The Royal Treatment

Bath time used to be somewhat of a stressful time for your dad and I.  We did our best to make you content and comfortable, lest you get mad and hate baths forever!  There was a very specific routine we followed.  First, we turned up the heat to keep you warm and toasty.  Then, we put the plastic bath tub on the island in the kitchen so we could be on both sides of you.  Next, we debated over the best water temperature, testing it over and over again with our hands, wrists, and elbows...after all, your skin is more sensitive than ours.  We even bought a rubber ducky that was supposed to read "HOT" on the bottom if the water was too hot.  Through trial and error, (basically from you screaming the whole time) we learned that the duck lies.  It said "HOT" even in semi-cold water.  When we decided on the perfect water temperature and got all of the supplies lined up, we quickly undressed you and stuck you  in the tub feet first.  Quickly because we would get peed on if we took our time, and feet first because we wanted you to get acclimated to the water before we just threw you in.  Once in the tub, the royal treatment began...

1.  Soak wash rag in warm water and put on your chest to keep your core warm.

2.  Begin QUICKLY washing each body part, starting at the top and working down while singing to the tune of the wheels on the bus.  i.e. "this is the way we wash our hands, wash our hands, wash our hands, this is the way we wash our hands, when we take a bath"

I love those little feet!!

And those precious hands!

3.  Rinse you off without getting water on your face.

Oops!  Dad got some water on your face!

I think you said, "No more pictures mom!" I have a feeling I will be hearing that phrase often as I will probably have taken a million pictures of you before you graduate....from kindergarten!!

4. Dry you off with your fluffy, hooded towel.

I am obsessed with that double chin!

"Seriously mom, no more pictures!!"

5.  Carry you to your room where the space heater has been warming the room and classical music is softly playing.

6.  Begin 20 minute baby massage.

7.  End with pajamas.

During baths you were very serious, kind of like you knew you were being treated like a king, and almost like you felt entitled to the royal treatment.  As first time parents, we played right into your first born tendencies.  We take full credit for making you needlessly high maintenance!

Now that you are 7 months old going on 3 (years), and we aren't as concerned about catering to your every need (at least during baths), bath time looks more like this:

We throw you in, give you some toys and watch you splash and squeal and chew on your toys.  We all enjoy bath time so much more this way!