The child sized sleeping bag (like the baby style ones but bigger) arrived at the weekend, Alice adores it and it's reason enough to go to bed. It makes me smile as she 'caterpillars' into my room in the mornings, she used to walk in when she wore the toddler sized one but the new one is huge and there's so much at the bottom that it's very hard to move in it!
After the first night she got a present, the next week had a smiley chart working towards the dress up that she finally earned yesterday, now she's got another chart with a few more boxes. She's woken more nights that not at some point through the evening but most nights she's slept through once I've gone to bed. It's been a relatively smooth transition back to her room and so far it's been very successful, I think the keys to success have been the princess duvet cover, the new sun and moon sleeping clock, the new sleeping bag and the incentive scheme - it works for her and so it works for me!
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sleep. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
OH, SO PROUD!
Saturday, January 09, 2010
STUBBORN & SLEEP
Alice is stubborn, so am I, that makes for some interesting confrontations, but it also makes us determined.
On Monday T cleaned Alice's bedroom, changed the sheets and made it clear to Alice that there were no monsters around anywhere. New Princess bedding on the bed and everything ready for her to move back in. I'd intended that Alice would go back to Nursery on Tuesday before going back to her room to sleep - making the most of a tiring day, but she was ready on Monday night and ready to go back - HIGHLY motivated by the Princess duvet cover! The first night started well, but Alice woke at 3am and was soon shouting and then crying for me. Determined not to let her back in my room I lay with her for a few minutes before I *had* to use the bathroom! It was long enough to realise that she was cold in bed. I left her with the El*mer CD playing, but it took several return trips to settle her, it took both of us nearly 2 hours to get back to sleep, but overall it was a sucessful first night - all night in her own bed! She had a present for a great night, a piano / xylophone toy, hugely popular and gave me a headache within minutes, but the smile on her face and the positive reinforcement was worth it.
Tuesday onwards, straightforward bedtime, no fuss, back to CD playing everynight, Alice wore a fleece sleepsuit each night. In the middle of the night into Tuesday morning, I established that not only was she cold in bed but that she REALLY wanted a Snow White costume. So on Tuesday I made up a 7 section reward chart - for 7 successful nights in her own room she will get the SW costume, I'm astounded at just how much she understands the system and it's a huge motivator. It's so successful that I'm planning a longer chart with a smaller reward for when SW's been achieved. Sh automatically understands that each night gets a smiley face, how many she's got, how many more she needs and what comes at the end, she even understands that the costume is hanging in the study, that she can look at it but not wear it until there are enough smileys! She can explain the concept back to me and is even quite sophisticated in the time concepts, she's got 4 smileys so far, she knows she needs 3, she knows that when she gets 1 tomorrow she'll need another 2, I'm amazed!
I'm also amazed at how smooth the transition back to her bedroom has been going so far, very few tears, no fuss and straight back into routine, if I'd known how easy it would be I would have tried weeks ago! I think her natural determination has helped as she is determined to wear SW ASAP! Today the rewards and child sized sleeping bag (like the baby ones not the camping ones!) arrived. Alice was delighted into hysterical giggles at the prospect of her new sleeping bag - I bought the travel bubbles version as we have it in the 2 smaller sizes, so hopefully she'll be able to match with her sister in the middleish future!
On Monday T cleaned Alice's bedroom, changed the sheets and made it clear to Alice that there were no monsters around anywhere. New Princess bedding on the bed and everything ready for her to move back in. I'd intended that Alice would go back to Nursery on Tuesday before going back to her room to sleep - making the most of a tiring day, but she was ready on Monday night and ready to go back - HIGHLY motivated by the Princess duvet cover! The first night started well, but Alice woke at 3am and was soon shouting and then crying for me. Determined not to let her back in my room I lay with her for a few minutes before I *had* to use the bathroom! It was long enough to realise that she was cold in bed. I left her with the El*mer CD playing, but it took several return trips to settle her, it took both of us nearly 2 hours to get back to sleep, but overall it was a sucessful first night - all night in her own bed! She had a present for a great night, a piano / xylophone toy, hugely popular and gave me a headache within minutes, but the smile on her face and the positive reinforcement was worth it.
