I mentioned yesterday (and probably earlier also) that I really do love the toddler/pre-schooler age. I find it so rewarding and exciting. And I deal with the tantrums surprisingly well. I know my daughter really well by now, and I know that she doesn't tantrum to get what she wants (for a great conversation about this, check out a recent Ask Moxie post, with a fantastic answer from Sharon, Mommy Mentor, and great discussion from the commenter). Heck, half the time she has no idea what she wants. We get a lot of "I wan milk!" and a second later "No milk!" for pretty much everything. I know she is mostly frustrated about something and overwhelmed with emotions that she doesn't know how to deal with.
We are working on helping her develop skills to deal with her emotions, tools to use instead of whining and having melt downs. But sometimes, it's just about appeasing the beast so we can move on to whatever needs to be done. Especially at bedtime, which seems to be especially difficult for my child.
The Pumpkin often has trouble settling down and getting comfortable, and I often offered to sing her a song. It usually seems to help her calm down and focus on something besides the fact that she can't get her body comfortable or her mind to stop going at a fast speed. The problem is often finding a song that's acceptable.
caramama: How 'bout Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?
Pumpkin: No tinkle tinkle lillel star!
caramama: How 'bout ABCs?
Pumpkin: No ABCs!
And so on until I can find one acceptable, which often goes like this:
caramama: How 'bout Mary Had a Little Lamb?
Pumpkin: No lillel lamb!
(pause while I'm thinking of another song to offer...)
Pumpkin: How bout lillel lamb?
caramama: Okay! That's a great idea!
But one night a couple months ago, it didn't go so smoothly. I offered a song she wanted, but it wasn't the song she wanted.
caramama: How 'bout Leaving on a Jet Plane (she used to especially love it when I sang the John Denver song)?
Pumpkin: No jet plane!
caramama: How 'bout Twinkle Twinkle Little Star?
Pumpkin: No tinkle tinkle lillel star! (pause) How bout jet plane?
caramama: Sure! I'll sing Jet Plane.
caramama singing: All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go--
Pumpkin: No No No!!! How bout jet plane?
caramama: Sweetheart, that is the jet plane song.
Pumpkin: No No! Jet plane!!!
This back and forth went on for a little while. Logic and reason does not work on a toddler, or at least this toddler. Finally, in a quick-thinking moment of genius, I just made up a song with the words jet plane in it. I'm going to write it down now, so I never forget it. Too bad I can't also record the tune here--I'll have to get it on video or audio sometime.
caramama's Jet Plane Song, dedicated to the fussy Pumpkin:
A plane, a plane, a big jet plane
flying so very high.
A plane, a plane, a big jet plane
way up in the blue sky.
A plane, a plane, a big jet plane
flying through the clouds into the sun.
A plane, a plane, a big jet plane
carrying the people, everyone!
Not my best work, but not bad considering the circumstances.
Anyway, in the ensuing months, during her fussy bedtimes, I still offer to sing. She often requests Jet Plane or I suggest it, since it is often the only song that she wants to hear at night. And she wants to hear it again and again and again. I've been considering making up more verses so I can have more variety during the constant repeatings, but that would require more creativeness and memory than I have after 30-60 minutes of tossing, turning, tantrums and tiredness (both mine and hers).
I have a feeling I'm going to need to use a lot of quick thinking in the years to come, much of which I'll have to remember because it will be requested again and again and it will be the ONLY THING that will work. Thank goodness for blogging and the ability to write it all down!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Here's Where I Rant About Being Pregnant
There was an evening function last night that many of my coworkers went to. I didn't go, as I'm too tired and had just gotten back from my trip. But one of my coworkers told me this morning about a conversation they had during the dinner portion of the evening, a conversation in which I played a prominent role.
Of the four women I work with, three have been pregnant at least once. But the fourth is fresh out of college and does not have kids. The topic of pregnancy came up, since one of the three women with kids is pregnant again. The fourth woman mentioned that she is nervous about ever getting pregnant because it does not sound like a good experience. Pretty much everyone there said that's because she was talking to me too much (she and I often walk to the deli together because we eat at the same time of day). They assured her that not all pregnacies are as rough as mine, and that I particularly don't enjoy being pregnant.
It's so true. In fact, it's more than dislike. I realized this time that I hate being pregnant. It's hard for me to get pregnant and be pregnant. I also don't love the infant/baby stage. But I do LOVE the toddler and young kids stage. I really think I'll even enjoy the older kid, preteen and teen stages. And I really do love being a mom and having a family. But the pregnancy? Notsomuch.
