Requirements to be a Stay at Home Mom: Fitness Required

When I first started this blog when my oldest was about a year old I don't think I quite understod how much coffee would play a part in my life.  I mean, I sort of knew.  Thus, why I picked the title for this blog.  Bud did I really know?  Not really.  Not until I had my second...and actually not until my second started walking.  Sure, the job got a little easier, I no longer had to lug my child around like a sack of potatoes (oh wait, is this really true because I'm pretty sure L doesn't like being put down).  Really, though, it got way more physical.  From putting one up in the high chair, chasing the other one to get him in the kitchen to eat, running up and down the stairs when the little guy wakes up from his nap way too early.  Man, it's exhausting.  I honestly believe unless I was a physical trainer or something along those lines...no one requires more physical fitness then a mom to two young children.

I sat down to write this after one of the most exhausting weeks.  It feels like Friday but it is still only Thursday.  I finally got N down for his nap for the first time this week, right after getting L down.  I decided that I really needed a nap myself.  Of course, this ended up feeling a little bit more like the torture treatment I saw on an episode of Homeland.  Everytime I dozed...I was awoken by a screaming baby.  I eventually gave up, and here I am.  I finally realized that the poor little guy is getting a molar, but still!  Come on little one...don't you know momma needs a break too!

So now onto search other blogs on quiet time activities for N because at a little over 3 I think he is outgrowing his nap...it's been great.

Is there a secret to where all the socks and pacifiers go?

Everyone is always talking about the sock bunny who must hang out in your dryer who mysteriously steals all of your socks.  It is so true.  I swear, I have two pairs of socks that I can keep track of and only because they are very brightly colored.  All my white socks, or smaller sized socks (my sons) have literally disappeared off the face of the Earth.  How come no one ever talks about the disappearing act that pacifiers play every once in a while.

We have a running joke in this house that at one point my husband had an obsession with keeping 4 pacis lined up on my son's crib at a time so that we would always know, hey, there's four pacis in the other room if we ever lose one.  Well, our son only uses his paci at night and for naps.  Needless to say somehow I, yes me, have lost all but one of his darling pacifiers.  I can't tell you how, or why.  All I can tell you is I have no clue where these things have gone.  We've searched high and low.  Thank God for his green pacifier though.  It's the only one that hasn't disappeared.  That is, until last night.  Luckily it didn't start until 5:30 this morning, but I knew something would up.  My son kept waking up, and at one point I knew I had to go in.  I found a very upset little boy.  It ends up daddy tried putting him back to sleep without his paci because it was gone.  Well, I tore apart that bed, the room, everything.  I couldn't find it!  At this point I knew my little boy wasn't going back to bed.  He was a mess.  This continued for a long time.  Poor little guy.

Well, we found the pacifier, thank you for that.  This just scares the heck out of me and what we can expect when we decide to get rid of it once and for all.  What's everyones opinion, should we do it before the new baby arrives in November or say, hey, who cares he likes it.

A Beginning of a New Era

The days are numbered.  You wake up with your lovely son, grab some breakfast, cuddle for a little bit, read a few books and eventually your son goes down for his first nap.  It could last anywhere from 1-2 hours, but you knew it was coming.  It would give you just enough time to have that coffee, read up on some blogs, the news, maybe even catch a dvr'd show.  Then, he wakes up and you get out and start your day, no earlier than 11 am.  You can meet up with some friends, go to a class.  But you inevitably will have to run home to get him his much needed second nap.  Another 1-2 hours where you will be sure and try your hardest to clean up around the house, get some chores and work done, but really, who am I kidding...I basically took this time for myself.

That was then.  Now, the days are numbered, we go from 2 naps to a few days here and there when my son wants no nap after the hour of 11 am.  that leaves me at least 7 HOURS!  I would love some insight from those of you who can keep your toddler engaged for 7 hours without going crazy.  Sure, we try to get out at least once a day...but the longer periods of activity are leaving me exhausted and at a lack for things to do.  It is really like running a marathon.  I am wondering if it just takes some time to adjust, or if I will always feel like this.  I need to read up on some books, because I know for sure putting little man down for one nap at 10 and having him wake that early for the rest of the day doesn't seem to be helping with hs tantrums.  ahh, the joys of parenting.