Tuesday onwards, straightforward bedtime, no fuss, back to CD playing everynight, Alice wore a fleece sleepsuit each night. In the middle of the night into Tuesday morning, I established that not only was she cold in bed but that she REALLY wanted a Snow White costume. So on Tuesday I made up a 7 section reward chart - for 7 successful nights in her own room she will get the SW costume, I'm astounded at just how much she understands the system and it's a huge motivator. It's so successful that I'm planning a longer chart with a smaller reward for when SW's been achieved. Sh automatically understands that each night gets a smiley face, how many she's got, how many more she needs and what comes at the end, she even understands that the costume is hanging in the study, that she can look at it but not wear it until there are enough smileys! She can explain the concept back to me and is even quite sophisticated in the time concepts, she's got 4 smileys so far, she knows she needs 3, she knows that when she gets 1 tomorrow she'll need another 2, I'm amazed!
I'm also amazed at how smooth the transition back to her bedroom has been going so far, very few tears, no fuss and straight back into routine, if I'd known how easy it would be I would have tried weeks ago! I think her natural determination has helped as she is determined to wear SW ASAP! Today the rewards and child sized sleeping bag (like the baby ones not the camping ones!) arrived. Alice was delighted into hysterical giggles at the prospect of her new sleeping bag - I bought the travel bubbles version as we have it in the 2 smaller sizes, so hopefully she'll be able to match with her sister in the middleish future!
Monday, January 04, 2010
SNAIL WATCH!
The snails hadn't been seen for the past few days. I did a bit of G**gle research - they could be dead, hibernating (it's been cold here recently) or preparing to lay eggs (unlikely to be both at once?)
So we keep watch with our fingers crossed!
(2h 15m, all quiet upstairs and I've checked to make sure that the monitor is on!)
So we keep watch with our fingers crossed!
(2h 15m, all quiet upstairs and I've checked to make sure that the monitor is on!)
EVERYTHING CROSSED!
The special bed's been put away, her room's been cleaned, no monsters found, sheets changed, princess bedding used for the first time.
Alice is back in her nursery, for the first night since mid November. The special bed has hardly been slept in, Alice has been in my room for nearly 2 months, mostly in my bed, she hasn't had enough sleep and I haven't had nearly enough either, something had to be done.
So tonight Alice is back in HER room, she wasn't supposed to go til tomorrow night, but she'd forgotten. Tomorrow night was the plan so that she'd be tired from a full day at nursery, but she was ready today, if we have a bad night then I'll reset the morning alarm - especially given the very cold weather forecast.
Elmer is back on the CD player and so far (5 minutes) all else is quiet though Alice has needed a lot of reassurance that I'm not leaving but just going downstairs. The separation at bedtime issue has got so bad that even my bed wasn't soothing, so it was time for a new approach, wish us luck!
Alice is back in her nursery, for the first night since mid November. The special bed has hardly been slept in, Alice has been in my room for nearly 2 months, mostly in my bed, she hasn't had enough sleep and I haven't had nearly enough either, something had to be done.
So tonight Alice is back in HER room, she wasn't supposed to go til tomorrow night, but she'd forgotten. Tomorrow night was the plan so that she'd be tired from a full day at nursery, but she was ready today, if we have a bad night then I'll reset the morning alarm - especially given the very cold weather forecast.
Elmer is back on the CD player and so far (5 minutes) all else is quiet though Alice has needed a lot of reassurance that I'm not leaving but just going downstairs. The separation at bedtime issue has got so bad that even my bed wasn't soothing, so it was time for a new approach, wish us luck!
Friday, December 04, 2009
AN AWFUL EVENING
Alice has always had a good routine and sleep habit but has had some sleeping issues in the past few months. I know that sleep is the first thing to suffer when anything is out of balance.
Through the summer she kept asking for Mummy's Bed, in the end we compromised on 'The Special Bed' (a bed at the end of mine, neither of us sleep well when she's in my bed). After a holiday in a family room at a hotel we came home and she was happy to return to her bedroom, declaring, 'I not frightened any more.' She never expressed her fear at the time.
Through September and October she stayed in her room quite happily but through big changes and excitement - starting a new nursery with a very different routine and no one familiar and then her third birthday. But in the last 2-3 weeks she started asking for my bed again - notable that it's my bed, not me that she wants. After a week or so of this I got the Special Bed out again - not as popular as my bed but better for quality sleep for both of us. This time she's articulated that there are MONSTERS in her room. She also has a lingering cough but is still living life at full speed.