Considering how long it took us to get pregnant with the Pumpkin, what we had to go through to get pregnant each time and how badly I wanted to BE pregnant, I really thought I would be a happy, excited pregnant woman who enjoyed even all the difficults of being pregnant. But I didn't and don't. Fortunately, I'm okay with that.
Because the goal for Londo and me was never to BE pregnant or to have a BABY. It was to have a CHILD(REN), to RAISE a child(ren). So I try to focus on that and remember that pregnancy is just a means to an end. I am going to try to stop complaining too much in front of my coworkers, although I always tell them it's just me and I don't like being pregnant and I'm having a rough pregnancy and that I know plenty of other people who had easy pregnacies and enjoyed being pregnant.
Instead, I'm going to list out a bunch of complaints here and hope that I can get it out of my system. I'm not sure I can get it all out of my system, considering I still have a little over 2 months to go. But if you all don't want to hear me complain, you can click away. Although I'd rather have you join in so I don't feel like such a miserable person who hates the beauty of being the vessel of the child.
1. After 6 months of nausea, I'm finally mostly over it. I was lucky in that I didn't constantly throw up, but the constant nauseousness and smells bothering me and difficulty eating foods was pretty miserable. I love food! With the Pumpkin, I was really only nauseous in my first trimester. This time, it went on and on. It really sucked.
2. A fun game my husband likes to play is asking whether or not I peed my pants after I've sneezed, laughed hard, coughed, gaged (especially when brushing my teeth--isn't that fun?), who know's what else! Maybe I did, or maybe I was able to hold my legs together in time for the sneeze. I'm just saying: Thank goodness for pantiliners.
3. I ache everywhere, all the time. I ache when I sit, stand, walk, lie down, move, stay still. I can't kneel at all, and I can barely bend over to do my shoes and socks or wash my feet in the shower or even put on pants! My joints have never been that great (bad knee, bad hip, TMJ, etc.), but with the extra weight and loosening of joints and muscles, I am not in good shape. Ugh.
4. The glucous screen test sucked. I love sugary foods and drinks, but that orange crap is disgusting! It was especially hard to drink (within 5 minutes) while I was so nauseous, too! Luckily, I've not gotten a message that says I didn't pass.
5. Although my hair seems to have stopped it's normal falling out, it does not shine or glow or look rich and luxurious. It's still frizzy and full of split ends. Of course, this may be due more to the fact that I'm way overdue for a hair cut (I'm embarrassed to say how long it's been). Hmmm. I think I'll make an appointment right now, now that I'm not too nauseous to stand the smells of a salon. (Wooo hooo! Appointment next Tuesday!)
6. My skin did not get magically beautiful with pregnancy. I still break out, and now I'm getting weird bumps in different places on my body. I hate bumps. They really bother me, but what can you do?
7. Oh, pregnancy insomnia! How I hate thee! It's hard enough to get good sleep in my house, what with the existing child who doesn't sleep well. Thank goodness for Tylenol PM, which helps with the aches and pains at night and helps me get a really good chunk of sleep and helps me fall back asleep when I wake up to roll over or to go to the bathroom.
8. Speaking of the bathroom, I'm now at the point where I have to pee every hour or two. I find this exceptionally annoying, since I have been called a camel for how long I can wait to use the bathroom--especially on car trips. The 4 legs of the car trip down to Atlanta which should have been 5 hours each? Turned into 6 hours each with a minimum of 3 stops on each leg for me to use the restroom! And recently? There have been times when I'll use the bathroom, go do something for 5 minutes or so (like brush my teeth), and then I have to GO AGAIN! It's insane!
9. The tiredness does not end for me. I'm so constantly tired, but I don't get to nap during work days. There was no burst of energy for me, and as I've mentioned, the winter was particularly rough for me. I'm just so freaking tired all the time. There is no way I can keep up with my toddler. Luckily, I'm getting good at coming up with games to play with her where I get to sit. Lately, she LOVES to color, which suits me perfectly.
10. My stomach is totally in the way. I have trouble reaching sinks, which makes it hard to do dishes (and kills my back), washing my face, and just cleaning things off in a sink. I can't reach things that used to be in my reach (and I'm short, so I barely reach much anyway). It's harder and harder to hold my (34.5 pound) toddler, who is a great cuddler and often wants to be held.
