Out of cribs Part II

The transition from cribs to toddler beds has been pretty darn easy when it comes to bedtime. The boys are generally tired at the end of the day and have been going to sleep on their own for so long that they stay in their beds and maybe talk or sing for a little while but then go to sleep without much trouble. There have been a few incidents of falling out of bed, but nothing major (the beds are only about 6 or 8 inches off the ground, so nothing but a little confusion has resulted from a fall).

Naps, however, have been a different story. It's not as if the boys have been climbing out of their cribs or really resisted naps before they were out of cribs. Usually they would try to crawl into their cribs after we had read stories and had milk. Monday when I put them down for "naps" they stayed in their cribs for about three minutes and then began running around like nutcases for 1.5 hours, in and out of their playroom, reading books, wrestling with their stuffed animals, and playing very quietly and peacefully by themselves. It was nice in a way to watch them playing with each other and entertaining themselves, but they need their naps. Tuesday we traveled to Ithaca to visit Sarah and Toby (and Grandpa Stu, briefly) and so they napped in the car both ways, which is better than nothing but also not better than nothing, and then when Grandma Kathy had the boys Wednesday they refused to sleep again and just played.

So Thursday I knew what I needed to do: go all Supernanny up on their butts. Jeff and I have been watching Supernanny for a long time, since before we were married, because of the sheer joy of a) voyeuristic enjoyment of watching terrible parents (usually of the overly indulgent variety) get shamed and then re-programmed, and b) learning some really great parenting strategies and theories (e.g. the naughty step). We do time outs as JoJo suggests--getting down to the child's level, explaining briefly and in child-appropriate language what the "wrong" was, and then setting the timer for one minute for every year the child is old. When the time out is over, the child says sorry (to the parent or the child who has been wronged) and the parent gives kisses and hugs and "I love you"s. The Supernanny sleep solution (usually employed for children who have been sleeping with parents for many years) is to spend lots of daytime hours talking up the big bed, maybe personalizing or otherwise making the bed special, and then putting the child to bed. Then the real challenge begins: returning the child to bed as many times as it takes to get them to fall asleep there. Upon returning to the room, there is no eye contact, no communication, nothing. It is meant not to provide attention or reinforcement.

This process took 80 minutes on Thursday afternoon, from 1pm to 2:20. I estimate I returned Theo to his bed upward of 100 times, and Beckett to his bed at least 10 times. It was physically and mentally exhausting, but I knew that we had to win, we had to make this work. Many other moms of multiples I have spoken to about the toddler bed conversion have put their kids in different rooms for naps. We don't really have that option, since our only other bedroom is a guest room and I often take a nap at the same time the boys do, or at least spend time in my bedroom putting away laundry or doing other kinds of housework while they are sleeping. When they finally went to sleep on Thursday at 2:20, I honestly felt as good as I did when I found out I passed the bar exam. It was as complete a sense of accomplishment through arduous circumstances as any I have ever experienced.

Friday I let the boys play in their room (mostly in Beckett's bed) for about 15 minutes before I went in to lay down the law, and after I told them it was time to go to sleep, I only had to go back in a few times before they stayed in their beds, playing and then going to sleep. So we're moving in the right direction. This afternoon Jeff is struggling through his own Supernanny nap routine (I suspect so that Theo can test Jeff's resolve) but it hasn't been going on nearly as long as it did with me on Thursday. Dinner the last two nights has been SO MUCH BETTER than the previous three days when they were un-napped, and the last two nights they slept so much better at night, too, so we know that they need naps. We just have to help them figure out how to do it.

State Fair!

Monday Grandpa Stu and I took the boys to the State Fair. It was their first trip since the summer of 2011 when Auntie Jen and I took them in carriers on our chests. They definitely appreciated more of the fair this year, especially the food parts.

Theo enjoyed the shuttle bus from parking to the main gate. Beckett did NOT. But it was a short ride.

First food of the day: doughnuts.

New tent this year: Cow Birthing Tent! We did not witness any calving but we did see some grumpy expectant cows and a newborn (that day!) calf.

While we were waiting to get into the 4H building Grandpa Stu found a great rock pile for the boys to play in.

Checking out the ducklings and baby chicks in the 4H building.

Playing under the bleachers in front of the sea lion show.

Watching a sheep being sheared.

Baby pigs!

Enjoying our traditional lunch at Basilio's Sausage, with hot dogs for the boys and sweet potato fries.

Enjoying dairy building chocolate milk in sippies on the way home!

Nap update: the boys did not nap at all following the fair because of the newness of the toddler beds. They broke off the babyproofing doorknobs in about 20 seconds, so they had free rein of the playroom. They enjoyed themselves immensely reading their books and wrestling the stuffed animals. They were perfectly happy but they still need to nap, so we're working on a solution to allow them to sleep at least a little while in the afternoon so they aren't total bears in the evening.

Jumping off the dock

Sunday we had a great visit with the Parkeses and the Pagliarulos. It's a great crowd for Theo and Beckett because they're baby-lovers, all of them! Benji took off his shirt down at the dock and of course the boys wanted to take their shirts off just like their big pal Benj. So then Benj put on a life jacket to show the boys how cool it was. Then he got in and swam around with the boys (despite not having good zebra mussel footwear) and convinced them to start jumping off the dock. I think they were terrified but loved being with Benji, so they just kept jumping off!

This photo was taken moments after Beck dumped a bucket of water on Peter's shorts.

Andy enjoying a float in the lake.

