New Year, New Stages!

So 2013 has brought us many adventures...some more fun than others.  Christmas came with its usual flurry of fun, family, and freak-outs.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the kids while on Winter Break.  I even had two weeks off of my graduate courses!  But sadly, before I knew it, New Years day was over and it was back to the craziness that is my life!

Our newest adventure is "big kid beds"...I have been dreading this day since they were first able to stand.  I was blessed enough with over 2 years of crib usage, but the inevitable happened.  After an hour of trying to soothe a screaming Cameron, I left him in his crib to work it out on his own.  Big mistake.  I heard a loud "BOOM!' and frantically opened my bedroom door to an equally panicked and snot-ridden Cameron saying, "Sorry Mommy, I fell out.  I sleep in your bed now?"  We managed to buy some more time by dropping his mattress and having serious talks about staying safe at bedtime.  Then Sophia figured it out.  She had an equally fussy night, followed by an even louder BOOM and that was the final straw.  I bought her and Evan a toddler bed on Craigslist that day, dug out Dave's old toddler bed from Missy and Luke's attic, and prayed.  That was two weeks ago, and I haven't slept a solid night since.  We have to be in the room until they fall asleep, or they get out of bed screaming for us.  At least one wakes up two or more times a night and wanders around their room crying for us like a drunken blind man.  Evan, God love him, has taken it the best...but no surprise since he's always valued his sleep.  Sophia is getting better-a combination of bribery and a magical "Bunny clock"  have worked wonders for her.  Cameron is another story.  He loves to play the "Get out of bed and make mommy put me back in about a million times in an hour" game.  He's also the one who's consistently waking up at ungodly hours.  We are doing the best we can, and keep telling ourselves this is a transitional phase that will eventually end, but in the mean time I feel like banging my head against a wall!

On the search for the perfect Christmas tree!

Evan rips open a gift

Cameron refused to leave any gift unopened...he really didn't care what was in it-just wanted to rip the paper off!

Sophia took a more delicate approach

Evan found a new best friend...he ran right up to Santa like they knew each other forever!

Sophia...not so much!

Cameron was cautious but a champion!

Go Pats~

Patriot fan

Dave came home from work one night and I swear I was seeing double!

Sophia's pride and joy...her snowman named "Mommy" :)

We got markers for Christmas!  Yippeeee!

Sophia in her "Tinkerbell Bed"

Our little princess

The boy's reward choice for sleeping in their beds...bouncy house!

Our little goofball Cameron

First day with our Big Kid Beds

Evan needed a bigger bed...this was his Daddy's!

The "Bunny Clock".  The bunny sleeping is lit up when it's time to stay in bed.  You set the alarm for a certain time, and then the bunny "gets up" to let them know it's okay to get out of bed.  Sophia named the bunny "Max" after Ruby and Max. 

Our sticker chart...each night in their bed earns a sticker.  At the end of the week they earn a special treat.  It's a work in progress...only Evan and Sophia have truly "earned" it by not waking up.  I don't think Cameron gets it, or if he even cares enough to want to earn it!