11. I miss my high heels and rings. I had to ditch the heels for flat, sensible (but still nice looking) shoes pretty early on. My beautiful, cute, 3-4 inch heels! I miss you! And I also haven't been able to wear my wedding rings. Before we left for Atlanta last week, I tried one last time to put them on so I could look like a married pregnant woman at the wedding. After trying to jam them on my finger, I held up my hand to show my husband what I was doing, pout on my face, and he noted that my finger was turning purple. They hadn't been on more than a minute, and I never did get them on all the way. Last pregnancy, I bought a fake band to wear, but this time I'm not bothering. I love my rings, and I just miss them.
Well, that's all I'll complain about for now. I do think it's so funny how big my belly is and how my butt jiggles now. I also really like how nice everyone is to me when pregnant. People really go out of their way to help me or just be nice to me. It's really a great part of this experience. I can eat all sorts of good stuff (now that I'm not nauseous) that I would limit myself on when not pregnant. And there are other good parts, but I'm currently too tired and achy to think about them.
Tonight, I'm going to take a nice, long bath in which I hope to forget how uncomfortable I am and enjoy a good romance novel. Too bad I can't get a nap in right now...
Of the four women I work with, three have been pregnant at least once. But the fourth is fresh out of college and does not have kids. The topic of pregnancy came up, since one of the three women with kids is pregnant again. The fourth woman mentioned that she is nervous about ever getting pregnant because it does not sound like a good experience. Pretty much everyone there said that's because she was talking to me too much (she and I often walk to the deli together because we eat at the same time of day). They assured her that not all pregnacies are as rough as mine, and that I particularly don't enjoy being pregnant.
It's so true. In fact, it's more than dislike. I realized this time that I hate being pregnant. It's hard for me to get pregnant and be pregnant. I also don't love the infant/baby stage. But I do LOVE the toddler and young kids stage. I really think I'll even enjoy the older kid, preteen and teen stages. And I really do love being a mom and having a family. But the pregnancy? Notsomuch.
Considering how long it took us to get pregnant with the Pumpkin, what we had to go through to get pregnant each time and how badly I wanted to BE pregnant, I really thought I would be a happy, excited pregnant woman who enjoyed even all the difficults of being pregnant. But I didn't and don't. Fortunately, I'm okay with that.
Because the goal for Londo and me was never to BE pregnant or to have a BABY. It was to have a CHILD(REN), to RAISE a child(ren). So I try to focus on that and remember that pregnancy is just a means to an end. I am going to try to stop complaining too much in front of my coworkers, although I always tell them it's just me and I don't like being pregnant and I'm having a rough pregnancy and that I know plenty of other people who had easy pregnacies and enjoyed being pregnant.
Instead, I'm going to list out a bunch of complaints here and hope that I can get it out of my system. I'm not sure I can get it all out of my system, considering I still have a little over 2 months to go. But if you all don't want to hear me complain, you can click away. Although I'd rather have you join in so I don't feel like such a miserable person who hates the beauty of being the vessel of the child.
1. After 6 months of nausea, I'm finally mostly over it. I was lucky in that I didn't constantly throw up, but the constant nauseousness and smells bothering me and difficulty eating foods was pretty miserable. I love food! With the Pumpkin, I was really only nauseous in my first trimester. This time, it went on and on. It really sucked.
2. A fun game my husband likes to play is asking whether or not I peed my pants after I've sneezed, laughed hard, coughed, gaged (especially when brushing my teeth--isn't that fun?), who know's what else! Maybe I did, or maybe I was able to hold my legs together in time for the sneeze. I'm just saying: Thank goodness for pantiliners.
3. I ache everywhere, all the time. I ache when I sit, stand, walk, lie down, move, stay still. I can't kneel at all, and I can barely bend over to do my shoes and socks or wash my feet in the shower or even put on pants! My joints have never been that great (bad knee, bad hip, TMJ, etc.), but with the extra weight and loosening of joints and muscles, I am not in good shape. Ugh.
4. The glucous screen test sucked. I love sugary foods and drinks, but that orange crap is disgusting! It was especially hard to drink (within 5 minutes) while I was so nauseous, too! Luckily, I've not gotten a message that says I didn't pass.
5. Although my hair seems to have stopped it's normal falling out, it does not shine or glow or look rich and luxurious. It's still frizzy and full of split ends. Of course, this may be due more to the fact that I'm way overdue for a hair cut (I'm embarrassed to say how long it's been). Hmmm. I think I'll make an appointment right now, now that I'm not too nauseous to stand the smells of a salon. (Wooo hooo! Appointment next Tuesday!)
6. My skin did not get magically beautiful with pregnancy. I still break out, and now I'm getting weird bumps in different places on my body. I hate bumps. They really bother me, but what can you do?
