The week started off good.  Monday and Tuesday the boys were pretty much on the same schedule.  Taking naps, feeding, playing and even one time pooping.  Yeah, who doesn't smile when you think of synchronized pooping.  But then things kinda went south on Wednesday.  They have been a tad cranky which seemed to have rubbed off on me.

(As I write this at 10:30pm William is still awake and not showing any signs of slowing down.  I have him laying on my bed and he seems content to kick and laugh and talk....)

My Mom gave me a much needed break today.  She took care of the boys and I went out for some me time.  I went over to a friends home who happens to be away for the weekend.  I took a nap on her couch while her cat napped on the bed.  It was a happy arrangement.

But let's get back to what this is all about.  The boys.

Levi is a lot of fun to watch right now.  He knows how to use his hands so well.  Reaching out to grab large or small items is so natural to him now.  If there is something behind him or to the side he knows exactly how to move his hands on the floor and spin his body around to get to that thing with such ease.  There is so much thinking going on in his little mind about how to get what he wants.  And he seems to get what he wants.  He has really been into patting with his hand.  He pats his other hand or my face or my shoulder or his toy.  It's so cute.  He makes different noises in his way of "talking" to let me know what he wants.  From his whiney voice that says "I'm done with this" or "pick me up" to his loud shouts that says "I am really enjoying myself" and "I love life."  Unfortunately, he also lets me know when he doesn't agree about me leaving the room.  Thankfully he hasn't started crying when I leave the room but he sure has a whine that says, "you forgot to take me with you."

William has always been a challenge to get to sleep.  (And yes, he is still awake right now.  Energy like his is wasted on kids.  If only you could put that in a pill....)  Anyway he has never been able to go to sleep in his crib on his own.  He gets so wound up when he is tired that he doesn't know how to calm himself down.  It just turns into a disaster and then it wakes up Levi which then makes for a very unhappy mommy.  So we have settled into the routine of letting William fall asleep in someone's arms.  That in itself was a struggle. He would thrash around because he was so cranky and you could barely hold onto him.  Now if you stick pacifier in his mouth and wrap a blanket around him and rock him he settles down fairly quickly and will usually fall asleep in a few minutes.  I don't exactly like this routine but I figure he just needs to outgrow this thing.  I don't even know what to call it.  Anxiety maybe.  He has not been good about naps either but in the last couple of weeks he has been improving.  For the longest time he was only taking 20 minute naps a couple times a day.  They seem to finally be stretching into 45 minutes to an hour naps about three times a day.  Yay for me.  He has even slept through the night for the last five nights or so.  Even bigger yay for me.  I am going to try getting him to a place of being able to calm himself down enough to fall asleep without being in someone's arms.  But in the meantime I need to keep my sanity and if that's what he needs then that's what I do for him.  I love snuggling with William and there is nothing more sweet and precious as a baby sleeping in your arms.  I can't help but stare at that sweet innocent face.

I admit that I am so thankful that Levi will fall asleep on his own.  In fact it is easier for him to fall asleep on his own than it is for him to do it in someone's arms.  Which is a good thing not only for him but for William because I can't hold two babies at once.  Levi knows most of the time that when he goes to his crib he can go to sleep and it doesn't take long for him to do it.  In fact he knows that if he is on the floor playing and he feels tired he can just lay his head down and take a nap right there.  I think he gets that trait from me.  I love my sleep.

(And now William is getting cranky because he is so tired.  I'm trying to let him sleep on his own but we will see how long this lasts before I cave in.)

The boys have been doing very well with eating solids.  Levi loves everything that I give him.  I think his favorite is the peas.  William is very good about opening his mouth to take food even when it is something he doesn't like.  He doesn't like peas and he has decided he doesn't like sweet potatoes either. I think it has to do with the texture and not so much the flavor because these two things are so similar texturally.  When the food goes in the mouth he doesn't want to close his mouth and almost gags to let me know he does not approve.  He will then eat it with a displeased look on his face.  He loves his fruit though.  I'm so proud of both of them for being such good eaters.

Okay, he has calmed down and is nearly out.  I think that transitioning him to fall asleep in my bed with me nearby is a step in the right direction.  So if this continues to get well then the next step would be his crib.  I hope.