I realize these pics aren’t that great.  But hey it was dark in there and the flash on the phone isn’t the best! 🙂

My awesome sister in law (Laura) just wrote about her little guys bed time routine and it reminded me that I needed to log something about ours!

For the MOST part we start our evening fairly early with baths, teeth, potty etc… Then we all read books together on the couch and practice Awana or do a devotion. Then we all pray together as a family.  Kinda varies depending upon the night and if Gregory has a game or whatever, but we try to make it pretty consistant and we always pray with them before bed.  Sometimes the older boys will get to go and read in their bed, or on special nights play a video game together or watch a movie.  Luke then goes to bed.  Sometimes we will just read to him alone before bed if he needs that extra story.  Often times I’m nursing Gideon and rocking him so Brian will carry Luke back to his crib to snuggle him in bed.  Luke rarely ever wants a blanket or a pillow.  Sometimes he asks for one which we later come in to find stuffed in a far corner of his crib or thrown out.  He normally always wants to bring some sort of dinosaur or trian (see picture) or book or something in his bed.  Sometimes we can turn on the nightlight and fan and say goodnight and he will play for a bit or “read” and then drift off. 

Well, lately he’s beeing needing Dadeeeeeee to rub his back or tickle him to sleep.  He just wants us in there with him.  Most of the time its all about Dadeee hugs, Dadeeee rub back etc… Tonight Brian was at Gregory’s game.  I was sitting on the couch reading and he started crying and needing me.  I let him go for a while and then went in to his pitaful “Mommy hug peeeese”.  How can I say no to that.  So we gave each other a HUGE T-REX hug, and then he asks “Mommy Back peeese”.  Again, how can I say no or get on to him for needing me to rub his back. We realize he needs us and he’s not gonna need that forever (thanks Mom for the reminder!) So I sat on the floor with my little light in hand and read my book while I rubbed my sweet baby to sleep.  Every once in a while he’d peek his eyes open and smile at me.  Very sweet.  Sometimes while Brian and I are doing this we will pray for him or all our kids.  Makes for a nice time to do that. 

I remember Gregory needed us for the longest time.  We had to lay by his bed (twin bed ) until he drifted off.  We slowly moved closer to the door each night and then to the hallway.  Until finally he didn’t really need us to do it anymore. They really grow oh so fast.  So I guess for a time we’ll rub his little back until he gets sleepy enough to not need us for that anymore.