Crib Rail --- Off

Last night we removed the crib tent and Paige did great staying in her bed.  Then she had a 4 hour nap today.  (I made sure to really wear her out with swimming this morning.)  The rule is that if you get out of your bed you have to stay in your room.  She was very good about it.  She stayed in her bed all night last night and then did climb out after nap today, but stayed in her room.  We have a video monitor so I could see what was going on.

Tonight we removed the front rail of her crib.  She seemed super excited.  Hailey even joined in on the fun.  My mom had saved my sheets from when I was a kid with a twin bed so I let her pick between pink flowers or Garfield (which she just knows as a cat, she doesn't know the Garfield character yet.)  She clearly choose Garfield or "the cat."  The Garfield sheets were a gift to me from my own grandmother.  I showed her how to lay in her bed with the covers on (she's only just had a blanket in her bed for about the last year or so).  She snuggled under the sheet and blanket just fine and we read her bedtime story in bed.  I again reminded her of the rule.  We'll see how tonight goes!  So far, so good.  But I'm headed to bed now myself, just in case it turns out to be a long night or early morning. 

Oprah

This week marked the end of The Oprah Winfrey Show. I was a latch key kid growing up and being on the west coast her show usually came on a 3pm in time for me to get home from school. I remember watching her show and always feeling inspired. I'm sure she has had a role in developing the person I am today. As an adult I would watch it when I could and had the time and always enjoyed it and left feeling more informed, inspired or heartfelt. I think of her as someone who used her show as an outlet to provide information, especially to women. I don't have a specific show that I can reflect on, but as a young girl, I remember her saying that being a mother is the toughest yet most important job in the world. Back then, I remember thinking oh that doesn't apply to me, I won't have kids, but today, as one of the most fortunate women in the world of two healthy girls I cannot agree & relate more. I'm a bit sad they won't grow up with the Oprah Show, but hope her new network, OWN, has shows that specifically inspire women and young girls. Thanks Oprah for 25 years!

The "Experienced" Mom

Today was The Costco trip (yes, it gets capital letters).  I managed to get both out the door at 10:30am this morning, ok 10:38am to be exact.  Hailey usually naps at 10am, but had slept til 8am this morning instead of her usual 7am.  So I thought I was still good to go.  I always make sure I get what we need first and then if I have time to look around at the other fun stuff then I'm super happy.  Nope!  Not today.  Hailey started crying after I got all the needed stuff and as I got to the clothing section and proceeded to scream and cry as I rushed to the check out, all during loading the items on the check stand, during check out, out the door where they have to compare what is on your receipt to what is in your cart (really?!) and through the parking lot.  Yes, crying and screaming. I would have freaked if this were Paige as this age.  Actually as a first time mom I would have never of risked it, instead I would have waited til after Paige's morning nap and then gone.  But there are just things you feel more comfortable with as a mom of two.  Yes, people were staring and probably thought I was a horrible mother, but I just held her while she screamed and got what needed to be done, done.  Really wasn't frazzled at all.  Got home, unloaded the refrigerator stuff and then straight to bed for nap.  Poor Hailey, not fun to be tired and out and about.  But I think the "Experienced Mom" title was bestowed upon me today.   

Transition to Big Bed?

 We still have the crib tent on Paige's bed, but it needs to come off. (Bit of a caveat, she loves the tent and cries for it to be zipped if we don't zip it.  "Zip it!")  So I read more about transitioning to a big bed.  But the darn book says that if she's transitioning to something new, like preschool, to wait on the big bed. Ughhhhh....I waited while we were potty training. She'll be starting preschool 2 mornings a week for 3 hours each. We will simply take off the tent & the front rail of her crib to make a daybed out of her crib. Too big of an adjustment? Should I wait or just do it? Thanks for the feedback!

Sisterly Love

I may be exhausted by 11am everyday, but I am so happy we have two heathy children who are starting to play together more & more. Sisterly love!

HORMONES

The HORMONES!  Oh my goodness, the hormones.  Hailey has naturally weaned despite my efforts to stop it.  Today is day three of no nursing and my emotions are all over the place.  I feel like the meanest mama one moment, fine the next.  Then I want to cry.  My thoughts....Find your own sippie!...Oh, I love you so much!...What would you like for lunch?...Why do you have to throw your food on the floor?  And then, poor Brian, I've called him once whining and text him several times.  He's a work for crying out loud.  Leave him alone already!  Anyone experience similar results?  If not, what were yours so I can have SOMETHING to know I'm not crazy.  It's been about 2 months coming I know...the weaning has been gradual because before the no nursing at all it was probably only once a day.  But goodness gracious! 

