Post Play Date

Just finished a play date with M and Little Monster. They came out here to see us this time and it was a lot of fun. I was especially pleased that Little Monster really liked my tuna casserole and ate it right up! Normally when we have lunch together she tends to get easily distracted and not want to eat much of anything. So I know it must have been really good! Hurray!

Unfortunately, Jr refused to nap this morning so by the time they came over she was ready for a meltdown. I tried putting her down but that didn't go over so well. Finally, after a long walk to the park and a long walk back (we had to double back when we realized she had tossed her frog overboard), she fell asleep in her stroller, something she rarely does. She even went back to sleep when I took her out and put her in her crib. It didn't last long though, so she was pretty grouchy.

I've never seen Little Monster in a mood. For as long as we've been having play dates, it's always been Jr who has been fussy. M is really understanding and Little Monster basically ignores her (or else shoves things in Jr's face in what I guess to be the hope of finding something to shut her up). But it's still embarrassing sometimes to always be the one with the fussy kid. And it doesn't matter how well she's napped (although it helps) or how well she's fed (which also helps) because she's just a "spirited" child -- or high maintenance. It doesn't take much to set her off and once she's "off", it's pretty much impossible to get her on the level again.

When it was clear that nothing was going to make Jr happy, M decided to leave. I know she's doing it for my sake but it still sucks. As I'm writing this Jr is screaming in her crib. But I don't know what else to do. The frog doesn't help, the suess doesn't help, TV doesn't help, holding her doesn't help... All I can think of is she needs more sleep or else she's possibly teething. I guess that'll be the next thing I try... Wish me luck.