Sleep is back.

I've mentioned that over the last six months or so, getting both kids to go to sleep and stay asleep all night has been tricky. Over the summer Sophie and Michael's sleep habits became uncharacteristically unpredictable.  Since it was chaotic anyway, we threw giving up the pacies into the mix.  In recent months, getting back on track has continued to be a challenge.

Here's what seems to have worked (consistently for the last five nights, anyway).

#1 - Daylight Savings Time ENDED!  Despite the typical efforts to transition smoothly, I honestly think this whole ordeal was triggered by that "spring forward," it was perpetuated by some bad summertime habits, and has settled now that we are back on normal time.  Micheal seemed ready to go to sleep later and later, and 9:00 p.m. becoming 8:00 p.m. again was just what we needed.

#2 -

 

As soon as the kids started climbing out of their cribs a few months ago, Mike and I gave this configuration a shot.  We were worried that one of the kids would get hurt on the dresser that was between the cribs, and it was kind of remarkable how the cribs just fit like this.  However, predicting some peek-a-boo style shenanigans would ensue, we instead moved the little dresser into our bedroom (lovely) and kept the cribs further apart and turned the other direction.  Michael and Sophie hardly ever climb out, but it's nice to know they'll be pretty safe if they do.

After a particularly frustrating naptime last weekend, I scooted the kids into the playroom and made this switch.  I was hoping a somewhat dramatic change would be a useful ingredient for bedtime.  When the kids came back in, Sophie declared it a "Choo-choo!"  And I said "Yes!!!  Mommy made a sleepy time choo-choo train!" as if that was my idea all along.  Come bedtime Michael lay down with no more fanfare than covering him with a blanket.  However, he just wasn't tired, and after about fifteen minutes he called me back in.  We read a few more stories on the couch and then he was ready.  He slept in his crib all night.  He calls it the caboose.

(I also brought in the rug from the playroom since the original rug is now too small for this arrangement.  As a result I have rearranged the playroom to incorporate the changing table/dresser, and reorganized those drawers, the hall and entry closets, and my bathroom medicine cabinet.  The basement storage room is next on my list.  These things always have a domino effect!)

 

#3 - I listened to my own mommy.  My mom watches the kids two days a week and has had successful naptimes all throughout this craziness.  For bedtime we implemented the subtle details of her approach.  When we read bedtime stories on the couch, we bring out the kids' blankets and snuggle buddies (stuffed animals of choice), and we read until they're struggling to stay awake.  Since doing so, Sophie has been telling us when she's ready to lie down, usually around 7:30. We read to and cuddle Michael for a while longer, and he's been going down pretty peacefully about 30 minutes later.

#4 - We now also brush teeth right after getting into jammies rather than after bedtime stories.  This keeps the kids from getting all riled up after settling down with stories.  Brusha-brusha is pretty darn exciting, don't you know?

 

#5 - We invested in our third Homedics Soundspa.  The sound has never failed us, but the projectors notoriously stop rotating.  Because we have enjoyed uninterrupted sleep since we replaced it, Mike and I can only assume that instead of calling for us when they wake up in the wee hours, Michael and Sophie are once again happy to watch fishies swim in circles on their ceiling until they drift back off.  At $20 each, these machines are worth the additional cost. 

 

I feel more confident than I have in months and months and months that we have really turned a corner here (bracing myself for the waking of a screaming child as I type these words).  I know this could all go out the window again tomorrow, but my gut says things are going to be much better for a good while.  Then we'll spring forward again and we'll all cry ourselves to sleep, but for now we have our evenings again!

Finished Nursery!

I finally finished decorating our boy/girl twin nursery!  Yes, the babies will be 12 weeks old tomorrow, but since there was some DIY involved, I don't think that's tooooo too bad.

The walls were already this color, the light taupe we painted this and our master bedroom when we moved in.  The white Roman shades were up already as well from when this room was an office and the playroom was a guest room.  I like how they let in great filtered light during the day while giving privacy, and we put up dark brown felt at night when it's still light out at bedtime (white stick-on velcro squares disappear in the corners of the moulding).

We didn't bother with expensive crib bedding sets since quilts and bumpers are SIDS risks. The sheets are from Clouds and Stars and the crib skirts are from Pottery Barn. That's really all you need in a crib.  The rug was originally from Pottery Barn Kids, but I bought it on Ebay.

 

The Bebe Italia cribs are from Babies R Us (10% discount when you buy two of the same big ticket item).  Both sets of parents bought them for us, and Mike likes to joke that he mixed up all the parts while assembling the cribs so neither baby can feel favored by one set of grandparents.  

After a lot of research, we found the dressers on the Land of Nod website.  The lower one is the perfect changing table height (36") and the taller one was just the right width for the remaining wall.  With a tiny room like this, careful planning is required!  The rocker, a compromise between a wooden glider (not a fan) and an upholstered rocker and ottoman (too big), is from Off Your Rocker.

The paintings above hang over Michael's crib, and the ones below hang over Sophie's.  I painted them myself based on these.  They are acryllic paint on canvas from Michael's craft store with scrapbook paper applied with Mod Podge.

Etsy seller Willow Creek Signs made this custom vinyl decal for us.  The quote is one that rings true for me as I share the joy of parenthood with Mike and the joy of twins with a curious and admiring world.  More importantly, I hope Sophie and Michael find double the joy in their childhood as they share it with each other.  The quote also inspired the name of this blog.

I made the mobiles, inspired by the ones in this blog.

The one area that still needs some attention is the top of the tall dresser, but for now it holds our twin/baby/parenting books, the sound and light machine, and the needlepoint my Aunt Rose originally made for my older brother's nursery.  It ended up in mine as well, and my mom had it reframed and gave it to me at the baby shower.  I can't think of more perfect words for a neat freak new mom like myself!

Click here to see the playroom!