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[Fortunately, they're not all that clever with technology!] Have I mentioned that I'm the easiest baby in the world? I usually go to bed before 9 pm and wake up about 9 am when mommy gets ready for work. But on weekends, when the mornings are quiet, I wake up, play by myself in my crib -- sometimes I stand up, push the curtain aside and watch daddy working in the garden through the window -- and then I go back to sleep all on my own till about 11 am. I figure mommy might as well get to sleep in on weekends! Despite all that bogus advice from sleep experts, mommy has nursed me to sleep most nights since I was born and that never stopped me from putting myself back to sleep when I've had little wake-ups in the night. And occasionally when someone is baby-sitting me, or when nursing didn't put me right to sleep, as long as I'm tired, I don't mind if they put me down in the crib awake. I might cry for 20 seconds or so, just to make my point, but to be honest, I'm usually asleep in less than two minutes. Once in a blue moon I wake up crying in the night, but even then I just need a couple of minutes of cuddling to go right back to sleep. (Or else I can just call Margaret in Montreal and tell her to wake up mommy and daddy!) I even make naps easy for them, as long as they get the timing right -- I want to be tired but not over-tired. I was more demanding when I was just a little baby, but now that I'm a mature toddler they can just put me down in the crib and I'll go to sleep. Why fight when you can just sleep? Meanwhile, I eat anything -- including baby food right out of the jar and bottles right from the fridge. Some of my daycare friends have whispered to me that food is meant to be warm, but I don't stand on ceremony. Food is food, that's what I say. Since mommy and daddy spend most of their time ignoring me, I've learned to entertain myself. I can play happily for quite a while by myself, just as long as someone helps me up when I have a bad tumble, and daddy reads the books I hand to him. Luckily for all of us, mommy and daddy have lots of adult friends who want to spend time with me, and I love them all. Occasionally they have to remind me who they are, but as soon as we get acquainted again, I'm happy to hang out with any of them. I especially love grandma, Patrina Dina, and the Auntie Ns -- Nora, Naomi and Neelam. And Maria of course -- I've never complained about being left with her all day. I've had a few colds, which are no fun, and an elevated temperature once or twice, but not a single ear infection in my almost 17 months. And since I find cold medicine yummy, even cold symptoms are easily dealt with. I like to help out while I'm being changed or dressed. Not only do I lie quietly on the change table, I even hold my legs up in the air very patiently for as long as it takes. Although I prefer to walk on my own now that I'm a big boy, I don't fuss if they put me in the stroller. In fact, so far, I haven't had any tantrums at all. Sometimes I say "No!" very decisively, but even then I often change my mind a moment later. And when a grown-up tells me not to do something, I'll pause and give their advice my full consideration. Frankly, most of the time I'm willing to humour the adults. After all, you can't expect them to be as well-behaved as me. |