Last night Sadie and I went to a birthday party for my friends little girl.
On the way there a thought crossed my mind that I was setting myself up to be in a big panic about Christmas.
Why?
I knew my friends daughter had the exact kitchen with the exact Melissa and Doug food we were going to get Sadie, but didn't. I feared Sadie seeing the toys and going crazy for them knowing we had wanted to get them but decided not to. 6 days before Christmas. Gulp.
I knew that walking through the front door of my friends house could cost me $300... not that Sadie has any clue she's about to be showered with brightly wrapped presents. She also doesn't understand the concept of wanting something in the future and not getting it. There would be no tears on Christmas morning over there not being a kitchen yet I would still want to go out and spend that money.
For our family, Santa IS the reason for the season and at times like this I feel a twinge of guilt that I/we don't believe in something deeper.
In the end Sadie didn't give a hoot about the kitchen. She didn't care about the fancy wooden food either. She found a single toy car on the shelf of the toy fridge and THAT is what she wanted to play with.
Crisis averted.
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JDZ: Two Moms, One Toddler
Monday, December 19, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Four Calling Birds: Holiday Cards
Our 2011 Holiday Card:
Now, if I hadn't been fighting with the photographer (long story - NOT going back to Sears Portrait Studio again) I may have thought to add our names and the date... but Sadie is so cute it doesn't matter.
Now, if I hadn't been fighting with the photographer (long story - NOT going back to Sears Portrait Studio again) I may have thought to add our names and the date... but Sadie is so cute it doesn't matter. Thursday, December 15, 2011
Two Turtle Doves: Loved Ones
joining in now...
Loved ones.
I'm sad this year because it has been a trying year when it comes to family. I'm sure some of you are waiting for the day I write about kicking my mom out and never speaking to her again... but that's not what this is about. My mom and I are in pretty good shape. Sure there have been issues but nothing even blog worthy.
The issue is my dad. We're now 10 days out from Christmas and 130 days since our last visit. We live 30 min from each other. My Dad has seen Sadie 4 times this year. Once in February, April, May and August. 4 times, all initiated by us. Not one invite or one dinner or even phone call in between. Just 4 quick visits.
Our last visit was HORRIBLE. Sadie was hungry and there was a heavy rain storm that had abruptly started. Instead of asking us to stay for dinner they gave Sadie a banana for the road. What kind of grandparent does that? At that point I'd had enough. I said we weren't visiting again until we were extended an invite.
We're now 10 days out from Christmas and 130 days since our last visit and NO INVITE.
Of course no invite may be better than last years invite which sounded like:
"You're not planning on staying for dinner on Christmas, right?"
No dad we weren't...
Christmas should be about loved ones and it will be. It will be about our little family. Sadie, D, myself and my mom. I hope papa figures out why he's such an ass before he misses his only grandchild growing up.
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Loved ones.
I'm sad this year because it has been a trying year when it comes to family. I'm sure some of you are waiting for the day I write about kicking my mom out and never speaking to her again... but that's not what this is about. My mom and I are in pretty good shape. Sure there have been issues but nothing even blog worthy.
The issue is my dad. We're now 10 days out from Christmas and 130 days since our last visit. We live 30 min from each other. My Dad has seen Sadie 4 times this year. Once in February, April, May and August. 4 times, all initiated by us. Not one invite or one dinner or even phone call in between. Just 4 quick visits.
Our last visit was HORRIBLE. Sadie was hungry and there was a heavy rain storm that had abruptly started. Instead of asking us to stay for dinner they gave Sadie a banana for the road. What kind of grandparent does that? At that point I'd had enough. I said we weren't visiting again until we were extended an invite.
We're now 10 days out from Christmas and 130 days since our last visit and NO INVITE.
Of course no invite may be better than last years invite which sounded like:
"You're not planning on staying for dinner on Christmas, right?"
No dad we weren't...
