Fun Weekend

We had a pretty chill weekend mostly staying at home.  I love getting to be with Sam in the morning as he is always SO animated - weekends are a joy!  He talks and coos and babbles so much and it is fun to listen to him.

One new toy/gift that Sam LOVES is his 'tag-blanket' - he loves to sit and play with it and it also goes in his crib with him.

Mom also decided to get out a toy saucer we got at the GM sale to see what Sam thought of it.  He was in it for a short time and seemed to kind of like it, but wasn't quite sure what to think!  Most things we get out for him take a few times for him to warm up to!!

This Sunday was the first time we put Sam in the nursery at church - I didn't expect to feel so guilty and unsure about it.  I feel like I leave him all the time for daycare so it felt like leaving him again :)  He did fine, though, and I actually got to stay in church for the whole sermon. I didn't expect to feel so constantly guilty as a mom!  I know I shouldn't and have no reason to as Sam is SO loved (by mom and dad), but I do sometimes. 

I also have been doing A TON of fun and different projects.  I will post the big one later as it's almost done, but today, when I took a break from my big projects, I made a cute little onesie for Sam!  I'm sure more to come as mom has the major "crafting/sewing" fever these days.  A long Minnesota winter will ensure endless hours inside to feed the fever.

The coolest thing lately is Sam and sleep.  I don't know if all the books I've been devouring such as "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" and "Babywise" have helped, but I feel they have.  I also think I'm just more confident in what to do and how and when - Sam is getting older too which helps.  Anyway, on the weekends, we have a great routine down - Sam wakes up, eats and then plays, but once he's been awake for around 2 hours, we wind down and I put him in his crib - awake - and then he's been taking a 2-3 hour nap.  Then he'll wake up, eat, and we'll play and then repeat with a nap, leaving him in his crib drowsy and he falls asleep.  The latter naps after the morning aren't as long, but they are naps. And the fact we put him down and he doesn't cry - maybe a little talking or cooing or light fussing, but then he goes to sleep, is awesome!  So, this is our routine and he is so alert and happy when he's awake, plus I feel he is getting the sleep he needs.  The one area we still could use some help in is more sleep at night.  I wonder if because his crib is right next to the bed, that I hear everything and respond too quickly or too often - I don't know, but Sam still wants to eat a couple times each night.  As far as the day, though, it's been great to feel like we have a routine and Sam is getting the sleep he needs - of course, the best part is being able to just put him in his crib for a nap and he sleeps without an hour of rocking and holding him!  The only challenge is that this is the weekends and it's not happening at daycare yet.  Some days he only takes 2 - 20 minute naps there and is exhausted when he gets home.  I'm hoping to work on that in January.

It did melt my heart this weekend, though, to see Sam sleep with his soft blanket that Grandma Vander Stelt made.  He loves to hold onto it and wrap his fingers in it.

Otherwise, we are looking forward to a short week this coming week with the holidays and a whole week of vacation the following!