P.S. Ava knows the letter 'R' - she was eating a pretzel in the car, took some strategic bites, then said "look Mommy! I made the letter 'R'!!! Sure enough, she made the letter 'R'!
Friday, February 24, 2012
Another day, another letter ;)
Tonight we just stopped at Freebirds for dinner, since we were running late and Daddy was still in town. The kids had a blast, just rockin' out to the really loud music. :)
P.S. Ava knows the letter 'R' - she was eating a pretzel in the car, took some strategic bites, then said "look Mommy! I made the letter 'R'!!! Sure enough, she made the letter 'R'!
P.S. Ava knows the letter 'R' - she was eating a pretzel in the car, took some strategic bites, then said "look Mommy! I made the letter 'R'!!! Sure enough, she made the letter 'R'!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Did I crack the code?!?
Could it be true? Did I really crack the code?
You know the saying "When the cat is away, the mouse will play"? Well, I changed it up a bit. It is now "When Daddy's away, Mommy will completely change the bedtime routine"!
Daddy had been in charge of Ava's bedtime routine (more like Ava in charge), and I was in charge of Alex's. Mine included nursing Alex downstairs around 8:00pm, then moving upstairs to listen to his white noise wave sounds in the dark, and placing him in his crib when he was pretty much falling asleep. Ava's routine included reading downstairs with Daddy, then heading upstairs around 8:30pm, where Ava would talk, sing, and come up with every excuse in the book of how to keep Daddy from leaving. Daddy would try, but often felt like taking the path of least resistance to keep Ava from getting too loud. So every night, around 10pm, I would go upstairs to find Daddy and Ava asleep, cuddling on the floor of her room (the only tactic that seemed to work to get Ava to sleep). I would then move Ava to her bed and wake up Daddy so he could go to sleep in our bed. Like clockwork, sometime between 1am and 3am Ava would get out of bed and come join me in the queen bed in Alex's room, where she would stay until 7am.
Last week, Daddy had to go out of town for 3 nights. So I took advantage of that time to redefine our bedtime routine, since ours was NOT working. With Daddy out of town, our routine was bound to be different anyway. So we started with changing our bedtime routine to start around 7pm. We went upstairs, Ava and Alex took a nice long bath, played in the water, brushed their teeth, put on their pyjamas, and then I would have Ava lay in her bed to read to her babies while I went to nurse Alex and put him in his bed. Alex was down by 8pm. I would then go back to Ava's room to read her a book, tuck her in, pat her back until she fell asleep. It was a little less of a struggle, but I was successful in getting her in bed by 8:45pm. Still, though, she would wake up between 1am - 3am to come climb in bed with me.
With this routine change, I also worked on "incentives" for keeping Ava in her room. I got her a bedside table for a lamp and her books, I ordered new bedding for her toddler bed that is more like adult beds (sheets, comforter), and got her a new lamp.
Ava loved these changes and was excited to show Daddy. After Daddy got back, we kept up the routine, with a slight tweaking to include Daddy. Daddy gets to read to Ava in bed while I put Alex down, but then she still wants me to read her a short story and do our "relaxation". We do a full body relaxation exercise to get her ready to sleep after reading, and it certainly has helped.
Ava wasn't resisting as much anymore, but still wanted to be patted until she fell asleep around 8:45pm. But, two days ago, God blessed me with a moment of genius! It was Monday afternoon and I had insisted Ava take a nap on time. Since Alex was being fussy due to a cold, Ava gave me a break and complied. She went to take a nap all by herself - walked upstairs, tucked herself in, and I found her sound asleep in her bed when I went to check on her. I wanted to reward her somehow. And then that moment came! A sleep reward chart!!!
While Ava napped, I designed a chart with a sleeping bunny picture, five boxes to place stickers, and reward examples (gift, playground, tricycle, ice cream) pictures. I hung it on the refrigerator and when she woke up I told her that she did such a great job that she got a sticker! She was way more excited than I expected, and proudly placed the sticker on the chart. I then explained to her that every time she did a great job going to sleep that she would get another sticker, and when she had 5 stickers she would get to pick her prize (a surprise, a trip to the park, a ride around the block on her tricycle, or ice cream).
