Tired Babies

Benjamin is asleep right now, after about 3 hours of resistance. Usually he goes down for a nap with no problem at all, but sometimes he just gets in these moods, and he will NOT take no for an answer. There is every indication that he is tired and miserable, but attention must be paid! I don't know if it's a baby thing or a personality thing. Probably a little of both. Joel and I can both be pretty stubborn (Joel more than me, right honey? :)

Today he pulled himself up in his crib, and was crying--tears and a snotty nose and looking like his whole world was ending. I guess when I leave the room it does feel that way to him. So I stayed and held him, and we rocked and sang and whenever he would drift off I would wait until he was absolutely still, and then place him gently in his crib. And he would just pop up on all fours and scramble up the side of the crib, and wail for me not to leave him. So we would start over. I left at times, and at times it seemed as though he was just about to go to sleep. He would be talking to himself happily and sounding sooooo sleepy, but then the realization would set in and he just. couldn't. do it. Finally after a couple hours of alternating rocking and singing and leaving, I walked in and he was sitting in the corner of his crib, crying quietly and holding a blanket to his face, and I said "you win." 

I took him into the kitchen, and of course he was too tired to play properly. He was clumsy and fell over trying to pull himself up, and everything was grounds for a tantrum. I just cooked his food and calmly stepped over him for a few minutes, and then finally picked him up and took him back to his room. And whaddya know? He was passed out in about 30 seconds.