Weather comfort

I came home from an evening with Mothers & More friends last night in the middle of a pretty severe storm.

"PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS PRODUCE DAMAGING WIND IN EXCESS OF 60 MILES PER HOUR...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL...DEADLY LIGHTNING...AND VERY HEAVY RAIN." - excerpt from The Weather Channel's Severe Thunderstorm Warning

(It was one of the few times in my life that I was tempted to pull over while driving because of the poor visibility and wind! It's not often I drive 35 mph on I-290 or drive with so little traffic!)

When I went in to Shawn's room to kiss him goodnight, like I always do if I'm not home at bedtime, he was wide awake. He didn't seem bothered by the weather, but still asked if I'd lay down with him for a little while. Once I got Lilly changed and got ready for bed myself, I came back to lay down next to him. As I put my head on his pillow, I could feel his arm underneath. Before I could do anything about it, he curled his arm around my shoulders and brought my head over to his shoulder. It was as if he thought I was scared of the storm and was trying to comfort me, like I've done for him on so many nights when he couldn't sleep. Within seconds, I heard his breathing change to a sleepy rhythm, but I laid in his arms for a few minutes longer before getting up. No reason to rush.
My caring little man.

Part of me can't wait to see him grown and how he'll be taking care of others (whether his own family or as part of a career), but another really huge part of me just wants to freeze time during moments like that!

A love story

A boy and his dog: a story

Cuddles

After having a tough day, Lilly's not the only one who liked to cuddle on Mommy's tummy!

Sleeping Beauty

It's the first night Lilly's sleeping in her crib. She's taken a few naps in it, but not many. She used to wake up after just a few moments of sleeping there, though she'd sleep almost anywhere else. Lately, I've tried having her nap in her crib at least once a day. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it's happening more often and for full naps now.
At night, Lilly's been co-sleeping with me in the guest bed in her room. During her first night home, I lasted about 2 seconds before crawling into that bed with her. (Raj did too, even though he's dead-set against co-sleeping for fear of rolling over on the baby.)  So, Lilly and I have been co-sleeping for the past 6 1/2 weeks. It's worked very well. She wakes up to nurse and we can both go right back to sleep. Even when she needs a diaper change, we only have to go a few steps away to take care of it. Then she easily and quickly goes back to sleep (99.9% of the time). I'm definitely more rested and less stressed about Lilly's sleeping habits than I was about Shawn's. (I was a walking zombie trying to get him to sleep!) Sure, one variable is parenting experience then & now, but wow, what a difference this whole 'sleep' thing is with Lilly!

I'm not sure what prompted me to put her in her crib tonight.  Curiosity, maybe.

Lilly slept the first part of the night in her crib (8:50 pm - 11:03 pm). She woke to nurse and went back to sleep, so I put her back in her crib at 11:13 pm. It's almost 1:00 am and she's still asleep in her crib!
This is a milestone! (And ZERO crying it out needed - take THAT 'experts!')


However, it's almost 1:00 am and I'm wide awake. Every sound Lilly makes in her sleep makes me think she's waking for a diaper change or feeding.  I'm secretly hoping she does wake up, just so I can have a little transition time! There's no need to quit co-sleeping cold turkey...  We've gone half the night already, we can transition more later... 

If I start to whimper, will she come get me?

Can I please have my baby back?

Baby?