From Crib to Bed..Making the transition

Our little boy is two (not even two and a half yet!), and he is ready to leave the crib. I am not ready...I always thought the crib could hold him for a little while longer. He proved me wrong and has been getting in and out by himself regularly. We decided to take down the crib, but just keep the crib mattress on the floor, so he can adjust to the freedom, and also the strangeness of being somewhere new to sleep. Our little guy even helped me to take down the crib and put it away.

Tonight was the first night, and things went smoothly.

I have to say though, it is all about routine. For the past few months (since we knew this transition was coming), we would bath him, brush teeth, read books, say prayers and then put him into the crib. Then we sing him a song, and say good night. Like every other kid, he asked for water...or begged us not to leave. We just stood firm, said good night and closed the door.
Okay..Scott closes the door (that works for him), but with me..the one way I knew he would stay on his pillow was the leave the door open a crack. I feel it is okay that Mom and Dad are different, as long as we each find something that works, and we agree what the time limit is in the bedroom. Routines don't work when one person stays in and holds their hand until they go to sleep, while the other wants to say good night and leave. Scott and I agree that the best thing is to be loving and firm. We both know that the child has to leave to go to sleep on their own, and we both agreed to the routine long ago when he was still breastfeeding.
Anyway...since the routine is in place, a bed on the floor is kind of exciting. He is a big boy now. No more crib. We practiced what it would feel like going to sleep. This afternoon, I tucked him in, and said good night..left for 30 secs..then came back in and said, "Good morning, time to get up!" He jumps out and gives me a hug.
One trick..he had no nap today. He hasn't been napping for a few weeks actually. He had lots of exercise, and good food so by 7pm, he was ready for bed.
As I was leaving, he asked me for the crib. I told him the crib is put away. He said he was a baby. I replied that he is Mommy's big boy and gave him a hug. I made sure he had all the things he usually has in his crib (his blanket, and two dogs), so things were familiar. I also told him that I would come back in the morning and wake him up (just like we practiced), and then left. He wanted the door open a bit, and I was fine with that (since that is what I usually do.). 10 minutes later, he was fast asleep.
We already know that one good night does not mean everything is going to be perfect...we know that it is going to take a few weeks before things are settled.
KEY POINTS
Everything in the room stayed the same (even the same crib mattress)..only the crib was gone.
He helped to take apart the crib.
We practiced what it would be like to sleep and wake up.
Kept the same bedtime routine.
He had lots of exercise and no nap
One thing at a time...take small steps...it will help minimize the possible transition trama.

The morning workout

Every morning I wake up at 6:00am.
Okay, not every morning...and I just started this week...but my goal is to wake up at 6:00am M-F. I want to wake up, do some quiet reading and then do a quick workout before my kids wake up...so 6:00am it is! I tried this for a few months before the summer, and found I loved it..so here we go again.

On Monday, Wednesday and Friday I do a short workout routine. I took some of my favorites from BodyRock, and made a simple and quick workout.
On Tuesday and Thursday I do a run (somewhere between 2 and 4 miles..depending on how I feel and if I am training for a race).

Here is my morning workout routine.
I use a timer on my watch...30 secs on and 10 secs rest.
If you do not have a timer, you could do 20 reps of each exercise.

Bottom Jacks (Jumping Jacks without the arms)
Squat and Kick out to the front
Heel Kicks (Run in place with heels touching your behind)
Squat and Touch Floor in front of you
High Knees
Squat and Leg out to the side
Lunges
Push ups (on the toes)
Sit ups (all the way up)
Mountain Climbers
Abs - Scissors Legs

This workout is about 6 mins long...if you have time repeat it again and again!
If you don't know what one of these are..check out Body Rock and they will show you.

Daily Cleaning Routine

Daily Cleaning Routine


Monday
Make breakfast
Make school lunches
Check blackboard (family calendar) for kids activities
Unload dishwasher and load breakfast dishes
Wipe down kitchen
Make beds (make sure the boys have done theirs!)
Put in first load
Drive kids to school
Another load of laundry
Make Lunch
Clean up/Sweep up after lunch/playtime with toddler
Another load of laundry
Make Dinner
Kitchen Clean up (load dishwasher/wash all dishes/sweep floor)
Finish up laundry - Scott and kids put away clean piles
Quick tidy up

This is just an example of the cleaning I do each day. I feel like doing a little bit each day, really keeps clutter under control, and my home can be ready for visitors. I know how it feels to do the same thing day in and day out, and I have my complaining time too..but my goal is to keep a clean and organized home, and cleaning every day is the way to achieve it.

Why should you do these things daily?

Under housekeeping at about.com, they say it best...

Dishes:

Smells, stains, and odd fungal growth usually go with forgotten dirty dishes. Cleaning dishes daily is the best choice all around.

Laundry:

Not every family needs to wash laundry daily, but many of us find that at least a daily load of laundry is necessary. With work clothes, school uniforms, soccer practice clothes, and sports uniforms, our families can generate a lot of dirty clothes. A daily load can help prevent a mad dash to find a baseball jersey in the bottom of a hamper.

Tidy Up:

Doing a little clutter control on a daily basis keeps your home ready for company at a moment's notice. A few minutes of picking up each day also prevent your home from turning into a disaster zone that will take hours to plow through. A tidy room makes a big difference in our motivation to tackle bigger projects. Use the 15 Minute Cleanups as a daily help to keep your main rooms ready for visitors.

Weekly cleaning routine

After discussion with some friends over how many bathrooms we clean, and how often we find urine in the toilet, I realized that cleaning bathrooms is not much of a problem for me, because I do all the major cleaning once a week, and only have to tidy up once in a while (if my little guy finds his way in and messes up a drawer, or pulls down some toilet paper).

This is my weekly cleaning routine. When I started this routine I wrote what task I was going to do that day on my blackboard wall. I found that in keeping with the routine, and not leaving things to the next day, that I did not miss cleaning bathrooms, or wonder "when did I clean the sheets last?".

Even on the days when I am busy, I make sure to get this one task done, because I know there is another one tomorrow...and I do not want a build up of chores on Saturday. I am lucky to be a stay at home mom, so I can work a schedule like this and our weekends are free for more family time.

The major weekly chores for me are the ones that take the most time to complete.
1. Laundry (wash, dry, fold and put away)
2. Bathrooms (deep clean)
3. Floors (mop/wax hardwood and vacuum entire carpeted areas including stairs and corners)
4. Windows/Walls (there are some areas that are well touched in the house..switches, door handles, walls in the hallway and stair wells and windows..these get a weekly wipe down)

Weekly Chores/Cleaning Routine
Monday - Laundry (Clothes...usually three loads...two dark and one light)
Tuesday - Laundry (Sheets and Towels only)
Wednesday - Bathrooms
Thursday - Laundry (Clothes...one or two loads) and Windows/Walls
Friday - Floors
Saturday  - FREE - Family time, Organizing Projects, Errands..and sometimes windows/walls since my kids like to help with this one!
Sunday - Are you kidding me, we all need one day of rest. No major chores this day.
*Scott takes out the garbage and recycling, since Monday is pick up*

Scott is a great help. Some days, the laundry all gets cleaned and is in a huge mound on our bed, and he will come home and start sorting and folding. The kids are great, and will often help to put away their clean piles..although when they help, I wonder why I folded it, because it gets shoved in the drawer! My youngest son often "helps" me clean the bathrooms and floors and windows. As long as he has a cloth and is right beside me, I can usually get the job done.

Give it a try.
Set up a cleaning routine for yourself, and hopefully as time passes you will see just how clean your home can be with less effort.