So, we had a not so good week of sleep with little Oscar Iván last week. It prompted us to begin sleep training the little guy so he could put himself back to sleep when he woke up rather than needing our rocking, bouncing arms. Then, we noticed some liquid coming out of his ear... He wen to visit the doctor lady today and we learned that he has TWO ear infections. So, perhaps his wailing through the night was NOT because he didn't want to sleep and NOT because he didn't like that we had switched him to the bottle... Maybe it was because HIS EARS HURT! Yeah, we're not winning any parenting awards this week.
So, while SylRafa have yet to have an ear infection, #3 is making up for lost ground. [sigh] Poor kid. That's what happens when two snotty toddlers cough and sneeze on and caress their baby brother with germy hands.
This too shall pass. (mantra for the month)
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Sunday, November 24, 2013
the power of sleep
This isn't rocket science. I am a much happier and pleasant person when I am well rested. I am now convinced that one of the reasons Sylvia and Rafa are generally such good kids is because we've been very consistent about and protective of their sleep. Until Oscar arrived. Then, things started going downhill. Partly because the extra variable through us off of our game plan. And partly because when he doesn't sleep at night, NOBODY sleeps at night. He discovered his lungs. And oh boy, did he. So, we've all been suffering.
I thought it was mostly because I was tired and impatient with the kids. But, no, they're also quite exhausted and tired of O not sleeping through the night. One morning, after a particularly bad night, I got the kids dressed and ready for daycare. As we were heading downstairs, she grabbed her lovie (nu-nu) and said to me, "Dormir?" Uh, have you ever heard of a 2-year old asking to go to bed??! She must really be tired...
And then, we decided to start sleep training Oscar last night. That was a good move. After a few nights this week of 2.5 or fewer hours of sleep (and not in one go), we got to sleep for 6 hours last night!!!!!! Woo hoo!!! And, I guess it was also good for SylRafa because they were delightful today. Just delightful.
Here's hoping we all continue to get good sleep. For, you know, at least 18 years or so...
I thought it was mostly because I was tired and impatient with the kids. But, no, they're also quite exhausted and tired of O not sleeping through the night. One morning, after a particularly bad night, I got the kids dressed and ready for daycare. As we were heading downstairs, she grabbed her lovie (nu-nu) and said to me, "Dormir?" Uh, have you ever heard of a 2-year old asking to go to bed??! She must really be tired...
And then, we decided to start sleep training Oscar last night. That was a good move. After a few nights this week of 2.5 or fewer hours of sleep (and not in one go), we got to sleep for 6 hours last night!!!!!! Woo hoo!!! And, I guess it was also good for SylRafa because they were delightful today. Just delightful.
Here's hoping we all continue to get good sleep. For, you know, at least 18 years or so...
Saturday, November 23, 2013
time for sleep training
O was doing so well! And then... New nanny, bottles rather than nursing, formula, etc., etc.
And now he wakes up multiple times a night, again. We've discovered that he's not always hungry. He just seems to struggle to go back to sleep if he's not being held and bounced. Well, and then there are the times he's hungry.
So, maybe he misses suckling and momma time. Or maybe he's just getting accustomed to sleeping while moving (new nanny maybe uses the swing more?). He's also congested. And doesn't eat as well during the day any more. I'm sure there are myriad possible explanations.
Whatever the cause, I think it's time to sleep train. Wish us luck!!
And now he wakes up multiple times a night, again. We've discovered that he's not always hungry. He just seems to struggle to go back to sleep if he's not being held and bounced. Well, and then there are the times he's hungry.
So, maybe he misses suckling and momma time. Or maybe he's just getting accustomed to sleeping while moving (new nanny maybe uses the swing more?). He's also congested. And doesn't eat as well during the day any more. I'm sure there are myriad possible explanations.
Whatever the cause, I think it's time to sleep train. Wish us luck!!
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Monday, November 18, 2013
Sunday, November 10, 2013
the only constant
Is change.
After 4 days at Oma and Gong-Gong's house while plumbing work was done (thank you!!!!), we are back home.
Our new nanny came by for a few hours yesterday to get to know the house and the kids. She also took care of Oscar while we went to a birthday party - with an ice cream truck!
SylRafa took to her really well and loved playing with her. Here's hoping that transition continues to go well when we leave for work on Monday.
Oh, and I started work again last week. My new job is only 20-25 hours a week and I'm doing some legal work on the side as I have time and interest. It's wonderful.
Sylvia's hair is now long enough to do pigtails! Mami just needs to work on her hairstyling techniques...
Oscar is finally taking a bottle. But, he's super picky and the milk MUST be the perfect temperature. We'll hopefully break him of that one day, but for now we're grateful that others can feed him and I can start weaning hopefully soon. Now he just needs to learn to like formula...
He also went 10 hours between feeds last night! Unfortunately, it was between 5:30 and 3:30. Now we'll try to get him to stay up until 8/9 and make that his last feed. How marvelous if he starts sleeping from then until the twins wake up in the morning?! I will be a NEW woman.
We generally crave change, but since we've had so much lately, we're ready to settle down and get back to a little normalcy. At least for a few weeks.
After 4 days at Oma and Gong-Gong's house while plumbing work was done (thank you!!!!), we are back home.
