I realize that the election is coming up here quickly. And also that it's important. And also that Missouri is a swing state and thus my vote really matters. I appreciate you're reminding me.
But,
Do you really think I need two strangers coming to my door to tell me that this week? Also, do you think I need to have a phone call from another stranger that happens to come just as I'm putting my toddler down for her nap? Really, it would mean more to me that you cared about my daughter's nap time and thus my mental health by letting me be than by telling me to get out and vote.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Voter
***Update: Since I wrote this post, another visitor came to my door for the Obama campaign on Saturday. That was three visits in one week. Also we got called on the phone twice on Saturday. That was kind of exciting though because one time it was actually Obama on the other end of the line! Boy don't you wish you lived in St. Louis now!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Eating Healthy
Perhaps it's just because when I'm pregnant I have to eat what seems like truckloads of food, but eating healthy has really been on my mind lately. I have a daughter who is a fabulous healthy eater. She will eat raw fruits and veggies all day if I provided them for her. So what's the problem? The problem is in my providing them for her. I never seem to plan to have enough of them in a good enough variety to satisfy her. Also, I wish I were more like her. My first reaction to hunger is to find some yummy carbs to load myself up with. I don't really know how that happened. I have a very healthy mom and grandmother. They are both really great at cooking healthy, interesting, fancy, and enjoyable meals for the whole family. I also have quite a bit of knowledge when it comes to food. I just have slipped into the grab-n-go eating habits that aren't so very good for me. Also, fruits and veggies are expensive! My food budget, like most everyone, is very strained right now. So if my choice is between more apples or getting the oil changed on the car how exactly am I supposed to make that decision? Both are needed to lubricate important things in my life.
Anyway, I'm done complaining because who wants to hear about that. I've been hearing great things about this book lately and thought to myself, "yeah great idea, but how would I be able to afford it. Also, my daughter will eat veggies so why hide them?" Then today I was having lunch with another med mom. This mom is amazing at stretching her food dollar. I'm floored when I hear how much she spends and is still able to eat well. She told me that she loves this book and it didn't really raise their budget as much as she thought it would. She said the best thing about it for her is just fitting in more servings of veggies without feeling like she has to go and cook three or four side dishes. So now I'm actually intrigued. Has anyone else tried the book? Is it worth the investment of actually buying the book? If you've tried it, should I really get a food processor or will my blender work OK?
Anyway, I'm done complaining because who wants to hear about that. I've been hearing great things about this book lately and thought to myself, "yeah great idea, but how would I be able to afford it. Also, my daughter will eat veggies so why hide them?" Then today I was having lunch with another med mom. This mom is amazing at stretching her food dollar. I'm floored when I hear how much she spends and is still able to eat well. She told me that she loves this book and it didn't really raise their budget as much as she thought it would. She said the best thing about it for her is just fitting in more servings of veggies without feeling like she has to go and cook three or four side dishes. So now I'm actually intrigued. Has anyone else tried the book? Is it worth the investment of actually buying the book? If you've tried it, should I really get a food processor or will my blender work OK?
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
I'm convinced
Although I have no reason to think this, I'm convinced I'm having a boy this time around. So much so that Daniel and I have decided on a name (mostly) if he's a boy, but haven't even been able to consider girl names. We've tried we just can't come up with any. So if I find out the week of December 10th that I'm having a girl, I'm going to have to seriously readjust my mindset.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Charlotte
Since I can't really get my thoughts together for 2 minutes in a row to write a real post today I thought I'd share some of the funny things Charlotte is saying now.
First, she realized that I didn't call Daddy daddy. I call him Daniel. So now she walks around the house calling her daddy, "Danno! Danno!" It's hilarious! I asked Daniel if he minded and he said it's cute for now and we'll address it later. Plus, she still does call him Daddy sometimes. It depends on her mood I guess.
Second, I think I must have been saying, "There you are!" a lot lately because she walks around the house saying, "Where you are!" to me every time she finds me.
Thirdly, she likes to wish everyone a good morning. She says, "morneen" all throughout breakfast and then again to Daniel when he comes home from school at 5:30 in the evening.
First, she realized that I didn't call Daddy daddy. I call him Daniel. So now she walks around the house calling her daddy, "Danno! Danno!" It's hilarious! I asked Daniel if he minded and he said it's cute for now and we'll address it later. Plus, she still does call him Daddy sometimes. It depends on her mood I guess.
Second, I think I must have been saying, "There you are!" a lot lately because she walks around the house saying, "Where you are!" to me every time she finds me.
