Guest Post

I asked my friend Andrew to write a guest post for my blog back in November, promising him I'd write for his blog in return. He has finally collected! Read my thoughts on geocaching on Andrew's blog here. If you don't know what geocaching is, check it out: www.geocaching.com

We're closing in on one hundred posts here at thereynoldstribe. What should I do to celebrate?

Entourage!

So, I don't know if you've heard, but lately my champion sleeper of a son has gone on sleep strike. He wakes up 5 or 6 times in the middle of the night, sometimes refusing to go back to sleep.

Obviously, this is starting to wear on me and Ryan. It's like going back to 6-month-old Sammy, and he's almost 2 years old. We've tried to be creative in finding ways to convince him to go back to sleep in his own bed. (As opposed to the pack and play. He is NOT allowed to sleep in our bed.)

Sam's into stuffed animals now. One of the ways I like to get him to lay down and stay down is to snuggle him up with his stuffed animal ENTOURAGE.

Members of the crew:

Snugaphant

Leader of the gang and Sammy's best friend. Only animal whose name Sammy can say (though it sounds like "snuk!")

Sock Monkey

Likes to dance. His theme song: "Sock monkey/The funky monkey" (sung to the tune of Brass Monkey, because Mommy liked the Beastie Boys in high school)

Blue Sock Monkey

Sock Monkey's funky, chunky cousin. He gives Sammy hugs with his velcro paws.

Pooh Bear

Nice and soft. Sammy's oldest friend on the crew.

Ringo Dingo

Actually a zebra. Head is twisted at an odd angle that gives Mommy the creeps. Sammy loves it.

The Crew

When I was a little kid, I used to be terrified that snakes would get in our house, slither up the stairs to my room, and jump into my bed. This was horrifying. (Wouldn't it be?) I got great satisfaction from positioning my "Jake bear" and a pillow shaped like Simba from The Lion King at the end of my bed to guard from serpentine intruders. I don't know whose idea that was, mine or my mom's. All I know is that it worked. So if Sam needs an entourage of stuffed animals to accompany him to bed...

... who am I to refuse?