Now that I'm almost 35 weeks pregnant, I'm realizing just how quickly Piper's due date is approaching. This pregnancy has gone by so much faster than it did with Ellie, probably because I stay so busy with chasing my little toddler around. In the past week, I've been going into what I would call panic mode, but is probably more of the normal "nesting" period. I don't think I really experienced this with Ellie...looking back, I think I was pretty chill about everything up until her birth. So chill, in fact, that I ignored some pretty serious symptoms...but, thankfully, everything turned out okay. I remember not even unpacking baby gifts, thinking I still had plenty of time. We barely had her crib put together before she was born.
Anyway, with this pregnancy, I've definitely been feeling a little crazed lately. I've already made my hospital bag packing list with everything I could possibly need while at the hospital. Piper's closet is full of freshly-laundered clothes, and I've been stocking up on diapers and wipes since last summer. I made a freezer cooking ideas list today in preparation for a freezer cooking marathon where I stock up our freezer with as much food as I can. I have organized and re-organized all of the baby clothes we own from sizes newborn to 18 months for easy access when Piper is ready for them. Basically what I'm trying to say is that I'm totally freaking out about having another baby...in a good way. Yes, I have my moments where I think, "I can't do this...how am I going to take care of two children under the age of two?!" For the most part, though, I'm thoroughly excited and joyful about meeting our little girl. I'm just experiencing this constant restlessness right now, which I think is what nesting is all about. I feel the urge to get everything done and checked off my list before Piper arrives.
Granted, I've learned from experience that it's better to be prepared early, which may be motivating some of my craziness right now. It's hard to believe that in a little over two weeks I'll be 37 weeks pregnant, which is when Ellie was born. I'm constantly reminding Billy of this, which I think might slightly annoy him, because it's making him freak out a little, too. Haha.
Thankfully we're pretty much prepared for her to come any time. Yes, there are a zillion things I want to do before she comes, but honestly, she has plenty of clothes, a place to sleep, and diapers to keep her dry. And that's all that really matters. Everything that doesn't get done before she comes will be okay. I'm constantly telling myself this.... =)
On Sunday we're picking up Piper's crib, which is identical to Ellie's, and a chest of drawers, which matches the dresser we already have. You better believe I'll be begging Billy to put everything together immediately, but I know better than to demand that from him. I'm thinking maybe the following Saturday would be a good time, unless Billy decides to do it sooner than that. Our girls will be sharing a room--eventually. My plan is to wait until Piper is sleeping through the night before putting her in the same room as Ellie. Ellie is such a fantastic sleeper, and I would hate to disrupt that now. I'm thinking that we'll use the pack and play for Piper in our room to get through the middle-of-the-night feedings and stuff. I'm really hoping that Piper turns out to be a good sleeper, too, and that by 3 months old she'll be sharing a room with Ellie, who was 10 weeks when she started sleeping through the night every night. I'm a little nervous about the sleep difficulties I'll have with sharing a room with Piper. With Ellie, we tried sharing a room with her for a few days, but I was going crazy with listening to all the little baby noises and couldn't sleep through it. I was also constantly checking on her to make sure she was breathing, and was never getting any rest myself. After three nights of that, we decided she just needed to sleep in her own room, which worked out beautifully for all of us. We do have a walk-in closet in our bedroom, so if it comes down to it I could put Piper in there =).
I have to say, I feel thoroughly better after "venting" all of this. Sometimes it's hard for me to verbally articulate exactly how I'm feeling. Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Taggie Blanket and iPad Apps
So I finally made the taggie blanket that I've been talking about making since Christmas... =)
I got my very own brand-new sewing machine as a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law because I've been wanting to try some simple sewing projects for a while but never had access to a sewing machine...and hand-sewing is out of the question for me. Sadly, I'm just not skilled in that area. I mean, I can barely sew on a button. And to give you an idea of where I'm starting...I have NEVER sewed on a sewing machine. Ever. I did borrow a friend's one time to try sewing, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to use it. I ended up using a little hand-held sewing machine (which I guess could be handy for simple, small projects). So I am bottom-of-the-totem-pole beginner level.
So I received the sewing machine for Christmas, and I've finally used it! This project has been "in the works" for at least a month now, and it finally took Billy saying, "Hey, you want to go down in the basement tonight and work on your sewing?" that finally motivated me to just finish it. And let me just say this: thank goodness for instruction manuals! Everything I needed to know I learned from the instruction manual for this project (other than following a cute tutorial...see below).
