Seeing Nonnie three times in the month of June pretty much guarantees at least three blog posts :) And what a fun visit we had today! After playing for a little bit at our house with the new toys from Nonnie (the Curious George car was a big hit), the boys introduced her to Davis Farmland.
And despite going mid-day on such a hot day, it was actually quite comfortable there...great breeze and nice dry air. The boys had fun watching/patting all the animals, going for a hayride, and jumping in the bouncy house. And most of all, hanging out with Nonnie :)
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Weekend Update
First I'll start off with some pics from our visit to Davis Farmland last weekend, where Kyle had his first pony ride and loved it, and loved saying "giddy up pony"! And I let Luke run around for most of our visit, instead of having him in the stroller. He loved the freedom, and loved doing "nice" to all the animals. Until a really large, creepy sheep approached him from behind and made a weird, loud noise right in his ear. He looked at me with panic and said "hug" and didn't pat the animals after that. And I don't really blame him...that sheep was pretty disturbing!
Then yesterday, we went to a "Big Truck Show" at a local high school. Both boys loved it, although Luke didn't like all the REALLY loud honking and was crying off and on because of it :( Oh, the last picture in that batch shows what I found when I got back to my car...in my frenzy of trying to get sunscreen on the boys while juggling/keeping them safe in the parking lot, apparently I left my driver's side door open (with my purse/wallet right there on the passenger's seat) for the entire 1.5 hrs that we were walking around. Wow, never done that before! Fortunately everything appeared to be in tact, and my battery wasn't dead. Phew!
And today, we went to Great Grampy's and had fun playing ball outside with him, Nonnie, and her friend Diane. Then we had an early dinner at the country club, and the boys both did great! They liked walking around and looking at the fountains, pretty flowers, and golf carts. And of course Kyle LOVED eating his decadent mac 'n cheese dinner :) And Luke liked picking at his grilled cheese sandwich, and plucking little morsels off my plate too :) They went to bed at a wild (for them) 7:30 tonight! We'll see how that shakes out in the morning...
I'm glad today was a very busy day because as I sit here now alone on Father's Day, the sadness is really setting in, thinking about all of the love, fun, and life experiences that my boys are missing out on without their amazing father. I do the best that I can, but I certainly can't come close to filling that void in their lives. And that just absolutely breaks my heart. We love you so much Jar, and I wish with all my heart that you were here with us today celebrating your 4th Father's Day...you truly epitomized what it meant to be a great father.
Then yesterday, we went to a "Big Truck Show" at a local high school. Both boys loved it, although Luke didn't like all the REALLY loud honking and was crying off and on because of it :( Oh, the last picture in that batch shows what I found when I got back to my car...in my frenzy of trying to get sunscreen on the boys while juggling/keeping them safe in the parking lot, apparently I left my driver's side door open (with my purse/wallet right there on the passenger's seat) for the entire 1.5 hrs that we were walking around. Wow, never done that before! Fortunately everything appeared to be in tact, and my battery wasn't dead. Phew!
And today, we went to Great Grampy's and had fun playing ball outside with him, Nonnie, and her friend Diane. Then we had an early dinner at the country club, and the boys both did great! They liked walking around and looking at the fountains, pretty flowers, and golf carts. And of course Kyle LOVED eating his decadent mac 'n cheese dinner :) And Luke liked picking at his grilled cheese sandwich, and plucking little morsels off my plate too :) They went to bed at a wild (for them) 7:30 tonight! We'll see how that shakes out in the morning...
I'm glad today was a very busy day because as I sit here now alone on Father's Day, the sadness is really setting in, thinking about all of the love, fun, and life experiences that my boys are missing out on without their amazing father. I do the best that I can, but I certainly can't come close to filling that void in their lives. And that just absolutely breaks my heart. We love you so much Jar, and I wish with all my heart that you were here with us today celebrating your 4th Father's Day...you truly epitomized what it meant to be a great father.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Preschool Parade!
Today was "Parade Day" at Kyle's preschool. And because he goes in the morning and afternoon, he got to march in two parades!
