5 Months Old and crying it out method SUCKS!

Reghan and Rylee

Hard to believe that Rylee and Reghan are 5 months old already.  I saw a new baby in the elevator earlier and it really does seem like that was them a couple of weeks ago.  I'm turning into one of those mothers that says stuff like that and shows pictures to uncaring individuals.  I can't help it!  They are funnier than ever and it has been such a trip watching them discover new things and each other.  You can't put them on the floor without them plopping over onto their stomach and trying to scoot along.  Rylee will probably be crawling first as Reghan has a little more weight to pull, so she might be second in that race.  I'm not sure I'm ready for all that! 

With all these new discoveries and stimulants, we have still been fighting the sleeping battle.  My girlfriend here convinced me that I have to do the "cry it out" method so that they can learn to transition themselves into deep sleep.  I thought, "no problem" since I went through the reflux screaming fiasco but I had no idea.  The first day I made it about 10 minutes and when I went in to pick up Rylee, she just cried and cried in my arms and I felt like the meanest person in the world.  Plus, I had Leni looking at me with the same feelings.  So I had decided Joe was going to have to take on this task but he just looked at me like I was a crazy person and I knew he would fail the mission. 

So onward we have gone and by the end of the first week, they are now taking three naps a day with at least one good two hour stretch.  Hallelujah!!  And they are much more pleasant in the evenings so I would say I'm a believer but it SUCKS.  It truly is one of the hardest things to witness as they literally sound like they are going to die.  Deep heaving cries with real tears but you can't go in the room and you can't pick them up for the time alloted.  Just turn the sound off the monitor and watch and I think 40 minutes was the longest stretch they cried and then it was off to dreamland and they woke up happy as if nothing had happened.  I had to send Leni away because I couldn't take the evil stares I was getting.  However, she is now a believer too. 

We now have two good little sleepers and all in time for us to travel to the US and screw up all my hard work!  I'm at least hoping it'll help on the plane ride.  Wish us luck and pray for kind passengers! 

ONE WEEK UNTIL WE ARE BACK IN THE USA!!!

Thanksgiving in Singapore

Actually, Thanksgiving is not celebrated in Singapore in case you Americans forgot what the holiday is about.  I won't name any names... oldest sister... but was asked what my Filipino maid does to celebrate Thanksgiving.  I think I will make sure Reghan and Rylee aren't taking history lessons from her.  However, due to the many Americans that do live here, we were invited over to a families house to celebrate.  We did not know this family but I made an apple pie and mashed potatoes and had my wine ready to go.  Then we got an email asking if anyone would be bringing wine because she needed to get some wine glasses.  Red flag???  I pretty much knew from that point, that this would not be a Thanksgiving like back home.  They were very gracious in having us join in their festivities and we got to eat all the yummy traditional casseroles and desserts so it was nice to celebrate and made us a little less homesick.  Rylee wasn't feeling it so she started a meltdown shortly after we arrived and forced an early departure.  

Personalities defined... Rylee wide awake and Reghan out.

The next day we headed to Bintan, Indonesia for our first mini vacation with the girls.  Joe thought it would be good for us to get out of the condo for a couple of days plus it would be sort of a test for how the girls travel.  We took a 55 minute ferry over to Indonesia and had to go through immigration.  We had the girls in the Bjorn's and they did great, until Reghan got hot.  She is so hot natured and we managed to be the last ones in line to go through customs.  When we booked the ferry, you had the option of Emerald Class or Economy.  I'm sure you can guess which one Joe said we needed to take.  So as we sat with the peasants, Emerald Class got off the ferry first and were escorted directly to immigration and breezed through.  Lesson learned.  Luckily, Reghan wasn't going to have any of that and she started screaming because she was hot and pretty much done with this deal.  One of the officers saw us with all our stuff and escorted us in front of everyone to the front of the line and cleared us.  She is one smart cookie!!!! 

Bintan is a beach area that we decided was similar to Mexico.  Beautiful, clean beaches and blue water.  It is a great, little getaway and I'm sure we'll do it again.  We had a great suite that we spent a lot of time in but it was nice to be away and relaxed.  The one thing we failed at was taking pictures.  Here are a few of the beach while we were sitting out drinking Long Island Iced Teas and eating shrimp!



View from hotel room



Another view from hotel room

14 DAYS!!!!!!!!!!!