Bedtime 2.0

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by smartelectric, but as always, opinions are my own.

I mentioned in the last kidlet update that Leo is sleeping in his own room these days - which is great on so many levels.  Our family bed was getting pretty crowded with four of us in there.  He had been sleeping in his own bed for a bit, but bedtime was taking a ridiculous amount of time because I would put him to bed in his room, then put Zoe to bed in our room...or, jb would put him to sleep and I would put Zoe to sleep and both adults had to be out of commission for bedtime.  It just made sense for me to put them both to sleep in one fell swoop - the trade off was that our bed was crowded.

So we knew we had to make the switch back to Leo sleeping in his own room. Our strategy was to make his room a place he wants to spend time - rather than the room that stores his clothes, as it has been.  The key to making his room irresistible?  Bunk beds.

This is the face that captures how he feels about his new bed

His favorite friends love it, too

The bottom bunk is "Zoe's bunk"

But it's also a "reading club house"

The top bunk is his own territory.  We insisted that adults are too big to be on the top bunk (in part because I think I'd snap that bed like a twig and in part because the whole point is that we are trying to get him to sleep alone), and Zoe isn't able to get up there unassisted, so we've tried to sell it as his own little haven.

He even can indulge in a show

Of course, Leo invites Zoe up to hang out sometimes

So once his room was cemented in his mind as the best place on earth, our goal was to ease him into falling asleep in his bed alone.  This was totally new to him.  He has always fallen asleep snuggling with either jb or me.  Usually in the family bed, but even when he was in his own bed, I would lay with him or massage or cuddle him until he fell asleep - so sleeping without a human next to him is a brave new world.

We started with plenty of stuffed animals to keep him company.  Added some glow in the dark stars for ambiance.  His humidifier duck keeps him breathing easy.  That little penguin projects stars in different colors on the wall and ceiling.  And, as always, we read him a book before tucking him in.  Still...the transition from snuggling on our lap to tucked in alone in the dark needed something to make it seem less sudden.

This is why the timing was perfect when we were asked to review the Goodnight Dimmer SmartBulb.  The SmartBulb is shatterproof - which is awesome in a kids room.  When I first opened the box Leo yanked it out of my hand asking, "What's this?" and my first reaction was a slow motion "Noooooooo!"  But then I realize that it was no big deal because apparently you can throw it against the wall and it won't break into pieces thanks to a special coating.  (We did not test this theory, despite Leo's lobbying for it.)  These bulbs last up to 3x longer than traditional bulbs and come with the 2 year guarantee.  It's a green, energy saving, incandescent option - I didn't know that existed! - that was designed by a grandfather right here in PA.  

Bright Light

The coolest thing about this bulb, though?  It automatically dims.  No dimmer switch or special lamp required.  I just screwed it in to the inexpensive Ikea lamp in Leo's room and with a double click (switch it on twice in a row) it's set to slowly dim to a night light over a 20 minute period.  This allowed for a gentle transition for that part of Leo's bedtime routine that is still new.

Dimmed down to a drowsy night-light

So this is how it goes in our house for bedtime now (and it's been working): I set the bulb to slowly dim.  I tuck Leo in and kiss him goodnight.  Then I lay in the bottom bunk with Zoe and nurse her.  While the Smartbulb is doing it's thing, I put an audio story on my phone.  Leo lays in the top bunk, listening to the story, reassured that he's not alone since Zoe and I are in the bottom bunk, and the dimming light sends his body the message that it's time to wind down and rest.  

Next thing you know there are two sleeping kids.

Bottom bunk baby

Top bunk big kid

Beautiful, right?  This frees my evenings up to snuggle with jb, watch a show or write a bit.  Hallelujah!  Around midnight Zoe usually wakes up and I move her to our bed to put her back to sleep.  I'm loving being able to put both kids to bed at the same time AND having enough room in my own bed.

The one downside?  Now that Leo and Zoe are no longer bedmates there is no more synchronized sleeping.  Or well, not quite as cute...

Bunny is no Zoe

Sweet dreams, everyone!

Night!

18 Months: A Year and A Half!!!

I know, I  know.  Sorry.  Thanks for sticking through.

Anyway...
18 months!!!  (about three weeks ago...) 

Language: He's consistently stringing words together.  (mama hold it (means he wants me to hold him), purple car zoom)  He's also grasping concepts like later/wait/in a minute.  He asked for a cookie and I told him it wasn't time for cookies so he asked me, "minute?"  He's also getting that there are two different languages in our home - he will translate a word for jb, or even for me if I'm not getting it fast enough.

