Naptime.

Naptime.

I could really just leave the post at that and leave the rest up to your imagination. It would be fun to hear your thoughts on that little word that means so much, but then you might miss out on one of the joys of having twins!

I know Naptime, or should I say *!#@!*#, isn't just a twin-mom frustration, I know lots of singleton moms who have their own naptime frustrations- it seems to be a common factor in frequent conversations with my sister and other moms. But, at least for a few minutes, I'll pretend that *!#@!*# 's in our house are, let's just say, a little more interesting.

Micah and Hallie have started this wonderful part in their relationship, one that I've imagined, longed for, and even dreaded- they are fully aware of each other! On a pretty regular basis they share with each other, tease each other, and chase each other, when one wakes up before the other, one looks for the other often crying periodically until the other is awake... all of which is so cute! Along with this new found awareness, unfortunately comes the negative... the pushing, stealing, and taunting- yes taunting- seems so innocent at first, but if you look closely you can see the glimmer of taunt in their eyes!

So back to naptime, I mean *!#@*!#. Looking back, each age has presented a little variation in naps, some of which may have been a little easier, but I was pretty gung-ho on keeping them on the same routine- days where they slept on different schedules were exhausting! No "breaks" and forget about trying to go somewhere! If one wasn't asleep one of them was ready to go back to sleep, so we would be housebound. Not one of my favorite things! Anyway looking back, I would probably prefer the stage we are in now, but just the same this stage can make for some interesting times.

This stage begins like most other naps have always began. Turn on the noise machine, give them their binky and silky and lay them down. That simple right? I wish! Now the minute I leave the room, its a free-for-all... bouncing up and down laughing at each other, passing the binky's and silky's back and forth, tossing them on the ground, banging on the shelf, squealing, more laughing... get the idea?

Cute right? Yeah pretty cute except for the fact that if left alone long enough... I tried the whole let them wind down on their own, both end up crying because they are tired and their binky and/or silky are now in the other's crib or on the floor. Or worse yet, one will fall asleep and the other will continue with the shenanigans, waking the other up which ends up being even more detrimental to getting a good naptime in! Oh the joy!

I wish I could just move the cribs away from the shelf, or farther apart from each other, but there's just not enough room to attempt this. So we've moved to a new strategy... we attempt naptimes like normal, sometimes they go right to sleep (hallelujah!) but more often then not, they will start the free-for-all. So after a few minutes or a couple attempts at laying them back down, I remove all of my things for my shower and clothes for the day from my closet, remove one from their crib and head to the pack and play set up in our bathroom/closet. I turn on the second noise machine and usually within a few minutes, both are out for a glorious 1 hour and 30 minutes of peace and quiet!

So for now, we have reached an acceptable solution for the on-going naptime dilemma. I'm just wondering what will happen when we move or go somewhere, will we have another place to put the other? I guess we can cross that bridge when we get there, but for now I guess I'll be thankful they are still napping twice a day and sleeping 12 hours a night! And for all of you singleton mom's out there... just be thankful you won't have to throw this dilemma in with all your naptime woes! :) Happy sleeping!