The Big Boy Bed

August 8, 2011 by · 3 Comments

I had no intention of moving Brayden to his big boy bed yet. I wasn’t ready to fight bedtime, I am exhausted as it is right now, and wanted to wait until things around here calmed down a bit. When we were back to our “normal” routine. When he had curtains hung up. When I was ready.

But then Sunday night, I got the crazy idea to just try it, and see how it went. I wanted to put the new nursery curtains up, get his cleaned and pressed and hung up, and THEN do it. But, we decided to wing it.

I took off the top sheet and the comforter, and just put the blankets from his crib with him. He is SUCH a crazy sleeper that I didn’t want to have to worry about him getting tangled in blankets in a not-so-familiar room. We did bath time, played, picked up toys, and then I rocked him just like I always do. And I rocked him. And I rocked him. I was SO nervous. Brandon looked at me like “are you ever going to put him to bed?”

I walked into his big boy room with a big boy in my arms, laid him down, and he immediately jumped back into my arms crying for daddy. I just said “it’s ok buddy, just lay down.” He laid right back down, I stayed and rubbed his back for a couple of minutes, walked away, and shut the door. Never heard a peep. He went right to sleep.

And I went right for the bathroom and shed a few tears. My big boy was officially a big boy. No more crib. And this transition? Went WAY better than I ever imagined. Tonight he didn’t even cry, he laid right down and went right to sleep. So I plan to just keep taking it one day at a time and see how he does. I know that eventually it won’t be this easy when he can ask for a glass of water/one more story/one more hug… but for now, I will take it.

Filed Under: toddlerhood ·

The one about tantrums

July 21, 2011 by · 5 Comments

We hit the terrible twos around here a good few several months ago. For me, it’s not when the kid turns two, it’s their second year of life. And boy, has that rung true!

For the most part, Brayden’s tantrums are because he gets frustrated trying to communicate. I try to ask him if it is this or that, and he shakes his head and starts to get frustrated because I can’t figure it out. And then I get frustrated. It’s a vicious cycle.

I try to keep my patience but it is SO hard. And then if I still can’t figure it out, he just walks away, and I feel terrible! I have been working with him to speak, repeating the names of everything in sight, helping him see colors/letters/numbers in his books.

Nothing.

His tantrums aren’t necessarily because he isn’t getting what he wants, like if he spots Lightning McQueen anything in a store and I say no- they are because he is frustrated because he can’t tell me. *sigh* and it’s just plain hard to watch sometimes. I WANT to help him, I WANT to know what he is trying to tell me. But it just isn’t there yet. And I don’t know what I can do to make it better.

Pretty soon, he will probably just start spitting out sentences and I will regret this little complaint. Mark my words.

Filed Under: Brayden, toddlerhood ·

Brayden says "Momma"

July 16, 2011 by · 6 Comments

FINALLY!!!! HE FINALLY SAID IT AND KNEW IT WAS ME!!!!

Ok, sorry. I was just so excited after months of hearing “dada” that finally, Brayden said “momma”.

Melts my heart!

-July 14, 2011

Filed Under: Brayden, milestones, toddlerhood ·

Not a good day

July 13, 2011 by · 6 Comments

Today was not a good day. It was an awful day. Crabby kiddo, one hour nap, incessant whining, dragging me all over, then the finale of throwing himself onto the floor found him in bed at 7pm and me wishing it was 9pm so I could take my meds and go to bed myself.

My hormones are raging and the tears will not stop flowing.

How will I do this with two kids? HOW?

When will Brayden get that he can’t just drag me along everywhere? Or sit directly on my belly? Or not to rough house with me so much?

I am so overwhelmed with emotions, about what this transition will do to my little boy. And I only have 12 weeks left with him as an only. Of course, I am so excited about his baby sister, but I am almost mourning the loss of my only. The one I live and breathe for. How will I open myself to MORE love?

When will I know when he is ready for his new room? When will he talk more? Understand more? Listen more? Communicate in a way that is without stomping his feet? Should I be concerned? Is it just because he is a boy? Am I not doing enough?

The end of this day has left me feeling very inadequate. I hope tomorrow is better.

Filed Under: honesty, life as a mom, toddlerhood ·

23 months

June 27, 2011 by · Leave a Comment
I know, I haven’t done one of these in a long while, but I just can’t do the 2 year old post without writing about this past month.