Christmas should be about loved ones and it will be. It will be about our little family. Sadie, D, myself and my mom. I hope papa figures out why he's such an ass before he misses his only grandchild growing up.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Sleep update
For the past 3 nights Sadie has gone to bed in HER bed. We've even given her the choice and she chooses her own room. Too easy, right?
On the first night she lasted until 11:30 before she woke up screaming and in tears. I brought her into bed with me and she hugged me super tight!
On the second night she lasted until 11:00 pm before letting Mommy know she'd had enough. D was still awake so she brought her to me. That night was pretty brutal. Sadie was up until about 3:00 am (with Granny who volunteered) before being put back to bed... in her own bed. An hour or so later she screamed and cried and wouldn't settle down even with lots of hugs and kisses. It was a BAD night.
Last night (night #3) she lasted again until around 11:00 pm before she came into my room and stood silently staring at me until I woke up by instinct. Kinda freaky. I brought her in my bed.
It would seem that we're actually doing this. I'm sad because I love my night time cuddles and had even imagined Sadie still in our bed when #2 arrived. I love co-sleeping.
The problem is that co-sleeping is quite literally ruining our marraige. We haven't slept in the same room since April '10 and I am dealing with major resentment towards D for sleeping through the night when I'm not. The main problem with the current arrangement is that I'm always first in line for all sleep issues and let me tell you how I want to murder D when I go to ask for help and she is sleeping so soundly that I need to shake her......
There is also my "angry all the time state", my twitching eyes and being tired all the time. It finally occurred to me that D uses the excuse that she's cranky when she doesn't sleep well. What does that mean for me? I never sleep well so no wonder I'm such a bitch. I think the accumulative sleep loss is finally taking it's toll on me.
So that's where we are. I feel like we have a long road ahead of us dealing with independant sleeping, saying goodbye to bottles and retiring Sadie's much beloved chooch. Poor kid. ):
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On the first night she lasted until 11:30 before she woke up screaming and in tears. I brought her into bed with me and she hugged me super tight!
On the second night she lasted until 11:00 pm before letting Mommy know she'd had enough. D was still awake so she brought her to me. That night was pretty brutal. Sadie was up until about 3:00 am (with Granny who volunteered) before being put back to bed... in her own bed. An hour or so later she screamed and cried and wouldn't settle down even with lots of hugs and kisses. It was a BAD night.
Last night (night #3) she lasted again until around 11:00 pm before she came into my room and stood silently staring at me until I woke up by instinct. Kinda freaky. I brought her in my bed.
It would seem that we're actually doing this. I'm sad because I love my night time cuddles and had even imagined Sadie still in our bed when #2 arrived. I love co-sleeping.
The problem is that co-sleeping is quite literally ruining our marraige. We haven't slept in the same room since April '10 and I am dealing with major resentment towards D for sleeping through the night when I'm not. The main problem with the current arrangement is that I'm always first in line for all sleep issues and let me tell you how I want to murder D when I go to ask for help and she is sleeping so soundly that I need to shake her......
There is also my "angry all the time state", my twitching eyes and being tired all the time. It finally occurred to me that D uses the excuse that she's cranky when she doesn't sleep well. What does that mean for me? I never sleep well so no wonder I'm such a bitch. I think the accumulative sleep loss is finally taking it's toll on me.
So that's where we are. I feel like we have a long road ahead of us dealing with independant sleeping, saying goodbye to bottles and retiring Sadie's much beloved chooch. Poor kid. ):
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, December 12, 2011
O Christmas Twig
This year we bought the skinniest tree on the lot....
Cheese!! Not too bad from the front!
Side view to the get full effect!!
Our Christmas Twig!Thank you for all of your advice and comments on my previous post. I have more to say on sleep issues but I need to think it through a bit more.... sleep in our house is an issue for all of the wrong reasons!
