Creeeeeek...
Daddy slowly and gingerly opened the nursery door, expecting to find Mav still sound asleep. But to his surprise, the boy had already awoken from his nap and was playing peacefully with his stuffed animals.
Typically, Mav would alert Daddy when he was done with naptime, either by whining to be let out of the crib or by calling out for Daddy to change his diaper. But today there was no whining, no begging for fresh pampers. The boy was on his best behavior.
"Look whose enjoying their crib time today!" Daddy beamed, pulling out his phone to take a photo.
Mav continued playing, barely acknowledging the camera as the shutter snapped - another moment in his journey back to toddlerhood permanently captured. Daddy pocketed his phone and strode over to the crib.
"Let's see how that diaper's doing."
Daddy reached into the crib and poked a finger beneath the padding around Mav's groin, probing for wetness.
"Yep, soggy as usual," Daddy said matter-of-factly, withdrawing his finger and moving to unlatch the crib gates. "Let's get you clean, kiddo."