sleep coupons | a method to the madness of getting my kids to sleep through the night

sleep.  an ongoing issue in my house for the last four years.  the twins have never really slept that great.. so then Baker came along and was sleeping through the night at 6 weeks and would go down like clock work at 7PM and not wake until well past 9AM once she hit a year old. I was floored by how well she slept because I thought all kids just sucked it up in the sleep department.  

as we approach year five with the twins things have progressively gotten worse and most recently its just been plain terrible.  no other words to describe it and I have never been so tired IN MY LIFE. an infant waking me a couple times at night is one thing but couple that with two other kids up and down for hours every night and I'm basically running on fumes.

I've been searching for ideas and ways to work through this stage with them, and much to my surprise its not just my kids going through this. a lot of other mamas have the same issues surrounding sleep and going to bed and staying in bed.

phew. 

 a couple weeks ago I had mentioned to a friend about these struggles and it happened that she had recently brought it up to her pediatrician and he mentioned that with his older kids he does sleep coupons.

SLEEP COUPONS?! 

collecting sleep coupons for getting in bed at night and staying all night will earn them one coupon and they can "spend" it however they please.

the method.

the biggest part about this method is offering the kids a real explanation about what to expect. allowing the girls to have control over their sleep habits with a reward has proven to be really beneficial! I roped Baker into this because she wants nothing more than to be included with the "big girls" and while I don't know if she will truly understand "saving" her coupons for something 'bigger' she has totally kept up with the concept since we started this about a week ago.

they each get a coupon before going to bed at night and they are allowed to keep the coupon as long as they go to bed without a fight and stay in bed all night. if they wake at all for something other than to use the bathroom (or they are puking.. I'll give them that. but only if they wake their dad first.) they have to hand over their coupon in the morning. I don't take the coupon away at night in the moment mainly because I don't want to cause a FREAK OUT fit.  so I wait to deal with that consequence in the morning. 

NIGHT #1:: on the first night Jolie woke just twice (normally its about 4+ times) and in the morning I talked her through her waking up and why I was going to be taking the coupon.  since it was the first night and a brand new concept, gave them a trial pass, but explained that if she woke me up the next night I would indeed take the coupon away.

NIGHT #2::  Parker fought me quite a bit about going to bed but after a gentle reminder that she was going to lose her coupon if she didn't settle down + lay down she chilled out pretty quick.  AND no one made a single peep all night!!  normally it takes at least an hour or longer for bedtime, but not this time.
NIGHT #3:: no fight at bedtime!  they got into bed after putting their coupon in their little box on their dresser and talked about what they were saving their coupons for.

it was SO CUTE how excited they were.

Jolie is saving her coupons for a Doc McStuffin's toy and Parker has her heart set on a tiger's blood flavored sno cone.
NIGHT #4:: HORRIBLE.  it was raining off and on and we are not a fan at all about the rain and thunder over here.. but Jolie had me up about 6 times and Parker just once.  the next morning I told the girls to go get their sleep coupons off their dresser and turn them in to me since they didn't sleep through the night. they handed them over and I told them that we would try again that night.

the reward.

2 coupons :: 30 minutes of iPad time

3 coupons :: ice cream or sno cone

6 coupons :: nail salon for a mani and a pedi with mama

9 coupons :: trip to target to pick out a toy of their choice 

12 coupons :: movie date night + pop corn and candy

I had my girl Sarah, creative brain at CKFireboots, put together the perfect little coupon for us to use- complete with unique personalization + darling little figure on the front.  I designed them with the girls' favorite colors in mind and dressed in cute little pajamas.  you can find the custom listing for these sleep coupons HERE!
I downloaded the PDF and sent them over to office max or something of the like to be printed and laminated so they will hold up well with use.

AND, before I forget, Sarah so graciously offered my readers a discount!
use code MASSEY10 for 10% off your entire purchase.
(btw: everything in her shop is ridiculously affordable with or without the discount code!)

I'm really excited for the girls and for this random trial and error with the sleep coupons.  we haven't spent any coupons YET, but when we do I think it is going to really drive home the point of this method with the girls.

as always, I want to hear from other mamas about their experiences with sleep! send me all the tips and tricks:)

Easter 2017

the days after a holiday weekend are SO slow.  yesterday was filled with rainy day snuggles and bottomless coffee.  Jordan was at the fire station and the girls and I.. plus the teeny baby boy didn't leave the house.  Baker didn't even get up until almost 11am!  

