Expert Sleep Advice For Babies

 Ok, I found this article on sleep advice written by Ava Neyer, a mother of twins, and had to share it. She has a great sense of humor, and I had a good laugh over it! I'm sure all of you mom's can relate!

"You shouldn’t sleep train at all, before a year, before 6 months, or before 4 months, but if you wait too late, your baby will never be able to sleep without you. College-aged children never need to be nursed, rocked, helped to sleep, so don’t worry about any bad habits. Nursing, rocking, singing, swaddling, etc to sleep are all bad habits and should be stopped immediately.
Naps should only be taken in the bed, never in a swing, car seat, stroller, or when worn. Letting them sleep in the car seat or swing will damage their skulls. If your baby has trouble falling asleep in the bed, put them in a swing, car seat, stroller, or wear them. Use the crib only for sleep and keep it free of distractions. If the baby is having trouble adjusting to the crib, have them play in it first. If the baby wakes up at night and wants to play, put fun toys in the crib to distract them.
Put the baby in a nursery, bed in your room, in your bed. Co-sleeping is the best way to get sleep, except that it can kill your baby, so never, ever do it. If your baby doesn't die, you will need to bed-share until college.
Keep the room warm, but not too warm. Swaddle the baby tightly, but not too tightly. Put them on their backs to sleep, but don't let them be on their backs too long or they will be developmentally delayed. Give them a pacifier to reduce SIDS. Be careful about pacifiers because they can cause nursing problems and stop your baby from sleeping soundly. If your baby sleeps too soundly, they’ll die of SIDS.
Don’t let your baby sleep too long, except when they’ve been napping too much, then you should wake them. Never wake a sleeping baby. Any baby problem can be solved by putting them to bed earlier, even if they are waking up too early. If your baby wakes up too early, put them to bed later or cut out a nap. Don’t let them nap after 5 p.m. Sleep begets sleep, so try to get your child to sleep as much as possible. Put the baby to bed awake but drowsy. Don't wake the baby if it fell asleep while nursing.
You should start a routine and keep track of everything. Don’t watch the clock. Put them on a schedule. Scheduling will make your life impossible because they will constantly be thrown off of it and you will become a prisoner in your home.
Using the "Cry It Out" method (CIO) will make them think they’ve been abandoned and will be eaten by a lion shortly. It also causes brain damage. Not getting enough sleep will cause behavior and mental problems, so be sure to put them to sleep by any means necessary, especially CIO, which is the most effective form. CIO is cruel beyond belief and the only thing that truly works because parents are a distraction.
Formula and solid foods will help the baby sleep longer. Solid foods shouldn’t be given at night because they might wake the baby. Don't stop the baby from nursing when asleep. Be wary of night feeds. If you respond too quickly with food or comfort, your baby is manipulating you. Babies can’t manipulate. Babies older than six months can manipulate.
Sleep when the baby sleeps. Clean when the baby cleans. Don’t worry. Stress causes your baby stress and a stressed baby won't sleep."

Olive Garden Four Cheese Ziti Copycat

This is my new favorite dinner recipe! It is so yummy, and SO easy. I got the original recipe from pinterest here, but made a few changes since i still have baby weight to lose! :-)

1 can/jar four cheese marinara sauce (i used Ragu)
1 jar alfredo sauce (i used Ragu garlic alfredo)
1 bag/box pasta (i used bowtie wheat pasta)
parmesan cheese to sprinkle on top

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. In a 9x13 baking dish, mix the marinara and alfredo sauces. Add the pasta. Sprinkle desired amount of parmesan cheese on top. Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until bubbly.

I tried to use reduced fat alfredo sauce, and it wasn't so great. I decided its better to have a small helping of REALLY good pasta vs a big helping of not so great pasta. :-)

I usually make this with cheesy biscuits or breadsticks. I posted the recipe Jeff and I like best below.

