Tempting Mommy

It's been 2 weeks since the twins converted to toddler beds and I've made a decision.

I want my babies back!

Overall, they have transitioned fairly well.  They are still really excited about the beds which I'm happy about.

What I'm not happy about is the additional hour it's taking to get them to sleep.  They can be practically falling asleep on the couch and as soon as they hit their bedroom door, they are suddenly rejuvenated.

The newest game is called "Tempting Mommy".  Here's how you play:

1. Lay in bed and pretend like you are going to sleep
2. When mommy leaves the room, quickly get out of bed and run around the room
3. When mommy returns to the room, squeal and giggle and run back to bed
4. If mommy decides to stay in the room, quietly put one foot on the floor and watch her to see if she will react.  If she does react, quickly get back in bed and go back to step 1.
5. If mommy yells, "Get back in bed!", she doesn't mean it.  If you laugh at her, she gets even madder and that's really funny
6. If Daddy comes in to the room, he means business and you must act like you are going to sleep until he leaves.  Once he leaves, get out of bed because mommy will come back in and then the game begins again.

I'm also realizing that Kendall takes much, much longer to settle down.  Here's a typical pre-sleep routine with her:

1. Lay head on pillow and then pop up and say, "Ut Oh" because the blanket "fell off"
2. Do this at least 5 times
3. Say hi and/or night night to every stuffed animal in the bed and as you name them, kiss each of them
1. Hi Elmo,
2. Hi Baaa,
3. Hi Un-key (monkey),
4. Hi Woof,
5. Hi Minnie Mouse,
4. After saying hi and/or night night, throw each animal off the bed and say "Ut Oh"
1. It's NOT an Ut Oh if you do it on purpose!
2. This is usually where I start to lose my cool
5. Get out of bed and put each animal back in bed
6. Start singing
7. Start fluffing pillow
1. Do this at least 10 times

You get the picture. 

Once they are asleep, they have been staying in bed all night.  Although, for some reason, they are getting up earlier.  As in 5:00 am earlier.  Yuck!

Christopher is usually the first one up and he doesn't like to party alone.  If we don't get in the room and grab him, he'll go over to Kendall.

"Dendall!  Dendall!"

I was asked if I've thought about splitting them up and putting them in different rooms.  Eventually, I think we'll have to.  I guess part of me feels guilty for doing it.  They didn't get to spend a lot of time together for their first 3 months and sometimes I wonder if they lost some bonding time. 

I was convinced they hated each other for the first 6 months.  Every time I positioned them next to each other, Kendall would cry.

And, I don't think Christopher would do well in a bedroom by himself just yet.  He's much more clingy and he's starting to ask for her when they are apart.

"Where Dendall?"

I guess my plan is to let them decide when it's time to seperate.  I found one idea that suggested asking them every year before their birthday.  I like that idea.

I like the idea of an easy bedtime even better.