a fun time TOGETHER. I still want to do it! And Phillip just looks at me and goes, "THAT does not sound RELAXING." As if I have ever wanted to do something relaxing in my entire life. 

But yes, frequent flyer miles. Hawaii! These weeks of solo parenting will one day be capped off with white sandy beaches and mai tais. I AM THINKING POSITIVE HERE, PEOPLE. 

 

Comments

[erica]

frequent flier miles are a great bonus of a traveling spouse. i have only one kid and it's hard. hang in there.

[Hillary]

Wes has been going through not-eating phases for no apparent reason since he was about 11 months old. (He'll be 3 in December.) Like Emma, he'll go through a spurt where he seems to subsist on air, crumbs he plucks off the floor and the handful of bites he bothers to consume. He's just coming off a stage like that actually. He'll eat two bites at supper and declare, "I'm done! Can I be 'scused?" and then push out his tall chair as if he's some sort of teenager. The brat.
=

[Wendy]

My kids have non-eating phases, but the worst ones are when they are stopped up. Has she been having dirty diapers at the same frequency as before? Probably not if she's not eating much..but maybe that affects her?

[Megan @ Mama Bub]

I am also troubled by the idea of dropping the afternoon nap, and we're not even talking about MY schedule. When my kids were ready to drop a nap, they would both still take the morning nap, and fight it in the afternoon. So I just pushed it back, and they adjusted. FIGHT for the afternoon nap.

[Reading (and chickens)]

I am with you. I hate relaxing. HATE! Unless it is reading in bed or by a warm fire for an indefinite length of time. But not just...laying somewhere. There's laundry to fold! Dishes to wash!

[Colleen]

Frequent flyer miles and hotel rewards get me through the many, many days of my husband's travel. Right now, he is on his way to California for three days, next week it's Florida for four. I just keep reminding myself of the trip we've booked to Aruba in June. All paid for by points!
If I don't keep thinking of this, I'll focus on homework, dinner, bath and sports practice and that will stress me out.

[Carrie]

I'm with you on the not relaxing- but we went to Mexico for our honeymoon and I took lots of books and there were day trips to take and I managed. I think you and P should try to do a solo trip. You need some one on one time together.

As for E's eating- try not to freak out too much. My doctor said with V to think weekly, not daily. Maybe she's just not growing as much now and doesn't need as many calories. Maybe she's trying to destroy your sanity? IT'S OKAY. She will eat again.

[Rosemary]

Listen to Phillip!

[Mike]

It's interesting how your mindset plays a part so much in your success. If your mind is continually looping positive thoughts then positive things will happen to you. If you always think negative things then negative things will happen to you. Your thoughts have feelings and consequences.