Benjamin vs. Sleep, Round 563

Now that pseudo-storm Ernesto has safely passed us by, we are unshuttering and replacing all of our patio furniture where it belongs instead of in the dining room.  We took the boys out on the patio mid-morning when the wind was gusting about a bit and Benjamin loved it.  He was jumping up and down in his exersaucer and helping Jonathan clean the patio with the hose.  Jonah sat, non-plussed, in his bouncy seat playing intently with a toy and making his porn star noises, as usual.

We are having to consider taking out a home-equity loan due to Benjamin's eating habits as of late (2 to 5 ounces of solids 2-3 times a day).  Except that we just moved and we have no equity in our home yet.  Jonathan wants to feed him beer and give him daily massages so we can market him as prime Kobe beef next year.  If we are still  eating peanut butter sandwiches by Thanksgiving  because we haven't yet sold our old place, we may splurge and roast one of his thunder thighs on the grill.  His Abuela is very distubed by this image.

Jonah, on the other hand, would be very happy never eating solids, but once you pry open his stubborn little lips for the first few bites, he purses them slightly less tightly and usually eats an ounce or two.  He gags to let you know he's had enough.  Sometimes these gags are productive.

As the title of the post suggests, Benj is still struggling with the whole sleep thing.  He goes down for naps really well now (sans pacifier, but after reading a book or two), but continues to wake up around 4-5am about half the nights.  He goes back to sleep, usually on his own, after fussing for 20-45 minutes.  By that time, I have usually moved Jonah into the playpen in our room so he won't be awakened by his howling beast of a brother.

I can't remember the last time Jonah fussed at all when being put to sleep (in the last month, that is... I very well remember those hideous several weeks when his reflux was so bad he wouldn't seep at all.  Ever.).  I put the pacifier in - sometimes - then curl him into his preferred comma-shape, tuck a blanket:  between his knees, behind his back, and on top of him, then give him something to manipulate in his hands (small toy, yet another blanket, etc.) and he's asleep before I've left the room.