She's in love with Christmas and desperate for a tree in her room, but having agreed to go back to her bed earlier this week (calmly) I didn't even get to the bottom of the stairs before she was crying, instantly hysterical - clearly informing me that this fear is real and huge. Ever since she's been happy to use the Special Bed and has settled quickly and not even stirred when I go to bed (always happens wherever she sleeps).
Tonight she settled quickly and was asleep in a few minutes - all as usual (but usually in her room). 75 minutes or so later she was hysterical. I went up quickly to soothe her (and this is where things became distressing different), despite being very upset she pushed me away and was much more distressed than usual. She wouldn't calm and she wouldn't take comfort. I finally managed to get her to tell me she was frightened (not hurting) but when I asked why the crying immediately ramped up (I tried several times). I took her over 15 minutes to slow to a sob (much longer than usual) and then I was able to calm her further by changing her nappy and getting clean PJs (never understand why that works but it's usually effective but only once she's calming again). Throughout the whole episode she pushed me away (she's usually very affectionate and seeks physical comfort) which was very disturbing for me. Several times I explained that I wasn't leaving until she was calm and then she'd retort that she was calm (but still heaving sobs for breath). Even when she was finally calm she was very, very quick to dismiss me.
It was a dreadful experience and I don't want to make the situation worse if it happens again but I need some new strategies - we've already tried 'Monster Away Spray' (lavender water in a spray bottle) but clearly that isn't enough.
Any ideas?
Through the summer she kept asking for Mummy's Bed, in the end we compromised on 'The Special Bed' (a bed at the end of mine, neither of us sleep well when she's in my bed). After a holiday in a family room at a hotel we came home and she was happy to return to her bedroom, declaring, 'I not frightened any more.' She never expressed her fear at the time.
Through September and October she stayed in her room quite happily but through big changes and excitement - starting a new nursery with a very different routine and no one familiar and then her third birthday. But in the last 2-3 weeks she started asking for my bed again - notable that it's my bed, not me that she wants. After a week or so of this I got the Special Bed out again - not as popular as my bed but better for quality sleep for both of us. This time she's articulated that there are MONSTERS in her room. She also has a lingering cough but is still living life at full speed.
She's in love with Christmas and desperate for a tree in her room, but having agreed to go back to her bed earlier this week (calmly) I didn't even get to the bottom of the stairs before she was crying, instantly hysterical - clearly informing me that this fear is real and huge. Ever since she's been happy to use the Special Bed and has settled quickly and not even stirred when I go to bed (always happens wherever she sleeps).
Tonight she settled quickly and was asleep in a few minutes - all as usual (but usually in her room). 75 minutes or so later she was hysterical. I went up quickly to soothe her (and this is where things became distressing different), despite being very upset she pushed me away and was much more distressed than usual. She wouldn't calm and she wouldn't take comfort. I finally managed to get her to tell me she was frightened (not hurting) but when I asked why the crying immediately ramped up (I tried several times). I took her over 15 minutes to slow to a sob (much longer than usual) and then I was able to calm her further by changing her nappy and getting clean PJs (never understand why that works but it's usually effective but only once she's calming again). Throughout the whole episode she pushed me away (she's usually very affectionate and seeks physical comfort) which was very disturbing for me. Several times I explained that I wasn't leaving until she was calm and then she'd retort that she was calm (but still heaving sobs for breath). Even when she was finally calm she was very, very quick to dismiss me.
It was a dreadful experience and I don't want to make the situation worse if it happens again but I need some new strategies - we've already tried 'Monster Away Spray' (lavender water in a spray bottle) but clearly that isn't enough.
Any ideas?
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
WHEN BRIBERY DOESN'T WORK . . .
. . . you know that it's serious!
Alice wants a Christmas tree in her bedroom. I'm quite happy for her to have one. So tonight I offered to get her one tomorrow if she slept all night in her own room. I just made it downstairs before she started crying - it's very unusual for her to cry that quickly. I talked to her over the monitor (she thought that I was T!), I went up to her and the pillow was already wet from tears and she was adamant that she wanted 'Mummy's bed', I reminded her about the Christmas tree but she told me that there were monsters in her room - then I discovered that she didn't like the trio of lights on the monitor, but that wasn't enough and she quickly returned to my room - where she's been sleeping peacefully ever since.
