Extra time

In this photo, taken today, you see a lovely little girl who will not fall asleep.

She fell asleep tonight at 10:30 p.m., and last night at 11:00 p.m.

Over the past seven nights it has taken her five and a half extra hours to fall sleep, an average of an extra 45 minutes each night. I emphasize "extra" because it is in addition to the usual time spent on her bedtime routine.

She devotes this extra time pretty much entirely to crying.

What's the problem? Some developmental stage? Traveling dad? Teeth?

If you take a close look in her mouth, you'll see the two bottom molars, which over the past month have come in simultaneously with the two top molars. But I don't think they caused her too much trouble. It's the gap between the molars and the lateral incisors that could be the problem now; her canine teeth are coming in there, and she's been chewing and drooling.

All I know is that I am ready to devote my evenings to something other than Laurel's sleep. Even being able to do the dishes or the laundry would be a treat at this point.

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Thanks to my friend Michelle for taking the terrific photo!