Affection: He went through a phase of being really stingy with his kisses and hugs - which broke my heart.  But lately, as long as I make a big deal about how happy they make me he is back to being a generous kisser :)

Fifteen Months

Fifteen months.  Unbelievable.  This kid is a firecracker.  I suppose most 15 mo. olds are.  There is so much I don't want to forget about this age; how he looks toddling down the hall, the way he says certain words, how he holds out his boo-boos to me and makes kissing noises, his laugh, the look of happiness when jb gets home from work.  Here is the run down.  It's long, so maybe grab a snack. 

Fourteen Months

 Leo is fourteen months old!  We are doing much better after our little rough patch - I don't know if everything is just on the upswing or if getting out my feelings/thoughts on virtual paper helped me - but whatever it is, I'm happy to report that we've both been much happier the last few days. 

Sleep:  We are still going back and forth between one nap and two - but the margin is narrowing (whereas before one nap days were a nightmare and two nap days were mostly good - these days both have their challenges but are manageable). 

Walking:  He is all walking all the time now.  He's falling more than he was initially, but I think it's because he's not concentrating as hard since it's becoming natural for him.  He's even taken to running a bit here and there.

Nap Schedule: Transitioning From Two Naps to One

Leo's sleep schedule is in upheaval.  Again.  He is moving from a two-nap schedule to a one-nap schedule and it's not pretty.  We had a nice run.  For months his sleep schedule looked something like this:

We are taking full advantage of the nice weather (although I heard a rumor it's supposed to snow tomorrow. March is so weird.) Leo loves being outside and he loves to eat. The kid was born to picnic.

Jetsetters

Whoa. What a trip. This post will mostly be a photobomb with minimal commentary.

Travel day.

Crawl By Post

The big news around our house this week is that Leo and I are preparing to go to Mexico. We are leaving on Monday and will be there for two weeks. I'm super excited and a little nervous. I'm nervous for Leo to be away from jb for so long; I'm nervous for the two long plane rides and long bus ride to get there; I'm nervous to be without our crapload of "babystuff" (highchair, toys, pack'n'play, books, carriers, etc.) I'm excited to see Aunt Fanny; I'm excited to see many, many other family members and friends; I'm excited to eat a ton of yummy food; I'm excited to bask in the sunshine... It's going to be great. I just need to figure out a way to get everything into one suitcase. Unfortunately, Leo's strength is UNpacking, so he's no help.

On Sleep

At this point in parenthood, I'd say our biggest struggle is sleep. (I do realize how very lucky we are that this is our biggest concern.) Leo is an unpredictable napper and night time is hit or miss. I'm not terribly worried about it because this kid is healthy and happy overall - but on the other hand, I do want to be guiding him into good habits that will make the most of his energy and allow our family a convenient schedule.


I miss the early months when the kid could fall into a deep peaceful sleep anywhere. Under ideal circumstances (quiet, darkness, someone laying next to him or holding him, and unlimited access to nursing) he will sleep for long stretches - but it's not exactly realistic to provide this for him for all naps and overnights. We do co-sleep, so that does make night time less of a struggle for us. Barring extenuating circumstances (teething, colds, etc.), once we are all in bed we sleep pretty soundly until morning. The trick is those few hours between his bedtime and out bedtime.

We have a bedtime routine - goodnight kisses, diaper, pjs, teeth brushing, book, nurse. It usually works like a charm, but sometimes he will just not go to sleep - or he will fall asleep only to wake up again 10-20 minutes after a sneak away. We really try to aim for 7-8, but often that means that we are just up and down for a while or I end going to bed at 8 with him (I'm sure there are worse things, but I really cherish those hours from 8-11 that I get to myself).



Leo is pretty good in the mornings. Usually he is happy, but calm. If we are still sleeping when he wakes up he will usually play quietly for a little while and cuddle with us. Now that we've taken apart the bed frame and put the mattress on the floor I feel pretty safe dozing a little in the mornings while he entertains himself. On extra special days jb and Leo will go have breakfast and playtime on their own while I stretch out in our big comfy bed and sleep all alone for an hour or two.


Our days are good. Even now that the cold keeps us inside more that we prefer - we have a good time singing, dancing, playing, and doing everyday tasks.

When he begins to show signs of sleepiness (usually eye-rubbing or irritability) I put him down for a nap. Every once in a while I start to see a pattern emerge - like naps at 11 and 4 three days in a row - but as soon as I start to get used to a routine, things change again. And, just as with bedtime, he will take a nice long nap if I stay with him - but I just can't spend that kind of time in bed, so I end up putting him down again and again until he's gotten a decent stretch of rest in.

