Destination

First of all, a crib update: I took the crib apart and Vivi's mattress is now on the floor (on top of a very soft, fuzzy blanket) surrounded by all her stuffed animal friends. This way I don't have to worry about her getting hurt as she continually crawls out of her crib. It actually is working pretty good. She had been falling asleep in front of the door, but the last couple nights she's stayed in her bed which is encouraging. She loves her 'new' bed; she jumped on it right away, sprints into the room and throws herself on it, and jumps from our bed onto hers. It actually has made her a lot more willing to play by herself in the bedroom, which is great because it makes our house seem a little bigger.

Last week as I had the opportunity to deconstruct a crib by myself, make pumpkin chocolate chip muffins (yum!), and my house stayed relatively clean, I couldn't help but think 'This is how I've wanted it to be; I've arrived.' I realize that it presumptious; my house has since turned into a toy/clothes warzone and there are now dishes in the sink (that will not get done tonight). However, I do believe after 3-4 months of being home, I am just now starting to feel more comfortable and get in a groove. I honestly didn't think it would take this long. I figured it would take me a week to decompress, but after that my house would always be clean and I'd make dinner every night. That hasn't happened exactly, but I have finally learned for myself something that I've been told my whole life: do small clean ups as you go along. I never had the energy to do the dishes right after dinner, but pots really are easier to clean if you don't let them sit overnight! Our bedroom still accumulates quite the mess, but a lot of that has to do with the fact that I can't get in there during the day because Doug is in there sleeping.

Anyway, I don't know if I will ever be one of those women whose house is spotless and everything is always clean. However, I do feel more comfortable with the cleanliness of my home...there's not as much clutter because I've had time to go through some of the piles of stuff. I will keep working towards always having a perfect home, but I've realized that's just not one of my priorities right now. Maybe someday, but until then I will let myself be satisified with the progress I have made :)

Baby Houdini!

Until last week Vivienne managed to climb out of her crib intermittently just a couple times. That was until Friday night. We left poor nana Marie (Doug's grandma who lives upstairs) with the relatively 'simple' task of putting Vivi to bed so we could to the temple...when we got home she said Vivienne spent 1.5 hours crawling out of the crib and Marie had to keep putting her back time after time after time.

I was hoping that was just an anomaly since Saturday night went off without a hitch. Sunday was a completely different story. She was up until 11pm either climbing out of the crib or screaming because we were right there telling her to put her leg back in the crib. Finally, we just strapped her into the swing so we could go to bed. Doug even tried laying down in the dark in front of the door so Vivi tripped over him when she escaped and he scared her...I actually thought that might work, but it didn't. Her crib is in our room, so I decided we'd just lay in bed and keep telling her to lay down so she knew we were there and that resistence was futile. One hour later (that was after the hour of just putting her back in the crib time after time), we got sick of seeing her run back and forth in her crib and scream like a crazy animal and put her in the swing where she slept like...not a baby...until morning. We even tried putting her in the pack and play, which is higher and she looked like she wouldn't be able to get out of for a couple weeks...but no. She was pissed off and got out of there faster than I could walk down the hall to the bathroom.

Baby Houdini.

I'm all about the Love and Logic, so I decided we were getting up early to go to work Monday morning so she would know the consequences of her actions (even if not directly, she'd be super tired). She was exhausted. But that didn't stop her from escaping the crib at grandma and grandpa's house for afternoon nap (our hot water heater broke over the weekend, so I thought I'd shower while she napped-that did not happen). I tried staying in the room with her until she fell asleep, but she knew she had a captive audience and so, even though she was exhausted, put on quite a show for me. I even swatted her butt to get her to lay down, but that didn't work. Instead, when she laid down, she started trying to spank her own butt and looked at me while wriggling her cute little tush in the air like 'I'm laying down, are you gonna spank me? Huh, are ya, are ya?'

Finally, after 45 minutes of that, I left the room and shut the door. She promptly crawled out of the crib and knocked on the door yelling for mama. After about 5 minutes she passed out in front of the door. She only slept for 30 minutes, but that's actually pretty standard for grandma's house.

After much brainstorming with family and friends I've tried a strategy that seems to mostly work. I baby proofed our room (took out the full-length mirror, moved all the books, closed all the drawers, etc.) and just lock her in the room. When she falls alseep, I put her in the crib. It worked like a dream last night, except for the small hiccup that she fell asleep right in front of the door, so I couldn't even open it (her face was taking the brunt of my attempts to open the door until I realized it was her face). She woke up at one point and then I just put her in the crib seamlessly. Tonight went pretty much the same, except we've already had one more wake-up than last night. However, this strategy is a lot less frustrating then putting her back in the crib over and over.

Oh, how I love my baby Houdini. If it weren't so frustrating, I'd be very proud :)

Why I am home

This week I've had a couple fantastic opportunities and more reminders about why Heavenly Father wanted me to stay home. I was able to make dinner for a family that had a medical emergency, drive a friend around who was trying to help another friend find her son (who got lost in an early-release mix up), and make grammy and grampy's day playing with them for a couple hours. All things I would've been unable to do if I still worked full time.

I was thanked for helping these families, but no thanks was needed. This is the reason (in addition to taking better care of my own family) I know Heavenly Father wanted me to only work part-time. I am so thankful for the personal revelation that has given me these opportunities and blessings.

Perfect Day

Yesterday was such a great day and, dare I say, a perfect day. And I don't mean perfect perfect as in some minor things didn't go wrong, but it was exactly the kind of day I hoped to have when I started staying home more.

