So...you remember my post on Saturday? The one where I thought I was the master of the parent universe?
Right now, an almost 14-month-old is kicking my sorry butt in an epic going-on-2-hour nap battle that I'm THISCLOSE to giving up but know I can't. The kind of battle where I've gotten more than my share of exercise running up and down the stairs putting the passy back in, giving her the blankie that she threw out of the crib and saying "Time for sleepies", only to have an almost 14-month-old laugh in my face. Literally, she's laughed in my face about 5 times now.
We've screwed with her nap schedule the past few days, and after all my la-di-da about consistency and routine, this is what we get.
Maybe I'm wrong, but since she's walking EVERYWHERE now, shouldn't she be that much more tired? It hasn't seemed to be so. Yesterday and today she got 30 minute car-ride naps that seem to put enough wind in her sails to last forever. But I know, especially today when it is supposed to be time for the 2nd nap of the day even though she's only had a 20-minute first nap, that I need to win the battle.
Yesterday, she won the battle. And I have a feeling that is why today she's fighting so hard again.
I NEED NEED NEED to win the battle.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Weekend Wrap-Up
I should probably just title this post "Sunday Wrap-Up" because we laid pretty low yesterday. Callie managed to get another cold, so her little nose is red, snotty, and dripping constantly. We fell for the Boogie Wipes at Target again. Somehow they just seem better than regular Kleenex.
Anyway, today we got to celebrate Sydney's baptism with the whole Wicks clan. Sydney did great during the service (Callie did too!) and we had fun hanging out and eating lunch at Dave and Cherilyn's house afterward.
Luther Friends
Callie reading a book with Nana Wicks
Sydney and Callie
Dave reading Callie one of Sydney's new books (and one of Callie's FAVORITES) Puppies and Kittens!
We made it home this afternoon despite the "Snowmaggedon" that has engulfed the Twin Cities, and spent the rest of the day in the basement totally ignoring what is going on outside.
Thank goodness tomorrow is President's Day...day off!
Anyway, today we got to celebrate Sydney's baptism with the whole Wicks clan. Sydney did great during the service (Callie did too!) and we had fun hanging out and eating lunch at Dave and Cherilyn's house afterward.
Luther Friends
Callie reading a book with Nana Wicks
Sydney and Callie
Dave reading Callie one of Sydney's new books (and one of Callie's FAVORITES) Puppies and Kittens!
We made it home this afternoon despite the "Snowmaggedon" that has engulfed the Twin Cities, and spent the rest of the day in the basement totally ignoring what is going on outside.
Thank goodness tomorrow is President's Day...day off!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Teacher Mom
I LOVE that Callie is at the age where I can put my teacher skills to good use. I can almost SEE the neurons firing, making connections, doing what they're supposed to do. It is EXCITING! The past week has reminded me of some important things about being a successful teacher, and also a successful parent.
1) Structure and Routine is Awesome. On Thursday night I put Callie to bed at 8:00 or so and headed to Target expecting a wonderful, calm, solo shopping experience. The second I got there I knew I was in for a completely different experience because the number of people there with their little kids (like 3 years old and under!) was ridiculous. And it wasn't just single parents making a medicine run or something like that. It was a bunch of duo parents pushing big shopping carts around with the little ones strapped in. And the majority of them were screaming. I couldn't help but feel thankful that my toddler was at home sleeping. And it reminded me why Chris and I are real sticklers about Cal's sleeping routine.
2) Consistency and Repetition are da bomb. Being a special ed. teacher, those two qualities are crucial for me. There are some crazy statistics out there that say kids need to have things they're learning repeated like a million times (okay, slight exaggeration) in order for it to stick in their brains. I'm using that same idea for Callie and it is working great. Just this morning we were reading her big 100 Words Book and she can point to various things that I ask her to...because we've done it over and over.
3) If you don't like, or are concerned about, a specific behavior...plan to do an intervention! Remember when I mentioned the book reading hissy fits? We started teaching her the sign for "please" early last week, and throughout the week we stuck to our guns. We wouldn't read her a book unless she signed for it. For the first many days we had to physically move her hand for her, but *TA DA!!* this morning she got it!
4) Light Bulb Moments are what it's all about. They are why I go to work every day, and why I can't WAIT to watch Callie continue to grow and learn.
Here is just a small example of an almost-14-month-old's light bulb moment.
Pre-Intervention (the baseline data, if you will):
Post-Intervention (the results, if you will):
So cheers to structure, routine, consistency and repetition.
And cheers to many more Light Bulb Moments.
1) Structure and Routine is Awesome. On Thursday night I put Callie to bed at 8:00 or so and headed to Target expecting a wonderful, calm, solo shopping experience. The second I got there I knew I was in for a completely different experience because the number of people there with their little kids (like 3 years old and under!) was ridiculous. And it wasn't just single parents making a medicine run or something like that. It was a bunch of duo parents pushing big shopping carts around with the little ones strapped in. And the majority of them were screaming. I couldn't help but feel thankful that my toddler was at home sleeping. And it reminded me why Chris and I are real sticklers about Cal's sleeping routine.
2) Consistency and Repetition are da bomb. Being a special ed. teacher, those two qualities are crucial for me. There are some crazy statistics out there that say kids need to have things they're learning repeated like a million times (okay, slight exaggeration) in order for it to stick in their brains. I'm using that same idea for Callie and it is working great. Just this morning we were reading her big 100 Words Book and she can point to various things that I ask her to...because we've done it over and over.