She REALLY wants that Christmas tree, that means the fear is real. I'll have to give it longer before I try again, but I did put the dummies away tonight (I don't allow them outside her room and she hasn't used one in several weeks, so they've gone).
Alice wants a Christmas tree in her bedroom. I'm quite happy for her to have one. So tonight I offered to get her one tomorrow if she slept all night in her own room. I just made it downstairs before she started crying - it's very unusual for her to cry that quickly. I talked to her over the monitor (she thought that I was T!), I went up to her and the pillow was already wet from tears and she was adamant that she wanted 'Mummy's bed', I reminded her about the Christmas tree but she told me that there were monsters in her room - then I discovered that she didn't like the trio of lights on the monitor, but that wasn't enough and she quickly returned to my room - where she's been sleeping peacefully ever since.
She REALLY wants that Christmas tree, that means the fear is real. I'll have to give it longer before I try again, but I did put the dummies away tonight (I don't allow them outside her room and she hasn't used one in several weeks, so they've gone).
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
SPECIAL BED PART 2, NIGHT 1!
No crying during the evening, she woke (very briefly) when I went to bed and was more settle. Alice stayed snuggled up all night but woke just after 6am (that's very early for her) but then was happy to come and cwtch til the alarm clock beeped.
Overall a better night than any in the last week or more, but a very early start!
Overall a better night than any in the last week or more, but a very early start!
Monday, November 30, 2009
4 AND A HALF HOURS
. . . asleep in the Special Bed, no tears, calm, progress.
I can hope for more but meanwhile I'll enjoy snuggling with my baby.
I can hope for more but meanwhile I'll enjoy snuggling with my baby.
THE SPECIAL BED
There are monsters in Alice's room, so she's been in with me for most of the last week, she didn't even start off in her own room for the last few nights. As a result my sleep is suffering, last night had to be the last night, so the Special Bed is back - a single bed on the floor at the bottom of my bed, it was last used in August and has been away since then, but it's needed once again. This time Alice is old enough to articulate that she's frightened, she's still waking in hysterics once or twice in the evening and she always rouses when I go to bed but she's much calmer for being with me, so for now we do what works and hopefully we can work back towards her bed before Christmas.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
THE SPECIAL BED
With all the sleeping problems that we had this summer, I ended up with another bed in my bedroom - a single bed at the bottom of my bed (neither of us sleep well if Alice comes into my bed). This extra bed we called 'The Special Bed' and Alice was allowed to choose where she slept at bedtime each night.
We had 5 nights in a hotel towards the end of August and Alice had a single bed in my room. We didn't have good sleep while we were away, every night Alice woke at least twice having lost her dummy or panda. When we returned I tried to remove dummy, I did it the wrong way because I'd lost patience over all the extra wakings, so we reached a compromise that dummy is only allowed in her room. Alice understands the rule and generally keeps to the rule. This new rule meant that she could still choose The Special Bed but not with dummy - this encouraged Alice back into her Big Girl's Bed in her bedroom. We've been home nearly a month and The Special Bed hasn't been used for anything other than sorting clothes! This week I asked Alice if we could put it away and she agreed, 'I not scared any more!' Very revealing as I'd never managed to establish why she was having so many sleeping issues - in hindsight it's nice to know that it was only a phase!
We had 5 nights in a hotel towards the end of August and Alice had a single bed in my room. We didn't have good sleep while we were away, every night Alice woke at least twice having lost her dummy or panda. When we returned I tried to remove dummy, I did it the wrong way because I'd lost patience over all the extra wakings, so we reached a compromise that dummy is only allowed in her room. Alice understands the rule and generally keeps to the rule. This new rule meant that she could still choose The Special Bed but not with dummy - this encouraged Alice back into her Big Girl's Bed in her bedroom. We've been home nearly a month and The Special Bed hasn't been used for anything other than sorting clothes! This week I asked Alice if we could put it away and she agreed, 'I not scared any more!' Very revealing as I'd never managed to establish why she was having so many sleeping issues - in hindsight it's nice to know that it was only a phase!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
THIS WEEK'S SLEEP REGIME
We shared a room while we were away. I slept in a double bed at one end of the room and Alice was in a single at the other end of the room. She didn't try to get into my bed during sleep time but she did wake me several times each night when she'd lost either her dummy or panda. I didn't have a single undisturbed night's sleep, something had to change.