Friday, December 9, 2011
Random Sadie updates
•Sadie amazes me every single day. For all of her reckless and crazy behaviour she’s really coming around and enjoying her programs. I’m so glad we chose to stick it out despite her worst behaviour because we are finally seeing results. For example, learning how to take turns. Sadie is AWESOME at taking turns now. She can wait in a line without holding my hand and she will actually wait for someone to finish what they are doing before she takes her turn. It’s amazing to see this since until recently I had to wrestle with her to stop her from ambushing everyone and everything in her sight. She is also excellent at sharing which is something I’m very proud of. Please don’t tell me that will be short lived!!!
•Sadie is on a 4-6 month waiting list for speech therapy after being assessed last month. It’s a long wait and we’re hoping that she learns to talk on her own before we get into the program. In recent weeks she’s increased her vocabulary and seems to be more talkative. I remember that even from the beginning people would comment on how quiet she was so maybe she’s just holding back? We know she is smart; she just won’t talk other than some very simple nouns.
•Sadie has started napping in her big girl bed. She doesn’t seem ready to transition to night time sleeping but she loves it during the day.
•Bedtime has become a struggle lately. I have always been the one to put Sadie to bed but for the past week she has only slept for D or my mom. I’m not sure what to think. I ask her “Do you want Mommy?” and she says “Yes”. Mommy comes in, I leave, she screams like she is being tortured, calling out for me, and falls asleep minutes later. D then comes down the hall with a smug look on her face. I’m really not impressed.
•In an effort to actually get more sleep I’ve experimented with using my pregnancy pillow (snoogle?) as a barrier between us. This keeps Sadie on her side of the bed and allows me to sleep so much better because I’m not always being pushed to the edge. It’s worked for the few nights we’ve done it but I’m actually feeling a lot more tired during the day despite having felt like I’ve slept more soundly during the night. I love co-sleeping but I am starting to wonder about the long term effects of the light sleeping on my productivity and mental state. I feel like I haven’t slept a good night in 2 years… it’s hard and D and I are at conflict over this. D thinks Sadie should be in her own bed but I worry that I’ll still be up frequently attending to her needs but in another room rather than just rolling over and back to sleep. I’d love feedback from anyone still co-sleeping or anyone who has transitioned their child to their own bed. I’m tired and I just want a full night of sleeping... even just one. Dear Santa….?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
•Sadie is on a 4-6 month waiting list for speech therapy after being assessed last month. It’s a long wait and we’re hoping that she learns to talk on her own before we get into the program. In recent weeks she’s increased her vocabulary and seems to be more talkative. I remember that even from the beginning people would comment on how quiet she was so maybe she’s just holding back? We know she is smart; she just won’t talk other than some very simple nouns.
•Sadie has started napping in her big girl bed. She doesn’t seem ready to transition to night time sleeping but she loves it during the day.
•Bedtime has become a struggle lately. I have always been the one to put Sadie to bed but for the past week she has only slept for D or my mom. I’m not sure what to think. I ask her “Do you want Mommy?” and she says “Yes”. Mommy comes in, I leave, she screams like she is being tortured, calling out for me, and falls asleep minutes later. D then comes down the hall with a smug look on her face. I’m really not impressed.
•In an effort to actually get more sleep I’ve experimented with using my pregnancy pillow (snoogle?) as a barrier between us. This keeps Sadie on her side of the bed and allows me to sleep so much better because I’m not always being pushed to the edge. It’s worked for the few nights we’ve done it but I’m actually feeling a lot more tired during the day despite having felt like I’ve slept more soundly during the night. I love co-sleeping but I am starting to wonder about the long term effects of the light sleeping on my productivity and mental state. I feel like I haven’t slept a good night in 2 years… it’s hard and D and I are at conflict over this. D thinks Sadie should be in her own bed but I worry that I’ll still be up frequently attending to her needs but in another room rather than just rolling over and back to sleep. I’d love feedback from anyone still co-sleeping or anyone who has transitioned their child to their own bed. I’m tired and I just want a full night of sleeping... even just one. Dear Santa….?
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
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