the week we introduced a shared bedroom

in an effort to encourage better sleep from Clara we thought (as suggested by auntie brooke) to try putting her in the crib.  one minor detail is that the crib is in Sam's room.  we were waiting until Clara slept without interruption to try them sleeping in the same room but well... why not?... what have we to lose?...

night one: Clara asleep at 7.  Sneak Sam in at 8.  Clara wakes up and begins screaming - and very very loud.  I pray quickly for Sam and tell her I will be back in 5 min if Clara is still screaming.  She looks at me reluctantly.  Within moments Sam has pulled the covers over her head - anything to muffle the shrieking.  A few min later Sam sits up and starts repeating in a calm voice, "It's ok Clay-la, mama be back soon.  It's ok Clay-la  mama be back soon.  It's ok Clay-la, mama be back soon."  Thankfully within a few min they both fall asleep.

night two: Clara asleep at 7.  Sneak Sam in at 8.  Clara wakes up and begins screaming.  Thankfully the screaming only lasts 2 min.

night three: Clara asleep at 7.  Sam asks around 8 if Clara is in her room - we tell her she is - Sam begins to cry.  "No mama, no.  Clay-la too loud."  Tim decides to lay next to Sam to be with her in it.  Thankfully Clara simply rolls over and goes back to sleep.  Tim stays just in case.  After 10 min he is able to sneak out and the girls continue to rest.

night four: much the same as night four - with Sam again protesting.  (leaving me to question if this was a mistake).

night five (last night): Clara asleep at 7.  Sneak Sam in at 7:30.  Tim leaves and within moments Clara is standing up and the girls are talking.  For the next half hour the girls interact in a delightful, playful way - with Sam encouraging smiles and giggles from Clara.  We wonder if we will need to say something, but it is too cute to stop.  Thankfully the girls eventually do stop, without needing our intervention, and fall asleep.

Overall Clara's sleeping hasn't improved too much but I am hopeful.  Neither girl is a heavy sleeper so when one is awake they both are - and at some point each night one has awakened the other, at which point we bring Clara back in our room and put her in the pack n' play. But last night Clara made it until 5 am and that is great!

I am excited for this new stage - for sisters sharing a room - my prayer is it fosters a deep, sweet closeness.  Only time will tell.