You feel the need to ask the same question over and over and over, even when the answer never changes.
Getting stuck at the train tracks is a good thing.
You cry when you have to take a bath, then cry again when it's time to get out.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Cabin Fever
It is inevitable that a new baby brings with it a little bit of restriction. We know that once Baby Boy gets here, we will be spending a lot more time at home than we're used to. You have to worry about germs and exposure to large groups of people in the first few weeks so that limits you from going to most indoor places. And since it will be the middle of winter, the weather will limit us from spending much time outside. So we are prepared to be housebound in the beginning.
I don't like being housebound. I like to get out, go places, do things. I think the hardest part of my maternity leave with Nathan was sitting inside, day after day after day, feeling trapped while the rest of the world went on without me. (The post-natal hormones may have had something to do with the drama level, but hey, that's how I felt.) The idea of staying home all day sounds awful to me and keeping a toddler indoors all day just makes the idea that much more terrible. I can't remember the last time I spent the entire day at home actually, I make sure Nathan and I go somewhere every single day, whether it's the library, the playground, lunch with friends, a walk, anything as long as we don't sit at home all day. Of course, I'm sure the responsibilities of caring for a newborn will distract me but I can't say I'm not dreading it a little bit.
Luckily Will and Nathan will have more freedom than me. Since I'll be nursing the baby, I'll be the one staying home most of the time while Nathan will get to have lots of Daddy time, outdoors, amongst civilization! So, in anticipation of my inevitable captivity, I have been trying to get out as much as possible in the past few weeks and will continue to do so until this bambino decides to show up.
In the past week I have had a night out with my sisters, an art night with girlfriends and dinner last night with friends from school. Tonight, Will and I are having dinner with one of my oldest friends and his wife AND we were lucky enough to have Nana and Papa take Nathan for a sleepover which means we have ALL DAY tomorrow to do whatever we want!!! Next Sat I have another girl's night out and that will leave me just under a month of freedom so if anyone feels like getting out, call me. Please!
I don't like being housebound. I like to get out, go places, do things. I think the hardest part of my maternity leave with Nathan was sitting inside, day after day after day, feeling trapped while the rest of the world went on without me. (The post-natal hormones may have had something to do with the drama level, but hey, that's how I felt.) The idea of staying home all day sounds awful to me and keeping a toddler indoors all day just makes the idea that much more terrible. I can't remember the last time I spent the entire day at home actually, I make sure Nathan and I go somewhere every single day, whether it's the library, the playground, lunch with friends, a walk, anything as long as we don't sit at home all day. Of course, I'm sure the responsibilities of caring for a newborn will distract me but I can't say I'm not dreading it a little bit.
Luckily Will and Nathan will have more freedom than me. Since I'll be nursing the baby, I'll be the one staying home most of the time while Nathan will get to have lots of Daddy time, outdoors, amongst civilization! So, in anticipation of my inevitable captivity, I have been trying to get out as much as possible in the past few weeks and will continue to do so until this bambino decides to show up.
In the past week I have had a night out with my sisters, an art night with girlfriends and dinner last night with friends from school. Tonight, Will and I are having dinner with one of my oldest friends and his wife AND we were lucky enough to have Nana and Papa take Nathan for a sleepover which means we have ALL DAY tomorrow to do whatever we want!!! Next Sat I have another girl's night out and that will leave me just under a month of freedom so if anyone feels like getting out, call me. Please!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Big Brother 101
With just a few more weeks until Baby Boy arrives, we have really been trying to get Nathan excited about being a big brother. We talk about singing to the baby, giving the baby kisses, and helping Mommy with changing diapers. This last one really seemed to get Nathan excited and he has been "practicing" ever since. Not too shabby... I'm looking forward to putting him on diaper duty.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Full circle
Who doesn't remember getting the Scholastic Book Club catalog in elementary school? As a child, I was a little less excited about the books and maybe a little too excited about the "Hang in there" cat poster you got for free with your book order but looking back, the Scholastic book clubs and bookfairs were a huge part of my childhood, of nearly every child in school I think.