Sleepless Nights

I don't even remember being up as much last night as I was when little guy just came home from the hospital.  Up until we left the hospital with my son, I swear, he barely made a peep.  My husband was talking to his father and stated, "he is just sooo good, he doesn't cry, he mostly sleeps and eats."  Boy, were we wrong.  We obviously had no clue what the next few weeks would feel like.  The first night our son woke up crying, we cried because we just didn't know how to get him to sleep, or stop crying for that matter.

Well, last night brought back memories.  I come home from food shopping at 8 pm because little guy wasn't doing much to help the situation during the day and hubby says that it's been an hour and a half and he still hasn't gone to sleep.  I think that he was up 3 more times before I even got into bed and then just about every hour.  I have to give him some credit he did sleep in 30 minutes until 7 o clock when my husband had to take a shower...not nearly enough time for me to get some shut eye from last night.  I am crying inside right now at how tired I am.  I am not going to even bother hoping for two naps today, instead I will go about my day and pray that the afternoon nap gives me some relief.  Hope you all had a better night than I did!

Nap Time Cliques (The Two to One Transition)

So all this sleep talk got me thinking.  My child has been like clock work when it comes to naps.  He has done what all the sleep books have said as far as going from 4-3 and then 3-2 naps.  The inevitable is beginning to happen with his naps now at around 14 months, he is trying to get rid of one.  The problem is he doesn't quite know which one to get rid of.  Little does he know that his beloved morning nap will soon be going bye bye.  It is definitely bittersweet.  How I will miss the feeling at 6:30 am to only make it through a few short hours before I will get some peace and quiet.  The upside, I don't have to be pinned down twice a day.

What about our playgroups though?! (Notice how I say "our.)  It's almost like there are two groups...one where the toddlers are on one nap and one where they are on only one.  Right now, it's great, our friends know that we can get together for two hours in between naps, and it's nice because their little ones are on the same schedule.  But behold...what will happen now?  My son may just be sleeping during the beloved happy hours.  I assume we will make it work, or find other friends...hehe, just kidding!  I just sense a huge change coming, and I have to say, I am a little anxious.  My life has been ruled by these two naps for so long that I am a bit frightened of what my new days may be like.  For now, I will hang on as long as I can.

Sleep, Sleep, go away, come again another day...

Every other night I feel like I have lost a marathon.  My husband and I take turns putting our 14 month old son to sleep.  On my husbands nights he goes in there, places our son on his side, tucks him in and leaves the room.  He will often have to go in there a few more times to retuck him...but it really just seems so easy.

My nights are a little different.  If I were to try this, and I have, my son simply rolls over and laughs at me.  I'm not joking, he literally turns, looks at me, and giggles.  It is a definite blow to my ego.  So I rock him.  I am usually fine with this.  I like spending some extra time with him, singing to him, and staring at his little face.  40 minutes later...not so much.  I thought for a while it was getting better, I would rock him and he would either fall asleep or I would rock him till he was drowsy and then walk out.  Now he refuses to sleep for me at all!  I am at a complete loss.  I feel like I have tried everything.  I have read the baby whisperer books, Healthy Sleep Habits, The No Cry Sleep Solution...none have worked.  Many say this is because of my refusal to let him cry it out but I don't agree.  Sure, it may work.  The way I see it, if it's going to completely make me want to cry and vomit...it can't be natural.  It's at least not natural for me I know.  I would not be able to stand in the other room listening to my son cry for ongoing amounts of times.  I will let him fuss but once he's full out sounding upset I will do whatever it takes besides letting him cry.

Do I think he will ever eventually put himself to sleep?  Definitely.  He does this for my husband so I know he is capable.  My biggest fear is if and when my husband will have to spend a night away.  What the heck am I going to do?!  I guess that will be the true test of my emotions and nerves.  Until then I am just thanking God that my husband is around to save me at night. 

I dream of the day when I can give him his bath, read him his stories, put him in his bed and wish him goodnight!