Sleep Success

21 weeks

Have I ever told you how proud I am of you? Not likely at this point in your life I suppose. But I am. I am so proud of you. You are so smart. It took no time at all for you to realize that when I put you in your crib at night that you need to fall asleep on your own. You've never had to before. You've always been lulled to sleep by either your father or I. But the very first time I decided you needed to try it on your own you did it. No tears, no fits, no drama. I almost cried I was so proud of you. I was warned by so many that you would cry for hours and I told them "No he won't. I will not leave him to cry." And I didn't. You started to fuss and I stayed with you for as long as it took for you to understand that I was not going anywhere until you were sound asleep. You woke up the first time to cry, but only make sure I hadn't abandoned you. After that you did great. It's been a week and you've been sleeping all by yourself the entire week. I am amazed at how well you've done. We have you on a very strict routine.

7:30 - Naked fun time. This is when we strip you down to your diaper and we play until you are screaming with delight. You really like being in just your diaper. So much so, that your father and I may need to start wearing ear plugs during this time just to save our hearing.

8:00 - Bath time

8:15 - dry, massage, put Pj's on, swaddle

8:30 - Feeding

8:45 - Story time

9:00 - Bed time.

It works like a charm.

Tears Of Joy

Dec. 26, 2008

When daddy and I got to Grandma's house today only Auntie Laura and Her were home. Aunt Ann was still with Mike at his mother's house and Papa was likely still in bed. After coaxing Papa to speed up his morning routine and join us we waited for him to arrive. I was cooking Christmas dinner that day at Memere's house which meant I didn't have very long to visit with Grandma and Papa because I had to get the turkey in the oven so dinner would be on time.

We waited until we couldn't wait any longer and decided that we would give Grandma and Auntie Laura their gifts first and then Papa and Aunt Ann could open theirs together later that day. Once they opened their gift box and took out the little sock inside with their embroidered names on it they both looked up at each other and started to cry. Then the laughter came, then more crying, then hugs, then more tears and then plenty more hugs. So I think it's safe to say that they are pretty excited.

Just as we were about to leave Papa arrived just in the nick of time. So Auntie Laura and Grandma wrapped up their boxes again and pretended that they didn't know what was inside and they all carefully unwrapped their gifts together. But this time all eyes were on Papa. He opened his box and gasped, held his hand to his mouth and started to laugh. "Fantastic!" he said through his hand that was still tightly clapped to his face. And then they all cried again. Well this was turning out to be a very emotional day! But I couldn't have asked for a better reaction. So daddy and I happily trotted off to my parents house to drop me off for the night.