Bedtime routines

We started out having about a ten minute bedtime routine after bath. Tonight, I think we made it to a record of 40 minutes. Vaughn just LOVES to read and sing and read some more and giggle and sing and pray. Well, the praying, we're working on because he knows that's the last thing we do, which in turn, has made him not like to pray. Another lesson we learned this week is that reading and singing has to be in the glider, or to Vaughn, it doesn't count. He freaked out on Wednesday when we read and sang on the floor then tried putting him in his crib.

The books he is currently obsessed with include:
The Very Hungry Catepillar
Elmo Goes to the Zoo
Elmo On the Farm
Is There Really a Human Race?
Where Do Balloons Go? An Uplifting Mystery
B is for Bear

After looking at the list, I realized they are all from friends and family. So thank you to Ryder, Aunt Heather, Aunt Jamie and Cousin Stacy! We read the first three every single night, even a few times a night. Vaughn has a little obsession with "Melmo", which totally came from an Elmo doll at school. I'm not sure if we should encourage this obsession or try to minimize it. Right now, we're kind of embracing it and letting his imagination flourish.

After putting the last book on the shelf, Vaughn immediately does two things - starts doing the rolling motion with his fists and arms (for Wheels on the Bus) then he starts putting his index fingers and thumbs together (for Itsy Bitsy Spider). He's to the point now where if we start either song, he yells, "No! Stop." I keep starting each song until he starts doing the full moves. His newest favorite is Patty Cake. We do "V is for Vaughn" first then he begs for us to do it again so we can do "M is for Molly". And the last song we end with is Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star, which I have made up motions to.

We ended up switching it up and doing prayer first so that he gets to like that part the best. It didn't work tonight, but should soon! Tonight was the first night in a long time he just wanted to keep reading and singing. He was so upset once we shut the door. Broke our hearts, but we were strong. Haha! Dave thinks he doesn't want to go to bed because he enjoys the time with us so much. I think Dave enjoys the time just as much as Vaughn.

So sweet. Goodnight!