Bottom line is that I feel pretty comfortable letting the sleep dust fall where it may as long it works for our family. Some days I'm not so sure it's working for our family, though. I'm going to check out The No Cry Sleep Solution and see if there is something there that might work for us. If that doesn't help then I'll have Leo sleep with Talula for a few nights - she's the best sleeper I know.

Darker and Colder

Daylight is scarce and the temperature is dipping lower and lower. I'm missing our daily walks, and I know Leo is, too. We try to get out here and there, but the wind really makes it hard to walk too long and Leo's poor cheeks get chapped.

jb is out of town for the weekend so it's just me, my little sidekick and Uncle Daniel. Leo has reconnected with his love for napping - as long as I stay close, like, really close. So that combined with the chill in the air makes for a lot of cuddling under the covers.



Leo has recently had a major influx of toys. One of our new neighbors was clearing out toys that her kids no longer use and we were lucky enough to get a couple bags of hand-me-downs. Leo is in toy heaven and it's great timing for us, since we are staying at home more and more because of the weather.

I wouldn't say Leo didn't have many toys, but well, he didn't. We've never bought him a toy. Ha, that sounds awful. Abi has bought him a few and he has a few stuffed animals from his baby shower and some other miscellaneous gifts - but mostly he just has a lot of books. Which he loves - but I think he was kind of amazed by the invasion of brightly colored, flashing, singing plastic things.

It's cool because we are learning about what he likes and what we like - and don't (that telephone that sings "who is calling, who is calling" over and over may disappear soon...) One thing he's loved is the exersaucer (which we half-jokingly refer to as the ring-of-neglect), which is something I probably never would have bought from a store. He will happily play there on his own for 15-20 mins, which is perfect to throw in a load of laundry, fix lunch, or flip through a magazine. And I like that it keeps him off the floor because after playing on the floor for a while his hands and feet (which seem to be allergic to socks) begin to feel like ice cubes.

When we do make it outside I wear him in a carrier or wrap and just zip my coat up around him - good thing I stretched it out so much when I was pregnant.

Even indoors he loves to be wrapped up tight against me while I do things around the house.

He recently had his 6-month well-child pediatrician's appointment. He weighs 17 lbs 2 oz and is 26.5 inches long. Both stats put him at just above average. His teeth are looking good and the top ones should be coming in the next month or two. We did finally find a pediatrician's office here in Philly. They are nice. Fine. Good, even. I just miss our Pittsburgh practice.

Leo is also wearing shoes regularly - which is the most ridiculous thing ever, but they help keep his socks on his feet.
He's continuing to try new foods, but still it's mostly just a bite here and there. Some go over better than others.

As I type he is sleeping soundly beside me. As long as I sit here next to him, he will sleep peacefully and deeply like an angel. Of course if I try to sneak away and have some time sans baby he will wait about 10-15 mins (enough time to get invested in a TV storyline or get started on a sewing project) and then begin crying until I return to bed to nurse him back to sleep. So I've pretty much resigned myself to hanging out here in the bedroom. I've got my computer, my phone, and my library book. Good times. He's lucky he's cute.

Half A Year

Leo turns six months today. Unreal. What a huge freaking milestone. Half of an entire year. He's going to be starting solids. He's already scooting across the room in a flash. I can't believe my little tiny baby is growing up so fast.

The last few days have been challenging. I'm not quite sure why. I think we are in between bouts of teething. He's still a little stuffy, but is clearly feeling much better. Maybe a growth spurt? All I know is that he's been resisting sleep like nobody's business. I try to anticipate when he'll be tired and he won't nap. He stays up and is clearly tired, but still, he won't nap. He's screeching (he's taken to making this high-pitched, ear-piercing scream) he's so exhausted, and still the kid won't nap. If by some miracle I do get him to fall asleep, he wakes up after about a half hour. Bedtime is not much better. It's driving me crazy and making him miserable.

In other news, I've been doing some crafting in order to welcome a couple of new babies into our lives. Leo has a new cousin (Welcome Isis!) and some dear friends of ours recently had a new baby (Welcome Parker!). We are hoping to get to meet them over the Thanksgiving trip to Pittsburgh. Now that I'm becoming a pro at making knock-off babylegs, I figured I could whip them up a pair of those - but it didn't seem like enough. So I thought maybe I could use the extra sock material to embroider their initial onto a onesie. It took a while to figure it out - the stretchy sock material is hard to work with! But after a couple dumb mistakes (cutting out the "P" backwards and sewing the two sides of the onesie together) it worked pretty well. I hope they like them!