Luke and I went this morning, and watched the "big kids" do two loops around the parking lot, marching and waving...super cute :) And Kyle looked like he was really having fun, which I just love to see :) Luke liked all the action and yelled "Kahgie" REALLY excitedly when he saw him :) Kyle's class then had a little ceremony for parents, where they sang songs (including Row Row Row Your Boat, which you'll see a picture of him acting out with a friend), did the "Hula Hop" (those are the pictures that show Kyle's cheerleading potential), and got their certificates. Luke had fun roaming around the classroom, especially playing (or I should say flooding the classroom!) at the water table.
Then I brought Luke home for lunch/nap (with Grammy) and went back for Round 2. Another parade and more festivities in his afternoon class. I wasn't sure how Kyle would do today, because he had been saying all week that he didn't want to be in the parade. But he did great and looked like he had lots of fun!
Luke and I went this morning, and watched the "big kids" do two loops around the parking lot, marching and waving...super cute :) And Kyle looked like he was really having fun, which I just love to see :) Luke liked all the action and yelled "Kahgie" REALLY excitedly when he saw him :) Kyle's class then had a little ceremony for parents, where they sang songs (including Row Row Row Your Boat, which you'll see a picture of him acting out with a friend), did the "Hula Hop" (those are the pictures that show Kyle's cheerleading potential), and got their certificates. Luke had fun roaming around the classroom, especially playing (or I should say flooding the classroom!) at the water table.
Then I brought Luke home for lunch/nap (with Grammy) and went back for Round 2. Another parade and more festivities in his afternoon class. I wasn't sure how Kyle would do today, because he had been saying all week that he didn't want to be in the parade. But he did great and looked like he had lots of fun!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Surprise!
The boys had fun surprising Nonnie at her school today! They enjoyed exploring her classroom, watching out the window for school buses, running up and down the hallways, hanging out in the library, seeing all of Nonnie's nice teacher friends, and most of all playing chase with Nonnie in the gym!
Luke found a couple toy construction vehicles that he liked lugging around with him (one in each hand), and liked saying "blast off" with the rocket that Pam gave him! And Kyle enjoyed coloring with markers in Nonnie's classroom, and all the special treat "cookies" (i.e. little graham bunnies) along the way.
So it was a really fun visit! The drive...not so fun. About 4.5 hrs round trip in the rain with two very over-tired-but-refusing-to-sleep, whining, fussing, crying, screaming little boys. What I would have given tonight to snap my fingers when we got home and had them be fed, bathed, and in bed! But unfortunately that's not how it works. Hopefully Kyle will sleep "late" tomorrow...for some unknown reason, he has woken up (for good) at 4:50am the last two mornings :( But tomorrow is a new day!
Luke found a couple toy construction vehicles that he liked lugging around with him (one in each hand), and liked saying "blast off" with the rocket that Pam gave him! And Kyle enjoyed coloring with markers in Nonnie's classroom, and all the special treat "cookies" (i.e. little graham bunnies) along the way.
So it was a really fun visit! The drive...not so fun. About 4.5 hrs round trip in the rain with two very over-tired-but-refusing-to-sleep, whining, fussing, crying, screaming little boys. What I would have given tonight to snap my fingers when we got home and had them be fed, bathed, and in bed! But unfortunately that's not how it works. Hopefully Kyle will sleep "late" tomorrow...for some unknown reason, he has woken up (for good) at 4:50am the last two mornings :( But tomorrow is a new day!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Not the best day...
Today was not the best day, and I just feel like I need to vent (and of course have no one to do it to). So I apologize in advance for probably sounding very negative, but sometimes life just feels so hard. It started with being awoken every couple hours throughout the night last night...twice by Kyle (once was hot, the other was thirsty) and twice by Luke (once with a poop, the other with a coughing/crying fit). And then Luke woke up for good at 5:30. So it was one of those nights where I'm not sure that I slept at all, although I'm sure I did a few minutes here and there.
And days after a night like that are generally not good. So I got the boys dressed/bathroom/fed/etc (battle, battle, battle). Then I thought since Luke didn't get much sleep last night that he'd probably want a morning nap. So I put him down and did my exercise. And of course he didn't sleep and screamed through my entire session (and Kyle was yelling that he had to poop throughout). So instead of reaping the cardio benefit, I think it was completely wiped out by what was probably sky-high blood pressure from listening to them screaming and feeling very stressed/guilty about it.