7. Oh, pregnancy insomnia! How I hate thee! It's hard enough to get good sleep in my house, what with the existing child who doesn't sleep well. Thank goodness for Tylenol PM, which helps with the aches and pains at night and helps me get a really good chunk of sleep and helps me fall back asleep when I wake up to roll over or to go to the bathroom.
8. Speaking of the bathroom, I'm now at the point where I have to pee every hour or two. I find this exceptionally annoying, since I have been called a camel for how long I can wait to use the bathroom--especially on car trips. The 4 legs of the car trip down to Atlanta which should have been 5 hours each? Turned into 6 hours each with a minimum of 3 stops on each leg for me to use the restroom! And recently? There have been times when I'll use the bathroom, go do something for 5 minutes or so (like brush my teeth), and then I have to GO AGAIN! It's insane!
9. The tiredness does not end for me. I'm so constantly tired, but I don't get to nap during work days. There was no burst of energy for me, and as I've mentioned, the winter was particularly rough for me. I'm just so freaking tired all the time. There is no way I can keep up with my toddler. Luckily, I'm getting good at coming up with games to play with her where I get to sit. Lately, she LOVES to color, which suits me perfectly.
10. My stomach is totally in the way. I have trouble reaching sinks, which makes it hard to do dishes (and kills my back), washing my face, and just cleaning things off in a sink. I can't reach things that used to be in my reach (and I'm short, so I barely reach much anyway). It's harder and harder to hold my (34.5 pound) toddler, who is a great cuddler and often wants to be held.
11. I miss my high heels and rings. I had to ditch the heels for flat, sensible (but still nice looking) shoes pretty early on. My beautiful, cute, 3-4 inch heels! I miss you! And I also haven't been able to wear my wedding rings. Before we left for Atlanta last week, I tried one last time to put them on so I could look like a married pregnant woman at the wedding. After trying to jam them on my finger, I held up my hand to show my husband what I was doing, pout on my face, and he noted that my finger was turning purple. They hadn't been on more than a minute, and I never did get them on all the way. Last pregnancy, I bought a fake band to wear, but this time I'm not bothering. I love my rings, and I just miss them.
Well, that's all I'll complain about for now. I do think it's so funny how big my belly is and how my butt jiggles now. I also really like how nice everyone is to me when pregnant. People really go out of their way to help me or just be nice to me. It's really a great part of this experience. I can eat all sorts of good stuff (now that I'm not nauseous) that I would limit myself on when not pregnant. And there are other good parts, but I'm currently too tired and achy to think about them.
Tonight, I'm going to take a nice, long bath in which I hope to forget how uncomfortable I am and enjoy a good romance novel. Too bad I can't get a nap in right now...
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Question of the Week - Favorite Time of Day
We are back home now. On Sunday, we drove from Atlanta to my inlaws and spent the night there. Yesterday, we drove back home. It was a long time in the car, especially for a seven-months pregnant woman. But we made it, and a good time was had by all.
I'm happy to say that the Pumpkin had a wonderful time at her grandparents and didn't seem to miss us at all. I consider that a very good thing at this age. I know she loves us and probably did miss us, but it didn't stop her from playing with her cousin and uncle and aunt or from snuggling her grandma and grandpa or from enjoying the new places to play and different toys to play with.
I'm even more happy to say that the greeting Londo and I got when we saw her again was wonderful! She light completely up and just about squealed with delight. She let us hug and kiss all over her, and she gave us some back. Then she wanted to get down and show us some of the new-to-her things she was playing with--afterall, she is 2 and easily distracted.
It reminded me so much of my favorite time of day. Cloud once wrote about the same time of day, but that was before I was really experiencing the same type of scenario. However, shortly after, the Pumpkin began to have a similar reaction.
My favorite time of day is when I get home from work. The Pumpkin hears me come in and yells, "It's... Mommy!!"* Londo opens the baby gate that blocks the family room from the hallway that leads to the front door, and the Pumpkin (and dog) comes bounding out and running to me. I swoop her up into my arms and getting a big hug and kiss. (I also pet the dog, who is wiggling around my legs.) I also get warm greetings from my husband.
It's the best feeling in the world to come home to those you love and get welcomed so joyously.
So this week's Question of the Week is:
What is your favorite time of day?
It doesn't have to be kid related. If you really enjoy that quiet time after the kids have gone to bed, I don't blame you a bit. That's high on my list, especially when the Pumpkin goes to bed easily and I don't fall asleep in her room. Also high on my list are Sunday mornings, when Londo takes the Pumpkin out for breakfast and playtime with my brother and his twins. Those mornings are blissful!
