Night , Night Time.........

Night, Night time is always a fun time at our house. The process of putting Payton to bed starts around 8:15ish in the evening. It starts with us brushing her teeth. After I brush her teeth she runs and gets Daddy because it is "jumpy time." On the rare occasion Daddy is not home for "jumpies" then I have to take over. Jumpy time consist of me laying on her bed and Daddy throwing Payton up in the air. (Derek has mentioned that jumpies are getting harder and harder to do each night.) Payton will ask me if I want to see "crazy jumpies" or "super, super, really high jumpies." After we do about six rounds of all different types of jumpies it is basketball time.

Basketball time is where we put a little hooped basket on her dresser and we each take a turn shooting the ball. Payton dictates what order we go, and please for the love of all that is holy don't go out of order. It cracks me up because I can tell the stuff she learns at school. For example, during basketball you may hear the following from Payton:

"It's okay, we have to take turns."

"Sweetie, don't worry you will get a turn."

"Come here (hugging us) it is important that we share and wait our turn, Sweetheart."


Derek and I have never once referred to her as "Sweetheart" or "Sweetie."


So, after basketball, I read two books to her. She must pick out the books. After the second book (or during it) she always needs to go potty. Despite the fact I asked her approximately ten minutes ago when we were brushing her teeth.

After the two books and potty break, we turn off the light and she picks the color she wants for her ladybug nightlight. Once we are snug in bed, I must tell her two to three stories. We are currently on a Snow White, Cinderella and Chicken Little kick right now. We then say our prayers, and I tell her that I have to go "watch the news" or "clean the kitchen" and I will be right back (wink, wink). At that point she asks for Daddy.

Then Daddy must go in there and tell stories. He also tells Snow White and Cinderella, but his version differs a lot from mine and any other form of the story that has ever been told or put into print. Then Derek tells his original story of Victor and Isabella. It has something to do with a princess, horse, dragon and some fish. After Derek tells his stories, he kisses her good night and leaves.

Then Payton will usually start to ask for me. I don't go back in her room. I am sitting outside in her play area and I tell her that I am right here and that I will be right back. This calling for me goes on usually for about 10 minutes. Not continuously, just every three to five minutes. After about ten minutes of complete silence, I go in there and she is passed out. This is usually forty-five minutes after we brushed her teeth.


I know that this may sound draining, but this is seriously my favorite part of the evening. I love watching Derek throw Payton in the air, and playing basketball as a family. I love snuggling in bed with her and reading and telling stories. I love listening outside her room to Derek telling his little girl stories about princesses. But do you want to know what I really love right now?








This is the bomb of baby monitors so far. Yes, we have only had it for one night, but I love it.

We used to have this one:



and it was horrible. It kept randomly crackling static. It kept us up ALL NIGHT LONG. It got so bad that after Payton was asleep, I would just go get her at midnight and bring her down to our room so I could turn the damn thing off.

Payton is doing pretty well sleeping through the night. However, does anyone have any suggestions for the 4:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. wake up call? Payton usually wakes up about this time and I hear on the monitor. I usually just get up and bring her back to our room because I want to sleep and I am afraid if I stay up in her room I will fall back asleep with no alarm. The new monitor has the talk back feature so I may use that to see if I can just talk her back to sleep. I just need her to sleep until 6:30 and life will be good.