Rise and Shine

For most of Jonah's toddler life he has been pretty good about sleeping in. For a long while his wake-up time was between 8 and 9am. On several occasions he'd even sleep till 10! There were days he'd wake around 7:30, but they were rare. 

Recently (like since Elizabeth was born and we are up in the wee hours anyway) he has made 6am his new wake-up time. NOT COOL, kiddo. Not cool at all! 

To every problem, there is a solution. Now, I don't know if this is our final solution, but I came up with a plan. We will test it tonight/in the morning. 

A friend suggested that I teach him how to read his clock, and teach him to stay in his room until a certain time. Well, I don't trust him to stay in his room until the clock reads "7" just by teaching him to wait for the 7. I'm afraid he'd read 5:37 and think it was the right time to go find mom. 

So....I made a "7" for his clock and all he has to do is wait for the number on the clock to match right above it. 

We also rearranged his furniture. It is finally placed the way I'd envisioned since we moved him into that bedroom. 

Weekend Update: Baby Shower

This weekend my mom, aunt, and sister hosted a baby shower for me. We gathered at Emily's house for a Night Owl party! It was very very cute.

(yes, party is spelled wrong...because they reused the sign from my cousin's shower last weekend. It was originally written to match her baby's name, which is Charli Pepper) 

Isn't my cousin, Courtney, creative...she's the one who created this from scratch...chalkboard paint and everything!

The banner with Elizabeth's name will probably be hung in her room when I get it put together. And the cake is another Aunt Caroline masterpiece! It was strawberry on the inside...and just so you know, it was very tasty!

Lots of credit goes to my mom, who orchestrated the whole thing. Where would I be without such a fantastic mom?! I am also grateful my mother-in-law made the trip down for the occasion. I really appreciate my family. They are amazing! 

It was a lovely little gathering! Thanks everyone! 

p.s.... thanks to Auntie Em, Elizabeth may not have to ever wear the same thing twice. 

Good Morning

This is what we wake up to most mornings in our house. The ironic thing is, the more he fusses at bedtime, the happier he seems to be the next day. If he goes to bed without a peep he often wakes us grumpy and is fussy for a few hours. 

I haven 't decided which is worse. 

BUT....most days are like this:

Dear Jesus,

Jonah has been more and more vocal with prayer time lately. He has been asking to pray from time to time, and will repeat a prayer we prompt for him. Tonight Jonah prayed his bedtime prayer all by himself. It was one of the sweetest moments ever!!

He said: "Dear Jesus, thank you for a day, thank you for Ewizabeth, thank you softball game. A-Men!"

"ABCDEFG"

Jonah is learning his letters! The amazing part is that I haven't worked with him all that much in this area. He is just a little sponge. I recorded him the other night when we were reading before bed. You should know that this is completely candid. I did not prompt him or rehearse any of it before I started recording...there were no "do overs." My favorite part of the video is hearing his sweet little voice! He doesn't get it right every time, but that is ok. 

Apparently it is not possible to recite the alphabet (or even parts of it) without rolling onto one's back like a dog! 

my great idea.

This morning I had a great idea. Or so it seemed at the time. I'm testing the idea and should have results by the end of the week.

If you have read this blog regularly, you know that bedtime is a struggle at our house. Sometimes he just isn't tired, but most times he goes to bed fine, then starts screaming sometime in the night. It's getting out of hand, happening earlier and more frequently each night. 

Since the sticker chart was such a hit with Jonah for going potty, I thought I'd try making a GOODnight sticker chart for him. We went to Michael's (dangerous store, people) and got some fancy stickers.  

Near the front of the store by the registers Michael's had a display of some really big, really enticing coloring books. Jonah wanted them right away, so on impulse I bought one and deemed it the reward for filling the chart. 

We've had a routine in place for a while now, where I tell him I'll come back and check on him in a while. That usually calms him enough to get to sleep. I thought it was good enough, but this week, he's been screaming for me again. (after about 40 minutes of being in bed). Anyway, the checking on him...I would go back before I headed to bed and I'd leave his door open after checking. SO...the deal is, if his door is closed NO FUSSING. If he can avoid fussing while his door is closed, he earns a sticker in the morning. Once he fills his chart (30 stickers) he will get to have the coloring book. 

I hope he "gets" it. I hope and pray that this works. 

I sat down to type this after putting him in bed. So far, so good. I've been typing in silence! 

Potty Time!!

Well, as I have mentioned before, we have been potty training around here. We started the week of Valentines and I think I can officially say we are THERE! He's doing SO great! 

