To start with, mama and dada rotate nights putting CJ to bed. Nana puts him to bed once or twice a week, usually if I'm nursing and Craig is finishing his paperwork. We each have our own ways of putting him to bed, but this is mine.
First, we make sure Muka
is plugged in. Muka is his night light, that you plug in and charge, then if you have to get up in the middle of the night you can take it with it. It's actually called the Ikea Spoka Night Light, but for some reason CJ decided her name was Muka.
is plugged in. Muka is his night light, that you plug in and charge, then if you have to get up in the middle of the night you can take it with it. It's actually called the Ikea Spoka Night Light, but for some reason CJ decided her name was Muka.  |
| And he's out. |
Next CJ picks out a book. Usually it's a superhero or Disney story. I try to make him pick ones we haven't already read. I can only read the same X-men book so many times before I begin to have a personal issue with Wolverine. We read our story, CJ "helps" me with some of the words, and then we talk about it a little bit.
Then CJ says his prayers. He says "God bless" and then lists everyone he's ever met ever in his life... then "Now I lay me down to sleep..." and "God bless the moon..." For both of those, he makes some mistakes in the wording, but I'll never correct him because I think it is the cutest thing ever. Then we sing Twinkle Twinkle together. I made up my own version of Twinkle Twinkle when he was a baby, so we sing that or the regular version. Finally, I ask CJ if he's my boy. He says yes, so I ask if he's an ordinary boy. He says no, so I ask if he's a wonderful boy. He says yes. Then we snuggle for a few minutes. Later when he's asleep, before I go to bed, I unplug Muka and put her next to him so he knows that I came in to check on him.
($6.29) - This is a softly illustrated board book that very simply tells how Jesus was born for us, then died for us. Not scary or overwhelming for little ones.
($4.98) - Gently explains that Easter isn't about the bunny or the eggs, it is about Jesus. It is part of a whole series of "What is..." books.
($4.99) - A board book that includes Jesus arriving in Jerusalem, the Last Supper, and the Resurrection.
($6.29) - This one is in CJ's Easter basket. It's a very simple board book with a carrying case for your little one. Another one that gently tells the story of Jesus and his resurrection.
($8.99) - A board book telling how God is responsible for all the wonders of Spring.
($6.50) - Pape Bear explains to his little Cub how much God loved people that he sent his son to save us. Gorgeous pictures of the Arctic.
($7.19) - I love this one, so cute! Maggie throws a bulb she doesn't care about in the garden, forgetting about it. She is shocked when a lily appears on Easter morning. Through the lily she learns about the meaning of Easter.
($10.87)
- Through the eggs on her windowsill, a little girl learns about God's love of all creatures.
($11.95) - This one gets me right in the feels. A little boy is sad because his family's friend Jesus dies, then when he hears that Jesus is alive, he is overjoyed.
($6.29) - Kerry learns how the sand dollar can help teach about Easter.
- The cubs are obsessed with candy, so Mama Bear helps them learn the story of Jesus and his Resurrection.
), then he decided to be silly.