But my second favorite time of the day is also kid-related. In the mornings, once the Pumpkin gets over the fact that Daddy is going/has gone to work and she's stuck with me, we have snuggle time. I put on Noggin, and she watches a show while cuddled up against me and my 5 pillows** in bed. Or in the evenings after dinner, when it's time to calm down a bit, and we watch a show while snuggling on the couch. Basically, I love snuggling her, and of course the only time she's sit still for that for long is if she's watching a show. Whatareyagonnado.
How about you? What's your favorite time of the day? Is it related to the kids? The partner? Work? Time for yourself? Do share!
*This used to be, "It's a... Mommy!" which was super cute. She also would say, "It's a... Daddy!" She applied this to coming in the door or walking downstairs. It felt a little like living on The Price Is Right, but being introduced as a generic Mommy/Daddy.
**I'm pregnant. Don't make fun. I NEED them. And I'm about to add a sixth.
I'm happy to say that the Pumpkin had a wonderful time at her grandparents and didn't seem to miss us at all. I consider that a very good thing at this age. I know she loves us and probably did miss us, but it didn't stop her from playing with her cousin and uncle and aunt or from snuggling her grandma and grandpa or from enjoying the new places to play and different toys to play with.
I'm even more happy to say that the greeting Londo and I got when we saw her again was wonderful! She light completely up and just about squealed with delight. She let us hug and kiss all over her, and she gave us some back. Then she wanted to get down and show us some of the new-to-her things she was playing with--afterall, she is 2 and easily distracted.
It reminded me so much of my favorite time of day. Cloud once wrote about the same time of day, but that was before I was really experiencing the same type of scenario. However, shortly after, the Pumpkin began to have a similar reaction.
My favorite time of day is when I get home from work. The Pumpkin hears me come in and yells, "It's... Mommy!!"* Londo opens the baby gate that blocks the family room from the hallway that leads to the front door, and the Pumpkin (and dog) comes bounding out and running to me. I swoop her up into my arms and getting a big hug and kiss. (I also pet the dog, who is wiggling around my legs.) I also get warm greetings from my husband.
It's the best feeling in the world to come home to those you love and get welcomed so joyously.
So this week's Question of the Week is:
What is your favorite time of day?
It doesn't have to be kid related. If you really enjoy that quiet time after the kids have gone to bed, I don't blame you a bit. That's high on my list, especially when the Pumpkin goes to bed easily and I don't fall asleep in her room. Also high on my list are Sunday mornings, when Londo takes the Pumpkin out for breakfast and playtime with my brother and his twins. Those mornings are blissful!
But my second favorite time of the day is also kid-related. In the mornings, once the Pumpkin gets over the fact that Daddy is going/has gone to work and she's stuck with me, we have snuggle time. I put on Noggin, and she watches a show while cuddled up against me and my 5 pillows** in bed. Or in the evenings after dinner, when it's time to calm down a bit, and we watch a show while snuggling on the couch. Basically, I love snuggling her, and of course the only time she's sit still for that for long is if she's watching a show. Whatareyagonnado.
How about you? What's your favorite time of the day? Is it related to the kids? The partner? Work? Time for yourself? Do share!
*This used to be, "It's a... Mommy!" which was super cute. She also would say, "It's a... Daddy!" She applied this to coming in the door or walking downstairs. It felt a little like living on The Price Is Right, but being introduced as a generic Mommy/Daddy.
**I'm pregnant. Don't make fun. I NEED them. And I'm about to add a sixth.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Leaving the Pumpkin Behind
Londo and I are in Atlanta, GA. We've come down for one of Londo's best friend's wedding, and Londo is the best man. I've bought a couple maternity dresses for the rehearsal dinner and the wedding (they are really cute!), we have a house sitter, we planned a two-day drive down staying overnight at the inlaws, and we have let the Pumpkin stay with the inlaws.
On the one hand, this is a really nice getaway for Londo and me. I love weddings, I love hotels, and I really love Georgia. Most of all, I love spending time and going on trips with my husband. We are having a lot of great time together. It's nice to reconnect and have one-on-one time, especially before the boy comes and our lives are twice as hectic, with our time together going down to less than zero.
