I've recently be whining about sleep issues around our house lately so here is an update. For Emma, about 2 weeks ago we let her really cry it out, like for 1 hour and 20 minutes. Michael had to do it while I was out of the house because her cry can really get to me (don't worry he checked on her repeatedly). After that whole time she still didn't fall asleep by herself --you'd think all that crying and fussing would be exhausting. But I guess, it just took that for her to know we were serious about this learn-how-to-put-yourself-to-sleep thing, because later that week she was starting to fall asleep on her own for a nap here and there without much trouble or crying. And now for a few days she has put herself to sleep just about every time. I don't even have to get her into a super full of food, so near sleep she can hardly stand it state before I lay her down. (You should have seen the crazy rock-bounce-shake-pat-shoosh-dance I used to have to do to get her to sleep.) Now I just fill her tummy and then let her wear herself out playing and rolling around and she's goes right to sleep without tears! I'm so relieved to have her sleep trained!! (if you can call it training?) Or maybe she trained us by giving us a 'I'm tired but not over-tired' signal. When she's tired she either starts to talk and almost sing a lot or she makes a sound like a Wookie from Star Wars. It makes us laugh but it works! She makes those sounds and she's ready for sleep.
Now training subject #2: Riley potty training. This is a pretty big deal because this is the one milestone/skill/event that I've been fearing the most since I became a parent. Yes, this has been dreaded for almost 3 years (when we found our she was girl and Michael informed me it would be my job to potty train her). She had shown almost no interest in using the toilet, except when her friends come over they would announce it was potty time and Riley would say she had to go too--yeah right. I could hardly get her near the potty without a fight, so I was sure this training thing would be a power struggle nightmare which is the last thing I wanted to go through with my very independent, wonderful Riley. I had been putting it off until "she was interested/ready," but I decided to just get it over with as we are looking at getting Riley into preschool in the fall and she has to learn before then. Michael was on spring break so when we got home from our vacation we decided to go for it. I'd been picking the brains of fellow moms who recently have trained and got all sorts of good advice and my awesome neighbor loaned me a book,
Toilet Training in Less than a Day.
Sound too good to be true? That's what I thought until I starting reading and laughing my way through this guide written in the 1970's and full of random illustrations. One shows a picture of a toddler in diapers with an X over the diapers "Goodbye, diapers," another of a mom giving her child a diploma at the end or handing her child a treat or drink--thanks I needed the picture, I just couldn't envision that by myself. But you have to start somewhere and less than a day sounded pretty good. My mom has been giving her big girl underwear for Valentine's Day, etc and we starting making a big deal about her friends that could use the potty and while we were on vacation she showed interested in wearing big girl underwear--could she finally be ready and interested?
So it only took 1.5 fits/tantrums and 1 semi-accident at the very start and then she got it! I could not believe it--the method in the book actually worked in less than a day! After pushing every juice, chocolate milk and special drink and treat I could come up with to make her need to go, she held it for like 2 hours and then she finally relaxed enough to figure it out. Part of the method is to give treats as a reward for each step as they learn, so I was all over that, but I started to get worried when after 1 1/2 hours she said, "I don't need any more treats!!" Is this my child talking? Of course the next day when they are not supposed to need treats any more she asked for treats but oh well! She has only had 2 more semi-accidents since and managed to not make any messes on carpet or furniture or bedding so I'm so proud of her. After dreading it for so long I couldn't believe that the worst was over after only 3-4 hours of intense potty training. I hope it sticks! Now I just have to figure out her schedule and how to fit in walks (long & far enough to be considered exercise) and other errands. The only downside is that it effects her sleeping schedule. She's back to waking up early in the morning and early from nap because she wants to try to use the potty even though we put her in a diaper to sleep--but she has managed to stay dry while she's slept lately--so we'll just have to adjust.
HOORAY for Riley and Emma!!!!
Sorry to go on and on--I know that got a little long and I don't want to seem like I'm bragging but I don't keep a journal so this is as close as I get to documenting all the blessings and crazy details that happen in our lives.
These eggs were blown out and put on sticks to make it easy for a toddler to decorate with watercolors. Not the most springy colors, but she did it all by herself.
This is the first time I've ever let her paint at home and she did great and had a blast. Well, I guess it is all over her face and some on her shirt--but it all washed off.
