The next installment of The Noelle Bedtime Chronicles

After the crayon incident at work last Tuesday I decided it was time to get tough about nap/bedtime. (Side Note: We have actually been trying to get Noelle to stay in bed at night since about February or March when she originally went to a toddler bed. We have yet to succeed with it for more than a 2 week period. For instance when I put her in the bottom bed of the bunk bed a little while back she did fabulous, for 2 weeks. Right after I blogged about it she quit staying in bed and behaving at sleeping time. I don't know what it is about the 2 week time span, but that's always what she gives us.) So last Tuesday, the 3rd, we starting putting her back in bed every time she gets out and turning her body if she kicks the wall. It has taken 35 to 90 mins every night since for her to fall asleep. And I say fall asleep because as long as her eyes are open she is defying us in some way, whether getting out of bed to spin in circles (seems to be her favorite one), kicking the wall, or trying to open or close the door (that we are most likely standing right by). When she finally gives in she is asleep instantly. We are leaving the kids with their Uncle Derrick next Monday night and I am so afraid that she won't go to bed for him. I do know that we can not afford to break the routine of putting her right back in bed every time she gets out. I am really hopeful that she gets better before then. Normally I would just not go out in the evening until she was staying in bed, but this is Justin's company Christmas party that I have been looking forward to for months and there is no way we are missing it. I have to say that I am So So Thankful that I have a husband to share this bedtime battle with. We take turns putting the kids to bed so whoever does her bed routine is who deals with her till she falls asleep (including if she wakes during the night and when she gets up in the morning if it is a weekend). I really don't think I could handle this if I had to do it alone every night or if Justin were not supportive. But it is still so frustrating!! I swear the kid lays there thinking of new ways to irritate me. I wrote a while back that she has to wear onsies to bed, well now she has to wear them backwards so the snaps are out of her reach. Anyone want to take bets on how long it takes her to figure out how to unsnap them?

And then there is Adam. He tells me today that he wants to go spend 2 or 3 days at Grandma and Grandpa's house. Sounded like a good idea to me, when can I drop him off!! Then he offers up that he wants to do it so he doesn't have to listen to mommy and daddy AND so he doesn't have to eat his fruits and veggies first!! I was seriously dumbstruck. I think I actually needed to push my jaw back up. Is this how he really feels about us? I take this to mean he thinks we either talk to much or he just doesn't like what we say and we torture him with fruits and veggies. We did of course shattered his hopes by telling him that his rules are the same no matter where he is. I think this one will keep me laughing for a while. I remember him telling me another really funny sentence right before his 3rd birthday. His words were, "I finished my oatmeal before you beat me." I promise we do NOT beat the kid when he doesn't eat, contrary to what he wants you to believe.

I am hoping to post a few more decoration pics soon, so don't forget to check back!