Easter weekend was beautiful and filled with family, friends, and so much fun!

Saturday started bright and early with brunch + egg hunts with our Supper Club crew. we have made the effort this last year to get the kids together for holidays and its proven to be SO rich and so much fun for all of us!  we ate waffles + bacon, dyed easter eggs (which Parker and Jolie have never done before!) and hid eggs in the front yard of the Tapella's house for the kiddos to find.  there were also a couple dozen confetti eggs and everyone had the best time smashing them on each other's heads.. I am still fishing confetti out of Jolie's hair two shampoos later:)

the guys and their toys. Trav has a new drone he's been playing with.. the boys were totally intrigued.  the best part: he was able to video the entire "egg hunt" from above. SO cool!

 we even were able to take the greatest selfie with that drone.

Supper Club Easter 2017

   after brunch we headed over to meet the Massey's for Easter Linner (lunch + dinner)!  we ate ham , mashed potatoes.. and chowed down on deviled eggs!  we hid more eggs in the front yard for another hunt with the cousins.. holidays are the BEST time with kiddos involved.

 the egg hunt LOOT! we didn't make it out to any public egg hunts this year, but hiding eggs in the front yard was just a much fun and way less stressful than the big hunts with masses of people and not enough eggs.

 I swear the bloopers are almost more fun than the posed..

 covered in babies from head to toe.. I am loving every moment of this chaos.

cold shoulder floral // shirt dress // sandals // floral romper // moccs c/o

Sunday morning we got up and barely made it to service on time..and then headed across the street to 7 mile cafe, which has turned into our new favorite brunch spot.  we find a reason to go just about once a week!  their chicken 'n waffles is my FAVorite and Jordan loves the biscuits and gravy.. but they have about 5 different Eggs Benedict options on their menu, too.. and they are all delicious! 

 we spent the rest of the afternoon at home with just the 6 of us.  we dug into the Easter baskets, watched movies, and hung outside on the patio because the weather was just right.  you could tell it was about the rain because the coolness in the air but it held out until later int he evening.  Brady looked absolutely darling for his first Easter.. I am totally having the best time dressing this little guy. now if only he would start filing out all these clothes I have for him:)

bows // floral blouse c/o // coral jeans // maxi dress // ballet moccs

 cardigan + bow tie c/o // dress

 baskets // swaddles c/o // teether c/o // bonnet c/o

I hope you all had the most beautiful Easter!

brady's birth story | part II

our hospital stay is always enjoyable- the most amazing nurses and staff that take care of us and this time around we were blessed with some of the same nurses and techs that took care of us the first time around with the twins.  the first couple days after delivery went by so quickly and I didn't take a ton of pictures of our newest and sweetest baby boy really until day three.  

I had started to feel better, my milk came in, and baby Brady was just along for the ride. 

he had swallowed a bit of amniotic fluid at birth (which is very common in c-sections, although I had never experienced it) and was a little stuffy and snorted like a baby piglet for a couple days until all that resolved itself.  thankfully it didn't affect his suck/swallow/breathe abilities so we weren't too worried about the fact that he was having a little trouble breathing through his nose. 

he did show some signs of reflux here and there, so we were keeping a close eye on him.

since we have been home he hasn't shown any signs of reflux, so we (along with his pediatrician) think that it was directly related to the extra fluid.

the days were filled with my OB and his on-call pediatrician visiting first thing in the morning.. nurse check-in's throughout the day, grey's anatomy reruns and fixer upper, and walking laps around the unit in between cat naps with a baby on my chest.

eat. sleep. repeat.

 just as his sisters before him.. food prints in his daddy's + Papa's Bible!

 our last full day in the hospital and I was finally feeling "good".  getting out bed and walking the halls was so beneficial in my recovery with Baker and the twins, but this time it took me so much longer to get out of bed.

my sweet little squishy!! from the hospital bed to the chair.. I was making progress, people!

his hair.  
I cant get enough of that hair!!

 we didn't have guests that last day..aside from Ashley + Grayson making a quick stop that evening to bring us dinner.  the hospital food is actually really delicious, but both of us were kind of over it.
PLUS it was also the best to watch Grayson with baby Brady
heart eyes!
(his big bro status changes in just a few short months)

..speaking of auntie and uncle j.. the girls had THE best time with them while we were away at the hospital.  Ash + J graciously took our brood of babes for a few days and treated them to the most fun.  they loved every minute of it!

 bathtime!  Baker and Grayson look SO big in this picture.
where did our babies go!

we had a few other visitors while we were in the hospital:
Brady's Nana (my mom)

 Duke (my dad)

BB + Papa (Jordan's mom and dad)

Teresa (pseudo grandparent and BB's best girlfriend!)

