The Routine

Before I get into the real topic of today's post, a quick health update. Mia was diagnosed with two hemangioma's yesterday by a pediatric dermatologist. Hemangiomas are basically clusters of blood vessels gone amock. The clusters grow for some unspecified amount of time, and then over another unspecified amount of time they receed. In Mia's case they are both under the skin, with one on her nose, and one on her eyelid. At this point, the Dr. says it is too early to know just long long they will grow, or how long they will take to receed, or if any intervention will be necessary. So, we wait, keep an eye on it, and go in every few weeks for a checkup.

And now, for tonights regularly scheduled programming...

We have officially entered the phase of child rearing where we attempt to institute some sort of routine. Our routine is currently focused around bedtime, consistently winding down the night the same way every night, and it goes a little something like this:

prior to 8:15 - Ashlei and I do our best to try and eat dinner together, this usually works for at least part of dinner. At some point Mia will eat and take a short nap (this nap is very hit or miss)

8:15 (go time) - It's bath time. Ashlei gets the baby bath tub ready with some warm water, while I try and find some soothing music on the XM channels on Direct TV, and get Mia undressed. Once the water is ready, Ashlei gives Mia her bath, followed by a transfer from bath to towel in a carefully choreographed handoff that minimizes any "open air" exposure (and thus crying). Once dried off, she gets some lotion and is dressed for bed. Finding decent music on the XM channels that is agreeable to all three of us is almost the biggest challenge of all... this evening we relaxed to Holiday (Green Day), Mr. Jones (Counting Crows), and Waiting on the World to Change (John Mayer).

8:30 - the pre bed meal. This has thus far been relatively uneventful, Mia sits with Ashlei and has what is usually the last meal of the night.

9:00ish - the cool down. The goal of this part of the evening is to basically get Mia to sleep. The past three nights this has consisted of me walking in a circle around the island in the kitchen at a very specific space while bouncing Mia in my arms and singing along to Billy Joel in my Ipod. This is probably my favorite part of my day, as Mia stares directly at me the entire time I'm singing to her, and then doses off to sleep. Thankfully, I love Billy Joel and Mia apparently is relaxed by me singing his songs (and those of you have heard me sing can attest to just how impossible that is to believe). It only takes a song or two and she is out cold.

9:15ish - the final transfer. Mia is put to bed... not in her crib, mind you, but in her car seat.

For the past two nights, following this routine, Mia has slept until 6:30. Yep, 6:30. I have no idea if that will last, but we'll take it while we can get it.