Change and other stuff

Our new nap schedule has changed things around here. It's been interesting adapting to one nap a day. Losing that afternoon nap is hard because she really can't handle it (but don't tell her that as this new schedule was her idea..much to my protest!). But when change happens sometimes you just have to follow. As much as I want to be in control...because I am the Mommy, because I know better and I am older....I am still just a student in this parenting world and Claire has been a forgiving subject.

Okay, have you ever checked on your child when the room got too quiet and they aren't in your sight? I check on her and if she is indeed just playing still and not into something she shouldn't be then I try to back away very quietly without her seeing me. Never make eye contact. That's my rule! It's sad but true. Once she sees me it's over. Her attention will be back on me and if I walk away she will freak out. With one nap a day I have to sneak these breaks in when I can. At dinner time we put her in the exersaucer to watch a DVD for 20 minutes. Again, we never make eye contact. She watches the TV and we eat dinner. We glance over at her lovingly but NEVER EVER make eye contact. We love her but if you want peace that is the rule!

I saw this book online:

The title cracks me up. As Claire STOOD up in the front part of the shopping cart and held onto the handles while I pushed her through Target I realized how true that book title was. I would have thought that was terrible as a pre-parent but when she is cracking up it's hard to stop. Yes, I tried not to let others see us for fear they might think I was a bad mom who let their child do unsafe things but hey she was having fun and so was I. No harm done. When they are this little you are largely responsible for their  happiness. This means keeping an open mind!

Oh how we needed...

...our date night!!! Tonight Uncle Tom and Aunt Carol watched Claire for us so we could have a date night. It's always hard to break away from the family when they are around especially since Carol lives in Chicago (she was in town on a layover). However, they love the alone time with Claire and we love getting out alone.

It was so nice to get out. We had sushi and martinis then went for pizza and beer! Yep, we ate and drank like champs! We held hands and kissed like we were newlyweds. It was great and much needed. Marriage and babies and life changing situations like moving to an entirely new state can be strenuous on a two people. Eric and I have packed alot into the 4yrs we have spent together. Every moment has been big. Moving into together, getting engaged, getting married, moving to AZ, starting new jobs, having a baby.....all big moments and some bigger than others! I think it hits us sometimes how much we have gone through in such a short time. It has not always been easy and at times down right hard. It's not that we don't love each other but we kind of lost ourselves along the way. It is easy to do really when you are wrapped up in your goals together. Moments like tonight though remind me that we are still the same ole us. Yes, we have changed but we are still the same goofy couple who enjoy each other and love each other. We just need a chance to be alone and remember that we are Kristen and Eric. Not just husband and wife...not just Mom and Dad....but individuals who have a long, ever-changing life together. We vowed

'for better or for worse' and I love knowing that is true.

This is a pic of us about 2 months after we met...

A little more than a year later.

GREAT Grandma

Good times were at had on our trip to Bowie, AZ to see my Grandma. Claire hadn't seen her Great Grandma since her baptism back in March. Claire has grown so much since then and we needed a visit to show Great Grandma all her new talents, curly hair, and cheesy crinkle-nose smiles! One of our favorite pastimes with Grandma growing up was playing the piano. Seeing Claire and Grandma playing together was so cute. She loved to bang on those keys!

We had a great time together just us girls. My friends kept telling me I was crazy to travel alone for4 hrs with Claire but things went pretty good. She did get a little cranky here and there. I can't blame her. She has no DVD player or entertainment back there. Everything I handed her to play with she threw on the floor. We made stops to eat which helped her to be happy again.

It felt good once I got into Bowie (which is so tiny a town that there is no population sign). It always feels nostaglic to be in my dad's hometown and drive on streets he used to play in with his friends. I am sure he knew every inch of that town like the back of his hand. Even traveling from Phoenix to Bowie made me reminisce about how many times we made that drive when I was kid to visit my grandparents. There are a 100 billboard signs to this place called "THE THING" as you drive down I-10...I still have no idea what that "thing" is but seeing that sign every mile still makes me laugh. I felt quite grown-up taking my daughter down this road now. I missed Eric but going alone felt special to me. I know my dad was smiling on us.

Claire is a climber now! Last Tuesday she just decided to tackle the stairs and up she went to my surprise. At Grandma's house she stood up a few times without holding on to anything. She quickly went back on her bum but she tried! Walking suddenly feels not so far away. Is it funny that I feel once she walks she isn't a baby anymore? It is such an evolving moment. Once she walks she will never crawl again just like she never rolls or drags herself across the floor anymore. It's all so brief and so sweet. I will miss her being a baby but I am starting to get excited about her growing up.