Brayden,
You LOVE to be outside. You love the slide, the pool, watering momma’s flowers, and chasing us with the hose. You love your Lightning McQueen cozy coupe, going for nightly walks in the wagon with us, and going with daddy in his truck.
Your vocabulary is starting to expand. You now say “what’s this?” (uuhhs-dis?) and “want that” (wah dat!) and you answer “yeah yeah!” to just about everything. You can’t quite say “no”, but you shake your head no or push things away if you don’t want them. I am not in a hurry to hear NO from you just yet! 
Your molars have been the nastiest little boogers in the past few weeks. The top left one is finally through, the top right is almost there, and just the other day, Grandma Sarah noticed your bottom left is very swollen. It’s turned you into even a better sleeper than you were before (hello 4 hour naps and 12 hour nights!) and you stay in a generally good mood during the day. You are quick to show us when they hurt, though, and I hate that for you! I know it will be over soon! 
I tried to put you down for a nap in your big boy bed the other day, and that was a giant fail. You got excited, tucked your animals in with you, and I thought it was going to be a piece of cake. But when I started to leave the room, you looked very scared and confused. We aren’t going to rush you!
You have eaten a TON this month and are absolutely growing. Your favorites include blueberries, kiwi, bananas, strawberry’s, Oreos (ha!), mac and cheese, pizza, green beans, yogurt, and dry cereal. Oh, and french fries. But I think all toddlers like french fries! I am trying to get you to incorporate other foods as well (hello, more veggies!) but so far, you are just content with your circle of familiar foods. 
This past week you have been an amazing sleeper. Like, 4.5 hour naps and 12+hour nights. I am not complaining, but I am wondering when I will go in your room and you will look two feet taller! I am certain between your molars and a possible growth spurt that this is the explanation for your long sleeping stretches. It’s a good thing, because I have gotten a lot done in the past week and still have had time to rest! 
I love you, moose. 
Love,
Momma
Filed Under: toddlerhood ·

Brayden’s Room

June 24, 2011 by · 4 Comments
Brayden’s big boy room is still missing a few finishing touches (window trim, wall decor) but I figured I would show it off while it was picked up! 
Brayden’s bed. This is the headboard that Brandon had on his bed growing up. The sheet set is from Pottery Barn Kids, the down comforter was a Doorbuster buy at Bergner’s, and one of his blankies is hanging on the bed. Can’t lose those. 

The messy toy area. I am waiting to redo the baskets on the changing table when the baby comes, then organize some of his toys with the older baskets. 

Brayden LOVES his tractor lamp. This was also Brandon’s, and was the lamp in the nursery that I used in the middle of the night those first few weeks. The one bookend was a random find at HomeGoods in the clearance department. My mom couldn’t part with it, even though it was supposed to be in a set. He loves it. The little box on the left was the cake topper from my baby shower. It has his ultrasound pictures in it and a verse. 

The closet has a door! YAY! Still waiting on the trim. And for a magic fairy to come put that other random stuff away. She’s worthless. :)  
Nothing terribly exciting. I am sure the toys will ALL be rotated next month when his birthday rolls around. I can’t wait to get some decorations on the wall as well. 

Filed Under: toddlerhood ·

Finding the Sunshine

June 1, 2011 by · 2 Comments

Yesterday started out not so great.

Brayden was in a funk. Nothing I did appeased him. No amount of cut up grapes, Bubble Guppies, playing tractors, or sitting with me in the chair. So, I asked him if he wanted to go outside. He went straight for the door and I thought “phew! at last!”

I was wrong.

He played on the swing set for 5 minutes, led me to the garage, and wanted in the car. Normally, this would be great but I hadn’t showered, had no diaper bag packed, and had no reason to go anywhere. This is where the meltdown started. I got down on his level and tried to explain that we weren’t going anywhere today. I tried getting his new Lightning McQueen cozy coupe out and putting it out in the driveway for him. I asked him if he wanted to get his wagon and go for a ride. Nothing.

So I caved. I lost a night of sleep over the weekend due to a coughing husband, and I knew my fuse was going to be short. I locked up the house, put gas in the car, and went to my parents house. While there, he threw another huge fit, so my sister and I took our chances and went to lunch. Yes, in my unshowered state.

Brayden did well through lunch, fell asleep on the way home, and then napped. I napped, too. I needed it. I was on the verge of tears all morning. It makes me wonder how I will manage two children, when Brayden will actually start to understand certain things, and what I am doing wrong in that he DOESN’T understand. But more than anything, yesterday taught me patience. I need to have more patience with Brayden because he doesn’t understand. I need to know that every day will NOT go as I have planned in my head ( you would think I would know this by now) and that the best thing I can do is to just roll with the punches.

And going out for pizza and gelato with my sister ALWAYS helps.

