tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604080738678475033.post2863271208228039428..comments2023-07-28T09:40:38.679-04:00Comments on Messy Wife, Blessed Life: 7 Quick Takes Friday (80)Mandi Richardshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14641577291206420549noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604080738678475033.post-55072819090901649892013-02-24T16:23:46.651-05:002013-02-24T16:23:46.651-05:00Hi Mandi! Just started reading your blog recently...Hi Mandi! Just started reading your blog recently. I'm loving your honesty and find myself identifying with a lot of what you write. <br /><br />Until recently, my son (17 months) has always slept much better for a sitter. I keep trying to remind myself that it's because he wants to play & be with me, not the sitter. Around 14 months, which I'm pretty sure is a bit early, he started only taking one nap. The hour before is a bit rocky and he's always had a rough hour between 4:30 and 5:30pm. Seriously, you can set your clock to him. Tantrum after tantrum. Sigh. Anyway, I'm not sure how old your sweet little girl is - just over a year? Could you push naptime back a bit? We pushed his back - the second was around 4:30ish. Totally late for a nap, but he needed it at that point & we just pushed bedtime back a bit. We'd wake him up if it got too late for him to be napping. <br /><br />Another thing that has helped us immensely is saying "night night" to the things in his room. Always the same wording, in the same order. After doing it for a couple of weeks, he knew what was coming and while he doesn't always "listen" that it's naptime or bedtime, I feel like most of the time, it helps him to switch gears. We also read before bed & naptime. Again, same books every time. <br /><br />I do let him cry a little - only for about 5 minutes, but I feel that I know his different cries. He will of course protest, but a lot of the time, he'll stop within 5 minutes. When he doesn't, I go back in, lay him back down, give him his lovey & paci, say "I love you, it's night night time," sometimes I rub his back for a minute, and walk out. In the beginning I had to just about camp out on the other side of his door. <br /><br />We also removed all noisy toys from his bedroom. He only has books & toys that don't light up/sing/flash, etc. That was a lot. I hope that some part of it was helpful. Good luck!Nicolenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604080738678475033.post-4928901308754547822013-02-23T22:10:28.424-05:002013-02-23T22:10:28.424-05:00I don't personally know you, Mandi, but I am s...I don't personally know you, Mandi, but I am sure that you are far far far from being a "bad mother". We all definitely have our moments. I wish I had advice on naptime... my son used to just nap in a swing and now my daughter who used to be so good at napping and bedtime refuses to do so without a fight. I feel ya, Mama, I feel ya.Jiza Zitohttp://twitter.com/JizaZitonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604080738678475033.post-48638403463384202752013-02-23T11:36:10.391-05:002013-02-23T11:36:10.391-05:00This just reminded me that our movers found the sp...This just reminded me that our movers found the spare keys to my car when they were packing us, and they brought them to us. Apparently they are not allowed to pack keys. I'm going to remember that for when we pack ourselves up so I always have them!Cat W.http://twitter.com/windmill_catnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604080738678475033.post-28028392695958714492013-02-22T17:33:37.712-05:002013-02-22T17:33:37.712-05:00Aw, Mandi, please don't be too hard on yoursel...Aw, Mandi, please don't be too hard on yourself. You just happened to have two things in one week happen to you that happens to lots of people just further apart.<br /><br /><br />Thanks for the post on making money on the internet. I have never tried any of those types of things and I had no idea how much was out there!KelleyAnnie@Over the Thresholdhttp://www.over-the-threshold.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604080738678475033.post-83372501145588586162013-02-22T17:09:16.678-05:002013-02-22T17:09:16.678-05:00Hey Mandi, First...I wanted you to know I tagged y...Hey Mandi, First...I wanted you to know I tagged you in a post :) http://www.theredheadedprincess.com/2013/02/what-you-been-dying-to-know.html<br />Second, being a mother to three and a preschool teacher (2 year olds) the past 10 years... and hearing that she listens to the babysitter and Daddy better...I would use a firmer tone with her. It's so hard when they're so cute and cuddly..but she's playing you :) Those kiddos are SUPER smart! Depending on her age..maybe consider a transition toddler bed? And just be firm and consistent. Every time she gets out of bed. Firmly put her back. No smiles, cuddles or anything. I know..it's super hard. It could take several days of this but if she knows you're not backing down she may give up. :) (I'm a spare the rod spoil the child philosophy if all else fails...bc some kids are just too stubborn..lol...I have 3 very different princesses and the middle one needed the 'rod'..but my baby #3 just needs a stern tone..so it depends on the child. :) good luck!Jesshttp://www.theredheadedprincess.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8604080738678475033.post-43860027561411644362013-02-22T16:19:54.546-05:002013-02-22T16:19:54.546-05:00Hannabert started screaming about being in his cri...Hannabert started screaming about being in his crib for naps about the same time. He also is quite agile with getting out of the crib on the lowest setting. For the last few nights we have been putting him down on the guest bed but our plan is to convert the crib to a toddler bed this weekend. He doesn't like being placed into the crib. I also think that he started sleepwalking (wonder week jump - great book by the way) and will just appear in our hallway.Hannah Arel Barnhornhttp://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=824150274noreply@blogger.com