19 and 20 months.....oops.

Ugh. It’s been a while. Sorry about that! I actually formulate posts all the time, and then never actually get them written. This might be a long one!

So. Dare I say….I think we may the sleeping thing fixed. At least mostly. In a state of pure desperation, the first week of December I purchased a book called “Good Night, Sleep Tight.” Greatest. Sleep. Book. Ever. Daddy and I knew we were never going to let you cry-it-out alone, but continually allowing you to fall asleep in our arms only to wake up a few hours later and need us to fall back to sleep was not an option either. So we tried out this book’s method of “weaning” you. The gist is to re-train you to learn to fall asleep by yourself in your crib. The first night was the hardest – hand’s down. I put you in your crib, drowsy but awake. And I sat on the floor right next to your crib and calmly tried to talk to you and rub your back while you screamed at me and stood up asking to get out – for over an hour. And you woke up later in the night and we went through it all over again. But by the second night, you only took 30 minutes to fall asleep, and 15 minutes in the middle of the night. We’ve had a few ups and downs (you got a double ear infection right in the middle of the training cycle so we had to put it on hold for about a week). But now we’re at the point where we put you in your crib, tell you we’re right outside your door, and every few minutes check on you until you fall asleep. It takes anywhere from 5 – 15 minutes depending on how ‘active’ you are. You’ve even resorted to jumping up and down and laughing in your crib. But you no longer get mad at us or demand that we pick you up. You still have a bad night in the middle of the night every once in a while, where it will take over an hour to get you to calm down and fall asleep, but those are so rare these days. And you are so happy again! AND YOU NAP! So clearly, the experts are right: sleep begets sleep. (insert sigh of relief here)

Your language is continually exploding every day. You are starting to form sentences and you are really getting good at communicating with all of us. I love it! My current favorite word is “muk” – which is milk. We’ve all adopted it – like when we adopted the word “gunks” from Hadley. I can’t even keep track of how many words you have now – it’s wonderful. And it’s so funny, because your sister at this age barely said anything. Now, keep in mind, she started speaking in full sentences around 2 and never stopped….. but it’s still another funny way you are choosing to be different from her.

Though you still love to read more than anything, you have become quite opinionated about which books you’ll let us read to you and which ones you won’t. Though you love it now, you even dismissed “Goodnight Moon” about 10 times before you’d let us read it! Seriously. Greatest toddler bedtime book ever, loved by bazillions. And you wouldn’t have it. That’s my B. There are evenings where, sitting in your rocking chair, I have to present 7-8 books to get 3 read. If I try to read a book you aren’t interested in hearing, you slam it shut, usually with my hand still inside.

Movies are a different story. YOU LOVE TV! You are your father’s daughter. It doesn’t even have to be a cartoon – case in point:” The Princess Bride”. You love it. At the end of the day when you in walk in the door after school, the current routine goes something like this:
-throw jacket on floor
-walk to cabinet and demand a “SNACK!”
-walk over to bookshelf and beg for a movie
And if we deny you said movie, you generally throw yourself on the tile floor and fake-sob (while we ignore you) until you decide to get up and see what Hadley is doing. It’s quite comical.

I think I’ll wait to talk about Christmas until I get some of those photos uploaded. I’ll try to do that this weekend. 

Iloveyoumadly.
mama

The Evolution of Speech

Sorry about the last post. I was really tired. I am not sure if I explained why…:-)

In my exhaustion, I failed to mention all of the personal growth you’ve had in the last month! Wow kiddo – you’re taking off! Your vocabulary is exploding. For the record – no matter what daddy says – your first was….drum roll please…..BALL. He’ll argue that it was Dada – which it probably was – but it wasn’t anything more than babble.

But now – my sweet babbling brook – you have about 15 good words. Let’s see if I can list them:
-ball
-wawa (water)
-baba (bottle – which you only get in the middle of the night – and that’s changing in about 2 weeks)
-Didi (Hadley)
-moo (cow)
-baa (sheep – and you say this with a little giggle to make it sound more like a sheep. It’s so cute!)
-boon (balloon – you love watching the hot air balloons fly over our house in the morning)
-moon
-mama/mommy
-dad/daddy
-Ba
-my/mine (you LOVE these!)
-poon (spoon – which is so funny because that’s exactly how your sister said it!)
-baby

You love reading. LOOOOOOOVE it. You would read constantly all the time. If anyone sits on the floor, it’s an automatic invitation for you to sit in their lap and hand them a book. Your current faves are (in no particular order):
-Belly Button Book
-I love you, Goodnight
-Eric Carle’s ABC Book
-Good Morning, Good Night
-Moo Baa La La La

And then last night, during family story time, you discovered to joy of The Adventures of Isabel. This was one of Hadley’s first favorites, and I think it will be one of yours, as well.

I would be remiss if I didn’t address the sleeping thing again. I think we may have figured out – at least a bit – what is going on. You’re a bit attached to me. So when you’re in my arms in the middle of the night, you realize that nowhere else will do. So we’ve switched it up a bit and daddy is handling a bulk of your mid-night wakings. It’s working. He can get you cuddled, cozy and back in your crib in about 15 minutes. You little bug – you love your mama.

And I…loveyoumadly.
mama

Eighteen Months

You have sleep issues.

There, I said it.

Just when we got through the multiple times a night cry-fests you go and a) stop napping on the weekends (ARGH!!!) and b) created the new daily wake-up time of 5:15 a.m.

You're killin' me kid.

But you're cute. And we love you madly. And we're holding onto the logical thought that this is just a phase. And you'll once again fall into a normal sleep pattern. Whatever that is.

