<p>We have been having trouble with Ty going to sleep lately.  Between his protests of "I'm scared!" and "I can't fall asleep, I don't know how!" he hasn't been getting enough sleep lately.  I suppose I should have listened to Kevin several months ago and stopped laying with Tyler until he fell asleep.  Now I need to reclaim bedtime, and it is probably harder than it needs to because I have been loath to give up my "cuddles" at bedtime.</p>

<p>The new routine we are trying is to go up, read stories, lights out, cuddle for 10 minutes then I get up and go sit in the rocker until Ty falls asleep.  This is step 1.  After we get that going ok, I will start going to my room after cuddles.  The first night didn't work, he rolled around and fussed and carried on for about 40 minutes until I gave up.  So the next day I decided to add a sticker chart for motivation.  He gets a sticker each night he doesn't fuss and goes to sleep without me in the bed.  After six stickers he will get a special treat.  He's got two stickers so far.</p>

<p>He didn't nap today, and was already tired to start with, so we went up extra early.  After stories, he kept proclaiming that he was hungry.  I kept telling him that we would get something to eat in the morning (I thought he had plenty at dinner time).   Finally he said "mommy, please may I <em>please </em>have something to eat?"  So I told him he could have one go-gurt.  He said "can I have oreos?"   I told him no and he said a go-gurt was good.</p>

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<p>My belly feels much better, now.  Thank you mommy, now my body and brain can sleep.</p>