Night Time Rituals

Last night I asked Elizabeth if she wanted to read Grant a book before bed.  She looked at him and said, "ok buddy, I will read you a book, just pick one that doesn't have words! How about that animal one?"

Anyway it got me thinking that someday the kids might want to know what their bedtime rituals were when they were little.  We put pj's on and brush teeth and then we pile into Elizabeth's bed to for book time.  Each of them gets to pick one book, some nights more, depending on how late it is and how long of books they pick!  A lot of times we read Grant's book first because he often doesn't sit well through an entire Fancy Nancy or Pink/Purplicious book!  So one of us will finish reading to Elizabeth while the other starts working with Grant.  Daddy used to take him into our bed and let him fall asleep on his chest.  Which was perfect until the nights when daddy wasn't home and I found myself with two high maintenance bed time routines!  Some nights he still ends up with daddy, which is ok, it is their special cuddle time, but most nights he goes to his room.  Once in his room he has to adjust his night light.  His night light projects a fish scene.  He will spend 3 minutes adjusting it back and fourth, only to end up leaving it in the same spot (projected on his ceiling, over his crib) every night!  I have yet to understand this ritual.  His CD player is right next to his night light, so while he is close he decides if he wants music on or not.  Meanwhile, I wait patiently (I really try to be patient!) in the rocking chair.  Then I rock him for a few minutes.  If he is really tired he will just conk out in my arms, but most nights this doesn't happen.  After a few minutes of rocking we transition to the crib where he now has to choose which blanket he wants.  If I have remembered during the day I put all but one blanket away so this choice is a little simpler!  After he lays down and I cover him up he then starts pointing to the ceiling fan.  The fan gets adjusted to off or on, whatever suits his mood :)  Now the back rubbing starts.  He would let you rub his back forever!  I rub it for a few minutes until he is nice and calm and then I have to verbally tell him that I will rub it a few more minutes and then he is on his own.  If I just stop rubbing his back and walk out, he will cry.  If I give him a two minute warning he is fine.  Go figure!  And yes I manage to lay him down for a nap everyday without jumping through quite so many hoops.  But Grant Ryan you are my baby and I wouldn't trade rocking you every night for anything!

Now back to Elizabeth's room... her story is finished.  We say a prayer with her (sometimes Grant is still there for that part!) and then she starts asking questions.  Anywhere from "what are we doing tomorrow?" to "can I play?" to "why is the sky blue?" (well she hasn't asked that exact question, but something along those lines).  I indulge her as long as I can because I know it is her way of unwinding and I also hope that someday that will be our special time where she tell me all her secrets ;)  Then we have to rub her back.  Really I am not sure how I fall asleep without my back being rubbed!  Most nights we give her a kiss and that is it.  Although she does have to have her lamp on, which is not exactly dim and most nights she has a friend tucked under her arm.  Usually it is monkey, but sometimes a baby doll or her new teddy bear.  If she has had a nap that day and it is not really tired she will grace our presence several times with us giving her the same answer every time... "good night honey we love you, go back to bed."  To which we get  "but i'm not tired!"  "You don't have to go to sleep, just stay in your room - love you!"

With any luck all of these charades only takes an hour!  With even more luck they sleep through the night!  Yes, at 2 and 4, I am still usually up with one of them, at least 5 nights out of 7.  Why couldn't they have gotten Brandon's sleeping habits?!