Is this the little girl I carried?
We hit a bit milestone yesterday. Girl turns two tomorrow and yesterday we moved the crib out of her room and replaced it with a twin-sized bed. Suddenly her room didn't look like a nursery anymore and I can't figure out where the time has gone. My baby isn't a baby anymore, she's a brilliant, talkative kid who doesn't sleep in a crib.
One thing I have learned over the course of my limited parenting is to not give kids too much information. So while I was somewhat panicked about Girl's new ability to get out of bed on her own, I wasn't about to let her know. Kids are masters at the loophole and if you tell them too much, they WILL use it against you. I didn't even mention to her that she needs to stay in bed. I figured, if I told her that, I might plant the idea that she can get out. So far, we've been through bedtime and a nap and it hasn't been any more difficult than with a crib. Keep your fingers crossed!
I tend to be a mean mommy. While the books and magazines say that giving your kids a comfort item is a good thing, I wanted to see if it was possible to make it through toddlerhood without one. It always seemed like something that could become a giant pain in the future. So far so good. Girl's soother was gone by 6 months, she has no noticable attachments to any stuffed animals and last night I decided to make the blanket she slept with since she was born disappear for a while. I could have put it into her new bed with her, but I wanted to see if she actually needed it before I did. Apparently she doesn't, she hasn't mentioned it.
As I write this, she's sleeping soundly (and so is Husband). I should be sleeping since I didn't get more than a few hours last night, but the peace and quiet (and ability to watch some TV trash) is nice.
I'll just pray this keeps up and the whole transition is smooth and easy. My little big girl is growing up.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Mommy Message Boards
When I was pregnant with Girl, I tried signing up for one of those pregnancy message boards. They have these nice neat little groups of people who are all due in the same month as you, so you can share stories, ask for advice, etc etc etc.
It didn't work so well.
You see, I have a sense of humor that doesn't always translate well when written, especially to people who are hormonal, oversensitive and just looking for people to agree with their insane ideas. I've always been the kind of person who has an opinion, and isn't really scared to share it. I honestly don't say most of what runs through my head, but when I see someone being dumb, I just can't stop myself.
This time around, I have relegated myself to be a "lurker". A lurker is someone who reads the posts, but never bothers to comment or respond. I think it's better that way. Then I don't insult people who have problems like the following: (please note that I have corrected these for spelling and punctuation so I don't look like a moron)
"My mom is throwing me a baby shower and I want to know if I HAVE to invite my husband's family? There are more women on his side of the family than mine and I want it to be even"
Um... are you planning on having an in-law tug-of-war?
"My Mother-in-law saved stuffed animals that belonged to my husband and she totally lied right to my face. It smelled like smoke and she said it was stored in the closet. When my husband asked her again, she said they were in the garage. I have no idea what's crawling on this stuffed bear and I WILL NOT let my baby play with it. I think he would get sick or something. Should I tell her to shove it?"
Yes... because that is a good way to have a cordial relationship with your Mother-in-law. Have you ever thought of maybe washing it? or putting it on a shelf?
"So I have two events coming up around my due date. One is a week before my due date and one the weekend after. I'm not sure if most women go before their due date or after, but is it wise to go to either of these events if I haven't given birth yet? I don't want to be at someone's wedding and there goes my water lol. Even if I went a few weeks before my due date, will I be able to be walking around and feeling myself so quickly and will the baby even be able to leave the house that early?"
You should stay home and do nothing. You might catch something... like... a fun time.
"I don't get OB-GYN appointments. Is anyone else frustrated by their lack of detail? I mean, I go in there and all they do is take a pee sample, blood pressure, weight, listen to the baby and ask if I have any questions. My doctor doesn't even listen to my heart or look in my ears or anything! Should I change doctors?"
Unless your baby is planning on coming out of your ears, the OB-GYN will likely not check them at a prenatal appointment.
"I was recently in Oklahoma visiting relatives (I'm from TX) and they told me that siblings of the opposite sex (no matter what age) cannot share the same room. Seeing as my husband and I cannot really afford to move, our son would have to share with the new baby and if it is a girl and that is a law everywhere we're kind of SOL.Has anyone else heard about this? Or have any more information on it?"
I can't even comment on this one.
"Not sure how I feel about putting a breast pump on my registry. I've been known to be a bit uptight and am rather modest when it comes to certain things and this apparently one of them. I have no issues with registering for the storage bags or bottle kits for the pump, just not the pump itself. Maybe it's a combination of its purpose and the hefty price tag that has me hesitant. I just don't know. Am I being silly or does this make anyone else feel uncomfortable? Are you registering for one?."
I personally register for baby-making-lingerie. It helps us all.
