Seth is now 6 months old and has started waking up A LOT at night. I would say 4 times on average. It's killing me! I need some continuous sleep. Plus, I have other kids that wake up for various reasons every once and a while and when these all happen on the same night, it's just TOO MUCH! I have been seeing every hour of the night recently. Ugh.
So, after one of these nights, I decided it was time to train this kid to sleep. This is not new to us. I remember going crazy when Levi was this age, reading Becoming Babywise, and deciding to let him cry it out. George and I set a timer for 45 minutes and George had to restrain me so I wouldn't go up to the baby. As soon as the timer went off, I ran upstairs and was almost to the door when....SILENCE! I checked on him and he was sound asleep. It only took a couple of days to get this pattern down and I was converted! We did it with Natalie and Sam (though a little later in his life because we were getting ready to move when he was 6 months).
Before anyone roasts me for letting my kids cry, I must say that my older kids are GOOD sleepers. They go to bed around 8pm, wake up around 8am, and don't usually get up at night. They are good at sleeping anywhere. And they are happy, well-adjusted children (if I do say so myself:) So, I know this method works for us. Which is why it was Seth's turn last night.
I had fed him around 7:30pm and didn't want to nurse him to sleep, so around 8:30, George took him up and put him to bed. He was quiet for about 5 minutes and then began to cry. I knew that he was not hungry or wet (as we had just taken care of that) so we set the timer. And I left the house! This was emotionally hard for me...as it has been for each one. I went and watched a movie. I got back and the 45 minutes were almost up and the monitor was still RED! George and I decided to lengthen the time a bit and he got quiet within 10 minutes. And that was it. He made a couple of noises, but went right back to sleep after each. *I* got up at 7:15 because I had had plenty of sleep and my brain was racing. This is *not* me in the morning. I am SOOO excited. It's liberating! And now, at 8am, he is making happy awake noises in his crib.
So on we go to not nursing him to sleep (that's today's job) and more sleeping at night (hopefully tonight will be as good as last!) Gotta go feed the boy...to relieve the one not so nice side affect of him sleeping through the night! Ouch!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
The letter C!
Rules: Leave a message and I will give you a letter, then you have to come up with ten things you like with that letter. Emily gave me the letter "C".
So, here's 10 things that begin with the letter "C":
1. Cookies. Chocolate Chip Cookies, specifically. My dad's are my favorite,
but Carrie's give them a run for their money.
2. Children's books. I am always on the lookout for great Children's books.
Some good ones I have read recently:
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
Hans Brinker
Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep
The George and Martha series
Goodnight, Gorilla
3. Cereal. Growing up, we NEVER had sugared cereal and now that I am the
parent, I feed my kids the Cheerios and I eat the Lucky Charms. Isn't life
grand? But the best was visiting my Nanny White. She had a huge green
Tupperware bowl in which she dumped all the sugared cereal that my
mother would never buy and you would just scoop the mix out with your
bowl. Yea, baby!
4. Children! I have so blessed with my four babies that are growing up so fast!
Levi is my helper. Natalie is the creative one. Sam is adorable especially
when he is trying to communicate. Seth reaches up to pat my face and I
know everything will be alright! I love you guys!
5. Christmas. Not only is this holiday associated with wonderful family
memories, great food, decorations, presents, and the best smells. It is the
day we celebrate the birth of our Savior and nothing is more important than
that.
6. Crayons. I have loved coloring with crayons my whole life and still enjoy it
every once and a while with the kids. It relieves stress!
7. Crafts. I don't know that I love to do them as much as I appreciate them. I
love homes that are filled with crafty decorations and I could spend forever
at craft fairs (though I cannot bring myself to buy things that I always think I
could do...ha!)
8. Croutons. I am a salad girl and I like croutons on my salad...and not the fat
free ones.
9. Chocolate. (I must be hungry because most of these things are food!) Let's
see. There's M&M's, fudge, buckeyes, ice cream, cookies, milk, hot cocoa,
Charleston Chew bars, cake, brownies and I could go on and on and on....
