Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Is it a Phase? Please say YES!

I was out on Saturday night and a friend told me she reads my blog and it helps to her keep perspective on life with two small kids.  I think we all need this at some point. Doesn't matter if I give the perspective or your mom does or twitter.  Parents need perspective.  So, in an effort to keep it real I am going to keep it real about Brady and Cate right now.  Please, don’t interpret this as me complaining. I know if these are my worries that life is pretty good.  Again, I am just keeping it real.

Cate our Earlybird
Ever since we let Cate cry it out at six months, she has been a wicked (awesome) nighttime sleeper.  12 hours sometimes even 12.5 hours at night. It has been glorious.  The weekends were actually even more amazing because no one was getting up before seven.  Until recently.  All of sudden going to bed is a struggle no matter if we put her down early, same time or later.  Sometimes she is awake in her crib getting settled for an hour- playing with her blankets and loveys and rolling around.   More often than not, she stands screaming bloody murder and after 3-4 trips up there she will finally settle down. But here is the worst part.  She is waking up around 5:45am daily. Which is torture, and inhumane and causing me to be full of piss and vinegar because I thrive on sleep and routines which are out of whack right now. I can’t figure out what is causing it. She is not napping any longer than she used to. So what gives?

Brady Soft and Warm
Brady to this point has never cared about clothes.  And then he started caring about what was on his shirts. I knew it was coming at some point so we embraced it. Super heroes.  Turtles.  Dinosaurs.  Transformers.  Whatever.  I don’t love any of it but we have allowed him to pick his shirt and don’t say no unless he gets it out of his hamper in which case it is dirty and recently been worn.  Which he would do most days if we let him.  The problem is the bottoms.  Or pants.  Or shorts.  He started telling us he wanted soft pants. Sweatpants is what he was asking for.   But not just any.  The fleece ones.  And when we would try warm up pants or cargo pants he would adamantly say no, kick and scream, take them off.  And then he added warm pants. He said his pants were cold.  Too cold.  And when we can’t deliver on that, he throws a tantrum that I can’t describe. He screams and flails and the fear in his eyes is real.  He refuses to wear them. He wardrobe is dwindling and it is an epic struggle daily.  The other day he was sobbing with real tears because the pants weren't warm enough.  And I was tired and sad because I know that he doesn't get it or even really know.  But to watch him be that upset daily kills me.  I know it is sensory driven but I am wondering what gives? 

Are these phases? Please say yes.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Weekend Recap- Three Days Later


This past weekend was just what I needed to get out of whatever funk I was in last week.

Friday night was dinner with a girlfriend I cherish and the weather- the fact that the windows in the entire front of the restaurant were open was enough to make me smile.

Saturday we woke up to brilliant sunshine even if it was a bit early for our liking.

We watched as the largest of many trees in our yard was cut down. Poor thing was huge but dead and such a hazard to the house I am finally calling my home. It was entertainment for hours as we watched her thud in our yard and shake our house when she was finally laid to rest.


A visit from Empire carpet and the electrician followed by helping our neighbors recover their things from their flooded home ended our morning. Our kids took wicked (i.e. long) naps and we played at the park and had an awesome dinner courtesy of Glenn and the grill. Glenn and I watched “Zero Dark Thirty”.  So good…but yet so sad in so many ways. I am sort of obsessed with Navy SEALS right now.

Sunday we had breakfast with my parents at Walker Brothers and spent a good portion of the day doing things around the house, playing, riding bikes and going for a jog and working in our yard.


The thing is that the sun shined all weekend long. And that is necessary. And makes anything better.