sleep expanded
I felt that I needed to give a bit more info to go with my earlier post.
At this time, Colby takes 2 naps still. His morning nap usually is 1-1.5 hrs and his afternoon nap is 2-3hrs.
Blake takes a 2-3 hrs nap in the early afternoon.
The reason we have been putting Colby down at 6:30 is because about 6:15 he starts falling on his face and can't walk anymore. He is exhausted from going and going and going.
We've tried playing with Blake's bedtime. We've had it 7pm, 7:15, 7:30, 7:45, 8 (over the last month or so) There is no time that is better than others. He either has a good night and goes right down, or we play the game for over an hour (I'd rather play the game from 7-8 than 8-9)
I know it is a phase for both of them. I know it is a matter of getting one to sleep and then the other will fall asleep. I know it will work out sooner or later. It's just tough while it's happening!
At this time, Colby takes 2 naps still. His morning nap usually is 1-1.5 hrs and his afternoon nap is 2-3hrs.
Blake takes a 2-3 hrs nap in the early afternoon.
The reason we have been putting Colby down at 6:30 is because about 6:15 he starts falling on his face and can't walk anymore. He is exhausted from going and going and going.
We've tried playing with Blake's bedtime. We've had it 7pm, 7:15, 7:30, 7:45, 8 (over the last month or so) There is no time that is better than others. He either has a good night and goes right down, or we play the game for over an hour (I'd rather play the game from 7-8 than 8-9)
I know it is a phase for both of them. I know it is a matter of getting one to sleep and then the other will fall asleep. I know it will work out sooner or later. It's just tough while it's happening!
sleep
The last few nights we have been struggling with getting the boys to sleep. Colby has been going down around 6:30pm (exhausted!), but has woken up right around the time we put Blake down 7:15pm. This makes life challenging as neither will fall asleep until the other is asleep... yeah hello catch 22!
We've tried ignoring them, we've tried letting them up and play, we've tried going in and out of their rooms, you name it... we've tried it. Last night Blake was tired and would lay down in his bed, and then Colby would begin fussing again and up Blake was in the hallway again. Blake actually fell asleep for about 20 minutes and Colby started fussing. I went to try to calm Colby down and thought I had... yeah no! Then guess what... Blake was up again too. Finally, Richard went in and got Colby to settle down (again) and I got Blake to go back to sleep again!
This was now 8:45pm... yes this was 1.5 hours after we put Blake down to begin with.
Ok who wants to let my sons in on the understanding that sleep is a good thing??
We've tried ignoring them, we've tried letting them up and play, we've tried going in and out of their rooms, you name it... we've tried it. Last night Blake was tired and would lay down in his bed, and then Colby would begin fussing again and up Blake was in the hallway again. Blake actually fell asleep for about 20 minutes and Colby started fussing. I went to try to calm Colby down and thought I had... yeah no! Then guess what... Blake was up again too. Finally, Richard went in and got Colby to settle down (again) and I got Blake to go back to sleep again!
This was now 8:45pm... yes this was 1.5 hours after we put Blake down to begin with.
Ok who wants to let my sons in on the understanding that sleep is a good thing??
I Heart Faces (reflections)
i ♥ faces' theme this week was reflections. I automatically thought of this picture of Colby. It was taken earlier this month. Colby was in the playroom watching Richard trim the bushes outside the playroom. I love the way the light is playing off his head and the fact that you see the whole back of his head and his whole face in the reflection
Want to play along?? Head over to i ♥ faces website and check out the great pictures!
random weekend thoughs
1. potty training is going... well it's going
2. sometimes you have to step back and realize that you can't control everything
3. Colby's now running... that was fast
4. it's sad when going to the dentist is a treat
5. Richard is working again today which makes it 13 days in a row... oh and yes he's working again tomorrow
6. Richard and I are going to a party today... now that is a treat
7. getting outside and doing something physical is great... I was pulling vines out of some of the bushes... my hands are killing me from it, but it helped my mood and well all of me
8. Colby LOVES to be outside... anytime you open the door he beelines it to get outside
9. potty training means lots of laundry
10. another week down... and next weekend is May... yeah I can't believe it either
done...
look I finish... so you suggested floral and polka dots... you got both
there are 2 new polls up too
there are 2 new polls up too
Menu planning
planned: (April 17-23)
F--??