So while my original motivation with starting my exercise program was to keep myself as healthy as possible for my kids (since I'm all they've got), I don't feel like it's benefiting either of us these days. There's just no good window to do it from a kid perspective (except after they go to bed at night, but then I'd never be able to fall asleep). And it's unfortunate because I am the most motivated/committed that I've ever been in my life (I have done my 4 days/week without a miss since I started last July, even through sickness). But I don't feel good about it because generally the kids are (vocally) miserable for that hour of exercise/shower, which of course leaves me feeling stressed and definitely not refreshed like exercise used to make me feel back in the day. But I plan to stick with it and just always try to figure out new ways to make it work. Anyway, I digress...
So then it was time to cut Kyle's hair (battle, battle, battle...awful scene...surprised the neighbors didn't call Child Protective Services with the blood-curdling screams he was letting out!). Then of course it was bath time, since Kyle was covered in hair (battle, battle, battle, more blood-curdling screams while I washed him). Then it was time for Skype with Nonnie, which was cut short when Luke, who was sitting on my lap for a story, whipped his head back really hard and knocked my jaw out of alignment. The pain was intense, and my uncontrollable crying from it was just making it worse since it was tensing my jaw. I couldn't bite down for a while, and then I just forced myself to, felt a pop (which was hopefully a good thing), and it's hurt like heck ever since but at least I can close it.
Then I fed them lunch, and put Luke down for his much-needed nap. And thought I was going to get a MUCH-needed break myself by surprising Kyle with the iPad that Grammy gave us (which was SUPER-awesomely nice of her, as it's something Kyle LOVES playing with it!). He happily/excitedly went in his room with it for a "play nap". Luke had been asleep for about a half hour at this point. And I told Kyle he had to be VERY quiet or else I'd take the iPad away. While of course about 5 minutes into it, he started yelling (frustrated by something). And then 10 minutes or so later, more LOUD frustrated yelling to the point that it woke up Luke (and despite my efforts, he did not go back to sleep).
Ugh, I'm starting to run out of gas with all this negativity, so I'll end with the grand finale...Luke must have aspirated his peas (which he's not very good at swallowing yet, like everything else), because he started coughing at dinner and couldn't stop. And threw up all over himself a few times from it. Big, messy, awful clean-up. And he was still coughing when I put him to bed, so I'm worried there will be more tonight.
So those are the highlights. Not to mention constant nose-wiping (Luke who really needed it but is SO hard to capture/hold for it, and Kyle who wanted it but doesn't actually blow so the tissue was always dry which is very annoying). And the feeling that my interactions with Kyle these days consist solely of constant yelling/threatening/bribing, with pockets of his "scripted" dialogue mixed in.
Days like this just leave me feeling like such an awful parent, and just completely drained. And it's always worse on the weekends, when I can't help but to picture Jared playing with the boys outside (and LOVING it!), or taking them on outings (and LOVING it!), and me getting some kid-free time (and LOVING it!), and me getting to sleep in one morning (and LOVING it!). Blah, blah, blah. I hate when I sound like such a negative loser, but life as an only parent of little, challenging kids is just so hard/exhausting/lonely, and I feel better when I can vent about it. Now back to work...
Wait, let's end on a positive. Hmmm. I know! We did have a very fun half hour playing outside after dinner (with less worry of Luke's near-puke coughing since I would only have to wash him if it happened outside, which thankfully it didn't). What a gorgeous day/evening it was, and I was glad that our day ended on a better note. And as always, tomorrow is a new day.
And days after a night like that are generally not good. So I got the boys dressed/bathroom/fed/etc (battle, battle, battle). Then I thought since Luke didn't get much sleep last night that he'd probably want a morning nap. So I put him down and did my exercise. And of course he didn't sleep and screamed through my entire session (and Kyle was yelling that he had to poop throughout). So instead of reaping the cardio benefit, I think it was completely wiped out by what was probably sky-high blood pressure from listening to them screaming and feeling very stressed/guilty about it.
So while my original motivation with starting my exercise program was to keep myself as healthy as possible for my kids (since I'm all they've got), I don't feel like it's benefiting either of us these days. There's just no good window to do it from a kid perspective (except after they go to bed at night, but then I'd never be able to fall asleep). And it's unfortunate because I am the most motivated/committed that I've ever been in my life (I have done my 4 days/week without a miss since I started last July, even through sickness). But I don't feel good about it because generally the kids are (vocally) miserable for that hour of exercise/shower, which of course leaves me feeling stressed and definitely not refreshed like exercise used to make me feel back in the day. But I plan to stick with it and just always try to figure out new ways to make it work. Anyway, I digress...