When Daddy got home, she showed him her sticker. At bedtime, after our routine, it was about 8:10pm and I was getting ready to tuck her in and leave and I told her:
Mommy: Sweet dreams Ava! I love you! Are you going to go to sleep so you can get more stickers?
Ava: Yes!! I'm going to get stickers and then if I have five I get to go to the park!!!
Mommy: What color are you going to pick?
Ava: I'm going to get a green and a blue sticker!!
I have never seen her so excited to go to sleep in my life! I gave her a kiss, and much to my surprise she stayed put and quickly fell asleep. Sure she came into bed with me around 3:30am, but going to bed was already half the battle! The middle of the night waking could wait! I just wanted to have some time to hang out with Daddy, instead of having him fall asleep on Ava's floor every night. Besides, she was super excited in the morning about adding the stickers to her chart, and even shared with her teacher at school that she got stickers in the morning!!
Was it a fluke? Could this work after a day at school when we normally get home at 6:45pm? So Tuesday night we tried it again. Same routine and Ava was asleep in bed by 8:15pm. Again she was excited about the stickers - she said she wanted a pink and purple sticker. She happily went to sleep! No fights, no screaming, no stalling, just pleasant, calm, sleep!
Alex, poor guy, has a terrible cold, so he tossed and turned all night, unable to nurse properly, so I was constantly awake. I kept looking at the clock wondering when Ava would come in, but the 1am - 3am window came and went with no Ava. Around 3:30am I actually got up to go check on her, and sure enough she was sound asleep. Again, at 5am I checked on and there she was safe and sound, sleeping in her bed! She slept until 6:45am, and only woke because our neighbor's Corvette was making noise outside.
I could not believe it! Ava has hit every other milestone way ahead of schedule, but sleeping through the night was one that had eluded us for quite a long time! I could not have been more proud of her!! First thing when she woke up was wanting to go put more stickers on her reward chart. I was so excited for her, that I gave her 3 stickers - she did stay in bed, not stall, and sleep through the night after all. She knew she had made it to the five total stars, and couldn't wait to pick her prize!
What did she want? Ice cream!!!
So vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips it was! Yep, for breakfast! Sure it is not the typical breakfast of champions, but this was a HUGE milestone for us.
I can't say for sure yet, but I really think I might have broken the code. I have found a way to kindly, gently encourage good sleep habits, all while making Ava more confident that she can do it all by herself!
You know the saying "When the cat is away, the mouse will play"? Well, I changed it up a bit. It is now "When Daddy's away, Mommy will completely change the bedtime routine"!
Daddy had been in charge of Ava's bedtime routine (more like Ava in charge), and I was in charge of Alex's. Mine included nursing Alex downstairs around 8:00pm, then moving upstairs to listen to his white noise wave sounds in the dark, and placing him in his crib when he was pretty much falling asleep. Ava's routine included reading downstairs with Daddy, then heading upstairs around 8:30pm, where Ava would talk, sing, and come up with every excuse in the book of how to keep Daddy from leaving. Daddy would try, but often felt like taking the path of least resistance to keep Ava from getting too loud. So every night, around 10pm, I would go upstairs to find Daddy and Ava asleep, cuddling on the floor of her room (the only tactic that seemed to work to get Ava to sleep). I would then move Ava to her bed and wake up Daddy so he could go to sleep in our bed. Like clockwork, sometime between 1am and 3am Ava would get out of bed and come join me in the queen bed in Alex's room, where she would stay until 7am.
Last week, Daddy had to go out of town for 3 nights. So I took advantage of that time to redefine our bedtime routine, since ours was NOT working. With Daddy out of town, our routine was bound to be different anyway. So we started with changing our bedtime routine to start around 7pm. We went upstairs, Ava and Alex took a nice long bath, played in the water, brushed their teeth, put on their pyjamas, and then I would have Ava lay in her bed to read to her babies while I went to nurse Alex and put him in his bed. Alex was down by 8pm. I would then go back to Ava's room to read her a book, tuck her in, pat her back until she fell asleep. It was a little less of a struggle, but I was successful in getting her in bed by 8:45pm. Still, though, she would wake up between 1am - 3am to come climb in bed with me.