But on the other hand, I miss my little girl soooooooo much! We left my sweet little Pumpkin in good, loving hands yesterday morning. We will pick her up on Sunday. It's one thing when I leave and Londo stays behind. It's even another when we left her at my parents house and went away for a short couple of days. But it's different to drive her 5 hours to my inlaws, stay the night with her, then leave her the next morning. Leave her behind without my husband. Leave her at my inlaws who do not have the house childproof, let alone Pumpkin-proofed! Leave her behind in a place that she's only been a handful of times, even though she's really had a great time there every visit. Even though she's seen a lot of her grandparents, uncle, aunt and nephew. She really does love spending time with them.
It's always hard to leave her. I suppose it always will be. I don't know why I feel like this time is even harder--although the reasons I listed above are probably part of it. My mom is actually more cautious than I am, and she worries about everything. I know exactly how she will care for my child, because she raised me and watched my daughter for the first year of her life. My inlaws are wonderful, but there are more unknowns for me.
To top it all off, the look she gave me as I was leaving my inlaws... It was unlike any look I've gotten from her before. It was heartbreaking! I'm not even sure how to describe it. It was as if she couldn't believe we were really leaving her. It was as if she was crushed that we were walking out the door and really going to be gone for a few days, as we had told her and talked to her about. So forlorn. Lip trembling. A stab to my heart!
We've talked to the inlaws a few times since leaving, and of course she is doing great. She's having a lot of fun, eating well, not napping (which is becoming the norm lately), sleeping well and cuddling up with her relatives. I know she's fine. But it's still hard to leave her.
However, it is really nice to spend time alone with my husband. I'm trying to focus on that, which isn't hard most of the time.
On the one hand, this is a really nice getaway for Londo and me. I love weddings, I love hotels, and I really love Georgia. Most of all, I love spending time and going on trips with my husband. We are having a lot of great time together. It's nice to reconnect and have one-on-one time, especially before the boy comes and our lives are twice as hectic, with our time together going down to less than zero.
But on the other hand, I miss my little girl soooooooo much! We left my sweet little Pumpkin in good, loving hands yesterday morning. We will pick her up on Sunday. It's one thing when I leave and Londo stays behind. It's even another when we left her at my parents house and went away for a short couple of days. But it's different to drive her 5 hours to my inlaws, stay the night with her, then leave her the next morning. Leave her behind without my husband. Leave her at my inlaws who do not have the house childproof, let alone Pumpkin-proofed! Leave her behind in a place that she's only been a handful of times, even though she's really had a great time there every visit. Even though she's seen a lot of her grandparents, uncle, aunt and nephew. She really does love spending time with them.
It's always hard to leave her. I suppose it always will be. I don't know why I feel like this time is even harder--although the reasons I listed above are probably part of it. My mom is actually more cautious than I am, and she worries about everything. I know exactly how she will care for my child, because she raised me and watched my daughter for the first year of her life. My inlaws are wonderful, but there are more unknowns for me.
To top it all off, the look she gave me as I was leaving my inlaws... It was unlike any look I've gotten from her before. It was heartbreaking! I'm not even sure how to describe it. It was as if she couldn't believe we were really leaving her. It was as if she was crushed that we were walking out the door and really going to be gone for a few days, as we had told her and talked to her about. So forlorn. Lip trembling. A stab to my heart!
We've talked to the inlaws a few times since leaving, and of course she is doing great. She's having a lot of fun, eating well, not napping (which is becoming the norm lately), sleeping well and cuddling up with her relatives. I know she's fine. But it's still hard to leave her.
However, it is really nice to spend time alone with my husband. I'm trying to focus on that, which isn't hard most of the time.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
caramama Vs. Londo's Alarm Clock
Sleep is a big variable in our house. There is just no telling if the Pumpkin will sleep through the night, wake up and come to our bed, wake up and want one of us (usually Londo) to sleep in her bed, wake up multiple times during the night, wake up at 5:00 and not go back to sleep... I could go on and on about the different possibilities. When we parents go to bed at night, we literally have no idea how the night will go. There is no "usually" in our house for nighttime sleep.
I can pretty much guarentee that the Pumpkin won't take a nap on the weekends. And she usually takes on average 1.5 hours to get to sleep. But that's about all I can count on, and both of those are "usuals" that I wish unusual.
In order to deal with the different nighttime scenarios, Londo and I have developed different plans for the night and mornings. Over the last two years, these plans have been updated, modified, rejected, and new ones added. But today, I'm going to give you the background of one specific plan and tell you of an epic battle that resulted when it was not properly excuted.
On the nights when Londo goes into the Pumpkin's room and cosleeps with her for the rest of the night/morning, he turns off his alarm and asks me to set mine for whatever time he needs to get up so I can wake him quietly in the Pumpkin's room. We realized this was the best plan for this scenerio months ago when I had difficulty turning off Londo's alarm clock.