Cardboard fort

Last week the trampoline arrived. I ordered it anticipating long cold winter days when we don't have anything to do except bounce in place, which Theo especially loves to do. We haven't put it together completely yet but the box and wrapping provided the makings for a lovely fort.

Out of cribs!

About a month ago Theo jumped the fence on the pack and play at the cottage. Then this past Friday during nap time I watched as Theo shimmied along the railing of his crib, teetering over the edge. We have known for at least six months that the boys were physically capable of climbing out of their cribs, but hadn't found a reason to try. But rather than waiting for a painful fall, we decided to make the jump to the toddler beds sooner rather than later.

It's a big day in the Genovese family. The boys are out of their cribs! Or rather, we took one rail off their existing cribs to make them into big boy beds. Jeff was good enough to do the deconstruction while we were on our way back from the cottage (during which Mama quieted the crying and screaming and fighting over toys by playing soothing music at a deafening volume). We didn't even really do any prep work with the boys about being in big boy beds or staying in bed at night or anything. We just said that Daddy was making them big boy beds and that it was going to be exciting.

After stories in Mama's lap, the boys climbed up into their beds happily and asked to be tucked in and for hugs and kisses from Daddy and Mama. It's now an hour after we put them to bed, and we of course have been watching the nursery cam like crazy. Nothing appears to be any different than any other night. The boys have remained tucked in under their blankets and appear to be asleep. It can't be this easy... can it?

French Kids Eat Everything

About two months ago I heard about this book by Karen LeBillon and ordered it on Amazon. I'm not the biggest fan of parenting advice books (mostly because they take time to read and make me feel inadequate) but for some reason the idea of the book resonated with me. I had been struggling with getting the boys to taste things, to try new things, to eat vegetables, and to eat "enough". The lessons of the book are:

This book has been a godsend for me. It has reinforced my nascent It has been very freeing to be reminded and encouraged that kids will not starve to death if they miss one meal or if they do not snack. I've been used to seeing Theo and Beckett as itty bitty guys because they were born premature, but they are perfectly healthy and normal now (and have been for some time), and they are not going to die if they miss a meal because they refuse to eat or miss a cheese stick for a snack.

The biggest things I needed help with were saying no to snacks and sticking to the rule that kids eat what adults eat, no short-order cooking. When they are with the grandparents or we're at someone's house and there's a special kids' meal, we'll go with it. But at home, we simply make a little more of what we're already making. There are nights they eat very little because they don't love it, but they haven't yet starved to death overnight. No snacking means they're hungrier for meals and will try more things and eat more of things they don't initially love. It's not a dogma; it's common sense. There are also some good recipes at the back. I'm very grateful I found this book!

Sciencenter Trip

 Wednesday we went to the Sciencenter with Auntie Alexis on a not-so-nice weather day. It's not the best for little ones but the water table with ducks and a random backhoe, as well as the train table upstairs, are notable hits. It wasn't til we were on our way out when the boys found this big dinosaur head to climb on.

Firsts

This week's firsts:

Poop on the floor (Theo)
Spontaneous "thank you" (Theo)
Spontaneous "excuse me" (Beck)
Standing up for one's brother when intimidated by another child (Beck)
Calling our cat Milo by her name (Theo)
Bruised ear (Beck)

This morning we had a nice visit with our friends Kelley and Brent and their son James, who is 10 days younger than Theo and Beckett (but much bigger). T&B had a difficult time sharing with their friend James but Theo enjoyed pushing James around on the tricycle and all three played a game of catch together.

Windy weekend at the lake

Theo carrying around his bag of corn.

Theo likes to swing out on the porch railing over the steep dropoff to the lake.

Beckett rocking in his chair.

Mama and Beckett.

Trip to the zoo

Yesterday we joined two friends, both with twins plus one, for a trip at the zoo. Before we went, Theo bit Beckett in the cheek, leaving what looked like a kiss mark. At the zoo, Theo and Beck enjoyed watching everything from the safety of the stroller but were eventually annoyed that all the other kids were out of their stroller and asked to get out. No more than five minutes later, Theo climbed up the fence and fell into the donkey enclosure. Back into the stroller they went.

Poops in the potty

Non-parents may turn their noses up at such an obscene title, but this is a big deal in our house. Last week Mindy texted me a photo of poop in the potty (great job, Theo!). This week she reported poops in the potty from both boys. And yet Mama and Dada had yet to experience this wonderment. The boys are peeing at least a few times a day in the potty (or outside if we are outside), but had been still pooping in diapers. Today we came upstairs after breakfast to encourage potty use and after peeing, the boys continued playing and reading without diapers. Suddenly Beck ran over to the potty, springing up after only a few seconds, announcing "Poop!" Indeed, he had made a large poop in the potty. He went on to make another poop immediately after I cleaned the first potty-full. While I was cleaning the second potty-full and after Theo had thrown the other potty down the stairs Beck accidentally pooped on the floor in the bathroom. We're just thrilled about poops on the potty, awareness of peeing and pooping sensations, a desire to be clean and dry, and notifying an adult when they need to use the potty. We are moving in the right direction, people!!

Kale Faces

Tonight while the boys were finishing their dinner I sat at the dining room table with them and chopped up the kale I bought at the farmers' market today. I went downstairs to start a load of laundry and when I came back up, Theo was sitting in my chair and Beck was standing next to him. Theo jumped six inches in the air when he saw me. Both had handfuls of kale and were chonking away on it. Theo's face showed some serious evidence of his kale crimes.