Sleepless nights....

As Mikey will find out when he becomes a parent, there is no instruction manual provided by the hospital after you have a baby. I try to use my Early Intervention knowledge in dealing with our every day life situations when dealing with a toddler. Then there are other times when I totally forget that knowledge when it comes to my own child. After multiple nights in a row of not sleeping well, I am trying to take in every type of behavioral strategy in helping Mikey go to sleep and sleep ALL NIGHT in his bed.

Last night was the worst.

He was put to bed at 8:15pm. We kept the routine the same: went potty, put pj's on, brushed teeth, read a few books and then tucked him into bed. Without me even having time to get to the couch from his room, the door was open and the lights were on. He was looking at me angelically from behind the gate in front of his door. I went in and put him back. I snuggled with him. This happened about three times before he actually settled down.

Then at 3:00, he was up.

Wide awake.

Lights on.

Door open.

Whining at the gate.

LOUDLY.

I tried to put him back to bed. I tried ignoring him. Finally at 5:30 Michael went in to tell him to go to bed, and the two boys fell asleep in the rocking chair together. I went in, broke up the sleeping party, and pouted saying that we are teaching him the wrong thing and he is never going to sleep in his bed all night. The next day I was consulting the professionals that I work with to help us with our sleep issue. I was begging Mike to get the crib piece from the storage unit so we could put him back in crib.

UPDATE: Now a few days later (1/15/12), Mikey may need some assistance initially staying in bed (Mommy putting him back to bed one or two more times before officially retiring for the night). I have been using the "Super Nanny" method of not making eye contact with him and just going into the room, picking him up, putting him in bed, THEN looking at him to say "it's time for bed" and then leaving. In the morning, Mikey wakes up around 7. The alarm clock/stop light is programmed for 7:30. With the exception of breaking the monitor & emptying his drawers, Mikey is playing with his quiet toys and books until the light turns green. Immediately he will yell, "MOMMY! IT'S GREEN, MOMMY! IT'S GREEN!".

Hopefully the transition to the bed has now been solved. Mommy and Daddy LOVE their sleep!

This is the face...

...of a boy with his first ear infection (left ear) and bilateral pink eye. Based on his energy level and playfulness, you wouldn't have a clue. Based on his looks, yeah, he looks sick.

But it's nothing that amoxicillian and some eye drops can't fix in addition to extra kisses and cuddles.

We have 4 days to get Mikey back in tip-top shape for the coming of the Casey and Tolska families this weekend. If that isn't motivation to get better, I don't know what is!

New Year, Big Boy

With the New Year came new changes for Mikey. We decided it was time to convert his crib to a toddler bed. Up until today he was still sleeping in his crib, complete with bumpers. I couldn't keep him a baby any longer (sad face). Mikey was excited for this change and loved being able to climb in and out of his new bed. It turns out that he was so excited and yet so exhausted at the same time that he wound up taking his first nap here.....

......on the floor of the living room! He has NEVER done that before!

The other new change for Mikey was that he began wearing underwear during the day, starting on December 29. We tried it out after encouragement from Eva, who noticed that he was able to keep his diaper dry during the day and did well on the potty at her house. After he was consistently going at her house for the past three days, we then just kept up the routine. The first few days had some accidents but by Monday, January 2, he remained dry all day! There is no conversation about him telling me if/when he has to go potty, so every so often I take his hand and we go for a "walk". Once we arrive at the bathroom, he will then tell me either "No, Mommy. No potty" (and is correct in saying when he does not have to go) or he will actively pull down his pants, sit and go. I still put him in a pull-up for his naps and a regular diaper for nighttime, but this is definitely a BIG BOY step in the right direction!

Hooray for Mikey!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

Grandma and "Bob" came to Boston for New Years. On Friday they were able to see Mikey participate in his swim lesson.

Saturday was Christmas Part 2. We woke up, exchanged gifts and had breakfast! The Cars theme continued with a Cars track set, Cars clothing and other special gifts. He also received an airplane (from the Cars movie), more Cars characters, Cars book, and a puzzle from Auntie and Uncle Scott.

So excited about his new Cars outfit

CHEESE!

Grandma found this outfit at an Italian clothing store in Florida. Mikey will be sporting the popular, European capri pants this spring/summer!

That night we had a fondue party for New Year's Eve. We had a cheese course, salad, surf and turf course and then chocolate dessert. Mikey had fun eating from the "stick", too.

