The past few weeks that I haven't posted have been filled with many smiles and laughs and also many struggles that we are learning how to work through. The biggest struggle in our lives right now happen to be the stage that Ella is going through. She is quite the little girl. She can be the sweetest, most angelic little girl. She will sit on our laps and cuddle with her favorite blankies. She will talk so sweetly to her sister and they will play and giggle together. She can say the sweetest, funniest things. This is the side that most people see. But lately we have been dealing with a lot of fits. Not just small fits that pass quickly either. If she starts throwing a huge fit we tell her she needs to sit in her room until she is done crying. She will scream at the top of her lungs for over an over. When she finally stops we talk about what she wanted and how to better communicate that to us next time. We are trying to convey to her that screaming doesn't get her what she wants, and we don't understand her requests that come with screaming. Its hard to know how much of it she really takes in, she seems to want to change the subject as soon as she can. But yesterday we realized how much she does understand, and seems to really feel bad about after its over. Yesterday we were going to go shopping after Ella's nap, and Ella wanted to go shopping so much that she put herself to bed too early and then wouldn't sleep! We probably shouldn't have taken her out as she can be very crabby when she is overtired, but we did. On the way home she threw one of her awful fits. And she kicked her daddy's seat very hard all the way home. She talked to my mom on the phone later that day and offered her a lot of info about her tantrum. She said things like, "I was really really really really naughty in the car today." "I kicked daddy's seat really hard." and "I just wanted mommy and I just wanted daddy to cuddle me."
Other than those fits, we have seemed to eliminate a lot of other mini fits that have to do with her opinionated-nesss. We felt there was a fine line between choosing our battles and having a spoiled toddler, but after a lot of research we found that it is best to give your toddler 2 choices as much as possible. They do, however, have to learn that sometimes there isn't a choice. For example, instead of saying, "Do you want to go to bed? Or do you want to play?" You say, "It is time for bed now. Do you want to snuggle with your pink blanket or your green blanket?" This is suppose to help them feel more in control of their life, and it really has helped with Ella. Someone else told me that from experience she has found that if you are constantly saying no to your child or making them upset by making everything a battle, they will start to be upset all of the time by habit.
Being a parent sure is tough work, there is a lot of trial and error because there isn't a manual for each child and every child is so completely different. But we are working through things and hoping to see much more of our sweet little Ella and less major fits.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Recently Ella has been very interested in anything matching.This started when Lucy was born since they had a couple of outfits that matched. She absolutely loved matching her baby sister! The only thing matching that they have right now are their jammies, and I have found that I cannot put a pair of pajamas on Lucy that Ella has the matching one of unless Ella can wear hers too. Ella gets very upset if she knows she can match her sister but can't for whatever reason.
She has been very particular about her clothes matching lately too. Last Sunday we were getting ready to walk out the door and she refused to wear her tan coat because she said it didn't match her shoes. She told us that it matched her boots, but not her shoes. So she cried until we put her pink coat on her. She has also been very particular about carrying blankets around the house that matches her outfits. And she has to have cups that match what she is wearing! Its really pretty funny! When she was dealing with her ear infections she threw huge fits about not matching, but luckily she is much calmer now that she is feeling better.
She has been very particular about her clothes matching lately too. Last Sunday we were getting ready to walk out the door and she refused to wear her tan coat because she said it didn't match her shoes. She told us that it matched her boots, but not her shoes. So she cried until we put her pink coat on her. She has also been very particular about carrying blankets around the house that matches her outfits. And she has to have cups that match what she is wearing! Its really pretty funny! When she was dealing with her ear infections she threw huge fits about not matching, but luckily she is much calmer now that she is feeling better.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
I have the best husband eveeeer!!!!
These past couple of days have been pretty miserable for me. I woke up on Thursday morning with a sore throat. I really thought I just had a cold, but by the time evening came I was feeling so yucky I stayed in bed. This isn't like me at all. I spent the whole night tossing and turning and feeling pretty crumby. I woke up the next morning with a fairly high fever and my throat hurt so incredibly bad. I kind of felt like I was just a big baby who had a cold. Tim came upstairs and asked if I wanted him to stay home from work. So he did. And took such good care of me and the girls. He dressed them both so cute, and he even did Ella's hair with a clip. He cleaned and took Lucy grocery shopping. My mom was able to take Ella since I was literally in bed all day sleeping and not being able to eat or talk. It was miserable just to get up because I was so lightheaded. Tim is a great grocery shopper! We normally go together or I go when we can watch one or both of the girls, so this was one of the first times he had gone by himself. I was so surprised how quickly he came home with everything. We needed a lot! Formula, diapers, and tons of food! Our cupboards were practically bare. He also came home with popsicles for me and gorgeous flowers!!!! He made dinner for everyone, and when I finally came downstairs he was baking banana nut bread.
