Phil was away on a conference for part of this last week, so yet again, it was just the girls. except this time, i wasn't feeling too well. the pool opened up last week, so we were busy this week going to the pool, but doing that every day takes its toll and i came down with a cold. the other day, i was so tired i wasn't saying much at dinner, just trying to make it to bedtime, and Skye thoughtfully said to me, "when i get older, i'll watch Claire so you can get a break."

i used to love sleep before kids. if i had been allowed, i could take naps every day. but these days, even if Phil gives me a break from the kids and i lay down to sleep, i'm woken up very suddenly by some noise which i think is Skye or Claire crying. i come downstairs and no one is home. it's freaky sometimes - you're in some deep sleep and you're shocked awake and you feel your heart drop and your body goes into emergency mode. and then it's impossible to return to sleep since it's middle of the day. i once heard someone say that once you're a parent, you can never sleep soundly, even after the kids have all grown up. i dream about when i'm older and the kids have gone off to college and i can finally sleep undisturbed. will i keep waking from imaginary sounds?

it's difficult not to be obsessed with sleep these days. Claire has been taking short 30 minute naps every two hours. after every nap, i have a 2 hour window in which to leave the house and get some things done. going to the pool is a challenge, so i try to time it so she sleeps in the stroller on the way to the pool. the other day, Claire took a blissful 2 hour nap in the morning, never to be repeated again! a wonderful reward which i so wished was the norm.