Cheesy Biscuits

(recipe adapted from Life as a Lofthouse)

1 large can refridgerator biscuits, or 2 small cans

3 tablespoons Butter, melted

1 teaspoon Garlic Powder

1 teaspoon Onion Powder

1 tablespoon grated Parmesan Cheese

Lots of Mozzerella cheese :-)

Directions:   Preheat oven to 425 degrees. In a 9 inch glass pie plate, mix together the melted butter, garlic powder, onion powder and parmesan cheese. Sprinkle the shredded mozzerella cheese evenly over the top of the butter mixture.

Place biscuits close together over the top of the cheese and butter mixture.

Bake biscuits in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown. Remove and let stand for 3 minutes. Turn biscuits upside down onto a serving plate. Serve warm!

Boston's Laugh

Finally uploaded Boston's first laugh. He's just so cute! I have watched this at least a hundred times :-)

Doctor's Appointment

We had Boston's 4 month check up this past Wednesday! He weights 16 lbs 5 oz, and is 25.5 inches long! Way to go buddy! He is in the 83% in weight for his age, putting him at the size of an average 6 month old. His pediatrician informed me that i produce very rich milk. So...i make a darn good cow. You're welcome buddy!

And then come the shots....i know no one likes seeing their kids get shots, but seriously, it is the WORST. This was the first appointment i actually cried during. I hate being the bad guy! Watching him scream and look at me with his big beautiful eyes wondering why I'm letting this happen to him. Just so you know Boston, your dad is actually the bad guy. Just remember that. Next appointment, he gets to go in with you, and I'll take you for ice cream after! Dad=shots, Mom=ice cream. And yes, you'll only be six months, but who cares :) Since he couldn't have ice cream, I caved and got him a new toy. Yes, yes, he's spoiled blah blah blah i don't care.

About to be measured

Waiting for Dr. Wannacott

Still waiting...

After the shots :-( His legs are sore!

Ok..maybe he'll forgive us for the shots

4 Months Old!

Happy 4 month birthday Boston! We love you more and more every day! You're growing up way too fast.

New Job

We are so proud of Jeff! He was offered a job as a Math teacher at Brighton High School. He has currently been an intern at Mountain View High teaching  Pre-Calculus and Algebra 2. He is a great teacher and loves his students. And its pretty obvious his students loved him as a teacher! I know this because his fan club has posted pictures and comics all over the back of his classroom. I've also corrected a few tests that may have had hearts drawn on them. To which i marked every answer WRONG and wrote a giant F :) Just kidding....but seriously! He was also a part of a school assembly where all the teachers surprised the kids with a staff "Harlem Shake." He was dressed in a platinum blonde mullet wig, flippers, goggles, and a Samoa lava lava. I hope he can be just as happy with his new job at Brighton, and the students can appreciate him as much as they did at Mountain View. Good luck Jeffy!

Spring Break!

Our family had the chance to go to San Diego last week with Jeff's parents for Spring Break. We had a GREAT time! We went to Sea World, saw the San Diego Temple, visited the Mormon Battalion site and spent time at the ocean. We had so much fun, and Boston was such a good traveler! He only got upset a couple times in the car, but never for very long. My parents and brother happened to be there the same time, and we were able to see them for a couple of the days as well. What a fun trip! Here are some pics:

So good in his car seat

First time swimming! Too cold :(

San Diego Temple

Looking at the dolphins

Hangin with Grandpa Roberts

Riding the Manta

Hangin with Grandpa Tree

Belluga Whales

Sea Lion and Jeffy

Sea World Pictures from the sky tower

Shamu wanted to eat Boston

Shamu!

Jeffy touching the dolphins

La Jolla Beach

Boston 3 Month Pictures

Little 3 month old Boston has become quite the chatterbox! Babbling, drooling, making spit bubbles, and squealing. He loves to be held and played with. Loves reading books, listening to music and smiles so big when he's sang too. He loves to play with the toys on his play mat, but only for so long :-) He loves his daddy, and gets so excited when he comes home from work. Boston also loves to be outside. Now that the weather has warmed up, we've gone on lots of walks with his stroller. He especially likes going cause he gets to wear his cool shades! We love our little man!

On his 3 month birthday!