I followed this tutorial from I Can Teach My Child! since it seemed pretty easy to follow. I used a cream striped minky material for one side of the blanket and a purple floral cotton on the other side. I had three different rolls of ribbon already, so I bought one of those mini multi-rolls from Target for $1 for some more variety. Side note: I found leftover, unused ribbon from my pointe shoes in my sewing box. I haven't danced since 2006...so it's been in there for at least 6 years, and somehow I still held on to it. So you better believe I used some of it for this project! Maybe one of my girls will follow in my footsteps? Haha =)
This is the result!
I certainly learned quite a bit just from this small project, including ways to improve next time I sew. I now feel more comfortable with my machine, and I have to say that I'm really proud of myself for trying! I have a fear of failure, so I'm always intimidated to try new things, but I'm really glad this little project worked out because it gives me confidence for the next one. I'm also pretty excited that I actually made something for Piper, and even if she doesn't care one bit about it, I'm definitely putting it in her little keepsake box =).
Next on my sewing project list is to make burp cloths. They seem pretty easy to make, and I've already got some extra cotton fabric just sitting around so I would just need some towel-like material. I guess I could always buy a cheap-o towel and use that! This tutorial has some cute pictures and seems easy to follow (which is a must for me!).
And just for fun, here are some recent pictures of Ellie playing on the iPad...
The one she's playing with me is called I Hear Ewe. It's a very simple app, but it's definitely her favorite. The screen is filled with pictures of various animals, and when you touch a picture, a voice identifies what animal it is and then plays its sound. There are three pages on this app; farm/local animals, safari/exotic animals, and transportation vehicles. For some reason, she really likes the motorcycle...wonder who influenced her in that particular area ;)
The cognitive leaps she's made recently have been amazing to me. She caught on super-fast with the iPad...it really is true that she's going to be more technologically advanced than me in a couple of years...not that it's really saying much! But she'll probably beat out her Daddy, too, at some point...and that's saying something! She's also learned to "count" to three...but it's more like repetition. Whenever we play a game or I put her on the slide, I say, "Ready...one...two...three!" and so now she'll say, "one...two...three!" I actually teared up the first time she said it...but that could just be my crazy hormones lol. She's also learning animal sounds like crazy. At first, she just knew the cat and dog sounds, but now she does sounds for fish, lions/bears (both are "roar" lol), birds, and ducks. She's also graduated from signing "please" to actually saying it, although she still signs it most of the time.
Her physical skills have really developed, too. She now helps me clean up her toys (normally she picks them up and brings them to me to put away, or she'll throw them in the basket/toy box on her own) and also helps with laundry. I put the basket on the floor, and she'll hand each dirty item to me, which is actually really helpful so I don't have to bend over to pick things up! She can throw and kick a ball...we're still working on teaching her how to catch it, haha. And she is a real climber...she can now get on and off the couch by herself. I can't believe how quickly she has grown into a full-fledged toddler.
Thanks for reading...I promise I'll try to update more often! =)
I got my very own brand-new sewing machine as a Christmas gift from my mother-in-law because I've been wanting to try some simple sewing projects for a while but never had access to a sewing machine...and hand-sewing is out of the question for me. Sadly, I'm just not skilled in that area. I mean, I can barely sew on a button. And to give you an idea of where I'm starting...I have NEVER sewed on a sewing machine. Ever. I did borrow a friend's one time to try sewing, but I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to use it. I ended up using a little hand-held sewing machine (which I guess could be handy for simple, small projects). So I am bottom-of-the-totem-pole beginner level.
So I received the sewing machine for Christmas, and I've finally used it! This project has been "in the works" for at least a month now, and it finally took Billy saying, "Hey, you want to go down in the basement tonight and work on your sewing?" that finally motivated me to just finish it. And let me just say this: thank goodness for instruction manuals! Everything I needed to know I learned from the instruction manual for this project (other than following a cute tutorial...see below).
