Update and advice please1

[Carmela's Mom]

So we took carmela's nap away and instituted quiet/tv time on the couch in our living room.  The first few days she slept 12 hours at night.  Perfect.  she wasn't too cranky either during the day, so it really worked out well.  Yesterday she woke pretty cranky.  She woke up around 6:30 am (11.5 hours of sleep) so I figured maybe she'd take a catnap on the couch.  Nope.  We put her to bed and she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow and today she was up before 6:00 (no clue what time, but I turned on the monitor at 6:00 when I went to use the bathroom and she was mid-song of "The wheels on the bus").  so it seems she's waking earlier and earlier. 

she's been going to bed at 7:00 pm and falling asleep real quickly.  the first day she slept until 8:00 am, the second and third days more like 7:00.  then 6;30 and now today 6:00.  As you can see, earlier and earlier each day!  Any advice here?  I really really don't want to put her down any earlier than 7:00.  dinner time is at 6:00 and so 7:00 is really the earliest I can do.

Another question, today we are going to my best friend's house an hour away.  I know she'll sleep in the car (hoping she does or else watch out crankiness!).  When they sleep in the car or even take a nap on an odd day, do you put them to bed any later or keep the 7:00 pm bedtime?

Thanks

[M and N's Mom]

When my DD naps I still put her to bed about the same time but she talks/sings for a long time before falling asleep instead of falling asleep quickly like she does if she hasn't napped.

[Carmela's Mom]

Just as an update.  Yesterday when she woke up, I went in her room and told her that she didn't need to go back to sleep, but she did need to rest quietly as her baby brother was still sleeping.  It went well.  She went back to sleep until 8:45 am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!