Starting again

I think I'm going to start using this blog instead of my Yahoo! 360 one. That one is annoying because it only lets you post one picture per posting and it has to be at the top. Not enough flexibility. (Of course, I really have nothing to complain about since I've yet to download about six months' worth of pictures off of our camera...)

This morning, I woke up and had a few minutes to myself before the boys woke up, so I had this brilliant idea to use my blog for my prayers. I thought it would be therapeutic for me, and hey if they inspire someone, great. But, as soon as I retrieved my password and logged in, I heard the sound of little feet coming down the stairs, and my beautiful R. sauntered into my office and climbed up in my lap. So, my prayer today is one of glorious thanks. Thank you, Lord, for my beautiful, funny, sweet, healthy, rambunctious, independent, loving son. I love being a mom. Thank you.

Speaking of that wonderful son ... we're having some sleep issues right now. In that he won't go to sleep at night. Once he's asleep, everything's fine for the most part. The time he actually settles down enough to fall asleep has been getting later and later - Thursday night was the worst yet: 11:07 p.m.! He's not even three yet! I feel awful about it because we get to the point where A. and I are so tired ourselves and so frustrated, that we just become cranky and start yelling, which really does no good.

So, Thursday night, I read a lot online and felt like crap afterwards because it's apparently our fault. R.'s bedtime has gotten messed up a lot recently - we've been visiting friends and staying way too late, which causes confusion for his routine. And, I don't think we're starting the bedtime routine early enough. The things I read said that at this age, R. should probably be going to bed between 6:30 and 7:30(!). Yikes. I don't even get home from work until 6:30! But he's definitely tired around that time and then becomes crazy energy boy afterwards. So I think that's the window to take advantage of. We've been starting the routine around 7:50 - first jammies (bath every other night - starting around 7:15), then teeth, then upstairs for stories. We attempt the first putting-to-bed around 8:45. So that's probably way too late.

Last night, we started bedtime a little after 7. A. and I both went upstairs with R., and we all read stories together, which was so nice. At 7:30, I came downstairs to let A. and R. finish the last story. Then, the visits to the bathroom started (I need to pee, I need to poop). Then, the getting up and running to the doorway. I stood there and put him back to bed every time, but then he thought it was a very funny game. I switched with A., who decided yelling would work. I did a bad thing and usurped him because I totally didn't agree with his method. But I let R. come down once more to try to poop, then put him to bed, and down he stayed. Asleep by 9 p.m. Improvement, but with end result of crabby hubby. We'll see how tonight goes...

On a completely different note, my Lenten goals haven't gone so great. I gave up TV and candy. But I still ate chocolate cake, brownies, cookies without chips in them, etc. I did watch A LOT less TV, which was nice. But the point of it was to have more time for prayer and reading. Unfortunately, I ended up having to work late every single night, which made me very resentful toward my job. I've been working and working, with no time for anything I've wanted to do - even my taxes! But I feel good about not needing to turn on the TV anymore, so hopefully when work lets up a little, I'll have time again for more reflection (and reading Anne Lamott's new book, which I ordered from Amazon last night - woohoo!). The candy thing hasn't been too hard (especially given my loose interpretation of it), but I probably will indulge in a few things on Easter.

Which reminds me - I've gotta go put some eggs on the stove to boil! Happy Easter! Amen!