When I was 22. I moved to NYC when I was offered a job as a Production Assistant at Scholastic. For 2 years, I edited and proofread those books that would eventually get delivered to the next generation of children.
And now, Scholastic has found its way back into my life. Last week, when I picked Nathan up from preschool, I was handed an order form. I officially had a "Am I really that old?!?!" moment when that form landed in my hand. How did I go from the kid who ran home and begged my mom to let me order a book, to suddenly being the mom looking through the books, letting Nathan point out the ones he liked, and telling him to pick his favorite.
Will and I try not to go overboard buying Nathan toys but I have no problem buying him books. I would much rather our home be cluttered with too many books, than too many toys. Both as a mom, and a grad student studying Elementary Education, I have learned and seen firsthand how essential books are to a child. Nathan loves being read to and is even starting to read (I use this term loosely) to us now so I look forward to many years of Scholastic book orders, encouraging a love and excitement for books and reading. If my children and just as excited to get a new book as they are to pick out a new toy, I will consider it a good day.
My only complaint.... no more free poster?!?!
When I was 22. I moved to NYC when I was offered a job as a Production Assistant at Scholastic. For 2 years, I edited and proofread those books that would eventually get delivered to the next generation of children.
And now, Scholastic has found its way back into my life. Last week, when I picked Nathan up from preschool, I was handed an order form. I officially had a "Am I really that old?!?!" moment when that form landed in my hand. How did I go from the kid who ran home and begged my mom to let me order a book, to suddenly being the mom looking through the books, letting Nathan point out the ones he liked, and telling him to pick his favorite.
Will and I try not to go overboard buying Nathan toys but I have no problem buying him books. I would much rather our home be cluttered with too many books, than too many toys. Both as a mom, and a grad student studying Elementary Education, I have learned and seen firsthand how essential books are to a child. Nathan loves being read to and is even starting to read (I use this term loosely) to us now so I look forward to many years of Scholastic book orders, encouraging a love and excitement for books and reading. If my children and just as excited to get a new book as they are to pick out a new toy, I will consider it a good day.
My only complaint.... no more free poster?!?!
Monday, January 7, 2013
New year, new bed
Will and I have been talking about transitioning Nathan into a bed for months but we always found an excuse to delay it. Honestly, I think we've just been afraid to lose sleep over it. Literally.
For as long as I can remember, Nathan has gone to bed happily, not only for bedtime but also a two to three hour afternoon nap. When he wakes up in the morning, he is content to sing and talk to himself for up to an hour before calling out for us. The thought of losing that was scary. But with a new baby due in less than 2 months, we know our full nights of sleep are about to make their exit so this seemed like as good a time as any. Our hope is that in the next 2 months he will go through any "Wow, I can get out of bed whenever I want, let's go wake Mommy and Daddy up at 2am" phase and be back to sleeping all night. The thought of waking up multiple times throughout the night to feed an infant plus bring a toddler back to his bed bed sounds awful so I'd rather aim to have at least one child who sleeps through the night...again.
We made a big deal about it and let Nathan know how exciting it is to sleep in a "big boy bed." In reality, the bed is not any bigger since all we did was remove the front rail from his crib and attach a guard rail. But to him, it has been very exciting. He helped me pick out a new blanket and pillow and he helped Will "build" the bed. When the night finally came I was so nervous and expected to have a long night ahead of me. I've seen Supernanny enough times to know I would most likely be up for a few hours walking Nathan back to his bed over and over again until I tired him out. So, we put him to bed like we normally do and waited....
Instead, he surprised us by going to bed happily like he has done every other night and sleeping through the entire night. Tonight is night #4 and once again he went down fine. Naps on the other hand are not going as smoothly. He has been resistant, asking us to rub his back or sleep in the bed with him. We don't know if the sudden freedom is overwhelming or maybe he doesn't feel as safe? We are trying to comfort him and make him feel secure but still remain firm that he has to nap alone, like he has always done.
