Thank you 34 months for giving us a break. Andrew has mellowed a bit from last month. I think getting Andrew back on his regular schedule combined with effective discipline helped Andrew to manage his behavior much more successfully this month. I am so relieved. Thank you everyone for your valuable advice. It helped so much to have a couple of more tricks in my bag to help manage his behavior in a really positive way.
But life is funny (not ha-ha funny, but funny) as Owen is now soundly sleeping through the night, Andrew is now having a hard time going to bed. Andrew's least favorite activity is going to bed. Even after several stories at night and some good snuggle time before lights out he does not want to go to bed. He's talking a lot about spiders and monsters so I think he's scared to go to bed. I'm not sure where the fear is coming from, whether its the movies he's watching or if he's having bad dreams. Eric and I are committed to getting our bedroom back so we will be going though the crying with Andrew again. We will also be upgrading his nightlight.
Andrew is talking a lot! Here are some of thing things he's saying:
"Your name is Leslie?"
"Your name is Eric?"
"What's going to happen?!?!!"
"It's going to crash!!"
"I'm going to Disneyland"
"Oh, I spilled!"
"I need to check my email"
"Owen went pukey-pukey!!!
Yes, he speaks in exclamation points.
He can have conversations now too.
Andrew really loves riding his tricycle. If it not raining, we'll go for a spin around the neighborhood a couple of times a week.
We're still working on potty training. He's successful about once a week. If he goes in the potty, he gets a jelly-bean. If he goes a couple of days in a row, he gets Emily. I predicting potty training success around June.
34 months is better than 33 months, but we are ready for the next challenge!
4 comments:
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led night light looks pretty cool
http://www.costco.com/Browse/ProductSet.aspx?Prodid=11226449&search=night%20light&Mo=1&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&Sp=S&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=night%20light&Ntt=night%20light&No=0&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Nty=1&topnav=&s=1
These are Oliver's alien buddies. Especially beloved because they are portable.
As you know, Oliver has never been half the sleeper Andrew is. Regardless, most children have some sleep disturbance as they develop. This is especially true between 3 and 4, when they begin to imagine abstract fantasy worlds. It goes hand in hand with the imaginary play, and interest in books with more complicated plot lines, as well as ironic humor.
You will probably also notice a shift in his Thomas play, the trains will begin to interact in more complex ways.
We have night-night music, and he gets to press play on his own little stereo, which is helpful.
Night lights, stories, and reassurance help, but ultimately time and patience, as will as bottomless cups of coffee are important.
Also, on days they nap, a slightly later bed time, so they fall asleep faster, (Oliver works himself up if he has too much time alone) can help-or as days get longer, those tricycle outings may be helpful. Of course there is the tricky balance between tired and overtired....ah the joys of parenting.
Speaking of growth-I am growing increasingly envious of your photo talents. A second career awaits!
Sending you restful thoughts,
Rachel
these boys have the cutest expressions on their faces - great photos!
Now you know why people say their prayers at night. I'd go for an original other than ..if I should die before....although a lot of us "survived" that one. Love, Ma
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