I followed this tutorial from I Can Teach My Child! since it seemed pretty easy to follow. I used a cream striped minky material for one side of the blanket and a purple floral cotton on the other side. I had three different rolls of ribbon already, so I bought one of those mini multi-rolls from Target for $1 for some more variety. Side note: I found leftover, unused ribbon from my pointe shoes in my sewing box. I haven't danced since 2006...so it's been in there for at least 6 years, and somehow I still held on to it. So you better believe I used some of it for this project! Maybe one of my girls will follow in my footsteps? Haha =)
This is the result!
I certainly learned quite a bit just from this small project, including ways to improve next time I sew. I now feel more comfortable with my machine, and I have to say that I'm really proud of myself for trying! I have a fear of failure, so I'm always intimidated to try new things, but I'm really glad this little project worked out because it gives me confidence for the next one. I'm also pretty excited that I actually made something for Piper, and even if she doesn't care one bit about it, I'm definitely putting it in her little keepsake box =).
Next on my sewing project list is to make burp cloths. They seem pretty easy to make, and I've already got some extra cotton fabric just sitting around so I would just need some towel-like material. I guess I could always buy a cheap-o towel and use that! This tutorial has some cute pictures and seems easy to follow (which is a must for me!).
And just for fun, here are some recent pictures of Ellie playing on the iPad...
Billy downloaded two apps for Ellie (both of which are free). This one is called Play 1-2-3 and has some great mathematical skill-building activities with shapes, counting, colors, and cause-and-effect principles. She loves this one...it's very easy for her to manipulate and has a variety of activities to keep things fresh. And it has some cute music to go along with it!
The one she's playing with me is called I Hear Ewe. It's a very simple app, but it's definitely her favorite. The screen is filled with pictures of various animals, and when you touch a picture, a voice identifies what animal it is and then plays its sound. There are three pages on this app; farm/local animals, safari/exotic animals, and transportation vehicles. For some reason, she really likes the motorcycle...wonder who influenced her in that particular area ;)
The cognitive leaps she's made recently have been amazing to me. She caught on super-fast with the iPad...it really is true that she's going to be more technologically advanced than me in a couple of years...not that it's really saying much! But she'll probably beat out her Daddy, too, at some point...and that's saying something! She's also learned to "count" to three...but it's more like repetition. Whenever we play a game or I put her on the slide, I say, "Ready...one...two...three!" and so now she'll say, "one...two...three!" I actually teared up the first time she said it...but that could just be my crazy hormones lol. She's also learning animal sounds like crazy. At first, she just knew the cat and dog sounds, but now she does sounds for fish, lions/bears (both are "roar" lol), birds, and ducks. She's also graduated from signing "please" to actually saying it, although she still signs it most of the time.
Her physical skills have really developed, too. She now helps me clean up her toys (normally she picks them up and brings them to me to put away, or she'll throw them in the basket/toy box on her own) and also helps with laundry. I put the basket on the floor, and she'll hand each dirty item to me, which is actually really helpful so I don't have to bend over to pick things up! She can throw and kick a ball...we're still working on teaching her how to catch it, haha. And she is a real climber...she can now get on and off the couch by herself. I can't believe how quickly she has grown into a full-fledged toddler.
Thanks for reading...I promise I'll try to update more often! =)
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Doctor's Appointment and Other Things
Hi again! We've done a few fun things over the past week, so I thought I'd share...
First of all, I had my first appointment at the new OBGYN office yesterday and it went great! I met with the Nurse Educator and just went over my health history and the medical records that were transferred from Women's Health Services, and I feel like I'm in very good hands here. They did a complete blood work-up for me yesterday to determine my baseline metabolic numbers so they know what's normal for me (so that if something happens in the future they have a reference to go by) as well as the normal checkup stuff, like my weight and blood pressure. My blood pressure was 105/58, so I'm doing great on that end of things...I'd much rather have blood pressure that's a little low than too high. I occasionally get light-headed or dizzy because of it, but it's easily manageable. We listened to Piper's heartbeat and she's doing great, and it was overall a great appointment. I do have to do a 24-hour urine collection...meaning I have to pee in a jug for the next 24 hours, which is a little weird, but it's so they have a reference point if something changes down the road. They also seem to be very supportive of my birth preferences (as long as my pregnancy and labor are normal) and have already provided information on lactation consultants so that I have some resources I didn't have last time. My next appointment is scheduled for next Wednesday, and that will be my first appointment with the new doctor. I'm looking forward to it!
