Decisions, Decisions

I am awful at making them. It seems like the less important the decision is, the longer it takes me to decide. So, I am completely, utterly, absolutely over the diaper bag. My pretty little petunia pickle bottom sashay satchel has served us well in the passed 17 months, but I feel like it needs to be retired until round two. Spence says that it is my security and always gives me a hard time lately for lugging it everywhere. I just like to be prepared for {every} possible situation.

I can't decide if I want to make the investment of another 'diaperish' bag {a nice bag equipped with all the pockets & space for toddler necessities} or turn one of my current purses into a toddler bag by adding a diaper clutch. Only problem is I am pretty much over all of my purses that I carried before my diaper bag stage. My dream bag was vetoed by the husband, so I will continue to wait until it shows up....maybe under the Christmas tree. Until then i will make do with one of these options.

•  Joya Baby Diaper Clutch 

Machine Washable Mat, just plain cute.

•  Wipe/Diaper Clutch on Etsy 

Love Chevron and the easy access wipes. I have learned that you use those for more than just diaper changes.

• Pish Posh Diaper Clutch

This one comes highly recommended and it is so affordable.

• Touring Tote     

This would be the 'diaperish' bag that I mentioned. I am really fond of this fresh gray pattern. I want to see it in person and take it for a test fun around the store.




I will just be here flipping a coin, asking my husband what he thinks. And he will look at me and say, "Whatever you want, babe." He isn't a lot of help with this matter.

Missing sleep like crazy

I have sat down to type out our struggles with 'sleep' or lack there of at least four times and I never finish because it stresses me out just thinking about how little sleep we get around here sometimes. Being a mom is hard work, the best kind of hard work, but it's hard. Being a mom that works all day {teaching other peoples babies} is even harder. I love my husband, my baby, my family, my house, my friends, my job, my coworkers, everything about my life......but it isn't always easy.  Last week was one of those weeks. We have been 'sleep training' round here for the past 2 weeks basically because our 16  month old is smarter than we are and she had trained us. Trained us to run to her crib each time she cries out, scoop her up and carry her away to a snuggly place right between mama and dada where we would sleep ever so peacefully for the remainder of the night. Exhibit A:

We have experienced all six of these positions. This actually makes me laugh out loud!

The time she awoke got earlier and earlier and before we knew it, I was going to bed at 8:00 with the baby. Fabulous. After just 3 nights of that, I put my foot down and daddy whisperer took over the sleep training. I have read Dr. Ferber's book {twice} and we began following that schedule. It feels like when we take a step forward, she cuts teeth, gets an ear infection or a cold and we take 3 steps backward. Currently fighting a runny nose and mild cough. :(
When that sweet baby is crying, I feel like the worst mom in the world, but I know it is better for all of us that she learn to sleep like a big girl. Hopefully the hard work will be worth it.....all this mama is asking for is 6 (but I'd settle for 5) hours of uninterrupted sleep.

My husband, for the record, is tougher than I am. He is the baby whisperer....I cave when I see tears. We make a good team.

Ah, I feel better! Learning everyday and look at that---it's almost 10:00 and the little one is still sleeping. Saying a prayer now.........

 This tired mama wrote this last week and never published. Glad to say that it has only gotten better and there has been minimal crying. We are sticking to it and all sleeping better around here. 

oops.....

Time has just gotten away from me. 'Update Blog' has been on the last 6 to do lists that I made, but I have not gotten to it. I think it is because the thought of recapping our Christmas events has been overwhelming me. It was wonderful, the best Christmas yet, but it was five straight days of lunches, dinners, presents, desserts, missed naps, and late bedtimes of little Miss.  Like I said, amazing, but tiring. So thankful that I had an entire 10 days to recover before returning to school.

The magic of Christmas for sure lives in children. It was so amazing watching P's eyes light up with all the excitement on Christmas morning. I say it all the time, but everything is better with that girl!

Moving on to 2013.....

                We welcomed the new year with a full week of 3 wake ups a night, cutting 4 teeth up top, and a first ear infection. The weather was yucky so we snuggled for 3 days straight. Then I got cabin fever and made pointless trips to Target, made up errands that we could run, and bundled up my baby for some freezing cold walks on the trail. I so enjoy all my time with my girl, but we love routine in this fam and we are happily settling back into the school/work day routine. P was SO excited to see all of her friends. She is learning to say their names and it is precious. This girls a talker for sure {shocking, I know}

Another wonderful announcement:

WINSTON FINALLY LIKES HIS SISTER

P has been extra interested in Winston the last month or so and the old grumpy dog is finally warming up to her. He has spent the last 15 months avoiding her unless she has food. I guess all those "you're going on Craigslist" threats really worked. Still don't trust him, he's a feisty terrier and I have read way too many horror stories on the internet. She pats him, kisses his head, follows him all over, says 'puppy' at least 100 times a day, bosses him around, tries to pick him up, puts bows on him, and feeds him from her baby doll bottles. And he tolerates it and actually even posed for a picture.