3) If you don't like, or are concerned about, a specific behavior...plan to do an intervention! Remember when I mentioned the book reading hissy fits? We started teaching her the sign for "please" early last week, and throughout the week we stuck to our guns. We wouldn't read her a book unless she signed for it. For the first many days we had to physically move her hand for her, but *TA DA!!* this morning she got it!
4) Light Bulb Moments are what it's all about. They are why I go to work every day, and why I can't WAIT to watch Callie continue to grow and learn.
Here is just a small example of an almost-14-month-old's light bulb moment.
Pre-Intervention (the baseline data, if you will):
Reading Before from Baby Goose on Vimeo.
Post-Intervention (the results, if you will):
Reading After from Baby Goose on Vimeo.
So cheers to structure, routine, consistency and repetition.
And cheers to many more Light Bulb Moments.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Finally!
I think it is safe to say we now, OFFICIALLY, have a TODDLING toddler:
Life with a toddler is SO MUCH FUN! She's funny, adorable, sweet, smart, curious, and recently has shown some diva-like behavior. Her latest thing is to find a book she wants to read and then FREAK OUT (whining, crabby faces, yelling) until we read it to her. I'm glad that she's excited about reading, but it is a little ridiculous. So, to combat this behavior, we've started teaching her the sign for "please". Before we read her the book she brings us, we show her the sign and move her hand to do it. Hopefully she'll learn it soon and will start that habit instead of throwing a hissy fit. Stay tuned!
It's Official from Baby Goose on Vimeo.
Notice how her hands stay in by her stomach when she walks? And Chris is slightly amused about how her feet are turned out when she walks- just like me (and my dad)! Haha. I think that just means she's destined to be a dancer.Life with a toddler is SO MUCH FUN! She's funny, adorable, sweet, smart, curious, and recently has shown some diva-like behavior. Her latest thing is to find a book she wants to read and then FREAK OUT (whining, crabby faces, yelling) until we read it to her. I'm glad that she's excited about reading, but it is a little ridiculous. So, to combat this behavior, we've started teaching her the sign for "please". Before we read her the book she brings us, we show her the sign and move her hand to do it. Hopefully she'll learn it soon and will start that habit instead of throwing a hissy fit. Stay tuned!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Weekend Wrap-Up
Well, Callie is down for what I *hope* will be a good long nap (she's napped a total of 15 minutes today which means she's already an hour behind her normal sleep schedule).
Chris is out with friends. Kona is sleeping in the living room sunspot.
The house is quiet. Peaceful. All I hear is the whoosh of the washing machine and the static of the baby monitor.
I gotta say I am loving this afternoon.
So time for my usual weekend wrap-up.
Friday night...a family night in.
Walking Practice:
Silly Baby:
Saturday...hanging at the condo, playing at home, Valentines party at the Koch's:
Playing piano with MorMor:
Someone needs some b-ball coaching from Auntie Mari and Bops:
Valentines Party with Christine:
Sunday...Playing in the snow at Grandma and Grandpa's house
Being kinda wussy:
Lots more pictures that I've taken this month can be found on our SHUTTERFLY SITE.
Chris is out with friends. Kona is sleeping in the living room sunspot.
The house is quiet. Peaceful. All I hear is the whoosh of the washing machine and the static of the baby monitor.
I gotta say I am loving this afternoon.
So time for my usual weekend wrap-up.
Friday night...a family night in.
Walking Practice:
Silly Baby:
Silly from Baby Goose on Vimeo.
Saturday...hanging at the condo, playing at home, Valentines party at the Koch's:
Playing piano with MorMor:
Someone needs some b-ball coaching from Auntie Mari and Bops:
B-Ball? from Baby Goose on Vimeo.
Valentines Party with Christine:
Sunday...Playing in the snow at Grandma and Grandpa's house
Being kinda wussy:
Snow Wussy from Baby Goose on Vimeo.
Lots more pictures that I've taken this month can be found on our SHUTTERFLY SITE.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Vegetable Trickery, Static Electricity, and Body Parts
Compelling blog post title, huh? Let me explain.
There is a certain Punkin Head in our house who has started to refuse to eat vegetables of any kind. She'll eat fruit like crazy, but if we give her a vegetable it ends up flung on the floor. Immediately.
So I engaged in some Vegetable Trickery this evening and it worked.
Do you notice the cooked carrots hiding in there? She didn't! Apparently macaroni & cheese cheese sauce hides all sorts of (perceived) icky stuff.
The dry air that comes from this ridiculously cold weather provided us with some seriously hilarious baby hair-ography tonight.
And the body part identifying repertoire is growing by the day!
On an unrelated note, I ran 3 miles after work on Monday and today, and really can't wait for temperatures that feel above zero. But I'm back in the game and on my way back to 13.1!
There is a certain Punkin Head in our house who has started to refuse to eat vegetables of any kind. She'll eat fruit like crazy, but if we give her a vegetable it ends up flung on the floor. Immediately.
So I engaged in some Vegetable Trickery this evening and it worked.
The dry air that comes from this ridiculously cold weather provided us with some seriously hilarious baby hair-ography tonight.
And the body part identifying repertoire is growing by the day!
Hair, Nose, Hands and Feet from Baby Goose on Vimeo.
On an unrelated note, I ran 3 miles after work on Monday and today, and really can't wait for temperatures that feel above zero. But I'm back in the game and on my way back to 13.1!
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