Bedtime Routine

I am the first to state that we are not textbook when it comes to Cruz's bedtime routine.

Actually we probably fall more into the 'what not to do' section.

But I will say we seem to be moving in the right direction. By "right direction" I mean that we are no longer letting Cruz sleep in our bed. Every single night.

It also means that one of us still goes to bed with him each night and stay with him until he falls asleep.... where sometimes we fall asleep ourselves and are in his bed the entire night.

Hey, it's not just Cruz that needs to break the bad habit. I love sleeping with him too.

But lately we are getting better about staying in our respective beds. And I think that warrants a gold star for both Cruz and I. Well, at least I think it does.

Besides Nick or I, obviously, there are some things that Cruz can't live without at night:

Sven Plush Toy // Boon Glo Nightlight // Baseball blanket //

 Fan // Dino Slippers (sold out, similar here & here) // 

PJs (ON & Gap) //  Hello Fire Truck Book

The biggest must is his "Sbenny Boy" as Cruz likes to call him. He also calls him "brudda" and pretends he's our new baby and tucks him under the covers each night. It's kinda cute.

Along the lines of bedtime, I came across this "Mommy will you lay with me" article the other day and it really hit home. I obviously lay with my kiddo at night, as previously pointed out, but after the book is read and the lights are off, I spend most of my time telling him to be quiet and close his eyes, because then my head starts running through all the things I need to get done before I can finally go to sleep myself.

One line hit home, but this is when the good stuff comes out and it's so true. This is generally the time Cruz just wants to talk and talk without any outside distractions, about his day and just what's on his mind.

And it's true. The stuff he talks about is just too good to miss.  Like last night:

C: Mama, can we just talk about some stings (things)?

Me: Sure. What do you want to talk about?

C: What about tractors? I like yellow tractors, do you like yellow tractors?

Me: Of course I do, yellow is my favorite color.

C: Mine too. Well and I like blue and green and red and black....actually I think I like all the colors. Can you like all the colors, mama?

Now he is getting really comfortable in the conversation. He rolls over, lays his head on my back and crosses his legs...

C: Mama, I think this is a good idea that we do this, right? I like to talk about stings wit you.

Me: I like it too.

C: I think we should go to Bounce U - remember when we went there? Let's go. Can we go right now...is it closed? Can I bounce there for a long time? Do you think Cole and Morgan can go this time?

Me: Sure. It's closed right now but we can go again.

C: I really like our family, mama. You and me and daddy. Oh, and Sben too. We are a really good family, right?

And it goes on and on and on like this until he gets too tired to keep talking and falls asleep, because I just can't stop him when this kind of conversation starts.

Of course this most definitely results in him being a bear to wake up in the morning for school, because by now it's after 10pm and he just fell asleep.

Oh well...

Linking up with It's the Little Things and Thoughts for Thursday.