Bedtime, anyone?

Transitions.

I might understand why as we get older, many of us tend to become less willing to change. Or transition. Or alter from routine. From a parenting perspective, change can be daunting - especially when it comes to a bedtime sequence. We get used to what works and shy away from the necessary changes that come with growing up.

This is why binkies and bottles go on longer than they should. I began to feel like a bad mother about six months ago, because I was sometimes putting Jackson in his bed with a bottle. I tackle bedtime alone most nights a week (while Gregory is at work) and it's always a challenge to get them both peacefully in bed. It's not a good excuse, but it was just easier to get him in his crib that way.

I was so worried about changing that routine. 10 pm is not my most patient hour of the day. But it literally took one night to transition. We now have our bottles (yeah, say what you want, but it's really just like a drink of milk) and then we all brush our teeth. No dental foul, no problem!

Now we're in the thick of transitioning both Jackson out of his crib and into a toddler bed AND having the two crazies share a room. At this moment, I can hear them both getting out of bed, throwing toys, giggling, yelling and making some sort of hellish mess.

I've already scolded once tonight and told them both to lay down... and even if one of them is dead tired, the excitement of being together keeps them up way later than they want to be. The night either ends well with Jackson asleep on a pile of books on the floor or badly with Ayla freaking out because he has turned out her night light.

I know they're having a great time up there. I, as an exhausted short-tempered preggers pseudo-mom-monster, am not.

(Real time update: I went upstairs to yell a second time. They have thrown their play kitchen items all over the room and Ayla has somehow "hurt her back").

Better now than in two months when we have a newborn trying to sleep two doors away from them. Bedtime with three? Now, that's going to be interesting.