The Precocious Toddler has been on an awesome bedtime schedule ever since his Daddy started working 2 nights a week. We used to put him down like most people I know. We would lie with him until he drifted and then sneak off. While the other took care of the Goddess. When the MOTH (Man Of The House) started work, we knew that things had to change. We moved out of the bed and took to lying on the floor next to the bed, then in the middle of the room, in the doorway and slowly down the hall until one night we were just out of view and he was sleeping alone. The whole time this was happening Goddess was screaming in her crib or being rocked in Moth's arms. She has never slept a night in her beautiful crib and when we head to bed she comes with us.
Toddler knows the bedtime routine. We drink some milk, brush his teeth, change his diaper, head to the bedroom, where we have already dropped off everything that is necessary to sleep with for that particular night (tonight was 2 books, blankee, Barney, a car from his Christmas train, a white Vet bag that contains, JoJo from JoJo's Circus, a cookie monster figure, 5 Little People and a flashlight). The necessities change nightly but blankeee and the flashlight are always there, then we kiss Daddy if he is here, say our prayers, and then a big kiss for Mommy and "see you later" from Toddler, "Love you Baby," from Me.
This weekend we took the side of the Goddess' crib down. We talked about it being her big girl bed the whole day. We read books in it, place her stuffed animals around it, and made it a place she would want to be.
This is the third semi-successful night. Why semi-successful...well...I lie in the crib (ha), nurse her until she falls asleep and then unfold myself so that I can get out without too much movement (another ha), she wakes 1-4 times between 8:15 - 11:30 p.m. Then ends up in my bed by the time I go to sleep about 12:15. Not bad I guess for the 3rd night and for a kid who has yet to sleep on her own.
I hope to eventually get 5 solid hours of her in there. That is my goal and I hope to have her on the same schedule as the Toddler by the end of the summer. Anything before that will be icing.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Blast from my Past
Today while catching up on some internet reading, (stomach flu kicked my ass yesterday), I fell upon some information from my childhood hometown, Millbrook, NY.
The village of Millbrook was a great place to grow up and I have so many amazing memories of living in a small, quaint town of about 1,000. Bike rides with friends, the playground, chuch on Sunday, Sunday school, Brownies, camping, dairy farms, family ice cream runs, drive in movies, parades, fireworks, lemonaid stands, horseback riding, catching frogs, polywogs, and fireflies and holding them in a jar until the last possible moment. Family outings to Vanderbilt and Roosevelt Mansions. It is also where my Mom is buried and my grandparents still have a summer home. Today it is considered one of the wealthiest towns in the State of New York and is full of antique shops and Bed and Breakfasts.
The village of Millbrook was a great place to grow up and I have so many amazing memories of living in a small, quaint town of about 1,000. Bike rides with friends, the playground, chuch on Sunday, Sunday school, Brownies, camping, dairy farms, family ice cream runs, drive in movies, parades, fireworks, lemonaid stands, horseback riding, catching frogs, polywogs, and fireflies and holding them in a jar until the last possible moment. Family outings to Vanderbilt and Roosevelt Mansions. It is also where my Mom is buried and my grandparents still have a summer home. Today it is considered one of the wealthiest towns in the State of New York and is full of antique shops and Bed and Breakfasts.
I wish I could go back more often, mainly to take my kids to the cemetery and the park. I would love to take pictures of them playing on the same lawn that I caught my first frog. Hear their voices bouncing off the same walls that my own bounced off so many years ago between the ages of 4-7 would make my heart soar. A trip back home is on my agenda for this year.
This is Bennett College. It was a beautiful female college at one time. My dad was a part time janitor there for a short time. He used to bring all kinds of stuff home that the girls threw away. It was an interesting time the 70's. Lots of browns, orange, mushrooms, and
Then it was condos, and now it is just an eyesore. So sad! These beautiful pictures were found on flickr by some really talented photographers.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Too much to write about and not enough time
God damn, sometimes I feel so inspired by the numerous blogs I read. Everyone seems so creative and while I feel I do have a touch of creativity at times (when my Mommy brain isn't overcooked), I can't seem to cut out a tiny bit of time to type something up that would be enjoyable to the masses (2 people) who read my blog. While I don't write for anyone but myself, I feel that I am still "representing" and don't want to just write nonsensical commentary in my little piece of the world that is my life.
The kiddies are watching a Baby Einstein tape so here is my first attempt at a post in a long time. They are cute and they are shouting out the various words that are shown on the screen along with the sign language that goes along with the word. Yeah they are brilliant, I'm not going to lie.
I have been trying to organize a meeting with my son's various therapists (post entry here). There are 3 of them (Special Instruction - 2 xs, Speech - 3 xs, Occupational Therapy 2 x's) plus he has pre-school 2 times a week, Mom and Tot Group 1 time and anything else we manage to fit into our schedule. It is crazy and I believe totally unnecessary. I also believe this is contributing to the night terrors he experiences (averaging about 4 a month). My feeling is that his little brain doesn't have a chance to rest from all this educational, stimulating, input so he is processing crap all the time. I think I need to pull "Mom rank" here and insist on a vacation from all of his therapy for a week. Tuesday when I sit down with everyone in one place (my house) I will let them all know my concerns and instill some down time.
When I started all this therapy I figured it was free, he looked forward to it, and it was also a way for me to bounce stuff off professionals and get suggestions for various goings on with my toddlers.
