We are still waiting to close on our house. It is a foreclosure, and we love it, but bought it knowing it would need fixing up. So we have at least 2-3 weeks of work before we can move in AFTER we close on it. It's definitely getting hard... I'm trying very hard not to be discontent. We were supposed to have closed on Friday and things got held back because there is a mold problem in the garage. We were always planning on fixing it ourselves and we knew about it, but the bank flagged it and said - this has to be fixed before you can move in. After some deliberation, we went back to HUD (Housing & Urban Development, the govt, who owns the house) and told them and they offered to fix it but it is SLOW SLOW SLOW with estimates, paperwork, extensions on our closing date, paperwork, etc. etc.
I'm starting to lose hope that we will be in the house by the end of June at all now, and when we will make it in. The longer we have to wait, the more in disrepair things are - we drive by it often to make sure things are ok and the weeds are just out of control, and I just want so badly to get in and start cleaning it up. But we can't touch it until we own it. Which I understand, but it's also so frustrating because it is vacant!
My parents have been amazing taking us in. We are just ready to get into our own space again and get Chloe settled, and my business too. I'm right now taking up half their living room with all my camera gear, paperwork, computer, packaging, etc. It's a mess and I hate living in this disaster but it is what it is.
Chloe loves grandma and granny (that's her name for grand-dad), which is a relief. Tonight we spent 25 minutes just watching granny mow the lawn!
Anyway... I am trying very hard not to complain and to be joyful about this amazing house and the opportunity we had to get it way under purchase price and everything. But I am ready to move on and get in there and make it our own.
Lord, grant me patience through the stress and exhaustion.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
5/30 Nap
We had a great morning at the park with some friends and she did not want to leave, but I finally ripped her away at 12:00 noon, knowing she needed to get home to start winding down for her nap.
Finally got her in bed around 12:55pm after 3 books.
She again resisted laying down but finally did after about 30 seconds of struggle.
She got out of her bed 6 times. Finally fell asleep around 1:15. I did place her blankie back over her twice.
Got up and came downstairs at 2:40pm
Finally got her in bed around 12:55pm after 3 books.
She again resisted laying down but finally did after about 30 seconds of struggle.
She got out of her bed 6 times. Finally fell asleep around 1:15. I did place her blankie back over her twice.
Got up and came downstairs at 2:40pm
5/29 - 5/30 night time sleep
Bedtime routine started at 7:15 pm (a bit later then normal, and no bath).
Brush teeth, wash up, dry hands (she loves this part)
Chloe's room to change into PJs, get clean diaper on.
Chloe's bed to read books (been reading much longer now - we read 2 long books)
Tucking in and kisses, hugs around 7:40. She protested laying down on her pillow and I had to physically place her in position to get blanket around her multiple times.
She got up and down I believe 9 times from 7:45 until about 8:15/8:30. I ignored and didn't speak to her after the first 2 times (as per the super nanny technique). She screamed for me to put her blankie back on. I ignored her unless she was holding the blankie in which case I put her down, no talking, and quickly put the blankie loosely over her, then left. I had to do this twice, but the last time she did not get out again.
She woke in the middle of the night at midnight and 5:00am, both times only required a hug, placing back in bed and re-tucking blankets. Although at 5 she asked for rocking chair, but I said no. I try not to talk with her at all in the middle of the night unless she seems scared.
She finally woke up and went to the gate in front of her room and started crying to get up at 6:45am
Brush teeth, wash up, dry hands (she loves this part)
Chloe's room to change into PJs, get clean diaper on.
Chloe's bed to read books (been reading much longer now - we read 2 long books)
Tucking in and kisses, hugs around 7:40. She protested laying down on her pillow and I had to physically place her in position to get blanket around her multiple times.
She got up and down I believe 9 times from 7:45 until about 8:15/8:30. I ignored and didn't speak to her after the first 2 times (as per the super nanny technique). She screamed for me to put her blankie back on. I ignored her unless she was holding the blankie in which case I put her down, no talking, and quickly put the blankie loosely over her, then left. I had to do this twice, but the last time she did not get out again.
She woke in the middle of the night at midnight and 5:00am, both times only required a hug, placing back in bed and re-tucking blankets. Although at 5 she asked for rocking chair, but I said no. I try not to talk with her at all in the middle of the night unless she seems scared.
