toddler boys

5 tips for an Easy Toddler Bedtime Routine //

July 29, 2017 by Rachel 15 Comments

Neither of my children were good sleepers as babies. It’s one of those things that I was alwasy really resentful of. A new mom needs a lot of rest, and I was hardly getting any rest, let alone “lots.” Hearing about other moms experiences with their kdis sleeping through the night as soon as they were home from the hospital or, heck, anytime in that first year?? It felt like a slap in the face.

But if there’s one thing that can be said about life with kids, it’s that nothing is constant. Thank goodness, am I right?!

We’ve had a bit of luck in the toddler sleep department, that’s for sure. But I know that not everyone has toddlers that are good sleepers. So I’m sharing the 5 tips that have really worked for us.

1. Establish a regular evening meal time. It may seem silly, but we’ve been incredibly consistent about the time of day our kiddos eat their last meal and this beginning of the ‘wind down’ hours has helped to create some stability at the end of crazy days. It really sets the initial boundary and start of ‘bedtime’ when they recognize that

2. Create a way to get the sillies out. For us, it’s a game of ‘attack daddy’ or tickle the kiddos. They love it and it gets that last bit of any pent up energy out of their systems. Also? It’s super fun for everyone.

3. Connect with your kids. I’m with my kids all day long, but it’s hard to truly be present all of the time. So my husband and I find a way to connect with each of our kids for at least a half hour every night, whether it be by talking about our day and what we did, or by doing an activity with them. It gives them what they crave — attention — and it helps to recenter us for the evening as well. It’s a win-win for everyone!

4. Limit television in the evenings. Children can be so overstimulated with the bright lights of a giant television screen, so after 6:30 PM, we really limit the use of TV. Luckily both of our kids are huge fans of reading books, so we generally settle in with a book and some snuggles.

5. Do not let them get overtired. One would think that completely wearing a child out means that bedtime will be easy peasy, right? Wrong. Ohhh, so wrong. Learn to sense when your child has had enough and make the move for bed right then. Do not wait. Do not give it more time. I’ve learned that toddlers easily go from tired to overtired, and they become restless. And bedtime will become increasingly difficult.

Bottom line — it won’t always be easy to stick to this kind of routine, but it will be worth it. I promise. I’ve come to terms that I’m not always the popular friend because my evening routine is dictated by two tiny (and very demanding, very cute,) humans; but this is the best way to make it through the tough sleep stuff of the toddler years.

What are your thoughts?? What else would you suggest to ease the pain of toddler bedtime routines?!

For more on sleep and parenting, visit Parenting the Principal!

That time I decided not to post about Remy Bea turning 11 months.

January 10, 2017 by Rachel 15 Comments

Guys, I’ve had a draft for Remy Bea’s 11 month update in process for, like, weeks. And… well, I just can’t. Because other than her being a lot more mobile as of late, not much has changed.

Actually, here’s what has changed since her 10 month update:

She is eating even more than before, which I didn’t think was humanly possible. I’m surprised this kid isn’t a tank, seriously.
But she hasn’t gained any more weight than her 10 month update (which makes her — still — very small).
And she’s almost walking. I say almost because this chick is way too lazy to walk. She can walk along furniture and her walker, but she knows that when she needs to get from Point A to Point B, it’s much faster to crawl and hustle.
Oh, and she’s still not sleeping. Like, at all. And it sucks.

It really, really, sucks.

I can’t even put it more eloquently than that. My mind is fried from 11 months of not sleeping. Words… sentences… metaphors… they all escape me. The only word that makes sense is ‘sucks.’ And it, well, sucks.

But I’d be lying if I said that there’s something that I have learned over the last 11 months. And that is that those fleeting good moments? They are really, really, good.

For instance, last night I had a ‘sleepover’ with Ari. This amazing little four year old man (yes, man, because he is such an old soul), restored my energy. No, not because he slept particularly well; but because sometimes you need to snuggle a four-year old all night. And sometimes you need to hear “Mommy? I just really, really, love you.”

Besides telling me he loves me a whole lot, he also told me that he’s going to marry me tomorrow (and followed it up with a kiss on the nose and the forehead — melt my damn heart!). ❤️

Babies are cute, y’all. But that’s pretty much as good as it gets until they can speak. Until then it seems like an endless cycle of: cry, look cute, cry, smile to restore your faith, cry again, poop all over you, cry, and giggle. And then cry again.

Perhaps we have the perfect combination of a ridiculously miserable baby and a ridiculously sweet toddler. Maybe that’s why a little time with Ari can feel so restorative. He’s the yin to her yang; He’s the calm to her crazy.

