The importance of sleep...

As we emerge from a week where our 19-month old supreme being clearly hasn't had enough sleep, it has reminded me to consider the importance of sleep. Sleep is no less important than food, drink, or safety in the life of a toddler. It's vital to growth and development. And although this may seem blatantly obvious, it's sometimes easily overlooked and our daughter's lack of sleep is certainly not something we did on purpose. As a matter of fact, it can happen for lots of reasons, and that is the problem.

Too much/too little excitement, too much/too little food, bedtime battles, not wanting to miss out, not wanting to give in, missing Mummy (rarely Daddy)...all of these and many more are the reasons why our lovely daughter has not wanted to sleep. I read an article that said she was supposed to be getting 13 hours a day - 11 at night and 2 during the day. Last week we were lucky if she got 9 or 10 in total, some days it was worse. It made for a difficult week.

The results of lack of sleep are not pretty. Emily is in a bad mood alot of the time because she's tired. This means she won't let Mummy more than 6 inches away from her, which in turn makes Mummy in a bad mood. Daddy is public enemy number 1 and can't do anything to please his beloved daughter, this in turn makes Daddy in a bad mood. As everyone is in a bad mood they all get on each others nerves which then makes everyone in even more of a bad mood... Come to our house - it's lots of fun.

So we decide to go to North Berwick to inflict ourselves on the Gurneys and hit the beach...that cheered everyone up (apart from Emily who still didn't sleep).

 Mummy travelling light to the beach

 The sleepless one...as if butter wouldn't melt

Sexy, sultry, surf dudette

My favourite bit of parental advice is "nothing is permanent". And so it was with the lack of sleep. This week we have persevered and been stricter in our routine. It's worked wonders. Our delightful daughter is back. So much so she has been learning to spell (although clearly unimpressed by this adult nonsense)...

Videoclip: Learning to spell

On safari....

 What you looking at? (Part 1)

 What you looking at? (Part 2)

 What you looking at? (Part 3)

 What you looking at? (Part 4)

 What you looking at? (Part 5)

Lions, tigers, elephants, rhinos, ostriches, giraffes, zebra, buffalo, owls, impala, gazelles, lemurs, chimpanzees, sealions, eagles, penguins, meerkats, vultures, goats, llamas, horses, camels, deer, alpacas, falcons, lechwe, otters, pigs, wallabys, buzzards, kudo, eland, hogs, marmosets...today we saw them all. And what did the supreme being like the best? None of the above. She just loved running up and down the wooden walkway, and so spent hours there. Sometimes things just don't go according to plan...

Videoclip: The best thing at the Safari Park

One for all the family...

Emily is fascinated by our family. She has pictures of everyone in a little album and she loves to look at them all everyday. We also have pictures on the kitchen wall and she loves to point her supreme being's finger at all of them and say hello. It's incredible how she's learnt they are more than just passing acquaintances in her life, but instead really trusts and knows them. I guess it's that strength of relationship and care that makes family special.

Anyway, she loves repeating all their names as part of learning to talk. It might not always sound quite right but she loves doing it, and, I for one, will do anything to keep a supreme being happy. I need to work her up to saying all the aunts, uncles and cousins names but that's a much bigger job, so in the meantime this is one for all the family...

Videoclip: Saying hi to all the family...