Peas, Peas Everywhere...

Pillows and peas...

If you've been following along, you know we've been "battling" Emma Vance only taking 45 minute naps for a while now. We've tried everything within reason to get rid of what Baby Wise calls "The 45 Minute Intruder," but we've failed. We've tried more food, formula, pacifiers, letting her cry it out, jiggling her, swaddling her, noise machines, changing the room's temperature/lighting/noise level...you name it, we've done it. She just can't seem to transition during naps to her second sleep cycle. It's been going on so long that it is now our norm, and since she seems happy as a lark on a 45 minute nap schedule, I've not been too worried about it lately. Truthfully, if I didn't know any better I'd assume that she's supposed to be taking 45 minute naps at this age since it seems so natural for her.

The only successful method I've found for beating The Intruder has been snuggling her in our bed while she sleeps. Now, on occasion, these types of naps can be wonderful and sweet, but I can't just lay around everyday for hours on end watching my baby sleep next to me. Today when she woke up from her nap, I picked her up and sat down in our rocker to feed her, but she passed right back out (meaning that she was in transition--bad mom for not letting her try to go through it!). Naturally, I tried to put her back in her crib, but she cried relentlessly when I laid her down. So I picked her back up and sat in the rocker until I thought she was good and asleep, but as I laid her down again--"Wahhh!" Hmmm. So again I sat down, let her pass out and thought for a minute. The third time I laid her down I transferred the pillow from the rocker alongside her, and lo and behold--success!

Emma Vance is such a glutton for comfort. (Maybe Olive taught her that? :) ) Although the pillow worked this one time, it's definitely a suffocation hazard, so as easy as it was to sit in her nursery and watch her as I did my makeup today, this can't become a habit. What do you do for a baby who loves comfort more than sleep? I dunno. I suppose we'll figure it out eventually, and just enjoy these occasional long naps when they happen. Does Tempurpedic make a crib mattress? Ha!

Oh, and just for fun, here's Emma Vance tonight. Two thoughts: 1. Gee, do you think we need a louder sound machine? Clearly she likes the noise! :), and 2. Is she sniffing that giraffe's butt? Geez.