Our big girl

As many of you know, or now will know, getting Madison to sleep in her own bed is a nightmare. She wants to sleep with mommy and daddy and honestly some night we just let her due to sheer exhaustion. Well I decided last Thursday night (with legs in my preggo belly and being scooted off the bed) would be the last night she slept in our bed. We made a sticker chart together and when she fills it up (only six nights) she will earn a trip to Storyland and Playland. The trick is for her to fall asleep on her own without us laying down next to her (The hard part). Friday night she came out of her room four times, then finally went to sleep. Saturday she laid down and took a nap on her own and went to sleep on her own Saturday night only coming out of her room one time. Last night was aweful. She was in bed at 8:00 and finally fell asleep at 10:30. She just kept screaming and crying for Mommy and as hard as it is I just picked her up and put her back in bed without talking to her. Finally after about 30-40 trips she fell asleep. I was exhausted and wanted to sleep early but stayed up to make sure she got to sleep peacefully. The funny thing about all of this is how she likes to sleep when she is alone. She starts out at the head of the bed and burrows herself underneath the blankets to the foot of the bed being completely underneath all covers. Guess she feels secure this way. I have to go in and dig her out of the bed and rearrange the blankets so she can breathe once she falls asleep. This week I realized that I am raising a three year old not a baby who needs to be rocked to sleep or have someone sleep with her. It has been tough but I am being strict and not allowing her to come in our bed anymore (unless she gets sick down the road or has a nightmare). Wish us luck the rest of the week and hope that she gets used to this soon so she goes to bed quickly and without tears.