Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Multi-tasking: Daddy Style
It takes a pretty talented Daddy to be able to simultaneously participate in a fancy tea party and watch the Packers/Bears game.
Much needed family vacation
A few weeks ago we took a great family vacation to Estes Park, Colorado. This is a very special place for Mike and I. It's where we went on our honeymoon and it's where we went to grieve the loss of our son. It is without a doubt the most peaceful place that I have ever been and I was so excited to bring Molly and start creating memories for her of this wonderful place. We were lucky to be able to spend the week with my parents and a night with Annie and David. Highlights included a hike to the Alluvial Fan, my favorite place in the Rocky Montain National Park; a pony ride for Molly on Duke, her new favorite friend; and lots of quiet snuggles with Gammy and Lumpy.
The Dark Phase
This post contains no pictures and will probably be boring to read, but I want to remember this in case my future children go through this phase so that I can be assured that there is an end.
When I first started staying home with Molly at the beginning of the summer it was great. We spent our days doing fun stuff, Molly was her normal bubbly and happy self and I was feeling great. Seriously, sunshine and unicorns.
Then the 4th of July came and Molly went through a very sudden and unpleasant change. She all of a sudden was absolutely terrified to be alone, especially in her bed. She screamed like she was being tortured when we laid her down at bedtime, woke up constantly in the the night and naptime was a distant memory. Unfortunately this coincided with me being in the first hellacious weeks of pregnancy. There were a lot of tears cried in this house. I needed her to sleep because I needed to sleep and it just wasn't happening. She was absolutely nuts if I would even leave the room to get a drink of water. Every noise panicked her and she was like a clinger monkey anywhere in public. I took her to our WONDERFUL pediatrician at the end of July and she reassured me that this was a phase, it was normal, and that Molly would eventually come out of it.
I was not convinced. I'm not kidding when I say it was the worst phase of parenting I have ever experienced. I felt so sad for her that she was so upset, but at the same time it was exhausting and draining and I became comvinced that it was because I was staying home with her full time and she was better off in daycare. Not good times. I'm not generally a crier, but man I was a mess.
We initially tried the tough love technique of letting her cry it out at bedtime and nap, but she would literally cry the entire 2 hours of nap and 2-3 hours at bedtime before eventually passing out. This was taking a toll on all of us because she was constantly exhausted and as parents, you can only listen to so much screaming and crying. So...we abandoned that idea and decided that for the time being while she was so fragile we would just sit with her in her room until she fell asleep. This was initially much better because she went to sleep right away and she was much happier, however the downside was that we were having to go into her room 3-4 times a night to sit with her until she fell asleep. Not great. I can totally see why parents end up with kids in their beds because there were many nights where it was so tempting to just throw her in bed with us so everyone could get some sleep.
Around the first of September she started to seem a little more emotionally stable and it seemed like the staying in her room until she went to sleep was creating a little monster who wanted to play peek a boo and try to make us laugh instead of falling asleep so we decided to go back to the cry it out approach, but this time we weren't so strict. We just kind of took it day by day and did what felt right. I am happy so say that since September 3rd she has slept all the way through the night with the exception of two nights. When we put her to bed at night she doesn't even cry and at nap she cries/chats but there isn't that true distress anymore. She is so much less clingy and jumpy and seems to just be back to herself.
I think that this is a combination of it truly being a phase (like EVERYONE tried to tell me) and also I have become more stable as I have moved into the 2nd trimester. I am a bit more rational in my thinking and reactions and I think that Molly can pick up on that. I definitely learned throughout this process that there isn't always a quick solution and sometimes what works on one day may not work the next.
Also, I would like to apologize to anyone who was on the receiving end of my irrational, emotional outbursts during this dark, dark phase.
When I first started staying home with Molly at the beginning of the summer it was great. We spent our days doing fun stuff, Molly was her normal bubbly and happy self and I was feeling great. Seriously, sunshine and unicorns.
