It's a good week in my house. My 3 year old has been falling asleep in his own room almost every night, and sometimes on his own. It's been work, effort, and a few well-chosen battles, but I'm glad we're finally getting there. I think I'll start much earlier with the baby! I agree with attachment parenting philosophies on bedtime, that it should be a safe and peaceful time, but I think for our sanity we need to increase the routine and discipline a bit, and it hasn't sacrificed any safety or peace for the most part, maybe it's even increased it. (I actually don't think I was following any specific parenting advice, for that matter, as I haven't read many parenting books; I was just lucky to do anything similar to what my parents did, which was on the less-disciplined end of things when it comes to bedtime) I have to say though, it would have been much easier to do this before the second baby came along. The nights that didn't work, it was primarily because the baby woke up at the wrong time.

Today was my first fun adventure with just me and both boys since the baby was born. We went to a farm where my 3 yo loves to visit and ride a pony, look at chickens and ducks, etc. The baby liked it a lot more than I expected him to, and didn't complain once even though it got a bit cold at times. He looked so cute in a little blue outfit and fuzzy hat with his blue eyes, just gazing at the geese. My toddler loved every moment of it, except for a bit of complaining when it was time to leave.

My diet hasn't been great since September to be honest, and it's been starting to catch up to me. As a nonsecretor I really should be 80-90% or more compliant. I've dipped down well below that, and finally got fed up and really have decided for a fresh and disciplined start. I am so terribly addicted to milk that it isn't even funny. It literally does give me a 'fix' and one little taste of it sets off cravings for weeks. Between that, a little corn, a lotta sugar, and a little soy, I was starting to pay the price. My digestion has been very tricky, my joints were all starting to hurt - in particular my hands and wrists and a stiff back in the morning, my hair was falling out, and my skin is still recovering. Sigh. Time to climb out of this slump. It's been a couple days now with no more milk/dairy, or corn, I need to eliminate sugar and soy next, but I've managed to cut them back. My joints feel much better now, and my energy is improving.