Fun at the Park

It was a beautiful day in the ATL today (around 66 degrees F), so after Annabelle woke up from her afternoon nap (around 3:00 p.m.), we headed for the nearest park, and we left the house around 3:30 p.m. Just to keep a record of my child's ridiculously inconsistent naps, I put her down for a nap around 1:30 p.m., and she slept until 3:00 p.m. today. I guess an hour and a half isn't bad, but seriously, how do you people get your toddlers to nap for 3 hours straight every day? Are they really napping or are they trained that they stay in their cribs until you come get them?

Since she woke up at 3:00 p.m. instead of 2:30 p.m., she did not want to go to sleep this evening when I tried to rock her to sleep at 8:00 p.m. And, yes, I rock my child to sleep. I just cannot cope with the "crying it out" method at this time. Please note, I said "at this time" just to cover my bases as the one thing I've learned most about motherhood is to "never say never."

Oh, and she woke up this morning around 7:30 a.m. (instead of the old 8:15 a.m.). Could it be possible that her sleep needs are decreasing? I believe I put her down for the evening last night around 8:00 p.m. or 8:30 p.m.

So, anyhow, we visited a county park nearby which is normally desolate, but today, three more mothers arrived with their children after Annabelle and I had been playing awhile. As soon as the first mother arrived with her two children, Annabelle was entralled with them. First, she decided to follow the 4-year old little boy around, but I guess he walked too fast for her. She always seems to have her eyes on the boys though. That's my girl!

So, then, she decided to befriend the 2-year old little girl. She walked over to where the little girl was swinging, so I put her in the swing and let her swing awhile next to the little girl. She had already swung once, but I think she liked the company of another toddler.

Later, Annabelle decided that the playground was no longer all that enjoyable. Who needs swings and slides when there are pine cones and bark? So, after playing with the pine cones for awhile, she found the bark, and she walked around with a piece in each hand. The 2-year old little girl approached her, and Annabelle decided to share her bark with the little girl. Surprisingly enough (not really), the 2-year old little girl had no interest in the bark and she proceeded to throw it on the ground while she was standing right there in front of Annabelle. I am just glad that Annabelle decided to share instead of trying to take the little girl's apple away from her.

Well, it was quite cute as Annabelle picked up the bark that the little girl had dropped and proceeded to hand it right back to her. It looked as if she were saying, "Oh, you dropped it. Let me get it for you." She seemed quite surprised once she learned that the little girl did not have as much interest in the bark as she did.

It was so sweet to watch her share though. I am sure that these sharing habits will change in a few months, but I can enjoy them for now, and I am hopeful that she'll always be a kind and sharing little girl (and young lady one day).