When we got home I decided that dummy had to go, I tried but Alice was hysterical and I hadn't done much talking preparation for it, so by 9pm I'd changed the rules - Alice could only have the dummy in her room, if she wanted to sleep in the Special Bed in my room then she had to do it without dummy. For Alice the decision was simple - she chose dummy in her bed! We've been home 3 nights and Alice has slept in her own bed every night, she's cried in the evenings but there's been no disturbance during the night - that's a major step forward in the sleeping arrangements of the past 6 weeks or so!
When we got home I decided that dummy had to go, I tried but Alice was hysterical and I hadn't done much talking preparation for it, so by 9pm I'd changed the rules - Alice could only have the dummy in her room, if she wanted to sleep in the Special Bed in my room then she had to do it without dummy. For Alice the decision was simple - she chose dummy in her bed! We've been home 3 nights and Alice has slept in her own bed every night, she's cried in the evenings but there's been no disturbance during the night - that's a major step forward in the sleeping arrangements of the past 6 weeks or so!
10:04 BLISS!
Alice let me sleep in, she was awake, singing softly in her bed when I woke after 10am. I needed it, what a treat!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
YES, IT'S BEEN TOO LONG, AGAIN!
We've been busy having fun, nothing unusual but lots of smiles, giggles and cuddles - who could ask for more?!What have we been doing? Nursery on Tuesdays and Thursdays while Mummy catches up with grown up things and non child friendly bits (with the occasional pedicure amongst the paperwork). On other days we've been swimming, playing and catching up with friends. We spent last weekend with GFW and his family before seeing some other friends - none of whom we've seen for awhile, it was good to catch up but it's a long drive!
Today Alice finished at the childcare nursery that she's attended since December. It was always the plan to finish now, this nursery was about getting used to nursery and being away from me. They were fantastic and I was very sad to say goodbye. The staff have done a fantastic job settling Alice in and distracting her as I leave in the mornings, she always had a busy day and lots of 'treasures' came home on an almost daily basis. Alice continued to object to going during almost every drive there and seemed unmoved by saying goodbye - and I'm convinced that she does understand that she's not going back there. She's looking forward to her new nursery (they had tadpoles there when we first visited and she still remembers them, I keep reminding her that they won't be there when she starts!) The new nursery will be a shorter 'day' so that might help her by not being away from Mummy for so long, it's a longer drive too so I will get significantly less time to myself (and it only operates during school terms!)
I'm continually blown away with how much Alice is changing and maturing, the toddler's all gone and she's all little girl with big attitude! The room manager even said today how much Alice has changed in just the last few weeks.
As for sleep - the single bed in my room is now called 'Special Bed' and is the second choice bed every evening, Alice would prefer 'Mummy's Bed' but she knows that that's not allowed so Special Bed is a good alternative. We're both sleeping better and Alice is calmer, it's a good solution for now. Long term I'm hoping that she'll go back to her bedroom but with the change of nurseries coming up I'm not looking for that yet.
I woke up this morning to hear, 'I love you lots Mummy!' Priceless.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
SLEEP AND HYSTERIA?
After 1 visit upstairs last night Alice managed to sleep til this morning. We both woke up naturally, hurrah!
We woke early enough for her to have a bath. There was a large spider in the bath, I washed it down the plughole as I couldn't find the spider vac. 5 minutes later in a trembly, terrified voice, Alice shouted, 'Spider!' It had crawled back up the overflow, it was too big for me to remove so I took Alice out of the bath. 5 minutes later and I found it drowned. Alice has been muttering about the spider ever since, I hope it hasn't put her off baths too much.
We woke early enough for her to have a bath. There was a large spider in the bath, I washed it down the plughole as I couldn't find the spider vac. 5 minutes later in a trembly, terrified voice, Alice shouted, 'Spider!' It had crawled back up the overflow, it was too big for me to remove so I took Alice out of the bath. 5 minutes later and I found it drowned. Alice has been muttering about the spider ever since, I hope it hasn't put her off baths too much.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
SLEEP - A PLAN EVOLVING
Last night I barely slept at all, something had to change.