I am going to go take a nap under my desk now.


iloveyoumadly.
mama

PS - you're officially talking now. You've got about 15 words. I think your whole world is going to change in the next 6 months!

17...and a half....Months

My sweet little Bear.

You are one funny nugget. You've got more personality in your pinky finger than most people do in their entire body. That's not to say I know what to do with all that personality all the time! But I sure do have fun with you.

You've become a bit of a "barnacle" these past few months. It all started with our anniversary trip to Telluride. Nana and Papa came out for a long weekend to stay with you guys. You did really well. And then we left the following weekend for Salt Lake City, and left you with Grandma and Andpa. And that's when it all started going downhill. You woke up multiple times a night, not going back down, crying hysterically and requiring that you be held. At. All. Times. This has basically continued until very recently. Daddy and I decided to systematically get you BACK TO NORMAL! It's working. Without going into too many bring details, we've instituted a very strict bedtime routine for both you and your sister, involving family story time in Hadley's bed, a short rocking chair snuggle upstairs in the dark with you, and then putting you down before you are asleep. This is the key. Sometimes you cry, sometimes you're fine (you mostly cried.. A LOT... until this last week. We think you're getting it now - we're not leaving you). Anyway - as much as we completely adore you and love you to death, it's been a bit exhausting. Add your sister's occasional nightmares and we're downright walking zombies.

But on the bright side, this has been the summer of grandparents! You've seen them all - multiple times. You also got to spend time up at Taylor Lake with your cousins Sophie and Josephine - this was the first time you ever met the Carters. It was so special for all of us. Aside from the cold and rainy weather that prevented a lot of outside activity, you were a trooper and had a lot of fun.

You've also had this chronic runny nose. I feel horribly for you. We actually had to use Benadryl for a few consecutive nights - multiple times - this summer. Though it helped you sleep, I always feel a little guilty about using it - like we're cheating you of the opportunity to heal yourself. But it was like the last straw - you were already so off kilter it really was just one less thing you needed to deal with in the middle of the night!

And yet through all of this you still have the uncanny ability to make everyone around you laugh! And no one - I mean no one - gives hugs like you. You link your little fingers around our necks and squeeze so tight! It's like getting a shot of pure joy right down to my soul.

I love you so much. At the end of the day you are still one of the sweetest, most loving and intelligent kids I know. I absolutely love every second of being your mommy.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Bodhi

So the DeRoma's came over last night for dinner. It was great fun. As you know, we've pre-arranged your marriage to Bodhi, so we were THRILLED when you wanted to lavish him with hugs and kisses.

The best part? When he finally figured out what was going on and leaned in to kiss you - and you french-kissed. Slowly. Like out of a soap-opera.

I don't remember the last time I laughed so hard!

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Sixteen Months (or Separation Anxiety part deux)

Things have improved around here a bit since my last entry. THANK GAWD!!!! You are still not quite back to normal, but the shrill shrieking and fear of being in your crib seems to have subsided. You still require a lot more rocking in the chair and being lulled to sleep than you did before, but I will take it any day over what we went through the last 2 weeks. Besides - I know that sooner than not, you won't want to have these cuddly moments with me anymore. Does it a physically hurt me a little bit to be deprived of 45 minutes of sleep here and there throughout the night? Yes. But I love you so much it mostly just makes me feel good that I can comfort you when you need it.

So the weekend with Grandma and Andpa actually went really well! Though one night you did require Grandma to sleep on your floor (or so she says. I love her dearly but she is a bit random). But it was GREAT bonding time for the two of you. As we expected, you transferred your attachment issues from me to her while we were away. I think she loved every ounce of your neediness. :-)

While they were here you had great fun with their puppy Val. She was so patient with you as you hugged and loved and sat on her. You love puppies so much! You squeal with joy whenever you see one - small and yippy, big and fluffy - you don't care. It's precious.

So here you are 16 months old and I am completely blown away by how much you have grown this summer in terms of development. The way you interact with us, with your sister (OH how you love her!), with your friends at school...it's wonderful! And your understand of what we say to you has grown incredibly as well. I love watchin every minute of it.

You aren't a baby anymore.

iloveyoumadly.
mama

Separation Anxiety

So the last week has been interesting. You went in for your 15 month check-up - all is well! You're tall and skinny. Go figure. :-)

But you also got your shots - and ran a fever for a few days. Of course, we figured it was nothing other than a mild reaction so we didn't do anything. Once again, I win the "mother of the year" award.....you had another ear infection. GAH! Needless to say, we haven't slept much in the past few days.

But last night? Last night was HANDS DOWN THE WORST NIGHT'S SLEEP EVER!

Here's the story:
Grandma and Andpa arrived yesterday afternoon with Val. They are here to watch you and Hads so daddy and I can head to SLC for work for a few days. You were great! Lots of hugs and love for everyone - so I figured this 'separation anxiety' you've been going through might be over. But no. Since Nana and Papa were here last weekend to watch you guys while daddy and I went to Telluride - FOR A VACATION!!!! - the smarty-pants that you are realized that another set of grandparents must mean we're leaving you again. So last night when you woke up - at 11 p.m. - you screamed bloody murder every time I tried to put you back in your crib, and clung to me like a barnacle. So you know what we did? We - OK YOU - ended up sleeping next to me on the air mattress in the playroom, as I watched. No sleeping for me. I know tonight will be some of the same, and I need to get on a 7 a.m. flight. Poor mommy. Please know that I love you madly and feel so badly about making you so upset. But I am still leaving. And you will figure out that it is OK to hang out with Grandma and Andpa for 2 days without me.

I hope you still love me when I get home.

iloveyoumadly.
mama