Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Terrible Twos

Madison has been such an enjoyable, complient child... too bad she's turning 2 soon. It's like she knows it too and has been working overtime the past week or so to live up to the 'terrible two' name. She's gone through 'no' phases before -- usually she's just saying it because she can. Lately she's started saying it quite frequently and adding a defiant "you gonna make me?" look to go along with it. We've not had that before. Fun fun.

Welcome to the school of hard knocks, Madison! With Madison testing us constantly, Matt and I now get the unenjoyable task as parents to mean what we say and follow through. Part of that lately has meant teaching Madison that when she says 'no', she needs to mean what she says, too. This morning I told her it was time for a nap and asked her if she wanted to read a book first - which is what we usually do. With a defiant tip to her head she said, "No!" Ok, I said, Then it's off to bed. I picked her up and carried her into her room as she started crying saying, "No no no! I want book!" I calmly told her - I'm sorry, Madison, but when I asked you if you wanted to read a book, you said no. So then I went to put her in bed and asked, Do you want to sing Twinkle, Twinkle? - which she always asks to do. Today she responded, "No!" Ok then, I said, 'night 'night -- and I left the room. After I left I could hear her wailing in there, "Wait! Wait! Twinkle Star, Momma!" She's such a sweet little sinner, isn't she? ;-) I hope she's the type that learns lessons quickly and her defiant stage doesn't last all the way through to age 3!

Friday, June 26, 2009

Firstborn Playtime

Madison has recently taken a new fascination with Little People, partly due to watching a Little People video. It's been cute watching her play with them -- although to her, part of playing with her toys means organizing her toys. (Takes after her mom ;-)

Oh - I should add, the other non-Little People here is Noah from a cloth Noah's Ark set. But Madison calls him 'Moses'. All old men or Bible characters are 'Moses'. She reads a book about Jesus and when pointing to the picture says, 'Moses!' We were in the parking lot of a Catholic church the other day and there was a statue of Mary. She pointed to it, crying out excitedly, "Moses!!" I was like - well, close enough. ;-)





Avery at 16 weeks (I started to type 14 and when I counted it out realized I was off by 2 weeks - Oops!) -- Starting to look older, must be the hair coming in -

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Depression Era Daisies




Tim Hawkins Alert!

ATTN UPSTATE NEW YORK TIM HAWKINS FANS!!
Tim is coming back to Fulton! (north of Syracuse)
August 7, 6pm, $20
Anyone want to caravan??

Monday, June 22, 2009

Childlike Faith

Madison: (pointing at the coffee table) "Daddy's book! Daddy's Bible!"
Me: "That's right, it is Daddy's Bible. Who is the Bible about?"
Madison: "Jesus!"
Me: "Right. And Jesus loves you, and Jesus loves me."
Madison: (nodding) "Yep. Mm-hm."

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Rain, Rain, Go Away

It's been raining today and yesterday, so I taught her Rain, Rain, Go Away. Now she's standing at the window singing, "Rain, rain, rain. Go away rain. Nudder day."

The Chatter Part

Here's the talking video - I thought it would probably be best to upload them in separate posts just in case something didn't work.

For those that are used to seeing Avery screaming, with her face beat red and scrunched up in a scowl, you probably won't even recognize this baby. ;-) But we hope she sticks around!


Smiles

Proof that she does smile and talk!





Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Lots of Love

Help, Momma, save me!
Cousin love
Fillin' out

Color Me Naughty

Coloring privileges have been temporarily suspended in our household after I found the top of the toy box covered with crayon scribbles this afternoon. Just a hunch but I'm guessing it wasn't Avery... Thank goodness for 409.

Husker Girl

Madison staying true to her roots --


Thursday, June 11, 2009

The Girl Without The Curl

There was a little girl who had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead
And when she was good, she was very very good
And when she was bad, she was horrid

Well Avery doesn't have a curl on her forehead - yet. But man, the 2nd half definitely applies. She goes from screaming one minute to smiling the next - enough to throw me into a tailspin trying to figure her out! I think I've finally decided not to try & figure her out. While her screaming, to me, seems like hysterics, to her it apparently is just her way of letting go of excess energy & tiring down - nothing wrong, just the baby stage she's in.

