I've been trying to find ways to simplify all areas of our life. We've cut out almost all processed foods, I've been adopting a more Waldorf-like atmosphere in our home (more on this to come), and I've been trying to make our "routines" more simple. I don't have a set schedule that we follow everyday. We usually take our time saying good morning and rising out of bed followed by a slow transition to the kitchen for breakfast. We spend our days either on the go running errands and meeting people for lunch or we stick to the house where we read, listen to music, play with blocks/trains/animals/dolls/instruments, or (if we're lucky at this time of the year!) play outside. Harper is also into helping me do chores throughout the day. After all of that (with a little nap thrown in somewhere), we make and eat dinner.
And that's a very brief overview of our days.
And then there's nighttime. It used to be a time I dreaded, back when Harper had colic. Then I tried a more regimented schedule that lasted just a few short weeks. Between my night classes and Wade's, it was just too difficult. Our current bed time "routine" is working pretty well and has Harper asleep the majority of the time within 30-45 minutes. It's like this:
- Take vitamins, let dogs out one last time, last drinks of water, and potty time for everyone
- Dogs in their bed and everyone puts on their jammies
- Snuggle down in bed with a couple of books that get read no more than twice each (otherwise she'd stay up all night looking through them!)
- Lights off and we sing songs like "The Wheels on the Bus" (of course!), "Six Little Ducks","You Are My Sunshine", and "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean." What's really great about this is that Harper has recently started singing these songs along with me. I've even heard her singing to herself or her animals/dolls while playing. Cutest damn thing EVER.
Some nights, if she's worn out enough, the singing alone is enough to soothe her to sleep. But if she's particularly wound up, we snuggle up next to each other and she has to hold my hand(I love holding her hand, but this is something she has to do for security, I think)(or rub the skin under my neck which becomes unbearable after awhile), and I usually have to redirect her several times to lay still and close her eyes before she falls asleep. We have had very little tears doing this. If she does cry it is because she A.) Doesn't want to go to sleep, even though she's beyond tired or B.) Doesn't want to put on jammies so we just wear a diaper and t-shirt. Obviously, this is all subject to change as we approach new milestones, but, hey, it works right now and I love it. It's happy, peaceful, and honestly fun! Having her in our bed is something I will always remember and cherish.
P.S. Harper has lately become very into what belongs to whom. At night we have to identify which pillow belong belongs to Momma, Daddy, and Harper. And heaven forbid if one of us is on the wrong one! Still, another absolutely adorable thing she does. But then I'm biased, right?
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