Thirdly, she likes to wish everyone a good morning. She says, "morneen" all throughout breakfast and then again to Daniel when he comes home from school at 5:30 in the evening.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Service Opportunity
One of my very best friends in the whole wide world recently had her first baby. Her mom isn't coming out to see her and help with the new one for a few days so some of the other girls in our group have banded together to help her. Our plan is simple. Everyone helping has a toddler themselves. The person going over to help drops their child off at a different home and then helps with the baby while their child is getting looked after. Today is my turn to help her, but you want to know the honest truth about this whole situation? I'm LOVING having an afternoon without a toddler clamoring for entertainment. It is so relaxing. So right now I'm giving "loads" of help to my friend and receiving loads of help from my friend. Today is so great.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Other Love of my life
I realized with all this posting about Charlotte and our new baby I've not mentioned a word about my husband and how things are going with him. As far as I can tell they're going really great right now.
Second year, same as the first
A little bit faster and a little bit worse.
Well, not about that whole worse part. Maybe not even about faster, but it seems to be going faster to me. He took his first final a few weeks ago (or maybe even only one week ago I can't remember now) in neruo and has a mid term in cardio this coming Saturday. He's actually been staying at home in the mornings to study before we get up and then eating breakfast with Charlotte before going to school. At least that's what I think he's doing because I'm dead to the world before 6:50 AM. He works so hard for our family. I hope he does well on his test because if he doesn't I will sort of feel like it's due to all the added work he's taken on at home. He is so very good about it though.
Last night he caught mouse number two. Every time he catches a mouse without me even having to see it he's my hero.
I think this year I'm really starting to learn so much more about my husband's character. That sounds funny to say since we've been married for a while, but I think we've settled so much more into each other now. It feels really good to look back and see all the tiny hills we've gotten over together so far and say we conquered them working together. I feel like I'm starting to see how who I am and how I chose to act reflects on him. How the two of us working together to be our best selves will amplify our efforts. The reverse, sadly, I've also seen. That when I act poorly I pull our whole family down. I hope we can individually work to be the best we can be and that, in turn, will reflect on our children, friends and community.
Second year, same as the first
A little bit faster and a little bit worse.
Well, not about that whole worse part. Maybe not even about faster, but it seems to be going faster to me. He took his first final a few weeks ago (or maybe even only one week ago I can't remember now) in neruo and has a mid term in cardio this coming Saturday. He's actually been staying at home in the mornings to study before we get up and then eating breakfast with Charlotte before going to school. At least that's what I think he's doing because I'm dead to the world before 6:50 AM. He works so hard for our family. I hope he does well on his test because if he doesn't I will sort of feel like it's due to all the added work he's taken on at home. He is so very good about it though.
Last night he caught mouse number two. Every time he catches a mouse without me even having to see it he's my hero.
I think this year I'm really starting to learn so much more about my husband's character. That sounds funny to say since we've been married for a while, but I think we've settled so much more into each other now. It feels really good to look back and see all the tiny hills we've gotten over together so far and say we conquered them working together. I feel like I'm starting to see how who I am and how I chose to act reflects on him. How the two of us working together to be our best selves will amplify our efforts. The reverse, sadly, I've also seen. That when I act poorly I pull our whole family down. I hope we can individually work to be the best we can be and that, in turn, will reflect on our children, friends and community.
Monday, October 13, 2008
A New Dog New Tricks
Sorry about the long post about how horrible things are going. I forgot that teaching a child anything takes time and patience. Also, on Sunday two of her four K-9 teeth poked through and I'm pretty sure I see the bottom set today. Four teeth all at once! Ouch! So that explains a lot. Also, I'm really lucky to have a stick to it husband. I was so ready to give in and put the side to her crib back up, but I think the tide has turned. Charlotte went down for her nap today WITHOUT crying! Now let's just hope that it lasts for a while. I always need to remind myself that teaching a baby/toddler anything new is hard and makes you second guess yourself every time. She's doing much better. She only woke up once last night and we put her right back down. So now it's just a matter of reinforcement.
Just so I remember how it worked this time when I'm trying this for the next baby I think I'll write down what worked and what didn't. This part will probably be really boring to everyone but me so now would be an OK time to skip to the next paragraph. Put her down for bed and linger just a little longer than I used to. Maybe a minute or so in the room. Put up the baby gate, but leave the door open. It sounds horrible that I had to "lock" her in her room, but it worked so I'm not going to apologize to anyone (not even myself). That way she wont be able to get out of the room, but she knows you're not just leaving her alone. If she immediately jumps out of bed and cries/screams, leave and let her do it for about 20 minutes or so. If you wait too long she will make herself throw up and then you'll have a whole other mess to clean up. Go back up, don't talk to her, don't make eye contact. Just put her back in bed, give her a kiss and then linger in the room once more. She knows you're there so she wont get back out. Stand just outside the gate for a while. She will calm herself down. Then leave her alone.