Pink Taffy

That's the name of the print for my new Reese Li bag. I love this bag. While out shopping today this bag caught my eye and it was on sale (although still over priced in my opinion!). It must have been diaper bag destiny! I can't believe I am drooling over diaper bags these days. I don't even own a designer purse. What has motherhood done to me!! :)

Claire is down to one nap a day. Not by my choice. She is just too curious about the world these days to sleep. I can't say I blame her. With all her new talents how's a girl to sleep. She is walking while pushing one of her toys now. I can't believe she is taking steps. I am so excited for her and a bit in denial to see her look like such a big girl. She is making attempts at "cruising". She even used a spoon to feed herself last week. I have a hard time letting her eat with her spoon though. Very messy!

My little baby is growing up so fast all of the sudden.
So smart and clever.
She slays me with every look and every move.

Sunshine/Cloud

I read in a magazine a long time ago about ways to help your kids communicate better. It is a "game" called sunshine/cloud. You ask your child to tell you one sunshine (good) thing about the day and one cloud (bad). This way they can open up about things at school and so forth. Cute right?! After 2 blogs about clouds I think I will share my sunshine finally....CLAIRE IS NAPPING THIS AFTERNOON! WOOHOO! I tried an hour earlier than normal to see if that helped her to be less overstimulated and it may have been the trick or maybe she was finally just tired today. My other sunshine for today was Gymboree. I love seeing Claire at her little class. It is always a sunshine spot for my week and for her too. I moved her down a level to be with babies more her size and she fit right in. Although the level 3 class was for her age group, she wasn't walking or moving about like the others yet. Level 2 is just her speed for now. We had a great time.

Today I am feeling pretty upbeat and lucky to have so much sunshine in my life! :)

Discipline Shmiscipline

It is not working! NOT WORKING! I think she is working me to the core. Testing my very patience.

Seriously,

look at

this

face:

How much can I expect though from my newly 10 month old? Obviously, I am asking too much for a simple "no" to be the end of her sticky little fingers on our stereo, computer, and TV. I have tried to "discipline with dignity" and give her a chance to back away from an object without hovering over her. I tell her no then give her some space to step away. That worked for 3 days now she is on to me. She laughs at me when I tell her no. I gave her a hand tap the other night and she fell over laughing. Are you kidding me?! I am guilty of laughing because it is kind of funny but lately I am not laughing. I am crying. I am done. I am sending SOS smoke signals. It doesn't help today that I have this massive sinus headache or else I could dish out a little more patience. I thought I would have more positive insight after my last rant but I am pooped today. She won't nap in the afternoon no matter what I have tried. She got better last week for a few days and stayed on schedule but she is now back to rebuking her 2nd nap. I am desperately missing this break in the day. Maybe it's just more teething woes. I will just chalk it up to that so I can rest easier tonight knowing I don't have a future problem child on my hands. Being the tree though....I know the apple doesn't fall far.

Let's just throw out there that Daddy got off work and it's his gym night. So he's out there getting his stress free workout time with his headphones on just tuning out the world. Me...jealous? or perhaps just irritated? He's damn lucky I love him.

***UPDATE: I must update that my hubby came home early from his gym routine and brought me my favorite shrimp lo mein for dinner. :) He even searched for flowers at this little health grocery store but they didn't have any.
All together....."AAAWWWE"!!

Outlet

A blog is an outlet right? Well...I need to get it out! I am SICK of being the MAID! I am tired of being the house bitch. I can't remember the last time Eric vacuumed or did anything besides unload the dishwasher. This is not because he is your typical lazy male. No, he is quite responsible and he does everything he can to help but now that I stay at home it seems to all fall on me these days. Because this is my job right? JOB! I am a stay at home mom and I do feel the house and baby fall more under my jurisdiction. But when do I get weekends? When does my day get to end at 5pm? A job is something you get paid for or get benefits..hell, a vacation day now and then! Pretty sure I am not seeing that! Don't get me wrong...given the choice I would be a stay at home mom any day because the reward of seeing my baby during these early days is amazing. I get to see her crawl and stand up and eat from her spoon for the first time. Daddy misses these first attempts because he is at work. The point is not that I don't want to be home with Claire. I am just downstairs cleaning right now because the family will be over today and who is napping right now!?! Well, it's not me! This was my morning to sleep in so I did...until 8am....watch out! As soon as I got up I vacuumed the downstairs before Claire's nap then I gave Claire her bottle and put her down. I have barely even peed. I just get up and start working. It can easily make you crazy some days! Today was that day! I am thankful for my new job and grateful to have my husband here with me but I am only human sometimes!
Off my bitchy soap box. Time to mop.