S-- tacos
S--chicken bake (chicken, potatoes, peppers, onions, EVOO, and seasoning... mixed up and baked) we are having Easter with my family at my house I'm making that and a brownie bottom cheesecake
day 1--meatball subs
day 2-- ham steak
day 3-- chicken with apples and onions (leftover apples and onion w/ gravy from week 2)
day 4-- leftovers
actual:
Friday: fend for yourself (R- tuna, L-salad w/ couscous , B- chicken nuggets)
Sat.: tacos (B- taco meat, cheese)
Sun.: chicken w/ peppers, onions, potatoes; corn, green beans, rolls, salad, brownie bottom cheesecake, spice cake mix cookies (B- chicken)
Mon.: meatball subs w/salad [if you mash the meatballs up they heat up faster anddd they are easier to eat and don't fall out of the sub!] (B- meatballs, roll, cheese)
Tue.: chicken leftovers from Sun. (B- meatballs, banana, tortilla)
Wed.: grilled ham steak, mashed garlic potatoes, salad (B- ham)
Thurs.: chicken w/ apples and onioins (B- pancakes, banana)
Forecast: (April 24-30)
Friday: ??
Saturday: out (R and L are at a party)
Sunday: breakfast for dinner
day 1: American Chop Suey
day 2: bbq chicken
day 3: leftovers
day 4: ??
Things have been off as far as menus these last few weeks... I'm often feeding the boys way before Richard gets home and then feeding Richard and myself. So we are doing quick easy meals. Soon his work will settle down and we'll be back into real meals again (I hope!)
Radio
As a kindergarten teacher, I always had music playing in my room during the day. When the children were working or playing, I had children's music playing in the background. I did this for a few different reasons; one it actually helped with the volume of the classroom, two many of the songs were actually educational so they were subconsciously learning a second skill, and three well... I just like music. I think that music is something that is typically enjoyed by most if not all people. I tried to expose my students to a wide variety of musical genres during the year. I had/have a few children's musicians that I used more frequently, but I also played classical music, Disney music, holiday music and other types of music that I could find with a children's swing on things. I use these cds with my sons already... they are in the cd player in our playroom, and Blake already knows how to work it (power, play, fast forward, and stop)
Since we haven't had the tv on much, if at all, during the day, I usually have the radio on all day. We have a local radio station, Magic 107.7, that is kid friendly. Their tag is the "family friendly music zone". I usually put the radio on in the living room in the morning and it's on all day long. (ok I turn it off during nap times and sneak in a bit of tv time for myself, but hey I get a treat now and then too right?) We leave it on all the way through bed time. I often opt to leave it on while I'm working on my blog at night instead of trying to work on the computer and watch tv at the same time. At night I listen to the Delilah show, I love a good sappy love song. The stories often make me appreciate the love that I have in my home. I love to sit back and reflect on my sons, my husband and the love that they share with me. I love that I can think about my day and realize that even on the days I feel like pulling out my hair there is love and laughter in our house.
I wish that everyone could find the peace that music brings me. I only hope that my sons both grow up to appreciate a good song.
Since we haven't had the tv on much, if at all, during the day, I usually have the radio on all day. We have a local radio station, Magic 107.7, that is kid friendly. Their tag is the "family friendly music zone". I usually put the radio on in the living room in the morning and it's on all day long. (ok I turn it off during nap times and sneak in a bit of tv time for myself, but hey I get a treat now and then too right?) We leave it on all the way through bed time. I often opt to leave it on while I'm working on my blog at night instead of trying to work on the computer and watch tv at the same time. At night I listen to the Delilah show, I love a good sappy love song. The stories often make me appreciate the love that I have in my home. I love to sit back and reflect on my sons, my husband and the love that they share with me. I love that I can think about my day and realize that even on the days I feel like pulling out my hair there is love and laughter in our house.
I wish that everyone could find the peace that music brings me. I only hope that my sons both grow up to appreciate a good song.
Cake Mix cookies
This is the recipe for the cookies Blake is making in the wordless Wednesday pictures. In that picture we were making devil's food cake mix cookies with peanut butter chips that we frosted with vanilla frosting
I've posted this recipe at least twice on my blog, but since you asked... here is it! You can use pretty much any flavor cake mix and frosting. I've also added mix-ins (chocolate chips, nuts, peanut butter chips, etc...) and they've still turned out good.
