A few weeks ago I wrote about my son’s night terrors and mentioned it’s not the only sleep issue we’ve got going on. (The past couple weeks have been okay on that front, by the way.) Since early January, Preschool Boy has been crawling into bed with my husband and me. Every. Single. Night.

I don’t even remember the first night it happened or what was different about that night, but I do know that the habit started while my husband was out of town. I just recall that one night I heard my little dude run down the hall and was barely awake as he stood next to the bed and asked if he could cuddle with me. Clearly at this point I had two options: 1) get out of my warm bed, walk him back to his and tell him to go to sleep or 2) pick him up, cuddle his sweet little self and go back to sleep. I don’t think I have to tell you what I did.

He’s returned to my bedside every night since.

I have to admit that the nights when my husband is out of town I actually kind of look forward to waking to the sound of my son running down the hall to my room. (And his does run – who has that kind of energy at 3 am?)  But, I know it’s a habit that we need to break. At some point.

One of these days I’ll get out my trusty and worn copy of Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child to see what good the good ol’ sleep doctor recommends. Until then, I’ll enjoy the mid-slumber cuddles and know hope that my son outgrows it on his own and I don’t have to deal with what I imagine will be a struggle to break the habit.

Do you (or did you) have a little bed invader in your home? What do you think about a child going to sleep in his own bed but spending part of the night with parents? If you had to break the habit, how did you do it?

Why is it impossible to get a good boy’s hair cut? We’ve taken our son to every hair cutting option in town – from the kiddie hair cut place to the barber on base to an adult hair stylist. And without fail, every single time within a couple hours we realize the hair is uneven, and all kids of jacked up. It’s so frustrating. Seriously, why is it impossible to get a good young boy’s hair cut?

We had Preschool Boy’s hair cut today. Needless to say, it didn’t go well. It kind of looked cute. Until you looked closely and noticed it was uneven in the front, longer on one side and completely uneven in the back. From one angle he looked straight out of the show The Monkeys. Sad.

So, my husband suggested (again) that we just shave my son’s hair. Avoid the drama of an actual hair style involving scissors and shaping and just shave it. And, for reasons that currently escape me, I agreed. Yes, we shaved my son’s hair.

Before I show you the pictures, let’s take a brief look at what once was.

August 2008

March 2009

February 2010

And now….

March 2010

I made a video to mark the occasion. And, I apologize, there are some technical issues and the sound is a little off. It makes all of us sound like chipmunks. I should also apologize to my son because I’m sure my shock at the (lack of) length of his hair was more traumatizing than the actual hair cut itself.

So, please, take pity on me and tell me it’s not that bad.

After a couple months of good sleep in our house, a new round of sleep issues has emerged. Just when I thought having two kids who sleep through the night meant I was in the clear, Preschool Boy has a couple habits that are a tad troublesome: Night Terrors and coming into our bed at night (which I’ll post about later).

Night Terrors

Now that Preschool Boy has pretty much given up the nap (UGH!), he goes to bed quite easily around 7:30. Several nights  a week he “wakes up” crying an hour or two after going to bed. He’s not really awake even though he’s sitting up, or even walking out of his room, but he is crying uncontrollably and sometimes calling out for me or my husband.

The first couple times it happened, I got totally freaked out because he wouldn’t talk or respond to me and just kind of starred into space sobbing. I asked him repeatedly, “What’s wrong? What’s wrong?” and was totally weirded out that he just sat there crying and didn’t answer me. After this happened a couple times, I figured the best approach is to ignore him until he falls back asleep or go to him and lay him back down in his bed. He’s had episodes like this the past couple of nights and while I’m used to it, it has my husband a little worried.

Night Terrors Defined

Following a couple quick searches on the internet, I’m pretty sure he’s having Night Terrors. From WebMD,

The sleep disorder of night terrors typically occurs in children aged 3-12 years, with a peak onset in children aged 3½ years.

… Night terrors occur during the transition from stage 3 non-REM sleep to stage 4 non-REM sleep, beginning approximately 90 minutes after the child falls asleep.

Night terrors are distinctly different from the much more common nightmares, which occur during REM sleep. Night terrors are characterized by frequent recurrent episodes of intense crying and fear during sleep, with difficulty arousing the child. Night terrors are frightening episodes that disrupt family life.

An estimated 1-6% of children experience night terrors. Boys and girls are equally affected. Children of all races also seem to be affected equally. The disorder usually resolves during adolescence.

