Naps

When Riley was little she took two two hour naps a day. Sometime after her first birthday she went to one two hour nap a day. Lately, she more apt to either pass the two hour mark or spring up at exactly an hour. It's a variable amount of time. Midday it'll be quiet and I'll have an opportunity to write or clean up in peace.

After my back surgery I always slept when Riley did, but these days I write or lay down and watch TV. I feel horrible guilt when I hear the pitter patter of Riley coming down the hall and I haven't accomplished something.

This week had been rough for me. I have had a lot of pain and fatigue. Mike ended up having to go into the office today, so atypically I asked from help. My mom came and helped with Riley and laundry. It wasn't a day off, but it was a lot less stressful. I suddenly realized as Riley was finishing her lunch that there was no reason to be upright. Riley was happy and eating and Grandma was on stand by to put her down for nap. So, I went to bed.

I climbed into my bed and thought briefly about turning on a wedding show. I decided against it and drifted to sleep listening to my mom reading Riley her naptime story. When I woke up very disoriented I realized it must be late in the afternoon, 2:45pm. I stayed still in bed listening like some forest creature in the brush. I heard no movement and wondered if Riley had woken up and gone somewhere with my mom. It turned out about inspection Miss Roo was still very much asleep.

I stumbled out to the living room where I was informed of my mom's trip to Wal-Mart and quiet browsing the net time. I didn't even feel guilty shortly after when I heard the pitter patter of tiny feet coming down the hall.