I have been hearing from his teacher's in Preschool that he does great until his therapist started coming and on the days she misses he does great. Umm...what is that about? The other day they asked that everyone bring in something green for "Show and Share", the Precocious Toddler picked what he wanted to bring and I put it in his book bag. When they were ready for their "Show and Share" they asked everyone who didn't have something to look around the room for something green. My son doesn't know enough to say, "hold on I do have something, it's in my book bag, let me get it." (Hello he is only 3). Why they didn't look in his book bag is beyond me but anyway, I digress. He knows his colors but the teachers told me that the therapist held up various items for him to use. "Here, how about this?" Uh, huh bitchcuseme! Why? If she is a facilitator and the kid is doing what is expected, Back The Fuck Off!!!!
After this he decided he didn't want to participate in the "show and share." It could of been because of numerous things; he wanted to use the thing that was safely in his book bag that he had chosen, he didn't want to be told what to use or his ass hurt. Who know! So he sat under an easel in the classroom very close to the action and "appropriately, clapped and smiled" while the other kids presented." The therapist asked a teacher why she thought he was under the easel and she said maybe he just wants to be under the easel. The therapist said she thought it was because he was overstimulated. What? I swear this shit pisses me off. It is so hard sometimes to sit with a bunch of therapists and have them have reasons for everything. Sometimes things just are! No reason.
I had a convo with one of his therapists the other day and I was talking about a particular thing the boy does to get attention. He takes his hands and rushes the sliding glass doors in my dining room when we tell him no or to just get attention. The therapist pointing to her palms said, "maybe he likes the pressure on his palm." Huh? What the F!? God damn it has nothing to do with the friggin pressure on his palm, he does it because no matter what we are doing, because it is dangerous we stop everything and tell him to not do that. He actually touches the glasses sometimes and if we don't see him, he says...."No, no, no, don't touch the glass." until we notice him doing it.
Like most 3 year olds he loves, craves, is addicted to attention of all kinds, negative and positive. I call him the "Jack Tripper of the 21st century" because he thinks he's funny, and likes to do prat falls for an audience. Like I said, sometimes, things just are. No reason!
When I was in school no one had ADD or ADHD, or any other friggin problem, they just were hyper, needed a kick in the ass, or were looking for attention. Now everyone has to be diagnosed with something.
I'm tired, and this post lasted way longer than I had intended. For those of you who held in there...congrats and thanks.
The kiddies are watching a Baby Einstein tape so here is my first attempt at a post in a long time. They are cute and they are shouting out the various words that are shown on the screen along with the sign language that goes along with the word. Yeah they are brilliant, I'm not going to lie.
I have been trying to organize a meeting with my son's various therapists (post entry here). There are 3 of them (Special Instruction - 2 xs, Speech - 3 xs, Occupational Therapy 2 x's) plus he has pre-school 2 times a week, Mom and Tot Group 1 time and anything else we manage to fit into our schedule. It is crazy and I believe totally unnecessary. I also believe this is contributing to the night terrors he experiences (averaging about 4 a month). My feeling is that his little brain doesn't have a chance to rest from all this educational, stimulating, input so he is processing crap all the time. I think I need to pull "Mom rank" here and insist on a vacation from all of his therapy for a week. Tuesday when I sit down with everyone in one place (my house) I will let them all know my concerns and instill some down time.
When I started all this therapy I figured it was free, he looked forward to it, and it was also a way for me to bounce stuff off professionals and get suggestions for various goings on with my toddlers.
I have been hearing from his teacher's in Preschool that he does great until his therapist started coming and on the days she misses he does great. Umm...what is that about? The other day they asked that everyone bring in something green for "Show and Share", the Precocious Toddler picked what he wanted to bring and I put it in his book bag. When they were ready for their "Show and Share" they asked everyone who didn't have something to look around the room for something green. My son doesn't know enough to say, "hold on I do have something, it's in my book bag, let me get it." (Hello he is only 3). Why they didn't look in his book bag is beyond me but anyway, I digress. He knows his colors but the teachers told me that the therapist held up various items for him to use. "Here, how about this?" Uh, huh bitchcuseme! Why? If she is a facilitator and the kid is doing what is expected, Back The Fuck Off!!!!
After this he decided he didn't want to participate in the "show and share." It could of been because of numerous things; he wanted to use the thing that was safely in his book bag that he had chosen, he didn't want to be told what to use or his ass hurt. Who know! So he sat under an easel in the classroom very close to the action and "appropriately, clapped and smiled" while the other kids presented." The therapist asked a teacher why she thought he was under the easel and she said maybe he just wants to be under the easel. The therapist said she thought it was because he was overstimulated. What? I swear this shit pisses me off. It is so hard sometimes to sit with a bunch of therapists and have them have reasons for everything. Sometimes things just are! No reason.
I had a convo with one of his therapists the other day and I was talking about a particular thing the boy does to get attention. He takes his hands and rushes the sliding glass doors in my dining room when we tell him no or to just get attention. The therapist pointing to her palms said, "maybe he likes the pressure on his palm." Huh? What the F!? God damn it has nothing to do with the friggin pressure on his palm, he does it because no matter what we are doing, because it is dangerous we stop everything and tell him to not do that. He actually touches the glasses sometimes and if we don't see him, he says...."No, no, no, don't touch the glass." until we notice him doing it.
Like most 3 year olds he loves, craves, is addicted to attention of all kinds, negative and positive. I call him the "Jack Tripper of the 21st century" because he thinks he's funny, and likes to do prat falls for an audience. Like I said, sometimes, things just are. No reason!
When I was in school no one had ADD or ADHD, or any other friggin problem, they just were hyper, needed a kick in the ass, or were looking for attention. Now everyone has to be diagnosed with something.
I'm tired, and this post lasted way longer than I had intended. For those of you who held in there...congrats and thanks.
Friday, January 12, 2007
So much to catch up on...but until then
What a difference a year makes.
January 5, 2006
January 5, 2007
