We Have Arrived

For over a year now I have had two little ones and the nighttime routine has been an exhausting one.  Even though Jax has been an easy sleeper since 6 months old, for a very long time Miles was not.  Then even after Miles started falling asleep on his own, both boys would run around like little maniacs before going to bed.  What is it about that time of day that brings out the crazy in kids?  Trying to get them both to bed at the same time took lots of energy, and patience.  When both of us were home, Jasper and I took a man to man approach with each person taking a child.  Well since October I have been on my own for many more nights and by the time they are asleep it is all I can do to just collapse on the bed for a good hour to recover from the day.  Then of course there was the fact that Miles was waking up several times a night and Jax was waking up at 5am every day.  Have I mentioned I haven't been getting much sleep these last few months?  What got me through this tough time of sleep deprivation was 1) my kids are still ridiculously cute, even in the early hours of the morning, and 2) I knew that at some point this phase of parenting would end.  Well I can confidentially say that time as come.    Miles has been sleeping through the night, without so much as a peep overnight, for over a week!  For weeks he has teased me with a night here or there of sleep only to go back to his pattern of waking up the next night.  This week long period though really feels like it is here to stay and I feel like a new person.  Also Jax, thanks to his big boy bed, now sleeps until 6:30-7:30.  It has been AMAZING. 

On top of our awesome new sleeping patterns, I can say that the boys and I have really found our groove in our bedtime routine.  Sure they still may run around a little while we get ready for baths, but Jax is old enough now to really listen to me and Miles, well he just wants to follow his big brother around.  I have been reading stories to them both at night in Jax's bed and tonight was the sweetest night yet.  Miles sat in my lap and Jax leaned against me with his head on my arm as I read book after book.  Jax and I took turns "reading" as he has many of the books memorized and can recite them to me as I turn the pages.  Then when we were down Jax leaned over to give Miles a big hug and kiss.  I took Miles off to his room to sing him his song and he happily laid down in his crib and gave me the biggest grin while saying "bye bye."  Then I went back into Jax's room to sing him songs and lay in bed with him for a moment.  I love that special time with him.  When he looks me in the eyes as I sing his favorite songs.  First "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," then "I See the Moon" following by "Jesus Loves Me."  I thought we were done at that point and told Jax good night.  He kept saying "monkey bird, monkey bird" and I couldn't figure out what song he was asking for.  Then I realized he was saying "mockingbird" which is "Hush Little Baby."  So I laid next to him lightly stroking his back singing "Hush Little Baby" as he closed his eyes, just like my mom did for me when I was little. 

Some moments with these boys just take my breathe away, tonight was one of them. 

When the Cat's Away...

When the cat's away ...Miles will play!

Miles loves Jax, Jax loves his red hat, therefore Miles loves Jax's red hat!  So almost every day that Jax goes to preschool is a day that Miles likes to run around the house in Jax's beloved red hat.  We have tried getting other ball caps from Miles to wear, but they just don't compare.  I think my parents are going to need to go back to a Red's game soon because we might need another hat!