10. Comics. Every Sunday night, George and I sit down and read the comics
together. I LOVE that part of our week!
I am so brain dead that I had to Google "things that start with the letter C" to get some ideas to go from. This is what having 4 young children does to you:) Leave a comment if you want to play!
PS Sorry this is so dumb looking. I don't want to take the time to fix it, so here I am posting it dumb looking.
So, here's 10 things that begin with the letter "C":
1. Cookies. Chocolate Chip Cookies, specifically. My dad's are my favorite,
but Carrie's give them a run for their money.
2. Children's books. I am always on the lookout for great Children's books.
Some good ones I have read recently:
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
Hans Brinker
Tell Me Something Happy Before I Go to Sleep
The George and Martha series
Goodnight, Gorilla
3. Cereal. Growing up, we NEVER had sugared cereal and now that I am the
parent, I feed my kids the Cheerios and I eat the Lucky Charms. Isn't life
grand? But the best was visiting my Nanny White. She had a huge green
Tupperware bowl in which she dumped all the sugared cereal that my
mother would never buy and you would just scoop the mix out with your
bowl. Yea, baby!
4. Children! I have so blessed with my four babies that are growing up so fast!
Levi is my helper. Natalie is the creative one. Sam is adorable especially
when he is trying to communicate. Seth reaches up to pat my face and I
know everything will be alright! I love you guys!
5. Christmas. Not only is this holiday associated with wonderful family
memories, great food, decorations, presents, and the best smells. It is the
day we celebrate the birth of our Savior and nothing is more important than
that.
6. Crayons. I have loved coloring with crayons my whole life and still enjoy it
every once and a while with the kids. It relieves stress!
7. Crafts. I don't know that I love to do them as much as I appreciate them. I
love homes that are filled with crafty decorations and I could spend forever
at craft fairs (though I cannot bring myself to buy things that I always think I
could do...ha!)
8. Croutons. I am a salad girl and I like croutons on my salad...and not the fat
free ones.
9. Chocolate. (I must be hungry because most of these things are food!) Let's
see. There's M&M's, fudge, buckeyes, ice cream, cookies, milk, hot cocoa,
Charleston Chew bars, cake, brownies and I could go on and on and on....
10. Comics. Every Sunday night, George and I sit down and read the comics
together. I LOVE that part of our week!
I am so brain dead that I had to Google "things that start with the letter C" to get some ideas to go from. This is what having 4 young children does to you:) Leave a comment if you want to play!
PS Sorry this is so dumb looking. I don't want to take the time to fix it, so here I am posting it dumb looking.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Seth is almost 6 months old!
I can't believe it! The older you get, the faster life goes, right? Here are some priceless pictures of his first not really solid meal.
Is this supposed to be yummy?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
I LOVE children's books! I love reading ones that we just happen to pick up (at the library, at a yard sale, at Grandma's) that surprise me. This book did just that. It's a true story about a tightrope walker who wants to walk between the Twin Towers. At the end, I had a surprising emotional reaction that led to an interesting discussion with my kids about terrorists. It's a great book! Check it out...once I get it back to the library:)
What are your favorite kids books?
Monday, September 8, 2008
30 Reasons I love Geo
George with Seth almost 6 months ago! In honor of his 30th birthday, here are 30 reasons why:
1. He is my best friend.
2. He makes me laugh.
3. He reads the comics with me every Sunday night.
4. He comes home from work and picks up whoever is crying (and sometimes it's me:).
5. He devotes Saturdays (when I don't give him extra chores) to the kids.
6. He loves my easy Manicotti.
7. He doesn't mind that some weeks we have frozen pizza multiple times a week.
8. He reads children's books to the kids with lots of different voices.
9. He fulfills his Scout calling.
10. He likes to be with my family.
11. He doesn't mind that I haven't lost that last 20 pounds:)
12. He sets goals for personal improvement.
13. He splits meals with me at restaurants.
14. He cuddles with me while watching movies.
15. He eats ice cream with me.
16. He loves his parents.
17. He admires his siblings.
18. He understands my need to talk.
19. He reads his scriptures.
20. He helps me with all my computer issues.
21. He doesn't get too mad when I complain about all of my computer issues:)
22. He works hard every day.
23. He does the things that I ask him to.
24. He reserves time for me so we can have "porch time" at night.
25. He doesn't mind when I talk until 2 am.
26. He worries about providing for our children so I don't have to.
27. He lets me buy what I need...and sometimes want.
28. He is a great example for our boys.
29. He has the greatest singing voice.
30. He tells me he loves me every day!
Happy Birthday, Baby!
1. He is my best friend.
2. He makes me laugh.
3. He reads the comics with me every Sunday night.
4. He comes home from work and picks up whoever is crying (and sometimes it's me:).
5. He devotes Saturdays (when I don't give him extra chores) to the kids.
6. He loves my easy Manicotti.
7. He doesn't mind that some weeks we have frozen pizza multiple times a week.
8. He reads children's books to the kids with lots of different voices.
9. He fulfills his Scout calling.
10. He likes to be with my family.
11. He doesn't mind that I haven't lost that last 20 pounds:)
12. He sets goals for personal improvement.
13. He splits meals with me at restaurants.
14. He cuddles with me while watching movies.
15. He eats ice cream with me.
16. He loves his parents.
17. He admires his siblings.
18. He understands my need to talk.
19. He reads his scriptures.
20. He helps me with all my computer issues.
21. He doesn't get too mad when I complain about all of my computer issues:)
22. He works hard every day.
23. He does the things that I ask him to.
24. He reserves time for me so we can have "porch time" at night.
25. He doesn't mind when I talk until 2 am.
26. He worries about providing for our children so I don't have to.
27. He lets me buy what I need...and sometimes want.
28. He is a great example for our boys.
29. He has the greatest singing voice.
30. He tells me he loves me every day!
Happy Birthday, Baby!
Friday, September 5, 2008
Discussions at the lunch table...
I am afraid that this will become a homeschool blog, and I apologize if that offends anyone. It's just that my life is now tied up in this, I love it, and am amazed at what my children learn. Just know that I am NOT trying to convince anyone to do this and I am NOT condemning anyone for putting their kids in school. That was completely my plan up until 2 months ago:) I simply want to share the blessings that are coming from this with my friends...thanks for listening...uh, reading:)
Today we sat down for lunch and had a discussion about war. It started when I was talking to Levi about what a President does and how is he elected (we were looking at the picture of McCain in the newspaper). My kids don't understand that much about war, so we were talking about killing the bad guys and protecting children. Levi immediately said he wanted to go to war NOW because he would learn how to shoot a gun. He's such a boy:)
But I was amazed at the things that he understood and it led to a great discussion about his Great-Grandma Hazel who served in the army who just passed away. This is why I love homeschooling...you look for opportunities to teach, because if they don't get it from you, they aren't going to get it at all. So I am less likely to just ignore complicated questions or discussions (as I may have done before) and I just jump right in and we learn together. I am finding JOY in teaching my children and I am learning all kinds of things myself. How cool is that:)
Today we sat down for lunch and had a discussion about war. It started when I was talking to Levi about what a President does and how is he elected (we were looking at the picture of McCain in the newspaper). My kids don't understand that much about war, so we were talking about killing the bad guys and protecting children. Levi immediately said he wanted to go to war NOW because he would learn how to shoot a gun. He's such a boy:)
But I was amazed at the things that he understood and it led to a great discussion about his Great-Grandma Hazel who served in the army who just passed away. This is why I love homeschooling...you look for opportunities to teach, because if they don't get it from you, they aren't going to get it at all. So I am less likely to just ignore complicated questions or discussions (as I may have done before) and I just jump right in and we learn together. I am finding JOY in teaching my children and I am learning all kinds of things myself. How cool is that:)
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