These are all the supplies (plus underwear and pull-ups) that we used to get going. Since the first week I've often asked myself why I didn't just use the normal "m&m rewards" like every other potty-trainer out there. Especially when he goes right before bed. Oops. Clearly, I didn't think ahead on the reward system.

clorox bleach spray with paper towels...on hand at ALL TIMES, lollipops, tootsie rolls, and stickers! 

Not only do we reward him for going(tootsie rolls for tinkle and lollipops for poop), but we have a sticker chart he's filling up each day that he stays totally clean all day. When that one is full, he gets a BIG reward!  

We also use this nice potty seat that fits on the regular toilet. (he's decided he likes standing better...and that is actually more clean most of the time)

Last night Jonah slept in underwear. He'd been waking up dry every day for two weeks. And he'd been asking to sleep in the underwear all week long, so I figured we'd give it a try. 

Wake-Up Wednesday

I have not posted much Jonah footage lately. I've mentioned that he's hard to "catch in the act" these days. Anyway, I heard him wake-up today. So, I turned on the video before I went in. It isn't fancy, but he is always cute!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

YES!! I am going on a trip. Today!!!

You may remember this post of our dear friends moving nearly 800 miles away (which still gets me all teary-eyed). 

Well, Southwest Airlines just had a promotion of $39 one-way tickets. So, this very dear friend called me up and asked if she could buy me a ticket. And if my sister would come too. We both said "yes." I am very very VERY excited. 

Jonathan's parents are coming to stay here to help him and care for Jonah. It's the longest I'll ever be away from my "baby" and I'm a little nervous. Not because I will miss him, which I know I will....and not because I have any reservations of the care he will be in (I have none). Mostly because bedtime is SO tricky sometimes. If you think of them, say a prayer for bedtime. I'd like Jonathan's parents to have a desire to come back to our house someday!

Anyway...I just thought I'd write a little post, since I may not write much for another week or so. 

Happy Thursday. 

To Sleep or Not to Sleep.

How about NOT.

Our sleep pattern has been a bit "off" lately. A few weeks ago nap time became very tricky. I'd been having Jonah nap in the morning because we leave the house everyday around 3. He'd nap from 11:30 or 12 until somewhere around 2. It worked out great.

And then, it didn't. Naptime became a battle.

We fought the battle.

Then, bedtime became a battle.

Two battles a day? No thank-you!

So, I ignored my inner "mommy" voice telling me he was too young to give up naps. And we started keeping him up.

That has been working out fine. Bedtime is still tricky, but here's why...he falls asleep in the car around 3.

WHAT to DO??? (this is one of those "insolvable problems" we are just going to have to struggle through)

Oh, and just to throw another kink into the pattern...HERE's what he's been doing this week:

on the couch, watching a movie ("rest time")

(I think he's growing)

Meanwhile, I'll be brewing up another pot of coffee! 

Happy Wednesday Afternoon!

GOOD night?

Remember my last post about the Big Boy Bed. Well, we are still getting into the groove, but I think *fingers crossed* we are on the wining side of the battle.

Last night was a marathon night in terms of getting the boy in bed. 

He got up several times. (not to mention an alarm that went off in his room mixed in there...I guess he pushed some buttons earlier in the day) Then, I just HAD to get some things done...namely sheets put on my own bed, so I shut Jonah's bedroom door.  I was nervous to do it, but I just couldn't have him coming out. I prayed he would stay safe and I went for it. When I finally got my task accomplished, I went to his room so I could put him back in bed...yet again.

But to my surprise HE WAS IN HIS BED (still crying, of course).

 *lightbulb* 

Left to his own accord, he climbed BACK in bed! Yay!! (I immediately commended him)

small victory is still victory.

now, this is where my story takes a funny turn. :) 

at 4:30 am I was awakened. not by screaming. not by crying. by little footsteps pattering into my room. (we have a split floorplan, mind you...that little tike toddled across a big dark house to find me)

I said it was the funny part...well, it wasn't exactly funny when he had to go BACK to bed (again)

and you can just repeat the above scenario cause it happened again 30 min. later.

So, of course, I was prepared for a third visit. I listened intently to hear movement on our baby monitor. Nothing. Silence. 

small victory is still victory, right?!

Ok, so THIS is what I discovered when I got up to make my coffee in the morning:

notice the pacifier that he isn't using...THAT is deep sleep!

That sweet thing slept in the living room. I have no idea how long he was in there. I never heard a thing!

Tonight I started by closing the door (after our normal night-night routine, of course). And you know what? He is sleeping peacefully on his pillow as I type this! Love that little stinker!

Thank You, Jesus for small victories!