Elijah 356- Part 17

This post is late, I know.  Reason being?  We had a rough week there.  As Eli has turned 4 months old, we have begun really getting a good bedtime routine going.  I had a decent schedule going, but it wasn't 100% concrete and he was going to bed at 7- much later then a baby should be.  So this week was spent getting him to bed earlier and focusing on sleep.  I did the same thing with Zach and it worked great once we got the schedule in tact, but it's a rough few days/weeks for a bit in the process.  

The plan I use is from the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child."  It's entire theme is about how important sleep is to a child (and us adults too!).  Not only do children who sleep well have better temperaments, but they are also more attentive to the world around them when they get enough sleep.  That means that they are more easily learning from their surroundings.  There is even research done about brain development's connection to healthy sleep.  He also suggests having your child in bed earlier so they will sleep later.  I thought it was crazy, until I saw how well it worked for Zach.  

So this week I really focused on getting things started.  I have had Eli in bed by 6pm every night (and am focusing on getting him down 15 minutes earlier next week).  It wasn't an easy day or two in there, I found it harder this time because I'm already chasing a toddler around, and Dima was barely home.  But after about 2 days things started improving.  We are still working out the mornings, he wakes a few times in the very early mornings for feedings, which is normal.  I hope to get him to only wake for one of those feedings in the next few weeks.  He currently gets up quite often between 3-7am.  I'm confident he'll get better in a week or so though.  He's still pretty young! In the meantime, I'm pretty excited he sleeps from 6pm-3am at only 4 months old.  

Here are the photos from our week!

Day 121- January 7- Eating his fist.  He also rolled over for the first time today!

Day 122- Jan 8- Tummy time!

Day 123- Jan 9- ready for a run with brother and Mommy!

Day 124- Jan 10.  Hanging out with big brother

Day 125- Jan 11.  Silly smiles!

Day 126- Jan 12.  Silly Monkey boy

Day 127- Jan 13.  He's always in his chair watching mommy and brother!

Christmas toy fun

My kids got spoiled this year by Santa.  Seriously, were they really that good?  I mean Eli was colicky for much of 2012, and Zach was- well his goofy self.  But alas, Santa spoiled them rotten.  With so much craziness of the holidays, they have barely played with all their new toys.  Now that the craziness is over, we've gotten to sit back and play with all our cool things.  

Uncle Ric got these blocks for him.  He loves building and lining them up.  He counts while doing it

Uncle Sasha and Auntie Katya got him this neat easel.  He loves to paint and color it with chalk!

Mommy got to play too...

Playing peek a boo with the neat Russian blocks from the grandparents.  While wearing his Mickey shirt from Uncle Fedya

I kid you not, he stacked them this high.  I did the bottom, he did all the top.  He would be the best Jenga player!

Elijah 365- part 16

The holidays have been quite hectic, so I apologize that this post is late.  As much as I love the holidays, it is nice to get things back to normal and start fresh in the new year.  This week, our trip with our family ended, but not without more spoiling and kissing for Eli.  He's a busy boy and constantly smiling.  Here's the week's photos!

Day 114- Dec 31- One last photo before flying out!

Day 115- January 1-Happy New Year's.  Laying with big brother

Day 116- January 2- Hanging out watching Zach play with blocks

Day 117- January 3- Hanging out in the morning with Mommy

Day 118- January 4- having tummy time!  What a happy boy!

Day 119- January 5- Hanging with big brother again.  One of the best things about two boys is getting matching clothes!

Day 120- January 6- Going for a run with Mommy and Zach