Friday, February 27, 2009
Milestones in Pictures
Good News / Weird News
Thursday, February 26, 2009
40 Long Days
However, we have started to see a need for us to pick church back up. A little while back, Addi and I were looking through Sam's scrapbook pages and came to her Baptism page. Addi pointed right at Father Tony and proudly proclaimed, "Look mommy! It's Jesus!"
Now, I could be happy that she knows who Jesus is. Or I could be concerned that she thinks the priest is him. I went with happy.
So, with Lent starting yesterday, Jay and I did well with the not eating meat part. He loves fish and it goes well on our diet, so that's not a terrible struggle. The harder part is deciding what to give up for Lent. We always try to add "Going to Church" as one of our sacrifices, but picking something else is always hard for me.
So, I thought long and hard about this. What is a bad habit I have that I want to give up? What is something that drives Jay CRAZY and causes fights on a regular basis?
My BlackBerry. Namely, me talking on it all the time, especially while I'm driving. It's like a nervous tick for me. I pick it up constantly. Now granted, I do get to actually talk to my parents and friends more often because of this terrible habit. BUT, is me keeping in touch with family and friends really keeping my kids safe, especially if I am rear-ending someone in the process? Probably not.
So, it's official. No more talking on my cell phone while I am driving. Now, if someone calls me I may answer it, but I will not place any calls unless absolutely necessary. This morning I got my first taste of life without chatting, and it was HARD. I had to literally put my phone down five times.
It's going to be a long 40 days. But, I guess that's the point, right?
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Time Out for an Update
Today, however, was a bit of setback. Addi did NOT have great listening ears and sat in time out several times. But she went to bed in one piece (although she moved her bed across the room). For the better behavior before bed, I am grateful, because it gave me a bit of downtime.
And, I am also grateful that she went to bed because today I have already taken away her dollhouse, Dora table, scooter, doll, and stuffed animals. The guest room is officially full of contraband toys and next on the punishment list was the toy kitchen. And that thing is a NIGHTMARE to move around.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Colorblind
However, I have noticed lately that Addi is colorblind. And it's this kind of colorblindness I hope she never ever gets over.
A while back, Addi and I headed to Walmart to pick up a few things. Once inside we ran into a friend of mine and we stopped to chat. Addi looked over and yelled, "There's Daddy!" and started waving like crazy towards the center of the store.
I looked that way, and saw who she was waving at. It was a man... approximately the same age as Jay. He was also heavy-set like Jay and was wearing glasses.
You could see a resemblance. Except for one major difference. This man was African American.
And Addi didn't even notice the first thing many people would see. To her, he was just a guy who looked like Daddy because of his glasses and size.
Food for thought......
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
A "Bad" Mistake
Me: "Addi, come on. I really want to play Cariboo. Really badly."
Addi: "Mommy, why do you want to play badly?"
Me: "Because I really like the game. It's fun."
Addi: "Mommy, I don't want to play badly. I want to play nicely."
True Love
And, for what it's worth, although they are both in my bed (I finally gave up around 4 a.m. and let them come in - I had walked Addi back to her room twice) Addi does NOT have a paci. At least I'm sticking with one of the rules.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Laying down the law
Yesterday was no exception. I did what no parent should ever do - I had well checkups for both girls at the same time. BIG MISTAKE. BIG. H-U-G-E. At first everything was going fine - then we got called into the exam room. Addi refused to put on the gown. Then she yelled because she wanted her paci and her juice box, both of which were in the car. Then she just yelled to yell. Doctor Becky finally had to put Addi in time out twice (and even that didn't go well) and we finished the appointment after a LONG 45 minutes. And after that, mommy needed a cocktail.
We headed home with strict instructions to focus on Addi sleeping in her own room and listening, using time out and consequences as reinforcement. The paci and potty training could be put on hold for a few weeks to get this little monster’s behavior under control. And none of this was rocket science – read any childcare book or talk to any parent and it’s a no-brainer. However, THINKING and DOING are two very different things, especially when you tend to cave out of per exhaustion.
Once we got home Addi and I sat down and wrote out a list of her new rules. Then we went over the consequences for not obeying – she gets one warning and then it’s time out.
Her new rules:
- No hitting
- No pacis until bedtime
- Use your words (no whining)
- Have good listening ears
- Hug Mommy, Daddy and Sami everyday
- Sleep in your own room
After repeating these to me, Addi asked for her own paper so she could write her own rule down and put it on the fridge next to my rules. She scribbled a line and when I asked her what her rule said, she answered, “No time outs for Addi.” OK, whatever!
