The sun also rises

Spring and summer in Michigan are the best seasons. Nice weather, lots of sunshine, pretty foliage. At the peak of the summer, it stays light until 10 p.m. (!), which is fantastic if you don't have little kids who need to be asleep at a decent hour.

Two years ago in the spring when Jellybean was almost 2, out of the blue, she stopped going to sleep at bedtime. She stayed up and jabbered to herself, sometimes working herself into a hyper lather, necessitating that one of us calm her back down to sleep after an hour or so. L and I finally put together -- duh -- that the lighter evenings (it's light past 8 p.m already at this time of year) were contributing to her inability to fall asleep. So, we shifted her bedtime later and eventually found a balanced time that she would drift off. We were prepared for the same last year with her and shifted her bedtime accordingly as we saw the same pattern emerging, and it worked out fine.

Peanut was still unaffected last year, as she was still 9-10 months old and needed her baby beauty rest. But this year, Peanut is definitely noticing the lighter evenings. About 10 days ago, we put her down for bed, and she was not her automatic lights-out self. She started talking and singing and even screeching -- happily -- to herself. L and I didn't know what to do; despite the pleasant tone, we couldn't help but think something was wrong. See, she is "old faithful" when it comes to bedtime and naptimes (don't worry, it wasn't that way at all in the beginning). We put her in her crib, leave the room, and she's asleep instantly. Not so with the daylight evenings. We've had quite the concert at 7:30 for the past week; she mostly sings "Annie" songs, but whatever comes to mind apparently will do. We've pushed her back to 7:45-7:50 and have had more success (translation: fewer songs), but it looks like we'll be sliding even later as the summer progresses.

I've decided that the ever-changing kid's bedtime in the spring and summer is just another of the warm-weather rituals in Michigan, like getting out the patio furniture or putting on sunscreen. Now if I can just get myself to keep the same bedtime when it's light at 10 p.m.

Cheating winter

I haven't blogged in a while -- sorry if you missed me (as if...). We have been busy playing outside. Yes, outside in late October/early November. Not only outside but outside without jackets and sometimes even in short sleeves! It is completely WRONG for there to be weather this warm in Michigan at this time of year, but we have been loving it.

I can't help but think -- with my typical Michigan weather cynicism -- that we will pay dearly for these warm days. It won't come in the form of a humongous winter snowstorm. No, the worst way we could pay (are you listening, Mother Nature?) would be to have freezing weather and snow in May. The springtime winter weather makes me particularly crazy, having grown up where winters were only three months long.

I have tried to put those negative thoughts out of my head, though, as the girls and I have enjoyed our last hurrah of swinging in the backyard, blowing bubbles, coloring with chalk and leisurely walking around the block. I list those things specifically so I can look back and read this in February, when I have completely forgotten what it's like to play outside in warm weather.

I am resolving right here not to dread the length of winter this year. I will let it happen as it may. You see these words. If you feel I violate my resolution anytime in the months to come, please call me out on it.

Switching seasons

Every weekend for the past three or four weeks, I've wondered if THAT week would be the week the climate forced us into the long-sleeved wardrobe. Both girls' fall clothes were biding their time in the basement until the weather changed.

Thankfully, this past weekend I stayed on top of the weather forecast for the week, and I retrieved those clothes on Sunday. We are officially in the throes of fall here.

In past years -- this stint of living here and the last time we lived here -- fall was merely the gateway to winter and all it has to offer (she says sarcastically). But this year, for some reason, I am embracing fall and appreciating it as its own unique season (duh, I know). I really am feeling this way, not forcing myself to do so. This feeling happened on its own; I assume it must be a rite of passage for all Michiganders at some point.

Jellybean keeps saying that she loves winter and winter is her favorite season. Part of me says to myself, "Ha! Wait until it's 30 degrees and cloudy in March." But another part of me realizes that winter can be fun, especially if I see it through a child's eyes: sledding, snowmen, hot chocolate. I felt that way about the beach this summer with the kids. I've been to beaches before and enjoyed myself, but you really LIVE the beach when you're there with a kid. I think playing outside in the winter can be that way too.

This winter will be Peanut's first real experience with winter (she dabbled last year, but it's hard when you can't walk), so that will help me to live it with a fresh perspective.

In the meantime, both girls love their "new" fall clothes.