Today we were back to our regular nap schedule with no tears or stalling so I am hopeful that he is getting more comfortable with his new setup. Although, 4 days seems too easy so we will not be surprised if we hit a few more bumps over the next couple weeks.
Wish us luck over here. I'm 33 weeks on Friday and getting more and more tired each day. I've tried explaining to Nathan that I really, really need the 2 hour nap in the afternoons to rest but he doesn't seem to care. Fingers crossed I get as much sleep as possible before D day!!
For as long as I can remember, Nathan has gone to bed happily, not only for bedtime but also a two to three hour afternoon nap. When he wakes up in the morning, he is content to sing and talk to himself for up to an hour before calling out for us. The thought of losing that was scary. But with a new baby due in less than 2 months, we know our full nights of sleep are about to make their exit so this seemed like as good a time as any. Our hope is that in the next 2 months he will go through any "Wow, I can get out of bed whenever I want, let's go wake Mommy and Daddy up at 2am" phase and be back to sleeping all night. The thought of waking up multiple times throughout the night to feed an infant plus bring a toddler back to his bed bed sounds awful so I'd rather aim to have at least one child who sleeps through the night...again.
We made a big deal about it and let Nathan know how exciting it is to sleep in a "big boy bed." In reality, the bed is not any bigger since all we did was remove the front rail from his crib and attach a guard rail. But to him, it has been very exciting. He helped me pick out a new blanket and pillow and he helped Will "build" the bed. When the night finally came I was so nervous and expected to have a long night ahead of me. I've seen Supernanny enough times to know I would most likely be up for a few hours walking Nathan back to his bed over and over again until I tired him out. So, we put him to bed like we normally do and waited....
Instead, he surprised us by going to bed happily like he has done every other night and sleeping through the entire night. Tonight is night #4 and once again he went down fine. Naps on the other hand are not going as smoothly. He has been resistant, asking us to rub his back or sleep in the bed with him. We don't know if the sudden freedom is overwhelming or maybe he doesn't feel as safe? We are trying to comfort him and make him feel secure but still remain firm that he has to nap alone, like he has always done.
Today we were back to our regular nap schedule with no tears or stalling so I am hopeful that he is getting more comfortable with his new setup. Although, 4 days seems too easy so we will not be surprised if we hit a few more bumps over the next couple weeks.
Wish us luck over here. I'm 33 weeks on Friday and getting more and more tired each day. I've tried explaining to Nathan that I really, really need the 2 hour nap in the afternoons to rest but he doesn't seem to care. Fingers crossed I get as much sleep as possible before D day!!
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year!
At some point over the past 3 years, New Years Eve parties turned into New Years Day brunch. Late nights into early mornings. Champagne toasts into Bloody Marys.
We've spent New Years with the same group of friends for almost 10 years!! (That makes me feel so old.) So as long as we're still surrounded by those friends, does it really matter what time it is? There's not much difference anyway. I saw at least one person passed out asleep, at least one girl crying, and I definitely saw a guy chugging a bottle. Yup, sounds like all those parties from our past!
2012 was a great year for us, full of health and happiness, what else can you ask for? But we're so excited for 2013, the year our family of 3 will turn into a family of 4. Happy New Year!
We've spent New Years with the same group of friends for almost 10 years!! (That makes me feel so old.) So as long as we're still surrounded by those friends, does it really matter what time it is? There's not much difference anyway. I saw at least one person passed out asleep, at least one girl crying, and I definitely saw a guy chugging a bottle. Yup, sounds like all those parties from our past!
2012 was a great year for us, full of health and happiness, what else can you ask for? But we're so excited for 2013, the year our family of 3 will turn into a family of 4. Happy New Year!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)