Storytime. Bedtime.

They grow so fast. This tutu dress has been in storage for 7 months and she missed being able to wear it for more than this hour of playtime. I love that she is back into books again - well I love/hate it. The past couple of weeks I can almost always count on her willing to read a book, bringing me several at a time and saying "read book mommy" and of course I have to. Even if it's the 5th time that day? I mean seriously she has an entire shelf-thing of books, why does she keep finding the same ones? She wants to memorize them one at a time? Because I'm bored. Children love repetition and it's perfect for them, hence the love/hate. I always thought I couldn't wait to have a child and I would never tire of reading books to them! Well, it comes sooner than we would like. 

I love when she will read to herself. This is seriously the best of both worlds. Then come night time, I actually want to read a story. But here is her routine - we clean up her room, we take a bath if it's a bath day, we put on pjs, we read a book, we say prayers (she loves telling Dad it is prayer time), we rock with a blanket and sing a song or five "one more mommy" and then she climbs into bed (sometimes she'll just go right in without rocking). She sort of insists on getting in bed herself, and wants all the blankets on her, and wants her water cup (must.have.water). She'll take a sip and we swap i love you's and sweet dreams. I mean really, bedtime is the only thing we haven't had to really fight her on. She loves sleep and loves the routine! Sometimes you may not think she is tired because she still wants to play or watch TV, but once we start the routine she is pretty good at falling in line. And if she needs something, she typically calls to us from her bed. If we don't come and something is really bothering her, she will walk out, but seriously so easy! I'm so glad this toddler bed thing wasn't a stressful transition. She has loved it.