You see, he has this crazy, complex radio/alarm clock. He will tell you that it's very awesome with many cool features, including self-setting time which accounts for the Daylight Savings changes, two alarms you can set, a nap timer, and... at this point I've tuned out and all I hear is Charlie Brown's parents' voice... wah wah wah wah. All I know is that there are too many darn buttons!
Months ago, he told me to just press the button on the right two times, and the alarm will turn off instead of snooze. But that still involved me climbing over the bed, making sure I hit the correct button out of the millions on it. And he sets his alarm for way earlier than he gets up so he can snooze it, so I'd be woken up before he even needed to get up, and I'd have to debate if I should wake him then or until the time he really wanted to get up. It's just better if he tells me to set my alarm for the time to get him up.
Two nights ago, the Pumpkin called for DaddyDaddyDaddy!!! to come into her room and sleep with her in HER bed. It's the middle of the night, and as he's stumbling out of bed, he asks me to set my alarm for 6:00 to wake him. I grogily reach over and set my alarm accordingly. Londo ended up sleeping the rest of the night/morning in there with her (although she apparently couldn't get back to sleep and kept Londo up pretty much all night with her tossing and turning and crying).
At 5:00 (maybe a few minutes after), Londo's radio alarm goes off with some loud rap music (huh?). I crawl oh so gracefully with my big belly across my mountain of pillows and hit the button on the right two times. There, I think to myself, alarm is off, I can go back to sleep until my alarm goes off at 6:00. During pregnancy, I have a hard time getting back to sleep whenever I wake up, but right about 8 minutes later, I am able to start drifting off to dreamland, when...
That loud rap music goes off again! WTF? I think to myself. I hit the button on the right twice, that's supposed to take care of that! This time, I get out of bed, walk around to look at his clock. I hit the button on the right twice, but I notice that the Alarm 2 light is still on. That suggests to me that whatever I'm doing is not turning it off. So, frustrated and groggy, I start hitting random buttons on the top of his alarm clock.
This was perhaps not the best plan. The Alarm 2 light isn't going off, and at some point the Nap setting gets turned on. This. Is. Not. Good. I have vague memories of struggling with the darn Nap setting months ago. This is definitely trouble, and all I want to do is go back to sleep.
Eff it! I think to myself, although perhaps without modifying my language. I turn on Londo's bedside light to get a good look at his clock and it's eleventy millon buttons. I finally figure out how to turn off the Alarm 2, but the Nap? That's a different story. I keep hitting buttons, and the Nap just keeps counting down. My good lord! All I want is to go back to sleep! I yell in my mind at the clock.
As my thoughts escalate into worse language, I finally pull the effing plug out of the effing wall, taking some other plug with it! There, that should do it, I say, much calmer, to myself. I crawl back into bed. Granted that stuggle last only a couple of minutes, but it's 5 something in the morning, and I'm freaking tired. Luckily, I was able to start drifting off again pretty quickly. I'm finally relaxed and just barely asleep, and...
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!! BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!!
ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?!?!
That's the Nap alarm going off. The one I couldn't figure out how to turn off, which caused me to unplug the clock and LEAVE IT UNPLUGGED!! That clock hates me so much, it rose from the unplugged grave to wake me with beeps more annoying than the loud rap music Alarm 2 plays!!! (I later learn from Londo, as he's laughing at me hysterically, that his clock has battery backup so it will still go off when unplugged. Lovely.)
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to tell you that I DIDN'T throw that effing clock out the freaking window. I hit something that made it stop beeping, plugged that and whatever else had come unplugged back into the socket, and I went and woke up Londo.
At this point it was 5:30 something, and I figured he could get up now, keep sleeping in our room, or whatever the heck he wanted, just so long as he was around to fix the darn clock if it went off again. He choose to go back to sleep in our room, as did I. I turned off my alarm, and we both slept until after 7:00.
So once again, caramama loses a battle against Londo's alarm clock. But next time Londo forgets to turn the alarm off of his awesome clock? I hope he leaves the window open or else there will be broken glass for him to clean up when I do decide to wake him. I WILL win the final battle.
I can pretty much guarentee that the Pumpkin won't take a nap on the weekends. And she usually takes on average 1.5 hours to get to sleep. But that's about all I can count on, and both of those are "usuals" that I wish unusual.
In order to deal with the different nighttime scenarios, Londo and I have developed different plans for the night and mornings. Over the last two years, these plans have been updated, modified, rejected, and new ones added. But today, I'm going to give you the background of one specific plan and tell you of an epic battle that resulted when it was not properly excuted.
