My first week back to work was both easier and harder than I’d expected it to be. Sadie seems to be adjusting well during the day but when I get home she is constantly crying and throwing tantrums. My mother has been quick to say that behaviour like that is reserved for the parents and that Sadie listens during the day. I believe it because when Granny comes up Sadie turns into a little angel!
Her tantrums are getting intense and over silly things. She threw a fit when I replaced the door on her Little People house. I guess she wanted to chew on it but how was I supposed to know? Another fit over the TV remote, the baby gate being closed, crying because she fell (multiple times), a fit over my iPhone and the list goes on. It was a tiring few nights and D was working late so I was on my own for several hours since I get home at 3:30.
When the weekend finally came, all of the fun things we used to do during the week were crammed into just 3 days.
On Saturday we had a trial class at The Little Gym. Since I’m back at work ($$) and Sadie is walking, I figured we’d give it a shot. Overall I was extremely impressed. I loved how the kids were encouraged to wander and explore. Sadie had a lot of fun walking back and forth between the parallel bars about 50 times; she learned how to do a somersault (with help from Momma) and burned a lot of excess energy. I was originally going to try out a Kindermusik class and decided between the two but I knew immediately that this was the right program for our active toddler. Sadie is therefore signed up for the winter session! It’s expensive but after trying numerous library and parks and rec programs (cheap or free) I can say with confidence that the money spent on this is worth it.
After The Little Gym we had a play date with my cousin and her son. There were many tears as the kids crashed through the living room falling all over each other. Two unstable 1 year olds let loose together? Bad idea! Sadie ended up with a goose egg on the back of her head after R tumbled on top of her and into a baby gate. R liked to throw blocks, Sadie liked to steal toys from him and Momma just wanted a nap! The only good news out of all of that was that Sadie was zonked that night. She slept until 9:45 am on Sunday! Holy cow!
Sunday got off to a late start. We headed out to an indoor gym that I had wanted to try out. Sadie had a blast going down the slides and running around. I wasn’t necessarily thrilled with the place because it was mostly a bunch of toys but it was a fun outing. Afterward we ran some errands and brought a very crank baby home.
I was off on Monday as part of my return to work plan. I was hoping to take Monday from now until May to use up vacation from last year but things are not going very well with that right now. My vacation days are messed up and I’m having a hard time correcting them. Try being off an entire year and then arguing vacation with your manager. I feel like a total a** and although I’ve earned the days I know it’s annoying that I want to take them. ANYWAY – We had library time in the morning and a play date in the afternoon. Another busy day! The library program was OK but the teacher was a real odd ball. The good news was that I thought it would be someone else who was really flakey so I was pleased to see this new woman. The odd news was that she was weird too. She started the class by saying that one of the rules was to have your child sit with you during the circle portion of the class. She said that we had to sing and clap along, etc. and our children would be engaged and not want to wander. YEAH RIGHT!! I spent most of the class trying to wrestle Sadie into my lap!! After the circle time it was craft time. We were instructed to let our child do the craft since we do not need to hang our own artwork on the fridge. DOUBLE YEAH RIGHT. I’m sure Sadie would have had oodles of fun eating the “lick and stick” stickers, the glue sticks and the GLITTER. Oy Vey! She’s one!!
At this point I’ll say that if anyone was jealous reading that I got to sleep in until 9:45 am Sunday you should know that Sunday and Monday nights were hell. I was up almost the entire night, both nights, dealing with a cranky, crying baby. I’m not sure if she was overtired, teething, having whole milk toots or if she’s experiencing attachment issues but she was moody. She hugged my neck and twirled my hair between her fingers and wouldn’t let go. Every time her soother fell out she’d cry. I’d stick her soother back in and hug her tight and she’d go back to sleep. Repeat this ALL NIGHT LONG. I’m so tired!! Add to that her typical middle of the night bottle where she held onto me so tight you would think I was dangling her over a canyon or something. What’s up with that? Another really odd thing is that *I* woke up sucking my thumb!! WTH?? I was a late thumb sucker but I haven’t done it in over 20 years!! So strange!! I think we’re a bit out of sync even if it doesn’t really appear that way!