Countdown

The election on Tuesday shines like beacon of hope before us. Or, less dramatically, jb is in crunch time for her job and I'm really looking forward to things slowing down post-election. It's not pretty when election season and teething season collide in the B-T household.

One thing that really comforts Leo when his gums are feeling especially sore is brushing his gums with the toothbrush that Abi got for him. Mostly he just chews on it, but I'm so grateful for anything that distracts him from the rare, but soul wrenching scream fests that teething can bring on.


Leo has also recently decided that he would like to be on his tummy at all times. He loves scooting around the house - especially towards electrical wires. Time to gear up the baby-proofing.

He wants to be on his tummy on the floor, in bed, while nursing, and (most challenging) while getting his diaper changed.


At least he takes the opportunity to be helpful and pick out his own clothes.


Up until now, I haven't really given much thought to Leo's schedule. He eats on demand, if he's tired he falls asleep, and he goes where we go. Recently though, he has been a bit pickier about things. He is easily distracted while nursing and resists falling asleep if he's not in bed - so I've had to revisit the functional chaos that has been our schedule up until now.

So I made a nap schedule and we've been aiming for three naps at day at set times for the last two days and it's been working wonderfully. First nap is about an hour and a half, then the other two are about an hour. I wake him if he goes more than 20 minutes over (which is hard to do when he's so peaceful) - and it's returned the bedtime that was inching it's way towards midnight back to 8 pm. I think he's happier and I know I love having a couple hours in the evening to myself.

I'm not sure what to do about things that fall during naptime that we like to do - like yoga, playgroup, and other things. But for now we are putting those things on hold and sticking to walks and errands between naps until he gets used to the schedule.

And now signing off, I leave you with pictures of Uncle Jared and our little tomato head. (Thanks to Lisa who made the hat!)

And We're Back

I should warn you, I may go a bit picture crazy. A lot has happened since I was last able to properly check in, so I'll do my best to do a general run down.

Jb has been working very hard. Leo loves helping daddy work, and it's becoming clear where he gets his serious face.




Of course Leo's smiles are coming more easily everyday. He even flashes them at strangers these day. He's even laughing regularly, which is just the best sound ever.


We've continued to have regular visitors - which I love!



Leo has grown out of almost all of his clothes. He's huge. We had to make an emergency run to the store to buy some new larger clothes because it seemed to happen literally overnight.


We've been exploring our new city and attending lots of political rallies.





We are still going strong with the cloth diapers.

We've established a bedtime routine. Nothing too fancy, but it's nice to have bedtime cues for Leo so he winds down at the end of the day. Basically we change his diaper, maybe have a bath, put on pjs, brush his gums (maybe with teething tablets if he's having a rough day), snuggle into bed and read a book and sing a song.


We made our first trip home to Pittsburgh since the move. We also had a pediatrician's appointment for Leo (yes the office is worth driving 300 miles for!). He's healthy, got some vaccinations, and is still of average height and normal but lean weight. Leo loved spending time with grandpa, pops, abi and his aunts and uncles. Most of all, though, Leo found Abi's fish positively fascinating.



We had plans to go to DC for the One Nation rally, but due to a flat tire we didn't make it. It's really too bad, because I made Leo a shirt to wear for his first march on Washinton.


Our apartment is starting to feel like a home.





Uncle Daniel moved in. It's been great to have him around. He's been really helpful with watching Leo, preparing meals and lending a hand with the housework. He is picky about his title though. He doesn't like it when I call him our live-in Manny, and he doesn't like being called mommy's helper - so since we share the domestic and childcare during the day I thought he might like being called my sisterwife. Somehow he's not digging it. Picky picky picky.


Pops brought Leo back an entire wardrobe of Cowboys' gear from his trip to Dallas.


In other news, Leo is teething up a storm. Nothing has broken through yet, but he is clearly working on it. We've been using frozen teethers, his amber necklace, and on especially rough days, Humphrey's teething pellets. Mostly he's been a champ, but on some days it does get the best of him and he breaks down into a puddle of fussiness.

I've been out and about with Leo meeting new people in the neighborhood. We've been going to the baby and me yoga class, attending a local breastfeeding support group, taking walks, and checking out the library and sing-a-longs at Milk and Honey. I'm starting to feel like we know people, even if just by sight.

Leo is scooting around all over the place. He is also starting to get up on all fours pretty regularly, but isn't sure what to do once he's up there. He's blowing raspberries and going "ahhhhhh" when we pat his mouth so it sounds like "ah-ah-ah-ah-ah". He's giving loud, long, slobbery kisses and biting on anything he can get in his mouth. Love him.