Nightly Routines

I'm so sad that this is our last One Year and Beyond Link-up...but fingers crossed and we could do round two!

real life iPhone photo of Bug during naptime. yes, her nursery is a mess. it is what it is.

Today's toddler battle is all about bedtime. Bug's bedtime has changed over the past few months. We've gone from having a late bedtime, to an early bedtime, and then to a bedtime right in the middle. Why do we switch so much? To try and find what fits for Bug.

I originally wanted her bedtime to be around 7:30. But she didn't appreciate that, and I found that she would be up more throughout the night and she didn't have a restful night of sleep. It ended up being rougher on both of us, because I would be the one that was up and soothing her.

Then her bedtime seemed to center around 9:00. That was not going to fly for this mama. I had stuff to do and I needed to get some sleep too. So we battled with the 9:00 o'clock bedtime for a while.

Finally, we settled on an 8:00 o'clock bedtime. This seemed to sit well with both Bug and me. We start our bedtime routine at 7:00 and start off with a sink bath. She loves her sink baths and I let her play for as long as she would like, normally around 15-20 minutes. After that, we get our pajamas on and grab a blankie and paci. Then, we turn off all the lights and cuddle on the couch. At this time she brings me book after book to read or stuffed animal after stuffed animal to cuddle with. It's generally a quiet time that we just share together. When 8:00 o'clock comes around, I tell her it's time to go to bed and off she goes to her room. This is a new thing, but by her going to her room on her own, it shows me that she really is ready for bed and helps with the transition. Once we're in her room, we'll either rock and pray or I'll sway with her and pray. Then it's time for goodnight kisses and I lay her down in her crib and ask her to "dream big for Mommy." I think that's her favorite part because she always smiles, nods enthusiastically, and giggles. 

Bedtime really is such a sweet and special time. I personally love putting my little girl to bed, and I hope she wants me to tuck her in for as long as possible!

Now, we're trying to transition to her from her crib. Originally, we were going to go with a toddler bed and that seemed to be working out well. Then she got sick for a month and reverted back to her crib. Now whenever I attempt to put her in the toddler bed she freaks out. So we're thinking about switching game plans and moving her straight to a twin bed...I imagine our bedtime routine will change when we make that transition. Also, it'll change once little guy gets here. But, I'm hoping and the plan is to still set aside time for Bug and I to enjoy bedtime, just the two of us.

Like A Morning Cup of Coffee               The Not Quite Military Wife

From Here To Eternity               Words About Waverly

Pardon My French             Beautiful Family Affairs

My Delicious Adventure                  The Life Of Faith

Running From The Law             The Olive Tree 

         

May 8:          Taming the Temper Tantrums

May 15:        Weaning from Breastfeeding or From Formula to Cow’s Milk 

May 22:        Dealing with Mommy Guilt

May 29:        When People Share Their Opinions and How to Lovingly Handle it

June 5:         Traveling with your Toddler

June 12:       How to get your toddler to eat their veggies…or their food at all

June 19:       How to make time to blog in the busyness of motherhood

June 26:       Bedtime Battles (nap or bedtime)

An InLinkz Link-up

Toddler Battle Ground

Eating has become such a battlefield recently. Really, Bug is a great eater. She'll eat almost anything, depending on her mood. Our biggest battle is how she eats. She has become Miss Independent as of late and that goes double for eating times. She absolutely must feed herself. No matter what. Also, she wants to cut up her own food, or in another instance, she just wants to pick up the whole plate and bite off one by one what she's eating.

A couple nights ago, we made burgers. The hubs cut hers into bite size pieces and covered it in cheese for her to eat. Something she typically loves! Did she eat it? No. She pitched a fit and kept pointing at my plate. Now my plate had a whole burger (not cut up), a different type of cheese, and onions. She wanted to eat my food! And, well, as most mommys know, you pick and choose your battles. This was one that I was willing to let her win. It was late, she didn't nap well, I was tired, you know how it goes. So I traded plates with her. She decided to pick up that burger whole in both hands and just take bite after bite of it. She devoured almost the whole thing, including the onions! Silly girl.

So really, I don't have any tips. I go by what kind of mood my little girl is in. If she appears to want to eat, then we eat and we eat well, but we have to do it at her pace. And you know what? I'm okay with that.

Oh. One more thing. My daughter LOVES eggs. I think she could eat eggs for every meal...so if we're having problems, eggs and applesauce are a go to. In my mind, as long as she's eating and it's relatively good for her, then that is all that matters in the long run.

Like A Morning Cup of Coffee               The Not Quite Military Wife

From Here To Eternity               Words About Waverly

Pardon My French             Beautiful Family Affairs

My Delicious Adventure                  The Life Of Faith

Running From The Law             The Olive Tree 

         

May 8:          Taming the Temper Tantrums

May 15:        Weaning from Breastfeeding or From Formula to Cow’s Milk 

May 22:        Dealing with Mommy Guilt

May 29:        When People Share Their Opinions and How to Lovingly Handle it

June 5:         Traveling with your Toddler

June 12:       How to get your toddler to eat their veggies…or their food at all

June 19:       How to make time to blog in the busyness of motherhood

June 26:       Bedtime Battles (nap or bedtime)

An InLinkz Link-up

Oh the places you will go...