I'm finishing up a book today....Making Children Mind without Losing Yours by Kevin Leman. I LOVE this book. It's been the most practical and helpful parenting book I've read so far. It's probably more for kids who are 2 or 3 years and up to adolescence, but I decided to go ahead and read it now since I've had it on my list for a while. I probably like it so much because it already lines up with what I believe about parenting and how I want to raise our children. It's about disciplining our children in firm, loving ways instead of ruling over them as authoritarians and follows the principles of Ephesians 6:1-4 --
"Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 'Honor your father and mother.' This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, 'things will go well for you and you will have a long life on the earth.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord."
One of the methods Leman mentions in this book that has been so helpful for us in the past few months is removing your child from the room when he/she throws a temper tantrum. We've been doing this one for a while, but I had gotten kinda lazy about it since I now have to walk up a flight of stairs to isolate Ellie in her bedroom. After reading this book, I remembered how effective it's been in the past, and decided to make an effort to start doing it again. When Ellie throws a temper tantrum, we usually give her a couple minutes to get it out of her system. I mean, it's kinda part of the age she's at right now and it's one of the few ways she can really express her frustration or anger at something, and so I think that's normal. However, if she doesn't calm down after a few minutes, I take her upstairs and put her in the crib. I usually just say something like, "When you calm down you can come out, okay?" and usually within a couple minutes she's over the tantrum. I don't know if this would work for all children, but it really works for Ellie, mainly because she's an attention-getter. It's part of her personality and I think it's just who she is...she's our little "social butterfly." It's great when she behaves well, but can be terrible when she's throwing a temper tantrum because she wants an audience. As soon as she's removed from the audience, there's really no motivation to keep screaming and carrying on for her.
Anyway, I would highly recommend this book. It's practical, straightforward, and easy to read with a little comedy thrown in there. It makes me feel more resolved to parent Ellie with love and kindness, but also being firm in what boundaries we've determined for her.
I did a couple of very small, uninvolved projects this past week...I'm finding I have less energy or resolve to do any kind of intense cleaning tasks or new recipes right now, but I'm hoping that down the road (once I get some energy back) I'll try some new things every now and then. Anyway, I made this homemade pom-pom "stuff it in" toy for Ellie last week. I used a small plastic container with a lid and just cut a small hole in the top. I had purchased pom poms from the Dollar Tree forever ago, so I already had those on hand. And actually, the plastic container I used was from some soup we ordered from a Chinese restaurant. I like that it's a completely clear container, and it was the perfect size for this activity.
It took me showing her about a dozen times how to push the pom pom through the hole, and after that she was happy to sit and do this by herself. I made it a little challenging, because the hole is significantly smaller than the pom poms so you really have to push to get them through the hole. This kept her quietly entertained for about 20 minutes! I sat with her on the floor and read a book while she did this, since she's still not completely out of the "put-everthing-in-my-mouth" phase.
I was really excited that she learned so quickly how to do this, and that she continued to do it even after I stopped participating. I'm keeping this toy hidden out of sight so that it's "special" to her (or rather, Mommy really needs a few minutes of quiet so please play with this!).
My other little project this week was a new recipe for homemade chocolate granola bars, which turned out to be sooooo good! And they are so easy to make, which is a huge plus for me. I used quick oats (even though she says not to) and they still turned out great. I also omitted the wheat germ since I didn't have any of that. All it required was peanut butter, butter, honey, chocolate chips, and coconut. I just melted the first three ingredients in a pot, then stirred in everything else, dumped it in a square dish lined with foil, and refrigerated it for a few hours until hardened. These taste a lot like preacher cookies, which are my all-time favorite cookies ever, but these are so much easier to make. It seems like every time I make preacher cookies they don't set well, and it ends up being a huge hassle (and mess!). I don't even know if Billy liked these granola bars...I didn't bother asking because I really liked them and will continue to make them whether he likes them or not! =)
First of all, I had my first appointment at the new OBGYN office yesterday and it went great! I met with the Nurse Educator and just went over my health history and the medical records that were transferred from Women's Health Services, and I feel like I'm in very good hands here. They did a complete blood work-up for me yesterday to determine my baseline metabolic numbers so they know what's normal for me (so that if something happens in the future they have a reference to go by) as well as the normal checkup stuff, like my weight and blood pressure. My blood pressure was 105/58, so I'm doing great on that end of things...I'd much rather have blood pressure that's a little low than too high. I occasionally get light-headed or dizzy because of it, but it's easily manageable. We listened to Piper's heartbeat and she's doing great, and it was overall a great appointment. I do have to do a 24-hour urine collection...meaning I have to pee in a jug for the next 24 hours, which is a little weird, but it's so they have a reference point if something changes down the road. They also seem to be very supportive of my birth preferences (as long as my pregnancy and labor are normal) and have already provided information on lactation consultants so that I have some resources I didn't have last time. My next appointment is scheduled for next Wednesday, and that will be my first appointment with the new doctor. I'm looking forward to it!