The rest of the night was frustrating. Lots of time outs, her dollhouse got taken away, and Jay and I were exhausted. But we had one success – she slept in her room the entire night.
I definitely don’t call this a victory yet, but hopefully we are on our way to a more peaceful home.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Scenes from a weekend
Happy Belated Valentines!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Furniture Row.... Why do you hate us?
Anyway, after walking around for a few minutes, I felt... funny. Like I was going to yak, actually. I excused myself, waddled to the bathroom, and prayed to the porcelain gods. We left and never returned.... Until today.
This afternoon we headed back to try to make amends with the store. Actually, we are in the market for furniture for Addi's room and wanted to check there. We started looking at the bunk beds when Addi said, "My tummy hurts," then burped really loudly. I asked her if she was going to throw up and she said yes. Jay rolled his eyes and said, "Of course she will say yes, she always does."
Mommy instinct kicked in and I moved Addi towards the back of the store, just in time. She puked all over their storeroom. A lovely sales guy ran right over and mopped it up while I took Addi to the bathroom to clean up. Word to the wise.... Puke and Crocs don't mix.
The bad part is, I found a bedroom set that interested me. But there is no way I am going back. Why do you hate us, Furniture Row???
Friday, February 13, 2009
Is she ready...
Her "People"
My mom said that it was a very informative evening. While making dinner, Addison informed her that what my mom was making was NOT “mac and roni. It’s mac and cheese.” I’m sure there was an eye roll here as well.
Next Addi told her about her new school. She said that one day she went to time out for hitting. My mom asked what she did in time out.
“I cried, Grandma. I sat there and cried for my people.”
In between laughs my mom asked who exactly Addi’s “people” were.
“You know… My mom. My dad. Sami. Anyone who would love me.”
She’s got people. Good to know.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
The title-less blog
Let me elaborate. My kids are not the best sleepers. They go in spurts – one night, we will have 10 glorious hours of uninterrupted sleep. The next night, I want to run screaming down the street. For those of you who are missing out on all the fun we have, let me give you a brief rundown of a typical night for us. Try not to be jealous.
7:30 p.m. – Sam has a bottle and drifts off to sleep. We take her to her room and shut the door.
8 p.m. – we finish reading 3 (or 4 or 5) books with Addi and take her to her room, shutting the door. Addi goes to sleep without a peep, and Jay and I go to bed around 10 p.m.
1 a.m. – Addi wakes up and comes to our room. And requests help finding her missing paci.
1:05 a.m. – Addi begins yelling for an “animal” to sleep with.
1:06 a.m. – I clamp my hand over her mouth and tell her to stop screaming, kicking Jay and telling him to retrieve said animal.
1:07 a.m. - Addi bites my hand and I cry silently into my pillow.
1:08 a.m. – Addi happily settles down to sleep in our room.
1:09 a.m. – Sam is now awake from Addi's screaming and is inconsolable. She joins us in our room.
1:10 a.m. – Addi freaks out because she either a) wants to hold Sam’s hand and Sam won’t let her or b) wants to sleep next to me and Sam won’t let her.
1:30 – 3 a.m. – Every 5 minutes, Addi or Sam stir, waking the other. I am in major pain by now from being contorted into an unnatural position, trying to not squash children.
5:30 a.m. – Jay and I wake up, exhausted. The kids are happily dreaming away.
Now, I SAID don't be jealous.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Whine Connoisseurs
And did I mention the whine????
Treatment: aforementioned shots of antibiotics and lots of nebulizer treatments. And when I say lots... I mean each kid, four times a day for albuterol and twice a day for Pulmacort. LOTS. Don't they look like they LOVE the neb?
Reduce.... Reuse.... Retrieve?
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Happy 3rd Birthday, Addi!
We spent Saturday at the Children's Museum in Indianapolis with my mom, Lee, Roxi, Sabrina, Lorelai, Uncle Phil, and my friends Mandee and Jason and their son Jack. The museum is huge so we didn't even make it through the whole thing. And I think the fact that Addi didn't feel 100% worked in our favor... Generally when she gets an audience in a large open place she starts acting like a drunk baboon. But Saturday, she was almost on her best behavior.
The new exhibit is Lego's Castles... so all the kids got crowns.
On Sunday we went home and Addi opened her last gift from us... a Big Wheel! She was so excited to ride it so we went to the basement - and she promptly fell down the stairs. We'll try again another day.
Here's to a wonderful, potty trained, paci free third year!
To see all the pictures from this weekend, check out JayandStephanieRalph.shutterfly.com.