Cake Mix Cookies
1 pkg cake mix
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 can of frosting
preheat over to 375
combine cake mix, oil, and eggs; stir with a spoon until thoroughly moistened
bake at 375 for 6-8 minutes or until edges are light golden brown
cool 1 min then remove from sheets
spread frosting over warm cookies
I've posted this recipe at least twice on my blog, but since you asked... here is it! You can use pretty much any flavor cake mix and frosting. I've also added mix-ins (chocolate chips, nuts, peanut butter chips, etc...) and they've still turned out good.
Cake Mix Cookies
1 pkg cake mix
1/3 cup oil
2 eggs
1 can of frosting
preheat over to 375
combine cake mix, oil, and eggs; stir with a spoon until thoroughly moistened
bake at 375 for 6-8 minutes or until edges are light golden brown
cool 1 min then remove from sheets
spread frosting over warm cookies
look...
I got my icons made for my weekly items (finally!)
I know some of you are doing these things on your blog too, so you are welcome tosteal use them if you'd like!
I know some of you are doing these things on your blog too, so you are welcome to
Speech update
I haven't posted on Blake's speech in a bit, so I figured I would. Blake is still working on learning more signs and seems to be doing well with picking them up. He has mastered a few of then and is beginning to use the independently, with Richard and I. He now knows and uses: 'more', 'milk', 'please', 'open', 'all done', 'sorry', 'baby', 'go', and 'cookie'. We are working on 'bathroom', 'music', 'water', 'banana', 'drink', and 'eat'.
We are working on the sounds /m/, /p/, /b/, /ee/ and /o/. The latest thing is to have Blake look at our mouth as we form the sounds correctly so he can see how it should look. Also, when we say /b/and /p/ we have him feel the air come out of his mouth. One thing that we are noticing is that he is saying a lot of the sounds with a nasal tone to it. This very well could be connected to the fact that he is tongue tied and his tongue is interfeering with the sounds ability to escape his mouth correctly.
At this time, we are strongly considering talking to an ENT to find out how complicated this would be to correct. How envasive is this procedure? How long is the recovery time? We feel that this needs to be done. We have come to the conclusion that it will help in so much in the long run to have it corrected soon. Richard is crazy busy right now at work, but it is high on the priority list after his work quiets down a bit. I'm also thinking about asking the speech therapist to look at Colby too to see if we should consider having Colby's tongue taken care of now too.
I just hope that getting it done will help him. I just hope it will provide him the jump he needs to correct his articulation issues. I just want to be able to clearly understand my little guy... for both of us!
We are working on the sounds /m/, /p/, /b/, /ee/ and /o/. The latest thing is to have Blake look at our mouth as we form the sounds correctly so he can see how it should look. Also, when we say /b/and /p/ we have him feel the air come out of his mouth. One thing that we are noticing is that he is saying a lot of the sounds with a nasal tone to it. This very well could be connected to the fact that he is tongue tied and his tongue is interfeering with the sounds ability to escape his mouth correctly.
At this time, we are strongly considering talking to an ENT to find out how complicated this would be to correct. How envasive is this procedure? How long is the recovery time? We feel that this needs to be done. We have come to the conclusion that it will help in so much in the long run to have it corrected soon. Richard is crazy busy right now at work, but it is high on the priority list after his work quiets down a bit. I'm also thinking about asking the speech therapist to look at Colby too to see if we should consider having Colby's tongue taken care of now too.
I just hope that getting it done will help him. I just hope it will provide him the jump he needs to correct his articulation issues. I just want to be able to clearly understand my little guy... for both of us!
blog layout
I'm beginning to think about the new layout for my blog for the next month. I just feel uninspired I guess. I'm coming to you my readers for suggestions. Any thoughts on colors, theme, whatever for the next month?
What would you like to see? When you think of my blog does something come to mind that I should incorporate in the new topper?
HELP!
What would you like to see? When you think of my blog does something come to mind that I should incorporate in the new topper?
HELP!
New adventure?
Well potty training 101 started today. I decided that it was time since Blake had begun to recognize when he had peed, or at least let on that he knew he needed to be changed. I have him in training pants, and we are taking many trips to the bathroom. But, we've yet to actually pee in the toilet. The first time he peed was over 2 hours after he woke, about 8 minutes after we'd tried. The the second time was about 40 minutes later. The last time was about 1hr 15 minutes later which was about 10 minutes before I was going to take him back to the bathroom. (Hmmm maybe I need to make a spreadsheet to track his bathroom trips?? I'll have to think about that.)
The last time Blake grabbed himself as he begun to pee... yeah for baby steps! I know he will figure it out, and as for now he seems to be enjoying this.
