Bedtime

This is something that we have struggled with with Alex since he was born. In the hospital he did great sleeping in the bassinet and completly played us for fools. When he got home he did a 180 and became a horrible sleeper. Part of it was our fault. He hates sleeping in the bassinet and the crib so we let him sleep with us. BIG MISTAKE!!! When he would sleep in the crib he would wake up every 30-40 minutes and then it woudl take at least 20 to get him back to sleep. So I figured if I ever wanted to sleep he could just sleep with me. And it worked. He slept..well like a baby. He finally slept through the night in a crib at 14 months. Around that age it seemed like once he was asleep a marching band could go through the room and he would not wake up. To this day he is still like that. Its just getting him to go to sleep which is a pain in the ass.
With Zach and Addie we were much more strict about them sleeping. They slept in our room until they were about 6 months but they did not sleep in our bed or with us. Sure the first few nights home they would be in our bed from about 3 am to 6 am because of the night feedings but other than that they were in the crib or the snuggle chair(as I call it) to sleep. And they were and still are awesome sleepers both at nap and at bedtime. When we put them down they go to sleep. Addie sleeps from about 6:30 or 7pm until 8-8:30 am and Zach goes to bed around 7:30 and gets up between 7:30-8am. And they both still nap. Alex..well he gave up napping around 18 months and never looked back.
No matter how busy we are during the day and how tired Alex SHOULD be by bedtime there are nights where he will find any excuse possible to come out of his room over and over again. It drives me nuts. I know one day he will understand how fun sleeping is, but I do not think that day will come anytime soon. At least I know that once he is asleep he will be out for good... I just wish I could find a easier way to get him to go to bed and straight to sleep.