Sleep is Priceless

I am now a week and a half into sleep training and we had that golden night, that one magical night every parent with non sleeping children craves, a full nights sleep.

Charlie aka Dennis, went to bed at 5:45pm and Jake aka Damien at 6pm. Neither cried or protested and slept through until... Wait for it... 8:15am.

I nearly fell over when we went downstairs and I saw the time. I felt amazing and both boys were happy and full of energy.

It would of have to happen on a preschool day, and I did have to run around like a headless chicken to get all three of us ready. Or at least semi presentable.

I've not once in three years had to set an alarm clock. If the boys slept until 6am that was considered a lie in.

The day flew by, I guess when you get up at 5am everyday by around 9am you've already done four hours and feel like it's lunch time.

The journey has been hard, but not as hard as the constant sleep deprived nights.

I'll keep you posted.

Controlled Crying - Night Two

Control crying two children at the same time is hard! It's 2am and I've been awake for the last hour. I'm currently listening to Jake shout: "I want my mummy" he isn't crying as such, just moaning and desperate to get in my bed.

Charlie has also been up but is now back to sleep. He is actually doing really well with his new routine, only crying for around ten minutes when he wakes up now.

I thought he would be the hardest nut to crack but it's my determined three year old who is hanging on in there.

In doing the back to bed routine with him, and thought I would spend hours putting him back into bed. But no, he has only gotten up a handful of times. Instead he stays in his bed, shouting for me.

The main problem I'm facing is them waking each other up! If one starts they set the other off.

However, I'm determined to see this through and we will get there in the end.

Controlled Crying - Round One Mummy

Tonight, is the first night of our new routine. Having only had three hours sleep each night since Thursday, I had to do something.

Although, I've said I hate it in the past, I decided I have to give control crying a go. I was at breaking point, exhausted mummy and exhausted children is not a good combination. My two have always been bad sleepers, but recently it's got totally out of hand. And that is my fault for letting it get so bad.

So tonight went as follows, bath, pjs, milk and story. Then I tackled Charlie aka Dennis. I've been rocking him off to sleep in his buggy for the past six months and it had to change.

It was awful, listening to him wailing mummy in desperation and frustration and coughing away. I went in every ten minutes and each time I left the room I felt awful. I had to keep in mind why I was doing it, and that is so we all get some sleep in the long run.

Charlie took 50 minutes before he settled.

Next up was Jake aka Damien. I am following the Supernanny 'back to bed' tactic with him. But to my surprise he didn't get out of bed.

Now Jake being Jake didn't make it easy for mummy either. He cried for me for a good 50 minutes too.

In fairness, this was slightly easier to take as he is three and can communicate his feelings.

So, all in all, I would say round one goes to mummy. But let's see who takes round two. I know it can't be that easy.

I'll keep you all updated on how our sleep training progresses this week.

Silence is golden!

My boys are so loud, they make a rock concert seem quiet. I sometimes crave silence. When the've finally gone to sleep, it's nice to just enjoy the peace.

But when you put two toddlers together, and two very active toddlers at that, the last thing you want to hear is silence.

Well this is exactly what happened this week. My friend and I let our boys go upstairs and play in his bedroom. We turned the TV off so we could hear them and things were going well.

All of a sudden. I turned to my friend and said: "Can you hear anything?", "Nope" replied my friend. We just looked at each other and knew it could only mean one thing. Trouble!

Up the stairs we went and this is what we were greeted with.... No more words needed!

Keep calm and paint

I fancied having a bit of a spruce up of my house today, I know it's not spring and I'm certainly not nesting, I just fancied freshening things up.

So off I trek to my local DIY store, buy the biggest tin of white paint I can find and a starter set of brushes. I'm the girl who struggles with the most basic of home improvements, so you can imagine how proud of myself I felt.

After a quick stop off to see a friend, it's time to pick up Jake from Preschool. My head still filled with how amazing I'm going to be at painting. Perhaps, I'll discover an unknown talent?

Hang on, we don't even get that far and disaster strikes! I arrive home, pop inside with the shopping and go back to the car to get the boys. Jake innocently says to me: "Mummy, can we play with the paint now?", hmmmm, "Not now sweetie I say."

Then I see his eyes look to the floor, mine follow and I think, that's not right. I look again. Still not right. Then I look for a third time and it hits me. The entire contents of the paint tin is across the floor of my car!

Oh my god! Now what do I do. I take the tin out, it covers the pavement, I move the mat and it covers the passenger seat. I move my new brushes and it covers me!

I'm now surrounded with a white mess, everywhere, and I mean everywhere. What do I bloody do now? Yep, I call my Dad! Who else hey?

Having to explain the mess I was in wasn't my finest hour and he then came and spent the next two hours attempting to clean my car, the pavement and all the clothes!

I'm all for letting kids have messy play, but I draw the line at painting my car!

Am I MAD?

Well, who'd have thought it, eight months into my blogging journey and my little ole blog has been nominated for Best New Blog of the Year in the MAD (Mum and Dad) Awards 2013.

To say I'm excited and actually a bit proud of myself is an understatement.

When I started my blog, it was around the time last years awards were taking place. I say there and thought, this time next year, I'd love to be up for nomination.

And guess what, now I am! Well my blog is anyway. And someone other than me nominated it. So thank you.

Nominations are still open so if you want to up my chances, just go the following link and vote away.

http://www.the-mads.com/awards/