I'm finishing up a book today....Making Children Mind without Losing Yours by Kevin Leman. I LOVE this book. It's been the most practical and helpful parenting book I've read so far. It's probably more for kids who are 2 or 3 years and up to adolescence, but I decided to go ahead and read it now since I've had it on my list for a while. I probably like it so much because it already lines up with what I believe about parenting and how I want to raise our children. It's about disciplining our children in firm, loving ways instead of ruling over them as authoritarians and follows the principles of Ephesians 6:1-4 --
"Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do. 'Honor your father and mother.' This is the first commandment with a promise: If you honor your father and mother, 'things will go well for you and you will have a long life on the earth.' Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord."
One of the methods Leman mentions in this book that has been so helpful for us in the past few months is removing your child from the room when he/she throws a temper tantrum. We've been doing this one for a while, but I had gotten kinda lazy about it since I now have to walk up a flight of stairs to isolate Ellie in her bedroom. After reading this book, I remembered how effective it's been in the past, and decided to make an effort to start doing it again. When Ellie throws a temper tantrum, we usually give her a couple minutes to get it out of her system. I mean, it's kinda part of the age she's at right now and it's one of the few ways she can really express her frustration or anger at something, and so I think that's normal. However, if she doesn't calm down after a few minutes, I take her upstairs and put her in the crib. I usually just say something like, "When you calm down you can come out, okay?" and usually within a couple minutes she's over the tantrum. I don't know if this would work for all children, but it really works for Ellie, mainly because she's an attention-getter. It's part of her personality and I think it's just who she is...she's our little "social butterfly." It's great when she behaves well, but can be terrible when she's throwing a temper tantrum because she wants an audience. As soon as she's removed from the audience, there's really no motivation to keep screaming and carrying on for her.
Anyway, I would highly recommend this book. It's practical, straightforward, and easy to read with a little comedy thrown in there. It makes me feel more resolved to parent Ellie with love and kindness, but also being firm in what boundaries we've determined for her.
I did a couple of very small, uninvolved projects this past week...I'm finding I have less energy or resolve to do any kind of intense cleaning tasks or new recipes right now, but I'm hoping that down the road (once I get some energy back) I'll try some new things every now and then. Anyway, I made this homemade pom-pom "stuff it in" toy for Ellie last week. I used a small plastic container with a lid and just cut a small hole in the top. I had purchased pom poms from the Dollar Tree forever ago, so I already had those on hand. And actually, the plastic container I used was from some soup we ordered from a Chinese restaurant. I like that it's a completely clear container, and it was the perfect size for this activity.
My other little project this week was a new recipe for homemade chocolate granola bars, which turned out to be sooooo good! And they are so easy to make, which is a huge plus for me. I used quick oats (even though she says not to) and they still turned out great. I also omitted the wheat germ since I didn't have any of that. All it required was peanut butter, butter, honey, chocolate chips, and coconut. I just melted the first three ingredients in a pot, then stirred in everything else, dumped it in a square dish lined with foil, and refrigerated it for a few hours until hardened. These taste a lot like preacher cookies, which are my all-time favorite cookies ever, but these are so much easier to make. It seems like every time I make preacher cookies they don't set well, and it ends up being a huge hassle (and mess!). I don't even know if Billy liked these granola bars...I didn't bother asking because I really liked them and will continue to make them whether he likes them or not! =)
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Adventures with a Toddler...and Loneliness
I have a few minutes of spare time, so I thought I'd share a little update on how things are going here in Harrisonburg...
Billy and I really like Harrisonburg. I'm glad we live here, and thankful for the fact that it hasn't been a huge transition or change from what we're used to. His schedule is very similar to when he was in school, my daily routine is pretty much the same, and the folks in this city are so nice (at least so far!). I am, however, starting to feel a little lonely.
