Routines Rock

The last nine months have been full of change and chaos for our family.  Since we moved back, I've not felt settled.  I think a big part of this is the fact that our home is perpetually messy and not just that, many things still don't have their proper place.  Because certain areas are "in progress" with remodeling, it kind of affects the whole order of things.  Any fellow order-er's out there....please tell  me I'm not crazy?!  ;)

Since I was a little girl (and my mom can attest to this!) I've been a person who needed and craved order.  A place for everything and everything in it's place.  When things are out of place, it affects my mental and physical well-being.   Sometimes I wish it weren't so!  I think it would be so freeing to be able to live happily and creatively in a mess, and be unaffected!  I have been so concerned about restoring order in our house, that I have neglected something even more important....order and routines for our family. 

Camille's sleep schedule has been so erratic.  We've gone from waking up once for a feed and back-to-bed to 3 or even 4 times at night.  I am EXHAUSTED.  Man, lack of sleep can take a major toll on a person's mental health!  She is mildly teething, but apart from that, nothing that would warrant an all night all-you-can-eat buffet at the expense of mom's sleep.  :)   So, I decided to take her to the pediatrician this morning.  Surely something was going on.  Maybe her ears?  Turns out, her ears were fine.  A little clear fluid in there, but no infection at all.

Dr. V gently informed me that Camille is at the age now where she may be "testing" her sleep boundaries with us and that maybe it's time for a little cry-it-out.  I can't belive I didn't consider this!   Now I know why the "baby" of the family  is considered "babied" a little too much!  ;)  I was so hard and fast about routines and schedules with our other two children, we had very few sleep issues.  With Miss Millie, however, I've just been grateful that during this time of transition, she has rolled with it-she is so go-with-the-flow!  Well, now I know that go-with-the-flow has a price tag.  So tonight, we began again our bedtime routine.  Tonight was peaceful and calm, and even the big kids went to bed calmly and without protest. 

We revisited this old favorite with Miss Millie tonight:

And began this classic with the big kids:

It's the "abridged" version, and so far they can't wait for more.

Last year, my father-in-law challenged all of the grandchildren to learn the Lord's prayer, I still can't believe how quickly they learned!  We ended our day by sharing our good and bad thing for the day and praying the Lord's prayer together.  It was such a sweet time.  No fussing, complaining or going to bed frustrated.  I'm thankful and hoping for many more evenings like this one.  Good night!  :)