Don’t get me wrong: this child can still drive me bonkers, too. But it’s the kind of bonkers I can handle (aka – the toddler variety). And I’m sure we’ll get to that point soon enough (probably as soon as I hit “publish” on this post); but for now I’m basking in the awesomeness that is a night filled with toddler smooches, movie night snuggles, and an occasional foot in the face.

Happy Tuesday, friends! I hope someone looks at you today the way that Ari looks at me as he kisses me on the nose. ??

Fall Weekends, Travels, + Birthdays //

October 26, 2016 by Rachel Leave a Comment

We took a little trip to Columbus to see my sister over last weekend (like, a week ago…). Chad had not yet our new nephew, Brennen, and my sister had some stuff coming up which made me want to visit her even more! So Saturday morning we packed up the car (way more than we needed for a two-day trip!) and started our 2.5 hour trip!

I’m SO happy that my children decided to rest on the trip down so that by the time we arrived we were rested up and ready to play! In fact, our first order of business was to head to a local trampoline park to celebrate Ari’s birthday!

It was my sister, Shauna’s, idea. I was like “ehh, he may not like it.”

Guys. I was wrong. So, so, wrong.

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyiyZEx6lXc]

Dude took off like a bat outta hell! I couldn’t believe that my kid was being ballsy! Whaaaat?! Where was my shy boy!? Apparently when you turn four, you aren’t afraid of anything anymore.

Happy fourth birthday to the one who made me “mommy!” You are perfect in every way?

A photo posted by Rachel (@itsahero) on Oct 16, 2016 at 3:21pm PDT

At the jump park he was convinced — absolutely convinced! — that he wanted to go into the “hurricane machine”. We let him watch another kid in the machine, and, even then, he still wanted a shot at it. I was wearing Remy, so I sent Chad in with him. And it was hilarious.

And, of course, he hated every second of it. He tried. Ohhhh, gosh, did he try to like it!

Post-jumping, we headed to lunch at Hale’s Ales + Kitchen for some gastropub fare and beers! Oh, and then to The Daily Growler for some CBC Bodhi! When we got home we all relaxed and played and fed the babes before doing a little (extra!) celebrating of Ari’s birthday, with the help of cupcakes and presents!

He was so excited about the sprinkle cupcake — as well as the gifts, which consisted of a Star Wars Playdoh playset and the board game, Sneaky Snacky Squirrel. We ate cake, the adults sipped on tasty craft beers, and we played toddler board games (which, of course, he insisted on winning…), before all going to bed ridiculously early.

We spent Sunday morning lounging around, feeding, eating, and just general relaxing before Shauna and I headed out on a big Costco trip! Haaaa! How basic (and mom!) do we sound!?

Eventually, we had to head home to Akron. It was such a nice visit, but — gosh — I was totally looking forward to sleeping in my own bed! Granted, Remy slept okay-ish during our trip, which was a first! Yay for small victories!

I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to spend time with my sister (and her new family) and my little family! It was perfectly relaxing (even if it took me a week plus to blog about it!). ♥

Ari’s Birthday Parties // a look back

October 11, 2016 by Rachel 5 Comments

I try not to be one of these “pinterest moms;” I try not to perpetuate the idea that everything must be ‘worthy’ of sharing. I mean, I think I do a pretty good job of keeping the balance and showing people that I’m real, but sometimes I like to pinterest the crap outta things! Ha!

But I have to admit… I ahhhhdore throwing theme birthday parties!! Now, mind you, I did not throw myself a wedding and reception; nor did I have a bachelorette party; nor have I ever had a big blowout of a(n adult) birthday party. So yeah. I’ve been known to go a tad bit overboard with Ari’s birthday parties — and I can guarantee I will do so with Remy, too.

#SorryNotSorry

And all this “My baby will be 4!” talk has sent me down Memory Lane in a big, big, way!

I may not make supper every night (or even twice a week!), but, damn!, I can throw a birthday party.

I may leave my clean laundry piled up in the living room for a week, but, damn!, I can throw a birthday party.

I may cry in the middle of the day, and sometimes beg my husband to bring me home wine, but, damn!, I can throw a birthday party!

Okay, okay… you get the idea.

Ari’s first birthday was THE bomb dot com. He was in love with Yo Gabba Gabba, so a YGG birthday party it was!

My little man!

To be honest, that first birthday was more about us surviving Ari’s first year — and keeping him alive — than anything else.

I was still so overwhelmed by the first years’ festivities that I didn’t do jack squat for his second birthday. Well, I did. But it was a mish-mash of nonsense!

So we just ordered a birthday cake from West Side Bakery and chowed down. No big thang.