So then it was time to cut Kyle's hair (battle, battle, battle...awful scene...surprised the neighbors didn't call Child Protective Services with the blood-curdling screams he was letting out!). Then of course it was bath time, since Kyle was covered in hair (battle, battle, battle, more blood-curdling screams while I washed him). Then it was time for Skype with Nonnie, which was cut short when Luke, who was sitting on my lap for a story, whipped his head back really hard and knocked my jaw out of alignment. The pain was intense, and my uncontrollable crying from it was just making it worse since it was tensing my jaw. I couldn't bite down for a while, and then I just forced myself to, felt a pop (which was hopefully a good thing), and it's hurt like heck ever since but at least I can close it.
Then I fed them lunch, and put Luke down for his much-needed nap. And thought I was going to get a MUCH-needed break myself by surprising Kyle with the iPad that Grammy gave us (which was SUPER-awesomely nice of her, as it's something Kyle LOVES playing with it!). He happily/excitedly went in his room with it for a "play nap". Luke had been asleep for about a half hour at this point. And I told Kyle he had to be VERY quiet or else I'd take the iPad away. While of course about 5 minutes into it, he started yelling (frustrated by something). And then 10 minutes or so later, more LOUD frustrated yelling to the point that it woke up Luke (and despite my efforts, he did not go back to sleep).
Ugh, I'm starting to run out of gas with all this negativity, so I'll end with the grand finale...Luke must have aspirated his peas (which he's not very good at swallowing yet, like everything else), because he started coughing at dinner and couldn't stop. And threw up all over himself a few times from it. Big, messy, awful clean-up. And he was still coughing when I put him to bed, so I'm worried there will be more tonight.
So those are the highlights. Not to mention constant nose-wiping (Luke who really needed it but is SO hard to capture/hold for it, and Kyle who wanted it but doesn't actually blow so the tissue was always dry which is very annoying). And the feeling that my interactions with Kyle these days consist solely of constant yelling/threatening/bribing, with pockets of his "scripted" dialogue mixed in.
Days like this just leave me feeling like such an awful parent, and just completely drained. And it's always worse on the weekends, when I can't help but to picture Jared playing with the boys outside (and LOVING it!), or taking them on outings (and LOVING it!), and me getting some kid-free time (and LOVING it!), and me getting to sleep in one morning (and LOVING it!). Blah, blah, blah. I hate when I sound like such a negative loser, but life as an only parent of little, challenging kids is just so hard/exhausting/lonely, and I feel better when I can vent about it. Now back to work...
Wait, let's end on a positive. Hmmm. I know! We did have a very fun half hour playing outside after dinner (with less worry of Luke's near-puke coughing since I would only have to wash him if it happened outside, which thankfully it didn't). What a gorgeous day/evening it was, and I was glad that our day ended on a better note. And as always, tomorrow is a new day.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Mother's Day 2012
The boys and I had a very nice Mother's Day at Tower Hill with Grammy and Nonnie. The brunch was yummy, the weather was perfect, and the company was great! Luke's highlight = getting drenched at the edge of the misting fountain. Luke's lowlight = the actual brunch. Kyle's highlight = the actual brunch. Kyle's lowlight = being dragged away from the fountain when it was time to go home.
Not just today, but everyday I feel so blessed to have what I truly believe is the best mother in the world :) Thank you Mom for ALL you do for us! We love you so much and are so thankful for the very important role you play in our lives.
And I also feel very blessed that my boys have two of the best grandmothers imaginable...both have such pure and genuine love for them, which warms my heart. Thank you Grammy and Nonnie...my boys love and adore you both :)
Not just today, but everyday I feel so blessed to have what I truly believe is the best mother in the world :) Thank you Mom for ALL you do for us! We love you so much and are so thankful for the very important role you play in our lives.
And I also feel very blessed that my boys have two of the best grandmothers imaginable...both have such pure and genuine love for them, which warms my heart. Thank you Grammy and Nonnie...my boys love and adore you both :)
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Beach Day!
