Is it really only Tuesday...?

There are some days when time just flies and then other days, like today, where time seems to stand still. I didn't sleep too well last night and I was up early, so I am sure that has something to do with it. I wish so much I was a morning person but I just am not a morning person. The sad part is I am a night person but don't really have the luxury of staying awake and enjoying my late nights because it"ll make me that much more tired in the morning. And we all know I cannot afford to be any more tired than I already am. Getting out of bed is such a task. Once I am up and out of bed things are fine and I am wide awake and doing my normal 500 things at once. It's just that physical act of getting up and standing lol. Any ideas how I can make that easier? If I sleep for 9 hours the night before I can get up with little trouble but with two small children and a husband that needs some time too, oh and a house that needs things done, it's often hard to get 9 full hours. Then add to it the fact that some nights I have some much running through my head that I cannot fall asleep no matter how hard I try. I've found that if I wake up really early...say 6am or before, I can sometimes get out of bed easier. I wake up when my hubby's alarm goes off, but lay there in bed. I think that partial wake up and going back to sleep thing increases my "tiredness" lol.  Mommy duties call...more later...

Extreme Night Owl

This week has been interesting to say the least. KayLee has decided she is too old for naps. I knew this time was coming so I can't say I am too upset. As long as she doesn't prevent NataLee from napping I'm okay with her staying up. Is 4 and a half the typical age when a child gives up a nap? She's my first baby so I have no idea. I think she'll still nap if she has an extremely active morning. She'll get in her bed so NataLee sees her getting into bed and I told her she needs to stay in bed until NataLee falls asleep and once Nat is asleep she can come out of her room and join me in the living room as long as she's quiet. So far it's been working out well.

Another thing that has started happening is both of the girls have been sleeping until 8am. Shocker I know coming from two girls who always use to wake at the butt crack of dawn. Sadly I think it's due to their late nights. Despite the fact that we tuck the girls into bed at a very reasonable hour 8:45pm, NataLee for some reason thinks it's play time. KayLee is ready for bed and is tired but NataLee gets a serious burst of energy. She's quiet and tired looking until she hits her bed and boom, she is a totally different child. She will say "I'm hungry" or "I need a crayon" or anything to get either Herbert or myself to go into the room. She'll talk loudly and giggle. Most of the time she keeps KayLee up, sometimes Kay will fall asleep regardless of Nat. The thing is, Nat won't fall asleep until sometime after 11pm. I don't know what to do and how to get my child to get to bed earlier. Skipping her nap is not an option because then we'll just have grumpy to add to wide awake. We do quiet time after baths where lights are dim and we engage in quiet activities. What else can I do?

Oh boy girls are fighting over a coloring book, time to break up the fight.

Left overs for dinner and my lil' girls being angels today. Wahoo!

Incredibly frustrated with my kids and their new nap time and night time struggles. Am I doing something wrong? Is this normal? How do I fix it? How do I cope?

A stay-at-home mother of two small children. Two little girls who are life's greatest blessing to me.
I am a military wife. Often times having to endure short and long seperations from my husband. Days/Nights filled with worry and/or loneliness.

I am a daughter, grandchild, niece, daughter-in-law and sister-in-law and friend. The military wife issue can add to this fact making me miss my family like crazy. Often times the military places us in places far from the ones we love. I miss my family and friends.

I have a chronic illness. Crohn's disease. A disease that is usually controllable but unfortunately mine has decided to be a bit of a hard to manage case. This can and often times does, complicate my ablity to be the mom and wife I long to be and being away from family can make management of my disease even harder to manage.

Naps have been a bust all week. Hoping this afternoon is different. Girls still up wide awake in their beds. Oy.

Oh and did I mention...l love when my hubby is home! <3 It has been a VERY busy but productive day. Looking forward to snuggling in bed & flippin' on our dvr.

Got a special card in the mail today. Shawnna you totally made my day! I love you! Kiss AJ a big kiss for me.

Nothing like your mommy and daddy being there when you need them. I love you mom and dad!

My baby girls crack me up. Enjoyesd alllll

You've got to be kidding me! Older daughter has sneaked out of her bed. Returned her to bed and now girls up again! Oy vey!

Score! Girls finally asleep. Now mama can grab a shower.

Seriously discouraged & confused! Girls went to bed @ 830 last night & kept talkin' until past 1130. Up early & in bed for nap now & still talkin' an hour later

Breakfast & lunch once again a success! We're nearing a week on our new meal time program. A total success so far & I'm elated! No more food wars! Nap time now.

Cleaned both of my lil' girls fish tanks. Feel great...1 less thing to do this weekend = more time for weekend holiday fun! :)

Hallelujah! :D

Hey it's September 1st, happy 1st birthday to our kitty Keokeo. :D. Party time tomorrow in the Keaton house.

No wonder I can't sleep? My mind is running a million miles a minute...so much for supermom. Just trying to do the best I can. I want the best for my family.

So confused. Many experts say naps are crucial to help escape overtiredness at night (when toddler is put to bed b/w 8-830). Then why were my girls up late? :s