I should have expected...

I expected to remember everything about the newborn and postpartum stage. It's true, I was completely sleep deprived during this stage with Leila and time has a funny ways of erasing the not-so-great memories from our minds. 

But still, I should have expected... 

• Blow-out poops in the middle of the night.
• Postpartum night sweats that leave me feeling hot, freezing, and soaking wet at the same time.
• Nursing a newborn to start to feel a little like Groundhog day...over and over again.
• A roller coaster of emotions to hit me at any time without any warning.
• Clothing not to feel or look right on my shrinking belly and growing breasts.
• Random, meaningless cries and grunts coming from Carson to wake (and worry) me at night.
• Getting out of the house would take twice as long as it use to.
• To feel a little lost in the chaos and lack of routine.
• Changing a diaper on a wiggly newborn would take two people.
• All the laundry.

What else did I forget about this crazy stage? Please warn me before it's too late!

It's tough being two.

A few weeks ago posted this status on Facebook while eating breakfast with Leila:

You would think the world has ended over here...there are blueberries in Leila's blueberry pancakes and she cannot seem to put the cut pieces of pancake back together. Oh crap, her napkin just dropped on the floor. This is it. Brace yourselves.

It made me laugh to see her strong reaction to such common, normal, everyday things. But more than that, it made me step back and see the world through her eyes for a moment.  I am sure glad I am not two.

The world ends over here on a  regular basis.

Wrong color cup, plate, or utensils...hysterics.
Mommy running upstairs to grab something...screams for me to pick her up.
Daddy wants a hug...runs away like he has the plague.
Forgetting Elmo (or the stuffed friend of the day) in the house...the crazy cry.
Offering to help her with anything...Nooooooo!

The craziest part of living with a two-year old is that she forgets in a minute (or less) that she just freaked out.  As quick as the crazy comes...it goes. I wish I could learn to let go like that.  Maybe being two wouldn't be so bad.

Perfectly content for now, until she realizes I expect her to eat a piece of chicken.

What causes the world to end for your child(ren)?

Mealtime madness

Life with a two-year old can be maddening.  They are constantly asserting their independence by voicing their opinions, trying to do everything themselves, and changing their mind by the minute second.

Mealtime at our house has become the worst time of day.  First of all, Leila insists on choose her own plate, silverware, and cup. These are choices I have no problem with, until they make her crazy.  I want this plate, no this plate.  This cup, no I don't like this cup.  I want the other one.  You see where I am going here...and this is before the food is even served.

This was the first smile I've seen at mealtime in a while.

Leila never wants to eat anything served to her, naturally, because it wasn't her idea.  Her once "favorite" foods become gross.  She wants her sandwich cut into big pieces seconds after requesting little pieces.  I don't like that, has become the phrase I hear most often.  She pushes her plate away or plays with her food. This behavior is driving me nuts!

I give her choices.  I've resorted to bribery and trickery.  I set limits and make it my mission to follow through with what I've said.  I know she won't starve if she doesn't eat, that's not really what I am worried about.  We can't make it through mealtime without listening to whining (or even crying) and I am losing it.

Please tell me you have some tips that I can implement right away!  The first thing I am doing is making "set" times for meals and snacks, just like we have set times for sleep.

Any suggestions (or just plain sympathy)?    

We don't share toys.

I know what you are thinking...What?! How can you possibly be raising a decent human being without teaching the basic rule of sharing...and why on Earth are you telling people?!

Think about the last time you toddler had something another child wanted, or wanted something that another child was playing with.  What did you say to your child?  Did you tell them to share?

Before we stopped sharing toys, the conversations I had with Leila, when a child wanted the toy she was currently playing with, went something like this:

Leila, you need to share your shovel.  

No.  Mine.

When you're done give it to the boy.  We share.

When I finally realized what I was saying, I realized I was actually asking her to take turns, not share her shovel.  I didn't expect her to give up the shovel immediately just because another kid wanted to use it.  I wouldn't give up my parking spot just because someone else wanted it.  They'd have to wait until I was finished with my turn.

