Monday, July 27, 2009

My Big Little Boy


As some of you may know, Ryan has decided to crank up his charm lately and not sleep through the night. About 2 months ago he realized he could climb out of his crib and refused to stay in it. We first realized this when I woke up one morning and the fridge door was open, the ketchup, soy sauce and an open Yoplait were sitting in the middle of the floor. He started waking up around 4am and just didn't want to sleep anymore. He would come in my room, I would take him back. He would come in again, I would change his diaper and take him back. He would come in AGAIN, I would get him a drink or food, some Benedryl and take him back. By the time this process was done it was 5:30 and he wasn't going to go back to sleep. We would both end up falling asleep to Baby Einstein around 6:45am. MISERABLE! I was trouble shooting everything from teething to hunger trying to figure out why he wouldn't sleep through the night. I tried being nice and rocking him to sleep, reading him a story, singing songs. When that didn't work, I was a little mean and "painted his back porch red" a few times. Nothing worked. The kid is as stubborn as can be--seriously--Scott and I have never seen anything like him before. Right as I was about ready to throw in the towel, declare I was never having anymore children, and was going to camp out on his floor just to keep him in line, we had a break through. Actually Grandma Judy came to our rescue. She told us how my little brother David used to constantly climb out of bed and they could never keep him in his room. Finally they tied his door closed (there wasn't a lock on it so they just tied it from the outside to the bathroom door across the hall.) She said it was rough for the first little while--they would find him asleep on the floor by the bottom of his door--having cried himself to sleep. Sooo, we started locking Ryan in his room. I put the monitor in there, locked the door after he fell asleep and let fate happen. We would find him playing with his toys at 6 am (probably had been awake for hours but at least he wasn't wandering the house by himself in the middle of the night). Then 3 nights ago I go to check on him before we went to bed and he was nowhere to be found. Not in his crib, not playing with his toys--NOWHERE! I FREAKED out for about 5 seconds, ready to check the window to see if someone had broke in and then Scott starts laughing. He had opened the sliding closet doors and there was Ryan, fast asleep on the floor INSIDE HIS CLOSET. The next day I took his crib apart and turned it into a toddler bed. What was the point of a crib when he wouldn't use it. "Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles" he sleeps through the night now. Apparently he just couldn't get back in after climbing out and that's why he would stay awake. Now he hops right in bed, goes to sleep and I don't hear a peep until 6:45am--even then he is totally content playing with his toys until Scott checks on him before heading to work. (we keep the door locked still just in case).

Moral of the story, when dealing with a STUBBORN boy who won't stay in his crib, do the exact opposite of what logically should work. Take away the crib and suddenly he wants to sleep. AHHHH!

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Summer Days...

My cousin just had a new baby and was writing about all "those" adventures. Her positive, grateful nature reminded me of a favorite quote. It is something I have always struggled with and am happy for the gentle nudges I get in this direction.

“The biggest mistake I made [as a parent] is the one that most of us make. … I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of [my three children] sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages six, four, and one. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in such a hurry to get on to the next thing: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Playing Catch Up!

We have had a few REALLY busy weeks so I'll summarize my favorite way...
1. Went to Beaver, UT for 4th of July.

2. Camped with friends for the weekend & LOVED it!
3. Tried to keep Ryan from eating anything wilderness related--he did manage to lick the grill of our friend's car. Don't ask me why he does this, we have no idea!
4. Ate, played games, went golfing, fished, made smores and lots of memories (Jason was stung by his first bee--he refuses to watch the "B" movie ever again and now refers to bees as "naughty guys"!
5. Scott went back to Kingman and the boys and I drove to Idaho to see my brother BJ get home from his mission last Wednesday.

6. Hugged & cried at the airport--he looks 2 inches taller and even skinnier (not possible right?)
7. Ate TONS of good food, went boating, swimming, shopping, even hit up Snow Shack (can't believe they don't have those in Vegas and AZ...what's the deal people?)

8. Visited Grammy Jean & Big Papa (Scott's parents)
9. Had an open house for BJ Saturday night--chatted with people I haven't seen in years--again, more good treats!
10. Played the piano so Missy could sing in church Sunday. BJ gave a great report. Ate the traditional mashed potatoes, gravy & roast beef for dinner & then drove to Provo w/Dave to crash at his place on our way back to AZ.
11. Kid-proofed Dave's apt in lightening speed--my kids make fast work out of destroying people's homes. Ryan's new & well deserved nickname is STEALTH. Gotta love that mental picture!
12. Visited Auntie Wendy & the new house Monday morning on our way out of town. The lady has a walk in refrigerater in the basement--oh how I COVET!!! Drove the rest of the way home & love having a bigger car to travel in, don't know how people make long trips without a dvd player, Ipod and chicken nuggets!
13. Gave Scott big hugs when we arrived (house was totally clean, laundry done, dishes put away :)I was so very impressed. Sooo happy to be in my own house again where I don't have to constantly chase Ryan around making sure he isn't licking the wrong thing, chewing up valuables, pounding on the baby grand etc. He keeps me on my toes!
14. Just really grateful for friends, family and all our great blessings lately. We have it pretty good.
15. Well done BJ--can't wait to hang out some more!