I really could go on and on here, and I'm not even touching on the uber-teasable-insane baby names, or the people who want to know if they can throw their own baby shower. And then there are the people who are mad that the whole world hasn't stopped in awe because they are pregnant, or the people who are mad that someone didn't buy them a big enough gift. EGAD
Now you know why I could never actually join one of these pages. I wouldn't be able to stop myself. So, I'll lurk, and laugh, and lurk some more.
It didn't work so well.
You see, I have a sense of humor that doesn't always translate well when written, especially to people who are hormonal, oversensitive and just looking for people to agree with their insane ideas. I've always been the kind of person who has an opinion, and isn't really scared to share it. I honestly don't say most of what runs through my head, but when I see someone being dumb, I just can't stop myself.
This time around, I have relegated myself to be a "lurker". A lurker is someone who reads the posts, but never bothers to comment or respond. I think it's better that way. Then I don't insult people who have problems like the following: (please note that I have corrected these for spelling and punctuation so I don't look like a moron)
"My mom is throwing me a baby shower and I want to know if I HAVE to invite my husband's family? There are more women on his side of the family than mine and I want it to be even"
Um... are you planning on having an in-law tug-of-war?
"My Mother-in-law saved stuffed animals that belonged to my husband and she totally lied right to my face. It smelled like smoke and she said it was stored in the closet. When my husband asked her again, she said they were in the garage. I have no idea what's crawling on this stuffed bear and I WILL NOT let my baby play with it. I think he would get sick or something. Should I tell her to shove it?"
Yes... because that is a good way to have a cordial relationship with your Mother-in-law. Have you ever thought of maybe washing it? or putting it on a shelf?
"So I have two events coming up around my due date. One is a week before my due date and one the weekend after. I'm not sure if most women go before their due date or after, but is it wise to go to either of these events if I haven't given birth yet? I don't want to be at someone's wedding and there goes my water lol. Even if I went a few weeks before my due date, will I be able to be walking around and feeling myself so quickly and will the baby even be able to leave the house that early?"
You should stay home and do nothing. You might catch something... like... a fun time.
"I don't get OB-GYN appointments. Is anyone else frustrated by their lack of detail? I mean, I go in there and all they do is take a pee sample, blood pressure, weight, listen to the baby and ask if I have any questions. My doctor doesn't even listen to my heart or look in my ears or anything! Should I change doctors?"
Unless your baby is planning on coming out of your ears, the OB-GYN will likely not check them at a prenatal appointment.
"I was recently in Oklahoma visiting relatives (I'm from TX) and they told me that siblings of the opposite sex (no matter what age) cannot share the same room. Seeing as my husband and I cannot really afford to move, our son would have to share with the new baby and if it is a girl and that is a law everywhere we're kind of SOL.Has anyone else heard about this? Or have any more information on it?"
I can't even comment on this one.
"Not sure how I feel about putting a breast pump on my registry. I've been known to be a bit uptight and am rather modest when it comes to certain things and this apparently one of them. I have no issues with registering for the storage bags or bottle kits for the pump, just not the pump itself. Maybe it's a combination of its purpose and the hefty price tag that has me hesitant. I just don't know. Am I being silly or does this make anyone else feel uncomfortable? Are you registering for one?."
I personally register for baby-making-lingerie. It helps us all.
I really could go on and on here, and I'm not even touching on the uber-teasable-insane baby names, or the people who want to know if they can throw their own baby shower. And then there are the people who are mad that the whole world hasn't stopped in awe because they are pregnant, or the people who are mad that someone didn't buy them a big enough gift. EGAD
Now you know why I could never actually join one of these pages. I wouldn't be able to stop myself. So, I'll lurk, and laugh, and lurk some more.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Bursting Bubbles
There are times in life when I feel the need to bestow some of the things I have learned on those around me. Whether you care to hear it, or not, or really, blatantly disagree, I don't really care. I think as mothers we have a tendency to do ourselves an injustice. I'm going to clear something up, right here and now...
MOTHERHOOD IS HARD.
There, I said it. I don't regret it.
Nobody wants to say it, because while its likely the hardest thing you'll ever do, it is really rewarding, (so they tell me) so we suck it up and do it because we know it's for the best. That doesn't change the fact that sometimes... oh baby... sometimes... it just makes you want to drink.
Firstly, I want to talk about men. Men will likely never fully understand, unless of course, they stay at home permanently. They are wired differently, so although they get good tastes of it sometimes, it's really not the same. Husband, overall, is great. He drives me bananas if he so much as hints that I need to clean the house more (Let's get something straight first... he's a neurotic neat freak who rarely hangs up his jacket). I tried to explain to him once what my day looked like and he said "well, I never realized having kids was such a burden". He was being sarcastic, but I looked at him and said "OF COURSE IT IS!"
