Riley Update

It seems recently when I've blogged about Riley, the challenges he brings come to mind. So...an update.

Sleeping. Since we've returned from the cruise (almost 2 weeks ago) he's been going to bed great. I didn't tackle any new sleep tactics before the cruise, because I knew vacation would interrupt it anyways. From the moment we got back, he's gone to bed great. He often plays in his bed for an hour before going to sleep, which puts him staying up way too late, but he's happy. Some nights we fall asleep listening to him chatter on the monitor. Most nights and naps he hasn't cried a bit. The few times he has were more of a whine than the desperate heart-breaking cry from before, and he's done before I even make it down the stairs. It's been a huge stress-relief for me. I'm really working to stick to his bedtime routine, and I have to play all my cards perfectly. For example, brushing teeth needs to be in between books. Honestly, the biggest change I've had to make is my own attitude. I dreaded bed time because it had become such  battle and I was exhausted myself by then. I was frustrated and impatient every night- I didn't want to ask 10 times to come get in the bath or come get your diaper on. I've tried to come to terms with bedtime is a 30-40 minute routine. (He takes his bath before bed). It's longer than I want to spend, but if I'm patient I'm able to get him to be cooperative about things and my negative mood doesn't rub off on him. 

He also seemed to start understanding the his cousins Gavin and Mason don't cry when they go to bed (because I told him so) and I think he felt a little peer pressure if they weren't crying. It's nice when you can start to reason with them ever so slightly.

Hitting. A few short months ago I could barely take Riley out of the house. He would seriously hit any kid who walked by, or even worse would beeline across a room if he saw a kid just to hit him. When I say room, I mean Target, the grocery store, restaurants, church. It was insane. I don't know why it was happening or where he learned it. No siblings and he doesn't watch much tv and certainly not anything violent. Thank goodness it seems to have passed. He will still occasionally get in a tiff over a toy of if he's hit first- things that I feel are "normal" two year old aggressiveness. Needless to say he did not play well with others before and he's done a 180. He's learned the word "friends" and gets so excited to play with friends. Usually he calls them friend instead of their name and it's really cute. He has the sweetest sounding little voice and now that he's behaving nicely if you saw him at the park you'd never believe the stories I tell. Completely different kid. He's so excited to play with a  friend and cries when a friend leaves. I can finally step back and relax when another kid is around. Another huge stress-relief.

So, right now we are in a good phase. I know it could change tomorrow and new challenges will come, but it's so nice to sit back and just enjoy for the moment. These moments make it easier to remember why we've let this little boy consume our lives and how grateful we are that he does. I'm going to catch my breath and be ready to go again when the calm has ended!