That night I was getting very uncomfortable being in bed all day, so I went downstairs to cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie. We weren't even 10 mins into the movie when I couldn't keep my eyes open. I slept on and off for about an hour and a half and I was feeling so miserable! I could hardly even breathe, my throat was so swollen. I took my temp and it was 104.7! Tim and my mom made me go to the er. I was really hesitant because our co-pay for the er is $100! Oh, if only I would have gone to the doctor during the day. Of course by the time I got there I wasn't feeling as miserable. But I did find out I had strep. They gave me a steroid pill to help the swelling and an antibiotic.
Up until I got sick I had just been feeling so worn down and exhausted. I didn't want to do anything, but I made myself. I wanted to go somewhere or do something fun, but I didn't have the energy. It was a horrible feeling! I was starting to wonder if I had seasonal depression. I remember saying, I wish I could just stay in bed and sleep all day. I got that wish, and it wasn't as nice as it sounded! I also remember saying that I wished I could just have one day off as a mommy. I said that because of how exhausted I was and that morning had been a rough morning. Its funny how only a couple of hours into my day spent in bed, I missed my babies so much!!! Ella kept coming into my room whispering "shhh. go to sleep mommy." And I kept catching a glimpse of Lucy as Tim would bring her upstairs. At the end of the day Tim couldn't get her to go to bed. She just cried and cried. Finally I held her and she just sat in my lap so content for the longest time. She grabbed my face and gave me a huge kiss! Tim told her that she can't be away from her mommy for more than a day. Its true! And I can't be away from them for very long either!!
This morning I was unable to go to church since I am contagious until half way through the service. They actually say it takes 24-48 hours to be noncontagious, so I really wouldn't want to take a risk anyway. So Tim took both of the girls by himself. I hope they are good for him!
These past couple of days have been pretty miserable for me. I woke up on Thursday morning with a sore throat. I really thought I just had a cold, but by the time evening came I was feeling so yucky I stayed in bed. This isn't like me at all. I spent the whole night tossing and turning and feeling pretty crumby. I woke up the next morning with a fairly high fever and my throat hurt so incredibly bad. I kind of felt like I was just a big baby who had a cold. Tim came upstairs and asked if I wanted him to stay home from work. So he did. And took such good care of me and the girls. He dressed them both so cute, and he even did Ella's hair with a clip. He cleaned and took Lucy grocery shopping. My mom was able to take Ella since I was literally in bed all day sleeping and not being able to eat or talk. It was miserable just to get up because I was so lightheaded. Tim is a great grocery shopper! We normally go together or I go when we can watch one or both of the girls, so this was one of the first times he had gone by himself. I was so surprised how quickly he came home with everything. We needed a lot! Formula, diapers, and tons of food! Our cupboards were practically bare. He also came home with popsicles for me and gorgeous flowers!!!! He made dinner for everyone, and when I finally came downstairs he was baking banana nut bread.
That night I was getting very uncomfortable being in bed all day, so I went downstairs to cuddle up on the couch and watch a movie. We weren't even 10 mins into the movie when I couldn't keep my eyes open. I slept on and off for about an hour and a half and I was feeling so miserable! I could hardly even breathe, my throat was so swollen. I took my temp and it was 104.7! Tim and my mom made me go to the er. I was really hesitant because our co-pay for the er is $100! Oh, if only I would have gone to the doctor during the day. Of course by the time I got there I wasn't feeling as miserable. But I did find out I had strep. They gave me a steroid pill to help the swelling and an antibiotic.