It's a burden I will gladly bear, but that doesn't make it any less bulky.
I try to have patience with him... it takes them longer, and like I said, men are wired differently. While we look at a baby and think "laundry, diapers, reading, teaching, comforting, feeding, disciplining... etc", their brains are sirens, screaming "I MUST PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY". Especially in the case of stay-at-home moms. They are the sole provider and I can see how that might be a bit nerve-wracking. Their job is important too, but different. I'm jealous sometimes that Husband gets to go to work. Seems like a relaxing place to be.
That's the other thing. Isolation. We women are talkers, we like to be social, have conversation. When we find ourselves in a situation where the only other person we can talk to doesn't speak English, and usually just looks at you and drools, it gets lonely. You find yourself talking to yourself (under the guise of talking to the baby) just to hear an adult voice. It's rough.
We can do it though. We are made to triumph and survive and someday we'll get to kick those babies out of the nest. The way I figure it... as long as I can stay one day ahead of Girl, I'm doing ok. She doesn't need to know. I'll always be the smartest, most wonderful, loving mom to her. I'll screw up, sure, but I won't tell her until she has a baby under her arm, and dark circles under her eyes.
MOTHERHOOD IS HARD.
There, I said it. I don't regret it.
Nobody wants to say it, because while its likely the hardest thing you'll ever do, it is really rewarding, (so they tell me) so we suck it up and do it because we know it's for the best. That doesn't change the fact that sometimes... oh baby... sometimes... it just makes you want to drink.
Firstly, I want to talk about men. Men will likely never fully understand, unless of course, they stay at home permanently. They are wired differently, so although they get good tastes of it sometimes, it's really not the same. Husband, overall, is great. He drives me bananas if he so much as hints that I need to clean the house more (Let's get something straight first... he's a neurotic neat freak who rarely hangs up his jacket). I tried to explain to him once what my day looked like and he said "well, I never realized having kids was such a burden". He was being sarcastic, but I looked at him and said "OF COURSE IT IS!"
It's a burden I will gladly bear, but that doesn't make it any less bulky.
I try to have patience with him... it takes them longer, and like I said, men are wired differently. While we look at a baby and think "laundry, diapers, reading, teaching, comforting, feeding, disciplining... etc", their brains are sirens, screaming "I MUST PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY". Especially in the case of stay-at-home moms. They are the sole provider and I can see how that might be a bit nerve-wracking. Their job is important too, but different. I'm jealous sometimes that Husband gets to go to work. Seems like a relaxing place to be.
That's the other thing. Isolation. We women are talkers, we like to be social, have conversation. When we find ourselves in a situation where the only other person we can talk to doesn't speak English, and usually just looks at you and drools, it gets lonely. You find yourself talking to yourself (under the guise of talking to the baby) just to hear an adult voice. It's rough.
We can do it though. We are made to triumph and survive and someday we'll get to kick those babies out of the nest. The way I figure it... as long as I can stay one day ahead of Girl, I'm doing ok. She doesn't need to know. I'll always be the smartest, most wonderful, loving mom to her. I'll screw up, sure, but I won't tell her until she has a baby under her arm, and dark circles under her eyes.
TKO
I'm trying REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hard not to complain, but holy cow, this baby is kicking my butt.
I was looking back at the pregnancy thus far and I think in total, there have been about 2 weeks where I felt "well" (ie. not puking daily and not coughing up lungs). The second trimester, in some ways, has been worse than the first. I barely sleep and my resistance is so low that I'm picking up everything. Yeesh. So basically, I haven't felt like myself since August. Throw an active toddler into the mix and I'm ready for bed well before she is (not that I can sleep though).
hgdxvkiy6ukx fuygjtxdujgtf <-- that was me, banging my head on the keyboard.
I miss Nyquil.
Happily, tomorrow is my ultrasound so I'll get to see the little monster. At the very least it'll be a nice quiet time on a bed in a dark room...
alone.
I was looking back at the pregnancy thus far and I think in total, there have been about 2 weeks where I felt "well" (ie. not puking daily and not coughing up lungs). The second trimester, in some ways, has been worse than the first. I barely sleep and my resistance is so low that I'm picking up everything. Yeesh. So basically, I haven't felt like myself since August. Throw an active toddler into the mix and I'm ready for bed well before she is (not that I can sleep though).
hgdxvkiy6ukx fuygjtxdujgtf <-- that was me, banging my head on the keyboard.
I miss Nyquil.
Happily, tomorrow is my ultrasound so I'll get to see the little monster. At the very least it'll be a nice quiet time on a bed in a dark room...
alone.
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