Tonight we're trying a new approach - Alice is on a trundle bed at the foot of my bed. She was quite happy to help make the bed and fetch her sleeping accessories, quite happy to role play sleeping on it but when it came to really sleeping on it, hysterics, again. An hour after bedtime she was still sobbing and sweaty, not happy, but I'm getting desperate and the previous solution (her in my bed from bedtime) was only working for her. Luckily my Dad rang and distracted me just after I'd tried to leave her for the second time and by the time we'd finished our chat Alice had settled - hurrah!
Even if it doesn't last all night, hurrah! I'm desperate to snooze.
Tonight we're trying a new approach - Alice is on a trundle bed at the foot of my bed. She was quite happy to help make the bed and fetch her sleeping accessories, quite happy to role play sleeping on it but when it came to really sleeping on it, hysterics, again. An hour after bedtime she was still sobbing and sweaty, not happy, but I'm getting desperate and the previous solution (her in my bed from bedtime) was only working for her. Luckily my Dad rang and distracted me just after I'd tried to leave her for the second time and by the time we'd finished our chat Alice had settled - hurrah!
Even if it doesn't last all night, hurrah! I'm desperate to snooze.
CAN'T SLEEP
- Alice is wriggling round my bed and sleeping fitfully.
- There's a cricket in my wardrobe.
- I keep expecting the intruders to return.
- My mind is racing.
- I'm sad that Little Sis is so many years away.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
ALICE UPDATE - BEHAVIOUR, FOOD, TEETH, PT AND SLEEP!
Alice's behaviour has been quite challenging at times recently. Until now, as long as I'd prepared her well enough and talked situations through in advance, everything would usually be OK. Now all bets are off. She doesn't want to cooperate as often and as more vocal in her objections.
Eating is becoming more of a challenge too. At about 2 years appetite is supposed to suppress as physical development switches to mental development, this didn't seem to happen for Alice - her capabilities have expanded incredibly (as expected) but her appetite didn't really reduce. However in the past few months catering to her appetite has become a challenge - the number of foods that she'll eat has decreased significantly, as has the amount she eats. I usually serve her main meal at lunchtime and that's not too bad, but at suppertime I usually give her a choice of more snack type meals and increasingly she refuses most offers, only eggs are a guaranteed success (but she can't eat them EVERY night!)
Teeth - there's finally sign of her 2 year molars, the bottom ones have broken through (but still need to grow up) and are causing some distress, especially at night. Still no sign of the top ones. I have a feeling this could drag on for a few more weeks (or even months).
PT is going very well - she goes several hours between visits and is more reliable about whether she needs to go or not, though I'm still being more persistent at crucial times (before journeys etc). In recent weeks the only changes of clothes that she's had at nursery have been due to nappy failures at nap times or adventures playing with water! There've been more changes at home, several a day for a few days and then a week or more of success.
Sleep has been patchy. Alice is back to napping consistently at nursery but won't at home, but a car journey at the right time of day induces sleep in minutes - Alice wasn't great at sleeping in the car until she gave up naps! She's back to sleeping in the cot almost every night, she seems to be calmer through the night when she's in the cot. But she's also taken to waking as I go to bed - last night she wouldn't settle, so she came in with me with some very strict rules (staying over her side, not kicking or hitting mummy, we both sleep or she moves back) and it worked - I'm still talking through what I expect before bedtime when I remember and those nights seem to be calmer.
All in all it's incredible how quickly she's changing and growing, but she's still wonderful and incredible - just in a more challenging way!
Eating is becoming more of a challenge too. At about 2 years appetite is supposed to suppress as physical development switches to mental development, this didn't seem to happen for Alice - her capabilities have expanded incredibly (as expected) but her appetite didn't really reduce. However in the past few months catering to her appetite has become a challenge - the number of foods that she'll eat has decreased significantly, as has the amount she eats. I usually serve her main meal at lunchtime and that's not too bad, but at suppertime I usually give her a choice of more snack type meals and increasingly she refuses most offers, only eggs are a guaranteed success (but she can't eat them EVERY night!)
Teeth - there's finally sign of her 2 year molars, the bottom ones have broken through (but still need to grow up) and are causing some distress, especially at night. Still no sign of the top ones. I have a feeling this could drag on for a few more weeks (or even months).