On the nights when Londo goes into the Pumpkin's room and cosleeps with her for the rest of the night/morning, he turns off his alarm and asks me to set mine for whatever time he needs to get up so I can wake him quietly in the Pumpkin's room. We realized this was the best plan for this scenerio months ago when I had difficulty turning off Londo's alarm clock.
You see, he has this crazy, complex radio/alarm clock. He will tell you that it's very awesome with many cool features, including self-setting time which accounts for the Daylight Savings changes, two alarms you can set, a nap timer, and... at this point I've tuned out and all I hear is Charlie Brown's parents' voice... wah wah wah wah. All I know is that there are too many darn buttons!
Months ago, he told me to just press the button on the right two times, and the alarm will turn off instead of snooze. But that still involved me climbing over the bed, making sure I hit the correct button out of the millions on it. And he sets his alarm for way earlier than he gets up so he can snooze it, so I'd be woken up before he even needed to get up, and I'd have to debate if I should wake him then or until the time he really wanted to get up. It's just better if he tells me to set my alarm for the time to get him up.
Two nights ago, the Pumpkin called for DaddyDaddyDaddy!!! to come into her room and sleep with her in HER bed. It's the middle of the night, and as he's stumbling out of bed, he asks me to set my alarm for 6:00 to wake him. I grogily reach over and set my alarm accordingly. Londo ended up sleeping the rest of the night/morning in there with her (although she apparently couldn't get back to sleep and kept Londo up pretty much all night with her tossing and turning and crying).
At 5:00 (maybe a few minutes after), Londo's radio alarm goes off with some loud rap music (huh?). I crawl oh so gracefully with my big belly across my mountain of pillows and hit the button on the right two times. There, I think to myself, alarm is off, I can go back to sleep until my alarm goes off at 6:00. During pregnancy, I have a hard time getting back to sleep whenever I wake up, but right about 8 minutes later, I am able to start drifting off to dreamland, when...
That loud rap music goes off again! WTF? I think to myself. I hit the button on the right twice, that's supposed to take care of that! This time, I get out of bed, walk around to look at his clock. I hit the button on the right twice, but I notice that the Alarm 2 light is still on. That suggests to me that whatever I'm doing is not turning it off. So, frustrated and groggy, I start hitting random buttons on the top of his alarm clock.
This was perhaps not the best plan. The Alarm 2 light isn't going off, and at some point the Nap setting gets turned on. This. Is. Not. Good. I have vague memories of struggling with the darn Nap setting months ago. This is definitely trouble, and all I want to do is go back to sleep.
Eff it! I think to myself, although perhaps without modifying my language. I turn on Londo's bedside light to get a good look at his clock and it's eleventy millon buttons. I finally figure out how to turn off the Alarm 2, but the Nap? That's a different story. I keep hitting buttons, and the Nap just keeps counting down. My good lord! All I want is to go back to sleep! I yell in my mind at the clock.
As my thoughts escalate into worse language, I finally pull the effing plug out of the effing wall, taking some other plug with it! There, that should do it, I say, much calmer, to myself. I crawl back into bed. Granted that stuggle last only a couple of minutes, but it's 5 something in the morning, and I'm freaking tired. Luckily, I was able to start drifting off again pretty quickly. I'm finally relaxed and just barely asleep, and...
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!! BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP!!!!
ARE YOU EFFING KIDDING ME?!?!
That's the Nap alarm going off. The one I couldn't figure out how to turn off, which caused me to unplug the clock and LEAVE IT UNPLUGGED!! That clock hates me so much, it rose from the unplugged grave to wake me with beeps more annoying than the loud rap music Alarm 2 plays!!! (I later learn from Londo, as he's laughing at me hysterically, that his clock has battery backup so it will still go off when unplugged. Lovely.)
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm proud to tell you that I DIDN'T throw that effing clock out the freaking window. I hit something that made it stop beeping, plugged that and whatever else had come unplugged back into the socket, and I went and woke up Londo.
At this point it was 5:30 something, and I figured he could get up now, keep sleeping in our room, or whatever the heck he wanted, just so long as he was around to fix the darn clock if it went off again. He choose to go back to sleep in our room, as did I. I turned off my alarm, and we both slept until after 7:00.
So once again, caramama loses a battle against Londo's alarm clock. But next time Londo forgets to turn the alarm off of his awesome clock? I hope he leaves the window open or else there will be broken glass for him to clean up when I do decide to wake him. I WILL win the final battle.
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