Cat Nap

literally. sometimes you just gotta snuggle up to someone warm and fuzzy

Toddler Bed!

On Sunday, September 26th I watched on the video monitor as Creighton crawled out of his crib and back in! So Dave and I decided it was finally time for Creighton's crib to be converted to a toddler bed.
And Creighton is just SO proud of it!

He thinks its so cool that he can get in and out all by himself. But we do find he pretty much stays in there until we come in to tell him it's okay to get out now. What a good, good boy!

He loves reading books in his bed during "wind down" time as we get ready for sleep.

but sometimes that enjoyment can be just a little overwhelming...
Went in to get him from a nap and this is what I found:

a VERY happy boy with a VERY large number of books in his bed! and he had SLEPT for two hours with all those books!

Pointing to the book case where he got them from when I asked "Hey, where did all these books come from?"

My baby boy is growing up fast!
He does so well in his toddler bed. Tucks himself in if he decides to wander out for a few minutes when we close the bedroom door at night (we watch him on the video monitor and sometimes he's tucked himself back in before we can even get down the stairs!). And Creighton always brings a friend or two with him into his big boy bed. Dave and I are quite enjoying it when we go in to get him up in the morning or from the nap cause we never know what books, stuffed animals, shirts or shoes we'll find in Creighton's bed with him! So cute : )

Meet Tess

We have a new nanny

Meet Tess!

Creighton ADORES her! And he loves to say her name ..."Tess, Tess"...sometimes even "yes, Tess"

Her energy level is almost identical to Creightons and they have special connection and really "get" eachother.

And they do LOTS of fun things together!

We are happy to have you with us, Tess!

(by the way, Harper loves her too!)

Sleep Training

My baby girl sleeps all through the night!

I put Harper down sleepy but awake at 7pm and I see her again, happy (well, she's still kinda fussing at me in the morning, not quietly/happily waiting yet, but that will come soon) and ready to be picked up at 7am. No feeding in the night, no pacifiers in the night. The only problem is that I really miss her during those 12 hours I don't see her!

Just like with her brother, I followed a very strict sleep training program and was determined to have my babies sleeping through the night quickly. Not just so mama could get some zzzz's but also so that we could establish a foundation of proper sleep from an early age.

This book was my model. And I SWEAR BY IT!

It costs about $10 and takes about 1 hour to read. And it's just the best money and time I've ever ever spent! The friends who recommended it to me (Gilbran & Courtney Andujar! Back in high school who would've ever guessed that the best parenting advice I'd ever receive would come from Gilbran!!) had perfect success with getting their kids sleeping through the night and everyone I have recommended the book to that has followed it strictly has kids who go to bed easily, sleep through the night, wake up happy and waiting to be picked up.

If I could meet the author Suzy Giordano I would kiss and hug her for hours! She has made our home happy, peacuful, and predictable and our kids well rested!!

Well done, baby Harps, for learning how to sleep through the night by 11 weeks (your brother did it by 10, but I was tougher on him!) and for responding so well to the schedule we laid out for you. I miss you sweet cuddler, but I'll see you in the morning.

Becoming Best Friends

Harper and Creighton have started playing together

just a little here and there
on the play mat

in their chairsand Creighton even let Harper get in his bed!

I love my babies and hope that someday soon - and forever - they can be each others best freind!

Soccer Tots

Creighton started soccer!

His first "organized" sport.

The sport is certainly organized...but now that Creighton is in the class, it's rather DISorganized.
Creighton does NOT follow directions well. But he sure has fun!

And they get a stamp at the end of class!
Creightons usual response: "Wow! Coo-ool!"

Thanks, Coach!

2 months old

Harper is 2 months old today

which truly seems impossible to me. When I think about the day I delivered her and see myself holding her in the hospital, it truly seems like a lifetime ago. But when I imagine that my baby girl has been growing outside my tummy for 2 months now, I'm amazed and in disbelief that 2 months has already passed.

So now that we've had some time to know her, what is Harper like?

She's a true snuggler! A mothers dream as far as nuzzles and cuddles go. But she also knows what she wants and when she wants it (now!) and isn't afraid to let you know how she feels. We are making huge strides with her sleep training. She goes to bed at 7pm and I feed her once in the night, sometime around 3:30 am. I'm working to eliminate that in less than 2 weeks. And she'll be a 7pm-7am sleeper, which will give me some alone time in the morning to feed her before Creighton gets up at 7:30.

Harper is really pretty. And I'm not just saying that cause I'm her mom. She has beautiful little features. She weighs xx pounds and is xx inches long (stats coming on Tuesday). She smiles at her parents, quite often at other kids, but almost always has a smile for her big brother.

What a delight she has become in such a short time.
Happy 2 months, baby Harps!