That's all for now.

After a 2 week break, I am glad to be back typing my life away. Watch for a weekend recap.....it's going to be a busy one!

Top twelve of 2012

 I really have way more than 12, but these are some of my most memorable moments of 2012. I always say this, but each year gets better and better.

12. My mom painting the paneling and putting in wood floors in her house. I have been trying to convince her for years. It looks Ahhhhh-mazing. I am just proud of her! ;)
11. Got a sewing machine. A goal for 2013-learn to use it. I can't wait to be crafty!
10. Getting a new group of 3rd graders to teach. I am lucky to have some sweet kiddos this year.
9. Celebrating our 2nd wedding anny. Two down, a million to go.

8. Refinishing P's furniture. Lots of sweat and a few tears because those crib rails were never ending, but we finished and are so pleased with how it looks in her new room.

7. Bought bikes-a hobby that we hope to have for a lifetime.
6. Learned how to work my DSLR-well for the most part-and took some pictures that I will treasure forever. {my only goal with that camera} Still so much more to learn.
5. Celebrating P's 1st birthday. Such a perfect day for a truly perfect first year.

4. Living with my mom for 5 months. We loved all the quality time, the extra set of hands, and the pool. We are forever grateful for my mom's generosity & hospitality.
3. Every date night with my husband. I look forward to these like crazy!
2. Little P takes her first steps-July 4th, 2012

1. Building & buying our first house. Such an accomplishment for us and we couldn't be happier with our decision to be back in our beloved neighborhood near the city.

It was a wonderful year! Busy, but blessed. We are looking forward to a 'calm' 2013; settling in to our house and preparing to take on the terrible twos. HA! We have many goals for this year....we make goals, not resolutions....and are ready to get started!

15 Months {one month late}

It is truly difficult for me to wrap my head around the fact that we have a 15 month old. That is not a baby anymore, that is almost a toddler. We agree that this is the best age yet, however we seem to say that at every 'milestone' age. Guess it just keeps getting better!

We had a dramatic, but positive well visit with the pediatrician this round. P knows what happens when we are in that office and she does not like it. She gives the doctor this evil little look, then arches her back and screams for other countries to hear. I broke a sweat holding this girl still so the doc & nurse could weigh her, measure her, check her reflexes,  & look in her ears. They made several comments about how strong she was. Lovely, my daughter will probably enroll in CrossFit at age2.

Stats:

Weight/Height: 24lbs 13 oz and 31 inches tall 

Eating Habits: We still love meal time. I am starting to notice a bit of pickiness, like tonight when she strategically dropped every piece of her roasted zucchini off of her tray. However, she still goes crazy for fruit and yogurt and will eat green beans and peas most of the time. She loves to use her spoon and fork-by herself. She insists that I place the spoon, loaded with whatever on her tray. She picks it up, and surprisingly it all makes it in her mouth.

Sleeping Habits: It is a roller coaster with us. If there is a runny nose, congestion, or a tooth on the way, sleeping is up and down. We went through 2 days of a yucky stomach bug last week and our good sleep habits came crashing down. For the most part, she goes down very easy around 7:30 or 8 and wakes for the day at about 7am.Eye teeth are currently cutting and giving us a hard time. We are actually on day 2 of sleep training {ugh, for the third time}.

Personality: Funny, feisty, loving. She is always up to something lately! Loves to give hugs and kisses, but also loves to play rough with Daddy. Very curious-climbs on anything she can get to and tries to reach anything she sees by standing on her tip toes. Persistent when it comes to getting what she wants. The 'redirection' rule only works sometimes with her. She is stubborn! I have never seen a baby care so much about her dolls. She pretends to feed them, put them to sleep, pats them, and kisses them. Today she put her finger over her lips and told me to "shhhhhhh" as she covered her baby doll with a blanket.

New Tricks: Talking! Her words get more clear each day. She says about 20-25 different words.  Some you understand, some are still in her own language. Like wa-wa for water and Nana for banana. Loves to copy what mom & dad say and do. She dances when she hears any kind of music. Nods for yes and no appropriately and responds surprisingly well to little sets of directions. Sometimes I swear I can see her little brain just absorbing and learning!

"OOOOHHHHHHHH" she says when we turn on the tree lights.

15 months old

I have several Christmas posts in the making, just wanted to finish this one up first...considering we are almost 16 months old now. Oh well!