Bedtime

As I sit in the rocking chair, pretending to be asleep so my 14 month old will stop pacing the crib, playing with binkies, doing the downward facing dog and just go to sleep, I think, "how did I get here AGAIN?!" I knew my daughter's situation - I nursed her. She fell asleep on me. So I "ferberized" her and things were "good" for a while. And then we went to Australia for 2 1/2 weeks, sleeping as a family on a mattress at my friends house. It was so fun...until we came home, and the "family sleep" situation lasted for another year!!! She of course eventually moved to her new room in preparation for baby brother, and sleeps in her big-girl bed (though likes someone to lay with her when she's falling asleep). But moved on none the less.

With my little guy, he's been SOOO good sleeping. Since he was born, I'd nurse him, swaddle him, lay him in his bassinet and he'd lay there peacefully and fall asleep, probably by the time my daughter and I brushed teeth. It was heaven. It was just out of pure necessity - I had to put my daughter to bed and most nights I was home alone with them.

Now, after baby boy turned 1, still doing well with bedtime...we go away to Cape May for a long Memorial Day weekend. I wonder how he'll do in the pack-n-play. Well, he was wonderful still. I fed him his bottle, rocked a little with a song, just like home, and he laid in his playpen bed awake, and cuddled his giraffe blankie and fell asleep. I now think the ocean air had something to do with this. Because we get home and probably within 2 nights, he's impossible.

Now he's also started walking - a few steps and more steady balancing, climbing...breaking away. So he's now also getting a little 'needy' - reverting a bit as he reaches further out. Absolutely normal.

So as I sit in the chair, pretending to be asleep, with one eye slightly open so I can see the antics, I also think, "This too shall pass." And how lucky am I to view his twinkling toes as he enjoys the feel of the sheets under his legs, pressing the binky exploring how flexible it is, rolling around with his giraffe blankie....pure JOY!