My son recently turned 3 so he’s a few months shy of the “peak onset” and, dear god, I hope we have some resolution before he’s an adolescent! It goes on to say that children may have an episode or two a week for several weeks. But, this has been going on for longer than a couple weeks – and he cries nearly every night. I’m also surprised by the low percentage of children who suffer night terrors. Does that mean what he’s doing isn’t really a Night Terror, or is it really that uncommon?

Night Terror Causes

The description and age seem right on, but the causes suggested by WebMD don’t really fit:

• Stressful life events
• Fever
• Sleep deprivation
• Medications that affect the central nervous system (the brain)

I know he’s getting a tad less total sleep without napping, but I don’t think 12 hours of sleep a night is really sleep deprivation. He’s not sick or taking medication, and he’s had no stressful life events. I hate to think that his sleep is being disrupted because my 3 year old is feeling stress. Poor thing.

From what I’ve read, there’s not much anyone can do – and I wouldn’t expect there to be a quick fix. Honestly, I haven’t really been that worried or concerned about it, but my husband started to get a little freaked out last night by some of the information we found.

Does your child have Night Terrors? And if so, what is an episode like and how long do they last? Does it sound like what I’m describing? Have you talked to your pediatrician?

In conjunction with NBC”s new show, Parenthood, NBC and Boys & Girls Club of America have teamed up to explore the definition of parenthood – The Parenthood Project. And, you can participate and help raise money for a great cause at the same time.

What is the Parenthood Project?

The Parenthood Project is a unique partnership between NBC and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Our goal is to celebrate and showcase the many facets of family life, so we want to know what parenthood means to you. For every submission, a donation of $20 will be made to Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Family Strengthening Initiative, which provides resources to improve the lives of children, parents and the community. Thanks for participating in this great cause.

Ron Howard on the Parenthood Project

How to Participate

There is a limit of one donation per user, but you can submit your definition of parenthood in one of two ways:

1. Twitter: All fans have to do to submit is to use the hashtag #parenthoodis, followed by their personal definition or explanation.

• Example:  #parenthoodis a constant labor of love or #parenthood is pretending to be a fairy princess in public & not caring who’s watching
  
• The only thing to remember is that the tweet must include the hashtag #parenthoodis.

2. NBC.com: Users can submit a :20 video, a photo or text in 10 words or less something that shows what “Parenthood is…”

So… What does parenthood mean to you?

If you’ve been watching the Olympics on NBC this week, chances are you’ve seen a promo for the new show Parenthood. I admit to being a TV junkie so this show has been on my radar for several weeks and I was lucky to receive  an advanced copy of the Pilot to check out and share my thoughts with you all before the show premieres on March 2.

About Parenthood

From the executive producers of the box-office hit “Parenthood,” Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (Oscar winners for “A Beautiful Mind”), and writer/executive producer Jason Katims (”Friday Night Lights”), this contemporary re-imagining of the blockbuster film depicts the colorful and imperfect Braverman family – four grown siblings sharing the headaches, heartaches, and joy of being parents.

Check out the Parenthood videos for more previews and character profiles.

The Drama in Dramedy

My initial reaction – even while watching Parenthood – is that the previews don’t really do the show justice. The previews are lighthearted and funny, and the show is pretty serious. Parts are almost depressing, actually, but in a kind of good way. I definitely got a little teary when Adam (played by Peter Krause of Six Feet Under) and Kristina (Monica Potter, who I adore) discuss a doctor’s suggestion that their son has Asperger’s syndrome. The thing that makes the scene so touching is that, as a parent, it’s easy to relate to their heartache at the idea that something might be “wrong” with their child.

Adam isn’t the only Braverman with relatable family struggles. Sarah (Lauren Graham from Gilmore Girls – LOVE her) has two teenagers – enough said – and busy mom Julia (played by yet another stellar actress, Erika Christensen) works outside the home and finds herself playing second fiddle to her husband.

To Watch or Not to Watch

To Watch… With this star-studded cast in front of the camera and the talent and experience behind the camera, Parenthood has all the ingredients to be a must-watch show. The characters are realistic and most parents will easily relate to the struggles and challenges the Braverman family faces. I’ll definitely watch or DVR it to see how it unfolds.

Or Not to Watch… If you’re looking for lots of belly laughs, this isn’t for you. After seeing the previews, I did expect more laughs, but instead its so close to reality for many families that it’s a tad depressing.

Watch! Parenthood premieres Tuesday, March 2 at 10 EST / 9 CST. Fan Parenthood on Facebook to keep up with the latest, including information on the Parenthood Project.

Disclosure: I received a DVD of the Parenthood pilot for review. I was not compensated for this post.