We had a fun day at the beach in Kennebunkport with Nonnie today! I was a little hesitant for us to go, since we're just a few days into Kyle's potty training (which thankfully is going great!). But I decided to go for it and I'm glad I did (especially since it was 85F and sunny, in April!). The boys had a blast! When we first got there, Kyle was excited to throw rocks into the ocean with Nonnie. But when a wave knocked him over and he got all wet, he decided that the little tidal pools were more his speed. Luke on the other hand LOVED the water!! I think he would have stood there all day, watching the waves splash over his feet and saying "water" excitedly every time a wave came in :) He just LOVED it, and it was very hard for me to lure him away.
Nonnie got a kick out of Kyle as he was eating his "car dinner", explaining to her that it would later come out as poop :) And then he was such a good boy and did his very first "car potty" pee! It was cute, afterward he was asking where the sink was...I guess he is pretty programmed to wash hands after potty! And Luke loved having Nonnie do "This Little Piggy..." with him when he was in his stroller :)
And the travels were about as uneventful as could be. No traffic either way. The boys both did great, with basically no fussing. Luke took a little nap on the way up, and Kyle on the way home. So it was about as smooth of a road trip as you can get with a 3 and 1 year old in tow!
Quick update...yes, Kyle is FINALLY potty trained! He's known for a while that we'd by all out of diapers on the Saturday of April vacation, and that he'd have to use the potty. The first day, he didn't have any accidents but it took him FOREVER to get the pee out, and he was VERY upset while sitting on the potty trying. So the second day, I "let" him have an accident when he was standing on a plastic mat, just so he could see how yucky it feels (he definitely didn't like it). And ever since then, his pees come out much quicker on the potty and he doesn't get upset (and he hasn't had any accidents). He's even done 2 poops too! But he's still pooping in his diaper in the middle of the night, needing to be changed :( But overall, this has to be about the easiest potty training experience ever (something to be said for waiting until they're good and ready, even if they're 3.5!). Oh, and the same day he started using the potty, his big boy bed arrived, which he LOVES! And he slept until 8:40am (having gone to bed at 6pm) his first night in it which I loved :)
And a quick Luke update. As I mentioned, ever since his stomach bug a few weeks ago (my first stomach bug kid experience...NOT fun), he has been RAVENOUS and is doing much better chewing/swallowing solids! YAY!!!! But the whole stomach bug made me reconsider and ultimately cancel those 2 mornings of daycare. I don't want to be dealing with bugs like that on a regular basis. And where he still puts everything in his mouth, I'm sure he'd catch whatever is going around. So as much as I liked the socialization for him (and the kid-free window for me!), "elective daycare" didn't feel like the right thing for now.
Nonnie got a kick out of Kyle as he was eating his "car dinner", explaining to her that it would later come out as poop :) And then he was such a good boy and did his very first "car potty" pee! It was cute, afterward he was asking where the sink was...I guess he is pretty programmed to wash hands after potty! And Luke loved having Nonnie do "This Little Piggy..." with him when he was in his stroller :)
And the travels were about as uneventful as could be. No traffic either way. The boys both did great, with basically no fussing. Luke took a little nap on the way up, and Kyle on the way home. So it was about as smooth of a road trip as you can get with a 3 and 1 year old in tow!
Quick update...yes, Kyle is FINALLY potty trained! He's known for a while that we'd by all out of diapers on the Saturday of April vacation, and that he'd have to use the potty. The first day, he didn't have any accidents but it took him FOREVER to get the pee out, and he was VERY upset while sitting on the potty trying. So the second day, I "let" him have an accident when he was standing on a plastic mat, just so he could see how yucky it feels (he definitely didn't like it). And ever since then, his pees come out much quicker on the potty and he doesn't get upset (and he hasn't had any accidents). He's even done 2 poops too! But he's still pooping in his diaper in the middle of the night, needing to be changed :( But overall, this has to be about the easiest potty training experience ever (something to be said for waiting until they're good and ready, even if they're 3.5!). Oh, and the same day he started using the potty, his big boy bed arrived, which he LOVES! And he slept until 8:40am (having gone to bed at 6pm) his first night in it which I loved :)
And a quick Luke update. As I mentioned, ever since his stomach bug a few weeks ago (my first stomach bug kid experience...NOT fun), he has been RAVENOUS and is doing much better chewing/swallowing solids! YAY!!!! But the whole stomach bug made me reconsider and ultimately cancel those 2 mornings of daycare. I don't want to be dealing with bugs like that on a regular basis. And where he still puts everything in his mouth, I'm sure he'd catch whatever is going around. So as much as I liked the socialization for him (and the kid-free window for me!), "elective daycare" didn't feel like the right thing for now.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Easter Surprise!