Kipper the Dog

Brain got a free trial of Netflix this month and we've been letting Paige watch some of the cartoons on it.  There is one that I didn't think she would like, but tried it anyway.  It's called Kipper.   She LOVES it!  It's a British cartoon about a dog who has friends and they do very normal things that a child of 2-5 years loves to do.  Paige really wants to emulate him.  One cartoon has him eating a sandwich; she came and asked for a sandwich.  I can never, ever refuse her when she ASKS for food.  So that was really nice.  Another about painting; so we water colored a whole bunch today.  Another about swimming; which that one is a no brainer in this household.  And several others.  The cartoon is based on books by Mick Inkpen (could that be a pseudonym?!) so I went to the bookstore today to buy some.  Unfortunately they appear to be out of print so the bookstore didn't have any.  But I went online and bought several used Kipper books.  They should arrive next week.  Should be fun.

Potty Training Update

I was all ready to post asking for advice about potty training.  But this weekend turned out to be an accident free one for The Bumble Bee.  Tonight she even went to get on the big toilet by herself several times with no reminders.  Yay!  I don't want to jinx it by saying we may be breaking through and she won't get kicked out of preschool, but I think we are almost there.  Still haven't done the public restroom lesson yet, so any advice on that is appreciated. 

(I did scour all the paperwork for preschool and it says "potty trained or in the late stages of potty training" for the class I put her in.  Whew!  She'll be fine.) 

Memory

Weird:  I posted this on 5/11/11, but for some reason it didn't show up on the blog...so here it is again just for the records.  :) 

On Monday when I took Paige to the doctor we drove by a new froyo shop and I mentioned that we might be able to stop and get yogurt after seeing the doctor.  She said ok and we kept driving.  So we waited for and saw the doctor and then stopped at the pharmacy to drop off her prescription which took about an hour. As we were leaving the pharmacy, which is located on the opposite corner of the foryo shop, Paige reminded me that we "needed to get yogurt."  Because of that memory, I stopped and we got some.  Huge memory for such a little thing I mentioned.  I suppose foryo or ice cream are not insignificant to a 2 year old.  Better watch what I say from here on out, she'll call me on it!

Another Who's Who? Which is Which?

It appears at about age 13 months both girls love going through my shoes in the closet.  Sad thing is, after 20 months, it appears I have not updated my shoe wardrobe that much.  But with these two, who really has time to shoe shop?! 


This is Paige

  

Paige






     

This is Hailey

Hailey

Instructions

It seems that Hailey has started understanding what we are saying.  Yesterday Brian asked her where her Snugglie was and she went and retrieved it.  Today I asked her to get her sippie and she found it and brought it to me.  She's not even talking!  But she can understand what we say?!  I don't remember Paige doing this, but when Paige was Hailey's age I was newly pregnant and so, so tired.  Fun stuff!

Mother's Day 2011

My third Mother's Day was wonderful. We got up and had a leisurely breakfast and then packed up to go out to Schnepf Farms to pick peaches and fresh zuchini. (Of course my anxiety about getting out the door reared its ugly head again, but we did it.  But it was mostly becuase of Paige's foot.)  The farm was really pretty and had some beautiful flowers growing too. The train was not running which left Paige a bit disappointed but she still had fun. We came home and my own mother came over for an afternoon together (no swimming because of Paige's ouchie foot) and for Brian's New Mexican Style Enchiladas. Sooooo good! It was a nice day to spend with my family. I'm grateful for their love, health and closeness. I'm a very lucky woman.

 

 

Ouchie

We trimmed the palo verde tree last weekend and had the trimmings on the side of the yard. Paige loves to run barefoot and stepped on one of the thorns. I didn't notice and it festered until it turned to an abcess on Sunday morning when she woke up. Brian lanced it on Sunday afternoon. I took her to the pediatrician on Monday who ordered an xray and prescribed an antibiotic. She also recommended keeping it dry but soaking it a couple times a day in Epsom salts to draw out any debris that may be left, dry it out and to open it up more. Paige is super good about soaking it. I sat her on the kitchen table and colored with her and now she loves doing it. She's really into "taking care if it" and making sure she has her "medicine.". We may have medical school to start saving for if these signs continue. Oy!