I'm trying to go out and participate in activities, which is really outside my comfort zone. I went to a MOPS meeting recently, which was a great experience and I'll definitely be going back. The women I met there were so kind and supportive, and it was very encouraging to be around other moms. Ellie seemed to enjoy playing in the nursery while I was in the meeting, so it gave her a change of scenery, too.
Since I had an enjoyable time at the MOPS group, I thought I would try something else this week: story time at the library. They have a program for children in the 0-3 years age group, so I figured it would be okay for Ellie. I even asked a librarian before going in what the format was like and how long it would last, since I know Ellie can't sit still for a very long period of time. She said it would be fine, that there are plenty of young children who don't sit still, so I figured it would be okay. And in the grand scheme of things, Ellie did really well considering she's never been in an environment like that, with other children AND mommies sitting on the floor listening to a story or singing songs. We do that together here at home, but it's only the two of us and usually lasts about 5 minutes. Anyway, she did well...but we had a few "iffy" moments...and....well, I cried on the way home from the library. Silly, I know.
I hate to admit this, especially since I *try* to be a "relaxed" mom who doesn't freak out over things, but I'm one of those moms who gets embarrassed in public. I try not to let it get to me, but after a while it's hard to just shrug it off when your kid is screaming bloody murder in Target because you took her empty snack cup away. And the hard part about it is that in order to be consistent and set boundaries for Ellie, it means that we HAVE to go through those moments in public. One thing I'm resolved to do as a parent is follow through with my child. If I've set a boundary or rule, it doesn't mean that we chuck it out the window just because there are 150 people glaring at me in the store....exaggerated, I know....it's probably more like 3 people glaring at me, haha.
So during story time, Ellie started to get tired of sitting in my lap. I let her sit on the floor in front of me for a few minutes, and then she was over that and wanted to get up and start playing (a completely understandable desire for a 1 and 1/2 year old!). But I want her to learn that there are times when we have to sit still, and if Mommy tells you to stay seated, you should obey. Of course, this isn't something we've really had to face before, since we've never participated in a structured play group like that. She became upset and threw herself on the ground, crying and carrying on in front of 10 other moms and their respective kids. Needless to say, I let my embarrassment dominate my mind in that moment, and I had a brief moment of "maybe I should just let her go....?" But I knew that if I gave in this one time, we would never be able to establish any consistency if we return to story time. And so I persevered and told Ellie that she had to stay seated (or at least stay in her spot). She made it through story time, but had "the fits" at least 2 or 3 times.
I guess the reason I cried on the way home is because I miss having someone I know with me. Back in Lynchburg, I totally would have gone with Laura and Adin...and if Ellie threw a fit, I could look at Laura and know that she wasn't judging me for being firm, because she understands me, Ellie, and my parenting goals. It made me really miss having a friend who knows me. Because all I could think about during the rest of story time was what the other moms thought of me and my child, and what a mean and uncompromising mom I must be and how my child is a psycho. I doubt they really had those thoughts (they were probably just trying to get their kids through story time, too!) but in my self-centered head I think everybody is watching me.
Thankfully, we had some great highlights from story time, too. When we started singing "Old McDonald," Ellie burst into hysterical laughter...like the kind you see on YouTube videos when you can't tell if they're laughing or crying. And the laughing went on *for the whole song.* I appreciated that everyone else found it amusing, too (I was kind of anticipating some weird looks from other parents, especially since their kids were just barely singing along, and Ellie's in my lap with a beet-red face switching back and forth between laughing uncontrollably and trying to sing along by saying "ee-oh" over and over). She also really loved getting to hold her own set of bells and jingling them during the songs, and the free playtime at the end was a big hit with her, too. We'll definitely go back next week, and overall I would rate it a positive experience, but it also served as a reminder that I don't quite fit in here yet.
