Duping

1.  Craig has figured a way to use Elmo to our advantage at meal time.  Belle often prefers playing to eating, and then gets cranky when she grows too hungry.  Elmo (and creative Daddy) to the rescue!  Craig put Belle's bib on her Elmo doll and then put Elmo in Belle's high chair.  Then, Craig offered Elmo bites of chicken and peas and whatever else we were aiming to feed Belle for dinner.  Craig reacted by noting how much Elmo liked the food.  Once the bite was Elmo-approved, Belle was suddenly eager to eat it herself.  Genius, Craig.

2.  Belle's sleep-strike started about a month and a half ago.  She fusses at bedtime and sometimes refuses to nap.  It turns out, she simply wants to be near someone.  Tonight, after I completed our bedtime routine, I put her in her crib and then sat in the rocking chair and read a magazine.  I assured Belle that I was there and told her to lie down.  To my shock, she complied.  Belle looked up a few times to make sure I was still there.  I said, "Mommy's here, Belle.  Now please lie down."  Each time, Belle smiled and said, "Oh," and then lay herself down.  I read Time magazine.  Neither the creaking of the rocking chair on the hard wood floor nor the turning of the magazine pages seemed to bother her.  Nor did Belle need to be held to remain calm, as we previously thought.  A few essays into the magazine, Belle seemed asleep enough so I tip-toed out of her room and downstairs for dinner.  Lucky that we are dealing with this icky sleep-strike phase when the days are longer so the sky is lighter (I might have fallen asleep had the room been darker and had I not been reading).  Anyway, I got Belle to sleep without a single cry.  And without holding her.