To wean or not to wean?

This one is hard for me.  I am so happy that Hailey was able to nurse.  We've had a beautiful and natural 13 months.  I think I've mentioned that she has not been interested at nap for about 2 months now.  Well she's not really interested in it at all anymore.  In the middle of the night if she wakes she'll nurse and sometimes in the morning but not all the time.  I always offer though, morning, naps, & bed. 

When Brian was in the hospital my mom and aunt had to give her a bottle (I pumped at the hospital) so now when she sees Paige's bottle she freaks and is not "calmable" until she gets one herself.  (Yes, we still supplement Paige, but that's another blog.)  It makes me sad, but I know that the nutrients are not there for her anymore in the breastmilk.  Also since she isn't getting as much milk as she should from her sippie cup at meals, I know she needs it.  So I've been giving her a bottle at some naps and after some baths if she won't nurse.  Perhaps I need to give a snack before naps instead so her belly is full instead of the bottle? 

I think because she's my baby (my last child) and because I also enjoy nursing so much, I miss it!  Darn it.  However, all things change and usually for the better.  I have had a ton of energy this week, which is not always the case when nursing.  It is time to move on to the next part of our lives, but I will miss that bond and moments of special snuggles.  I will continue to offer and perhaps she'll be interested a bit longer.  I'm just assuming this is natural and moving on.  Please share your weaning story so I can relate.  Thanks!

Grocery Store

I think I've talked about the efforts it takes to get both girls out the door at the same time with just me doing it all.  Because of that I usually go to the grocery store at night after bedtime.  I had a window today when both were fed and not needing a nap.  Since I have my last paper for school to write still, I decided to go.  I succumbed to using those germ infested carts that have the car part in the front for Paige to sit in.  Lately I've been putting her in the basket part and piling all the groceries on top of her.  She tends to start whining by the end (who could blame her?), so I had her sit in the car part after thoroughly using the sanitizing wipes all over the cart and put Hailey up in the front part of the basket, which after I put Paige in the car part noticed that it had spots for two kids to sit.  Oh well.  The cart actually worked really well and I can see why parents use them.  Room for groceries, no whining kids and Paige actually had fun "driving."  But YUCK!  So many germs.  Needless to say, handwashing was not skipped today when we returned from the store. 

Carseats

Yes, I am one of THOSE moms that stresses and has to research every baby item we purchase.  Hailey was outgrowing her infant carseat by length (not weight) so we needed to buy a new one for her.  Paige's was getting worn and really wasn't that great, except for the awesome cup holder, so I decided to buy two new ones.  I went with the Britax Boulevard 70 CS because it fit both girls, will grow with them and it has awesome safety features.  Plus they had a cute girly color too, but that was just a bonus.  They are really easy to get the girls in and out of too because they have the pull at the bottom to tighten or loosen.  I really like that feature. 

From the picture, I know you're thinking that the AAP just released new guidelines about rear facing carseats.  Yes, they did. But despite that recommendation, we put Hailey forward facing.  So nice to feel safe and have both girls comfortable.  (I did manage to squeeze my tooshie in one and they are quite cushy.)

Hailey's 1st Swim of the Season

Today I was finally able to be back on track or schedule with the girls.  So after lunch I took them both swimming.  It was Hailey's first dip in the pool this season and she loved it.  I put her in the baby raft and she simply chilled out and laid back to enjoy.  Paige was really sweet with her and had to push her around the pool.  Paige was very excited to have Hailey swimming with her.  Very fun hour and half which ended in peaceful naps for both this afternoon.  Great day. 

Playing together. 

Historical Events of Today

As we played in the yard, worked on our PCs and enjoyed our meals today, the US Military on command from President Obama, carried out an operation to get Osama Bin Laden and they were successful.  These 10 years have been a journey.  Brian and I were married on September 7, 2001, just 4 days prior to the attacks in New York, Washington, DC and Pennsylvania.  As a married couple we have watched and been part of these changing times for our country and the world.  We have observed politics mold how our country reacts to such circumstances and agreed or not agreed with the actions taken, however we stood together as a married American couple through it all and created our own life.  The news today is relieving and one that I long will bring new hope and prosperity to our country and lives.  We are proud to be Americans and I will say with meaning, May God Bless America.