Mikey and Daddy getting ready to run errands for Mommy on NYE

Grandma, Mikey and Bob

Sunday began a new year and some new changes for Mikey. We are looking forward to 2012 and anxious to see what it has in store for us in 2012!

Happy New Year!

Christmas 2011

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Christmas 2011 was spent in Queensbury, NY with Mimi, Grandpa, Uncle Mark and Uncle Timmy. We spent the weekend playing (Mikey LOVES to play with Daddy's old toys), watching football and basketball, and spending quality time with family.

Mikey (33 months) on Christmas Eve

Being silly with Uncle Marky

Wrestling with Uncle Timmy


On Christmas Eve, Mikey had a special visitor come before he went to bed----SANTA! He came bearing LOTS of presents for Mikey including a new bike, a sled, chocolate and candy canes, Handy Manny talking tool box, personalized pajamas and Chuggington trains.

Mikey wouldn't go near Santa until he had his lovey to comfort him

I love my new bike!!

Warming up to Santa now

Handy Manny Talkin' Toolbox

Loving his tools and trains

Even Mommy got a present from Santa!

Hoodie-Footie pajamas---the warmest gift EVER!

On Christmas Day we went to church, ate breakfast and then opened gifts. Mikey got so excited with everything he unwrapped, he would immediately exclaim, "Open it, Mommy! Open it!". This response happened with every single gift. He really enjoyed each one.

This was definitely the "Cars Christmas" for Mikey. He got Mack (the big tractor trailer) and loads of Cars characters and a Cars pillow. He also got clothes (Nike track suit and Bruins hockey shirt), a scooter, Easy Reader books, play mat with a "town" and book from Great Grandma Ruth, books (2 special books were recorded by Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Scialabba and another from Mimi), a hockey/soccer ("hocker" as Mikey says) net complete with hockey sticks and soccer ball. I'm sure I am leaving many things out. Needless to say, Mikey was spoiled by Santa, his grandparents, his uncles and Meredith!

Santa brought A LOT of presents!!

Trying out the bike again--this time with shoes

"Town" play mat from Great Grandma Ruth

Mikey & Grandpa Fred

Grandpa, Mikey and Mimi

Daddy's present from Mark, Meredith and Timmy

Mimi and Grandpa spoiled Mommy and Daddy too by getting us floor seat tickets to the Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw concert this summer in New Jersey! We are SO EXCITED!

Merry Christmas!!

Christmas Prep

Mikey was a huge help to me this Christmas in preparing for the "big day". He helped us shop for gifts, pick out the most perfect Christmas tree, decorate the house and even bake cookies (complete with dough from scratch). Even though I had more sprinkles on the floor than on the cookies, I'd say that making the cookies were his favorite part.

He wanted to make "flower" cookies for Santa

Our tree:

Santa 2011

Today we visited Santa at the Burlington Mall.

Mikey looked at Santa from a distance and kept saying "Mikey's turn".

He appeared to be very excited.

Then it really was "Mikey's turn". Guess who threw himself to the ground and did everything he could to AVOID Santa?!?!?!?

This is why were are starting a new family portrait trend when visiting Santa (same thing happened last year).



Once Santa gave Mikey a candy cane and we took a few shots, Santa then was safe. Mikey high-fived him before we left.

Since we got caught up in the drama of meeting Santa, Mikey never got a chance to tell Santa what he wanted OR where he would be on Christmas Eve (Mimi & Grandpa's house).

Good thing we have "Joe" (our Elf on the Shelf) living with us until Christmas to relay all of this important information to Mr. Claus.





For those of you unfamiliar with the "Elf on the Shelf" phenomena, "Joe" is an employee of Santa who watches over Mikey all day. He reports back to Santa at night and returns in the morning to a different location. His only rule is that you are not allowed to touch him or he will lose his magical powers and therefore won't be able to communicate to Santa. Although he cannot speak to us, he listens and watches everything that we do. Mikey is enjoying finding Joe each morning. I don't think he quite grasps the whole concept yet but it is a great tradition to start!

For those of you wondering, Mikey is asking Santa for:

1) A Bruins hockey t-shirt (he gets SO excited for sports clothing!);
2) Chugginton trains;
3) Handy Manny tool set;
4) Cars 2 DVD.

Lucky for us, he requested small items. When we move to a house, I know his gifts are going to be MUCH BIGGER in size.

Merry Christmas, everyone! We hope Santa brings you everything on your list this year!