Then the 4th of July came and Molly went through a very sudden and unpleasant change. She all of a sudden was absolutely terrified to be alone, especially in her bed. She screamed like she was being tortured when we laid her down at bedtime, woke up constantly in the the night and naptime was a distant memory. Unfortunately this coincided with me being in the first hellacious weeks of pregnancy. There were a lot of tears cried in this house. I needed her to sleep because I needed to sleep and it just wasn't happening. She was absolutely nuts if I would even leave the room to get a drink of water. Every noise panicked her and she was like a clinger monkey anywhere in public. I took her to our WONDERFUL pediatrician at the end of July and she reassured me that this was a phase, it was normal, and that Molly would eventually come out of it.
I was not convinced. I'm not kidding when I say it was the worst phase of parenting I have ever experienced. I felt so sad for her that she was so upset, but at the same time it was exhausting and draining and I became comvinced that it was because I was staying home with her full time and she was better off in daycare. Not good times. I'm not generally a crier, but man I was a mess.
We initially tried the tough love technique of letting her cry it out at bedtime and nap, but she would literally cry the entire 2 hours of nap and 2-3 hours at bedtime before eventually passing out. This was taking a toll on all of us because she was constantly exhausted and as parents, you can only listen to so much screaming and crying. So...we abandoned that idea and decided that for the time being while she was so fragile we would just sit with her in her room until she fell asleep. This was initially much better because she went to sleep right away and she was much happier, however the downside was that we were having to go into her room 3-4 times a night to sit with her until she fell asleep. Not great. I can totally see why parents end up with kids in their beds because there were many nights where it was so tempting to just throw her in bed with us so everyone could get some sleep.
Around the first of September she started to seem a little more emotionally stable and it seemed like the staying in her room until she went to sleep was creating a little monster who wanted to play peek a boo and try to make us laugh instead of falling asleep so we decided to go back to the cry it out approach, but this time we weren't so strict. We just kind of took it day by day and did what felt right. I am happy so say that since September 3rd she has slept all the way through the night with the exception of two nights. When we put her to bed at night she doesn't even cry and at nap she cries/chats but there isn't that true distress anymore. She is so much less clingy and jumpy and seems to just be back to herself.
I think that this is a combination of it truly being a phase (like EVERYONE tried to tell me) and also I have become more stable as I have moved into the 2nd trimester. I am a bit more rational in my thinking and reactions and I think that Molly can pick up on that. I definitely learned throughout this process that there isn't always a quick solution and sometimes what works on one day may not work the next.
Also, I would like to apologize to anyone who was on the receiving end of my irrational, emotional outbursts during this dark, dark phase.
Two years old, two months late
Disclaimer: This post is two months past it's time but I wanted a record of Molly's big day so when I am old and forgetful I can look back and remember.
Molly turned 2 on July 23rd. It was a really fun weekend because my sister and brother and his family all came to town to help us celebrate. Molly was smack dab in the middle of what we shall call "the dark phase" (more on that later) but she managed to have a pretty great birthday. She got tons and tons of presents and had a blast with all of her cousins.
This was right when she woke up. I think she already understood that the day was going to be all about her and clearly she felt good about that.
We all went to Monterrey, our favorite Mexican restaurant, for lunch. I'm not sure what was happening with Oliver in this picture, but it's the only one I took at lunch.
After nap it was present time. Here she was opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa with flourish while maintaining a death grip on snuggle bear, something that happens daily for about 20 minutes after nap.
New strollers and baby stuff!
Then it was on to the party! We rented the Splash Pad at Ashby Park and it was so fun. Molly and I spent a lot of time there this summer and she was so excited to have it all to herself and her cousins as it is usually overrun with rowdy bigger kids. We had lots of friends and family there and I think Molly had a great time. Her swimsuit was courtesy of Aunt Annie who determined the day before the party that none of the swimsuits she already had were "party worthy." Also, a special thank you to Annie because she took every single picture for me that day.
Aunt Melissa helping with dinner.
I hung up the banner I made for her party last year, but it kind of took a beating in the wind.
Our best attempt at all four of the Gilbert great grandkids.
