our nights

Sunday evening, we took the plunge. Keatin handed over her pacifiers to Baby Jack...and we have only wanted to turn back about 20 times. :) :)

Bedtime on Sunday...

Keatin asked for her "fires" as soon as we got out of the bathtub...reminded her we had given them to Jack...and lots of crying. We rocked as usual and read about 20 more books than usual...Daddy had to come in and read with us (which never happens)...we needed to kiss Crimson 5 times...and "on more kiss" from Daddy about 5 times. Eventually, I put in her in her crib crying...and Josh and I were going to give her 10-15 minutes. (By this point, it is probably close to 9...and she usually goes to bed at 8.) Roughly 3 minutes later...we hear the bedroom door open...she was mad enough and motivated enough...and she learned to crawl out of her crib. Josh was trying to stifle laughs, I was in shock, and Keatin just stood there in the hallway...I think surprised what she had just did. So, back into the bedroom we went...danced and rocked a bit...put her back in her crib crying...out she came a few minutes later again. I think Josh and I thought our lives as we knew them were over. :) Josh took her back in this time, laid her in her crib, and rubbed her back until she fell asleep...probably around 9:45 pm.

All night, I was restless...just waiting to hear her cry...but nothing until 5:30 am when Josh kicked me in the leg and said Keatin was out walking in the hallway. AAAHHHH! Found her in the kitchen and said it was still "na-night" time (although obviously the sun was coming up by this point). Put her in her crib and rubbed her back...she laid there, flopped around, and said Jack's name several times...but never fell back asleep.

Bedtime on Monday...

At school on Monday (my last day), I tell everyone about my evening...and Chris (my principal, who has been telling me for months we can have their toddler bed) says she will bring it over to Ames Monday night. I agree - knowing we obviously are going to need it sooner than later, given Keatin can now scale her crib. She comes with her 3 girls...we plop the toddler bed into the driveway...and Keatin is instantly in love. And get this - she has Elmo bedding on the bed...could it get any more perfect??? :) :) So - we take the rocking chair out of Keatin's room, and put the toddler bed in - 2 beds in one room. We take our bath - Keatin is cranky and tired from disturbed sleep. She again wants us both in the bedroom to read books and give hugs/kisses. She points to the Elmo/big girl bed...so we lay in there. I sit next to her and rub her back for 10 minutes or so. She is laying quietly, no tears...and maybe only asked for the pacifier one time...so this is an improvement over last night. However, I just don't really want to have to rub her back until she falls asleep every night. So - I give her kisses, tell her big girls stay in their bed, and leave. She doesn't cry...but I am sure you all know, a few minutes later she is in the hallway. I quietly grab her hand, and lead her back to bed...she dives right in and cuddles with her blanket. I am determined to lead her back to bed as many times as it takes...Josh thinks it begins to get a bit ridiculous (and maybe it was too many changes in 2 nights...but I am happy she likes the toddler bed). He takes her in, puts her in her crib (still no crying), and just sits next to it where she can see him...and falls asleep within 20 minutes. All is quiet until 4 am...when she obviously has gotten out of her crib again, and is standing in our doorway crying. I take her back in and she wants to Elmo bed - I lay next to her and rub her back...she falls back to sleep within 10-15 minutes...and sleeps in there until 6 am...when she is up for good.

Aaahhh... I don't feel like a complete failure. She has slept good stretches both nights...and I think I knew before we even took the pacifiers away, getting her to bed and keeping her in bed in the morning would be the hardest part. But, last night was WAY less crying and only asked for them one time. But, we are both kind of zombies this morning...and I have already had one dose of Tylenol for my headache. :) God bless having 2 parents at this house...I couldn't do this alone, and totally would have caved the first night. :)

Anyways, we have started the journey...and I secretly hope she doesn't loathe Jack forever. :) (Which I don't think she will...she can't get enough of him when we are around.)