We had fun this afternoon surprising Nonnie and Great Grampy with an Easter visit! While we were outside Great Grampy's house, discretely waiting for them to get back from brunch, the boys discovered a sewer drain and loved throwing rocks down and listening for the "plop"! And as Kyle very accurately described it, "plop, just like in the potty" (good motivation for him, since he hasn't actually done a plop in the potty yet!).
Luke was so proud of himself when he figured out how to do the "plop", but he wasn't good at finding his own rocks and would just very persistently say "rock, rock" until someone got him one. Nonnie and Great Grampy quickly caught on to the joy of this very exciting activity, and never before have so many pictures been taken 'round the family sewer drain!
After a few high fives with Great Grampy, we hit the road. And as we were waving goodbye, Kyle very happily said "we had double Nonnie today...on Skype and in Tewksbury!" :)
Then when we got home, the Easter bunny had come! This made Kyle VERY happy, and he and Luke had lots of fun playing with their new loot. And Grammy brought over a yummy dinner that we all ate together. Even Luke! Ever since his stomach bug last week, he's been ravenous, showing true hunger for like the first time in his life, which seems to be motivating him a bit in the chewing/swallowing department. Go Pooks!
Luke was so proud of himself when he figured out how to do the "plop", but he wasn't good at finding his own rocks and would just very persistently say "rock, rock" until someone got him one. Nonnie and Great Grampy quickly caught on to the joy of this very exciting activity, and never before have so many pictures been taken 'round the family sewer drain!
After a few high fives with Great Grampy, we hit the road. And as we were waving goodbye, Kyle very happily said "we had double Nonnie today...on Skype and in Tewksbury!" :)
Then when we got home, the Easter bunny had come! This made Kyle VERY happy, and he and Luke had lots of fun playing with their new loot. And Grammy brought over a yummy dinner that we all ate together. Even Luke! Ever since his stomach bug last week, he's been ravenous, showing true hunger for like the first time in his life, which seems to be motivating him a bit in the chewing/swallowing department. Go Pooks!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Luke's $999,983 Dollar Smile and Newborn Kyle
Luke's million dollar smile (as Nonnie likes to call it) may have been downgraded a bit. If you look closely at the photo below (where I asked him to make his famous "finky face"), you will see one of his top teeth is chipped :( I noticed it last night was I was feeding him dinner. No idea how/when/where it occurred. But it is very jagged so I am taking him to the dentist this morning...hopefully they can smooth it out.
And in Kyle news, I feel like he's a newborn again in terms of the nights. Basically, he has had a cold since early December (literally). Very mild the last couple months, but definitely worse at night. And he still can't actually blow his nose, so stuff just sits back there (and makes him cough). But he thinks he needs a tissue constantly, because he feels "boogies" in there. But rarely is there anything actually on the tissue because when I tell him to blow, he blows out his mouth. I'm all over the place here (blame it on sleep-deprivation), but what I'm leading up to is that he hasn't slept through the night in months. And here are the reasons (two related to his cold, and two diaper related):
1) Coughing. I feel so bad for him when it's keeping him up, because I know what it's like. I've been giving him water to sip on and honey, but neither seems to do much. Although he loves the honey!
2) "Runny" nose. Two things with this, and it's damned if I do, damned if I don't. If I leave tissues in his crib, so that he can wipe his non-dripping nose whenever he so desires, they always end up on the floor and he then gets hysterical when he wants one in the night. So I have to go in and get them. And if I don't leave tissues in his crib, then he wakes me up throughout the night yelling that he needs a tissue.
3) Drenched. He wakes up soaked (diaper completely saturated and jammies all wet) and needs to be changed.
4) Poop. This is a new one. He now poops in the middle of the night (like a newborn), and needs to be changed. This was brought on by going full-days at preschool. He was used to pooping in the afternoon during his "nap". But now that he's at school in the afternoon, his schedule's all off and he doesn't poop. Sometimes I can get him to do one before bed. But sometimes he tries and can't, and then does one in the night.
