Savannah's Weblog

We've found that positive reinforcement helps Savannah to go to sleep sweetly better than the punishment of taking things away.

If she goes to sleep without getting up, crying or calling out, whoever put her to bed draws a surprise little picture on her calendar the next morning. After 7 pictures, we all go to the mall for ice cream and a carrosel ride.

Maybe the novelty has worn off. Maybe 7 days of complying is too many. Two nights ago when Brad put her to bed, we thought she was asleep. Taking Seth up to bed, I found her in the bathroom. I put her back to bed. There were tears, and she finally went to sleep.

Last night, I put her to bed. We never heard any sounds. Surely she'd be asleep at Seth's bedtime. I found her sound asleep, lying on her belly across the hallway in the doorways of two bedrooms. Brad took her to her bed with no problem.

Tonight was much better. She understood that she had to go to sleep quietly to get that ice cream. We heard a thump as well as some noise over the monitor. When Brad went up to check on her, I thought, surely she'd be crying if she'd hurt herself somehow. Brad came back down saying that when she goes to sleep, she's sound asleep. She had fallen out of bed and never woke up.

I know I'd like to make it every four days of compliance. I'd like more chocolate peanut butter from Treat Street at the mall.

Posted by Georgia at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

She often shuts her door now to keep Seth out. I encourage her to let him in but don't insist.

Yesteerday she shut her door saying, "He can come in when he gets his third tooth."

Posted by Georgia at 3:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We shopped for shoes yesterday. This year we've had problems with her shoes. I bought some too big. They tripped her up. Last summer's sandals did not last this summer. This summer's sandals rubbed a blister, then the buckle was too difficult for her the other day. So she didn't fasten them. She came running out to me at Daddy's car with her play keys and remote saying, "I got my keys." So sweet and so sad when she fell. It really hurt.

After some productive shopping, we went to the park.
-She asked on the drive over. "Do bears grow?"
-I said yes.
-"Do giraffes grow?"
-"Yes. All animals and plants and people grow."
-After similar questions, "Do shoes grow?"
-"No," I said. "Shoes don't grow."
-She replied, "They grow small."

Posted by Georgia at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Savannah's really enjoying "PBS" also known as Vacation Bible School. ("PBS" is also what she calls the UPS truck.) She brought a friend on Monday. Her friend will come again on Wednesday. Of course the adults are tired, but not as tired as in times past. It's a small group of children this year. There are about 8 children in the 3-4 year olds. I'm teaching the 5-6 year olds. I only have three boys. It's gone really well. Last year I had this group, and I had about 9 or 10 children, mostly boys.

She's learning more songs and comes home happy with her crafts. We've been somewhere after VBS both days. I may take her to the park on Thursday or Friday.

Posted by Georgia at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've never pointed up to the sky when talking to Savannah about where God is. I should've just told her that God is everywhere even though we can't see Him, but I told her that God is in our hearts. First, she decided that there must be a different God in everyone's heart. She's also a child who loves to play doctor. with her toy stethoscope. I'm guessing she thinks there's something that physically lives in the heart who acts as a conscience. I've tried to fix the explanation. Two lunches ago, Savannah prayed as she usually does. This time, she said, "God, I wish you would come out of my heart and bring Adam and Eve and all they pets."

Posted by Georgia at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)