I know how excited you all are about this (hahaha) soooo I made a chart on my sidebar so you could keep up with thelaundry potty count.
The last time Blake grabbed himself as he begun to pee... yeah for baby steps! I know he will figure it out, and as for now he seems to be enjoying this.
I know how excited you all are about this (hahaha) soooo I made a chart on my sidebar so you could keep up with the
random weekend thoughs
1. I really need to make icons for my random weekend thoughts, Sat. slide show, Fri. videos, and menu planning... I just never think about it when I have the main computer on
2. Richard is at work again today and will be tomorrow too... so most likely he will work at least 12 days straight. At least he has job security!
3. We are having my family over to celebrate Easter tomorrow. I figure we always stretch Christmas out a week or two why not Easter too?
4. Blake went and had his hearing checked on Thursday and that was fine so that is eliminated as a cause of his speech problems... one thing off the check list!
5. The next step will probably be contacting an ENT to have a consultation on having his tongue tied taken care of to see if eliminating that issue helps his articulation
6. Colby is now a walker and is trying to run! Yes, my little guy is getting fast on his feet.
7. I love watching my boys grow up and learn new things. I also love seeing when they are proud of their new skills.
8. We are doing a great job on limiting the tv watching. I think the most we've had it on was two 30 minute shows one day (in two different time frames), and actually the one time he didn't ask for it be he should have been napping and we had to go get his hearing tested so I wanted something quiet for him to do.
9. I love seeing the love my guys have for each other. Both of them try to comfort the other when they are upset... it is very heart warming. It makes me realize that I'm doing something right!
10. It's funny how much life changes after kids... I sit here and look at my living room and there are toys everywhere, children's books spread out on the floor, and I don't care. I try to keep my home clean and rather neat, but I want it to feel lived in. I want my children to feel that they can be children and have fun and play. I want them to realize that messes are ok and can be picked up. I want them to see that it's ok to not be perfect as long as you are your best. I want them to be happy and healthy and loved!
If you didn't check out my slide show for this week... click here
Also there is a new poll on my sidebar for those who haven't voted yet!
2. Richard is at work again today and will be tomorrow too... so most likely he will work at least 12 days straight. At least he has job security!
3. We are having my family over to celebrate Easter tomorrow. I figure we always stretch Christmas out a week or two why not Easter too?
4. Blake went and had his hearing checked on Thursday and that was fine so that is eliminated as a cause of his speech problems... one thing off the check list!
5. The next step will probably be contacting an ENT to have a consultation on having his tongue tied taken care of to see if eliminating that issue helps his articulation
6. Colby is now a walker and is trying to run! Yes, my little guy is getting fast on his feet.
7. I love watching my boys grow up and learn new things. I also love seeing when they are proud of their new skills.
8. We are doing a great job on limiting the tv watching. I think the most we've had it on was two 30 minute shows one day (in two different time frames), and actually the one time he didn't ask for it be he should have been napping and we had to go get his hearing tested so I wanted something quiet for him to do.
9. I love seeing the love my guys have for each other. Both of them try to comfort the other when they are upset... it is very heart warming. It makes me realize that I'm doing something right!
10. It's funny how much life changes after kids... I sit here and look at my living room and there are toys everywhere, children's books spread out on the floor, and I don't care. I try to keep my home clean and rather neat, but I want it to feel lived in. I want my children to feel that they can be children and have fun and play. I want them to realize that messes are ok and can be picked up. I want them to see that it's ok to not be perfect as long as you are your best. I want them to be happy and healthy and loved!
If you didn't check out my slide show for this week... click here
Also there is a new poll on my sidebar for those who haven't voted yet!
Menu planning (week 9)
planned:
F--??
S-- tacos
S--chicken bake (chicken, potatoes, peppers, onions, EVOO, and seasoning... mixed up and baked) we are having Easter with my family at my house I'm making that and a brownie bottom cheesecake
day 1--meatball subs
day 2-- ham steak
day 3-- chicken with apples and onions (leftover apples and onion w/ gravy from week 2)
day 4-- leftovers
F--??
S-- tacos
S--chicken bake (chicken, potatoes, peppers, onions, EVOO, and seasoning... mixed up and baked) we are having Easter with my family at my house I'm making that and a brownie bottom cheesecake
day 1--meatball subs
day 2-- ham steak
day 3-- chicken with apples and onions (leftover apples and onion w/ gravy from week 2)
day 4-- leftovers
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