Sooooo, all of these are fairly legitimate reasons for him to be waking me up (except the tissue thing). And in reality, they only require that I get up with him for a few minutes and then he goes right back to sleep. But even though it's been two years of being alone in the bed, I still have so much trouble falling asleep. And to have to do it a few times every night means I'm only sleeping for an hour or two at a time, averaging maybe 4 hrs total for the night.
And after so many weeks of this, I feel like it's really catching up with me. I get up in the morning in such a horrible mood, with very little patience. And Kyle's in a horrible mood because he's also somewhat sleep-deprived. And the day starts off with so many kid "chores" (diapers, getting dressed, getting breakfast, brushing teeth/hair, etc). And Kyle just fusses, whines, and generally drives me crazy through all of it. Such is life.
And unrelated, although somewhat relevant...I ordered Kyle a bed (just a twin mattress and boxspring) yesterday, and some truck bedding to go along with it. I think he'll do fine with the transition from the crib. And he will now be able to get all the tissues he wants in the night without my assistance! But I will now be stripping a bed instead of crib when he wakes up soaked. We'll see how it all plays out, but I really, really hope our nights improve soon.
And in Kyle news, I feel like he's a newborn again in terms of the nights. Basically, he has had a cold since early December (literally). Very mild the last couple months, but definitely worse at night. And he still can't actually blow his nose, so stuff just sits back there (and makes him cough). But he thinks he needs a tissue constantly, because he feels "boogies" in there. But rarely is there anything actually on the tissue because when I tell him to blow, he blows out his mouth. I'm all over the place here (blame it on sleep-deprivation), but what I'm leading up to is that he hasn't slept through the night in months. And here are the reasons (two related to his cold, and two diaper related):
1) Coughing. I feel so bad for him when it's keeping him up, because I know what it's like. I've been giving him water to sip on and honey, but neither seems to do much. Although he loves the honey!
2) "Runny" nose. Two things with this, and it's damned if I do, damned if I don't. If I leave tissues in his crib, so that he can wipe his non-dripping nose whenever he so desires, they always end up on the floor and he then gets hysterical when he wants one in the night. So I have to go in and get them. And if I don't leave tissues in his crib, then he wakes me up throughout the night yelling that he needs a tissue.
3) Drenched. He wakes up soaked (diaper completely saturated and jammies all wet) and needs to be changed.
4) Poop. This is a new one. He now poops in the middle of the night (like a newborn), and needs to be changed. This was brought on by going full-days at preschool. He was used to pooping in the afternoon during his "nap". But now that he's at school in the afternoon, his schedule's all off and he doesn't poop. Sometimes I can get him to do one before bed. But sometimes he tries and can't, and then does one in the night.
Sooooo, all of these are fairly legitimate reasons for him to be waking me up (except the tissue thing). And in reality, they only require that I get up with him for a few minutes and then he goes right back to sleep. But even though it's been two years of being alone in the bed, I still have so much trouble falling asleep. And to have to do it a few times every night means I'm only sleeping for an hour or two at a time, averaging maybe 4 hrs total for the night.
And after so many weeks of this, I feel like it's really catching up with me. I get up in the morning in such a horrible mood, with very little patience. And Kyle's in a horrible mood because he's also somewhat sleep-deprived. And the day starts off with so many kid "chores" (diapers, getting dressed, getting breakfast, brushing teeth/hair, etc). And Kyle just fusses, whines, and generally drives me crazy through all of it. Such is life.
And unrelated, although somewhat relevant...I ordered Kyle a bed (just a twin mattress and boxspring) yesterday, and some truck bedding to go along with it. I think he'll do fine with the transition from the crib. And he will now be able to get all the tissues he wants in the night without my assistance! But I will now be stripping a bed instead of crib when he wakes up soaked. We'll see how it all plays out, but I really, really hope our nights improve soon.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Fun Family Visit
We had a great visit today with Nonnie, Great Grampy, Grammy, and especially Auntie Jayne and Amresh, who drove about 7 hours round trip from NYC to see us! And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention "Uncle Grape"...not sure who that is but Kyle had lots to say about him...apparently he's one of his favorite uncles :)
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