The sleep regression that came along with Zeeke's potty training successes is really taking its toll. On his parents anyway. He's still bright and chipper even when he doesn't sleep. On top of the frequent and early wakeups, he's also been pushing his bed time back later and later through tricks like last minute demands for additional potty time or the ever popular "one more book!"
Thursday, the Zoo brought their traveling exhibit to Zeeke's school. After weeks of inisting that he wanted no part of it, he finally relented on the day before once he was reassured that he wouldn't be attacked by tigers and crocodiles. When we told him that it would only be very small, very friendly animals that came to visit, he became hopeful that they would bring a tiny giraffe that he could hold in his hands. As it turned out they brought a rabbit, a hedgehog, and a snake. That evening, after school, he made Steve show him thousands of photographs of hedgehogs on his laptop.
Friday night's sleep was made worse by coughing fits, the start of a cold that would get slowly worse as the weekend continued.
Saturday at music class, we sang one of his favorite nursery rhymes, "Bobby Shafto's Gone To Sea."
Sunday, we joined Jen, Kim & the twins for a bouncehouse session and brunch in honor of Kim's birthday. He was a little glassy-eyed at the restaurant, but in good spirits. When we got home he managed to sack out for a few hours with only minimal disturbances from his coughing. When he woke up from the nap, he was convinced it was morning, so we knew we'd be having a rough night of sleeping ahead of us. He and Karen tucked themselves in and played with stickers until it was time for dinner.
Conversations with Zeeke:
"Can I have another cookie?"
"No, you already had one today."
"Can I have a babysitter?"
"Sure, you'd like a babysitter to come over and watch you while Mommy and Daddy go out?"
"No!"
"Well, what would the babysitter do then?"
"Have cookies!"
"I did a good job sleeping!"
"You really did, buddy!"
"I slept all night long and now it's morning."
"Well, no, that was just your afternoon nap. In a few hours, we'll go to bed again and sleep til morning."
"No. I already slept til morning."
Holds up a little toy bear and growls:
"I'm an evil talking octopus!"
"Oh no! What's your name?"
"My name is Eeeeevil Talking Octopus! But I miss my bad guy friends."
"Who are your bad guy friends?"
"Ummmm.... Evil Talking Bear!"