Bye Bye Nap Time?

...say it isn't so! 

For a few weeks now, Case's bedtime routine had turned into a nightmare. So much so, that Matt and I would start the process around 8:30pm and he wouldn't be asleep until 9 or sometimes even 9:30-10pm. We were starting to get so frustrated. We started taking turns going back upstairs to let him pee, and pee again, and maybe poop, but not really poop, soothe him because his legs hurt, or because he was scared, or because he had to pee again.

Then finally, we would have just settled back down into our show or movie or football we usually watch in the evenings, when 5 minutes later we would hear...

THUD. (That's him jumping out of his bed)

"Mooooooommmmmmmmyyyyyyyyyyy"

UGGGHHHH.

So I started thinking about it, and decided I'd try not giving him a nap during the day to see if that helped.

He was still going down fine for naps. Never argued, and rarely got out of bed, but also didn't seem overly tired or like he REALLY needed a nap. 

So, this past Monday, we went for it.

Bedtime was a dream. come. true. He was already yawning while we said our prayers, and rubbing his eyes while I kissed him Good-night. I left the room, and didn't hear one single peep out of him for the rest of the night...and he went to bed at 8pm! Hallelujah! 

Matt bowls on Mondays, so when he got home I told him about my plan, and he said he had been thinking about the same thing recently. 

So here we are now, day 7 without a single nap during the day. 

There have been a few weepy tired evenings, but nothing too terrible.

It is honestly so different during the days now that he doesn't take a nap. I do have him lay down and watch a movie, or ask him to play quietly while Rhett takes his naps, especially after our school days. That way we both have some down time during the day. I really need a little down time after working at school - so it works out great. This past week he played in our back room and watched "Toy Story" without one request or complaint. It's just odd having him up all day with me! I mean for his entire little life he has taken a nap, and he was still taking a 2 hour nap every day. I tell you what though, it is so nice having him go to bed tired, and he wakes up so much happier now. It's hard to give up that total alone time during the day, and it breaks my heart a little to think that he is old enough to not take naps anymore! 

(As for Rhetters, I don't think he'll be giving up his sleep ANY time soon. The boy goes to bed between 5-6pm, and doesn't wake up until 8 or 9am. Then still takes a 2 or 3 hour nap during the day - we think the boy likes his sleep! Ha!)

Just can't believe how fast our oldest little man is growing up!