Best Buds

Ethan and Joshua, despite the size difference, are the same age, with only a few weeks apart! It's been really neat to watch their friendship grow as they each grow individually. God has blessed us with the Erickson family, and Ethan would agree wholeheartedly! Yesterday we got them together to play and Tracy and I were marveling at the fact that even with them only being 4 years old, they played together for so long (about 4 hours) without any parental intervention. They never came to us bored, or arguing or needing anything, well, besides lunch which doesn't count. A testimony to their friendship!

Happy Girl!

Caitlyn right after she woke up from sleeping for 12 1/2 hours in a row! Mommy is even happier, no doubt. I tried to do the same thing with her schedule again the next night, but it was a bit difficult. She did really well though, slept right through until 7:45am! This is marvelous as any mommy would agree, unbroken sleep comes at a price. Fortunately this one isn't too high.

This is Caitlyn asleep in her carseat fir the first time. Despite the seeming normality of it all, this is actually monumental. Definately photo-worthy in any case!

And let the people rejoice! ( to be said in a sing-song kindof voice :-)

Alelujah! Caitlyn SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT!! Can you tell I am exstatic about this!? Well, let me give you the low-down on how it all came about..... We went to a baby shower last night that started at 7pm. It was a weird time and I didn't feel comfortable leaving her home. So, off we went to the baby shower, just the girls. We didn't arrive until 7:45 because the house was in a place I was not familiar with and it was dark with lots of traffic. She never cried until 5 minutes before we got there! What a good girl. So, we said our "hi's" and she quickly got cranky (well, it's passed her bedtime), so we got her changed and I nursed her, then she fell asleep. I passed her to a friend who wanted her turn to hold her, I couldn't pass her up on that offer, so Caitlyn stayed alseep for a few minutes but woke to some woman cooing at her beautiful sight. She was passed around between some longing woman and she got cranky again towards the end so I fed her again and we went home. I told her in a nice firm voice that she had a choice. She could go to sleep and have a happy heart or she could scream in the car like she always does. I got in the drivers seat and told her where I was and talked with her for a minute, then I noticed she was getting fussy. She did this for a minute or so, then promptly went to sleep. This may not seem like a big deal, but, you see, she sleeps on her tummy so going to sleep on her back is very uncomfortable and unnatural to her. What a good girl! So, I took a picture of her when we got back, I was just so proud of her and I wanted everyone to see. This, ofcourse, startled her, but she went right back to sleep. I put her in her bed, at this time it was 9:30 pm. (2 hours later than her normal bedtime). I woke at 8:30 this morning feeling slightly odd. Then I thought about it for a minute...........Wait, what, umm...where did, hmmmm.....when....HUH??? She never woke to nurse! SHE SLEPT THROUGH! WOW!! Well, it is now 9:30 am and she has been asleep for 12 hours! Yahoo! And like all neurotic mommies, I checked to make sure she was breathing. She is. Then I quickly walked out of the room to have some time with Ethan and tell everyone I knew, who would care at this hour of the morning, that she is still asleep. So, I should go do something productive while I have the chance, lest she wake before I get anything done! (will post the pics later)