Giving my baby his own room...

Today Griffin is 18 months old. I can't believe he is half way through his second year of life. So.. everybody has always told me I should have started him sleeping by himself months and months ago.. well I just couldn't.. I don't know if it was because he's my baby or what.. but I just felt so bad. And now, it's to the point where he is too big for this, and he needs to learn to sleep in his own bed.... and now in his own room!

So today, my Mom and I worked really hard and took down the guest bedroom bed, and then my bed and moved it into the guest bedroom, and put Griffin's crib side back up like a regular crib and changed it into his room. We moved all the toys up to his room and and the rocking chair, so we can have story time before bed time. And then some soft classical music..

Tonight is the first time we are trying it. I have a timer on my phone to alert me.. I'll go in at 10 minutes, lay him down, say *night-night I love you* and then leave. Then if he's still crying, I'll go in 15 minutes after that.. and then 20.. and so on until he learns to sleep. And I won't be in the same room anymore either, so it's big changes for Griffin... I hope he adjusts okay. I really do, it breaks my heart to hear him cry, but I think he's old enough to understand what I'm doing... he just doesn't like it. If I ever have more children, I will definitely start this much earlier.

Riley is also starting a new routine tonight, same one as Griffin's, kinda. Griffin's bedtime is now at 730pm every night, and Riley's will be at 830pm, this gives me a chance to hang out with him, give him a bath, read him a story and put him to bed. It's really important, I've learned now with having two children, that you give them equal amounts of your time. Especially your older child. They crave that attention and love much more than your younger children do right now. I think it's a feeling of being replaced or something that leads to this feeling for them.

It's really important to me, since everything starts in a week, to get the boys on a schedule. When we eat, sleep, bathe. Getting them on that schedule will make everyone's life so much easier and happier, I think. No surprises, no deviations. I am so excited about this.
So far, Griffin is doing really well.. I laid him down 15 minutes ago, and I've gone in once, but I may not have needed too because he was rolling around. But I laid him down gave him a kiss and said night night. It's so hard leaving, but I know this is so good for him. And in a few minutes, I'm going to get Riley ready for bed.. and this is going to be a great routine.. For everyone, because kids need structure just as much as parents do.

Today I am so thankful my Mom helped me put these rooms together and with laundry and getting things put away... I never could've done it all without her.. I love my Mom :)