She finally woke up and went to the gate in front of her room and started crying to get up at 6:45am
A 2 year old and sleeping
It's been a LONG time since I got on this blog. Right now we are in an interesting living situation as we sold our home and are waiting to get into our new one, and are living with my parents! They are so kind as to take us in.. but it for sure has it's challenges. The biggest of which is Chloe's sleeping situation. This had started before we moved but has amplified since we got here (been about 4-5 weeks now).
The challenges are:
Chloe now sleeps in a toddler bed that my parents generously bought her ... we had to take her out of her crib around 22 months I think as she was climbing out and frequently dropping and hurting herself.
The room, however, is at the top of the stairs, directly across from my parents, and it is difficult for them to ignore her if she cries... although now we have air conditioners on and they don't always here her. WE have a safety gate in front of her bedroom door so she can't tiredly stumble out of bed and out of her door/down the stairs in the middle of the night.
She gets in and out of bed freely, and often.
She knows how and constantly opens the door and closes it. She could probably push the gate down too if given the chance and she got mad enough - we have caught her making attempts to climb it.
She will not go to sleep first time laying down, and makes many demands of us - mainly "blankie, hands in, hold sippy and drink water, etc." But her main complaint is always that her hands aren't right under the blankie, and she will take them in and out over and over. We eventually have to walk away and leave her unhappy because it gets ridiculous.
She wakes up in the middle of the night 1-5 times a night.
She occasionally will fall out of the toddler bed, but this is rare.
She is waking up early, at 6:45.
Things we have tried - most are a variation on the super nanny stay in bed technique, but I feel like I've never quite gotten it really right - and it is much harder to actually do it then it claims.
Continuing to put her back in bed, while giving in to her demands. This is a manipulative cycle where she keeps getting her way and everyone is exhausted.
Continuing to put her to bed, and trying our best to ignore her demands, which causes major tantrums and lots of screaming. I feel myself that I have not bee ignoring her well enough and almost always end up giving in.
Continuing to put her to bed, while ignoring her and standing by the door and not making eye contact, while she screams at us.
Occasionally we will let her cry at the door/gate (which she could easily push down if mad enough) and she usually flips on her light, starts pulling things off of dressers (even though there's hardly anything in there), and will not sleep but start playing... and every 5-10 minutes come to the door and cry or call for us.
At our old house, we sometimes would hold the door from the outside so she couldn't get out (she learned how to break off the safety door knob covers within a week), and she would sometimes collapse in front of the door and fall asleep on the floor but this hasn't happened for a long time.
Continuing to put her back in bed, and taking things away with threats (like, if you get out of bed again, mommy will take your sippy cup away) Usually this is met with "no no no!" but She still does it, and gets the consequence, then loses her mind and screams and cries. We give it back, then take it away longer next time.
Trying some advice from a book about earlier bed time being better earlier, and putting her down in bed between 7:20 and 7:40 - if possible.
Setting up a much longer and more calming, definitive bed time routine starting around 7:00, unless bath is involved, then 6:45.
I discovered she does much better if she goes to bed earlier rather then later - naptime is now between 12 and 1 o clock.
Last week we started really working on the bedtime routine, and it started helping for a few days but as with everything she finds a way to exhaust us thoroughly by continuing to get out of bed over and over despite our efforts.
The problem with almost all of these is she wises up to our games and starts expecting them, making it a game, and asking for them. - like... she asks us to take away her sippy... she'll say "daddy, stand?" (standing by the door for ignoring technique).
So... that is the crazyness. Now for a new blog post on my challenge to implement super nanny stay in bed as closely as possible to see if we can improve this situation.
We bought a new door lock that we were going to install backwards, but I really think this is going to create more problems then it could solve. The goal with this was to let her just cry... but I feel that crying - it - out with toddlers is a whole different world then with babies, and I just don't know if I'm ready to go all that way. Believe me, the methods we are using involve a lot of tears because there are consequences and taking things away, but to just lock the door, let her cry and potentially wreck the room.. I don't know. But if this doesn't work, it may come to that.
The challenges are:
Chloe now sleeps in a toddler bed that my parents generously bought her ... we had to take her out of her crib around 22 months I think as she was climbing out and frequently dropping and hurting herself.
The room, however, is at the top of the stairs, directly across from my parents, and it is difficult for them to ignore her if she cries... although now we have air conditioners on and they don't always here her. WE have a safety gate in front of her bedroom door so she can't tiredly stumble out of bed and out of her door/down the stairs in the middle of the night.