But his third birthday? I was back at it! My excuse was that it was my ‘last’ birthday with just one kid! Ha! The excuses we find…

And Minions was his drug of choice. And, ohhhh, were there options!

And this year will be no different. I’m still in the planning phase (even though I’m less than two weeks from party day!), but we ha have a theme and we have invites — Pokémon Go! No, we’ve never played PG. But Ari hears about it on Kids YouTube. So here we are…

🙂

Oh! And it’s a gymnastics party (again)! All the kiddos LOVED it last year.

Weekend Wrapup //

September 27, 2016 by Rachel Leave a Comment

Guys! [Yes, I realize I start a LOT of blog posts with “guys!” But, to be fair? I actually say that a LOT in real life.] This weekend was mostly the bomb dot com.

Let’s recap, shall we?

Saturday was set to be such a wonderful day, weatherwise. I mean, perfection of Fall. For serious.

Chad stayed home with Miss Bea while Ari and I went to Lowe’s for their monthly Build and Grow Workshop. Normally, these workshops go like this: we check in, grab our kit, and Mommy builds while Ari tries to wander away.

But this time was different. This time, Ari was super interested. So interested, in fact, that he actually used the hammer to nail his boat together.

I’m amazed at how much this kiddo has learned in preschool. It’s especially apparent with his ability focus and follow directions. He did great building his boat at @loweshomeimprovement Build & Grow workshop this morning!

A photo posted by Rachel (@itsahero) on Sep 24, 2016 at 8:22am PDT

I credit his new found concentration from preschool! I mean, it has to be, right!? That’s truly the only thing that has changed. So, thank you, Miss Shannon and the YMCA preschool for helping Ari concentrate and focus his way through building an amazing wooden tugboat toy!

Afterward, I took Ari home and picked up Miss Bea. She and I went to the local Hike + Bike trail to go for an interval run. Yep, you heard right! For the last 3.5 weeks I’ve been back to running! (More on that in a post this week!)

Girlfriend did great, considering! I mean, she loves the stroller. And she loved it for the first 25 minutes of our run. And then? Not so much… she fussed and fussed and fussed. Until she fell asleep. Thank goodness she fell asleep — OMG. And even though my run was over, I continued to walk until she got a decent nap in.

Post-run, we went home and played in the park with Ari. I seriously count my blessings every single damn day that we have a park (and playground!) in our backyard!

And then — yes even after this amount of excitement! — we ended up at our local celebration for our First Responders! Ari was able to climb into a SWAT vehicle, see a SWAT camera, witness the jaws of life, and get his very own bicycle helmet.

So, basically, a little boys favorite things. Right!? But for serious. It was the perfect way to wrap up our day.

And on Sunday, we did nothing except nap and clean. It was perfection. And it rejuvenated my Mama Soul, friends! For reals!

Busy Livin’ with Lil’ Beanies //

June 18, 2016 by Rachel Leave a Comment

It’s no secret that being a mom to a toddler and a newborn baby is hard work. Now, more than ever, I have to stick to my routine and my plan to make sure our days run as smoothly as possible. For me, that means writing out a schedule each night for the following day. Planning, most importantly, our meals and snacks, naptimes, and playdates (as well as work and other errands).

See, I’m a creature of habit. And so is Ari. And, hopefully, Remy will follow suit — soon! But for Ari and I? We work best as a well-oiled, scheduled and planned, machine.

When we head to the YMCA each morning, I have to pack snacks for Ari to make it through to lunch time. He isn’t a big breakfast eater, so it takes him some time to warm up in the morning. A healthy, on-the-go snack is perfect for us because it provides the nutrition that’s important for his health and development, alongside the ease of being travel-ready!

Enter Gerbers Lil’ Beanies. An easy (and nutritious!) toddler snack, free from GMOs, and consisting of 2 grams of protein and 1 gram of fiber per serving!

Healthy. Easy. Perfect for on-the-go/health-conscious Mamas like me! I throw two kinds (because, toddlers can be fickle and picky) into my diaper bag — Original and and White Cheddar with Broccoli! Easy peasy!

I’m super grateful for no-fuss snacks because then I tend not to worry about the fact that Ari likes to skip his breakfast. I know that when he’s ready for his snack (which is almost 10:30 on the dot every darn day!), I can pull these out of the diaper bag and be a-okay!

As hectic as our life may get, it’s nice to have one less thing to worry about. We just swing by Target and grab a couple of packs. Healthy, easy, fuss-free, and easy to find!

Find Gerbers Lil’ Beanies at a store near you — locate them here! And tell me, what’s your favorite on-the-go toddler snack??

Thank you to Gerber for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring my little one to eat healthy!