..and Amy came to visit, too!

I was sad we missed snapping a picture of a few folks that came by but so thankful they were able to come and get a peek of Brady before we went home!

finally friday came and we were busting out of that hospital joint!!
we were so ready to get home to those three girls with our baby boy.

we arrived home around 5pm on Friday evening to a busy house of excited girls.  Baker was beside herself with excitement and we literally made it three steps into the door before she was insisting on seeing her new baby brother.  we sat his carseat on the counter and let the big girls and Baker hop up there to see him again for the first time since they met him just a few days before.  the only way we could peel Baker away was to promise her first dibs on holding him.
exhibit A:

once again she floored us with her sweetness and interest in Brady.  I didn't, for one second, think my 20 month old would understand at all whatsoever about her new sibling and I prayed it would go okay and not a complete disaster when we brought Brady home.  oh but I was totally wrong.
she's been amazing with him.

 ..and of course the twins are totally smitten!! looking back at these first moments home with Baker the twins have grown SO MUCH!

recovery continues.  everyday I'm doing better and better.  I know I'm not the first mama to birth four babes via c-section, but man this time was so tough.  I am finally feeling much better and have been able to stay off the pain meds for the last couple days.  I have said it before and I'll say it again, I don't know what I would do without Jordan and his amazing fatherhood role he plays so well.  he has been home for almost 2 weeks with us and he lets me sleep when Brady sleeps and has taken on full care with the twins and Baker while I and tending to our newest tiny one.  I have loved every moment of watching him interact with all of our girls.  I couldn't do any of this without the help he gives.

our big girls continue to impress me on a regular basis and LOVE Brady fiercely!  they get so excited when he's awake, which happens about an hour or so everyday.
"can I see him with his eyes open!?" 
I cannot believe how well they have taken to having a baby in the house.  Baker adores him and is so interested in being near him anytime she can.  I share with them a tremendous amount of interaction with Brady, keeping them involved, which I think has helped.  the first (or second? I'm losing track of time..) night we were home Baker was climbing all over my back while I sat on the floor doing puzzles and I told her about 'mommy's boo-boo' and that it hurts when she climbs on me that way.. she trotted off and came back dragging her Doc McStuffin's crash cart and proceeded to check me out.

oh Baker girl.  you continue to make life fun.. and I am so excited for your big sister status.

we are a family of SIX.

I couldn't feel more blessed.

the big girls meet brady

our sweet baby boy made his arrival one week ago today.. and it still feels like a dream.  I'm working on Brady's birth story, and even though its probably the least entertaining birth story you'll ever read, its a lot of emotion and a lot of words for me to form together into a single post.

 I've wanted to share this first meeting with Brady and his big sisters the moment we got them back from Brittany.  I'll never forget the instant well of my eyes and burst of my heart when I saw those little girl feet from under the privacy curtain as they walked into the hospital room.  Baker was the perfect height to that curtain and squatted down a little bit and caught eyes with me.

the BIGGEST grin spread across her face as she said "hi mama".

I burst into tears before they even laid eyes on Brady.  

my four babies, finally together for the first time.

it had been a hell of a 48 hours for me after my third csection the day before.. I was so sick and I finally got dressed out of my hospital gown and was relieved of most of my IV lines just minutes before the girls arrived but still could hardly stand.  you can see the IVs taped to my hands that remained for pain and nausea meds because I still wasn't able to keep anything down, but these moments with my girls far surpassed any swollen face, pain, or nausea I had.  

more on those details in Brady's birth story.. coming soon!

the big girls were cautious- they were more concerned with me laying in the hospital bed than they were the baby in the bassinet.  Baker on the other hand.. she was SO interested in her brother and I was literally floored when she was determined to lay hands on the tiny one.  that came out of nowhere and both Jordan and I continued to look at each other in disbelief.

this is real life.

Baker's hospital pictures are still among my most favorite pictures of all time and here we are again with a handful of pictures to lump into that group of favorites.  captured memories to treasure for the rest of my life.  welcome to our clan baby Brady.

photography by: b faith photography

sleepy bear swaddle // loved by hannah + eli

delivery robe c/o pinkblush

hospital bassinet banner // hooray everyday

"b" initial hat // cotton cupcake shoppe