Our new nanny came by for a few hours yesterday to get to know the house and the kids. She also took care of Oscar while we went to a birthday party - with an ice cream truck!
SylRafa took to her really well and loved playing with her. Here's hoping that transition continues to go well when we leave for work on Monday.
Oh, and I started work again last week. My new job is only 20-25 hours a week and I'm doing some legal work on the side as I have time and interest. It's wonderful.
Sylvia's hair is now long enough to do pigtails! Mami just needs to work on her hairstyling techniques...
Oscar is finally taking a bottle. But, he's super picky and the milk MUST be the perfect temperature. We'll hopefully break him of that one day, but for now we're grateful that others can feed him and I can start weaning hopefully soon. Now he just needs to learn to like formula...
He also went 10 hours between feeds last night! Unfortunately, it was between 5:30 and 3:30. Now we'll try to get him to stay up until 8/9 and make that his last feed. How marvelous if he starts sleeping from then until the twins wake up in the morning?! I will be a NEW woman.
We generally crave change, but since we've had so much lately, we're ready to settle down and get back to a little normalcy. At least for a few weeks.
Saturday, November 2, 2013
catching up
I'm getting in trouble for not posting. So, here's an attempt to catch you up...
Our nanny quit. We have done 3 interviews and have one more tomorrow. 2 of the three sound like great candidates.
We started potty training the kids. Sylvia rarely has accidents. Rafa doesn't like to go to the potty with us, but is fairly good with random people. They both know when they new to go and can hold it a little if they catch it before it's an emergency. If say we're 90% there for daytime training. We haven't even started nap/sleep training. They get diapers then.
They have fought us often about the afternoon nap. Even when they're super tired. It drives me crazy. Mostly because I dread the evening when they haven't napped.
We started work on a wonderful from porch. It will soon be a dream come true. But not before jackhammers and hammers and drills interrupt many naps--especially mine!
Oscar has decided he doesn't want to drink from a bottle. Most of the time. We get him to do it a couple times which gives us confidence to go out and then he refuses again while we're out, driving our sitter mad. I hope he'll figure it out soon because a new nanny for the twins will be challenging enough...
All that drama aside, Sylvia and Rafael have learned to jump off two feet. They talk all the time. They are starting to want to do things by themselves. Although they use asking for help as a way to get us to pay attention to them more. They also use going to the bathroom as an excuse to stay up later for both naps and at night.
Today's funny story was during another epic nap time battle. Sylvia was crying her heart out. The kind of wail that our neighbors undoubtedly heard inside their homes with rivers of years that surely would go on for minutes. Then she stopped abruptly and said, "Sylvia llora como un cerdo!" "Sylvia cries like a pig!"
Oscar is super smiley and returns giant open mouthed smiles readily. He's also starting to rub off or lose his dark hair. So, we'll have to see what color it grows in as. His eyelashes are dark, so it'll likely be dark, but some of the new little hairs are a little lighter.
There are some days when everything seems completely overwhelming and there are a million things to do. And then I pause and tuck that list away and throw myself into making play dough worms or imitating goofy animal voices or dancing the hokey pokey or tickling or singing or drawing or wrestling. And then life seems simple. And joyful. And perfect.
Our nanny quit. We have done 3 interviews and have one more tomorrow. 2 of the three sound like great candidates.
We started potty training the kids. Sylvia rarely has accidents. Rafa doesn't like to go to the potty with us, but is fairly good with random people. They both know when they new to go and can hold it a little if they catch it before it's an emergency. If say we're 90% there for daytime training. We haven't even started nap/sleep training. They get diapers then.
They have fought us often about the afternoon nap. Even when they're super tired. It drives me crazy. Mostly because I dread the evening when they haven't napped.
We started work on a wonderful from porch. It will soon be a dream come true. But not before jackhammers and hammers and drills interrupt many naps--especially mine!
Oscar has decided he doesn't want to drink from a bottle. Most of the time. We get him to do it a couple times which gives us confidence to go out and then he refuses again while we're out, driving our sitter mad. I hope he'll figure it out soon because a new nanny for the twins will be challenging enough...
All that drama aside, Sylvia and Rafael have learned to jump off two feet. They talk all the time. They are starting to want to do things by themselves. Although they use asking for help as a way to get us to pay attention to them more. They also use going to the bathroom as an excuse to stay up later for both naps and at night.
Today's funny story was during another epic nap time battle. Sylvia was crying her heart out. The kind of wail that our neighbors undoubtedly heard inside their homes with rivers of years that surely would go on for minutes. Then she stopped abruptly and said, "Sylvia llora como un cerdo!" "Sylvia cries like a pig!"
Oscar is super smiley and returns giant open mouthed smiles readily. He's also starting to rub off or lose his dark hair. So, we'll have to see what color it grows in as. His eyelashes are dark, so it'll likely be dark, but some of the new little hairs are a little lighter.
There are some days when everything seems completely overwhelming and there are a million things to do. And then I pause and tuck that list away and throw myself into making play dough worms or imitating goofy animal voices or dancing the hokey pokey or tickling or singing or drawing or wrestling. And then life seems simple. And joyful. And perfect.
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