Amanda, Carrie and Charlie
Cousin Jack having fun.
Cute and happy.
Since Molly doesn't like cake I spelled out Happy Birthday on Oreos. She loved it.
I love this picture. That is a serious "Don't mess with me, I'll shoot" face.
Sharing her Oreos with Daddy.
One of my very favorite friends (and college roommate) Karoline came all the way from Cedar Rapids with her cute kids Lulu and Teddy. It really meant a lot to me to have them there, although I wish we could have spent more time chatting.
Molly turned 2 on July 23rd. It was a really fun weekend because my sister and brother and his family all came to town to help us celebrate. Molly was smack dab in the middle of what we shall call "the dark phase" (more on that later) but she managed to have a pretty great birthday. She got tons and tons of presents and had a blast with all of her cousins.
This was right when she woke up. I think she already understood that the day was going to be all about her and clearly she felt good about that.
We all went to Monterrey, our favorite Mexican restaurant, for lunch. I'm not sure what was happening with Oliver in this picture, but it's the only one I took at lunch.
After nap it was present time. Here she was opening presents from Grandma and Grandpa with flourish while maintaining a death grip on snuggle bear, something that happens daily for about 20 minutes after nap.
New strollers and baby stuff!
Then it was on to the party! We rented the Splash Pad at Ashby Park and it was so fun. Molly and I spent a lot of time there this summer and she was so excited to have it all to herself and her cousins as it is usually overrun with rowdy bigger kids. We had lots of friends and family there and I think Molly had a great time. Her swimsuit was courtesy of Aunt Annie who determined the day before the party that none of the swimsuits she already had were "party worthy." Also, a special thank you to Annie because she took every single picture for me that day.
Aunt Melissa helping with dinner.
I hung up the banner I made for her party last year, but it kind of took a beating in the wind. 
Our best attempt at all four of the Gilbert great grandkids. 
Amanda, Carrie and Charlie
Cousin Jack having fun.
Cute and happy.
Since Molly doesn't like cake I spelled out Happy Birthday on Oreos. She loved it.
I love this picture. That is a serious "Don't mess with me, I'll shoot" face.
Sharing her Oreos with Daddy.
One of my very favorite friends (and college roommate) Karoline came all the way from Cedar Rapids with her cute kids Lulu and Teddy. It really meant a lot to me to have them there, although I wish we could have spent more time chatting.It was a really great day for our little 2 year old and while I was initially stressed about not having a fancy cake or not having enough decorations or it being too hot, I was reminded that a 2 year old could care less about those things (thanks Mike). I know it sounds totally cliche and all parents say it, but I can't believe she is already two!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Just a quickie
I have great intentions of doing lots of lengthy posts and it stops me from posting cute day to day stuff. So here is Molly in her self-selected outfit last night. I have a personal bias against "character clothes" but make an exception for jammies. Miss Molly then decided she needed to accesorize a bit. She is such a character.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Where to begin?
Time seems to be slipping away from me this summer and lately I have been receiving some not-so-subtle hints that I have not been doing a great job of updating the blog. I want to update more frequently not only to make those hints stop, but also because this is my only form of scrapbooking and I love looking back on older posts. So I am working on several posts of all that has taken place this summer, including Molly's 2nd birthday, a family reunion, the state fair and lots of fun and silly days at home and at the pool. In the mean time I will leave you with my two favorite pictures right now. The first is from Molly's birthday party. Aunt Annie took this picture and I love it. She had such a good time that day and I feel like this pictures captures that perfectly. The second picture is the main reason I have been snoozing on the couch at night instead of updating the blog. We are truly blessed.
Due 02.15.12. Molly has been convinced for the last two months it is a baby brudder, we'll see if she is right at the end of September.
Due 02.15.12. Molly has been convinced for the last two months it is a baby brudder, we'll see if she is right at the end of September.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Shapes
I don't know if this is a big deal or not because I have no basis for comparison, but I think it is pretty cool that Molly knows this many shapes before she turns two. I have to celebrate these little milestones, you know because she hasn't slept through the night in weeks!
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