Oh What a Drive!

Busy day for Matthew today led to a fantastic family drive home tonight.  Matthew and I had a playdate with Kate and Jack and Rachel and Colin.

Jack (12 weeks), Matthew (9 months today!), and Colin (10 weeks)

As a sidenote, Matthew did gouge Colin's eyes out right before this picture and was actively working to hold Jack's hand during the picture, hence all the arm action.

Matthew chose to not nap on our car ride to the playdate despite it being his usual naptime and my big plans for our day.  Humph!  He did, however, nap a whole 20 minutes at Rachel's (which truth be told I am glad because it was better than not sleeping at all!)

He then chose not to nap on our way to my parents' house where we spent the afternoon.  Because he loves to play with my mom, he chose not to nap too much there either, an hour in total.  So shortly after Mike met us at my parents house we left to head home.  But FIRST, we had to switch out our cars at the garage where we get repairs because one car was leaving the shop while our other car was spending the night there to get fixed tomorrow.

With a total of an hour and twenty minutes of naps instead of 3 hours, you can only imagine how tired Matthew was.  Thus, the task at hand: Operation Keep Matthew Awake Because If He Sleeps For Even 10 Minutes He Won't Go to Bed Until 10 Tonight.  Chief of Task: Mike.  The ride home involved:

- A robust session of Mike clapping Matthew's hands together, screaming "YAY, MATTHEW!" the entire time.  This is a favorite of Matthew's under most circumstances.  Apparently, he enjoys praise regardless of worthiness and smiles 'til his jaw dislocates while receiving it.  Again, under most circumstances.  Today it was met with a blank stare and a slack jaw.

- A rousing medley of "B-I-N-G-O", "Old McDonald", and "Five Little Ducks".  Blank stare and slack jaw.

- More clapping and fist pumping.  Commence frustrated whining.

- Two minutes of the adults talking.  This ended when Mike caught Matthew's heavy eyes on the verge of closing.

- Bribing Matthew with his sippy cup.

- Maniacally shaking Matthew's rattle while bellowing songs that were literally made up in real-time.

- Constantly pulling Matthew's fingers out of his mouth.  This was met with crying every time, but prevented instant slumber.

And mission accomplished.  Once we changed him and fed him, he was asleep before he was in the crib.