I have slept better the past two nights than I have in at least 8 months. Monday night Declan slept from 8:30 - 1am, and 2:15am - 8am (with periodic crying but no getting out of bed for me) and last night he did 8 - 11:30, and 12:15 - 7:30am (again with periodic crying, but I don't really know how much or how long because it was never long enough for me to fully wake up and get out of bed to pat him back down.) I'm seriously a new woman. And I'm not sure if the boys are having a contest to be "the best kid in the world" or if it's that I'm so much more well rested. Probably both. Declan cut his second tooth so I think he's in a better mood because the teething pain has subsided.
So with my marriage to Javier I acquired two tables - a dining room table and a humongus coffee table. At the end of the day when we're all at our wits ends, the boys and I crawl around on the dining room floor under the table, chasing each other in circles. It's the best because Declan laughs so hard that he gets out of breath, he loves trying to keep up with us and guess where we'll pop up next shouting "boo!". The coffee table was my nemesis for the longest time because it's just so huge that it didn't fit in with the living room that I wanted to create... but two years later I will confess that it is the best table ever for little kids. It's the perfect height for Declan to pull himself up on, and since it's so large it's perfect for cruising. For Jack it's the perfect height for puzzles, coloring, and his latest passion, cars, trains and buses. We go in circles around the table with what ever vehicle we have shouting "vrooom!" or "chugga chugga choo choo!". I used to be excited to get rid of the table, but now I think it will be sad when it goes. Maybe.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Zen Moments
Today was just one of those wonderful days. It started with waking up at 8 am. SAY IT WITH ME: 8 AM!!! Hooray! Last night we official began "Ferberizing" Declan - essentially letting him figure out how to fall asleep on his own (with crying) - but oh so necessary because the night before he was in bed with us, awake every 2 hours. So he fell asleep last night at 8:30 with only two minutes of crying, he woke up at 1 am, crying on and off for about an hour. When his crying tone changed, I did give him Tylenol and a bottle (poor baby is teething) and he slept again from about 2:30 til 8. Again: Hooray! Tonight Declan fell asleep by 8, again, going to sleep on his own.
And another wonderful thing happened: last night was the first night that Declan was calm while I diapered and dressed him after his bath. Usually he's squirming and screaming, but last night he was cheerful and calm throughout the whole process. I wondered if this day would ever come, or if bedtime would always be a struggle. It felt great. Tonight at bedtime was almost as wonderful (just a big of squirming and whining as I put him in his sleep sack) and again, he went right to bed on his own. Still sleeping 1 hour and 15 minutes later. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.
Both boys were darlings today. I'm sure the fact that I was able to sleep 5 hours in a row helped, but really, these boys are awesome. We played trains on our rediculously huge coffee table, which I used to despise but it's the best coffee table ever for puzzles, trains, coloring, and learning to walk, so I'm learning to love the table. I love that Jack is getting into trains - he can go around a table over and over pushing his train (or car or truck or bus of whatever with wheels.)
I had such a wonderful moment today when both boys went down for their afternoon naps and I was able to putter around the house and prepare a nice dinner. In the afternoon Sophie MacMillan came over to play with Jack - he just loves Sophie and that makes me so happy. When he saw her he pulled away from my arms and held his arms up to her - and when she put him down he just hug her legs. I love that he loves her - makes me thrilled for our future babysitting prospects! Irene came over with Conner and Jake for our playdate, which basically consisted of Jake sleeping, Declan crawling around with his paci, Jack and Conner playing independently, and Irene and I gossiping and trying to figure out feeding and sleep schedules.
Then tonight, after bathing both boys together, which is hilarious, and putting both boys down, which was surprisingly easy and calm, Javier and I were able to enjoy the dinner I made this afternoon - short ribs and tagliatelle - so yummy. I feel like we're moving out of the tricky infant stage and into a manageable, routine stage which is awesome. Happy days.
One last thing - yesterday I took the boys to get their pictures taken with Santa - Jack freaked. So I'm in the picture holding Jack while Declan sits on Santa's lap. Lesson learned: next year I should shower and look presentable for Santa Day in case I need to get in the picture, or I just throw crying kids in Santa's lap and take the first shot, crying kids and all. I kind of wish I threw Jack into Santa's lap, but it's all good. I'll always have the memory of Jack sitting on my lap, Santa's arm around me, while I laughed and tried to keep Jack from sticking his finger in his ear.
And another wonderful thing happened: last night was the first night that Declan was calm while I diapered and dressed him after his bath. Usually he's squirming and screaming, but last night he was cheerful and calm throughout the whole process. I wondered if this day would ever come, or if bedtime would always be a struggle. It felt great. Tonight at bedtime was almost as wonderful (just a big of squirming and whining as I put him in his sleep sack) and again, he went right to bed on his own. Still sleeping 1 hour and 15 minutes later. Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous.
Both boys were darlings today. I'm sure the fact that I was able to sleep 5 hours in a row helped, but really, these boys are awesome. We played trains on our rediculously huge coffee table, which I used to despise but it's the best coffee table ever for puzzles, trains, coloring, and learning to walk, so I'm learning to love the table. I love that Jack is getting into trains - he can go around a table over and over pushing his train (or car or truck or bus of whatever with wheels.)
I had such a wonderful moment today when both boys went down for their afternoon naps and I was able to putter around the house and prepare a nice dinner. In the afternoon Sophie MacMillan came over to play with Jack - he just loves Sophie and that makes me so happy. When he saw her he pulled away from my arms and held his arms up to her - and when she put him down he just hug her legs. I love that he loves her - makes me thrilled for our future babysitting prospects! Irene came over with Conner and Jake for our playdate, which basically consisted of Jake sleeping, Declan crawling around with his paci, Jack and Conner playing independently, and Irene and I gossiping and trying to figure out feeding and sleep schedules.
Then tonight, after bathing both boys together, which is hilarious, and putting both boys down, which was surprisingly easy and calm, Javier and I were able to enjoy the dinner I made this afternoon - short ribs and tagliatelle - so yummy. I feel like we're moving out of the tricky infant stage and into a manageable, routine stage which is awesome. Happy days.
One last thing - yesterday I took the boys to get their pictures taken with Santa - Jack freaked. So I'm in the picture holding Jack while Declan sits on Santa's lap. Lesson learned: next year I should shower and look presentable for Santa Day in case I need to get in the picture, or I just throw crying kids in Santa's lap and take the first shot, crying kids and all. I kind of wish I threw Jack into Santa's lap, but it's all good. I'll always have the memory of Jack sitting on my lap, Santa's arm around me, while I laughed and tried to keep Jack from sticking his finger in his ear.
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