We have had beautiful weather this week, and it's been wonderful to go outside and play a little. We have a large children's playground just a couple miles from our house, and so we've been there twice in the past two days. On Tuesday morning, Ellie played for a whole hour at the playground, which was a much-needed break from our staying at home all the time. Yesterday afternoon, I met up with a few ladies from the MOPS group which was also very nice, but the playground is so huge that it doesn't work well for adult-chat time, especially since my child is basically all over the place. I'm trying to give Ellie a little more independence on the playground and not hover behind her constantly, but it's so hard! I fear that she'll leap off the playground set and break her leg, or tumble down the slide and hurt herself, but she's actually a very capable climber (thanks to two flights of stairs in our house) and manages the slide pretty well on her own. It's really more of a fear issue for me, and I know I just need to take a step back and be less physically involved and more watchful of her. Also, it would be really hard for me to climb on the playground with her once Piper gets here, so the sooner I give her more freedom the better, I think. I'm so sore from the past two days at the park, so today I'm taking it easy and not really doing anything physically demanding.
My appointment at the new OBGYN office is Monday, and I'm so ready to get that over with! I've heard so many positive things about that practice (a ton of the moms from the MOPS group went there) which has been a huge encouragement to me. I'm really more excited about it than nervous now, although of course I have a zillion questions given my previous birth experience.
And on a totally random side note, I have decided that once I use what I already have, I will NOT be buying any more cleaning solutions (other than maybe toilet bowl cleaner...unless I find a really fantastic do-it-yourself version online). This isn't because I want to go all natural or "green," but really just because it's another way to save money (the "greenness" is an added bonus). Why buy all-purpose kitchen spray and Clorox wipes when I can use vinegar instead? I found a tub and shower cleaner made from vinegar and Dawn dish soap , which seems to have great reviews. I figured it's worth a shot, and if I already have the ingredients on hand, why not try it? I'm all about doing things myself if it saves money. I'm all for less chemicals and saving the planet and all that, but (I'm just being honest) I'm not going to do it if it costs an arm and a leg. Laundry detergent is a great example...I make my own, not because it's safer or less harmful to the environment, but because it's a HUGE way to save money. But the less-chemicals aspect of making my own detergent is an added benefit. And I really do hate the smell of cleaning solution...even the scented kind bothers me. I already have a ton of vinegar, and I would save some money, so I think it's worth it to at least try.
That's all of my ramblings today...I'll try to update next week after my doctor's appointment!
Billy and I really like Harrisonburg. I'm glad we live here, and thankful for the fact that it hasn't been a huge transition or change from what we're used to. His schedule is very similar to when he was in school, my daily routine is pretty much the same, and the folks in this city are so nice (at least so far!). I am, however, starting to feel a little lonely.
I'm trying to go out and participate in activities, which is really outside my comfort zone. I went to a MOPS meeting recently, which was a great experience and I'll definitely be going back. The women I met there were so kind and supportive, and it was very encouraging to be around other moms. Ellie seemed to enjoy playing in the nursery while I was in the meeting, so it gave her a change of scenery, too.
Since I had an enjoyable time at the MOPS group, I thought I would try something else this week: story time at the library. They have a program for children in the 0-3 years age group, so I figured it would be okay for Ellie. I even asked a librarian before going in what the format was like and how long it would last, since I know Ellie can't sit still for a very long period of time. She said it would be fine, that there are plenty of young children who don't sit still, so I figured it would be okay. And in the grand scheme of things, Ellie did really well considering she's never been in an environment like that, with other children AND mommies sitting on the floor listening to a story or singing songs. We do that together here at home, but it's only the two of us and usually lasts about 5 minutes. Anyway, she did well...but we had a few "iffy" moments...and....well, I cried on the way home from the library. Silly, I know.
I hate to admit this, especially since I *try* to be a "relaxed" mom who doesn't freak out over things, but I'm one of those moms who gets embarrassed in public. I try not to let it get to me, but after a while it's hard to just shrug it off when your kid is screaming bloody murder in Target because you took her empty snack cup away. And the hard part about it is that in order to be consistent and set boundaries for Ellie, it means that we HAVE to go through those moments in public. One thing I'm resolved to do as a parent is follow through with my child. If I've set a boundary or rule, it doesn't mean that we chuck it out the window just because there are 150 people glaring at me in the store....exaggerated, I know....it's probably more like 3 people glaring at me, haha.
