Sleep Training

In my opinion, figuring out how to get a baby to sleep is one of the hardest parts of motherhood!

Especially when they are so tiny. 

Sometimes they are a bit picky about it! 

"Mom, you want me in my rock 'n play? On my boppy? In my swing? No thanks!" 

Seriously, that's how it was with Maeva. 

The only place she wanted to sleep was on my chest or in our bed.

And that worked for a while, until it didn't...

Maeva is a squirmer and grunter in her sleep. 

So much so that all that wiggling and noise making, was keeping us awake! 

Not to mention that we had to be so careful getting in and out of bed as to not wake her.

Then, there was one night where she just kept on waking up every hour.

I was exhausted the next morning and so was she! 

I decided that something needed to change and I had seen this post on pinterest about getting a newborn to sleep through the night. 

It pretty much summes up babywise, which is what we did with Braden.

I needed a refresher, so I read it, and started doing it with little Maeva.

First thing first was moving her out of our bed. 

This was something we'd decided before I read that post. 

One night she just wasn't sleeping so we put her in a different room.

She fell asleep right away and slept amazingly well. 

I felt refreshed and she was much happier!

The article mentions that in order for a baby to sleep well, their tummies need to be full.

Its so true... if Maeva eats well, then she sleeps well! 

I make sure she is awake every 3-4 hours to eat (during the day) and at night, before we go to bed, I wake her to eat. 

That last feeding is so important because yes, she is still sleepy, but she will eat, be full and then she'll go to sleep easier. 

Its also important that I not let her sleep all day or at night she'll want to be wide awake! 

This works well for us and well for her because we all get enough rest! 

Do you have any tips or tricks that help your baby sleep through the night?

Dear Braden

Do you know how much I love you? How much joy you bring to my life? 

Your hugs and kisses are the best. Your smile, your laugh, can brighten up the darkest of days.

All of those things, they really are the best.

Do you know how much you remind me of your daddy? 

Sometimes you look exactly like him and I just love that. 

You're a lot like him too. 

Determined to do what you want, when you want, regardless of what others say. 

It drives us crazy at times, but we know that when your older, it will be a good thing. Most of the time.

I hope your passionate like your daddy. Goal driven like your daddy.

Do you know that you make me think of myself when I was little? 

You like to look through books.

And have me read to you (even though you can't sit still for an entire book). 

Reading was always something I loved and still love to do. 

You like to color and paint.

Grandma would always give me a pencil and piece of paper when I was little and it made me happy!

You make the same faces as me too.
I love that we share that. 

Do you know that you're a child of God? 

He loves you more than you could ever know. More than we could ever know.

He's known about you since before you we're born. 

He knows about your whole life and He will always be with you.

Do you know how excited I am for you to meet your little sister? 

I may be scared about it all... but I know you'll love each other.

I know you'll be the best of friends. 

I just can't wait to watch you together. 

Do you know how loved you are? 

Loved with all my heart. All your daddy's heart. And so many more people love you. 

We'd do anything for you and we'll always be here for you. 

Always. Don't forget that baby.

Thankful for toddlerhood

"Being a parent is the hardest job you'll ever have." 

All of us parents have probably heard that a time or two. 

It is something that pops into my head on the hard days because I know its true. 

When the toddler is fussing, throwing fits, won't listen, ect... I know its true. 

It really is the hardest job. 

I figure it always will be. 

It's tough when they are an itty bitty newborn with the crying and being up all sorts of hours.
It's hard when they are a toddler because...
they desperately want to be independent and at times you have to fight them on that!
Its hard when they are a teenager, I am sure, because I remember how I was with my parents.
I imagine its hard when they are adult too.
You have to sit back and let them be adults.
You have to watch them make their own choices...
and at times probably wanting them to chose differently.
Or seeing them in hurt through out life because that's how life is sometimes.

Toddlerhood has been really hard lately. 

Most days are tough because Braden so desperately wants to do things his way, when he wants too! 

I mean I get it, because well, aren't we the same way? 

But he can't always have his way, because everything he wants isn't always what is best for him. 

I've found it easy to get caught up in the bad moments. 

I've found it easy to complain about his fussing or fit throwing. 

However, I don't like that... I don't like that some days all I do is complain about him or seem to some like I don't enjoy being his mama at all because I love him dearly. Being his mama is the best job. 

So today I'm telling myself to be thankful for motherhood, thankful for my toddler.

Because truthfully, in my heart, even in the bad moments, I am so thankful for him. 

I wouldn't have my life any other way.

I am thankful for a toddler who is growing big and strong. 

Its so fun to watch him enjoy new things...

like coloring and actually using the crayons instead of eating them,

Or cars, cars, cars. Always cars. 

I am thankful for a toddler who enjoys being outside. 

He'd be outside all day if we let him.
Its his favorite place and I love that.

I am thankful for a toddler who sleeps in most of the time.

Who plays in his room in the morning until he wants to come out.

Who is, more often than not, happy when he wakes. 

I am thankful for a toddler who likes to kiss and hug.

Who likes to wrestle with his daddy...

And cries when daddy stops because apparently it is just that much fun! 

I am thankful for a toddler who eats well.
Thankful that he asks for yogurt, bananas, strawberries, and apples. 

Okay... often it is oreos too. 

I'm thankful for a toddler who likes to read books and play with blocks. 

Thankful for a toddler who likes to play with his parents but also by himself. 

I'm thankful for a toddler who is getting better at listening! 

So thankful for that! =)

I'm thankful for a toddler who is most of the time a happy little guy.

Full of smiles and giggles. 

Who really is just the most adorable little boy I know. 

So much to be thankful for when it comes to him. 

He really is a great little boy!
Love my Braden! 

Be present

We were headed back home from errands and Braden fell asleep in his car-seat.
Considering I'm pregnant and was in need of the ladies room,
I didn't want to sit in the car, in the garage, like I normally would until he woke up.
So I got him out of the car-seat as gently as I could.
He snuggled on my shoulder, as I carried him to his crib. I didn't want to put him down.
I wanted to hold onto my sleeping toddler because he doesn't nap on me anymore.
I miss that... him sleeping on me, not wiggling, but just peacefully asleep.

In that moment I was convicted. Convicted to be more present in my child's life.
What things keep me from being present? The list is long... much longer than I want,
much longer than it should be. The computer, my kindle fire, my cell phone, the tv...
those are the things that often distract me from my son. Other things that distract me: A messy room, piles of laundry, being tired, the list of things I WANT to do. I know, though, that these
things aren't worth much. They are not worth ignoring my child. I don't purposely do it, but
I do it. I want that to change. It needs to change.

I saw a question the other day aimed towards mothers, towards parents.
The question was something like, "What would your child say is most important to you?"
I don't want my son saying that the computer or my cell phone is more important.
The internet - facebook, twitter, pinterest, email - can wait.
The dirty dishes, the piles of laundry, the crums on the floor - can wait too.
I know all of that will still be there!
I don't want my son to think those things are more important than he is.
Because they aren't, but I am sure that's what I am saying to him, when I put those things above playing with him, spending time with him.
As a stay-at-home mom, I feel like my job is just that, to be a mom.
To take care of him, play with him, read to him, spend time with him, love him, just be with him.
I want to do better at that.
So I'm trying to take a step back from the things that distract me.
Be on the computer, my phone, less. I'll fail, probably a lot, but I want to spend time where time needs to be, where time is the most important.
With my son.
I want to soak him up. I want to enjoy him.
All of him because there is so much to soak up and enjoy in toddlerhood.