Sounds like simple semantics, right?  Sharing vs. turn taking.  But there is a difference.  Heather Shumaker, author of It’s OK Not to Share…And Other Renegade Rules for Raising Competent and Compassionate Kids (Tarcher/ Penguin, 2012) wrote a must-read guest post on the Positive Parenting Solutions blog that confirmed what I was witnessing.

I noticed when I used this different terminology with Leila she got it.  She started taking turns, even without me making a big deal out of it.

Taking her turn with the bucket.

So, do we share anything?  Yes.  We share our snack because we both can have some.  We share our crayons because there is enough for everyone to have one to use.  We can even share play-dough by breaking off a piece of our and giving it to a friend.

But most of the time we take turns.  We use something as long as we want it, and when we are finished, someone else can have their turn.  If she wants something, she waits her turn.  Turn-taking teaches positive assertiveness and patience, two life skills not all adults have.

So go ahead, stop making your kid share their toys, take turns instead!  You'll be doing everyone a favor.  

Truth time {SAHM life}

Truth is, everyday is not easy.  It's not all glitter and rainbows being a stay-at-home mom.  Some days are more like needles and blizzards.  Others fall into the moldy bread and hail storm category.

The purpose of this blog is to document our days, good, bad and everything in between.  Naturally I leave out the bad because a.) I don't want to remember those days. b.) No one likes a "negative Nancy".

Today though, I need to document our tough, "I wish I could just go to work" kind of day.  I'll read this post again one day as a reminder that I made it out alive.  A reminder that bad days exist.  A reminder that it's okay to have these kind of days.

Today...

• Leila cried, whined, or fussed from the second she got up (early, nonetheless) to the second we managed to leave the house.
• I fed her goldfish crackers to keep her busy.
• The mirror in the bathroom sink has toothpaste splatters all over it...still.
• Is the fifth day in a row I have worn a pony-tail.
• Leila screamed in her crib at nap time when I closed the door.
• I don't plan on making dinner.
• Leila will watch more television than she should.

Today will end, eventually.

Tomorrow...I'll be back to glitter, rainbows, and toddler smiles.

Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40

This is the new car seat by Graco that everyone is talking about...

Why?  Because it's the first of it's kind and it's amazing.

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40  is the first and only car seat on the market that allows your child to stay rear facing in the same car seat from birth to age two.  It has eight reclining positions and a foot rest (imprinted with the cutest little baby feet) to save your backseat from getting dirty.  

Could it get any better?  You bet.  The Simply Safe Adjust™ harness system is so easy to use.  As your child grows, you can just adjust the harness and headrest with one hand...no rethreading necessary. (Parents everywhere are cheering. Can you hear them?) 

Photos from The SITS Girls 

I was one of the lucky ladies invited to the San Diego Graco Safety Home party hosted by Theresa from Rock on Mommies and Tiffany from The SITS Girls.  These girls know how to throw a party!  We enjoyed sushi and wine (strawberry limeade for me) under the stars, while Tiffany shared information about the Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40.

Besides all of the innovative safety features I mentioned above, this car seat is luxurious.  The padding around the head will be perfect for my tiny little newborn's head.  The canopy has a vent and will provide the shade needed for our sunny San Diego days.  It comes in two prints, one clearly for girls and the other is gender neutral.  

I love how easily it snaps in and out of the base.  We all know how long it can take to get kids in and out of the car...any time saving solutions are necessary. I am so excited to get it installed in my car!  I'm halfway done with this pregnancy and it feels great to have a NEW car seat for this little guy.  Especially one that will last him until he is two years old.  Glad that's checked off my list!

The Graco SnugRide® Click Connect™ 40 – the first and only newborn to two-year infant car seat that actually grows with your baby from four pounds all the way up to 40 pounds. The car seat is designed for a parent on the go. The infant car seat can be easily removed from the base and used as a carrier when the infant is small, providing portability and convenience so you can easily move your infant in and out of the car without disturbing them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recently made the recommendation to keep all children in rear-facing car seats until the age of 2. Graco set out to make this product so parents can keep infants rear facing longer while still keeping them comfortable.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Graco. The opinions and text are all mine.

