Sleep...

1. Shortly before Jeremy left for Iraq four months ago, Parker started sleeping only in our bed. (Had probably had a two day cold and Jeremy (yes, Jeremy) wouldn't take him back up the third night, or the fourth, or the...)

2. Just after he left, and Sarah thought she'd have him back in the crib, he learned how to climb out of it. (There went naptime, bedtime, uninterrupted middle of the night sleep time,....)

3. Could not get him back into the crib. Would wake up in the middle of the night after being moved, and come downstairs. (Gave in at this point.)

4. Moved the toddler bed in the form of a car into Parker's bedroom. Thought this was great!

5. Bought car, truck, ambulance sheets and matching quilt. Moved mattress over. Very exciting!

6. Took crib out into extra bedroom. Not interested enough to actually sleep in it.

7. Started sitting next to car bed until Parker fell asleep. Worked some several nights.

8. Gave him a Winnie-the-Pooh bear so that it was there on nights he did wake up.

9. Started moving further and further towards door. (Realized that the whole problem had been that he just needed reassurance that I too had not left...took two months to figure this out! NO comments from particular family members wanting to know what they sent me to college for are allowed.)

10. Parker learned to go to sleep in his car bed just like he had in the crib. Yay!

11. Parker started not going to sleep and brought all blankets and animals (had added the purple zebra and the brown fuzzy bear) back down the steps with him.

12. Learned to send him back up by himself and go back to bed. Sometimes many times in one night.

13. Parker had one night that he played on his bed for a while before falling asleep. (We will accept this.)

14. Parker just had tonight that he was sent back up, and on the second trip, decided to stop half-way up the steps. Assummed that he'd eventually make it all the way and to the car bed. Became very quiet after a while and this is what was found on the steps:

Yep, definitely asleep! (above) And, "the car" that everyone kept asking of its progress. (below)

A few nights ago, heard a thump. It was definitely not one of the girls, and no pitter-patter back into the bed. Assummed it was probably one the bean-bag dolls that are sometimes slept with. Checked on everyone later. Found that it had been Parker who had in actuality fallen out (fell less length than his sisters) and was still wrapped up in his quilt with Winnie-the-Pooh beside him!

Of course, needed to add the girls. No crazy sleeping positions or places tonight. Have found Madison sleeping on Allison's floor, sometimes with a sleeping bag, sometimes just blankets.

Allison has been known to sleep upside down in the bed (head at the foot). Twice now, I've found her sleeping on her stomach as far on the edge of the bed as possible with her leg that is closest to the edge, hanging down onto the floor. Apparently comfortable?