Fail (continued)

So, as I mentioned yesterday, Chica has entered a "fun" and very unpredictable napping phase these days (she naps, she doesn't nap, she sleeps two hours, she doesn't sleep at all), and though it's only been about a week, I'm gonna go on record as saying:

I. JUST. DON'T DIG. IT.

At. All.

But first, to backtrack...let's take a little trip down napping memory lane together, shall we???

Phase 1: TOO MUCH, MUST SEE!

So back when she was an itty-bitty-super-cute infant, Chica was always far more alert than I expected. Translation: she never really wanted to nap. Even from a newborn age, I had to try all sorts of tricks (like putting a burp cloth over her eyes so she couldn't see anything) in order to get her to go to sleep.

Phase 2: NICE TRY, AIN'T GONNA DO IT

Then, a couple months into her adorable, little life, I thought it might be a good idea to try a little nap training that can be summed up with one painful word: DISASTER. Even though the pediatrician (and about every other source I could get my hands on) told me it would only take a few days--nay, a week, tops--to break her, that was a big, fat, lie in Chica's case. She just cried, and cried, and CRIED. For sooooo looooong that I eventually gave up. (Even though the hubby and I stood our ground and broke her for nighttime sleeping).

Phase 3: SNUGGLY NUGGET

Shortly after that, we entered a phase of doing whatever the heck it took to get her to sleep. Holding her? Sure. Laying down with her? You betcha. Driving around? On occasion. I did it ALL. And you know what? I'd do it all over again, because even now, 13 months in, those precious, snuggly days seem like a lifetime ago.

Phase 4: TICK, TICK, TICK--DING!

Now, eventually we morphed into a slightly better phase which involved her napping solo in the crib--but with a major catch: she only napped in 35 minute increments. Every. Singly. Frickin'. Time. I mean, I could set my watch to the dang kiddo. And often, I did. Because do you know how fast 35 minutes flies by when you're trying to shower, empty the dishwasher, start a load of laundry, fold another, and--gasp!--maybe kind sorta try to do your hair? Pretty freaking fast, I tell ya. But it didn't matter, because at the time, it felt like a miracle to have her nap on her own--even if it only gave me half-hour chunks.

Phase 5: HALLELUJAH, CHOIRS OF ANGELS REJOICE!

Now, if I thought 35 minutes was a miracle, right around the 11-month mark, something earth-shattering happened. One day, she just started to nap--for long increments (like an hour and a half), twice a day. And I got down on my knees and cried tears of happiness. And pinched myself EVERY DAY, knowing that my days were probably numbered.

And you know what, folks? It looks like my miracle days are coming to an end. Six weeks. That's all I got. Not even. It was more like five weeks and a few days.

*Deep, disheartened, beaten-down sigh.*

I have NO idea what's going on, but I've started to do a bunch of research, scared to death that she's trying to transition to one nap a day instead of two. And so far, it really doesn't look like that's the case. I think she's just going through a regression (which, apparently, happens a bunch at this age). And supposedly, it will pass, and I shouldn't give in and try to force her into one nap a day because the average age for that (unless day care requires you to merge) is 15-18 months. And everything I've read tells me that when she really starts getting her walking motor going, she's going to be EXHAUSTED.

So...I'm gonna hope that things will improve again.

(Denial. It's a lovely place to be.

Hang here with me, friends.)

And in the meantime, I'll leave you with this sad but also kind of funny video of my dear kiddo in her nap-less state. That way, if you watch and pity me (or her), maybe you'll send some prayers and happy universe vibes our way--PRETTY PLEASE!