Maybe conversation is a bit of an exaggeration. I mean, she is only 14 months old. And, well, it went a little something like this:

Me: Say “mama”.
Her: Baba.
Me: Say “mmmmmaaaaaaammmmmmaaaaaaa.”
Her: Bbbbbbbbbaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbaaaaaa.
Me: Say “mmmooooommmmmeeeee.”
Her: Bbbaaaaaaabbbbbbbbeeeee.

Seeing as things were not going as planned, I switched it up.

Me: Say “dada”.
Her: Baba.
Me: Say “daaaaaaaadaaaaaaa.”
Her: Baaaaaabaaaaaa.

Okay. Again, not quite what I was hoping for.

Me: Say “Jack.” (Her 3 year old older brother’s name.)
Her: Baby!!

Obviously, she’s not much of a talker. At 14 months, she can say “mama” (despite being completely uncooperative tonight), baby, a weird version of yes, occasionally dada and “BEaaak” (for Jack).

I’m not really worried, but I am starting to get a little concerned. I mean, I know she’s bright and understands everything I say. But, shouldn’t she be saying a bit more at this point?

Should I worry? When did your child start to say more than a couple words?

What is Cozi?

Cozi is a free online organizer that helps families manage schedules, track shopping and to do lists, share information, and stay connected all with one solution. Cozi helps families to be more coordinated and more productive so that they have time for the things they really want to do.

Family life. Simplified.

I’m still pretty new to Cozi, but I have to say I like what I’ve figured out so far. There are various tools to help keep your family organized, including a family calendar, shopping lists, to do lists and family journal. The family calendar is super easy to use and very user-friendly. If you have older kids running in a million directions with school and extra-curricular activities this would be an awesome way to keep organized. Every family member is color-coded and you can even send text message reminders about upcoming appointments and events.

The online family journal is a great alternative to a blog because it’s very quick and the format is done for you. It literally takes moments to upload a picture and type a quick story. You can share your journal with friends, send updates to your Facebook page and you can even have a monthly email with all your updates sent to family and friends. I’ve started our family journal if you want to check it out – give me a “smile” to let me know you like what you see. (I’ll post more about that soon!)

Win Groceries for a Year

Cozi is giving away Free Groceries! To celebrate Cozi’s 10,000,oooth shopping list item, they are giving away free groceries for a year. You can enter once a day, but you get an extra entry for every friend you invite. Bloggers, share the information with readers through a button or post – and get an extra entry for every reader who clicks on your link. If you don’t blog and want extra entries, share the contest on Facebook or through email. It’s super easy to spread the word once you enter, so head over and check it out. The free groceries sweepstakes ends March 11.

Disclosure: The opinions in this post are my own and not influenced by monetary compensation. Others may have a different opinion.

Remember months and month ago when I first posted about my daughter’s dreadlocks? Her hair seemed to improve a bit, and the dreadlock factor was less of an issue. She still has that sweet, fine baby hair and it seems to be growing at a snail’s pace. I have to say I’m a little impatient. I know I’m lucky she has *any* hair at all, but I am still looking forward to her having real hair.

Anyway, the back of the head dreadlock is back. And it’s worse than ever. See:

I’ve tried everything that I can think of. But I’m at a loss. As you can see, nothing works. So all of you with girls out there, any suggestions?

As you may have heard by now, Graco announced a recall of certain strollers due to injuries caused by certain hinge designs. The recall affects some Passage, Alano, and Spree strollers manufactured before March 2008.

Is Your Stroller Affected by the Recall?

Not all Passage, Alano and Spree strollers are part of the recall. To determine if your stroller is part of the recall, check out the photos below. The only strollers that are part of this recall have hinges that look like the top left photo.

If your stroller is affected by the recall, there is no need to return your stroller. But you should order a canopy hinge cover immediately online or by phone at 1-800-345-4109. To order the hinge cover, you’ll need the model number and manufacturing date which can be found on the lower inside portion of the stroller frame.

More Information

Graco has loads of resources online about the recall, here are a few:

• Graco Heart to Heart Blog: Safety Announcement
• Stroller Recall Frequently Asked Questions
• Video Instructions on YouTube

You can also find Graco on Twitter. Their response on Twitter has caught the eye of the Christian Science Monitor online which wrote an article, “Moms a-Twitter over Graco’s stroller recall response” and I was interviewed and quoted! A recall is never good news but if you read you’ll see I am pretty impressed by Graco’s interaction on Twitter, answering questions and sharing links repeatedly throughout the past couple days. So, if you have questions, definitely check out the resources and order your hinge if necessary.