End of April news

Well, it's official: we are the parents of a 2 year old!
She had a wonderful and simple party with lots of people who love her and apparently love to spoil her...
Being a parent is getting harder and more wonderful every day! I'm enjoying her more and more and getting challenged each day as well. She's got a little bit of a of two-year-old 'tude, shall we say, and we're working on finding the balance between correcting and ignoring;)
We have also began correcting her poor sleeping habits that started just before we made the switch to a toddler bed. We had to lay with her for her to fall asleep and as of late she had really started dragging out her bedtime routine which was getting quite exhausting. She would wake up often in the night wanting me to lay with her or come into our room to climb into bed with us. We felt it was time to let her find her own way to get to sleep.
I got some great tips from our family doctor at her 2 year well child check-up and Wednesday night we put it in play.: We read books with her before bed as we did before but we do it now out in the family room and not in her bedroom. When we take her to her room, it is to lay her down, give hugs/kisses, say a prayer/song, and with the reassurance that we love her and will be in to get her in the morning...the door is closed and the baby gate goes up.
This was not nearly as easy to do as it was to type! The first night broke my heart as she cried for mommy to come hold her, "please Mommy, please!" It was honestly one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. Luckily for Mommy and Daddy it only lasted for 20 minutes and she was asleep! We had tried letting her cry a few times before and it had drug on much longer..:( She still woke up during the night once or twice...
Night #2 and 3 she cried for about 10-15 minutes and woke up only once before morning. Upon which Mommy went in, gave her a hug and told I would be in to get her when it was morning.
Saturday night we were out of town and without her own room, she cuddled with Mommy and Daddy:) (I was a little worried about the interrupting of her new routine...) But back home Sunday night and she went to sleep after about 5 minutes and woke up just for a minute or 2 at 4:30.
Today she went down for her nap with just a couple sad whines and slept for nearly 2 hours! That is awesome for her! (She usually fights naps pretty bad and doesn't sleep for more than an hour most days:)
Tonight I am proud to say that after Mommy telling her she would come get her in the morning she cried out once, reassured herself, "Mommy come get you in mornin," and was out.
So to any parents struggling with tough sleepers, be encouraged! I didn't think I could do it, but I'm so glad I did and am so proud of my little girl! She is growing up too fast!!!