Bedtime Lately

Since about January we've been trying a new approach to bedtime. It worked like magic for the first couple of months but like most things, the magic began to fade shortly after the excitement wore off.  

Thankfully, we have never had a horrible time with getting the littles to bed but there is still always a certain amount of coaxing, bribing, procrastinating, a number of potty trips, "I'm dying of thirst and hunger" trips, "I can't go on without one more hug and kiss" trips. 

We modified the suggested nighttime procedures to fall in place with our normal bedtime routines. Our bedtime routine, with a 2.5 year old and a 4.5 year old, looks (or should look) something like this...

• 7:15/30ish bath time 
• 7:30/45ish stories/teeth/prayers 
• 8:00pm sharp :) in their bedrooms they go. 

The rules for once they are in their rooms for the night go something like this...

• They are allowed to play quietly in their rooms and are given the freedom to decide when they are tired and ready to lay down for the night.
• They are not allowed to come out of their rooms unless for potty emergencies. 

That sounds so wonderful doesn't it!? Well, lately the freedom to play in their rooms for "as long as they'd like" isn't so appealing. I guess by 8pm they feel they've had their full of play and would rather lay together quietly at the threshold of the door. 

I note their efforts of trying their best to follow the rules while bending them at the same time. 

I should probably be more against this happening but I can't help but think it's really adorable. 

Every time I see them like this, it feels like I'm seeing it for the first time.  I gasp and smile from one corner of my heart to the other. 

Gabriella is always the first to pass out seeing that Mikey takes a good two hour nap (most days) and she doesn't. I've caught Mikey once or twice staring at Gabriella sleeping and every so softly touching her face.  They sure have their fair share of arguing and bickering but moments like these make up for all the refereeing I'll ever have to do.  

I still give them so much credit for keeping part of their bodies (the majority of the time) in their room while playing or talking quietly until falling asleep. It's really so precious. I will miss these days dearly when they're gone.