Up until I got sick I had just been feeling so worn down and exhausted. I didn't want to do anything, but I made myself. I wanted to go somewhere or do something fun, but I didn't have the energy. It was a horrible feeling! I was starting to wonder if I had seasonal depression. I remember saying, I wish I could just stay in bed and sleep all day. I got that wish, and it wasn't as nice as it sounded! I also remember saying that I wished I could just have one day off as a mommy. I said that because of how exhausted I was and that morning had been a rough morning. Its funny how only a couple of hours into my day spent in bed, I missed my babies so much!!! Ella kept coming into my room whispering "shhh. go to sleep mommy." And I kept catching a glimpse of Lucy as Tim would bring her upstairs. At the end of the day Tim couldn't get her to go to bed. She just cried and cried. Finally I held her and she just sat in my lap so content for the longest time. She grabbed my face and gave me a huge kiss! Tim told her that she can't be away from her mommy for more than a day. Its true! And I can't be away from them for very long either!!
This morning I was unable to go to church since I am contagious until half way through the service. They actually say it takes 24-48 hours to be noncontagious, so I really wouldn't want to take a risk anyway. So Tim took both of the girls by himself. I hope they are good for him!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
This past week has been so crazy! We played a guessing game most of the week to figure out if Ella was sick or teething. Turns out it was both! Her teeth caused an ear infection, poor babe! I was going to have to take her all the way to Waconia, which is a 30 min drive, in the icy snowy roads yesterday. What concerned me the most was that the road I take to get there isn't very well kept up in the snow and there isn't a shoulder. I called our insurance and found out we could go to the Belle Plaine clinic and still be covered. I am so glad I did that! Just driving across Belle Plaine took forever and in my short drive I saw many cars lose control momentarily. Now Ella is on the road to recovery with her antibiotic. I am so happy that her screaming fits are long gone. It was so horrible to hear her scream and not be able to tell me what was wrong! Of course she told me today that her ear hurt and now it feels better. I am not sure why she said no when we kept asking her if her ears hurt before.
One of the days that Ella seemed to be completely recovered, I decided, with Ella's approval, to cut her hair again. Unfortunately no matter how much we talk about how she needs to hold her head still for mommy when she cuts her hair, it didn't last for very long. I was cutting the last side of her hair when she whipped her head around incredibly fast. Needless to say, her hair was cut a bit shorter than I had planned. But of course its still cute! Her bangs that were growing out are now even with the rest of her hair, and it looks much thicker now. I do need to give credit to my mom for coming over to rescue us. Of course Ella sits perfectly still for anyone else to cut her hair.
Lucy has been enjoying playing peekaboo. She is such a giggly little girl. The other night I had to take her out to get some emergency things before the snow. Since Ella was sick and in bed, Tim stayed home with her. But I decided to take Lucy so Tim could get his homework done and spend his free time with me. He got her all ready to go in her car seat and she was just giggling so hard at him! She cried when I took her away from her daddy. It was pretty cute, especially since she is normally such a mommy's girl. But both of my girls are so in love with their daddy! Lucy also smacks her lips all the time now. She seems to do it as though she is blowing a kiss, but we aren't quite sure.
Tim and I have both felt really weird lately. I have just been ridiculously tired all the time. For the past week I just feel like I have a brick on my head, and I have to force myself to do anything! I can't figure it out! Tim and I have both had headaches, which is so weird. Its normally very rare that we ever have a headache. I am wondering if we need to drink because its so dry right now?? We thought maybe carbon monoxide but we have a detector and its fine. I'm not really sure! I do think I am going to go cold turkey off of sugar though. I don't normally have a lot of sugar, but I feel like an addict when I have some. I just crave more and more!
Something came over me the other day, and I have been re-doing our house. I think it was probably the being stuck at home all the time that got to me. I mentioned before that we are repainting our house. This means that I won't be able to save a lot of my wall quotes that I have up right now. I am not too upset since I did get them so cheaply, but now I need something else to fill the space. I decided I really need to start planning now, because I change my mind a lot and come up with better plans. My main goal in it all is to have really pretty spaces and spend the least amount of money possible. I have come up with some fun ideas! I will just need to see how they all work out. I have also been trying to get rid of a lot of stuff. I suppose I have the urge to spring clean already! Although it must be something else, because I do it all year long. I am trying to sell a bunch of stuff. So we'll see if anything really sells! I normally can list things for quite a low price since I didn't pay much for it in the first place, and it sells pretty quickly. I am hoping for the same thing this time! It will be so nice to get rid of some clutter and have a little extra money to repaint.
