No Naps. Need Help!

My little one spent most of last week sick. No flu. No strep. Just a sore throat, fever and pitiful. So, I spent most of my week with him on me, sleeping. I couldn't help it. He was just so sick. I wanted him to feel better.

Anyway, where that's left us is Michael Dean refusing to nap in his crib. (Yes, he's still in his crib because he's never tried to climb out and loves it in there. Still does at night. Thank God!)

He's barely 2 and I just don't feel like he should be giving up naps yet - but I'd love some feedback from you mommies out there. When did your little ones stop napping? If you felt it was too early, how'd you get them back to taking naps?

And, when I say that he's "refusing" to nap, I mean that when I try to put him in his crib at naptime he freaks out and screams at me that he wants to "lay down" and "cover up" with mommy. He won't cry himself to sleep. I tried, Saturday, for an hour and he just screamed the entire time. I then got him up and rocked him (because that's what he wanted) and he was asleep in minutes.

So, help, please!

(Side note, he's at "school" 4 days a week where they require a 2.5-hour naptime. If he doesn't nap, he's forced to stay on his mat for the entire time. My kid needs to still nap. Seriously.)

Finally, a Family Vacation

Last weekend (I know, I'm a bit behind - I've been home with a sick baby) we were finally able to get away. Just the 4 of us. Mila was even able to come too! Some friends from church were sweet enough to offer us their mountain cabin near Lake Lure. So, we headed out last Friday and stayed a few days. We were met with a lot of mountain rain so we didn't get to do much outside. But, the times it wasn't raining, we tried to get out and see the country. Well, at least "downtown" Lake Lure and the creek near the cabin...

On the road, leading to the cabin

Michael Dean was so excited about all the wildflowers on the side of the road that he couldn't stop picking them!

Daddy and MD "flying"

Little boy, big bridge

Playing at the creek (before it flooded with all the rain!)

The family in Lake Lure

Can you tell he liked his new train whistle?

At the Fair!

Oh, the Cabarrus County Fair. Good times. I have such fond memories of it as a child. Then it got kinda boring in high school & college. It's now fun again, because I've got a kid now to take. Kids give the fair a whole new meaning. (We realize just how expensive it all is!) Nah, really, we made some good family memories Monday night.

Michael Dean's favorite part about the rides was the waving :)

Loved the roller coaster, until daddy squished him on a turn. But, then he loved it again!

Man, those animals can eat...and MD was having tons 'o fun...

...Until he spotted the apple trees. What a great thing for the kiddos!

Oh, and the tractors. A little boy's dream, right? (His buddy Aron loved it too)

Seriously. Have you seen any other boys more handsome than these 5? (From L to R - Alex, Abe, Aden, Aron, Michael Dean. Hmm, which name doesn't fit?)

Our good buddies, and parents of 4 of the 5 handsome boys above, Megan and Richard. Oh, and Donnie and me too...

Big boy play time.

Riding the big caterpillar with his cousins, Holden and Sawyer. Thanks, Uncle Bobby, for the bracelet. MD got like an hour more of fun that night than he would have had with his boring, 'ole parents.

"Mommy, go fast!"

Always Missed

What a Weekend

This past weekend was my birthday weekend, so I did a lot and had a lot of fun! I'll spare you most of the details though, for time's sake :)

Basically, the highlights were Saturday night at P.F. Chang's and a movie ("All About Steve" - cute, but kinda dumb. Hey, I can't resist a Sandra Bullock movie.) with the hubster. No pictures. I forgot. I was too wrapped up in my Lettuce Wraps. Yummy. Oh, and no pun intended.

Sunday was my good friend, Tina's son's birthday party at the Kannapolis Splash Pad. MD got way more into it this time, so it really was a lot of fun. Again, no pics. I was too wet.

Then, yesterday was pedis with my great friend, Megan. One of Donnie's BD gifts to me was a pedicure, and that thing was burning a hole in my pocket so I had to use it - especially since I haven't had one in like 3 years. Nah, I've had at least 1!

So, later that afternoon was a Labor Day/birthday pool party, hosted by my sister - who ended up getting proposed to there by her longtime boyfriend! It was a surprise to most of us. Somehow Donnie was in on the secret - and kept it from me. It was real sweet, Joey (my sister's now-fiance) got down on one knee and said some really great things. My sister, of course, said YES. So, now MD has an Uncle Joey. Man, I loved Full House growing up...

Well, what's a post without pictures - even though they have nothing to do with what I've written about!

This made me realize it'd be real easy to make a priest or monk costume for a kid! Doesn't matter, though, because he'll definitely be Mickey this year for Halloween.

Decorating mommy's birthday cake.

I just looooove homemade gifts from my boys!

This was a first.