Post Paci Update

Annabelle has been paci free for a couple weeks now. It has been a bumpy ride to say the least but *successful. The good side is that Annabelle has not asked for her paci (or even mentioned it) in a while. She is totally broken of the habit. "Paci's are for babies, Mom." Good girl!

The interesting/ bumpy part of this process is that the letting go of the paci has triggered her independence. She has realized that she can make decisions on her own- ie when she wants to go to bed. Post paci has been the most difficult time in respect to getting Annabelle to go to sleep. No afternoon naps start in her room (usually we have to lull her to sleep via carseat) and it has become child vs parent every night. Whoever has the most stamina and best strategy wins the race!

EXAMPLE: We continue to do the same bedtime routine as before.... dinner, bath, read books, lights out. Nothing has changed there. When the lights go out, the volley begins:

Start time - 7:30pm

Annabelle: refuses to lay in bed. wants to lay on the floor.
Parent: allows A to lay on pillow on the floor.
Annabelle: sings and talks to parent/stuffed animals.
Parent: reminds A that this is quiet time.
Annabelle: squirms around and waves her hands from side to side.
Parent: reminds A to keep her hands to herself.

This continues on repeat till around 8:30pm... on a good night she will finally settle down and go to sleep but 60% of the time if she isn't asleep yet, we tag team and switch parents. (Prego Mom can only sit uncomfortably on the floor for so long!!) Usually she will tucker out by 9:30.

I pray that this phase will be ending soon. We are going to be zombies when Ethan comes home! Ha!

Nap time on the go.