My child is strange.

When Leila gets hurt, like trips over her own feet and skins her knee or gets whacked by a fellow toddler, she doesn't run to Mommy for a hug.  She doesn't run to Daddy either.

My child is strange.  Instead of looking for comfort, Leila runs away from it.

Asking her if she's okay just makes her yell, "No!"  Trying to give her a kiss makes her squirm.  Receiving any attention over getting hurt just makes things worse.

I know she's hurt.  I can tell by the tears or screams.  On the rare occasion that she does want me to pick her up and cuddle her, I know she's really feeling the pain, but the other 99% of the time, she deals with it in her own way.

Jeff and I have been discussing this quirk for a while now and we can't come up with an explanation.  Care to help?

Is she embarrassed?  Does she not like all the attention?  Are we doing something wrong?

Linking up again this week with Melissa over at Growing up Geeky.  This week's topic is funny or quirky habits.  I'm not sure Leila's behavior really fits into either category.

Quality and Quantity of Sleep {Sleep Tip of the Month}

Lauren Boston is back on the blog this month sharing another sleep tip just for you.  Lauren is a certified sleep coach and DONA trained postpartum doula.  Her passion for helping tired parents began when her own newborn daughter's constant crying and terrible sleep habits finally got the best of her.

Lauren's Sleep Tip of the Month:

I think it's safe to say that almost everyone knows that sleep is important for babies and children alike, but what some parents don't know is that the quality of sleep is just as important as the quantity.

I don't think this counts as quality sleep.

This means getting:

• The right kind of sleep - unfragmented, uninterrupted, and "motionless."  Don't wake your baby to eat unless they physically need to eat (most babies on a normal growth curve don't need to be fed in the night after 6/7 months of age).  Don't rock, swing or put your baby in the car for their naps, as movement keeps the brain in a lighter sleep, which is not as restorative to the brain as a deep sleep.

• The right timing for sleep - as in consistent bedtimes, wake-up times, and nap times.

• The right amount of sleep - have a look at how much sleep your child should be getting based on their age, and your child shouldn't vary from these averages by more than 1 hour in a 24 hour period.  

Visit my website or Like me on Facebook for more information, and the latest updates on children's sleep!

According to the experts Leila is getting more sleep than the average child needs. 

Did you read the last line of the second paragraph... 
The expert said it, not me.  ;)

Is your child getting enough quality sleep?

So that's where she gets it from

Depending on the context, those words can be heavily loaded.

So that's where she gets her beautiful blue eyes.  Not so bad (even though her baby blues come from Jeff.)

So that's where she gets her bossiness.  Not exactly music to my ears (even though it's true).

Last week I shared a list of phrases Miss Bossy-pants has been heard saying lately. I clearly admitted in the post that she may have heard me say some of those phrases to her, right?

I have said plenty of stuff to Leila that I cannot believe came out of my mouth.  Some stuff I can't even say with a straight face.

Yep, I'm where she gets it from...

You can't tell Mommy where to go.

That's enough Leila! (She repeated this back to me just two minutes later.)

No whining.  Wine is for Mommy.

Go...out of here.

As I mentioned earlier, PLEASE is being used more often around here.

Are there things you've said that you can't believe actually came out of your mouth (then later your child's)?  Want to read what other moms have said?

Check out the other Toddle Along Tuesday posts...

Leila loves...

• Acting "big" and reminding me sweetly, "Leila big."  

• Coloring.  Even though she normally just uses one color...brown.

• Pretzels, granola bars, our daily green smoothie, milk, pork tenderloin, any and every fruit, black beans, cookies, and cheese.

• Yo Gabba Gabba, Micky Mouse Club House, and Baby Signing Time.

• Shopping at Target and running errands with me in general.

