Bedtime Woes

I just have to share my suffering with someone. Erik and I are at our wits end and I don't know what to do anymore with this bedtime issue we are having with Olivia. Nothing is working. I have read articles, websites etc to get ideas on how to keep this child in bed and NOTHING works. She just doesn't care and thinks it is absolutely hysterical. I have tried a sticker wall, if she stays in bed, she gets a sticker, if she gets out, it gets taken away, she doesn't care. We let her keep her door open with a night light, nope doesn't matter. She gets to pick out a special toy to sleep with, nope not that either. We have taken toys away as a punishment, doesn't work.

Her bedtime routine is the same as it always has been: Bath, pj's, teeth brushed, she gets to watch a special tv show of hers or a short movie while she relaxes, we read a bedtime story in her bed while mommy or daddy lay with her and then it's good night. She always stayed in bed and was asleep by 8 at the latest. Now she isn't going to sleep until 10:30. Last night was the best night in a LONG time and she feel asleep at 9:15 and that is b/c Erik and I took turns standing in her door way and putting her back in bed. How ridiculous is that!?!?! It gets tiring going up and down the stairs! Great workout, I guess.

Tonight we took away tv. The tv didn't get turned on until after she was put in bed. Sometimes when Erik gets home with her, he will let her watch a show of hers before dinner time and this takes place of her tv later in the night, but he didn't put the tv on at all and we had a quiet dinner and just read books and played after dinner before bedtime, so no tv. She complained, but it was explained to her that tv is a special treat and she can't watch it until she is a good girl and stays in her bed.

At first it was affecting me and I thought for sure I was going to go into early labor b/c of this and the stress, but now it is really affecting her. She is not having good days at school b/c she is so tired. The teachers had commented on this b/c they NEVER had any problems with her and she was always well behaved and in good moods and all of a sudden that has changed. They are the ones that brought it to my attention that she may be acting out because of the new baby. I thought perhaps it was the ear infection, but it's not like she is falling asleep and waking up in the middle of the night b/c she isn't feeling well, she just simply won't go to sleep. Once she is asleep, she doesn't wake up again so it's not because she is sick.

Maybe it's b/c of the new baby coming or something. I truly thought she didn't even really understand the fact that he will be here one day, but I guess I should give her more credit than that. Last night she wanted to be rocked like a baby and sleep in the crib. I was almost tempted to throw her in there b/c she can't get out!! Sad, I know. If Erik and I discipline her and tell her that she has to go to sleep, she just cries that she wants her grandma (my mother) or her Bestema (Erik's mother). It kills me, just kills me to hear that. I know she is just saying it b/c she is upset with us, but I just feel horrible. We tell her how much we love her and that going to sleep is important for her so she has energy and she feels good so she can play with her friends at school the next day. We tell her that it is her job to stay in bed and to show us that she can do a good job. Nothing works. I just don't get it. I know, I know, she is 3 and reasoning with a 3 year old is near impossible, but where did that little girl go that I never had problems with going to bed at night?? I need her back. How will we deal with this once the baby comes? Ugh!

Hopefully someone will read this and have some words of wisdom. It's now 8:50 and she has been out of her bed 9 times already. This started at 7:45. She is tired b/c she is yawning, but laughs hysterically every time I go up there and take her by the hand and put her back in bed. We aren't even yelling anymore, there is no emotion, just putting her back in bed. She was just down her telling me that she needed me to brush her doll's hair and put a clip in it. When I said "no, it's time to go to sleep" and took her by the hand to bring her upstairs again, she freaked, fell to floor and started rolling around crying, kicking and screaming. Who is this child?? Why won't she give up and get tired of this game???

HELP!