If today was an adequate indication of things to come, my daughter is going to make her stubborn old dad look easy-going in no-time.

The little punk decided she was too big to nap. So she fought it. All. Day. Long.

Eventually—on her mother’s watch, of course—she dozed for no more than 40 minutes, making it the most sleepless day our L has had since she emerged from the womb more than 15 months ago. I, on the other hand, got zombie girl all to myself, from 6 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The kid yawned practically every hour on the hour, typically a sign that naptime is imminent. Instead, our little L did her best to impersonate the Energizer Bunny, going and going. As if her general behavior wasn’t odd enough, her specific behaviors throughout the day were a bit unusual, as well.

She usually demands that I read her (quite literally) at least a dozen books. She usually motions to go outside. Today, though, all she wanted to do was play with a ratty old Pee Wee Herman doll. And eat a deck of cards.

If the episode weren’t so frustrating, it would have been cute.

Powergirl and I have been reading about how, right around this stage, babies get independent enough to keep themselves awake. Clearly, L has been reading the same books

My reactions to the new L were mixed. At first, I tried in vain to induce some Z’s. When that failed, however, I didn’t fight her at all, following her lead completely (this is why we spent so much time with Pee Wee).

I’m eager to see if this behavior was more of an exception or a trend. Either way, next time I’ll be more prepared to handle it.