The Boys' Room

Yes. We officially moved Jack (and his crib) into Austin's room over the weekend. I cannot remember  the last time Jeff and I had our room to ourselves, completely (no baby growing in my belly, sharing my bed, or sleeping next to me in a crib)!

Jeff and I were thinking back over the whirlwind of our lives. We've come so far! We're embarking on a new chapter. The boys are really going to experience brotherhood and all its ups and downs. Austin was elated! He kept telling us that we didn't need the crib in the room because he wanted Jack to sleep in his bed next to him. He was even willing to move Monkey out so Jack would have room. ;-) Ahhh...

It's been a little crazy. The past several nights Austin has managed to crawl into the crib with Jack at some point or another. Some nights he wakes Jack up, other nights I catch him in time thanks to our baby monitor that's reemerged itself recently. But all in all, it hasn't been too bad and I give 90% of that credit to Jack. He has made a 180-degree turn in the sleep department. The baby who hated to take long naps, who required all kinds of tricks in order to fall asleep, well, it's as easy for me to put him to sleep as it is for me to put MYSELF to sleep. When bedtime comes, like clockwork, the little man is ready to hit the hay; even gets excited some nights when I place him in the crib. He quickly curls himself into the mattress, with his chest down and his knees tucked into his tummy. Then I cover him with the blanket, tell him "Go to sleep now, Jack," as I rub his back a couple of times, and then I hit the lights and close the door. The rest is cake. Thank you, sweet Jack.

We are starting to have more problems with Austin's behavior at school. Part of it I've realized might be from the "Family" movies he has watched. I guess PG rated stuff, with its bullies and fights and sprinkling of profanities, is still too much to be showing him. I should know better. So we'll be doing the G thing for a couple more years, at least. I think the other part of the problem is from Austin missing Jeff, who's work has gotten the best of him lately. Jeff and I are working hard on it. The disciplinary actions we've attempted just don't sit well with me, so it's back to the basic time out and removal of toys. I need to make a visual chart of the "Bad Choices and Bad Consequences" we've established. I think it's another reinforcement for the kids to visually see what they are not to do and what happens when they choose to do it anyway. On the flip side, I need to come up with some kind of reward system and make a visual of that, too. Maybe extra books at bedtime for helping to clean up at dinner, for example. We're at that point with Austin where basic chores, like making a bed and putting shoes away, should be a daily thing if I can keep up with it. It's just crazy to remember that it's not something I should have to do for him anymore. AND, I must remember how excited he gets when I think to have him help me put the folded laundry away! ;-)