Normally, I go to work on Mondays, but that didn't happen this week. Doug doesn't go to work until 10pm, so it was like we had a long weekend together! Vivienne let us sleep (with much kicking and rolling around) until about 9am. We got up and ate breakfast together, which never happens. We've been having beautiful sunny (but cold) weather, so the three of us went outside and played (kicking and throwing the soccer balls, of course). Vivi and Doug took a 1.5 hour nap right as scheduled (after we ate lunch together), so I got lots of work done. In fact, I got my day's work done by 5pm, which left the evening open to work on other things. Dinner was yummy and easy and the kitchen was cleaned up right after. Vivi and I played while Doug took another nap and then went to sleep without at hitch at 7:30pm.

Like I said: perfect. I know there's nothing glamorous or dazzling about this day, but it was incredible to have some time where none of us felt any kind of stress, pushing, pulling, etc. and just got to have fun together. Not only that, but Doug voluntarily did things like just wipe down the counter and take out the garbage/recycles with Vivi (he calls that 'going on a field trip' with her). Not only that, but Vivienne was a peach almost the whole day! Oh, and she pooped in the potty! I couldn't believe it, but I put her on the potty after her nap and she pooped! I was so excited!

Doug and I spent so much time apart our whole married lives that I really cherish days when we can just focus on family. With our crazy schedules, me commuting 2 hours every day, Doug being in school, etc. we would go days without seeing eachother. While staying home has been tough on the pocketbook sometimes, it's been soothing for the heart. Vivienne loves seeing her papa, I love seeing her papa more, and it's been so good for our marriage just to be around eachother more. Many times when we saw eachother, it was all business because that's what we had time for. Now, we actually get to goof around, relax, and just be us. It really is a testiment to the fact the Heavenly Father does want what's best for us and he'll let us know which way to go if we ask...and then listen and obey.

Anyway,

She's so smart

I find myself being very careful about the things I do and say...usually after I realize she saw me do something I wouldn't want her to do. I'm pretty sure one of the reasons she throws her food is because she sees me throw things into the garbage. One day she came over and hit me after she saw Doug smack my butt. It's a fine line :)

She's got about 20+ words, including: cheese, please, shoes, teeth, nana, grandma, grandpa, bummer (our warning word of choice), bye bye (which she says over and over as we're leaving), hello (not hi), juice, book, ball, and boobs (when she wants to nurse as mentioned in my previous post...that's one of those things we should've been more careful about saying around her).

She can now also properly point to and identify all facial features, including ears! She can definitely understand more than she can say, which is frustrating for everyone. But I am happy when she understands (and does) put things back when I ask her to, to take something to papa (Doug), and puts something in the garbage for me (that SUPPOSED to go in the garbage). She put of her small toys in the garbage today and I couldn't find it without digging through everything so I just left it. Unfortunately I wasn't so lucky when she threw her sippy cup in the garbage yesterday. Gross.

She peed on the potty 5 of the last 7 days, which is great. I wouldn't say we are training right now, but I'm trying to get her comfortable with being on the potty and show her how exciting it is to do her business on the toilet. I will continue to put her on the potty when she wakes up for the morning and naps for a while longer until she shows me (I don't know how exactly) that she's ready for the next step. I would love to have her completely trained before she's two. Wishful thinking?

It's Potty Time!

Last weekend I went to the always super fabulous Seattle Families of Multiples sale and I got a ton of stuff, including some super awesome clothes, toy kitchen, and potties for potty training. I couldn't wait to try them out on Vivi and so far she's doing great!

I put her on the potty first thing when we get up in the morning and from naps and before bed. The last 4 days she's gone 'pee pee on the potty' at least 2 of the three times! It's very exciting and I try to get her very excited about it. I wouldn't say we're doing intensive training (she's not even 18 months yet), but I'm just getting her used to being on the potty and saying the words. Plus, she tries to wipe her own butt. How cute is that?

Last night was also the first night she climbed out of her crib. I know it's inevitable, but really? I heard the soft 'thump' as she either hit the floor or the bed and out she walked from the bedroom. It's a little concerning because we don't have enough space to move her anywhere else and I really don't want her crawling into bed with me whenever she wants 'boobs' (yes, she says boobs-we only nurse in the middle of the night because I need to sleep!).

Exciting stuff all around!

From Peanuts to People

A lot has happened since my last post, including a trip to Utah that was great, but that's not what this post is about.

I always wondered how parents could get so excited about their child's stumbling steps, their toddlers first attempt to kick or throw a ball to dad (or mom!), their young child's first soccer game, the tedious balley recitals, etc. Now that I am one of those parents, I think I understand why.

I think that reason is the same reason I got all excited when I found my nephew is getting baptized this weekend. Undoubtedly I am more excited to see him and watch him reach this important milestone than he is to see me (I can already see/hear is polite but subued 'Hi Aunt Vanessa' with the possibility of one-arm side hug). Why am I more excited to see him than he is to see me (his super awesome, fun aunt)?! The same reason I get excited when Vivienne climbs up and down the stairs or gets down from the bed on her own.

I remember when Ian was born. And of course I remember when Vivienne was there. I remember before they were here and then one day, poof! New miniature people here on this Earth who weren't here the day before. I remember when Vivienne couldn't do anything. She was just a blob and I couldn't wait for her to smile, laugh, feed herself, etc. Now I can't get her to hold still (even when she's sleeping), she gets her food all over the place, and she has no fear and serious sense of adventure.

That is why parents get so excited about those seemingly 'normal' things and why aunties and uncles are more excited to see their nieces and nephews than the other way around. We remember when they weren't here and we're so grateful they are. We remember when they couldn't walk, but now they're playing soccer. We remember when we panicked about solid foods, but now we're so proud when they eat their vegetables.

With this new realization, I can only wonder more how Heavenly Father feels about us, but know that He loves us more than we know.