Big boys don't need naps!

Bradley has been trying to convince himself and us that he doesn't need a nap anymore. I admit we messed him up while we were on vacation. I didn't even try to put him down for a nap while we were gone and if he got a nap, it was because we put him in the car and drove around. Since we've been back, he's taken some naps, but other days he's just sat in his room and talked and even cried until I got him out. If he cries, I don't make him stay in his room...what's the point? And, frankly, I don't really care if he takes a nap unless he's just miserably tired in the evening. So, yesterday we had been playing upstairs and it was about 3:45 and I decided we needed some fresh air. So, we headed downstairs to use the potty and get shoes to go outside. I was changing Bradley's diaper and he had a little diaper rash. He got upset and kept crying about his rash, so I took off his diaper again and got a washcloth to try to soothe it. This made him cry more and I thought, we'll just leave the diaper off for a few minutes to give it some fresh air. I could tell that his rash was hurting, but I could also tell that he was really tired. So, he laid his head down on my leg and started to settle down and then he fell asleep! It was so cute that he was curled up in my lap with his head on my leg and no diaper on and he was asleep! I called Rachel in and she got me his blankies. I put one where my leg had been so I could lay his head on it. Then, I lifted his leg and put a diaper on him...he never opened his eyes. I couldn't believe how tired the poor little boy was! I covered him with his blankie and left him on the floor and he slept there for almost 2 hours! We had to wake him up because it was already way too late for him to take a nap since bedtime is at 8:00. Anyway, I decided that he is obviously not ready to give up naps yet, and I'm going to have to work a little harder at convincing him of that! Today he fell asleep on the way home from the store after picking up Rachel from school, so it was very easy to put him in his bed. We'll see how tomorrow goes!