She gets in and out of bed freely, and often.
She knows how and constantly opens the door and closes it. She could probably push the gate down too if given the chance and she got mad enough - we have caught her making attempts to climb it.
She will not go to sleep first time laying down, and makes many demands of us - mainly "blankie, hands in, hold sippy and drink water, etc." But her main complaint is always that her hands aren't right under the blankie, and she will take them in and out over and over. We eventually have to walk away and leave her unhappy because it gets ridiculous.
She wakes up in the middle of the night 1-5 times a night.
She occasionally will fall out of the toddler bed, but this is rare.
She is waking up early, at 6:45.
Things we have tried - most are a variation on the super nanny stay in bed technique, but I feel like I've never quite gotten it really right - and it is much harder to actually do it then it claims.
Continuing to put her back in bed, while giving in to her demands. This is a manipulative cycle where she keeps getting her way and everyone is exhausted.
Continuing to put her to bed, and trying our best to ignore her demands, which causes major tantrums and lots of screaming. I feel myself that I have not bee ignoring her well enough and almost always end up giving in.
Continuing to put her to bed, while ignoring her and standing by the door and not making eye contact, while she screams at us.
Occasionally we will let her cry at the door/gate (which she could easily push down if mad enough) and she usually flips on her light, starts pulling things off of dressers (even though there's hardly anything in there), and will not sleep but start playing... and every 5-10 minutes come to the door and cry or call for us.
At our old house, we sometimes would hold the door from the outside so she couldn't get out (she learned how to break off the safety door knob covers within a week), and she would sometimes collapse in front of the door and fall asleep on the floor but this hasn't happened for a long time.
Continuing to put her back in bed, and taking things away with threats (like, if you get out of bed again, mommy will take your sippy cup away) Usually this is met with "no no no!" but She still does it, and gets the consequence, then loses her mind and screams and cries. We give it back, then take it away longer next time.
Trying some advice from a book about earlier bed time being better earlier, and putting her down in bed between 7:20 and 7:40 - if possible.
Setting up a much longer and more calming, definitive bed time routine starting around 7:00, unless bath is involved, then 6:45.
I discovered she does much better if she goes to bed earlier rather then later - naptime is now between 12 and 1 o clock.
Last week we started really working on the bedtime routine, and it started helping for a few days but as with everything she finds a way to exhaust us thoroughly by continuing to get out of bed over and over despite our efforts.
The problem with almost all of these is she wises up to our games and starts expecting them, making it a game, and asking for them. - like... she asks us to take away her sippy... she'll say "daddy, stand?" (standing by the door for ignoring technique).
So... that is the crazyness. Now for a new blog post on my challenge to implement super nanny stay in bed as closely as possible to see if we can improve this situation.
We bought a new door lock that we were going to install backwards, but I really think this is going to create more problems then it could solve. The goal with this was to let her just cry... but I feel that crying - it - out with toddlers is a whole different world then with babies, and I just don't know if I'm ready to go all that way. Believe me, the methods we are using involve a lot of tears because there are consequences and taking things away, but to just lock the door, let her cry and potentially wreck the room.. I don't know. But if this doesn't work, it may come to that.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
update from april
4-4-2012
Naptime -- Somehow she found a pot of Eucerin cream (which is pretty greasy)... I didn’t hear her and she was being really quiet. Walked in and in about 10 minutes she had it all over her legs, shirt and the carpet. argh. She seemed to know she was being mischievous and had created a big mess but she also seemed kind of happy about it.
Since she turned 2, naptime has turned into a struggle. It’s hit or miss! I can’t tell if she is going to nap or not, so far this week, she has napped 1 out of 4 tries. So we’ll try again tomorrow. She also figured out how to get her closet open and her dresser open so nothing in there is safe either!
Part of nap time now is spent opening and closing her bedroom door. Sometimes she’ll step out of the door into the hallway and will quietly close her door, but usually I catch her and put her right back in her room.
She started saying “oh crap” sometimes. I have to watch what I say!
She says “Ohhhooohhhhhhh” now instead of “yes” when we ask her a question that she has an affirmative answer for. It’s cute but also trying to get her to start saying y es again. I’ve also noticed she’s trying very very hard to put together long sentences, and maybe she gets tired because she keeps mumbling a lot in between and we are losing her words.