Saturday I threw up so much that by the end of the afternoon Charlotte was pretend throwing up in the toilet which would have made me laugh if I hadn't felt so sick. Then Sunday it was like the clouds broke and the storm lifted. I didn't get sick feeling even once. It was amazing and I loved it. Let's keep our fingers crossed that today goes more like Sunday.
Anybody got any good fall type activities to do with almost 2 year olds? This morning we went to the park, but it's overcast and windy now so my guess is it'll be raining this afternoon. Perhaps we'll do pudding finger painting. If you've got any other ideas send them my way. My mom already gets credit for pumpkin coloring/painting which I'm sure we'll do by the end of the week.
Just so I remember how it worked this time when I'm trying this for the next baby I think I'll write down what worked and what didn't. This part will probably be really boring to everyone but me so now would be an OK time to skip to the next paragraph. Put her down for bed and linger just a little longer than I used to. Maybe a minute or so in the room. Put up the baby gate, but leave the door open. It sounds horrible that I had to "lock" her in her room, but it worked so I'm not going to apologize to anyone (not even myself). That way she wont be able to get out of the room, but she knows you're not just leaving her alone. If she immediately jumps out of bed and cries/screams, leave and let her do it for about 20 minutes or so. If you wait too long she will make herself throw up and then you'll have a whole other mess to clean up. Go back up, don't talk to her, don't make eye contact. Just put her back in bed, give her a kiss and then linger in the room once more. She knows you're there so she wont get back out. Stand just outside the gate for a while. She will calm herself down. Then leave her alone.
Saturday I threw up so much that by the end of the afternoon Charlotte was pretend throwing up in the toilet which would have made me laugh if I hadn't felt so sick. Then Sunday it was like the clouds broke and the storm lifted. I didn't get sick feeling even once. It was amazing and I loved it. Let's keep our fingers crossed that today goes more like Sunday.
Anybody got any good fall type activities to do with almost 2 year olds? This morning we went to the park, but it's overcast and windy now so my guess is it'll be raining this afternoon. Perhaps we'll do pudding finger painting. If you've got any other ideas send them my way. My mom already gets credit for pumpkin coloring/painting which I'm sure we'll do by the end of the week.
Friday, October 10, 2008
My mistake
It's all my fault. I really did have an eye for the future. I also thought it would cut down on tears. I really had good intentions. And now I'm paying for it.
When Charlotte and I were on vacation she slept in a big girl bed for the first time ever. I was worried she'd have problems like getting scared and falling out of bed. But she slept like a champ. She would go down without any fuss at bedtime and at naptime and would sleep wonderfully. Since my mom's house is two hours behind our house, when she woke up in the morning I would have her come crawl in bed with me and we'd cuddle for an hour or so. It was great, she did great.
Then we came home. I put her in her crib for a nap the Sunday after we came back. She screamed for half an hour was quiet for half an hour (notice I didn't say slept) and then decided she wanted out. So I made a decision. I decided to convert her crib into a day bed. It's simple, you just take the front side off and install the daybed pannel that comes with the crib and goes on the front. It worked great for a few days. Like a dream.
Yesterday however the tide turned. She decided that she had to take a nap with me in my bed. That was fine for a day I thought. I was taking a nap at the same time anyway and I do enjoy cuddling her. I indulged her wishes. But last night she woke up at 4:12 AM. Wide awake and screaming. Sometimes she'll do this for two nights and we just have to be firm and put her back in bed until she realizes that she has to go back to sleep. So Dan decided to start that routine. He went in and changed her diaper. Hugged her. Kissed her. Put her back in her bed. Then came about half an hour of her getting out of bed and running to me. I'd pick her up and put her back in bed go back to bed and she'd get out again. She was asking me to rock with her in her rocking chair. 4:30 in the morning isn't rocking in the rocking chair time. It's SLEEP time. So I didn't. After a half hour of no progress though I decided that I would put her down and sit by the door. That way she knew I would see her if she got out of bed. It worked. I stayed there for five minutes or so and then went to bed. She stayed in her bed.
The problem now was that I was completely awake. And so was she. After another 15 minutes or so I hear in her calm clear little voice, "poopy!" Then she said something and then said, "poopy!" again. I didn't believe her. Daniel had just changed her and she was fine and I was going to go to sleep. In about half a hour, right when I was thinking I'd actually get to go back to sleep she started screaming. Dan had to get up by then anyway so he went to check on her. Apparently when he changed her diaper in his groggy state he neglected to put the new one on all the way and she peed and it was all over her and her bed. I made a valiant effort to get her to sleep with me in my bed while Dan was getting ready for school, but it was to no avail.