So during story time, Ellie started to get tired of sitting in my lap. I let her sit on the floor in front of me for a few minutes, and then she was over that and wanted to get up and start playing (a completely understandable desire for a 1 and 1/2 year old!). But I want her to learn that there are times when we have to sit still, and if Mommy tells you to stay seated, you should obey. Of course, this isn't something we've really had to face before, since we've never participated in a structured play group like that. She became upset and threw herself on the ground, crying and carrying on in front of 10 other moms and their respective kids. Needless to say, I let my embarrassment dominate my mind in that moment, and I had a brief moment of "maybe I should just let her go....?" But I knew that if I gave in this one time, we would never be able to establish any consistency if we return to story time. And so I persevered and told Ellie that she had to stay seated (or at least stay in her spot). She made it through story time, but had "the fits" at least 2 or 3 times.
I guess the reason I cried on the way home is because I miss having someone I know with me. Back in Lynchburg, I totally would have gone with Laura and Adin...and if Ellie threw a fit, I could look at Laura and know that she wasn't judging me for being firm, because she understands me, Ellie, and my parenting goals. It made me really miss having a friend who knows me. Because all I could think about during the rest of story time was what the other moms thought of me and my child, and what a mean and uncompromising mom I must be and how my child is a psycho. I doubt they really had those thoughts (they were probably just trying to get their kids through story time, too!) but in my self-centered head I think everybody is watching me.
Thankfully, we had some great highlights from story time, too. When we started singing "Old McDonald," Ellie burst into hysterical laughter...like the kind you see on YouTube videos when you can't tell if they're laughing or crying. And the laughing went on *for the whole song.* I appreciated that everyone else found it amusing, too (I was kind of anticipating some weird looks from other parents, especially since their kids were just barely singing along, and Ellie's in my lap with a beet-red face switching back and forth between laughing uncontrollably and trying to sing along by saying "ee-oh" over and over). She also really loved getting to hold her own set of bells and jingling them during the songs, and the free playtime at the end was a big hit with her, too. We'll definitely go back next week, and overall I would rate it a positive experience, but it also served as a reminder that I don't quite fit in here yet.
We have had beautiful weather this week, and it's been wonderful to go outside and play a little. We have a large children's playground just a couple miles from our house, and so we've been there twice in the past two days. On Tuesday morning, Ellie played for a whole hour at the playground, which was a much-needed break from our staying at home all the time. Yesterday afternoon, I met up with a few ladies from the MOPS group which was also very nice, but the playground is so huge that it doesn't work well for adult-chat time, especially since my child is basically all over the place. I'm trying to give Ellie a little more independence on the playground and not hover behind her constantly, but it's so hard! I fear that she'll leap off the playground set and break her leg, or tumble down the slide and hurt herself, but she's actually a very capable climber (thanks to two flights of stairs in our house) and manages the slide pretty well on her own. It's really more of a fear issue for me, and I know I just need to take a step back and be less physically involved and more watchful of her. Also, it would be really hard for me to climb on the playground with her once Piper gets here, so the sooner I give her more freedom the better, I think. I'm so sore from the past two days at the park, so today I'm taking it easy and not really doing anything physically demanding.
My appointment at the new OBGYN office is Monday, and I'm so ready to get that over with! I've heard so many positive things about that practice (a ton of the moms from the MOPS group went there) which has been a huge encouragement to me. I'm really more excited about it than nervous now, although of course I have a zillion questions given my previous birth experience.
And on a totally random side note, I have decided that once I use what I already have, I will NOT be buying any more cleaning solutions (other than maybe toilet bowl cleaner...unless I find a really fantastic do-it-yourself version online). This isn't because I want to go all natural or "green," but really just because it's another way to save money (the "greenness" is an added bonus). Why buy all-purpose kitchen spray and Clorox wipes when I can use vinegar instead? I found a tub and shower cleaner made from vinegar and Dawn dish soap , which seems to have great reviews. I figured it's worth a shot, and if I already have the ingredients on hand, why not try it? I'm all about doing things myself if it saves money. I'm all for less chemicals and saving the planet and all that, but (I'm just being honest) I'm not going to do it if it costs an arm and a leg. Laundry detergent is a great example...I make my own, not because it's safer or less harmful to the environment, but because it's a HUGE way to save money. But the less-chemicals aspect of making my own detergent is an added benefit. And I really do hate the smell of cleaning solution...even the scented kind bothers me. I already have a ton of vinegar, and I would save some money, so I think it's worth it to at least try.
That's all of my ramblings today...I'll try to update next week after my doctor's appointment!
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