One of the days that Ella seemed to be completely recovered, I decided, with Ella's approval, to cut her hair again. Unfortunately no matter how much we talk about how she needs to hold her head still for mommy when she cuts her hair, it didn't last for very long. I was cutting the last side of her hair when she whipped her head around incredibly fast. Needless to say, her hair was cut a bit shorter than I had planned. But of course its still cute! Her bangs that were growing out are now even with the rest of her hair, and it looks much thicker now. I do need to give credit to my mom for coming over to rescue us. Of course Ella sits perfectly still for anyone else to cut her hair.
Lucy has been enjoying playing peekaboo. She is such a giggly little girl. The other night I had to take her out to get some emergency things before the snow. Since Ella was sick and in bed, Tim stayed home with her. But I decided to take Lucy so Tim could get his homework done and spend his free time with me. He got her all ready to go in her car seat and she was just giggling so hard at him! She cried when I took her away from her daddy. It was pretty cute, especially since she is normally such a mommy's girl. But both of my girls are so in love with their daddy! Lucy also smacks her lips all the time now. She seems to do it as though she is blowing a kiss, but we aren't quite sure.
Tim and I have both felt really weird lately. I have just been ridiculously tired all the time. For the past week I just feel like I have a brick on my head, and I have to force myself to do anything! I can't figure it out! Tim and I have both had headaches, which is so weird. Its normally very rare that we ever have a headache. I am wondering if we need to drink because its so dry right now?? We thought maybe carbon monoxide but we have a detector and its fine. I'm not really sure! I do think I am going to go cold turkey off of sugar though. I don't normally have a lot of sugar, but I feel like an addict when I have some. I just crave more and more!
Something came over me the other day, and I have been re-doing our house. I think it was probably the being stuck at home all the time that got to me. I mentioned before that we are repainting our house. This means that I won't be able to save a lot of my wall quotes that I have up right now. I am not too upset since I did get them so cheaply, but now I need something else to fill the space. I decided I really need to start planning now, because I change my mind a lot and come up with better plans. My main goal in it all is to have really pretty spaces and spend the least amount of money possible. I have come up with some fun ideas! I will just need to see how they all work out. I have also been trying to get rid of a lot of stuff. I suppose I have the urge to spring clean already! Although it must be something else, because I do it all year long. I am trying to sell a bunch of stuff. So we'll see if anything really sells! I normally can list things for quite a low price since I didn't pay much for it in the first place, and it sells pretty quickly. I am hoping for the same thing this time! It will be so nice to get rid of some clutter and have a little extra money to repaint.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
i took ella and lucy to the mall today. after being stuck in the house for the past couple days, taking care of ella who i thought was sick, an outing was just what i needed. we had a fun time! the weather was very yucky, but the girls were so good! i took them out without a large to do list, its less stressful that way. we did accomplish quite a bit though.
* lucy sat in the stroller without her carseat for the first time, she even fell asleep!
* we had many trips to the bathroom, but ella stayed dry the entire time!
* we got a free matress from target! they were offering free matresses with the purchase of a crib, and since i just bought one last week they gave it to me.
* we found a ton of great deals at jcpenney! i had a gift card to use up and we left with a huge bag of stuff.
* i also found a bunch of shirts for ella at the childrens place. we got a whole bag of them and paid only $11!
* i tried to find jeans for myself. since its too much work to try them on in the store, i came home with 3 pairs of jeans only to find that they don't fit. they are too big! i'm all for that!
* we also found some really cute things for our nephew, ben. they have such cute things for little boys! of course i love shopping for my little girls, but i am thankful we have ben to shop for too :) it also seems that the girl is always way more picked over.
* lucy sat in the stroller without her carseat for the first time, she even fell asleep!
* we had many trips to the bathroom, but ella stayed dry the entire time!
* we got a free matress from target! they were offering free matresses with the purchase of a crib, and since i just bought one last week they gave it to me.
* we found a ton of great deals at jcpenney! i had a gift card to use up and we left with a huge bag of stuff.
* i also found a bunch of shirts for ella at the childrens place. we got a whole bag of them and paid only $11!
* i tried to find jeans for myself. since its too much work to try them on in the store, i came home with 3 pairs of jeans only to find that they don't fit. they are too big! i'm all for that!
* we also found some really cute things for our nephew, ben. they have such cute things for little boys! of course i love shopping for my little girls, but i am thankful we have ben to shop for too :) it also seems that the girl is always way more picked over.
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