So I've realized that the house becomes so much creakier and noisier when you have a sleeping baby inside your four walls. Funny how that happens. Sometimes it feels like the world is out to get you and your baby's nap time, doesn't it?

When Charlotte first came along, I thought that we had the soundest sleeping baby on earth. She could sleep through my husband's power tools in the basement, the vacuum cleaner cruising right past her pack n' play, and even the noisy beagle howling at a leaf blowing across the street. But as all new moms realize, that peaceful sleeping stage inevitably comes to an end. Now Charlotte is very curious about noises around her and very in tune to my comings and goings. Luckily, I'm catching on to the creaks in the floor, the screen door that shuts too quickly if you don't catch it in time, the dog who will stand on the back of the couch and drop her heavy chewing stick onto the hardwood floor when all is peaceful and quiet. That's when "Super Mom" mode clicks in!

I've now automatically started tiptoeing around the creaky spots on the floor. One friend even suggested duct taping those spots so I don't forget. How about caution tape? That will get my attention. I take away the puppy's loudest squeakers and heaviest sticks (when she's not looking, of course). And I (try) to make sure that I have all that I need for nap time around me so I don't have to make too much of a racket while the sweet baby sleeps.

My super power may not seem so spectacular to you, but when you make it through a day of naps with no accidental awakenings, you may just start feeling like a super hero too!