Bedtime Battles

Emilia has been a real challenge when it comes to bedtime lately.  While Olivia, now 4 months old, is sleeping like a dream...her big sister is QUITE the contrast.  Suddenly, Emilia's transition to bedtime is NOT a peaceful event and it's leading to a battle of wills. 

Phase 1 - everything goes pretty smoothly...pjs on, teeth brushed, stories read, buns pat, hugs given, blanket put on the pillow, fresh water served, nightlights on, good nights said...but then, something goes wrong. 

Phase 2 - whining and crying about not liking her room, not liking purple walls, not liking the dark, not liking her bad, getting out of bed only to be put back in...lots more crying, screaming and sometimes, getting so upset that she's near vomiting.

Phase 3 - the girl is spent and so are we...everyone is tucked away in their beds...but wait...who is that whimpering while coming up the stairs and then standing and staring into our sleeping faces?  Oy yoy yoy.

Phase 4 - it's the middle of the night and we are DONE.  We lift Emilia up to our bed and let her sleep there the rest of the night in an effort to avoid going back to Phase 1 at 4 o'clock in the morning.

Something has GOT to give.  I keep trying to remind myself that this is a phase and one that will HOPEFULLY pass soon, but until then...we need to figure out a way to make this better.  We know that when it comes to changing a behavior, it's all about positive reinforcement.  We didn't come to this realization right away.  We tried taking away privileges and items that she values, but that wasn't working.  So we switched gears and made an incentive chart, a lot like the one we used for potty training.  When she fills a row with stickers, she gets a prize.  Fill another row, get another prize.  Fill the whole chart and it's movie night complete with popcorn and M&M's!  She earns stickers by going to bed without a fight and by staying in her bed all night.

We are HAPPY to report that the chart is FULL!!  Check out this accomplished smile :)  Good job, girlie!!

Snow much fun!!

We experienced our first snow storm of the season this weekend!  Although I don't love the LONG winters that come with living in Minnesota, I do love how excited Emilia gets when she sees that it's all fluffy and white outside.  And there's just nothing cuter than seeing her all bundled up in her new hat, mittens, coat, snow pants and boots. 

She was so excited to get out there and stomp around on all the fresh snow, fall backwards for a couple snow angels and help Daddy shovel snow off the deck.  Hopefully the excitement doesn't fade because we have A LOT of snowy days ahead... 

Drawing

While I was doing the dished tonight, Emilia asked for some paper and markers.  I got her what she requested and let her go to work.  Typically, Emilia's interest in coloring and drawing has been limited.  She comes home from daycare with one line drawn across a coloring page.  Her creations just haven't been very fridge worthy; her interest in taking the time to create something just wasn't there.  But, regardless, I would slap them up there with a magnet and talk to her about them. 

Well today, she surprised me.  She started drawing and as she drew, she was saying, "Here are the eyes and mouth and the arms and the legs and the feet...ooooo, a MONSTER!  Look, Mommy!"  Wouldn't you know it...she drew a monster!  I was so proud of her accomplishment...putting what was in her imagination to the paper.  Her interest and abilities in coloring are really improving and it's so fun to see.  Just one of the many skills that she will develop and that I will celebrate with her :)

Oooooo.  Scary monster.

6 Months Old!

My little Livvy Bug is already 1/2 a year old!!!!  She is just more to love every day,  At 6 months old, she is smiling a ton, delighting at her reflection in the mirror, making constant sounds...I really think she says mom...gobbling up her toes any chance she gets, rolling both ways and even sitting on her own for short periods of time.  She is slowly warming up to solid foods.  Surprisingly, my little chubby babe is not as excited as her sister was to goggle up the food we've offered her.  We have tried rice cereal, sweet potatos and Mum-Mums.  She LOVED feeding herself the Mum-Mums.

Mmmmm - MumMum!

She is just a joy to everyone she meets.  She shares smiles easily and squeels and kicks when excited.  And NO ONE makes her smile and squeel more than her big sister.  Any silly thing Emilia does gets a reaction out of Liv.  It is so sweet to watch her admiration for her big sis.

We had Olivia's 6 month check up today.  The doctor said she looks great and commented on what a chill baby she is.  Yep!  That's our Liv!  Developmentally, she is right on track.  Her weight hasn't jumped quite as much as her 97th percentile weight curve predicted it would, but the doctor said that they often hit a plateau at 6 months.  She thinks that once she gets better with solid foods, that will pick up again.

Weight = 17 lbs, 6 oz (80th percentile)