Houston, we have a problem. Two actually.

Things have been going pretty smoothly for a while now.  A bit too smoothly.  I thought I had finally gotten the hang of mothering four small children.  I had a schedule, our routines and things just worked.  But of course nothing lasts forever and I should've known that my perfect little scheduled world wouldn't last forever either.  Here's why:

1. Siena has decided (at the age of 2 years and 7 months... way too early in my opinion) that she no longer needs a nap.  And I think she really means it!  My world has been turned upside down by this little decision of hers and I'm not not quite sure what to do about it.  Chase napped until he was four.  Naptime = at least an hour of precious "free" time for mommy.  I say "free" in quotes because what I really need naptime for is to eat my lunch, clean the kitchen, vacuum the house, do laundry, etc.  I mean sometimes I do grab a minute or two to check my email or write on my blog, or even just sit on the lanai for a few seconds and close my eyes as I soak in some sunlight... but really what I truly need is just some peace and quiet so I can continue my day.  Ever since Chase stopped taking naps, he's been very content to have "Lego time" and he is extremely happy to sit quietly and build for a while.  But Siena is way too young to understand how to play quietly alone and she is craving constant attention.  She follows me around asking for snack, or to play a game, or just the general, "Mommy, what me do?"  Or worse: she kicks Chase's Lego creations and a screaming match between the two of them ensues, and there goes my sanity.  Not cool at all.

2.  Zoey and Lyla keep pooping in the tub!  Go ahead and laugh, but this is a big deal!  A total routine-ruiner.  Dinnertime/Bathtime/Bedtime is already a stressful ordeal as it is, but we've managed to get it down to a science.  Throw a little bit of poop into the tub and you've got a recipe for disaster.  Siena is jumping out of the tub soaking wet and maybe covered in poo, Lyla is crying because Mommy is screaming, "NOOOOOO!!!!" and Zoey's got something brown all over her hands and her face.  Does she eat the poo?  Yep, it's been known to happen.  Instead of getting everyone out of the tub one by one, getting into pajamas and into bed in an orderly fashion, it's pure chaos.  And it's happening every. single. night.  The worst part is that every time it happens, I have to clean and disinfect the tub, the bath seats, and every bath toy over and over again.  And there goes my nice little schedule.  Sure wish I knew why my babies find it so appealing to poop in the tub every night.  Must be something soothing about those warm waters!

Those little black things are not bath toys.  That's poop folks.