Sweet Sleepin' Ella

All three of our E's have always been great sleepers. We realize how blessed we are with the twins sleeping through the night and taking two great naps a day. However, since Mrs. Ella Cinderella learned how to pull herself up in her crib, she had much rather play than sleep. There are now many days when she lays in her crib during nap time playing with her blankie, sleep positioner, and pacifier before she finally tires herself out. This is how I found her after one of those mornings where she wanted to play instead of sleep.

Not wanting to sleep...wanting to play

September 4th, 2008

I took this picture after Elijah FINALLY feel asleep...sitting up...with his head on the bumper pads...facing his sister...who he very much wanted to play with. This came after lots of pulling up and crying trying to get to Ella in the next bed. It started out cute, but quickly grew old when he wouldn't sleep :-). He would either pull up and look over at her or crawl over to the side, and push the bumper pads down so that he could see her, then reach through the sides, crying trying to get to her. Oh my sweet babies!

Baby Jail!

In my Good-bye/Hello post you read that it was time to remove the bumper pads and

raise the rails...we removed the front pad and raised the rail. I feel like the twins are in baby jail...I think they feel that way too!

A couple of evening catnaps

The babies are doing great at their 9 and 1 o'clock naps in their cribs. They also usually take a short 15-20 catnap in the evening around 4:30 or 5:00. They usually fall asleep where ever they are. Here are a couple of pictures from one day last week.

Naptime...aaarrrggghhh

Keep the comments and prayers coming!!! Okay, now it's afternoon nap time. Man, I'm struggling with this, the crying just drives me nuts! I am so on edge and thus can't get anything done. Two projects started today, but none accomplished. So much for Tackle it Tuesdays!

This morning after their "nap" it was almost time to feed them so we played a little bit and then I fixed bottles and they ate. After that I put them in their swings so that I could tackle laundry, and wouldn't you know it....THEY FEEL RIGHT SLEEP ...AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!

Now they are finally quiet and guess what?! It's time to get ready for Evan's ballgame. Then Clay has one, which we won't be attending but that means another night without him. And sometimes I just need my motivating rock around after days like today!!

Well, they're not quiet anymore...there goes Ella, oh, Elijah too!!!

Double Dudy Nap Nemesis

I should use my time wisely by cleaning up the house, but something about blogging calms me, whereas, cleaning the house doesn't.

Anyway... Okay, technically, it's nap time for my darling 4 month old E's; however, what does that mean?

Well, it means lot of screaming, more screaming, a quick catnap, more screaming, another quick catnap, more screaming...well you get the picture...with the occasional head rubbing and "shhhh-ing" from Mommy.

I guess I shouldn't complain too much, (but I will) since they have both been sleeping through the night since they were right around 3 months old. We put them down for bed every night around 8:00 and they generally sleep until 7:00 or so. Ella was sleeping much longer than that but we've started waking her up to tackle this schedule issue.

If you know me, you know that I tend to be a stickler when it comes to a schedule for Evan. When he was little we never missed nap time and I watched the clock to be exactly on it. We had scheduled time to eat, snack, watch tv, etc., it just worked for us. Even now, he has a pretty strict bedtime (with the occasional late night fun times or baseball games).

Well, the new E's have been a little different...it's something about two that really makes the t-shirt true..."Double the Trouble." Which I hate to hear, btw! When they were early newborns, the advice was always the same, "Sleep when they sleep" Well, try and tell two babies who are totally different that they have to both go to sleep at the same time. Yeah, my point exactly! They NEVER slept at the same time during the day.

I know it's totally my fault for not being stronger in the beginning and believe me I am totally paying for that now. In the past, after I fed them, I would usually put them in their swing or seat so that way I could have a minute to shower, do some housework, etc., so during that time if they stayed awake fine and if they feel asleep, well even better because that meant a few extra minutes for me. One baby napping quietly in a seat for always nice, but if ever two napped in their seats, oh boy, those moments were like gold!! So for that very reason, I was always happy for them to nap in their seats. All that has since changed and if only I could turn back time...I'd find a way... (okay enough with Cher) but seriously it's true.

I have all the books, The Happiest Baby on the Block, The Baby Whisper, BabyWise, Double Dudy, Twins, but when do I have time to read a 200 page book cover to cover and then implement it? I've tried speed reading and scanning them, but that doesn't work. I wish (okay, if I could do that this wouldn't be an issue) but anyway, that a pro could come show me how it's done. "Super Nanny, we need your help" Isn't that what everyone screams on the show?!

I am desperately in need of a day time schedule for naps, we do okay for feedings but boy are naps, well... HELL!!!!!!!! It doesn't help that I'm home all day alone either. I'm hoping that this summer I'll be able to solicit some help so that I can at least get some things done around the house. I've never been more overwhelmed with clutter and stuff in my life.

I'm guessing it's just going to take a week or so of them getting used to being in their cribs and staying there until nap time is over. Eventually, the will realize that diaper change, sleep sacks on then rocking (only long enough to hear, Rock a Bye Baby ONCE) upstairs means time to lay in the crib for a nap, but until then naptime will be hell!

Sorry, for the ranting, but I needed to vent. I'm in serious need of encouragement and motivation, so let me know if you have any advice. I'll be checking posts like crazy, hoping to get some. I guess I'll go tackle the house...Since today is "Tackle it Tuesday."