Toddler Talk Thursday - Bedtime Routine

Check out the hosts of this fun weekly link-up, Family and Life in Las Vegas, Crazy about My Baybah, and My Life as a Sippy Cup Mom!

This week's topic is:

"What is your toddler's bedtime routine?"

Our evening routines are varied, especially as to dinner times because John's days tend to be somewhat unpredictable as to when they will end, so we often don't know when he's going to be home until he is home!

Regardless of when we have dinner, we usually try to have Katie to bed by 9:30. 

After dinner, we let her run around, get her last wiggles out and play with Papa and/or her toys while I get Victoria fed and ready for bed. 

Once Victoria is taken care of and snug in her little crib, I tell Katie it's time to get ready for bed, and she promptly tells me, 

"Go potty!" 

We sit her on the potty and she usually plays with one of her princess dolls and her "good-guys," while she sits.

After she's finished her business, (which can sometimes take a long time!) it's time for "BIG biper!"

 (translation:  super-stuffed nighttime diaper)

Jammies come next...she usually declares that she is now "nice n warm!" and waddles off in her monstrous diaper, calling

"BUHSH TEEF, Papa!" 

John helps her brush her teeth, then we each get a nice long "squeeeeeze," a kiss, and "nigh-night!"

I get her a drink and carry her off to bed, singing, (she usually requests "Amazing Grace.") 

As we enter the bedroom, we start whispering so as not to wake up the baby, and Katie usually tells me, "Shh! Toria seeeeping!"

Usually she wants to snuggle with her little lamb that has Nana's voice recorded onto it singing "Jesus Loves Me," and we'll often hear her play it several times before she drifts off.

Described above is, of course, our best night. 

Occasionally, there are those not-so-happy evenings where every step seems a struggle...but those are rare and usually the nights when she's asleep almost before her head hits the pillow. She was just too tired.

Other nights she doesn't seem quite tired enough, and she will jabber away to herself for an hour or more!

Amazingly, she has never woken up Victoria with her chatter!

Once Victoria can talk, I have a feeling we're going to have some interesting conversations going on in there after lights-out....

Next week's Topic Suggestion:

How does your toddler react when his/her daddy gets home from work?