Bedtime Routine!

*Don't worry she doesn't sleep with anything in her crib, I just had those in there while I was cleaning*





A new world has just opened up to me, it's 8pm and my daughter is in her crib, in her nursery... alone. Juliette has started a new bed time routine and I couldn't be more thrilled. (honestly, a little sad too, she's getting to be a big girl)

She starts to get super cranky around 7:15pm, that's where the routine kicks in. Every three days we start with bath. Unfortunately with her eczema issues she doesn't get nightly bathes, which is sad cause I love giving her a bath. But it's better for her skin to soak less often and just get a wet wash cloth on areas that need cleaning. Then we have a routine of lotion, lotion, lotion. She gets lathered down and into her PJs. Then it's feeding time.

I swaddle her up and place her into her crib with a pacifier. Turn her sound machine on and humidifier and let her sooth herself to sleep. I haven't been rocking her to sleep for five days now and she's doing great! Only needing a couple of gentle touches and encouraging words.

Ready for the truly amazing thing: She goes down at 8pm and wakes at 7:30am!! Crazy, I know. Now she does need some pacifier help around 5am, but that's fine by me.

It's bitter sweet. I am sad she isn't in the co sleeper right next to me anymore but it's also fantastic that hubby and I have time together in the evening. It's sad I don't rock her in the dim light of her nursery and watch her drift off to dreamland, but I indulge and let her sleep on me during her naps. *haven't broken that habit yet*

Juliette and I napping on the couch:
So many people come up to you when you have a new baby and say "it goes by so fast" as if to tell me to embrace the moments because you blink and they are gone. I really don't need anyone to tell me this. My heart hurts and is overjoyed all at the same time when Juliette makes it to a new milestone. It's sad she keeps growing yet I can't wait to see who she becomes. It just goes by so fast... so fast.

Some pictures from the past couple of weeks...