launching the nap sequence

So last year, when Wendy was an itty bitty baby, I recorded what was our naptime routine. Reading that now... oh my, so much has changed! It's time to update and write down what our current naptime routine is.

So we finish eating lunch. Wendy is a good eater, enjoying her cheese cubes most of all. Wants to eat hummus using her hands. Very messy. Get two wet paper towels from the kitchen and wipe off kids. Levi's actually pretty clean, don't know why I'm still wiping his hands for him. Sometimes he does it himself. I need to start reminding myself that he can do it himself. Wendy hates being wiped off. Screams.

Get kids out of high chair, try to clean kitchen. Listen to the footsteps echoing in the empty living room as Wendy walks around, chasing after a ball or as Levi runs around, trying to make her laugh. Enjoy this moment for what it is. They are generally in good moods after lunch. We have about 20-30 minutes of playtime after lunch and then we "launch the nap sequence" at 1:30. "Levi? Wendy? Two minutes until naptime," I call out after both kids have looked at me. "Ok, two minutes!" Levi shouts back at me. "One minute left," I say. "One minute!" Levi shouts back.

I tell them it's time to go up. I scoop up Wendy and prod Levi up the stairs. Sometimes Wendy tries to dive bomb out of my arms so she can climb, too. She's too giddy over being let down to climb, that she starts flopping around the stairs in a giggle fit. Scoop her back up. I take her to her room to change her diaper and put on sleep sack. Levi goes into the bathroom, turns on the light himself and goes to the bathroom. He's now just barely tall enough to reach the faucet himself to wash his hands without help, too. I tell him to go put on some pajama bottoms and sit quietly in his room to read while I put Wendy down. He goes into his room, no problem. Close Wendy's door, turn on sound machine and read her a book. (Up until a week ago, I'd nurse her instead, but we are almost done weaning. I cannot wait to throw away these nursing bras.) Wendy is cuddled up with her mousie blanket and her binky. I put her down, she rolls over immediately.

Go to Levi's room, squish ourselves together into the rocking chair and read a story. Current favorites are Arthur books, Curious George, or sometimes some other random one. We read one story at nap, two at bedtime. He knows the rule, but will sometimes try to get more books out of people who don't know the routine. More than one book at naptime, though, and he gets wound up. Put him in his crib. (He's still in a crib because he never climbs out. Transitioning to big boy bed, soon. Need to buy new mattress.) Put him in bed. Cover him with spaceship blanket first (stripey side down), then the fleecey cars blanket. He never keeps the blankets on. Surround him with stuffed animals. Say "sleep tight." Close door.

Man, that seems easier than it did nearly a year ago!