S.L.E.E.P.....it does a body good!

School started about 2 1/2 weeks ago for the boys.  It has been a big change for all us since Alex is now in middle school and on a different schedule than the younger two boys.  Ben says his only complaint about school is that he misses Alex :)  Florie, however, has undergone the BIGGEST change.  Her three playmates are gone all day now.  The first few days she was pretty clingy to me, and more whiney than usual.  After that we started to get into a "routine" with a typical schedule most days.....but that is when she was SO happy during the day and SO not at night!!!
I have always stayed with Florie until she went to sleep at night, laying beside her in bed until she fell asleep.  We have adjusted things over the few months she has been home....bottle in bed, bottle downstairs and now bottle, brush teeth, read, snuggle and sleep.  She had been sleeping pretty well, maybe only waking once or twice a night every few days.  BUT WHEN SCHOOL started, she stopped.  She would wake up like clockwork at 1230 am or 1:41 am and cry for me (I have been slipping out of her room once she is asleep for several weeks).  When I would go to her, I would lay back down with her....but neither of us fell completely back asleep.  She constantly felt for me...with her hand, foot, leg, etc, to be sure I was still there.  If I rolled over away from her (to try and save my back!), she would wake up and cry.  After about 4 nights of this, both of us were grumpy and unhappy.
It was time for a new "routine."  The next night, I took her to my room and showed her that is where Momma sleeps with Daddy...and let her pick one of my shirts to keep with her. Then we went to her room and talked about where Florie sleeps.  WITHOUT Momma.  She said NO NO NO.....but we went on with bottle, brush teeth and book, snuggle routine, then I told her it was time to lay down.  She did, and I sat on the end of her bed, patting her until she fell asleep.  (We did put her dog, turtle, and baby on my pillow :)).  She slept soundly that night.  I did too.  My throat and ears quit hurting and my patience grew!  The next night, same thing.  Last night, I was out of her formula and thought she might drink soy milk which she liked in CHina....no such luck. She did wake up at 1:41 am again (ON THE DOT.....what happens at 1:41!!!) and I did go to her, patting her till she went to sleep.
It has been a good change...one we needed.  I am still there, supporting and loving on her, but trying to guide her to be more independent a little at a time.  Plus, it will hopefully make it easier for others to put her to bed too.
Of course the ultimate goal is to do the whole bedtime routine, pat for a bit, and then have her fall asleep on her own.....and i know that will come in time.  We (ahem, me) are just not there yet!
Sleep....wow.  It is a beautiful gift!  I can conquer so many more things rested!!!

Love,
Eve

End of Summer Aquarium Trip

Getting ready to head in!

My handsome guy

Have to run the steps...always!

One of our favorite views....

Florie received lots of "education"

Sting Rays are a family favorite

Jack and the big turtle shell

My little trouble maker ;)

Touching the sting rays and sharks....Florie had NO interest!

My wonderful Ben

The Macaws...Florie could imitate their call PERFECTLY and found herself to be quite a hoot!

Fending frenzy....who knew broccoli could be such a hit!

Brave girl

Three Months Home TODAY!

Has it really been three months? ONLY three months??  It seems like Florie has been with us for so much longer.....in the good way it seems like you have known your spouse longer than you have :)  She continues to blossom and is a joy most of the time.  Over the past few weeks her comfort level has grown even more, and so now we are hearing a lot more NO! and seeing a lot more falling on the floor temper tantrums.  I am also learning that lil' sweet girls are a bit more savvy and manipulative than stinky lil' boys at the same age....but, we continue to learn and grow, learn and grow.  And of course, lots of love and hugs and kisses along the way!

Three Months Home LIKES:

Mommy

Eggs
Noodles

Apple Juice

Coloring or Painting

Scissors
Painting her toenails (great way to learn colors!)

Books, especially Goodnight Moon and TRUCKS

wearing JUST a diaper

Pretending to go potty on the potty

Animal Noises

Batman Costume

Her baby and the baby's stroller

My computer--she can rearrange icons so quickly

Pictures of our family

Singing 

Dancing
Watching Signing Times, Baby Einstein, and Phineas and Ferb (sigh)
Finding the Moon at Night

Going up and down the steps

Saying RIGHT BACK to me and walking around for a minute

Ponytails

Lipstick

Dinosaurs

Whatever Jack is holding

Bath/Shower/ Swimming Pool
Wrestling with the boys
Kicking the soccer ball
She is a girlie tom boy

DISLIKES:

Vegetables

Keeping her ponytails IN

Dark Rooms

Whatever Jack will not share with her

Alex going to school

Both the dogs in at the same time

Brushing teeth

Any bread product

Long Car rides (go figure)

Dirty Diapers

Bugs...fake or real

Some recent Pictures:

At the Aquarium...note her shoes NOT on

Still taking Shoes OFF

First Day of School Pics for the boys...she wanted one too

Love the pigtails

Ponytails gone....down to one

having fun at the park with Mama

Being Silly

Peek-a-boo Florie

My Personal Favorite.....having fun with DADDY!

Beach Trip 2011

We just returned from our yearly beach trip with our good friends the Rs.....this time we headed to a different beach in the South Walton Beach area...and had great weather, good talks, lots of laughs, and of course, tons of boogie boarding!!!  This was Florie's first REAL time on the beach.  Her hometown in China, Beihai, is home of Silver Beach which is a famous vacation spot for the Chinese.  We took her there on the day we visited Beihai and her orphanage, and all I have to say is that Florida is MUCH more my style :)  She was leery of the ocean the first day, but took to it by the end of the trip. She is still a fish in the pool.....she LOVED going underwater with her eyes open and waving at the other kids under the water.  Alex fished again this time, but not so much luck.  Ben found a horseshoe crab among many other fun "friends," and Jack pretty much boogie boarded the ENTIRE trip!  We will look forward to next year :)

Ben riding the waves

Jack flying high

Florie and Alex in the pool

Brave girl

Looking for clams

The family...all SIX of us :)

Waiting for pictures

Being Silly with Mommy

The WHOLE crew of kids!  

Her new favorite spot

My love....and his YUMMY sangria

Alex working hard

Where Jack and Daddy liked to hang

Tired on the way home...Florie shared her blanket