With this routine change, I also worked on "incentives" for keeping Ava in her room. I got her a bedside table for a lamp and her books, I ordered new bedding for her toddler bed that is more like adult beds (sheets, comforter), and got her a new lamp.
Ava loved these changes and was excited to show Daddy. After Daddy got back, we kept up the routine, with a slight tweaking to include Daddy. Daddy gets to read to Ava in bed while I put Alex down, but then she still wants me to read her a short story and do our "relaxation". We do a full body relaxation exercise to get her ready to sleep after reading, and it certainly has helped.
Ava wasn't resisting as much anymore, but still wanted to be patted until she fell asleep around 8:45pm. But, two days ago, God blessed me with a moment of genius! It was Monday afternoon and I had insisted Ava take a nap on time. Since Alex was being fussy due to a cold, Ava gave me a break and complied. She went to take a nap all by herself - walked upstairs, tucked herself in, and I found her sound asleep in her bed when I went to check on her. I wanted to reward her somehow. And then that moment came! A sleep reward chart!!!
While Ava napped, I designed a chart with a sleeping bunny picture, five boxes to place stickers, and reward examples (gift, playground, tricycle, ice cream) pictures. I hung it on the refrigerator and when she woke up I told her that she did such a great job that she got a sticker! She was way more excited than I expected, and proudly placed the sticker on the chart. I then explained to her that every time she did a great job going to sleep that she would get another sticker, and when she had 5 stickers she would get to pick her prize (a surprise, a trip to the park, a ride around the block on her tricycle, or ice cream).
When Daddy got home, she showed him her sticker. At bedtime, after our routine, it was about 8:10pm and I was getting ready to tuck her in and leave and I told her:
Mommy: Sweet dreams Ava! I love you! Are you going to go to sleep so you can get more stickers?
Ava: Yes!! I'm going to get stickers and then if I have five I get to go to the park!!!
Mommy: What color are you going to pick?
Ava: I'm going to get a green and a blue sticker!!
I have never seen her so excited to go to sleep in my life! I gave her a kiss, and much to my surprise she stayed put and quickly fell asleep. Sure she came into bed with me around 3:30am, but going to bed was already half the battle! The middle of the night waking could wait! I just wanted to have some time to hang out with Daddy, instead of having him fall asleep on Ava's floor every night. Besides, she was super excited in the morning about adding the stickers to her chart, and even shared with her teacher at school that she got stickers in the morning!!
Was it a fluke? Could this work after a day at school when we normally get home at 6:45pm? So Tuesday night we tried it again. Same routine and Ava was asleep in bed by 8:15pm. Again she was excited about the stickers - she said she wanted a pink and purple sticker. She happily went to sleep! No fights, no screaming, no stalling, just pleasant, calm, sleep!
Alex, poor guy, has a terrible cold, so he tossed and turned all night, unable to nurse properly, so I was constantly awake. I kept looking at the clock wondering when Ava would come in, but the 1am - 3am window came and went with no Ava. Around 3:30am I actually got up to go check on her, and sure enough she was sound asleep. Again, at 5am I checked on and there she was safe and sound, sleeping in her bed! She slept until 6:45am, and only woke because our neighbor's Corvette was making noise outside.
I could not believe it! Ava has hit every other milestone way ahead of schedule, but sleeping through the night was one that had eluded us for quite a long time! I could not have been more proud of her!! First thing when she woke up was wanting to go put more stickers on her reward chart. I was so excited for her, that I gave her 3 stickers - she did stay in bed, not stall, and sleep through the night after all. She knew she had made it to the five total stars, and couldn't wait to pick her prize!
What did she want? Ice cream!!!
