Made Me Laugh

Okay, before I show you this I feel I should mention that we've never really been a co-sleeping family (not that I have anything against it, you know, it's just that well, I don't know, for some reason once they were out of the newborn infant stage our kids never got the memo that what they're supposed to do in the bed with mom and dad is SLEEP).  I feel so lucky that instead they know how to sleep in their own beds, but when I hear friends talk about co-sleeping I know we've missed out on some seriously awesome snuggles.  (I hope I haven't just jinxed our whole system.  You hear that Universe?  We are good here, thanks.)

Anyway, a friend posted this image the other day:

And I immediately started laughing, mostly because of the woman's white tank top, because just that very morning Waylon had made a rare but delicious "let's wake up slowly" appearance in my bed (meaning I carried him there, since he still sleeps in a crib) to snuggle before breakfast, and the light streaming in through the window was SO AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL that I could not resist reaching for my phone on the nightstand to try to capture the moment.  Oh, and I happened to be wearing a white tank top.  I knew that it was one of those moments better preserved in the mind, but I couldn't help trying.  Not surprisingly, the resulting photographs do not begin to describe the light that was hitting his face, the wall, just everything.  So here's my "reality", at least on one snuggly morning, bedhead and all.  Just know that in my head and my heart it felt like the "perception" shot.  That's what matters, right?

More Quiet Time

I've got all these posts rolling around in my head that I need to get on the computer.  Instead, I think I'll just keep taking pictures of June falling asleep during her quiet time for fun. 

She's been such a champ at this, putting on costumes and dance shows by herself in her room, doing puzzles, diapering babies, making paper crowns, and playing dollhouse or Legos.  I've been trying to keep the girls separated during quiet time to give them some down time and independent play skills.  Soon, I'm sure June will realize it's objectively unfair that Georgia's got free reign of the house and yard while she's limited to their bedroom, but for now I think this is best since June still has a propensity to conk out for a short snooze if given the opportunity.





 





Another day, another crown.



WAKE UP, SISTER!
 

 ...and then she gets to go to bed for the night at 7:45 and wake up 11-12 hours later.  Raise your hand if you want to trade lives with June!  

Enter the "Cribed"

[This week's non-blogging excuse?  Lack of computer.  But now I have a brand new machine!  Lightening fast!  Expect tons of delicious bloggy goodness in February.]

Joe and I are not ones to rush our children out of their crib-sleeping ways.  Put differently, I love containment, and we've gotten lucky in that the girls were not escape artists.  But with June approaching three and a half, and needing to sleep in a big girl bed by the time we go on vacation (hopefully sometime later this year), I guess it was time to make the switch.  

At June's request, she took her first nap in a bed out at her grandparents' house on New Year's Eve.  She then started napping in Georgia's (queen) bed every day at home.  About a week later, we removed one of the sides from June's crib to turn it into a bed (close enough!), dubbed it the "cri-bed", and she hasn't looked back.

Well, that's not entirely true.  Just last night she got spooked from watching the first 30 minutes of Ratatouille in celebration of Joe's birthday and begged us to put the fourth side of her crib back on. : ( (We didn't.)   

By the way, our neighbors were the ones who put us on to the idea that even if your crib doesn't have a toddler bed conversion kit, it is still perfectly stable with only three sides.  But you didn't hear it here.  I mean, I'm not suggesting anyone else do this, so don't call me if your three-sided crib collapses on your poor child.

I ripped that crib side off like a band aid, because I didn't want to think about it too much.  Obvious signs that my babies are growing up are hard for my heart to take sometimes.  Great, I'm tearing up now, thanks.



As much as I love the containment factor of cribs, though, this new world in which Georgia and June watch their clocks until they see a "7" and then quietly tiptoe up to our room and climb into our bed for a few minutes before the breakfast begging begins is pretty awesome.

 

Quiet Time

Without fail, just as soon as I think that naps have finally become a thing of the past for her, she falls asleep again.  This time with the light on and the door open so I could sneak in.


{Don't rouse the monkeys!}

There is quite possibly nothing I love more than the sight of sleeping children.  Their faces soften.  When in deep sleep, the girls often sweat.  June's cheeks become rosy, and her hair curls into a mess of ringlets.  I wish I could catch them in this state more often, but whenever I do, I soak it in, trying to permanently sear the image into my memory.   

The girls have been playing "moving" lately (for no apparent reason - we're not going anywhere), so I guess Georgia must've tired herself out from the move.  Here, let's take a look at what she packed.  She made the bed, moved the stool, and laid out all her bags and belongings just so.


{Practical footwear did not make the trip.}

Most days she plays independently during quiet time, sometimes under the duress of boredom, but that's okay. Eventually she comes up with something to do, like creating this list she made on Monday.


Translation: 1. Book (read a book), 2. Pool (swim in kiddie pool), 3. Play in home, 4. Van time (play in parked minivan), 5. Wash van, 6. Play spies, 7. Play Mom (pretend to be me and generally boss her younger sister around), 8. Play trip, 9. Play rescuers, 10. Go Aunt (pretend that they are going to Aunt Beth's house, with me playing the role of Aunt Beth).

It's Thursday, and we're still ticking these off.  I think I need some more quiet time myself.   

The Yo-Yo

Dear Waylon,

Would it kill you to take a nap longer than 40-60 minutes, tops? Up, down, up, down all day long makes it hard to get jack done around here. How about consolidating sleep so you don't need four naps a day, mmmmmkay? Just consider it is all I'm saying.

Love,
Mama

Why I Sometimes Wish We Were a Co-Sleeping Family

Because all three children are asleep. 
And I am not.
Doesn't that seem unfair? 

I don't know...maybe that's not what they mean by "co-sleeping", though.