Sleep Issues Again

I can't believe that I am, yet again, writing about sleep.  Over all,  the twins are great sleepers.  They go to bed on the later side, but it works for them.  They sleep through the night and I can usually get them to sleep til around 7am with a bed time of 8pm.  Not ideal, but it works!  That being said, there is then the issue of Michael.  I swear he is a teenager in a toddler's body.  He has no desire to go to bed before 9pm.  It is a struggle just to get him to settle down and rest at night.  He then likes to sleep in late in the morning and does not liek to be woken up til he is ready.  I totally realize that this is probably mine and my husband's fault.  With one child, we took him everywhere with us.  He never really had a schedule.  Once we had the twins, we needed to have a schedule to survive, not realizing that even a loose schedule is really helpful.  Now that Michael is 2 1/2 on his way to 3, trying to get him on a schedule and get him to sleep on his own can absolutely try my patience.  I know that part of the problem is my working til 7:30.  My husband is good, but he waits for me to come home to get them into bed.  I think that the schedule that has worked for us in the past has been for the twins to go to bed at 7:30 (any earlier and we found that they didn't sleep as late in the morning, meaning like 5 am wake ups) and then for Michael to go to bed around 8:30.  I know this is much later than most people put their kids to bed, but it really does work for us.  The problem becomes when the twins go to bed closer to 8:30 then Michael's time gets pushed later and he gets a second wind.  My goal is to get the twins in bed right when I get home or even before I get home, and then get Michael back on his schedule.  Unfortunately, I think we are at the point where we may need to CIO again.  This morning, Michael started crying at 5:10am,  I actually started to get up and my husband and I agreed to let him cry for a little bit.  He ended up falling back to sleep and I had to wake him at 8:30 so we could get to our EI group.  I am probably the reason for his sleep regression, since I hate to let him CIO.  I have even made the mistake of letting him come to my bed to sleep.  I start off doing really good and then I back slide.  I need to be much better at keeping myself in check and not giving in!  As long as all of his needs are met he will be fine sleeping in his room, in his bed!

This post seems a little crazy as I look back over it, but I think that is partly because that is how I am feeling with this whole sleep thing.  We just need to get back on track and we should be fine!

Amy

Spare Time and Teaching Kids About Giving to Others

Not that I have much time, if any, but I really want to start making things to donate.  I am hoping that if I get myself in the habit of donating things more than just my old clothes, as the kids get older, it will become something that they also do.  When the twins were born early, granted it was only five weeks, the hospital had little fleece blankets that the babies were swaddled in and we got to take the blankets home.  The twins still use their blankets, though now they use them as blankets to sleep with not as blankets for warmth.  These blankets mean so much to me and they are just simple fleece material with a simple edging.

Recently, I bought a book with different projects and different potential agencies to donate them to.  I have a few other books like that and have gone on line to find projects to create and donate.  Recently a facebook friend posted pictures of some crocheted prayer shawls that she made.  She talked about how these types of shawls gave her niece comfort when she was dying.  Her nieces mother responded how that shawl is now providing her comfort now that her daughter has passed on.  After reading that, it made me want to donate my projects even more.  With the holidays fast approaching, and my goal of making certain gifts, I don't think that I'll get to start projects to donate til after the holidays are over, but I will start and I will make this a tradition that I will pass on to the kids.

There are so many different agencies out there that can use donations and I know that I for one can't afford to give money, but I have enough crafting supplies that I can make things and donate them.  As much as I know hat agencies need money, I like the idea of donating something that can be directly used.  I know that my kids are way too young to understand what donating things to others means, but again, if I get myself in the habit of making things and donating them, maybe once they are old enough, it will be a tradition that is built into our family, not one that needs to be built into our family.

If there is anyone that is interested in joining in, either by creating and donating to a charity of your choice or by sending me a project to donate, please join in!

Amy

Getting Ready for Santa

Christmas is fast approaching and I am getting really excited this year.  I think the kiddos are getting to an age where they may get it a little, at least more than last year.  Te twins will be almost 2 and Michael will be close to 3.  I really want to take the kids to do different Christmas type activities this year.  My husband mentioned taking them to the Stone Zoo for Zoo Lights.  My husband and I used to go and see them all the time before they moved to the zoo.  this year we want to introduce the kids to them.  I would also love to take them to see the lighting of the Christmas tree in Boston, or at least take a walk through the Boston Commons and the Public Gardens to look at the lights.  This is something I used to do as a kid and would love to pass that tradition on to my kids.  There is the tree lighting in our town, but I don't know if I'll get to go since I will most likely be working.

I can't wait to start playing Christmas songs and read Christmas books to my kids.  I really want to get int he spirit this year and really look forward to sharing this with my kids.

Amy

Food

So my kids aren't the greatest eaters and their weights truly reflect this.  At one of the doctors visits I recently had, I think my visit (my pcp is the kids' pcp) we talked about getting in more veggies.  My pcp suggested "Deceptively Delicious" by Jessica Seinfeld.  I had heard of the book, but never really paid much attention to it.  So far I think I have made 2 recipes from the book, so I can't truly review it, but the pancake recipe with pumpkin puree and the meatloaf recipe with carrots, onions, and celery were the bigg hit with my kids so far.  Unfortunately these are the only recipes I've made, but I am certainly going to try more.  My husband said that more than half the meatloaf is gone and that is not from them throwing it on the floor.  I can't tell you how excited I am that my kids ate so well.  The other big food item lately is hot dogs.  I've been making freaky franks from weelicious.com.  I really like the website for good healthy foods for kids.  I bought some beets today to try out the beet cookies.  I have a friend that really liked them, so now it is my turn to try them!

Hopefully I can get my kids to eat moer food by finding more recipes that they like and figuring out how to make it for me and my husband also!

Amy

Way Back When-esday: Our First Baby

Our first baby (an american eskimo dog) turned 8 last month.  We have had him since he was about 4 months old.  A dog added to 3 little ones so close in age is crazy, but he's such a sweet dog.  We named him Takoda which means everyone's friend in Sioux and his name totally fits him.  He is a great dog with the kids and other people.  He gets excited but once he meets you and gets used to you (very quick), he loves you!

Takoda 8 years old 10/21/2010

Makes My Monday: Halloween

So, this year, we were actually able to go out and trick or treat around the neighborhood (all 5 of us).  It was a blast.  I was a little stressed right up til we went out, but everything ended up perfect.  I made 3 of the 5 costumes, yes even mom and dad dressed up, and was sewing right up til the last minute.  I was so stressed that I was thinking I was not going to be sewing again for quite some time.  Once everything was done and all costumes were on,  I was so psyched with how everyone looked, that I decided I loved to sew and will not be putting it off (in fact I am going to partake in an apron swap, my first sewing swap!).  All 3 kids started off slow, not really sure what they should be doing, but soon after, they were running up to the door to get their goods!  By the time we went to visit family and friends outside the neighborhood, we had been out for almost 2 1/2 hours.  The kids were exhausted and ready for their last milk of the night and then off to bed!

Here are some pictures of our latest Halloween!

Michael

Eva Rose

Thomas (I made his costume)

Family photo (I made part of my costume, all of Tom's costume, and all of Thomas' costume)

Happy Halloween Everyone (a little late),

Amy

Way Back When-esday Halloween

With Halloween quickly approaching, I thought I'd post a picture of our first Halloween as a family of 3 with two more on the way.

Michael (almost 8 months) Halloween 2008

2 days after I was put on bed rest with the twins!

This year we will be trick or treating with all 3!

Amy