Bedtime Battles

If your kids are like mine, bedtime can bring on some big battles. Things were just getting worse here. Something had to be done so I combined two ideas: one from a friend, one from Super Nanny. Things still aren't perfect but things have gotten much better.

First thing we did was set our bedtime routine in stone. Bedtime routine and a set bed time has been difficult for us. That's our fault not the kids. Last week I sat down with Sean and Maddy and had them brainstorm a bedtime routine: what should be included, and in what order. What we came up with was: snack, change into PJs, brush teeth, story time (they each get to pick a story and they are read on mommy and daddy's bed), *small* sip of water, potty, go to bed. We then made this chart so they could see the routine every night and move their little puppet as they do each item.

That solved the first part of the problem. The second part was the million of times we're called back to their bedrooms. Usually it's just small request that wouldn't normally be a problem. The problem is how many times they call us back. A friend suggested bedtime coupons. They each get five coupons. Every time they call us back, we take a coupon. When they are out of coupons we will not answer to requests for another stuffed animal, or to pull the blanket back up, etc. They've been told they may get up whenever without calling us back if they need to go potty. This has worked well for the most part. The main problem is Sean thinks he has to use up all his coupons. So tonight, we're starting a competition. Who ever has the most coupons in the morning will win a surprise!

We still have some work to do. I've put the book, Sleepless in America, on hold at the library. I'm anxious to read what it has to say because I've seen several recommendations for it lately. We also have some work to do about making a consistent bedtime. They have a bedtime. We just need to stop being so lax on it. My hopeful solution is I've added an alarm on my phone for the time we need to start our routine. I'll write an update post once I've read the book.

How do you handle bedtime battles?

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Week in Review: Week 6

I was beginning to think I wouldn't have much to write about this week then Maddy decided she wanted to be a big girl. First, let me go off on a little side note. A few months ago hubby was working his first night at his second job. It meant I had to get both kids to bed by myself. At that point Sean was in his own room and Maddy was still in our room on the little bed. Both had to have hubby or I in the room while they fell asleep. I can't be in two rooms at the same time so I asked if they wanted to have a sleep over in Sean's room. They agreed and both went to bed very easily. That's been the sleeping arrangement since then. At the beginning of this week they started fighting each other in bed and Maddy said she wanted to sleep in her room like a big girl - her words. And with that, they are sleeping in separate rooms.

The idea of being a big girl must have got the ball rolling because Wednesday afternoon Maddy informed me that she was a big girl and she wanted princess underwear. I had been thinking of starting potty training but I didn't want to start too close to introducing Emily to the family. Maddy had other plans. After nap I gave her some underwear and told her that she needed to keep them dry and go potty in the potty. She had a few accidents that night but the next couple of days went great. She woke up in the mornings dry, woke up from nap dry and only had a few accidents each day...each day getting a little better.

This week's pictures:

Maddy's after nap bed head

One of my favorite pictures of Emily

Brother and sister..He absolutely loves her, and vice versa

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Emily: 1 month

This past Sunday my little girl turned a month old. Today she had her 1 month check up. And what a great check up it was! She is 9lbs 3.5 oz and 21 in, which puts her right about the 50th percentile. The doctor was impressed with her motor skills: holding her head up so well and bearing some weight on her legs when held like she's standing.

So how's life with a 1 month old? Great! She's nursing so well now. She also sleeps well. 2-3 hour naps are the norm and she's having longer awake and alert times during the day. That's when she likes to smile at us. She especially likes when I call her "Sweets" and when Sean talks to her. She's normally down for the night between 8:30-9:00. I change her diaper when I go to bed around 11:00. Sometimes it wakes her up enough to nurse, sometimes not. She then sleeps till 7:30/8:00...normally only wakes up twice to nurse and goes right back to sleep. Boy did I get lucky! We've said good bye to newborn size clothes which feels weird because Sean was just getting into newborn size clothes at this point. She may look like her brother but is not growing like him! She just recently discovered that she does indeed like her swing but only when she's getting tired and not hungry. She hates the carseat though. If she's awake and the car stops, she'll let you know how unhappy she is! If the car is moving and the radio is on (silence is evil in her mind), she's ok. I hate red lights! She loves baby wearing. I'm glad I invested in a Moby wrap when I was pregnant because she likes it better than the ring sling. The Moby is my go to thing for grocery shopping. She sleeps through the whole trip. This past week I had a nice old lady stop me to tell me how beautiful a sight Emily and I were because Emily looked so comfortable and content.

I can't wait to see what this month has in store for us!

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Project 52: Week 33

Nap time!!
Sean has pretty much given up naps so this is a true rarity at our house. Both kids napping at the same time!!




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Project 52: Week 30

Here's a look at what our bed looks like in the morning. ...well almost. Sean almost always sneaks into our bed as the sun rises and normally around that time Maddy makes her way onto our bed too. I love those morning snuggles!


p.s. Check out the update to my blog schedule on the right and the new button section at the bottom of the page.

In her own time

Months ago I started being told by people that it was time to get Maddy out of our bed. It was time for her to be in her own room. I mistakenly ignored my mommy instinct and what Maddy was telling me and agreed with them. We got her a bed and tried having her sleep in her room. Surprise! It didn't work.

Then I found this blog post at the beginning of January. It clicked! A light bulb went off. What was I doing!? We were all content with her in our bed. Why was I listening to others and trying to solve a problem that didn't exist!? We welcomed her back into our bed and things we're going great. She even started sleeping more in the twin bed that is sidecarred to our bed.

Then this week came.. All of a sudden she's asking "nurse bed? me bed!?". Meaning she wants to nurse in bed so she can go to sleep and she wants to sleep in her bed! Whoa! Where did that come from!? She's now starting the night in her bed and joining us in our bed around 4:00am. ...to be honest, I'm glad she (and Sean) sneak into our bed in the early morning. I love my morning snuggles and am not ready to give them up.

Fall Back

It's that time again...day light savings time! I love fall day light savings time because we gain an hour but I hate it because it gets dark earlier. This year, we're using it to our advantage. Our kids have always been night owls. It's very normal for them to go to bed at 10:00 and wake up at 8:00. Bedtime is now at 9:00. They can't tell time so for all they know, it's not 9:00, it's 10:00. Tonight was a success with Sean. Maddy, however, was still going around say "arr matey" at 10:00...