She says “Ohhhooohhhhhhh” now instead of “yes” when we ask her a question that she has an affirmative answer for. It’s cute but also trying to get her to start saying y es again. I’ve also noticed she’s trying very very hard to put together long sentences, and maybe she gets tired because she keeps mumbling a lot in between and we are losing her words.
She associates the word birthday with cake :) She asks for mac & cheese and it sounds like apple cheese :) Her favorite foods are probably still cereal and yogurt and cheese and fruit - she loves grapes. she stopped eating bananas for a while but now seems to like them again lol! She loves to try anything mommy is trying!
She asks to go in “mommy’s bed” a lot, and still is obsessed with Kipper the show! She also is getting more into Yo Gaba Gaba and asks for it, and says it’s fun. She loves, loves, loves to play outside! I hope to one day get her a little swingset/play thing in our backyard where ever that ends up being!
She is so funny... ah. :)
Friday, September 9, 2011
Chloe is 18 months old - that's 1.5 years!!!
This.... little... (big) .... girl!
has changed my life. I can't believe it all. I look at her now and she is like my little buddy, my darling, my sweetie, my pumpkin, my beautiful daughter. This girl is the best of the best in every way. She is growing up so quickly. She says so many words, understand so much. Chloe, mommy & daddy and your whole family & friends absolutely adore you. I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you Jesus, for this precious angel.
In this busy season, I don't get to blog much personally or to post many pictures of my own child as I'm busy photographing everyone else's! this morning I told brian, get her bag, lets dress her cute and we're going to the park to take pictures for her 1.5 year birthday. I want some beautiful pictures of my own girl! Here's a favorite. There's a bunch more here :)
has changed my life. I can't believe it all. I look at her now and she is like my little buddy, my darling, my sweetie, my pumpkin, my beautiful daughter. This girl is the best of the best in every way. She is growing up so quickly. She says so many words, understand so much. Chloe, mommy & daddy and your whole family & friends absolutely adore you. I don't know what I would do without you. Thank you Jesus, for this precious angel.
In this busy season, I don't get to blog much personally or to post many pictures of my own child as I'm busy photographing everyone else's! this morning I told brian, get her bag, lets dress her cute and we're going to the park to take pictures for her 1.5 year birthday. I want some beautiful pictures of my own girl! Here's a favorite. There's a bunch more here :)
Some of her favorite words are
mama
dada
kitty
tycho
cheese
uh oh
no no no
tree
meow meow
moo moo
gaga
pretty
hiiiii
bye byegagaga
wawa (water)
mmmmiiiillllk (milk)
we have her appt in 2 weeks so i'll see how big she is, but i anticipate it's at least 30 lbs and 34 inches tall!
Friday, June 24, 2011
remember
remember that time i used to blog? that was fun. no time for it anymore, can barely keep up with the professional blog! Between work, crazyness and trying to get our house up for sale, life has ramped up to an insane pace. Luckily Chloe seems to be handling it even better then I am!
Here's some pics of Chloe at the zoo a couple weeks ago!
This pony/donkey was so cute, just kept looking at chloe and nuzzling her. They were buds.
Chloe is still a mama's girl!
Discovering the red slide in the toddler area. She climbed up and down this for like 20 minutes!
Chloe and her best bud, Jackson :)
Chloe is awesome right now - her absolute FAVORITE activity is mommy & daddy reading books to her. We probably read 10-20 books, multiple times to her, daily. During playtime, before bed, anytime! She also loves to build with her blocks. And she loves Dora the explorer. ... it's bad. She squeals a lot in excitement (and frustration) She is trying to repeat so many things we say. She has many tricks and cute things she does!
Her favorite words right now are:
dada (#1 by far) means actual dada and then she uses it when she can't repeat what we are trying to get her to :)
diaper (diapah)
tycho (techo)
zelda (zerdo)
mama (but only on command)
kitty (titty)
banana (pronounced nana)
uh oh!
all done! (aahdahn)
Dora (dura - she actually says it with a spanish "r" roll, no joke)
no, no, no (nononon, while pointing and wagging her finger)
eh (yes, or more)
At the doctor last week she was almost 28 lbs, 32 inches tall, in the 95-100% for height & weight. I'm just glad those two caught up with each other! She is our big healthy and happy girl. We ADORE her. I kiss her constantly, and she has taken to walking up to us, turning around and planting herself in our laps.
Here is a quick video of her we took the other day on the web cam :)
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