Filed Under: motherhood, toddlerhood ·

M.I.A.

May 18, 2011 by · 3 Comments

I have been somewhat missing in blog land lately, and I only have one thing to blame for it:

 two year molars.

They have robbed me of my sweet, happy, mild-tempered boy and replaced him with a cuddly, snotty-nosed, temper-tantrum throwing little guy who looks plain miserable.

Last Tuesday, he woke up feeling somewhat warm, so I took his temp and it was 100.7. Nothing to get too shook up about, so I have him some ibuprofen and just kept an eye on it. He napped well, ate pretty well, seemed fine. By the time he woke up from his nap, the fever was gone, so I didn’t think too much of it. The next day, he woke up feeling warm again. 100.9 fever but still acted fine, and had a bit of a runny nose. It was clear, so we ended up going to Kindermusik then to play at Laura and Caden’s.

This continued every day and finally last Friday, I asked my mom about it. I tried to feel in his mouth for molars, but he wouldn’t let me. Of course, it only takes 2 seconds for my mom to get in there and say “Oh honey, no wonder you are miserable! One of those molars is already poking through, and the other one isn’t far behind.” Darn teething. It always gives him a runny nose which turns into drainage which turns into a cough. The weekend was a little rough- he was extra whiney and clingy, but we just kept up with the ibuprofen and Tylenol. Monday morning, he woke up coughing a little but he seems to be doing much better! I am ready for those top molars to hurry up and get here! Although, most of the time, I DO like the extra snuggles.

It was also this weekend where I seriously thought to myself “What will I do with two kids?” *sigh*

Filed Under: teething, toddlerhood ·

The big boy bed dilemma

May 11, 2011 by · 2 Comments

Brayden has always been a pretty great sleeper, I won’t lie. Sleep training had it’s rough moments, and I still currently rock with him in the chair for about 5 minutes before I put him down awake. For him, I have noticed that the transition from playing to bedtime can be difficult, and he needs those 5 minutes to settle down.

Which leads me to being absolutely terrified of making the transition from crib to big boy bed. Terrified.

His new big boy bedroom is right next door to the nursery. It currently houses a twin bed with cute, boy bedding, his dresser, bookshelf, and toy box. The only thing left that needs to go in there is everything from his closet that is his to make room for the new baby. Oh, and the closet door and window trim so that there can be curtains. Which also means, there will not be a second crib nor will we transition the crib to a toddler bed, because frankly, when he has a twin bed, what is the point? I have foam rails that go under the fitted sheet so that he won’t fall out. And the other side is against the wall.

So WHY am I so scared?

I don’t know. I am afraid to mess up a good thing. I am not even sure how to go about doing this. Since he isn’t talking as much as I want him to, I am slightly afraid he won’t get it. (Even though deep down, I know he will.) I am scared of those first few nights where he might cry and get upset just because I want him to sleep in another bed.

As much as I am itching to get baby’s room started, I know that I can’t rush Brayden out of there just to get it ready for a baby who will probably sleep for the first couple of weeks in the bassinet. He has to be ready. I have to be ready. Curtains have to be up because my boy is very picky about the level of darkness in his room.

So I need some advice. What worked for you when you did this transition? Any tips? I could sure use them!

Filed Under: toddlerhood ·

Holy Toddler Tantrums

March 3, 2011 by · 5 Comments

Can we just say there has been a lot of “this too shall pass” attitudes at this house lately? Sheesh.

(photo credit)

And for the record, I hope this passes soon, but I have my doubts.

You see, Brayden is still not very verbal. His babbling is getting a LOT better, and I really do think he is on the verge of speaking, but he gets really frustrated because he can’t. And so do we. He IS really good about trying to tell us what he wants, but when he goes to the fridge and has a meltdown because every.single.thing I show him isn’t it? Those are the times when I wish he could speak.

Yesterday, it was a tantrum because I wouldn’t put his combine back together for the billionth time. He was purposely taking it apart and then handing it right back to me. After I said “No, you need to find something else to play with”, he threw part of it at me. So I took it away, and it was most definitely nap time. He threw an epic tantrum, real tears and all- but as soon as he had his blankie and paci? It was lights out. What was I supposed to do, let him keep chucking it at me? I think not.

We have really been working on his “please” and “thank you”- basic manners. Also? Patience.

Oh, the patience part is for me.

I digress- it’s just a part of life, and we are weathering it in what we think is the best way for right now. Stay tuned, I am sure it only gets more interesting!

Filed Under: discipline, toddlerhood ·
« Older Posts