sleepless days

I think it's happening...really happening this time. Miss M has been hit or miss in taking her nap for the last 2.5 weeks, and I really think she's close to giving it up. AAAAGH! Tell me, experienced mothers with older children...how did your kid go about dropping the afternoon (and only) nap? How old were they? Did they quit cold turkey, eliminate it gradually, or what? And how much earlier did you put them to bed once the daytime naps were history?

This means, of course, that I am doomed as a WAHM. There will be no time to work unless I get up at 6 am to do it. I'm probably going to have to lean on a few folks who have been offering to help out, I think.

Other news? It's been rainy as HECK here. Everyone gets a little cranky when the days stretch out endlessly (especially when those days are no nap days), so I've been trying to find ways to keep life interesting and fun. Here are some of our adventures!

Singin' in the rain





Tiptoe thru the downspout






After an afternoon of fingerpainting, a bath was the only way to get all the goo off. Combine blowing bubbles with bathtime and there you have it, a solid hour of entertainment!

holidays and harvests

I hope everyone had a great holiday weekend. Ours started out pretty busy, but ended on a relaxing note. Sunday Kevin and I had to go to Chicago to play for a wedding reception, so Mom & Dad Hart came to stay with Miss M. They had a great time by all accounts...M was a perfect angel (or so was reported) and Grandma Joanne and Grandpa Ronnie got to spend some one-on-one time with their granddaughter.

Monday we had a Labor Day gathering with the family. It was a bit steamy out but it's been much worse, so we braved the humidity and hung outside for a good part of the afternoon. The trick is finding the best way to cool off. Here's what M does:

And my dad's cool-down technique:

It's also time to reap the benefits of gardening with late summer veggies: