The Zeigler Clan

About two weeks ago I decided to start "story time" for the boys.

Story time is after the boys are all ready for bed and I have spent about 20-30 minutes reading to them, they pick out some books and get to sit in their beds and read until bedtime.

I remember when I was growing up my parents would allow each of us kids to have story time in our beds. I remember loving it. It was so relaxing. There was something so comforting about being snuggled up in my bed, with my sisters all around me, reading some of my favorite books. It's something I have never forgotten. I want the boys to have that same memory.

I knew this would be an easy thing for Ruy to do but Liam...let me just say that "staying where Mommy says" is something we have really been working on lately. He is really good about staying in bed once the lights have been turned out. But "story time" is a lot different than that. I had put off starting this routine because I was kind of dreading dealing with his reaction to it. I know...I know...I am the parent...I should be in control of my toddler. It's a work in progress :)

I shouldn't have put it off so long. He actually did really well with it the first night! I grabbed a bunch of his favorite cardboard books, sat him in his bed, and very excitedly told him "he was going to have story time in his bed!" I told him he had to stay in his bed and read all his books until Mommy came and told him to go to sleep. He got out of the bed twice to come see what I was doing, but I just put him back in his bed and told him again to stay in bed until I came to him. The third time he got up, he wanted to tell me he was really tired. It was about 8:40PM at that point (his normal bedtime) so I kissed them goodnight, tucked them in, and that was that. They read in their beds for about 30 minutes that night.

We haven't done story time every night since then, nor will we start doing it every night, but on the nights we have done it, Liam has done better with it every time. The last night we did it, he never even got out of bed. Liam still needs a lot of work with "staying where I tell him to stay" but this is progress. Progress for him and progress for me. I say for me because it's my job to train him and to teach him how to obey. If he is not obeying, then I need to change something that I am doing. So that is something I have been working on with him lately.

Well that was a little peek into a new routine we have started. Does anyone else have any nighttime routines? I'd love to hear about it!

Reading his Veggie Tales book upside down.

He always has so much energy...except for when he wakes up from his nap...then he is super cranky.

Camo pants...Star Wars Book...makes for one happy 7 year old.

And because Baby Girl was sleeping when I took those pictures, I just added this super cute picture of her because well...it's just so cute :)

My dear sweet Liam,

Happy Birthday little man! I can not believe you are turning THREE! You have been so excited about having a birthday. It's the first year you understand what having a birthday means, and you have been counting down the days with me until it gets here! I ask you "who's going to have a birthday?" And you say "me!!!" I ask you "how old will you be?" And you yell "FREE!!!" Then you tell me all about how we will sing "a happy birthday to you" and how you want a blue balloon, and cake, and presents on your birthday. To say you are excited is an understatement :)

Daddy and I wanted you so bad. We prayed for you, and the night we found out we were pregnant with you...was one of the happiest moments of our lives. I wanted you to be a boy. And I'm so glad God gave you to me. You stole my heart from the very moment I heard your first cry. They handed you to me and the first thing I noticed was your sweet lips. You were beautiful. You were perfect.

You have grown so much in three years. You talk complete sentences, and never cease to surprise me with the funny things you say. You love to sing. You love Curious George, helicopters, motorcycles, trains, playing with bugs, being outside with Daddy, playing with Ruy, and being with Mommy. Your favorite books are Llama Llama and Biscuit books. You sleep with your George, Elephant, Turtle, Little George, and your two blankets. Although most nights lately you keep them at the foot of your bed, and cover up all the animals with your two blankets. You like to listen to "Patch the Pirate" Audios. You love to sing all the songs. Your favorite place to eat is Chick-fil-a. You love the Chick-fil-a sauce. You recently started pretending, and have also started making jokes. It's cute. It's fun watching you grow and learn new things. You have started recognizing letters in your name. And you ask me to tell you what letters they are all the time. You love your sunglasses, and your hat. You still rarely leave the house without them. You did stop wearing your hat as much once you got your sunglasses. But you keep them both in your "special" box in your room. I will be sad when you outgrow them.

You are such a sweet little boy. You always tell me that I am so pretty. You love to give me kisses and sing "You are my sunshine" to me. You love to hug me, and you always beg for "one more kiss" at bedtime. You melt my heart every time I look at you, every time I hear your little voice, every time you wrap your arms around me.

I'm not ready for you to be three...I'm not ready for you to get any bigger...I'm not ready ...But you are! So Happy Third Birthday My Little Liam Man! I love you so much and am so excited about all the new things "three" will bring! :)