So vanilla ice cream with chocolate chips it was! Yep, for breakfast! Sure it is not the typical breakfast of champions, but this was a HUGE milestone for us.
I can't say for sure yet, but I really think I might have broken the code. I have found a way to kindly, gently encourage good sleep habits, all while making Ava more confident that she can do it all by herself!
Friday, February 3, 2012
My little giggler!!
Alex's giggles are the best! They will brighten anyone's day. I personally cannot refrain from trying to make him laugh, even when I am trying to get him to go to sleep.
When he laughs, his eyes light up, he opens a big smile, giggles from his belly, and looks at you waiting for more reasons to laugh.
Couldn't help but post this little photo sequence and just one of many videos of him giggling at Ava. :)
When he laughs, his eyes light up, he opens a big smile, giggles from his belly, and looks at you waiting for more reasons to laugh.
Couldn't help but post this little photo sequence and just one of many videos of him giggling at Ava. :)
It doesn't take much, Ava can get Alex laughing in no time!
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Alex's adventures with food
We may have delayed starting solids with Alex due to so much teething around the 5 and 6 month mark, but that little guys has certainly caught up!
I quickly discovered that Alex did not really appreciate the flavor of store bought food. I tried different fruits, vegetables, and brands, but he did not like any of them! And forget just plain mashed up fruits, this little guy has a taste for gourmet foods, all mommy-made.
While in Brazil, Alex got hooked on biscoitos and enjoyed trying different fruits - in pieces, not mashed up. So when we got home we kept up the fruits (mainly banana and avocado) and I started making soups for him, which he LOVED! His favorite recipe includes beets, potatoes, mandioca, spinach, onion, garlic, olive oil, and a touch of salt. It makes this really beautiful red soup that he just eats up, and actually Ava has come to like it too! Another one we've tried is carrots, squash, potato, onion, and spinach. He and Ava also love adding mini pasta stars to their soups for some added texture, of course! He also loves black bean soup, blueberry cobbler (made with rice cereal and fresh blueberries), banana assada (baked bananas with a touch of cinnamon), and yogurt (blueberry and peach being his favorites - and have the added bonus of soothing his swollen teething gums).
All this wonderfully healthy food is making his cheeks and thighs even more deliciously chubby, and make me so grateful to be able to make these for him!
I quickly discovered that Alex did not really appreciate the flavor of store bought food. I tried different fruits, vegetables, and brands, but he did not like any of them! And forget just plain mashed up fruits, this little guy has a taste for gourmet foods, all mommy-made.
While in Brazil, Alex got hooked on biscoitos and enjoyed trying different fruits - in pieces, not mashed up. So when we got home we kept up the fruits (mainly banana and avocado) and I started making soups for him, which he LOVED! His favorite recipe includes beets, potatoes, mandioca, spinach, onion, garlic, olive oil, and a touch of salt. It makes this really beautiful red soup that he just eats up, and actually Ava has come to like it too! Another one we've tried is carrots, squash, potato, onion, and spinach. He and Ava also love adding mini pasta stars to their soups for some added texture, of course! He also loves black bean soup, blueberry cobbler (made with rice cereal and fresh blueberries), banana assada (baked bananas with a touch of cinnamon), and yogurt (blueberry and peach being his favorites - and have the added bonus of soothing his swollen teething gums).
All this wonderfully healthy food is making his cheeks and thighs even more deliciously chubby, and make me so grateful to be able to make these for him!
mmmm....avocado!
bean soup!
My little teething machine!!
Alex is teething like crazy!! He got his first tooth at 5 months, and just keeps popping them out. When we went to Brazil he had 3 teeth, two on bottom and one on top. Then after two weeks in Brazil and A LOT of drooling, he came back with 6!! His 7th tooth popped out around Christmas, and now this little guy seems to be working on a molar!!
He, of course, handles most of it in stride, just hanging in there, drooling, and using my shoulder as a teething toy. Still, he is a sweet as ever ;)
He, of course, handles most of it in stride, just hanging in there, drooling, and using my shoulder as a teething toy. Still, he is a sweet as ever ;)
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