A Well-Rested Babe

My napping plan is paying off! Paxton slept for three hours in a row today. I actually had to sneak into the nursery to make sure he was still breathing. Of course, he was. He's a light sleeper, so my visit stirred him, but he still was able to get another half-hour or so after that. And he was like a new baby when he awakened. I changed him, fed him and we headed out to do my pet sitting job. I had to feed a couple of horses, refill the water of about four or five pens, let some dogs out, and feed the dogs and a cat. Ordinarily, that's not Paxton's favorite way to spend his time. It's hot as heck out and he has to park in the shade in his stroller and entertain himself with his stuffed turtle, Kip, and his activity bar. Given his penchant for overstimulation, the entertainment typically turns quickly to nuisance, leaving him screaming and crying in frustration. But today, he was, for the most part, happy. He played with his toys and the horses gathered around him, inside their fences, just watching him with curiosity. It was very sweet.

Weeks ago, I thought life was easier when I could get out of the house with Paxton. Now, that's not really the case. Most days, we do better when we stay home. His awake time is positive, fun and filled with good bonding and learning for both of us. And his naps are getting more regular and more important. He still does well when we go out, but I am seeing the importance of having a schedule for him and sticking to it as much as possible. We took him to a birthday party Saturday night and it didn't begin until 7 p.m. Besides being late for him (he tends to stay up no later than 8:30 most nights), it was really loud. Of course, I had his noise-blocking headphones on him, but it still really freaked him out. I love being able to take him places with me, but I have to be careful to notice when it is in his best interest and when it is really just my selfish purposes that are leading me to bring him along. I'm sure that someday I'm going to hear that line from Sweet Home Alabama--"You have a baby...in a bar".

I'm sleepy. I should take a cue from my baby and get some sleep. Night, night peeps.