• Her best friend Charlie, her stuffed animals, her pacifiers, and her blanket.

• Playing pretend, young kids, swimming, climbing, walking (instead of being in her stroller), bike rides, and doing whatever I do.

• Books.  She likes us to read to her and also likes reading by herself. Her current favorites are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you See?, Goodnight Moon, LMNO Peas, No, David!, and  On the Night You Were Born. 

• Family hugs, her bedtime routine with Daddy, and snuggling with Mommy.

Bossy-pants

Actually, it's Miss Bossy-pants to you.

Here's a rundown of what my almost-two year old has been heard saying lately:

Don't like that.

Go away Mommy.

It's mine, not yours.  It's mine.

Stop!

No Mommy, keep it right there.

Sit down Mommy.

Me do it.  You do it.  No, me do it.

My friend, Amy, and her daughter Kennady hung out with us last week.  I can't remember what I said to Leila, but Amy's response to me was..."Hmmm, I wonder where she gets it from?!"  She was only half-joking.

Looks like PLEASE is going to become the most overused word in my vocabulary.

Ready or not, here we go...again {It's a BABY!}

Surprise!

The words I said to Jeff at 7 am the morning I took a pregnancy test were more like, "Don't kill me for waking you...but I'm pregnant."

After whipping the pregnancy test at his pillow, I am pretty sure I started crying.

He responded with "Seriously?!  This is good, right?!"

My blank stare and tear streaked cheeks made him question everything, rightfully so.  I cannot hide my emotions no matter how hard I try and this was NOT at all what I expected...

Sure, I had been napping during the day, puking, only eating carbs, and not able to cook anything for dinner the past few days.  But being pregnant did not cross my mind.  I couldn't be pregnant!  I just had my "period" and had been drinking all vacation long. 

I expected to start trying to conceive baby #2 as soon as I came home from our summer trip to Chicago.  I expected it to take a while, since I am officially of advanced maternal age now.  I expected to have a baby next summer.  I expected things to go according to my plan.

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans" -John Lennon

So here we are 12 weeks into pregnancy #2, happy (nauseous, tired, and still a little bit in denial) as can be.

My plans were just that...plans.  My real life is way better than anything I could have planned!

It will be March 13th before we know it, right?!  

Leila is convinced she has a baby in her belly too.

Let's be friends

My long-time BFF has a daughter just seven months younger than Leila.  The girls don't get to see as often as I imagined (due to nap schedules)...but we have plenty of time.   We're not going anywhere!  

Kennady (16 months) and Leila (23 months)

 

Doctor vs. Mom {Potty-training}

I was quite surprised when I went for Leila's two year well-baby check up last week (a month early) and her pediatrician tried to convince me that Leila was ready for potty training.

The doctor (who had been in the room with Leila for a whopping five minutes) said without hesitation, that Leila seemed ready.

Fine.  You think she's ready, then you potty train her.  What about me, don't I get an opinion?  What if I'm not ready?

I kept my mouth shut and listened to the good doctor ramble on about potty training.  Unfortunately for her, she failed to state one single reason why she thought Leila was ready for this next step.  Nope, not one.  Until...

Leila blew my cover and announced that she needed to poop.  

To make matters worse, Leila pulled at the door handle indicating that she wanted to leave the room we were in.  Of course the doctor assumed she wanted to use the bathroom, but I knew better than that!  The truth was, Leila wanted some privacy.  (And who wouldn't?!)  There was no table to hide under, no chair to stand behind, no place that she could be alone to do her business. 

Before the doctor said good-bye, I had her convinced that we'd be starting potty training within the next month.  

Luckily for me, Leila's next well-baby appointment is not until she is THREE years old.  That gives us plenty of time.

Evidence to support WAITING to potty training...

I think Momma knows best!

Anyone else NOT interested in potty training their toddler?  If you've already mastered potty training, what were some clues that your child was ready?

Easy Green Smoothie Recipe {Toddler approved!}

Convincing Leila to eat a vegetable is a daunting task.