I ended up getting in to the doctor with her yesterday instead of next week. I'd just had it with the constant screaming and the very short naps. I was getting so stressed out with worry. While the pattern is so so similar to what Madison was like as a baby, Avery's intensity is so much stronger. I did a ton of research when Madison was a baby to try to help her sleep skills and, now with Avery, I've been back to the drawing board with research. Though I have seen absolutely no symptoms that there is anything physically wrong with her (colic, reflux, etc.), I endure the constant unsolicited (though well-meaning) advice indicating it must be one of those things. My diagnosis (Dr. Mom ;-) all along has been that her behavior is totally sleep related. Whether she's able to sleep, how much sleep -- the crying, nursing, wake/sleep patterns are all tied to that. Avery's definitely a One-Cycle Sleep Syndrome baby, sleeping through one 45-minute sleep cycle then unable to fall back asleep though she's still tired. The challenge to parents is in the time between when a baby wakes from the short catnap and when it's actually time for them to get up. Is the baby able to handle getting up early or do they still need sleep badly enough to work with the baby or let the baby work back down into sleep? This is my daily challenge right now until she is able to learn completely the art of independent sleep, and it certianly sounds more simple than it is.

So I go to the doctor's (our pediatrician happens to specialize in sleep disorders) and explain all of her behavior, other people's suggestions, and my diagnosis. He commented, "Your diagnosis is correct." (I missed my calling! Should've been a sleep doctor!) It was good to have my observations confirmed and know I'm not crazy (insane maybe, but not crazy... or is that just the same thing repackaged?). He did give me a few ideas and encouraged us to continue what we were already doing, creating the right atmosphere while allowing for minimal intervention at naptime to allow her to learn independent sleep skills.

I came home and reported, "The good news is - there's nothing wrong with her. The bad news is - there's nothing wrong with her." While it would've been nice to write a prescription to "fix" the 'problem', it's good to know she's healthy and we can be confident that she will grow through this over time. (It's just taking more time than we expected & hoped for! Ah the folly of misplaced expectations.)

So in the meantime we just continue to love our little Avery for the baby that she is and tell her she's a good little girl -- even when she is horrid.

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

If The Shoe Fits...

"Um, Madison... your shoes are too small for Mommy. But thank you for putting them on my feet to try." ;-)



Monday, June 8, 2009

The Rosalinas

Kitty Rose and Avery Rose -


True Love in June

The huge, gorgeous & unbelievably fragrant Arrangements by Anneke bouquet my husband got for me - just because.

Abby's Wedding

My cousin Abby got married in Buffalo last Friday. She was such an elegant bride! Few more wedding photos on Picasa -
-
My new cousin, Adam, my Aunt Carol and my cousin Abby --

I had hoped to get a picture of me with both girls dressed up...
but Avery decided not to cooperate & pose (all day long :-P)

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Matt's Musings

My amazing husband has started a blog of his own to share his biblical and patriotic views on life - Check it out!

Monday, June 1, 2009

Avery Rose - 12 Weeks

I was gettin' an awful lot of smiles today! (It's too bad she never lets me capture them in a photo though) I cannot believe how strong this kid is. I was holding her in a standing position and she will hold her own weight for what feels like forever! Like 20 seconds or so. For less than 3 months, it just seems crazy!



Verbal Acrobats

Madison's vocabulary keeps growing by leaps and bounds. She has something to say about everything (and she's not yet 2!). I got new diapers for her that have stars on them -- I pointed out, "Look Madison, see the stars?" She responded, "Yes, I see 'em, Momma!" It took me aback - I'm not used to her talking in complete sentences! Then, shortly after she came up to me, "I want a cracker, Momma." To which I corrected, "I want a cracker PLEASE, Momma." We're working on the please thing. ;-) It's crazy though - this whole new 'complete sentences' stage.