So I got up for the day today at 4:12 AM. She's had three less hours of sleep than she should have. I'm longing for nap time and also dreading the in and out of bed routine I'm fairly certain will happen. Making her crib a day bed was a mistake.
When Charlotte and I were on vacation she slept in a big girl bed for the first time ever. I was worried she'd have problems like getting scared and falling out of bed. But she slept like a champ. She would go down without any fuss at bedtime and at naptime and would sleep wonderfully. Since my mom's house is two hours behind our house, when she woke up in the morning I would have her come crawl in bed with me and we'd cuddle for an hour or so. It was great, she did great.
Then we came home. I put her in her crib for a nap the Sunday after we came back. She screamed for half an hour was quiet for half an hour (notice I didn't say slept) and then decided she wanted out. So I made a decision. I decided to convert her crib into a day bed. It's simple, you just take the front side off and install the daybed pannel that comes with the crib and goes on the front. It worked great for a few days. Like a dream.
Yesterday however the tide turned. She decided that she had to take a nap with me in my bed. That was fine for a day I thought. I was taking a nap at the same time anyway and I do enjoy cuddling her. I indulged her wishes. But last night she woke up at 4:12 AM. Wide awake and screaming. Sometimes she'll do this for two nights and we just have to be firm and put her back in bed until she realizes that she has to go back to sleep. So Dan decided to start that routine. He went in and changed her diaper. Hugged her. Kissed her. Put her back in her bed. Then came about half an hour of her getting out of bed and running to me. I'd pick her up and put her back in bed go back to bed and she'd get out again. She was asking me to rock with her in her rocking chair. 4:30 in the morning isn't rocking in the rocking chair time. It's SLEEP time. So I didn't. After a half hour of no progress though I decided that I would put her down and sit by the door. That way she knew I would see her if she got out of bed. It worked. I stayed there for five minutes or so and then went to bed. She stayed in her bed.
The problem now was that I was completely awake. And so was she. After another 15 minutes or so I hear in her calm clear little voice, "poopy!" Then she said something and then said, "poopy!" again. I didn't believe her. Daniel had just changed her and she was fine and I was going to go to sleep. In about half a hour, right when I was thinking I'd actually get to go back to sleep she started screaming. Dan had to get up by then anyway so he went to check on her. Apparently when he changed her diaper in his groggy state he neglected to put the new one on all the way and she peed and it was all over her and her bed. I made a valiant effort to get her to sleep with me in my bed while Dan was getting ready for school, but it was to no avail.
So I got up for the day today at 4:12 AM. She's had three less hours of sleep than she should have. I'm longing for nap time and also dreading the in and out of bed routine I'm fairly certain will happen. Making her crib a day bed was a mistake.
Monday, October 06, 2008
Vacation
Charlotte and I just got back from a week long vacation at "Gamma" and "Bumpa's" house on Saturday. We had loads of fun and I should share some good stories, but I'm lazy and I wont. Today though I went and had my first ultrasound of our little peanut. I heard the heartbeat for the first time (170) and there's just something so awesome about that sound. It makes all these flu-like symptoms totally worth it. I loved to see the little heart beating and the little flipper hands and feet. This baby was much less active than Charlotte was. She did flips and turns the whole ultrasound and there was only one little wiggle out of the peanut. Does this mean I might get a laid back child? Not very likely. The peanut is measuring right on for my due date of May 9th. So there you have it.
The ultrasound went so quickly that Charlotte and I had time to drive to the zoo and get to the carousel for the free ride time. The carousel is free for the first hour the zoo is open. We went three times before she decided she wanted to see the penguins, which are still her favorite part of the zoo. We must not have been to the zoo for a while now because this time she magically noticed all the animals and pointed and talked to them. She had to say hi and bye to every animal she saw (even the squirrels). Did I mention that 18 months old is by far my favorite age so far? Because really, it's so much fun.
The ultrasound went so quickly that Charlotte and I had time to drive to the zoo and get to the carousel for the free ride time. The carousel is free for the first hour the zoo is open. We went three times before she decided she wanted to see the penguins, which are still her favorite part of the zoo. We must not have been to the zoo for a while now because this time she magically noticed all the animals and pointed and talked to them. She had to say hi and bye to every animal she saw (even the squirrels). Did I mention that 18 months old is by far my favorite age so far? Because really, it's so much fun.
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