Typically she will try the vegetables (bonus!) just to spit it out after it's been chewed a few times.  The other night Jeff felt so proud that he actually got her to lick a piece of broccoli.  We'll take what we can get folks!

I know there are tons of ways to hide vegetables in your child's food.  I found one recipe that I was going to try from Pinterest, but recently it's been too hot to turn on the oven. I know there are dozens more I haven't even discovered yet!

The thing is, I make ONE dinner for the entire family to enjoy (or not).  I do not want to start making Leila her own meal, secretly filled with vegetables, while Jeff and I openly enjoy our vegetables.  Ideally, she will learn to appreciate tolerate vegetables with few modifications. (Cheese smothered broccoli is acceptable.)  I realize I may be asking for too much, so in the meantime I have a solution:  a daily dose of greens in her morning smoothie. 

You may be thinking...Wait?  Isn't this an example of hiding vegetables, just like you said you didn't want to do?

Not really.  Here's why:  Leila helps me make the smoothie each morning.  She rips the kale from the stem and then takes handfuls of spinach and dumps them in the blender.  It's not a secret if she knows, right?!

Easy Green Smoothie Recipe

Recipe from Lauren Boston 

(PER PERSON*)

1 large leaf Kale 

1 cup spinach 

1/2 cup frozen blueberries 

1/2 frozen banana

1 scoop organic wheat grass powder 

Water to desired consistency (about 1 cup)

Variations:

Add 1 scoop Trader Joe's Very Green Berry Flavored Powder 

Add additional 1/2 cup of frozen fruit (I used raspberries above) 

Add ground flax seeds

Replace 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of orange juice (pictured above)

Add plain Greek yogurt for protein and a thicker smoothie

*This recipe makes enough for Leila and I to share.  We each get a cup (pictured above) full of green smoothie first thing in the morning.  I'm still experimenting with how much we need/want.  Sometimes I add an additional leaf of kale and it doesn't change the taste at all.  This smoothie doesn't replace our breakfast.

Please let me know if you try this recipe.  I'd love you to share your green smoothie recipe too! 

How I stay sane {Finding balance}

Everyone wants and most definitely NEEDS balance in their life.

No matter what you do each day, there never seems to be enough hours to do everything you really want to do. (Trust me, it seems like there are plenty enough hours spent doing things I'd rather not do.  Dishes top that list!)

What tops my list of things I want to do?  How do I find balance in life?

I stay sane by...

drinking red wine or a crisp wheat beer.

working out regularly.

making lists and crossing off one item at a time.

hanging with the girls (or Jeff) sans Leila.

skipping the chores for a week. 

reading, writing...blogging.

ditching my meal plan and heading out to dinner.

listening to music and signing along.

taking a nap instead of doing what's on my list.

...and it doesn't hurt that I live here.

How do you find balance in your life? 

<center><a href="http://www.growingupgeeky.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x324/mchupie/Growing_up_Geeky/tatbutton150.png" /></a></center>

This week's Toddle Along Tuesday topic is finding balance! How do you maintain a sense of balance in your life? Any tips to share?

Share your tips in the comment section or link up a relevant blog post (old or new).  Then, visit the linked blogs to read about how others are Finding Balance in their daily lives.

Wait...what did you just say?

My daughter just got a little more adorable (or annoying...you make the call).

Summertime sweaty Leila

Out of no where she started adding -y to the end of random words.  I do not talk to her like this.  I am not a fan of what I call "baby talk".  But when Leila says it, on her own, it is too cute!

The other day she asked for some "milky" instead of milk and she called her toy cell phone a "phone-y".  The next day she was passing toys out and said, "One for Leila.  One-y for Mommy."  I about died!  Seriously, where does she come up with this stuff?

I guess can stop blaming "those Moms" for talking baby talk to their kids. Sorry I judged you.  Can you forgive me?

Has your toddler started making up words or saying things you just can't believe?