PT is going very well - she goes several hours between visits and is more reliable about whether she needs to go or not, though I'm still being more persistent at crucial times (before journeys etc). In recent weeks the only changes of clothes that she's had at nursery have been due to nappy failures at nap times or adventures playing with water! There've been more changes at home, several a day for a few days and then a week or more of success.
Sleep has been patchy. Alice is back to napping consistently at nursery but won't at home, but a car journey at the right time of day induces sleep in minutes - Alice wasn't great at sleeping in the car until she gave up naps! She's back to sleeping in the cot almost every night, she seems to be calmer through the night when she's in the cot. But she's also taken to waking as I go to bed - last night she wouldn't settle, so she came in with me with some very strict rules (staying over her side, not kicking or hitting mummy, we both sleep or she moves back) and it worked - I'm still talking through what I expect before bedtime when I remember and those nights seem to be calmer.
All in all it's incredible how quickly she's changing and growing, but she's still wonderful and incredible - just in a more challenging way!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
JUST LIFE
No real news, nothing much to blog about, not sure what to say.
Alice is OK, fine during the day, PT is going well (I hate to put that in in case I tempt fate!) and her days are happy and busy. Unfortunately evenings are different - many night-terrors, lots of screaming and many tears. I'm not sure if it's bad dreams or pain but I know that it's distressing to watch. She's reverted to using the cot quite a lot and mostly sleeps better when she's in the cot rather than the BGB. Quite a few nights she's ended up with me - she settles quickly but then I get little sleep beyond that! I've started positive reinforcement before bedtime - no crying, stay in your own bed etc.
Meantime there are glitches with my dossier for Thailand, I was hoping that it would have been in Thailand by now, but the NP made a genuine mistake and now it has to be resubmitted to the FCO and then the Thai Consulate. The mistake was spotted a week ago, it will probably be another 2 weeks before it can be dispatched to Thailand, ugh.
Alice is OK, fine during the day, PT is going well (I hate to put that in in case I tempt fate!) and her days are happy and busy. Unfortunately evenings are different - many night-terrors, lots of screaming and many tears. I'm not sure if it's bad dreams or pain but I know that it's distressing to watch. She's reverted to using the cot quite a lot and mostly sleeps better when she's in the cot rather than the BGB. Quite a few nights she's ended up with me - she settles quickly but then I get little sleep beyond that! I've started positive reinforcement before bedtime - no crying, stay in your own bed etc.
Meantime there are glitches with my dossier for Thailand, I was hoping that it would have been in Thailand by now, but the NP made a genuine mistake and now it has to be resubmitted to the FCO and then the Thai Consulate. The mistake was spotted a week ago, it will probably be another 2 weeks before it can be dispatched to Thailand, ugh.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
TODAY'S NEWS OF ALICE
Alice spent the morning at Nursery. It was cheesy pasta for lunch, they missed her off the list and so at first I was told she'd eaten it all and then that was quickly changed - she ate 1 mouthful and gagged on it, so she had lots of bread and butter and all the other lunch bits. For now, it's official, she doesn't like cheesy pasta, she used to eat it but recently she's shown that she doesn't like it and I think that if she's refusing it at Nursery then it's a genuine dislike rather than being 'challenging' for me!
She woke up on Sunday demanding, 'Lollipop' - so I told her that she could have one if she went all day without an accident. She's had a few such days but I remembered today. So at 6pm she had her pick of lollies and sat (at my insistence) to watch M*isie (a double treat, that d*mned mouse), she was very proud and happy. But within 30 minutes she'd p*ed on the carpet - right next to the potty, ugh! The rewards seem to be the undoing of us!!
Tonight, for the first time in over a month, Alice chose to sleep in her cot. We've been having issues with night terrors (more to come in a separate post) but tonight, despite being exhausted, she's slept peacefully, thank heavens.
She woke up on Sunday demanding, 'Lollipop' - so I told her that she could have one if she went all day without an accident. She's had a few such days but I remembered today. So at 6pm she had her pick of lollies and sat (at my insistence) to watch M*isie (a double treat, that d*mned mouse), she was very proud and happy. But within 30 minutes she'd p*ed on the carpet - right next to the potty, ugh! The rewards seem to be the undoing of us!!
Tonight, for the first time in over a month, Alice chose to sleep in her cot. We've been having issues with night terrors (more to come in a separate post) but tonight, despite being exhausted, she's slept peacefully, thank heavens.
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