Traveling with a baby or toddler is in an art form in and of itself. It's not easy. You basically have to pack up the whole house and take it with you. At least that's what it felt like for us. 

Here are some quick tips that I have for when you have to take a trip with your little one:

• make a packing list - I searched on pinterest before taking our first road trip with Bug for list ideas. Our first trip long road trip with her was when she was 6 months old, not exactly a toddler, but it holds with the same ideas.
• travel by night - We typically travel by car whenever we go places and have yet to travel anywhere by plane. So for traveling by car, we love to travel at night. Why? No stops because the Bug sleeps through the whole trip. Of course this isn't the best on the hubs and me. I personally hate traveling by night, but for the Bug it works out great.
• plan multiple stops - If you do travel for the day plan for multiple stops. Our second trip out to Texas, I couldn't handle driving through the night again. So we decided to take the 14 hour trip during the day. This was hard on all of us, but with lots of stops, we were able to hold off any major tantrums. I recommend searching out parks or fun restaurants for your little one to run around at. My favorite stop we made was at the Mississippi bridge at sunset. Bug was able to get out and crawl around on the quilt I brought. It was such a wonderful time and I highly recommend finding parks for your kids to get out and run around in.
• start during nap time - We're going to the beach in a couple of weeks. This will be about a 4-5 hour drive without stops. In order for us to get the best start, we plan on leaving right before Bug's nap. So we'll eat, and then head out. Now her nap won't last the whole trip, so we'll have to stop and let her run around once she gets up, and then it'll be back in the car with Little Einsteins to distract her.
• don't be ashamed of resorting to electronics - Bug loves the iPad or iPhone. Her favorite shows to watch is Little Einsteins or Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I am not ashamed to tell you that we have let her watch multiple episodes of these shows. Happy mommy makes for a happy baby and a happy trip.

Waking up in Texas at 6 months old!

Like A Morning Cup of Coffee               The Not Quite Military Wife

From Here To Eternity               Words About Waverly

Pardon My French             Beautiful Family Affairs

My Delicious Adventure                  The Life Of Faith

Running From The Law             The Olive Tree 

         

May 8:          Taming the Temper Tantrums

May 15:        Weaning from Breastfeeding or From Formula to Cow’s Milk 

May 22:        Dealing with Mommy Guilt

May 29:        When People Share Their Opinions and How to Lovingly Handle it

June 5:         Traveling with your Toddler

June 12:       How to get your toddler to eat their veggies…or their food at all

June 19:       How to make time to blog in the busyness of motherhood

June 26:       Bedtime Battles (nap or bedtime)

An InLinkz Link-up

Opinions are like belly buttons

Isn't that how the saying goes? "Opinions are like belly buttons, everyone has them." 

And for some reason, people feel it is their duty to share their opinions with new moms, old moms, and pregnant ladies. Once that bump starts to show, it's as if it's the magic key to opening up the flood gates and letting those opinions flow.

A couple of my favorites:

• Don't put your hands above your head, it'll wrap the cord around the babies neck.
• (in response to an upset newborn) Have you tried feeding them?

There are plenty more that I've heard over the past year plus. They always come in the most random ways. In fact, I had someone share their opinions with me in line at Kroger today. The lady first applauded me for buckling my daughter into the grocery cart, apparently a grandma had let her grandson stand in the cart and he flipped out and landed on her head recently. Then she decided to give me some advice: have someone come play with baby while you nap or shower. Okay, that makes sense and isn't too harmful, so I just smiled and nodded and said that we already do that if I needed it. Then she goes to tell me about how she paid her son for his good grades instead of an allowance. Starting in first grade...Uh okay? I don't know how I feel about paying my kids to go to school, and if you do this then whatever works for you, but why are you sharing that with me? 

My go to response is just to smile and nod. And then forget the advice just given., baby brain is really good for forgetting things like that. People mean well, they truly do. Yes, the advice that they share isn't the best advice and doesn't really pertain to what you're going through, or the advice might just be ancient and old news, but in their ignorance they really do mean well. 

What are some opinions and advice that you've been given? 

Like A Morning Cup of Coffee               The Not Quite Military Wife

From Here To Eternity               Words About Waverly

Pardon My French             Beautiful Family Affairs

My Delicious Adventure                  The Life Of Faith

Running From The Law             The Olive Tree 

         

May 8:          Taming the Temper Tantrums

May 15:        Weaning from Breastfeeding or From Formula to Cow’s Milk 

May 22:        Dealing with Mommy Guilt

May 29:        When People Share Their Opinions and How to Lovingly Handle it

June 5:         Traveling with your Toddler

June 12:       How to get your toddler to eat their veggies…or their food at all

June 19:       How to make time to blog in the busyness of motherhood

June 26:       Bedtime Battles (nap or bedtime)

An InLinkz Link-up