Leila vs. the cat

My cat, Otis, is not a fan of Leila.  He rarely makes an appearance when she is awake in the house.  When he does, it's to eat or take care of business.

Poor kitty.  He wasn't always like this.  Otis always seemed to be hanging around the house with me...until we brought the baby home.

Otis is afraid of Leila.  Although I'm not surprised,  I am annoyed.  Wouldn't you assume that your pet, that loves attention from you, would also love attention from your child?

Leila tried, the minute she could move, to pet Otis.  That's what cats like, right?  

He's always been able to outrun her.  He runs under the bed, in the fireplace, or anywhere just to get away from her.  On many occasions he has tried to stand strong and show Leila who's boss.  He's hissed and growled at her for coming too close.  (We are teaching her to hiss back.)

Honestly I don't know what he's so scared of...  

Look at him.

Freaky cat eyes

Look at her.

Always-moving toddler

Alright, maybe she will be able to outrun him eventually.

Were you hoping for an adorable post about babies and pets?  

  I'm linking up with Growing up Geeky and Aidan...with Eos this week for Toddle Along Tuesday.  Head on over and get your fill. 

Big news...I will be co-hosting an upcoming Toddle Along Tuesday!  The link-up will be opened Monday night, August 13th and the topic is Finding Balance.  What do you do to stay sane in your crazy busy life?  Come back in two weeks to share your tips and link up!  

       

Vacation hangover

...STILL.

I just can't seem to shake this vacation feeling.  You know, the one that involves afternoon naps, no real responsibilities, and no routine.

The pile of mail sitting on my counter is about to bite me.  My suitcases, although unpacked, are still in our bedroom.  Pictures need edited and stories need to be told.

I know it's not going to get done on it's own.  

I know that it's not going to be done today.

It's the weekend and I'm going to enjoy it!  Monday will come soon enough.

Two months untill two

As Leila gets older she is looking more and more like...herself!  She's a good mix between Jeff and I, not really resembling one of us more than the other.

Although this picture of me on my second birthday (with my mom and dad) may convince you otherwise.  What do you think?

August 1979,  my 2nd birthday

July 2012, Leila at 22 months old

What's up with Leila just two months from her second birthday? 

• She is really good on her feet!  Leila has been atempting to climb up and down a few stairs without any support.  It's pretty scary to watch, but I am amazed at her abilities.  She has started jumping and can just barely get both feet off the ground.  I can't belive how much she moves.  Getting a snuggle from her has always been a struggle!

• Yes! Yes! Yeah!  I love that when I ask her a question she actually thinks about it before she responds.  It's even better when she responds with a "yes" instead of just staring at me like I am talking to a wall.

• She still takes one AWESOME three hour nap a day.  That nap and her twelve-ish hours of sleep at night make for one happy Momma and toddler.

• Leila is willing to try almost everything we give her to eat.  She won't always swallow it, but at least she gives it a try.  The only vegetables I have gotten her to swallow lately are green beans and raw carrots.  She loves cereal for breakfast, fruit and pretzels are her favorite snack, and we feed her whatever we are eating for dinner.

• She has a best friend, Charlie, who is just two months older than her. Since we've been on vacation she has asked about Charlie a lot.  We've spent at least ten minutes (that's a long time for her to be focused on anything) looking at Charlie's pictures.  It is too cute!

• Leila has spent many hours in the pool since we've been away from the beach.  She doesn't love it yet, but she's slowly warming up to the idea that her feet cannot touch the ground.  The floaties are just for my own peace of mind since she is glued to me while in the pool.  Last week she enjoyed getting dunked and blowing bubbles.

• My favorite Leila-thing this month...she recognizes that the three of us are a family!  Before bed each night Jeff, Leila, and I have a family hug-a-thon and lately she's been recognizing us as a family outside of that bedtime ritual.  Her voice is so sweet, especially when she says "family"! 

Only a two more months until Leila's second birthday!  This is such a fun age!  I can't wait to see what age TWO will bring.